Yeah, I'm not willing to go on the record and say 100% of what I saw at Union Depot was soulless crap, just that I came ready to spend money on dumb stuff and failed to do so because nothing made any sort of emotional or practical connection for me. I liked the non-shopping parts of the market.

"Glass half full" people live better lives!

No, I think we're both talking about the Union Depot one. It was outdoors, overall charming atmosphere and pretty good food options, but the ornaments / cutting boards / etc. all looked like they dropped through an AI/shipping container portal.

I went there - enjoyable vibe, nice roasting spiced almonds smell, good layout. The stuff sucked! I've got money in my pocket, give me fun stuff made by actual people and I'll buy it. Everything felt like it was funneled here via Temu.

I went to two of these Christmas markets and after 100+ stalls I found myself tempted by *nothing*. And I'm impulse shopper! And I like holiday crap! Everything just felt boring and soulless and mass-made, probably because it was. The Aki's pretzel was good, though.

Two words that will streamline your process next year: "Dry brine." Similarly good results, eliminates gallons of turkey juice from the equation. Happy Thanksgiving! www.seriouseats.com/how-to-dry-b...

A falafel waffle would be a great vehicle for just about everything savory - turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, etc. etc. Easy win!

My wife and I literally came off of a mini-BBQ tour of the South (Carolinas, Georgia, Northern Florida) and then hit OMC for the first time, braced for intense disappointment. It ended up feeling totally seamless and up to par. Great hospitality, too.

I presume you've been to OMC Smokehouse in Duluth? My pick for best in the state, although my trips to Animales (pre-bricks and mortar) have also been really good. Can't wait to try the new place. Jellybean and Julia also pretty good, but it's been years since I've been back.

Is there a secret to timing Ted Cook's right? I've had really good meals there and really forgettable ones. Am I right in thinking that they smoke on specific days of the week which would therefore be fresher/better?

I literally just got Borderlands from Hank Shaw - that may be a really good fit. Likewise the José Andrés cookbook for World Central Kitchen...

That looks killer! We just demolished the wheel at our event, people loved it.

Rush Creek is particularly amazing warmed up on a good baguette! A touch of jam optional, but not a bad move.

I would absolutely slot it into the C) category. Also, it's a stellar show. No cliches, beautifully weird, often laugh-out-loud funny, occasionally heartbreaking in a way that sneaks up on you.

Midwest Express was a dream. Flew it from Boston to Milwaukee every chance I got, which was a lot. I think their coach experience was ahead of numerous modern 1st class experiences. Those cookies!!

I don't think the idea of cultivating a loyal core audience exists in the same way (thus, for example, the Washington Post melting down, if you assume Bezos had any goal other than just smashing the paper to bits.) If you're just churning traffic and mining clicks, loyalty is mostly irrelevant.