Winter Wool

I picked up these wool socks from Mast General Store in Knoxville back in November and they have really saved my feet from the cold we've been having here in Tennessee this winter. Not sure if these are available outside of the stores. Made in North Carolina. Warm and comfy.

Glengarry Look: Brunch With The In-Laws

• Brooks Brothers OCBD
• J. Crew wool cardigan
• J. Crew cords
• J. Press belt
• Timex
• Mast General Store wool socks
• L.L. Bean Ranger Mocs

My wife's father is a Chicago native and now resides just north of there in Lincolnshire, IL. Now that my wife and her sister have provided him his only five grandchildren between them, he visits our fair city as often as possible. This weekend we enjoyed one such visit and today, as is our tradition, we all met for brunch before he caught his flight home. We took them to a local delicatessen that has been a Sunday favorite for us for what feels like forever. Never-ending pancakes for the kids, endless omelet possibilities for the grownups, and the consistently good (and hot) basic coffee make it the kind of place that's hard to grow tired of, even after all these years.

Glengarry Look: The Workplace

• Gitman Vintage plaid oxford
• J. Crew Slim Cut Essential Chinos
• Everett Hozapfel surcingle belt
• Timex
• Mast General Store crew socks
• Quoddy boat shoes
• Wm. J. Mills & Co. Laptop Carryall
• Field Notes
• Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen
• iPhone in Griffin Technology Clarifi case
• Colonel Littleton front pocket wallet

I suppose I'm fortunate to work in a casual environment. I used to have a job that required a tie and I generally wore a jacket too. I hated that job (not because of the dress code.) These days I sometimes wear a tie to the office but I've found that I can relate a little more effectively with people if they're not distracted by something out of the ordinary. Now my only rules are: always a collar, never shorts, rarely a sneaker.

Mast General Store

I find myself in Knoxville, TN about twice a year, usually to play music. For the past few years, one of my favorite spots to hit when visiting that fine old town has been Mast General Store. Mast is one of those places where you could spend hours just looking at all the stuff. I'm normally there right before Christmas so it makes sense to stock up on old-fashioned candy and toys, games, puzzles, etc. for stockings. (Licorice Scotty dogs or Huckleberry drops anyone?) It seems like a few years ago there was a lot more American-made stuff in there but isn't that the way it goes? It's mostly imported Woolrich stuff now. The house brand socks are still made in North Carolina and there's a whole case featuring products by Colonel Littleton from Lynnville, TN. (Check the link to the right if you're a stranger to the Colonel.) They also have a whole section of Lodge cast iron cookware. Downstairs is the camping gear and all the footwear. It's almost like an REI inventory truck crashed into the gift shop of a Cracker Barrel only all the really crappy items in the Cracker Barrel (like the John Deer T-shirts and Montgomery Gentry CDs) were destroyed in the process. Yeah, it's kinda like that. Anyway, you could order from their website but if you're ever near enough to one of their locations to make the trip, I recommend it.

Men's on the left, women's on the right. Candy, toys, and cooking in the back.

 You can't tell but these were Paul Bunyan size.

 Mostly USA bandanas. Stock up.

 I stocked up on socks of all kind.

 Lodge.

 Came home with a mixed six. Some hot, some mild.

 No Pointer Brand. Not sure why. Seems like a logical fit.

 Made in China. Wanted but did not buy.

 Col. Littleton knives. Already have one of these.

 Woolrich caps. They should carry Stormy Kromer.