Tom Vanderbilt

1 month ago | wsj.com | Tom Vanderbilt

Walking through New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago with my wife and daughter, my eye, taking a break from the paintings on the wall, fell upon a stylish man and woman walking just in front of us. More specifically, it was the man’s footwear—sturdy but sleek laceless black boots—that had drawn my attention. I nudged my wife. “I kind of like those shoes.” She concurred.

1 month ago | wsj.com | Tom Vanderbilt

I am a toast fanatic—I never met a piece of bread that wasn’t improved by the , that subtle tango of heat, amino acids and sugars. I’m hardly alone.

1 month ago | wsj.com | Tom Vanderbilt

Last year, I bought myself an early and immediately put it under the tree—literally under the tree. The object of my seasonal self-indulgence was a , a German-made Christmas tree stand. At less than $100 for the medium size—capable of holding a tree up to 7 feet high—it was twice as expensive as rival stands, but this is no mere stand. It makes putting up a tree a one-person job rather than a multi-person debacle, and even includes a feature to help ensure you keep it well watered.

1 month ago | wsj.com | Tom Vanderbilt

I’ve been a dedicated road cyclist for years, racking up some 63,000 miles according to my Strava app. Like many cyclists, I sometimes suspect I got into it as much for the gear as anything else. (Running, try as it might, doesn’t have much mercantilist joy to offer beyond the , which is both a virtue and a pity). has turned out to be my favorite, and most useful, piece of kit, keeping me safe as I ride in any sort of traffic.

Dec 23, 2024 | cntravellerme.com | Tom Vanderbilt

At the peak of the day’s heat, I pull into the tiny hamlet of Hirase, in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture. I’ve just climbed a twisting, waterfall-lined road several thousand feet through Hakusan National Park before descending into the shimmering fantasy landscape of Shirakawa-go, an almost Tolkien-esque village (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) comprising centuries-old farmhouses with peaked thatch roofs.