Nah, I think we should go with the smaller venue instead of the big hall. The vibe is just way more intimate and everyone can actually talk without shouting. Plus the acoustics are so much better for the kind of set we have planned. I was talking to the booking manager and she said they could even open the rooftop if the weather plays along. That would be incredible for the afterparty. And it’s way cheaper than the other place, so we could splurge on a better lighting setup and maybe some custom banners. I also checked the parking situation—there’s a lot right next door and it’s free after 6pm. That solves the biggest headache from last time. Honestly I’m already picturing the whole evening and it feels right. Let’s lock it in before someone else grabs the date. Also, I ran into Dave from the sound crew and he said he can swing by to do a quick test run next week. Super handy because then we can tweak the mix well ahead of time. What do you think about that? Should I go ahead and put the deposit down? Let me know.

I also looked into catering options and there’s a new taco place that does build-your-own bars. Everyone loves tacos, right? And they offer a vegan option too so that covers everyone. They’ve got this grilled corn side dish that is absolutely killer. I tried it last week and I’m still thinking about it.

Oh and the coordinator mentioned we can bring our own drinks if we pay a small corkage fee. That could save us a ton because I know a guy who gets wholesale wine. I’ll ask him for a quote.

Let me know if you want me to set up a walkthrough with the venue manager. She’s available Thursday afternoon.

Hey, just wanted to follow up on that documentary we watched. I started reading the book it was based on and it goes way deeper into the historical context. The film had to cut so many chapters for time. There's a whole section about the political landscape at the time that really changes how you see the main character's decisions. Also, the author used a lot of primary sources that weren't even mentioned in the credits. I found this podcast interview with the historian who consulted on the movie and she said they had to simplify a lot of the economic factors because it would have been too confusing for a general audience. But honestly, I think people would have gotten it. Anyway, the book is a beast—almost 700 pages—but it's written in a really engaging style. I'm about halfway through and I already want to re-watch the movie with fresh eyes. Let me know if you want to borrow it when I'm done.

Also, I stumbled across an old photo album from our trip to that music festival. Remember that random guy who played the didgeridoo at the campground? He actually has a YouTube channel now with like 200k subscribers. Small world.

On a different note, have you tried that new coffee roast from the shop on Elm? It’s got a really smooth finish, almost chocolatey. I’m thinking of ordering a bag for the office.