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Feast Your Senses at Queen of the Night
Imagine being transported into another world where a mysterious stranger approaches you as you walk down a flight of stairs. “Come with me,” she says, leading you into another room, before holding a mirror. “The Queen has asked to see you,” she continues, as she points to cloaked woman wearing a lavish headpiece. Then the […] -
The Five Top Fragrance Picks From Elements
This one is for those of you who are looking for a fragrance that stands out from the sea of scents you can find at the department store. The Manual visited the most recent edition of Elements to find five colognes that you should get your nose on. Aperture Ulrich Lang This new scent by […] -
Flint & Tinder: The New American Classic
Here at The Manual there’s nothing more we love than a good made in America story, and while we’ve covered a fair share of them already, we’re pretty sure none quite entertains and inspires like Flint and Tinder. One of the fastest growing companies in the fashion industry, New York City-based Flint and Tinder (the […] -
Feel Good Friday – Veja
We have to say – every time we profile another sustainable, eco friendly brand, we learn something new. Here is what we learned when researching the French brand Veja (which means ‘look’ in Portuguese) after digging their shoes, bags and accessories over the past couple of seasons: Seringueiros: What you call people who tap rubber trees. Veja […] -
Q&A: George Esquivel of Tumi
Every traveler worth his weight in carry-ons needs a great weekend bag or wheeled suitcase. After all, if the paparazzi spy you at LAX do you really want to be carrying a beaten and threadbare duffel bag? One of the hottest luggage brands on the market today is Tumi. The New Jersey-based luxury bag line […] -
Mercedes’ S-Class Coupe loves corners so much, it actively leans into them
When I think of Mercedes-Benz, I don’t think of stately SUVs or small sports cars, though it has great expertise in making both. No, the cars that truly represent Mercedes-Benz – in my mind – are its hulking coupes. The breed’s lineage reaches back to the 1952 300 S Coupe. Over the years, the full-size […] -
From Deschutes to Ecliptic: Talking hops with brewmaster John Harris
Three decades in the microbrewery business is no small feat—John Harris could attest to that. The Portland, Ore., native has been brewing in the Pacific Northwest since the mid ’80s, jumping between several of the state’s flagship breweries and pioneering some of the most beloved craft beers on the West Coast ever since he began […] -
Russian Renovations: Nikolai’s Roof in Atlanta Gets a Makeover
In case you didn’t know, the Atlanta culinary scene is expanding and progressing at a rapid rate. Over the past year, innovative restaurant after innovative restaurant have opened all over the city, which has created a highly competitive and creative atmosphere in “Hotlanta.” To keep up with the field, the famed and iconic restaurant, Nikolai’s […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – Katsu Tanaka
When we were at Beam & Anchor in Portland (yes, we can’t stop talking about that town) we were intrigued by these handsome ties, scarves, pocket squares and bags made from vintage Japanese kimono fabric by a brand called Kiriko. It’s refreshing to see new prints when we are afloat in a sea of gingham […] -
The Voice-Controlled Grill of the Future
Now that sensors and radios have become so ridiculously small and cheap, just about everything is becoming “smarter.”And now, thanks to a company called Lynx, that includes grills. Giving you more time to focus on drinking and destroying your friends at Polish horseshoes at your next cookout, the Lynx SmartGrill is an automated gas grill […] -
Off the Beaten Path: 5 WWII Sites You Won’t Find on the History Channel
Blame Clooney for this post. You know, he of George. Also Murray (See: Bill), John Goodman and Mr. Matt Damon. Their new film, Monument’s Men, a drama-thriller based on the true story of an American platoon charged with tracking down rare art plundered by the Nazis during World War II, has reminded us that despite […] -
Surfers: Stop Freezing your Asses off with Finisterre
It’s no secret that we dig stylish, expertly crafted threads but when a brand exercises genuine love and appreciation towards its customers, the environment and selected charities, our hearts turn into putty and we are only too happy to hand over our dollar bills for a slice of the action. British brand Finisterre specializes in […] -
Eat Bacon Around the Clock With Bacon 24/7
There’s no arguing when I say that we here at The Manual love our bacon. We were extremely excited when we saw that Theresa Gilliam and E. Jane Armstrong created a book titled Bacon 24/7: Recipes for Curing, Smoking, and Eating. In the tome are delectable photographs by Armstrong that just make us salivate, along […] -
The Food Lover’s Guide to Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we know you’re racking your brain to figure out what to gift your significant other. Roses and chocolate are fine and dandy, but why not think about what your partner will actually use this year. We’ve already told you what to wear and which stylish gifts are sure […] -
Manready Mercantile’s All-American Grooming
First a guy is making candles in small batches on his apartment stove and suddenly a business is born. That’s exactly how the curated goods site, Manready Mercantile burst onto the scene. Founder Travis Weaver began his experimentation using all-natural ingredients and then went on to develop additional products. Most of the grooming items are […] -
Feel Good Friday – Every Man Jack
We are big fans of natural and organic products but we also know they can hit the wallet harder than a hippie hits a bong. That is why we are fans of Every Man Jack. Based in Marin Country, California the line offers products that contain only naturally derived ingredients. No parabens, no phthalates, no […]
