The Jersey Picker and Company at The Raleigh Flea Market

It's late fall and the Raleigh Flea Market is back in full swing. As I've said before, a minority of the dealers bring out a majority of the good junk. And here are two good examples. Randy Siciliano, aka The Jersey Picker, travels the country pickin' and displaying cool wares. From Round Top Texas to the Low Country of South Carolina to Brimfield in New England, Randy brings his personality and fine taste in gnarly junk.

Ron and Judy (and Daughter, sometimes) bring an eclectic, artistic mix to their booth. Industrial antiques, weathered letters from the sides of old buildings, Mid-Century Modern furniture and Ron's creative art make for an original, exciting mix!

There's a also a guy who comes out occasionally who brings some decent stuff...

 The sun sets on another afternoon at the Raleigh Flea Market held at the Raleigh Fairgrounds.

When Driving This Time of Year, Watch Out for Wild Life!

Manhood On A Can: The Schmidt Beer 'Sportsman' Series

If you're a guy who grew up in the 60s and 70s, what it meant to be a man seemed clearly defined. I'd say that the marketing guys at Schmidt Beer got the visuals pretty close when they came up with their can design. 

Parkas, Gloves and Boots

With cold weather approaching, it's time to shop for winter sports gear. Have you ever received the Gorsuch catalogue or visited their flagship store in Aspen? You really should get their catalogue. It displays all kinds of useful snowsports apparel. Parkas, gloves, boots. Love looking at the parkas, gloves and boots. Yep.

Hometown Weekend: Montpelier Races & Small Town Downtown

I made my ritual autumn trip back home to Virginia this past weekend. I was fortunate to have my Daughter Lil' Bean traveling along with me for the racing and sightseeing action. We started the weekend joining up with family at The Montpelier Races, an exciting yet serene throw-back to a gentler age.

Lil' Bean making her way to the racing action in her Lily Pullitzer pea coat.

Homebase, literally. This was my view looking out the back door while growing up in a small town in the rolling hills of Piedmont Virginia.

Dean & Deluca? Maybe a Brooklyn trattoria? Nope. Try a super spot in a little, podunk town in Virginia. It's really hilarious how I can now get Trappist Ale, 4-star cuisine and Staub cast iron cookware in a town where Pizza Hut was once considered haut cuisine.

See that big Victorian at the end of the block, past that ancient milling building? That's where my Dad grew up.

After a tiring excersion into The Nation's Capital, we took a well deserved pit stop at Moo Thru. This  stop provides all of the cream from their own dairy cows. And, yes, they appear to doing pretty well.

Trailer Trad Attire: Autumn Vintage Finds

I found these Bass moccasins at the same yard sale that I found the WWII aviation sextant and astrocompass and they fit great. A cool older gentleman in my neighborhood was downsizing and he and his wife were looking to get rid of clutter. I also picked up a never-used Heddon fiberglass rod in its original tube and carrying case.According to a 1955 issue of Sports Afield, "There are many excellent hunting shoes on the market. One of the best is the Russell "Bird Shooter," a genuine moccasin which has a hand-sewn toe piece, rubber composition soles and waterproofed calfskin 10-inch uppers (W. C. Russell, $21). A new one by G. H. Bass & Co., the "Trailmaster," has a double construction: two layers around the vamp with no exposed seams for extra water repellency ($27.50)." -Wow, this pair retailed for considerably more than Russells back then!

I snagged this great Turnbull & Asser tattersall at the local Junior League thrift store. Truth is, it's too big to wear with a tie but should be great with a sweater or by itself.

Once you've been to enough yard sales, you become able to tell which are worth stopping at and which are a waste of time. Typically, the younger the people holding the sale, the worse the stuff. Toys, kids clothes and other clutter. However, sometimes you can be surprised. I stopped off at a house that didn't look promising. A teenager with an educated looking (too smart to give away anything any good) middle-aged mom selling old clothes, toys, some knickknacks. However, it turns out the husband must have been a clotheshorse back in the 1970s because he had a large number of really nice wide ties; many from the late great B. Altman's. I picked up some nice silk repps along with some nice, English wool Challis ties - just in time for fall!

 

This should please the hipsters out there. An exquisite 1960's Pepsi floppy hat.

 

Just a good ol' Indian madras long-sleeved shirt with beautiful colors. Unfortunately, its too small for me. -Another find going to dear Lil' Bean!

On my picking travels, I purchased this new cotton Russian Navy shirt. It's a little snug and would NOT look right on me by itself  but will look cool under a chambray shirt or pea coat.

How could I visit a shrine to Eastern North Carolina BBQ like Allen & Son without picking up a tee shirt? -Especially one with an awesome pig on the back...

Man, these are practical. English v-necks really can be worn every day during the cold-weather months. Alan Paine just stocked every really good men's store you can name for 60 years, that's all.

This picture doesn't do these Aldens justice and, no, you don't want to know what I paid for them.