Here we are at the end of a decade! Wherever your holidays take you, I wish you safe travels and a bright new year. I won’t bother boring us all with a full retrospective on the last year or the last ten. What I will do, as always, is let you in on the most current shenanigans.
I spent my birthday on an epic southern road trip to New Orleans! The first day we drove down to Nashville - as chance would have it on the night of the CMAs. So we settled in to dine at a swanky brewpub; a veritable ghost town with the awards just a few blocks away. Our accommodations that night were an AirBnb right on the river. The property has a lovely lit path to a large deck surrounding our yurt. It was such a fun experience! The next morning we took a drive off the beaten path to tour the Jack Daniel’s distillery. Once we were full of whiskey and walking steady, it was off to New Orleans. There’s a whole tangent tale about AirBnb drama in NOLA, but in the end, we were put up at a boutique hotel steps from the French Quarter. I took ghost tours and cemetery tours, walked along the waterfront, had a conversation with a magical homeless veteran, visited the Voodoo shops for gris-gris bags, spent an afternoon in the Museum of Death, ate too many (not enough) beignets, and drank myself silly on bourbon and whiskey and absinthe. It was a fantastic place to visit, and I hope to go back again soon. When we sadly had to depart, it was up to Memphis and a night at the Arrive Hotel. We walked over to Beale Street and grabbed some grub in a honky tonk bar with a live quartet belting all the local hits. There was just enough time in the morning to run over to Sun Studio where the Million Dollar Quartet (among many notable others) recorded.
When we got back it was right into Days of the Dead, spreading the gospel of weird indie lit with our pal John Wayne Comunale in town from Houston. I ran into a ton of friends there, but here’s the thing: all of them people I haven’t seen in YEARS. The best part of all? They’re people that jump right back into friendship like not a day has passed. It is such a good feeling to have connections like those. New friends were made in the table neighbors, as well. They’re spooky ladies adjacent to multiple communities we run in. I cannot believe we weren’t even social media connected before meeting in meatspace! I got to hold a snappy boy (alligator) and make friends with a danger noodle (snake) while I was hanging out. That was pretty much the best.
Closing out the year, I attended Bim Bam Boom’s Company Holiday Party, held on the south side at The Hyde. This is a new speakeasy we’ve found a residency with, and the vibe is intimate and luxe. Tucked away like a little secret wrapped in velvet and neon and vintage art lining the walls. We christened the new stage put in mere hours before and had ourselves a naughty secret Santa exchange. I am immensely grateful for the company I keep and the talented individuals in our circle. I know the date doesn’t change the pace of life or alleviate the obstacles ahead, but the demarcation lends itself to sorely needed emotional optimism. If I’m looking starry eyed, know it is mental healthcare. Be kind to yourself and those around you in the bleak midwinter, too.
Just in time to ring in the New Year, I give you Fringe Benefits. It seemed most appropriate to dress up a bit and let the modern 20s aesthetic loose. Everyone be sure to grab the desktop background attached to this post. VIPs are getting the full 24 image photoset, and Backstage Patrons also get 17 beyond-the-set images this month! Be sure you're logged in on my site to view the images. Feel free to give the set some love by leaving a comment or clicking the heart below. As always, thank you to all my Patrons. You make art happen.
Photographer: Sean O’Connor