The Material Review

Issue 105: The Negroni, Modernist Beach Shacks, Customer Service Sludge, Ancestral Slop Bowls, Midnight Baseball, Archaeopteryx, Spotlight On: Games.

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

THE GALLEY: 001

“THE NEGRONI. A DRINK WITH A CULT FOLLOWING DRINK THAT YOU ARE IN OR OUT ON. THERE ARE NO FENCE-SITTERS ON THIS ONE. THE ITERATIONS ARE ENDLESS AND THAT'S WHERE IT GETS FUN.” [The Sailing Board]

When Small Was Big

“An homage to the high style, low cost of the modernist beach shack.” [RL Mag]

That Dropped Call With Customer Service? It Was on Purpose.

“Endless wait times and excessive procedural fuss—it’s all part of a tactic called ‘sludge.’” [The Atlantic]

All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors

“Mesopotamian laborers and Victorian office clerks alike would line up around the block for Sweetgreen if they could.” [Atlas Obscura]

Baseball in the Everlasting Light of Fairbanks, Alaska

“For more than a century, baseball teams in Fairbanks have played at midnight on the summer solstice, illuminated only by the sun.” [NYT]

Origins of the Archaeopteryx

“An Interview with Arc'teryx Logo Designer, Michael Hofler” [Outdoor Recreation Archive]

A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.

The Sandalman Weave Slingback

Freenote Cloth Rambler Terracotta

Nomatic Laundry Bag

Big Rock Candy Mountaineering Los Arrow Notch Pant

Games

Sandlot Yardball

Sanborn Canoe Company Gooseberry Cribbage Board

Elakai Acacia Wayfarer Hook & Ring Game

LL Bean Deluxe Scrabble

Melia Leather Backgammon Set

Bauhaus Chess Set

Classifieds

Welcome to our weekly “Classifieds” section of the newsletter. The idea is to find an easy way to promote things happening in our ecosystem. Think of this space to promote your eBay shop, event, newsletter, app, book, tool or your personal brand (if you must). Drop us a line at if you’re interested in buying an item in an upcoming issue. Price: $200 for four ads. Maximum 280 character per ad.

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🎉 COLBO X SPERRY Launch Event

Thursday, July 10th. 51 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Sounds from Shawn Dub with food from ETI NYC + wine by ZRS

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🎉 Field Mag Launch Party @ earth/studies HQ

Thursday, July 10th, 6-9pm. 715 NE Lawrence Ave, Portland OR

RSVP via email: events@fieldmag.com

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🛒 Mason Street Friends SF

Saturday, July 12th. 12-6pm. San Francisco

We’re turning Mason Street into a pop-up paradise — local artists, ceramicists, small biz gems, eats, and block party energy you don’t wanna miss.