Happy Camper

Off to spend an overnight at a friend's place in New Hampshire. Forget about Smokey The Bear, toasting marshmallows and singing camp songs around a crackling bonfire. We're talking three square meals a day, clean towels, and access to shopping.

Moon River

A knot of dancers gyrated in the artificial glare. Tango music boomed from speakers. I wondered if the moon would ever rise. I had stumbled onto Tango by Moonlight, a kind of dancing flash mob that gathers on fully-lunar summer nights at the Weeks Pedestrian Bridge over the Charles River. Couples circled and dipped. The river glimmered and burbled. And the moon eventually did rise, full and glowing.

Nothin' But Blue Skies

Perfect weather and some possible new venues for the boatnecks to be explored. And don't forget we're on the cusp of tomato season.

By the Numbers

1. My Global Design Director said "put up a photo of a boatneck," so I did.

2. Have you seen the new Utton Bay website? It's really only a web page right now, but stand by for action.

3. I have an eBay auction up as a test marketing case, let's see what happens.

4. No matter what your politics, the homecoming of two journalists from N. Korea is a marvel.

5 + 10 = Fun

Readers of my previous posting about the West Concord 5 & 10 may be wondering what the 'secret message' in the photo was. The answer is that a box marked "Utton Co., Avon, MA" was visible just below the "starlet" wig. We don't know how it got there, but we'll take it as a good omen. Just part of the fun to be had in the store's magical aisles.

Branding 101

My Global Design Director says "Branding is everything," however, I think today's visit to a local skin art parlor was going a bit too far. All kidding aside, it's a good thing Photoshop tattoos aren't permanent.

Made in the USA

Allow me to present one of the major forces behind Utton Bay: sewing contractor Salome Furtado. Based on my original designs, our line of boatnecks was born in her well-appointed New Bedford, MA workshop. Home-grown talent at its best.