The Material Review

Issue 146: Italy’s Longest-Serving Barista, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Sears Wish Book, Concorde Era, Doug Bihlmaier, Lettuce Cigs, Crocs, Black Friday Enshittification and Spotlight On: Slippers.

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

Anna Possi on six decades behind the counter at Italy’s Bar Centrale

“Italy’s longest-serving barista reflects on changing coffee rituals, village life, and her secret to staying strong at 101.” [Reuters]

The Port Authority Bus Terminal: Myth, Mystery, Mess

“A sordid history full of egos, sabotage and reputation issues made New York’s main entry point the city’s most intensely used as well as its most hated building.” [Failed Architecture]

A Sports Fan Remembers the Sears Wish Book

“Looking Back at the Awesomeness of the Sears Christmas Catalog” [Beauty of a Game]

The Boom Before the Bust

“From caviar and Dom Pérignon at Mach 2 to the fatal Air France crash of 2000, former members of the Concorde crew revisit the era of supersonic flight” [Air Mail]

A Vintage Fashion Specialist Is Selling Off His Collection

“Doug Bihlmaier, a hero to style influencers, is parting with rare jackets, boots, belts and workwear items.” [NYT]

One Man’s Lifelong Quest to Create a Lettuce Cigarette

“To help people quit smoking, Puzant Torigian put his life savings (and lungs) on the line.” [Atlas Obscura]

Everyone in ‘Idiocracy’ Wears Crocs Because They Were ‘Horrible’ and Cheap?

“The movie was filmed in 2004, two years before the controversial foam based footwear product took over the world.” [Snopes]

The Enshittification Of Black Friday

“Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love paying full price.” [Mensweird]

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

Montbell U.L. Mono Shoulder Bag L

Whim Mid-Weight Merino Long Sleeve Golf Shirt

The Weaving Mill Gradient Field Blanket

E.M. Reitz River

Factor’s Cashmere Slit Pocket Crew in Midnight

Slippers

Lusso Cloud x Sentinel Pelli

Easymoc Cozymoc

Crockett & Jones Pheasant

Gurus Cadiz Mule

Rancourt & Co. Bradbury Slipper

Hiro Yanagimachi Room Slippers