Hello readers! With summer in full swing, I have thankfully been able to compose posts much more often than during the semester. Ironically, this post is going to be about the one thing that prevents me from making them: college.
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A Brief History of SU
In August, I will be beginning my sophomore year at Salisbury University, a division three Maryland state school in the town it bares the name of. Founded in 1925 as Salisbury State Normal School as a two year school for elementary teachers, the institution grew over time into Maryland State Teachers College in 1935, Salisbury State College in '63, Salisbury State University in '88, and finally Salisbury University (or SU) in 2001.
For those who can't see the caption on the photo: "Students typing in class, circa 1930". Spot the full suits, blazers, and sweaters. (Picture property of Salisbury University library)
The Ivy League look in full swing at a state teachers college. (Picture property of Salisbury University library)
SU students during a chem lab in 1968. As you can see with this gentleman's groovy yellow shirt, the Ivy League look is already giving way. (picture from DelmarvaNow.com)
Fast forward 50 years, and we now have our official mascot Sammy Seagull.
The university is still known for producing high numbers of teachers, as well as nurses and future doctors in its renowned nursing and biology programs, respectively. We also produce our fair share of business students from our Perdue School of Business (endowed by the chicken company you've probably seen at the supermarket, because its based here in the 'Bury). Meanwhile, I am studying history with hopes of law school after graduating. While there is a Greek presence at SU, we lack on-campus housing for them due to some kind of regulations (and because everyone moves off campus after freshman year anyways). Because of this, their parties take place off campus along with all others. Salisbury's main claim to fame is our lacrosse team, twelve time NCAA D3 champions. After all, it is a Maryland sport! One of Salisbury's few traditions is the annual War on the Shore lacrosse game against nearby Washington College (WAC) for the Charles B. Clark Cup, which we win a good percentage of the time. Oddly enough, WAC used to be the lax powerhouse around these parts. Oh, the times have changed! Salisbury's rugby team is also highly esteemed, having also won the national championship various times. While I am proud to claim these teams as my school's, I cannot say I play for either of them. And that's pretty much SU in a nutshell. Not a Public Ivy, but still pretty good at what we do.
The College Cap
In all, I would not call SU a well dressed school (students and professors alike). While Sperrys can be spotted on any given day on campus, skater and running shoes are much more common. Loafers are a rarity. While one may seen an occasional OCBD (from Vineyard Vines/Polo, brah) or Patagonia fleece, this is about as nice as it gets on a regular basis. Joggers, sweats, lax shorts, and pajamas are much more common. I have seen Barbour on only one other guy than myself, and you better bet that made for a conversation. Frat guys tend to adopt either the style of everyone else, or of their lax-bro counter parts. Come formal season however, they tend to clean up nice. Same with anyone in the business school due to its dress code for events. But for the most part, compared to other colleges, SU is generally poorly dressed. Just compare an SU tailgate to an SEC one and you'll see. Instead of a bunch of well dressed drunks, we just have regularly (and trashily) dressed drunks. But beside the point, SU does have one neat little tradition that has been going on for a while, and that is the college cap. On the first day of Orientation 102, each freshman is given a drawstring backpack containing a maroon and gold t-shirt and a white SU baseball cap. The next day, the freshman class is told to wear the hat for a massive group photo taking place after convocation. After that, the hats and shirts will be seen around campus for years to come.
Despite getting Sammy during the 1970s, SU has been the Sea Gulls since 1963, and before then the "Golden Gulls".
After receiving the hat, I was initially bitter, due to having bought a nearly identical SU hat about two months before, and Mason having done the same a mere hour before (albeit a black one by Under Armour). Because of this, I swiftly retired this free hat in favor of its purchased cousin. However, a few weeks into my freshman year took me up to the fourth floor of SU's "Academic Commons" (aka a library), where there are several pictures of the college in years past on display. Naturally, I scoured for at least one picture from the 1960s, and came upon this wonderful Animal House-esque still from the quad.
Now hosting childish ice breakers and "foam parties", the quad at SU during the 60s was a lot different. The drinking age was still 18, so parties could be held in the open with minimal interference. While the caption says circa 1960, the actual date of the picture is probably at least 1965 judging by the sideburns on the gents in the photo (and a full beard on one to the far left). Heck, it could be as late as the early 1970s. Regardless, elements of Ivy League style are still present. OCBDs, chinos/wheat jeans, penny loafers, Jack Purcells, etc. (Picture property of Salisbury University Library)
As you can see, 80% of the students (coeds included) are wearing identical caps. Which leads me to believe the presentation of a free cap to incoming freshman has been a tradition at the college for years. And more pictures on the fourth floor have also suggested this.
SU memorabilia from over the years. The cap on top is likely the same one worn by the students in the 1960s picture above. The cap below is likely pre-1963 judging by the STC (Salisbury Teacher's College) lettering. (Property of Salisbury University Library)
After seeing this, I shelved my purchased look-alike hat and reintroduced my college supplied one to the world! Essentially, while SU may not be the best dressed school compared to the likes of the Ivy League, SEC, and plenty of others, its college cap tradition strikes a chord sentimentally. After all, you all know I'm a traditional guy!
Another Christmas tradition for my family is our annual trip to Williamsburg, VA. Located within close proximity of Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg is a town rich with history of the colonial and revolutionary periods. Williamsburg is also home to The College of William & Mary, the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the country (number one being Harvard). A so-called "public ivy" and my father's alma mater, W&M was at the top of my list when applying to colleges, and I received my letter of acceptance on the glorious day of March 24th of this year. However, the impending costs of law school caused me to decide to remain in the state of Maryland for at least my first two years of college. This way, William & Mary's Marshall-Wythe School of Law may be less of a financial burden without the cost of a undergrad degree.
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After a 5 hour (usually 3) car ride from Salisbury to Williamsburg, the first thing my family did after dinner was head to Merchants Square, a shopping area in between the college and the colonial district itself. Conceived by the Rockefellers in 1927, Merchants Square may be the oldest planned shopping district in the country. While there are many shops and restaurants within the square, I will take time to highlight only a few of them.
Scotland House, Ltd.
I hold Williamsburg in the same vein as two other towns: Easton, MD (see my last post), and Lexington, VA. Perhaps a reason for this is the fact that all three have (or in Easton's case, had) a Celtic shop. Scotland House is Williamsburg's Celtic emporium, with 90% of its stock imported from England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Scotland House carries a wide variety of family tartan scarves, hats, and ties (being a bargain at only $30). They also carry the flags of the UK and Ireland. While I was taking classes at William & Mary two summers ago, one of my friends decided to buy a Union Jack... on Independence Day!
It wouldn't be a Anglo/Celtic store without some fine waxed cotton jackets. While not from Barbour, the jackets are of equal (if not better) quality and equal price.
Tartan? Check! Waxed jackets? Check! What could make this store even better? Harris Tweed! And Scotland House carries plenty of it!
While they didn't carry our family's tartan, they did carry our crest on a mug.
Ocean Palm
Ocean Palm is a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, with a sister location in Virginia Beach. I have bought many gifts from here, but not many items for myself. Their men's department is confined to a single shelf, consisting of needlepoint goods from Smathers & Branson and ties, shirts, and hats from Collared Greens, a Southern Prep brand I have mentioned before that manufactures exclusively in the US. However, this time, I received a pleasant surprise with the new addition of Lilly Pulitzer menswear. For a while, Lilly had stopped manufacturing menswear, turning its already sold apparel into collectors items that sell for hefty sums on eBay. I own a single blue polo shirt from Lilly which I found at Uptown Cheapskate for only $10. It is a medium, but runs much larger than that (buyers beware). While my shirt is in a subtle light blue, the rest of Lilly's menswear is very loud, even for GTH. Please tread lightly when buying and wearing.
The Ocean Palm is carrying a selection of Lilly ties and a single pair of shorts until the next collection is released in the spring. While I love the patterns of the ties, they sadly happen to be made in China (and sell for $78).
Wythe Candy & Gourmet Shop
By far one of the most famous stores in Merchants Square is the Wythe Candy Shop. Its gourmet sweets are made in front of customers and placed in the store's enormous display counter. It also sells basic prepackaged candies and specialty sodas of the area.
The store is named after the same family of the Marshall-Wythe Law School of William & Mary.
The Trellis
One of the nicest restaurants in Williamsburg is The Trellis in Merchants Square. Owned by the same family as several other downtown restaurants, it specializes in upscale American fare for a price comparable to the taverns of the colonial district. I usually order the steamed mussels, which is an appetizer large enough to make a meal. Both times I have eaten here were on the Fourth of July, and with friends from my William & Mary classes.
The trellis of The Trellis. You know a place is classy when you can hear Leon Bridges playing on the inside.
R.W. Bryant Ltd.
The Trad store of Williamsburg. Owned and operated by Rusty Bryant since 1986, the store specializes in Trad style, while still carrying contemporary Preppy staples to cater towards the college population. With Gitman Brothers for the lawyer, and Southern Tide for the pre-law student, this store has lasted and will continue to last as long as Williamsburg stays the Williamsburg we know. But as Mr. Bryant told me, it's one of the few stores of its kind left.
Having one of the largest blazer and sport coat collections I have ever seen, R.W. Bryant offers a wide range in price and quality. Spanning from Afazzy to Southwick Clothiers, a customer is nearly always likely to find what he is looking for.
R.W. Bryant is also a Barbour retailer, offering the signature waxed jackets and other merchandise such as shirts and slippers. They also carried the wax I sought on my trip to Easton, but the salesman recommended sending the coat back to the company itself for its rewaxing rather than buying a can. These days, it's rare that a store will put a customer before profit like this, and I am happy to say R.W. Bryant will have me as a customer for years and years to come because of it.
In addition to offering the finest menswear in Williamsburg, R.W. Bryant also offers a humidor full of *quality made cigars.
Honorable Mentions
While I did not get to visit or mention them during this trip to Williamsburg, here are several other stores and restaurants in and near Merchants Square I felt were worth giving a shout out to.
Blue Talon Bistro- Fine French dining featuring escargot. A favorite spot of mine for breakfast and lunch.
The Cheese Shop- The name says it all. Also a popular sandwich shop for lunch. Don't forget to try the house dressing! Outdoor seating all year round due to limited indoor space.
The Craft House- Sells Christmas decorations, jewelry, pewter, etc. Need something for your wife/mother/grandmother/sister/aunt/girlfriend? Get it here.
Aroma's Cafe- Coffee shop specializing in light breakfast fare. Packed on the weekends.
Dog Street Pub- Bar setting with fun pub food. Optional outdoor seating for warm days.
Berret's Seafood- Oyster bar and upscale dining. Outside corn hole games popular during summertime.
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Colonial Williamsburg
My family and I spent the majority of our trip in the town's colonial district. Stretching from Merchant's Square to the colonial capitol building, Duke of Gloucester Street is closed off to cars, and offers an array of trade shops, taverns, and other historical sites for visitors. Some are accessible only with certain passes, which my family does not bother with purchasing. All of what we have come to love is available to the public.
Bruton Parish Church. Active since at least 1715, it is a famous landmark in Williamsburg's colonial district. I have artwork featuring the church in my room back in Salisbury.
The Governor's Palace. The building is accessible with passes purchased from the Colonial Williamsburg foundation itself. It features a large maze out back. During Christmastime, each window is adorned with a wreath.
The end of Duke of Gloucester Street is marked by the colonial capitol building. It housed the Virginia House of Burgesses and later House of Delegates until 1779 when the capital was moved to Richmond.
The colonial district also offers several historic taverns as dining options, a bake shop, outdoor markets, and several retail stores. While I didn't get pictures of them, I recommend them to anyone who decides to visit this wonderful town!
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The College of William & Mary
Located across the road from Merchants Square, the W&M bookstore is technically located in the colonial district of Williamsburg. It doubles as a fully stocked Barnes and Noble as well, and has a Starbucks cafe on its second level (Warning: Does not accept Starbucks gift cards, but does accept B&N ones). Book signings are frequent, as well are sightings of my former classmates from past summer classes. Two winters ago, I by chance ran into my friend Christian from Houston, currently a freshman at Columbia. This year, I was blessed with seeing my friend Campbell, now a sophomore at W&M, as well as my former professor Dr. Jim Whittenburg, also a professor of my father's.
A sea of green and gold apparel, the W&M bookstore offers a wide variety of college gear for a 20% discount to those with a W&M ID. Salisbury University's bookstore really needs to step up its game. Want even cheaper W&M gear? Go to the Campus Shop on Prince George Street.
Before a time of hoodies, there was this OG. The college sweater. An Ivy style hallmark, W&M comes in three forms: v-neck, crew neck, and cardigan. All three send an Animal House vibe. Very expensive though, and imported.
Across Richmond Road from Merchants square is William & Mary's "Ancient Campus".
A side view of the Wren Building, W&M's signature structure (UVA : Rotunda :: W&M : Wren Building). It is the oldest academic building in the U.S. still in use. My father defended his dissertation in this building.
A Merry Christmas from Governor Lord Botetourt and I.
Wayfarer Sunglasses (RayBan) Italy
Bedale Waxed Jacket (Barbour) England
Tattersall OCBD (L.L. Bean) USA
Cashmere Sweater (Brooks Brothers) Scotland
Rugby Scarf (William & Mary)
Casual Chinos (Brooks Brothers)
*Bean Boots (L.L. Bean) USA
RayBan Wayfarer Sunglasses- See other posts.
Barbour Bedale Jacket- A year ago, a R.W. Bryant salesman was the one who suggested I start with a Bedale vs a Beaufort. For more, see other posts.
L.L. Bean Tattersall OCBD- Inherited from family friend. It has a flap-button pocket similar to J. Press. Can be worn year round. Made in USA.
Brooks Brothers Cashmere Sweater- See other posts.
William & Mary Rugby Scarf- Borrowed from my father. The stripes and colors have caused people to compliment me on my "Harry Potter scarf". And each time, I coldly correct them that it is in fact a Public Ivy scarf. As I have said before, DON'T WEAR GEAR OF COLLEGES YOU HAVE NO FAMILY OR PERSONAL CONNECTION TO! If you do, you will be inviting a very uncomfortable conversation, or this might happen.
Brooks Brothers Casual Chinos- See other posts.
L.L. Bean Boots- See other posts.
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Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
*Smoking tobacco is shown to cause cancer. While not as addictive or as harmful as cigarette smoking, these risks should be still known when pipe or cigar smoking.
