The Princes of Hollywood Recommend

The PofH do a lot of things. For example, we travel. We play. We like. These are some of the things we like...

(Disclaimer – Although each of the items on this list is heartily recommended, it should be made clear that these are, first of all, not paid endorsements. The Princes of Hollywood Recommends is sponsored by no corporation (except Tristan's endorsement with John Pearse Strings. Tee-hee.), and the items on it are the fruits of ongoing research in commerce and in life to find products and behaviors that may aid in becoming a more effective and more fulfilled (possibly even cooler) member of society. Additionally, it should not be assumed that the retail products named are necessarily the best for any one reader. It is the intention that a consumer will merely consider these recommendations in shopping, as perhaps they offer qualities not previously compared among similar products. – All content of The P of H Recommends ©2007-2008 The Princes of Hollywood, unless otherwise noted.)

Eats

The Cook-Out Restaurant – I have never found fast food of this quality and style outside the handful of drive throughs apparently emanating from Greensboro, NC. If you are ever traveling the Old North State, I implore you to forget McDonalds, and stop at The Cook-Out. (No website available at time of publication.) HD

The Hilltop Steakhouse and Butcher Shop -- Saugus and Braintree, Massachusetts. Easily the best commercial signs in New England. I love the Northeast anyway, but here's a place with enough Westering Spirit in it to keep me going during some long winters in the "civilized" world. The butcher shops' refrigeration rooms are among my "Happiest Places on Earth." (Not [necessarily] recommended for vegetarians.) HD

Burrito Union -- Duluth, Minnesota. A vaguely perplexing establishment, this is one of the many small wonders on our "Trek to Siberia" touring route. Tasty burritos, stylish decor, cool (local) beer selection, and excellent service. Ask anyone in Duluth for directions. We did it for breakfast, and it saved our day.

Redbones -- Boston Bar-B-Q and brews! Bitchin'!

Puka Dog -- The finest hot dogs on the planet, found in a little strip mall stand on the island of Kauai. "Puka" means hole in Hawaiian. TK

Brix 25 -- Tacoma, WA -- The Princes of Hollywood's official chef, Dan "Danforth Hutchinstuff" Hutchinson, runs this fine little establishment with one of the best wine lists in the state of Washington, featuring only regional wines. The food kicks ass, too. And we should know. TK

tommy’s Restaurant – Really superb—delicious and nutrition-minded—(post-)modern diner food in Cleveland Heights, Tommy’s offers many vegetarian specialty dishes and possibly the best turkey sandwich I’ve ever had. HD

Smokin Bar-B-Que – You probably haven’t spent much time in Dayton, Ohio, and that’s okay. But, if you ever find yourself driving I-70 from Baltimore to Cove Fort, Utah, on the way, Smokin Bar-B-Que is easily the Princes’ favorite thing about Dayton. (It’s a fast-and-ready BBQ stand open until 4:00 AM on weekends. Last time we played D-town, I ate at Smokin twice in one night.) HD

Hot Sauce - Capsaicin, the chemical that causes the "burn" from chilis "has been associated with many cures that include lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and warding off strokes and heart attacks, speeding up metabolism, treating colds and fevers, preventing cancer and pain control." Spicy food is good. That's just the way it is. Currently, my favorite general use condiment is Melinda's XXXXtra Reserve Habanero sauce, since, sadly the Desert Pepper Trading Co. has discontinued their XXX sauce. But I recommend buying a bottle of store brand "Louisiana" hot sauce for less than a dollar (you know, like Tobasco or Texas Pete or Frank's RedHot, only cheaper), and basically replacing table salt with this. Also, I have entirely replaced ketchup in my diet with Mrs. Renfro's Habanero Hot Salsa. Go ahead. Live a little. HD

Lodging

Camelita Cottages – Hosteling International at Santa Cruz. Cheap, friendly, immaculate, picturesque, at the beach: This “hostel” is everything you want your budget vacation hotel to be. Mind their three main rules--11:00 PM curfew; no alcohol on the grounds; and no outside linens—and have a wonderful stay in Santa Cruz. HD

Deadwood -- Best show on TV. Ever. TK

Mustache Contest -- Yep. TK

Brick – The best American film of 2006. Apparently not for all tastes (only good ones, it would seem), the debut from writer/director Rian Johnson sets high school outsider Joseph Gordon-Levitt on a private inquest concerning the death of his ex-girlfriend in a simultaneously sly and gripping modern day noir. The wickedly stylized dialogue is a barrage of oblique metaphors traded with old-school detective movie coolness and perforated by similarly Chandler-esque bouts of hard-boiled, close-quarters violence, but the veneer of mood-perfect music and thoroughly modern cinematography create a work that is at once reverent of the tradition of Huston and Dassin and also fascinatingly original. ( http://imdb.com/title/tt0393109/ ) HD

Deadwood – It bears repeating. Really, Deadwood is a triumph of art and entertainment from a network that has a proud heritage of fully exploring the dramatic potential of the television medium. (The news of its cancellation came as a blow to us all.) To quote Barry from High Fidelity, as seems to pretty accurately describe all good cinema: “It’s so funny and violent, and the soundtrack kicks f&*%ing a@%.” (www.hbo.com/deadwood) HD

Bill Bryson -- My favorite non-fiction writer. Read "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and allow your mind to be blown. TK

McSweeney's -- Literature for hip people. Like beat poets with a better sense of humor. TK

Ukuleles -- Make somebody's day: play a ukulele.

Refinements

Proraso Shave Cream – “No. 1 in Italian barber shops.”

Lump Hardwood Charcoal - (for instance, Cowboy) Try real fire from real wood. Coupled with a chimney charcoal starter (which is also arguably safer and cheaper than lighter fluid), you'll be ready to grill in mere minutes. HD

www.bbc.co.uk/languages - Free, online introductory language courses from the British Broadcasting Corporation. Check it out. I’ve been working through the German lessons from my desk here at PofH HQ. HD

Buying Local -- First, in your hometown, why not support businesses that pay their taxes in your municipality, not to mention spend their revenue there? It makes good economic sense, nevermind the relationships you'll build in your community. Second, The PofH travel a lot. And we've never said anything like, "Man, that Wendy's in Lynchburg was awesome! I'm so glad we tried that in stead of something independent we can't get anywhere else!" On the contrary. Check out the local stuff: restaurants, coffee shops, specialty stores, microbrews, etc. There's a lot of cool stuff, everywhere you go. If you really want Applebee's, Borders, Gap, and Bud Light, why not just stay home? But, please, don't take my word for it... HD

John Pearse Strings -- Tristan's favorite strings; he's also an endorsee TK

The Custom Cowboy Shop -- Cody, WY -- where I buy my hats. Very cool. TK

Leavitt and Pierce -- The finest tobacconist in Boston.

The Syracuse Orangemen -- My hometown boys. The best NCAA sports. TK

Coffee

A short list of Coffee houses that get Tristan's stamp of approval.  For more indepth discussing of the best palaces of percolation please visit Tristan's Coffee Blog (coming soon).

Cafe Vivace -- Seattle, WA -- Where it all started.  This first real cup of coffee I ever had, as an impressionable post-pubescent, and as it turns out, still one of the best.  I've been back evertime I'm in the Northewest, and it never fails to floor me.  The founder, David Schomer, literally wrote the book on post-modern coffee stewardship and baristism.  Simply one of the best coffee shops in the world.

Caffe Vita -- Seattle, WA

Stumptown -- Portland, OR

Caffe Trieste -- San Francisco, CA 

EVP Coffee -- Madison, WI --

Bonjo Java -- Nashville, TN --

Donkey Coffee -- Athens, OH

Intelligensia -- Chicago, IL 

Santa Cruz Roasting Company -- Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Barbara Roasting Company -- Santa Barbara, CA 

Customer Relations

Some entities of enterprise value the service and satisfaction of their clienteles. Some do not. Below are a few of these companies with which we've come into contact, for better or for worse, and have felt they made an effort to respond in a timely, effective and human way to the needs of the private individuals who come to them for service or for products. Or not.