Project Cubbins: Hat 431 - Have Lester Lanin Lid Will Travel Edition

Day 431 / Hat 431: Pink bucket hat with four-panel crown, white pompom on top and the name "Lester Lanin" screen printed in blue script on the brim. Interior tag reads: "Made in USA." Fabrication unknown but likely cotton or a cotton/poly blend.

Today's hat, from the Bride's headgear holdings, is in the spirit of the Throwback Thursday phenomenon that's gripped Facebook for the last several months and is most likely the single most meaningful lid to be featured to date.

Lester Lanin, you see, was a society bandleader without parallel who had a career that stretched across some eight decades -- from shortly before Barbara Hutton's 1930 coming out party to 2001 when he put down his baton but the bands under his name kept touring. To give you a little insight into the man and his milieu, here's an excerpt from his 2004 New York Times obituary:

He supplied danceable happiness to several generations of the richest and most beautiful people on earth, at events ranging from Queen Elizabeth's 60th birthday party to the wedding of Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel to the private parties of the duPonts, Chryslers and Mellons.

He made music for Grace Kelly's engagement party, and at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. He wrote "My Lady Love" in honor of their marriage. The kings of Norway, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden hired him.

He played every presidential inauguration since Eisenhower's, except two. Jimmy Carter thought he was too expensive, and George W. Bush didn't invite him.

He often had several bands touring at once (hence the title of the album I'm

Detail from the back of "Have Band Will Travel"

holding in the above photo) and according to the NYT obit, by 1992 they had played some 20,000 wedding receptions, 7,500 parties and 4,500 proms. One of the signatures of a Lester Lanin gig was giving out hundreds of colored hat emblazoned with "Lester Lanin" in the distinctive script also visible in the above photo.  It's estimated that he gave away some 50,000 such hats a year.

At the time of his 2004 death there were only two Lester Lanin Orchestra bands still touring and, due to the Admiral's considerable generosity, one of those two bands played at my 2003 wedding reception where I danced to "Moonlight in Vermont" with the freshly minted Bride. (Way to bury the lead, right?) The colorful shower of caps upon the crowd later in the evening was a memory not soon to be forgotten 

While this hat-tip is ultimately due the Admiral, the assist to Lester Lanin and his merry music makers for a hat-toss ritual that's brought wearable memories to so many.  

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PC 331: Lucky Steampunk
PC 131: Black, Hairy Beret
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 430 - (American) 'Spies Like Us' Edition

Day 430 / Hat 430: Black, faux fur Russian trapper hat with rectangular black appliqué on front with "The Americans" in white embroidery --save the letter "C" which is a Communist-era hammer and sickle design in red embroidery) with the words "On Blu-ray™ & DVD, 2014 FOX All Rights Reserved" appearing below. Additional detail includes diamond-quilted interior lining -- also in black, and woven strings at the end of each ear flap.

Interior tag reads: "100% polyester, hand wash only" on one side and "Produced by RDP Creative UK, W1W 7DU, product #RDP 67667, made in China" on the other.

This hat was perched on the corner of my computer monitor when I arrived at the office this morning. I'm not yet sure who the hat fairy was in this particular instance, but it's pretty clear that it arrived at the office as part of a promotional push for DVD release of the FX television series "The Americans,"  which stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as Russian spies Elizabeth and Philip Jennings.

A hat-tip to the mystery donor.

Related:
PC 217: 'Spies Like Us'
PC 252: Glam White Trapper
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 429 - Scalloped Floppy Scala Edition

Day 429 / Hat 429: Black floppy sun hat with braided woven 3.5-inch brim and crocheted scallop-patterned 3-inch crown. additional detail includes black woven hatband detail with knot.Interior tag reads: Scala, handcrafted headwear since 1921," and fabrication tag reads: "100% paper, one size," on front and "MARLP86-ASST, made in China" on the other.

The second of the hats-at-the-door collection loaned to the Project by Josie Witte (you saw the first a few days ago at PC: 425).

The hat-tip to JW and a public service reminder to keep that noggin properly covered out of doors!

And if you don't have a hat, I bet I know where you can find one ...

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PC 286: Sinamay Sun Hat
PC 303: Croft & Barrow Sun Hat
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 428 - Magic (Raffia) Kingdom Edition

Day 428 / Hat 428: Woven raffia hat with two-tone hatband detail and stretchy woven sweatband lining and brown and beige embroidery on front that reads: "Disneyland 1955, The Original." Interior label reads: "Disneyland Resort®," and fabrication tag reads: "100% raffia, large," on one side and "RN31905, made in China" on the other.

This was purchased during my last visit to Disneyland at the urging of my sister-in-law (in agreeance with the Bride) as she felt we all needed Disney lids that particularly suited us and the last time I ran around the park sporting a pair of Mickey Mouse ears I looked like a refugee from a Gary Larson comic strip. 

This one came from the Adventureland Bazaar which is totally appropriate since my hands down favorite attraction (ever since I was l'il Adam at Walt Disney World on the opposite coast) is the Enchanted Tiki Room right inside the entrance to Adventureland.

Oh, in case you were wondering, the 1955 refers to the date Disneyland opened its doors: July 17, 1955.

The Enchanted Tiki Room didn't open its thatched bamboo doors until a bit later June 23, 1963, to be exact. But when it did it contained 2225 AudioAnimatronic performers (including toucans, flowers and wall carvings) directed by a 14-channel magnetic tape feeding 100 speakers and controlling 438 separate actions (those numbers courtesy of this entry at allears.net) 

I like to think of the Garlodge as my little homage to the Enchanted Tiki Room.

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PC 93: Sparkle-Ears

PC 16: Golden Ears

A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 427 - Head of a (Red) Rock Edition

Day 427 / Hat 427: Brick red baseball-style cap with gray contrast edging on bill and gray embroidery on front that reads: "Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area" accompanied by two petroglyph designs -- a five-fingered hand and a four-legged, two-horned stick figure animal. Additional embroidery on back (also in gray) reads "Las Vegas, Nevada." Interior tag reads: "Anvil, made in Cambodia/100% cotton."

Located  in the Mojave Desert 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, the 195,819-acre Red Rock Canyon is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management and is well worth the trip even if it's just to drive the 13-mile scenic drive or check out the wildlife (if I recall correctly they've got an enclosure with some slow-moving shelled critters that I took a shine to) since it's a perfect antidote to the madness that is the Vegas Strip.

I ended up there one Easter weekend with the in-laws (trust me, nothing says: "He Is Risen" like the sun rising over Las Vegas on Easter morning) and it ended up being a very memorable experience all the way around. (BTW, the drive out to Red Rock Canyon gave rise to a very funny Shroud of Turin reference if I do say so myself.)

Related:
PC 370: Dark Vegas
PC 152: Hat Vegas
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 426 - Hawaiian Wedding Lid Edition

Day 426/Hat 426: White, baseball-style cap with orange embroidery on the front in the form of a five-petaled flower. Additional embroidery (also in orange) on the back reads "March 20, 2004." Interior label reads "Sope Creek," and fabrication tag reads "100% cotton, made in China, one size fits all."

The hats were gifts to the wedding party (my wife was a bridesmaid) at our friends' Marne and John's wedding (hence the date on the back). The flower is the logo of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Kohala Coast on the island of Hawaii.

If my intel is correct, the logo is a stylized hibiscus flower (although that's a guess -- all I know for certain is that the hibiscus has five petals and so does the flower on the hat).

That wedding was certainly a memorable one. I won't go into the details (many are hazy) but you can read a little write up about in Bride's magazine by clicking here.

And in case you're wondering the photo above right is the Bride and I (immediately post pool) on the Big Island at some point in that mad-cap five-day wedding excursion a decade and change ago.


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PC 326: Adjustments
PC 226: Recycling on Deck 
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 425 - Busy as a Beekeeper Edition

Day 425 / Hat 425: Cream-colored sun hat with four-inch brim and four copper grommet and black mesh air vents on crown. Additional detail includes a subtle-to-the-point-of-stealth tone-on-tone embroidery on crown (which the blur hat number tag in the above photo is pointing right at) that reads: "Burt's Bees." Interior label reads: "100% cotton, made in China, RN 97556."

You know what's a good way to end a week? Coming home to find a bag of hats on your doorstep. That's exactly what I found when I rolled into the homestead this afternoon -- thanks to FOC (Friend Of Cubbins) Josie Witte who dropped 'em off personally in a bag marked: "Cubbins - Rock On!"

Which means a Friday hat-tip - and a future tour of the apiary -- goes to Josie for her thoughtful loan of this (and another soon-to-be-featured) floppy hat. 

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PC 325: Mini-Swashbuckler
PC 225: Bubble Player
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 424 - Fruit Bucket Edition

Day 424 / Hat 424: Fruit-print bucket hat with interior tag that reads: "David & Young, RN 54976, 100% cotton, made in Korea."

A late-night, Hail Mary pull from the Bride's headgear archive, this is actually the third David & Young hat to appear in the Project (the first way back at PC 25, the second at PC 221).

I appreciate that the pineapple is making a good showing in the above photo.

Hat-tip to the Bride ...

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PC 324: The Eye in Pyramid

PC 124: VA Reunion (This wallpaper's killin' me!)

A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 423 - Fucshia Burberry Bucket / POTUS Posse Edition

Day 423 / Hat 423: Reversible bucket hat with fuchsia-colored leather on one side and Burberry's signature check on the other (in cotton if I'm not mistaken). Label on check side reads: " Burberry London."

A late afternoon impulse grab from the Bride's headgear archive. 

I should point out that this afternoon I found myself in a most Bartholemew Cubbins-like waiting situation. As anyone familiar with the book knows, the whole situation that kicked off the volley of hats was the fact that the king was headed through town and everyone (including young master Bart) was to remove their lid to show respect as he passed. 

Well, as I approached thew homestead this afternoon it turns out that none other than the President of these United States was scheduled to pass through -- which required 3rd Street be blocked off to cross traffic from Doheny to somewhere near Highland. So I parked Diamond White, got out of the car and waited at the corner of 3rd Street and Edinburgh for the better part of 45 minutes until the POTUS posse passed.

I managed to get a pretty cool photo of what I believe to be the presidential wheels (aka "the beast"). I even think I saw POTUS his old bat self rolling calls in the back seat (but maybe that's wishful thinking). When it was all over I realized that in my enthusiasm for the moment I had failed to remove my hat.

Yup, I totally pulled a Cubbins. Which is kind of appropriate, I suppose.

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PC 290: Barbour Bucket
PC 253: Tam o' Kinda Sorta
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins


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 422 - Cruisin' Cap of the Seas Edition

Day 422 / Hat 422: White, baseball-style cap with adjustable, Velcro-closure sizing strap in the back and multi-colored embroidery on front that reads: "Royal Caribbean International" to the right of a white crown and anchor logo against a navy blue background. Interior tag reads: "Style No 4242, 100 % cotton, one size fits all, hand wash only, made in China."

This lid was waiting for me on my desk here in the cube farm this morning, passed along by my travel section compatriots who had no doubt received it from the RCI folks touting some cruise or another.

Here's a little color about that crown and anchor logo specifically -- and the cruise line's adventures in branding generally -- from its website circa early 2012:

"We are launching “The Sea is Calling, Answer it Royally” in the United States today, January 9th. We hope and expect it will be a notable event in our brand’s history. While this is a major change in our communications, please note that we still cherish and express many traditions some of which date back over 40 years. These traditions are not going anywhere. We will discuss the new approach in other entries. Here I want to comment on a few of the traditions.

One of these is our crown and anchor symbol. If anything, we intend for our new marketing communications to draw even more attention to the crown and anchor. It clearly serves a very special role in conveying the quality and heritage of Royal Caribbean International.

As a brief history lesson, it has now been exactly 15 years since we adopted the brand name Royal Caribbean International and the rectangular geometry of our logo. At the time, we hired very prominent (and very expensive!) identity consultants who assisted us in coming up with our rectangular logo. While we did undertake some very subtle tweaks to the crown and anchor, we essentially retained it then as we will retain it now. The consultants were at first puzzled by our affinity for the crown and anchor. They thought it was too masculine and even harsh to be the symbol of a vacation brand. After they completed their interviews of our people and of travel agents, they came back to us and said that they had never encountered such fierce loyalty to a symbol with any previous client.

Those of you whose Royal Caribbean memories go back to the 1970’s will remember that our brand colors were blue, red and white. By the early 1990’s our colors were primarily blue and white. Now they are blue and mustard yellow. That change also occurred 15 years ago. We made the change to make our logo stand out more and to bring the concept of sunshine into our color scheme. These remain our colors going forward although you will also see other vibrant colors in our communications that work with the logo to reinforce both the energy and quality of a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation."

Another tradition referenced in the post is the naming convention that has each ship's name ending in "... of the Seas"  such as Jewel of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Chicken of the Seas (OK, not that last one -- I threw that in for giggles).

This is Adam of the Silent Ts bidding you "bon voyage" until tomorrow ... anchors aweigh!

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PC 322: By George
PC 222: Stingy Straw
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 421 - Billabong Bucket Edition

Day 421 / Hat 421: Reversible palm-print bucket hat with blue interior. (the Bride says: "I'd say midnight blue -- which also used to be the name of sex show on HBO." So noted.) Additional detail includes the name Billabong embroidered on interior (aka "flipped lid" side) and red Billabong seam tag on palm-print side. 

Grifted from a recently discovered mother lode of millinery in the Bride's archives. I think a palm-print bucket hat pretty much speaks for itself. It should be noted, however, that the mighty palm tree has been a bit of a motif around the homestead here, thanks to a towering Washington palm named Steve (after my freshman college year roommate who was similarly vertically gifted).


In case you were wondering (I was), the Billabong surf apparel brand takes its name from a word that means "a creek that runs only in the rainy season." (at leas that's what the Wikipedians are saying.)

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PC 321: T for Tiara
PC 121: Loden Verboten
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 420 - Los Angeles Bakers Edition

Day 420 / Hat 420: Yellow, purple and white baseball-style cap size 7 and 1/4 with yellow brim and the words: "Los Angeles Bakers" embroidered in purple on front. Additional detail includes purple button on crown, the brand name Grassroots embroidered on back in purple above the numeral 33 embroidered in purple and white, and purple pot leaves screen-printed in purple on the yellow under brim. Interior lined in purple silk-like fabric with purple seam team printed in yellow tht reads "Grassroots: Smokin' Trees Drainin' Threes." Fabrication tag reads: "30% wool, 70% acrylic, made in China."

Here's a couple of "believe it or nots" for you: First, this hat was chosen for today completely without the realization of any hat/number significance. (If you don't see any significance, feel free to go about your business.) I ran across it today sitting atop a moderately priced free-standing tiki in the long-under-renovation Garlodge (which, Garlodge fans should be happy to know is almost back to its former low-fi glory.)

Second in the believe it or not category, I originally ran across this hat while I was working on a story for work -- by attending the inaugural THC Expo hemp and art show in downtown Los Angeles (you can read the finished product here).

BTW, if you happen to be a smokin' fan of L.A.'s other NBA team, I've seen at least one "Los Angles Clippings" hat out there made by the same folks.

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PC 320: Gone Squatchin'
PC 120: My Buccaneer
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 419 -- Flying with Bill Edition

Day 419 / Hat 419: Khaki-colored baseball-style cap with the word "Flying" embroidered on front in all caps and "www.flyingmag.com" embroidered on back above Velcro-closure adjustable sizing strap. Interior tag reads: "100% cotton, made in China, RN# 102635."

Handed to me today by Zachary Harrison, eldest offspring of one Bill Harrison of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and my bestie from way back in the VA days. (You may remember him getting a shout out back in PC 129.) Bill had sent it to Zach to give to me for use in the project.

When he handed it over, ZH said: "I'm not sure exactly what it means." While I'm not 100% sure either, I'm guessing it's either a reference to the fact that Bill will be flying out here in October to visit his L.A.-based son - thus doing a pop-in here, or the fact we were co-pilots on Space Mountain so many years ago. 

Either way, today's hat-tip goes to Bill Harrison, with the assist to Zachary Harrison. I'm here and I'll leave the light on ...

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PC 319: Cowboy Situation
PC 219: Winding Down with Washburn
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 418 - My Favorite Minion Edition

Day 418 / Hat 418: Yellow cotton baseball-style cap with photo-printed Minion eyes on front outlined in gray embroidery. Additional details include black screen-printed eyebrows, black grosgrain ribbon "goggle strap" that goes all the way around the hat and a photo-printed Minion mouth on the bill of the hat. 

One interior tag reads: "Despicable Me, Minion made," and another indicates the hat came from Target and was second quarter 2014 merchandise.

My favorite minion, Carter Dunlop.

"Another Minion lid?" I hear you asking (because you remember PC 179 so distinctly, what with the lemon in my mouth) Yes, but this is not only a totally different piece of Minion-themed headgear, it happens to belong to my favorite l'il minion -- great-nephew Carter Dunlop. I spotted him sporting it in recent Facebook photo and knew it needed to be featured.

His mom, my niece Chelsea, included the following note: "I tried to clean the toddler 'my fingers are eternally sticky and dirty' stains off the brim. Maybe you can include a "how to properly clean baseball caps" segment with this picture."

My go-to response for that would be to recommend the Ball Cap Buddy though in the case of a hat like this it might actually do more harm than good as I envision the washing process might result in wiping the smile right off this particular Minion's face. (And yes, I'm trying to make my best Minion mouth in the above photo.)

At any rate, Carter gets today's hat-tip with the assist going to his mom for sending it along. (I presume she had to help him since he's not yet tall enough to reach the mailbox by himself).


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PC 118: Smiley Faces
PC 318: Tarnish Topper
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 417 - Curses, Foiled Again Edition

Day 417 / Hat 417: Mostly triangular aluminum foil hat constructed shiny-side-out from Reynolds Wrap® Standard Aluminum Foil.  Brim measures 18 inches a side and crown measures 11 inches in height with a three-inch flat spot on top of the crown.

Constructed yesterday by our Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter ("Instead of doing my work," she says.) She notes that upon completion it was modeled by various fellow cube farmers before alighting in a place of honor -- the inflatable turkey wearing a bacon bandage at Noelle's desk -- where it caught my eye first thing upon my arrival this morning.

I have a strange connection to the tin foil story (yeah, I know it's aluminum and not tin): My dad distinctly recalls, as a kid, when his own father (Frank Henry Tschorn and an engineer by trade) worked for Reynolds Metals as the company was trying to get the thickness of its product just right for introduction into home use. 

The result? Lots and lots of rolls of foil - some too think, some too thin. Which means daddy-o and his brohams had plenty of tin foil hats to go around.

The lesson here? The crumpled ball of aluminum foil doesn't fall far from the tree. 

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PC 217: Spies Like Us
PC 117: Chefs Like Us
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 416 - I think I'm Turning 'Hoganese' Edition

Day 416 / Hat 416: Black baseball-style cap with red and white embroidery of a charging razorback hog om front. Interior rag reads" Cap America, 100% cotton, made in Bangladesh, one size fits all." Graciously loaned to the Project by the Bride.

The ornery oinker on this hat happens to be the mascot of the University of Arkansas sports teams -- the Bride's family has deep ties to the Natural State -- and here's a little color about the choice of a razorback hog:

From 1894, when the football program began, until 1910, the official mascot was the Cardinals to complement the school color of cardinal red. In 1909, according to school lore, the head football coach Hugo Bezdek gave a speech to a large group of students at the Fayetteville train station after returning from a victory over LSU in 1909 during an undefeated season. Coach Bezdek informed the crowd that his team had performed "like a wild band of Razorback hogs." Although students had begun referring to the team as the Razorbacks as early as 1907, Bezdek's statement popularized the use of Razorback for the team. The Razorback, which is characterized by a ridged back and tenacious wild fighting ability, had long been associated with the backwoods of Arkansas. 

Apparently the school has a live version of the mascot -- currently a 380-pound Russian boar named Tusk -- as well as a family of uniformed mascots that includes Big Red, Sue E (the female hog) and Pork Chop (a kiddy mascot).

In researching this particular porker, I ran across a recently published post titled "Arkansas Razorbacks mastering their 'Hoganese'" about the coded terminology the University of Arkansas is using on the field.

This little piggy's going to leave it at that.

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PC 316: Bookish
PC 116: Makin' Headlines
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 415 - Sooooo Don't Go There Edition

Day 415 / Hat 415: Bright pink, baseball-style cap with white embroidery that reads: "The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows." Interior tag reads: "Imperial, since 1916, Denver Colorado," and fabrication tag reads: "100% cotton, made in Vietnam" and it looks as if the date of manufacture was 10/09.

Borrowed for the Project from the Bride's headwear archives she says of its provenance: "I think I got it when I stayed there years ago with my mom -- I certainly didn't get it there when we stayed there with one of the anniversary IOUs you promised me."

I wear this hat for today's installment of the Project with a heavy heart because, while my march toward 500 hats means I'm pretty much an equal-opportunity hat-wearer, the aforementioned hotel has ties to the sultanate of Brunei which has been the subject of a recent boycott thanks to its recently passed strict anti-gay laws.

We last darkened the doorstep there on Easter, the day before news of the new laws - and resulting boycott by the fashion community -- broke.

Related:
PC 215: A Fez for Ants
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins
Art, fashion labor groups join protest at Beverly Hills Hotel

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 414 - Pink Pleated Prada Pick-Me-Up Edition

Day 414 /Hat 414 / Pink pleated satin Prada turban with black lining.

Graciously loaned to the Project from the Bride's archival hat holdings. At first she demurred, not wanting to spoil the big reveal (she's determined to save it for her turban-wearing years) until I convinced her that the flash in the pan of an early 400s installment of the Project hat will certainly not be stealing her future headgear thunder.

Also, as I explained to her, today was for the birds and I couldn't think of a better pick-me-up than a pleated pink Prada turban (say that five times fast!).

For the record, she did make me wash and towel dry my head so I didn't soil it for future wearings.

As near as our collective memories serve us (buttressed by the slightest amount of web-sleuthing) this turban was the one featured in Prada's Spring 2007 ready-to-wear runway show.

Related:
PC 314: Sly Turk
PC 214: Naughty Pine
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 413 - Straight Outta Dillsburg Edition

Day 413 / Hat 413: Woven, natural straw sun hat with four-inch crown and bendable, wire-reinforced three-inch brim. Details include frayed edges, multiple holes worn in crown and interior woven sweatband with sign of heavy wear including something that may be either a blood or ketchup stain. It smells strongly of burnt grasses mixed with bug repellent.

This hard-worn hat was sent to the Project by dear friend, former college (and immediately post-college) cohort, roommate and partner in crime Greg Adams, currently a resident of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. 

It arrived in a box along with a photo -- of a side view of his face - with notations of skin cancer surgeries he had in 2003 and 2004. The box also contained the following letter:

While the hat arrived a week or so ago, I'd been hoping to procure a kiddie pool so that I might dispatch the hat per Greg Hed's request (don't ask about the nicknames -- they were birthed in a time and place without reason). But recent developments among my loved ones battling various forms of skin cancer make me feel that the time was ripe to post this lid with the torching to take place at a later time and place.

Yes, Greg (whom as the Oscar Acosta to my Hunter Thompson was know to us both as "my attorney") makes valid and cogent points -- both as regards the importance of sun protection and my occasional drift from the true purposes of the hat. I appreciate the hattitude adjustment -- and the meaningful donation to the Project.

Gregory Todd Adams, the hat-tip on this 13th day of July in the year of our lord two thousand and fourteen is yours. The proof of a Viking funeral will be forthcoming. 

Related:
PC 313: Black Sheep
PC 113: Fair Trade
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 412 - "Can You Hear Me Sensei Wu?" Edition

Day 412 / Hat 412: White conical Asian hat made of papier-mâché with gold metallic detail at top. This hat was worn by the pinata version of Sensei Wu before it was whacked from his round yellow head full of candy and toys at a six-year-old's Ninjago-themed birthday party earlier today. 

According to the Lego Brickapedia (who knew?) Sensei Wu is a Lego Ninjago

minifigure who serves as the Ninjas' sensei and in addition to the hat, he traditionally sports a long, white beard and mustache (which I'm holding in my right hand in the above photo). The birthday boy's younger brother Freddy is the fellow in my arms, he was a little put out as he was too young to be allowed to play whack-a-sensei.

The birthday party was super cute and the tip of the hat goes, unwittingly, to young master George the birthday boy who will be going to sleep this evening no doubt a very tired but  happy Ninjago birthday boy.

Related:
PC 358: Princess Silver
PC 112: Jesus Birthday Edition
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins


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 411 - He has a Certain Raffia Edge Edition

Day 411 / Hat 411: Multicolor striped sun hat with deconstructed raffia edge and floral print sweatband lining. Interior tag reads "Grevi, made in Italy," and fabrication tag reads: "40% acrylic, 40% nylon, 20% raffia."

A last minute dash-and-grab from the Bride's closet room. "I got that at Anthropologie," she says of its provenance. I, in turn, schnibbed it from the hat rack front and center inside the room. How it lasted this long without making the Project I do not know.

It's been a bear of a Friday, time to go hibernate ...

Related:
PC 311: Yellow Dot
PC 111: Whale Tale
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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 ban

Project Cubbins: Hat 410 - This Old 2 Hour House Edition

Day 410 / Hat 410: Yellow HDPE plastic hard hat with gray plastic and fabric interior harness. Black printing on front reads: "2 Hour House." Interior stamping on plastic says "made in the USA" and interior sticker indicates the manufacturer is Bullard of Cynthiana, Ky.

First question: What the H - E double hockey sticks is 2 Hour House? According to its website (and I quote):

"2Hour House is the ultimate event based, project management process – designed to change our understanding and acceptance of existing leadership, team-building, management expectation. It shifts the global mindset from ordinary to extraordinary, and inspires us to begin breaking the rules, so we can all break records in our business and personal lives."

Huh? Reading between the lines it seems like it's trying to teach us that anything's possible if we all work in two hours! (Actual slogan: "What does building a house have to do with your business? EVERYTHING!")

together/communicate well -- like building an entire house

Second question: How did I end up with this hat? Well, as I warned y'all back at PC 67, I had long ago been designated the cube farm's "safety officer," a role which entitled me to wear a hard hat along with a snazzy blaze orange vest. For years the two items have been sitting here under my desk (see accompanying photographic evidence).

How this advertising lid (ad lid?) ended up as a designated safety helmet I don't know, but if it keeps me from getting knocked on the noggin while performing officer heroics I'm all for it (though I hope evacuating the Baja Features cube farm takes far less than two hours.)

Related:
PC 310: Reservations
PC 110: Stealth Croaker
A Year Ago Today in Project Cubbins

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.