You don't know Jack

Protruding from the regal brownstones of the West Village is this humble storefront with unpretentious looks. The bold blue lettering that announces "Hong Kong Tailor Jack" is as seasoned as the business itself. For more than 20 years, fashion-forward New Yorkers have leaned heavily upon the genius handicraft of Jack Ko to hem their trousers, whip up suits from top to bottom and copycat haute couture get-ups straight from the runway. A native of China, Ko's smashing reputation plays out like an iconic New York success story: first toiling away in the fashion district to make sample patterns, then completing a formal education at the Fashion Institute of New York. Finally, he launched his own "outfit" of tailoring services in 1987. The name "Tailor Jack" sounds hip and personal; only those in the know are heard breezily uttering this moniker in casual conversation. Said Upper East Side Caroline to Upper West Side Katherine while lunching at Dovetail: "Tailor Jack just made me the most amazing pinstriped gabardine skirt and jacket." Responded Katherine: "Wear it to next month's board of directors meeting. I gotta get TJ to knock off a Helmut Lang shift dress for me."

-Dani

Soda pop beauty

Twin City supermarket in Jersey City, NJ, boasts a bevy of soda hailing from Central and South American countries that has customers snatching them up by the dozen. What makes them so special? Unconventional flavors like apple and banana, of course, but what trumps the ingredients and fizz factor are the sumptuous retro-inspired labels. I'm fixated upon Kola Ingles's Red Kola the most for its preppy stripes, clipped type and sporty red, white and yellow color combination. Quench your thirst with this parade of photos:

-Dani

Kitsch by way of Puerto Rico

Our cosmopolitan chum Dave recently embarked on a whirlwind trip to Puerto Rico and brought back these foodie treats dressed in vintage packaging. Let's deconstruct the look and feel. Dulzura Borincana is a well-known PR sweets purveyor boasting the milk and coconut confections above and the gofio snacks below (toasted corn). I love how the palm tree smartly serves as the letter "i" in Borincana; likewise, the "i" in "gofio" comes in the form of an ear stalk. There's something pleasingly arts and crafts about how the gofio is snugly wrapped as cones in purple and pink construction paper. Unravel these trim shapes and the once taut gofio spills over like sand. The buxom goodie in this tropical gift set is Yaucono coffee, bundled in a lovely color scheme of red, black and yellow. These pieces are like a work of art that deserve a shelf life of infinite years.

-Dani

Taylor'ed for stardom

Add one more item to your list of Jersey "must do's." Also known by its generic name "pork roll," Taylor ham is a New Jersey "natural resource" celebrated across the Garden State at diners and breakfast tables. Invented by New Jersey businessman John Taylor in the 1950s, this offbeat meat's texture can be described as a cross between good old-fashioned bacon and Canadian bacon. Upon the first bite, you're hit with a salty sensation followed by a sour finish. When fried in the skillet, this circular ham curls up and resembles a flying saucer. Those in the know will cut slits on the side to help it maintain its flat shape. Founded by John Taylor himself, Taylor Provisions in Trenton packages its slices of pork roll in this kitschy 1960s box. Bold type and the charming logo of a sausage with slices falling like dominoes make Taylor's pork roll jut out among its breakfast competitors at the grocery store. The nostalgic photos on the back remind us of images found on the pages of 1960s cookbooks. We're sure there's a cookbook devoted to Taylor ham recipes lurking around somewhere.

-Dani

Get Ping'ed

New York's Chinatown is brimming with neon signs that showcase nostalgic type reminiscent of make-up brand lettering from the 1940s. These beautiful pieces contribute to the neighborhood's restless energy and accidental artful scene. This stunner announcing Ping Seafood Restaurant looks especially illuminating when set against an onyx canvas. I love the contrast in colors of the vertical strip that sprouts from its horizontal counterpart. The colors are vibrant, but welcoming and the cursive script so basic yet fashionable. The only missing element is a 1940s pin-up girl standing beneath all this shocking brightness powdering her nose with a Max Factor compact.

-Dani 

Ants in the Plants?

I found this box of Valentine's Day cards at a small auction in Jennerstown, PA. As this was my first time at this particular auction, this gem was definitely not something I would expect to find. After a brief bidding war with an Antique store owner, I walked away with 10 of these cards for $14. I have no idea what I will do with them, unless Dani wants the same Valentine's Day card for the next decade!

-Matt

Ring-a-ling-a-ling

 

 

We nabbed this old-fashioned ringer at Mischler's auction in Hollsopple, PA, for only $80. Patented in the late 1890s, this visually appealing piece harbors all the tears, scratches and crevices one can only dream of enjoying in such an authentic piece. Even the leather straps attached to the back have a raw and weathered look to them. It's the perfect accessory to mount on an office wall. At just the slightest nudge, it makes a prominent "ding" sound quite pleasant to the ears.

-Matt and Dani