A message from the Tall Persons Association of America. Take a listen to this message from the most recent A Prairie Home Companion show. Six foot three Garrison Keillor highlights ways to take care of the tall folks around us. The sketch starts at 111:58. It was a pleasant and random surprise this past holiday weekend. Enjoy.
Being tall is all relative, right? This past week we did our first Longshot Apparel photo shoot and we shot with some short guys, (6’1”). It’s strange to look at someone who is 6’1 and say, “he’s too short.” But put that guy next to a strappin’ 6’8” hunk of man and well, there’s no way around it…he’s short. It got me thinking about people we see in our everyday lives, on t.v. and in the media. How tall are these people anyway? Well here’s a short list (!) of who is tallish, tall and taller. Take a look.
Tallish (probably a size 1or 2 Longshot Shirt fit)
Getting Taller (Probably a Longshot size 2, 2L or 3, 3L)
Really Tall Guys, (Most Definitely a Longshot size 4 or 4L)
Super Duper Tall Guys (Longshot 4L may or may not fit, it’s worth a try).
There are soooo many tall athletes I can’t list them all but they are in nearly every sport (except horse racing). Anyway, if you want to see who the tallest are in each sport check here.
The holidays are coming and last night I was thinking about planning a short escape during that “no-mans” time between Christmas and New Years. It’s been a long year to get Longshot Apparel ready to launch and once we get selling tall shirts in December I’m going to need to celebrate right?
While I have a fondness for long haul, exotic foreign getaways more frequently than not, for this trip I desire to stay closer to home – The Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. I’ve stayed at the Ace in New York and Portland (yes, even in my home town) and the design vernacular for the Ace has a rejuvenating effect on me. It’s classic, smart, quirky and individual. Staying or hanging at the Ace invigorates my creative I.Q. The décor pushes me to do more with the basics in my life, to use materials intelligently and to rejoice in human ingenuity.
The Ace re-imagines the American hotel and taps into a 50s delight of an old motel rescued from the tumbleweeds. Two chlorine-free pools, a spa, biking in the desert, hammocks, hiking, cocktails and some good old-fashioned pool lounging. A friend of mine stayed here last week and had an incredible night of bingo with strangers in the Ace bar. One of the best experiences ever – he swears.
As the first snow threatens to fall here in Seattle this weekend, I’ll be booking my stay at the Ace. King room with patio fireplace? See you soon.
Beckel Canvas Products have been fascinating me as of late. It’s a family-owned business in Portland, OR that makes high quality traditional wall tents, bags, accessories and packing equipment. After years of heavy camping with three- and four-season tents made of waterproof nylon and Easton aircraft-grade aluminum, these tents speak to the survivalist in me: A pole or two, some pegs, rope and a sail of Marine Finish Army Duck. All products are made in the USA, one at a time.
My Beckel favorites are the Miner Tent, the Eena “TT” Tent and the Outhouse Tent (yes, you heard right). Some tents even come complete with a stovepipe hole for long-term usage. Call me an outdoor romantic as I envision a cozy life in one of these beauties tucked away in the Mt. Hood Wilderness.
These tents are large enough to be able to standup in, most measuring an 8’ ridgeline. Footprints are extra spacious as well. Think of the times that kneeling in a tent was impossible. Rejoice, a tent that you can stretch up and out in. Each is made to order and custom size needs can be accommodated.
I’m thinking we should use a Beckel tent for the Longshot holiday party–there’d be more than enough room for a good shindig. Let me talk to the bosses and see what we can do…
This is the 14' x 14' Eena "TT" Tent. $695 and available to purchase online.
The Eena Outhouse in the winter and summer. Year round comfort for $175.95!
Last year I bought a fast car. I know nothing about cars but I do know that I am amazed at how much better life is when you can drive fast. So I was self-nominated to add some car love to this blog. If the tall shirt fits, wear it. Wait, I’m not a tall guy so how am I supposed to get the best info on driving tall?
Praise the lord (and the Queen) for Top Gear. Jeremy Clarkson and his 6’5” frame drive day in and out in the most amazing vehicles on this earth. His skills along with the rest of the Top Gear hosts, provide enough awe, disbelief and jealously to activate any dormant driving gene you might possess.
In a recent episode, Jeremy, Richard and James tested three beauties not commonly seen in the highest corporate circles: The Aston Martin Rapide, the Maserati Quattroporte and the Porsche Panamera Turbo. The cars brought a nice throaty brilliance to London’s financial district as the test got started to find the world’s greatest four-seat supercar. Did you know that four-seaters of a certain class are deemed saloons? I guess it changes from sedan to saloons when you get surpass the $150,000 price tag.
Some highlights from the test drive session:
Porsche Panamera: This looks like a wart
- Engine: 4.7 litre Turbo
- You need to be a rocket scientist to understand anything.
- Massive in size.
- The engine stop start feature to save fuel is ridiculous when you have a 4.7 litre turbo engine.
- Sport Sound: Nothing?!
- Dynamically it is staggering. It is as fabulous as it is gutting to look at.
- Quote of the drive: “This isn’t just hideous compared to the other two. It’s hideous compared to a genital wart.”
Aston Martin Rapide: Looks like it’s taken a bit of Viagra
- Engine: 4.7 litre
- You have to stare at it a while to see that there’s even 4-doors at all.
- You need fingers like cocktail sticks to operate the dashboard buttons.
- Sport Sound: Good stuff
- Quote of the drive: “It’s exciting. There’s a subtle refined rage to this car.”
Maserati Quattroporte: It’s like a mafia hit man
- Engine: 6.0 litre
- Worst of all, you get the feeling that a random guy showed up and put the buttons anywhere he pleased.
- Sound: Oh my god. The sport noise is good but the sport suspension isn’t.
- Quote of the drive: “I don’t care if it picks its nose and farts in bed, I love this thing.”
For driving results courtesy of the Stig, check out Episode 3 of Top Gear Season 15. You can download most all shows from amazon.com. Why show up to work in a standard issue BMW, Audi or Mercedes? Go fast, get to work and remember, a Longshot shirt will go perfectly with whichever one you choose.
As we began thinking about Longshot Apparel and the brand we wanted to create it was interesting to see each of us gravitate toward many of the great American companies we grew up with. For me I can vividly remember the first time I got to wear my Dad’s Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses and the luxurious warmth of his Eddie Bauer Skyliner Down Jacket during the cold winters in Syracuse, NY. I can still smell the leather from my first visit to the Nettleton Shoes (sadly out of business) factory store to get my first pair of real men’s shoes.
I also have a soft spot in my heart for Pendleton Woolen Mills. I recently read a great post about the company at the One Trip Pass blog-a great bookmark for POV on American-made goods. My parents were adamant about buying only quality things-even if it meant paying more sometimes-and a blanket from Pendleton was a treasured item in our house. My dad also loved his Pendleton wool shirts and wore a particular red tartan plaid until it was threadbare in the elbows-which I think took about 20 winters or so of hard wear and tear. My hat is off to this great company from the Pacific Northwest for keeping it going through some turbulent times!
We have recently added a page to our site dedicated to Made in the USA. We have started a list of unique companies who make their products in the US. We invite you to check it out and of course to tell us about your favorites, too.
This book has been out a while, but I don’t care. I must share. This book is I can’t believe he wrote that oh my god…cackle, cackle, cackle good. I wanted people to hear me reading this. And then I wanted to hide behind the pages hording the secret like kids with Halloween candy.
Wells Tower, while height unknown but name pleasantly tall, writes like a giant articulate prankster in his debut collection of short stories Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned. The inside of his brain might potentially look like Being John Malkovich having a tea party with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lorenzo Lamas’ character Soldier from the 80s Snake Eater and the entire cast from Lone Wolf McQuade. Yeah, odd…like it might all work together if you have the right type of glue. Well, in my opinion, Tower sticks it.
Here, take a quick peek:
“By the window, a woman was sitting in a recliner reading a magazine and sucking on a cigarette. She was pretty, but she’d spent too much time in the sun. She was pruned over and nearly maroon, like a turkey beard.”
“Good morning. You have not slept well. Don’t open your eyes. Stick out your tongue. Search for the little sore on your upper lip. Pray that it healed in the night. No luck. Still there…it tastes better than it looks. A tiny hamburger is what the fungus resembles…”
Frustrating and painful perhaps? Well, welcome to the hard life.
Characters with names like Derrick Treat, cocktails capable of “Polack Holidays,” the idea of filling an aquarium with actual fish from the ocean, Barry the meditation instructor, a kid who fakes a seizure face down on a gravel driveway for 15 minutes just to get sympathy, moose hunting, joint smoking retirees and a girl who sucks on the stick shift to calm her nerves. The misfits and oddities of America in their entire splendor. It may not make sense now, but read it and smirk with uncomfortable joy.
What I like so much about these short stories is that I see these stories all the time. Those interactions you wander into or witness that you, yourself just never believe. For me it’s the guy in St. Louis who worked in the vinyl factory and the woman on the flight to Hong Kong who ended up taking me to a Chinese pyramid scheme to sell beauty products on the mainland. Screwy experiences that have you wondering if this is your life. The universe gives us artful and funny stories to discover time and time again. Thanks Wells Towers for bringing us yours.
Well just because I can…here’s some commentary from the great classics in American film mentioned earlier:
SneakEater (circa 1989). They make a watercraft out of a Harley. A teenaged Kelly McGillis is trapped by in-breds and sister-wives. Soldier must get to her before they do.
Lone Wolf McQuade was a 1983 precursor to Walker Texas Ranger. When a ruthless gun smuggling ring threatens his family and friends he leaves his badge behind to wage a personal war against his enemies.
Yesterday morning an article caught my eye – reporter Patrick Heery of the BBC was embarking on a journey to grow a mustache for charity. He’s openly broadcasting this entire difficult task to the world at large. The photo stopped me. A boyish face with a sprinkle of age, he just seemed slight and not too intimidating. You know charming and a little meek? Then I wondered…what tall guys wear the hair on the lip?
The answer: not a lot. The most famous ‘stached’ guy in my book would be Tom Selleck. He’s used his facial hair to become iconic on Magnum P.I. It’s survived appearances on Friends, Las Vegas, Jesse Stone and now on a new series called Blue Bloods. Wait, he might have shaved it for Friends, so don’t hold that against him. He’s one of those good guys who will forever be a hunk in my book. And he’s 65. I’ll have what he’s drinking please.
Another actor in my sights is Ryan Hurst who plays Opie on Sons of Anarchy. He’s 6’4” – the same height as Selleck. In the show’s third season, awesome vigilante biker law stretches from Cali all the way to Northern Ireland. Guns, prison drug sales, gang retaliation, club houses, porn shoots, cars, leathers and ole' ladies. Every episode is a pleaser…never a clunker as long as I've been watching.
How about mustached tall men in power? Thanks to the site Facial hair and Presidential elections, I got some quick info on Presidential beards. Turns out Lincoln (6’4”) won clean-shaven and wildly enough most the candidates and Presidents with mustaches never even broke the 6-foot mark (All hovered around 5’11).
Lastly, I've stumbled upon a group devoted to Mustache Rights. Meet the American Mustache Institute (AMI). It's mission is forthright: Protecting the rights of and fighting discrimination against, mustached Americans by promoting the growth, care, and culture of the mustache. Please call (877) STACHE-1 for more information. Ladies and tall gentlemen, it doesn't get much better than this. Thank god for the Internet.
BBC Correspondent Patrick Heery and his quest for lip hair.
The King of 'stache himself.
Michael Caine, a tall (6’2”) strapping man that we all know from some of our favorite movies has recently published a new biography The Elephant to Hollywood—a must read. I heard an interview with him on the Terry Gross NPR Show Fresh Air. What a prolific and interesting guy. He’s a two time Oscar winner (though he’s been nominated 6 times) for his roles in Hannah and Her Sisters and Cider House Rules and he’s been “Sir-ed” whatever that means in England. He’s got a good story, a pull yourself up from the bootstraps tale that culminates with a few statues on the mantle and his appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) at the 1992 Queen’s Birthday Honours, and in the 2000 New Year Honours he was knighted as Sir Maurice Micklewhite, KBE, CBE. The guy’s no slouch, we’re proud to have him in the Tall Shirt club.
The election this past week was big news. It is always interesting to see how elections often show the mood of the people and can set direction for an entire country. I also find it fascinating that so many people in our country don’t participate in voting (only 41% estimated this election). What a shame to waste such an amazing privilege-one that many people across the world are struggling for! Voter apathy aside, I believe that we all need to raise awareness of the fact that we “vote” with our dollars every day. I believe the “great recession” is cause for all of us to think hard about how we spend our hard-earned dollars and to deeply consider the impact our buying decisions have right here at home. Mindful consumption is a concept that is taking hold across the country and I think it is long overdue! Consider this great blog post on the 5 ways we are changing the world with our money.
I spent last week traveling in the Northeast to visit two of our manufacturers. One is a 3rd generation family-run business that has somehow survived the ups and downs of the US garment business and is still turning out beautiful products. The second is a venerable east coast company that actually shut down when most of the big companies sought out better pricing overseas and is now taking a shot at making the business work again. To be honest, it has not been easy to find quality shops like these in the US and my hat is off to both of them for their perseverance through some difficult times. I hope Longshot will be a part of their future success!
Longshot Apparel has chosen to make our tall shirts in the USA and I am proud to be part of what I hope will be a resurgence of “Made in the USA.” I believe that American consumers need to be more aware of the exceptional companies, workforce and ingenuity we have right here in the US. I say Stand Tall for made in the USA!
