I use a fountain pen for comfort. It takes far less pressure to make an impression on paper with a fountain pen than it does with a ballpoint, or even a roller ball pen. This means I exert less effort, so my hand doesn’t tire. This translates into better penmanship when I write.

Many think that it’s more difficult or that it requires special finesse to write with a fountain pen. In fact, one quickly adapts to a pen’s feel.

Fountain pens are made to last. If the pen is scratchy, it’s usually because a tine at the end of the nib is bent. Dragging the point lightly over heavy paper – such as cardboard – will usually fix the problem. If the ink flow is interrupted, run the nib under warm water; most of the time that will free the flow. If your pen ever suffers a complication you can’t fix, there are shops, such as the Fountain Pen Hospital in New York, where you can send it for professional repair.

I find there are intangible benefits that only a fountain pen bestows. A pen can remain in service for an entire lifetime, and even then have added value as a gift for the next generation. Fountain pens are rarely lost or mislaid. People take special note when you use one. Men tend to write more slowly and deliberately with a fountain pen, allowing their hand to slow to the pace of their thoughts and not sprint ahead.

I suggest you consider making a fountain pen your primary writing tool. Choose a Waterman because, simply, they’re the best. At the OakStreet Man Accessories shop, we carry a nice assortment of stylish, functional Waterman pens, including the Edson, the Expert and the Carene. And of course, we offer fountain pen ink refills.

If you have any thoughts on the subject, drop me a line at bill@oakstreetman.com.

The higher the thread count, the more comfortable and durable the sheets usually are. For instance, a count of 300 is a finer and tougher fabric than one with 200. Three hundred is the minimum to shop for. Fabric with a thread count of 600 should feel like silk. OakStreet Man offers a fine line of Matouk brand bedding with a thread count of 600. Take it from me – Matouk produces the word’s highest quality bedding; their products are absolutely luscious to sleep on.

When considering bedding, however, don’t rely on thread count alone. Also extremely important is the quality and softness of the fibers in the sheets and finishes. (A thread count of 600 if the fabric was woven from twine would still be pretty uncomfortable.)

Matouk uses only premium 100% Egyptian cotton in their sheets, pillowcases and other premium bedding. Other quality materials to look for are Pima cotton and Supima, a form of Pima. These fibers can deliver durability and softness.

I hope this helps you in choosing the best bedding for your home. If you’re looking for fine examples of high-thread count, quality bedding, visit the OakStreet Man Bed & Bath shop and look at our Matouk products. Check back often; we’re constantly adding new products throughout OakStreet Man.

An avid knife collector since childhood, Onion became aware of the custom knife industry in 1989. After cadging a local designer to teach him the craft, Onion made his first knife in 1991. His first patent came in 1996, and in 1998 he signed on with Shun. He also began teaching knife design classes, to further the art. Onion has designed custom knives for celebrities Steven Segal, Steven Tyler, Nicholas Cage, Johnny Popper, Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson, Wayne Newton, Tanya Metaksa, Wayne La Pierre, Ziggy Marley, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Aaron Nevel and many others.

Recently, Onion has been working to promote public awareness of custom knife making and to promote the positive aspects of knives, working with celebrities to portray the use of knives in a favorable light.

Come visit our Culinary shop and peruse our fine selection of Ken Onion Shun knives and more.

One thing that sets Jack Black apart is that men have very little to do with the line’s success. Two women, Curran Dandurand and Emily Dalton, started the company in 2000. Their objective from the start was to offer dramatically different and superior personal care products. Veterans of large cosmetics companies, Dandurand and Dalton saw an opportunity in men’s grooming because the category was underserved and ready for a line of high performance products.

Dandurand and Dalton understood that men do not like complicated grooming routines, so they made their products simple and easy to use. They knew men didn’t want women’s goods repackaged as men’s products. So they designed each product from the ground up, exclusively for men. They kept formulas simple — fragrance-free, colorant-free, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested.

I reach for their Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser and Double-Duty Face Moisturizer daily. I hope you’ll check out all their fine products in the OakStreet Man Grooming shop. Come back often; we adding products nearly every day.

Wine is drawn down through the Vinturi White Wine Aerator by gravity. As it enters the device’s narrow middle channel, it speeds up, and, as explained in physics by the Venturi effect, its fluid pressure decreases. Holes in the sides of the device allow air to be sucked into the wine channel, where it bubbles through the downward surging liquid. Perfectly aerated wine cascades into the glass.

A simple wine tasting will confirm the marked improvement this device imposes on even the least sophisticated (and least expensive) wines, let alone on the more complex stars in your collection. It’s instant gratification for the taste buds, and wonderful theater for your guests.

We’re proud to offer the Vinturi White Wine Aerator in our OakStreet Man Pub. We hope you try it and see for yourself how much it improves your white wine drinking experience. Let me know what you think at bill@oakstreetman.com.