Buck(le) Up

Dress belt straps for engine turned buckle: top and bottom 1 1/8' straps from belts.com, middle is alligator.

To round out the "Weekend Wardrobe" and the forthcoming "Wear to Work" posts are a collection of belt buckles and straps collected over time. While none of them date back to the Civil War, their vintage is noted in parenthesis.

Belts Clockwise from 12:00.

• Engine Turned Slide: One of the best gifts I've ever received.
• Southern Outdoors: You may remember from THIS post (1986)
  
• Remington Derringer 1867 by Mattel: When my father got this as a 6th birthday gift it was a working cap-gun that actually shot plastic bullets. Collectors Item. (1959)
  
• Tall Ship: Worn during winter months while dreaming of being on the high seas of the Caribbean (1976)
  
• G. Dubya: In honor of my alma mater (1979)
  
• Soaring Eagle: Another inherited buckle, worn by my dad during his undergrad days at Tulane (Bergamont Brass Works)
  
• Mallards: Bronze L.L. Bean buckle received as a birthday present from AEV (1979)

And in the center:

• AMERICA: A token of gratitude by great friends for dog sitting their black lab.
  

Casual 1 1/2" belt straps: top - brown bison, bottom - black leather, middle - see below.

And, while I don't have a belt buckle with my name on it, I do have a tan leather strap embossed with a Smoky Mountain landscape and my first name.

SGStyle: Weekend Wardrobe

Alright, let's start this wardrobe rundown with the casual basics that have become something of a uniform:

• Bass Pro Shop: Camo cap, custom embroidered logo, last name on the back - done during a business trip to Nashville;
• Perlis: 1st one went missing in college, 2nd yellowed and frayed, 3rd is being broken in now;
• Saints: Wool, raised embroidery, fitted.
• Polo Oxford: Custom fit, all the colors, worn pressed and starched by night, patched and frayed by day;
• Patagonia Araveto: Light weight, slim fit, looks just a sharp as a merino cardigan, but as comfortable as cashmere.
• Levi's 514: Straight leg, low rise, perfect fit - stonewash by day, indigo by night;
• J. Crew Khaki's: Regular-fit essential chino - classic american staple.
• Clark Wallabees: They only get better with age;
• Bean Mocs: Worn year round in rain, sleet, snow and sunshine;
• New Balance 574: Inexpensive, long lasting, basic gray.

Add in either my quilted Eksdale or Beaufort Barbour and a tote or two and I'm in my element, comfortable and appropriate enough for just about any activity.

What defines y'alls weekend uniform? All sweats and fleece? Jeans and T's? Polos and chinos?

Clothes Horse

As a self described clothes horse, I've gone through more gear that I care to admit. Yet, over of the past few years all those clothes seem to have been whittled down to a well-edited wardrobe.

Across the coming months, I'll outline the key pieces that have built a pretty solid foundation for wherever life takes me and the conditions I face. I'm looking forward to hearing your own stories as I'm sure many of us share a common fondness for many of the classic items forthcoming.

All For A Mardi Gras Day

Crazy subscription pushes and auto publishing glitches on SG only added to the havoc that was the last week. Snowmaggedon blew all hopes of flying to New Orleans, so we took the opportunity to road trip.

Pull the Tail, Suck the Head. This batch of crawfish were a bit small due to the freeze.

In the last week, we have:

• Driven 2,176 miles from DC to Chattanooga to New Orleans and back in 5 days.
• Passed 256 floats across 9 parades under the oaks of St. Charles Avenue
• Consumed 72+ "21 and over" beverages across 3 days (with friends of course)
  
• Enjoyed a 3 hour dinner at Emeril's Delmonico for 14 people from 5 states (TN, DC, FL, TX, LA)
• Saw 2 casts: The Real World New Orleans and The Hot Tub during the Krewe of Tucks
  

And...

• 1 Super Bowl MVP reign as monarch all the while showering his adoring subjects with black and gold footballs.

Photo taken in DC prior to 3 feet of snow. Will we ever see the curb again? Thanks to AEV for the Bock bottle.

Pigs may have flown and hell (and DC) frozen over, but there was no way I was missing Mardi Gras 2010. Until March 8, 2011:

The koozie on a neck straps keeps your hands free to catch throws as floats pass.

Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler!

Marshmallow World

The Building on Saturday Morning

By now you've all seen a few images of the historic amount of snow that has pounded DC twice across the last week.

Left: Ontario Place, NW (for you JJM & SKM) Right: Rock Creek Parkway from Calvert Street Bridge

Waking up on Saturday morning the District looked pretty incredible with a blanket of 12"+, streets and avenues with carpets of white and trees glistening with ice and snow.

Left: Enroute to the sledding hills, in the street 'natch. Right: Weeeeeee!

Meeting up with friends, those rafts my father sent this fall in advance of beach time this summer, turned out to be the perfect last minute sleds over at the three hills created at Rock Creek Parkway and Calvert Street.

Left to Right: The Women of 1810 (Tara, Cait, & Pamela), DAM, and Bill

Now with 5+ days of snow behind us, we are driving down to New Orleans today. That's right, driving - flights canceled and rebooking nearly impossible, we are going to break the 17 hour trip down with a stop at my parents' house in Chattanooga before heading to this historical carnival season otherwise known as Lombardi Gras!

Image Credits: Thanks Cait & Bill

Bourbon Balls

Can't figure out what to give your beau this year for Valentines Day? Well, you can always consult last year's SGGiftGuide or turn the tables on the chocolate giving and order him the famous Happy Balls! Kentucky bourbon candy.

Lauded by everyone from Garden & Gun to Tucker they are sure to make his day (they'd make mine). Or you can make your own with this Washington Post recipe Tucker shared back in December.

Image Credit: Happy Balls!

This Is Our Moment

"The people of New Orleans love the Saints not because they provide a distraction from their fall, but because they are a reflection of their rise"

-Wright Thompson

It's 2:36AM EST and I'm finally home.

I watched the game among friends and loved ones in the District then went out to celebrate in Adams Morgan, knowing I'll be back in New Orleans on Thursday morning to celebrate Mardi Gras.

I didn't cry when they became NFC Champions... I didn't cry when Tracy Porter intercepted the ball... I didn't cry when they clock ran down to 0:00... I didn't cry when I saw Brees' holding his one-year old son or when he accepted the Vince Lombardi Trophy...

But now that I am typing this post in reflection, tears are streaming as I know this is so much more than my celebration or the Saints Super Bowl rings, but about the City of New Orleans and the work of so many committed to it's rebirth.

The 2009 football season may be officially over and it's days away till the next Mardi Gras parades, but in the words of Kenny Chesney:

"This is Our Moment."

Image Credits: Times-Picayune

Super Bowl Sunday

Are you ready for the big game? We'll be buried under two feet of snow by the time kick off happens, so am getting ready for the Black and Gold Super Bowl today.

Apparently, Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest eating day next to Thanksgiving. While debatable, what isn't is the variety of food people love to eat. This year, in honor of the Saints, channel a little New Orleans wherever you are with this simple supper.

Zatarian's: It's authentic as Mardi Gras and is great base to start your jambalaya.

Ingredients

• 1 box Zatarain's Jambalaya Mix
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 lb. sausage of choice, cut in rounds
• 1 1b. chicken, diced
• chicken stock
• green onions
• olive oil

Coat the bottom of a large stock pot with approx. 2 tbls. oil, add chicken, salt and pepper and cook until the chicken is browned all over. Remove and set aside. Using the chicken drippings and 2 more rounds of olive oil saute the Trinity (Celery, Onion and Bell Pepper) until tender. Remove from pot and set aside with chicken.

Substitute the water for chicken stock on Zatarain's instructions and bring to a boil. Add trinity, chicken and cut sausage. Follow remaining instructions on Zatarain's box.

Garnish with diced green onions and Tabasco.

King Cake: Haydel's bakery will get you one by game time if you order by 11:00 on Friday. Call now or follow this easy recipe with refrigerator biscuits.

Abita Beer: Whether Turbo Dog, Amber, Purple Haze, Mardi Gras Bock or my favorite Pecan Harvest, you'll round out the experience with this cajun-country brew.

The Saints and the Who Dat Nation have taken it one game at a time and are now here, Super Bowl XLIV. Finish Strong!

Port Southern

The good gents over at Port Southern dropped a black Southern Heritage Polo in the mail for me and I gotta say I was impressed right away.

The pique cotton is the thickest I've ever felt and incredibly soft. The fit is on point - not too tight or too baggy and it hits someplace between a Lacoste (too short to tuck in) and an RL Polo (too long to leave un-tucked). Additionally, for all you golfers you'll totally dig the sleeves, as Steven shared with me, it's designed to hit just above the bend in your elbow.

Besides being entrepreneurs, the founders are also philanthropist with a portion of every sale going to the Pineapple Fund benefiting the High Point Community Foundation.

Now you know you can look good while doing good. www.PortSouthern.com


Thanks again to Steven and guys of Port Southern for sending a shirt my way and taking some time to discuss their company.

Barbour, Bean, Brooks & the Brolly

After a cold weekend with about 6" of snow and more expected tonight, trekking around the District has become a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience since rounding out the gear in the Winter Weather collection.

• Barbour Beaufort: New, unfortunately, but the correct size with warm pile lining and hood.
• Bean Boots: Venerable classics in 8" - from the fields in the fall to wet mess in the winter.
• Brooks Driving Cap: Do as your momma told you and cover your head as this Harris Tweed keeps the heat in and your noggin warm.
  
• Bean Hunting Tote: Used across the F/W months for making groceries, gear and guilty pleasures.
• Umbrella: Always be prepared with this plaid brolly.
• Fur Lined Gloves: Conspicuously absent from this photo, but damn fine and luxurious.

Here's to a snow day this week. And stay warm.