Alice Made This – Alexander Copper Cufflink

An interesting pair of cufflinks from Alice Made This, a small accessories label from Alice Walsh whose previous career as designer for the likes of Tom Dixon, De Beers and Habitat eventually lead her to branch out on her own. Each piece is designed around the materials and processes used to create it. Very little is added in the way of decoration, in fact much of what she produces has more in common with hardware than jewelry with the precision turning process commonly used in the development of parts for aerospace and engineering. The result is something pleasingly minimal, built to last, designed to change with time and wear. Mr Porter has them.

The Sunday Drive….HBH Bulldog GT

We love one-off specials here at Autoweek almost as much as we love the supercars upon which they're based. And if you're a tuner trying to pick a good chassis, we can't think of a much better place to start than the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

That's what Danish company HBH did for its Bulldog GT. The Bulldog takes its general form from the shapely Vantage, though the rear gets a small lip spoiler on top and the body panels surround the rear fascia. Side strakes adorn the doors and rear quarter similar to those found on Aston's One-77. The front is slightly more stylized than the Vantage donor car, with a wide aperture and a black grille.

The Bulldog GT project began as a one-off, according to HBH, whereby the client receives 50 percent of the design and production rights. If there is a market for a small run of cars, HBH would be responsible for production.

The first test drives of the HBH Bulldog will begin in early 2013, according to the company.

Not content with the stock V12 of the base car, HBH adds twin-turbochargers to the 6.0-liter engine, bumping output to a devilish 666 hp. Torque grows to 548 lb-ft, with a top speed of 186 mph available via the six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

The brakes are ventilated carbon-ceramic rotors with six-piston calipers up front and four-pots in the rear. Nineteen-inch wheels sit up front, with 20s in the back.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect it to be well more than the $181,610 Aston Martin wants for a stock V12 Vantage.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111108/CARNEWS/111109858#ixzz1dbwo6sSW

Noah Lambert Uni-Fold

If you're looking for a billfold that is going to last a lifetime, this wallet from Noah Lambert just might be it. His Uni-Fold style ($90) is made from a single piece of leather using only two seams. The stout 5oz bridle leather is sourced from the Wickett & Craig tannery in Pennsylvania and uses Barbour's Red Hand 5 cord linen thread for the seams.

Choctaw Ridge | American-made Undergarments

From Christian McCann, founder of Left Field NYC, comes Choctaw Ridge. The label features well-designed and impeccably-crafted undergarments that are manufactured right here in the USA. The goods come in a 1930s style gift box that’s also printed and assembled here in America. It all started when Christian came across an old underwear box from the ’30s. The box represented an era when men put considerably more effort in their appearance and though this has been lost in many ways over the year, Christian looks to turn back the clocks by introducing product worth buying.

Celery Gimlet

Peel of 2 medium limes
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
Ice
1½ ounces gin, preferably Junipero
¼ ounce Green Chartreuse
¼ ounce St-Germain
¾ ounce lime juice
½ ounce fresh celery juice (juice 1 celery stick or purée in a food processor, then strain the pulp)
Pinch of salt
5 dashes verjus or Chardonnay vinegar
2 dashes The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters
Fresh or pickled celery ribbon, for garnish

1. In a large saucepot set over high heat combine the lime peels, sugar and water. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool and strain, pressing the lime peels. Store in the refrigerator.

2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, Green Chartreuse, St-Germain, lime juice, ¾ ounce reserved lime syrup, celery juice, salt, verjus and bitters. Shake vigorously, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with the ice

Tanner Goods x Tellason Roll Tote

Tanner Goods collaborates with San Francisco-based denim label Tellason for this Roll Tote bag. It’s extremely portable and features high quality fabrics and craftsmanship throughout. It’s available in three editions, each with particular leather and denim detailings. A few of the fabric options to choose from are 12.5oz denim, 10.5oz deadstock duck canvas from Graniteville Mills, and a heavier 19oz black waxed canvas. The attached should straps allow the bag to be rolled up and tucked away, adding some functionality to a great looking piece. (via hb)

Tech Tuesday……Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

The fight over tablet market share has officially graduated into a battle royal. After Amazon planted the flag on the mountain for major retailers, Barnes & Noble is now in hot pursuit with the newly announced Nook Tablet. Like the Kindle Fire, the device doesn’t attempt to woo power users with top-notch specs. Instead, it’s all about bang for your buck.

Packed with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM (double that of the fire), Nook Cloud backup and 16GB (doubling the Fire again) of storage with an expandable SD slot, it’s got all of the guts required for inhaling media. Video was obviously a key focus and the Nook tablet doesn’t disappoint in that area thanks to support for 1080p, deep Netflix and Hulu Plus integrations, a battery capable of nine hours of continuous playback, and an IPS “Vivid View” display, which B&N claims is the first fully laminated screen that provides wider viewing angles and better glare reduction. Those with kids should also appreciate the read and record feature, which may finally put an end to your “read it again!” woes.

The price tag of $249 is the final kicker, which includes free in-store support at any B&N retail location for life as well as Nook Cloud content backup. Pick one up starting next week at B&N, Best Buy, Target or Walmart.

Tabio Cashmere Ribbed Socks

Cashmere socks might seem like an unnecessary luxury but that’s because they are. If you’re spending nearly as much on socks as the shoes you tie over them you should fully expect an unease to wash over you as you hand your credit card over at the till. The problem with cashmere socks is that if you’ve gone to the expense of purchasing a pair then you need to treat them right and, oh, yeah, there’s that unease again as you find yourself putting on a separate wash just for your ‘premium hoisery’. Yet, in all this we find ourselves drawn to this little bit of madness. Tabio use the finest cashmere, they tell us they remove it by hand with a comb during the spring moulting season. No shears for these guys. So, if somebody’s gone to the trouble of combing goats it seems rude, churlish even, to not buy a pair. Only as a mark of respect you understand.

Sabine Marcelis Housewine Home-Brew Installation

It’s not often that one has space for a wine cellar in their dwelling, and if they are brewing their own vintage, it’s probably in a plastic bucket in the closet. But Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis is striving to bring the fermentation process out in the open with his new Housewine home-brew kit. Intentionally a beautiful design, the unit includes all of the necessary tools required to complete the process, most of them tucked safely away in the base. The unique design of the vessels does away with many of the bulkier and unattractive elements of wine production, such as the funnel, stirrer, and primary fermentation bin. The Housewine home-brew installation would provide an interesting and aesthetically pleasing element to any living room, and would most likely look even better after sampling the fruits of its labor.

The Sunday Drive….Limited Edition 2012 Bentley GT Coupe

So I'm, walking thru Phipps Plaza and notice the bentley has received for auto style refreshening for 2012,,,

The small British firm Imperium has sent us some photos of its package for new 2012 Bentley Continental GT coupe. Called Audentia, which is Latin for boldness and courage, the package will be limited to 50 units worldwide. It comprises a new front and rear aprons and side skirts, all made from the customer’s choice of either carbon fiber or Polyurethane Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) plastic. Prices for this unique limited-edition package start at £25,000, or approximately $40,000. 

The Sunday Ride…Bicycle Wine Rack

I don't drink this year , but if I did…

Generally, wine and bicycles go together like oil and water. Polish off a few bottles of vino and mounting your metal steed isn’t a great idea. Getting to your destination with an unopened bottle intact is almost as difficult. You can’t just throw it in your bag because it will end up getting destroyed, and riding with it in your hand makes maneuvering a challenge. What you really need is some sort of holster that you can mount to your bike. This is it. Two pieces of olive oil treated vegetable-tanned leather that you mount to your 1” bike frame in order to cradle your sweet nectar. 

NOTE: This holster will only attach to a 1” bike frame!

Libero Ferrero Horween Leather Bags & Cases

Like all stories being told these days, the inspiration for modern men’s bags continues to pull from the past. Consider Libereo Ferraro. Here’s their story: “Brothers Matt, Adam and Peter Lafferty founded Libero Ferrero in homage to their grandfather, the brands namesake, which pays reverence to the creativity, ingenuity and dedication of his generation.” The bags are built with some of the most coveted leather of the moment – Horween. They do look great. The stitching on the saddles looks proper. But we are curious to know what makes them stand out in the very large pack of men’s bag makers.

Canon C300

Canon just unveiled its C300 cinema camera at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios, in front of a crowd of hundreds of journalists and film industry elite, including Martin Scorsese. While Canon is a household name, it has yet to permeate the Hollywood landscape like the Arri Alexa and RED EPIC, who seemingly dominate the digital filmmaking arena. Word from the screening is that the Canon C300 delivers stunning quality despite its stock offerings which include, an EF or PL mount (not both), 1080p capture, a pair of CF card slots, timecode and HD-SDI output. But the real question is, are you willing to fork over the $20,000 USD it’s going to supposedly cost?

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe…for the Weekend

Sazerac Rusticum

One 750-ml bottle Aperol

Fennel fronds from two bulbs
½ fennel bulb, sliced
Zest of 1 medium lemon, divided
Zest of ½ medium orange
Zest of ½ medium grapefruit
One 750-ml bottle Dolin dry vermouth
5 sprigs fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
¼ ounce infused vermouth
¾ ounce infused Aperol
1 ounce grappa
Ice
Sambuca
1 medium lemon

1. In a large glass jar, combine the Aperol, fennel fronds, fennel bulb, and ½ of the lemon zest, the orange zest and the grapefruit zest. Seal the jar and set aside to infuse for 6 to 8 days. Strain the solids and rebottle the liquid. This mixture will keep at room temperature indefinitely.

2. In a large glass jar, combine the vermouth, rosemary and the remaining lemon zest. Let the mixture infuse for 3 to 5 days. Strain the solids and rebottle the liquid. Keeps at room temperature for 6 months.

3. In a cocktail shaker, combine the infused vermouth, infused Aperol and grappa. Add the ice and stir until very cold. Rinse a sour glass with Sambuca. Strain the cocktail into the rinsed glass. Peel a strip of lemon over the glass. Drop the peel into the glass. Serve.

Stanley & Sons Bags

Secret Forts give us a closer look at some new styles from Stanley & Sons who continue to do great things with canvas and leather. The black satchel looks to be the pick of an impressive bunch, some nice touches with the back leather pocket and cross body strap. We’d be more than happy with any of these though.

Tech Tuesday……GoPro HD Hero2 Helmet Cam

GoPro’s original line of cameras established the brand as the go-to outfitter for documenting the near-death experiences of the outdoor-inclined/insane. Their successor HD Hero 2 ($300) ups the ante by providing professional low light performance, double the image sharpness, and adding a new narrow (90 degree) and medium (127 degree) recording angle to the original’s wide 170 degree option. A mini-HDMI port is a welcomed bonus for viewing footage on the big screen — but the Wi-Fi capabilities for previewing, playing, or streaming video to the web enabled by GoPro’s upcoming WiFi BacPac may render it largely unnecessary. The HD Hero 2 available now in three versions optimized for the outdoors, motorsports, and surfing depending on your adrenaline slap of choice. Luckily, the original also received a price drop to a cool $200 — so if you’ve been too prudent to let your inner Knievel and Bay dance before, now’s the time to tango.

A.P.C. S/S 2012 Collection Preview

It’s starting to get to that point in the seasons where longing for the days when wearing a pair of shorts outside was weather acceptable, which means it’s the perfect time to get a sneak peak at French label A.P.C.’s Spring/Summer 2012 line. Opting out of trying too hard to look flashy (which is a great thing), the A.P.C. collection creates a subtle and respectable vibe, putting forth a variety of simple pants, shorts, and jackets that give the line a solid feel. The selections look comfortable and easy to wear, especially with the inclusion of the ever versatile denim shirt and lightweight knitwear. But the most inspiring item is fit for the beach going that comes with warmer weather: the gold patterned swim trunks are sure to make you stand out with your toes in the sand. BY N. HOLDER

The Sunday Ride….GQ by Citroen Concept

Citroen continued their rampage of stylish cars with the unveiling of their GQ Concept, which strangely enough was absent from Geneva earlier this month. With a look that says “X6 meets Panamera meets Citroen’s aggressive design team,” the French company created the plug-in hybrid as part of a joint venture with none other than GQ magazine. The idea behind the partnership was to create a stylish vehicle that fit “with the current attitudes of conspicuous consumption.” While designer Mark Lloyd had the gall to call the car “understated,” we love the double-chevron emblem design, Savile Row-styled interior, and the swooping curves around the back, which imply that the eco-conscious concept is packing more than just a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine. Nonetheless, Peugeot is claiming a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, while producing only 80 grams of CO2 per 100 kilometers. As part of a joint marketing project, the car was actually introduced online, and can also be found in the April edition of GQ.

_Rism 2011 Fall/Winter Candles

Korean-based candle producer _Rism recently released a fall/winter collection entitled “The Scent of Scene.” Complete with three 100% natural, handmade candles, each allows you to reach a different state of mind. The first, affettuoso, will assist in increasing concentration; the second, tempered, allows the individual to reach a relaxing state; and finally, volante, allowing the user to become more romantic. Perfect for those on house arrest during the winter months, this selection of candles by _Rism is currently available at Layer.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe…for the Weekend

Since 1792,,,,,, 

Four Roses Small Batch bourbon, Cointreau, Orange Juice ,Soda Sugar, Angostura Bitters, orange slice

A Profile In Cool: Mike Horn, World Explorer, Guy Who Wore A Panerai To The North Pole In The Winter (VIDEO)

INTERVIEW: Mike Horn, World Explorer, Panerai Ambassador from HODINKEE on Vimeo.


Mike Horn operates on a 30-hour day, 24 just didn't make sense to him.  He divides the day into six five-hour intervals broken up concisely into sleeping, eating, working, walking, and whatever else he may have to do that day.  Horn has traveled around the world on the equator three times without the help of a motorized vehicle.  He's swam the entire length of the Amazon river with a broken knee.  He's circumnavigated the arctic circle by himself (it took him two years and three months).  He did so with a specially developed, tripled cased Panerai on his wrist. While many explorers have taken to wearing digital watches on expeditions, where Horn goes, a digital instrument would simply freeze, so everything must be mechanical.

Tech Tuesday……iTar iPad Guitar

iPads are fantastic media consumption devices. Netflix, games and music are never more than a finger tap away from occupying you for hours at a time, but they’ve been much for media creation (email doesn’t count as media). Until now that is. Pledge $200 or more to Starr Labs and they will build you a guitar you can plug your iPad into. You can play bass, guitar, synthesize, drum and, well, just about anything else that there’s an app for—with a MIDI controller/fingerboard that will take your iPad to levels even the great Jobs probably didn’t think possible. If you know how to play guitar—or even if you don’t—it’s worth checking out. Every man needs an axe and this one doesn’t even require strings. $200

Persol | Made by Hand

Persol gives us a brief look at how the Italian eyewear maker crafts each and every piece they put on the market. The iconic frames are made by hand with the utmost detail and given a full examination before completion, some of which you’ll see in this extremely transparent video. Persol is known to utilize high-quality materials and blends this with a detail-oriented construction to give us a product that’s as remarkable and timeless as it was 94 years ago. (via the189)

Made by Hand from Persol on Vimeo.

The Sunday Drive…The Audi e-tron spyder

Upon first look, the 2014 Audi e-tron Spyder appears to almost be an unfinished car. It’s almost as if an Audi A4 went to the automotive barbershop and got a little off the top. This is not to say the Spyder is a bad looking car. It has a very slick look. The car is just another example that electric cars can look just as great as their non-electric predecessors.

At its peak, the Spyder has 385 horsepower and can reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. In quite an awesome feature, the point where the car is plugged in is at the front. The Audi logo retracts and along with the plug is a screen that displays the battery’s charge and how far you can go. This is only in the experimental stage, though. The Spyder will run on the electric battery until the car travels over 37 mph. With gas prices continuing to rise, drivers may be happy to hear the Spyder’s gas tank only holds 13.2 gallons, but with its lithium-ion battery, the car can travel about 600 miles. It is believed the Spyder will have a base price of $29,995!