Ask UM: Presents for Men

Hi guys!

I was thinking the other day what present should I buy for my friend. It was his birthday. I wanted something special, original and masculine. I couldn’t think of anything like that and I ended up buying a simple shirt. Anyway, I though this would be a great topic to post about at Urban Monarch, “Good Gifts for Men”.

I really like the website, keep it up like this.

Regards,
Bruno (from Argentina)

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a tippler’s life for me : preventing hangovers

I like to think of my relationship with liquor as a love affair; somewhat naughty yet fulfilling in ways a ‘conventional’ romance could never be.

I truly enjoy the experience of drinking.

From the complex aroma and warm tingle of the first sip of a good scotch to the blue collar fun of downing Pabst Blue Ribbon in some dingy dive bar, boozing is a treat.

I’d like to believe the fact I haven’t had a hangover in the last two years is a testament to my fortitude and olympic training in the imbibing arts. More likely though, it’s thanks to some rules I *try* to follow when drinking.

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How to Annoy People

With my recent review of Zan’s Enlightened Seduction DVDs, all the guys out there know where to turn for advice on getting better with women.

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Flickr: Thanksgiving Pies

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, it’s time to start fantasizing about the delicious pies. Read more

urban monarch : shuffled

We recently celebrated (well, if you call drunkenly devouring Del Taco after terrorizing a Nordstrom’s fragrance event ‘celebrating’, and hey, we sure do) our 205th post here on Urban Monarch.

As part of our continuing effort to distract you from work and keep your eyes glued to your monitors, we’ve added (big ups to Greg for the help) a “Random Post” link.

Check it out to the right, just under the “tips” section.

It’s a great way to peruse our back catalog, kill some time, and actively work towards world peace.

Go on, give it a click: you know you want to.

Sex: The Forgotten Art of Kissing

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.
~ Ingrid Bergman

Once the dominate discussion amongst my teenage peers, kissing was soon forgotten when intercourse became the new frontier. It’s as if that which was debated and detailed to great extent was no longer important. The idea of just making out was passe. Read more

find out about upcoming concerts

I’ve been very lucky to have experienced some great concerts this year.

From Muse to Ladytron, Placebo to Nitzer Ebb (who hadn’t toured since around 1993!) and even the always eclectic and stunning Nouvelle Vague, I’ve enjoyed a lot of live shows.

People often ask me how I find out about concerts so early, and although I do peruse our weekly alternative newspaper (Westword) and occasionally find something there, a far more powerful resource awaits music lovers online. Naturally.
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Better Emailing

Email — who doesn’t use it? This is especially so at any corporate job. The volume of email can be staggering as your inbox creeps into the hundreds and thousands of messages.

Particletree has a roundup of articles on email and making better use of it. From writing messages more clearly to getting good customer support, it’s worth checking out. (Bonus link: Becoming an Email Ninja at 43 Folders)

New Fall Fragrances for Men

On Sunday Night Cash and I had the privilege of attending the holiday fragrance event at Nordstrom. Representatives from products lines and distributors represent their fragrances and unveil their latest juices. Two new releases this fall season I was excited to experience were Hermes’ Terre d’Hermes and Viktor & Rolf’s Antidote. Read more

flame on : republicans are sexier

Aaah election day. 

Time once again for those of us smart enough to participate in our democracy to head to the polls and decide the fate of the world for the next two years.

Hopefully all of our savvy, sophisticated Urban Monarch readers have cast their votes or plan on doing so by the end of the day.

Democrats and Republicans have been making a lot of noise lately on a variety of important campaign topics; the war on terror, securing the border, Iraq, and of course the ubiquitous economy.

One topic that’s been sadly overlooked however, is perhaps equally important:  when it comes to boot knockin, bed rockin, ass slappingly fun sex, who’s the ahem, most dominant party?

According to one source, Republicans are the sexually superior species.  By a landslide.

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how to get backstage

I’m obsessed.

I admit it.

There are few things in my life that I’m more passionate about than my addiction to music.  Trying to get close to the bands who have changed my life therefore, has been more than a passing hobby for me.

I’ve got a few techniques of my own that work well for certain things; 

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Enlightened Seduction - The Way of Relationships Product Review

Zan’s third DVD in his Enlightened Seduction series covers modern relationships. I must preface this by saying his ideas are radically different from mainstream views, and might offend some of you.

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Poll: Sex or Sleep

A cold, snowy winter morning, and you in a warm, snuggly bed. Staying in bed all day and shutting out the world sounds like pure bliss. But… would it beat out sex?

urban minx : irena edition

We recently had the pleasure of shooting the fiery tressed Irena for this month’s Urban Minx. Enjoy the photos, and be sure to check Flickr for behind the scenes shots and other goodies. Now, onto the interview where the lovely Irena proves herself as sassy as she is sensual. Read more

YouTube: Borat Visits a Dating Service

Many of you have been hip to Sacha Baron Cohen and Da Ali G Show for a number of years now. But if you’ve been living in a cave, let me introduce you to Borat from Kazakhstan.

If you cheat on me.. I crush you.

Hahaha, it cracks me up every time.

Miracle of miracles, the Borat movie just happens to be opening today. Check out the trailer.

Open Forum Fridays : Favorite Vacation Spots

I’m traveling in China and it’s been fantastic. The hardest part is the language barrier — when I’ve been in Europe I’m able to get by and communicate with the locals. In China, the language is so completely different from those with Latin roots that it can be very hard and frustrating. But this annoyance is certainly not a show-stopper in deciding whether to visit China. Read more

Details Magazine in 60 seconds

Details Magazine November 2006

Most canadians would talk about their salary before their love life. (Maybe they need to read my sex column) Read more

a tippler’s life for me : pour spouts

I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my home bar.  Stocking it with quality booze is, naturally, very important. 

But there are a lot of other things I’ve done to enhance the experience of drinking at my place, especially when entertaining.

A bartender friend of mine turned me on to one of the most important, and surprisingly least expensive additions to my arsenal.

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How Feminism Destroyed Real Men

The Daily Mail has a controversial editorial arguing that the feminist movement destroyed “real men.”

Suddenly, women wanted to drive home their newfound equality by moulding men to be more like them.

This velvet revolution was reflected in a series of broader cultural changes. After decades of uncompromising movie heroes like Marlon Brando and Clint Eastwood, we were asked to fall for stuttering, floppy-haired fops like Hugh Grant; touchy-feely and hopelessly embarrassed around women.

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Flickr: Where We Sleep

This week we’re taking a look at bedrooms. I’ve been coordinating new bedding, so I thought it would be fun to explore how other people are sleeping. What’s your bedroom look like?

Sex: Lubrication Guide

I’m starting off this week’s sex article with a simple statement: sexual lubricants have more uses than just combating vaginal dryness. While yes, lubricants can help with this problem, that is not the only reason they exist. With this stigma against lubricants, they are often called the most unsung sex toy. Read more

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