Taking a #Twelfie is as easy as taking a pic with some mike’s and while that alone is great, make it your own. Throw in some friends, put on a tacky sweater, surprise grandma, explain to grandma how your phone is also a camera, let the pets join in, just make sure that mike’s is visible. You can see my #Twelfie below and while it may not seem like much it’s very much my own: standard beanie, face hidden and a filter to make my pale skin appear not so pale.

Tips to make your #Twelfie your own:

Holiday apparel: the tackier the better.
Onesies: because onesies.
Pets: even if you’re not looking so hot pets get likes.
Filter: it’s winter, we’re all pale.
Get creative with your mike’s: utilize flavors, cans and bottles.

So what’s in this #Twelfie for you? A delicious mike’s, a memory frozen in time, jeez, how much do you need? But seriously, the T’elf Re-Gift-O-Rama is mike’s take on a white elephant party so you will get a gift for your #Twelfie once you share your social media link (Facebook or Twitter) with twelfie.mikeshard.com. If you like the gift you can claim it then. If you don’t like it or feel it would be a better fit for someone else you can re-gift and get a new gift (you can do this once a day).

It’s that easy and fun to join in the holiday spirit of mike’s hard lemonade so grab a Tw’elf pack (12 bottle variety pack), grab your camera and snap a #Twelfie.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of mike’s hard lemonade. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post Get In The Spirit With Mike’s Hard Lemonade appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

What was once just a kitchen staple to me became as complex as a fine scotch. There are syrups aged in bourbon barrels, infused with flavors, cooking syrups and numerous others, but to avoid sounding like Bubba from Forrest Gump I’ll leave it at that. And all the bottle options! No, I can’t, I won’t list all those too. And while I’m still a rookie when it comes to syrup I have a new found appreciation for it and if you’re looking to learn more I’d recommend finding a Vermonter. Though if they’re anything like my friends you may find yourself sipping it out of the bottle, but if that’s not for you perhaps try it in the drink recipe below.

Basil Hayden’s Maple Manhattan

Ingredients:
1½ parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
½ part Sweet Vermouth
½ part Dry Vermouth
½ part Maple Syrup
2 dashes of Bitters
Cherry

Method:
1. Stir together the bourbon, vermouths, maple syrup and bitters over ice in a rocks glass.
2. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

The post Happy Maple Syrup Day! appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Electronic devices for smoking are becoming more and more the norm and the CRAFTY stands to be the top device in this market with its Bluetooth connectivity. To many this may seem like overkill and if you’re in that camp you can simply bypass the app and turn the device on which defaults to a temp of 356°F at the touch of a button and a boasted temp of 383°F at a double-tap of that same button. An indicator LED then will notify you when the device is ready. If you opt for the app, which I highly recommend, an onscreen thermometer allows for you to set the temp and shows the current temp in real time as it heats up. Because this isn’t your offbeat uncle’s pipe there is more to remember regards to cleaning and burning temps of various plants and all that info. is easily accessed from within the app.

The device itself is pocket size, which is nice, and frankly a must as you’re not looking for the CRAFTY to replace a hookah. If you’re into specifics it’s 4.3 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches and if you’re not, that’s smaller than the palm of your hand. The very top inch or so twist off to reveal the filling chamber where you’re able to load the device very easily by hand or with a specifically designed attachment which comes with the CRAFTY. The mouthpiece is similar to an old thermos and lays flat atop the device until twisted and you’re ready to go. The perfectly controlled temperature delivers a smooth burn, rich taste and no lingering smoke that you just don’t get out of traditional devices.

I feel like more should be said about the CRAFTY, but it’s so simple and easy to use that I’m truly cashed. CRAFTY is clearly the future of smoking and the future is now.

The post CRAFTY Portable Vaporizer appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

I’m as guilty as the next person of seeing someone get a tequila rocks or vodka neat and passing judgment, but that all changed when I had the pleasure of sampling Mount Gay Black Barrel rum. I was in the camp that rum should be used for Tiki style drinks, but then again I’d only had garbage rum that required copious amounts of sugary mixers to hide the taste. Needless to say I was skeptical when I was told this rum could replace whiskey in classic drinks like a Manhattan, but sure enough it did and it was better than an original (disclaimer: I don’t like whiskey based mixed drinks, just a couple cubes). Then came the moment of truth, rum neat. Swallowing my initial gag reflex, as all my prior mistakes were trying to escape, I took a sip, held it in my mouth and reluctantly took it down, but for the first time in my life this reluctance stemmed from enjoyment. A door was opened and there was Gene Wilder singing to me, “come with me / and you’ll be / in a world of pure imagination.”

I suddenly had a lot of living to do and next up was to take on my arch-nemesis, tequila. My tequila experience is different from rum in that I’ve had ones I’ve regarded as nice, such as Patron, but I was left speechless by the tequila a friend chose for me to sip. It was as though it was a new type of liquor altogether and my biggest regret of the night was that I can’t recall the name on the bottle in that dark basement bar.

And while my life was forever changed during this week span and my palate awakened to flavors never before experienced my love of scotch persevered. It’s not just the taste, but also the accompanying historical aspect. It’s like reading old literature where the historical context is equally as important to the words on the page. A glass of Syndicate 58/6 over a single cube tells a story of slightly fruity notes on the tongue. While the story of re-discovered casks in Edinburgh and a recipe dating back to the early 1800s stimulate my mind.

Experiment with different liquors and don’t be scared to spend a little more money. No matter what you’re drinking at the end of the night you‘re only going to be left with the memories of the evening. So you might as well go outside your comfort zone and try new spirits and learn about their rich history along the way.

The post Enjoy Your Liquor Neat (Or On The Rocks) appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Preparation
Torch orange and lemon rinds.
In a shaker, muddle the rinds with Simple Syrup, Angostura Bitters and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon.
Add ice and stir.
Pour into an Old Fashioned glass and top with soda water.

The post Thanksgiving Treat: Torched Citrus Old Fashioned appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

• Knives
  • Screw the whole over-priced 12-piece sets. You really only need a chef’s knife (8-10in), a pairing knife, bread knife, & a slicing knife.
• Peeler
  • May not seem essential to your kitchen and if you’re from that school a thought does adding fresh orange peel to your Manhattan change your mind?
• Pots & Pans
  • Cast Iron Skillet
    • This is one of those amazing universal kitchen tools that just get better with time. Literally can be used for everything including sautéing, roasting, baking. It holds its quality with each use instead of scratching or degrading over time like non-stick pans.
  • Standard Pots & Pans
    • No need to go crazy with these. It’s best to have one or two sauce pans for sauces/soups and small batch things (1-2 qt) Skillets of varying sizes for the times you don’t want to use the cast iron (9 or 10in).
• Spoons & Spatulas
  • Wooden spoons.
  • Rubber spatulas.
•  Colander
  • This is used for more than just draining pasta… cleaning fruits, veggies, draining/straining.
• Cutting Board
  • Plastic
    • They’re dishwasher safe, can be bleached if necessary, sturdy and won’t damage knives. Avoid the ones with all the bells and whistles like drip gutters and pull-out trays, they have a tendency to just make things more difficult.
• Baking Sheet
  • Not only for pizza, but great for catching drips from roasts and things so your oven doesn’t become a complete mess.
• Cork Screw
  • You don’t have one of these already?
• Can Opener
  • Self-explanatory.
• Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
  • Grab at least two different sized ones – get the nesting ones for better storage.
• Oven Mitts
  • Because you’ve seen all the places that dishtowel hanging on the oven door has been.

Pro-Tip: Find some engaged friends who have been living together. They’ll undoubtedly be getting new kitchen staples as wedding gifts and be looking to clear out the old.

The post Bachelor Kitchen Essentials appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

If you don’t know what CMJ is you aren’t alone. I lived in NYC for two years before I first learned of the 34-year-old marathon last year. Two main factors contribute to CMJ’s lack of notoriety: venue and artists. While other large music gatherings have one central location CMJ occurs at over 80 venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn and the artists, over 1,300, are all emerging artists. While those numbers are intimidating the five-day event is actually surprisingly easy to navigate.

When the schedule was first released about a week or two in advance CMJ also released an app that turned out to be a lifesaver. Every artist had a bio page with relevant info and links to their social media including SoundCloud that would launch within the app to allow you to get a feel for the act. However, with thousands of artists it was still a bit daunting, but the map within the app became the flagship feature. Allowing it to use your current location it would show all the venues hosting shows near you and clicking a venue would then provide the schedule and same links to the artist’s bio page.

CMJ kicked off on Tuesday October 21, but needing one more night of rest before taking on the marathon my experiences didn’t begin until the next evening. I found myself in some bars near NYU (thanks to the app) enjoying numerous nondescript bands before heading Lower East Side of Manhattan to meet up with a friend who works at a music agency to catch Ryn Weaver, who he was interested in seeing. I didn’t know her name before entering Bowery Ballroom, but she’s now certainly not one I’ll forget anytime soon.

The next evening was all about supporting my Texas roots and checking out a Texas music showcase. Not country, though country is certainly a part of the Texas music scene, Texas music is very diverse from Houston rap to all things Austin (“the live music capital of the U.S.) And it was Austin based East Cameron Folkcore that really stole the show. An eight person band that, once I could get passed the logistics of forming an eight person band, blew me away with their use of guitars, trombones, drums, sax, harmonica and even cello to create a bolstering sound reminiscent of early Kings of Leon. Following their set at The Delancey a move was made to nearby Pianos to catch an Australian electronic music duo. Not knowing much about electronic music or even the equipment they were using they impressed with an interesting live show and chilling vocals.

Friday night was a break from the marathon; a man’s got to see his kids. Kidding, I had other drinking to tend to. Saturday was an all day event of catching varying acts around the Lower East Side before shutting down the festival late that evening at Fat Baby awkwardly jamming out with two friends an on empty dance floor to an all female rock band.

Fittingly, when I left that show I realized I had lost my badge. I took this to mean one of two things: I should, in fact, never dance or that the festival was over. Either way it was time to go home for some much needed rest. Until next year, CMJ.

The post 2014 CMJ Music Marathon appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

In a candlelit basement of a bar two Alabama based mixologists were mixing up various cocktails with the whiskey of the hour. The first of which I consumed was, “The Rickwood Classic.” What’s in it you ask? I couldn’t tell you at the time, couldn’t tell you as the night progressed and certainly couldn’t tell you now, but it involved a flaming orange peel and was delicious. Cocktail in hand the evening now became about meeting new people and fortunately enough the first person I spoke with was the chairman of Clyde Mays, James, who was able to tell me all about the brand’s storied history…

Clyde May was a moonshiner, not bootlegger, and James was quick to note the distinction: moonshiners made the liquor, bootleggers smuggled it. Some 70 years ago Clyde set up his first still in the hills of Alabama where he produced small batch whiskey and I say first because Johnny Law caught up with him, yet upon his release he was right back to making whiskey illegally. Because Clyde was making a strong moonshine he would add apples and spices to the batch to make the liquor less harsh, it was this which made it “Alabama Style.” When Clyde passed his son began producing the recipe, legally, and this led the brand to where it is today.

…I’d meet up again with James later as the night went on, but he had rounds to make and I had a refill to get. Though he left me with one last parting fact, “It won’t give you a hangover,” I politely laughed and accepted his challenge and hit the bar. This time I ordered on the rocks and now knowing to look for the notes of apple and cinnamon I was blown away by the taste. The apple smell is quite strong on the nose, but doesn’t transfer to the tongue and instead just gives the whiskey smoothness like I’ve never experienced before.

I was joined by Jay who is Clyde May’s VP of Sales and Marketing and in our discussion of the smoothness Macallan was brought up and how Jay used to work with them. I mentioned a tasting I once attended in Dallas maybe 4-5 years ago and suddenly it hit me. I knew Jay. He had come to our man book club meeting at a friend’s house and hosted a Macallan tasting for the whole club. To my surprise Jay said he remembered us as well and even went so far as to say it was one of his favorite tastings (it certainly was for us). We continued chatting, but he too had rounds to make so I retreated to the bar to continue my research.

I said my goodbyes to James and Jay late in the night and proceeded home having been brought together over a glass of Clyde May’s with a new friend, an old friend and a new favorite whiskey to continue making friends over… And no hangover.

The post Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Bratwurst & Kielbasa in a Knob Creek Rye Jalapeño Beer Broth

Ingredients
12 Bratwurst
2 Jalapeños Split
1 Red Onion Halved
2 Cloves of Garlic
1 Bay Leaf
2 Tablespoons of Your Favorite White Ale
8 oz. Knob Creek® Rye

Preparation
1. Bring jalapeños, red onion, garlic, bay leaves white ale and Knob Creek® Rye to a boil in a large sauce pot
2. Remove broth from heat and add Bratwurst
3. Leave Bratwurst in liquid for from 15 minutes to one hour
4. Remove bratwurst and char on grill

…And that’s it. Eat, drink, and do both at the same time thanks to Chef Michael Symon’s Bratwurst & Kielbasa in a Knob Creek Rye Jalapeño Beer Broth.

The post Tailgate Time! appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

When I first got the projector I was in the market for something that performed outside, as well as in, which meant I needed a built in speaker and higher lumens and with 3000 lumens there was no issue with the picture quality. I wish I could say the same about the built in speaker which needed to be maxed out to be able to hear, but unfortunately at that level the audio tended to crack. That being said, the built in speaker is the only issue I had with the projector and one that can be fixed by simply wiring or Bluetooth connecting your audio to an external speaker.

In connecting to a visual source you have the usual component, USB, computer and HDMI options. I exclusively used the latter option to get the best resolution and run the audio from the same cord. Switching between my PS3 and computer for entertainment I took full advantage of the 720p HD display for movies, TV and some Grand Theft Auto V on a “screen” the size of my bedroom wall or rather, it was my bedroom wall.

While everything on this projector is very straightforward and no fuss, which I love about it, there is also the added 3D element. Which is very cool if that’s something your into, but the lack of 3D film selection, having to wear glasses and dizzy feeling it gives me this component is unessential for me. However, even throwing that feature by the wayside the ease of use, inside or out, and quality of the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema is more than enough to justify the $800 price tag which will give you the freedom to turn just about any surface area into a theater.

The post Epson PowerLite Home Cinema appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

I’d heard the new Slingbox M1 was essentially plug and play and I was hesitant about this since the original was a nightmare to hook up, but I trusted it. Anything that allows for me to watch TV easier is a friend to me and you trust your friends. Confident I’d be able to hook it up no problem, I sent it to my 61 year old mother to take a crack at it.

• Numerous FaceTime calls occur to no avail. I’m now tasked with attempting to walk her through checking her FaceTime settings. We determine her phone is not up to date.

• We opt to do this over voice. I’m not thrilled.

• Installation takes hardly anytime and most of the delay comes as a result of us arguing colors and numbers. Correct, the most challenging part revolved around counting cords (composites are one with three ends, but to her are three cords) and colors (white audio appeared gray to her).

• And that was the installation. Match up the colors of the audio visual cords from the cable box to Slingbox to TV and power on.

What differs drastically from the Sling back in the day is this new model has a built in IR blaster to change the channel and WiFi. These two things used to be strictly external and while they still are an external option the internal setup worked flawlessly.

The rest of the setup occurs through your computer on the same network. A little info from your cable box hooked up to it and about your wireless network and you’re good to go. From the PC I noticed very little lag with the connection while watching which wasn’t the case from the iPad app. The iPad seemed to have more instances of buffering occur via the app, but not even remotely close enough to turn you off to the idea that you’re now watching your TV from anywhere with no monthly cost. What the app does do better is allow you to scroll through the guide more easily with the touch screen than having to use a computer mouse. In fact I found myself tapping my computer screen on one occasion going back and forth.

The app for your mobile devices will set you back $15 a device, but I think well worth it when you’re unwittingly spending who knows what on your Kim K. Superstar addiction since this app is one that serves an actual purpose. If you don’t feel like spending the $15 it’s free on your computer, but if you’re like me you opt for the iPad when traveling so you don’t have to take it out for TSA. That’s all the additional cost you will have, the rest is in a one time fee of $150 for the Slingbox M1. A cost which is well worth it for the ease of installation and the ability to take your TV anywhere.

The post A Simpler Slingbox appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Let’s talk size because, well, size matters. My style is somewhere between a Paul Shaffer and an Olson twin (reader’s choice as to which). The Dropout shades are the perfect size for my very average face and resemble another very popular brand and style at the moment, a brand I will ban myself from saying.

While having the right size is more of a need than a want the Dropout comes in a variety of different colors covering your desire to want something unique to fit your personality. Furthermore, each frame comes with an extra set of arms in a different color that are easily popped on and off to change the look of your glasses. Arnette has plans to eventually allow you to be able to buy any color arms you want in order to customize your glasses to your unique style, but until then the vast color options are more than sufficient.

The post Arnette Dropout Sunglasses appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

For starters, simply put, it’s a great looking car. It’s a coupe so it has that sort of bubbly cockpit we’ve come to expect from them, but it doesn’t forget that it has evolved from a long line of well, long Cadillacs. You know, those Caddys of our grandfathers that appeared to be half a city block long. Well, the ATS isn’t nearly that long but the line from the front wheel back and the solid silver line above the windows invoke length reminiscent of the car’s older relatives.

The luxury that has become synonymous with Cadillac through the years is evident on the inside wear wood is real wood, leather real leather, and carbon fiber, you guessed it, real carbon fiber. In fact, the combination of materials in the interior is as near perfect as possible and certainly allows for the ATS Coupe to hold its own against the seasoned vets in this category: Mercedes, BMW and Audi. The only place where the ATS Coupe falters on the inside is in the ease of use of the entertainment console. Granted this is something you inevitably get used to, but off the bat working the touch screen to control the navigation and radio was nowhere near as easy as some of the cars competitors. Additionally, the touch system used for the climate control takes some getting used to verse traditional buttons and I found myself often hitting things I didn’t mean to.

Available in two engines, a 2.0L turbo and a 3.6L V-6, I was fortunate to drive both, the 2-litre in the AWD and the 3.6-litre in the rear wheel drive. While I found the driving experience to be quite similar I did prefer the 3.6 for its acceleration on the highway. The 20 lb.-ft more of torque gave the 2.0 nice acceleration but the 49 less horsepower made it a bit sluggish hitting the gas at speed. Considering I do more accelerating to pass on the road than I do gunning it from a dead stop this is something of importance to me. Handling and braking between the two were nearly identical and spectacular, in part due to the standard Brembo brakes, but also because Cadillac just has it dialed in.

As I still struggle to see Cadillac as a young persons car the way that I do others in the same class as the ATS Coupe, the engineers have done their job in creating a coupe to compete in this segment. It’s now in the hands of the marketing department to see if they can sway public perception in their favor and away from past stereotypes.

The post 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Guest were first treated to an open air “market” were they could snack on a selection of meats, cheeses, breads, and of course Stella Artois. Afterwords all were seated together for a three course dinner of dishes inspired by Teigen, LeeKong and Nicoletti, who were all present. An engraved cheeseboard at each place setting provided the guests with a unique keepsake as well as presented them with the menu consisting of an Heirloom Tomato Galette, Steak Frites and Belgian Apple Pastry. Naturally, each course was paired with Stella Artois with the exception of the third course which was accompanied by the brands Cidre.

A stringed trio provided beautiful music through the night and, unknowingly to them, spawned one of the greatest lines of the evening as Teigen effortlessly dropped a Titanic reference, “Gentleman, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight,” as we talked about the music. As the music wound down so did the crowd departing with full stomachs and full hearts, the result of great food/drinks and great company on a Belgian National Day that won’t soon be forgotten.

Photography by Rob Kim/Getty Images.

The post Stella Artois: “The Butcher, the Baker, the Belgian Beer Maker” appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

My initial thought on them was simple: liberating. The feeling of being able to turn 180 degrees at your desk without the headphone cord snapping your headphones back is amazing. Although, I admit, I do feel like I’m having phantom pains as reminders of this feeling as I’m still getting used to the freedom that Bluetooth has provided for me. The wireless freedom is easily achieved by pairing with your Bluetooth device or NFC compatible one. Unfortunately, the latter was not an option for me, but Bluetooth pairing was painless. And if your new found freedom is overwhelming or you need to wire in on a plane to catch the movie a cord is provided for hard-wiring along with a USB cord for charging the headphones.

On the right ear you have easy access to volume, pause/play, next/last track and phone. And when I say easy I mean it as I accidentally placed a couple phone calls easily by initially mistaking the phone button for the power button which is located in the same location on the opposite ear. Ultimately, however, you will be buying these for their performance more than their ease of use or freedom they provide. Luckily they perform excellently.

The cushioning not only provides incredible comfort, but keeps outside noise to a minimum. While on the inside you get an even tone with no one element overpowering. Perhaps most impressive about the sound delivered is the near perfect level of bass, not too little and not overpowering. Something I’ve found to be bit problematic in many of the various types of headphones I’ve tested.

While I’m still not sold on over the ear headphones on the go (too big and hot for me) or at home (get a home system) the Sony MDR-1RBT are an ideal pair for the office. Or on the go or home if you’re not as picky as I am.

The post Sony MDR-1RBT Headphones appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Toniiq consists of three pills, two before bed and one in the morning, and that’s it. In fact, the hardest part about the treatment is drunkenly trying to remember to take the pills before you pass out, but when you do the results are dramatic. On the occasions I took Toniiq I was significantly better off than I felt I should have been and better than the times I didn’t take the treatment during that same week.

Aimed at eradicating the cause of hangovers rather than the symptoms Toniiq is made up of Lingzhi. There is way more science to Lingzhi and what it does for the body than I understand, but in short it’s an herb that’s great for the liver. And as we all know the liver is alcohols punching bag. So by helping the liver along with Lingzhi, Toniiq is able to aid in liver enhancement, detox and regeneration. This in turn results in a greatly better, to no, hangover.

The post Toniiq: Ultra Premium Hangover Prevention appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Most know Bret Easton Ellis by name and for those who don’t they’re certainly familiar with American Psycho, albeit most likely through the film adaptation. I’m admittingly in that camp as I’ve yet to read a Bret Easton Ellis novel and instead opting for the film adaptations, as was the case with Less Than Zero.

Vaguely familiar with the plot as the story has been floating around nearly three decades now I had a general understanding of what I was in for: money, sex and drugs. Though I wasn’t wrong I was very impressed with the emotion that coursed throughout the film. Robert Downey Jr. undoubtedly drew inspiration from his own life to bring rawness to his character, Julian, a trust fund kid turned junkie. Opposite Julian is his lifelong friend, Clay, who chose college and clean living after high school only to return at Christmas to find Julian in disarray. Additionally, there is Blair who adds fuel to the fire by being a love interest to both men.

The story unfolds in a manner that isn’t particularly original at first glance with all the common themes of a coming of age story. That being said, when you recall that the book was written in 1985 and the movie made in ’87 you have to think that it was at the foreground of this type of coming of age story telling. While the themes of finding one’s self post high school, drug abuse and friendship still hold true today the 80’s synth music and overall style of the film do not. And while it might be dated it is in such a delightfully vintage 80’s way that you can’t help, but be excited when you see an answering machine with a cassette tape or ridiculous clothing or really anytime 80’s superstars Downey Jr., James Spader or Andrew McCarthy, of Weekend at Bernie’s fame, are onscreen.

By the end of the story you’re invested in the characters and want all to be okay, but you’ve also come up with the few possible ways it could end and although predictable, it works. The pacing of the film is what I believe makes the end work so well. Think of a pitcher throwing 100mph down the center every single time and then for the final strike he goes down the center, but slows it down significantly. That’s the end of the film. You have an idea what’s coming, but the timing of it makes it beautiful.

The post From The Depths Of Netflix: Less Than Zero appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Having spent 15 hours in the car equating to about 800 miles I became very familiar with the interior and it is second to none. I’m not talking driving comfort, although that was phenomenal, but rather the in car technology and its ease of use. The most prominent of the in car tech is the Audi MMI Navigation system which is by far the most user friendly system I’ve experienced. From a hardware standpoint the system uses a center-mounted knob along with a series of buttons located just below the transmission. Together the knob and buttons interact with the onscreen prompts to access the various categories: radio, car, navigation and so on. The navigation software is Google Earth 3D which thanks to the MMI connection provides you with real time traffic, POI at each exit along, and the speed limit. All of which were indispensable tools as I navigated unfamiliar roads.

The car also features technological standouts when it comes to safety, particularly Audi side assist. Adaptive cruise control is also present, but I rarely took advantage of the cruise given the ever crowded California highways, but re-enter the side assist. Usually I’m not a fan of blind spot assistance or adaptive braking, I like to just drive on my own, but the side assist was a life saver. Not literally, breathe easy Audi, but figuratively as you inevitably find yourself in stop and go traffic it’s one small feature that has a huge impact.

On acceleration the S5’s six-cylinder 323hp/325lb-ft engine would occasionally seem sluggish before finally kicking in, a trait which was even further exacerbated while the top was down. However, it’s not a dragster and accelerated perfectly at speed in order to pass or take advantage of a non-windy part of the route. On those windy roads the drive settings came in handy as I was able to adjust from comfort to dynamic by the push of a button. The greatest advantage this gave was tightening up the steering wheel on the sharp maneuvers.

Aesthetically speaking I have nothing more to say than, I just love it. The dark blue with the black top, smooth curves rather than harsh angles, Xenon plus LED headlights that come across as more eyes to the car than headlights.

At the end of the week it was hard to let it go. The styling, drivability, interior, and price point have made not only the S5 Cabriolet an excellent choice, but Audi as a manufacturer one that you can’t go wrong with.

The post 2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Day 7 & 8

There has been a bit of delay in getting this final instalment of MANifest Destiny up, but you try and be productive after a week off in California.

From San Jose we bypassed San Francisco to the east and arrived in Napa around lunchtime for some wine tasting. Having not planned ahead in the slightest, WE’RE MEN, we ended up at The Hess Collection. It was a beautiful place up some windy tree lined roads. Definitely not a Parent Trap style vineyard, but not too far from what I was imagining. We had a flight of wines and explored the grounds before it was off to the city by the bay for our final two nights.

Not knowing much about San Francisco I booked a hotel near the wharf. I figured it to be touristy, which it was, but also fairly easy to get around from. It was and we found a nice little sushi place walking distance to grab dinner and sake and a beer and you can imagine where this is going.

I couldn’t tell you the part of town we were dropped off in because my friend was navigating and I can’t look it up because I don’t remember a lot of the night and all the bar stamps have since washed off. It was, however, a very fun area with bar lined streets and a very youthful crowd. Honestly, the extent of what I remember. I’m not proud, but I’m not ashamed either since it was a great night. The next day I was awoken around noon to my friend ordering pizza and realized the night before was more aggressive than I thought at the time. So much so we didn’t leave the room all day or all night because he was tired and I physically couldn’t.

We didn’t leave the hotel again until it was time to hit the airport. Like that MANifest Destiny came to an end and as I laid flat enjoying my upgrade and a glass of wine I was incredibly thankful I wasn’t having to make this journey by wagon.

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Day 6

Carmel to San Jose provided us with the shortest segment of the drive which was greatly welcomed as the previous day’s six hours still weighed heavy on us. After a short nap when we got to the hotel we were ready to explore San Jose.

Staying close to San Jose State University I was excited to check out the campus that supplied so many of “The Price is Right” contestants I watched as a child. It was a beautiful campus that had that distinct university smell which made long to back in school and that feeling made me want to drink.

Posting up at one of the better sports bars I’ve been to in terms of TV’s it was time to catchup on the NBA and NHL playoffs I’d fallen behind on. It was an odd sensation watching games at 6pm that were already nearing the end on the east coast, a sensation I could never get used to. Honestly, it has to be so frustrating catching live shows often on tape delays or sports incredibly early in the day.

After a few bars we found ourselves buying some ice cream sandwiches and stumbling back toward the hotel where we’d be waking up soon to head to Napa.

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According to Mollyjogger, “Scrimshaw is an early American art form originating from the whaling industry in the late 1700’s. During the many idle hours at sea, a whaler etched drawings of nautical themes on items that were readily available to him such as sperm whale teeth and bones. His primary etching instrument was a sail needle, nail or pocket knife. After he scratched his art work into the surface of the bone, he would rub lamp black or tobacco juice into the scratch to reveal the drawing.”

Wanting to keep inline with the nautical heritage of the Scrimshaw knife I opted to honor my love of F. Scott Fitzgerald by carving the title of one of his short stories, “The Offshore Pirate,” into the handle of my knife. The first step in making this happen is to apply your text or image to the knife using carbon paper and the bamboo tool, of course you can freehand as well if you’re confident enough.

With the text or image on the handle you then have to trace over it with the Scrim Scribe. This process is difficult as you’re not immediately sure how deep to cut into the handle, it also really hurt my hand. Since I chose to trace I only had one shot since there was no way I was going to be able to realign the words properly to give the tracing another shot. The pattern successfully etched into the knife it was then time to apply the ink with the q-tips. I did this numerous times but each time I ended up removing all traces of ink as I was attempted to clean up the excess; I could not figure out how to prevent that from happening. This was my unsuccessful attempt…

I haven’t yet attempted the other side of the knife because I’m not finished trouble shooting what went wrong with this side, other an a lot. However, despite my failure thus far I still absolutely love this kit and for under $50 would recommend it for yourself or as a gift for anyone who likes to get hands-on. Just have patience because the process is a bit tedious and you maybe bad at it too, but remember: just because you give someone a football and tell him how to throw it doesn’t mean they’ll be good at it.

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