Hey Friends,

I trust the holidays were a time to recharge your batteries. While we’ve endured quite a bit of turbulence since then — I’m hopeful that we’ll return to (some sense of) normalcy this year. ✨

On a more fun note — there’s a new section that will periodically appear in this newsletter, affectionately dubbed “🥧 Stick It In Your Pie Hole”! While I don’t work in the hospitality industry anymore — food and I go wayyyy back (fun factoid: my first job was at a Pizza Hut in Oregon when I was only 14 years old 😬 ). Not only have I worked in many restaurants over the years and catered the finest events in Hollywood (shout out to my old Kitchen crew ✊ ) but I love to make food and drinks at home when I have the time (and as I’m sure you suspected, this section is dedicated to the food and drink that inspires me).

📸 Pics Or It Didn’t Happen

On a recent hike, I may have discovered the world’s only “sisters xing” sign?

🧠 Muse From Around The Way

Like A Rhinestone Cowboy

Are your pants boring old denim? *makes wide-sweeping sparkling motion with hands* Then you need to be-dazzle them!

Hazy Daze

This article does a fine job of articulating why I’ve been so drawn to Whistler paintings over the years …

I’ll Have My Own Parade, Thank You Very Much

Do you like puppets? Do you like things that glow in the dark? Do you like isopods? If so, what are you waiting for — click the link!

🎧 On Repeat

Introspective with subtle wordplay, lovelytheband keeps the beat infectious. If you’re into the shimmering soundscapes of The Temper Trap, M83 or Neon Trees, take this one for a spin around the block …

Sometimes you just want some good old new-fangled surf rock. Behold, Guantanamo Baywatch! Wax your longboard, get into your goofy-foot stance — and when the chorus rolls out — hang ten my music-loving brethren!

🥧 Stick It In Your Pie Hole

We’ve all heard that starting a restaurant is difficult (and by that I mean difficult during “normal” times — now multiply that exponentially, and you’ll have a rough idea of what it’s like to do it during a pandemic). That being said, my bro (both literally and figuratively — he’s my brother-in-law) Chef Jonathan Griffin spent years working towards his dream, and this past summer, he did precisely that — he opened a wondrous restaurant smack dab in the middle of the worst health crisis in a century. Rathskeller in Rockford, IL is a foodie’s dream come true: part “kaffee” and part “biergarten” — you’ll find everything here lovingly crafted, often-times with local and organic ingredients. Here’s a fun little news segment covering the launch (and the rebirth of a historical landmark)!

If you live in or near Chicago (and especially if you dig fine German food and drink) — then you owe it to yourself to stop by to have a slice of the good life (and tell ‘em Micah sent ya!)

🍿 Popcorn Break

Try to resist the charm of this short film — I dare you! (3:43)

🖋 Parting Words

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. –Chinese Proverb