Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, Close The Deal, and Opporteen

I started out this morning with Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson at Bullitt Central High School where he defined his Close The Deal program to nearly 300 seniors.  Close The Deal is similar to Opporteen (facebook @opporteen) in that it connects high school students to professionals, financial aid opportunities and colleges.   The students rotated through tables to associate themselves with the various college professionals and financial advisors who attended.   Lt. Gov. Abramson wants to see Close The Deal evolve throughout Kentucky and is working to make that happen.  Close The Deal is looking for very similar outcomes as Opporteen, and it's great to have our state's leadership putting energy into it.

Thank you, Jerry, for including me this morning; it was great to see you and Kentucky at work to truly change the lives of young people.

Great Peeps Those nFocus Guys!

nFocus Launch Party at The Village Anchor!


Awesome launch of nFocus Magazine's October issue last evening at The Village Anchor. Thanks to the nearly 200 who showed--and thanks to the great Village Anchor Team; as always amazing food and near-perfect execution (because who wants the weight of perfection on his shoulder, right?). Nice issue, too--congrats to all who put it together!

Village Anchor featured in this month's nFocus

Check out this piece on The Village Anchor that is in this week's nFocus Magazine.  Thanks to Cheoffrey and his team for the great work, and food.  http://nfocusmagazine.com/food-wine-the-village-anchor-pub-roost!

Nestled in the historic City of Anchorage, Kentucky, The Village Anchor | Pub & Roost is inspired by Kevin Grangier’s travel abroad, and his desire to create a “destination” dining venue in the East End. Sitting on the patio, with the early fall breeze caressing my back, owner Kevin Grangier across the table, and Executive Chef Geoffrey Heyde filling our mugs with aromatic French Press coffee, I was able to pick the brains of the men who created the restaurant known for amazing food, service, and scenery.

Kevin and Geoff explained that they have been working together for years. Following his graduation from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Geoff worked at The Oakroom at the Seelbach Hilton, and both Vinino and McFadden’s in Kansas City before being lured back to Louisville to work with Kevin. “One day Geoff and I were driving around and saw the lease sign outside the building,” explained Kevin between sips of coffee. “We immediately thought, ‘There is nothing around here. Why can’t we do this and open a restaurant?’” Our conversation moved from inception to fruition, and the present offerings that help to make the Village Anchor a place where people from all over come to enjoy a great meal.

Q: How did you come up with the concept of the restaurant and the menu?

Kevin: We wanted to create a “destination,” because you don’t just drive out to Anchorage for no reason. We wanted it to have a cool eclectic style, and believed the Anchorage community would be very supportive.

Geoff: We considered a lot of different things when thinking about the menu. Kevin would say, “I want a burger,” and leave it up to me to figure out how to make it “the best” burger in Louisville. [They currently server a meatloaf burger.] We started hosting focus groups at people’s homes throughout the city, making a few items we were considering for the menu, and taking their feedback and critique to make it better.

Q: What has been vital to the success of the restaurant?

Kevin: I’d say that the recipe for a successful restaurant = 25% good food, 25% alcohol, 25% service, 25% overall experience. Each one is critical. If you don’t get out of your car, look up the hill, and immediately sense something about the experience you want to feel, we are doing something wrong.

Geoff: I spend about 25% of my time on the floor with the patrons. That is a lot for a chef. I hear if there is a complaint, but am also able to build pretty good relationships with diners.

Q: You mentioned that the kitchen at the Village Anchor is really small. Does that impact the service patrons receive?

Geoff: People always ask me why I come to work at 7am when we don’t open till 11am for lunch. It’s because we have a lot of prep to do. We send out approximately 1800 plates a day, and have done up to 2400 plates on really busy days. With 270 seats to serve, and items on the menu that Kevin calls “freakishly complicated” to make, it takes mastering how to prepare the dishes quickly. I have a great team in the kitchen that makes sure our patrons have an enjoyable experience.

During our conversation, waiters appeared at the table beside us with the Hot Brown for the gentleman, and the Red Velvet pancakes for his wife. After taking a few bites, the man leaned over, tapped Geoff on the shoulder, and said, “May I interrupt you? This may be the best Hot Brown I’ve ever eaten!”

Kevin and Geoff shared that The Village Anchor has done a “Celebrity Host Night” each Monday for the past 1.5 years, donating 10% of their total revenue to a nonprofit or local cause, totaling over $40,000 to date.  They have also added $1 mimosas on Sunday for brunch at the Sea Hag (the downstairs bar at The Village Anchor). With so many great offerings, it’s no wonder that The Village Anchor has become a destination for travelers and locals alike.

—Josh Miller

Choose To Chance The Rapids; Dare To Dance The Tide

I met a guy in Key West this past week who was celebrating his 50th birthday and was upset because he thought he had not accomplished much thus far in his life.   We shared challenges, risks that we'd taken, and what one gives up to experience certain things in one's life and see dreams come to fruition.  I honestly don't think there are right or wrong paths in life...these paths are the threads of our colorful fabrics, and they are different for everybody.   Ironically, one of my favorite songs was playing while we were talking.  It reminded me of my own fabric and how it has been uniquely weaved by the paths that I have chosen.  Our conversation also reminded me of how easy it's been for me to take risks and accept challenges and, conversely, how difficult it is for some people to do the same.  The fourth paragraph especially speaks to me, and is what I always seem to do.

A dream is like a river, changing as it flows; and a dreamer's just a vessel, that follow's where it goes.

Learning from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store, makes each day a constant battle to stay between the shores.

Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away; we put off 'til tomorrow, which soon becomes today.

So don't just sit upon the shore and say you're satisfied--Choose to chance the rapids, and dare to dance the tide.

Sail your vessel 'til the river runs dry; like a bird upon the wind, let the water be your sky.

You'll never reach your destination if you never try.  Sail your vessel until the river runs dry.

Thanks to counselors, teachers and parents for all of your feedback re: the Opporteen mobile app!

The Perfect Key West Morning

Opporteen is Coming Along in Ky, Tenn, Ind & Ill

Really great meetings with school system superintendents from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Illinois already this week (very busy week)! Trying to complete the Opporteen mobile app by including incentive programs for teachers, counselors and high 

school principals. Thanks so much to all of the administrators who are giving of their time as we work to bring this project to fruition -- including Lou Cavallo (Illinois) and Buddy Berry (Kentucky)! You guys do awesome work and so thankful that you are willing to share your experiences and expertise!