The Checklist - April 2012

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 along with a comic that makes us giggle.

Seduce Her With Your Space

Men's Health Magazine

Men's and women's magazines often times are a bit out of touch with the reality of everyday men and women, but every once and awhile they have some good information. For example, the Men's Health website recently posted an article about sprucing up your living space to boost your attractiveness to a potential significant other. Many of the tips in this article are spot on, a provide a good lead-in to some of our upcoming features relating to snazzing up your apartment. 

Rittenhouse Fair and Square

Philadelphia Art Alliance

I am a big fan of local, handmade goods. I even run a shop that focuses on the sale of such goods. So you can imagine how pleased I was to find that the Philadelphia Art Alliance has put together a special pop-up shop featuring some of Philly's finest artisans and craftspeople for the month of April. This shop will be open from 11-5, Tuesdays through Sundays from April 10-24. Be sure to swing by next time you find yourself in Rittenhouse Square.

Checklist - March 2012

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 along with a comic that makes us giggle.

Pizza + Beer = Happy
Mamma Mia Pizza Beer
Two of the greatest things on earth. The two reasons your friends will help you move. The two mainstays of any house party. Finally, they are together as one. A couple from Illinois took homebrewing to the next level when they created Pizza Beer. That's right, pizza-flavored beer. This is probably one of the greatest scientific achievements of our time, so check out their site and order some Pizza Beer!

Common Grammar Mistakes
Lit Reactor
There are more than enough websites, blogs, and such dedicated to poor grammar, but this one from Lit Reactor focuses on some of the more forgotten rules. Even the staunchest Grammar Nazi will be alarmed to find that they have been mistaken. I have probably broken several rules in this column alone. Regardless, check out these 20 Common Grammar Mistakes and improve your ability to correctly communicate.

Checklist - February 2012

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.

Apartment Complex
Streets Dept
The words "apartment complex" and "streets department" typically do not evoke images of art and unique style sense, but that is exactly what you will find at this website. I highly recommend not just checking out the provided link, but to click around the Streets Dept site, which finds art all over the city of Philadelphia. If you also check out the remainder of the photos of the selected apartment, you can get some great ideas for your own place.

Mixtape Madness #12 - 90's Revue Part II

According to the novel High Fidelity the making of a good mix tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. Furthermore, a good mix is never finished. You never know when you will come across a song that changes the dynamic of the mix you just completed. There is a litany of intricacies to crafting the ideal mix no matter what the mix’s intended purpose should be. This feature is merely a guide on the cosmic highway of mix making, and while experienced, the writer does not claim to be an expert.

90's Revue Part II - Hip Hop

We have been riding the wave of 1980's nostalgia for awhile now. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun, but I think it is time we moved on to the 1990's. Some of the best music of the past thirty years was created in the decade between the Exxon Valdez and Y2K. Because of that, we here at the What will take a three-part look at the music of the 1990's.
PART I - Rock
PART III - Pop - Coming Soon!

1. "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest (1991) -  What better way to kick off the 90's hip-hop mix than with this Lou Reed-sampling jam from Tribe? I had forgotten about this song for along time until, as is the case with several songs on this mix, I saw the film The Wackness.


2. "Flava In Ya Ear" by Craig Mack (1994) - Much like the rock mix, I will be discussing the greatness that was the music scene in 1994. This track, with verses from Biggie, Busta, LL Cool J, and Rampage, is a classic.


3. "Not Tonight (Remix)" by Lil Kim (1997) - Though we'll address the Spice Girls in Part III of the 90's Revue, this is the true girl power anthem of the 1990's. Kim is joined by Da Brat, Angie Martinez, Missy Elliott, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes on the track, and in the video by everyone from Queen Latifah to TLC to Mary J. Blige. 

Song of the Day - 29.Jan.12

 

Ever since making the first part of Mixtape Madness' celebration of 90's music, I have been on a huge 90's kick. Watching the Sublime documentary hasn't helped. At any rate, I first became aware of this song from Sublime's song DJs (which was spectacularly covered by No Doubt and Gwen Stefani's abs) but have come to enjoy it on its own. It also supports my argument that we need ska back in a big way.

The Checklist - January 2012

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.

Survive the Zombie Apocalypse
Cool Material
Everyone knows that Zombies will run free in search for tasty brains when the world ends this year. So you had better be prepared. Thanks to the crew over at Cool Material, now you can be ready to fight back with a small rag-tag group of fellow survivors. While I am sure that the Zombie Combat Manual has great advice, this handy little survival bundle from Think Geek is actually quite useful in situations not involving the walking dead.

Comprehensive Guide to Sweaters
Primer Magazine
Is it really necessary to have a guide for sweaters? Absolutely. As a guy who has ruined 90% of his sweaters on hangers, this Primer Magazine article was a beacon of hope. Thanks to Grant Harris of Image Granted, no longer will my V-Necks resemble half pipes. Gents, you are doing yourself a disservice if you are not reading Primer.

Monthly Top Five - November

Hey, remember the What's Weekly Top 5 feature? So do we. The only problem is that it rarely came on a weekly basis, so we're switching gears. 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 Monthly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.

Fall Beer

Though we are less than a week away from the biggest holiday shopping day of the year, it is still fall, and there is still plenty of time to enjoy some fall beer. Seasonal beers are always interesting, but there is something special about the fall varieties that stand out. Last year's Fall Beer Tasting was a blast, and while 2011 boasts no official tasting, we here at the What have still done our civic duty by going out and enjoying beer.

5. Saint Benjamin Evening Wheat Dunkelweiss - So maybe a dunkelweiss is not technically a Fall beer, but this brew's overwhelming popularity at the Elfreth's Alley Museum's Brew Fest was undeniable. This up and coming Philadelphia brewery has been making a name for itself by providing exceptional, full-flavored beers like this one at a number of events around the City of Brotherly Love. Saint Benjamin will return to Elfreth's Alley for Deck the Alley with a colonial-style porter, so be sure to check them out!

4. Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Märzen - Sometimes it is easy to get confused by brewery names that are similar like Flying Dog, Flying Fish, and Dogfish Head. Luckily, all three are known for their quality brews. Dogtoberfest is no exception. Nor is Flying Fish's Oktoberfish, for that matter. Admittedly, as you will see after the jump, I was focused on pumpkin beers this year and did not devote enough time to Oktoberfests, but you can rarely go wrong with Flying Dog.

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!

Four Nights in Philly or What to do when it's not Friday or Saturday night

Philadelphia is a fun, vibrant city with a ton of things to do on any given night. If you know where to go, you can find some sweet deals at bars, restaurants, theaters or any number of locations to have a good time. We decided to help you out with finding some of these deals by creating a little weekly calendar that will help guide you through the city and through the week.

Monday: Movie Mondays at the Trocadero (Chinatown)- While Movie Mondays have been going on for quite some time, I actually did not discover the event until Geekadelphia hosted a showing of Machete on January 10th. The cover for this event is $3, and that $3 goes a very long way. If you arrive between the doors opening at 6:30PM and 7PM, you will get a special ticket that is good for one free can of PBR and a small popcorn. Everyone who comes to Movie Mondays also gets a wooden nickel, good for $3 at the bar, and a raffle ticket for prizes to be given out later. In addition to the raffle, there will be trivia based on the film for additional prizes. To give you an idea of the potential for prize winning, as a result of my first time attending Movie Monday, I walked out with $50 of free swag. Not too shabby for a $3 cover. Check out the Troc's schedule to see what movies they have on tap.

Tuesday:  Taco Tuesday (South Philly, West Chester) - Adding the word "taco" to it makes Tuesday my favorite day. I first discovered the joys of Taco Tuesday at Jitter's Sports Bar in West Chester when I had friends attending the school over there. Fifty cent tacos and $3 Coronas kept me coming back for years. These tacos are so good that I'd pay five bucks for a plate of them, so the fifty cent price tag is an amazing deal. For those not willing to make the trip to West Chester, Tres Jalapenos in South Philly gives you all you can eat tacos for $12.99 and Tattoed Mom's on South Street for $1 tacos. There is no shortage of Taco Tuesdays around, so keep your eyes peeled and get ready to enjoy some tacos!

Weekly Top Five - 13.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.

Cool Things I Saw Online This Week

 

The Weekly Top Five feature sprung out of an article detailing five ways to kill time on the internet (seen here). Therefore, for this week's feature, we decided to revisit that idea and take a look at five really cool things we saw while perusing the world wide web this week.

5. The Graduate Student's Wardrobe - This article from Real Men, Real Style is a handy resource for gentlemen trying to help their wardrobe reach the graduate level. As I mentioned last week, I spent a lot of time this year updating my wardrobe beyond the jeans and tee shirt look and websites such as this one can be a valuable tool in helping you do the same.

4. Dress Like This Guy: Baron Davis - This piece from Effortless Gent recommends that gents try emulating the style of Clippers' point guard Baron Davis. While not everyone can pull off Davis' look, you can still pull of the attitude, which is half of style anyway. The attitude I speak of is the general lack of caring for how others see you. If you are comfortable with your look and style, run with it and make it work.

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.

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

Five Internet Time Killers

We’ve all been there – sitting at the computer, twiddling our thumbs, looking for something to entertain us. More often than not, boredom will lead us to Youtube or Facebook. However, if you’re the kind of person who would like something a little more fun to occupy some internet free time, check out some of these sites.

9-Ball
Hone your (fake) billiard skills by shooting on this virtual table. I’ve seen a few different versions of this online, and this has the best graphics of the lot. Playing 9-Ball will also familiarize you with a billiard game that not enough people know how to play.

The 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches
Recently Saturday Night Live has seen a resurgence of sorts thanks to viral media, especially with its Digital Shorts. This list compiles fifty of the funniest sketches not just from SNL, but from a variety of sketch comedy shows ranging from The Chappelle Show to Upright Citizens Brigade. The best part of this list is that they include a video of each sketch, providing you with a hefty amount of hilarity.

Fifa Soccer
If you don’t like foosball there is something seriously wrong you and you should seek psychiatric assistance immediately. For those of us who love foosball and don’t live in a frat house or bar, this site provides a way for us to get our fix. The game is simple, requiring you only to use the up and down arrows on your keyboard. There are three levels of difficulty and a two-player option to spice things up a bit as well.

Samuel L. Jackson Soundboard
I feel that I should mention just how easily entertained I am. I’m very easily entertained. There, mentioned. That being said, I have literally spent the better part of an hour with this soundboard, using it for conversations with friends or just marveling at how Jackson owns the word motherfucker. Give this site a try, you’ll be surprised at how much fun it is.

25 Great Calvin & Hobbes Strips
If you don’t already have an appreciation for Calvin & Hobbes, you will after checking out this list. While the panels selected for this are all pretty amazing, there are so many more that could be considered among the best. Bill Waterson was truly the master of his craft, and reading Calvin & Hobbes always brightens my day.