Can We?

[Thistle Stop]

Hey before hijacking a thread it would be useful to warn everyone so nobody gets hurt.

I'm unarmed, I swear!

[Galant]

And now, *rolls up sleeves* let's see if I can't get this thread back on topic. Here goes nothing -

I Can't speak for 'Arizona' eateries, but I've had the priviledge of doing a number of restaurant reviews and tried quite a few places around Tucson. Pinnacle Peak is okay, but I'd take Chad's Steakhouse any day, El Corral is pretty decent for steak also. Of course, one thing you can get in Tucson is good Mexican food, and for what it's worth I'd recommend La Fuente (live mariachi), El Parador nuevo latino food, and weekend salsa dancing) and La Parilla Suiza (Mexico city style).

Reason being of course is that we're pretty much a border town and our hispanic community is one thing we have here par excellence. I've had some difficulty getting the message across to the latinos I know and those I've seen in church. The concept of men wearing 'skirts' seems a bit scary and foreign to them. I think some of it is the machismo culture amongst the guys - seemingly over doing things to 'prove' who's wearing the 'pants'.

I think the Scottish heritage of the kilt makes it an easier MUG to wear, particularly in predominantly white, western nations. Being Scottish is cool and therefore so are kilts. Having said that, I have no Scottish heritage and so that aspect doesn't really hold too much personal importance. I think I'd be happy trying different styles of MUG's, though it might depend on where I am at the time. If I head eastern in the world I think I'd be perfectly comfortable wearing other garments.

So, making use of the scottish hook might be useful to an extent, but I think it may also tend to add to the kilt's 'special' status. If you want more people to wear such garments I think you're going to have to move from the 'Scottish' and 'cool' arguments and move towards 'practicality' and 'acceptance of MUGs' arguments. That's how I got here!

[macwilkin]

La Parilla Suiza (Mexico city style).

Yes...there used to be a La Parilla Suiza at the corner of 35th & Peoria in Phoenix, next to the Osco drug, if I remember correctly. Good stuff!

Back on topic:

So, making use of the scottish hook might be useful to an extent, but I think it may also tend to add to the kilt's 'special' status. If you want more people to wear such garments I think you're going to have to move from the 'Scottish' and 'cool' arguments and move towards 'practicality' and 'acceptance of MUGs' arguments.

But the very history and origins of the kilt are Scottish -- I do not believe that you can or should try to detach or downplay the history & origins of the kilt just to get more people wearing them.

Cheers,

Todd

[Riverkilt]

Sorry you're not well Cyndi,

Might I suggest some raw milk cheese from your local health food store to restore order to your innards.

To maybe sort of get the 9mm aimed elsewhere; for me, one of the best ways to spread the word about kilts is to wear them out to eat.

When I walk through a restaurant to be seated, or to find the rest room, or whatever; the other folks are seated and are at eye level with my kilt. Seems sort of a courtesy to them to let them see it easier and up close. Plus, I'm sure it starts some conversation at a number of tables after I pass. Who knows how many positive things are said..

[Galant]

My apologies, I did not mean to play them down - keep them and celebrate them. In fact, I never had an interest in tartans, clans or Scottish history, but after taking a look into the world, find it interesting and got hooked. I was simply saying that the Scottish part in things should not be the mainstay of the argument.

I don't think the argument should be - wear kilts because they're Scottish/cool. It should be wear kilts because they're wonderful garments for men (list reasoning) - then also check out the history.

[macwilkin]

My apologies, I did not mean to play them down - keep them and celebrate them. In fact, I never had an interest in tartans, clans or Scottish history, but after taking a look into the world, find it interesting and got hooked. I was simply saying that the Scottish part in things should not be the mainstay of the argument.

I don't think the argument should be - wear kilts because they're Scottish/cool. It should be wear kilts because they're wonderful garments for men (list reasoning) - then also check out the history.

I see your point, Galant, and I certainly feel that the comfortability of the kilt should be one reason for wearing one -- for some, it is the major reason -- for others like myself, a pride in our heritage is the main reason. Both reasons are certainly valid & equal.

Cheers,

Todd

[herminator]

I see your point, Galant, and I certainly feel that the comfortability of the kilt should be one reason for wearing one -- for some, it is the major reason -- for others like myself, a pride in our heritage is the main reason. Both reasons are certainly valid & equal.

Well, I sure hope so. I have no celtic heritage whatsoever so I give the freedom an comfort as my reasons for wearing kilt. Although I enjoy and play celtic music I try not to get these two areas too mixed up,l because I like to wear kilt everywhere!

And that is how I spread the word: I just wear kilt! I am now making one for a teen from my church, I am getting ready to make one for a member of my bible tudy group. Of course I answer questions when they come, but I think the wearing of the thing is simply the best!

Just to let you know BTW I was at work kilted on friday, some nice comments, some very irritated looks! ( for those who know: my working place is in an institution founded by a brethren meeting, with still a very strong brethren influence!)

[Alan H]

I have to say again, that kilts will never go "mainstream" while they cost $150-plus. We can preach all we want but while a really nice kilt costs $450 or more, Joe Average is never going to buy one. I just dropped $115 on a USA Kilt and it's strapped on me as I write this. Who the heck is going to drop $150 on a pair of pants?

I can go down to Mervyn's and get a decent pair of work slacks with pockets for $30. I can get the mainstay of Americana, a pair of Levi's Blue Jeans WITH POCKETS for under $30. The non-sweatshop blue jeans you can buy from a number of distributors STILL cost less than $60.

So you expect me to go drop $180 on a Freedom Kilt? Or $120 on a Pittsburgh kilt? Or $150 on a UK? What are you, nuts?

I know, I know!

When there's a halfway decent non-tartan kilt available for under $50 that has pockets, THEN there's a chance that the kilt will go mainstream. That will mean that they are stitched together in some obscene sweatshop in Sri Lanka or something. They will be marketed by Banana Republic or The Gap. You will see guys wearing them in Sports Illustrated, and Field and Stream. They will be produced by the tens of thousands.

Until then, we're wearing specialty articles of clothing and being a bit "out there" and there's nothing wrong with that. When kilts are everyone's everyday, they will cease to be special. Do we want that?

Now, if you ask me, what would be nice is to spread ACCEPTANCE of kilts and EDUCATION about kilts. That's a doable thing, and that happens every time Joe American sees a guy wearing a kilt. Tartan or non-tartan, that's a good thing.

[GMan]

I like the way this thread is going, even about eateries in Arizona (I am hungry BTW). We all are drawn to this forum because of our love for kilts! Our common bond from various points of the world and various points of view, we all have this "thing" for kilts, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Keep kilted and continue being the fiesty bunch we are, and just by that I feel our influence will be all it takes, and whether anymore gents become kilted or not, we will be ourselves.

[mikemisfit]

alan - excellent point and i totally agree. i dropped 3 bills for my freedomkilt knowing the craftsmanship that goes into it. when i receive it i can wear it with pride knowing it is one of a kind, made totally custom for me and that i worked very hard to be able to purchase it. if i stepped outside today kilted and saw 5 guys wearing the same kilt (while that would be quite cool)i would honestly be disappointed. i like the idea of not being in the mainstream.

whilst i agree the kilt will prob. never go mainstream by getting more acceptance you run the risk of it. for example punk rock music today. while struggling to stay non-mainstream it has gotten so much acceptance the last ten years at any given time you can turn on the radio or MTV or muchmusic and hear punk rock music. i hate it but i love it.