This Is Flood’s
Flood’s is humming lately — plenty of new subscribers, readers, and friends in the mix. If you’ve recently found your way here, welcome in. If you’ve been here for a while, thanks so much for hanging around. I recognize there’s some Flood’s terminology that might be confusing at first. Maybe you don’t even remember subscribing and have no clue what’s going on. We’re gonna fix that today.
I put together this resource — an orientation, or re-orientation — to help you get up to speed and get the most out of your Flood’s subscription.
I’m admittedly not the biggest fan of Spotify’s “This Is …” playlists. It’s an assortment of tunes from a single artist, generally the top thirty or so most popular songs based on a mysterious algorithm. It has terrible flow when listened to in order. And it’s somehow even worse when shuffled.
But they do serve a purpose. It’s a solid intro to an unfamiliar artist. Offering more depth than the five songs listed on an artist’s homepage. That’s the role this piece is here to play — an introduction to who I am, what this is, and the vibe we’re operating with.
Anyway. This is Flood’s.
What is Flood’s?
Mr. Flood’s Party is a creative platform by me, Lorenzo Bongiovanni. Flood’s started as an Instagram account in early 2023, expanded to this newsletter last summer, and also functions as a creative consulting studio in tandem.
This platform is where I channel my constant stream of thoughts about restaurants and travel into something tangible: photography and writing about my favorite places and spaces. Flood’s is an expression of how I see and think about the world.
What’s up with the name?
The name comes from an old bar in Ann Arbor, MI, called Mr. Flood’s Party. My Grandpa Larry briefly owned Flood’s in the early '80s. It was a hippie hangout on West Liberty Street, with cheap drinks and live music seven nights a week. I attended the University of Michigan about 30 years post-Floods — so the name ties a bunch of threads of my life together.
For more on this, check out Welcome to Flood’s.
Who is Flood’s for?
Flood’s is certainly for those who appreciate a great dining experience. For people who want to make the most of their travels. And for those who love a perfect scene. This could mean different things to different people! For me, that’s a well-made cortado at a sunny café, or a crisp light beer on an outdoor patio.
But I really believe this is a platform for everyone. Flood’s is about food, travel, photography, and music — things we can all find joy and beauty in. My writing is voicey and personal; my photos are meant to evoke a mood. Together, I hope they make for an enjoyable read, even if not directly relevant to your interests or where you’re located.
And it shows: Flood’s has subscribers across 40 U.S. States and 50 countries. A lot of readers are based in New York, but the reach is boundless. I’m incredibly proud of this.
What does subscribing get me?
Subscribers get a weekly Flood’s post delivered to their inbox and the Substack app. I’ve been publishing weekly for a little over a year now, and a lot of love goes into each one.
Every new post is free to read. Subscriptions help the publication continue to grow.
What about a paid subscription?
First and foremost, by upgrading to a paid subscription, you’re supporting my creative process and my deep collection of freely accessible writing and photography. I’m incredibly grateful for every paid sub and treat each one as a major encouragement to continue writing, posting, and sharing my work with the world.
Paid subscribers also get access to Flood’s Worldwide — an evolving list of my favorite places around the globe, with an accompanying Google Map. Flood’s Worldwide is the most valuable resource I offer — no reading between the lines, just all the hits in one place.
Flood's Worldwide
Flood’s Worldwide is an evolving collection of my favorite places around the globe — restaurants, cafés, bars, bakeries, hotels, parks, clothing stores, museums, and more.
There’s even more in the works for paid subscribers — benefits will always be incremental to the weekly newsletter.
Where to start
A great entry point is The 2024 Flood’s Year in Review. It’s a journal entry full of highlights, great meals, special memories, and my favorite photos from last year.
My restaurant write-ups are usually the most popular pieces I write. I try to capture how a place makes me feel, so I go deep into the details of ambiance to create vivid recollections. My personal favorites write-ups include Le French Diner and Bernie’s in New York and Choza in Mexico City.
Following along on Instagram is also a great move. I post tons of stories, quick hits, and photos a little closer to real-time. All the mid-to-longer form writing lives here, on Substack.
Flood’s formats
In addition to restaurant write-ups, I have a few regular formats.
On Draft is my “newsletter” with sections like Recently Added, Best Dishes, Flood’s Hi-Fi, and Up Next. On Draft is evolving to include quick-hitting interviews that’ll feature friends and peers with great taste. I’m excited to get this rolling in the fall.
11’s are list-style posts. Iced Coffees That’ll Have You Flying. Bar Snacks. Disappointing Meals of 2024. No topic is off limits. The only constant… there’s gonna be 11 of whatever it is featured.
Away Game is the format I’ve been using while I’m traveling and on the move. Live dispatches from unfamiliar places. Notes, stories, and reflections on the thrill of discovery.
In Rotation features the places and spaces I'm visiting the most in New York City. Updated twice per year, in the spring and fall.
Specials are one-offs that don’t quite fit elsewhere, but still touch on the major themes we cover at Flood’s, things like Crafting a Perfect Corner of NYC.
My goals
Flood’s has always had two main intentions: personal growth and delivering value.
Flood’s exists to:
Continue sharpening my writing and photography skills.
Build a network of restauranters, creatives, and cool people who care about food.
Shift the way readers think about restaurants and the world around them — less box-checking, more intention.
Guide readers toward great hangs and memorable meals (and help dodge bad ones).
Inspire and be inspired.
About the author
I’m
— a photographer, writer, and creative consultant based in New York City. I work as a finance professional by day, and created Mr. Flood’s Party as a creative outlet and side hustle.I’ve lived in New York since 2021, after three years in Chicago. No matter where I’m based, I love to travel and stay on the move.
I have recently been featured in FOUND NY, amuse-bouche, and the latest edition of Off-Menu Magazine, available here.
If you’d like to get in touch, welcometofloods@gmail.com, or reach out via Instagram.
Thanks for being here, thanks for reading. If you haven’t yet, subscribe below and get Flood’s delivered every Sunday.
new subscriber here. this kinda feels like filler
This is awesome! I also went to Michigan but somehow have never heard of Floods?!?