PartTimeBarista

Off work this week, took a day trip to Mackinac Island today. Mackinac Island is a historically significant car-free island technically in Lake Huron, one of the 5 Great Lakes. Lake Michigan ‘flows’ into Lake Huron through the Straights of Mackinac, an almost 5 mile wide channel that separates Michigan's lower peninsula from the upper peninsula. Due to this strategic location, Mackinac Island has been used as a fort since 1780 to control the Straits. Originally built by the British, it was taken by the Americans not until 1796, 20 years after independence was declared. The British also briefly reoccupied the fort and island from 1812-1815. Of course, the location was also strategically and culturally important to Native Americans long before. I remember reading an excellently illustrated book as a kid about Mackinac Island, which according to Native American legend was formed by a giant turtle. The name Mackinac actually orginates from the Ojibwe word meaning ‘great turtle.’ Interestingly enough, the French spelled it Mackinac and the British Mackinaw. The island and bridge use the French spelling, but the city on the mainland the English. As an island, the only way to reach it is by boat, plane, or if the straits freeze over, snowmobile. There is a small year round population, but it’s largely a (very popular) summer tourist destination. It’s an incredibly unique and beautiful place! Fort Mackinac, where you can see historic reenactments. Typical ferry The Grand Hotel (view from the ferry), which boasts the longest front porch in the world, and has a formal dress code (and is very expensive). View of the Mackinac Bridge from the ferry, which connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. When it was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 5 miles. Downtown. The only transportation on the island is horse-drawn carriage and bicycles. Fort Mackinac sign American Trench / Whitesville / Left Field / Hokas

Site visit hard hat / hi-vis / Eddie Bauer / Left Field / Vasque

Alas, the 34 is too big for me. Code also seems to work toward Denime, orSlow, and some of the Warehouse (not DSB) as an FYI.

Anyone ever used reggieshop.com? They have an interesting line-up of brands. I came across a 31% off discount code that works on the Sugar Cane Super Denim Collectibles models they carry (#01 and #05). If anyone is interested, they have 34, 36, and 38 available in the #05 (1942) and 38 in #01 (1945). Hope this is ok to post, code is Happy31.

A little bit different kind of Saturday ride than what @Double 0 Soul does - long and slow family ride. My kids are probably 20 pounds bigger than they were last year, the hills are getting really tough! One of the four lakes we rode along (this is the Great one). And a stop at our favorite playground.

I was 7 at the millennium, so I'm sure all my clothes were from Walmart and/or hand-me-downs. By the end of the 2000s, however, I had quite an impressive collection of mall-brand t-shirts in every color of the rainbow and emblazoned with giant logos, and Pumas in almost as many colors.

I’ve been lurking since about 18 months. Though I also think I must have come across this site 15 years ago when I was in high school and somehow stumbled across Evisu. I never ended up getting any, likely due to price and confusion about raw denim. Or maybe I just realized they would be very out of place in my rural farm town and I most probably wouldn’t have been able to pull them off. Sometimes I wish I had gone for it. For some years I have been drawn toward more conscious consumption, mostly interested in pursuing products made in the US. However, I never felt I could afford to. I ended up just not really buying clothes for most of Covid (I’ve been the same size since high school). In researching for my Christmas list for my mother in 2023, I came across madeindex.com, which led me to some American denim brands, which led me to Heddels, r/rawdenim, and ultimately here. I bought for myself a pair of Tellason Stock (non-selvedge) during the Black Friday sale. I wish I had spent more time with that pair and kept lurking and learning before buying more, but over the next few months I backed a Gustin campaign, bought a like new pair of Left Field NYC, bought and sold a pair from 3sixteen, and fell victim to Oni Crushed Concrete hype. I don’t fully regret those purchases, but I’ve taken the last year to wear what I have and keep learning from you all! Still haven’t figured out what I might want next, and not sure I have a lot to contribute, but I appreciate the community. Thanks to all of you for the thoughtful denim and non-denim conversation!

Easter basket caddy for my youngest yesterday. American Trench / Whitesville / ROOM jeans / Blundstone

Petoskey area, northern Michigan (US)

3 weeks ago this weekend, my neck of the woods was hit by a devastating ice storm. I was fortunate to only have been without power for 3 days. Some friends were without power for over a week, and some areas on the outskirts still are without. I spent a fair few hours (in jeans) on clean up in my yard and around town the last few weeks. Some of these photos are mine, some are borrowed. There definitely was a certain beauty even in the midst of the destruction. And it was interesting to see the way the community responded and came together, it reminded me of the early days of Covid in a sense.

ROOM jeans Whitesville Left Field NYC Blundstone

Overkill for a home setup, but worked great for a catering cart!

There was some coffee talk here not too long ago. I, too, have achieved good results with just a Breville Barista Express. Last winter, I was very spoiled with a La Marzocco gs3 and a Mahlkonig e65s in my house that were related to a business which I have since sold.

The difference a day can make, aka springtime in Michigan. L.C. King G.H. Bass Left Field Blundstone

ROOM jeans Cheap Michigan State University hoodie (go green) Tellason Hoka

Still ice on Little Traverse Bay if you come up north! Though it's getting dirty. Excuse the photo, taken while running last Saturday. Ice is still there, however, with a fresh blanket of snow.