Saturday’s the second leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, MD. Chances are, you’re still counting your winnings from I’ll Have Another’s Derby win. Wait, you didn’t have him at 15-1 odds? Amazing. Anyway, as the Kentucky Derby has its signature cocktail, the Mint Julep, so does the Preakness Stakes called the Black-Eyed Susan, named for the state’s official flower. Like Maryland in spring, the drink is pleasant and refreshing–except when it’s 85 degrees and humid like it can be this time of year–and the weather god seems to be a fan of the Sport of Kings this year.

Funny thing, the recipe for a Black-Eyed Susan keeps changing. Vodka, orange juice and an orange slice are constants, but some recipes call for light rum, some for Triple Sec, others ask for pineapple juice and a wedge of pineapple. This year’s incarnation uses Bourbon (specifically Early Times Kentucky Whisky), so we’ll roll with that one. The mix of sweet and sour and orange juice is refreshing. It cuts some of the heaviness of the OJ and removes the tangy-ness of the sour mix. A good call on a warm day.

Black-Eyed Susan

• 3/4 ounce vodka
• 1 1/4 ounce bourbon
• 3 ounces sweet and sour mix (sold in stores)
• 2 ounces orange juice
• 1 orange slice and cherry

Pour ingredients in above order into a ice-filled 10-ounce high ball glass. Stir, Add garnish.

If it’s true that the first thing a woman notices about a man is his smile, chances are you’d be luckier in love if your teeth didn’t resemble tree bark. No matter the culprit — cigarettes, coffee, inferior genetics — brown teeth just aren’t that sexy. And perhaps you’ve noticed they aren’t quite so common anymore either: According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, teeth whitening has mushroomed from a $1.4 billion industry in 2005 to one worth $14 billion today.

Perhaps you’ve also noticed that there are now about as many teeth-bleaching methods to choose from as versions of Tide. Sure it’s confusing, but that shouldn’t stop you. We asked Dr. Maryann Lehmann — a dentist and teeth-whitening expert in Darien, Conn., who holds several patents related to dental tooth color analysis — to suss out the pros and cons of the various options now available to brighten your mouth. It turns out there’s a workable option for every budget. But before you do anything, she warns, see a hygienist. Whitening solutions can’t be absorbed into teeth caked in layers of nasty plaque.

In-office Whitening

Cost: Approximately $395 per visit

The most effective, immediate and, yes, expensive method for bleaching teeth is by way of an in-chair procedure. You say “Ahh,” and your dentist carefully seals your cheeks, lips and gums before applying a strong concentration of either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to your fangs. Some offices employ lights or lasers to activate the solution, while others mix in components that kick-start the cleaning. “How the whitening works is that the peroxide is absorbed into the enamel rods,” says Lehmann. “Think of them as a matrix of straws in your teeth. This solution clears them out.” After the 60- to 90-minute procedure, patients may experience some passing sensitivity; in other words, lay off the Haagen-Dazs for a few days. And if your ultimate goal is to achieve a blinding Billy Bush-like smile, you can return to the chair up to three times per month. Say “Cheesy!”

Custom Tray Molds

Cost: Approximately $495 per three weeks of treatment

Unlike one-size-fits-all over-the-counter products (see below), custom trays are actual molds of your teeth that are cast during an in-office visit, and perfectly cover every last molar. “They fit like a glove and give you the most comfort and best isolation so that the solution stays where you want it,” says Lehmann. “They also let you choose the best strength of peroxide for you.” You’ll need to slip on the mouthpiece every night for two consecutive weeks (or longer for seriously gunked-up teeth) to see appreciable results. Incidentally, the younger you are, the faster this all works; younger teeth, it turns out, are more porous and thus easier to flush clean. Sorry, gramps.

Disposable Whitening Strips and Trays

Cost: Approximately $30 to $60 per kit

Taupe. Ochre. Russet. All lovely shades of brown. But if they describe the color of your teeth, and the above methods are out of your budget, head to your local pharmacy. Walk the oral-care aisle, and you’ll find all kinds of cool whitening products offered by trusted brands, like Crest. Of course, as usual, you do get what you pay for. Fact is the bleaching agents in these OTC products are much weaker than those you’d purchase directly from your dentist. But do they work? Unless your teeth resemble Raisinets, yes, they should make them whiter. But keep your expectations in check. “If you must choose, go with trays instead of strips,” says Lehmann. “Strips only cover about six teeth. Trays cover all of your teeth.”

Whitening Toothpastes and Pens

Cost: Approximately $2 to $6 per 6-ounce tube; $10 to $130 per pen

The newest toothpastes and whitening pens boast such breakthroughs as peroxide whitening oxygen bubbles, microbeads and crystals that are supposedly engineered to lift and remove gnarly surface stains from your teeth like some kind of dental ShamWow. Great pitch, only toothpastes and tooth pens can’t penetrate the dentin, the bone-like tissue residing just beneath the enamel. If your dentin is discolored, sorry, but no amount of scrubbing will clean it. “Toothpastes simply are not in contact with the tooth long enough to make an impact,” says Lehmann. Our advice? Save up your tooth-pen money for three months and invest in a disposable tray.

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/PeskyMonkey

Robert Ringbom has written for Men’s Journal, Maxim, Wired, and dozens of other magazines on topics ranging from health and technology to crime and finance.

I am not a car guy, but in my life I said that I would buy 2 cars if money was no object: Porsche 356 Speedster–the bathtub Porsche made famous in Top Gun–and a 1967 Mustang GT Fastback. Connotations of living fast and dying you aside, the reason was that the cars and their mythology caught my imagination as a teenager coming into adulthood. As a teen, I wrote a paper on auto aerodynamics and Porsche and Ford cars tested well. My brother was a car guy, having refurbished a ’64 Triumph TR-4A, loved Porsche and since I spent a fair amount of time waxing and cleaning cars with him, I learned to love them, too. And my second-grade teacher drove a Mustang of that time frame.

The more I learned about cars, the more the name Carroll Shelby came up. Former driver and hellraiser, he took an American muscle car, turned it into a beast that roared, and people loved it. The GT 350 and 500 he created were the gold-standard for a number of years, with the hybridized configuration, distinctive paint, and Cobra branding. The GT came in the Fastback style (a slightly curved rear window as opposed to the slanted rear of the Mustang coupe). Shelby heavied up the rear axle, the brakes, added wider tires, and increased the engine capacity. It fulfilled Ford’s racing ambition and ultimately led to a design change that made all Mustangs look like Shelby’s work long after he was gone. If 1960s Detroit was in an arms race when it came to cars, the Shelby Cobra was the nuclear option. As a kid watching my teacher drive to school in a jet black Mustang, I didn’t know shit about it, but what I knew was that that car was the closet thing to perfect that I’d ever seen.

Shelby made more cars, even more Mustangs, but the heyday of the muscle car was his domain.  His recent death reminded me of the car. His car still sits at the top of my “must-have” list.

 Brian Joyner is co-founder of Be Better Guys. He doesn’t drive either car yet, because neither hold car seats comfortably.

Is this guy too slick for his customers? Might just be...

Dan from D.C., a town known for very conservative men’s style, asked The Guys what he should do when Dan, who has a strong sense of style (and reads BeBetterGuys.com daily), comes face-to-face with a customer who is very, very important, but a crappy dresser.

The Guys:  Do not outdress your customers. Ever. This is a common problem with sales guys who make good money on the orders their customers give them, and then flaunt that good money– whether on purpose or inadvertently–when calling on other customers.  Let us tell you, people’s eyes work.  They see you.  They see your shoes, your watch, your suit, your haircut, the whole picture.  And if you show up with a poppin’ tie or thousand-dollar suit, it gets noted.

The most important thing in sales is the relationships you maintain with your customers.  They need to trust you, and ultimately, like you because customers buy from people they like. Coming in blingin’ can be a huge turnoff for your customer. Instead, pick your toned-down suits, shirts and ties, keep your shoes shined, keep the Rolex at home; don’t show up a customer. Frankly, don’t show up anyone.  Style’s not about one-upping another guy; it’s about expressing your interests AND your taste.

David Boris is co-creator of Be Better Guys.  He works in sales, and some of his customers are stylishly handicapped, too.

I saw this photo of Jada Pinkett Smith recently and my jaw dropped. “She is so hot!” “That Will Smith’s a lucky man.” and other praising statements came to mind. It was a revelation to see Jada, looking so beautiful, like she just stepped on to the scene. Hard to believe she was on A Different World so many years ago. The Baltimore native has spent her fair share of time in the limelight–although recently it’s been her kids, Jaden and Willow taking the stage, while she’s moved behind the camera–and looks lovelier every time I see her. She’s gone from wil’ing out in Low Down Dirty Shame to saving lives on Hawthorne.

How can you not like Jada Pinkett Smith? She gives her husband permission for a celebrity crush each year, occasionally goes out on the road with her band “Wicked Wisdom,” or hang out shooting hoops or watching them. Her smile is disarming, her eyes transfixing. At 40 years old, she’s still a stunner, coming across with an air of frankness (call it realness). It’s the combination of them that made her performances in Menance II Society, Collateral, and Bamboozled so effective. She’s come a long way from her years hanging out with Tupac Shakur, walking the line of being  “From around the way” to major Hollywood player with her hubby, Will. And looks good doing it.

BBG realizes that Mothers’ Day has guys scrambling to pick out something for the woman who took them from diapers to prom. We called on Celena Gill, fashion consultant and style diva, to help guys figure out what it takes to make Moms beam brightly over how they raised their Sonny Boys right.

As the April showers end and May flowers begin, one of the biggest, if not the biggest, of holidays encroaches upon us, and me in particular – Mothers’ Day. I may be a bit biased because I have 3 boys. Over the years, I have received a motley mix of Mommy’s Day gifts — from homemade handprints to bodacious bouquets to some very interesting-tasting breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Regardless of the gift, they all came from love and occasionally from some very carefully executed plans that required some advance thought and effort.


To help guide you through the Mommy Day mayhem, here are a few tips to buying a gift to make dear old Mother proud of you:

1. Create a budget: Unless you can break the bank, or you own the bank, try not to go broke over a Mothers’ Day gift. Believe me, Mom will appreciate just the effort, so long as you actually put forth the effort.
2. Research, research, and more research: First things first: We want a gift that we desire, we really, really want, or that we crave, not one that you think we need or would come in “handy.” In plain words, no vacuum cleaners, no frying pan sets, nothing we have to plug in that makes something else spotless or that cooks something so the rest of y’all can eat. Find out what Mommy Dearest really wants – you don’t have to be a detective – and if you’re really running dry on ideas, just ask her for a few options and pick one.
3. Personalize the gift: Is your mom a glam goddess or a happy housewife? Is she a bohemian babe or an excellent executive? Whatever the mom may be, her gift needs to reflect her interests and personality. Please, for the love of all things sacred, don’t get her something that something that all Moms are supposed to like, like a diamond tennis bracelet, if she’s not into sparkly jewelry. Remember, this gift will be forever logged into “Mommy’s List of Memories,” and may be reflected in what you get in the will (smile), so pick your gift very carefully and keep it personal to her individual taste.

If you are a complete flop at preparing a strategic gift and acquisition plan, yes, you can get away by sticking with the traditional gifts – flowers, perfume, candy, day at the spa, jewelry — and remember that when you opt for any of the items from this list, cater to her personal likes. Of course, you could also clean her house (for an extended period of time, not just for one day). Any of the above should, at the very least, get a hearty thank you, a warm hug, and/or a sloppy kiss. Yes, it is the thought that counts, not what you get her.  But whatever you do, give her something. Make your mother proud!

Celena Gill is a fashion consultant, stylist, and blogger extraordinaire. Her blog, Strictly Fabulous Style has been nominated for the Glam Network award for Best Fashion Publisher.

Look how happy Mom is to spend time with her son! We don't know this guy, by the way

You know, after years of going to department stores and buying colorful scarves and bangle-y jewelry, stuff my mom would always open with great glee, surprise, joy, and a bit of “aah, that’s nice but…”, I wizened up. I realized what she really wanted.

She wanted me.

Oh, sure, she wears what I’ve given her, wears it with gusto.  But where things took a turn was having kids of my own and understanding that you only spend intense time together for the first 17, 18 years, and then– poof–it kind of comes to an abrupt end.  Out of the nest those little buggers go. And some kids move across the country, across the world, and all that intimacy bringing the child up recede immediately to memories, no longer visceral, interpersonal events.  It can be kind of depressing for a parent. My kids are still at home, school age, so I have a ways to go. But I get it now.

Most moms don’t want stuff.  They can buy their own stuff.  What moms want is time back.  They want time with you back. Me, I’m taking my mom to an art gallery and probably lunch afterwards. I won’t take any calls, I won’t check email. Dad can come, too, if he wants, or if he wants to wave off and just let it be mom–also good.

Above all, the best gift you can give doesn’t require shopping. It requires your undivided time. So get a card and write something cutesy in there where her present is to use the card as a certificate to cash in for lunch with you, a movie with you, a day-trip with you, a museum trip with you–see the pattern here? You! That’s what your mom really wants.

David Boris is co-creator of Be Better Guys and he’s still figuring out what to do with his wife for Mother’s Day

Holes from the merciless attack upon a defenseless Ralph Lauren suit, right of the center vent

Six sweaters, four suits, two pair of pants, oh, and a tuxedo. That’s what I’ve lost to moth damage over the past couple of years. My house is 75 years old and my closets, although lined in cedar, are equally as old. The oils that keep moths and crickets out of your clothes have retreated into the wood–bad news for clothing protection. I hadn’t smelled the distinctive scent in quite some time. With several thousand dollars of clothing ruined, with the potential for losing more clothes, and therefore money, I sprung into action.

I believed, like many, that cedar in and of itself would repel moths.  I’m not an über-handy guy, but I can do some general maintenance stuff, and I have tools. So, I checked out some DIY sites, grabbed an electric sander, some fine grit sandpaper sheets, and a drop light and headed into my closet to fix the problem. This is where it gets interesting. Literally working in a closet, I spent 45-60  minutes trying to lightly send off enough of the original wood to expose the remaining oils and kill the clothes moth larvae that obviously were having an all-you-can-eat buffet on my wardrobe. After wiping the walls and ceiling down and squirting the walls with cedar oil, my bedroom smelled of cedar, so I figured I was in good shape.  Not only had I dealt with my problem, I’d made myself irresistible women by doing something  handy with power tools–even have pictures to prove it, too. Funny thing: the feeding frenzy didn’t stop. WTF?

What went wrong? Well, moths do hate cedar oil (and clove, lavender, mint and other pungent plant oils), but in highly concentrated amounts, which means tons of plant material or tightly closed spaces. Unless your closet is air-tight (and/or rarely opened), even well-maintained  cedar won’t necessarily keep out moths. My closet was anything but, with 2-and5-years-old hands constantly “helping” me get something.  The other thing making sure what you put into storage is cleaned before putting them away. It seems the moths love the taste of your daily detritus on wool like hollandaise sauce on a petite Filet Mignon. There was the odd sweater that was worn on the unseasonably cold night in May or a suit that sees 3/4 year duty, but hadn’t been worn for a few months that fell into that category. Not wanting to damage clothes with frequent dry-cleaning, I spot clean and brush my woolen clothes regularly. All it did was save more tasty wool for the critters. Time for Plan B.

So how do you stop the menace? Follow these steps and save your wardrobe.

1. Swap out your closet seasonally. Get the heavy wool out of the way and give your clothes space to breathe. It’ll give you the chance to inspect the clothes and prepare them properly.
2. Clean all clothing before putting it away. Spend the money on dry cleaning, or use dry cleaning sheets for smaller items like sweaters. This way, you give the clothes a fighting chance.
3. Store clothes in sealed containers. I use plastic bins with cedar blocks or balls inside for suits and pants, storage bags for sweaters and scarves. A well-made cedar chest is an excellent choice, also. Suit bags will help, also.
4. If you have a cedar closet, caulk the cracks along the floor. Reducing access is the primary goal.
5. Don’t use moth balls. Besides having that geriatric smell, they are as harmful for people as they are for moths.

 Brian Joyner is co-founder of Be Better Guys.

Coach Harrison Messenger Bag. A bag that holds a ton and kicks ass doing it.

We at Be Better Guys are still stunned, in this day of some pretty hip bags out there to carry your stuff to and from work, that there are still guys out there toting their things in backpacks. Grown men. Backpacks. To work.  In a city.

Stop. Particularly if you do, in fact, no longer live in a dorm room.

Instead, check out this week’s BBGet–the item we’d like our wives to buy us if they only knew what we were digging and if money weren’t an issue, which it is–is the Coach Harrison Messenger Bag. Look, you know that messenger bags have a lot of pockets to hold your things. And you know messenger bags look cool slung over your shoulder.

But the Harrison bag is a big style step-up over most canvas and cotton messenger bags that can get frayed edges and don’t look good when worn in. Coach leather looks better when broken in. Not that you want to beat this bag up, but if it takes on a few scratches while sliding under the seat in front of you on a flight, it’ll add some character. In black, walnut or grey. For $498 at Coach stores and online.

Let’s say you fell asleep, like Rip Van Winkle, in 1992 watching In Living Color. You woke up in 2011 and the thick Latina dancer you liked as one of the Fly Girls had pumped out several albums, many movies, was married three times, and had twins. Your first thought might be “Naw, go ahead with that.” Then, you’d IMDB her (once someone explained with the Internet was and how to use it), see her with Puffy Combs (who?) at the Grammys in a floral Versace scarf and not much else, check out a few of her videos and movies, and wonder what happened to her. Right about then, she’d show up in a Fiat commercial or promoting her upcoming tour, and you would be wondering “How can Jennifer Lopez look so good?”

Yeah, Jenny from the block holds it down with a steady diet of touring, movies, and endorsements. The woman known as “La guitarra” for her curvaceous figure is still turning heads 20 years in, with her figure-hugging gown at the Oscars and her recent video “Dance Again.” Both remind us that while she’s done a credible job as an actress (Selena, Out of Sight) and recording artist, it’s really about that body, particularly the cebolla.

Patch pocket plaid shirt, $50. Pretty crisp!

1969 Denim-washed Khaki, $60. And in powder blue, no less!

You know, poor ol’ Gap – it started as such a pleasant little place to get some denim, then it expanded into the khaki world, bought Banana Republic and Old Navy, overextended itself, lost its way, and just been hammered the last several years, with crappy stock returns and meh style.  However, fellas of clothes with punch, Gap has reinvented itself again, and in fact, is more like its old self than it was when it was busy trying to get away from itself…or something.  They have a new “Be Bright” approach, they’re redesigning stores, and for those of you money men out there, their profits are back.  Check out a few of the new arrivals this spring – particularly the shorts, polos and button-front shirts (leave the underwear to the professionals; that apparently didn’t make the “class it up” agenda)–to put some affordable some punch into your wardrobe…and maybe have that “good ol’ times” feeling wash over you.

The importance of wearing sunscreen to prevent skin cancer has been drilled into your head since the day you were born. But you’re way too young to start inspecting yourself for iffy moles, right? Actually, say dermatologists, you’re not. Dr. Jessica Krant, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and founder of Art of Dermatology in New York City, says the time to start is now. “If you get used to how your moles and skin look when nothing is wrong, you’ll be ready to notice changes over time,” she explains, adding that, though rare, “skin cancer does occur in teens and even in children, so there really is no age too young to start knowing your skin.” But how can you “know” your skin? When is a mole just a mole, and when is it a sign of something worse? To answer these questions and more, here are three healthy habits you should be using to keep tabs on your body’s largest organ.

No. 1: Get an annual checkup.
Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist for a complete head-to-toe skin cancer screening. For most people, this will become an annual event, but depending on your skin type and coloring, sun exposure, and family skin cancer history, you may need to go more often. “Everyone is truly different, so your dermatologist should work with you to figure out the schedule that works best for your situation,” says Krant.

No. 2: Check yourself using the ABCDE’s.
In between dermatological visits, you need to inspect your own skin. In order to get to know what’s normal for you, Krant suggests looking at easy-to-see spots once a month. Less visible areas can be looked at every four to six months. Although cancers are more likely to develop in parts of the body that are more exposed to the sun, they can still form in areas the sun doesn’t see. That means a complete skin exam includes the bottoms of your feet, in between your toes, your scalp and your underwear area. “Use a mirror to look at hard-to-see areas,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research for the Department of Dermatology of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “Ask your wife or girlfriend to check out your back.”

What you’re looking for, says Zeichner, is the ABCDE’s of moles.

A = Asymmetry, when one side of the mole does not look like the other side
B = Border, when the border of the mole is irregular and not round
C = Color, when there are various shades of brown, black, blue, or white in the mole
D = Diameter changing (according to Krant, dermatologists used to warn against moles that are larger than a pencil eraser, but doctors now know that melanomas can be smaller)
E = Evolution, when the mole changes over time

Another general guideline, says Krant, is to search for anything that looks different from when you last saw it or that doesn’t look like most of the other marks on you. “There are three main types of skin cancer,” she explains. “Each is formed when a different skin cell type goes bad.” When a brown mole turns malignant, it forms melanoma, the least common but deadliest skin cancer. But there is also a type of melanoma that has no brown pigment; it can look pink or red and is easily overlooked. “Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, can appear as a clear ‘pearly’ bump, a flat white scar-like patch, or a pimple-like sore that may bleed and heal and then bleed again,” says Krant. Squamous cell carcinoma often appears as a flaky, scaly red bump, or a small patch that looks like a rash but won’t heal.

No. 3: When in doubt, call a professional.
With all the different places on your body to check and all the different types of spots to look out for, it can feel overwhelming. Just do the best you can to keep track of your skin, and head to your specialist if you spy something that makes you uneasy. At the very least, he or she will reassure you that it’s benign. And if it isn’t, rest assured you did the right thing: All three types of skin cancers are potentially deadly, but they’re also curable if caught early.

Caroline Kinneberg a frequent contributor to Men’s Life Today, is a Paris-based journalist who has written for The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Travel+Leisure.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume you’re not going to be sitting in the bandstand at Churchill Downs on May 5th, wearing a linen/poplin/seersucker suit with a straw boater/Panama/snap -brimmed fedora. Your date won’t be in a flora sundress with a crown of lilac and cream covering her head. You’ll be at home or maybe at a bar, but you might have a few dollars on the favorite and take an interest in checking out some races. The question is, what will you be drinking at that time?

Well, it’s obvious that Bourbon will be the choice, but how you do that is up to you. You could go with the Mint Julep , but what we recommend is a simple, yet effective drink, a Bourbon Slush with Red Stag Honey Tea from Jim Beam. It’s is a flavored whiskey of 4-year old Jim Beam Bourbon and a combination of iced tea and honey flavors. The taste is sweet and mellow, perfect for the novice whiskey drinker. Making the drink couldn’t be easier, or more tasty. Suddenly, wherever you are becomes a rocking chair on a covered porch, waiting to collect your winnings.

Bourbon Slush

• 2 oz Red Stag Honey Tea
• Crushed ice
• Juice of 1/4 lemon

Fill Collins glass with crushed ice. Pour liquor into glass and squeeze lemon into mixture. Stir quickly and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Man uses tools–it’s what differentiates us from things without opposable thumbs. I have a tool box filled with everything from socket wrenches to WD-40. There is a tool box in the car and I have a Leatherman in my desk (along with silverware, a wine opener, and cigar cutter–you know, the essentials). You probably have one or more of these things, too, but what do you use in a pinch? So what if I told you that you could have most of the emergency tools you might need and that they could fit in a three-ring binder?

Industrial designers Steffan Kehrle and Robert Ruf created thin stainless steel, mylar-coated sheets with laser-cut utensils, tools, and even charms for people to use in their day-to-day. Sheets contain everything from forks to fishhooks,  buttons to bottle openers. The Survival Kits are almost too stylish to use, but the need of a knife to split a burrito may prove too much to resist using the sets.

In association with Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity, the Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture is hosting a  a “Dress for Success” workshop, fashion show and bazaar for men of all ages. “Style and Swag: The New Black Elegance” will include a raffle of men’s care products and gift cards will be available to visitors. Participants include Brian Joyner of Be Better Guys; Carlous Palmer of Design LLC; The Spa Lounge Salon; E. Bannister Couture; Christopher Shafer Clothier; Eric Brewer; Octavius Johnson; and K&G Fashion Superstore.

Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 1 pm to 5 pm, at the Reginald Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Every now and then, Planters Peanuts conducts a survey that is pitched as “how to assess the modern man’s interests and worldview,” but really is an opportunity for Planters to understand how men view nuts and which nuts they like most.  Please get your heads out of the gutters, gentlemen.  And stop laughing; this is serious.  Mostly.

At any rate, Planters just sent us the results of the survey, posted below.

The Evolving Man

Compared to five years ago, most men believe they are doing more:

• Grocery shopping (88 percent)
• Involved with household chores (86 percent)
• Cooking (85 percent)
• Stay at home dads (83 percent)
• Involved with child rearing/child care (82 percent)

Overall men are leading busier lives and believe their roles have become more demanding. They feel the most demanding roles in their lives are:

• Child rearing/child care (68 percent)
• Work/career (67 percent)
• Household chores (67 percent)

Men wish they had time to travel (61 percent) and pursue their hobbies and personal interests (54 percent).  Only 40 percent of men wish they had more time for sex.

75 percent of men believe there should be more snacks that are heart healthy

More than two-thirds of men choose to eat nuts because they are:

• A convenient snack (67 percent) and
• A healthy snack (64 percent)

Can you wear this Hilfiger poplin suit in April? Yep, you can!

We at Be Better Guys got a question about the fact they, yes, winter and now even spring appears to be vaporizing before our eyes and we’re going headlong into summer two or three months ahead of schedule all over the country.  Chris from D.C. asked David, “So what suit is acceptable to wear considering it’s like 88 degrees already and we’re a month and a half away from Memorial Day?  By the way, this is ridiculous!”

The Guys:   Let’s cut right to the chase – linen suits, no.  Seersucker suits, no.  Cotton poplin suits, yes.  Tropical weight wool suits, obviously.  For more detail, it’s rugged to walk around in 90 degree weather in wool, ever, be it April or August or October.  Plus, the hard and fast rules of “no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day” are relaxing.

So when you’re faced with a hot day ahead of schedule, or it stays hot well after Labor Day, you want to stay comfortable as subltely as you can; in other words, seersucker is not subtle.  And even linen suits, which are super- comfy on hot, humid days, are very obviously linen and folks can tell when you’re actively wearing a fabric out of season.

Cotton poplin, by its nature of being slight heavier than linen and seersucker, can carry a traditional suit shape and, even in standard khaki or tan, can look appropriate six months a year.  David wears his as soon as the temperature goes north of 85 during the day no matter when that happens.  It’s about being comfortable and appropriate.  Clearly tropical weight wool can get you there.  But when it approaches 90, cotton poplin is a great option, too.

Perhaps the coolest watch ever? The Omega Speedmaster

Be Better Guys is starting a new series on the items we would like someone (our wives, mainly) to buy us; the things that we, regardless of money, really, really want.  This one’s on the Omega Speedmaster, a classic watch that was the first (and only) NASA-approved watch to be worn by our astronauts in space.  And on the Moon.

In fact, in September of 1965, the Speedmaster was worn on the Gemini 3 mission.  And on July 21, 1969, it was worn by all astronauts who touched the moon’s surface.  Omega then put on the back watch cover the words “flight qualified by NASA for all manned space missions,” engraved on the watch’s casing.

The Speedmaster looks great both in business settings and on the weekends, it’s durable as hell, and even though Omega has re-released the Speedmaster to look like an amalgam of classic and modern, it’s the vintage models, either pre- or post-Moon visit, that I want.

David Boris is co-creator of BeBetterGuys.com; he collects vintage watches.

It was her lips I recalled first. Cherry sweet, butter soft, full, aching-to-be-kissed lips. Meagan Good reminds me of girls I knew during high school-really cute and really out of my league.  The California native is most recently recognizable for her role in Californication and the upcoming Steve Harvey movie Think Like a Man, it’s Stomp the Yard and Brick that caught my eye, thinking  about my school boy crushes (high school and college). She’s the kind of woman that distracted you from what you were supposed to be doing–calculus, American Lit, whatever–then studied in the library with you while you caught up.

Good’s mix of African American, Puerto Rican, and French makes for a tasty melange of hotness. Paradoxically, she’s a devout Christian who recently became engaged a preacher (and Sony executive). Sigh. . . .

Oh, do we men dig a gal in one of our ties!

Be Better Guys was reminded by an email from JCrew that women like to borrow your stuff.  More specifically, JCrew has a woman designer who’s a self-described tomboy and loves to design clothes that mix and match feminine and masculine styles:  a denim shirt with a skirt, or slouchy sweaters with tailored pants.  But we know that, while we don’t borrow our woman’ stuff (unless you’re, you know, into that sort of thing….), our gals sport our stuff when you least expect it.

We all love it when our women traipse around the place in our dress shirts with nothing on underneath (Lord, that’s a great day when that happens!), but sometimes them women just want to wear your belt, your watch, borrow a tie to go with their blouse, or kick around in your sweater on the weekend.  Here’s how I set it up with my wife – she can wear anything of his she wants, as long as

A.  it looks really cute, and

B.  she puts it back!

Other than that, my closets and drawers are open to her. She wants to wear my boxers?  Right on. Put on one of my striped cotton belts to go with her jeans?  Hit it.  Lounge around in my cashmere V-neck sweater?  Don’t get any salsa on it during the hockey game!  Want to sport one of my vintage watches?  Now hold on!  That’s valuable, lady!!

So yes, let her rip.  It’s one of the great things that women want to do – inhabit your things when they aren’t right with you.  We love that.  Just don’t lose anything or roll in the mud!  Well, on second thought….

David Boris is co-creator of Be Better Guys and so far, his wife hasn’t ruined or lost anything she’s borrowed.  So far….

A custom-made suit will always fit better than anything off the rack. The same applies to your facial hair: You look better when your whiskers are groomed to fit your face shape. But, like a well-made ready-to-wear suit that looks pretty decent on most men, is there one facial hairstyle that brings out the best in almost every guy who wears it? To find out, we asked barbers across the country. Perhaps proving that there isn’t one universally flattering facial hair style, their responses were as diverse as their hometowns.

NORTHEAST: The Groomed Five O’clock Shadow
“Each man has his own style, and facial hair is a way to express that. Men grow facial hair differently too — some is coarser than others, some is finer. Some faces are more pronounced than others, creating shadows and spots that may not look great with a beard. But if I had to choose, I’d say the groomed five o’clock shadow is the safest bet. The style is professional enough for work. Plus, you can have a clean-shaven face in the morning and a shadow by night, creating a different look. As for a beard, goatee or mustache, you might not have enough facial hair growth or the right dimensions to pull it off.”

– Manuel Vazquez of American Shave Classic Barber in Union, N.J.

MIDWEST: The Full Beard
“The one style that works for most men is a full beard, whether it be scruff or the ‘I just got done hiking the Alps’ look. It looks classy when your beard is groomed, rugged when unkempt. It can really make a man look distinguished and it can sometimes age a baby face. Guys that have patchy beards should keep them short and tidy to give a fuller appearance.”

– Shawna Carter of State Street Barbers in Chicago, Ill.

WEST: The Style That Squares
“It’s always best to choose a beard style that best fits your face shape. A square face shape is the most ideal and desired shape. For men with square faces, the choices are endless. For those who don’t have a square face, the goal is to choose a beard style that helps to square the face so it gives the illusion that they do. This will be different for every face shape.”

– Craig the Barber of Gornik & Drucker barbershop in Beverly Hills, Calif.

SOUTHWEST: A Mustache
“After surveying our team of barbers, the vote came back unanimously for the mustache. We all agreed that the mustache (well-groomed, of course) represents a sense of style, confidence, security, strength and distinction. Just consider Clark Gable, Billy Dee Williams, Tom Selleck, Salvador Dali, Burt Reynolds, Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin.”

– Christopher Dickerson, president of Christopher’s Vintage Shave in Sugar Land, Texas

… Or a Goatee
“A well-trimmed, well-managed goatee looks good on every man — as long as you choose a goatee style that’s a good fit for your face. Some goatees may be fuller, thicker or longer than others, but the key is how it’s kept up. I find that most men take better care of a goatee than a full beard or just a mustache. You can’t grow it and ignore it.”

– Adrian Armendariz of V’s Barbershop in Houston, Texas

SOUTHEAST: No One Style Works for All
“There’s not one facial hairstyle that looks good on every man, because every man’s facial hair differs. Some hair is coarse and stiff, some is curly, some grows in spotty.

The style that’s the most flattering on an individual is the one that’s contoured to the man’s face; is neat and linear; and compliments the natural flow of the man’s cheekbone, jawline or lip structure.”

– James B. Kynes Jr., Kings of Atlanta Grooming Lounge & Spa in Atlanta, Ga.

Elizabeth Narins is the group editor of Men’s Life Today and Style and Tech for Men at Studio One Networks. The former YourTango.com Love Buzz blogger has written about relationships for Men’s Health magazine. Follow her @Ejnarins.

If I told you that I had sex with over 20 different people in my life, what would you think of me? Flip that: if I was a woman with 20 pelts on the wall, would you think differently? It’s the age-old conundrum of how many sexual partners are too many partners?

This has been rolling around my head for a few reasons: the recent Rush Limbaugh flap over him calling Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute because of her testimony that contraception be covered by healthcare and and several conversations I’ve had with men and women I know, some of whom have a high number. (Yes, I’m aware of the Anna Faris movie) It seems off to me that anyone who came of age in the last 30 years could be stigmatized having more than a handful of sexual relationships, or wanting to have safe sexual relationships. Yet the issue keeps rearing its head, I believe, for three reasons: 1.) guys and women lie about their number in direct opposition to one another, because; 2.) guys are insecure about who and/or how many others women have been loving, and; 3.) abstinence education, avoidance in popular culture, and same-sex schooling aside, people keep having sex.

Simply put, we all want sex–it’s genetically wired into our brains and anatomy as a survival mechanism–just on our terms. The whole Limbaugh thing is–well, let’s face it, Rush is an asshole–but his POV reflects what a bunch of people feel. (I’m looking at you Bible-Belt USA) Our society’s view is that guys are studs and women are sluts once they cross an undefined threshold of sexual experiences, which may be around the same number–the CDC-reported median number of sexual partners for American males of 6 (aged 18-44), for women in the same age range, the  number is 4. As guys, we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince women to have sex. If we succeed, then great. If she does it with too many guys, she’s a slut. If we fail, then she’s a bitch. (which could be interpreted by some as a slut we couldn’t get to sleep with us) The reasons have less to do with morality than a simple truth: women control access to sex; they own the Golden Fleece, the thing men quest for, play sports for, get high-paying jobs or stupid tattoos for. Women, save for being forcibly coerced, are equal and willing participants. So, we chide women for being sexually aware, make the whole practice seem to be all dirty and illicit, create mythology around the virtue of virginity, to tilt the odds in our favor. For these reasons, some women lower their number and some guys inflate their number to impress. . . guys. It’s sad when you think about it that way.

My male friends and I were beneficiaries of an “embrace your sexuality” era, engaging in boot-knocking, sex-without-strings, and the always appreciated f*@k buddy. It happened, I was there. No one I knew had delusions of marrying a virgin or even wanting to date one, yet some dudes are shocked (!) at the idea of a woman having more partners than them (remember, the median is 6), like she’s suddenly a porn actress with 150 scenes to her credit and you know every single dude in every single scene. And, by the way, if women should be close to virginal, who were we hooking up with? It’s not like there was a designated group of accessible female partners in every zip code available for guys to gain experience. (And if there were, I must have missed the memo) I say, let’s call a truce to all the name calling and stigmatizing.

Let’s acknowledge that the number is just that, a number. To all the women who told me theirs, high or low, I’ve have erased the memory banks. Women don’t have to be “The Miller’s Wife” in The Canterbury Tales, where she kept remarrying to ensure she could keep having regular sex. Guys,ditto and stop exaggerating.  No more need to make other guys think that you Don Juan or John Shaft. Let’s embrace quality over quantity. Let’s embrace birth control, prophylactics, and everything that prevents disease and unwanted pregnancies, while encouraging healthy sexual activity, especially since some studies of abstinence-only sex education indicate that people still have sex, they just lie about it. Let’s stop lying. Be smart and enjoy.

Brian Joyner is co-creator of Be Better Guys. His number is forever frozen in amber, along with his black book and player card.

London Undercover umbrella available at MrPorter.com - timeless!

We at Be Better Guys are feelin’ the spring rain early this year, having already survived some major thundershowers and boomers in our hometown of D.C., plus doing a plug for the Tasso Elba trench coat and the Harrod’s umbrella in our Spring Five Easy Pieces.  We’re back with more rainy day advice and to tell you that, look, you’re a grown man.  You take up space.  You need a full-size umbrella to cover you.  And, especially if you have a sweetheart, you’d better do away with that piddly Totes you’ve had since just after college if you plan to keep her dry.  And one more point – we’re not talking about your Ping golf umbrella. That’s for the course.  We’re talking about an umbrella you’d use to commute to work, take to a customer meeting, or cover your girl on the way into a restaurant.

Not only is a full umbrella useful in keeping you dry, but one with a metal tip, wooden shaft and curved handle is simply stylish, simply gentlemanly.  Simply grown up.   Makes a great walking stick when the sun comes out, too.  Check out examples from Lands End for $40,  Jos. A Bank for $42, Brooks Brothers for $60, a classic from London Undercover available at Mr. Porter for $220 for you fancy fellas.  Ger her under your umbrella, ella, ella, ayy, ayy, ayy.  Ok?

David Boris is co-creator of Be Better Guys; he’s using the Jos. Bank umbrella his wife bought him for Father’s Day.

We suggested, we asked, and we cajoled. We gave you options for professional help and offered advice on handling the matter yourselves. Yet, here we are again. We ‘re talking about taking care of your fingernails and hands, of course–wait, what did you think we were talking about?

So in the interest of not having your hands look like hamburger, Be Better Guys says “Try this,” this being the Dr. Hunter Manicure Kit from Caswell-Massey. Glycerin-based hand cream to moisturize your hands (Yick! that word again), a diamond dust nail file to smooth your nails precisely, and (if you are so bold) sleeping gloves to keep them supple. We recognize the last part may be a step beyond what most guys are comfortable with, but on sale currently for $24.95, the kit is worth it.

Go DIY. Pair the kit up with the Tweezerman Folding Nail Clippers, and you’re on the way to respectable looking hands that someone might want to hold.

Brian Joyner is co-creator of Be Better Guys and in need of some of his own advice right this moment.

Well, Canada is kicking our asses now. It’s taking NHL hockey teams back, their economy is doing great, they even decided to get rid of their penny, saving Canadians tax payers millions of dollars. Now add to the list that one of their own is the newest star on one of the best shows on American TV, Mad Men. Montreal native Jessica Paré went from being the “next big thing” in the late 90s to “who’s she?” back to being the name on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Taming the last alpha male on television will do that for a career.

The hot brunette with the imperfect teeth and smile spent the last two years being salivated over, between her brief, but memorable appearance in Hot Tub Time Machine and Paré’s new gig  as Megan, the former secretary and now wife of Don Draper. It goes with  out saying that she’s incredible to look at, being all long limbs and full breasts with a beautiful face and soft soulful eyes. Add to that she has acting chops,  plus speaking French doesn’t hurt (yes, we saw the Season 5 premiere of Mad Man–song, dress, and lingerie). She is mesmerizing, watching her break down the fortress to Don’s inner core. Think Paré was all over the hot lists before Zou Bisou Bisou? All we can say is  “Vive le Québec libre!”