Sanctuary by Sirtified
It seems that every year or so men have to add one more thing to the daily collection of stuff (keys, pen, wallet, watch) we tote around. And in recent years, most of the additions (phone, iPod, bluetooth earpiece) need to be recharged at night. For many of us, that means our bedside tables or dressers look like a high-end garbage dump at the end of the day – expensive items strewn about chaotically. Fortunately, there is another way, and it is appropriately named Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary, by Sirtified, is a valet for the 21st century. Sleek and simple, the white or black box with its felt floor offers a variety of cords and connections – neatly arranged – to charge all your portable electronics, while also leaving room for your money clip, watch, pen and other personal items. While it is pricier than the free, faux leather substitute you received as a groomsman’s gift several years back, we suggest it may be time for an upgrade. $120.
Klymit Kinetic Vests
Whether you’re looking for some inspiration from the original, extreme ski club, or searching for the latest in cutting-edge, cold-weather gear, these two finds should help set you up for a Spring ski outing.
Swift. Silent. Deep. documents the story of a renegade group of elite skiers who call themselves the Jackson Hole Air Force. Determined to try their skis on snow that was truly a step beyond adventure, these extreme sportsmen pursued pure powder to the fullest extent, breaking the law and pushing their athleticism to the limit in the process. Swift. Silent. Deep., which has won a number of awards for its stunning cinematography, takes viewers on a back country skiing adventure with a group of men who rejected formal ski etiquette and took their lives into their own hands, later founding (and winning) extreme skiing competitions.
For a more practical leg up on the upcoming trip, check out Klymit’s award-winning kinetic vest. This sleek, trim layer gets its heat by way of an entirely new technology – a palm-sized pump that breathes argon gas into the vest’s puffy chambers, creating warmth superior to that offered by a down jacket and at a fraction of the size. But don’t worry, the argon gas is non-flammable and non-toxic, making it safe for the user and the environment.
While the vest has been lauded by Backpacker and Popular Science, Klymit is also rolling out argon-powered jackets for hunters, climbers and water sports enthusiasts in 2010. Products range from $199 – $225. Klymit.com
Miller Union
When you combine the expertise of two Atlanta restaurant veterans (previously at Watershed and Sotto Sotto) into a new modern Southern venture, you get a place that could easily rise to be one of the city’s ideal dining destinations. Miller Union serves farm-to-table comfort food, but with a high-end approach. The menu is straightforward, Southern and rustic composed of top-quality, fresh regional ingredients all prepared for selective tastes, but without elaborate dressing up.
Named after the Westside stockyards that in another era lined Marietta Street past the White Provision complex, Miller Union rests in an industrial setting, among the warehouses and train tracks. The restaurant fits the raw appeal of the area but it’s more comfortable than most cold, loft designs. A den of small, high-ceilinged rooms flow into each other, circling back to the bar that greets patrons as they arrive. Each room has a unique atmosphere, but all are warm and tie-in with the dark farm wood, steel frame form.
The setting and the food complement each other, giving Miller Union a discerning yet understated Southern appeal. We tried and liked: Farm egg baked in celery cream with rustic bread, beer braised pork shoulder, sautéed greens, brussel sprouts, and trio of rosemary, thyme and sage herb ice creams.
Categories: Food
Crazy for the Storm
The relationship between a father and a son is at the core of one’s journey to manhood. However, the value of a father’s life lessons often go unrecognized until later in life. For Norman Ollestad, his eccentric father’s love, thirst for life and quest for adventure would all come into play at age 11, when he finds himself alone after a plane crash in the wilderness. Crazy for the Storm, A Memoir of Survival, takes us on a dramatic journey into the life of Norm Jr., raised by a father who wanted his son to experience the might and the danger of life, to learn that you can’t surf a perfect wave without also being a little frightened.
In 1979 their chartered Cessna slammed into the side of Ontario Peak in the middle of a winter storm. Norm Sr., his girlfriend and the pilot were killed, leaving Norm Jr. to fight for his life. Stranded and freezing in the wild, Norm Jr. realized that every one of his father’s bold experiences had taught him lessons about strength and self-reliance that would now save his life. Recently named one of Amazon’s top ten books of 2009, this tale of determination, courage and persistence is nearly impossible to put down. www.crazyforthestorm.com
