PRIMER - Gifts for Guys

Click on the image above to see Patrick's latest contribution to Primer Magazine, and stay tuned here for the What's Last Minute Gift Guide.

The Checklist - November 2011

The internet is full of magical, mystical things. So much, in fact, that it is sometimes hard to sift through all of the crap to get some decent information. In the interest of providing you with colorful ideas for everyday life, we here at the What present the Checklist so that you may find some helpful information from other sites.

Sex Position of the Month
Women's Health Magazine
Ah, where would we be without a magazine telling us how to have sex? Nevertheless, sex is important for a healthy life and a healthy relationship, so why not spice it up a bit with the Ballet Dancer? After a glance at the illustration, another appropriate name for this one may be the tripod. No matter what they call it, Women's Health chooses a different position each month, so check it out!

Seasonal Styles
Primer Magazine
Every so often, Primer Magazine publishes a feature called the Get Up. Usually focused on a season or a situation, this is the perfect guide for guys who are trying to dress a bit better. I mentioned how I changed my style at the outset of 2011, and articles like the Get Up were a handy way of doing so. The most recent post highlights what to wear on an early winter Wednesday. 

PRIMER - Gentleman's Goal #2

Click on the image above to read Patrick's latest article with Primer Magazine, a new Gentleman's Goal!

Grillmaster 101: Cooking With Meat

Summer is slowly coming to an end, but there is still a good two to three months of grilling left, depending on where you live. Over the past few months, the guys and gals at Primer Magazine have given you tips on grill safety, side dishes, summer drinks, and a lot more to keep you going through the heat. Now that we have every other part of the meal covered, it is time to get down to the main course. With apologizes to our vegetarian friends, today’s lesson in Grillmaster 101 is Cooking with Meat.

Gentleman's Goal: Accomplished

In May I wrote an article for Primer Magazine issuing a goal for gentlemen worldwide: take a woman on a picnic within the next two weeks. Several readers responded positively to this idea, and I thought it wise to take my own advice and go on a picnic. I have recently garnered a reputation for coming up with creative dates, and the picnic goal fits perfectly in that niche.

Click the image to see the original article for Primer Magazine

In the Primer article, I gave gents two weeks to accomplish this goal. Week one was set aside for planning and preparation, week two is when the picnic was to occur. I broke the preparation into three parts: setting, tools of the trade, and menu. Unfortunately for me, I did not have a setting, the tools of the trade, or, for that matter, a woman. Luckily, these missing pieces all came together quite nicely. Shortly after the article came out, I started dating a lovely lady and told her about going to the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park to watch orchestral performances. As it turned out, the very next day she was able to score tickets to one such performance for free. The cool thing about orchestral performances is that the Mann Center allows you to bring coolers, food, chairs, alcoholic beverages, and more. Just like that, the missing pieces fell into place.

PRIMER - Grill Master 101

Click on the image above to see Patrick's latest article with Primer Magazine!

PRIMER - Gentleman's Goal: Take A Woman On A Picnic In The Next Two Weeks

Click on the image above to see Patrick's latest article with Primer Magazine. Happy reading!

PRIMER - Tomato Tossed Pasta

Check out Patrick's latest article with Primer Magazine by clicking the image above!

HINT: This would be ideal for a Valentine's Day date for you and that special someone.

Articles Worth Checking Out

Since joining Twitter, I have become exposed to a whole lot of information. Most of it is worthless, if not entertaining, but there is also a fair amount of decent content out there. With the knowledge that there are probably many people out there who either do not have a Twitter account or just have not seen these links, I thought I would share a few of the more interesting ones with you.

Tips On What Men Find Romantic
This particular article is an interview with Brooke Miller, author of the column Soapbox Therapy. Unlike many articles boasting similar information, Miller actually delivers with advice that is helpful and spot-on. For Miller's own writings, which are as entertaining as they are informative, check out her author page at Primer Magazine.

How to Decorate a Room So It Doesn't Scare Away Women

My apartment 4 years ago. Not how it would look today.

Gentlemen, you need to read this. Too often the homes or apartments of the mid-twenties to early thirties crowd are just plain disasters. How you decorate and keep the place you call home says a great deal about you as a person, and this article is a fantastic resource in helping you get on the right track. If you need more help, look for Operation Classy Apartment, a feature detailing my move into a new place and subsequent classing up of the joint. For more from Meghan  McLachlan, the author of this piece, click here.

Weekly Top Five - 3.Jan.11

In  High Fidelity, the characters compare their top fives in a variety of categories. Being big fans of both the film and novel, we here at the What bring you our Weekly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.

Good Decisions I Made in 2010

 

While many people are busy making resolutions for the new year that won't last past next week, I'd like to start off 2011 by reflecting on the positive things I did in 2010. Toward the end of 2010, I started falling into the trap of thinking the year was terrible and that the calendar changing would make everything better. But, after I sat and thought for a moment, I realized that 2010 was one of my best years yet, and here are five reasons why.

5. Snazzed up the wardrobe - Had you asked me prior to 2010 to describe my "fashion sense" in one word it would have been comfortable. I was known for wearing whatever I found comfortable with little consideration for how it looked. Beginning in 2009 I began making slight adjustments to improve my wardrobe, but 2010 was the year when I put a lot of effort into it. With help from sites like Primer Magazine, Dappered, and the Effortless Gent, I gradually improved my style. Instead of wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers with everything, I began alternating between Chuck Taylors, loafers, and dressier shoes. Graphic tees were replaced by solid V-necks and I began shopping at places like H&M and Banana Republic. While I still have a ways to go, in 2010 I made significant improvements to my wardrobe.

PRIMER - 2010 Gift Guides

This week Primer Magazine published its annual gift guides, one for the ladies and one for the gents. As usual, the guys and gals at Primer are right on the money with the best possible gifts for the college grads on your list. Swing over to Primer's website to check them out!

For the Ladies:

For the Gents:

PRIMER - A Different Kind of Date Night

Click on the image above to see Patrick's latest article with Primer Magazine! For the Philadelphians, here are a few links to accompany the article:

Franklin Square - Great for mini-golf or just walking around
North Bowl - Lounge and lanes for a fun evening in NoLibs
Philadelphia Weekly - A handy guide to local events
Koresh Dance Company - Professional dance lessons
Brokeass Gourmet - Delicious recipes
The What's Recipes - Recipes from the What

PRIMER - Fall Beer Review

Click the image above to be taken to the full article on Primer Magazine's website. Read on for a few notes and quotes that I cut from the final article.

Magic Hat Hex

• "What is fall about this?" Ashley
• "The burp tastes better." Adam
• "Tastes like water." Buddy
• "Bland, unremarkable." Candy

Magic Hat Oktoberfest

• "Tastes better when held in mouth longer." Mary
• Ashley and Patrick noted a fruity, apple aroma.

Abita Pecan Harvest

• "Tastes like disgusting." Debra
• "Not good." Buddy
• "Smells like poop. Pecan taste is failure. Tastes like dirty nuts." Mary

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Marzen

• "Spunky beer but with a solid taste." Debra

PBC Joe Coffee Porter

• "Smells like Juan Valdez's dirty diaper. Tastes like bad coffee." Debra
• "DON'T LIKE IT!" Charlie

Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale

• "Smells like hop and barley sex." Patrick
• "Smells terrific when first opened, taste reveals over-spicing." Debra
• "Smells great, doesn't follow through on taste - needs more spice." Mary
• "Great smell, good pumpkin flavor and after taste. One of the few beers to use pumpkin well." Charlie

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

• Alyssa noted hints of cinnamon while Debra and Charlie noted that it goes down nice and smooth.
• "This smells happy." Patrick
• Mary suggests that this beer is better when left to warm up a bit.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen

• "(It tastes) like someone butt-raped a hop." Andy
• "If you are a hipster vampire, you will love this taste of iron blood beer." Alyssa
• "I'd rather drink my own blood." Alyssa
• "Disgusting after taste." Charlie
• "Tastes like blood. I feel a growing aversion to garlic." Debra
• "Tastes like a blood-flavored corn tortilla." Ashley

Blue Moon Harvest Moon

• "I wish this beer was a snack so I could eat it." Patrick
• "Good, but not fall enough." Adam
• "It goes down easy and smooth but lacks motivation to continue with another bottle." Debra
• "Rich and hearty with a full-bodied taste." Charlie
• "(I) prefer Blue Moon, Harvest Moon is a fail." Alyssa

Magic Hat Odd Notion Fall 2010

• "Great bouquet, watered-down flavor." Charlie
• "Smells fruity but tastes watered-down. The smell is better than the taste." Patrick
• "Apple jolly rancher smell, apple jolly rancher and plastic taste." Adam

PRIMER - Tales of a Recession Graduate: The Not-To-Do List