Retrospective: 2018

Hello readers. 2018 was a crazy year. As you may have noticed, I have not been able to post much during the summer and autumn/winter months. Because of this, I have decided to compile any pictures that were not featured in earlier into one mega post for the later months of the year.

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As mentioned earlier, I took a job this past summer with SU's English Language Institute. The job consisted of driving vans for the summer international students and providing them with a link into American life. The students came from all over, including Korea, China, Japan, and Spain. While I made an effort to get to know all of the students, the group I connected with the most was the Spanish students. It was a group of roughly 50 from the city of Malaga, who were all rising sophomores like myself. While I took many pictures at the planned activities, my phone's untimely demise prevents me from sharing them with you. However, I did manage to take some photos with my new phone, so I bring you them today.

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World Cup Party (July)

Two days after the arrival of the Spanish was the final match of the World Cup. With soccer being a pretty big deal in Spain, my boss decided to host a viewing party at his house. While many photos were taken that day and uploaded to WhatsApp, the destruction of my phone prevents me from sharing them. However, one picture did resurface in a "Miss You" post on Instagram. While I don't usually favor selfies on the blog, I'll make an exception here.

Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray Ban) Italy
Athletic Fit Polo Shirt (Brooks Brothers)

• Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses- Genetically attached during the summer, I know. For more, see other posts.
• Brooks Brothers Athletic Fit Polo Shirt- Not from my preferred Golden Fleece Line, but I'll still take it. The fit is much more streamlined and looks good tucked or untucked. Bought from Uptown Cheapskate. Looks good with yellow or khaki shorts

Assateague Island (July)
The waters of the Mid-Atlantic are much rougher than those of the Mediterranean, on which Malaga is situated. We chose the perfect day to bring the students to the beach, and it didn't rain until the very second we got on the bus to return to Salisbury. While we made the promise of seeing the wild horses on the island, they ultimately refused to show.

El Americano

Chappy Flag Trunks (Vineyard Vines)

• Vineyard Vines Chappy Flag Trunks- As I was told several times that day, these trunks make me look "very American". See other posts for more.

Farewell Banquet (August)
When the Summer ELI program started years ago, the goodbye was a simple pool party and potluck at the director's house. Now, it is a catered event held in Salisbury University's fine dining hall. While I normally would don a blazer in such situations, my coworker Matt suggested all of the male employees wear suits. Typically, I opt for a seersucker or tan poplin suit during the summertime. However, given the international nature of the event, I decided to opt for a continental 1960s look rather than that of a Southern lawyer. Goodbye Atticus Finch. Hello Mr. Bond/Draper.

One of many goodbye photos taken that day.

Gray Flannel Suit (Joseph Abboud)
Point Collar Dress Shirt (Van Heusen)
 Tie (Brooks Brothers) USA
Captoe Dress Shoes (Bostonian)

• Joseph Abboud Gray Flannel Suit- Had the peak lapels altered to regular for cosmetic reasons. Still need to have the pants cuffed, but other than that, Joe Abboud is holding up for me until I decide to up my game to Brooks Brothers.
• Van Heusen Dress Shirt- Yes, its a brand that can be bought at regional department stores such as Boscov's and Belk, but its been around for decades! While they are nowhere near the quality of Brooks Brothers, they are a cheap fix for the man on the hunt for a dress shirt.
• Brooks Brothers Tie- Bought at Rehoboth Beach outlet store. Made for Brooks' infamous Black Fleece collection, this tie was originally set at a price of $125 until I bought it for only 1/5th of that price. While most stuff from Black Fleece I wouldn't be caught dead in, this tie's slim cut is a throwback to the company's mid-century heyday. Made in USA.
• Bostonian Captoe Dress Shoes- Five years old and still kickin', literally. For more, see other posts.

Bonfire at Assateague Island (October)

Lets skip to Autumn now. The two months that followed August were rough, as they saw the final days of my grandfather, to whom I was very close.  Needless to say, I didn't much think to keep the blog or Instagram updated, as I was not out doing anything for the most part. In the end, we must focus on the things that really matter. However, I did manage to make it out to a beach bonfire in mid October.

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is a true story involving a bonfire.

Bedale Waxed Jacket (Barbour) England
Fisherman Sweater (L.L. Bean) Ireland
Tattersall Shirt (Orvis)
Driggs Chinos (J. Crew)
*Duck Boots (L.L. Bean) USA

• Barbour Bedale Waxed Jacket- First time used this season. A cold front hit the Peninsula the day before, dropping the lows to the 40s. I planned on sending it for waxing over the summer, but time got away from me. So in November, I decided to undertake the task of waxing it on my own. It was a process that took about an hour and a half. The wax kept having to be remelted. In the end, I don't think I did that bad of a job. If you make time for it, I highly recommend waxing your jacket itself rather than sending it away (at least once)!
• L.L. Bean Fisherman Sweater- Ordered on eBay for $60, compared to $169 from Bean itself. Along with duck boots, tote bags, and Norwegian sweaters, it is one of the few items left made by L.L. Bean in quality countries. Many brands try to replicate these sweaters, and many will fail with their Chinese made alternatives. The only thing ranking higher L.L. Bean's sweater would be one from an Irish brand.
• Orvis Tattersall Shirt- Brought it out of storage the day before. See other posts for more.
• J. Crew Driggs Chinos- In a shade of deep dark khaki. Probably my most versatile pair of pants during Fall/Winter. They are a bit too dark for Spring/Summer, but by then, we are all eager to be wearing pastel shorts again.
• L.L. Bean Duck Boots- Broken out in early September during a 70 degree rainy day, but returned to storage again until October. Those things are like foot saunas! For more, see other posts.

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Happy 2019! 

Preachin' on Beachin'

Hello readers! Just as I said in my last post, summer has indeed come to town! It has been in the upper 80s and low 90s for about a week now, and it doesn't look like it plans to leave this range. So lets get into a summer frame of mind with a beach post! Enjoy!

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(A Few) Delmarva Beaches

Salisbury is a fairly boring city, despite being the 3rd largest on the Delmarva Peninsula. While we are home to a Division III lacrosse powerhouse and the corporate headquarters of Perdue Farms, there is little else that distinguishes Salisbury as an interesting town. However, our proximity to beaches is one thing Salisburians never complain about. We are a 30 minute drive from Ocean City, MD, which I am pretty sure 99% of my Maryland readers have been to at least once. However, Ocean City is not the only beach in the area. To the north of OCMD are the Delaware Beaches of Fenwick, Bethany, Dewey, Rehoboth, and Lewes. Just south of Ocean City's inlet is Assateague Island, a state and national seashore popular for those who want to avoid the urban feel of OC (thus becoming more crowded by people who share this mindset). It is also famous for the wild horses that call the island home. Assateague extends into the Virginian part of Delmarva, then leading to Chincoteague Island, a resort town famous for its yearly Pony Penning (Misty of Chincoteague, anyone?). Also nearby is the NASA base at Wallops Island, infamous for the 2014 explosion of a rocket to be sent to the ISS. Anyways, enough with those Virginians. Back to "Muraland"! To the west of Salisbury lie more beaches within an equal distance to OC. The Nanticoke River is home to Tyaskin Park, Cove Beach, and Roaring Point Park. These beaches are popular with those wishing to avoid the crowds of the coastal ones, and thus become just as crowded.

Roaring Point (6/14)

On Thursday of last week, we made the decision to start taking advantage of the warm weather and our closeness to the water and start going to the beach. Due to the lack of time due to a meeting I had at 5:30 and the heavy volume of traffic, Mason, Chris, and I decided to hit up the Nanticoke Beaches for a few hours (Nick couldn't make it). While we initially planned to kayak, we were disappointed to find out the boats wouldn't fit in the bed of Mason's Sierra due to the extended cab. Not wanting to waste more time by retrieving his Ford Ranger from storage, we decided just to bring a football and go swimming. Not wanting to have to take a longer drive through Salisbury, we decided to take the ferry across the Wicomico River to save time.

The Upper Ferry runs from the village of Eden in Somerset County to the West Side outskirts of Salisbury, home to a large number of McMansion developments that began to appear in the 1980s. (picture property of Mapio.net)

Upper Ferry Road then leads the Nanticoke Road, which then is a 15 minute drive to a fork in the road divided by Boonies Restaurant, a childhood favorite of mine. The North road leads to Tyaskin, while the South road leads to the village of Bivalve, Cedar Hill and Nanticoke Marinas, and the Cove and Roaring Point Beaches. We took the latter of the roads and first stopped at the Cove to see how crowded it was. Sure enough, the place was packed, mostly with young families, including my History professor and his 2 year old. With not enough available shoreline for our shenanigans, we decided to leave and check out Roaring Point, which was far less crowded and had much more space to set up our stuff. 

Calmer than the waters of the Atlantic and the Chesapeake, Nanticoke River beaches are popular with families with young children, and locals wanting to avoid the out-of-towners who take over Ocean City and Assateague Island.

We stayed for about two hours, swimming and tossing the football. It was the bugs and my impending meeting that resulted in us leaving. Both flies and jellyfish are usually what cause the mass evacuation from the river beaches around 4 in the afternoon.

Football and Flag Day (ft. Brad and Chad)

College Hat (Salisbury University)
Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray Ban) Italy
Blue OCBD (Lands End) USA
Chappy Trunks (Vineyard Vines)

• Salisbury University College Hat- Free hat given out during orientation. Just a month after I bought a near identical one from the campus bookstore, and a day after Mason bought his. I will actually be giving this hat its very own post in coming weeks (or maybe days), so stay tuned!
• Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses- See other posts.
• Lands End Blue OCBD- The most versatile shirt in the Ivy/Preppy/Trad wardrobe also serves as the perfect pre/post swim cover-up. For more, see other posts.
• Vineyard Vines Chappy Trunks- Allison's beloved gift has returned from hibernation. With this being Flag Day, they had an extra special meaning. However, I'd just as soon wear them any other day. If you love your country, why only show it on given days? For more, see my Red Roost post from last summer.

Assateague Island (6/16)

Two days later saw a return to a beachy environment, albeit without Chris, who was performing in the Salisbury Chamber Music Festival, and with Nick. We also called up our friend Matt from high school, back in Salisbury on break from Syracuse. As Ocean City would be a nightmare zone due to the airshow taking place, we decided to hit up Assateague and buy a year round beach pass for the Sierra.

Assateague National Seashore is favored for allowing trucks on the beach in one of its Southernmost sections. It also is a popular campground.

While the waves were not rough at all, sandbars prevented us from doing any body surfing. Also, the crabs were in rare form that day. However, the day was perfect for skimboarding!

Only thing missing is the Yeti.

Me: Whale Hat (Vineyard Vines)
Croakies (Southern Tide)
Button Down (J. Crew)
Coozie (The Lucky Knot)
Boat Shoes (Sperry)
Nick: Trucker Hat (Rise Up Coffee Roasters)
Retro Frame Sunglasses (J. Crew)
Croakies (Southern Tide)
Breton Stripe Frocket (J. Crew)
Ironman Triathlon Watch (Timex)
Reversible Coozie (Southern Tide)
Z/Cloud Sandals (Chaco)

• Vineyard Vines Whale Hat- Three years old and going strong. See other posts.
• Southern Tide Croakies- Mine with a nautical flag motif, and Nick's in rainbow, which I also own a pair of from the same store. See other posts for more, most notably Alexandria, VA.
• J. Crew Button Down- Typically my go-to shirt to be worn with a blazer and bow tie. Also used as a beach cover-up since my Vineyard Vines one has begun to yellow (RIP). For more, see other posts.
• Lucky Knot Coozie- Bought from the store which it bares the name of in Alexandria, VA. However, it was bought during a visit separate from the one I blogged about. Features the motto "Work like a captain, party like a pirate." When Nick and I visited the store last year however, the coozies had vanished. 
• Sperry Boat Shoes- Not truly boat shoes unless you have a little sand in them. For more, see other posts.
• Rise Up Coffee Trucker Hat- I have featured Rise Up before in other posts. In addition to amazing beverages, the ever growing coffee company now offers a line of apparel with its logo. 
• J. Crew Retro Frame Sunglasses- Basic clubmaster style of sunglasses for a bargain price! 
• J. Crew Breton Stripe Frocket Tee- Bought from Uptown Cheapskate during one of our visits. Breton striped anything is usually a hit, and is paired stylishly with red.
• Timex Ironman Triathlon Watch- A timepiece Nick has sung high praises of. For those who want a high functioning watch that you don't want to have to read Roman numerals on.
• Southern Tide Reversible Coozie- A Christmas gift I bought for Nick from RW Bryant in Williamsburg.
• Chaco Z/Cloud Sandals- Later paired with socks after a game of pool basketball at Mason's. While I know I could never pull that off, Nick, somehow, DID! See Spring 2018 for more.
• Also featured in the pic is Nick's Salisbury University Lax hat. Now, I know what you're thinking. Nick doesn't go to SU or play lacrosse. However, the hat is actually a collectors item. It is signed by the 2004 lax team, which won nationals that year (like many other years). 

It wouldn't be a beach day without some corn hole, Zac Brown Band, and Jimmy Buffett. 

Brads, Chads, or dads?

After a day of swimming, football, and corn hole, we left the island around 7 for some dinner in West Ocean City, which was packed due to the exodus from the airshow. After that, we cruised on back to Salisbury jamming to some Yacht Rock. In all, it was a good day for the beach!

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Twilight of Summer 2017

There are three ends to summer: the first day of class, labor day, and finally, the first day of autumn. FDOC allows students one week to flaunt their seersucker, madras, and white on campus before they expire the day after labor day (while I still see the occasional frat bro wearing them into the month). However, the weather is still warm enough for short sleeves and shorts until the seasonal beginning of fall around the 22nd of September. After that, sweater weather has begun, unless you live in Salisbury where it will continue to be warm until mid-October. It is this period of class time in between the first day of class and the first day of fall that I like to call the the twilight of summer. It may be warm enough to wear your shorts and Sperrys, but a Patagonia may come in handy walking to an 8 am lecture.

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Shorebirds Baseball Game (9/1)

Salisbury is home to the Delmarva Shorebirds, a minor league Baltimore Orioles feeder team and Nick's former employer (as you can't be Sherman the Shorebird and go to Vanderbilt at the same time). I went with some friends to a game to celebrate one week down of classes. Even though Labor Day hadn't yet hit us, it felt like fall at Perdue Stadium.

A flock of Seagulls meet Sherman the Shorebird.
Golden Fleece Cap (Brooks Brothers)
University Stripe OCBD (Ralph Lauren)
Fleece Vest (Vineyard Vines)
Chinos (Brooks Brothers)
Topsider Boat Shoes (Sperry)

• Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece Cap- See Skip Day.
• Ralph Lauren University Stripe OCBD- See other posts.
• Vineyard Vines Fleece Vest- A much appreciated gift from my friend Allison. This vest is an outlet exclusive, and was found at Uptown Cheapskate. While I have another in blue (bought from Rehoboth Beach outlet store), I prefer this green version. Especially when classically paired with pink.
• Brooks Brothers Casual Chinos- Need ironing. See Early Summer 2017.
• Sperry Topsider Boat Shoes- Gonna keep wearing these until Fall officially comes. I will then switch over to my other, more moc-like pair of Sperrys. See other posts for more.

Church Service (9/3)

Change of scene: Salisbury, MD. 1967. While on the wane in the Northeast, the Ivy League look will be around here for three more years.

Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray Ban) Italy
OCBD (L.L. Bean)
Knit Tie (Banana Republic)
Bleeding Madras Sport Coat (Frank Leonard of Baltimore) USA
Dress Chinos (Brooks Brothers)
Sausage Roll Penny Loafers (Alden) USA
Accutron Watch (Bulova) Switzerland

• Ray Ban Wayfarers- 60s brand? Check. (See other posts.)
• L.L. Bean OCBD- 60s brand? Check! (See other posts.)
• Banana Republic Knit Tie- While one of my most 60s based pieces of clothing, it is not from a brand of the decade. This slim knit tie still follows a classic style common of that time though. While I hope to find either a vintage version someday, BR will do for now.
• Frank Leonard Bleeding Madras Sport Coat- I found this blazer while browsing through Season's Best Antiques with Allison. Season's Best has always catered toward my interest through their collections of vintage ties, as well as selling me my copy of The Official Preppy Handbook. When I found the jacket, I was thrilled to find it fit perfectly! From a university shop of 1960s Baltimore, this sport coat is "guaranteed to bleed" on a label on its inside. Made in the USA of authentic Indian madras.
• Brooks Brothers Dress Chinos- 60s brand? Check! (See other posts.)
• Alden Sausage Roll Penny Loafers- 60s brand? Check! (See other posts.)
• Bulova Accutron- Authentic 60s timepiece? Check! (See other posts.)

Beach Bonfire (9/8)

Drove the flock to Assateague National Seashore for a late night bonfire. Then to OC when I found out my bro Ed had never been before.

Just after the water hit us.
Whale Hat (Vineyard Vines)
Gingham Button Down (Southern Proper)
Synchilla Snap T (Patagonia)
Chino Shorts (L.L. Bean)

• Vineyard Vines Whale Hat- See OBX 2017.
• Southern Proper Gingham Button Down- One of the original Southern Preppy brands. Just like Southern Tide, this company makes shirts of the same quality of any other imported brand and sells them at a mark-up. Is that logo of a dog wearing a bow-tie fratastic? Absolutely yes! Is that little dog wearing a bow-tie worth $100 a shirt? Absolutely not! That's why when I found this shirt at Uptown Cheapskate for $15, I bought it right away. *Warning: This shirt (a medium) is of a boxy cut and generous in material, but short in the sleeves. Fellow mediums, beware.
• Patagonia Synchilla Snap T- Bought from Uptown Cheapskate for around $20, while most Patagucci sells for over $100. While neither Ivy nor Traditional, the Synchilla falls into the realm of post-1980 preppy, and definitely fratty. Coming out in new designs each year, one has many options to choose from. While I typically find gray and olive to be dull, my fleece of these colors has proven to be quite versatile with my selection of shirts to wear under it.
• L. L. Bean Chino Shorts- See other posts.

Game Day (9/9)
First home game of the season, and we beat William Paterson 63-7. Go Gulls!

Sammy the Seagull and his flock.
Salisbury University Rugby Shirt (Barbarian) Canada

• Barbarian SU Rugby Shirt- Another gift from Allison. Many companies try their hand at Rugby shirts. Ralph Lauren, Lands End, L. L. Bean, and more. However, Barbarian has managed to undercut them all in price and in quality. This jersey was made in Canada and is a bargain from the SU Bookstore, while the other brands have the tendency to import from Asia and charge steep prices. Mine fits great, and gained numerous compliments from friends and strangers alike.

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