The Sunday Drive

Here we have some early shots of the 2013 Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale. The MC Stradale will be a bit lighter than the GranCabrio Sport and features an enhanced transmission that swifts through gears much faster. Details are still quite limited but the imagery shows some changes in the front and rear bumpers, a dual exhaust mated with the rear diffuser, a trunk lip spoiler, and a new set of rims.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe

3 oz  Smirnoff  Iced Cake Vodka

1 oz  Dark Rum (Mt.Gay)

2 oz Vanilla Coconut Milk

FOUR CHAMBER FORGE VICE HOLSTERS

Unless your real life plays out like something out of an AMC TV show, or you work for law enforcement, you’ve probably never worn a real holster. [Note: Those things IT guys used to wear on their belts for their Blackberries do NOT count.] Four Chamber Forge wants to make them stylish without requiring they be used for the transportation of deadly weapons. Each of their adjustable Vice Holsters is handmade from top grain leather and designed to hold a few of your most important things. Cell phone and cigarettes. Cell phone and wallet. Phone and flask. Flask and cigars. Flask and cigarettes. You get the idea. We can’t recall holsters ever being a “thing,” but we’ve always thought they were cool so we’re willing to give them a go.

Kanye out Today…..

The Time is Right for Independence.

It seems like every time work takes me to Chicago, I only get one day to explore. And the more I visit, the more apparent it becomes that I need much more time in The Second City. The food/drink scene alone can dominate the better part of a week’s furlough. While time was limited on my most recent trip, I did have a chance to visit a few stores I have been hearing about as part of my ongoing, unofficial quest to document every good store in America. Certainly deserving this call out and your own visit is Independence — which is the retail outpost of Oak Street Bootmakers. The store, by concept, sells only US made goods—one of the only stores I have seen that sticks to such a defined subject.

There’s a lot to buy at the shop, but what really stands out to me is the opportunity to try on and take home a very nice selection of footwear from Oak Street Bootmakers. That said, there is all sorts of other good stuff from Batten Sportswear, LVC, Gitman Vintage, Post Overalls and Imogene + Willie. Also present are a bunch of very nice (and well priced) wool blankets from the fairly recently relaunched Faribault Woolen Mills — which are highly likeable things.

The Sunday Ride

We love a cafe racer bike, especially when said bike is both Ducati and vintage. The JvB-moto Ducati Pantah is just such a beauty. The Pantah’s designer, Jens vom Brauck, wanted his build to look like “it was found in a shed… a futuristic design study for a 1981 motor show” that was never displayed. We’re pretty sure his refined imagination paid off.

The bike’s build took three full years and used parts and materials from the past three decades. Starting with a stock Ducati Pantah, Brauck cut down the subframe and modified the gas tank. He also used narrow wheels and tires for that vintage look, while adding carbon fiber bits to bring the ride into the 21st century. The fairing, of course, is nowhere to be found, and it’s all the better for it, frankly. The bike weighs in at a mere 375 pounds; its go is heartily supplied by a V-Twin engine and a custom exhaust that Brauck frankensteined from various pieces. Sadly, the custom bike will not be duplicated, though we’re highly suggesting that Ducati consider a free special edition giveaway for, say, bloggers who’ve written about the bike (nudge, nudge). ( via GEAR PATROL)

Adrianne Ho for Boast S/S 2013 Lookbook

Panerai PAM 389 Luminor Submersible Amagnetic

Panerai previews its latest timekeeping beast, the PAM 389 Luminor Submersible Amagnetic. The 47mm watch features an antimagnetic titanium case, Panerai's P.9000 in-house movement, 300M water resistance, and a ceramic bezel.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe

• ½ ounce whole black peppercorns
• ½ ounce whole cloves
• 9 ounces whiskey
• One 1-inch-long piece of fresh ginger, scraped and sliced crosswise into 4 coins
• 2 ounces honey syrup
• Ic

Norse Projects

Red Epic-M Monochrome

What’s black and white and Red all over? The Red Epic-M Monochrome ($42,000). A technical auteur’s delight — director David Fincher is already shooting with it, of course — the brain (body in Red parlance) is based around the newly developed Mysterium-X Monochrome sensor. The sensor, which boasts a native ISO (ASA) 2000, double the Epic-M or X, reaches new imaging heights thanks in part to an absence of color debayering; removing the need to read RGB data means each of the sensor’s pixels can more effectively capture luminance and image data. The camera also features a new low-pass filter to help deal with all that extra resolution, and further future-proofing also includes a free upgrade to the new Dragon Monochrome Sensor, which is slated to be released next year. Now, if you’re looking to just shoot B&W stills, you can save yourself $34,000 and pick up a Leica M Monochrom or two.

Salt Optics Collection Three 2012

Salt drops its third collection for the year delivering another round of solid frames. New to the line are a couple of new aviator styles which feature beautiful acetate temple tip treatments and new optical frames in bold yet timeless hues. 

The Sunday Drive

This is Made By Hand: The Cigar Shop

Cigar smokers were shunned by many even before the pervasive smoking ban was instituted. Though probably good for the common health, cigar aficionados still weep over the loss. Some shops still keep the candle stogie burning — and then there is the rare shop that rolls its own odiferous sticks. Such is the case with NYC’s own Martinez Cigars, a small shop that’s been in the business since 1974. Started by Dominican Republic immigrant Don Antonio Martinez and now run by his son Jesus, Martinez Cigars not only knows how to impart some mighty fine looking cigars, they help perpetuate the cigar culture that breaks down barriers and cements friendships among men who might not ordinarily know each other outside of smoke rings. Directed and produced by Keith “keef” Ehrlich, the video does an excellent job showcasing the art of cigar rolling (note the difficult creation of a figuradocigar with the tapered end), as well as revealing the community the shop fosters.

Apolis + Kinfolk Garden Bag

Apolis and lifestyle magazine Kinfolk present the perfect bag for your fall outings with their versatile Garden Bag. Crafted in a women artisan co-op in Bangladesh, the Garden Bag is carefully constructed from natural Golden Jute Fiber with a waterproof lining and leather handles which are fastened to the bag with antique nickel rivets. $78, Apolis.

Thursday Cocktail

• 1¼ ounces Tanqueray® London Dry Gin
• ¾ ounce lemon juice
• ¾ ounce simple syrup (1 part water: 1 part sugar, stirred to dissolve)
• 12 large fresh basil leaves plus 1 sprig for garnishing

DIRECTIONS

In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, add the ice, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and basil leaves. Shake very hard and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a basil sprig.

Maison Kitsune' Fall Accessories

MARSHALL HANWELL SPEAKER

Don’t you love it when companies celebrate their milestones by offering you awesome new stuff? It’s not like on your birthday you go around handing out cards with cash in them to people you know. Marshall has decided to celebrate their 50th anniversary by releasing their first ever home loudspeaker. Resembling one of their classic amps from the outside, the Hanwell is all ready to blast your iTunes playlists at your next booze-fest. Featuring retro analog controls for volume, bass and treble, the Marshall Hanwell is just about the most beautiful loudspeaker we’ve laid eyes on. Now break out that CBGB’s mixtape and get ready for some noise (well in November at least, since that’s when it comes out).

Bamford Watch Department Rolex Datejust

Bamford Watch Department releases one of their best looking customs yet, a blacked out yet completely refined version of the new Rolex Datejust. The gold markers of the Bi-colour dial is a perfect contrast against Bamford's popular black PVD coating.