The Trad

“Please hold for Mr. Trump.” It was a soft woman’s voice that came out of the phone speaker three of us sat around. There were a number of ...

“I haven’t always been mindful, but I’ve always been an asshole...and that’s okay.” I’ve been practicing mindfulness now for about five...

I wanted to say I was hiding behind the refrigerator but instead, I opened my eyes, looked at the EMT and said, “I’m meditating.” “Oh, s...

Dad and friends  Back when I was working in NYC, I dated a woman who was a numerologist. We met at the first and definitely the...

My napkin at the table Rather than knock, many Indians turn the locked door knob back and forth as a way to let you know they want ...

Written in FALL/WINTER 2012 I ask Julie Hertling about Charlie Davidson.   Julie's been making clothing under his own name in Brookly...

Repost from April 12, 2009 Some years ago I moved from Chicago to Florida on Easter weekend. After living and working in my ex-wife's ...

I found my password.

Colorado Springs, 1974 Vote

I'm Batman After the haul in Chapel Hill.  The old man was in Vietnam and I'm guessing his six months was up with the A Team in ...

Illustration by Arthur Frost for Lewis Carroll's 'Phantasmagoria.'

Andy "Touch" Touchstone (4.1.63 - 10.21.14) at the Vesper Club (1901-2012) Andrew K. Touchstone of,  " The Main Lin...

I could feel at the time There was no way of knowing Fallen leaves in the night Who can say where they're blowing As free as t...

(click to read) I can feel the madras - Andy (left), July 1989

Andrew K. Touchstone April 1st, 1963 to October 21st, 2014

"I liked the word 'style.' I like people with style, with flair, with signature qualities, provided they have more tha...

click letter to read The brilliance of this letter is only surpassed by knowing its subject.

A favorite for background music on Halloween night. Start at 14:00 to skip Redford's lovely narration. Guaranteed to scare the crap ...

I've felt like this since the demise of Wasp 101.

I had a client -- now a good friend -- who used the rubber band from Broccoli stalks to hold his credit cards.  He also traveled across the ...

From 'Dateline America' by Charles Kuralt, 1979   Photos by Mark Chester It's been a journey of sorts. This year.  On the road...

Who cares where I've been.  It's none of your business and I'm back as long as this is a pleasurable endeavor.  I missed it h...

Miss Me?  It's okay if you didn't.

Beretta employee, Moses Gutierrez with a 20 gauge Silver Pigeon 1 ( $2,240)  I first bumped into the NYC Beretta Gallery about five yea...

Not as good as it was -- Better than it will be

Student You've said that you regarded respectability as one of the prime enemies of individualism.  Do you regard love as  an e...

Back in the early 19th century, Turkey Reds, aka Adrianople Reds, were a madder based dye with Turkish origins. These pat...

Happy 50th.

(click image to enlarge)