I took lunch today in the basement at the Bellevue Hotel (I had a Newport Salad, a historically recent creation, which was described on the menu as a “New Port Salad”).

I entertained myself by reading the interview with Norman Mailer in the most recent issue of The Paris Review. I found moments of clarity and intelligence in the interview but also reasons to laugh and wince. Mailer is not a humorous man, however you cut it, but he is certainly capable of inspiring laughter with his obtuse arrogance and bull-headedness. Even if not a fan of Mailer, you might want to read this rather amusing interview, conducted by the sometimes-skeptical Andrew O’Hagan.

As you’ll see from the photograph, I was wearing a new Italian shirt that distantly echoes the Gilded Age French Renaissance facade of the hotel itself. Remarks on my shirt today ranged from “Krameresque!” (in honor of the Seinfeld character) to “extra medium kinda gay,” whatever on earth that is meant to impart. However, I must say I am quite pleased with the shirt myself. Stay tuned to this blog for future shirts and related sartorial and architectural commentary.