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!

Project Cubbins: Hat 225 - Mr. Bubble Player Edition

Day 225 / Hat 225: Brown parasisal straw stingy brim fedora dyed with natural earth pigments. Details
include brown weathered grosgrain hatband with bow detail with Kangol nameplate just above bow on wearer's left. Brim measures 1 1/4 inches. Interior tag reads: "Kangol, founded 38.83." Additional tag reads: "K1034LX, made in U.S.A., Large, Bubble Player."

A loaner from the Ingrid Schmidt Hat Rack for Wayward Headgear, at first I thought this slightly crumpled hat had been left out in inclement weather -- having what appeared to be a rain-stained, dye-streaked hatband.  That was before I started looking into the "Bubble Player" (Kangol's name for the style), the description for which includes this detail: "The band pattern is created by using a bubble dye technique also from natural colourants." 

This particular version is in a color described as "leaf." it's also available in  a turquoise shade called "lupine" -- which, in my humble hat-wearing opinion, looks more like an intentional design and less like accidental rain damage.

Bubble-dyed hatband detail.

What is a "bubble dye technique" you ask? My cursory search of the interwebs did not turn up anything conclusive (though lots of references to Kangol hats), but one DIY website has an extensive tutorial on how to make a bubble-dye-printed T-shirt by literally blowing bubbles into a pan full of Rit dye.

I had a bit more luck with "parasisal" which, according to the Hats UK website, is a straw made from sisal and preferred by hatmakers because it is a more delicate "two over two" weave as opposed to the coarser "one over one" which is referred to as sisal  proper.

Related:
PC 224: Prada Peacock
PC 223: Rally Helmet
PC 222: Stingy Made of Straw

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 224 - Peacock Prada Edition

Day 224: Hat 224: Peacock-feather covered straw hat. interior tag reads: "Prada, made in Italy," and still-attached hang tag reads: "Cappello, Size: M, Art. P7126, Colour: Naturale, Group Name: Cap Piume Fenic."

This fine-feathered fashion find is from the Bride's extensive headwear collection. She says she picked it up at the Prada store at the Desert Premium Outlets on the way to Palm Springs. "It was one of the best outlet finds I've ever scored," she says of having procured said peacockery.

Based on my cursory research, it appears this hat was part of the Spring/Summer 2005 runway collection shown in Milan back in September of 2004.

What I couldn't easily ascertain is why the hang tag uses the word fenic. "Cappello" translates from Italian as "hat," (and "cap" is apparently the same in both languages), "piume" means "plumage" and I expected trusty Google Translate to tell me that "fenic" meant "peacock." So I was surprised that it came up empty -- and asked: "Did you mean: fenice?" I don't think I did, but apparently "fenice" translates as "phoenix" -- a mythical bird with eye-catching plumage no doubt, but no peacock (which, by the way, is pavone in Italian).

Whatever the answer is, there's no denying it's Prada plumage at its finest -- so today's tip o' the feathered cap goes to the Bride for the loan.

Related:
PC 223: Rally Helmet 
PC 222: Stingy Made of Straw
PC 221: Riff Raffia

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 223 - Head in the Game Edition

Day 223 / Hat 223: Orange foam rally helmet designed to look like a basketball, with black, arched eyebrows and yellow-framed face plate. 

Additional details include  Los Angeles Lakers "L"  logo in the middle of the forehead, Lakers logos on left and right side as well as back of helmet.

Printing on back of helmet includes: "The Rally Helmet, Rico industries Inc. / Tag Express," a U.S flag with the words "Made in America," the red,white and blue NBA logo, and the following disclaimer:

"Warning: This product is not designed to be used as protective headgear. It will not protect against blunt forces caused to the head and is designed for novelty uses only."

I've had this for several Lakers seasons now, but decided to make it today's installment in honor of the Lakers' 110-99 win last night against the Utah Jazz after a six-game losing streak.

The Bride didn't want to watch, but ever the cock-eyed optimist, I convinced her to by asking "Well, what if they won? Wouldn't you kick yourself for missing it?"

It wasn't the prettiest win, but it was a win nonetheless - and with a team that looks very little like the Lakers of last year (or even earlier this year for that matter). Since the Lakers play on a court that's built over the L.A. Kings home ice, I'm calling it "the miracle over ice."

And that's why you always watch the game! 

If you're wondering just how big a Lakers fan I am, I'd like to direct your attention to the "Pillow Pet" wearing a yellow Lakers jersey and purple headband on the headboard behind me. (Sometimes I think of trying to wrestle our cat Bob - who is about the size shape of that stuffed animal - into that jersey.)

So today's tip of the rally helmet goes to the Lakers.  

Related:
PC 157: Let's Go Lakers!
PC 197: Winter Laker Lid
PC 222: Stingy Made of Straw

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 222 - Stingy Made of Straw Edition

Day 222 / Hat 222: Straw, stingy brim fedora in a woven, geometric pattern of black- and natural-colored straw. Black hatband on exterior and sweatband on interior appear to be cotton. Interior tags reads: "Livitiy Outernational" on one side and "Wisdom, knowledge and overstanding," on the other. Second tag reads: "L/XL, 100% natural straw, made in China with love."

I don't know much about Livity, but I do appreciate tag-related word play, which this hat has in spades.

Loaned to the Project from Ingrid Schmidt (who obviously has a thing for fedoras - collecting them if not wearing them), it's one of the deep bench of hats stacked at my office cubicle.

Oh, and that stern looking face I'm sporting? That's my game face -- it means I'm all business.

Related:
PC 221: Riff Raffia
PC 220: Happy New Year!
PC 219: Winding Down with Washburn


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 221 - Riff Raffia Edition

Day 221 / Hat 221: Purple raffia stingy brim fedora with black grosgrain hatband detail. Interior tag reads: "D&Y style#: AFD8520." This hat is a loaner to the Project from the Ingrid Schmidt headgear archives.

The D&Y stands for David & Young, and based on the style number, it appears to be this "Simply Basic Raffia Fedora" listed at their website.

Raffia is one of those fiber/textile things I kind of knew of but not much about -- until today. Turns out there are some 20 species in the Raphia palm genus (so sayeth Wikipedia, anyway) and the part that's commonly dyed and woven as a textile (like in the hat I'm sporting) is a membrane "on the underside of each individual frond leaf."

Apparently the sap of the raffia palm can also be used to make a type of palm wine known as "dibondo" (or at least that's what it's called in the Democratic Republic of Congo --  based on my cursory search of the interwebs).

I'll drink to that!

Related:
PC 220: Happy New Year!
PC 219: Wearing Washburn
PC 218: State Traditions

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 220 - Paper Party Hat Edition

Day 220 / Hat 220: Silver metallic paper party hat with black confetti design and lettering that reads: "Happy New Year!" Interior tag reads: "Amscan, made in Mexico."

Note the presence of our cat Citrus barely visible in the lower right of the photo - intrigued as she was with the New Year's noisemaker in my mouth. Sometimes we refer to Citrus as "Butterscotch Lightning" because of the speed at which she moves about the place. 

Happy New Year to all -- may your 2014 be full of happiness and hats!

Related:
PC 219: Winding Down with Washburn
PC 218: State Traditions
PC 217: 'Spies Like Us'

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 219 - Winding Down (2013) with Washburn Edition

Day 219 / Hat 219: Brown, leather, stingy brim fedora (size large) with black and caramel patterned interior lining and matching hat band. Interior tag reads: "Goorin Bros., est. 1895."

It's a style called "Washburn," and here's the description of the hat from Goorin's website:

"Washburn is a signature Victor Reyes fedora from the XO Collection. This brown leather hat is accented by a custom woven fabric custom designed by Reyes for the XO line. Reyes is know for his bold use of organic pattern, meshed with hard edged line work."

This is the second of the hats I picked up at Goorin's sample sale in downtown L.A. a couple weeks back.(The first was Ms. Waldock's replacement hat, aka "PC 203: Trees on my Mind".)

I usually shy away from the stingy brim since my girth makes me feel like it's putting a party hat on a bowling pin, but the height of the crown on this here Washburn sort of compensates for it. 

VIDEO: Project Cubbins: The Road to 500

As this is the last installment of 2013, I feel obligated to offer a sincere tip of the hat to all those who generously donated their time, energy and much, much millinery to help make Project Cubbins a success. Your enthusiasm and support for my quest to don 500 pieces of headgear in 500 days has been truly amazing. 

Happy New Year!

Related:
PC 218: State Traditions
PC 217: 'Spies Like Us'
PC 216: Tschorn with Horns

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 218 - State Traditions Edition

Me with Hat 218 - in Fryman Canyon Park, Los Angeles

Day 218 / Hat 218: Green, 100% cotton baseball-style cap with gold embroidered outline of the state of Vermont (edged in white embroidery) on front and additional gold embroidery on back that reads: "State Traditions" in all caps.

Purchased at the Orvis flagship store in Manchester, Vermont, during my recent return to the 802, this hat is actually by a company called "State Traditions" (the name also appears on an interior tag). Here's a brief background from the label's website:

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, State Traditions creates top-notch, state and country-inspired apparel and accessories that reflect traditions across America and the world. The brand is the brainchild of friends Keith Brown and John McElrath, who were looking for a creative way to showcase their state pride both around town and at the stadium in the summer of 2007.

Nonetheless, the name got my brain moving in a different direction (as my brain Is wont to do) and I started thinking about state traditions in general.

Just off the top of my head (almost literally), Vermont's state traditions might include town meeting day, mud season and the mischievous practice of cow tipping -- though, as I've said many a time, I spent 30 years there and never actually saw a cow tipped or heard an earnest first-person confession of same.

I'm sure other Vermonters (aka "you shoobs") have additional traditions to add -- if so I encourage you to share them in the comments below. Same for you folks hailing from the other 49 as well. What does your home state do that none of the rest seem to do - or do as well?

I tip this penultimate hat of 2013 to the great state of Vermont, "Stella Quarta Decima," and its traditions -- new and old.

Related:
PC 217: Spies Like Us
PC 216: Throwin' Devil Horns
PC 215: A (Tiny) Fez on the Crown

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 217 -'Spies Like Us' Edition

Day 217 / Hat 217:  Trapper hat with black nylon exterior and rabbit fur trim. Interior tag reads Crowncap, Winnipeg, Canada.  

The Bride picked up this cold-weather hat - and another in blue for herself - at the Orvis Outlet in Manchester many years agon and we call them our "'Spies Like Us' hats because when we first wore them out into the Vermont snow it reminded me of the way Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase looked in the movie of that name. 

I wore this bad boy for my outing to the slopes yesterday and at one point the Bride looked over at me and said: "Your beard kind of matches the trim on the hat and you look like a mole with eyes."

Moving past the fact that moles actually do have eyes to begin with, her comment meant two things.

First, I had to add this bad boy to the Project. Second, , while it was a nice run (I haven't shaved since the moment I last left Vermont on September 29) it was time for the beard to go away.  

(Longtime readers of the Project might notice that this is far from the first trapper topper to join the ranks - see PC 135 and 145. 

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 216 - That Girl Got Devil Horns Edition

Me with Hat 216 (left), the Bride with same (center) and 'Thleen (right) at Bromley earlier the same day.

Day 216 / Hat 216: White knit wool hat with red intarsia devil horn design. Additional details include white wool pompom and polyester fleece lining. Interior tag reads: "Kate Spade New York, hats off."

This hat was a gift from me to the Bride last Christmas and is symbolic of her sometimes devilish nature. It wouldn't really be fair not to show it on its rightful head, so I'm also including a photo of it in its natural habitat taken earlier today at Bromley Mountain --during our first schuss of the season.

Related:
PC 215: Tiny Fez
PC 214: Naughty Pine
PC 213: Santa Claus 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 215 - Fez for Ants Edition

Day 215 / Hat 215: Tiny red paper fez with black printed tassel detail and elastic cord. This fez -- the Project's third such distinctively shaped hat -- was one of six in a package of "Mini Party Hats" by NPW that was in the "elf bag" my mom gave me this Christmas.

Trust me, you'll see the other five in the future -- I think I'll carry 'em with me in case of future hat-mergencies.

In case you were curious, the first fez was PC 17: The Fez Looks Familiar and the second was  PC 96: Warm and Fezzy.

Today's hat-tip? That would go to my sainted mother Nancy.

Related:
PC 214: Naughty Pine
PC 213: Claus Cap
PC 212: Cousin 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 214 - Troublemaking Tannenbaum Edition

Day 214 / Hat 214: Custom trucker-style hat with green mesh back and white foam front with printing that reads: "Naughty Pine" accompanied by a grinning and winking pine tree logo that's so naughty it makes the Grinch look like Mother Teresa (close-up above right) . Additional detail includes green terrycloth sweatband lining.

"Naughty Pine" is the nickname for  the 802 pied a terre, which in another era (say the late '80s or early '90s) might be colloquially referred to as a "party house.," and the punny name is also a reference to the fact that my in-laws' place next door is dubbed "All Pine." (Though I had, in all earnestness, suggested "Mostly Pine and One Son of a Birch.") 

This was a Christmas present from my sister-in-law Kathleen and with it she moves into the Project's rarified "Hat Angel" status. So a tip of the troublemaking tannenbaum bough toward 'Thleen.

Related:

PC 213: Cap for a Claus

PC 212: Cap from a Cousin

PC 211: Topper from Tyrol

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 213 - Merry Christmas Edition

Day 213 / Hat 213: Red velvet Santa Claus cap with white faux fur trim and jingle bell detail.

Taken in front of a roaring fire made of my own hand for strategic purposes -- there's only room for one Claus in this Casa!

This Santa lid actually belongs to Bear -- the somewhat life-size stuffed bear with poseable paws that currently resides in the Garlodge. Bear and his holiday hat came into our possession many years ago when we were spending our first Christmas on the West Coast (living on Larrabee Street in West Hollywood at the time) and came home to find Bear  -- in a humongous box -- standing in front of our apartment door. The sender? My father-in-law.

Bear and his jaunty (and exceedingly high-quality I might add) Santa Claus cap epitomize the true spirit of the holiday for me.

Today's tip o' the Christmas cap, therefore, goes to my father-in-law (aka "the Admiral").

Merry Christmas to all - and to all a good night!

Related:

PC 212: Ranger Lid

PC 211: Hat from the Hills

PC 210: Days of Knights

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 212 - Cap from a Cousin Edition

Day 212 / Hat 212: Khaki-colored, 100% cotton wide-brimmed hat with four screen-covered grommet vents on crown (two on left and two on right). Brown cotton hat band has gold embroidery that reads: "  USNPS."

Additional hat band detail includes gold and white pine cone embroidery and pin that reads: "Mississippi Forestry Commission."

An extraordinary hat with an extraordinary story that comes from my second cousin Bryan Tschorn (his grandfather and my grandfather were brothers) who presented it to me today when we finally reconnected some 15 years after we last saw each other face to face. A former fighter of forest fires, Bryan says of its provenance: "After you're in a fire, the guys exchange things. This was in a fire in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2006 and was given to me by Danny Moore."

I did a little bit of rooting around to see if I could track down whether this style of NPS hat had a name. While I couldn't find one (beyond "Wide-Brimmed Cotton Hat"), I stumbled across references to several extraordinarily comprehensive books and manuals discussing and dissecting the National Park Service Uniform in mind-boggling detail. Among them "National Park Service uniforms: Ironing Out the Wrinkles, 1920-1932" and a link to download "Reference Manual 43: NPS Uniforms" which says the following about headgear [emphasis in the original]:

Ranger Hats and Accessories
The ranger hat is the most important, recognized and respected symbol associated with  the NPS, and should be worn with pride and care with the Service Uniform outdoors or in an entrance station, and in most situations with the Field Uniform.

The same manual (which dates to October 2000) says the following about this version:

Wide-Brimmed Cotton Hat
-- Worn with the brim level (see standard for ranger hat)
-- Worn with the neck strap behind the neck unless needed to hold the hat on the head against wind, river rapids, etc.
-- Never modified to hold the brim in a position(s) different from supplier shipped (i.e., no Velcro™, pins, or other method to hold the brim up to the crown; chin strap is not used to hold the brim in a “cowboy hat” style)
-- Must be replaced once excessive fading or sweat stains are noticeable.

So today's sincere hat-tip goes to my cousin Bryan for his thoughtful gift to the Project and more generally to those who fight fires in any and all capacities.

Related:
PC 211: Tyrolean Monkey Business
PC 210: Knights of the Round Table
PC 209: Eight Oh 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 211 - Northern Tyrolean Monkey Business Edition

Day 211 / Hat 211:   Green, 100% loden wool Bavarian Tyrol hat with three-dent crown, two-inch brim Lodenhut.
folded up in the back and down in the front and braided cord hat band detail. Manufactured by

A pre-Christmas gift to the Project from my sister-in-law who found it at Orvis (here's the store's link), I discovered a couple of things in researching this hat.

First, Lodenhut (according to this description) was founded by one Konrad Stepanak and has been making headgear like this in Germany for some three generations.

Second, there isn't just one kind of Tyrolean hat -- there are several. Long-time readers may remember I featured a "vagabond-style" Tyrolean hat back at PC 02. The narrow brim and dented crown apparently make this the style prevalent in North Tyrol. North Tyrol for anyone who didn't know (I confess, I did not) is part of the Austrian state of Tyrol and according to this Wikipedia entry, borders Salzburg to the east and the Bavarian state of Germany to the north.

This style of hat, the interwebs tell me, is different from those toppers traditionally hailing from South Tyrol which apparently taper to a point on the crown and have a brim the width of a hand (so sayeth the Wikipedia entry on Tyrolean hats). Here's an example of that hat from an 1834 painting titled Knabe mit Tirolerhut und Äffchen (which translates as Boy with Tyrolean hat and monkey).

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.

So today's Tyrolean hat-tip goes to 'Thleen who is steadily moving into a hat-donor class all her own.

Related:
PC 210: Knights of the Round Table
PC 209: Eight Oh Moose
PC 208: Jingle Belle

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!