DubiousCraves: Bago De Touriga (Terroso), 2004 (Douro, Portugal)

Bago De Touriga - Terroso 2004, $12-16 where available.

Behold! This is the greatest red wine you will ever taste in your lifetime!

I usually try not to make guarantees when it comes to stuff like this, but recently I had the pleasure of tasting this wine at (of all things) a wine tasting.

Hailing from the hillsides of southern Portugal, Terroso de 2004, has a very earthy and heavy taste to it that's perfect for seasoned red-wine drinkers. It was so good, in fact, that I was inclined to go back and have second and third glasses.

Moderately priced, Terroso is a perfect holiday gift for me, ahem, the wine enthusiasts on your list.

Saude!

-BJW

I Also do a Radio Show

Apologies for being so sparse on this blog thing of mine. I've been ridiculously busy the past few weeks or so trying to get this radio show/podcast off the ground.

I'm already five episodes in and busy editing the latest one as we speak.

Check it out whenever you get a chance. Even better? Subscribe to it on iTunes!

Thank you all again for the continued support of my blog and everything that's been put into it.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

-BJW

The Essentials: Get On the Good Foot...

Men in modern society, for the most part, have a very narrow scope when it comes to their shoe selections. They rarely tend to venture past that worn-down pair or Rainbow or Reef flip flops and the pair of brown loafers worn for every special occasion from your 12th birthday to your older sister's college graduation.

It's time to refine your palete before you run the risk of being labeled "that guy" who still wears New Balances with khakis:

1. The Chelsea Boot

Made famous by British bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the chelsea (or dealer boot, for the England natives), became an essential part of the gentlemen's wardrobe from the mid-60s on.

Air Lucarno Chelsea Boot with Nike AIR Technology by Cole Haan. $430. zappos.com.

Chelsea boots are best worn with slim cut pants and suits, becuase the boot itself is usually made of a skinnier design. As long as you keep the boot simple (i.e. - brown or black), the rest of your outfit should, and will, follow suit.

2. The Classic Samba

A quinessential staple for casual Fridays and weekend getaways.

Adidas Samba Classic Soccer Shoe. $40. adidas.com

Pair it with a khaki suit, but make sure you lose the button down and opt for a lightweight polo or t-shirt to maintain the laid-back look.

3. The Wild Card

As much as I would like for all young men to follow the guidelines of sofisticated style, you always need to leave room for a little imagination.

Nike Vandal Supreme High. $140. nike.com

A new favorite of mine would have to be these incredible Nike Vandal Supreme Highs that I scoped a few months ago. I have yet to secure a pair (the soles have wood grain accents, for crying out loud).

No matter what you decide, make sure you're comfortable and go a little crazy if you like. You won't go wrong, though, if you keep it simple and make it your own.

-BJW

DubiousCraves: Lasonic i931 Portable iPod Ghetto Blaster

As much as I hate to perpetuate the stereotype that has come with the ghettoblaster-carrying era of the urban mid-80s, there is something utterly irresistable about the Lasonic Portable iPod Ghettoblaster.

The nostaligic qualities alone make it the perfect summer gift for your freinds, family and even (most importantly) your damned self!

It has an AM/FM tuner, 3.5mm stereo auxiliary input, USB input and SD card reader for direct MP3 playback. The only downside is the incompatibility it has with iPhones, but the auxillary jack should clear that up.

Lasonic's RAP-UP limited-edition Ghettoblaster, $169, lasonic.com

Not only would you be the talk of probably all of your friends, but this is definitely something that could be handed down from generation to generation.

Radio Raheem would be proud.

-BJW

New Music Review: Diddy – Last Train to Paris

It's bad enough most of us are still trying to get the taste of Press Play out of our mouths, but Diddy has done it again with his art nouveau-inspired album, Last Train to Paris.

First announced (almost seven months before the projected release date), during an episode of Making the Band, this album is anything short of a train wreck.

Promising fans that he's going to "bring a new sound", Diddy is more than confident in his talents as a rapper and producer.

A screenshot of Diddy's LSTP iPhone app that keeps you updated with everything from concert dates to Twitter posts.

But this is just a bunch of hot air out of the wrong end of Bad Boy's head-guy-in-charge.

He should have stuck to things he was go at, like throwing white parties, and left hip-hop to the professionals.

Listen Now (but you really don't have to): "Diddy Bop"

-BJW

DubiousTips: Staying Fit on the Go

Work, school, children, parents, stress, deadlines, coffee runs and lunch breaks – these are just a handful of the many distractions in our lives that keep us from eating healthy and staying fit. But there is hope. Here are a few tips and tricks of the trade to stay active in an overactive world:

• Regardless of how much free time you may have at the end of the day, do NOT exercise at night. The added flow of adrenaline could keep you awake for anywhere up to four hours after you leave the gym. This does not bode well for the morning after.
  
• If you can schedule it, try to work out a weekly routine with a partner a few days a week; preferably someone who isn't prone to convincing you to skip out on workout days. The added pressure of not wanting to stand up or reschedule with your partner will give you enough motivation to keep with the routine.
  
• It's perfectly okay to "workout" at your desk, but don't be that obnoxious co-worker that turns at-your-desk butt crunches into a spectator sport. We've come here to work and complain about work, not watch the strained look on your face.
  
• Treat your workout routine as a sacred ritual; A time when you can release all the stress and strain that you might be carrying. This will make the experience seem more enjoyable and less of a chore.
  
• There are a handful of iPhone apps, like iFitness and the "100" collection, that can help stay in shape without missing a beat. Check them out on the App Store in iTunes under "Healthcare and Fitness".
  

-BJW

DubiousSighting: Baked Bakery and Coffee

The view outside my window. I could get used to this...

It's about 8 a.m. as I write this post and I couldn't help but wonder something: why don't I ever see more black people at coffee shops in the morning?

At first, part of me thought that it was just a scheduling conflict, of sorts, you know? Most people usually don't make it into work these days until about 9 a.m or so, right?

But then, as I took a closer look at the types of people coming into the coffee shop, I realized that it's really a certain caliber of human being that frequents these types of establishments at such an ungodly time of the morning (both black and white, mind you).

The same caliber that's been responsible for adapting that old adage: "The early bird gets the worm."

Nina simone "ne me quitte pas"
by GERARDSERGE

They say that there's no real rest for the wary, and now I've finally figured out what that means now after the countless times I've heard it.

It means that in order to be truly successful in this life, you can't allow yourself to be satisfied with the status quo. You always have to have that fire in your belly, so to speak.

It was with this revelation that I also realized that I hadn't felt said "fire" for a long time until recently (which is rather odd for a 22-year-old).

So, I suppose, there is much to be said for that much scrutinized, but often underrated "early bird" crowd that flocks to the nearest java spot. They've got a lot to accomplish in a very short period of time, or to "catch the worm", if you will.

This is a mentality that I could definitely get used to...

-BJW