Pepe Nero – A Little Belgium, A Little Chicago
Summer’s over and with it the days of sitting in the sunshine sipping on a cold beer. It’s still a little warm to be tucking into a stout or barley wine over a book in the evening, but I don’t exactly want a pilsner either. Luckily, current hometown hero Goose Island comes to the rescue with Pepe Nero.
Thinking Transitionally
It’s one of those odd times of year – it’s transition time. It’s not still summer but it’s not yet fall. Getting up every morning is an exercise in balance and flexibility. So here are my thoughts on how to get the most out of the next few weeks before the frost starts to settle in.
Step Into Some Brown Suede Shoes
We’re at that point in the year where the chillier days start to feel like fall and clotheshorses the northern hemisphere over rejoice. It’s time for tweed, flannel, and wearing coats without ending up a sweaty mess. And it’s the perfect time for brown suede shoes – as if there was ever a bad time.
A Few Words with Carmen Chan
You probably know Carmen Chan from the photos of the gents of The Armoury, Colonial Goods, Ascot Chang, Tassels, etc. that devoured the menswear tumblrs a few weeks ago. But there’s a lot more to Carmen than just her great menswear shots, and she was kind enough to share some of her inspirations and goals with us here at Simply Refined.
The RL Restaurant, Chicago
There was a lot of buzz last year when Ralph Lauren opened his eponymous Paris restaurant, Ralphs, but let’s not forget that Mr. Lauren’s been doing food for over a decade. The RL Restaurant in Chicago opened in 1999 attached to the Michigan Ave. flagship, and earlier this week I settled into a banquet for a lovely lunch like only Ralph can provide.
