I was updating my website this morning and realized that I haven’t yet put out a newsletter in all of 2023, so this is my effort to remedy that. I have a longer and perhaps more interesting newsletter in the works that details my time working at the CCRB in the context of their report on the 2020 protests, but I have not had the wherewithal to actually write it (or read the full report if I’m being totally honest). Rather than let that writer’s block block me from writing anything, here’s a perfunctory newsletter where I share some recent work:
I have two new pieces for Food Network. One on some of my favorite rums, and another on some of my favorite non-alc rum substitutes. The opening paragraphs to the latter ended up as more of a manifesto for the validity of non-alc spirits—a counterpoint to this rather grouchypants article by the guy that invented Bailey’s.
I’ve also come out with two drink videos for Food52 so far this year. One is a non-alc Radler riff and another is for the Dark Phoenix, the first in a series of recipes pulled straight out of Saved by the Bellini, which you should pre-order now if you haven’t already.
I interviewed Jinkx! Fucking! Monsoon!—in person, no less! And she was a dream and a doll and we reminisced about the time we kissed on the mouth at the Laurie Beechman Theater in 2013 lol.
In other news, I was quoted in Jaya Saxena’s brilliant piece about Four Loko.
And I’m also doing more consulting! Also in Brooklyn! This time it’s for the dreamy Eric See and his new location for the acclaimed New Mexican spot, Ursula. Having a chaotic and unpredictable professional life can be taxing at times but when you have to research hyperspecific New Mexico slang for work, it’s all worth it. You gotta watch this video about “Shit Burqueños Say” and part 2.
What else? I was on the Taste podcast in early January and loved how the conversation turned out. And another January convo I loved was with Julia Bainbridge all about the awkward nuances of Dry January.