The Next Chapter
When there is good news and bad news, which one do you like to hear first?
Really, news is news. The same piece of information is going to be good for some and bad for others. I think we’ve talked about this before on the blog. Very little is black and white. Most things are varying shades of gray.
The one thing I regret is not being able to reach out to everyone who is near and dear to me, and tell them this news in person. And at last night’s Yelp event I did not want to draw attention away from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que nor spoil the fun of the festive occasion.
For such a cranky old man, I’ve got a bigger heart than one might expect. And there are so many of you that mean a lot to me. However, as an old man, I don’t tend to talk about feelings much. Still, at some point one just has to rip off the bandage tape, and it’s better to do it quickly in one clean yank.
So here it goes. The Fussies are leaving Albany and moving to Ann Arbor.
It was a job that brought us to the Capital Region, and it is a job that is pulling us away. For Mrs. Fussy, it’s a wonderful professional opportunity. For me? Well, for me there are going to be a lot of changes. And quite frankly, a lot of unknowns. But I’m very comfortable wading into murky waters and figuring out my next steps. It’s still unclear exactly when we’ll be leaving Albany, but most likely it will be some time in late July.
There are a few things I do know.
For starters, I’m stepping down from my job as the Community Ambassador for Yelp. There should be a job posting going up today looking for my successor in Albany, and when that goes live I’ll post a separate message on Yelp about my departure. As a side note, if you want to take on a part time gig that was the most fun I’ve ever had working, let me know and I can give you the inside scoop.
I also know that I’ll be continuing to work for Yelp through the end of June. And most definitely I will keep the FLB going during that time. There are still plenty of subjects to cover. Plus there will surely be some new thoughts about food in the Capital Region as I contemplate a life beyond its borders.
There are a lot of feels, but I’m going to save those for future posts.
When July rolls around, I’ll have to figure out what to do with this blog. There is a part of me that simply wants to stop. Blogging has been great for the past ten years, but as a medium, it’s drying up. This is one of the last local food blogs standing. And based on a recent post over at Table Hopping, it looks like Steve is opening the door to see if that blog would work better as a newsletter.
That said, I’ve also heard from many of you how important this blog is, not just to you and your daily enjoyment, but in the promotion of the local food scene in general. So part of me wants to hand it over to a slate of guest bloggers. Some readers, chefs, and other local business people have been interested in trying their hands at writing, so maybe we’ll hear from them in the weeks to come and see how that goes.
Of course, another part of me wants to keep the FLB to myself. It’s unlikely that it will continue to be a daily blog once July rolls around. But invariably I’ll have thoughts about food that I simply need to get out of my head. Especially as I explore Ann Arbor and the surrounding Michigan cities and towns. And there may even be a few of you who would be interested in keeping up with the adventures of the Fussies as we move from one frigid Canada-adjacent blue state to another.
For the record, I do like how Greg and Mary simply ended AOA. And while it’s frustrating, I definitely respect Mr. Dave and his decision to put The Ridiculous Food Society of Upstate New York out of its misery, instead of it dying a slow and painful death on the interwebs.
But I may not be that smart, and I’m certainly not that gutsy.
What will this mean for the tours? And the ultimate finals for the Tour de Donut? I mean, that one may have to happen without me. It would be nice to do one last big blog event before heading out, and I’m mulling over a few things in my mind. When I figure it out, and come up with a date I’ll let you know.
In the meantime, I’m still here. And I’ve developed a great affection for this place. Considering how unhappy I was when I first arrived, it’s truly a remarkable transformation. Thank you for being part of the journey, and I do hope you decide to stick around to see how the story ends.
FUSSYlittleBLOG 
Damn, Daniel. You and possibly this blog will be missed.
Road trip with Albany Jane for Detroit style pizza? Steve N had said he would make the drive from Albany before I even announced the move.
I’m in. Less than 9 hours from Albany to the original Buddy’s Pizza location.
Very sorry to see you go, Daniel. A road trip to Detroit is a must now.
If you guys rent a bus, count me in too for the trip!
and here I thought this was going to be a good day…Daniel…very happy for you and the Fussy clan, our loss is Ann Arbor’s gain…
Wow!! Another great one!! Good luck! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Been waiting for this! Well done!!
Sent from my iPhone
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OMG! Good luck with the move and all future endeavors. Something tells me the food scene won’t let you go, no matter where you are :-)
Dan
Oh wow never expected this. You sure will be missed. Change and opportunity is good.
Thanks for all the wonderful events and opportunities. I hope there will be a couple more before you leave. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Sue
You could not be more wrong. The Table Hopping blog is not going anywhere. As I wrote, “Newsletter are ANOTHER way for the Times Union to keep in touch with our readers.” (Emphasis added.) It is irresponsible for you — without having taken the 30 seconds required to send an email inquiry — to have suggested otherwise. Please correct your blog post and in the future have the professionalism, or at least the courtesy, to try to back up your speculation with actual facts.
Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
A simple “You’re mistaken, the blog is not going anywhere.” would’ve sufficed.
Mr. Barnes, your skin is too thin and your opinion of yourself rather turgid. Take a chill pill, and endeavor to be a bit more humble, you’ll be better for it.
As another commenter already noted, our loss is Ann Arbor’s gain. You will be very missed, Daniel!
Sorry to see you go. Another good person leaving our area. Sending best wishes for an easy transition to your new home.
You rascal you! I do hope you will keep blogging from Ann Arbor. We need to know about the strange obsession with sour cherries, among other things.
I will also take exception, though not as vigorously as Steve Barnes, to the speculation that local food blogs are dying on the vine. http://www.burntmyfingers.com is not going anywhere! We recently had an influx of new visitors who were drawn from somewhere in the south by our recipes for (this is the search term) “Texas schoolburgers”. Check it out!
:(
Happy trails to you and the rest of the Fussy troupe. As a daily reader, you will be sorely missed – I’m only sorry I wasn’t able to make more of the tours (aside from tavern pie). As for Barnes’ comment, I think that speaks for itself – it’s your damn blog – speculate away.
Ha! Fighting in the comments reminds me of the golden age of blogging… Almost enough to make me put up a “Did You Hear Tablehopping Will Only Be available As A Zine” post up on the corpse of my weblog. Being an anonymous ass to people is something I kind of miss.
Anyhow, bon voyage to you and yours! m. Dave
I’ve been thinking about Zines a bit lately too. Guess it makes sense as we’re observing the end of one self-published content arena, to recall past demises.
Amazingly radio is still alive and kicking. People have been predicting its imminent death for decades.
Moving to my hometown (area ish)! SO EXCITING
Wow, Congratulations for Mrs Fussy and best of luck for the family. Sad to hear for me though.
Bona fortuna!
Another one here sad to see you go! But I spent a happy 7 years in elementary school in Ann Arbor (albeit a million years ago), and know it is a great place to be. I vote for at least occasional new blogs from you — if only to hear what great new food you find in A2!