Everything Means Everything

Wise words, music, coffee & gear for the weekend

That phrase at the top of the page — maybe it’s familiar to you from the introspective, emotional song “Conversation 16” by The National (who else)? It popped up again in the front of my mind after I read an excellent interview with indie rock phenom Phoebe Bridgers and The National frontman Matt Berninger last week on the nature of writing and songwriting. In the piece (published through the amazing creative resource The Creative Independent), the remarkably talented Phoebe references that lyric, with her own twist: “Everything means everything all the time.”

As quarantine continues to roll on, does that still ring true — does everything really mean everything? Or does it mean less? In my view, things actually tend to mean more — no doubt. Spending a lot of time in my Brooklyn apartment and on long solo walks throws it all into sharp relief. That’s especially true for the opportunities missed AND the opportunities we still have in front of us this summer — instead of jam-packed vacations, crowded music festivals, beaches and theme parks (all amazing in their own right), maybe the replacement is a remote getaway or a relaxing evening at home, for instance. Instead of time spent commuting or in an office, it’s time spent with loved ones and in nature. And the gear and the people you bring along for the ride with you every day? Those things absolutely still mean plenty. Heck, reaching for beer and gear made with care and nuance is practically the epitome of that ethos — at least, one that’s most readily visible to me on the daily. And the music you spin from day to night? Ditto on that as well. So, here’s to heirlooms and music and cold beer and unexpected opportunities during these strange times that mean, well, everything.

What To Listen To This Weekend: “Conversation 16” By The National

OK, perhaps you saw this coming when I mentioned the lauded Ohio-born indie rockers to start today’s newsletter. As I’ve discussed in the past via the newsletter (and, well, every other platform of mine), the meaningful and never-not-emotional indie rock of The National has struck a chord with me, to say, the least, for going on a decade now. From my days playing the band at the Michigan State University student radio station, The Impact 89FM (every fall 2010 Wednesday from midnight to 2 a.m.!), I’ve fallen in love with the band’s music, and with that ambition and passion that led to a slow-burn rise through the early' ‘00s New York rock scene.

By the time 2010 rolled around, The National were morphing into a force to be reckoned with (coming off of 2007’s classic album, “Boxer”), but plenty of uncertainty still hung in the air as they worked on that year’s soon-to-be-revered album “High Violet.” Of course, this brings me right back to my main point. On any other album, a song like “Conversation 16” might not get its due, but in true “The National” fashion, it was formed into something, well, important and meaningful in its own right. It’s an underrated but deeply meaningful song, singing about living on “coffee and flowers” and grappling with relationships and your family and your own emotions. As with most songs by The National, it’s one to sit back and enjoy whenever you’ve got time to think on life … it really does prove that everything means everything.

What To Shop This Weekend: Luminox Atacama Automatic Field Watch

In true fashion with what I mentioned above, the gear and the everyday essentials you reach for and wear can really help shake up your routine, your schedule & any summer plans you’ve got for these remaining weekends. What I mean to say is, whether you want to find an empty part of the beach or an empty part of the woods for a getaway, you need one of the best field watches to help you get there — at least, I think you do. I wear a reliable watch on the daily — it helps me complete my outfits and adds a sense of purpose to my routine (the clock’s always ticking whenever you look at your wrist, after all). That being said, the incredible Luminox Atacama Automatic Field Watch is absolutely among my list of investment-level watch purchases to make, and soon. It should be on yours as well. This is a versatile field watch you can absolutely wear all the time these days, whether you team it with faded denim and your favorite T-shirt, or with slim chinos and a navy polo. Feeling inspired to get out there yet?

Shop Luminox Watches

What To Sip This Weekend: Your Favorite Craft Beer with the Bespoke Post Cheers Box

Because it’s the weekend and all, I’m going to urge you to kick back with a nice, cold beer later. But in the spirit of amplifying your imbibing and making it a bit more premium and considered, I’m going to recommend you snag some of your favorite craft beer to-go from your local brewery — ideally, getting the stylish growler from the Bespoke Post Cheers Box filled up along the way. As with the craftsmanship that goes into your favorite watch, great craft beer takes time — and while I enjoy an ice-cold PBR as much as the next guy (even moreso these days!), you can’t beat fresh beer served from a cool growler into a game-changing beer glass. While you’ll have to source the beer yourself, the extremely affordable Bespoke Post Cheers Box has you covered when it comes to the growler and the glasses (heck, it’s just $45 when you sign up for Bespoke Post). In fact, it’s just one stellar offering from Bespoke Post’s monthly subscription boxes that’ll urge you to take a more nuanced approach to a favorite pastime. After all, everything means everything — even with the craft beer you pick up these days.

The Final Pick: Filson Short-Sleeve Henley

We’ll close out today’s post with yet another seemingly simple pick that still means, well, everything. In the spirit of rugged adventure and even just relaxing days at home, Filson, out of Seattle, makes some of the most uncompromising gear on the planet (as you’ve seen in past newsletters), and they really do go above and beyond the average. That’s clear even with a simple knit piece like the Filson Short-Sleeve Henley shown above. For you or for someone else in your life who appreciates a stylish henley that’s damn fine well-made, this is the way to go. It’s crafted from sturdy cotton and is more than suitable to wear as a base layer underneath your favorite denim shirt, or all on its own (I should know — I’ve been testing out this rugged henley for summer recently). Filson wouldn’t have it any other way, that much I know.

Here we are at the end of today’s dispatch. In some small way, through my daily choices (the music I’m playing as I write, the gear I wear to explore Brooklyn, and so on), I’m trying to remind myself that even as the days roll by in a very similar, quarantine-minded fashion, everything does mean everything — even still. Hopefully, today’s gear and music picks spoke to that ethos just a bit. After all, whether it’s the care that’s gone into making the Luminox Atacama Automatic Field Watch or the enjoyment you can get out of the Bespoke Post Cheers Box, inspiration and similar reminders exist, well, everywhere and in everything. For now, I’m off to pour some coffee and listen to The National. As I always say, feel free to check out my blog for even more weekend reading enjoyment. Thanks for being here, my friends.