T C.
Yelp
I'm surprised people don't sniff out the pretension of this place, which according to Playboy and a few other male-centric publications is supposedly one of the barber shops in the nation. Aidan Gill reeks of this misbegotten, soft-focus nostalgia for the era of southern gentility, a romanticism that I think is best left at the door. But if you think Andy Griffith was a reality show, this just might be the place for you.
In the end, it's all about the haircut, isn't it? And mine were always just okay. I was once a three-month regular, a twice-a-month customer. But for fifty dollars a pop---including tip---that just didn't add up for me. That's a hundred bucks a month to look like I got buzzered at a prison rodeo. I quickly found a better deal elsewhere (Urban Angels). I didn't mind the price, as there was an attention to detail that I found lacking in other places, but the haircut was nonetheless mediocre at best.
Plus, I had to put up with guys in bow ties. I'm sorry, but bow ties: fail.
Bow ties and suspenders: Def-con 1 on the pretension scale.
Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere has its dusty charm, and the little shop offers some terrific gift possibilities, including rare watches, ties, and soaps, but it's still about the haircut. I think they specialize in "lawyer" haircuts, if you know what I mean. Lots of country club types sauntered in and out, guys who, oddly enough, also wore bow ties. Maybe they were related to Tucker Carlson. I felt like the blackest guy in the place, and I'm an Irish albino.
Ask for "the Pelican Brief." It's their specialty.
I asked the stylist if bow ties were required, and she answered humorlessly that no, they were not.
They also offer you a bourbon while you wait, and a Playboy. I'm in with the bourbon, but flipping through a Playboy in public is a bit much, really. And with a bow tie on--- well, you're just looking for trouble.