The Newspaper Box
I’ve had a long history with newspapers, and even though I have both feet planted in the digital world, I still subscribe to the Richmond-Times Dispatch. I read the newspaper every day. When I travel, I always pick up a hometown newspaper. My first real job was at the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. I wrote high school football articles, based solely on boxed scores and a couple of anecdotes that I got from coaches and scorekeepers. I placed headlines into an electrified Linotype machine. In California I worked for the Santa Monica Outlook, which went out of business in 1998. #NotMyFault I wrote articles for the LA Weekly and The Argonaut, a newspaper in Marina Del Rey. I spent five years working at the Los Angeles Times. I worked for Media General and the Richmond-Times Dispatch. For a long time I had ink running through my veins.
When I bought both locations of the Texas Inn, I was thrilled that it made front page news in my hometown of Lynchburg. I was so excited that I bought 10 copies of the newspaper. I framed two of them and they proudly hang on the walls of the Downtown and Cornerstone locations. However, for the last nine months I’ve had an empty newspaper box sitting in front of my restaurant. Someone turned it around backwards. The coin return is broken and the box is empty because no one brings newspapers by anymore. I have called the newspaper four times. I have left messages for their Circulation Department. I have talked twice to a Customer Service Rep in Omaha, Nebraska where the headquarters of BH Media (a Berkshire Hathaway company) is located. All I want is for someone to bring some newspapers and put them in that newspaper box.
Yesterday I called again. Twice. And after being put on hold for 25 minutes, I gave up. So I want to ask all of you for a favor. If anyone knows how to get a hold of Warren Buffett please tell him that I would like 10 newspapers delivered each day to the News & Advance box in front of my restaurant. I’m no longer in the newspaper business, but it seems to me that selling more newspapers, thus getting more people to read newspapers would lead to more advertising revenue in those newspapers. And from what I understand, Warren Buffett is supposed to be an incredibly smart businessman. I read it in a newspaper once.
Monday, July 8 – Red, White & Blue Water
Monday was the first day back after a relaxing four day weekend. As no surprise, the Madison+Main-iacs were all across the map — from Urbana to Charleston to you guessed it, Richmond. We had a wonderful time down at Edisto Island and Charleston, enjoying some quality time with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, nieces and my kids.
Tuesday, July 9 – TV Time!
On Tuesday our creative team motored to Mechanicsville and met with our super nice clients at Harbison & Kavanagh. We presented them storyboards for new TV commercials. One spot highlighting Workers’ Compensation and another highlighting Social Security Disability. Keep an eye out in the future for some bold new commercials that break the mold and push the limits in the legal world.
Wednesday, July 10 – Holiday On The Brain
Wednesday morning Director of Account Services Kaitlin Thomas and Creative Director Art Webb met with our client Maola Milk on an exciting new partnership and marketing initiative. It was a great meeting. I wished I could tell you more about the milk campaign, but unfortunately it’s udderly classified. Get it?
Thursday, July 11 – Because I’m Happy
On Thursday a little birdie (Facebook) let us know that our friend and client Andy Farmer at Virginia Energy Sense was celebrating a birthday. So to wish him well, the Madison+Main-iacs squeezed together shoulder-to-shoulder to say “happy birthday” in a quick video. That’s me in the back, behind the bar. At 9 a.m. Don’t judge me.
Friday, July 12 – Back In The Burg
I didn’t really need to drive down to Lynchburg to check on things at the Texas Inn, but all of those delicious food photos we post on social media have had a profound effect on me….hunger. I ate there for dinner last night, breakfast this morning, and currently enjoying a late lunch.
We launched a new weekly e-mail for the T-Room last week, appropriately called T-Mail. We have 300 subscribers already. And our latest menu addition, Monster Fries, have been selling like hotcakes. Monster Fries are an order of large chili cheese fries with relish and onions. #MmmmmGoooooood
A Few of Our Favorite Events
Watermelon Mojito Cocktail Release Party
Bold Rock | Nellysford, VA
July 26, 2019 | 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Grab your friends and family and join us July 26th to celebrate the release of Bold Rock’s new Watermelon Mojito Cider Cocktail! Remember: This is a cider cocktail and does not contain any spirits. Each guest will receive one FREE limited edition pint glass with the purchase of a cocktail. Limit one per guest — while supplied last! They’ll be featuring delicious eats from the Bold Rock kitchen and Moe’s Original BBQ from Charlottesville, as well as live music from 6 – 9 p.m. courtesy of Pat Anderson!
Lucy Corr’s National Night Out
Lucy Corr | Chesterfield, VA
August 6, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Join us on Tuesday, August 6th for National Night Out: America’s Night Out Against Crime! They will have music, games, a bounce house, crafts, face painting, popcorn, and lots more fun — including an Blue Bunny ice cream truck. For more information on Lucy Corr’s National Night Out event, visit here.
2019 Bourbon and Beer Festival
A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Fredericksburg, VA
August 24, 2019 | 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
A fun event to start off fall. Join us at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fairgrounds (2400 Airport Ave.) to enjoy bourbon tastings, local craft beer tastings, and cigars! Mix and mingle with local brewers, distillers, and new friends. A select number of Virginia wineries and cideries will be sampling their award-winning beverages as well. Live music will be on the Safford of Fredericksburg Main Stage.
Got an upcoming event you want to share? Can we come? Send us the deets!
“It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.”
— Jerry Seinfeld