You're Fired!

An unusual thing happened yesterday. I spent my usual half-day at Louisiana Flair shopping for supplies at Sam’s Club, picking up oysters at P.T. Hastings, and making a few deliveries in the blazing heat. Just another day at my favorite part time job, my only paying job. Since I left my so-called career position at Media General, I’d made a decision to exit the corporate world, a decision I’ve reconsidered numerous time. I never got serious about getting back in and I discovered something. If you’re not serious, someone else will be, especially in today’s economy. There are ten serious, more qualified people than myself standing in line for each of those mid level, technically orientated position, and the right thing ended up happening. Someone else got the job. Good for me, I stick with my original pledge and good for them, someone deserving got the job.

So some two years on, I’m still cruising in my part time world.
I’ve latched on to a job at my favorite neighborhood joint, and I’m part of a working class team that serves good food to regular folks. I’m going under financially, but somehow–and by that I mean I have no idea how–I’m getting by. My rent gets paid, and I get to spend the rest of my time delivering the news from Greater Jackson Ward. I know this can’t last forever, but I’m reluctant to cut it short. Then BOOM!
This headline.

Chef Nate is closing Louisiana Flair

And where am I reading this? On my own website, the Greater Jackson Ward News. One of my co-editors has popped this breaking news story online while I was out wandering blissfully in the analog world. There’s something surreal about picking up a newspaper (website) and finding out your job has vanished, especially when it's your newspaper. I’m sort of shocked, not by the news, but the manner of its delivery. I’m still absorbing that and appreciating the humor of it. The news itself comes as no shock. I know enough about the business to know that it is a here today gone tomorrow way of life. You give it the best run you can for the money and when the money runs out, that’s it.

And that’s what happened.

4th and Grace will never be the same to me. I discovered Louisiana Flair shortly after it opened. After all, I worked virtually across the street and live just a few blocks away. When I found that their beignet serving days were almost over, I made it my business to tell the world. What resulted was a long series of publicity stunts, including a powdered sugar fight on the steps of the restaurant. The result? Beignets were saved and a longtime friendship was started.

Nate started business on the threshold of an economic downturn. As the economy started to turn sour, his mainstay neighbors, Media General and the Times Dispatch walked off an economic cliff sucking the wind and cash out of a major source of business. Even still, optimism and hard work won out over economic reality, at least for awhile. Louisiana Flair survived on guts, good food, and the engaging personality of Nate. Hardly a person walked in there that doesn’t remember a personal greeting from the chef. Eating there was less a restaurant experience than a cultural experience. For those of us who were hooked, we just couldn’t get enough. I am proud to have been associated with the restaurant almost since the beginning and played a small part in keeping interest alive when things were looking slim.

So now I’ve been fired twice (sort of) in two years. The first one came as a haymaker that left me wondering what hit me. This one just glanced off my cheek, not leaving a mark. Together they bookend an interesting time in my life, and each one marks the end of one era and has somehow prepared me for what comes next. It will be interesting to see what that is.

Nate is planning to run the show through the first of August, so it’s not to late to stuff yourself with an Oyster Po’ Boy, an order of beignets, a catfish dinner, or whatever turns your fancy. Stay tuned for a possible farewell party. I don’t know what comes next for Nate. Louisiana Flair was kind of a reward and a redemption from a difficult past. I can only wish him well and look forward to what’s next, for both of us.

Related Links:

• I am not now, nor have I ever been

• Beignets

Leave the Harveys Alone

Written in response to Michael Paul Williams' column in today's (12/7/11) Richmond Times Dispatch.

Mr. Williams,

If you ever want to know if you are on the wrong side of an issue, check and see what Said El Amin is saying and that should give you a pretty good idea. Very sad to see you jump in on the Harvey Bridge issue. It is a memorial erected in a park they loved by their friends and neighbors. Yes they are joined with Baskerville family by their common killers and yes every murder is a tragedy, but to split this town by race as El Amin seeks is just wrong.

Should a monument be raised for the Baskervilles? Maybe, if their friends and neighbors choose to do so. I might even contribute. Their murder was an equal tragedy, but with a twist. They were betrayed by their daughter and she by their friends.

This is not about race and to make it so cheapens their memory. I am very sorry to see you and your paper give so much publicity to a man who should be long forgotten in this town.

I could express this much more eloquently and I could given the time, but you are wrong on this and I hope you can see why. One monument can’t be all things to all people. This one is a touching memorial to a family brutally slain and erected by those who loved them and were affected by them. If they didn’t care enough to create this, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Instead you and others are using this act of love to further divide this city. It’s a real shame.

Paul Hammond

Five Years Ago, This Day

The Harvey's, Brian and Kathryn and their two children Stella and Ruby were killed in the Woodland Heights home. I didn't know them or of them till this day five years ago. Since I have learned they were minor celebrities with a large following of friends in Richmond and in Bryan's case at least, around the world. You might have known them, but I did not. Still, what happened five years ago today sucked the wind out of my lungs. They were only names and faces, but the picture so widely distributed now was a vision of domestic happiness. They were strangers to me, but I felt I knew them. There was something universal about about the warmth they shared which seemed a charm against the hard realities of life around them, and us. I immediately saw them as a symbol of hope and faith in themselves and the city they chose to live in. Murders like these are rare, rare, but devasting. People who knew them mourned personally. I mourned for strangers and the hope that left the city that day. I think a lot of people did.

Crimes are never committed against individuals solely. The affect, freinds, family, neighbors and in this case a whole city. Crimes this atrocious change how we look at each other, feel about strangers and in some cases make us question life decisions. I mourned them and a loss of some of my own faith that cities are rebuild-able. That we can get this thing done. There've been hundreds of murders since then and each one is a blow, but I can only think of one or two others that have come close to the impact these did. I hope none ever does. Now the Harvey's are memorialized in a stone and a bridge in Forest Hill park. Maybe people who see it will take hope from the love they shared and the impact they had. In some small way that will help rebuild the house that was torn down five years ago. It's going to take a lot of Harvey's and others to rebuild this community, but the best way to do it is to build it one house at a time with the kind of love they shared. I take hope because I have to. I see no other way.

This image is "borrowed" from the Richmond Times Dispatch which published front page remembrance of a crime and family we will never forget. Go read the article. It's worth your time.

Monroe Park Diary: Sidewalk Follies

Just because I want to see a big chunk of money spent on Monroe Park, doesn't mean I want to see any of it wasted. Todd has sent out an alert regarding a large sum of money the city is spending on sidewalk repairs on the Laurel Street edge of Monroe Park which will probably have to be redone as part of Master Plan for the new park. The city has no money to waste. If it has this kind of cash sitting around it should be put where it can do the most good. Read Todd's letter and act accordingly.

From Todd Woodson:

Friends,

The ENTIRE length of Laurel Street sidewalk bordering Monroe Park is now in the process of being replaced with concrete slab which is inconsistent with the master plan for Monroe Park adopted by the city. This project represents an area I measured today at 860 feet in length by 15 feet in width consisting of a total of 12,900 square feet. At $5 per square foot, this represents an investment of AT LEAST $64,500.00 which will in turn be demolished in 1-2 years to CORRECTLY repair the sidewalk according to master plan specifications. Concrete will be poured at noon today. The city is aware of this conflict.

Doug Mahby who is in charge says it is necessary to do concrete now to keep people from tripping. Folks- this concrete sidewalk is the same as it's been for 25+ years. An alternative would be to post signs saying use at your own risk. It is an egregious waste of taxpayer dollars- many taxpayer dollars to prematurely fix this sidewalk on an interim basis.

Director of DPW Letitia Shelton has been advised of this horrible situation as has Auditor Umesh Dalal.

It is time the City stopped playing fast and loose with taxpayer dollars. With redundant demolition, this boondoggle could cost the city well over $100,000.00.
DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

Doug Mahby's contact info is above. His phone # is 646 0110 although he has not returned my call.

Sincerely,

Charles T. Woodson
302 S Cherry Street
Richmond, Va 23220

Monroe Park Diary: A Beautiful Day and No One to Enjoy It

I did my usual stop by today and walked around the park. It was the best day in a week of best days. Weatherbug is showing 67 degrees right now though it feels warmer. The leaves are even more beautiful today than they were last week. This place has a special charm. Here's one great pic. Click the picture for a larger version. Download and keep it if you want.

I did my usual inspection and counted the "non homeless" population again. There was nobody there enjoying this picture perfect day. I'm sorry I'm not there right now. I don't think it will get any better than this. OK, total count was 10 "student" looking people and none of them were stopping. I can't believe there could be only 10. It makes me want to scream, go grab some students and drag them into the park, but I think that is discouraged. It is discouraging and why some of us are working so hard to make this happen. If you want pictures of the empty park, just ask. I'll send them to you. One picture of an empty park looks a lot like another.