My Impressions of Boston

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I spent a long weekend in Boston; it was our first visit to that historic city.  We stayed at the Omni Parker House, the home of the Parker House roll and Boston cream pie.  Interestingly, JFK proposed to Jackie in the hotel restaurant, and Ho Chi Mihn was once a pastry chef in its kitchen.

I traveled to Boston with the preconceived notion that the city was filled with gentleman's shops.  I was hoping to find shops filled with leather and wood, wool and cigar smoke.  I was sorely disappointed.  The hottest shopping spot is Newbury Street where one finds Burberry, Armani, and other similar high-end, high-priced fashion shops.  The most interesting store I found was J. Press in Cambridge, but I even left there empty-handed.

Between trips to the local taverns for beer and the World Cup, I did a lot of people watching.  I was surprised to discover that the population is largely composed of young, fit individuals; maybe I've grown too used to Southern obesity. 

The standard male uniform appeared to be dark, flat-front trousers, a black belt with modern silver buckle, black shoes and a blue striped or checked button-down shirt (sans jacket or tie).  Even in the downtown area I rarely saw a man wearing a tie. 

I was more perplexed by the attire of the young women in Boston.  I saw countless attractive women wearing blouses with a low scallop in the back that completely revealed the back of their bra, including the straps and the fastener.  It reminded me of the thugs that wander around with sagging pants and exposed boxers.  I'm no expert on women's clothing so I'm not sure what advice I would give those young women.  Is it too risqué to wear those blouses without a bra?  Maybe.  But in my mind underwear should go under ones' clothing.

Notwithstanding its lack of sartorial splendor, I found Boston to be safe, interesting and historical.

Dapper Elderly Gentlemen

I returned yesterday from a week-long Caribbean cruise on the Holland America Line.  The vast majority of passengers were quite elderly.  During the week I had the opportunity to observe a number of quite stylish older gentlemen.  Maybe it's because they were raised in an era of high style.  Or maybe it's because they have had decades to refine their own personal style.  But it seems that some elderly men exhibit a stylishness not seen in younger generations.

I do not mean to suggest that with age automatically comes style.  I saw plenty of ill-fitting tuxedos with too-long sleeves and pant legs puddling on the tops of shoes.  But two men stood out to me as being particularly stylish. 

The first I noticed was wearing a black beret and smoking a cigar on the rear deck.  The look was very Pablo Picasso.  We chatted for a while and I learned that he was a retired Italian grocer from upstate New York who enjoyed competition dancing.

The second gentleman I encountered had a slick bald head and an impressive silvery-gray waxed handlebar moustache.  Throughout the cruise he paid grandfatherly attention to my young son.  At one point he produced a gold dollar coin from his pocket and presented it to my son for his piggy bank.  I had the impression that he maintained a supply of those special coins for just such an occassion.

Respect your elders.  They have much to teach us about being true gentlemen.

Middleton Place

I spent a long weekend in Charleston, SC.  We stayed at our favorite spot in Charleston, the Inn at Middleton Place.  The Inn is sited on the bluffs overlooking the Ashley River

Awarded for its architectural design and found to be a modern counterpoint to the neighboring 18th-century Middleton Place plantation, the Inn's distinctive architecture and simple, rustic decor lends to the beauty of the property.  With dramatic floor to ceiling windows that evoke a sense of living within nature and wide plantation shutters for privacy, guests enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at its finest.

Each room is furnished with handcrafted furniture, hardwood floors with braided rugs and warm cypress paneling.  A wood burning fireplace adds to the ambiance and can be enjoyed during the cooler months while a 150 gallon garden tub beckons guests to relaxation.  The Inn's 53 private accommodations are found in four separate, bold, geometric structures each located within a short and convenient walking distance of one another.

Just a short walk from the Inn is the garden at Middleton Place.  Begun in 1741 by Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress, the 60-acre formal garden is accented by ancient live oaks draped heavily in Spanish moss.  Middleton Place has survived war, hurricanes and earthquakes to earn the distinction as a National Historic Landmark.  If you are ever in the area, the garden is worth a visit.