Cincinnati Wine

For those readers who live in or visit Cincinnati:
I regularly read a wine blog by a man named Jens who runs a wine shop named "The Cincinnati Wine Warehouse" located at the east end of Madison Road where it dead ends into Camargo/Plainville at the foot of Indian Hill. If you are ever looking for a good bottle, I think he can point you in the right direction. I don't know him, of course, but enjoy his online reviews.

A fresh start

Week one is finished. I am learning the ropes at Grizzly Peak Brewing Company for the first month or two while they complete construction on XXXX. Grizzly is about 3 doors away from where I'll be, so its a great place to set up shop for interviews and hold planning meetings. Naturally they want me to learn the company's operations before opening, so I've been shadowing Grizzly's GM and helping where I can. Grizzly consists of two bars, three dining rooms, and a brewery where they hand craft their beer (very cool process - my favorite is the red). There is one huge difference from where I've been - this place is busy...always busy. A typical night brings in up to 300% more business than I was used to, and that's not even a weekend. I think the hotel taught me to accept lower levels of volume - a lesson I am quickly forgetting. I am tired - but excited.

XXXX's Projected Opening Date = April 17, 2006

Going out in style

After turning in my keys yesterday, I hosted a party for Elle's 50th birthday at the restaurant, which I had planned well before knowing it would be my last day. It was strange to be 'just a customer' - but I was very proud of the food and service. I can't think of a better way to leave a job.

A friend gave me a copy of a monthly Detroit magazine called "Hour". The March issue is the food issue which crowns the Detroit metro area's restaurant of the year for 2005 and highlights the 17 best new spots in town. This friend told me he hoped that next year's issue would feature my new place. Guess what? XXXXX, the restaurant that mine is modeled after (and owned by my company), is one of those 17 best new restaurants in Detroit! At the end of the section talking about it they name XXXXXX (my new place) as set to open soon. It's nice to be anticipated...any bets to if I'll make the 2006 list?

2 Days

2 more work days until I say goodbye to the Hilton Toledo and 31 Hundred Restaurant & Bar. I wish I could say it is bittersweet, but I honestly don't have much reservation about leaving. Not too many sad goodbyes and all that jazz. I made my share of friends, but always knew this was not a long term gig, so I stayed comfortably distant.
As I prepare to leave I feel the most sad about leaving the bar. I know, I know, this is the sadness all Ritchies feel. I remember when we were in the heart of the construction phase. I would go into the big empty, dusty room and try to imagine the sounds of people laughing, eating, and enjoying themselves. Now, as I stand in the room filled with people and watch bartenders getting drinks, servers running food, and customers smiling I know it was worth it.
Last night I had my first meeting with my management team for XXXXX. The building is a big empty, dusty room.
Cheers to doing it all over again...

Denny the Bellman

Every once in a while we meet someone who, for whatever reason, makes us view our world in a different way. Unfortunately, we often don't value the significance of their contributions until they are gone. Today one such person in my life has passed after suffering a heart attack last night.
His name was Denny and he was a bellman at work. A motorcycle accident 20 or so years ago left him with the physical impairment of having only one arm. When I first met Denny my thoughts were the same as everyone else's. Can he lift the baggage, open doors, drive the van, and cater to the millions of needs that our guests have each day? As part of the executive committee who hired Denny, I argued from the begining that he deserved exactly the same chance as anyone else who applied. He was eager to demonstrate how well he has adjusted to his physical impairment and he proved in 10 minutes that he could do these tasks as well (or better) than anyone else.
Hiring Denny ended up being one of the best decisions our team ever made. Denny was well received by guests, consistently went over and above his job duties to ensure satisfaction, and made employees feel welcome and happy. He forged personal relationships with many of his co-workers and will be missed greatly.
Denny can teach us a lesson, even in his absence. Tie one arm behind your back and carry someone's suitcase for them, open a door for them, and help them into an elevator while not making them feel strange about the situation. This requires balance, skill, intellegence, and most of all a sense of humor. By all accounts Denny looked at the world through a wonderful lense where he did not take anything for granted.
Please, let us not take for granted the blessing that we have.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who sent their wishes on my and Luke's birthdays. The past 2 weeks have been kind of a blur.
Courtney and Luke, realizing my stress and nervousness levels have been rising, planned a wonderfully relaxing birthday for me. First, they let me sleep in with the baby, then showered me with gifts of magazines and a daily planner. Next, it was out to breakfast and then they blind-folded me. In the car Court announced that upon reaching our destination I would be left alone for a while. That scared me. After driving in what seemed like circles and walking me through loud cooridors, she unmasked me to reveal a wellness spa. They left me with a hydro-bath and a massage to calm me and prepare me for the coming year and all of its changes. When I was finished, they picked me up and blind-folded me again. This time she revealed my favorite cafe / wine store. She presented me with a card full of money and let me wonder around to find the perfect bottle. I chose Hedges "3 Vineyards Blend" and we drank it with steaks that Elle and Ed cooked for us at their house. The plan was for them to watch the kids after dinner so Court and I could go get a drink and talk somewhere - but we were so tired and having such a good time that we decided to just stay in for the night and watch a movie. It was really a nice day - one of the best birthdays ever.
I am a VERY lucky man.

Teach the kids to hug

I rarely post about current events or anything that is in the news. However, this one was too tempting.

From CNN: "First-grader suspended for sex harassment"
BROCKTON, Massachusetts. (AP) -- A 6-year-old boy is getting a lesson on the meaning of sexual harassment long before he'll be able to spell it...
There have been similar cases. In 1996, a New York second-grader was suspended for kissing a girl and ripping a button off her skirt -- an idea the boy said he got from his favorite book "Corduroy," about a bear with a missing button. Earlier that year, a Lexington, North Carolina, 6-year-old was separated from his class after kissing a classmate on the cheek.

So...I should remember to teach Luke that he may never, under any circumstances, no matter how much he wants to, hug or show affection for another child. I understand that children are maturing at rates too fast for past generations to keep up with. I also understand that the "evils" of television, internet, and music are to blame - but could this child have really wanted sex? I say teach the kids to hug.

The Waiter

Some of you may have noticed my links to the right of this blog. I want to point out one that I read often - waiter rant. It is a blog written by an anonymous waiter at a bistro somewhere around New York City. He has been writing this blog for a few years now and only refers to himself as "waiter". His posts are amusing, funny, poignant, and intelligent. He not only exposes the inner world of restaurant work, but often shows a glimpse of true humanity in the process. I encourage anyone with time to start here, and if you like it then check out some of his older posts - they are equally as enjoyable to read.

Good News!

The good news is now official - yesterday I accepted a new job as the General Manager of a restaurant called XXXXXX slated for opening this spring in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The story of why I was looking in the first place starts with a school that we have been looking at for Luke. The only two drawbacks of the school were that it would require a bigger cushion of income and a move to the Ann Arbor area. I had never dreamed that in only two weeks I could solve both problems with one simple job search - I guess timing is everything. As it turns out, my particular set of skills is exactly what my new company was looking for in a GM. The new restaurant is loosely modeled after one of their other restaurants, XXXXXX in Royal Oak, MI.
The preliminary plan is to commute 45 minutes to Ann Arbor and start looking at housing options halfway between Toledo and Ann Arbor for a possible Summer or early Fall '06 move.
I'll keep everyone posted as this exciting story develops!

I'm Back

I've been so busy the last week or so that I haven't had time to post much. I hope there is someone still out there reading. Sorry if anyone has been checking to no avail as of late.
The main thing occupying my attention this week was Luke's birthday. I learned an important lesson on his birthday: Chucky Cheese's is a casino for children! I'll have pictures to post this weekend, after the party. Sadly, I don't think his annual video will be completed in time - I got sidetracked by a really bad cold that kept me out of work for 2 days and I lost precious computer time at home as well. I promise to finish it next week and make copies for anyone interested.

I may have big news this weekend, or early next - stay tuned ;-)