Of Note is a collection of things I read, watched, ate, visited or experienced from month to month.
December was a crazy month, as it is for most people. Regardless, I discovered a lot of content that I hope will help shape my 2020, and made quite a few memories with those I love.
Good Reads
The Homeownership Obsession by Katy Kelleher on Curbed
REI Opt to Act Plan by REI
This one is different than other articles I normally would recommend. REI pulled together a year-long list of actionable items, complete with links and resources, to make 2020 more sustainable for everyone. I definitely recommend giving it a read through and using it to green your life.
Basically & Healthyish by Bon Appetit
I’ve been following Bon Appetit on YouTube for a while now and decided to sign up for two newsletters they offer. Basically touts itself as Bon Appetit’s resource for those of us that love food but don’t know how to cook, featuring simple-but-delicious recipes, how-to articles, and general cooking advice. Healthyish is as it sounds; recipes that are healthy-er versions of classic favorites, but not so healthy that you don’t enjoy eating them.
Worth Watching
The Witcher on Netflix
My husband and I are a fan of the games and have read some of the books, so when we saw that Netflix was creating a tv-series adaptation of both, we were cautiously optimistic about it. We were blown away at the quality of the acting, writing, and the overall translation of one of our favorite fantasy IPs.
The Mandalorian on Disney+
In the same vein, my husband and I binged the entirety of The Mandalorian while we were at my parents house over the holidays. Another one we were skeptical about due to what Disney has done to the Star Wars franchise overall, we were pleasantly surprised with how good the writing, acting, and special effects were for this short series. Looking forward to season two for sure.
An Antidote to Dissatisfaction by Kurzesagt — In a Nutshell on YouTube
This hit pretty close to home with me, especially since the end of the year is a pretty reflective time for a lot of us. This YouTube channel always showcases beautifully animated, data-driven videos about all matter of subjects, but their ones that dive into the human condition are some of my favorites.
Worthwhile Bites & Sips
Tiki Holiday at the S.O.S. in Decatur — Atlanta, GA
S.O.S. is one of our favorite bars in the city, and for the holidays they redo their entire cocktail and food menus and interiors to get into the holiday spirit. Nick and I try to do one holiday-themed thing every year, and this was it for us. It was really fun to see how the Christmas spirit was incorporated into typically tropical tiki drinks, and I may have made off with some custom drink stirrers to add to my collection of bar paraphernalia.
HipBurger in Greenville, SC
Full disclosure: HipBurger is another one of my clients. They were one of the first projects I worked on when I started at Vigor a little over two years ago, and they recently have actually opened to the public in the form of a food truck. We were visiting my inlaws for an early Christmas in South Carolina, not far from Greenville, and went on a whim to go see the food truck. It’s always such a rewarding feeling seeing something you worked on become a reality, and it’s a bonus when the food is actually really, really good. If you want to see what I did for HipBurger, I have a case study up about it.
Valu & Vator in Greenville, SC
Nick and I have a thing for bars that are a little hard to find. While we were visiting Greenville we got an urge to find some good cocktails, and after some research and hunting, came across Vault & Vator. It’s small and speakeasy-esque, just the way we like it.
The Bend Liquor Lounge in Hialeah, FL
We spent Christmas home with my family in Hialeah, FL. For those who aren’t familiar with Miamis’ many neighborhoods, Hialeah is one of Miami’s sprawling industrial suburbs. I was honestly surprised when we found The Bend, and even more surprised at the quality of the cocktails they were slinging. It’s nice to know theres a stellar bar a few streets over from my parent’s house.