The Elf, Shorn

The holiday season is a time for indulgence, and the Elf decided treat himself to a professional shave at The Art of Shaving.

I was very excited to find out that this great store was coming to  my local mall and had my whiskers raised in anticipation of its arrival. Yesterday was the first chance I had to go in and get the Royal treatment.

Men don't get enough opportunities for pampering in today's world. The simple pleasure of a shave at the hands of a trained barber is something mostly forgotten by most of today's generation (I define that as men between 18 and 35, of which I am pleased to say I am no longer a member (if only by a smidgen)). Even if men are going to get a facial it is likely at a spa that caters mostly to women and the aesthetician is probably not going to provide a shave along with the treatment.

The season allowed me to splurge on the Royal Shave® and it was well worth it at $55. I felt like a king, like Capone (recall the brilliant scene in De Palma's The Untouchables where Capone, played by De Niro, is being shaved), and like Sinatra. There was a moment when the new movie Sweeny Todd was brought to mind and I felt helpless under the blade, but that was brief.

It was a marvelous and relaxing 45 minutes and I look forward to my next visit. I had lunch afterwards, but would really have preferred a nice Martini.