Music Beats and Treats

At last, the sixth installment of the ISO50 playlist is finally up! I always look to these set lists as I am in constant search for new music.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do:

ISO50 Playlist 6

DC Big Flea Market: November 7-8

The DC Big Flea Market hit town this past weekend. Rarely do I miss an opportunity to visit this show as it attracts some of the finest exhibitors on the east coast. I've made out like a bandit in the past and have scored some big ticket items.

I took photos of some of the more unique items. Forgive the quality as they were snapped with my iPhone.

This Paul McCobb drop-leaf dining table and chairs was in truly excellent condition, and a steal at only $550.00. Early 1960s.

This exhibitor has some really great vintage sporting equipment, collegiate pennants, etc. He also is the primary supplier to all of the Ralph Lauren stores in the U.S.

An amazing array of the most random crap ever. Not sure what to look at first.


Apparently the show was open all of twenty minutes before these two matching chairs were snapped up. Awesome.

Pyrex baking and casserole dishes in swell condition.

This guy always has the coolest collection of vintage adventure books for boys. 1930s - 1950s.

I really liked the compactness of this retro dining set, but the patterns are just hideous. It was a steal though at $150.00.

I love old globes and this one was in pretty good condition.

1964/65 New York World's Fair commemorative glass.

The packed show floor.

$3000.00 for a Superman lunchbox?

Jim Beam Corvette Stingray decanter.

Retro lighted tree toppers.

Miami Vice anyone? Definitely a conversation piece.

Retro-luxe picnic plates and cups.

Cool starburst wall clock. Not sure if it still worked.

This thing amazed me. As big as a hardbound book and about as heavy. It's amazing how much technology has changed. And Erol's.

Roy Rogers horse-drawn carriage.

Tiki glasses in near perfect condition.

The toy man.



Just a small sampling of the toy man's wares.

Superman pogo stick.

Vintage shoe shine bench.

The next show takes place January 9-10, 2010.

Fizzy Friday

Beatles do the Blues. Yer Blues...

TAG Heuer Bonneville

So, Triumph continues to demonstrate to their competitors just how badass of a motorcycle brand they are by announcing the release of this limited edition TAG Heuer/Steve McQueen Bonneville. And it is complete coincidence that this news comes just two days after my Le Mans blog post. What a gorgeous machine.

The full press release and official marketing photos are below:

The TAG Heuer Bonneville features a unique blue and orange livery inspired by the Porsche sports car driven by Steve McQueen’s character in the movie Le Mans, which in turn was the inspiration for TAG Heuer’s 40th anniversary edition of the Monaco.

The association between the two brands comes as a result of their common values and the legacy of McQueen, who was famously linked to both brands.

Neil Morley, Triumph’s Head of Brand Communications, commented: “We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year. We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.”

The special Triumph Bonneville was unveiled in Paris recently by Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 Formula One world champion and TAG Heuer brand ambassador, and can be seen at various watch shows and TAG Heuer retailers throughout Europe.

The full range of Triumph motorcycles are available at authorized Triumph dealers throughout North America. To find your local Triumph dealer, visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.

24 Hours of Le Mans

Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.

-Michael Delaney, Le Mans, 1971

The 24 hour racing series at Le Mans tests a man's nerve, his insidious cunning in attaining a goal, and his mettle during times of adversity. This is not just a car movie, it's an operatic spectacle of sights, sounds, and pulsing adrenaline. A gorgeous dialogue between engines at redline and the complex interplay between competing drivers at the top of their game.

Not a movie for the masses (actually it was a flop in theaters and bankrupted McQueen's production company), but for a car junky the 1971 Steve McQueen racer flick, Le Mans, is just. plain. awesome.

Steve McQueen drives his 911S around the race course at the start of the movie.

McQueen's 911S on the streets of France.


Steve McQueen's character, Michael Delaney, buttons up his fireproof racesuit. Serious swagger.


The iconic TAG Heuer 'Monaco' watch prominently displayed as Delaney buckles his helmet.




Steve McQueen in Le Mans.


In the early going McQueen's Gulf Porsche 917 chases the Porsche 917L "long tail" (#25). The car eventually retired from the race with a sick engine.



Delaney's Gulf Porsche 917 (#20) barrels down a straightaway.

Delaney's 917 exits a turn.

Delaney's Porsche 917 (#21) hits an S-turn with the Ferrari 512 (#5) in hot pursuit in last stage of the race. Check out that packed grandstand.

McQueen takes a break during filming.

Steve McQueen posing in front of a Ferrari 512 (#5).

Michael Delaney casts the infamous 'two-fingered salute'.

Conquering Everest

Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay about to establish camp below the South Summit of Mt. Everest.

At 11:30 am on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first human beings to scale Mount Everest. At a staggering height of 29,028 feet, it is the highest point on the planet. The two man team were part of the larger ninth British Everest Expedition, led by Colonel John Hunt.

According to the Time Magazine article:

By any rational standards, this was no big deal. Aircraft had long before flown over the summit, and within a few decades literally hundreds of other people from many nations would climb Everest too...Geography was not furthered by the achievement, scientific progress was scarcely hastened, and nothing new was discovered.

It was, however, the ultimate challenge as the mountain had claimed victory over seven previous expeditions.

Upon descending back to the expedition team, Hillary uttered the famous line: ‘Well George, we knocked the bastard off!’. They were asked who reached the top first. In fact, Hillary was the first to reach the summit, but he maintains that this is irrelevant, and that they reached it together. They spent a total of 15 minutes at the top, left a few trinkets, and took several photos. Of the Kodachrome photos, Hillary added: “I had carried my camera, loaded with colour film, inside my shirt to keep it warm, so I now produced it and got Tenzing to pose for me on the top, waving his ice-axe on which was a string of flags—British, Nepalese, United Nations, and Indian. Then I turned my attention to the great stretch of country lying below us.”

Upon their return home, Hillary and Hunt were both knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and Tenzing received a medal.

Sir Edmund Hillary

Edmund Hillary fixing one of the tents for camp at the head of Chola Khola.

Tenzing (left) and Hillary (right) ascend the Lohtse face on Everest.

Hillary and Tenzing in their mountaineering gear.

Tenzing on the Summit of Mt. Everest.

Hillary and Tenzing return from the summit of Everest.

Tenzing and Hillary drink tea at camp after climbing Everest.