Posts Written by Vic Arkoff

Stiff shoes got your dogs barking? Slip those toes into Skechers Bobs V’Lite 3D Fun skate-style sneakers made with a memory foam insole and pliable rubber sole. The irresistible canvas print features dogs and cats peacefully enjoying a movie together, grateful that Bobs has donated nearly $6 million to help shelter animals.

In a race to become the first in the industry to build a car body from 3D-printed parts, car customizer 1016 Industries revealed its prototype McLaren 720S widebody. Known for its carbon fiber parts, 1016 used computational fluid dynamics to model parts and build a drivable car. The production carbon fiber kit drops in 2021.

From the Beverly Hills bakery that invented the 24-hour cupcake ATM, Sprinkles is shipping cupcakes from coast-to-coast. Sprinkle a little love with the flash-frozen Holiday Box: Four Red Velvet, Four Vanilla, and Four Chocolate Peppermint cupcakes decorated with green trees, gingerbread, snowmen, and sprinkles. Order by 12.14.20.

Pairing sake with sushi is eight times better with this swimmingly fine sake set. Artist Kim Rody converts her marine paintings onto fine porcelain tableware such as this 5-piece, 8-legged charmer based on her original painting “Out of the Blue Octopus.” Confession – we can’t resist serving calamari on the matching platter.

Gazillions of packages are nabbed by porch pirates, especially during the holidays. The Yale Smart Delivery Box solves the problem with brains and brawn. When a package is placed inside, the Smart Cabinet Lock bolts the lid, notifies you, and remains locked until you open it with the Yale Access app, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.

The Linksoul x True Lux Knit Sneaker is the star of the ultra-comfy Wave collection, the first collaboration between the two modern golf-wear brands. True’s signature cleat-less treads provide an awesome grip-to-weight ratio, the breathable upper is waterproof, and a reflective “Make Par Not War” heel tag reflects your game spirit.

Preppy Pop’s fun, fitted, limited-edition Bluto All Brawn shirt sports an original, officially-licensed textile design of Popeye the Sailor Man’s hot-headed nemesis, Bluto (who would have had a better chance of stealing Popeye’s “goil” if he dressed this sharp). Save 30% off any Preppy Pop purchase with promo code AWESOMER.

“Feeling classy as f*ck? Have a Bellini. Life kicking your ass? Try a Corpse Reviver.” Classy as F*ck Cocktails demonstrates that profanity is elegant when combined with gold calligraphy and 60 classic drink recipes. Equally swanky: Two Damn Classy rocks glasses and the golden Shaking Sh*t Up! cocktail shaker.

Nothing makes a good impression like a bottle from the top shelf. Wow ‘em with Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon. The limited-edition 17-year is the Kentucky distillery’s oldest Masters Collection release yet, aging gracefully ever since Chris Morris became the seventh Master Distiller in Woodford’s 150-year history.

Handmade by a Liverpool engineer from a real SPAM can, the mighty, meaty Spamp Guitar Practice Amp is a versatile, low-noise amp with a seriously clean sound (“chilled”) and awesome distortion effects (“fried,” “grilled”). The circuit is an original design. Plug in headphones for practice. Use the belt clip for busking.

Easton’s #1 sport tote, the Walk-off IV Wheeled Backpack, is the perfect carry for baseball players, with two side bat sleeves (ideal for showing off the green B5 Pro Big Barrel) and zippered pockets to keep gear organized. There’s more space inside, a clever helmet holder on the outside, a fence hook, and vented cleat storage.

Hungry for more from the trio behind the Snacky Tunes podcast? The book Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient chronicles how music inspires 75 of the world’s best chefs. Personal playlists are paired with recipes, plus five chefs worked on an Everybody World capsule collection made from 100% recycled cotton.

It’s nearly time for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the world’s toughest row 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Teams and solo rowers battle the elements, sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and the occasional marlin beak piercing their boat hulls. Celebrate with Talisker 10-Year and watch last year’s recap.

When the dreaded “check engine” and other dashboard warning lights flare, discover what’s wrong without a costly trip to a mechanic. The Innova 1000 Car Scan Mobile turns smartphones into advanced OBD2 diagnostic tools. It pairs with the RepairSolutions 2 app for systems health checks of most cars made since 1996.

One of the world’s finest gins comes from Germany, not London. Rated a near-perfect 99 by Distiller.com, Monkey 47 Dry Gin is a delicious juniper concoction with prominent herbal, fruity, and peppery notes, and a sweet finish. The 47 in the name comes from the 47 botanicals used and the 47% ABV.

Hello? Is it me you’re looking floor? Let your Lionel Richie doormat from HappyMatz welcome visitors and overworked delivery drivers with Richie’s face and the first word from his classic ballad. Give ‘em a smile and consider it a good deed. Comes in two sizes and in natural coir or all-weather dura coir.

Well before Power Rangers or TNMT, Ultraman was a live-action TV series, establishing a new type of sci-fi adventure, kitschy kaiju characters, salarymen superheroes, and sparkly special effects. Rarely broadcast in America, it’s now streaming on Pluto TV with select titles on-demand on Shout! Factory TV.

The 13” MacBook Air deserves an equally well-designed sleeve to keep it secure. Amsterdam’s Mujjo crafted just the thing, a sophisticated asymmetrical envelope-styled Macbook Air & Pro Sleeve carry case. Made with an upscale combo of heavy-duty felt and full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather flap with a one-snap closure.

Refreshingly light, the classic gin and tonic cocktail is popular worldwide. For an upgraded G&T with an exotic twist, Tanqueray Rangpur is a smooth distilled gin with a distinctive citrus taste. Named after a rare lime from India, aromatic Tanqueray Rangpur is also subtly enhanced with mandarin flavors from the Far East.

Tropicfeel’s Shell Backpack is an ultra-versatile, expandable travel pack with a unique wardrobe system to organize and compress a closet-worth of clothes for comfy, lightweight carry. Features clamshell access, detachable pouch plus options for tech, camera or toiletries. Estimated delivery starts in March 2021.

What’s going on? You, you sharp-dressed man, when you wear the Marvin Gaye Camp Shirt. The limited-edition viscose poplin button-up is a top-drawer collaboration between Motown Records, the Marvin Gaye Estate and Better Gift Shop. Features the iconic album art from Marvin Gaye Live!, shot in 1974 by photographer Jim Brit.

Raise a glass to the great women of whisky. Jane Walker is a limited-edition Scotch whisky from Master Blender Emma Walker in honor of Cardhu, a 200-year-old Speyside distillery that flourished under the leadership of whisky pioneer Elizabeth Cumming. The blended malt is aged ten years, featuring notes of white peaches.

Whether you’re baking it or binge-eating it, bread is 2020’s #1 comfort food. And carbs don’t get better than goodies from NoCal’s Manresa Bread led by James Beard “Outstanding Baker” finalist Avery Ruzicka. Triple Chocolate Orange Panettone, Babka, Sourdough and more ship nationwide, as does their BREAD sweatshirt.