The WSJ has a new power and culture reporter.
Plus: The winners of Memorial Day Weekend, and a pizza window case study.
Good afternoon, everyone.
I’ve had a migraine since Sunday night. I’m thinking it might be some version of shell shock from the screams at a Sunday night screening of Obsession on Long Island.
For our next Guest Lecture, we’re talking to writer and producer Jeremy O. Harris. Today, paid readers can ask Jeremy anything about making Erupcja, working with friends, and life as a playwright.
Today’s letter includes: The Montauk dive bar that moved 2,500 beers despite the rain, Paige Lorenze won Memorial Day Weekend, WSJ’s new power and culture reporter has been named, and bi-borough relationships.
🏀🏀🏀🏀 What is the best bar to watch the Knicks finals*? Please respond to this email with your answer. I’ll publish the responses next week. LGK!!!
* Assuming you don’t want to buy a ticket. The price for the worst seat in MSG is running $3,688 right now.
Despite the rain, Montauk’s Dive Bar Pizza moved 2,500 beers this weekend. I spoke to the slice-shop-slash-bar’s owner, Pir, for a rundown. “The people have found us again, thank the lord,” he told me this morning. Two summers ago, Dive Bar Pizza moved from Montauk Highway to Gosman’s Dock. “We are now the reliable spot for some of the best food out here, and a place where you don’t need to make a reservation (rare!) to have a good time. We also added pastas, a burger, calzones, and new salads to the menu so it was awesome to see those getting embraced by our regulars so quickly. The chicken parm pasta was a hit in particular.”
Pir also shared an interesting case study that is about to begin at Boerum Hill slice shop, Alvo. “At Alvo, we originally thought no need for a slice display. Like Why is that important? People don’t need to see slices—no other type of food has that as such an important highlight. We recently folded and bought a slice display, because so many people were asking for it.” I will update you on the results after the case study is complete. I like studying the pizza industry in New York.