Of Note — June & July 2020

I think I’m finally getting the hang of this WFH, quarantine, weird-is-the-new-normal…thing. Maybe its the blazing summer sun that has lifted my spirits but I’m shaking off the dust, updating this blog, and reflecting on myself on a person and as a designer. The world at large is still insane, but I think some good will come out of this chaos… eventually.

Good Reads

How to Build a Brand — From Anywhere — by Embracing Your Surroundings by Molly Gottschalk on 99u.

How to Get in Touch with Your Intuition by Mia Pinjuh on 99u.

9 Creatives on Their Most Valuable Career Lessons by Mia Pinjuh on 99u.

Mike Perry: Good Vibes by Lauren Covello Jacobs on 99u.

10 Excellent Font Pairing Tools for Designers by Renee Fleck on dribbble.

What it Means to be Anti-Racist by Anna North on Vox.

4 Steps That I and Other White People Can Take to Fight Racism by Christina Marie Noel on bthechange.com

How Coronavirus Could Change the Way you get your Favorite Craft Beer by Nick Mancall-Bitell on Eater.

Is it Safe to Eat at Restaurants Yet? by Monica Burton and Jenny G. Zhang on Eater.

One Month a Reopened Economy, and Georgia’s Restaurants Are Still Making Tough Choices by Mara Shalhoup on Bon Appetit.

A Different Kind of Cocktail Revival by Kara Newman on PUNCHdrink.

How Crowler Cans are Saving Breweries by Nickolaus Hines on SevenFiftyDaily.

The Evolution of Premium Canned Wine by Kathleen Willcox on SevenFiftyDaily.

How to Make your Personal Brand Stand Out Online by Renee Fleck on dribbble.

The Way of John Lewis by Cynthia Tucker on the Bitter Southerner.

How to be More Confident by Laura Entis on 99u.

What to do When You Start to Resent One of Your Clients on Wingspan.

Heinz gets first ever global masterbrand, served up by JKR by Jenny Brewer on It’ Nice That

Worth Watching

Pro Chefs Improve Boxed Brownies (8 Methods) from Bon Appetit.
Yes, I know there has been some drama coming out the BA test kitchen… This was before all that. The test kitchen staff was challenged to improve on boxed brownie mix from their own homes, and as a home cook myself, it was reassuring to see these cooks that I admire fumble around their own kitchens and break their own spatulas.

An Easy Caribbean Cocktail For Summer with the La Florida from The Educated Barfly.
I have a soft spot in my heart whenever I see content that has to do with my Cuban heritage. La Florida is a cocktail that was developed in Havana between the 20s and 30s, and while I had heard of it, I’ve never seen it featured on any menu or content platform. It’s refreshing to see Caribbean cocktails that AREN’T over the top tiki drinks.

Drinks from the Spanish Flu from How to Drink
This is a lovely trip down cocktail history lane, where Greg showcases what people were drinking in 1918. These drinks weren’t touted as cures for the flu of course, well, except for the Caipirhinia, which Greg dedicates an entire episode to.

How Deadly is COVID-19? from Vox
While it helps to stay informed, of course, i also share this video because I love the way that Vox does visual storytelling. Their ability to make complex subject matter easily digestible is not just a testament to good writing and journalism, but the visual mechanisms they use to relay the information are equally important.

Lisa Congdon on Creative Purpose from CreativeMornings
You may or may not know Lisa Congdon by name, but you’ve probably seen her work. In this virtual chat from Creative Mornings Congdon talks about how her creative purpose keeps her going, even in uncertain times.

Police from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
I’m just gonna leave this one here and hope that you watch it to better understand the struggles that our black brothers and sisters are facing at the hands of the modern policeforce.

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man from Emmanuel Acho
In the same vein, please watch this video for answers to common questions that white people ask black people.

Systemic Racism Explained from act.tv
This one is pretty self-explanatory too, but goes into better detail about things you may not be aware of, like what redlining is, and how property taxes affect school systems, and how BIPOC deal with implicit bias in the workforce.

What Is Intelligence? Where Does it Begin? by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Videos from this channel are always thought-provoking and well animated, so I’ll always recommend you give it a look.

Worthwhile Bites & Sips

Dulce Vida Ready to Drink Cocktail (Sparkling Paloma)