Last year alone, 91 million tourists visited Italy. And while the world’s “pizza and pasta” capital has always been popular, lately there has been a strong uptick in tourist arrivals, which has—in some cases—strained relations between visitors and locals. And while cities like Venice and Polignano a Mare have tried to solve the problem by introducing city-wide cover charges, one Italian mayor, who presides over a World Heritage listed town in the south, has a simpler approach.

“We don’t want tourists.”

In an interview with the New York Times, the mayor of Matera, Raffaello De Ruggieri, made his feelings quite clear. Under his governance, Matera will not tolerate tourism. While this sounds quite harsh—extreme, even—there’s more to it than meets the eye.

But before we get to that, what the heck is Matera? Essentially, it is one of the most interesting, unusual and memorable tourist destinations in Italy; the title of European Capital of Culture in waiting, and the Basilicata region’s primary attraction.

Why is it so sought after? Well, in this age of oversaturated tourism, Matera is one of the last remote, picturesque, culture rich regions of Southern Italy yet to be (completely) turned into a selfie factory by foreign travellers. That and it’s strascinati pasta, tossed with breadcrumbs, parsley, tomato sauce, olive oil and crunchy-dried red peppers.

“Curious visitors can stay in caves, wander the lanes alongside the picturesque cave-filled cliffs, and learn the history of this fascinating place,” (Italy Heaven).

Matera is also known for its manmade caves, set into the breathtaking mountains. These districts are known as ‘the sassi,’ and although these areas have historically dipped in and out of squalor, they have since been restored to fascinating—monetised—reminders of the past.

 

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A post shared by Enchanted Italy (@alluring_italy) on Feb 9, 2019 at 11:54pm PST

Daniele Kihlgren, the owner of Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita, the most luxurious hotel in Matera, is one such monetiser. However, to his credit, he is prioritising the maintenance of the region’s character over profit. Or at least: that’s what he told The New York Times.

To be fair: there is some weight to this claim. As reported by The Times, “Mr. Kihlgren is largely credited with advancing the albergo diffuso movement in Italy… the idea that disparate structures, as opposed to a single, monolithic building, can comprise a hotel.”

This “diffused hotel” movement has played a big role in preserving ancient towns and structures, the businessman-conservationist told the Times, “Tourism screws up the identity of a place… The only way to solve this contradiction is to make sure you are obsessive about the identity of the place.”

“Once you clean it too much, you lose the character. You lose the soul of the house, the souls of the people who lived there… These are ancient historical nests — they should provoke an emotion. They are not supposed to be beautiful.”

“When I bought the hotel, the caves were black,” he went on, “We had to clean it, but we didn’t want to clean it too much. The poor, historical villages of Italy were never thought to be worthy of saving. But to preserve the history is very important. There are 2,000 abandoned villages in Italy. We are not competitive with Silicon Valley or the mass production in China but we are rich in this history. It could be a model for us: to preserve our heritage.”

And here is where the supposedly clashing interests of business and conservation are reconciled: if Matera can maintain its natural charm, it will be a long term business opportunity. Lacking the artistic fame, nightlife and population of a city like Rome or Milan, Matera could do worse than protect its assets.

Fortunately, the Mayor, and his friend Salvatore Adduce, president of the Matera Basilica 2019 Foundation, largely agree, with Mr Adduce describing his plan to differentiate Matera from other Italian holiday destinations thusly: “It should not be, ‘Let’s see a church and eat pasta and try those crunchy red peppers and leave a few pieces of plastic behind,’” (NYT).

“I will be brutal: we do not want tourists… I want people to have an experience that will change their lives, change the world.”

In practical terms, what does this mean? For starters, for this year’s exhibitions, “Matera will sell passes — 19 euros, good for one year. The visitors will be temporary cultural inhabitants, and they will be asked to leave a personal item behind. At the end of the year, these items will become their own exhibition.”

Even this, though, some of the locals are not sold on. With one revealing his split feelings to The Times as such: “One side of me thinks it’s important for the world to discover it (the Basilicata region). The other side knows the Lucani (the locals) don’t want a connection with the rest of the world.”

In any case, if you’re after, “A view that will transport you to the ancient past and a caffè macchiato that will bring you right back to the five-star present,” you could do a lot worse…

RELATED: Amalfi Coast Destinations Only Locals Know About 

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Whether he noticed you struggling with a laughably-light bench press or you noticed his startling form in the squat rack, most gym ‘bromances’ start out casual. You offer to spot someone and boom: Monday, Wednesday, Friday—it’s a date.That’s not to say it doesn’t have it’s upsides. In the honeymoon period, he’ll help you hit multiple PB’s. You’ll trade protein shake recipes. Your insta-stories become one and the same. Until one day, tragedy strikes. Suddenly: it’s not a PB—you’ve torn the pectoral off the bone. Also: he doesn’t like your coconut protein balls, and his girlfriend says he spends too much time at the gym. Oh and he’s taken up Crossfit.To cut a long story short: he barely comes to the gym anymore. But when he does, he expects everything to be the same, insisting that you both follow his chicken leg routine. You don’t want to kill the vibe, but find yourself going through the motions, not sure how to tell him you don’t want to work out together anymore. But how do you do it without sounding like a heartless bastard?You turn to this magnificent piece of literature, currently blowing up The Tasteless Gentleman—among others’— Instagram pages.

 

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This fucking hurts.

A post shared by The Tasteless Gentlemen Show (@thetastelessgentlemen) on Feb 10, 2019 at 12:46pm PST

“It’s not me, it’s you”: this is clearly Shakespeare by another name. Instead of hurting his gym-buddy’s feelings, the author of the above texts provides a masterclass in breaking up with your training partner.First up: be upfront. No one likes a sneaky break up. Or being ghosted. Or confusion. If you feel like you are at different stages in your gym-life, speak up clearly and politely: “Hey bro, I’m gonna start going alone.”Second: rub salt in the wound (a little). Although this seems counter intuitive, it is actually helpful to take a light jab at their ego (workout) so that they don’t try to talk you round. Also because it helps them understand why you made the decision: “I don’t get the same pumps with some of your workouts like I do alone.”Third: provide a secondary excuse: “We have different body types,” (read: you’re not on my level anymore).Fourth: remind them that you’re still happy to do some non-consequential workouts with them: “Arms, legs and abs are always f*cking amazing with you.”Read it through. Then read it again. And again. That, right there, is a medicine ball to the ~feels~.The good people of Instagram concurred, tagging each other with comments like, “I’m getting too big for you now,” “gym break ups are the worst,” and “why you gotta be like that, homeslice.”Further standouts included tagging a now going-it-alone mate with, “How I feel when you tell me you have a program,” and “these bros ain’t loyal.” Oh and for those that got dumped, @doublejmma came up with the ultimate retort: “It’s not your chest bro… It’s mine.”Use it wisely.RELATED: Cardio Is The Unlikely Key To Building Muscle; This Insane British Strongman Proves Why 

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He’s known as one of the most prolific watch collectors in Hollywood and Kevin Hart proved it over the weekend when he attended Roc Nation’s ‘The Brunch’ hosted by founders Jay-Z and Beyonce.

The stellar celebrity guest list included some huge names in the entertainment and music industry. Think Diddy, DJ Khaled, Usher and more, but it was Kevin Hart who did the men proudest in the wardrobe department. Standing at just 1.63m tall, Hart was towered over by his 1.71m partner in heels.

Regardless, the comedic actor did enough right in the wardrobe department to keep eyes on him. Hart stood out in a razor sharp trans-seasonal suit, a look which borrows winter layering principles and blends it with summer hues. In this case, a sand coloured double breasted suit paired to a white turtleneck. Is he at the beach? Is he at the snows? Nobody knows because it’s a little bit of both. The stunning look was further reinforced with cropped trousers and polished leather boots. Damn, Kevin.

It didn’t end there though. Hart rocked what we suspect is a slick Audemars Piguet timepiece which complemented his look perfectly. Need more proof? See below.

 

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#Harts

A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Feb 9, 2019 at 12:54pm PST

A mandatory pocket square to provide contrast is essential in completing this look. More importantly he looks taller than his normal self. It’s quite amazing what a fitted suit and trousers can do. So has Hart pulled off the impossible by taking attention off his height? We’d say so. And it seems he’s found the most stylish way to do it.

RELATED: Secret To Dressing For Your Body Shape To Look Sharp As Hell

The post Kevin Hart Is Teaching Short Men How To Look Insanely Sharp appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Here’s a fact: young men are touching each other more. Numerous studies have confirmed this, suggesting that masculine relationships have become more “inclusive, tactile and emotionally diverse” since the 1980s and 1990s.

Take the following situation: you’re three beers deep and your best mate shows up to surprise you from overseas. Or the next one: homeboy no. 2, who disappeared an hour ago onto the dance floor, finally shows up. Or this one: your third best mate, who’s a bit of a homebody, texts to say he’s coming out too.

What do all these situations require? A sloppy man hug. Excitable. Sticky. Care free. Whisky and coke is a cologne unto itself. Besides: terse handshakes are reserved for business meetings. And that ‘mate’ who briefly dated your sister. Etc.

But what about the dudes who you met in a formal setting, but have gradually got closer to? What about your charming British hairdresser barber? What about a high school friend you haven’t seen in years? What about a co-worker?

Depending on the context, hugging one of these guys for the first time could be the most awkward experience imaginable, or a revelation of bro-some proportion.

junkyu [nervous laugh]: goodbyes are so awkward, like do i go in for a kiss or a hug or what.

pizza delivery guy: sir, please just take your food.

— incorrect silver boys (@silverboystexts) 8 February 2019

Suffice to say: the “man hug” is a vastly underrated skill. Which is why we hit up a bunch of bro-hugging entrepreneurs, influencers and all round legends, to get their thoughts on the man-hug revolution, and their tips on avoiding an awkward fumble like this…

why do they always give each other the most awkward hugs is that a tall boy thing or what pic.twitter.com/JnRv9Xya78

— ¹²⁷ (@tearuntold) 8 February 2019

And making sure every time you “bro down” you end up getting something solid like this…

 

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A post shared by Scott Bourgeois Ised8u (@ised8u) on Nov 6, 2018 at 5:49am PST

Patrick Kidd, 41, Entrepreneur

Patrick Kidd, founder of luxury men’s hair brand Patricks, hugs all his male relatives and friends. And as he revealed to us in a recent interview: “I even hug my investors! I find it really endearing and it means something in a world that’s so digital.”

He attributes this to being raised in an environment where hugging was the norm: “I was raised to hug people hello and goodbye so I guess I never really knew of a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable.”

As for his tips for a solid bro hug? Have at ’em: “I usually lead with an open up high hand shake, then pull them in for a hug.”

“Make it nice and tight, don’t do a hard back pat, don’t hold for too long, don’t nestle your head in too deep in the neck, ensure adequate crutch gap (you don’t want to be known as a ‘mad frotter’), pick a side and commit to it.”

Also: don’t go over the five second mark, and don’t be indecisive: “Pick a side and commit to it. I always veer left and it has served me well over the years!”

In terms of things that can go wrong, Patrick says: “Always check for sunnies hanging on a t-shirt neck, I have smashed a few over the years being too cavalier.” Also, and perhaps more importantly: “If there is a pull-away accept it quickly and release.”

We then asked how the man hug has evolved. Patrick responded with his signature humour: “I guess a firm handshake was the old version of the man hug; truth be told I hate a really hard handshake—I always feel like people who do this are trying to alpha dog me and I want to punch them in the face!” Fortunately, “Man hugs are a lot more accepted now than back in the day.”

On a serious note, he adds, “R U Ok?, the death of homophobia and athletes doing it regularly has probably allowed many men to hug without fear of emasculation.”

 

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) on Jan 20, 2019 at 2:21pm PST

Kristian Taylor-Wood, 41, Photographer

Like Patrick, Kristian Taylor-Wood grew up in a “man hug friendly” environment, with his dad being, “A big hugger.” Unlike Patrick, Kristian was never a huge fan, preferring a friendly clasp over a massive bear hug.

As such, Kristian’s technique differs from Patrick’s: “I go for the hand, then pull ’em in—then one hand goes behind the back, which I think actually creates a barrier behind (rather than) a full hug.”

This is not to say Kristian is against “big hugs,” just that it’s not for him: “The confusing part comes when my two best friends slap the hand out of the way and they go for the full bear hug, so I’m kind of like, ‘Why do I always stick my hand out? Why am I this sort of person who always puts the hand in the way.'”

“Even though I’m going to see my boy, I’m gonna see my mate, I kind of do that hand clasp thing beforehand.”

A repeat ‘awkward hug’ offender, Kristian shared his tips on achieving maximum hug-sistency with your mates. One bro hug at a time.

“What causes a man hug gone wrong? Not being on the same wave length. I think we’ve been a little bit led by the other generations, you know their dad’s a handshaker, their granddad’s a handshaker and they’ve picked that up so there are different paths in the background.”

In light of this, Kristian advises you pay attention to each mate (or acquaintance’s) personal preferences, and if it ever gets weird (you go for hug they go for handshake), just laugh it off: “Don’t leave the elephant in the room. Say, ‘Oh you’re not a hugger then…'”

And if the thought of such a situation makes you cringe, you can always look for the signs that someone is a hugger (or not) beforehand. Some simple things to look for, according to Kristian, are, “A friendly expression, their general vibe, (and) also how you feel about seeing them; maybe if you’re hoping to have a warmer relationship with that person, get them to hug it in.”

Further factors are profession and age: “Definitely when guys get towards 40 they start to drop a little bit, and then it just depends on what your day to day is—if you work in an office environment you’re probably not going to do it as much (as) in a creative field.”

“The people I’ve worked with (in a creative field) have tended towards the extremes—either a hug or nothing at all.”

Where will the man hug go from here? Like Patrick, Kristian believes it’s on the up: “My generation, we’re fathers and stuff now, and we’ve lost that rigidness of the 70s and the 80s and now we’re past that the next generation might be less afraid to hug.”

Hardcore boys at 3am: I am very depressed and you’re the only one who listens. Thank you for always being there for me.
Hardcore boys at the show: (very brief sup nod, awkward one arm hug)

— Certified ecology baby (@4litrepia) 6 February 2019

Barry Du Bois, 58, Channel 10 Host

We also spoke to Barry Du Bois, Channel 10’s The Living Room host, home-design expert, and R U Ok? ambassador to get a couple of insights into his generation’s take on the man hug. While he didn’t claim to speak for his entire age group, Barry said that he was comfortable with either a handshake or a hug, depending on the context: “I’m both.”

He then added, like Patrick and Kristian, “My father gave me affection from the day I was born and I’ve given affection to the people I’ve loved for my whole life,” drawing out—what seems to be—one of the key ingredients to a good man hug: practice.

“For me it’s always been prominent. I have no problems showing affection to people I love or people that are in my community: I’d hug you if I saw you.”

Chris Mears, 26, Olympic Diver

While we were unable to directly interview Chris for this article, his Twitter feed suggests Patrick, Kristian and Barry (and the cited bromance study) are onto something: as men in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s have become more accepting of the man hug, younger generations are growing up increasingly accepting of male intimacy and—as the following photo illustrates—highly adept “man huggers.”

A moment in time I’ll never forget. @JackLaugher @adyhinchliffe @Leedsajax pic.twitter.com/A5tAHp5zJF

— Chris Mears (@ChrisMears93) 11 August 2016

RELATED: 10 Life Truths All Men Must Learn To Accept & Get Over 

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We've all had to put up with our fair share of "when I was a boy" stories from a nostalgic grandfather or two. Happy to entertain pop's relishing of days gone by, the familial raconteur does have a point when it comes to how men of his day approached their personal style. As a generation, they set...

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[vc_row][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]There’s a general consensus that whatever Virgil Abloh touches turns into cool. Call him a mastermind. Call him lucky. Just don’t call him a ‘designer’ or an ‘imagemaker’. As the current head of menswear at...

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If you love a good morning coffee then the one thing generally standing in your way is a machine or person that produces it for you. It wasn’t so long ago that a cafe would serve coffee from a large pot and a coffee at home would be some Blend 43 from a jar. Today we’re spoiled for options and it is only getting easier, and the coffee is getting better.

Capsules Changed the Game

In 2004 we first pulled the lever and dropped a coffee capsule into a Nespresso machine. The simple thought that we could produce barista style coffee from a pod and push of a button was mind blowing. It changed coffee forever and with time and further improvements the cost of a machine meant that anyone could own one. The variety of capsule blends has also meant that we can easily find the flavour that suits us, by only trying one coffee capsule, not buying a whole bag of beans… or jar of coffee.

Bean Lovers Go Automatic

For many coffee machine companies, nothing beats the bean. While brands like Nespresso want the entire process to be simple, others like Jura are remaining true to the traditional process yet looking to automate as much of it as possible. Automatic machines will take your beans and with a touch of a button produce a cappuccino or latte quicker than your local cafe barista. The inner workings of these machines is a modern marvel, they do cost a great deal more than capsule based machines but the results are generally better.

Remote Operation

The next wave of machines have lately been taking us away from even pushing a button. The Nespresso Prodigio was bluetooth enabled which meant you could trigger your morning coffee from your smartphone. Brands like DeLonghi and Jura have no also done the same, enabling you to even tune the course of the blend and water amounts on your automatic machine using an app. We are moving close to the next machines that will be voice enabled with integration to Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Waking up in the morning you’ll only need to say “Alexa, ask Jura to make me a double espresso” before your machine jumps into action. Just make sure you have the cup ready the night before.

No Excuse For Bad Coffee

With the above in mind it is absolutely a fact that coming to your place and asking for a coffee should not result in a jar being whipped out of the cupboard. A trip to Woolworths or Coles will even help you find machines for less than $100 that work with Vittoria or Lavazza capsules. If you simply can’t do that for your guests then meet them at a local cafe. Every cafe today should be pouring the coffee to order and those glass pots are used as fish bowls in Newtown. There is no more excuse for bad coffee, anywhere, anytime.

Traditional Processes Still The Best

Over the years, a lot of machines have been through my kitchen. From $150 to $5000. Each and every time that we test a machine we try and make a traditional espresso. The only machines that produce a proper, velvety smooth espresso are the traditional grind, tamp, pump machines. No automatic or capsules machine can achieve the same espresso. Even a manual machine for less than $400 will produce a better espresso than a $5000 automatic machine. If you’re a lover of coffee with milk then you’ll be less likely to notice the difference. The fact remains that good coffee is an art, and regardless of the machines, the apps, the artificial intelligence in this world, nothing beats the traditional way.

Read Next

• Cool Coffee Cups For The Man About Town
• 10 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds That Sound As Good As They Look

The post Man Spends Five Years Testing Coffee Machines; Discovers What We All Expected appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The man, the myth, the legend. Justin Bieber may still be a certified youngster, but he’s done it all. Number one records, punched fans, punched other artists, even pissed in mop buckets with people filming… and this is just what the media reports. He’s definitely seen some wild times.Justin Bieber’s style has always been unique having been clean-cut as a 16-year-old to today when shaving and bathing seem to be non-essential. One thing is for sure, Justin’s hair is always something to talk about. He’s done blonde, shaved, long, short, quiffed, brushed forward and plenty more.That said, Justin is one of those guys who you’re always keeping an eye on in the men’s grooming stakes. You have to respect his individuality.We go hunting for his best 25 hairstyles to get you inspired for your next trip to the barber.ALSO READ: Short Hairstyles For Men

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With the mercury rising, a suit isn’t exactly front of mind. In fact, you can probably think of nothing worse. Nevertheless, sometimes duty calls and whether it be a summer wedding, cocktail event or simply surviving the commute, there is a fail-proof way to keep your cool, even when the temperature says otherwise.

Borne out of necessity, the linen suit has been a summer suiting mainstay for decades and it runs the full gamut of sartorial splendour. From unlined, drawstring versions to swanky three-piece double breasters, there’s one for every occasion.

But where to begin?

When picking out a summer suit, fabric comes first. And while purists may dispute it, your suit doesn’t need to be 100% linen. I wouldn’t go past a cotton or silk blend. It has all the benefits and style of a linen suit without the creasing. Plus, it’ll keep its form from desk to sundowners.

Talking cut, we take our advice from the best. And as master tailor Steve Calder points out, ‘the Neapolitans do it best, with a super light canvas, no shoulder pads and unlined trousers.’

RELATED: A Guide To Men’s Suit Fabrics

What Shirt To Wear With A Linen Suit

It’s easy to be tempted by the simplicity of linen on linen on linen. And hey, for the most part it works. Particularly if there’s no tie required (see the impeccable Mr Pine below for reference). However, if you’re skewing towards the more formal side of things, it’s better to look broader afield.

For a cocktail event, there’s nothing better than contrasting a neutral linen suit with a plain poplin shirt. Throw on a taupe jacket and pale blue button down and you’ll be ready to roll (and give yourself a stand out tan in the process).

If you’re going even more formal – and let’s face it, sometimes the mood can strike – there’s no looking past a sateen finish shirt. This fabric provides sensational contrast against the open weave of a linen suit and it also looks perfectly in keeping should you need to add a tie into the mix.

What Shoes To Wear With A Linen Suit

Linen suits can easily be weighed down by your more standard lace ups. Instead, opt for a loafer or – if it’s a more casual affair – the humble sneaker. Both should be worn sans socks with ankles well and truly out to air. Even though you’re wearing a suit, let’s not forget that it’s summer after all.

If you’re feeling particularly bold, smoking slippers can cut an even more striking figure. Stubbs & Wootton has a stand out range that errs more on the side of Eddie Redmayne at the Oscars than Hugh Hefner at the Playboy mansion.

What Tie To Wear With A Linen Suit

Balancing a tie with a linen suit can be tricky. It’s already 40 degrees and I’m in a suit, you want me to add in a tie as well!? I know, it’s unpleasant. But sometimes the occasion demands it. So what’s the least painful way to go about this?

Because linen tends to have a natural matte finish, steer away from high gloss, wider variations. They clash with your suit and make it look like you’ve whacked on your work tie. Instead, have a toy with knitted versions – these winners will be in keeping with the rest of your ensemble and are a great way to freshen up an older suit.

Linen Suit Accessories

It can be tempting to adopt a more is more attitude when it comes to accessorising a linen suit. They’re the perfect blank canvas and you could go wild on prints and colours if you so chose. But this is one of those instances where restraint is key.

A simple pocket square added to a plain navy linen suit with a white shirt is the epitome of gentlemanly elegance. Whether you select a more traditional silk iteration or double up on the linen, this is all you need to pack that extra bit of sartorial punch. Follow in the steps of these gents below where less is more.

How To Care For Your Linen Suit

Linen is a notoriously difficult fabric to care for, mostly because of its propensity to wrinkle.

This being said, there are a few easy to ways to iron out the creases, if you’ll pardon the pun. One of my personal favourites is hanging your suit up in the bathroom when showering. This has more or less the same effect as a steam iron and helps creases fall out naturally. It also beats paying for dry cleaning after every wear.

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