Tag Archives: Tradition and distinction

Update: 120 Years of Barbering the Film & Traditional Barber Journal

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Friends,

First I would like to thank you for all the support and encouragement. I have continually worked hard to write great articles and create innovative publications and films. I do not share my personal life but I believe I owe it to you since many of you are waiting for my work.

I alone created Gentlemen’s Avenue and for the last 4 years created 3 publications; The Avenue Men’s Magazine, Traditional Tattoo Journal, Traditional Barber Journal. I also made a few short films for YouTube and created the series, Real California. Last year with the sponsorship of Donnie Hawley and Layrite I shot my first film 120 Years of Barbering. Not only did Mrs. M and I film it but I have been the sole editor. Which needless to say is a ton of work but extremely enjoyable. Oh, I also manage the website and all social media.

Mrs. M and I had the privilege to photograph many barber shops in Southern California for hospital signa coffee table book series, Revival Of The Traditional Barber Shop.

Along the way Mrs. M has been my support, camera operator, critique and an amazing woman.

A little over a month ago I suffered a back injury (nerve damage) that put me down and I halted all work. Just sitting up was painful much less working on the computer. Mrs. M has helped me write the last few posts and has become my hands.

I am still receiving treatment and finally able to work for 10-15 minutes each day. Somedays are worse than others. I do not have a staff or departments to complete the works in progress so everything relies upon me. For those that have met me are well aware that we are a family operation.

So please allow me more time to complete the projects I started. I anticipate 120 Years of Barbering to be completed by August 2016. The Traditional Barber Journal will be released late September 2016. If there are any setbacks please extend your patience and understanding during this difficult time. I intend to complete everything I started.

Mr. M
Founder/Editor
Psalm 31:1

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Morgan Pipes: This BlackJack Scores 21!

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Gents,

18tolkienpic-superJumboAs soon as humanity was able to harness fire I am sure smoking tobacco soon followed. This long tradition is flourishing today due to amazing craftsmen that are forging traditional tobacco pipes with high grade materials.

History reflects a variety of men that enjoyed a tobacco pipe as a luxury and relaxation. And for many it became an iconic symbol of sophistication. J.R.R. Tolkien (left) the author of the Lord of Stalin pipethe Rings famously enjoyed the pipe. This leisurely activity was not only reserved for the literary minds but also dictators such as Joseph Stalin (right) partook of the pipe.

The pipe is a DIY for tobacco connoisseur’s because you are able to blend various types of tobacco to produce a unique and enjoyable blend. Maybe you prefer a sweeter cherry flavor with a dash of vanilla or you may prefer a strong whiskey blend. Either way you can customize and experiment to your taste.

Recently we received a great pipe from Chris Morgan owner of Morgan Pipes and let me tell you I am impressed. He sent the BlackJack series Shape 20 that is made of briar wood “which is a tumor-like outgrowth that develops between root and stem of white heath (Erica arborea)” https://pipedia.org/docs/CharacteristicsOfBriar.pdf. This special wood is heat resistant and ideal for pipe making.  The pipe has a nickel silver band and acrylic stem. The construction is solid and well made.

Morgan pipe side viewThe pipe is handmade in Italy to Mr. Morgans demanding specifications with a sandblasted carnauba wax finish that provides just the right amount of matte. Although the pipe is black there is a great contrast with the nickel band and shiny acrylic stem. There is an imprinted Morgan Pipes rabbit on the pipe and model name. Every nook and groove of the pipe declares that it is handmade and produces tons of character. The pipe smokes wonderfully and every draw is smooth and enjoyable.

A major upside to smoking a pipe, besides producing your own blends and looking hell a Morgan pipe top viewcool, is that depending on the depth of the bowl and how much you pack it with you can enjoy on average 30-45 min smoke and up to 1.5 hours.

We highly recommend Morgan Pipes BlackJack Shape 20. All great products begin and end with the owner/craftsmen.  Have no doubt that every detail of the pipe is a reflection of Mr. Morgan’s passion.

In addition to the handmade pipes from Italy there are highly sought after custom one-off pipes that Mr. Morgan produces in the USA on a commission basis. Another great product is the briar cigar that is really impressive. We hope to review more products from Morgan Pipes so stay tuned!  On a personal note I really admire Mr. Morgan because in a day and age where people can become fake or a personality he is genuine and real.

Mr. M
Founder/Editor
Psalm 30:2-3

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Stop! Drop! Roll! Logan Bros. Pomade Is Here

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Gents,

In elementary school I was taught to “Stop! Drop! Roll!” in the event that I was on fire. Those easy commands were designed to put the fire out and in the case of Logan Bros. Pomade you may need to stop, drop and roll because they are on fire with their newly launched pomade.

Nowadays pomades are hitting the market almost every week. There is very little that separates each product because most use the white plastic double-wall jars with a colorful cliche filled label. The Logan Bros. own and operate a barber shop in Orange County, CA and have really thought outside the box with their new water-based pomade.Logan Bros Pomade on sink jar alone

First things first, this is a nickel plated steel jar! I am still blown away by the shine and classic styling. Not only does the jar contain great pomade but you can also reuse it or put it on the shelf. Either way it is durable metal that will age with grace. Sure they could have taken the easy way and used the plastic white container with a sticker on it but they went the extra mile and did something I have not seen before in the industry. The label has an old paper appearance with excellent fonts that compliment the classic jar.

Another forward thinking idea is the 3 oz size. It’s not less is more because the size of the jar is FAA carry on approved. That’s right you don’t need to scoop out your beloved 4+ oz pomade and put into a smaller container to take it on a plane because Logan Bros. has that covered.

The pomade is a translucent white, as opposed to solid white, with a citrus clean scent that is pleasant and not offensive. The real greatness of this pomade is that is designed for Logan Bros Pomade on sinkyour “hair health” by using Bladderwack extract that increases blood flow to the hair follicles, Chamomile extract, Grapefruit extract & Carrot extract that promote hair and scalp health. The hold is medium-heavy and can be re-combed. Don’t expect a helmet head with this pomade if you don’t want your hair to ever move use Aquanet!

All in all, I am extremely impressed with the Logan Bros. Pomade it’s a homerun! Everything from the nickel plated container, vintage inspired label and a pomade that is looking to the future. Make sure to pickup a can or dozen for your shop.

Mr. M
Founder/Editor
Psalm 22:26

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A Cigar Fit For An Admiral

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

Historical Note: “On the 28th 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 TBJ II Kolumbus cigars focused lid nothandmade 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 Elias screen shot kolumbusdid 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-

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120 Years Of Barbering: Memorial Day Tribute 2016

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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

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

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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.

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Building A Legacy Not A Fad

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Gents,

Our good friend Toshiyuki Abe from Kawasaki, Japan is building a legacy that challengesabe and son 1 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”.

Screen Shot 2016-05-17 at 6.18.41 PMAs 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?

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Time To Shine In Malaysia!

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Gents,

Our good friend Jimmy from Shiner Gold Pomade sent us a special edition collaborationjimmy gonzo can 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

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MAKE THE MOST OF THE NEW YEAR

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Folks,

Let me start by wishing you a Happy New Year and I hope everything you aspire to Letter and Radio dial NY2015complete 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 Inside of RCA NY2015haunts 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

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

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Folks,

The second selection for the GA Thanksgiving Film Festival 2015 is special because it is wild bills tff annoucnementone 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

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