Happy Holidays

The Columbia Sportswear Omni-Heat Coat is available now in stores and online. Here is why this coat made it to the top of my wish list. Omni Heat Technology lines this coat and maintains warmth with a state-of-the-art [note: always buy something that is marketed as "state-of-the-art"] heater that allows you to get warm for 4-6 hours with the push of a button. For more information [Click to Link!].

When Dre said "keep your heads ringing..." and Diddy clicked liquor bottles together before we Celebrated the New Year with Ciroc, Moster Cable [Click to Link] heard them loud and clear, now we all can.


"Its Christmas Time in The City."

All Steve Everything.

"Soon it will be Christmas Day."

The Ugly Christmas Sweater

Can't get enough of the Ugly Christmas Sweater. Said sweater is so Americana and hilarious. In a product category of its own the Ugly Christmas Sweater has made itself a staple. I wanted to develop a modern take on this icon so I began looking for inspiration. I found what I was looking for in braces or suspenders featured in a vintage Esquire Magazine from the late 1920's. They were marketed as Art Elastic by Hickok.

A combination of using applique, which often comes off as hideous, AND manipulating the yarn dyes is what I was thinking to create a modern take on the Ugly Christmas Sweater. Keeping in mind multiple construction techniques [i.e. applique, knit] and atrocious color ways have geared these swearers to the backs of teachers and librarians.

Modern styling and fit updates.

[Below] Graphic renderings of the art findings.

You Go Girl *Martin Voice*

Turn of the Century Playboy Holiday Covers from 1999 and 2004 [Above]. Naomi and Denise. Damn. What happened to the outlandish Christmas cover? I guess it was lost with prayer in schools. Thirty years prior like Richard, Hef was still lacing us with Holiday Covers [Below].

Holiday Chuckles

"Not Mother Teressa..."

One thing I can always go for is a good funny. Now that I think about it I also enjoy the awful ones. When I came across a few Holiday funnies to share I wanted to create my own. I have to give credit to my friend Janelle as the inspiration for this one. We met up to do some Christmas shopping and didn't get anything for anyone but ourselves. Heading to 34th Street from Soho we passed Hollister. She was breaking her neck trying to look at the models so I asked her if she wanted to go in, mocking her thirst. She is from New York so she knows how to laugh at herself but she deflected my comment with "no, I need a flash light to shop in there." If you have ever shopped in Hollister you know the setting is characteristically dim, her extreme outlook made me literally laugh out loud-I went from there.

"Not he was gettin' it in..."

"Not collection already...."

For Your Stockings + For Santa

Achromatic: Story. Sound. Song. is the perfect stocking stuffer. Buy now so when you put away your Justin Bieber, Temptations and Mariah Carey Christmas albums you will be all set to go. Available on Amazon [Click to Link]. You can also download with your iTunes gift card [Click to Link]. Happy Holidays and thank you for Listening.

Translation: I Love New York At Christmas

Featured cookie is from William Greenberg Desserts on Madison Avenue between 82nd and 83rd. This Upper Eastside Bakery is self proclaimed to have the best black and white cookie New York has to offer and I agree. After having a black and white cookie from Bill's I am a witness. I have since switched from my black and white cookie provider I use to go to at a cafe on the Upper Westside. I am sure black and white cookie lovers can agree it must be some cookie to make a man switch his sole provider of five years, and that it is. Visit Bill online [Click to Link] and if you are as sick as me you can go "Beyond the Black and White Cookie." The site allows you to customize your cookie with up to 196 color combinations. I did the math-told you I was sick.

Go! Before this turns into a food blog. Enjoy and leave some for Santa.

Toys: No Tots. Whips: No Anna Mae

Jaguar Fleet: "Beauty and the Beast." Similar to a Barbra Streisand Edition Bentley. #NoHeDidn't just say that, as described by Rick Ross. Old money vehicle but with sport swag.

Warning: If found in this car you may be fined.

Don't Stop Believing: Journey

[Above] Macy's Harold Square at 34th Street. The epitome of the Magic of Macy's and the Miracle on 34th Street.


My friend Drew [@goodsonnyc] over at The Whisper Pit [Click to Link] was od-ing a little while ago going around the City snapping shots [Above]. I had a few of my own I wanted to show-he put them all to shame so I decided to let him rock [pause]. I even went as far as framing some of his photography from around the City. I was looking for art for my apartment. I had nothing in mind but I knew what I wanted when I saw this collection of photos. WIll be coming soon to ESB. See "Come Home With Me Preview" [Click to Link].

Growing up fortunate enough to have had fun, happy and sometime over-the-top Christmases may have subliminally made me a "believer."

My New Years Resolution is to keep believing. I challenge anyone who reads this to believe in something, anything, whatever. Its always nice to have something no one can take from you and since believing not totally of this world it is one of those rarities that fall in this category. This is my take on "Don't Stop Believing" like Journey's 1981 Classic. "Just a city boy/born and raised in South Detroit" translates to me as "just a city boy/born and raised *south of Detroit* [Toledo, OH]."

[Below] Photos of Mr. and Mrs. Daniels at New Years in the early 90's then New Years twenty years later.

Happy Holidays to you any yours. Thank you for visiting and listening. Please continue to do so. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend. Continue to message me and find me on Twitter @jameldanielsny

Will be "back" in 2012. Happy New Year. Cheers. Lair Soho every Friday Night. New Years Events at Union Square Ballroom, Guastavinos and Chelsea Room. Follow @jameldanielsny and visit jdny.bestnewyears.com for more information. Have a fun and safe Holiday. Wrap it up and practice safe breath!