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7/11: Celebrating 4 Years of LAST CALL
Wake the kids, phone the neighbors!
We’re kicking off the 4-year anniversary of the launch of LAST CALL on July 11, 2022 (Enzo wasn’t even born!) a day early in order to soak up the celebratory mood all weekend long.
While you have to wait until tomorrow, Saturday, July 11 (7/11… get it?) to get your free small Slurpee, we tip our cap to our friends at 7-Eleven who are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their signature Slurpee. I stopped by our local 7-Eleven on Atlantic Avenue yesterday to “borrow” one of their new anniversary cups to get a jump-start on Enzo’s photo shoot, but tomorrow 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores nationwide will be offering a free small Slurpee all day long.
This year’s special limited-time Slurpee flavor is Mountain Dew Confetti Chill, what’s billed as “lemon birthday cake flavor citrus x vanilla icing.” Personally, I’d stick with a classic flavor like Coca-Cola, Cherry (maybe a mix of both?), or Blue Raspberry.
With all that (#notsponsored) Slurpee news out of the way, I want to kick things off by thanking the thousands of engaged (and engaging) readers among you here who continue to support my work at LAST CALL, especially all of you who have been here since Day One back in the summer of 2022. And a special shout-out to all the subscribers here, old and new, who continue to help underwrite LAST CALL as Paid Subscribers. It’s benefactors like you who have helped make LAST CALL a certified Substack “Bestseller” for four years running.
Writing is a solitary and often lonely pursuit. On paper, all these visits to bars and restaurants for tastings and interviews likely seem pretty cool (and they mostly are), but the churn of researching/writing/publishing/promoting/(repeat) takes its toll. That’s why engagement from readers is always welcome and helps me feel like I’m working less than a vacuum and more of a community of readers. I realize it’s a lot to ask to even keep up with reading these frequent dispatches, but your engagement, feedback, comments, and sharing dispatches are always helpful and most welcome.
Having direct access to readers was one of the big reasons I joined Substack and I truly appreciate all the readers out there who I’ve continued conversations beyond the dispatches with via email, text, or DMs here or on Instagram. Sometimes it’s to talk about the Knicks, ask about a specific bottle of amaro, order a signed copy of one of my books, share a photo of a drink they made from a recipe here, ask for for Italy recommendations, or grill me on why I really hate onions.
More and more I tend to run into readers out in the wild who are kind enough to say hello when they run into me hanging out a favorite bar, standing on line at the grocery store, on a constitutional along the Brooklyn waterfront, or sitting at a table outside of of Eataly with a caffè and cornetto. It’s always such a nice thing to happen to a writer but I’ve noticed a shift of most people saying kind words about one of my books to, “I’m a big fan of LAST CALL!” So if you see something (me), say something (it doesn’t have to be that you love my work). I’m a nice guy. I promise.
I know we all have our own personal and very justifiable reasons to not offer your financial support here, but if you were to ever reconsider today would be a perfect day to become an Annual Paid Subscriber. Even better, if you sign up by Sunday, you can still take advantage of our “Freedom of Choice” Subscription Sale (full details in the next bucket below!). And if you’re already a Paid Subscriber (grazie mille!), today would be a perfect day to surprise a friend, family member, colleague, or your favorite bartender with a Gift Subscription to LAST CALL. Think it over, won’t you?
Enzo already called it a day and disappeared underneath my bed for his 4-5 hour afternoon nap and my brief morning constitutional to L’Apartment 4F revealed it’s already much hotter out than it looks has me considering just staying in today in the comfort my AC (though I dread the upcoming ConEd bill). But I may rally for a mild celebration with myself here in the neighborhood or, if I have the energy, in the Big City. Or maybe I’ll treat Enzo and myself to a ham and anchovy pizza and anitpasto from The House of Pizza and Calzone. We shall see.
In the meantime, here’s to looking ahead to Year 5!
Have a great weekend! See you on the other side…
LAST CALL Fun Facts
While most of my friends and colleagues who have Substack newsletters remain coy with their subscription numbers and that’s understandable. Whenever I get a little excited about an accomplishment here, for every person drafting a milestone post are throwing high-fives for finally hitting 500 subscribers in a year, others quickly bring me back down to Earth with their casual announcement of reaching 100,000 subscribers.
I joined Substack at the right time, I think, compared to those signing up now. With so many writers moving to Substack every day, and the company’s shifting focus on the kind of content and experience they highlight and champion, it’s more challenging than ever for readers to commit to multiple paid subscriptions (believe me, I know).
When I started LAST CALL, my personal goal was to achieve 5,000 total subscribers (free and paid) by the end first year, and within the first two weeks I had 1,000 subscribers with more than 100 paid subscribers. It took me a bit longer to hit that 5,000 mark and I’m still chasing that goal of 10,000 overall subscribers, but have been inching closer every day with nearly 8,000 subscribers.
LAST CALL Followers Growth
“Followers” at Substack are the total subscribers (paid and free) along with readers who interact with LAST CALL via the Substack app or Substack Notes. Followers can opt to receive updates via email but most get an alert or notification via the Substack App. That continued steady growth (now at 19.4K total Followers) is most welcome, but it’s very difficult to convert Followers to Subscribers.
LAST CALL Subscribers Growth
“Subscribers” include readers and subscribers (free and paid) who elect to receive updates via email and/or the Substack App. That post-holiday 2025 spike has been a longer than hoped for plateau that’s dragging out like a long, flat drive on Nebraska’s Interstate 80, mostly due the slow but steady churn of losing more subscribers than new ones I gain.
The look at Subscriber growth over the past year period paints a darker picture. It wasn’t just a Freudian slip on my end when I typed the graph caption as “LAST FALL” by mistake. As with my book sales, that Q4 Holiday spike makes a huge difference but tends to trickle off as things do when the post-holiday glow fades away with the reality of the demands of another new year. I’m currently at 7.9K Subscribers (which includes the number of Paid Subscribers) and have been trying to get back to that north of 8K December 2025 watermark. Wish me luck. But I can’t do it without you.
LAST CALL Reader Age & Gender Breakdown
Substack doesn’t provide reader age or gender information for individual newsletter publications, though they share that 25–34 year olds represent the largest user segment, accounting for roughly 24% to 27% of the audience while 25–44 year olds combined make up the largest overall age bracket on the platform.
While it may not be fully in sync, I’m including some age/gender demographics from my Instagram which should offer some insights.
Reader Gender
Men (59.4%)
Women (40.6%)
Reader Age Range
All
25-34: 17.1%
35-44: 43.2%
45-54: 22.9%
55-64:10.8%
Men
25-34: 18.1%
35-44: 45.7%
45-54: 23.2%
55-64: 8.8%
Women
25-34: 15.7%
35-44: 39.5%
45-54: 22.6%
55-64: 13.7%
LAST CALL Demographics
LAST CALL is read across all 50 U.S. states and 122 countries.
Highest Percentage of All U.S. LAST CALL Readers and Subscribers by State:
New York (22%)
California (15%)
Illinois (5%)
Pennsylvania (4%)
Texas (4%)
Percentage of U.S. LAST CALL Paid Subscribers by State:
New York (33%)
California (24%)
Washington (6%)
Pennsylvania (5%)
Massachusetts (5%)
Percentage of international LAST CALL Readers and Subscribers by Country
United States (94%)
Italy (2%)
United Kingdom (1%)
Canada (1%)
Switzerland (1%)
LAST CALL Audience Overlap & Recommendations
LAST CALL Substack Newsletter Audience Overlap
David Lebovitz Newsletter (25%)
Letters from an American (13%)
Elizabeth Minchilli’s Newsletter from Italy (10%)
The Mix with Robert Simonson (10%)
Ruth Reichl’s (9%)
Michael Ruhlman’s Newsletter (9%)
Top Source of Incoming LAST CALL Subscriptions Generated from Substack Recommendations
David Lebovitz Newsletter (2,551)
Luke Flunder Wine World (908)
Elizabeth Minchilli’s Newseltter from Italy (893)
Michael Ruhlman’s Newsletter (736)
(364)
A Tiny Apt. (351)
Top Outgoing Subscriptions Generated from LAST CALL Substack Recommendations
Michael Ruhlman’s Newsletter (457)
A Tiny Apt. (444)
David Lebovitz Newsletter (254)
Victoria Cece’s Slutti Spaghetti (216)
Elizabeth Minchilli’s Newsletter from Italy (126)
Feed Me (132)
American Weekender (123)
Perfect City (93)
Top 20 Most Popular LAST CALL Dispatches of the Year (So Far)
“The Photograph On the Dashboard, Taken Years Ago” (1/24/2026)
This year’s annual BTP birthday essay takes on the dark side of birthdays and the spiritual weight of being.“Stir Up an Alpine Slide” (2/24/2026)
A cold-weather cocktail with the spirit of a summertime spritz.”Road Game: Lancaster, Pennsylvania” (2/2/2026)
A birthday weekend getaway to beat the wintertime blues set amidst a major incoming snow storm.”Tanti Auguri, Enzo!” (2/26/2026)
Everybody’s favorite LAST CALL contributor and vanilla-caramel-fudge-swirl colored tabby cat turns two.“A Bittersweet Story of Vermouth & Chocolate” (4/9/2026)
A spirited presentation and tasting with Cocchi’s Roberto Bava.“Buon San Valentino!” (2/14/2026)
Heart-shaped pizzas, chocolate Negronis, and a BTP after-hours playlist for all the young lovers.“City Guides: Seattle’s Pike Place Market” (4/15/2026)
A BTP guided-tour on where to eat, drink, snack, and shop at Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market.“It’s Pączki Day!” (2/17/2026)
From Lancaster to Greenpoint… all about the Fat Tuesday fried confection that’s much more than your average jelly doughnut.“The Food and Drink Themed Alternate Identities of Minor League Baseball Teams” (3/25/2026)
An Opening Day tribute to the quirky food and drink-themed “alternate identities” stepping up to the plate across the MiLB.“A Spirited Talk About All Things Spirit-Free with John deBary” (1/16/2026)
Talking about the publication of The Nonalcoholic Bar along with Two Featured Recipes.“Peter Luger x Facia Brutto Spirits = Lugermeister!” (3/18/2026)
Two Brooklyn-based brands unite to launch a bespoke German-style kräuterlikör.“Dive Bar Jukebox with Jonathan Miles” (2/6/2026)
One of my favorite writers and longtime friends makes his DBJ debut with a heartfelt and elegiac “sonic memory reel” filled with tales from dive bars, juke joints, saloons, road houses, jazz clubs, and Irish pubs around the world.“Come As You Are: Celebrating 30 Years of Seattle’s Palace Kitchen” (3/9/2026)
A deep-dive interview with Palace Kitchen Opening Chef and TD & Co. Managing Partner Eric Tanaka on the 30th anniversary of my favorite Seattle restaurants.“Blue Seattle” (1/22/2026)
Soaking up Seattle nostalgia with the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, BTP’s favorite movies set in Seattle, ranking the films of Cameron Crowe, and revisiting Singles 34 years later.“Tobin Shea’s Little Tokyo” (4/21/2026)
The story behind how a Los Angeles bartender’s unassuming Negroni variation took flight to become a must-try drink.“Out On the Town: Bar Ferdinando” (4/13/2026)
The restoration and return of New York City’s oldest Sicilian restaurant.“LAST CALL x The XXV Winter Olympic Games: Opening Ceremony” (2/7/2026)
Our first ever Olympic coverage kicks off with LAST CALL correspondents Amy and Crasta chronicling their weeklong adventures at the The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.“Out On the Town: Caffè Giocosa Pop-Up & Checking Out Chicchetti Hour at Bar Bianchi” (2/20/2026)
The Florence bar where the Negroni was first poured for Count Camillo Negroni in 1919 pops-up in the West Village.“A Perfectly Delicious Palace Kitchen-Inspired Happy Hour Pairing” (3/13/2026)
The story, and recipe, behind the Palace Kitchen’s beloved Olive Poppers.“Going Green for St. Patrick’s Day” (3/16/206)
Raising a glass to growing up on WPIX and the Yankees, Phil Rizzuto, The Odd Couple, Solid Gold Crazy Eddie, Tom Carvel, and Cookie Puss.
The “P Word” (Paywalls)
When I first joined Substack in 2022 I was fortunate to have an in-house Substack A&R Representative assgined to me to to help field my many questions and offer guidance and best practices. That’s no longer the case, especially with thousands upon thousands of new Substack newsletters seemingly launching every day in addition to the much-publicized on-boarding of more and more bold-faced names.
But one piece of advice they shared on Day One was that when it came to paywalls on dispatches, “the concert should be free and the backstage pass should be exclusive.” That makes sense on principle, but not always in practice.
I made every dispatch for the first three months of LAST CALL free to all readers but also allowed readers to sign up for a Paid Subscription, which hundreds of people elected to do to as a sign of support.
For the first year or two I tried to send one free dispatch a week (typically on Tuesdays) along with a paywalled exclusive feature (typically on Fridays). These Friday exclusives rotating between several set themes I had established. This went on for a while, with free dispatches going behind the paywall after 1-2 weeks, but I wasn’t always consistent with what was paywalled and what was free for various reasons I wrestled with. Maybe it was a worthy debut author I wanted to champion, or a big-name personality who warranted to be read about by all, or an exclusive feature that I just couldn’t keep to myself and shared with all readers.
A few Paid Subscribers let me know in last year’s Reader Survey that they felt by giving so much content away for free took away from the perceived value of their paid subscription. I completely understood and took that feedback to heart.
While it hasn’t been consistent, last fall I adopted sending out a “meaty” monthly dispatch on the first of the month for all readers. On paper, this is the only dispatch that free readers are guaranteed to receive each month. While there will be exceptions, readers and subscribers should expect to see more paywalled posts on LAST CALL. This serves to truly reward Paid Subscribers with their ongoing support as well as hopefully spark a free reader make that jump to the other side.
I hate paywalls as much as everyone else does. Whenever I encounter one I’m instantly annoyed and close the browser in defiance leaving that unread, unaccessible story in the rearview mirror.
I did used to offer two options from Substack where you can either continue reading this one paywalled post courtesy of the author and the move where you had a 7-day preview where you signed up for a paid subscription for one week with an option to cancel. I can count the number of people who actually became paid subscribers on one hand. Too many people gamed the system, which I get, and would barn-storm around the archives, cherry-picking what they wanted to read and then cancelling and high-tailing it out of here just before their free preview ended. Recently I had a paid subscriber sign up and then read every Dive Bar Jukebox in a day and then unsubscribe leaving “Sorry… just not for me,” as their reason.
I occasionally try to read a few specific Substacks of which 90% of the posts are behind a paywall. What’s worse is that the gate slams down after only three sentences, top. Perhaps I am being too generous with the free content. But rest assured, whenever I do activate a paywall I always try to share a good portion of the story, hopefully enough to get you engaged and leave you wanting to read through to the conclusion. Like my own life, LAST CALL will always be a work in progress, but I promise to keep everybody up to date on any changes and always welcome feedback and constructive feedback.
LAST CALL Exclusive Features
An update on the current lineup of LAST CALL exclusive features.
Dive Bar Jukebox
Dive Bar Jukebox was the OG Friday exclusive and used to run every Friday, which was crazy that I was able to sustain that output halfway into Year 2. While a lot of the “homework” is on the featured guest, nearly each person has shared how much fun, and how difficult it can be, to fine-tune their 10-song playlist with commentary. I also experienced a fair share of no-shows who eagerly signed up and then ghosted me.
So it now remains a rotating that I committed to continuing with a frequency of 1-2 a month. feature as it can be unwieldy to maintain weekly. I’m still very proud of this feature and how it’s caught on with readers. There are dozens of DBJs within the archives for your reading and listening pleasure, and I look forward to adding even more in the months ahead.
Reader Survey Feedback on Dive Bar Jukebox
“I would say that I really loved all the DBJ’s, but I remember when you were doing those weekly I thought to myself—gosh that’s a whole ton of work to do every week! I’ve done monthly newsletters before (former President of the Nevada Old-Time Fiddler’s Association) and I always felt so much pressure to gather all that content and put it all together and out to our membership monthly.”
“DBJ is always a treat, not just you introducing great folks in the business to me that I would otherwise never know or know about, with their take on your questions and all the great music you and they share with us!”
“I don’t have Spotify, so lots of music links in Dive Bar Jukebox have been inaccessible for me. I’m not as interested in the music portion of LAST CALL, even though I am a huge music fan. To paraphrase Sother, I’m just here for the food and drinks.”
“I am not a big music or live music follower, so this is generally just content that is lost on me.”
“I learn about music I didn’t know about and music I had forgotten about.”
“Dive Bar Jukebox—What’s not to love? I just wish i could afford to be a paying member so I can see the full interview and Spotify lists, sigh. But that’s ok. I get a taste.”
“A very tiny nitpick, but I wish some contributors to Dive Bar Jukebox were older and liked jazz.”
The Lowdown
When I launched LAST CALL I included a section at the end of each Tuesday dispatch called The Lowdown. This was my “bits and bobs” of quick hits consisting of bulleted items prompted by what I’m Drinking, Eating, Reading, Watching, Writing, Listening to, etc. This little nightcap generated tons of clicks so my then-assigned Substack A&R rep encouraged me to expand The Lowdown into its own exclusive feature, which is now just focused on Drinking and Eating highlights.
Reader Survey Feedback on The Lowdown
“I love the inside information about the New York restaurant, bar, and beverage scene. I have also learned a lot about alcoholic beverages in general from reading Last Call and Brad’s books.
Out On the Town
Out On the Town, a regular Paid Subscriber exclusive where I break down a recent visit to a particular bar or restaurant—whether an old favorite, a new spot, or a first-time visit to a “new to me” joint. It’s sort of like but not really a review of a space but is also more about the overall experience with a longer time spent at one venue rather than the hop-around style of The Lowdown.
City Guides
I constantly receive emails, texts, and DMs from friends and strangers alike who are heading somewhere and ask me for restaurant and bar recommendations. Launching City Guides allowed me to share personal, detailed recommendations for some of my favorite spots to drink, eat, and hang out. Aside from a couple outliers, it’s mostly been breaking down BTP’s Brooklyn by neighborhood.
If you look at the frequency you’ll likely understand how much work goes into this feature and hasn’t quite moved into the regular rotation as much as I would like. It still mostly remains in dry dock, but I plan to keep it alive in some form. I’d like to weave in more guest star appearances like I did with David Kaplan for the Columbia Street Waterfront District City Guide who shared his expertise along with tips and suggestions for his own favorite haunts in addition to my personal picks.
Reader Survey Feedback on City Guides
“Perhaps offer more city/neighborhood recommendations. More Lancaster PA -- how about Lititz? I’d meet you at Kole’s Chophouse or Cavolo’s or Piccolo’s or Beccafico or Per Diem, haha!”
“More city guides, if you’re able!”
Off the Backbar with Enzo
The first eight installments of Off the Backbar with Enzo were free to all readers but will now be joining the ranks of Paid Subscriber Exclusives. As a drinks writer I receive a lot of sample bottles from brands both big and small and don’t always have the time to give them my full attention in a timely manner. Though it’s open to all brands, this was my way to shine a spotlight smaller independent brands by featuring adorable photos of Enzo interacting with the bottle while offering some background on the brand, tasting notes, and a cocktail recipe. This was also planned as a pretty turn-key feature and not a deep dive (I mean, Enzo is just a cat after all). And note, too, that these have all been editorially selected brands. Nothing has been sponsored at this point and if it ever was it would be clearly noted as such.
Reader Survey Feedback on Off the Backbar with Enzo
“Enzo has great taste, and I’ve cherished reading about obscure spirits that I might otherwise have never heard of.”
“As for ‘Off the Backbar,’ i like learning about the amaros, and of course the cutie that is Enzo.”
“I’m loving the ‘Off the Backbar’ write-ups & would definitely enjoy more on the spirits in your collection. I mean, get that sponsor money but I like learning about what you’ve collected & why.”
“I want some more meat to the ‘Off the Backbar’ feature.
“It’s all great, but the ‘Off the Backbar’ posts could have a little more information about how the bottles rate versus more other comparable bottles and other information that might persuade us to seek them out.”
Not sure I can tell them all apart just based on the titles. I can’t tell how many of the ‘Off the Backbar’ selections are sponsored content vs. not sponsored. Again, I completely understand the need for sponsors to subsidize things—but I’d prefer to know when something is making your list because you genuinely love it vs. because you’re being paid to love it.”
(BTP: As noted above, at this time Off the Backbar with Enzo hasn’t featured any sponsored brands. Any sponsored content on LAST CALL is always clearly labeled as such. It’s all Enzo and me and is intended as a “softer” fun feature rather than the complete history of a featured bottle. This was been a way for me to put my bottle collection (and Enzo) to work and that’s great feedback about going even further into the collection.)
LAST CALL x Like-Minded Brands
While there are some Substack newsletters out there who storm the ramparts in the name of independent journalism, featuring occasional brand partnerships never affects my editorial bias or conflicts with coverage. Most readers have responded very well to these on-brand messages from our sponsors, which are always editorialized with content including recipes and interviews as well as special offers and promo codes. I’ve only had one reader in the last year who canceled their subscription due to “advertising.” The reality is that even with the generous reader-funded support, LAST CALL is a business venture and partnering with like-minded brands from time to time helps keep the lights on.
The reality is that, like many Substack publications, LAST CALL is a one-man band. Aside from the many creative and generous special guests who provide their time and expertise, there are no additional contributors (well, aside from Enzo) or husbands or wives or partners who help pitch in. I’m truly doing what I can to help support myself here while also providing hopefully engaging, entertaining, and informative stories, interviews, essays, features, recipes, and more.
This past year at LAST CALL we’ve featured collaborations with a number of independent brands we’ve established relationships with, including The Italian Spirits Company, Fast Penny Spirits, St. Agrestis, Atheras Spirits, and Casamara Club, among others.
If you are a brand in the beverage, food, consumer packaged goods, or publishing world who would like to receive more information about Fall and Winter 2026 opportunities to partner with LAST CALL, contact BTP.
LAST CALL Summer 2026 Survey Results
Thank you to all the subscribers who took the time to answer the questions on the LAST CALL Summer 2026 Reader Survey. There’s an inherent vulnerability soliciting feedback from readers, especially when it comes to improvements. Compared to the number of total subscribers, the sample size doesn’t represent all LAST CALL readers, but each and every response will help make LAST CALL even better in the year ahead. We had an even bigger response than last summer’s inaugural survey.
For the breakout below, note that percentages don’t add up to 100% as many queries offered the opportunity to select more than one answer, so consider it as “X% of those who answered.”
How Long Have You Been a LAST CALL Subscriber (Free or Paid)?
3 Years (37%)
2 Years (24%)
Since the Beginning, Baby! (July 2022) (18%)
1 Year (16%)
4 Years (3%)
Fairly Recently (3%)
Where Did You First Learn about LAST CALL?
Instagram (33%)
Email from Author (15%)
Substack Recommendation (13%)
Substack App (10%)
Other: “David Lebovitz”
What Inspired You to Subscribe (Free or Paid) to LAST CALL?
Content (85%)
Writer/Author (79%)
Quality (34%)
Substack Recommendation (5%)
Recommendation from Friend or Family (6%)
Personal Recommendation (5%)
Other: “David Lebovitz,” “Attending an in-person amaro event at LUCA”
How Do You Prefer to Receive and Read LAST CALL?
Email (Desktop/Laptop) (62%)
Email (Mobile Device) (56%)
Substack App (26%)
Overall, How Satisfied or Dissatisfied Are You With Your LAST CALL Experience?
Very Satisfied (74%)
Somewhat Satisfied (23%)
Somewhat Dissatisfied (3%)
How Would You Describe LAST CALL?
Entertaining (87%)
Informative (85%)
Engaging (72%)
Creative (62%)
Unique (51%)
In-the-Know (51%)
Other: “Great But Uneven,” “Boozy,” “Bespoke,” “Personal”
Being as Specific as Possible, What Do You Like the Most about LAST CALL?
“Your writing, content, and sweet disposition (except onions!) on so much material of interest to me. I also really appreciate everything you've got going on, especially that upcoming book, and still making time to put out LAST CALL content for us—so, thank you!!”
“Your writing is so very personal. The columns come across like a letter to a friend.”
“I love the depth and breadth of BTP's coverage. He knows the industry inside and out, and he writes with such care and curiosity about new cocktails, new bar programs, new evenings out.”
“Music playlists and drink recommendations.”
“I can not tell a lie, it’s Enzo! Just kidding but he’s definitely the cat version of Ed McMahon. Everybody needs a great sidekick. I love Brad’s storytelling, it’s always a pleasure to read about so many great places that I’ll probably never see but he brings things to life so I’m living vicariously through his writing. Love the cocktails, liquor, and all things good related. It’s one Substack I never delete.”
“I enjoy the thoughtful and colorful posts about life in NYC.”
“Every darn thing. The City Guides and The Lowdowns for sure, but the brutal honesty in your writing about life keeps me coming back.”
“I am learning so much about amaro thanks to you, and cocktails in general. Also, not living anywhere near NYC, I like learning about great places to go there, and i also enjoy reading about your travels. (i used to live in St. Louis, and i used your itinerary when visiting there to plan my own stops there when visiting family and friends a couple summers ago). ALSO, CATS!”
“Content is fantastic; especially your CNY roots.”
“I like the specific recommendations for places to go in New York City, a place that can be large and overwhelming about guidance.”
“It deserves a longer email, which I've been meaning to write, but the way Brad writes his parents, his life, and his interests touches me greatly.”
“References to our local culture (Brooklyn), rabbit hole stories of time well spent (It can be Bourdain like, which is pretty great.) and just your general cocktail knowledge.”
“Personal yet informative.”
“Enjoy reading about Enzo as well as your personal reflections.”
“1) It's personal; 2) Your personality shines through; 3) I'm a huge fan of cocktails and cocktail culture, and I live vicariously through your food and drink experiences; 4) recommendations on places to go (we live close enough to Lancaster, PA to have enjoyed Pizzeria Luca many times on your recommendation); 5) cocktail recipes (this could be the 1st reason); and 6) the overall sense of being part of a community with shared interests.”
“The human stories, describing how innovative and delicious drink and food bring us together, establishing and nurturing community. I also love the recipes and being able to make a list of places I'd like to visit.”
“The writing! It’s all about the skill of writing and pulling the reader in. Brad does that!”
“I enjoy your ‘voice’ as you write—it’s open and honest, self-deprecating, informative, joyous, vulnerable, sometimes raw. Your recommendations for drinks/bars/food/spirits are great, and your taste matches up with mine quite often. You make me want to hang out with you IRL.”
On the Flip Side, What don’t you like about LAST CALL--What’s Missing and What Could Be Better?
“You don’t do it often, but once in a while, you go off on a political rant. Every person I am interested in hearing from doesn’t have to be political. Stick to the topic. Same with sports. Don’t t care who my favorite Giants pitcher voted for or supported, just throw the ball. And Pitchers should bat.”
(BTP: Believe, me… I keep most of my political “rants,” as you say to myself or for conversations with friends. But this current cruel, dangerous, and destructive regime presents a climate where silence isn’t acceptable.)
“I tend to skim the posts detailing the food and drinking articles about cities I know I’ll never visit … but I still find them enjoyable.”
“I can’t think of anything. I think too many people today think they’re the armchair critic but that’s not me. I’m very happy with the content and I can’t think of anything I would change.”
“I would like to see more cocktail recipes with ingredients that I have on hand. The Christmas gift list is great, but it comes too late and has way too many items.”
(BTP: Since launching the Holiday Gift Guides I’ve moved them further out from the holiday each year, settling on the week leading up to Thanksgiving.)
“Pretty happy with the deal. Sometimes it’s a little inside baseball, but that’s also part of what I like.”
“Wish I knew when there was new content I don’t spend a lot of time on Substack.”
(BTP: If you’re a subscriber you can choose how you’d like to be notified of new posts in your Substack settings.”)“I can’t say that this has happened, but so many content creators who do indeed get to go to cool places and meet cool people, get braggadocios. Try to remain grounded. Name dropping or location dropping is a bore.”
(BTP: Hopefully I haven’t crossed that line.)“I've read LAST CALL long enough that I know what you do at the holidays, so I would like a new spin on the holiday editions.”
(BTP: Point taken. That’s certainly fair. One thing about the Holiday Specials is that they’re inspired and modeled on The Late Show with David Letterman’s annual holiday specials and the comfort of tradition and familiarity and hitting the same beats year after year.)“I don't personally find the arts/music/movies/pop culture newsletters of interest.”
At times you could use an additional proofread. Lately there have been several doubled words or other issues.
(BTP: Is that you, Toby? All kidding aside, extremely valid criticism and I will aim to be better.)“Less angst?”
(BTP: I wish…)“Perhaps, at times, I’m frustrated by cocktail recipes that require hard-to-access ingredients.”
“Sometimes i’m not interested in the people you talk about.”
(BTP: And… scene.)
Does the Current Frequency of LAST CALL Dispatches (typically 1-2 per week) Work for You?
Satisfied (92%)
Not Enough (5%)
What LAST CALL Topics are Among Your Favorites?
Cocktails & Drinks (92%)
Bar, Bartenders, & Bar Culture (82%)
Food & Regional Foodways (77%)
Dive Bars (72%)
Recipes (67%)
Restaurants (59%)
Spirits & Distilleries (56%)
Personal Essays (54%)
New York City (51%)
Cats (Enzo) (46%)
Interviews (41%)
Reviews (33%)
Music & Curated Playlists (31%)
Movies & Television Programs (28%)
Popular Culture (26%)
Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Spirits (18%)
Exclusives (15%)
How Satisfied Are You with LAST CALL?
Very Satisfied (80%)
Somewhat Satisfied (14%)
Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied (3%)
Somewhat Dissatisfied (3%)
Which LAST CALL Exclusive Features are Among Your Favorites?
Out On the Town (55%)
Dive Bar Jukebox (53%)
City Guides (53%)
Off the Backbar with Enzo (50%)
The Lowdown (34%)
(BTP: The ranking of these features flip-flopped throughout the survey. The “lowest ranked” The Lowdown is always one of the best performing in the bunch.)
How Do You Feel About Brand Partnerships and Occasional Sponsored Content on LAST CALL?
Understand They Help Keep the Lights On (72%)
They’re In Line with the LAST CALL Brand (51%)
They Don’t Bother Me at All (51%)
I'm Inspired to Learn More About the Brand and Seek Out the Featured Product (44%)
I’m Not Really Into Them (3%)
Which LAST CALL Annual or Seasonal Features Are Among Your Favorites?
Favorite Sips of the Year (82%)
Holiday Gift Guides (64%)
Favorite Bites of the Year (33%)
Dive Bar Jukebox Christmas Eve Yule Log (49%)
Holiday Special (31%)
Thanksgiving Eve Special (31%)
7/11 LAST CALL Anniversary Special (23%)
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Special (23%)
Dry January (13%)
What Other Paid Exclusives Would You Like to See Offered on LAST CALL?
Early Access to Author’s Next Book (46%)
Signed Copies of Author’s Books (37%)
In-Person Meet-Ups (37%)
Author AMAs (23%)
Author Access for Questions, Travel Tips, Etc. (23%)
Substack Chats (20%)
How Likely Are You to Pay to Subscribe to LAST CALL?
I’m Already a Paid Subscriber (38%)
Very Likely (31%)
Unsure (18%)
Likely (10%)
Unlikely (8%)
Very Unlikely (5%)
If You’re a Free Reader or Subscriber, What’s Preventing You from Becoming a Paid Subscriber?
Plan to Someday, Just Not Now (29%)
I Already Subscribe to Too Many Substack Publications (24%)
Price (6%)
Other: “Budget,” I just cant afford it, but I own all your books,” “Sheer volume of video streaming and online content subscriptions.”
If You’re a Paid Subscriber, Please Select All Statements That Apply.
I Feel That the Subscription Offers Good Value for the Cost (64%)
I Subscribe Primarily to Support the Author/Writer (64%)
I Am Currently Not a Paid Subscriber (18%)
I Would Consider Paying Slightly More if Necessary to Keep on Reading (15%)
What Do You Wish You Got More Out of From LAST CALL?
More Direct Author Interaction (20%)
Longer Dispatches (20%)
Shorter Dispatches (16%)
More Video Segments (16%)
Make it Less Expensive to Subscribe (8%)
More Audio/Podcasts Segments (8%)
Fewer Paywalled Dispatches (8%)
Other: “More meat. I know the [book ]deadline thing has affected greatly.” “Please don’t pivot to video.” “Shorter dispatches but sent more often.”
Subscriber Testimonials
“You are intimately involved in a world that I find life affirming, fascinating, and one in which I can study and practice at home.” —Jim G.
“As a cocktail drinker, home bar curator, and weekly cocktail party host, BTP's writing is a regular source of recipes, industry information and powerful writing. To have access to his routines and insight is a gift and a treasure.” —Nick A.
LAST CALL provides a refreshing reminder to drink the good stuff, support your local joints, exhibit curiosity in all things, and most importantly, to play the jukebox.
“I discovered BTP’s books during COVID and haven’t looked back. Signed up on day one and amongst a handful of paid Substacks this remains my favorite and the only one I read cover to cover. Lots of writers are in the food and drink space but Brad’s perspectives make him a unique and appreciated voice.”
“I just enjoy reading about the cocktail world. I feel like it helps me appreciate things more when I go out and inspires me to be more adventurous in my home drink mixing. Living in Lancaster means I have a lot of fun options and it’s a bonus connection to this newsletter. And while Instagram is a nice distraction, I have no desire to add more ‘short form video’ to my life and greatly prefer having a text-based platform like this.” —Kelly L.
“I enjoy your “voice”, and want to support your struggles/efforts!”
“I love LAST CALL for myriad reasons, among them the feeling that I'm going out on the town with a kind, knowledgeable, fun friend who enjoys increasing my enjoyment of good food and drink, and sometimes other things like sports, by teaching me about them.”
“LAST CALL" makes me feel like I’m in New York even when I’m not in New York.” —Rebecca M.
“The NYC bar and cocktail scene can be overwhelming, LAST CALL gives me the best tips for finding that amazing new bar, or new favorite drink. —Ron N.
“BTP- I think you're a great writer and have excellent taste. I love all of the ‘personal history’ pieces a la The New Yorker. As a neighbor, I especially like the local recs (though, I'm more of a Henry Public than an LIB person myself.) Will continue to subscribe, cheers!” —Bunny O.
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