Providence, RI

Hello readers! I know I mentioned an Easter post at the beginning of my last post for Spring Break, but the semester has picked up again with its workload. I did take pictures though, and they will be included in my seasonal "Spring 2018" post. But for now, lets move on to the next event I mentioned: a trip to Providence, RI.

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Thursday April 12th

Most of you are probably wondering why someone would take a trip to Rhode Island toward the end of the spring semester and not during spring break. I was lucky enough to have research accepted by the Northeast Regional Honors Council to be presented at their annual conference. While last year it was hosted in Pittsburgh, PA (a place I have little interest of traveling to), this year it was to be held in Providence, a city I have always wanted to visit. I went along with 19 other students from Salisbury University, 13 of which were other freshmen. We departed from Salisbury at 7 in the morning, cutting through NYC as well as its many commuter towns in NY and CT.

This photo was taken at a rest stop in New Jersey before entering the Big Apple. You can spot the skyline in the background if you look closely.

Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray Ban) Italy
Cotton Quarter-Zip (Vineyard Vines)
University Stripe OCBD (Ralph Lauren)
Sutton Chinos (J. Crew)
Horsebit Loafers (Cole Haan)

• Vineyard Vines Quarter Zip- Bought from Rehoboth Beach, DE outlet store. The cotton quarter-zip is a staple in my spring wardrobe. While not looked upon favorably by the old guard, I recommend Vineyard Vines as a source of these sweaters and pullovers for times when its too warm for a Patagonia or wool pullover but too chilly for just a shirt. A much more contemporary preppy look than the Ivy styled v-neck or crew.
• Ralph Lauren University Stripe OCBD- Pink and green pairing on point. 
• J. Crew Sutton Chinos- See other posts.
• Cole Haan Horsebit Loafers- Mainly retired during the cooler months in favor of my Aldens and Bean Boots. Now making their way out of hibernation. For more, see other posts.

We arrived in Providence around 3:30. We would be staying in the heart of "down-city" at the Omni Providence hotel, which also housed the Providence Convention Center where our conference would be held. Being only four men on the trip (not including the Honors College Dean), we were put two to a room.

The view from my hotel room wasn't bad at all!

The Omni also housed a massive indoor gym and swimming pool on its sixth floor. I made use of the pool and hot tub several times during my stay, and it became one of the primary meeting place for students of other schools at the conference.

The hotel was also connected to the nearby Providence Place Mall by sky-walk. After attending a conference sponsored game night, I headed over to the mall with my roommate for dinner at the food court.

Don't hate on mall sushi until you've tried it. It was definitely worth more than the small price they charged.

After my roommate returned to the hotel, I decided to further explore the mall. I was definitely impressed by its wide selection, but mostly by its J. Crew, which had the most helpful staff I've ever experienced at one. That night, it was hosting a fundraiser party for a local non-profit, complete with a guitar player. I made sure to buy a pair of socks before returning to the hotel.

Not a J.Crew Factory store by any means!

Despite their heavy appearance, these herringbone socks are appropriate for any weather (that requires socks)!

Friday April 13th

Today was our designated time to explore the city before the presenting of research actually kicked off. Much to my delight, we would not be toured around the city by a guide, but rather by ourselves. We started off as one large group of SU freshman and we made off to visit Brown and then the waterfront. The city reminded me of a mix of Alexandria, VA with a less crowded and dirty Baltimore. We walked through the campus of Brown for about 10 minutes while attracting the evil eye of the University's students who were probably scoffing at us for being the out-of-towners we were. I didn't blame them at all. If SU attracted the number of tourists Brown did, I'm pretty sure I'd be that way too.

This photo was taken before our hasty departure from the Brown campus.

Monogrammed Polo Shirt (L.L. Bean)
Nautical Flag Motif Belt (Leatherman Ltd.) USA
Accutron Watch (Bulova) Switzerland

• L.L. Bean Monogrammed Polo Shirt- Bought from Bean's website. L.L. Bean puts out a killer polo shirt for an unbeatable price of only $35! A monogram only costs $8 extra for non-cardholders, while it is free for those with the L.L. Bean Visa Card. A cardholder myself, I enjoy free shipping and returns, as well as the complimentary monogramming services. A monogram beats out a pony, whale, sheep, or even alligator any day!
• Leatherman Ltd. Motif Belt- Now that Vineyard Vines has started importing their belts, I recommend the Connecticut made Leatherman as a safe and superior alternative (not to mention cheaper). I own another with an anchor motif, and plan on continuing my collection as soon as I find another store that carries them. For more, see my Alexandria, VA post.
• Bulova Accutron Watch- See other posts.

Providence skyline as seen from our waterfront walk.

After walking along the waterfront for a while, we decided to get lunch at a local sandwich shop closer to the hotel. Naturally, I took the opportunity to get my share of some fine New England cuisine with a bowl of clam chowder and Del's Lemonade to wash it down.

The last time I was in New England was a time I couldn't stand clam chowder. Six years later, and I can't get enough of it.

A Rhode Island tradition.

After lunch, our main group split up into three smaller ones to either return to the hotel, go shopping, or explore the city. Wanting to see more of the town, I went with the latter of the three. We first returned to the hotel to change, as the temperature had dropped. It was during this brief stop at the hotel that I spotted David Letterman in the lobby headed to the bar. Unfortunately, I did not take the opportunity to get a photo, as I was unsure about whether or not it was him until one of my friends saw him the following day. After departing from the hotel, we visited a Roger Williams visitor center, where we found out too late that a bus ran from Providence to Newport, where I and several others in our group had wanted to visit. Slightly disappointed, we then made our way to the State House.

Inside the State House is not only the legislative offices of RI, but also the charter for the colony.

After touring the state house, we then returned to the hotel yet again, but I couldn't get enough of the city, and decided to set out again several minutes after getting back. I ventured into a part of the downtown in search of a men's clothing store, and soon found what I was looking for in the form of a vintage store. While it did carry vintage preppy staples from Brooks, Bean, Pendleton, Woolrich, etc., it presented more of a hipster vibe. After walking around the city more, I then returned to the hotel for the evening. The conference put on a banquet at 7:30, followed by a keynote speaker that went until 9:30. While we had initially wanted to go out and explore the city's nightlife, the presentations the next day kept us from doing so.

Not knowing about the long speech awaiting us.

Blue OCBD (Lands End) USA
Navy Blazer (Belk) USA
* Embroidered Whale Shorts (Ralph Lauren
*not pictured

• Lands End Blue OCBD-  One of two blue OCBDs brought to RI with me. See Alexandria, VA post for more.
• Belk Navy Blazer- First appearance it would make before being worn all of Saturday and Sunday. For more, see other posts.
• Ralph Lauren Embroidered Whale Shorts- Definitely turned some heads at this dinner. Whenever the dress code is vague, shorts with a blazer is always the compromise. Business on top, party on bottom. For more, see other posts, but especially Alexandria, VA for this combination.

Saturday April 14th

Today was the first day of research presentation for the conference. While I wouldn't present until Sunday, I still made my best efforts to attend the sessions of other SU students. Breakfast consisted of pastries and coffee provided by the conference, so I decided to up my game by getting brunch at one of the hotel's restaurants, Centro.

Sausage, home fried potatoes, and toast. Brunch had never been more filling than this! (Don't let the picture fool you. They give quite large portions.)

After a day of attending research presentations, lounging poolside, and keeping a watchful eye out for David Letterman (who I never saw again), I then went out with my friends to a upscale pizza place for dinner. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures, but can tell you that the restaurant was Providence Coal Fired Pizza in the city's downtown. After eating, we then returned to the hotel for the nautical themed student gala.

Captain Tom sets sail from Providence. Coast Guard beware!

Sailboat Bow Tie (Vineyard Vines) USA
White OCBD (J. Crew)

• Vineyard Vines Sailboat Bow Tie- Nautical themed dances come with options. Wear an ascot and captain's hat for a Thurston Howell III or yacht club vibe? Or Nantucket Reds for the look of a Yankee sailor? Or embrace youth with a nautical themed bow tie? While I had all three options at my disposal, I decided upon the most contemporary and youthful one. Paired with casual khakis and sock-less loafers for a less contrived look of pressed slacks and coordinated socks. You're only in college once! For more, see other posts.
• J. Crew White OCBD- I try not to concern myself with a collar roll when wearing bow ties. This being said, it is my go-to shirt for anything but a straight tie. For more, see other posts.

Sunday April 15th

I finally presented my research this morning, but took no pictures were taken from the presentation. We departed from Providence at 10 am and arrived home at 6 pm. In all, my trip to Providence was amazing! I recommend it to anyone wanting the urban New England experience but not wanting to venture as far up as Boston. My only regrets are that I couldn't stay longer, and that I didn't get a picture with David Letterman.

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Oxford, MD

Two weekends ago, my uncle invited my family to visit him in Oxford, MD. For readers who have never heard of Oxford before (which is probably the majority of you), it is a small town on Maryland's Eastern Shore that tries to replicate the feeling of New England through its houses, Bed and Breakfasts, and nautical culture. However, its Chesapeake Bay roots shine through its attempts of imitating Nantucket. Only an hour from Salisbury, it is one of my favorite places on the shore. The invitation from my uncle included going out on his new boat, which excited me.

One of Oxford's several marinas. This one housing both my uncle's boat and a club swimming pool.

Oxford's Tread Avon Yacht Club, which is known to host various regattas during the summertime.

My uncle's racing sailboat Bandana. Owned by his friend, my uncle has helped crew this boat from Bermuda to the Virgin Islands during the fall. In the summer, Bandana typically stays in the Chesapeake region, and my uncle has offered me a chance to help crew her.

After sailing out of Oxford onto the Choptank River, our first stop was in Trappe, another small town in Talbot county that until this day I did not know was on the water. While I usually drive through Trappe during the winter, I enjoyed taking in the sights of the creek.

Trappe during the wintertime is a sight to make a country gentleman feel at home. During the summer, it is home for a sailor. 

Pulling out of the creek, we then set out up river to one of the Eastern Shore's most populated towns, Cambridge, MD, which we drove through on our way to Oxford.

Cambridge is also home to a Hyatt Golf Resort and Marina, which we passed before turning the boat around to return to Oxford.

Taking the wheel for a bit while my uncle takes a break.
Wayfarer Sunglasses (Ray-Ban) Italy
Croakies (Southern Tide)
Custom Fit Polo Shirt (Ralph Lauren)
Printed Gramercy Chino Shorts (J. Crew)
Grant Chronograph Watch (Fossil)
Anchor Bracelet (KJP) USA

• Rayban Wayfarers- Worn with the white polo in the style of Jordan Belfort. For more, see Early Summer 2017.
• Southern Tide Croakies- Worn for their original purpose of preventing sunglasses from falling into the water. For more, see other spring/summer posts.
• Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt- While this shirt has become mainstream and no longer the status symbol it once was, at least one genuine Polo shirt is a must in the preppy wardrobe (I have two, including this one). While not at the same level as Lacoste's gator, the Brooks Brothers fleece, the pony still deserves a place in the logo hall of fame. Never buy big logo Polo, however. Unless you are actually a polo player and it is an actual part of your uniform.
• Fossil Chronograph Watch- For more, see other posts.
• KJP Anchor Bracelet- Worn in the correct setting. For more, see other posts.
• J. Crew Printed Shorts- Printed with imagery of coastal Maine. Lobster? Check. Lighthouse? Check. Sailboats? Check. The list goes on. The shorter inseam is also a plus in my book. Skies out, thighs out.
• You can most likely guess what pair of shoes I am wearing, so I'm not even gonna bother.

After returning to Oxford, we stopped at the Scottish Highland Creamery for ice cream. The ice cream parlor shares a building with the restaurant Capsize, formerly known as Schooners.

After our ice cream stop, we decided it was time to return to Salisbury for the evening. However, on the way out of town, I managed to take a few more pictures of Oxford I deemed worth sharing. However, I must warn you, these photos were taken from a moving car, so they may be sub-par compared to the rest.

Vineyard Vines vibes (even though there has never and there will never be whales in the Choptank River)

The houses in Oxford also present a coastal New England feel, with their white picket fences, porches, and shutters. 

Oxford's park serves as a relaxing spot to watch the river and its sailboats.

Mystery Loves Company Booksellers is one of the few shops in Oxford. The store offers books new and used, and has been known to host authors for book signings. The town's other stores that I have been to before include two gift shops (one even selling Harding Lane needlepoint hats) and a convenience store ("market"). 

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Alexandria, VA

With classes finished, there was one thing left for me to do before graduating, and that was the National Academic Championship. Our team consisted of the same players as it did for the TV show It's Academic (see my earlier posts), with three additional players to fill a fourth spot. The competition was held at the Mark Center Hilton in Alexandria, VA, by Chip Beall, a former game show host. While most of the other teams competing faced a long flight or car trip, our trip to Alexandria was less than three hours. As we were staying at the hotel where the competition was taking place, this put us in walking distance of a Chesapeake Bay tradition: Clyde's restaurant.

Originally a bar in Georgetown opened in '63, Clyde's has since expanded to a chain of upscale restaurants in the DC area (and even gets a shoutout in The Official Preppy Handbook).

The room our team was sat in was themed as a Chesapeake Bay hunt club (notice the guns and decoys).  The restaurant also has an Adirondack themed dining room, as well as a nautical one which is home to the famous bar. 

When you order a lobster roll and are given two of them with your order, you know you've paid your money's worth. 

Dessert: Bailey's Cheesecake with Kahlua sauce.

"Let's get a picture at Clyde's" -Nick Selser
Me: University Stripe OCBD (Vineyard Vines)
Nautical Flag Belt (Leatherman Ltd.) USA
Nantucket Reds (Murray's Toggery Shop)
Horsebit Loafers (Cole Haan)
Nick: Vanderbilt Longsleeve Frocket Tee (League Outfitters)
Whale Shorts (Ralph Lauren)
Canvas Deckshoes (Sperry)

• Vineyard Vines University Stripe OCBD- See Winter 2017.
• Leatherman Ltd Nautical Flag Belt- Bought from the boutique/men's store Sailor in Easton, MD. Motif belts are tricky to pair with Nantucket Reds. However, the navy in the belt ribbon was able to bring both the belt and the pants together in a tasteful combination. After all, these pants were originally worn by sailors. Can be paired with khaki or stone chinos as well. Made in USA.
• Genuine Nantucket Reds- Bought from Orvis outlet in Rehoboth, DE for only $35. These typically go for over $80, so I was quick to snatch these up in Delaware rather than driving up to Nantucket or getting hit hard with shipping fees and high prices. While obtaining genuine Nantucket Reds is a struggle even on Ebay, I recommend buying similar colored pants from other companies (like I did with Banana Republic before getting these) before getting lucky like myself or blowing nearly $100 on pants that are also imported. Murray's does offer US made Nantuckets online and in their flagship store, but they are sold at a much higher price.
• Cole Haan Horsebit Loafers- See Winter 2017.
• Nick decided upon a Vanderbilt University frocket tee, whale shorts, and deck shoes for the occasion. While he purchased the shirt during his visit to his chosen school, the whale shorts were found at Uptown Cheapskate during a post-birthday shopping spree that happened to correspond with a Memorial Day sale. Nick walked out of the store with over $1000 worth of clothes while having spent less than $100.

The following day, our team competed in the tournament but sadly did not make it to the playoffs. However, this did not bother us, as we would have had to return to Alexandria after graduating the next day, and played with minimal sleep on Sunday. So Nick and I decided to make the most of our opportunity and visit Alexandria's Old Town historic district as we had done during the competition last year. While walking around the waterfront, we both made a point to visit a preppy favorite in Alexandria, The Lucky Knot.

The Lucky Knot's Kings Street location in Alexandria. Its other location is in Annapolis, MD, which I sadly have not had the chance to visit yet.

The Lucky Knot specializes in mainly college preppy brands (Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, Southern Proper, Etc.) that are popular in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, but also pays homage to New England through its sale of Barbour waxed jackets and Kiel James Patrick bracelets.

You know its a gentleman's store when these boys are on the wall. 

After purchasing matching croakies from the store (and a bow-tie on Nick's part), the two of us hit the harbor before getting dinner and leaving the city at 9. We are already planning a return trip for this summer, so stay tuned for Alexandria, VA part II!

For the competition, our captain told us to dress overly preppy. This only made us blend in even more while in Old Town. While strange looks may have met us in Salisbury, this was not the case here.
Me: Navy Blazer (Andhurst/Belk) USA
Blue Oxford (Lands End) USA
Leather Belt (J. Crew) USA
Whale Shorts (Ralph Lauren)
Horsebit Loafers (Cole Haan)
Clubmaster Shades (Rayban) Italy
Nick: Frat Hat (Southern Proper)
Aviator Shades (Rayban) Italy
Reversible Bowtie (The Tie Bar)
Tattersall OCBD (J. Crew)
5" Shorts (J. Crew)
Original Topsiders (Sperry)

• Andhurst Navy Blazer- Worn with shorts for a WASPy look. Add a hat, and it will turn fratty. For more, see It's Academic.
• Lands End Blue OCBD- Bought from Uptown Cheapskate. Made before LE decided to globalize their production, this shirt is probably my highest in quality and best fitting, and is coveted by my father. Made in the USA.
• Ralph Lauren Whale Shorts- Not an uncommon sight in preppy towns like Alexandria. For more, see Senior Skip Day.
• Nick is on the frattier end of the spectrum, wearing his Frat Hat from SoPro (which he purchased from The Lucky Knot last year), OCBD, bowtie, and Chubbie length shorts with Sperrys.

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