Project Cubbins: Hat 250 - A Serving of Porkpie Takes Me "Hatfway" to 500 Edition

Day 250 / Hat 250: Black fur felt porkpie hat with "Bailey of Hollywood, Est. 1922" with 1 3/8-inch snap brim,  embroidered in white on crown of black silk-like fabric lining. Additional detail includes black grosgrain ribbon hatband with bow detail and small feather tucked into bow (which is on wearer's right side). Attached hangtag identifies it as style 6104.

What makes it a porkpie (also spelled as two words "pork pie") is the distinctive shape and crease of the crown. Perhaps it actually does resemble the delicious-sounding pork-and-pastry foodstuff it's named after but I've never laid eyes on (much less consumed) a pork pie.

Despite the name, the hats aren't actually made in Hollywood, a second attached hangtag says "Bailey Fur Felts are made in our Pennsylvania factory from premium European beaver and rabbit fur felt hoods."

A distinctive lid for a distinctive guy, famous on-screen sporters of same include Walter White's "Heisenberg" alter ego in "Breaking Bad," Art Carney's Ed Norton character in "The Honeymooners," Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection," and, of course Buster Keaton whose frequent wearing of porkpies (which he apparently made himself by converting fedoras and other hats)  was responsible for a surge in popularity back in the 1920s.

And, with this generous serving of porkpie (another loaner from The Headwear Association), I cross a major millinery milestone and am officially halfway ( or is that "hatfway"?) to my stated goal of sporting a hat a day for 500 days.

I think I might just make it. Who's with me?

Related:
PC 001: Straw Scala (let the games begin!)
"Project Cubbins: The Road to 500" [Video]
PC 249: Red Kangol at Night, Rappers' Delight

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 249 - Red Kangol at Night, Rappers' Delight Edition

Day 249 / Hat 249: Scarlet red Kangol "Casual" style bucket hat with navy blue contrast edge and red, white and blue striped headband and white embroidery on front of kangaroo logo and brand name . The interior tag tells us the hat is 54% acrylic and 46% worsted wool and the headband is 100% nylon.

While the Project has had several Kangol caps in the mix over the last 248 installments (see PC 225: Mr. Bubble Player), my "safety hat" from last New York Fashion Week (PC 103) and a really early addition (PC 8), this one, described at website as blending "the classic shape of the Casual with inspiration from the famous Monty Beret" is special - for two reasons.

First, it's a special hat from Kangol's Spring/Summer 2013 collection that marks the label's 75th anniversary. (A fact noted in a navy blue patch sewn into the inside of the crown, which includes the kangaroo logo, the dates 1938-2013 and  the words "established in England.")

As such, the hang tag attached to this natty lid is jam-packed with brand history and the kind of trivia that makes me full on drool. Among the facts now in my head because of the hat on top of it:

-- Kangol was founded in 1938 by a gent named Jacques Spreiregen who came up with the name by "combining the K from knitting, the ANG from angora, and the OL from wool."

-- The label provided berets to the British army during WWII.

--  Kangol also outfitted the English Olympic Team for the 1948 opening ceremonies.

-- The Kangol kangaroo logo was a relative latecomer, introduced in 1983. (Responsible, no doubt, for the mistaken belief by some that the brand hails from Australia.)

The second reason the hat is special is that it's the first of what promises to be deep bench of hats graciously loaned to the Project by members of The Headwear Association -- a trade organization that dates to 1908 and has the stated mission of  "promoting hats and headwear awareness worldwide." Two huge boxes arrived at Cubbins Central today and this was the first one I plucked out (it also happened to match my shirt).

So a sincere hat-tip to The Headwear Association and belated 75th anniversary congratulations to Kangol.

PC 248: Blackhead by Speedo
PC 247: Kitchen Detail in Kiev
PC 246: A Head for the Holidays

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 248 -- Blackhead Edition

Day 248 / Hat 248: Black latex swim cap with Speedo name and logo printed on wearer's right side. Cribbed on impulse From the Bride's headwear archives.

I have to admit, the second I put this thing on, I felt one mouth-zipper short of the Gimp from "Pulp Fiction." (Go ahead and do a quick web search, I'll wait.)

Funny stuff right?

Related:
PC 247: A Colander for Kiev
PC 246: A Head for the Holidays
PC 245: Pucci with a Pocket

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 247 - A Colander for my Homies in Kiev Edition

Day 247 / Hat 247: Silver, two-handled kitchen colander "borrowed" from an undisclosed location and unaware donor at the urging of co-worker Tom "Current Affairs" Curwen for inclusion in the Project.

Why a colander you say? Here's Tom's explanation (from last week's e-mailed entreaty):

"We had a story in the paper yesterday about the protests in Kiev. To discourage these protests, the Ukrainian government has initiated a number of restrictions, one of which is to ban the wearing of “construction helmets” (what I imagine to be hard hats). The story continues to say that in response to the ban, protesters showed up on Sunday wearing their construction helmets – and those who didn't have construction helmets, wore kitchen pots. 

Seems to me there are at least two hats here for you to wear in solidarity with the protesters in the Ukraine. I think you’d look great in a kitchen pot." 

Tom also mentioned that Stephen Colbert had donned a silver colander for comic effect on a recent episode of the Colbert Report so I went that route (we discussed the blue Le Creuset pot -- which went perfectly with my eyes -- but both of us agreed it was a bit heavy and would hardly have been practical on the street).

A tip o' the colander to TC for the suggestion.

Related:
PC 246: Xmas Season for No Reason
PC 245: Bucket of Pucci

In Ukraine, protest turns violent as opposition defines government
Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 246 - Christmas Season for No Reason Edition

Day 246 / Hat 246: Green and white fabric Christmas tree hat with metal and plastic ornaments and lights by Elope.

Loaned to the Project by generous contributor Noelle "Don't Wigs Count Too?" Carter.


"But it's not Christmas!" I hear you protesting. True that. But 33 days out from the holiday, we're safely in the "irony-not-tardy" zone. (Of course, depending on how you look at it, I could just as easily be accused of jumping the Christmas gun by 332 days.)

So, when the hat was offered up on a busy Monday afternoon, I decided to invoke the Auntie Mame rule of yuletide conjuring as laid out in the song "We Need a Little Christmas.":

Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter,
And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after,"
Need a little Christmas now.
Need a little Christmas now.

So leave out the milk and cookies and clean the fireplace and maybe, just maybe I'll swing by to spread some not-quite-the-holiday cheer!

Related:
PC 245: Pucci with a Pocket
PC 244: Paper Prince
PC 233: Stocking Cap

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 245 - Bucket of Pucci Edition

Day 245 / Hat 245: Multi-colored, swirly patterned Emilio Pucci bucket hat with white grosgrain sweatband and white lining. Interior tag reads: "Fabric: 98% cotton, 2% elastane, Lining: 100% cotton." Additional detail includes patch pocket (in same fabric) on crown of hat. (That's what I've tucked today's number into).

This was liberated momentarily from the Bride's headwear collective for purposes of the collection. I chose it because I found the color combination - a swirl of pink, orange, green and yellow with a dash of black and white - to be a much-needed dose of cheer.

I'm not sure what I'd exactly carry in my Pucci hat pocket -- more than likely it'd be a credit card.

So I could buy more hats, of course.




Related:
PC 244: Watch the Throne
PC 243: Stocking Cap
PC 242: Poquito Sombrero

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 244 - Sitting Down in a Paper Crown Edition

Day 244 / Hat 244: Red tissue paper crown from one of the Christmas 2013 holiday crackers (the noise-making kind, not the snacking kind). 

Photographed for the Project in the royal chambers of Castle Naughty Pine at approximately 5 a.m. whilst sitting upon the throne. 

Which brings me to this observation: You can't reallly use the word "throne" any more - at least in parts of the world without  honest-to-goodness royalty - without it sounding like a reference to "toilet."

Obviously I didn't take this photo of myself sitting on the can but admit it, that's exactly the mental image that popped into your mind when you read that second paragraph. 

(For the record, if I was going to do a toilet selfie, you can bet your kingdom I'd use the ermine- and sable-lined crapper in the royal water closet as a backdrop.)

Related:
PC 243: Stickin' with the Stockinette
PC 242: Poquito Sombrero
PC 241: Major Domo

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 243 - Stickin' with the Stockinette Cap Edition

Day 243 / Hat 243: Cap crafted from white stockinette knit tube dressing.  Crafted for the Project by a nurse named Andrea (note,the jaunty topknot!). Apparently this stuff is like the duct tape of the hospital - caps like this are made for patients in the operating room, lengths of it are used under sequential leggings on legs and under blood pressure cuffs on arms and the like.

The idea for this hat's inclusion in the Project came from my sister-in-law (the brother's wife not the wife's sister) which means she deserves today's tip of the hat.

Oh, and Project sticklers need not worry about the timing of today's hat - rest assured that it is technically past the midnight hour here on the East Coast. West Coasters, you can simply think of this as a hat from the future -- but just for a few hours.

Related:

PC 242: Sombrero for Ants
PC 241: Domo on my Dome
PC 240: Batten Kill Brain

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 242 - Poquito Sombrero Edition

Day 242 / Hat 242: Folded paper sombrero in straw-colored weave pattern with yellow and red hat band and brim detail and elastic cord.

Another of the "Mini Party Hat" collection, this marks the third of the six portable lids in the package to appear in the Project (see also PC 237: Tiny Toque and PC 215: A Fez for Ants).

It is also - for those of you who keep track of such things - the third sombero. The first was really, really big (PC 139: Some Sombrero) and the second one was medium-sized (PC 229: Deadline Sombrero). At this rate, expect the next sombrero to be thimble-sized.

Related:
PC 241: Six Degrees of Domo
PC 240: Battenkill Brewery
PC 239: Russian Rabbit

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 241- Six Degrees of Domo Edition

Day 241 / Hat 241: Brown polar fleece, trapper-style hat with multi-color embroidered mouth and eyes detail. Interior tag reads: "Domo."

[Updated 1/23: My sister-in-law sent along this link that explains a little bit about Domo. My favorite characteristics? He loves watching television and is known for passing gas when he gets nervous. He also has a fear of apples, since his ancestors became extinct after eating them.)

This hat comes to the Project from a kind and generous soul with whom I had the pleasure of speaking during a quick road trip ("road trip!") to Rutland (aka "Rut-Vegas") today to pick up a folder full of paperwork my folks left behind (dad blames mom, mom faults dad) at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. 

Mystery Donor (despite her generosity in the hat department she kindly ask that her name not be used) told me she was actually born at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. In response, I told her that it reminded me of one of my favorite Vermonter jokes, which goes something like this:

"Flat Lander to Vermonter on the opposite side of a  early impassable mid mud season road:'Excuse me, sir! How did you get over there?' 

Vermonter to Flat Lander: 'Born here.' 

Flat Lander: 'Have you lived there your whole life?'

Vermonter: 'Not yet.'

Oh, and the "six degrees" mentioned in the post title isn't just for alliteration's sake, that's what the temperature was in Rutland today (yes Fahrenheit) - It's currently hovering at the zero mark and last night the mercury plunged to ten degrees below zero outside the window. That's why I had to shoot the photo inside the car. 

So a hat tip on a road trip to the Rutland-born Cubbins contributor. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 240 - All Hat No Bottle Edition

Day 240 / Hat 240: Forest (river?) green, baseball-style cap with embroidery on front that reads: "Battenkill Brewing, Arlington, VT" accompanied by an embroidered trout facing the wearer's right. Addition hat detail includes a black and white pin that reads: "Obama's Last Day: 01.20.17."

According to my dad - from whose head I snatched today's installment (and who appears with me in thew above left photo) -- the Battenkill Brewery is a currently in-the-works brewing operation, the founders of which had approached him about using the Wayside Country Store's name on one of its eventual beers. (He said yes.)  He can't remember what kind of beer it's supposed to be, but I know my dad's a fan of a good IPA, so maybe that's what it will be when the future beer is ready to quaff.

As for the button? That's actually what prompted me to include it in the Project in the first place. My dad thought I might not want to because of its political sentiment, but I assured him that I'm a "hat agnostic" -- at least as far as my quest to reach 500 goes. If the last 239 hats has taught me anything, it's that every hat sends a message -- some are just a heck of a lot easier to decode than others.

And the fact of the matter is, the guy who makes those "Obama's Last Day" buttons has been laughing all the way to the bi-partisan bank ever since launching his original range of products emblazoned with: "Bush's Last Day: 01.20.09."

Here's an idea: Maybe 260 days from today I'll get him to make me an "Adam's Last Hat: 10.08.14" button.

In the meantime, Dad gets a tip o' the trout fin and a raise of the beer mug for loaning his lid.


Related:
PC 239: Russian Rabbit
PC 238: Feelin' Blue, Devil
PC 237: Toque it Up

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 239 - Russian Rabbit Edition

Day 239 / Hat 239: Black rabbit fur ushanka with black diamond-pattern-quilted lining. The final hat in the Steve Konigsberg troika of toppers coming all the way from Moscow.

According to my research (that'd be Wikipedia), the literal translation of ushanka is "ear hat" due to the ear flaps that can be (and are in this photo) tied to the crown.  It is also called a "shapka-ushanka" or "trooper hat."

Here's an excerpt from the entry: "... is a Russian fur cap with ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the cap, or tied at the chin to protect the ears, jaw and lower chin from the cold. The thick dense fur also offers some protection against blunt impacts to the head. While no match for a helmet, it offers protection far superior to that of a typical beanie cap should the wearer fall and hit his or her head against ice or packed snow.

The word ushanka derives from ushi (у́ши), "ears" in Russian."

Ears to Steve Konigsberg for the thoughtful contributions to the Project! 

Project Cubbins: Hat 238 - Feelin' a Little Blue Devil Edition

Day 238 / Hat 238: White, 100% cotton baseball-style cap with blue embroidery on front that reads: "DUKE, Duke Blue Devils."

This hat is loaned to the Project from the Bride's vast headgear collection and she says she thinks she's had it ever since she was a student at Duke University (her 20th-year reunion happens to be this year).

Why is Duke University's mascot a blue-hued devil instead of, say, a red one? Funny you should ask -- I was thinking the very same thing. Luckily William E. King (the university archivist from 1972-2002)  has addressed that topic in an article at the Duke University Library website titled: "Why a Blue Devil? The Story of the Duke Mascot." 

There's a good deal of nuance to it, but in sum, the name traces all the way back to the World War I French soldiers known as Chasseurs Alpin who were nicknamed les Diables Bleus due to their distinctive blue uniform "with flowing cape and jaunty beret."

How the nickname went from being applied to mountain-savvy soldiers to a North Carolinian sports mascot is the nuance part.

A tip of the Blue Devil horns to the Bride for the loaner.

Related:
PC 237: Tiny Toque
PC 236: Tubeteika Topper
PC 235: Hat in the Fast Lane


Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 237 - Tiny Toque Edition

Day 237 / Hat 237: Folded miniature paper chef's toque blanche with elastic cord. It's the second of the six NPW "Mini Party Hats" from the Christmas elf bag from my sainted mother to appear in the Project so far -- the first was PC 215: A Fez for Ants.

I've included an image of the Mini Party Hats above right and I have to say and I think I'm rocking the tiny toque way better than that Chihuahua.

Just sayin'.
 
Related:
PC 236: Tubeteika Topper
PC 235: Fly Like an Eagle
PC 217: Toque Times Two

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 236 -- A Tubeteika Up Top Edition

Clockwise from left, me in the tubeteika, the interior, and the exterior -- in partially folded mode.

Day 236 / Hat 236: Black layered paper and fabric tubeteika with white embroidered detail on exterior and black, red and green floral patterned fabric interior, It comes to the Project from our Moscow-based donor Stephen Konigsberg (who also provided PC 232 (aka the "Bath Hat Edition".)

Of it, Steve says: "[It's an] Uzbeki tyumbotyeka. They are sold everywhere for like 2-3 U.S. dollars. Very typical of Central Asia lidwear." He referred me to several websites, the most comprehensive of which, Oriental Express of Central Asia, describes it as the Uzbek national headgear and explains that the name derived from the Turkish word meaning "a top, a summit."

Here's an excerpt from the site:

"The most common form of the Uzbek tubeteika is tetrahedral and slightly conical. Such a form is assumed due to the special method of folding the cap right after the making of it has been finished. Tubeteikas are made of two or more layers of fabrics, all quilted and stuck with silk or cotton threads. In most cases, ready-made caps would be embroidered with silk, or gold or silver threads."

As a little geopolitical refresher (I confess, I needed one) the Republic of Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country that was part of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1991. (A fun piece of trivia: apparently Uzbekistan is one of only two "doubly landlocked" countries in the world -- a country that is completely surrounded by other landlocked countries. Can you name the other one?)

The aforementioned site also notes that the tubeteika is also  worn by other peoples in Central Asia (including Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey) and that there are different types for different ages and genders.

"The tubeteika is divided into types for men, women, children (for boys, girls, and babies), and old men. Old women don't wear the headgear. Children's tubeteikas (called "kulokcha, kalpokcha, duppi, kulupush") differ in the variety of materials and colours, in cap bands, fluffiness of tassels and balls made of silk or paper threads, in patterns embroidered, spangles and number of amulets".


So a tip of the tubeteika to Steve for the sweet lid and golf clapa to Uzbekistan for having something as awesome as a national headgear!


Related:
PC 235: Fly Like an Eagle
PC 234: I, of the Tschornado
PC 233: Montana Moose

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 235 -- Fly Like an Eagle Edition

Day 235 / Hat 235: Navy blue, 100% cotton baseball-style cap with gold embroidery in the shape of a U.S. Interstate Highway Shield that reads: "Eagles" above the number "72." Additional gold embroidery on back of hat reads: "Eagles 2014."

I purchased this hat at last night's Eagles concert at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California. It was opening night at the renovated venue and the first night of the Eagles six-night run there.

During the show (which was truly too fabulous for words), Glenn Frey said of the Forum: "it's the best-sounding big room in the world - and we've played them all."

The "72," in case you're not an Eagleophile (Eagle head? Eaglet?) is a reference to 1972, the year the band released its debut self-titled album.

And, because I'm kind of obsessed with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, I can't help but mention that according to the Federal Highway Administration's website, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a trademark registration for the shield in September of 1967.

The actual Interstate 72, in case you were curious (I was), runs between Hannibal, Missouri, and Champaign, Illinois and is just shy of 180 miles long.

For some reason we were really, really hoping to find out that it ended on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.

Related:
PC 234: Tschornado / Sharknado
PC 233: Montana Moose
L.A. Times: Don Henley talks about upcoming Forum shows

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 234 - Tschornado / Sharknado Edition

Day 234 / Hat 234: Wire, fabric and plastic homemade "Sharknado" costume graciously loaned to the Project by the talented Noelle Carter who crafted this herself as a Halloween costume for her partner Val.

For anyone who missed it, "Sharknado" was the so-bad-it's-hilarious TV movie that aired on the Syfy channel back in July 2013 and starred Ian Ziering as a guy named Fin (get it?), Tara Reid and John Heard.

The camptastic plot line involved a waterspout that somehow sucked up all manner of killer sharks from the Pacific Ocean and proceeded to drop them all over the greater Los Angeles area.

This costume might have actually had a higher production value than the guilt viewing pleasure that inspired it. Built around a wire frame (fashioned out of a a tomato cage), it  is not only festooned with all manner of plastic shark (some with creative chunks of faux carnage in their mouths) but it also has a string of blinking lights and a thunderous stormy soundtrack (controlled by the black box gizmo I'm holding in my left hand in the above photo). 

The "Tschornado" reference comes from a former law school roommate who once observed that whenever there was work to do (a test, project or paper or the like) I'd whirl and spin through the house puttering and tidying and doing everything (except my work) at a high rate of speed. When I was in that mode he'd refer to me as the "Tschornado."

Although Noelle certainly gets a hat-tip for her considerable skill -- not to mention the loan of the cone -- this installment of the Project is dedicated to my big brother Al who, at this moment, finds himself very much in the eye of the storm.

Here's to ropin' the wind, Mr. Wheat!

Related:
PC 233: Montana Moose
PC 232: Soviet Schvitz Lid
PC 116: Paper Hat for Mr. Wheat

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 233 - Montana Moose Edition

Day 233 / Hat 233: Olive drab baseball-style cap with navy blue embroidery of a moose silhouette on the front (facing the wearer's left) with additional navy blue embroidery on left side that reads: Montana" in all capital letters. Interior tag reads: "Alternative Apparel, 100% cotton, made in China."

Loaned to the Project by fellow cube farmer Tom "Montana Moose" Curwen (you might recognize his name from a mention in PC 227: The (Late) Great Outdoors). We can only assume he picked it up on one of his bear-chasing jaunts to Big Sky Country (like his two-part "Attacked by a Grizzly" series, which I highly recommend.)

By my reckoning this is the second Montana-themed installment of the Project (the first was way back with PC 20: Mom in Montana) as well as the second Moose-themed piece of headgear (the first being PC 209: Makin' a Moose of the 802).

So today's shake of the moose antlers goes to Tom Curwen -- not just for the loan of the lid but for being on trend.

Related:
PC 232: Bath Hat
PC 231: Not a Butt Head
PC 230: Breaking Plaid

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 232 - Bath Hat Edition

Day 232 / Hat 232: Bell-shaped white wool felt hat with green printing that reads: "Сандунах 1808." This is the first in a troika of toppers generously sent to the Project by old college chum Steve Konigsberg who currently lives and works in Moscow, Russia.

The package o' hats arrived a week ago but my buddy was on holiday in Vietnam (yup - he's the kind of guy who vacations in 'Nam)  so I've kind of been cooling my heels waiting for a little bit of background on the headgear.

It turns out that for this peculiar lid I needn't have waited for any intel. My fellow cube farmer, Chris Reynolds (the same guy who created the awesome "Road to 500 Hats" video), took one look at it and and said "Sanduny Baths." One of our travel writers, Chris had been to Russia in January 2013 and recognized the name and logo as belonging to Sanduny Bathhouses.

Of it Konigsberg writes:"It is a typical banya hat but from the Studio 54 of Russian/Soviet  banyas." The 1808 date is when the place first opened and the building it occupies at 14 Neglinnaya street is, according to its Wikipedia entry, "a cultural and architectural landmark."

If you're unclear on what a banya is, here's a little descrition (courtesy of Russiapedia),: "Originally banya is a steam bath with a stove. Nowadays any type of bath or sauna is usually called banya in Russia and other former USSR countries."

I'd never heard of such a creature as a banya hat, but a little poking around the web turns up the fact that wool felt caps of this shape are traditionally worn in the sauna and contrary to what you might think actually help keep the head and hair cooler for longer and help sauna-going folks endure the high temperature for a longer period of time than they might otherwise. (Cedarbrook Sauna and Steam, based in Washington state, offers their own version of the caps -- along with a little description -- at their website.)

Based on what I've read, the lanolin and absorbent properties of natural sheep's wool makes it a preferable choice for such caps.

So a sincere tip of the bath hat goes to Steve for sending it along. We have to assume it was no sweat on his part.

Related:
PC 231: Hiney Head
PC 230: Breaking Plaid
PC 229: Deadline Sombrero

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 231 - Hiney Head Edition

Day 231 / Hat 231: Trucker-style cap with black mesh back, black bill and white foam front with purple screen printing that reads: "Official Hiney Inspector, Hiney Wine" along with a rather suggestive-looking bunch of grapes in purple with white grape leaf detail. Smaller printing at bottom reads: "© 1983 Dorsey and Donnelly Ent., Inc. Arlington, TX 76011."

This vintage lid was loaned to the Project from my father's extensive headgear collection (which you may have noticed in the background of some of the photos posted here from the Wayside Country Store), and it may actually date to the 1983 copyright date in the fine print. My brother Al dug it out from God only knows where when I was back in the 802 for the holidays.

I' long thought there was a deeper back story to the whole "Hiney Wine" joke and a cursory search of the interwebs confirmed my hunch. According to the Hiney Wine Fan Page (yes, there is one!), the faux wine was the brainchild of of Terry Dorsey and T.J. Donnelly. Here's an excerpt:

"Hiney Wine is the comedy creation of Terry Dorsey and Donnelly, and was first syndicated in the early ’80′s. They became successful selling commercials about an imaginary winery operated by Big Red and Thor Hiney. Dorsey got the idea of the Hiney Winery as a Dayton, Ohio DJ and in September, 1981 developed it into “commercials” at KPLX, Dallas, where Donnelly was GM. They pooled $2,000 initially and eventually sold their Hiney to hundreds of radio stations, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in Hiney merchandise.Interviewed by AdWeek in 1984, Donnelly said “People seldom get angry when they find out there really isn't a winery. If anything, they are a little put out with themselves for going along with it so far.”

I also discovered that the fake radio commercials about a fake wine eventually spawned an actual festival -- the 2013 Hiney Wine & Arts Festival (the fourth annual one) took place in Peterson, Iowa, on October 5, 2013.

The old Hiney Wine joke has been kicking around for so long now I'm a bit surprised that anything is coming out it at all.

Related:
PC 230: Breaking Plaid
PC 229: Deadline Sombrero
PC 228: Channeling Ozzy

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 230 - Breaking Plaid Edition

Day 230 / Hat 230: Retro-looking brown and blue plaid fabric fedora from Goorin Brothers, size large, with
matching hatband (edged in brown) and metal Goorin logo pin. Interior lined in brown fabric. Interior tag reads: "82% polyester, 18% cotton, made in China."

Based on the style number (100-1380) it's a now-discontinued style called "Dante" described at various and sundry websites (Goorin's returned no results) as having 1 3/8-inch flip-up brim and 4 1/2-inch crown.

It would make sense that it's a discontinued style since I picked this plaidness madness up at the label's sample sale back on December 15 (AKA Day 203).

On a side note, I have to say I'm particularly proud of the way I've employed the mustache-shaped Post-It Note in the above photo.

Related:
PC 229: Deadline Sombrero
PC 228: Wigging Out / Hat Attack
PC 227: The Late Outdoors


Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 229 - Deadline Sombrero Edition

Day 229 /Hat 229: Woven straw sombrero with multi-colored woven Mexican-blanket-style fabric hatband and edge detail.

This was a random drive-by borrowing for the Project from Hero Complex editor Gina McIntyre's office and she kindly indulged me as I sat there and took my own picture -- as I held up a mustache-shaped Post-It Note with the number 229 on it. (And what was your work day like?)

Of it's provenance, McIntyre says: "I think that was something that was sent [as a promotion] for the last 'Hangover' movie. We joke around here that it's the deadline sombrero." As a guy who used to wear various pieces of "not-now-I'm-in-the-barrel" headgear in the cube farms of old, I appreciate the idea of a deadline sombrero very, very much.

So today's tip o' the hat goes to Gina -- and all those here and elsewhere who, from time to time, find themselves donning the deadline sombrero!

Related:
PC 228: Hat Attack 
PC 139: Some Sombrero
PC 159: El Paso Chihuahuas 

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 228 - Wigging Out with a Hat Attack Edition

Day 228 / Hat 228: Beige/tan braided fiber hat with braided gold hatband and bow detail and interior beige grosgrain sweatband. Interior tag reads: " Hat Attack, New York."

Loaned to the Project from the Ingrid Schmidt Mother Lode of Millinery, I don't know a heck a lot about this hat -- besides that, based on my cyber-sleuthing I believe it to be this "Fine Braided Fedora with Gold Trim" from the label's website (though with a slightly different hatband cord).

There is no indication -- anywhere on the hat -- as to what the material used in the hat is, but based on my recent hat-related research it could be parasisal (though it actually feels softer and more pliable than that).

"Why the wig?" I could have sworn I heard you mutter under your breath. To date I've maintained a very strict no wig policy for the Project and in my heart of hearts "hats and headgear" are very different creatures from wigs and toupees. But since someone in the cube farm here at work brought up the question, I thought I'd seek input from those of you who read this far.

Anyone have a thought off the top of their head as to what should be on mine for the purposes of the Project goal of 500 hats?

Related:
PC 227: The Late, Great Outdoors
PC 226: I Ride, I Recycle, I Wear a Hat
PC 225: Big, Bad Mr. Bubble Player

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 227 - The (Late) Great Outdoors Edition

Day 227 / Hat 227: Black, 100% cotton, made-in-China, baseball-style cap with embroidery on front that reads: "Los Angeles Times" (in white and in a font approximating that used on the front page of the paper) above the word "Outdoors" (in gold and all capital letters). Additional white embroidery on back of hat (see detail in above photo) depicts various outdoorsy activities including surfing, horseback riding and mountain climbing.

Loaned to the Project by the always generous Team Boucher, this hat references the LAT's now-shuttered standalone Outdoors section, which launched on September 9, 2003, and published for the last time on December 6, 2005.

In that final issue, then section editor Tom Curwen (who currently sits three cubicles north of me when he's not off chasing bears) has some eloquent parting words that are a must-read in his column titled "Onward and Outward - some lasting words as Outdoors rides off into the sunset."

While today's tip of the hat goes first and foremost to Team Boucher, I feel a secondary doffing is in order here to Tom Curwen, Bob Sipchen (the Outdoor section's editor at launch) and all who worked hard to bring the great outdoors inside on the pages of that section.
 
Related:
PC 226: Recycling on (Skate) Deck
PC 225: Mr. Bubble Player
Editor's Welcome, Los Angeles Times Outdoors section 

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Project Cubbins: Hat 226 - Recycling on (Skate) Deck Edition

Day 226 / Hat 226: Trucker-style cap with black mesh back, dye-sublimation printed poly foam front with multi-colored tile print, black brim and black and white embroidered patch on front that reads: "I Ride, I Recycle."

The hat is by Art of Board -- one of the cool brands the Bride and I discovered walking the aisles of the Agenda trade show in Long Beach today, and the "I Ride, I Recycle" patch is a reference to a cool program the label had launched. It's essentially a nationwide grassroots skate deck recycling movement that collects broken wooden skateboard decks (using cardboard collection bins, like the one pictured above right, at skate shops).

In addition to keeping the materials themselves out of the landfill, the decks -- gouged, worn, scuffed artwork and all -- are used to create an ever-growing range of lifestyle products including eye-catching hard surface tiles, coasters, floor mats, wall hangings and house numbers.

The label's signature multi-color checkerboard pattern -- essentially a photo print of its tiles -- is what adorns the hat I'm wearing. (You can get one of your very own for $24.99 at the label's website.)

Today's tip o' the hat goes to Art of Board's VP and co-founder Bruce Boul -- not only for allowing me to sport the hat for purposes of the Project, but also for helming a cool company that makes it easier than ever to go green.

Related:
PC 225: Bubble Boy
PC 224: Peacock in Prada
PC 223: Head on the Ball

Q: OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1. 
Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!