Special Edition: Celebrating 2 Years of LAST CALL!
And It's SLURPEE DAY at 7-Eleven!
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7/11: Celebrating 2 Years of LAST CALL
LAST CALL is back from a weeklong Fourth of July “vacation” (if you count me hiding out in my hot and sticky air-conditioner-less apartment on a never-ending—by my own fault—book deadline a vacation) and our return today on 7/11 also marks the 2-year anniversary of the launch of LAST CALL! (And to my new air conditioner arriving today!)
Coincidentally, it’s also Slurpee Day! Beat this unbearable heat with a visit to any 7-Eleven convenience store today to receive a free small Slurpee. This year’s featured flavor is MTN Dew Freedom Fusion, a frosty lemonade and peach Slupree (though the offer is good for any available flavor). And 7-Eleven has collaborated with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to feature an exclusive Slurpee cup adorned with artwork by 7-year-old Nolan, who at age 3 was diagnosed with retinoblastoma cancer. 7-Eleven will be collecting donations at all of their locations to help support the health network.
It means so much to have you among the thousands of readers who support and engage with my writing here at LAST CALL. A special shout-out to all the DAY ONE subscribers, especially to all of the paid subscribers—from the dozens of Founding Members to the hundreds of monthly and yearly paid subscribers—who help underwrite my work with their financial support. You’re truly benefactors and allow me to continue my work here day to day. I’m grateful for every reader and subscriber who joins each and every day. You’ve all helped make LAST CALL a certified Substack “Bestseller” and one of the Top Food and Drink publications on the platform.
The mission statement for LAST CALL promises “regular dispatches on bars and bar culture, drinks and spirits, restaurants and regional foodways, popular culture, (and sometimes cats),” and hopefully I’ve continued to deliver on that pledge with the many engaging, informative, and entertaining articles, personal essays, stories, interviews, recipes, and special features.
In the past year I’ve written and shared first looks and previews of new cocktail menus and bar openings, chronicled my five-week Wednesday Residency at Dante, interviewed James Beard Award-winning cookbook authors along with exclusive recipe excerpts, revealed the origin story of my lifelong aversion to onions, covered countless guest bartender appearances and pop-ups, and wrote about my love of Italian drinking culture with recipes and features on Bar Basso’s signature Sbagliato glass, Negroni variations, a “farm to fire” Sicilian-inspired dinner, my new favorite low-ABV summer aperitivo, a lesser-known Italian cocktail still waiting to take flight, and so much more.
In addition to Dive Bar Jukebox, this past year also featured the launch of two new paid subscriber exclusives: The Lowdown (an expanded edition of what I’ve been eating, drinking, writing, watching, and reading) and City Guides (a curated lineup of my personal picks for eating and drinking in New York City and beyond), in addition to special holiday-themed programming and an expanded series of Holiday Gift Guides.
This next year promises the continuation of these popular features along with even more original content, including essays, interviews, and collaborations.
And LAST CALL will be the first place to learn details about my next book, Drinking Italian: The Spirited Traditions, Rituals, and Recipes of Italy's Drinking Culture, currently scheduled for an October 2025 publication from Ten Speed Press—from behind-the-scenes stories, photographs, updates, previews, recipe excerpts, pre-order information, obtaining signed copies, and events.
Writing is a solitary and often lonely pursuit. On paper, all these visits to bars and restaurants for tastings and interviews seem pretty cool (and they are), but the churn of researching/writing/publishing/promoting (repeat) is an ongoing cycle and can take its toll. That’s why engagement from readers is always welcome and helps me feel like I’m in less than a vacuum.
I’m often approached by readers when I’m out and about in the wild (I’m easy to spot with the red hair), whether I’m hanging out a favorite bar, standing on line at the grocery store, or on a constitutional along the Brooklyn waterfront. Recently I was waiting for the bus and from the window of a passing car the front passenger (who looked like Nathan Fielder, but that’s the case with a whole subset of Brooklyn men) shouted out: “BTP! Love your work, man!” Most people will want to talk about a specific book of mine but more and more folks bring up this very Substack, and share that they’re a subscriber. So if you see me, say hello. I’m a very nice guy.
And in each of these dispatches, there’s always icons to “Like” or “Comment” on the post. I realize it’s a lot to ask to even keep up with reading these frequent dispatches, but your engagement, feedback, and comments are always helpful and most welcome, and helps foster the community of readers here at LAST CALL.
The other day I received this DM from a reader and brand-new LAST CALL subscriber from Europe.
“Hi, Brad. This is a quick thank you message from a long time follower and reader. I love your writing. Not because it's about spirits and cocktails (which I love), not because of the bitters and drinks recipes (which are fantastic), but because it is thoughtful, precise, erudite and kind. Your eulogy for Benito Nonino was fantastic. And your article about how most cocktail bars' design excludes plus-size guests struck a chord with me. I wanted to drop you a line right after reading it, without really being able to formulate what I wanted to say. Now I know, it's a simple thank you. This is a brave and generous piece of writing. I hope it helps correct some of the wrongs in bar layout and furniture design. I also think it helped a lot of people faced with the same situation. Please, keep writing and sharing. I hope our paths cross maybe one day when you're in London or Paris.” —Yves
When you sit at a desk by yourself, living in your own mind day after day, struggling to transform tangled thoughts and ideas into creative and engaging sentences strung together, an unexpected missive like this means so much, and helps me know that what I’m doing matters to at least one reader out there in the world.
This anniversary dispatch is free to all readers. Please pass it along to someone you know who might enjoy subscribing to LAST CALL.
LAST CALL Subscription Benefits
And now for the likely annoying but necessary “pledge drive” part of your favorite independent radio station before they get back to the music and regular programing.
If you’re already a paid subscriber—grazie mille! If not, here are the detailed benefits of becoming a Paid Subscriber. LAST CALL, first and foremost, is a reader-supported publication.
The landscape where a writer like myself can pitch stories as a freelancer and still get paid a fair rate is shrinking every day, and is more competitive than ever. And writing books, another source of my income, is an amazing opportunity but takes a very long time with payments spread out over years (it varies by publisher but most authors are paid a percentage of their advance upon signing, upon acceptance of the manuscript, upon publication, and final payout a year after publication).
Writing for myself here gives me the freedom to explore topics in detail or take detours to explore areas beyond drinks and cocktails and bars. And it takes many hours of hard work to keep this going. Every paid subscriber, in a sense, hires (or fires) me with their financial support and engaged readership.
If you’ve been thinking about subscribing, today, our 2-Year Anniversary, would be the perfect time to jump in and join as a paid subscriber. I may be biased, but I heartily recommend the Yearly Paid Subscription at $50.00 a year. It’s an annual payment so you won’t have to worry about month to month billing, and it’s cheaper than subscribing month to month (a savings of $22/year).
Subscribe Today!
Free Subscription
Receive occasional LAST CALL dispatches including essays, interviews, recipes, and more. (Note: Free posts are archived behind a paywall after 2 weeks and then only accessible with a Paid Subscription.)
Paid Subscription (Monthly: $6.00, Yearly: $50.00)
Receive all LAST CALL dispatches, including essays and articles, interviews, recipes, and more.
Receive regular LAST CALL exclusive features such as Dive Bar Jukebox, The Lowdown, and City Guides.
Access to complete archives and bonus dispatches.
Courtside Seats (formerly Founding Member Subscription) ($150.00 or more)
Receive all Paid Subscription benefits plus a signed and personalized copy of one of my books: Bitters, Amaro, Distillery Cats, or Last Call. (This book tie-in offer is currently available in US only.)
Subscriber Testimonials
“Always a pleasure to get your insights. Keep up the good work, man.” —John
“I've enjoyed the free stuff and am always wanting more of it so time to fully subscribe and support. Thank you!" —Lizz
"I love your writing and what you choose to write about! Great Substack—thanks for putting this out there into the world." —AB
"I’m always looking for good food and drink writing.” —Victor
"Sugar, it's Eli! Keep on writing, Wildcat." —Brian
It’s our anniversary! What better time to become a Paid Subscriber to LAST CALL?
LAST CALL Fun Facts!
Most of my friends and colleagues who have Substack newsletters stay coy with their subscription numbers. Whenever I think about sharing my own subscription numbers I’ll see some milestone posts where writers are excited about hitting 500 subscribers in a year while others quickly bring me back down to Earth with their casual announcement of 100,000 subscribers.
With new writers moving to Substack every day, it’s more challenging than ever for readers to commit to multiple paid subscriptions (believe me, I know). When I started LAST CALL, my personal goal was to achieve 5,000 total subscribers (free and paid) by the first year, and within the first two weeks I had 1,000 subscribers with 127 of them supporting LAST CALL financially. It took me a bit longer to hit that mark, and my next goal is to hit 10,000 overall subscribers and keep on growing from there.
LAST CALL Followers Growth
LAST CALL Subscribers Growth
LAST CALL is read across 50 U.S. states and 104 countries.
Highest percentage of U.S. LAST CALL readers by State: New York (21%), California (15%), Illinois (5%), Texas (5%), and Pennsylvania (4%).
Highest percentage of international LAST CALL readers by country: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Italy, and France.
LAST CALL Substack Audience Overlap: David Lebovitz Newsletter (27%), Alison Roman’s A Newsletter (13%), The Mix with Robert Simonson (11%), Ruhlman’s Newsletter (10%), The Department of Salad (10%).
LAST CALL Subscriptions Generated from Substack Recommendations: David Lebovitz Newsletter (1,953), Ruhlman’s Newsletter (637), Luke Flunder’s Wine World (552), Elizabeth’s Newsletter from Italy (481), A Tiny Apt. (200).
Looking Ahead to Year 3
Subscription Rate
Last July, I increased the Monthly Paid Subscription from $5.00 to $6.00. I think this is a fair rate, especially at the amount of work and labor that goes into this, but I understand when people unsubscribing list “price” as the factor. It feels like I have a new streaming charge in my checking account every day along with the multiple Substacks I personally subscribe to. It adds up. But readers have also been accustomed to so much online writing being free. There is a value to the work I do here and hopefully you feel that $6.00/month is worth it.
Paywalls
Whenever I click on a link to read a story or open up a Substack publication and encounter a paywall I get just as frustrated as you likely do. But as a writer myself I realize why they’re there. All of my work here at LAST CALL is archived after two weeks (having access to these hundreds of archived dispatches is part of the value of a paid subscription). I’ve been pretty loose with the paywall on many exclusive dispatches and when there is a paywall I always offer a generous preview to give readers a taste of what they’re missing (I hate paywalls that only display a few sentences before the hard stop). I’m currently offering at least one free dispatch a week to all readers, which feels generous as many Substacks I follow only share 1-2 completely free posts a month. I may consider that in the months ahead, but for now holding off. I hope my paywalls, when you encounter them, don’t feel like a shakedown. But they’re necessary.
Exclusive Features
Dive Bar Jukebox
Maintaining the weekly Dive Bar Jukebox schedule every Friday proved to be unwieldy (identifying and corralling subjects, maintaining the editorial calendar, admin, editing, formatting, etc). There are more than 60 DBJs within the archives for your reading and listening pleasure with more to come in the weeks and months ahead. I’m really proud of this feature and how it’s caught on with readers.
Dive Bar Jukebox frequency is 1-2/month.
City Guides
I constantly receive emails, texts, and DMs from friends and strangers alike who are heading somewhere and ask me for restaurant and bar recommendations. Launching City Guides allowed me to share personal, detailed recommendations for some of my favorite spots to drink, eat, and hang out. I’ve been breaking down Brooklyn by neighborhood but also plan to include some of my favorite cities as I did with the Lancaster, PA, City Guide. And I plan to include more guest star appearances from local experts stopping by with tips and suggestions for their own favorite haunts.
City Guides frequency is once a month.
The Lowdown
When I launched LAST CALL I included a section at the end of each Monday dispatch called The Lowdown. This was my “bits and bobs” of quick hits consisting of bulleted items prompted by what I’m Drinking, Eating, Reading, Watching, Writing, Listening to, etc. This little nightcap generated tons of clicks so I expanded The Lowdown into its own Friday exclusive.
The Lowdown frequency is 1-2/month.
Holiday Gift Guides
Last year I expanded from one Gift Guide to offering six specific and detailed gift guides which were quite popular with readers. Holiday Gift Guides will return once again, bigger and better than ever.
AV Club
My advisors at Substack have been encouraging me to share more video-focused content. Is that something you’d like to see more of?
Sponsors and Underwriters
This past year also introduced some partnerships with like-minded brands and businesses in the food, beverage and lifestyle space. These weren’t full-on takeovers of sponsored content, but instead a “message from sponsor” call-out as you might heard on NPR or your favorite podcast. These underwriting efforts also had a benefit to all readers by unlocking the paywall on normally exclusive features. And I worked with each brand to collaborate on a narrative-driven approach that in some cases included a featured recipe, a brief interview with the brand creator, or spotlighting a bartender who shared their thoughts as well as a cocktail recipe.
My thanks to the initial lineup of LAST CALL sponsors for their support:
Casamara Club, Demitri’s Bloody Mary Mix, Doladira, Ekone Tinned Seafood, Faccia Brutto Spirits, Forthave Spirits, Four Walls Irish American Whiskey, High Wire Distilling Co., Le Moné, The Pathfinder, St. Agrestis, and See the Elephant Amaro.
If you work with a brand and would like to learn more details about underwriting opportunities, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Top Ten Most Popular Dispatches
(Published July 11, 2023 - July 11, 2024)
“The Hidden Hospitality Hazards When You’re Too Big for the Bar” (5/8/2024)
This story I wrote for VinePair (which was excerpted on LAST CALL) has likely been one of my most widely read and shared essays. I’m still receiving texts, emails, and DMs from readers who were moved by the piece with an appreciation for helping others who share the experience going out being seen.“Drinking Italian: La Passeggiata” (8/7/2023)
This story and recipe behind Toby Cecchini’s new Italian-inspired aperitivo drink and its journey form off-menu insider drink to now an official menu offering.“Remembering Murray Stenson” (9/22/2023)
A Last Word with legendary Seattle bartender Murray Stenson.“City Guide: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn” (3/29/2024)
There are a lot of great neighborhoods in Brooklyn, but people (including me) really love Carroll Gardens.“Karaoke Night at Montero’s” (8/21/2023)
A cast of cool characters share their go-to karaoke songs.“The Lowdown” (10/13/2023)
Pork Chops with Pickled Peppers, Peanut Butter Pie, Kouign-Amann, Cannoli Crullers...“Last Man Standing” (1/26/2024)
Birthdays, getting older, mortality, legacy, and a contemplative cocktail.“Recipe: Almost Perfect Cocktail” (4/22/2024)
A BTS look at one of the best-known cocktails at Seattle’s fine-dining institution, Canlis.“All That You Can’t Leave Behind” (3/6/2023)
An ‘80s-nostalgia-fueled look back at my undergraduate days with a bonus special edition “1989 (BTP’s Version)" Dive Bar Jukebox playlist.“A Tale of Two Negronis" (9/25/2022)
Every week can be Negroni Week if you want it to be.
What was your favorite LAST CALL dispatch from the past year?
Top Ten Dive Bar Jukebox Playlists
(Published July 11, 2023 - July 11, 2024)
DJ Mojo (9/29/2023)
A stream-of-consciousness musical journey and a deep-dive interview with DJ Mojo, a fascinating and truly very cool 6’4”, 74-year-old, wisdom-spouting music aficionado, Vietnam War veteran, and NYC nightlife legend.David Lebovitz (1/12/2024)
shares his thoughts on drinking in Paris, some very entertaining tales from the San Francisco gay bar scene in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the time he met Debbie Harry at a dinner party, and a transportive and very soulful, personal playlist with meaningful (and often very danceable) songs from Diana Ross, Blondie, Gloria Gaynor, George Michael, and more.
My dear friend and bestselling cookbook authorTim McKirdy (8/25/2023)
VinePair Managing Editor (and my VP editor) Tim McKirdy shared his thoughts on dive bars (and his concerns because he didn’t come of age experiencing proper dives back in Scotland and England) along with a terrific playlist, featuring an eclectic mix, ranging from Amy Winehouse and Seu Jorge to Led Zeppelin and Sammy Davis Jr.Christmas Eve Yule Log with Amanda Schuster (12/22/2023)
Amanda Schuster—a writer, author, consultant, and self-described “broad about town”—played DJ on our second annual Christmas Eve Yule Log Dive Bar Jukebox. Check out her new publication, Amanda’s Schustack!Simon Ford (7/14/2024)
The entrepreneur and Fords Gin Global Marketing Director shares tales of favorite dive bars from his many travels and an equal-parts soulful and foot-stomping, plus-sized playlist that’s perfect for any mood or occasion.Jason Diamond (10/27/2023)
The Brooklyn-based writer, author, and frequent contributor to GQ and New York magazine’s Grub Street, shares why he thinks the idea of the New York dive bar is now a thing of the past, dive bar encounters with two icons (Bill Murray and Jim Gandolfini), and a very eclectic, Diamond-approved playlist.Cheetie Kumar (3/15/2024)
The acclaimed North Carolina chef shares her thoughts on some of her favorite dive bars, her go-to karaoke song, and her usual drink order, along with a curated playlist that summons to the table Prince, Donna Summer, and Devo as well as David Bowie, Talking Heads, and Thee Oh Sees.Emmett Burke (4/19/2024)
My pal and Chicago pizza entrepreneur and restaurateur Emmett Burke philosophizes on the bar in the movie The Wrestler, what makes a dive bar a dive bar, his love of jukeboxes at bars, and an eclectic playlist that seamlessly cuts between Buddy Holly and Tom Petty to The Velvet Underground and The Cars.Derek Stilmann (7/28/2023)
Former Eagle Scout Derek Stilmann, co-owner of Miami’s Bar Kaiju and self-described “hip-hop head” shares an eclectic playlist infused with funk, jazz, and blues.Georgia Fulton (8/31/2023)
Georgia Fulton returns to Dive Bar Jukebox with a special “Everlasting Summer”-themed playlist to help say goodbye to her favorite season, with all its sun, sand, built-in nostalgia, and melancholy moods.
Who is on your Dive Bar Jukebox wish list?
Top Five Personal Favorite Dispatches
(Published July 11, 2023 - July 11, 2024)
“These Are a Few of My Favorite Wings” (4/9/2024)
All the chicken wings….“Why I Hate Onions: A Manifesto” (1/8/2024)
As Kryptonite is to Superman, onions are to me. But growing up in “Onion Town,” maybe I was Lex Luthor, the villain in my own story.“Celebrating a Decade of Emmett’s Pizza” (11/13/2023)
Hanging with Emmett Burke on the 10th anniversary of his namesake Chicago-influenced, NYC-based pizzerias.“Road Game: St. Louis” (5/17/2024)
A regional food-filled return to St. Louis to officiate my best friends’ wedding.“Brooklyn's Biddrina Gelato” (7/24/2023)
The best gelato flavor for summer will always be cantaloupe.
And that’s a wrap! Thank you all for taking the time to read and support LAST CALL. I’ll see you at the bar!
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LAST CALL logo and design by Ed Anderson.
I clicked 'Like', but it's really a whole lotta Love. I've been a fan of you and your writing since Bitters came out - I think it was the second book I picked up as I entered the rabbit hole of cocktails. I wasn't an original Last Call subscriber from day one, but I think I was pretty close. I love all your work here, but my favorite pieces of yours are the personal sentiments, memories, experiences, and thoughts. I can relate to a lot.
Curious what the subscriber percentage is for Nevada! With over 2 million people in Southern Nevada I kinda feel "lonely" following you from Henderson. 😎.
I haven't had a Slurpee in probably 30 years but I'm inspired now to grab one at lunch today. For all you are and do - thank you! And I'm SO jealous of your awesome hair!!
Happy anniversary BTP and Last Call! I am behind again in my reading but promise to catch-up on all I missed the last couple of months during some upcoming vacation time.
I echo Pablo’s comments above - your writing and approach is so personal and approachable.
Cheers and here’s to year 3!