Beer is magic. Drink it and the people around you start looking more attractive; rub it into your hair or on your body and, abracadabra, you start looking better yourself. Not a joke. That’s because beer’s ingredients—barley, hops, yeast and water (yes, water) release a menagerie of vitamins and nutrients in the brewing process that, […]

Avant-garde chef Jose Andres opened barmini, his “cocktail lab” in Washington D.C., with a clear vision in mind. “He wanted to pay tribute to the golden era of cocktails by stressing great service and hospitality,” says Juan Coronado, Think Food Group’s cocktail innovator and barmini’s principal bartender. “At barmini, the bartenders have a conversation with you. Tell us what you like and […]

We love food trucks, we love the Sussman Brothers (that pear tart from their new cookbook had our boozy dinner crew begging for more) and we love the antics of the Vice crew. So when we started watching Truckers in the Wild on their site we  had to share. The series premiered in April and […]

One of our jobs here at The Manual is to make life easier by helping you guys out any way we can. So first off, take out your calendar and mark down May 12th, because that’s Mother’s Day. “WHAT?! Mother’s Day is next week? I haven’t gotten her anything yet.” Well, that’s where we come […]

If beer is the blood coursing through Portland’s veins, then you can think of the brews coming out of Cascade Brewing Barrel House as that super-rare AB negative blood that only 1% of the population has. The beer they make here is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted, so if you ever find yourself feeling adventurous […]

Bordered by Siberian steppes to the north and Gobi desert sands to the south, Mongolia might conjure images of a mysteriously forbidding land, but it has much to offer (cashmere!) and plenty yet to explore. It is in fact the most sparsely populated nation on earth, with many of its people still leading a nomadic […]

As we all know, the ‘50s are back and as stylish as ever — so why not let your kitchen hop on the bandwagon with the Smeg FAB28U refrigerator. The sleek Smeg FAB28U is probably the most fashionable way to keep your food cool, with its retro stylings. “The idea behind it was to create […]

For those of you who have ever dreamed of dressing like James Bond, these butterfly knife cufflinks might just do the trick. Constructed of stainless steel and measuring in at 1 inch when closed and 1.5 inches open, these cufflinks merge function with style — if you’re in search for the type of function that […]

[nggallery id = 136] Tonight, the sporting world’s attention will turn to the city of Memphis as the hometown Grizzlies take on the Los Angeles Clippers in what promises to be the next thrilling entry in their physical NBA Playoff match up. However exciting the game will be, this afternoon, our attention is turned to […]

While Americans are sighing over sequesters and delayed flights, many forget the crisis that effects millions of needy people around the world on a daily basis due to the lack of water and sanitation. Fortunately a gentleman named Doc Hendley (a CNN Hero) has created Wine to Water, a non-profit  (501 (c) 3) charity aid […]

Summer is fast approaching, and with more warm weather weekends hitting the forecast, it’s already prime time for backyard barbecues, beachside boozing, backpacking, and Bluetooth. That’s right, Bluetooth. If you like taking your tunes with you outdoors, a set of Bluetooth speakers is essential. Boomboxes and speaker docks are great, but the fact that they […]

With the Kentucky Derby coming up this weekend, we are busy getting ready for the festivities. After you’ve placed your bets and pulled together the perfect outfit, there’s only one thing left to do: drink. And when it comes to Derby booze, there is no cocktail more classically perfect for the occasion than a mint […]

Sir Hardy Amies is most known to Americans as the dressmaker for Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 until 1989 but he has also been one of England’s most respected tailors since 1945 when he opened shop at 14 Savile Row. He was also shockingly modern by hosting the first men’s catwalk show at the Savoy […]

What do you think of when you hear ‘The Kentucky Derby’?  Perhaps the infamous mint juleps, The Run for the Roses, or very sartorial guys, rockin’ it Derby style.  Since 1875, a tradition of gathering on the first Saturday of May has brought out the most stylish men and incredibly au courant hats on very […]

When thinking of baking we often conjure up images of grandmama’s toiling away in the kitchen. But men have had their hand in the mix since Ancient Egypt and really took it to the next level during the height of the Roman Empire when there were 300 pastry chefs in Rome. So when we met […]

You might mistake it for a beer on the shelves, but Asheville Buchi Kombucha is a whole different breed of beverage. It starts out as black tea and sugar, but then living kombucha culture is added. The brew ferments for up to 10 weeks and then small, handcrafted batches are produced. The process transforms the ingredients […]