"Hey, I'm heading into the office," I messaged Harrell. "You need anything?"
"Yeah," he told me. "Two weeks of my life back."
That's pretty much how we all feel about Best of the Bay. We had a ton of fun putting the issue together, the party at the Mahaffey made for a fantastic evening and I found a new favorite Chinese restaurant (more below). Even so, creating the issue consumed us, and we emerged, Thursday morning, blinking into the sun like naked mole rats. My body's rebelling at the sheer amount of crappy food I inhaled to string my sugar highs together into a solid two weeks of productivity (try as I might, I just can't quit you, Chicago popcorn) and, for some reason, everything hurts.
In the end, through, it's worth it, because, well, if what I'm bitching about is a kickass job and having to attend a party, well, things could be worse.
Make this weekend your own Best of the Bay: eat an ungodly amount of Twizzlers, check out an awesome Chinese restaurant and struggle into the sunlight Monday morning like Creative Loafing just threw you one hell of a party.
Friday
Tonight you can catch some of us at Scream-a-Geddon, giving the Dade City horror a test run. Come look for us — we'll be the ones shrieking horribly.
Alternately, you can check out Movies and Beer in the Burg — New Belgium Brewing Clips Beer and Film Tour. Handmade movies and handmade beer? Yes, please. You can bring a picnic or make liberal use of the food truck. Pups welcome!
Grab some eats at Stillwaters Tavern — and pay special attention to their warning about eating undercooked meats (best disclaimer ever).
Saturday
I'll get up early to help Gulfport Neighbors with the Mayors 49th Street Cleanup, because I live close to 49th and also, it's a positive event and we need more of those.
Later, you can find me at the Grand Central Lit Crawl, reading from my new book, Backroads of Paradise. I'll be at the Old Key West Bar & Grill at 5 p.m.
The Haunted Heritage Hike at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement is sort of scary and sort of fun and it ends with marshmallows.
I wasn't kidding about the Chinese. Ho Ho To Go got us through the home stretch of Best of the Bay.
Sunday
I know I always — always — tell you to head to the Hollander for brunch. I promise to find a new place next week, not because you shouldn't go to the Hollander but because, well, variety. This week, though, take it easy and park yourself on the porch with a bloody and a biscuit.
After you're full on their omelet station omelets, take your VW to the 8th Annual Pass-a-Grille VW Beach Bash, a celebration of when Volkswagens were still awesome.
As part of the third annual Storytelling Festival, check out Stories of Our Favorite Dishes: A Pre-Festival Chef's Dinner at Urban Comfort.
Then, just like most of us did after Best of the Bay, head home, and curl up with a book or TV show. Two suggestions? Rosemary and Thyme, a British procedural (Netflix) or Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay's Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down, written by local talent Bill DeYoung.
After all, preparations for next year's Best of the Bay start tomorrow, and you could be a winner. You never know.
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 7, 2016.