Innovate. Activate. Pontificate.

Is Substack more like a SwapMeet or an ArtWalk?

Substack is a landscape, not a platform. Each of us simultaneously creator and consumer, dreamer and doer, planner and preacher. We come together to disagree. We dispute to communicate. We agree on advocacy. We are of one passion with myriad perspectives. That is the beauty and the boldness of Substack.

Wow, how did The Robot know what I looked like in my younger days?

One thing I love about the creators on Substack is the various backgrounds each of us possess. Our whole lives we toiled away at our toils, and then circa 2017, we found this Idea SwapMeet. We planted our EasyUps, displayed our intellectual and artistic wares upon the fold-up table, and started hawking them like street vendors.

As the day at the meet got a little longer, we stopped whoring ourselves for awhile and started walking the aisles. Here we were, plopped down next to a dude with a vintage-vinyl record collection and a lady on the other side writing poetry on glass. Down the aisle, we saw a co-op booth with a collection of kaleidoscopes and beyond that, a few rows of food stalls and a beer garden. Damn, I like this place.

There’s street artists, buskers, and musicians, preachers and politicians, all selling the same dream for a different cost. Rabble-rousers and revolutionaries, sycophants and soothsayers - all gathered in one big field of broken dreams and fractured futures. But here we are, building success one post at a time. Together.

It was great, we saw all of these new old things, all mashed up together on makeshift tables. But, when we ran into a kindred soul, it was hard to describe where we saw that cool thing the other would love.

So Substack SwapMeet fixed that. They added Notes, and upgraded the DashBoard, and attracted a bunch new eyeballs. Substack made metrics measurable, if not meaningful for most. It gave us, the creators, more control, if that’s a good thing! We could locate that cool thing that we wanted to share.

But the best thing about Substack now is that it still feels like a SwapMeet. The crazy vinyl dude is super cool, and the glass-poetry lady is a must-read. Those old kindred souls we met in the early days are still wandering the aisles.

Still excitedly grabbing our attention and pointing us to things they know we like. And always stopping by our booth to see what new old thing we are putting up for sale.

Expressing our inherent curiosity, we stop by those booths that we’re not really interested in, but somehow attracted to. Maybe it’s a contrary thought or opposite opinion. Maybe a calculus conundrum. And of course, SneakyArt is a must-stop booth.

The coolest thing about Substack is that this SwapMeet is already set up. The booths and tables we don’t have to schlep around and put together anymore. We just show up and show off. We group and gather. We create and generate. It allows us to do whatever it is that we do.

Substack is like a craft table or project room. It’s a creative space for exploration, connection, and creation. It’s an artificial art walk anchored in reality. If you’ve ever been on an ArtWalk, it’s an amazing experience. If you’re in LA, you should make plans to attend in October. Click below to check it out.

I spent about two years at Barbara’s at the Brewery, first as Executive Chef and then as Manager. I just visited a couple of weeks ago, and now it’s under new ownership. The ambiance and attitude is pure DTLA Eastside, the groove is funky and familiar, and the food is elevated comfort excellence. Great bar, awesome patios, cool dining room, tons of beers and a wine list like none.

So here are some of the cool booths I’ve stopped by over the last three years, in no particular order, just as I’ve wandered around and found them. I’d love to know about your favorites.

Ric

I’m interviewing this band next week - is anyone a fan? Find me on mxdwn.com