man to man
Enter the man cave
If you are done being a frat boy, it is time to get rid of your Ipod Nano and your beanie bags and design a Man Cave befitting a distinguished gentlemen as yourself. A Man Cave is a man's personal space; a designated room for you to relax, mansplain everything without hesitation, and rightfully take up your man-space, maximising the utility derived from everything around you.
I would like to say 'No Girls Allowed', but good-looking men like us cannot have such limiting rules. So, what do you need for your Man Cave? A few of these choice elements -
Wicked vinyl
Nothing says classy and sophisticated like some good old fashioned vinyl. What real man do and don't do depends on us, the real men, and not on society but one thing for certain is that real men listen to real music, none of that digital horror. Vinyl always has superior sound, better than any other music device, and as a music lover you need to show some love.
Recline to unwind
Get a few sleek looking leather recliners or lounge chairs. Real men do not sit in plastic chairs. They do, obviously, but if you have the means then you should not. A leather recliner lets you relax like no other and relaxed in good company is a wonderful disposition to have wonderful conversations.
Men talk too, except we like important topics and an environment conducive to meaningful discussions about politics we will not do, business deals we do not have and women we cannot get. The good stuff.
Can I candle?
Yes you can. Throw away those stereo-types that only women can like incense and scented candles. Why should they get all the good stuff? While an air freshener can work, why use heavy chemicals when you can go for more soothing ones with a scented candle? Get woody tones and none of that fruity stuff and every breath will become a relief.
The tube
If you have a TV already put it in your Man Cave. Every man cave needs a TV and the bigger the better. Men love sports. Sports are shown on TV. Big explosions and wars and gore also look much better on bigger TVs. Therefore, make sure you have a TV and get the best you can afford; you can eat out less for a few months but you cannot skimp on a TV set. Get NetFlix while you are at it. Yes, it is available in Bangladesh for around 1000 bucks a month.
Memorabilia
Your Man Cave is YOUR Man Cave and therefore other distinguished gentlemen that you invite must be able to know its yours. Do not shy away from personal touches. Put in your favourite posters, figurines, medals, signed jerseys, etc. to really show what you are and what you are about. Avoid having too many personal pictures, especially of your wife and children, because a Man Cave is specifically designed to forget those things.
Gaming galore
An old-school arcade set-up, the latest gaming console, or darts; just make sure there are some games to play. A professional Poker set up would be a wise investment here because gentlemen do not just mingle. Rather, they prefer mingling with competition. Thus, stack up on some games and let the good times roll.
Of course these are just some of the elements you need in your Man Cave. There is a lot of things you can add to your liking provided you are a Real Man. To gauge whether you are a frat boy or a Man, ask yourself how many pairs of faded, skinny, torn jeans you have. If your answer is more than zero, then you are still a frat boy.
By Osama Rahman
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
SEE PAGE 18 FOR A WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE ON A "MAN'S CAVE"