Downtown Dandies

BB and Matt Fox

I have been so busy at work I have not had a chance to report on my outing from Sunday night.

I was invited to a Dandy event, dear reader. I was rubbing elbows with dandies.

I commented previously about The New York Times piece about bloggers who start blogs and then nothing happens, and how far off base that account seemed to me. Because in fact I have made several friends through my blog who I am in touch with regularly. And one I have met in the flesh: Matt Fox from Fine and Dandy.

Matt and I became friends through our blogs, and then friends on Facebook where I perused photos of he and his partner Enrique. When TD and I were visiting the Fort Green flea, I recognized Matt from Facebook and said hello! Matt and Enrique have a blog and an online store where they sell accessories for dapper guys. On Sunday night they had a launch party for their site. Dress attire: Dandy.

I wore khaki shorts, a bow tie and loafers. Because when you wear khaki shorts, a bow tie and loafers, you are automatically in dandy territory. TD was home sick so off I ventured, solo. The event has held at 5 Ninth, a swanky restaurant in the Meatpacking District.

The party was supposed to be in the garden but it was raining (what else is new) so I climbed up to the third floor. Cool restaurant -- exposed brick walls, wood floors, a bar at the top.

When I got up there I immediately met Matt and Enrique. They had a raffle drawing and I won a beautiful striped silk tie. Matt told me he works for a company that manages Broadway theaters, and that he and Enrique run their online store out of their Hell's Kitchen apartment at night. They got the idea last summer and attended trade shows where they stocked up on cuff lines, ties, scarves and pocket squares.

Matt is originally from Cortland, New York, near Utica, where I grew up. I really liked his big eyeglasses. "I got them in the Lost and Found at the theater," said Matt, "But I waited a good long time to claim them."

I had a glass of white wine and met some other fellows and then was on my way with a little gift bag and my tie. The rain had stopped. It was a fun outing, thanks to the blogosphere.