Hiatus Indefinite ∫ To Whom It May Concern

To anyone who's been checking in on TomaSco lately: apologies (and, thanks...?). I have been slacking, majorly. Mostly because my summer has been jam-packed. Just got back from Seattle, which was lovely--I took part in a very special occasion (my close friend from Sactown getting hitched). Wild stuff. And the rest of my time has been wrapped up in a full-on nine-to-5 (often longer) for an up and coming internet conglomerate/beast. On the style-blog front as well. Both are filed under "vested" in my interest column. You should click over now and subscribe to your city. You'll thank me later. Anyhow, what I'm saying is: if it wasn't already apparent, I don't plan on updating very regularly (or at all) in the near future. If you do happen to care about my whereabouts or whatnot, you're probably a facebook friend and/or you can follow along on twitter. While flipping through recent pictures I've taken, this one seemed quite apt for the current occasion. It's from the Ace Hotel in Seattle. Our bedside chair was awesome. Obvs. So, I took a picture.

This was all over the NYC blogosphere a couple of days ago. I was at the 6th Ave L stop earlier today. The MTA has already fixed it (the L and F have been reversed). Perhaps the most organized they've been. Ever. If only they could apply that kind of go-getting to running the G...

Real MTA ∫ New Map Unveiled

Great article in the New York Times about the new map to be unveiled next month, and the history of "the ubiquitous blue-and-taupe rectangle scrutinized by millions." The interactive companion page (screen-grabbed above) is even better. Check it out. Even if you're not from here, one day you'll end up here and find yourself gazing at this more than anything else (out of necessity of course). "In a city of world-class art museums and an instantly recognizable skyline, no image is more closely examined than the New York City subway map..."

An Overhaul of an Underground Icon

J-Dubs ∫ Some Things Don't Change

Needless to say, I'm a die-hard Sac Kings fan. Ergo, I have a lingering fanaticism for most players who've donned the purple & black--and an even stronger passion for those we've drafted (and coddled through a few turbulent yet thrilling early years)... Enter, J-Will/J-Dubs/WhiteChocolate/#55. And it's still great to see that, even in his waning years, he's still the same short-tempered West Virginian-slack-jawed-punk that I grew to love nearly a decade ago. Oh, it doesn't stop there. Matt Barnes (interviewee) is a Sactown native--went to Del Campo--AND played for the Kings. Booya. The video is below, but i thought the GQ title and caption (above) were pretty much perfection already. (oh, and the Magic won last night. keep the hope alive!)

Montauk ∫ Ghost of Weekends Past

Blame the subtitle on our recent subscription to HBO--it was solely for Treme, but now we've got all the McConaughey any one person can handle. Alllright.

Notes: my recently gifted cashmere pants from Club Monaco (pictured above) and my chambray driving cap purchased in East Hampton (pictured variously). And the Clam Bar = must stop. So yeah, we went to Montauk a few weekends ago... (not of note: how tired i look before a cup of coffee, also above).

http://www.postcardsfromyomomma.com/

Filed Under ∫ Another Weekend Proj

This post has been long overdue. We painted our wall navy and sourced a frame cluster for our "dining room" all within a couple weeks. This was nearly a month ago. Here's the initial mock-up, before we knew we'd have another frame to work with. I like to think of this whole process as phase one. (a shelf is tenatively in the works).

As you can see, "dining room" is in air-quotes because it's really just the wall of our living room against which our table rests. Yes, that Native American lady is topless.

The Sac Trolley map needed a home. And I stumbled upon this gem of a frame in some Murray Hill hole in the wall. The bird was almost worth keeping for hilarity's sake. But the fit was too perfect to pass up. After a quick rejiggering of the hanging hardware (from portrait to ladscape) and a recutting of the matting, the whole shabang was ready to hang. (not sure what that rhyme was all about...)

BTW ∫ My First Kempt Post

Of further interest....

Here’s how to pull it off»

Been Brunchin' ∫ Happy Easter

Bouchon {Napa, Ca}

Pain Quotidien {Mannahhatta}

Julliette {tha Burg}

The Smile {NoHo}

Five Leaves {Gpoint}

Counting Down ∫ LL Bean Signature

Folks excited about the LL Bean Signature launch have had the Ides of March marked on their calendar for quite some time now. And with the launch less than a week away, anticipation has reached a rolling boil. What with all the sneak peeks at magazine mock-ups (picture above via their twitter) and special pre-released items, how could ya blame 'em? Most recently released--for the dudes--was a hand-sewn ranger moc. A fine specimen indeed, but I was most intrigued by one of the thumbnails depicting a suede low-cut-ankle-boot. And then stumbled upon this full-sized image with the low and high-top version. These are screaming sockless summer fun. Anyhow, can't wait to see the full collection next week. And pick up a few items for the impending summer--arriving sooner than later, hopefully.

Inaugural Meeting ∫ Wine Club

Blizzard be damned. Instead of going out, we hunkered down at our apartment for the first installment in a series of drunken attempts at enology--or enography, as I would rather have it be known. First varietal to be explored: the not-so-elusive, yet all-too-enigmatic grape hailing from the terroir of boxed.

The line up. And appy course of the many pizzettas Karen baked--an apt food pairing indeed. Also note the fresh coat of navy blue we just painted our wall. Yikes. More on that later. Next round: salumi and artichoke hearts. Killer.

Naturally, the blizz' beckon was too strong to be ignored. Mackenzie goes full snow angel in the yard. And is in need of assistance to stand--a resounding confirmation of wine club success.

Must Acquire ∫ hard graft 2UNFOLD

The Austrian-based portmanteau-geniuses, hard graft, just dropped their new range. The 2unfold is not a new entry into the line-up but it is, in my opinion, their definitive piece. I have been obsessing over it for the past few iterations, and the duo recently released is only making matters worse. Behold:

I've been waiting for either of these colorways to appear, and both dropped simultaneously. Crazy. Constructed of vegetable tanned leather sourced from Italy. They are quality. And priced as such, costing a pretty penny. Nonetheless, its versatility--backpack, messenger, tote, breifcase--makes it the last bag you'll ever have to purchase. Time to start squirreling away.

[hard graft]

It's Still Really Cold ∫ Bundle Up

It's nearly March. And warmer weather is still quite far on the distant New York horizon. Alas, I'm still weathering this frigid bitch (aka NYC) whilst my Cali brethren bask in the early spring 60s (to 70s even!!) that is my native late Feb/early Mar. And so I found myself spending another Friday morning enshrouding myself in layers to brave the not-s0-great outdoors. I was too lazy to get exact pictures of all of the articles below but most are actual photos, or close enough. Fingers crossed for an "early Spring."

Cashmere Beanie "borrowed" from Karen months ago [banana repub]

Spiewak & Sons Pea Coat [Based on WWI Naval Issue]
Wool Scarf (vintage) [now-defunct Houndstooth NYC]

Lambskin Gloves, Cashmere Lined [Lands End]

Shawl Collar Cardigan [opening ceremony]

White Vneck [Hanes or aa]

Gitman Vintage Heavy Chambray Oxford

Thermal Pants

Levis Jeans 511

Wool Ragg Socks [LL Bean]

Waxed Leather Desert Boots [Clarks]