World-famous - probably even galaxy famous because cartoonist JD Crowe might say other planets are aware of us but that doesn't mean they are going to put out the welcome mat just yet - was yesterday's guest and first speaker at this years' Government Street Presbyterian Church Lunch and Learn series that runs through April 2024. If you don't know who JD Crowe is then you don't live in Alabama and you've never read a newspaper. His pen is often searing hot on Alabama and national politics, but his humor doesn't stop there, or at AL.com where they are very fortunate to have him as the resident cartoonist. His work has appeared in newspapers across the world. As JD pointed out yesterday, newspaper cartoonists are a dying breed, (but JD is not dead - more about that in a minute) with only about 30 left in the country. The newspaper industry doesn't have a logical reason for dwindling the numbers, but just say they are more focused on local news. Don't rack your brain trying to figure that one out.
I arrived in the cafeteria of the church and was soon joined by Julie and Babs, two other guests who each arrived separately and we quickly became a friendly table of three. We chatted about the previous nights' fierce storm and Babs said her only damage was a geranium tumped over. Imagine my delight at hearing that old term of endearment, tumped, which I had not heard in decades. Thank you Babs.
Included in the $12.00 admission was a lunch prepared by the church culinary staff, a delicious pot roast over rice, corn bread muffin and desert. JD began by telling us that he's not dead, but had been out of circulation for several months with a rare but curable illness that made him so skinny he was afraid to take a shower 'lest he he slip down the drain.' He felt like he was "stuck in a 24/7 David Lynch movie." But he was definitely back with this presentation, in a monologue that included stories of his Kentucky roots and his cartoonist family (several siblings are also cartoonists.) He read a letter he received from an anonymous source who ranted/pouted about cartoons that poked fun at Alabama politicians....and took us back through some of his more famous cartoons such as "The tragic irony is, I thought the mullet was hiding my red neck," and "Where I come from, reading anything out loud is considered showing off." He brought along one of his books "Half-thunk Thoughts (Rivers Edge Media 2014) where he takes a much needed break from political cartoons. It can't be easy being the only journalist in the state of Alabama who stands up against Montgomery...
A generous crowd showed up for JD Crowe, (including former Mobile Press Register reporter Eddie Curran, who now runs Curran Research Services) and besides his book he brought along his 2024 calendar of sunsets in Fairhope and a special Happy Birthday wish personally inscribed on my date. I definitely made the right decision to put this event on my calendar, got way more than my money's worth. I signed up for his newsletter at AL.com, "Welcome to Crowe Jam" by simply typing his name in the search box and scrolling down to sign up for newsletter. Next up in the Lunch and Learn Series is author and radio talk show host Cam Marston on January 16th, and in a timely presentation here near carnival season on January 23, Cart Blackwell of the Mobile Carnival Museum will be the guest speaker. Reservations not required, just show up. Lunch is served between 12 and 12:30 and the presentation starts at 12:30. For the full schedule you will find The Government Street Presbyterian Church on Facebook or just Google them and call. Parking was free right across the street from the church. This one was an easy, enjoyable afternoon...
After a stormy night the sky decided to shine all blue and sunny and I strolled downtown in search of the best pizza in Mobile...although I found what is supposed to be the place, it was closed...I messaged them and asked if they are open this Friday and they replied "yes," so we'll see if I can make this happen...if I do you'll read about it here...there is a new restaurant trying to open in the 200 block of Conti Street...as soon as they have their licenses in place I was told, they will open, hopefully in the next week or so...
I made a few new acquaintances during my walk, including Gerald and his loving pooch Buddy...turns out Gerald and I co-existed during a time in San Francisco way back when...and a friend of his stopped and we chatted about restaurants in the area. It should be no surprise everybody is a restaurant critic, and one new friend fired off various reviews of nearby restaurants that would have made Julia Child blush..."oh, it's o.k. - your everyday café food... but the seafood gumbo is excellent..." and about another, "it's over-priced," and yet another..."really good food..." After I suggested one restaurant I have tried once, a friend messaged back and said "Yeah it was OK, not our favorite, how about...." We already know from Yelp that people will and do rant and rave about restaurants...sometimes you just have to go and find out for yourself because our tastes and expectations can run different, and sometimes a restaurant experience goes south because of extenuating circumstances...people have off, or bad days - you included so open up that heart and let your goodness shine...
In closing, and in the words of JD Crowe remember, "Where I come from, farm animals are 1.Pets, 2. Dates, 3. Dinner."
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