Favorite Clothing Shops and Great Places to Eat Afterwards

I received this great email and added some of my own pictures:


Hi Muffy, I enjoyed your post on your favorite restaurants.  It made me ruminate on my favorite clothing shops and how they are in close proximity to some of my favorite eating establishments.  I thought I would run them by you.

1) J. Press (Cambridge, MA) is nothing short of Mecca.  I can stay for hours soaking up the history.  Then go one street over to John Harvard’s Brewhouse for great beer selection and good food.

Cambridge's J. Press

 2) I grew up close by Eljos (Charlottesville, VA), and spent much time as a kid gawking at the window displays.  It has moved from the UVA Corner, but not too far.  Go to The Corner, then to The Virginian (it’s been there so long I’m sure Jefferson raised a grog or two there).

3) Alvin-Dennis (Lexington, VA) is next door to the beautiful Washington & Lee campus, another childhood haunt.  Then go two blocks to The Palms, a Lexington institution.

4) At  J. Press (New York City), I bought my first blue ocbd w/flap pocket.  Then take a cab to P.J. Clarke’s Bar on 55th with great food and even greater ambiance.

5) Murray’s (Nantucket) is a pilgrimage of sorts for me.  Then walk over to Brotherhood of Thieves on Broad St., one of my all time favorites, with great sandwiches.

The Author's Photo

6) I love The Admiral’s Buttons (Camden, ME).  Then go around the corner to The Waterfront Restaurant on the deck for lobster, or up the street to Cappys for amazing chowder and a cold Geary’s.

Cappy's Chowder House

7) The Holmes Store (Northeast Harbor, ME) is a nice shop in one of my favorite coastal Maine villages.  Then walk down Main St. to Colonel’s Restaurant for fresh Maine seafood.

8) George Dean’s (Athens, GA) is the quintessential college shop, one block from U of GA campus.  Then walk across the street to The Grill, an Athens institution.

9) Landry’s (Oxford, MS) is cool shop near Ole Miss.  Then go one door down to Square Books and browse, and finally a couple of more down to City Grocery, a legendary Oxford watering hole with outstanding food

10) Grady Ervin & Co (Charleston, SC) is in one of my favorite cities.  Then walk over to Hank’s Seafood or take a short ride to Sullivan’s Island and eat at Poe’s Tavern, with great burgers followed by a walk on the beach.

Oh well, at the moment, I can only dream of being in one of these venerable establishments browsing and then over for a great meal.

Cheers, Chuck Ramsay, Murfreesboro, TN

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Old School Prep left this comment, and I thought I would add some of my own pictures and copy it here.

I was very impressed by Chuck Ramsay's interesting list of top notch Prep/Trad clothing stores and nearby noteworthy eateries. I would like to offer two more of each to make the list an even dozen.

11) J. Press (New Haven, CT) is the genesis of it all. It is conveniently located near the beautiful Yale campus and a short walk to Louis Lunch for a wonderful luncheon fare.

Inside New Haven's J. Press

12) J. Press (Washington, DC), although it lacks the traditional ambiance of the Cambridge and New Haven stores, it is an oasis of Preppy clothing in our nation's capital and a short jaunt from the Old Ebbitt Grill for a hearty lunch of oysters and fine Kentucky Bourbon or other great food choices.

Washington, D.C.

A Tale of Two Blues

Slight difference in color can make a shirt a favorite or a return (and in the catalog, the shirt on the left looked more like the shirt on the right).

Here are two shirts. Both are described as rugby shirts with navy and light/soft blue stripes with a white collar and placket. And yet to me they are significantly different.

The shirt on the right "pops."  It looks great.  It is one of my favorite shirts.

The shirt on the left, with the exception of the navy stripes, is drab.  The light blue is more of a silver(y) light teal, and the collar and placket are off-white, not pure white.  (It is not yet worn and will be returned).  The one on the left would look uninspiring on a man or a woman and the one on the right would be great for either.

These items can look the same in a catalog or on a web page.  Even under store lighting the differences can be obscured.  (Thus another negative aspect of shopping in malls -  it is often a challenge to take a good look at an item in daylight.  I am forever getting permission from shopkeepers to take items I am considering purchasing outside, in order to make a more accurate assessment.)

The point is not to judge people for wearing "the wrong shade." People should wear what they like.

Rather, it is to appreciate that these subtle differences at all, just a few hertz, can often make or break an item.  It can determine whether a shirt is destined for heavy wear, or the back of the closet. (If you buy well, you don't have to think about what you put on each morning.) For the vendors, getting the color right can mean the difference between happy and repeat customers vs. returned items, and correspondingly the difference between financial success or failure.

See also: Blacklisted Colors

Reader Questions: Sunglasses

I have received quite a few question about sunglasses, including:

• Mrs.Muffy, Where did you purchase your "Aviator" sunglasses that you are pictured in in quite a few posts? I hate to ask, in the event that they are more than my allowance permits, seeing that I spent this month's on a pair of new, much needed Sperry Topsiders. I am in the hunt for a new pair of sunglasses, I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know. Thank you.  PS. I live off of your blog; it gets me through World Lit :)

• What are thoughts on Preppy eyewear & sunglasses?  I see there’s a comeback on the old School boy horn rim frames which I own (Brand Anglo-American made in the UK). Ben Silver has the best collection of aka Preppy eyewear.You thoughts dear lady:)

• Dear Ms. Aldrich, I have recently discovered your blog, The Daily Prep, and have greatly enjoyed reading your views on preppy lifestyle. This morning as I was dressing, a thought crossed my mind; "I need to get my eyes checked again." This subsequently triggered other thoughts about getting a new pair of eyeglasses, and I wondered, "what are preppy eyeglasses?" Any thoughts you have on this question would be greatly appreciated. Regards.

• Hi Muffy, Here's a question under the category of things that can ruin an outfit. What kinds of glasses are acceptable (preppy) and which are beyond the pale? I know you don't wear glasses, but I'm sure you have opinions on the subject. Thanks

The sunglasses that I am currently wearing are a pair that I “borrowed” from my husband. They are made by Revo, and although they are on the heavy side, the quality of the lenses is superb. This was meant to be a temporary situation while I look for some of my own, but what I really need is a sunglass “wardrobe” of sorts - different glasses for different situations.

I don't think my husband is getting his sunglasses back.

There are many factors that I consider when selecting sunglasses. Obviously protection is at the top of the list.  And my eyes are so sensitive that I wear them constantly, so weight is also a consideration. Add to that my desire for polarized lenses, and it becomes a little trickier to find the right pair. (And I am not so fond of the oversized styles currently available for women.)

So far I have been getting sunglasses either from Revo (for example), Maui Jim (for example) or Ray Ban.

• For more active pursuits it is hard to beat Maui Jim. They have high quality, polarized lenses that are extremely comfortable and lightweight to wear. This will be my first stop in my quest for a new pair to wear in the pool this summer. But I do find it difficult to find good looking options from them.

• Ray Ban of course makes the original Aviator style (which have traditionally not been polarized due to the need to read LCD based displays such as in airplanes, cameras and GPS) and Wayfarer. Their site is a little overwhelming and requires careful reading of the descriptions.

•  There is also Persol and, as the reader mentioned, Anglo-American, although I do not have any experience with either of these.

For more affordable options, I would look at Lands’ End and L.L. Bean.

For eyewear, I agree that some of the best looking classic frames can be found at Ben Silver. My favorite material is tortoise and great options include The Pantheon Shape, The Silver Line, The Liberty Frame and Round Frames.  Ben Silver does offer sunglasses, although better styles for men than for women.

Also see Bill Stephenson's excellent entry on eyeglasses on Ivy Style. 

I want to get a pair like my father (in front) is wearing in this picture.

Reader Question: Wooden or Fiberglass Boat? A Guest Response

My husband's college roommate

Dear Muffy,

My family is just starting to look at a new boat. Do you have an opinion about wood vs. fiberglass? Just curious. Thanks!


Here is a guest response from my husband's college roommate and licensed captain (United Stated Coast Guard 50 Ton Master license):

A preference between wooden and fiberglass yachts is a nuanced affair. A boat is not only a work of art, but also a machine of science based on technology developed over millennia. I urge one to consider the art and the science of any boat independently.

A successful yacht design combines form and function - art and science - into a package that is a beautiful creation both emotionally and empirically. There are endless variations of shape and style as well as many variations on structure: rig, hull and keel. And, form and function impact each other every minute. As one example, you have seen classic boats with long overhangs - the bow and stern project themselves graciously over the water - as well as more modern boats with a "plumb" bow and stern where there is much less overhang.

Years ago, a guiding design principle was less friction = faster (less hull surface area in the water = more speed). Modern physics, however, tells us that a boat with a longer waterline can actually move faster through the water (you may have noticed that war ships are usually long and thin). So, modern yacht designs will accentuate the length of the boat at the water line which impacts the style and look of the boat. You can stroll through your local marina and easily see examples of this particular stylistic and scientific difference. And, while you will certainly see more overhang in older, wooden boats than in modern fiberglass boats, there are more exceptions than rules.

When all is said and done both above and below the waterline, even the most highly-trained naval architect will ultimately describe a vessel by coming back to the most simple of terms: the "lines" or overall look of a boat which might be described as "graceful" and even tug at our hearts. Helen of Troy may have had a face that launched a thousand ships, but, each ship has lines that can launch a thousand nautical dreams - you just have to find the boat with the right lines for you. And, finding a yacht with good lines or a pleasing stylistic profile is a matter which can be debated for a lifetime - and frequently is.

To make matters even more nuanced, once you know your stylistic preferences, that style can be found in - or built out of - many different materials including wood, fiberglass, steel, etc. which are all suitable for different uses. Fiberglass is bullet-proof and will last forever in most circumstances. Steel might be the best choice if you plan to sail in the extreme latitudes. Wood requires more maintenance. To achieve different design goals, some people build replicas of classic, old wooden boats in fiberglass or carbon fiber with all the modern materials, equipment and conveniences. In these cases, you can tell at a glance if you like the lines, but you have to look very carefully to determine the construction material. So, each vessel requires its own respect and consideration.

 I took this picture of my husband and his college roommate.

On the whole, good, old wooden boats usually have classic, traditional appeal, but for ease of use and maintenance and for comfortable accommodations, a relatively modern design will usually win out. If you are going once around the harbor for cocktails, you might choose a wooden boat like you might choose a Model T car to drive around town on a Sunday. But, if you are sailing around the world, you might select a classic-looking yacht built from modern materials and with all the modern equipment - just as if you were driving across the country you might prefer the reliability and cup holders, etc. of a late-model car.

Having said all that, when Captain Cook set off on his globe-girdling voyages, the British Admiralty gave him the choice of any ship on the waterfront, and he surprised everyone by passing up the latest and greatest and choosing a vessel design which had carried freight along the coast of England for decades. As Cook sailed into the unknown, that unpretentious, tried-and-true yacht saved his life more than once - most dramatically when he got caught in the maze of the Great Barrier Reef near Australia and had to drag the boat by the anchors over the coral to free himself. Since the boat had a durable, flat bottom, it could easily survive that experience.

Spring 2011 Catalog: First Look (Womens)

Best of L.L Bean

The spring catalogs have been arriving.  As I look through a handful of them, it is hard to get too excited. Here are some first takes, along with some best and worst items.

Quick Take on Five Catalogs

Vineyard Vines
The best I can say about this catalog is that at least they are being honest and no longer pretending to be something they are not. Instead, what they are completely is “Resort Prep” (which is, of course, an oxymoron).  They are unabashedly endorsing the True Prep world (competing for the 45-year old narcissist who wants to look like a 28-year old narcissist), even going as far debuting the "True Prep" Collection by Vineyard Vines (see my review of True Prep here).   While the colors are great, the styles are total flash, destined to be dated.

Best item -  Coral Lane Cable Sweater
Worst item – One Love Sand Dollar Tee 


L.L. Bean
L.L. Bean has thankfully somewhat toned down their overly stylized look of the last couple of years.  Gone are the sweaters with giant anchors, - and not every pair of pants they offer has boot-cut legs.

They have introduced several new styles of khakis (chinos) and although I gave the Andover Chinos a try, I just couldn’t stand the wrinkle-resistant finish and the cut was off (too small in the waist compared to the fullness around the hips and thighs).

The Freeport Chinos caught my eye mostly because of the Glen Green option.   And I also keep coming back to the Navy/Pink Anchor Shorts.   I will probably give both of those a try, but I am not overly optimistic on the cut.

They have continued their “Back by Popular Demand” theme, which is good.  I was happy to see that they re-re-styled (un-re-styled?) their Trail Model Fleece Jacket and Pullover.  (Last March I wrote that they should return to the elasticized hem and cuffs to keep the wind out.  Now, I read in the product description, they have added “Lycra elastane-bound cuffs and hem seal out cold air.”  So I will probably give this a try.)  Also, the navy they offer, Bright Navy, is perfect.  Having said that, I am not crazy about the princess seams;  I find I often reach for a plain, navy  fleece jacket.

The Perfect Pink (the L.L.Bean web site doesn't do the real Pink Berry color justice)

One stand-out item is the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote in the new shade of pink.  Pink Berry is by far, the most spectacular shade of pink L.L. Bean has ever offered, and I don’t ever remember a bad pink.    This is a brilliant - and not too dark - electric shade.

Best item – Boat and Tote in Pink Berry
Worst item -  Portland Cotton Sweater, Empire Crewneck


Lands’ End
Lands’ End is a company that I always want to like more than I do.  One of my biggest frustrations with their products is with their dyes.   While an item can look vivid in the catalog, inevitably when it arrives it is a much duller shade than expected.  And the navy they most often offer, True Navy, always looks more like black.  (Their Classic Navy, which they offer in their School Uniforms department, is much better.)  Materials are often not very substantial, and so I end up owning much less of their products than I would hope.  Add to that their bland, uninspired, but unoffensive styles, and there is nothing I want from them this season.  The best item looks better in the catalog than online, but I listed it anyway.

Best item -  Pattern Merriweather Coat (True Navy)
Worst - Short Sleeve Stretch Mesh Ruffle Polo Shirt


Hanna Andersson
I used to turn to them for a good many basic items for women, as they use so much organic cotton and the vividness of their dyes are virtually unmatched.

I can no longer find some favorite classically styled items And with their Swedish Clogs (favorites of mine), I haven’t cared for the colors that they have offered over the last few years.

My Navy, White, and Green Hannas

What they still make better than anyone else are their Long Johns in Organic Cotton, Classic Stripes. They are marvelously soft, and are offered in great color combinations. This spring my first choice is the Navy/White stripe.

Best item - Adult Long Johns, Classic Stripe
Worst item – Cropped Sweats


L.L. Bean Signature
Then, of course, there is L.L. Bean Signature.   I will let the items speak for themselves.

Best item – Madras Camp Shirt Dress
Worst item – (There is an 11-way tie):
Open Toe Wedge Boot
Sateen Gaucho Pant
Silk Habutai Pullover Top - Birch
Birch Point Boatneck Pullover, Print
Downeaster Sport Canvas Print Bag 
Desert Bootie
Cotton Modal Blouse Tee
Over the Arm Bag
Saltwash Canvas Multi-Color Picnic Bag
Jersey Knit Pant
Camp Shirt Dress Print

Reader Questions: Cotton and Wool Sweaters and Their Care

I received two questions about sweaters.

Hi Muffy, Just found your blog a week or two ago. Very enjoyable read, and I like the pictures. I am curious about your ratio of cotton to wool sweaters. It seems you have a preference for cotton, but this may not be the case. What is the rationale for your preference? Thank you.

Dear Muffy, How do you prevent navy cotton clothing from fading in the wash? I have a navy cotton sweater that's just two years old and it's already looking shabby. I've noticed that other navy cotton clothing articles are also fading.  Thank you in advance.


The only reason I have more cotton sweaters than wool is because they are much easier to find. I would love to buy more wool, but the pickings are very slim for women.  I can no longer find classically styled, well constructed wool sweaters.

Regarding care, I first have to say that my sweaters get a lot of hard use.  Just today, dropping off a copy of the book and a check for our CSA at our friend's farm with my husband, I realized just how much wear my sweaters get:

I can't walk by a paddock of animals. (And I do love the source of wool.)

I have to say hello.

And it is always good to be thought of as part of the pack of a farm's future protector of the sheep.

In my experience, a certain amount of fading after washing is inevitable.  One piece of conventional wisdom is to turn sweaters inside out when washing,  then air dry.  When I have used this method, while it does slow the fading, my navy sweaters come out with a light coating of lint, especially down outside crease of the arm.

Ultimately, I rather like the look of faded navy (whether it be hats, jackets or sweaters), want to wear my sweaters comfortably, and hate picking off lint. So now I hold back as long as possible, and then just throw them in with other dark items, put them in the dryer for about 15 minutes, then air dry.  (Although sometimes I forget and leave them in for the entire cycle, which happily hasn't really been a problem.)

Reader Questions: Kitchens and Men's Wool Jackets

The best foods often come from the most simple kitchens.

Hi Muffy,

I hope I'm not bugging you, but I have a question. We are moving soon and plan to remodel the kitchen in our new home. I've been trying to research traditional New England kitchen styles, but am coming up with little. Most of the pictures look modern, not traditional. What should I be looking for, white enamel appliances, stainless steel work (husband's preference), or something else? Wood counter tops or granite, or something else? Cabinets? Flooring? How do you tastefully bring color into a kitchen? Ultimately, my husband doesn't mind what I decide since I'm the one that spends the most time there, but I would like to accommodate his tastes as much as possible.

This is going to be our retirement home. That being the case, I want to make the best remodeling choices possible, as we will be living with our remodeling decisions for a very long time.
 
Thank you, :)


As with so many things, kitchens should reflect the needs and aesthetic preferences of its owners. Given that, I can share my preferences.

My idea of a perfect kitchen is based largely on kitchens of the English countryside. I too spend most of my time in the kitchen, so the feel and functionality is important to me.

The first thing I do is address the lighting. I use as few overhead lighting as possible, if any at all. I use wall lamps, table lamps and lamps on the counters.

I have tried stainless steel appliances. But I found them to be depressing to look at, harder to clean, and given my food preparation is not that complicated, unnecessary. I now buy all white appliances. The exception is stainless steel sinks as I can really scrub them hard. (And another exception would be an Aga.)

I have also shifted to white walls over the years. I absolutely minimize the number of counter top clutter, including counter top appliances. I love the luxury of clear surfaces. I also don’t have a junk drawer.

I try to stay away from the modern look of rows of eye-level closed cabinets. On one occasion I took off all of the doors of the upper level of cabinets, and painted the outside of the cabinets white and the inside of the cabinets light but intense blue. I left the bottom cabinet doors on, painted them white and put on white wooden knobs.

My flooring of choice is always wood. My counter material of choice is also wood.

I don’t like living with granite. I know I am in the minority here (and as with my dislike of jeans, I predict plenty of dissent as many people love their granite counter tops), but I don’t like the way it feels or the brittle sounds it makes when a dish is put down on it, and I don’t like how dishes or glasses are more likely to chip or break if dropped. (This is the same problem with tile floors.) I do think a combination of different counter top materials can work well.

I am not fond of the look for a kitchen (except maybe a galley!) of having everything put in at the same time and all matching. (This is also a problem look for any room.)

So currently I have four pieces of antique furniture in my kitchen to break it up: a nearly seven foot tall stained jelly cupboard; my grandmother’s drop-leaf table painted light blue; a four foot high white open-shelved bookcase of sorts, and a chest of drawers.

Finally, while I like the feel of a larger country kitchen set-up that opens to a sitting area, I find too big a kitchen to be cold.

What I have often found inspiring are winners of various regional cook-offs, such as in chowder or chili festivals. I love seeing the actual kitchens that have prepared such marvelous foods, and they are inevitably highly worn and comfortable, not the giant catering expanses popularized by people like Martha Stewart.
I hope these thoughts help, and good luck.

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Hi Muffy,

I am once again after your wise fashion input. I am in the market for a smart wool winter jacket. I am usually a field coat/waxed jacket kind of a guy. In winter casually I often wear a down jacket (I have a similar parka to your Baxter State Parka) but now want something a little smarter for those special occasions. My first thought was Pea Coat, but I am just wondering if you have any input or other ideas? My general style is of the Orvis/Filson/LL Bean leaning and I am thinking of something to wear over moleskin pants, dress shirt, thin sweater.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. All the best.


My immediate thought was the Filson Yukon Wool Jacket. I prefer the Charcoal. I think it has great lines and is slightly dressier with softer wool than the Mackinaw. And you know with Filson the quality will be excellent.

There is always the Duffle Coat route, but it might be too long for what you want. Gloverall is the most classic in this category. Farlows always has great jackets and is fun to browse.

I no longer trust L.L. Bean for these kind of purchases, which is a shame. In the past that would have been my first stop.


Cheers!  M

Coffee!

I am always the one to supply the coffee for family gatherings.

Even more than loving coffee, I love my coffee.  I love my coffee so much that I seldom drink any other kind.

For so many years I have been buying, what is for me, a perfect blend.  I get it from Jim's Organic Coffee.  Not only does it taste fabulous, but is it organic, fair trade, and from a New England vendor based in West Wareham, Massachusetts.  I buy it in bulk, pre-ground (which may horrify some purists).  My order is always shipped out immediately, the quality never wavers, and they are just very nice people with whom to deal.

P. Gordon Special Blend is a custom blend currently only available in five pound bags, and must be ordered either by phone or my mail.

My daily ritual around coffee seldom varies.  We only have it first thing in the morning.  I brew it strong, and the moment it is done, I transfer it to a carafe.  I heat the Half and Half, from The Organic Cow, in the microwave.

In the winter, my husband and I drink it by the fire, and in the summer, we have it out on the front porch, where I sit in the wicker chair and my husband on the porch swing.  Sampson is always at our feet.

It is the small  moments during each day that I love getting just right.  

At large gatherings, I never brew it early, and make smaller batches at a time to keep it fresh. 

Guest Post: The Wharf Rats of Nantucket

The author Bill Stephenson, in his Wharf Rat Hat, on Nantucket Sound.  Photograph courtesy of Bill Stephenson. Used with permission.

Nantucket has become a Prep Mecca over the years. It is the home of classic New England architecture, abundant (and only partially vestigial) sailing icons, and Murrays Toggery’s "Nantucket Reds.” And it is still far enough off the beaten path to dissuade many casual tourists.

Nevertheless, many Preps ultimately do make it to Nantucket. However, there is one part of the Island that is an integral part of the culture, yet is seldom experienced by tourists or even long-term summer denizens.

That part of the culture is Nantucket's Wharf Rat Club. It was founded almost a century ago by a small group of men gathered around a potbellied stove in an Old North Wharf fishing shanty. Although the founders are long gone, the members still gather in the same shack, open from 10:00 until noon, 6 days a week from May until October. There is no agenda, and the conversation is free flowing and spontaneous, with a heavy emphasis on jokes and very little in the way of political discussion.

The membership is a blending of backgrounds and experience from all over the world. The roster has included a US President (FDR), a US Supreme Court Justice (Brennan), ambassadors, admirals, generals, artists, writers, pilots, clamdiggers, scallopers, craftspeople, scientists, government officials, elected leaders, and captains of industry. Phil Murray, the founder of Murray's Toggery, was a Rat. His widow Elizabeth, is also a Rat, and still lives on the Island. (And women are now an integral part of the club.)

The shack itself is in the midst of multi-million dollar properties on the waterfront. The property had been owned by the Stanford Trust for years, and they let us use it because we kept it from being abandoned. One day they approached us and said that they were going to sell the property for $1 million, and we could buy it if we wanted it. We may have had $500 in the kitty to buy coffee at the time. We went on a frantic drive to get as much as we could from members. Everyone stretched, but we were still about $250,000 short. We were about to give up when the wife of one of the Rats, Betty Constable, showed up one day. Her husband George (now deceased) had been a very successful lawyer in Baltimore at the time. Betty asked the Commodore how much we needed to put the deal together. When he told her, she wrote a check for the needed funds. The Commodore said how grateful we were. Betty said that it was worth every penny to get George out of the house in the morning.

The club motto is "No Reserved Seats For the Mighty." It simply means that one who is terribly impressed with his resume and accomplishments probably won't feel at home over the long term. Anyone with a love of Nantucket and good fellowship is welcome to attend the sessions. But the club is known as the most exclusive on the Island. The reason is that it is not possible to apply for membership, and the process by which members are selected is secret. The usual procedure includes for a person to attend meetings for a few years. After about 3 years, some receive a membership card in the mail. Others never do.

A few years ago, the owner of an NFL team, whose name you would recognize, came down and was shown around by the Vice Commodore. At the end of the tour, the owner said he would like to buy one of the Rat caps as a souvenir. The Vice commodore said that they weren't for sale. The owner said that he would pay $100 for a cap. The Vice Commodore said, "Mr. Owner, you don't have enough money to buy one of these." This is a perfect look at what "No Reserved Seats for the Mighty" means.

The next time you are in Nantucket, head out on the North Wharf until you see a shack with the Wharf Rat burgee flying from the flag pole. You will be very welcome. You may come back if you are invited, and you may even end up staying for years.

- Bill Stephenson

Bill Stephenson is a 78 year old graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and settled in Princeton, after a 40 year career in the insurance industry. Aetna Life and Casualty was where he spent most of his career, and was the Marketing Vice President before retiring. Now, Princeton University furnishes a multitude of opportunities to audit classes. Bill's love of the community, and interest in revolutionary war history, leads him to leading walking tours of the Historical District for the Princeton Tour Company. 

The Wharf Rate Club Burgee Coaster.  Photograph added by The Daily Prep.

The lore of the Wharf Rats, including history, ethos, and stories, is passed on from member to member, and examples were collected in the Nantucket Historical Association's excellent article  No Reserved Seats For the Mighty By Robert F. Cross, originally published in the Historic Nantucket, Vol 41, no. 2 (Summer 1993), p. 24-26, which was one source for this piece.