Cruel Summer

So those of us in the Northeast have yet to see any semblance of summer weather, and already June's nearly over. Damn the weather forecast - with the solstice behind us, I'm declaring it summer regardless. With the fireworks and festivities of July 4 just around the corner, I'm in a beachy mood. Here are my picks to help inspire the same feeling in you:

Nothing says summer like a bunch of photos of tanned, hunky, shirtless lifeguards. This nicely done book will do just the trick. Added bonus: you can pass it off as "art" instead of something decidedly more illicit.

Lifeguard on Duty, $45, available at amazon.com

When just lying around in the park gets old, break out this pétanque set, the sparkly French cousin to bocce. This gorgeous set is the perfect antidote for a gloomy day (like the ones we've been having), and the solid teak construction will ensure this piece lives to see another summer.

Teak Pétanque Set, $160, available at Design Within Reach

And should you need a refreshment during the game, reach for this. Only recently available in the States, this relative of Campari has a delicious orange flavor. Try an Aperol Spritz - 2 parts prosecco to 1 part Aperol with a splash of club soda. Garnish with an orange wedge. It's quite refreshing, and it's low alcohol content (11%) will keep you from getting sloshed.

Aperol aperitivo, $25.99, available at better liquor stores and BevMo!

And if your travels take you to the beach, make sure you're not bumming around in a baggy pair of board shorts. By no means does this give you license to attempt a "Daniel Craig in Casino Royale" maneuver, but your shorts should FIT. Not too tight, though. If you've got skinny legs (guilty) then wearing big shorts is only going to accentuate the issue. One classic option lies in Birdwell Beach Britches, which come in a variety of lengths (nothing beyond the knee, please) and colors to suit your frame. And the price is right, too.

Birdwell Beach Britches, $50, available at Kona Sports (photo, New York Times)

Cheers to summer.

Saturday Cocktailing | The Southside

Sometimes you need something a little sweeter than a martini. More summery than a Manhattan. Less trendy than a mojito. Fancier than a G&T. And for those times, there's the Southside. Apparently the Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett, New York makes a mean one. Never been there to sample their rendition, but this a drink that's simple enough to make on your own. The key is the fresh mint sprigs and the fresh lime juice (Rose's just doesn't cut it). Here's the recipe:

2 ounces gin (or vodka, if you must)
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
3 large mint leaves
3 drops cocktail bitters (Angostura is fine)

Frost a cocktail glass by putting ice cubes and cold water in the glass, and letting it sit while you make the drink. Place the mint leaves in the cocktail shaker and press them with the back of a spoon to release the essential oils. (You don't have to pulverize them; a few presses will do.) Fill the shaker with ice and add the gin, simple syrup, lime juice, and bitters. Shake until the outside of the shaker gets all frosty. Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an extra mint sprig or a lime wedge. Enjoy, preferably by the pool, with good friends and good music.

Cordovan Shoes: A Primer

There's no doubt in my mind that the phrase "Shoes make the man" absolutely holds true, even today. Jeans and a white tee can go from boring to chic with the right pair of distressed wingtips. Conversely, even the most pricey bespoke suit can be completely spoiled with a pair of cheaply made dress shoes. A classic pair of leather-soled lace-ups, wingtips, or loafers, when cared for properly, can often last as long as 10 years. One particular type of leather has been known to outlive even its wearer: shell cordovan. (Not to be confused with the color cordovan - the burgundy hue that shell cordovan shoes are often dyed.) It's tough as nails, and especially water resistant - and for a good reason. It's made from the shell, or hind quarters, of a horse. While it takes time to break these suckers in, once they mold to your foot, they can be as comfortable as wearing nothing at all. Yes, they are quite expensive, but honestly - by using cedar shoe trees, polishing them by hand, and getting them resoled every few years, you're bound to see some return on that investment. Here are a few of my favorites:

Darlton Tassel Loafer (pictured above), $795, ralphlauren.com

In the chukka boot format, cordovan makes particular sense, as it will keep the rain from getting your socks too wet this fall. Alden Cordovan Chukka Boot, $568, aldenshop.com

Who can resist a classic penny? P.S., if you're not feeling the burgundy color, these also come in black. Please, don't put pennies in them. It isn't 1958. Brooks Brothers Cordovan Loafer, $598, brooksbrothers.com

One Dangerous Drink

Forget what you know about needlepoint. Far from being busy work for your grandma in Naples, the stylish accessories from Bethesda-based Smathers and Branson are sure to change your opinion of the once-staid stitch. Their men's needlepoint belts have been an underground preppy fave since 2004, but they've recently expanded to women's accessories (headbands! belts! coin purses!), wallets, dog collars, and my personal favorite: flasks (see above). What started as a homegrown business from their Bowdoin dorm room seems to have taken off quite well for the pair - their fab wares have popped up everywhere from the local country club to Bergdy's. As far as the pirate number you see here, all I have to say is this - scoff if you must about the whole skull and bones thing being so over, but one thing's undeniable: there's nothing as badass as taking a swig from one of these flasks. Make mine a Tanqueray, boys.

Jolly Roger flask, $65, smathersandbranson.com

The Playlist | Dinner Party

Creating a great party playlist is no simple task. A carefully chosen playlist, like good lighting and elegant decor, can create the perfect atmosphere for any event....just as easily as a poor choice can totally spoil the mood. Especially tough is finding the right combination of tunes for a dinner party. (Chromeo and Hot Chip are great, but it's the last thing I want to hear while I'm trying to hold a conversation across the table.) You want something light, unassuming, and unobtrusive, but at the same time, you don't want to put people to sleep. This one I threw together is perfect for an alfresco dinner with friends. Grab a couple of good bottles of rosé, set this playlist to random, and see where the evening takes you. And remember - you can't ever go wrong with Sinatra.

• "Volare" - Dean Martin
• "Coffee and Cigarettes" - Augustana
• "The Way You Look Tonight" - Frank Sinatra
• "Say Yes" - Floetry
• "Stormy Weather" - Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole
• "All at Sea" - Jamie Cullum
• "Life is a Song" - Patrick Park
• "Desafinado" - Getz/Gilberto
  
• "Moondance" - Van Morrison
• "Everything" - Michael Bublé
• "The Space Between" - Dave Matthews Band
• "The Dress Looks Nice on You" - Sufjan Stevens
• "I'll Take Manhattan" - Blossom Dearie
• "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" - John Mayer
• "S'Wonderful" - Diana Krall