BillyKnowsBest

The Best Garden Hose Watering Timer: Orbit

Last week I wrote about the Simple Soaker irrigation system, which I hooked up to an Orbit timer.  I chose the Orbit after a fair amount on online research.  I can't vouch for its durability (it's only been in a week), or how it compares to the other brands that didn't fare so well in user reviews online.  But I can say it works just as described, and was easy enough to program.  And the joy of hearing those Simple Soaker sprinklers turn themselves on is worth every penny of the $42.59 it cost.  Buy it online with free shipping from Amazon.com.

Psycho Bunny Ties: 25% off at NeimanMarcus.com

Once upon a time, ties were the definitive Father's Day gift.  Fathers don't wear so many ties these days, but guess who does: their hip kids!  And nothing says "hip" more than a Psycho Bunny tie.  If you're looking for a cool gift for a 20-something hipster, go counter-retro with one of these.  They're on sale at NeimanMarcus.com for $83; use coupon code "SHOPNM" for free shipping!

The Best New Casual Clothing Brand: Martin + Osa

My friend Stella Hagenburger finally had enough of Barneys New York (Beverly Hills), and walked out six months ago.  Last week, she started working at Martin + Osa, the new "refined casual" clothing brand from American Eagle.  The shopping experience is a pleasure.  The fresh scent of cedar permeates the store (and the clothes you take home!), dressing rooms feature a staff call button and bottled water, and the sales staff is friendly, helpful and engaging  Oh, and the clothes are great!  Inspired by the lives of naturalist adventurers Martin and Osa Johnson, the casual designs are comfortable, stylish, well-crafted and well-priced. Shop online with free shipping and free returns, or check out one of their 20 U.S. stores in person.  If it's the LA outpost in Century City, ask for Stella, and tell her Billy sent you.

The Best Do It Yourself Irrigation System: Simple Soaker

I've been planting pine trees and my usual tomato garden at the beach, and decided it was time to investigate an easy hose-faucet-timer irrigation system.  My beach neighbor Tom suggested the Simple Soaker by LR Nelson.  Indeed, it doesn't get any simpler.  The kit comes with 50 ft of hose and 5 sprinkler heads that sit on stakes that you push into the ground.  Screw the sprinkler head down, and it neatly punctures the hose. No muss, no fuss.  If you screw up the placement of your sprinkler heads, unscrew them, put a plug in the puncture (plugs included) and reposition the sprinkler head. It's $29.13 with free shipping at Amazon.com. 

The Best Airport Lounge Membership Program

Back in the golden age of travel, private airport lounge memberships were given by the airlines to VIPs on a purely discretionary, and as it turned out, discriminatory basis.  When forced to open the lounges without prejudice, the airlines started charging for access.  At the beginning of my travel career in the '80s, lifetime memberships were offered, and oh how I wish I had invested $1100 in a lifetime Pan Am Clipper Club membership back then.  Despite Pan Am's bankruptcy, those memberships live on in the form of lifetime United Red Carpet Club memberships.  Coulda, woulda, shoulda.  Today, most airline clubs charge in the range of $400 annually, and they are only good in their own and a few reciprocal lounges.  And many offer $50 daily passes.  But
Priority Pass is a different kind of lounge access.  They don't operate their own lounges, but instead contract with hundreds of existing lounges around the world, with multiple lounge options at most major airports.  These aren't always convenient (at SFO, you can use the United and Northwest lounges in the international terminal, but not the United lounge in the main terminal), but at $399 for an unlimited annual membership, most frequent travelers will find Priority Pass a bargain entrée to the private calm (and free snacks and beverages) behind those gilded lounge doors. (Limited $249 and $99 memberships are also available.)
 

Teak and Mesh Chaise Lounge Chair

I'd wondered why no one made a wooden lounge chair with a mesh seat.  Wood lounges are classy and durable, but require cushions.  And even with a cushion, I still prefer the comfort of mesh to lie on.  I  saw these today in the Pottery Barn catalog.  When my powder-coated steel lounges finally rust out, I'll replace them with these.  $699 at potterybarn.com.

The Best Laundry Softener/Fragrance: Good Home Co. Pure Grass

My mother has many talents and strengths, but cooking and cleaning aren't among them.  Still, she tries, and appreciates a good laundry product as much as anyone.  She fell in love with the Good Home Co. Pure Grass Laundry Fragrance, but could not bring herself to pay the steep price ($25).  Yes, if you compare it to Downy or Snuggle it's mighty expensive, but on a per-wash basis, it's an affordable luxury, and it is natural, biodegradable and not animal tested.  So she got it for Mother's Day... because the mother of the son who knows best, deserves the best.  Skip the 32oz glass bottle, and go for the  64oz "refill."  And get free shipping when you order it from drugstore.com/beauty.com , where you can shop both stores with a combined checkout.  Other fragrances include Lavender, Paris Rain, Beach Days and Italian Citrus, but Pure Grass is our favorite.

DC Shoe Cabo Flip Flops

I was in LA last week, and stopped by the new A Bathing Ape store.  A Bathing Ape is a cool Japanese limited-edition street wear clothing brand that has just landed at  8001 Melrose Avenue.  If you're in LA (or NY at 91 Greene St) you should check it out (unfortunately, they don't sell online, though you can find some items on eBay.)  They're just down the street from the DC Shoes store, where I picked up a great pair of super-comfy flip flops: The DC Cabo.  Buy them online -- free shipping, no tax, free returns and a 10% discount at shoebuy.com.

The Best Projection Clocks: Oregon Scientific

I've always been a fan of Oregon Scientific's atomic projection alarm/weather clocks. There's something really comforting about waking up in the middle of the night, and just having to open your eyes to see the current time projected on the ceiling.  And it's really useful having the outdoor temperature displayed as well. The first ones I had were fucntional, but not terribly stylish.  The next generation were designed by Philippe Starck, a big improvement.  The newest generation offer truly intriguing design and more advanced technology like infrared motion sensors and induction chargers, which make them perfect for design freaks and tech geeks.  Find them lowest=priced at newegg.com.

The Best Fragrance-Free Skin Care: Liiv Botanicals

Fragrance-free skincare presents a few challenges.  First of all, fragrance-free doesn't really mean scent-free.  Many of the ingredients in these products have a scent -- in fact, it's because of these scents -- often unpleasant in the case of anti-aging and therapeutic ingredients -- that fragrance is often added to skin care products.  Which means that fragrance-free skin products -- those without added fragrance -- are often either very basic in terms of their anti-aging efficacy, or sometimes unpleasant smelling.  Liiv Botanicals is a breakthrough new line of skin care products from Avon's Wellness group.  It's fragrance-free, dye-free and preservative-free, but most importantly, it feels great, smells great, and relies on a unique blend of plant-based ingredients (Fennel, Cucumber, Apple, Lemon, Camellia and Rose.) to provide anti-aging, skin caring properties.  Choose "representative delivery" and enjoy free shipping on your purchase through May 31, 2008.