Project Cubbins: Hat 370 - Shot in the Dark Edition

Day 370 / Hat 370: Black, trucker-style cap with mesh back and foam front. Allover print detail of skull and crossbones design in gray on front panel and bill. Additional detail includes Stylized glow-in-the-dark skull screenprint on front and the words "Treasure Island, Las Vegas" accompanied by the lowercase "ti" logo of the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

Purchased for the Project by the Bride at the Sirens Cove Shoppe at TI a few minutes before midnight this morning. I tried to capture the glow-in-the-darkness in the photo at right.

I'm sure I'm not the first person who has tried to take a selfie in a bathroom at the Wynn Hotel -- but I may be the first person to do it in total darkness.

The Siren Bride gets the hat-tip, the TI merchandise mix the assist. This is one thing that won't be staying in Vegas.

Related:
PC 270: Fancy Fish Knits
PC 170: Forestry for the Trees
PC 70: Baby New Year!

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 369 - Go To Sleep Edition

Day 369 / Hat 369: Baseball-style cap with black back and bill, white front panel. Details include yellow contrast tipping on bill, yellow screen-printed star and lightning bolt emblem on wearer's left side of hat black and yellow horizontal stripe on front panel with embroidered black, white and yellow logo that reads "GTS" with a vertical lightning bolt and two stars.

Additional details include interior label that reads "WWE Authentic" on one side and "TM & (C) WWE 2012, 100% cotton, made in China." and interior seam taping printed with WWE Authentic."

Graciously loaned to the Project by Brian Razzano (this earns him his sophomore hat-tip) who told me the following backstory about it:

"OK, so [it refers to] a wrestler named CM Punk and he was the second most over guy in the [WWE] until a couple months ago [when] he abruptly walked away from the job leaving a big hole to fill and has yet to return.

GTS refers to his finishing movie which is Go To Sleep where be basically nails his opponent in the head with his knee.

He kinda made it cool to watch wrestling again and is a cult hero after rising the ranks of the independents to become WWE champ. ... So he is a big underdog in a lot of people's eyes.

I asked for it as a birthday or Christmas gift [because] I wanted to support him.  Of course he left and WWE is starting to discount his merchandise and [he] may never return.

That hat was probably one of the last pieces they ever produced for him."

Brian says he did, indeed, receive the hat as a birthday gift from his wife (that'd be Ruth O'Neill) last year.

  

According to a cursory glance at Mr. Punk's Wikipedia entry, it appears his other name is Phillip Jack Brooks and he holds the distinction of "longest reigning WWE Champion of the modern era," a reign that lasted, just in case you were wondering, 434 days.

Now Go To Sleep!

Related:

PC 368: Gingham Style!

PC 367: Rambling Roebling

PC 366: Backward Hard Hat

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 368 - Gingham (and Floral) Style Edition

Day 368 / Hat 368: Baseball-style cap with red and green floral design (they look like roses) against a white background on the crown and red gingham pattern on bill and crown button. 

Additional detail includes tiny, silver-colored, heart-shaped metal embellishment on the crown just above where it meets the brim on the wearer's left. 

 Interior label reads: "Annie Sumang."

Plucked for an early morning edition of the Project from the MRBOH. 

Related:

PC 366: Backward Hard Hat
PC 365: News Flash! A Year of Hats
PC 364: Lalaloopsy

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 367 - Rambling About Roebling Edition

Day 367 / Hat 367: Graphite gray fedora with two-inch brim, 5-inch crown and two-tone (gray and brown) grosgrain hatband and bow detail. Interior tag reads: "Bailey of Hollywood," fabrication tag reads "95%, 5% cashmere, X-LARGE, made in U.S.A.," and hangtag gives the name of the style as "Roebling."

Here's a little blurb about the Roebling from hats.com: "The Roebling from the Bailey of Hollywood Cashlux collection is a modern day fedora. This hat is made of the most exquisite wool felt blended with cashmere fibers for the look and feel of fur felt. Proudly crafted in the USA and designed Victor Osborne, and is exclusive to Bailey of Hollywood."

What I couldn't find anywhere (at least in my cursory search of the interwebs) was what the style name "Roebling" is a reference to. Could it be an homage to German-born American civil engineer John A. Roebling? Alive from 1806 to 1869 (the Golden Age of Hats), this gent was known for his wire rope suspension bridge designs -- and is famous, at least in certain circles, for his design of the Brooklyn Bridge in particular. And that's what fedora-wearing hispters have to cross to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan!

Unfortunately I have no answer. Sorry to leave you in ... suspense.

Graciously loaned to the Project by the kind PR folks at The Headwear Association who collectively get today's hat-tip.

Related:
PC 366: Backward Hard Hat
PC 365: News Flash! A Year of Hats
PC 364: Lalaloopsy

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 366 - Backward in a Hard Hat Edition

Day 366 / Hat 366: White plastic hard hat with a slightly pith-helmet-like silhouette that includes 1 1/2-inch brim all the way around, gray plastic and fabric interior head harness and an adjustable gray sizing knob emblazoned with the name Fibre-Metal. According to the brand's website (it's apparently a division of Honeywell), this is an E-1 Full Brim and I think the all-the-way-around brim is what gives this just a tad more flair.

Here's a little color from the product description:

"The exclusive smooth crown design contains a technically advanced suspension with eight load bearing points to stabilize and balance the hard hat during everyday wear. On impact, the SuperEight impact energy control system dissipates force by reducing it to smaller increments and spreading it over a greater area. Full brim adds an extra margin of protection from hazardous sun rays and hazardous substances falling onto the neck and shoulders."

I was all set to bag on the ridiculousness of putting the 1 1/2-inch in diameter knob in what's essentially the middle of the wearer's forehead. That was until I realized I had totally put the hat on backwards. But not wanting anything to impede my forward motion this morning I thought I'd use that photo anyway. (Yes, the helmet fits better the correct way, thanks for asking. And that big old knob makes cinching it to fit a cinch.)

Plucked for the Project from the MRBOH.

Related:
PC 365: News Flash! A Year of Hats
PC 364: Lalaloopsy
PC 363: Adventure Time!

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 365 - A Year of Hats in a Flash Edition

Day 365 / Hat 365: Red polyester Flash cowl with yellow lightning bolt earpiece detail and red string that ties in the back. Graciously loaned to the Project by Brian Razzano.

Brian passed off the cowl yesterday at a barbecue in Sherman Oaks. When he did so he asked: "Does a cowl count?" In my world a cowl most certainly does count (hats and headgear folks!) and I couldn't think of a better piece with which to mark  full year of millinery madness. Yes, that's right, it's been a full cycle around the sun since I embarked on my frivolous pursuit of sporting a different lid every day for 500 days.

While it seemed like a daunting challenge when I stood in our kitchen last Memorial Day to snap the first hat in the series, it has kind of gone by in a flash -- thanks to all the generous contributions of family and friends. With any luck, we'll make it all the way to 500.

But back to the Flash for a minute. Brian, who says he had the hat because he was thinking about making a short film about a guy who finds Flash's ring (that's where the DC superhero keeps his costume),. He probably didn't realize that Barry Allen and his Scarlet Speedster alter-ego was actually my favorite character growing up (I was a huge comic book geek).

Of course Barry Allen wasn't the only (or even the first) incarnation of the Crimson Comet, a DC Comics universe character that was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert and first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in January 1940 (the Jay Garrick version, easily recognized by his much different uniform that actually includes a winged helmet a la the Greek god Hermes. I didn't realize (until I got Googlin' today) that the Barry Allen version is is "generally considered the first hero of the Silver Age of comic book," (so sayeth Wikipedia, anyway).

The hat-tip to Brian Razzano, and a sincere thanks to all those whose loaned lids got me a spin through the calendar year. Now it's time to tiue my running shoes on real tight and sprint to the end.

Related:
PC 364: Lalaloopsy
PC 363: Adventure Time!
PC 362: P 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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 364 - Lalaloopsy Edition

Day 364 / Hat 364: Pink cotton cap with butterfly, doll face and flower appliques on front. Additional details include light pink edge with white polka dots, three embroidered daisies and the word "Lalaloopsy" embroidered in white cursive script on the bill.

Interior label reads: "Lalaloopsy, sew magical! sew cute!" on one side and "manufactured by Berkshire Fashions , Inc., made in China." Fabrication tag reads: "100% cotton, exclusive of decoration."

Plucked from the extremely bountiful MRBOH.


Related:
PC 363: Adventure Time!
PC 362: P Brain
PC 361: Ivory Doo-Wop

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 363 - "Adventure Time" Edition

Me (left) and Finn from "Adventure Time" (right)

Day 363 / Hat 363: White polyester microfiber (I think) cap with white ear nubbies and Velcro-closure chinstrap. Cartoon Network "CN" logo and the words "Cartoon Network" embroidered on back in gray.

I ran across this hat in the eight-year-cleaning cycle currently underway in the Garlodge and couldn't believe that I hadn't yet included it in the Project but I looked high and low and it doesn't appear I have. If it looks familiar it's because one of my Facebook profile pictures includes the hat - and it's always generted lot sof comments every time I cycle it through.

It originally ended up in my personal BOH by way of the office where it was sent to promote the Cartoon
Network series "Adventure Time" created by Pendleton Ward, which aired its first episode on April 5, 2010, (so sayeth Wikipedia, at any rate).

The character that wears this distinctive headgear is a chap named Finn. The show's website says this about him: "Finn is a silly kid who wants to become a great hero one day. He might not look too tough, but if there's evil around, he'll slay it. That's his deal."

Sounds like my kind of guy.

Oh, and the Facebook profile photo of me wearing the hat at some undetermined point in the past is included above. I think it captures the spirit of "Adventure Time" though I had no idea at the time.

Related:
PC 362: P Brain
PC 361: Ivory Doo-Wop
PC 360: Two Points Ohhhh!

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 362 - P Brain Edition

Day 362 / Hat 362: Red baseball cap with a stylized letter P in white embroidery on front. Additional details include black contrast under brim and in sweatband, Team MLB logo in red, white and blue embroidery on left, blue button on crown and adjustable size strap.

Interior tag reads: "Team MLB, made in Bangladesh" on left side and: "by OC Sports, official licensee of MLB, Youth" on righ.

The "youth" part refers to the size as this hat was plucked from the MRBOH and it belongs to Marilyn's son Javier who has already graciously (if unwittingly) provided a hat trick of hats to the Project (including one of my all-time favorites, the googly-eyed bucket hat worn for PC 336).

And Marilyn tells me it's part of nine-year-old dude man's baseball uniform (she has a cute photo at her desk of Javier swinging for the fences in his full ensemble) and his youth baseball team is called the Phillies -- same as that MLB team from Philadelphia.

Related:
PC 361: Ivory Doo-Wop
PC 360: Two Points Ohhhh!
PC 359: Head Slice

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 361 - Ivory Doo-Wop Up Top Edition

Day 361 / Hat 361: Ivory-colored pinch-front braided-paper fedora with red and white grosgrain hatband detail with bow and  matching interior sweatband.

Brim measures 2 inches, crown height is 5 inches. Interior label reads: "Broner" and interior label reads: "100% paper, men's L, made in China."

Another loaner from The Headwear Association's sample closet, I was able to find this exact item (88-149) in Broner's Spring/Summer 2014 catalog, which calls this particular style "Doo-Wop."

In addition to "ivory," this particular style is also offered in "pecan" and "slate."


Related:
PC 360: Two Points Ohhhh!
PC 359: Head Slice
PC 358: Birthday Princess

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 360: Glow Horns Edition

Day 360 / Hat 360:  Definitely skewing more toward the headgear than traditional hat (I'm pointing that out at the front end s Dora doesn't have to), this is essentially a pair of battery-powered plastic light-up "Maleficent" horns attached to a wide plastic headband shaped skull clamp (Or maybe it just feels like a skull clamp on my head.) Raised tone-on-tone plastic lettering on battery cover reads: "2014 Jakks, Malibu, CA, [made in] China."

These points of (dark) light arrived in the office a few days ago as part of the merchandise-marketing efforts in advance of Angelina Jolie's turn as the horn-headdressed witch in the upcoming Disney movie which hits theaters May 30.(In case you want to score a pair of your own Maleficent Glow Horns, (MSRP $9.99), they're available at the big box retailers like Kmart and Target.)

And if you think the horn-sportin' Tschorn looks familiar, you're not imagining things. I slapped a paper pair upon my pate back at PC 77: Throwing Horns after attending the D23 Expo in Anaheim last August.

Which means now if, if someone asks to borrow a pair of horns, I can respond with: "Paper or plastic?"

Related:
PC 359: Head Slice
PC 358: Birthday Princess
L.A. Times: 'Maleficent' merchandise ranges from $16 lipstick to $20K jewelry

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 359 - Emily O'Neill's Pizza D'Action Edition

Day 359 / Hat 359: Decorative plush novelty hat in the shape of a giant triangular slice of deep-dish pepperoni pizza. The red felt "tomato sauce" and orange felt "pepperoni slices" were after-market modifications added to the hat by yours truly, with 100% wool felt sourced from Blick Art Supplies and attached with the world's oldest bottle of Elmer's Glue-All. Were you to remove a pepperoni round you might find that it is exactly the same size and shape as the top of a traditional shot glass.

Even though it looks like an art project by a four-year-old jacked up on caffeine (which, let's face it, it essentially is) this addition to the Project was in the works for a long time. It was very, very graciously ordered and sent from Amazon some weeks back by Emily O'Neill -- an early and devoted fan of Project Cubbins -- whom I cajoled into contributing a piece of headgear to the cause.

Since there have been hundreds and hundreds of hats to date, Emily didn't realize that a Beistle Pumpkin Pie Hat (one size fits most) had already been featured in the Project way back at PC 178 "Life of Pie" (to be honest, I needed to do a quick search myself). Sinvce one of my self-imposed rules is "no duplicates," I found myself in a pickle (which reminds me - I bet there's a pickle hat out there somewhere). I explained the predicament to the Bride who, with her usual lightning-fast reflexes, said "Why not make it into a slice of pizza?"

A brilliant idea, yes, but  for a long time I was convinced that in addition to removing the dollop of whip cream and adding appropriate toppings, I could modify this thing to actually serves as a tray/holder for a 12-inch on the side specially baked slice of honest-to-goodness pizza. (at one point I had approached the Test Kitchen here at work about helping me through the dough). Yes, I was hoping to eat my hat.

As you can see, I abandoned that idea, realizing I was simply trying to make it different enough to merit inclusion in the Project. Eventually I realized that it stood on its own two feet (well, crusts) in that regard -- after all how many "baseball-style caps with blah, blah, blah embroidery" have I sported since the Project started? And almost nothing but the color and shape of the various and sundry embroidered logos distinguished those from each other.  (And just in case anyone thinks I'm running a game here,  have the packing slip on file for this slice to prove I'm not recycling the first version.)

This is a long way of saying today's hat-tip - accompanied by a very deep and enthusiastic renaissance faire bow -- goes to the OG Home Slice Emily O'Neill for getting a piece of the Project Cubbins action!

Related:
PC 358: Birthday Princess
PC 357: Rib-Knitty Cat
PC 356: Brim Be Crazy

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 358 Pink and (Cameron) Silver Birthday Princess Edition

Day 358 / Hat 358: Pink conical plastic cap printed with the words "Birthday Princess" on front. Additional details include pink feather trim and top fluff, elastic chin strap, and pink folded fabric rose and bow detail.

Interior cloth tag reads: "Little Day Dreamers by elope" on one side and "hand made in China, spot clean only." Interior paper tag reads: "95% PVC, 5% other."

I've been ferrying this hat, from the MRBOH back and forth from home waiting for the appropriate birthday to pop up on my social media radar. When I saw on the Facebook that it was Cameron Silver's birthday today, I took it as a sign from the hat gods that it was time to plop this bad boy atop my balding pate and preserve it photographically on behalf of the Project.

The hat-tip to Marilyn -- and a symbolic assist (not to mention a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" shoutout) to the birthday boy, CS.

Related:
PC 357: Rib-Knitty Cat
PC 356: Brim Be Crazy
PC 355: R.E.D. Head

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 357 - Neon Rib-Knit Kitty Edition

Day 357 / Hat 357: White knit Hello Kitty cap with orange rib-knit edge detail and assorted black and white applique embellishments that form a kinda/sorta face.

Additional details include stylized whiskers in red embroidery, a puffy black bow tie  with white polka dots affixed near the left ear and black, cursive embroidery on back that reads: "Hello Kitty."

Plucked for the Project from the MRBOH, it's the second HK-themed hat I've featured (the first was PC 339 - also graciously on loan from my co-wporker Marilyn Ruiz).

And no, it doesn't have that kind of vertical height all by itself, I had to stuff this lid to get the details to show a little better.

And in case anyone's keeping track (I am) this marks the 13th piece of headgear plucked from the MRBOH - and I doubt I'm even halfway through it.

Related:
PC 356: Brim Be Crazy
PC 355: R.E.D. Head
PC 354: Smokey Bear Birthday

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 356 - 52nd Inaugural / Brim Be Crazy Edition [UPDATED]

Day 356 / Hat 356: Navy blue, baseball-style cap with green under-bill section and multi-colored embroidery on front that features a version of the U.S. presidential seal surrounded by the words: "Bill Clinton, 52nd Presidential Inaugural" in white on the outermost ring and the words: January 20, 1993, Washington, D.C.," in red. Interior tag reads: "Whole Systems Design, Inc. Lotron, Virginia, 'Flip Your Lid.'"

This hat, which arrived by U.S. mail just yesterday, was graciously loaned to the Project by VLS classmate Fred Zeytoonjian who currently works in our nation's capital (his business card reads: "Manager, State & Local Government Affairs - East" - though I have to confess I don't know what that means - I haven't actually had an IRL conversation with Fred in more than two decades.

The note accompanying the hat describes its provenance as follows: "As promised, here's a hat for Project Cubbins. I purchased it in D.C. from a street vendor while attending Clinton's 1st inaugural on 1/20/93." 

A little trivia about the Seal of the President of the United States of America: You probably know that the dexter (right) talon clutches an olive branch and the sinister (left) holds a bundle of arrows. What you may ot know is that there are precisely 13 arrows clutched in that there sinister talon.

The hat-tip to Zeytoonjian, the assist to an unnamed street vendor in our nation's capital and an obligatory honorable mention to POTUS #42.

[Updated 5/17/2014, 6:10 p.m. PDT: Shortly after I posted the hat, Fred posted to Facebook to let me know the brim of the hat actually snaps open to reveal a pop-up cut out scene of the Clinton family, Al Gore, the White House and the Capitol Building against the backdrop of Washington, D.C. I wouldn't be doing my appropriate hat-related duties if I didn't share this news -- and post a photo below. This feature vaults Fred's contribution right into my top ten favorites to date.]  

Related:
PC 355: R.E.D. Head
PC 354: Smokey Bear Birthday
PC 353: Think Tink

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 355 Snowboard Brain Bucket Edition

Day 355 / Hat 355: Lime green hard plastic, sticker-covered snowboarding helmet with interior hard foam liner, turquoise-colored chinstrap and and attached zippy pocket earflaps that allow the wearer to crank serious boardin' tunes all the way down the hill. (Where was this stuff when I was hittin' the slopes?).

Composition tag reads polyurethane (though I can't honestly determine if that refers to the lining or the shell). Additional interior tag indicates the helmet was manufactured n China in April 2010.

Plucked from the MRBOH, this Trace II Audio Snowboard Helmet is by a brand called R.E.D. (you can see the logo on the front of the helmet next to the skull) and since I noticed a Burlington, Vermont, mailing address on one of the interior labels I started sleuthing. If my intel is correct*, it's a Burton-owned brand -- or at least the two brands share the same address (80 Industrial Parkway).

A funky Friday wired-for-sound helmet? Awesome. An unwitting connection to the 802?  That's music to my ears.

[*Updated 5/16/2014 10:06 a.m.: My intel was kind of correct. My Burton-involved cousin Bryan passed along the following: "It was a Burton sub-brand/company. R.E.D. stood for Rider Enhancement Devices. The company was put to bed at the end of last season [and] ANON Optical now makes/holds the branding for Burton's helmet line." So an assist to Cuz Bee for the clarification.] 

Related:
PC 354: Smokey Bear Birthday
PC 353: Think Tink
PC 352: Funky Teal Fedora


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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 354 - 70 Candles for Smokey Bear Edition

Day 354 / Hat 354: Gold-colored pressed plastic forest ranger's hat with with quadruple-dimpled two-inch crown, one-inch brim and brown felt hatband. Additional detail includes the name "Smokey" printed in dark brown all capital letters across the front.

This hat belongs to the stuffed seven-inch-tall (sans hat) Smokey Bear doll that found its way to my desk after I name-checked SB in my coverage of Pharrell William's similar signature headgear. They say that clothes don't make the man but you can see in the photo at far right -- where the hatless bruin is perched unhappily on my shoulder -- he hardy looks the same without it.

In case you didn't realize it, His Smokiness turns 70 later this summer (on August 9 to be exact). That's one of the facts I discovered in a recent Los Angeles Times article about the makeover he;s getting in advance of his upcoming birthday. Another is that other candidates for the campaign included a bird and a horse. (For some reason "Smokey Horse" doesn't quite do it for me.)

I probably should have waited until August 9 to wear this tiny cap in honor of everyone's favorite blue-jean-wearing bear but I was worried I'd totally forget. And with the recent wildfires south of here near San Diego, the topic was very much on my mind so I figured that ht should be too.

So the hat-tip (and a big bear hug) goes to Smokey Bear with an assist to his parents - the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council. I'm sure when he blows out 70 candles later this summer it will be in a totally safe, non-flammable environment.

And remember: "Only you can prevent wildfires.By the way another thing I learned in the above-referenced piece is that by federal law, that's the only line ursa fumus is allowed to say. (That doesn't seem to apply to what he types, btw -- at least based on his Facebook page and Twitter feed.)

And yes, I'm getting his hat sewed back on properly.

Related:
PC 353: Think Tink
PC 352: Funky Teal Fedora
PC 351: I Messed with Texas

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 353 - Think Tink Edition

Day 353 / Hat 353: White, baseball-style cap with front panel and bill printed with swirling blue, pink and white flowers and Tinker Bell (wearing a strapless green dress). Additional detail includes the word "Tink" in pink embroidery emblazoned with tiny pink crystals.

Plucked at random for today's installment of the Project from the MRBOH, methinks this child-sized cap belongs to her darling daughter Ava.

If you're not familiar with the modern iteration of Tink (although there is no date -- or any tag whatsoever for that matter -- anywhere on the hat, this appears to be the version of the winged urchin circa the 2008 animated movie), here's a little blurb about her from the Disney Fairies website (yes, there is one!):

"Tinker Bell is both sweet and sassy. She is loyal to her friends and will help fix their problems like a true Tinker Fairy. She loves adding lost things to her collection and going on adventures."

True Tinker Fairy indeed.

Related:

PC 352: Funky Teal Fedora
PC 351: I Messed with Texas
PC 350:  Whole Earth

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 352 - Funky Teal Fedora

Day 352 / Hat 352: Teal-colored wool felt fedora with center dent crown and 1 3/4 inch brim. Additional details include black grosgrain hatband with brown feather, oval, metallic-looking pin with the name "Bailey" on it and brown fabric sweatband lining. Silver printing inside crown reads: "Bailey, est. 1922, LiteFelt, made in the USA, packalble, water repellant." Interior label reads: "Bailey of Hollywood," and interior tag reads: "100% wool, made in USA."

Another loaner from The Headwear Association, the hangtag on this lid identifies it as a style called "Tino." I dunno who Tino was but man, he sure inspired one snazzy looking lid.

Related:
PC 351: I Messed with Texas
PC 350:  Whole Earth
PC 349: Gettin' Crabby

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 351 - I Totally Messed with Texas Edition

Day 351 / Hat 351: Navy blue, baseball-style cap with embroidery detail on front that reads: "Don"t mess with Texas" in white letters surrounded by a red oval with a blue, five-pointed star logo with white dotted-line design down the center.

Interior label reads: "Authentic Head Shots by KC Caps, one size fits most, made in Cambodia, 100% cotton."

Purchased (not stealth-snapped!) at the Stars of Austin gift shop at the the Austin-Bergstrom Airport in Austin, Texas, enroute home. 

And yes, we DID mess with Texas - in the best possible way - during our mini-break in the City of the Eternal Sound Check (there's an aloe vera plant somewhere out there with the battle scars to prove it). 

While most people have heard the oft-repeated phrase "Don't mess with Texas," most probably aren't aware that its origin is not political but environmental in nature, coined as part of a statewide anti-littering campaign in 1986 and it's a registered trademark of the Texas Department of Transportation. 

In fact, a sticker on the underside of the brim notes that  "a portion of the proceeds from the sales of these products will fund the state's litter prevention program ..."

So you might say that while I messed with Texas, I cleaned up after myself too!

Related:

PC 350: Whole Earth
PC 349: Shellfish Selfie
PC 348: Resistol is Futile

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 350 - Whole Earth Edition

Day 350 / Hat 350: Navy blue, baseball-style cap with embroidery detail on front that includes a multicolored "big blue marble" embroidered depiction of planet Earth along with the words: "Whole Earth Provision Co." in white. Hangtag indicates the "WEPCO logo cap" was made by Dorfman-Pacific Co.

Stealth-snapped at the Whole Earth Provision Co. store at 1014 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin, Texas.

The first thing we thought of when we saw the sign out front was the legendary Whole Earth Catalog, which we thought had ceased publication years ago. We corralled an employee ( a fellow named Bill) who explained there was a connection. Rather than paraphrase poorly at (I wasn't taking notes), I'm pasting in the following excerpt from the store's website:

"As the 1960s ended, Jack and Linda Jones were ready for a change. They received encouragement from two unlikely sources: a horoscope and a book. The horoscope in Vogue magazine was clear: “Quit your job and start a new project.” The message from the Whole Earth Catalog gave direction: “...we’ve been telling everyone who’s inquired politely if they could open a store - Go Ahead.”

The Whole Earth Catalog was a revolutionary publication that flourished in the 1960s into the early 1980s. The Catalog encouraged “individuals to conduct their own education, find their own inspiration, shape their own environment and share the adventure with whoever is interested.” The Catalog had hundreds of pages filled with short descriptions of books and tools that presented an encyclopedic view of the world and how it worked from the microscopic to the galactic.

For an item to be included in the catalog, it had to meet four criteria: useful as a tool, relevant to independent education, high quality and/or low cost and easily available by mail. But what the Catalog’s readers really longed for was a store where they could actually lay their hands on the books and tools they’d been reading about. Jack and Linda Jones, with the help of their friends and family, made that dream a reality by opening a retail store, Whole Earth Provision Co., based on the ideals and products found in the Whole Earth Catalog.

The first Whole Earth store opened on December 14, 1970, a block from the University of Texas campus in Austin. It was so successful that the shelves were empty ten days later. The store had an eclectic stock where shoppers could find items like “how-to” and travel books (including the Whole Earth Catalog), grain mills, massage oils, baby carriers, geodesic dome model kits, Aladdin mantle lamps and beekeeping supplies. Gradually, hiking boots and lightweight camping equipment like tents, backpacks and sleeping bags were added to the mix."

According to its website the Whole Earth Provision Co. now has nine stores in five Texas cities - including three in Austin.
Since Austin is where Whole Foods got its start (we also popped into its flagship store today) I can only wonder if the name was somehow inspired by the Whole Earth name (store or catalog).
Another bit of trivia? Our friend Dudley DeZonia once worked at the original Whole Earth Catalog, I believe it was from 1969 until its demise in 1971. 

Related:

PC 349: Gettin' Crabby
PC 348: Strait from the Boot
PC 347: Sinamay by Southwest

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 celebrated 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. 

Project Cubbins: Hat 349 - Gettin' Crabby Edition

Day 349/ Hat 349: Red felt crab beanie-style hat with black and white eyes and red crab claw details both on bendable things not unlike pipe cleaners.

Interior tag reads: "JHats 4/13, made in China," and interior barcode sticker reads: "America! 11265, Crab Hat, $6.99"

Purchased for the Project by my sister-in-law, Kathleen who spotted it in the Baltimore airport during a connection en route to Austin, Texas, to meet the Bride and me.

So today's tip o' the crab claw goes to 'Thleen for her discerning eye for headgear - especially in light of the fact that she can't eat crab, lobster and the like 'cause she's allergic.

How's that for not being the least bit shellfish?

Related:
PC 214: Naughty Pine
PC 150: Austin Beanie
PC 127: Everything's Coming Up Roosevelt


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 celebrated 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.