HQ MILTON WISH LIST

EVERY SO OFTEN (OK, WAY TOO OFTEN) I CHECK IN WITH MY FRIEND'S AT HQ MILTON TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ROLEX INVENTORY THEY HAVE. I AM NEVER DISAPPOINTED. BELOW IS MY CURRENT WISH LIST FROM THEIR SITE. 

WHITETAIL HUNT

A NICE FIVE POINT WHITETAIL WAS TAKEN OFF WILLIAM BROWN FARM LAST SUNDAY (AS WELL AS A COUPLE SQUIRRELS FOR A GAME PIE CRAFTED BY ARCHIVAL CLOTHINGS' OWN TOM BONAMICI). SO AFTER THE DEER WAS FIELD DRESSED IT WAS OFF TO MY UPSTATE PROCESSOR GARY AT KRANTZ'S KUSTOM MEATS. GARY HAS PROCESSED PIGS FOR ME IN THE PAST AND IT IS SUCH A PRO OPERATION. JUDGING BY THE LAST PIC IT WAS EPIC FIRST WEEK FOR HUNTERS NEAR ME UPSTATE NY.

CELEBRATORY WHISKEY'S

GARY'S OFFICE

HOLY GRAIL:WADING JACKET

THESE ARE GETTING SO HARD TO COME BY (CHEAPLY) AND I CAN'T BELIEVE BARBOUR EVEN STOPPED MAKING THEM. IT IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE FLY FISHING JACKET. I OWN TWO, ONE LARGER TO LAYER WARM CLOTHES UNDERNEATH AND THIS MORE FITTED SMALL THAT I JUST ACQUIRED. KEEP A LOOK OUT.

THE X FACTOR

MY GOOD FRIENDS AT HANK'S IN UPSTATE NY SENT ME THESE AUSTRALIAN MERINO WOOL LONG JOHNS TO TEST RUN THIS HUNTING SEASON. I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH FLEECEY TECHNICAL GEAR (THANKS TO MY BUDDIES WITH THE HOOK UP) AND I HAVE TO SAY NOTHING BEATS WOOL AS THE LIGHTEST, WARMEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE OF FABRICS FOR LONG UNDERWEAR. I HAVE JUST SPENT TWO DAYS IN THE WOODS (SITTING, WAITING FOR WHITETAIL) IN THESE IN 30 SOMETHING DEGREE MORNINGS AFTER A SWEATY HIKE IN AND MY CRITIQUE OF THE WOOL X FOR MY BASE LAYER IS A MAJOR THUMBS UP. BESIDES WHAT I SAID BEFORE ABOUT THE MANY BENEFITS OF MERINO, I LIKE THAT THESE ARE BLACK, THE CUTS ARE GREAT AND MOST OF ALL I AM SUPPORTING MY PEEPS IN UPSTATE NY.

THE REASON FOR REASON

REASON LAUNCHED IN 2004 SCREEN PRINTING SWEATSHIRTS AND TEES WITH CLEVER IRONIC TWISTS ON ICONIC FASHION BRAND LOGOS. I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THIER SHOP IN THE EAST VILLAGE THAT CARRIES THE SCREEN PRINT GEAR, SOME VINTAGE CLOTHES AND THEIR LATEST DESIGNS, LIKE THIS JACKET ABOVE. IT IS A PERFECT NOD TO THE BARBOUR BEDALE. THE CUT IS GREAT (SLIM-SHORT), THE DETAILS ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT (INCLUDING THE FULL CORDUROY COLLAR) AND I LOVE THE PLAY WITH THE WOODLAND CAMO. (MUCH BETTER THAN BARBOUR'S CAMO VERSION IN MY OPINION)
ALSO, MADE IN USA.

THEY ARE ALSO PRODUCING A WAX VERSION IN GREEN AND BLUE THIS SEASON THAT LOOKS GREAT. FOR $90.00!

ITALIAN SPIRIT

AFTER MY LAST FEW TRIPS TO ITALY I HAVE LEARNED WHY I SHOULD ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP THIS ARSENAL OF ITALIAN SPIRITS ON HAND. APEROL IS GREAT AS A SPRITZ, MIX WITH SODA GARNISHED WITH LEMON, A PERFECT LIGHT DRINK BEFORE DINNER THAT DOESN'T CLOBBER YOU. SAME WITH CAMPARI OR ADD THE PUNT E MES AND SOME GIN AND A SLICE OF ORANGE AND GET A BIT CLOBBERED WITH A CLASSIC NEGRONI OR TWO. FINALLY, EVERY OVER INDULGED MEAL SHOULD END WITH A SMALL GLASS OF AVERNA TO "AID " DIGESTION, SERVED STRAIGHT OR WITH ICE. SALUTE!

FSC BESPOKE STUDIO

IF YOU LIVE IN NYC (OR ANY WHERE NEAR IT FOR THAT MATTER) YOU MAY NEED TO CANCEL THAT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO GET YOUR BESPOKE SUITING NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. FREEMANS SPORTING CLUB HAS OPENED FSC BENCH MADE BESPOKE STUDIO. TUCKED BEHIND A FALSE BOOKSHELF DOOR UP ABOVE THE RESTAURANT ON FREEMANS ALLEY IS THE STUDIO. THE TOUR I HAD WAS VERY INSPIRING AND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND CRAFT IS BEYOND IMPRESSIVE.

BOOK ME IN.  SORRY MR. RUBINACCI.

SCENTING

THE OLDER I GET THE MORE I ASPIRE TO SMELL LIKE AN OLDER ITALIAN GENTLEMAN (OR SOME EUROPEAN FOR THAT MATTER) ABONDONING THE OLD SPICE COLOGNE OF MY YOUTH. I HAVE BEEN REALLY GRAVITATING TO THESE OLD WORLD CLASSICS SCENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN FINDING ON MY TRAVELS. THE ONE ABOVE FROM E. MARINELLA, IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES AND IT IS AS UNDERSTATED AND CLASSIC AS THEIR NECK TIES.
ANOTHER GREAT ONE HERE FROM FLORIS.

UPLAND HUNT WITH THE TWO FRANKS

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR (UPLAND BIRD SEASON) AND WHAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN SPENDING A PERFECT FALL DAY IN UPSTATE NY (NEAR BINGHAMTON) HUNTING BIRDS WITH THE TWO FRANKS FROM FRANKIE'S AND PRIME MEATS.
IT WAS A LONG DAY WITH SOME CLEVER BIRDS THAT SPENT MOST OF THE DAY OUT SMARTING US. BUT AS MY DAD USED TO SAY IT WAS JUST GOOD TO GET OUT.

TRUSTED FRANCOTTE 16

IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF HUNT IN A SPECTACULAR SETTING WITH A PRO GUIDE, GREAT DOGS AND WILY BIRDS CONTACT KEVIN GROVER AT STONEY HEDGE SHOOTING PRESERVE - 607.743.3348