A Cigar Fit For An Admiral

Posted on June 18, 2016 by admin

The following review was done by our good friend Elias Kotsios.

Historical Note: “On the 28^th of October of 1492, sixteen days after the discovery of the Indies, Christoph Kolumbus landed in the Cuban bay of Bariay. His biggest surprise was to find indigenous people smoking dried leaves which formed a blue and aromatic smoke. He later discovered that these cigars where used to cure skin illness, alleviate suffering and to celebrate its ritual ceremonies.” From Kolumbus website in which he is referred to as the Admiral.

Kolumbus Premium Cigars are located in La Palma, Spain. All of their cigars are handmade and seasoned in Spanish cedar cellars. I was anxious to try these cigars, the pictures and description piqued my interest. The cigar I decided to go with first was the K-Azul Piramide, the cigar had a very nice appearance and had an appealing Connecticut wrapper. During the dry draw there was a vanilla taste that existed and peppery notes were present as well.

Once lit it had a nice smooth draw not too tight and the taste was pretty straight forward, the vanilla was no longer present and my pallet was filled with more pepper and nutty notes. The cigar had a consistent burn with no tunneling and the construction held up well, when a cigar begins to unravel it is irritating for every cigar smoker (I’m sure I’m not alone). Towards the mid point of the cigar is when I began to notice a difference in the flavor, at that point the vanilla began to slowly come in but it wasn’t overwhelming. I was really enjoying this cigar and it began to become more complex towards the shoulder of the cigar, at that point I was reaching about 40 minutes of smoking. The end of the cigar did not change much continued with the well balanced taste that existed from the initial light up, total smoking time was about 55 minutes.

Overall this was a great cigar, I will definitely add Kolumbus cigars to my humidor. It was a smooth consistent smoke the whole way through with a great draw that didn’t tighten up at all. This was their mild strength option, there is also the K-Rojo (mild/full) and the K-Negro (moderate). Stack some of these sticks in your humidor they will not disappoint. I’m patiently waiting to see what the gents over at Kolumbus cigars have coming up in the future, if these cigars are an indication of what we have in store, the cigar community will be very pleased. -SPECS- -Length 156mm -Diameter 20.64mm -Ring Gauge 52

filler from Breña and Claro Connecticut wrapper. -Elias Kotsios-

120 Years Of Barbering: Memorial Day Tribute 2016

Posted on May 29, 2016 by admin

The two barbers featured in the film are both veterans of the United States Military and we would like to acknowledge their service to our country in MEMORIAL of all the men and women who died in military service. We choose to remember their service and sacrifice as a living MEMORIAL.

Frank Chavis was drafted by the Army and fought in WWII in the Philippines and was stationed in Japan. Fred Koon enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Tacoma, Washington. Both men settled in California and became barbers, Frank in Stockton and Fred in Orange County.

The film 120 Years of Barbering is about two barbers Frank-90 years young and Fred-76 years young that have a combined 120 years of barbering experience. This film is about barbering history, life, failure, addiction, success, passion and purpose.

You will never view barbering the same again.

Release Date June 2016, thank you for your patience.

Presented by GentlemensAvenue.com, Donnie Hawley and Layrite.

A special thank you to Los Rhythm Rockets for allowing us to use their music

Esperanza Vive 16 Poster Reveal

Posted on May 22, 2016 by admin

We are super honored once again to work with artist and tattooer Miss Lisa Del Toro who created this amazing piece of art for our Domestic Violence Awareness month. This modern day plague affects men and women and causes unnecessary pain.

During June 4, 2016 – July 4, 2016 we will post several articles spotlighting the problem and promoting prevention.

We are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. Thank you very much Miss Del Toro!

Trailer: East Meets West- Syndicate Barber Shop, South Korea and Japan

Posted on May 22, 2016 by admin

Checkout the trailer for our new film East Meets West: Syndicate Barber Shop, South Korea and Japan. We had a blast meeting these amazing international barbers . These fine Gents are also on the cover the Traditional Barber Journal vol. I, issue II.

Thank you Tim and Chris, owners of Syndicate Barber Shop in Long Beach, CA for once again opening your house to us.

Stay tuned for the full film.

Building A Legacy Not A Fad

Posted on May 17, 2016 by admin

Gents,

Our good friend Toshiyuki Abe from Kawasaki, Japan is building a legacy that challenges me to rethink my daily actions and their long term consequences. A little background on the Abe family, Toshiyuki is a first generation barber and his sons are second generation barbers (pictured right and bottom left)!

The importance of passing on family values and the ancient profession of barbering has been successful. People have been doing that for thousands of years and to see a prime example of that is admirable.

For generations barbers have passed on their profession without social media, “barber battles”, trophies, world-wide tours, or a “world-famous” title because there is a seriousness about life and the profession that has outlasted all fads. The lifestyle and work ethic supersedes the popular culture that reduces it to a “game” or “hustle”.

As men we must think about our actions and the legacy we are creating because no one will live forever but our legacy will. Social media “likes” and viral postings will only last but a moment but the memory of who and what you are is timeless.

Building a legacy will take time and effort but the end result is well worth it. If not now, when?

Time To Shine In Malaysia!

Posted on February 9, 2016 by admin

Gents,

Our good friend Jimmy from Shiner Gold Pomade sent us a special edition collaboration can with Gonzo Original Supply from Malaysia. This can is highly sought after because Jimmy not only changed the graphics but also added a few special ingredients to an already fantastic pomade.

To compliment the new graphics the tin is gold! The fragrance has also been changed for this collaboration with the sweet smell of ginger and blood orange.

Snatch up a few cans while they last. Awesome collaboration Jimmy and Gonzo!

Mr. M

Quality Is Not A Trend Or Fad

Posted on January 4, 2016 by admin

Amidst all the handcrafted products and “traditional” services here is a Rule Of Thumb that must never be ignored.

Photo taken with Panasonic GH and SLR Magic HyperPrime Lens.

Quality goods insta

MAKE THE MOST OF THE NEW YEAR

Posted on January 2, 2016 by admin

Folks,

Let me start by wishing you a Happy New Year and I hope everything you aspire to complete comes to fruition in 2016. The new year has become a symbol of a fresh start and a chance to assess, contemplate, decide and execute things that were not accomplished in the previous year. In other words, it is a “second chance” of sorts but the truth of the matter is that the only things that changes is the calendar if no actions are taken.

To make an assessment of ones life requires information, data and honesty because many of the things that have transpired during the past year may be good and bad. So is the story of life but the danger is watering down the “bad/negative” experiences and hyping the “good/positive” experiences.

Once you distinguish the two the next step is to contemplate. That means taking a step back and don’t let the refreshed memories taint or emotionally overwhelm your decision. This is crucial because you can avoid a rush to judgement by careful contemplation.

Now that you have assessed and contemplated you must decide which action to take. That means you will look at the next 365 days as a chance to change and fulfill whatever goals and aspirations you have set for your self. Easy but not simple.

The final and crucial part is taking action because everything else is worthless if it is merely a “resolution”. All actions must be realistic and plausible. There is no point in setting yourself up for failure. Actions must also be well thought out and incremental. That means some decisions will require baby steps while others will be leaps into the darkness. Understanding the difference between the two is vital.

Today I spent most of the chilly morning shopping for hidden vintage diamonds but it was not at a hipster den of the many “thrift stores”. Nothing wrong with them but I prefer the haunts of my childhood, the swap meet. Digging through what looks like a hoarders loot on display is time consuming but also enjoyable. I ran across a box of old tube radios and proceeded to negotiate the sale. After some bargaining I purchased radios in varying conditions. The guy told me, “take the whole box because I don’t want to load it back in the truck.”

A few other small items were in the box but an envelope caught my eye because it was dated November 25, 1945 with a 3 cent stamp that read “Win The War”. America and the world were at war and peoples lives were affected by it and time did not stop for no one. Many new years have passed since the envelope was mailed.

I am not the first or last person on this earth and with this new year a plethora of choices will be made but I must be careful to asses, contemplate, decide and execute for the new year and failing to do so means that the only thing that will change is the calendar.

Mr. M
Editor/Founder

Pomade Profile Episode 1: Shiner Gold Pomade

Posted on December 21, 2015 by admin

The pomade world is as diverse as the products but what separates the men from the boys is reputation and product quality. One of the best examples of these traits is Jimmy Allen the creator and founder of Shiner Gold Pomade from Phoenix, Arizona.

We were fortunate to interview Jimmy at Syndicate Barber Shop in Long Beach, CA who graciously opened their doors to us. Great guys in a great shop.

Enjoy the first episode of Pomade Profiles. If you would like to be featured in a future episode please email us GAFilms@GentlemensAvenue.com

Music by The Delta Bombers, “Wolf” http://www.thedeltabombers.com/

http://www.shinergold.com/

https://www.instagram.com/syndicatebarbershop/

“Real California: The Small Farm Town Barber”- GA Thanksgiving Film Festival 2015, 2nd selection

Posted on November 25, 2015 by admin

Folks,

The second selection for the GA Thanksgiving Film Festival 2015 is special because it is one of the first films we ever shot and it also happens to be at one of our many favorite places to visit. This film is part of the Real California series that features artists, tattooers, barber, craftsman and unique folks throughout the great state of California who are making a difference in their communities and the world at large.

Wild Bill’s Barber Shop is located in Lindsay, CA and is a small farm town of 13,000 residents and surrounded by orchards, groves and mountains. This farm town has a depth that is a rarity these days and the folks are genuine.

Owner Rick Loftin named the shop after his father and is an homage to his character. The décor is real and not store bought which also gives a vintage but authentic nuance. From his grandmother’s old washing machine with washboard or his father’s leather jacket it is all part of who Rick is. Gotta love the Folsom Prison barber chairs!

A huge thank you to the Loftin’s whom I am proud to call our friend’s. Also to the fine folks of Lindsay that made us feel welcomed.

Note: Only one scene was stabilized but the rest is left untouched so as to give you the feeling of walking in the shop.

Stay tuned for the last selection in the GA Film Festival 2015! We hope you enjoy this film and please feel free to leave a comment.
www.GentlemensAvenue.com/TFF

GENTLEMEN'S AVENUE

Modern Men of Tradition and Distinction

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