At least in my life, Men’s Journal magazine is the arbiter of all things cool and manly. It has been thus, ever since the death of Marion Morrison (the real name of John Wayne). In between stories on exploration of the Amazon and climbing Everest, MJ tells us what to wear, what to buy and where to live.
You probably didn’t know, since you don’t read MJ each month (I have no life), but Portland’s Munjoy Hill is one of “the coolest neighborhoods in America.”
All right, the June issue picked San Francisco as No. 1 neighborhood, but they did give Portland honorable mention, at least.
“Without the tourist traffic (or kitsch) of the Old Port, and away from the mansions in the West End, Munjoy Hill stands out in Maine’s biggest city. Resting on its perch overlooking the city and Casco Bay, it is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the state. It’s also gone from blue-collar to green scene with an explosion of locally owned restaurants and shops.”
You probably don’t know (or care) but the area was named after George Munjoy, a 17th century settler who survived Maine winters without a stool at Gritty’s.
MJ didn’t forget the Lime City, otherwise known as Rockland.
In an article on proposed father-son trips, MJ suggests a sailing trip aboard John Foss’ American Eagle schooner.
“Each morning you come on deck, have a coffee and guess what the weather’s going to be,” Foss says of the rigorous itinerary of his historic schooner. “Then we decide where to go.” Depending on the day, that could mean looking for whales, visiting remote islands or simply letting the wind whip the 1930 national landmark schooner along the waters of Penobscot Bay.
Besides bringing along rubber-soled shoes, sweater and rain gear, Capt. Foss recommends bringing a copy of “Islands in Time,” by Philip Conkling. “It’s an excellent overview of the Maine coast,” Foss said.
Except when Foss throws a lobster bake on the beach, all meals (think halibut and fresh bread) are made right on board. The six nights with Foss and his schooner will cost $885, in case you wondered.
MJ chose Canada’s remote Bloodvein River as its summer canoeing recommendation, probably for the scary name. It’s 370 miles north of Thunder Bay, wherever that is, and accessible only by floatplane or canoe. If you cannot get that far north to face the “infamous butterfly-sized mosquitoes,” MJ offers the dam release on May 30, June 6 and 13, on Maine’s Dead River (almost as scary) at The Forks. If you are looking for a rush, contact Northernoutdoors.com and put $69 in your piggy bank.
In another bow to New England and the often fabulous (not this year) Boston Celtics, (white) columnist Matt Taibbi expresses his “racial shame” and bemoans the lack of a suitable (white) replacement for Boston hero Larry Bird.
There are as many white NBA players coming from Europe as American colleges, he said.
“But for all these players there’s no Larry Bird to offset the agony white people feel when they see LeBron James power-dunking on the carrot head of goofy figure-of-fun Brian Scalabrine. There are some pains that just can’t be hoped away.”
Taibbi presents two rules for the upcoming NBA draft.
1. There is no “next Larry Bird.”
2. Go back to Rule 1.
Not bad for one issue.