Vol. 8, No. 1 | Clarity and Confusion

Hey Ya’ll!

I know it’s been forever! It’s a new year, so all the excuses I’ve been using have finally run out. I’m excited to be back here. The good thing is that since I haven’t written in a while, I have a lot to say. Don’t worry, I won’t ramble all of it at once.

Here’s (some of) what’s been going on:

• It’s pretty short notice, but I am doing another dinner in Jamaica this year. It will be on February 25th. Let me know if you’d like info on it. I know I might not seem excited, but I am finally getting there. I’ve dragged my feet because so much was going on, but I can finally see a dinner table perched on a beautiful hill and smiling faces. I also can’t wait to feel the sunshine.

• I was actually in Jamaica over Christmas for my boyfriend’s 40th birthday. I stayed in Montego Bay for a couple of days on the front end and back end of the trip. I finally understand why some people don’t love Jamaica. As beautiful as I think Doctor’s Cave beach is, I just don’t enjoy Montego Bay.

• When I came back I was met with so many restaurant closings- permanent and temporary. It sucks. There is nothing worse than great restaurants having to close when they were doing everything right. I have a couple of places on my “Are they going to make it?” list. I encourage everyone to seek out great food and great hospitality.

• I’ve decided that seasonal winter menus are my least favorite. It’s all heavy, gamey meats and brussel sprouts…ughh. This is obviously a personal problem. Spring, where are you?

• But I do love dry January, or damp January. It’s the one time of year that I can see I’m not really drinking and people just roll with it.

• I saw a man sitting at the bar eating his dinner and watching a full Netflix show on his laptop. Knife and fork, glass of wine, restaurant packed, bar packed. I appreciated the audacity of it even if I simultaneously wished he would wrap it up so I could order a drink.

• I saw a man sitting at the bar in full study mode. Textbooks open, highlighters, papers strewn all over the woodgrain top, headphones in. I was very confused.

• I have “bear etiquette school” in my notes and I have no idea what that means. How did I write something like that without more details?! I know this will never come to me.

Happy New Year! This is not where the title of this newsletter came from, but I do hope that this year brings you all more clarity than confusion. (To be clear, I don’t know where the title of this newsletter came from).

Shannon

P.S. - I have an article in the January issue of Atlanta Magazine. It’s on Mambo Zombi, one of my favorite bar openings last year. I don’t think it’s on the website yet, but I’ll share a link when it’s available. Grab the magazine if you see it.

P.S.S. - Remember the time, I had like 10 P.Ss (how is this even pluralized?). Don’t worry, I’m not doing that here.

P.S.S.S - Or am I?