JdBLetter Vol. 4 - A New Hope

It is too late in the season to buy watermelon

Speaking of late, I read this piece that got me thinking about why I’m always obscenely early to everything. 

Those of you who’ve known me for a while will probably have the experience of me texting to apologize for being early, or, in rare instances, apologizing for being four (4) minutes late. My new policy that I developed with the help of a therapist is that if i’m going to be less than seven minutes late and the stakes are low, don’t bother with a heads up, it’s more of a nuisance than it is helpful. Anyway, the piece is not long, go read it and come back. 

There Are Two Kinds of People: Those Who Get To the Airport Two Hours Before Their Flight or More, and Those Who Are Wrong

I used to think that i got everywhere early because I feared being late, when actually, in most cases being late would not have been a huge issue (except for things like air travel or shows of course). But instead i now realize that I like to be early because I appreciate being nice to myself. 

It’s nice to show up to the restaurant a bit early and have time to look around and maybe sweet talk them into giving you a nicer table, or get to your friend’s place a little early and pop into that bookstore you’ve been meaning to check out, or walk around the block and see something new. Having time is a luxury and I will do anything to give myself more of it. 

It’s a subtle shift but it casts my hyperfocus on punctuality/being early in a healthier light. I’m not terrified of being late, I just want to get to where i’m going and fucking chill for a minute. Shit.

I can’t get over how great this Eater interview came out. Fun fact: the writer has been working on this interview since January of 2020. The piece was put on hold during the pandemic and we did a catch-up interview a few months ago, and I’m glad it worked out that way, because my life got more interesting in every dimension over the past 18 months. 

Also I was randomly quoted in this article about Danny Meyer investing in Panera Bread. 

I was revisiting some of my old pieces for Liquor.com and came across this one. It’s amazing to see how far the conversation has come since then...Sober Bartenders Say They Feel Great. But Does Not Drinking Hurt Their Business?


If you are in a place where you have the emotional resilience to read something truly disturbing, read this: Artificially intelligent advertising technology is poisoning our societies.

Lastly, I’m really pissed of that I haven’t yet made a charcuterie gingerbread house and this must be remedied immediately. Any volunteers?

Legitimate Drinks Content!!!!1!

Literally this piece went live two hours ago. Thrillist asked me to check in with some of my favorite bartenders to see if they had any fabulous fall recipes, and they delivered! Read it here. (And thank you Lauren, Chris, Masa, Shannon, and Austin)

Music Video Assignments:

Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware - Kiss of Life }{ Kylie just keeps continuing to give it and i am happy to take it. I’m also loving this trend she has of using vintage cameras that began with her Jimmy Fallon live performance of Say Something that is just stellar (pun intended). 

Thanks for reading. Forward this to someone you think will like me. 

Love,

-JdB