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Campfire Gourmet | Dove

For a good portion of the country, dove season is upon us. Some of my earliest memories involve traipsing through milkweed with my grandfather, on the hunt for these birds. The outings with my grandfather instilled in me the sense that dove season serves as the death knell of summer and the inception of the crisp days of autumn. My grandfather also preached that we ate what we killed. Sage advice, but it begs the question: How does one prepare dove?

A Gentleman’s Ten Commandments, As Offered By Francis Bown

A celebrated critic of all things, and a critic to the end. What we love about Francis Bown is that he is opinionated and knows it, and is anything but ashamed of it. He speaks his mind on all matters from government, religion, restaurants, hotels, and of course, bespoke clothing. We may not always share his perspective, but there is something we find charming about this Brit, and he never fails to put a smile on our faces.

It is with the respect he deserves that we felt that a re-print of his Ten Commandments for aspiring gentlemen would be a good way to start a Friday. Though we might not always live by them, if nothing else, Bown yet again delivers some food for thought.

CONVERSATION | Dan Vermillion: He Teaches Presidents to Fly Cast

Dan Vermillion and The President. (Courtesy of the White House)

When the President of the United States asks you to take them fishing, you probably know what you are doing. Dan Vermillion is a humble guy, so he would never tell you, but he’s one of the most respected guides in the business. Ask any of his devoted clients, who had just as soon not fish with anyone else.

The F.M. ALLEN Five | Masculine Wines for Fall

Wine has been an ally and companion for men in love, war, health, and healing. To call wine “masculine” may be a bit superfluous. It is, after all, the first drink of man. It is at home in every circumstance. But, a little guidance is always appreciated when choosing. The wine world is a crowded one and choices can become a bit intimidating.

PROFILE | Sir Ernest Shackleton: The Endurance

On January 13, 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton posted that classified ad in London newspapers. Shackleton needed crew members to join him in attempting the first voyage across the continent of Antarctica on foot. Nearly 5,000 people (including three women) responded. The 56 that were ultimately chosen could not have imagined just how prescient his words would turn out to be.

PROFILE | General Robert E. Lee’s Best Friend

The noble appearance of Gray on Gray. A solemn rider atop his loyal servant. The image of General Robert E. Lee and his famed horse, Traveller, is one of the most lasting of the Civil War. But, there is a story beyond the oil paintings and old photographs. The story of Traveller is a story of a legendary General and his best friend.

PROFILE | Sir Ernest Shackleton: The Race to the South Pole

It has been called the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. During the 25-year period between 1897 and 1922, both the scientific and geographic communities as well as the public eye were fixated on polar exploration. Sixteen major expeditions were launched during which both magnetic poles were reached, and countless data and specimens across a wide range of scientific disciplines were gathered. Norwegian Roald Amundsen, Englishman Sir Robert Falcon Scott and Australian Douglas Mawson led some of the most famous expeditions of the period. But, curiously, the man considered by many to the be the greatest explorer of the age never actually made it to the South Pole.

REFLECTIONS | September 16, 1830: The Poet That Saved Old Ironsides

The USS Constitution was the first commissioned ship of the United States Navy. The construction of the ship was authorized by President George Washington in 1794. The Third Congress had previously requested that some action be taken to protect American merchant ships, which were being attacked with increasing frequency by North African and British ships. The steps taken by Congress and the President essentially resulted in the creation of the US Navy, as well as the USS Constitution. But, if it weren’t for the acts of a scholarly poet the ship would have been destroyed–something no navy in the world had been able to do.

PROFILE | The Secret Life of Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill is widely acknowledged as one of the most important men of the 20th Century. His gift of leadership, mastery of the written word, and gripping oratory is noted in the history books in schools around the world. He will forever and most chiefly be remembered as a key figure in the events of World War II and a champion of democracy. Democracy was perhaps Churchill’s most consuming passion and he devoted his working life to its pursuit.

But, it was a different type of pursuit, usually practiced under aliases, that served as his passion throughout the latter part of his life.