The Great Bully
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Screaming at the Top of Our Lungs
Every summer, my parents would scrounge together enough cash to purchase Six Flags season passes for my brother, sister, and me and essentially tell us to knock ourselves out. Six Flags was basically the best amusement park in America. As I grew taller over the years, eventually no roller coaster was off limits. I rode them all...again and again and again—my brother and sister always in the seats next to me. I loved it. One, in particular, blasted you straight up into the sky, higher than any other attraction. It was like flying...the wind in your face, in between your outstretched fingertips, soaring to such great heights. As if to say, "Gravity, stay the hell away from me..."
I never forgot that feeling.
As most of you know, I've been making my living with my camera for the past five years. I realize how fortunate I am—doing something I love and actually making a career of it. Only a small percentage of people get to do that. I've been on the other side—I've put 10,000 hours into something I felt nothing for (nobody says, "I want to be a banker when I grow up"). So don't think for one second a day goes by without me thanking God each morning I get to continue doing what I do.
Life is like that amusement park I grew up going to every summer. There is always a bigger, faster, steeper roller coaster to ride...but there is no height requirement, only a "dream" requirement. Some kids grew up dreaming of becoming doctors, professional athletes, engineers. Spoiler alert: I wanted to design clothes. Next month, I'm hopping on a bigger roller coaster. Only, this roller coaster isn't at Six Flags—it's in New York. I recently accepted a position within Ralph Lauren. And if I'm being completely honest, it still feels like a childhood dream I haven't awoken from.
"…no one—not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires, and not even geniuses — ever makes it alone.”
—Malcom Gladwell
I came across this quote while reading Outliers, a book by Malcom Gladwell on the story of success, and it made me pause. We cling to the idea that success is a simple function of individual merit and that the world in which we all grow up and the opportunities we're afforded don't matter at all. It does matter. It takes a village. Every one of you in my world matter...the loving family, the dear friends, the fraternity brothers, the prodding professors, the loyal clients, the brilliant colleagues, the serendipitous meetings, the religious readers of Unabashedly Prep...and even those who seek to cut me down—you all helped me reach this point. This wasn't happening without you. At some point or another, you've each been in the seat next to me...hands in the air, screaming at the top of your lungs.
Thank you for your support, your belief, your friendship, your wisdom, your rebuke, your love, your couch. From the bottom of my gravity-defying heart, thank you. Here's to the next great roller coaster...
Mar 28, 2012 | Permalink (55) View/Leave Comments
left a comment on 5/19/2012 at 4:11 PM:
Hi Fred,
I just read your blog as i have not checked in for a while, and am so happy to see your dream come true, and the chance of a lifetime to work for Ralph Lauren. They should be so pleased and fortunate to have you!
I have watched you grow as a photographer since i switched to digital in 05 and then on to pursue your dream of ‘PREP’ and always loved your shooting style. I remember when you first started going to CA and hiring models to shoot a magazine spread and have watched you grow from there to now have this blog and a job at RL! We miss you here in Dallas but I wish you all the best in your new adventure. You certainly have worked hard to get where you are and I applaud you! Katherine Hershey Robertson
left a comment on 5/1/2012 at 8:20 AM:
Well done Mr Castleberry!
What a flippin’ incredibly awesome job to have! I’ve only been following the blog for a year or two but your work deserves the credit it gets so it’s great to hear you’ve secured a position at RL!
It’s very much like the others have said, you fit the job like a well tailored suit!
left a comment on 4/25/2012 at 1:16 AM:
Fred,
Congratulations to you and thatnks for your continual inspiration to us all!
left a comment on 4/13/2012 at 4:26 PM:
Congrats Fred- you deserve it baby- now you make sure Ralph opens up at least one shirt factory in the US okay?
left a comment on 4/12/2012 at 8:27 AM:
Fred,
As one of your aforementioned ‘religious’ readers of UP and an aspiring photojournalist, I could not be happier for you. Now in my junior year of university and attempting to find/create/achieve a career of my own that ISN’T in biotechnology as my family would desire, you are an absolute inspiration. There is no better feeling in the world than getting to do exactly what you love, and anyone who is passionate about what they do can relate to that. I wish you years of that feeling, and am looking forward to see the places you will go.
left a comment on 4/10/2012 at 8:29 PM:
Hey Fred, we met in ATL at SCAD, we spoke after your session, I had the navy blue saddles… Probably dont remember but me but no worries…Anyway just wanted to say congrats! What a dream come true on your new roller coaster! Best Wishes
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 11:10 PM:
Extremely happy for you Fred! Best wishes in New York. xo Raya
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 10:17 PM:
@Mark & John—While I was certainly qualified to pursue investment banking after obtaining my degree in finance, I chose to enter the retail side given my decision to stick around Texas for a little while.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 8:58 PM:
Btw, I would be eternally grateful if you could convince RL that they should cater to the needs of us long-armed folks. Specifically, I will buy all the Medium-Long rugby shirts you can sell me :)
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 5:26 PM:
@Jabari A retail banker working in investments and an investment banker are two entirely different fields.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 5:24 PM:
From what I understand Fred worked as a retail banker for BOA.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 5:08 PM:
@FEC, ...as an investment banker? If I’m not mistaken, BoA didn’t have an investment banking business of any consequence pre-2008…
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 12:48 PM:
Congratulations Fred! That’s fantastic news and you really deserve it. Thank you so much for your hard work, your wonderful website, and your dedication to being the best you can be; you’re truly an inspiration.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 12:41 PM:
Congrats! I love reading your blog everyday and I’m so glad for you!
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 12:15 PM:
Mr. Castleberry, you are truly an inspiration. I applaud you, not only for the wonderful opportunity but for your courage to walk away from I-Banking and pursue your dreams. I too want to be a designer and I have at times struggled with having the faith to believe a black kid from Ohio with a political resume and a future on Wall Street could one day muster the courage to follow that dream. I’m one of the numerous fans and followers out there who admire your skill, tenacity and commitment and you are truly an inspiration. God Bless you and your family.
Jabari
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 12:05 PM:
Fantastic!! Congratulations, Fred! Don’t ever stop reaching for the next dream.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 10:22 AM:
I’ve been an admirer of Ralph Lauren since I was 12 years old (a span which I believe surpasses your entire time on this planet, seeing as how I just turned 44). At first it was the clothes, but as I matured (I refuse to acknowledge that I’ve “grown up”) I came to admire his personal style, his business sense and the various enterprises that said business sense has produced and sustained through countless fashion eras.
Over the past couple of years I have become acquainted with and grown to admire the good work you have done to promote the same aesthetic that made me such a fan of RL that fistful of decades ago.
To say that this is an ideal match as well as a near-guaranteed means of perpetuating the Lauren legacy for decades to come is a huge understatement.
Congratulations to you and to RL.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 10:09 AM:
Sincere congratulations Fred! I’ve been a daily reader since stumbling across this site a few years ago and have looked forward to it every day. I wish you all the best at RL.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 8:19 AM:
Sincerest Congratulations, FEC. Best of luck with the new position.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 7:59 AM:
Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off! Ralph Lauren is my favorite designer.
left a comment on 4/9/2012 at 6:29 AM:
From someone who’s been quietly lurking on your blog for over a year now, congratulations!
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 9:24 PM:
Congrats! It’s been great seeing this blog develop over the last year or two. I still remember the first day I stumbled across it and have been working to turn heads ever since.
Don’t forget about us readers here at UP. On to bigger and better things!
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 5:56 PM:
congratulations! That is absolutely amazing. i am looking forward to seeing all the new and fresh concepts that you are going to bring to the already shining brand of Ralph Lauren
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 5:52 PM:
Congratulations! Hope you ride this roller-coaster with the same joy and excitement you have had so far in your wonderful career. Good luck
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 4:16 PM:
Well done, sir. Congratulations earning the ticket to your new adventure. I look forward to seeing what RL will create under your watchful eye.
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 10:25 AM:
Congratulations! What an incredible opportunity! I can tell, as a frequent reader of your blog, that your articulate and creative nature will bring both you and the ever lucky Ralph Lauren to new heights as you begin your next adventure. Best wishes as you move forward!
left a comment on 4/8/2012 at 6:27 AM:
Congratulations Fred! I hope this doesn’t mean the end of UP. Best of luck. I can’t wait to see what begins to come out of RL in a few seasons…
And for the record, even bankers can be preps.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 11:51 PM:
Well done! Ralph Lauren is lucky to get you!
Kudos from one of your readers in Latin America
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 10:43 PM:
Congrats - I’ve been following your blog for the past couple of years and have really enjoyed your inspirations. Best of luck in the new position!
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 9:56 PM:
Congrats! I knew something like this was bound to happen.
‘(Nobody says, “I want to be a banker when I grow up”).’
WTF?! I did! ;-)
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 9:47 PM:
Congratulations! You really deserve this. I’ve been following Unabashedly Prep since my junior year in high school, and now I’m a freshman in college. I’ve never really been one to comment on your posts, but let me assure you a day didn’t go by where I didn’t check your blog. I’ve always hoped to run into you one day on the streets of Boston or New York. Your work is wonderful and I wish you the best in this next chapter of your life.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 7:24 PM:
Follow the blog and never post.
Congrats and good luck. Hard work pays off.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 4:13 PM:
Congratulations Fred. Wishing you all the best. I hope that you find the time to continue the blog, it would be missed.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 3:33 PM:
First, congratulations. You’ve done very well for yourself. Secondly, what does this mean for U.P? I hope that even with the demands of your new job, you’ll keep updating. It would too bad if this blog was in its twilight.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 2:45 PM:
Congratulations! Here’s to the climb, the drop, the scream and the breath. Take it all in.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 2:18 PM:
Excellent! How exciting, best of luck as you move onward and upward.
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 2:17 PM:
All I can say is congratulations and you’re welcome. I’ve been following this for just a couple of months and it has climbed my internal blog-rank extremely fast. I certainly hope that we will be able to see more of this. This last post was by far the best one ever, it really felt as if you were speaking from the bottom of your heart. Good luck, go for it!
left a comment on 4/7/2012 at 12:25 PM:
Congratulations! Terrific news, the job seems like a such a good fit.
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Rugby Cafe
by Moses Y. Bension
The first thing you notice when you walk into the Rugby Cafe in Georgetown is how much it looks like a Rugby store. The decor is unmistakably Ralph Lauren. The walls are cluttered with antique mirrors and an assortment of Americana; a Betsy Ross flag hangs from the ceiling. The first thing you notice when you bite into one of their burgers is that the Rugby Cafe is more than just décor. The menu features signature burgers that are out to prove that a restaurant that borrows its name from a clothing brand can still rival the best in our nation’s capital. Enjoy it with a cold beer from local brewery Flying Dog, whose tap handles adorn the painted‐black wood‐paneled bar.
Photographed in Washington, D.C.
We recommend the Holden Burger (named after the Pencey Prep expellee), a medium rare hamburger of Colorado prime Angus beef topped with smoked bacon, caramelized onions, a house barbecue sauce, locally grown beefsteak tomato, greens, and a slice of white cheddar cheese all on a brioche bun with a side of freshly cut French fries in a display of “top shelf gastronomic brilliance.” F.E. Castleberry tells the story of how, “at the end of one dinner I saddled up at the bar, and the bartender, some staff, and I lined up some shots after closing and just spent the night talking life. The vibe was extremely laid back.”
Take a train into Washington’s Union Station and catch the bus to M Street & Wisconsin Ave in Georgetown. Walk 243 feet south. Limited sidewalk seating is available during the summer.
Mar 23, 2012 | Permalink (19) View/Leave Comments
left a comment on 8/9/2012 at 5:09 PM:
Does anyone know where I can get the shoes (or similar models) that the guy in the green polo has?
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 10:05 PM:
Nice post. I love Georgetown and the Rugby store there. Actually wearing a pair of Kelly green shorts I bought there last summer. Beer and burger next door had a laid back vibe. Looking forward to going back.
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 9:45 PM:
One beer they make worth drinking is gonzo imperial stout…I’d take lagunitas IPA. As an aside I visited my girl friend last fall and we spent the day at georgetown…loved the rugby store there and loved the cafe.
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 10:42 AM:
I have family moving to D.C. in the very near future and trust I’ll be visiting there with some frequency. Rugby will certainly be on my “must visit” list. The room looks to be right up my alley and I’m all in favor of any establishment that’s proud to admit it will cook a burger medium-rare.
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 10:28 AM:
John,
The DC/MD/VA cultural lines are so blurred that anything inside of an hour’s drive of the beltway (without traffic) should be considered local. This is especially true when it comes to craft brews.
Mr. Castleberry,
I recommend a visit to Annapolis the next time you’re in town. It’s a short drive from the district and should provide an appropriate introduction to the Chesapeake variety of prep. Annapolitans take summer seriously, they actually burn their socks in the spring.
The annual St. John’s vs US Naval Academy croquet match is coming up and would provide the appropriate candy camera for your blog.
Photos from last year’s Annapolis Cup: http://www.annapolissound.com/culture/2011-st-johns-usna-croquet/
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 10:08 AM:
@John—You seem to bear a misconception about what Unabashedly Prep is about and what this particular piece on the Rugby Cafe is. This isn’t a profile on Georgetown/D.C. Upon my previous visits to Georgetown, the Rugby Cafe has been a spot I like to grab a burger. That’s it. It’s what I like (and not to mention a place that actually allowed me to take pictures for an article). This isn’t some Georgetown/D.C. travel guide piece where I recommend a place based on some consensus of votes or popularity. And please, drop the bit about the beer. Is Flying Dog the only beer on tap at Rugby Cafe? Of course not. But it’s brewed only 40 miles from Rugby Cafe. Semantics aside, I considered it local given the International scope of the alcoholic beverage business. Where I’m from, 40 miles is only the opposite side of town.
Have you ever actually eaten at Rugby Cafe, John?
left a comment on 4/6/2012 at 7:55 AM:
@emjkmj - I think the general issue is that a profile of Georgetown/DC has been offered, with recommendations for the Rugby Cafe and beer from exurban Maryland. I think we can agree on a handshake that Fred/Moses simply aren’t DC residents, experts or travel guides.
I live in DC. While some suburban MD residents may consider Flying Dog local beer, no DC residents do. Not only does DC have it’s own breweries, there are also great VA breweries that are only minutes away, just across the Potomac.
left a comment on 4/5/2012 at 5:30 PM:
@ DJ REN- in the food and beverage industry, as-well-as the eat local, “locavores” movement, anything produced and consumed within a 100 miles is considered local. It may seem far (40 miles), but when considering how far that, Coors, Miller Lite, Bud, let alone Stella or Guinness traveled. 40 miles is around the block.
left a comment on 4/5/2012 at 5:15 PM:
I love Georgetown. My wife and I have thought about buying an apartment/townhouse there.
left a comment on 4/5/2012 at 9:28 AM:
This place looks so gosh darn cool I’m gonna call my buddy up and fly us on over there for lunch in my private jet aeroplane.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 3:18 PM:
@FEC, local to you perhaps, but some of us live here in DC. Baltimore is also 40ish miles from DC (where I reside). As WMM notes, Natty Boh isn’t “local” to DC - it’s a Baltimore beer. Flying Dog is a Frederick beer (and a good one). Neither are local to DC - at least to this DC resident.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 2:58 PM:
Love the idea of Rugby Cafe. Worth the added wait time to go to The Tombs as well.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 1:20 PM:
Have not yet enjoyed the Rugby Cafe, but would highly recommend the other Ralph-related restaurant in Chicago. Excellent food/atmostphere and great bartenders. http://www.rlrestaurant.com/
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 1:18 PM:
@DJ Ren, DC Brau is amazing, and a true local beer, indeed. @ FE, You wouldn’t really consider National Bohemian a local beer because it’s a Baltimore beer, I’d say same goes with Flying Dog and its Frederick roots.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 1:10 PM:
@DJ Ren—FLying Dog is brewed 48 miles from DC. For all intents and purposes, that’s local.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 1:01 PM:
Looks nice. Flying Dog makes good beer, sure, but it’s from Frederick, MD. For local brews, try DC Brau. Brewed in the district.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 9:49 AM:
@Biff—Martin’s is a nice joint…totally different price point/menu than Rugby Cafe but a really nice atmosphere to grab dinner. Since it’s where JFK proposed to Jackie, it’s kind of the cliché choice for a preppy style blog ;)
@AEV—The Tombs is a nice spot (aside from not having any windows) and I enjoyed it when I was in last. I would disagree that the Rugby Cafe is an attempt to mimmick the Tombs in any way. The Rugby Cafe is independently owned and operated as a cafe…patio seating, etc and is a touch more casual than the Tombs.
left a comment on 4/4/2012 at 9:28 AM:
For those looking for an authentic Georgetown bar experience, I recommend The Tombs. The Tombs is the kind of well established, “collegiate”, neighborhood spot that the Rugby bar is mimmicking.
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Stare
Mar 21, 2012 | Permalink (2) View/Leave Comments
left a comment on 4/26/2012 at 9:04 PM:
great last name, i’d say. what do you know about your family hitrosy. My grandfather, John F. Trotz, came to USA in 1890 s and, after briefly settling in Detroit, where his older brother Michael lived, came to Scranton, Pa. for a wedding, met my grandmother, and stayed. Like hundreds of others from his former hometown in Poland, Suwalki, he became a coal miner. He was killed in the mines when he was 40, leaving my grandmother with six kids at the height of the Depression in 1929. My father, Edward Trotz, was 3 at the time. I ran Trotz through the Twitter search engine and found your name. You are following me, too. I am 54 and live in Baltimore, where my father moved looking for work after being discharged from the Army Air Corps after the war. My Dad will be 83 on Nov. 26. He named me after his father, and my son is named after my father. I also have two daughters .Sincerely, John Trotz
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Everything You Can Imagine
Mar 15, 2012 | Permalink (8) View/Leave Comments
left a comment on 3/21/2012 at 1:30 PM:
@BLJ—Unabashedly Prep has always, and will continue to be, my point of view. Not that of any of my advertisers or clients.
left a comment on 3/21/2012 at 10:48 AM:
@NPHAF…what he wants or what his spoonsors/employers want? I used to think I knew the answer….
left a comment on 3/21/2012 at 6:53 AM:
Haven’t you yet understood that Mr. Castleberry does what ever the f**k he wants?
Questions about the site? Write him an email.
left a comment on 3/16/2012 at 3:29 PM:
Hey F.E. - when will the newest playlist be posted on here? I loved the most recent one! :)
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JRenee left a comment on 4/26/2012 at 11:26 AM:
A very appropriate and timely quote.