Garage-Mahal

[RYP]

There's no place like man cave

By Jennifer Davies, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 12:16 a.m.
Robert Arnold prepared to enjoy a beer in what he calls his bar at his Oceanside home. Arnold created the man cave in one-third of his three-car garage, where he invites friends and neighbors to watch the Super Bowl.

K.C. Alfred / Union-Tribune

Robert Arnold prepared to enjoy a beer in what he calls his bar at his Oceanside home. Arnold created the man cave in one-third of his three-car garage, where he invites friends and neighbors to watch the Super Bowl.

Photo by K.C. Alfred - Union-Tribune

Robert Arnold of Oceanside said he saves money with his man cave because he isn’t going out to bars and paying high prices for alcohol. Arnold’s cave is equipped with a bar, a “kegerator” to serve draft beer and St. Louis Rams memorabilia.
CAPTAIN CAVEMAN

While “man cave” is the most common term for temples of beer, TV and sports, other monikers for such manly spaces include:

• Mantuary

• Garage Mahal

• Man hut

• Manland

• Man room

A man’s castle isn’t his home — it’s his cave.

His man cave, to be exact.

These testosterone-fueled spaces — also known as manlands — can be a garage, a basement, a bonus room, a shed or even a backyard. But whatever the location, they all have common themes.

Want to guess what they are?

Beer, TV, sports — and probably in that order.

It’s the place where you can hang the obscenely large flat-screen TV, proudly display your extensive bobblehead collection and relax in the mottled velour recliner from your bachelor days while knocking back a beer — or six.

From home-improvement shows devoted to man caves to businesses offering a range of guy things like personalized mugs and bar signs, man caves are getting their moment in the sun. Last year, a poll byservicemagic.com, a home-improvement marketplace, found that 40 percent of homeowners surveyed said their home had a man cave, while 13 percent said their man cave is in the works.

And on this Super Bowl Sunday, many man caves will open up — and if you have a sense of design or color schemes, be afraid. Be very afraid.

If not, jump right in. And bring some Fritos.

It’s a Super Bowl tradition for Oceanside resident Robert Arnold, 51, to welcome friends and neighbors to his man cave — it’s one-third of his three-car garage — and use a projector to show the game on a wall.

His man cave, home to many Friday happy hours, is equipped with a bar, a “kegerator” to serve draft beer and St. Louis Rams memorabilia — he was a fan when the team was in California.

Scott Malandrone, who runsmanlandsite.com, which features pictures of tricked-out man spaces, wasn’t planning to have anyone over today but said he is getting pressure from his buddies.

“They’re calling and asking, ‘Is Manland open for the Super Bowl?’ ” Malandrone said. “I might have to do something.”

So what’s the allure of these macho spaces? Duh.

Beer, TV, and sports — and probably in that order — said Jason Cameron, co-host of DIY Network’s “Man Caves,” a home-remodeling show that focuses on creating to-die-for manly spaces.

“Guys are simple. We are very simple creatures,” Cameron said, adding, “I wish could give you a deeper meaning.”

But beyond the obvious creature comforts, there is a sense of reclaiming a former life, Malandrone said. A life that doesn’t include floral comforters, frilly throw pillows, scented candles and a TV constantly tuned to Lifetime or the Disney Channel.

After a guy gets married, his manhood can take a hit, Cameron said. Manlands bring men back to “a time when you could all sit around and drink beer without worrying if you spilled.”

Of course, single guys aren’t immune to the charms of manly spaces.

Billy Chandruang of Rancho Santa Fe was planning on turning his backyard into an entertainment area for himself and his wife. But when they split up, he made it into an outdoor man cave replete with sports memorabilia and waterproof plasma TVs so visitors can sit in the pool or hot tub and watch a game.

“If you have a man cave, you can make it as ugly as you want and no one can say anything,” Chandruang said. “Guys like seeing stuff like neon signs that say Bud Lite with a Jets helmet.”

Malandrone, for instance, took a Corona bottle to Home Depot so he could get paint to match its blue hue for the walls of his manland in his garage. He has also spent the past couple of years looking for neon beer signs to complete the Mexican beer theme of his manland — an activity his wife loves to help out with.

Of course, men have always craved private spaces.

In the past, that meant the library or the drawing room for men of means, said Jay Mechling, a retired American studies professor from the University of California Davis who taught a course on the lives of men. As America became more affluent, it meant more men could have a room of their own.

“As homes have gotten bigger, it means everyone can have their own space,” Mechling said.

On the East Coast, it was the basement that housed amenities such as pool tables. On the West Coast, many garages served the rec-room function for the family.

What’s different about today’s man caves is how elaborate they can be — man caves on steroids, if you will. Nowadays, many of these spaces come with high-end furnishings and top-of-the-line electronics from flat-screen TVs to video game consoles to surround-sound systems.

“Technology is a huge part of this,” Cameron said.

Michael Yost, creator ofmancavesite.org, a resource site for enthusiasts, agreed that guys are prone to obsess over technology, which has helped bolster the trend.

With those types of upgrades, you might think that the struggling economy would stall the growth of man caves. But many devotees say that isn’t the case.

Arnold said he saves money with his man cave because he isn’t going out to bars and paying their marked-up prices.

Plus, there’s no rule that your man space has to break the bank, Malandrone said. His manland started out with a spare 32-inch TV, and he still uses a mini-fridge instead of a more expensive kegerator.

Travis Esquibel, owner of Tap That, an Oceanside kegerator company, said he had thought the bulk of his business would be renting out kegerators for special events. Driven by the large man-cave market, he now makes most of his money from selling and servicing kegerators.

Another benefit for married men and for those of a certain age is that it’s more relaxing to stay closer to home.

“We’re too old to go downtown. We don’t want to be that old guy at the bar,” said Joel Rocco, 39, of Solana Beach.

Rocco is one of the lucky ones. His man cave, which has four flat-screen TVs, including two 50-inch models, plus surround-sound systems, a pool table and satellite feeds, is in his living room, all with the blessing of his wife.

Yost said it’s important for people to understand that man caves can be fun for the whole family. Just because these spaces have “man” in the title, it doesn’t mean women can’t enjoy the amenities, too.

“Girls are allowed,” Yost said. “They just aren’t allowed to decorate.”

[Kurt]

We always called it a "den".

The den was supposed to be where a guy could retreat and read or have a desk to do "work" but this was rarely done in these places. When I was born my dad's den became my bedroom so I grew up surrounded by history books and then I just started reading them. When I moved out officially after college (we had a new house by then) my dad immediately moved into my bedroom and took it over again.

Well off households the women of the family often had a "sewing room" in which sewing was rarely done.

[Bobby Sands]

These pussies need a kick in the man hole.

You married the tasteless hag, and now you're trying to get away from "floral comforters, frilly throw pillows, scented candles"? Hey douchebag, let's face it, you're a tasteless dweeb too: "Guys like seeing stuff like neon signs that say Bud Lite with a Jets helmet.”

[rickshaw92]

Bud lite, like any light beer is womans beer. Period.

[grawp]

Good evening, everyone.

Just a caveat for you all before you start throwing that "Man Cave" moniker around:

From the October 2, 2007 edition of the Johnson City (TN) Press, by way of Foxnews.com:

####
Forty Men Arrested for Having Sex in Tennessee Public Parks
Tuesday, October 02, 2007


JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — An undercover investigation into public sex in Johnson City parks has led to the arrest of 40 men in two weeks.

"Our parks are for family use. People should not be exposed to this while they are out there with their family or trying to enjoy the walking trails," Johnson City Police Chief John Lowry said. "They are not built nor maintained for sexual activity, be it homosexual activity or heterosexual activity."

The investigation in the Winged Deer and Buffalo Mountain parks began after police received complaints from the public.

"Part of this took place off the paved trails. There's a thing out there (at Winged Deer Park) they've evidently termed the 'Man Cave,"' Lowry said. "It's a good way off the paved trail. It's underbrush that's grown up and resembles a cave."

As part of the investigation, undercover officers would strike up conversations with men approaching a trail leading to the Man Cave. Some of those conversations led to proposals for sex and several men exposed themselves or groped the officers, police said.

The suspects from Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina ranged in age from 26 to 85.

According to the Johnson City Press, the suspects included a school teacher and a pastor.

###

Just as an aside, this "Man Cave" police sting resulted in several lawsuits, the ruining of at least eleven lives, and one suicide.

grawp

[sparrow]

Just as an aside, this "Man Cave" police sting resulted in several lawsuits, the ruining of at least eleven lives, and one suicide.

Of course it did.
Lovely world huh?

[rickshaw92]

Good evening, everyone.

Just a caveat for you all before you start throwing that "Man Cave" moniker around:

From the October 2, 2007 edition of the Johnson City (TN) Press, by way of Foxnews.com:

####
Forty Men Arrested for Having Sex in Tennessee Public Parks
Tuesday, October 02, 2007


JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — An undercover investigation into public sex in Johnson City parks has led to the arrest of 40 men in two weeks.

"Our parks are for family use. People should not be exposed to this while they are out there with their family or trying to enjoy the walking trails," Johnson City Police Chief John Lowry said. "They are not built nor maintained for sexual activity, be it homosexual activity or heterosexual activity."

The investigation in the Winged Deer and Buffalo Mountain parks began after police received complaints from the public.

"Part of this took place off the paved trails. There's a thing out there (at Winged Deer Park) they've evidently termed the 'Man Cave,"' Lowry said. "It's a good way off the paved trail. It's underbrush that's grown up and resembles a cave."

As part of the investigation, undercover officers would strike up conversations with men approaching a trail leading to the Man Cave. Some of those conversations led to proposals for sex and several men exposed themselves or groped the officers, police said.

The suspects from Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina ranged in age from 26 to 85.

According to the Johnson City Press, the suspects included a school teacher and a pastor.

###

Just as an aside, this "Man Cave" police sting resulted in several lawsuits, the ruining of at least eleven lives, and one suicide.

grawp

Hey Calaban have you ever been groped by 85 year old pervs in the line of duty? How bout you Develin?

[ktrout]

Wow, that gayrage is completely metro. Not a wrench to be found?
That sting is totally Gestapo, though. I would wonder if the first time through could just be to tell them all to get a room. Second time, we know you, and we're sure the guards at city lockup will like to watch.

[ktrout]

Bud lite, like any light beer is womans beer. Period.

While I don't really go for the taste of undistilled spirits, Bud is particularly distasteful. It reminds me of high school.

[RYP]

"Well off households the women of the family often had a "sewing room" in which sewing was rarely done."

If I remember growing up in Victoria and visiting all those old mansions, the sewing room was always the front three windowed room in a victorian type house. It had a view of the street and front door. Men had a den or library where you would retire to after dinner, put your fez, velvet slippers and smoking jacket (that must have been a gross smelling room) and then have brandy while you played snooker. Women had a parlor which I think was the front greeting room to the left or right of most homes (the ones in my Italian friends had the plastic on the furniture and plastic flowers. It was also called sitting room. There was also an entire separate stairway, kitchen, larder, sleeping and laundry areas for the staff. With a set of buttons for each room (including the bathrooms) to call the maid.

The basement slash den was the beginning of the demise of the man cave since a man's status was usually measured by how impressive his library and private area (real estate I mean) was. One of the more impressive libraries I have seen is George Lucas' at his Skywalker Ranch (he doesn't live there) it made me want to light up stogie and look for the brandy. Bill Moyer filmed a series of interviews with Joseph Campbell there.


http://www.insideskywalkerranch.com/sky ... h-tour.htm

[marie-angelique]

my mom designed my dad's play space which occupies the entire lower floor of their condo. because he's a bookish nerd type there's no TV, but a study which has ceiling to floor bookshelves and a large desk and some easy chairs (covered with papers) and the main room has his weights and grand piano. it's actually a great space since it has 2 entire walls of windows that look out on the back deck and yard.

mom took over the tiny den with her throne (easy chair) dvd collection, tv and two laptops. it's the only room she smokes in and it gets pretty bad. when anyone comes over that's where they have to go.

no one ever sits in the living room or dining room of their place.

[Penta]

One of the more impressive libraries I have seen is George Lucas' at his Skywalker Ranch (he doesn't live there) it made me want to light up stogie and look for the brandy.

Looking at that library reminded me a bit of the one at my school. Not what you'd think of as a proper school library, as it only had a couple of small cases of books for our benefit. The school was in a 19th century mansion, and the library was a lovely double cube room with 3 big windows, the other walls lined with beautiful leather-bound books which we weren't allowed to touch. One whole section was nineteenth-century porn.

Here are the only pictures of it I can find. It looks a bit tatty now the original books have gone. This end had a sunken circular section, just two steps down, but that seems to have been covered over. The porn section was on the left, opposite the window. I expect it's long gone: sold off to some collector for a small fortune.

[RYP]

You know I have to say that some of the most precious things are silence and undisturbed thought. When I write and I am in my hollow volcano, I can start writing at 4 in the morning and look up and see the sun going down. It would be an interesting study to see how much of our life is stolen by media, TV, radio, sirens, noises etc. Its no coincidence that all the great religions were created after a month or so in the desert.

[grawp]

In his book "Class," Paul Fussell eulogizes the decline of the purpose-built library in the home.
However, Fussell does laud the concept of possessing bookcases loaded with books as a way to achieve a high score in "The Living-Room Scale."
This is a tongue-in-cheek test to see what class of person you are:
from "Upper," ("Bookcase full of books")
to "Low Prole" ("Bookcase contains plate, doll, figurine collection, etc. of any kind, but no books.")

19th century porn, huh?

Now that's something I'd like to spring on those "Antiques Roadshow" folks!

"I've brought along my great grandmother's book collection..."
(opens the first book to the frontispiece. On camera.)
"... and I'd like your opinion as to their worth, sir?"

grawp

[grawp]

Bill Moyers interviewing Joseph Campbell.

I wonder how long it would take Moyers to work into the conversation that old saw about his "growing up in a Southern Baptist household?"
And how long it would take before Campbell had enough of Moyer's fakey-chummy, clumsy attempts at being a "fellow philosphe," and just throttled the goof right there on camera?

grawp