taylor.bennett

TO DO · 09/20/2013

What we’re eating: Bang Bang Pie

Before the Class Trip, we had thought of pie as a special occasion thing—reserved for holidays and one-off birthdays in place of cake.

But now, we can happily say (although our waistlines might protest) that we consider pie a regular treat. We’ve eaten it in abundance at Emporium Pies in Dallas, The Pie Hole in Los Angeles and now Bang Bang Pie Shop in Chicago.

The concept is charming and simple: it’s a homey shop that doles out extra large slices atop checkered paper. There’s always one seasonal fruit pie, a chocolate-based option and one with a chilled, ice cream consistency.

Aside from being delicious, the creations are also photogenic—it seems that every Chicago-based photographer we follow on Instagram has stopped in to grab a slice and snap a photo.

Also not to be missed: the coffee (they roast their own) and the biscuits. Either stacked with locally smoked ham or slathered with a homemade jam, you really can’t go wrong.

Photos by Collin Hughes

Tags: Bang Bang Pie Shop, class trip, food, pie, Profile

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TO READ · 09/19/2013

Literary Rx: Couples

William Blake’s “Adam and Eve Sleeping” from his Paradise Lost series—an interpretation of John Milton’s epic poem about the couple’s ejection from Eden—is the drawing you see up above.
Applause to the designer who, in 1968, chose the very on-the-nose art to illustrate John Updike’s tale of suburban woe and iffy marriage pacts. Read the book and …

William Blake’s “Adam and Eve Sleeping” from his Paradise Lost series—an interpretation of John Milton’s epic poem about the couple’s ejection from Eden—is the drawing you see up above.

Applause to the designer who, in 1968, chose the very on-the-nose art to illustrate John Updike’s tale of suburban woe and iffy marriage pacts. Read the book and you’ll see just how appropriate it is.

Thanks to our friends at Flat Vernacular for the excellent backdrops behind these titles.

Tags: couples, john updike, literary rx

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@WarbyParker

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TO READ · 09/18/2013

MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM SMUGGLERS

The Atavist is our favorite source for original longform journalism. This month they feature “Coronado High”, an epic (and true!) tale of California drug smugglers during an era of free love and Volkswagon microbuses.
The writer, Joshuah Bearman, unspools an incredible (and worth saying again: true!) story about the criminals who made up a smuggling ring known …

The Atavist is our favorite source for original longform journalism. This month they feature “Coronado High”, an epic (and true!) tale of California drug smugglers during an era of free love and Volkswagon microbuses.

The writer, Joshuah Bearman, unspools an incredible (and worth saying again: true!) story about the criminals who made up a smuggling ring known as The Coronado Company. While reading, we couldn’t help but notice how nimbly this gang of rogues calculated their ascent—with special credit to the company’s “C.E.O.”, a former high school Spanish teacher named Lou Villar. The more we read, the more Lou seemed like an unlikely encyclopedia of management lessons.

We extracted a few to share.

Style matters
After a few successful smuggling jaunts, Lou is quick to refine his image: he cuts his hair, acquires a Ferrari, develops an interest in fine wines, plays tennis at private clubs. He understands the importance of image—that in order to play the part, a man has to look the part.

Precision is everything
A good manager never loses sight of the big picture—or, indeed, the small picture. When importing thousands of pounds of marijuana, Lou’s deputy sets up an assembly line of workers to weigh, bag, and label the drugs—and Lou personally inspects the goods to ensure that the job is well done.

Maintain an air of mystery
Lou is careful to keep his personal history shrouded in obscurity. To those who pry, he simply replies, “I’m in oil, and if you ask any more questions, I’ll ask you to leave.” Case closed.

Recognize talent—and promote it
As the operation expands, Lou is careful to make strong hires. One of these is a local kid named Don, who is recruited for grunt work. After Don distinguishes himself as a talented mechanic, however, he is swiftly brought up through the ranks—and promoted to chief engineer.

“Paranoid” is just another word for “detail-oriented”
Under pressure from the DEA, Lou arranges a secret meeting with his lawyer in a San Francisco hotel room. To make sure his attorney is not being followed, Lou watches through binoculars from the hotel’s eighth floor—and leads his lawyer through a back entrance just to be safe.

Want more? Of course you do. Read “Coronado High” here for the next month- on us!

Photos courtesy of Gary Kidd and Lou Villar

Tags: coronado high, journalism, longform, the atavist

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TO SEE · 09/16/2013

Fall 2013 Collection: Mood Board

Crowded dance floors, library stacks and the literary life: these are the vibes that fed our newest collection.

Holcomb in Marbled Sandstone

Ames in Graphite Fog
Shop the full collection here

Crowded dance floors, library stacks and the literary life: these are the vibes that fed our newest collection.

Holcomb in Marbled Sandstone

Ames in Graphite Fog

Shop the full collection here

Tags: fall collection, fashion, literary life, mood board

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TO READ · 09/13/2013

Literary Rx: Dispatches

An Esquire correspondent’s gimlet-eyed reports from Vietnam.
Without it, there’d be no Apocalypse Now and no Full Metal Jacket.
A must-read.
Thanks to our friends at Flat Vernacular for the excellent backdrops behind these titles.

An Esquire correspondent’s gimlet-eyed reports from Vietnam.

Without it, there’d be no Apocalypse Now and no Full Metal Jacket.

A must-read.

Thanks to our friends at Flat Vernacular for the excellent backdrops behind these titles.

Tags: dispatches, literary rx

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TO BUY · 09/12/2013

Introducing the Fall 2013 Collection

Our Fall 2013 collection takes visual cues from the shaky years when social change was nearing take-off—an era of hiked hems and hard-living novelists.

Ripley in Oak Barrell
Each name—Ames, Ripley, Rowan, Holcomb and Ellison— is a literary reference to the 1960s. The 15 options, featuring sunwear and optical, offer midcentury style without the …

Our Fall 2013 collection takes visual cues from the shaky years when social change was nearing take-off—an era of hiked hems and hard-living novelists.

Ripley in Oak Barrell

Each name—Ames, Ripley, Rowan, Holcomb and Ellison— is a literary reference to the 1960s. The 15 options, featuring sunwear and optical, offer midcentury style without the flea market goose chase, and they come in a mix of materials: autumnal acetate and stainless steel.

Ames in Whiskey Tortoise

These are instant classics for the post-aughts.

Check out the full collection here.

Tags: fall collection, glasses, new collection

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TO MEET · 09/11/2013

Heritage Bicycles

“The concept of Heritage came from interacting with people outside of a retail environment, from meeting interesting and creative people,” owner Michael Salvatore explained to us. After a stint in New York establishing Bowery Lane Bicycles, the fifth generation Chicagoan returned to his hometown to open a two-in-one bike and coffee shop. Above all, it’s a …

“It’s wild to see how many different people are coming in,” Michael told us. “We have our neighborhood families and people across the globe who consider it a destination space. There are creatives taking pictures and hanging out, and accountants who need an office for the day.”

“Everyone comes in and everyone is welcomed,” he explained. Ultimately, he wants to maintain a mom and pop shop vibe—he wants the shop to be approachable, transparent and honest.

Not familiar with bikes or coffee? No problem.

They’ll tell you all about their Stumptown brews and hand-welded metal frames—if you just want a quick tune-up or basic cup of coffee, that’s perfectly fine too.

In keeping with the family feel, Michael will be soon opening a Heritage Littles shop. They’re just offering a handful a products at this point, including the Bennett Balance Bike named after their son. You even have the option of adding a Brooks leather seat to the wooden frame—only the best for the family.

Michael is wearing the Bensen in Greystone

Photos by Collin Hughes

Tags: class trip, coffee, Heritage Bicycles, Profile, shopping

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Optical

Sunwear

Optical

Sunwear

The Blog

What we’re eating: Bang Bang Pie

Literary Rx: Couples

@WarbyParker

MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM SMUGGLERS

Fall 2013 Collection: Mood Board

Literary Rx: Dispatches

Introducing the Fall 2013 Collection

Heritage Bicycles

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