A rainy day in the city (NYC)

When traveling in Manhattan, factoring in cabs is an essential part of your travels. Make sure that you save some cash for a cab fair to BBC in the SOHO area of the city. Don't bring a camera in there because they don't enjoy the abuse of flash photography. But unlike most of the stores in NYC they are much friendlier to prospective shoppers. Really awesome displays for all of their products w/ ultra modern lighting. I recommend the trip and the experience.

bbc

amazing.....

from the street

In between BBC and Bape, we made a stop in Chelsea for a look at Comme des Garcons. This place was a hybrid of the USS Enterprise and Steve Job's interior decorator's house. Some serious time put into just the design of the store itself. Wonderful clothing, I don't necessarilyagree with $350 as a starting t-shirt price, but it certainly was well thought out. Not as friendly as BBC.

comme des garcons

time space continuum

One of the great things about immersing yourself in an urban environment like Manhattan, is that random hole in the wall establishment that turns a normal street into a mysterious art exhibit......

water colors....

try not to buy $10 umbrellas (aka I'm buying one here)

Starting to see what I mean about New York?

Stay SOHO gents.

J.E. Albert

New York a 7 Day Excursion.....

New York consisted of staying awake most of the day/night and being propositioned for crack approx. 10 times per hour. But that was only in the city, the Hamptons was another side of the East. My partner in crime Grizz a.k.a John Cohen was able to share the east coast experience with me. The city included things like going on Good Morning America with Jamie Foxx, Eating at places like The Smith (which had a unisex bathroom and peep holes), Bape, BBC, and of course hanging out with our friends from Antik. Among all the fluffy bs we also were able to get a few of the Useful Creativity iphone apps pushed in The Hamptons as well as New York City. New York is another planet. I've been there probably 5 times in my lifetime, but not since I was 14. Sometimes a city that massive and populated can make you feel pretty small. But even with all the chaos and confusion, there is a very human side to the city. The people I encountered and interacted with are now my friends. I write this not because I feel I am an expert or I am particularly knowledgeable about New York. I write this because I am a west coast person that came back forever changed by New York, The Hamptons, and life on the east coast.......

antik..........classic

my peeps

the smith.

time square.

a princess' yard

j fox central park, good morning america

dj nyc's view

amazing

cetrine

affinia

beyonce

hamptons 1

hamptons 2

grizz

a real deli

more coming......

stay open-minded gents.

J.E. Albert

7 Days in New York.....

I've been absent lately, and for that I'm deeply apologetic. We will be doing a write-up on a gentleman's 7 day journey as a New Yorker. For now I'll leave you with this preview.......

city....

hamptons..........
Keep it real gents.
J.E. Albert

Food Spotlight: Chef Aneo Baldassari

a true viking.

sundays at Aneo's

From the moment I could contemplate conscious thought I was attracted to food. Many aspects of American culture take for granted the crucial role that food plays in our lives. In today’s society people are born and expected to follow a path to success. People in America are conditioned from birth to graduate college and spend their lives in a cubicle. In general, the average human fails to elevate food to the status that it deserves. My goal is to erase the preconceived notions that people associate with fine cuisine and the finer art of mix-oligy. Having trouble sealing the deal with the #1 on your list? I have some ideas that can make that impossibility a reality.

It is almost a near impossibility for young men on a budget to continuously take women out on dates. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of a home cooked meal. In reality taking the time to plan and execute a thoughtful menu, can yield some incredible results. You do not have to stray too far from your comfort zone to create a romantic evening. Often times, a quiet setting, some nice wine and a well prepared meal can achieve the desired result. In this situation the oven is your best friend. Keep it simple, try slow roasting a whole chicken with some seasonal vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Serve this meal with a nice cold bottle of chardonnay. For desert, cut up some fresh fruit and drizzle it with some chambord or brandy and a sprinkle of sugar. Let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Light some candles and pick out some nice music and you are set for a wonderful evening. I did everything, but hold your hand.

Stay Culinary Gents.

Chef A:B

Jazzy Jeff Interview

Jazzy Jeff with Will Smith (1992)

Jazzy Spinning for Good Morning America

Jazzy and Will (2006)

Check out the one-on-one GL Exclusive

A Gentleman can come in many forms. Fortunately enough for us, this night the gentleman was Jazzy Jeff, and the conversation was shoes. For those of you who don't know Jeff Townes a.k.a. Jazzy Jeff, he appeared on the show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" in over 50 episodes. His credits also include productions like Entourage and Boys in the Hood. With movie and television credits mixed with double and triple platinum records, Jazzy Jeff is one of the most decorated DJs to ever walk the face of the earth. Join fellow gentleman Carlos Mason as he hangs out with Jazzy Jeff mainly talking about.....well............ shoes.

Stay fresh gents

J.E. Albert

Entrepreneurial Innovation

You can get an office here for $100,000 per month

Dubai skyline

Think about the past 5 years for a second. What has changed? For business, that last 5 or so years has brought on more revolutionary changes, than nose jobs. From Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Apple Inc. to just name a few- the business society has been revolutionized. All of these started as simple idea from kids in college bored with the typical jobs their peers so constantly complained about. Gents, it is no secret that today’s economy is anything but consistent, but the boost that everyone is looking for does not fall into a half-assed stimulus package written by our ever increasing incompetent government- it falls into our hands. Guys like Mark Zuckerburg, Evan Williams, Biz Stone and Steve Jobs who said, “screw you normal job” and decided to do something to not only to better themselves, but to better society while they were in the process. This is the time to start that company you always wanted to, take that risk you normally wouldn’t, and revolutionize the world. As my friend A.M. Bollinger so eloquently put it; "Bury your head and grind away."

Stay Revolutionary Gents.

B.E. Lester

San Diego Charger's Shoot to Cure Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease 

Huntington's disease, also known as HD, is the most common cause of the pattern of repetitive abnormal movements called chorea. If you have ever sat next to a person with HD you would notice that they have no voluntary muscle command and at times spasm out of control. The disorder was named after the American physician George Huntington who described it in 1872. HD prevalence, per country, is up to 7 people in 100,000, but can be much higher in some places. Physical symptoms of the disorder can begin at any age. It is not common for it to occur before the age of 20. In 1993 genetic testing was made possible with the discovery of a single causal gene, the first non-sex-linked dominant disease gene to be found. Consequently counseling for HD had to be developed and became a model for other genetically dominant disorders. The test can be performed before the onset of symptoms, at any age—even pre-birth, which has raised various ethical issues and heated debates.

Can't hate on the helmet.

Darren Sproles was a participant in the contest.

Charger Park

LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Brandon Siler

I was able to attend this event at Charger Park, which for those you who have never been,it is a full sized facility the Chargers practice on. It is a turf stadium in Murphy Canyon, off the 15 freeway in San Diego, 2 miles from where they play during the season. A free-throw contest with LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Darren Sproles, and a whole group of other Charger's players  resulted in a huge collection of charity money. There was one point in the night where 3 different groups of people were bidding on a dinner for 4 with LT and Gates. One lady won, and right after she celebrated her win, the auction MC said that if the 2 other contestants could match her $6,000 bid, LT and Gates would do 2 more dinners for that price. So in 5 minutes they raised $18,000 which was amazing. On top of that there was more  money from donations, as well as an additional auction where players like Chris Chambers, and Jacques Cesar, were selected at $500 a piece to participate on a designated free-throw team. A mock draft, for the people already paying $950 just to be at the auction. 100% of the proceeds went to charity. It was a very informative night. Darren Sproles is the man. They raised an unbelievable $200,000 total.

Stay Charitable Gents.

J.E. Albert

Radio Show Tonight 10pm-11pm

Tune in as the Gents sit down and discuss the week's events. It's only an hour, and today we have Arkansas Tech QB Robert Sagerian as a guest host on the Gentleman's Lodge Online Radio.

Click here to listen.

Stay Tuned in Gents.

J.E. Albert

2009 Nissan GTR Test Drive

This car is so magnificent, we weren't necessarily allowed to "fully" lay into the pedal, or so we promised its skeptical owner. Dieter spends most of the car ride, explaining systems, buttons, and all sorts of other gadgets. After being in the car, there is nothing else that would make me happier than waking up every morning to the GTR sitting in my garage. Originally coined "The Skyline" by Nissan's development team, the GTR comes from the R32, R33, and R34 bloodline. Some people say that the Skyline is the only Japanese contribution to the world of super cars and after the test drive with the 2009 GTR I'm convinced of this truth. From the control interface and the suede bucket seats, or the twin turbo v-6 under the hood, the Nissan GTR is the most raw, untamed Japanese sports car to ever cross the oceans. Bring your instructional manuals and go for a ride with Dieter and see how cool a Nissan can be.

Stay a car length ahead gents.

J.E. Albert

Entertainment: Overnight Celebrity

Pine

Pattison

It is said in Hollywood that all an aspiring star needs is that one big break to go from nobody to somebody. As of late, the world has had the privilege to see two men climb out of the shit- hole lifestyle that one lives on the road to the top to becoming the men to be in Hollywood. What fascinates me is all it took, for either one of them, was one big movie. A few months ago, If I were to ask you who Chris Pine or Robert Pattinson were you would probably cock your head to the side and look at me blankly. Today if I were to you ask that question, it would probably make every women in earshot scream out in infatuation. Then, you would almost certainly be able to go on and on about Twilight and how great J.J. Abrams recreation of Star Trek and Captain Kirk was. The story of the “Overnight Celebrity” is a common tale in Hollywood. A struggling actor becomes a household name and America Icon in an instant. Now, both of these Gentlemen appear to be inexorable. Pattinson is signed to play Edward Cullen in New Moon, which is the next phase in the popular Twilight saga. The series has opened so many new doors for the 23-year-old actor after being so close to quitting acting for good just under a year ago. After finally having a hit at 28, Pine has the offers rolling in. His next roll has him staring opposite of Hollywood powerhouse Denzel Washington in Unstoppable, a story about a runaway freight train that is on course to wipeout an entire city. Gentlemen, there are times when all of us feel a little lost and a little unsure of where we are headed. That underlying question of whether or not we will ever achieve our goals constantly lingers in the back of our minds. These are examples of young men, just like us, who have achieved what they believed was almost certainly unattainable. If you are willing to bury your head and grind through every obstacle set in front of you, you too can achieve what some will tell you is impossible. You just have to want it bad enough. If you do, then you too could be an overnight celebrity.

Stay focused Gents.

A.M. Bollinger

How To: Dress to Impress

full service

full Maria

non-pleated front; the only way to go

Over the weekend I had the amazing chance to stop by Brooks Brothers in La Jolla and pick out a few items that were to my liking. Immediately at the beginning of my journey to find a simple balance of work/leisure attire, I was faced with a critical decision; do I spend my entire budget on one suit? Or do I purchase a couple pairs of pants and a couple of shirts for more versatility? Most blokes would say the first. I personally went with the second. Any young gent needs multiple options. Blowing your load on the first Versace you see is pointless. From the time you walk into BB there are people waiting on you foot and hand for whatever you need. It was pretty spectacular, like a little bubble of nice wardrobes and rich oak. However, the best part of the shopping process was being fitted by and talking with Maria, one of the personal shoppers at BB. I have several suits from this very store, and thought I was pretty confident about my Gentleman's attire knowledge. She proved me wrong very quickly. If you are ever in La Jolla stop by, very friendly and never too in your face. She is more of a therapist than a personal shopper.The worst thing you can do is walk into a store and feel like you are walking down skid row being hounded for change. Not the case here. They let you figure out what you want, then work to make it work with you style. I went with two pairs of the Brooks Brothers' Black Fleece pants. One pair was gray the other black. The two most practical colors, they pretty much match with everything Then cruising on over to the shirt section, I was able to get three shirts for $200, all very key. The great thing about BB is that they have two different styles and fit of shirt. One for portly gentleman and one for thin gentleman, such as yours truly. These shirts required no tailor adjustment at a standard 15 1/2 x 32 size. The pants required an  inseam pull as well as a small amount on the waist taken in, but I've never purchased a pair of pants that didn't require something done and at $8 per pair of pants how can you complain? I was able to spend my budget mostly on items that I could both work/go out it, all very different styles and colors that will be easy to match with whatever is back recently from the cleaners. No need to bring in dress shoes with you for pant altering, they provide any size shoe, clean and out of the box. Last night was the first broadcast of the Gentlemans Lodge Talk Show. It was a live show being streamed through this site. If you notice on the right column there is a link to Gentlemans Lodge Online Radio. Most of the time we are playing music on the channel, but Sunday nights from 10-11pm we will be doing a radio talk show. Look for more on this soon.

Stay tailored gents.

J.E. Albert