What are some essential things to have in a "Man Cave"?

at least 10 beers on tap and an original Street Fighter II arcade machine.

That 'something to check the internet with', that Richard Julius referred to, sounds like an iPad to me. Not a particular fan otherwise, but in this case it seems to suit the purpose well.

For a true "man cave" you need just a few essential things:

1. Good friends.
2. Some good beer--or at least enough cheap beer to make everyone think it tastes good after several.
3. A poker table or pool table (and pool tables--at least mini ones, can double as poker tables).
4. A bathroom you don't care too much about.
5. Playing cards/some sort of gaming system/a place to shoot dice.

When it comes to "decorating," consider some old-school gentlemen's stuff. I only have a Man Corner, sadly, but I have a few knick-knacks with some meaning: a golf ball with my grandfather's name embossed on it, a flask from my close friend's wedding, my great-grandfather's pipe, a model of the 280z I used to own, the ad from a show I was in ... that kind of stuff.

I also like old print ads, which you can find on eBay. Old liquor ads are great for the walls, as are well-weathered boxing gloves, drum sticks, etc. If they have no meaning to you, though, it's going to come across as contrived.

“Essential” is a tough word, so let me give you a variety of advice.

A big lock to keep unwanted guests out! A cool floor—real wood or an indestructible surface.

BEST ADVICE: Do it how you want it … not to please or impress anyone else (unless that is your main goal—which it shouldn’t be [that is the second goal, right?]).

Read this book (really, really required reading (and pictures): Manspace: A Primal Guide to Marking Your Territory

If the cave extends outdoors, essential is a real/permanent horseshoe pit (unless you don’t want one). Other games are less “essential,” but they should never include the unfortunately named game of cornhole.

If the cave includes the kitchen, the essentials are good knives: Wusthof, Henkel, Global, or Shun; some kind of butcher block from Boos http://www.johnboos.com/; and some good pans (at least one, manly, cast iron pan).

If alcohol is involved, I hope you can figure that part out; my only comment is to consider a nice collection of bottle openers.

Double-essential is audio video stuff.

A solid brick wall.

A soda machine filled with beer? Or maybe just a sliding glass cooler.

A copy of the book The Alphabet Of Manliness

Tavern puzzles (those metal things) … and the solutions book! http://www.tavernpuzzle.com/

A Maglight, a Leatherman, a quick-change screwdriver, a tape measure, and a box cutter that never, ever leave the area. Ever. Ev-freaking-ever.

Rec room type stuff. Obviously, this must be to your taste (as should everything), but I think the essential item is a pool table. Equally as essential is darts. The standard items after that are foosball, dome hockey, air hockey, ping pong, and shuffleboard. These are all space hogs, so plan wisely.

Lots of flexible seating, e.g., director’s chairs, bar stools, etc.

Décor: Nothing cheesy or cheap. If it can be framed (a poster, etc.) have it done by a professional frame shop. Let the décor develop organically over time (that is code for sucker your buddies into buying you stuff).

I can’t claim any décor as essential, but these are high on my list: a real propeller, a flag, a brass eagle, a ship’s port hole, old firearms (flintlock/percussion), a Mark V diving helmet, a ship’s wheel, musical instruments (bongos/congas/guitars). FYI: a real Mark V is over 5K (ouch); the quality reproduction is a grand http://www.antiquesofthesea.com/. It is hard not to get a real boxing bell http://www.bevinbells.com/trip-gong.html. If you have unlimited funds and good insurance, a real samurai sword http://www.japanesesword.com. Collectables are good … something you are into or that just looks cool, e.g., old cameras (the book I recommend has all sorts of ideas). I like things that stand up … a totem pole, a cigar store Indian, a hitching post, a fireman’s pole (or a dance pole).

If you want real sports memorabilia, look into the auctions from http://www.lelands.com.

If you are flowing into the garage (also good in house), old license plates (preferably, yours), and rims from cars (actual racing cars or well-known sports cars), and other parts from race cars.

And finally, it is hard to think of a man cave without at least a few things that can seriously injure people, so make sure to cover that area.

a moose head. it can be inflatable aswell

a moose head. it can be inflatable aswell