Posts Written by Vic Arkoff

Brass Monkey’s apothecary-style ceramic planters give some smartass sass to mild-mannered houseplants with a trio of snarky messages: “I could really use a drink,” “Into pot,” and “Put it where the direct sun don’t shine.” If your plant dies and you give up, the drip tray becomes a container lid.

Cursing is f**king charming when it’s cross-stitched or daintily embroidered. Julie Jackson, OG of the Subversive Cross Stitch movement, continues the snarky DIY trend with Super Subversive Cross Stitch, 50 easy-to-follow patterns including: Not today, Satan; Let the good times be gin; What fresh hell is this? and more.

Apothic Wines double dares you to get the party started with Would You Dare? a conversational 21+ game for those who aren’t afraid to play without rules. The 54-card deck features bold prompts such as “reveal your deepest desire.” Guaranteed to make the night more interesting, especially after a bottle of wine.

These clipless, flat-pedal bike sneakers combine skid-resistant Panaracer rubber and Chrome’s urban cycling gear knowhow. The low-profile Kursk Pro is built for durability, weather resistance, and night visibility. Flexplate technology boosts pedal power when on the bike and walking comfort when off.

Clear sound and active noise-canceling tech make Skullcandy’s wireless Hesh ANC Headphones a sound buy at a great price. The over-the-ear cans offer the same perks as more expensive competitors, such as 22-hour battery life; Rapid Charge; call, track and volume control; built-in Tile location tech; and popular color options.

Deckers X Lab’s most comfy shoes just got as cozy as slippers. X-Scape SPSK Mid is a hybrid sneaker and shearling boot thanks to its suede exterior, pliable padding, and sheepskin lining. A Meta-Rocker sole and lightweight midsole make feet feel like they’re walking on air. A HERproject collab supporting women factory workers.

Gridiron fan? Flash your cash with the Pro Style Sports’ Football Wallet. It’s made from real football leather with the pebbly texture of pro balls. It breaks in like a real football, with a brown split-grain leather interior, and an exterior hand-stitched with white polymer lace to keep your grip on money, ID, and gameday tickets.

Smartphone cameras are pretty amazing, except for capturing long-distance shots. The cast-aluminum Nocs Provisions Photo Rig Adapter is a handy pocket pal that clamps on to align a phone lens to a Zoom Tube Monocular Telescope or standard binoculars for true analog zoom photos and videos.

An EV newcomer with a 325-mile range and 80% charge time of 20 minutes stole the LA International Auto Show, garnering the award for Top Sports Utility EV. Beating out brands including Lincoln and Rivian, the sleek Mullen Five crossover will be the first offering from California-startup Mullen Automotive, starting at $55,000.

Go big and bright or go home. Monolith 50/50 sunglasses by Spy+ Optic deliver bold style in a rainbow of colors. The large, polycarbonate single lens is curved for distortion-free panoramas, while Happy™ lens tech scientifically boosts mood. 100% UV protection reduces sun damage and the frame’s ventilation system reduces fog.

Playtime doesn’t have to end at sundown with the Flashflight Light-up Flying Disc. The LED fave from Nite Ize lets you select from six colors or leave it in color-changing Disc-O mode. Stays lit for up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge and stays afloat when it lands in the drink.

Walsh Whiskey’s triple-distilled Writers’ Tears is an ode to the golden era of Irish whiskey – and to Joyce, Shaw, Wilde and other literary giants inspired by their favorite dram. Their eight-whiskey portfolio recreates the centuries-old method of blending malt and still whiskeys distilled in copper pots.

Let your kicks kickstart the Thanksgiving table talk. Pick a side: which tasty Saucony Ride 14 running shoes do you prefer? The bright Green Bean Casserole or orange Sweet Potato Both feature a casserole pattern on the sock liner and interior plus the punny left/right message “THAT’S HOW I CASSEROLE.”

Bote’s compact Rackham Aero 11’ Inflatable Paddle Board is lighter, smaller, and more portable than full-size boards, packing into a tidy 44″× 20″× 17″ travel bag. The No Quarter Limited Edition includes a ton of extras like a cooler, tackle rack, sand spear, and MagneKoozie magnetic drinkware for sips while you SUP.

Chronicle Books’ cheeky Last Call Cats Notecards are blank inside, making them purr-fect for any occasion, especially for writing drunken apologies when you’re in the doghouse. The 16 cards feature beer-swilling, bar-crawling, cat-erwauling felines under the influence, playfully penned by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.

You can never have too many pockets. Especially with 19 of ‘em distributed on the front and back of this innovative daypack for easy access without slowing your pace. The NVRSTOP 19-25 slips over your head to comfortably distribute weight better than backpacks. Holds 25 liters (40 with roll top).

Decorative snaps aren’t just for western shirts. They jazz up Voormi’s Pearl Snap Shirt, a stylish workhorse made of water-repellant Merino wool with a 4-way stretch construction for comfort and movement. The midweight shirt’s cuff and collar trim, and relaxed fit elevate everyday workwear that does double duty on the street.

For 99 years, Cazadores has made tequila with 100% Blue Weber agave from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Their sustainably produced reposado is double distilled and double fermented, then spends months resting in new American oak barrels before bottling. The melded flavors yield high-quality cocktails without a high price.

Nope, they’re not monogrammed pocket squares. They’re effin’ sly linen-poly Sweary Cocktail Coasters using acronyms that look like initials to discretely stand for curse words and phrases like “Bulls***,” “Son of a b****” and “What the f***.” Made by the otherwise classy folks at Dot & Army. Sold in a set of eight.

State Bicycle Co.’s Klunker comes in two bold colorways celebrating Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks with a portion of sales benefiting the National Park Foundation. A chill ride for cruising and tough enough to take on the trails with its steel frame and fork, BMX-style stem, extra-wide V-bar, and mountain bike tires.

Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s reveal their sixth motorcycle collab. This special Indian Challenger Dark Horse pays tribute to JD’s rye whiskey with Rye Metallic paint, gold and green accents, and a numbered badge. Meticulously detailed down to the rear fender message: “Drive Responsibly. Bottles and Throttles Don’t Mix.”

Go hands-free for Zoom meetings with a wireless headset that lets you comfortably multi-task. The JLab GO Work headset uses Bluetooth multipoint connectivity to switch between computer and phone tasks without re-pairing. Big bang for the buck with 45 hours of playtime, two listening modes (voice + music), and a 30 ft. range.

The canned cocktail craze makes drinking convenient but generally leaves us wishing for fresher flavors without an aluminum aftertaste. Williams Sonoma and Woodford Reserve whisky come to the rescue with a trio of premium bottled cocktail mixers – Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, and Mint Julep – especially for brown liquor lovers.