Ray Isle ( @islewine on Twitter ) is Food & Wine's executive wine editor. We trust his every cork pop and decant – and the man can sniff out a bargain to boot. Take it away, Ray. Spring is in the air, which means you're either gamboling in the grassy fields (or your nearest urban park) and looking for love, or else you're sneezing your head off and wishing one of those gamboling twerps would just trip over a rock or something. Regardless, you need a drink. If wine is your tipple of choice, you can do no better for springtime picnics and whatnot than a dry rosé. Whether or not the style originated in southern France, these days it certainly comes in the package along with all the visuals we associate with Provence: the brilliant light, the quaint towns, the wizened Frenchmen playing boules and discussing how perfectly nice Provence used to be before a bazillion tourists discovered it. In any case, try pouring yourself a glass of the crisp, berry scented 2011 Château Grande Cassagne ($10) or the slightly rounder 2011 Mas Carlot ($11), both from the Costières de Nîmes (technically in the Rhône, but what the heck); the 2011 Commanderie de Bargemone ($15), from the Coteaux d’Aix; or the 2011 Domaine Houchart ($12) from the Côtes de Provence.   Cocktail-wise, there are myriad possibilities, but in the spring I lean toward the refreshing and not overly put-you-on-the-floor in terms of alcohol content. One fine option is the Aperol Spritz, which the Venetians drink by the gallon as soon as the weather turns nice. Aperol is a lightly bitter aperitif, a bit like Campari but substantially lower in alcohol. Served in a big wine glass with Prosecco, sparkling water, ice and a slice of orange (rough proportions are 3 oz Aperol, 1 oz Prosecco, 1 oz fizzy water, but adjust as needed), it is a drink that will instantly give you an air of high-spirited sprezzatura, and beautiful Italian women (and/or men) will flock to you, and then ask for a ride in your speedboat. Note also, if you don’t feel like going through the rigmarole of mixing this drink, a pre-mixed version from the Prosecco company Mionetto has just appeared called Il Spritz ($15), which is surprisingly tasty.   And then there’s beer. Of course, lots of beer is good in the springtime, just as lots of beer is good at pretty much any time. But try a saison. A grassy, hoppy, low-alcohol Belgian ale originally drunk by farmworkers during the summer harvest season, saisons are now available throughout the year (thank you modern technology). The standard bearer for the category is undoubtedly Saison Dupont; the somewhat fruitier Fantôme Saison is terrific too. A few American brewers are doing excellent saisons as well—they can be hard to find, but if you come across Brooklyn Brewery’s Sorachi Ace (made with an unusual Japanese hop strain) or the Boston-based Pretty Things’s Jack D’Or, which is pretty darn remarkable, buy them. More from Food & Wine 50 Best Bars in America Best Steak in the U.S. Best Burgers in the U.S. Best Grilled Cheese in the U.S. Spring Recipes

See more here:
Simply smashing spring drinks

On the occasion of the death of Dick Clark , patron saint of New Years Eve, we rifle through our archives and find Tony Kornheiser’s 1982 Style homage, explaining how the man defined what it meant to be a teenager in America. Read full article > >

Continue reading here:
Dick Clark: The Beat of the ‘Bandstand’

Another installment in my ongoing efforts to lose more readers by re-telling old jokes as bad poems. *** The Delicacy, in the style of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 Read full article > >

Originally posted here:
Gene Weingarten: Rhyme and punishment

Researchers are focusing on making passwords simpler, more secure, even automatic, like a device that can recognize your style of writing or keystroke.

Here is the original post:
Logging In With a Touch or a Phrase (Anything but a Password)

D ear reader: Please do not cancel your subscriptions to this fine newspaper, or otherwise punish it. Its editors have not ordered me to rewrite corny jokes into poetry ; I do it of my own volition. It will be over soon. “The Camel” in the style of an English heroic sonnet An officer takes up his new command: Read full article > >

See the original post here:
Gene Weingarten: Revisiting his ‘genius’ for combining poetry and jokes

D ear reader: Please do not cancel your subscriptions to this fine newspaper, or otherwise punish it. Its editors have not ordered me to rewrite corny jokes into poetry ; I do it of my own volition. It will be over soon. “The Camel” in the style of an English heroic sonnet An officer takes up his new command: Read full article > >

Continue reading here:
Gene Weingarten: Revisiting his ‘genius’ for combining poetry and jokes

Upon arriving in Washington earlier this week, Capitals Coach Dale Hunter made clear that his first priority would be improving the team’s play in its own zone. Once a solid defensive structure is in place, Hunter believes, success in other areas of the ice will follow. Washington is seeking its first victory under Hunter, and the team struggled to create offense in his first two games , getting outshot by a combined 65-36. The first-time NHL coach sees progress, though, in the Capitals’ grasp and execution of the style of play he is preaching. Read full article > >

Originally posted here:
Capitals adjusting to new Coach Dale Hunter’s system

Maggie Gyllenhaal is going to be a mom for the second time. The actress and husband and Peter Sarsgaard are expecting their second child, her rep confirmed to USA Today. They have a 5-year-old daughter, Ramona. Life & Style Magazine was the first to report the news, which has been rumored for sometime. Read full article > >

Originally posted here:
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard expecting second child

Okay, smart cookies: Send us humor we can eat. Well, photos of humor we can eat. Every weekend for almost 19 years, the Style Invitational — The Washington Post’s weekly humor/wordplay contest — has brought readers smart, irreverent wit both highbrow and lowbrow, from haughty to potty. And this week, as the holiday baking season gets underway, we’re hungering for more than the Invite’s usual lists of puns and one-liners: We want something we can sink our teeth into. This week: Cleverly depict a person, event or phenomenon of the 21st century — real history as well as scenes from movies, books, videos, etc. — using edible materials, and send us a photo of your creation. All visible parts of your entry, except a backdrop and a base, must be made of something edible — and we mean people-edible, not your-destructive-dog-edible. (On the other hand, it doesn’t have to be tasty; we’re not eating your photo.) If you’re using a piece of produce or a nut, you don’t have to peel it. Read full article > >

Link:
Week 945: Laugh-baked ideas — the Style Invitational edible-art contest

Some fidget, a few eyes wander here and there, but for a minute or two, hundreds of primary schoolchildren are quiet, learning to meditate together at morning assembly — palms upturned and thumbs together in the style of Buddha. This is Gross National Happiness — or GNH — at work in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, a country determined to hold on to its ancient values even as it modernizes, to preserve its environment even as its economy grows and to prove to the world that there is more to life than money. Read full article > >

Read the original here:
In Bhutan, pursuit of happiness is a tough mountain to climb

Anna Holmes is a contributing columnist for the Style section. She is the founder of Jezebel.com. This is her first column.

View original post here:
Column: Anna Holmes on Donald Trump’s sexism

Keep dry while biking with two new editions from a favorite cycling fashion label Urban biking clothiers Outlier always seem to be upping their game with details that we had the chance to see first-hand when they stopped by last week to preview their new lineup for Spring 2011. This season sees a few classic styles revamped with technical refinements, as well as an instantly covetable jacket and shoes joining the collection. The Pivotal Bomber Jacket , “a synthesis of everything Outlier,” combines a lightweight “4Season” wool with the brand’s signature pivot sleeve construction. Trimmed in superfine merino, the mid-weight outer is water-resistant, breathable, and has a handy angled arm pocket. Similarly a balance of technical details and style, their first foray into footwear is a minimalist waterproof sneaker in men’s and women’s sizes. The Outlier Feit Supermarines , handmade by Australian specialty shoemakers Feit , feature a double layer of French calf leather on the interior and exteriors comprised of Egyptian cotton made from only the longest fibers—hence their extreme water resistance. A removable cork midsole helps absorb shock while riding, and a double layer of Vibram sheet rubber provides solid traction for when you hit pavement. Other bonuses include waxed cotton laces, a reflective patch on the back and a hidden pocket on the tongue (for tucking laces). While all these cleverly-engineered details don’t come cheap, investing in the jacket ($290) and shoes ($260) will see you through many a ride. Take our reader survey and enter to win a CH Edition Jambox!

See the original post here:
Outlier Spring 2011

Hank Stuever reviews Style network’s “Ruby” and “Too Fat for 15: Fighting Back,” two reality shows that patiently portray the lives of the obese, without the emphasis on fast results.

View post:
TV Reviews: ‘Ruby’ and ‘Too Fat for 15,’ patiently exhibiting reality’s rare virtues

Are you a Style Invitational loser? Join The Empress in her new Style Convesational home. Check in now.

Visit link:
The drool is gone

Casual leather sandals that aren’t your grandma’s comfort shoes Bi-continental shoe company Nom&Ada is named after its two founders: The “nomadic” Rie Sawai in Tokyo and the “adaptable” Kimy Andrade in Portland, OR. The two met while studying design at Parsons in NYC and remained close friends after graduating in 2004. Five years later they met halfway between their two homes in Hawaii, and when inspiration struck over iced Kona coffee they decided to embark on a joint venture. The duo recently launched their website and e-Boutique with their debut shoe, the “holoholo” moccasin. In Hawaiian, holoholo translates to “leisurely journey”—an apt name for the comfortable, casual riff on the classic T-strap sandal. Constantly on the move, Sawai and Andrade say they’re inspired by their travels and nostalgia, and the crepe-soled sandals are perfect for airline travel, with a pair of tights, or for impromptu hikes on a sunny weekend after brunch. Despite the great distance between the two business partners, Sawai and Andrade do their best to collaborate as much as possible. “The time difference definitely kills,” they said—they even answer e-mails jointly—”but it makes the times that we do get to work together in the same location that much more special.” There are also advantages to having a close friend halfway around the world, saying “It adds different perspectives to our technical and creative process, and gives us an excuse to travel!” They chronicle their finds and inspirations on their blog , which they also write together. “Even though the majority of our conversation is business nowadays, we find a moment or two to catch up on girl talk,” they said. The crepe-soled leather sandals are handmade in Japan and come in black, white and camel—with the camel available with both white and flamingo stitching. They sell online for $260.

Follow this link:
Nom&Ada