Staff Picks: February 16th

Welcome to InsideHook’s Staff Picks, a compendium of all the wonderful things our editors are digging on this week.

DeskSpace
Tired of thinking about the myriad and sundry ills of planet earth? Get your mind off things with this uber-tasteful desk accessory, a very much not-to-scale solar system cast from nine different precious stones and minerals: Mars is mahogany obsidian, Saturn calcite, Uranus amazonite, etc. Right now it’s $89 on Indiegogo (31% off full price), so don’t dilly dally. — Walker Loetscher, Editor in Chief

Levi’s WellThread Trucker
I ate lunch outside today and spent a good chunk of my meal deciding if I was cold or not. The weather app was brazenly claiming 60, but I’d put my money on a brisk 52 or 53. One thing I was certain of: it’s time to upgrade my transitional wardrobe. My outerwear options were limited the last time this was an issue (late October), so I’ve been meaning to pick something up that’s an ideal blend of lightweight and durable. Outerknown’s collabs with Levi’s are absolutely spot-on on looks and sustainability, and this denim trucker jacket is poised to bring (just enough) heat. — Tanner Garrity, Associate Editor

Abus Ultra 410 Mini LS U Lock – 7inch U-Lock
I used to be a Kryptonite lock fan. Despite hearing of their occasional failure, they always stood up for me in a bike-friendly college town with a meth problem (#GoDucks). But thieves are tenacious, and after my broken beater was cut from a Brooklyn street literally within two weeks of moving there, the bike shop folks mentioned that savvy thieves exploit Krypto’s single curve-lock, which can be pried open. Abus goes with a double curve, and I’m 10 months in sans incident. You tell me. — Athena Wisotsky, Senior Editor

Twillory Performance Fabric
I dig Twillory for their affordable, proper-fit button-ups (some are non-iron, too). But our office is 6,000 degrees — and there’s nothing worse than coming to work looking nice and leaving feeling sweaty and constricted. Solution: Twillory’s new performance fabric line, which melds the comfort of a T-shirt with some good-looking plaid, check and white dress shirts. Featuring four-way stretch plus moisture-wicking, cooling and wrinkle-resistant tech, I might just continue dressing as a grown-up. — Kirk Miller, Managing Editor

Ten C Tempest Anorak Parka
Here’s a jaunty outerwear choice from Ten C, a parka that takes inspiration from pullover smocks worn by the U.S. Army in the 1950s. So it’s got that going for it. But it’s the oversized boxy pockets that do it for me. Overall, a solid lightweight jacket to help transition into spring. — Michael Nolledo, Deputy Editor/Chicago Editor

In-Field Track Pants
Activewear brands once solely focused on women are realizing that men also want workout gear they can be caught outside the gym in. The latest: Australia’s P.E Nation. Go for these track pants for an intro to the brand. The elastic waist and tapered leg are made to move, and the black design with blood-orange accents is an improvement on your grey duds. — Alex Lauer, Associate Editor

THE BEST THING WE DRANK THIS WEEK

Minibar Delivery and Casa Noble teamed up to do a margarita kit for National Margarita Day (Feb. 22nd, feel free to send us a gift!). We traveled to Mexico in 2016 to figure out the secret behind Casa Noble’s Alta Belleza $1,200 tequila … thankfully, the recipe below just calls for the brand’s regularly priced (but still awesome) Blanco. You can get the kit if you live in NYC, where you can order a kit starting at 11 a.m. for $40. Otherwise … not that hard, make one yourself!

The Noble-Rita

2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Tequila
1 oz agave nectar
1 oz lime juice
Lime wedge

Place ingredients, except lime wedge, into shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into glass (salt rim optional). Garnish with lime wedge.

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