Natural's Not in It.

I suppose it's time to update the scorecard. I believe there as yet are one or two eateries that have not reopened since the pandemic, but also have not announced a definitive closing.

ON THE DRAWING BOARD
Agave & Rye (former Hull & High Water, story below)
Monnik Beer Company (former Bank Street Brewhouse on Bank)
True North Coffee House (new ownership for Quills)

OPENED IN 2020
8th Street Pizza (Breakwater; reopening)
Board and You Bistro & Wine Bar
Legacy Pizza & Bakery
Recbar 812
Fistful of Ale (nanobrewery/beer bar extension of pre-existing Fistful of Tacos)

CLOSED IN 2020
Longboard's Taco & Tiki
Primo's Delicatessen
Roadrunner Kitchen
The Standard (will function as event space)

What have I forgotten? Meanwhile, here's the Agave & Rye story.

Agave & Rye taking over former Hull & High Water space in New Albany at WLKY

Less than a year after opening its first Louisville location, Agave & Rye has already signed another lease to expand the concept into Southern Indiana, Louisville Business First reports.

The Cincinnati-based restaurant concept opened its Baxter Avenue eatery in February, and is now planning to open its second area location at the former Hull & High Water space at 324 E. Main St. in New Albany, Indiana.

Agave & Rye tweeted the news on Friday, along with the news of its new Rookwood, Ohio restaurant opening in September, and another location in Troy, Ohio, planned for November 2020. The new eateries would brand's total locations to seven, with four already-established restaurants in Louisville, Lexington and Covington, Kentucky, and Liberty Township, Ohio.

Hull & High Water is winding down, so go over there and say goodbye.

As I reported earlier at Food & Dining Magazine, Hull & High Water is winding down. Owner Eric Morris made the announcement earlier today at Facebook. 

Apparently the restaurant will be closed today and tomorrow, reopening on Wednesday and running through product until it's time to stop, perhaps in a few days. 

It's your chance to stop by, have a drink and a bite, and say a proper goodbye. Eric brought a lot of energy downtown, first with Gospel Bird and then Hull, and I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him the best in his future endeavors. 

I'm saddened, but my guess is this commercial space won't stay empty for long. 

LIVE TO EAT: Southern BBQ comes to Hull & High Water tonight.

Last week Eric Morris revealed an urge to smoke meat at Hull & High Water.

Hull & High Water announcement: "On top of our seafood menu, we have now decided to launch a full Southern BBQ program."

Now he says the time has come to make the BBQ available to the dining public.

"Our new bbq line starts tonight and I promise you it is top notch. We had people literally work from 2pm to 4am just to hang out with the smoker to ensure proper temperature, quality of smoke, product rotation, etc... ALL the love went into this and you can taste it, that I promise!"

Eric also scored some good PR at the website called Only in Your State:

This Nautical Restaurant In Indiana With Riverfront Seating Is A Waterfront Wonder.

Hull & High Water announcement: "On top of our seafood menu, we have now decided to launch a full Southern BBQ program."

Eric Morris is quite capable of speaking for himself, don't you think?

---

Hull & High Water

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR OWNER!!!

Thank you to all of you fine folk for a wonderful two years in business in a bustling downtown New Albany. It's incredible how much this town has grown in such a few years and all the wonderful new independent businesses that have popped up from restaurant to retail.

We have decided to change a few things here at Hull to add a more diverse dining experience with added catering options as well. You could only keep me away from southern cuisine for so long 😂😂.

On top of our seafood menu, we have now decided to launch a full Southern BBQ program. We miss the likes of Feast BBQ and Shawn's Southern BBQ downtown and would like to fill that hole with much due respect.

Everything will be smoked on site and with careful detail and love. We're talking ribs, brisket, pork, etc...and infuse some of that smokey goodness with our new Orleans-influenced cuisine for some fun creative twists. It also allows us to smoke fish in house and add new options on our seafood line. Smoked oysters on the half shell are the bomb btw.

Having more comfort food options in the winter will also counter to our summer-driven seafood menu. I sincerely hope you guys come check it out as well as some new seafood options coming your way!! Thanks for everything!

Lastly, The Grouper option is coming back. You're welcome ❤❤❤. We start smoking next week so follow your nose to Hull and Highwater. Now help us name our new smoker!

LIVE TO EAT: Hull & High Water's lunch hours debut on December 11, and other tidbits from the New Albany food and dining scene.

More on Hull's Monday oyster special here.

Hull & High Water has been playfully hinting at new lunchtime hours, and now it's official ... as of December 11. That's next Monday, folks.

Starting December 11th, we will officially be OPEN FOR LUNCH! As some of you may have guessed it! We are bringing back a convenient style of luncheon to New Albany, Indiana with counter style service.

Counter style service lunch allows you to come up to the counter, place your order, pay, and receive a number. One of our food runners will come out very shortly with your food hot and fresh. Get it to go or stay with us and enjoy the atmosphere. You asked for it and we are bringing it to you! Stay tuned for our lunch menu launch later this week!

Cafe 157 offers this helpful reminder about meals and theater.

TheatreWorks is in production, SO dinner this week Tues-Sat 5-8, 157 E Main. Beef Ramen, Banh Mi, Salmon with maple bourbon glaze, Roasted Chicken with mushroom cream sauce, shrimp n grits and more. Drink specials!

A few weeks ago, a few pieces more of Dragon King's Daughter's prospective shift to new digs came before the Board of Works.

Dragon King's Daughter in New Albany preparing new site, by Chris Morris (N and T)

A New Albany restaurant will be moving to a new home early next year. Dragon King’s Daughter will be leaving its current location at 202 E. Elm St. and move to 129 W. Market St.

Ryan Westphal said Tuesday after the New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety meeting that the move will come “in the first quarter” of 2018.

The board of works approved Dragon King’s Daughter for outdoor seating along the sidewalk facing West Market and First Street, improvements to the building’s facade which will include a canopy to the new restaurant, according to architect Ron Stiller.

Also in the local chain newspaper, some fine (and heartwarming) ink for Israel's.

Israel's Delicias de Mexico owner goes viral after son makes loving post, by Danielle Grady

Son makes loving post

All Christian Landin wanted for Christmas was for his dad to get some recognition. He ended up giving him internet fame — and some real life fans.

Christian’s father, Israel Landin, is the owner of Israel’s Delicias de Mexico restaurant on Market Street in New Albany, which opened in 2014. (Previously, Israel owned La Rosita, which closed in 2012) ...

... Christian decided to make a post about Israel on the website, Imgur, where users share pictures of anything and everything — from humorous memes to snapshots of their daily lives. On Imgur, other people can give the photo “points” or make a comment ...

... Christian made the post and went to bed, thinking it wouldn’t get any attention. When he woke up, he couldn’t open his phone at first because of all the notifications. As of press time, Christian’s post had been viewed 224,473 times and had received 8,211 points.

Three additional recent posts at NAC:

Renovation and restoration: From Love's Cafe to Good Times to ... well, a building both old and new.

THE BEER BEAT: One excellent afternoon spent pub crawling with beer on the periphery of the wine walk.

La Tiendita on Market evolves; more of a restaurant, less of a grocery, and with plans to stay put -- and that's good.

Top Ten posts at NA Confidential for September, 2017.

You really want fresh fish, don't you? 

Thanks for reading NA Confidential, where we enjoy scanning the neglected periphery for uniquely local perspectives.

I'm delighted at NAC's September numbers, especially since I took a ten-day holiday and did the bare minimum of posting during this time.

Overall, September readership testifies to a keen ongoing interest in New Albany stories, perhaps because they're being chronically under-served elsewhere. After all, stenography gets us only so far.

The September list begins with ten "honorable mention" posts, before concluding with the Top Ten, escalating to No. 1. Stats are derived from Google's internal numbers listings.

SEPTEMBER TEN HONORABLE MENTION

383

The 2019 mayoral race is handed a critical debating point: "$80M Sherman Minton Bridge project to extend life up to 50 years."

I missed all the fun with last week's Sherman Minton repair revelations, but it seems the beaming powers-that-be are making reassurances about the absence of future tolling. They're not to be trusted any longer than Dan Coffey's attention span.

---

391 (tie)

ON THE AVENUES: Sniffles, gratitude and mental exhaustion. Apparently vacation is over.

Earlier this month, while enjoying the hop parade in Poperinge, a Moroccan feast in Mechelen and most importantly, the reclaiming of lapsed friendships in Haarlem, I was keenly aware of all these intersecting lines: where I’ve been, what I’ve learned, the state of my own consciousness, the absence of those who’ve left the room, and the sands in that damned cliché of an hourglass.

I thought a lot about the 14 years it took us just to make that street in front of the house run both directions … and how I’m not sure I want to devote another decade and a half to the next incremental, delayed and imperfectly understood example of what I just saw with my own two eyes in the Netherlands.

---

391 (tie)

Toto, we're not on Spring Street any more -- and other 2-pocalypse fallout shelters.

Stunningly, as though genuinely adept at debating, the mayor scores points against Seabrook, who has not ever showed even a slight grasp of street grid modernity.

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398

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Dine Company + 302 Pearl Street buildout = ?

The Green Mouse was staggering eastbound on Market earlier this afternoon after a yummy meal of Aladdin and Cuban rum, and spotted this Dine Company truck's crew working inside the as-yet unfinished suite at 302 Pearl Street.

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400

Luddites wail, but Market Street slated to return to rationality next Tuesday morning.

The newspaper's Morris attended this morning's piano anniversary meeting, and he reports that Market Street's reversion to two-way traffic will come next Tuesday, September 12, to be followed by Elm Street at an undisclosed date thereafter.

---

403

ASK THE BORED: Elm Street reversion rollout? Don't ask, because it's not the city's top priority, or something like that.

It looks like the newspaper's Elizabeth Beilman drew the short straw for the Board of Works meeting this morning, seeing as the usual Bored observer Chris Morris was otherwise occupied urging precipitate vigilante action against the owner of 519 Hausfeldt Lane.

---

410

Council Thursday: Heads up, tree contractors, because Bob Caesar wants to enforce your asses.

Tonight's power poll winner already is obvious. It's the city attorney, charged with enforcement of a whole new and upwardly revised set of fines for not properly disposing of tree limbs, litter, trash and unsold Bicentennial books.

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436

In letter to newspaper, downtown shop owner disagrees with a parking policy that doesn't exist.

Certainly Betty knows that the two-hour parking signs to which she refers were replacements for previous signs that read precisely the same -- and which have not been enforced for six or seven years, since some time during the reign of King England III.

The current "improvements" aren't the cause of the problem, if any. Rather, it's non-communication once again, and the inability or unwillingness of downtown stakeholders to study and address parking the future of parking.

---

452

BREAKING: US Postal Service joins #TheResistance20152019, draws line in sand at the McDonald Lane roundabout.

Tonight's satire is presented by ... hubris. But I still think she means "uniform," not uniformed.

---

461

New evidence reveals that New Albany area sign and banner makers contributed heavily to the two-way street lobby.

West you see it. East you don't.

---

464

Is it the world's shortest bike lane? Or stealth sharrows?

SEPTEMBER TOP TEN

492

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Wile E. Coyote was booked, so David Duggins will stand in for Rick Pitino as this year's Harvest Homecoming parade figurehead.

The Green Mouse has learned that Mayor Jeff Gahan will designate New Albany Public Hosing Director David Duggins as the official replacement for newly disgraced University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, who was to have served as grand master of ceremonies for the annual event on Saturday, October 7.

---

606

What can two-way drivers see that one-way driver's didn't?

When Spring Street was reverted to two way traffic, some of the first comments I heard were about the urban tableau "looking different" than it did before. As someone who walks a lot, this observation didn't make sense to me, at least until I realized that for many people a one-way perspective has been virtually the only one they've ever seen ... while driving through downtown, and rarely walking.

---

683

Follow-up: "Something's happening at 129 W. Market, where Wolf Supermarket used to be."

We've had no official verification, but the circumstantial evidence gathered since the June posting strongly supports 129 W. Market as the future home of Dragon King's Daughter. The Green Mouse was told that DKD would like to be occupying its new home by January 1, 2018.

---

718

Grid Control, Vol. 26: The 2-Pocalyptic contagion claims another victim as Market Street capitulates to modernity.

I walked the length of the Market Street reversion, and the first day of two-way traffic appears to have been smooth, with nothing near the agitated (and unwarranted) hair-pulling that accompanied Spring Street's changeover two weeks ago.

---

742

Talk about a grand opening -- it's a Good Time to take a look inside what used to be Love's Cafe.

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864

GOP mayoral politics, 2019: Al Knable says no, Mark Seabrook says yes, and we say "WHERE'S THE BEEF, MARK?"

To date, since announcing his exploratory committee, Seabrook has been willing or able to reveal only that his family knew the Scribners personally, he really wants the job, and by extension, it's his turn; he feels it is his sinecure to grab based on longevity and desire alone.

This makes me want to scream, and it cannot cut the mustard.

---

1,108

Grid Control, Vol. 27: A case of parking space inconvenience on Market Street.

"Where the street sign has been placed causes me to have to park so far forward that I cross the parking line. If I don't when the kids get out of the car the door hits the sign post. Did anybody (with the street grid engineers) have a ruler when they designed the project?"

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1,268

Spring Street stage block: "It's like buying a new car and then putting it in the garage and driving a rental to work."

"By chance, did anyone notice that Friday on Spring Street the city closed the single eastbound lane for a stage? I want to say we have a nice big stage somewhere already -- it's yellow?"

---

2,456

The New Albany location of Urban Bread Co. has closed, meaning that a restaurant opportunity just opened downtown.

Keeping it short and sweet: The Urban Bread Co. location at 145 East Main Street has officially closed, according to Jeff Mouttet, owner of Match Cigar Bar and the departing eatery's landlord.

---

2,705

A few views from Hull & High Water's soft opening. Regular business hours begin on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

Hull & High Water is located at 324 E. Main Street, and if you've been around long enough to recall previous incarnations of this building, be prepared for bedazzlement. Steve Resch always does quality work, but this one is something special. Note the interior "fish tank" art, courtesy of David Thrasher. The long haul begins tonight ..

A few views from Hull & High Water's soft opening. Regular business hours begin on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

Hull & High Water is located at 324 E. Main Street, and if you've been around long enough to recall previous incarnations of this building, be prepared for bedazzlement. Steve Resch always does quality work, but this one is something special. Note the interior "fish tank" art, courtesy of David Thrasher. The long haul begins tonight ...

THE BEER BEAT: Hull & High Water is only days away, and it has me all playful about beer lists.

Hull & High Water at 324 E. Main Street in New Albany should be open for business on Friday, and it would be an understatement to suggest the anticipation is palpable.

While I'm generally skeptical about the ability of "business" publications to get relevant aspects of culture right -- usually there's too much dollar-sign fetishist-speak for the benefit of the clueless moneyed classes -- this preview is fairly good.

INSIDE LOOK: Hull & High Water restaurant finishes its nautical-themed digs, by Bridgett Weaver (Louisville Business First)

Garrett Petters said that often when people think of going to seafood restaurants, they think of spending a lot of money.

But his goal with his new restaurant, Hull & High Water, is to be more like a coastal seafood shack — offering good seafood at an affordable price.

"When you go to the coasts, there's a lot of seafood shacks. We wanted to bring seafood back to the normal people," Petters said. "To take it back to where it came from."

I caught myself wondering what sorts of wine are to be sold at an inland seafood shack, then began trying to remember when (or even if) I've ever ordered wine at a seafood restaurant of any sort.

Everything about Weaver's piece screams "beer," and precisely because not a soul has asked me, here are a few ideas for a solid, nautically-and-aquatic-themed beer list. It isn't real, and I have no idea what you'll find at Hull in terms of beer, although there'll be "craft" choices.

At the same time, no gimmicks. These are fine beers, every last one of them. Some (including me) might quibble with corporate owners like Constellation Brands and Sapporo, but they're not AB-InBev, and I'm just having fun without thinking too much about the credentials of the choices.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if there are any locally-brewed beers with an appropriate name ... unless Falls City decides to make Calliope Hoppy Pils year-round.

It would rock a seafood menu as the go-to Pilsner draft choice.

Otherwise, leading off, Ballast Point Brewing Company gets a whole category to itself, given that ...

From day one, Ballast Point’s philosophy has always been doing what we love, and making what we love to drink. So, naturally, we named the beers after something many of us love almost as much as brewing—fishing. Today, many of the beers are named for fish or fishing terms, and the labels have fish on them as a reminder to always do what you love.

I'd have Anchor Steam on draft, and push it hard. It's amber but lighter-bodied than many "craft" beers, with more flavor than most mass-market carbonated waters masquerading as beer, and entirely poundable at 4.9% abv.

If available on draft, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter would be delightful, too. Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA could be a hoppier choice, or perhaps Bell's Two Hearted Ale (see Big Two Hearted River, a short story by Ernest Hemingway).

Baltic Porter as a style category is named for the Baltic Sea, and Zwiec Porter from Poland in 16.9-ounce bottles is one of the best imported beer values going. Maybe Hull & High Water could keep some herring around, just for me.

For higher gravity Belgian-derived styles, there's Brigand (brewed by Van Steenberge) and Piraat (brewed by Van Honsebrouck), both from Belgium. in a similar vein from Canada: Unibroue Don Dieu (also Maudite and Raftman), all with imagery of ships, boats and such.

For dessert after a few oyster shooters and the catch of the day, why not Rogue's legendary Old Crustacean Barleywine, pulled from a secret stash somewhere on the premises? It's a coastal Oregon classic.

One of my eastern seaboard favorites is Shipyard Export Ale, from the harbor town of Portland, Maine. It is described as a North American Blond Ale, though I detect the founding English influence. Beer Advocate hates this beer -- which is another reason to seek it out; in April while in Portland, I consumed one with a lobster roll. It was perfect.

I'll stop there, cognizant at having omitted countless choices. Feel free to offer upgrades to my faulty memory in the form of comments, and best wishes to Garrett, Eric Morris and the rest of the team at Hull & High Water. I'm in post-holiday detox, but will make it down sooner or later.

The pace of buildout has increased at Hull & Highwater, and soon it will be July.

These photos harvested from Facebook capture recent progress toward completion of the Hull & Highwater buildout. The most recent photo is at the top, and the oldest (April) placed last.

It's yet another Resch Construction project. When does he sleep?

For those just tuning in (where have you been, anyway?), here's a glimpse of the future at 324 E. Main, formerly WE Studio, according to Hull & Highwater's page at Fb.

Hull & High Water never Flounders on Service and Quality! You are soon to be Herring our Name Around Town. Remember, The World is Your Oyster so, stop on in just for the Halibut!

Earlier this year, Dana McMahan (C-J) provided a slightly more conventional overview.

Hull & High Water will offer a middle ground for seafood that (owner Eric) Morris said diners are looking for in the Louisville area.

“There's plenty of greasy fried fish houses, which are fine,” he said. "And you have Seviche and River House but there's nothing that falls in between like a casual, fun place. There's none at all in New Albany, and we're on the river. I've had people come into Gospel Bird and say 'I'm so glad you're opening this.' ”

The restaurant will offer a raw bar with oysters, peel and eat shrimp, and signature items like lobster pot pie, Morris said. Fried or blackened fish sandwiches or baskets will also be on the menu.

It will offer "all that fun stuff you get when you go out with your friends for a bucket of beer," he said.

As for an opening date, look for early July.

Courier-Journal updates "6 new eateries for downtown New Albany."

Ms. Winer's updates include:

District 22 Pizzeria (text included below)
Match Cigar Bar NA
Urban Bread Company (Match's kitchen partner)
Hull and High Water (the working title of Eric "Gospel Bird" Morris' seafood restaurant)
Lady Tron's
410 Bakery

6 new eateries for downtown New Albany, by Madeleine Winer (Courier-Journal)

A casual seafood joint, a bread company and new pizza place are just a few restaurants foodies can expect to see pop up in downtown New Albany this year.

Get a taste for what's coming and what's new to know where you'll be heading for your next night out.

District 22 Pizzeria

Want a medium pizza and six pack of New Albanian Brewing Co.'s Hoptimus delivered to your door?

The owner of Big Four Burgers + Beer is looking to make that happen.

Matt McMahan plans to move his concept for the to-go pizza and craft beer joint, called District 22, next to Big Four Burgers and hopes to be open by March. He said the biggest hurdle in making his concept a reality was getting a liquor license that would allow him to sell and also deliver beer.

"About a year and a half ago, I discovered you could do it," he said. "I'm pretty pumped about it. We're going to focus on craft beer and being able to deliver. That is huge."

McMahan said the restaurant, at 110 East Main St., also will have retail space to sell bourbon, beer and wine. The menu will feature a variety of pizza and toppings as well as sandwiches and appetizers from Big Four Burger's menu, including beer cheese.