Last week, A Continuous Lean published this fascinating piece on Filson, the legendary Seattle-based outfitter. It begins, "The oldest person in the world is 115 years old. Filson is 116."   Jake Gallagher, who sat down with Filson CEO Alan Kirk for ACL, continues,

For a brand to outlive anyone that has ever, or will ever wear their clothes is an impressive feat in and of itself, but what’s more remarkable with Filson is that they seem to be aging in reverse. Sometime in the mid-aughts, as the heritage movement re-discovered Filson’s unflappable wares, the Seattle-based company was (almost unwittingly) thrust into the spotlight once again. And yet, Filson has never strayed from their original ideals, remaining steadfast in their dedication to quality goods that will last for years to come.

This look at such a unique brand and its tradition of mixing innovation and heritage goods is certainly worth a read. Check it out in full at ACL: Filson Ages Gracefully. 

If I could have my druthers, I doubt I'd live in a house. I wouldn't go for a loft, necessarily, but some sort of converted work/live space filled with architectural and industrial details instead of a chair rail. But, likely, I'll end up in a standard single family home, hopefully with a great kitchen and a little yard. Doesn't sound so bad, really... But, whenever I get that space, I'll certainly be interested in filling it with unusual architectural details and interesting solutions.

Like this DIY hanging "barn door" project at Wood & Faulk. Here, an old salvaged door is hung on a $65.00 new sliding track system to add not only a practical solution (a hinged door kept banging into furniture) but plenty of character as well. 

Right? Right. Check out the two-part series at Wood & Faulk: 

• Barn Door, Part 1
• Barn Door, Completion 

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web. 

British sculptor and environmentalist has been making organic art for more than four decades, and it looks just as contemporary as when he conceived it.    

CreativityFuse has a cool collection of some of his older work. 

The world's oldest message in a bottle(probably) has been recently pulled out of the ocean by a fisherman.

"A Love Letter to the City" is a look at muralist Steve Powers work with urban typography and public art. 

Read this, work-from-home people. Read this, all people. 

Cool DIY portable pegboard workstation project for those without a dedicated space. 

Any time of year, gin is a favorite spirit. It mixes well while retaining its character, and its aromatics complement a great range of flavors. But there's something so special, so obvious, about gin and springtime. If flavors had colors, gin's would be green, and it's a perfect chance to start putting ice back in our cocktails because the external temperatures are finally bearable.   

Martinis are good. Gin and tonics? Fine. But this guy can do much more than those standards. So, here are ten essential gin drinks and cocktails for springtime that any guy will enjoy...provided that you like gin. Which you do, right?

1. The Gibson: For the classier side of things (it's Mad Men's Roger Sterling's go-to), give this simple twist on the Martini a shot - 

• 2 oz. London dry gin
• 3/4 oz. dry vermouth
• 3-4 cocktail onions, skewered

Shake gin and vermouth with plenty of ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cocktail onions.

2. Cucumber Rosemary Gimlet: Everything I love about spring (and summer) in a glass. Also, if you've a lady to impress, make her this one.

• 2 oz. London dry gin
• 1 oz. cucumber juice (peel cucumbers, puree, then sieve)
• 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• 2 sprigs rosemary

Add one sprig rosemary to mixing glass and muddle with the simple syrup. Add remaining ingredients and ice, and shake. Pour into an iced rocks glass and garnish with additional rosemary.

3. The Fancy Gin Cocktail: You might know this better with whiskey as an Old Fashioned, but the simple sugar and Angostura bitters combo works wonderfully with the brightness of gin. 

• 1 sugar cube
• 3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 oz. dry gin
• 1 lemon zest/thin strip of peel

Rub lemon peel around rim of glass, and drop in. Place sugar cube in glass and saturate with bitters. Add gin and 2-3 ice cubes, and allow to come together for a minute or two. Stir and enjoy.

4. The gin and tonic: Nothing wrong with this classic, provided you build it right. From the ManMade guide to the ultimate gin and tonic: "A gin and tonic is a really basic drink with two distinctive and bold components, So, don't skimp on the tonic, which makes up more than half the highball. You don't have to go for the pricier, artisanal brands exclusively, but make sure you're using a tonic you love. A great tonic can turn an affordable $17.50 bottle like Beefeater or Boodles into something pretty special."

• 2 oz. Hendrick's gin 
• 2 oz. Fever Tree Mediterranean-style tonic water
• 2 oz. club soda
• 2 dashes Fee Brothers orange bitters 
• Garnish: cucumber slice

For the complete how-to, check out: How to: The Simple, Easy Trick to Improve Your Gin and Tonic

5. Gin Rickey: Simple, perfect. You can start at 9:00a and drink all day, and still not be bored by 9:00p.

• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• 2 oz. gin
• 6-8 oz. club soda

Stir lime juice, simple syrup, and gin together in a tall glass. Top with lots of ice, and fill with soda water. This makes a good cocktail to test out various flavors of bitters and tinctures, particularly citrus and fruit-based ones. 

6. The Tom Collins: the ideal drink for patio sipping. Ignore those mixes and customize your own balance of flavors with real ingredients. That said, this is basically a sparkling lemonade spiked with gin, so have at it. 

• 1.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 2 oz. gin
• Club soda
• Garnish: orange slice or cocktail cherry (or both)

Shake lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin with ice, then pour into an iced tall glass. Top with club soda and garnish.

7. Salt and Pepper Martini: Here, the spicy flavors of bitters balance the strong pomegranate and salt for an almost savory drink. A great before-dinner drink to enjoy with small bites. 

• 1 1/2 oz. gin
• 3/4 oz. lemon juice
• 3/4 oz. grenadine
• 3 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
• pinch of kosher salt
• 5 dashes angostura or orange bitters

Shake the ingredients and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. You can rim half with salt (like a margarita) if you really want to amp the savory flavors

8. St. Christopher - To guide you on all your travels or adventures. 

• 2 oz. gin (Hendrick's recommended here)
• 1 oz. Aperol 
• 1/2 oz. cucumber juice  (peel cucumbers, puree, then sieve)
• 1 dash orange bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice, and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon or orange twist.

9. Extra Special Pimm's Cup: The Pimm's Cup is a U.K. classic, and the official drink of Wimbledon. I add a bit of gin to make it worthwhile. 

• 2 oz. Pimm's No. 1 (gin-based)
• 1 oz. dry gin
• 4 oz. ginger ale
• Garnish: lots of (clean) lemon slices and cucumber wheels

Muddle 1 slice cucumber and lemon in a highball glass, and then stir in Pimm's and gin. Add lots of ice, and top with ginger ale, and additional lemon and cucumber. 

10. Negroni - For me, no list of gin cocktails is complete without a Negroni. It is, by far, my favorite way to enjoy gin. And Campari. And Vermouth. I've never claimed a favorite classic cocktail, but if I did, this might be it. 

• 1 oz. dry gin
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth

Stir ingredients with ice (don't shake), and strain into either a cocktail or rocks glass, your preference. 

Oh, and here's a fun social media-friendy image with type and such. Feel free to Pin it to your favorite boards.

Somehow, at least at my office, it only takes five minutes to completely wreck my desk, but a good forty-five to clean it back up. 

How does this happen? It's a mystery, but in the spirit of spring cleaning, I'm vowing to do better starting...now! 

This DIY desk organizer project uses PVC pipping and caps and a can of metallic paint of your choice (we dig the copper). The results are effective, and way cheaper than getting fancy office supplies at those minimal design shops.

See the full how-to here (turn on your Google translator!): Doing the Copperfield: Einen kupferfarbenen Stiftehalter “zaubern”

Head's up, fellow radio/podcast fans: Bradley Campbell did a bit of analysis into what it takes to put together a great piece of audio content, and diagrammed each show's structure on that most inspiring of canvases: the back of a napkin.   

Howsound.org reports, 

Many years ago, Bradley was a print reporter. He says everyone he worked with kept talking about structure. He knew they meant the way in which a story is organized, but that left him with a question: Organized how? So, he asked a friend of his from the Village Voice “What’s structure?” The guy grabbed a napkin and a pen and made a drawing. “Click!” Suddenly, it all made sense.

Now, Bradley’s a radio reporter for Rhode Island Public Radio. He says he’s listened long and hard to stories on public radio to understand how they’re configured and to create skeletal renderings of their structure.

“Napkin #1″ is Bradley’s drawing for This American Life, a structure Ira Glass has talked about ad infinitum: This happened. Then this happened. Then this happened. (Those are the dashes.) And then a moment of reflection, thoughts on what the events mean (the exclamation point).

I'm sure there's some sort of creative inspiration here (like how awesome ball point pen looks on paper napkin) but I mostly just like looking at a dissection of some of my favorite programs. Check out the full story: 

My Kingdom For Some Structure [HowSound.org] 

(via Kottke.org)

I have no shame in admitting it: I'm a hair product guy. Not a lot, of course, and if I do it right, you can barely tell, but it's useful. See, I have a rather short forehead and thick, heavy, straight hair that simply just falls forward and flat. It can't even hold a part without some help. So, lest I look bummed out (literally, flat hair on my forehead makes me look sad) or live with what my white (affectionately?) calls my "sick hair" [cause that's how I look on a sick day], I use a little help to give my face some energy.   

Gin A. Ando takes a look at some of the basic men's styling products and how your selection depends on the look you're trying to achieve. He says, 

Back in the good ole days, the most variety of hair-care products was the hold level on those wavy bottles of gel that looked like Jell-O. To be fair, L.A. Looks is an amazing product perfect for creating a bicycle helmet out of human hair if you use the extended scale of holds (kind of like turning it up to 11).

But the field has grown. The number of hair products in men’s grooming aisles—even in big-box supermarkets— is staggering. There are creams, waxes, pomades, fibers, and magic spells that all do well to keep our respective hairstyles in check all day.

But there is a difference—it’s not just the color of the gel and the hardness of your hair/helmet—between all these products. It just depends on what you’re looking to accomplish.

I knew basically none of this stuff, so I consider this a seriously good read. Especially since Gin committed to finding affordable products (all but one are under $20). Check it out: 

Pomades, Fibers, & Grooming Creams Explained [Primer]

With winter finally making its way out of our lives (for now), there's a whole lotta cleaning to do. Inside? Sure, but this also includes trimming all of those "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows"-looking branches and debris from your yard from all those record setting wind storms this year (yes, that happened too.)    Most times we use those branches as fuel for summer backyard fires, but this time, someone has taken it to a new level of cool by using the same logs to build a rustic/modern lounge chair.

Homemade Modern totally nailed it with this project  - literally. We love the "as is" look with all the rough wood texture. This project is for intermediate/advanced wood workers/crafters as you will require some cutting tools and lots of drilling, but the effort is worth it. And hey, if you're just a beginner, get a buddy to help you and trade it for some "lounge time" on the chair.

Go make it! Full instructions on Homemade Modern: Log Lounger 

We love a bold, graphic wall treatment - whether type-based, a mural, or ever-changing chalkboard design.

Sugar and Charm have mad wall design skills and they have shared a few tips to help us create our own graphic designs. The trick is to take a small image - printed on a 8.5x11 piece of paper, perhaps, and blow up to whatever wall size you can find. 

Their technique relies on a large-scale chalkboard wall, but you could use markers, paint (or paint markers), or whatever medium you love most. Oh, and this whole thing is quite inexpensive, really, considering the big impact it can create.

To get the step by step tutorial visit Sugar and Charm: Transferring Type and Logos to a Chalkboard Wall

We all know the stereotypes for the ways guys "decorate" their spaces: outdated recliners, a nest of media and electronics cables, and movie posters tacked to the walls. Nobody's impressed by that...not even your buddies who sit in the chair, watch and play the electronics, and like that movie. But there are plenty of opportunities to make any space feel both masculine and personalized, without feeling like a dorm room. 

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn sat down with fellow interior stylist Danielle Colding to discuss decorating for guys. Danielle's tips are all about integrating the things you love and need with classic, heritage items that will never go out of style. She's a fairly high end designer, so there's not of ton of money-saving advice here, but it's a great primer for thinking about centering a space around investment pieces. 

Check out the results of their convo at Brian's site, FlynnSideOut - About Town: Dudes, Decorating and Danielle Colding  

Even as an adult, I love playing in the dirt. Getting my hands dirty, nurturing a plant from a seed into something I can eat and feed my friends and family with...gardening, at least for me, is a not brainer for the guy living the "hands on" lifestyle.    So, I'm digging this customized, "paint dipped" garden tool project, and for two reasons: first, it serves as a head's up that you can get these classic wood and powder-coated steel gardening tools at Lowe's stores on on their site. And secondly, that a little bit of added color and some leather cording can turn them into something even more special. Make 'em for yourself, make some for your mom for Mother's Day...

Get the full how-to at Sarah Hearts: DIY Paint Dipped Garden Tools

We all know the stereotype of the grumpy old man. We've met him, we're related to him, he lives next door, some of us even have to work for him. But is it true? Turns out...kinda. NPR reports on a new study published in Psychology and Aging, suggesting,

The approximate moment when grumpiness kicks in for men, according to a recently released report, is around age 70.

Then you'd better get off his lawn.

Researchers found that as men grow older — from, say, 50 on — they have fewer obstacles and annoyances to worry about in life and, furthermore, they are more equipped to deal with adversity. But around age 70, life — or at least the perception of happiness — begins to go downhill.

Huh. Guess it's what we have to look forward to. I wonder if the grumpiness will make us even care....

Check out the full piece on the Protojournalist blog - The Grumpy Point: When A Man Turns 70

Even though there was unseasonal fresh layer of snow on the ground this morning, we're still smack in the middle of the spring outdoor season, and for me, that means finding plenty of tasty, energy-giving meal ideas.

So, I'm liking this on by Katie at The Kitchen Door. Ijust made this fantastic spring couscous salad that's super easy to make and it's full of fresh veggies, protein and lots of flavor. Looks like spring, tastes like spring, and will fill you up for plenty of spring activity. Head outside!

To get the full recipe pop by Katie at The Kitchen Door: Herb-Flecked Couscous

Bon apetit!

Madrid-based design and art firm Tata&Friends take a stab at icon design by creating these minimalist interpretations of some of their favorite rock and roll bands.     They're neat to look at, of course, but the fun thing here for me is scrolling through and trying to guess the band name before the text gives it away. 

There's definitely a 90s-heavy vibe in their selections, but that makes sense - it's the decade when bands were named after a bunch of seemingly random inanimate objects. 

See the whole collection at Tata&Friends: Rock Band Icons

Oh, the multi-tool. I keep one stashed in several key places: my everyday bag, my glove compartment, at my desk, and an extra one that floats from my camping gear to my toolbox to a backpack for day trips. They're not all high quality - most were stocking stuffers or holiday presents from well-meaning family who snagged that 3-sizes-in-one-box from the "gifts" section of the department store that pops up in the aisle every December.    And while I love knowing that I can get to a pair of needle nose pliers or a #2 Phillips head when I need it, I can definitely tell a big difference between the "good enough" multi-tools and the actual, American-made high quality one that I'd carry with me everywhere if it weren't so heavy and bulky. 

So, as we usually recommend on ManMade, buy the right one once, and use it for life. 

Gear Patrol has rounded up five of their favorites, each under $100, and several in the $50-60 range. 

Caught yourself trying to pry something open with a pen or a fork lately? We’d say you’re in the market for a handy all-in-one multi-tool. Sure, it won’t come close to fixing everything, but in a pinch, it’s a great “go-to” instrument that could make a difference...Multi-tools have been completing odd jobs since the original Leatherman PST (Pocket Survival tool) came out in 1983. As good as the PST was, multi-tools (or multi-pliers) have come a long way since then, today varying in size, tool type and count... In our quest to find the best, though, we also discovered that many manufacturers have abandoned their multi-tool production due to poor sales. We call it “thinning the herd”, and it’s actually for the better, as the ones that survive tend to be the most user-friendly and the hardiest. Ready to become a Renaissance handyman of honey-do lists?

Check out their recommended list - Grip-N-Go: The 5 Best Muiti-Tools

I never pass up an opportunity to share a full-on, start-from-scratch DIY furniture project, especially one that means you get to spend more time hanging out outside.  

This cool folding camp stool project by LiEr was created to celebrate Jessica of How About Orange's new line of Arrow fabric. Which, I actually love, but if the bold, graphic look isn't for you, you could easily switch it out for a solid canvas for that classic camping look. 

Once you understand how these are constructed, you could adapt for any size. Pack a cooler, and hit the woods!

How to make a folding camp stool 

Pop Chart Lab released their latest project, a categorization of all the styles, types, regions, and labels of whiskey from around the world.    

They describe the effort,

A spirited taxonomy of the ultimate amber elixir, this chart categorizes and distills all the major varieties of whiskey--from scotch to bourbon to single malt to moonshine. Follow along a veritable world tour of the most-celebrated cask-born beverage, making major stops in the US (Jack Daniels, Knob Creek), Ireland (Jameson, Tullamore Dew), Canada (Crown Royal, Seagram's), and Scotland (Johnnie Walker, The Glenlivet). Whether you take it straight, on the rocks, or with a soda back, this diagram is a balanced dram for whiskey drinkers of all dispositions.

Though...it looks like they left off the many fine styles of Japanese whiskey. Still, we love it, especially in the limited wood edition:

18x24" prints start at $29.00 - Pop Chart Lab: The Many Varieties of Whiskey

I've had this article open in a browser tab for over a week, and I just took the time to read it. (I'm horrible about following through on long-form stuff online...one of the casualties of blogging, perhaps. I wanna get better at it.)    

"The Crossroads of Should and Must" is a hand-illustrated piece by Elle Luna that, admittedly, starts off a little like on of those life-hack-y, quite your job and follow your passions kinda thing that educated, upwardly mobile internet people love so much. 

But, there's actually some solid insights here on fear and creativity and the nature of vocation. I'm glad I took the time to read through it in full, and I think you will too. 

Check out the full piece on Medium.com: The Crossroads of Should and Must

There are plenty of tutorials to make reclaimed wood or stump coffee tables. Most of them just require for you to get a piece of wood, sand the ends, and call it a day...somewhat negating the need for a tutorial at all. But! This one takes it a bit further by adding an painted gradient or ombre effect for a more finished look.

Whimsey Box made this cool table by removing the bark from the stump and applying a few coats of paint. I love that you don't really need crazy equipment to do this. A few basic tools will do, along with some paint and some sheets to cover your floor if you're like me and have to work inside.

For full instructions and more photos, visit Whimsey Box's blog: DIY Natural Ombre Stump Table

Spring isn't the time for making complicated drinks...infusing spirits and boiling special syrups. It's the season for getting outside as much as possible, enjoying the ever-later evenings, and embracing simplicity.    So, this time of year, we're recommending highballs - those simple combos of a base spirit mixed with something bubbly and plenty of fresh, easy-drinking flavors. 

Last spring, I shared our "10 Highball Recipes Every Man Should Know" and today I'm passing along this great collection from BonAppetit.com, who say, "You don’t need a doctorate in mixology to up your cocktail game. You just need a tall glass, ice, spirits, and a little fizz. In other words, you need a highball—BA’s official drink of spring."

Me too, BA. Me, too. 

6 Highball Cocktails That Are Perfect for Spring 

Also, check out the ManMade posts: 

10 Highball Recipes Every Man Should Know and The Magic Highball Formula: How to Memorize One Recipe, and Make Dozens of Drinks