>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>>> I'VE GOT TICKETS TO THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY PLAYING BEATLES MUSIC TOMORROW AND I'VE GT TICKETS TO THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

LIFE IS GOOD.

LET'S HOPE THE SHOW IS.

I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS STARTING WITH WENDY WIESE.

SHE'S NOT A GUEST, SHE'S HERE EVERY WEEK.

ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, JOE HARTMANN.

OH, HE'S A FORTUNER.

RAY HARTMANN, AND JOINING US SARAH FENSKE, SHE'S IN MY CHAIR.

DOWN IN COLUMBIA, A YOUNG MAN WAS FOUND BLACKED-OUT DRUNK AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE ENTIRE GREEK SYSTEM HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, INDEFINITELY.

WENDY, IS THAT AN OVERREACH?

I DON'T THINK IT IS.

I THINK SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE -- NOT BEING FUNNY, BUT THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT IN THE ROOM.

>> AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT SCORE, BUT I THINK THAT YOU HOLD THE RESPONSIBLE -- ONCE WE HAVE FIGURED OUT WHO THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT IS, THEN WE HOLD THE RESPONSIBLE ADULT RESPONSIBLE AND LEAVE THE REST OF THE GREEK SYSTEM ALONE AT MIZZOU.

I THINK THAT THE FACT, I JUST CAN'T TELL IF IT'S PART AND PARCEL OF 2021 AND THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY'S NERVOUS RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A MISSTEP, ESPECIALLY THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM.

LIKE EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS THAT OR IF IT WAS -- IF THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF AN INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT DRUGS HAD BEEN -- OR DRINKS HAD BEEN LACED WITH DRUGS.

SO I SAY LEAVE THE REST OF THE GREEK SYSTEM ALONE AT MIZZOU AND FIND THE PERPETRATOR AND DEAL WITH THEM.

>> WELL, I REMEMBER THE CARTOON SHOW SOUTH PARK AND CHEF WAS THE WISE MAN AND THE KIDS WERE TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING TO DO, AND CHEF SAID THERE'S A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND IT'S CALLED COLLEGE.

SO THE FACT THAT SOME COLLEGE STUDENT GOT WILDLY INTOXICATED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, I'M GLAD THAT HE'S OKAY, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME LIKE AN OVERREACTION, KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN -- THAT MOVIE WITH HUMPHREY BOGART.

I'M HAVING A PROBLEM.

CASABLANCA, CASABLANCA.

GAMBLING IN HERE?

I'M SHOCKED.

>> I'M LOOKING AT THIS GOING HOW DOES THE GREEK SYSTEM EVEN CONTINUE AT THIS POINT?

I'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT HELICOPTER PARENTS.

PARENTS ARE SO INVOLVED IN WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE UP TO.

THEY'RE SO LITIGIOUS, THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE SAFE AND IT'S SHOCKING THAT A GROUP THAT GETS TOGETHER TO DRINK AND COMPEL OTHERS TO DRINK TO EXCESS, THAT THIS IS EVEN HERE IN 2021.

IT'S A HOLDOVER FROM A DIFFERENT ERA.

>> I HAVE TO SAY, I GRADUATED FROM MIZZOU AND I NEVER DREAMT THAT I WOULD EVER DEFEND THE GREEK SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF IT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT PARTICULARLY BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU GOT TO HAVE THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME AND WHATEVER ONE THINKS OF THE GREEK SYSTEM -- AND I DON'T THINK WE HAD ALCOHOL BACK THEN.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> OH, NO, I'M SURE THERE WAS NO DRINKING.

>> BUT THE IDEA THAT THERE'S DRINKING IN THE GREEK SYSTEM IN ANY DORM -- THIS IS NOT EXACTLY BREAKING NEWS.

I JUST DON'T SEE THE LEGITIMACY OF HOLDING THE ENTIRE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE.

>> I AGREE.

>> OKAY, I AGREE -- >> I DON'T.

>> AND I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF IT.

>> I THINK THAT -- OKAY, I AM A GREEK AND WHATEVER WENT ON WENT ON.

I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY, LIKE I SAY, I'M IN A BLACK FRATERNITY, BUT ANY SORORITY OR FRATERNITY PEOPLE HAVING TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, WHACKED-OUT DRUNK.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, YOU HAVE TO LIVE ON CAMPUS, ANY DORM, YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR.

SOME COLLEGES HAVE TWO YEARS, WHY?

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR MIND TO BE LIVING IN A SORORITY HOUSE OR FRATERNITY HOUSE, BUT AT MIZZOU, YOU CAN AS A FRESHMAN.

AS A RESULT, IF SOMEBODY ENDS UP PASSED OUT DRUNK, TO ME, IT'S THE SAME AS IF, LIKE, YOU KNOW NOT HAPPENING IN THE DORM, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHICH IS WE WILL SHUT DOWN, WE WILL SAY THAT THERE WILL BE NO PARTIES IN HERE AND IT WILL BE THIS.

THEY WOULD DO IT ON CAMPUS.

WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE CONTROL OF THESE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY HOUSES AND SAY, LISTEN, IT HAPPENED HERE, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, GET IT TOGETHER, SO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

BY THE WAY, THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY COULDN'T DO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND YOU DON'T DO YOUR RIGHTS OR WHATEVER AS -- YOUR RITES AS A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY.

THEY JUST SAID NO MORE PARTIES.

>> YOU THINK THAT'S COOL.

>> I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY COOL.

>> WHY HOLD THE INNOCENT ONES GUILTY -- NOT EVERYBODY DID IT.

IT WAS JUST ONE INCIDENT, RIGHT?

>> IF SOMEBODY STEPS OUT OF LINE ACADEMICALLY, YOU DON'T FAIL EVERY STUDENT AT MIZZOU.

THEY STEPPED OUT OF LINE SOCIALLY AND YOU'RE PENALIZING KIDS WHO DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

WELL, A JUDGE HAS PENALIZED OUR CASE AGAINST THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

ATTORNEY BOB BLITZ HAS BEEN SET ON THE SIDE BECAUSE THE NFL, I THINK, WAS CRAFTY ENOUGH TO PUT HIM ON THEIR WITNESS LIST.

SO AS A RESULT, BILL, GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS FOR ST. LOUIS?

I THINK THE MAIN GUY IS DOWN.

>> I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD NEWS FOR ST. LOUIS AND IF THE NFL WAS BEING CRAFTY, I THINK THEY OUTSMARTED THEMSELVES.

THERE'S TWO BIG LAWYERS ON THE ST. LOUIS TEAM, JIM BENNETT AND BOB BLITZ, AND IF YOU HAVE TWO LEAD DOGS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

I THINK YOU'RE BETTER OFF WITH ONE LEAD GUY AND JIM BENNETT, I'VE SEEN HIM IN COURT A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND HE'S A TERRIFIC LAWYER.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A SETBACK TO ST. LOUIS AT ALL.

>> YOU SOUND LIKE ANGLELA LANCE BURY IN MURDER SHE WROTE.

WE'RE ALL SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIAL IN JANUARY THAT WE'RE SPINNING THESE LITTLE INTRIGUES.

I THINK BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF TWO PRINCIPALS AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S ABLE TO BE CROSS-EXAMINED IN A COURTROOM SETTING.

I WISH I COULD SAY THAT YOU -- I WISH I COULD SAY I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE NFL IS DOING SOME DAS STARREDLY STUFF HERE.

IT'S JUST DON'T THINK THEY ARE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT REALLY HAD -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN -- YOU KNOW THOSE ATTORNEYS BETTER, BUT I DON'T REPORT THE HANDICAP, HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ST. LOUIS'S CASE.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME A NO-BRAINER THAT HE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A WITNESS FROM THE NFL.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CRAFTY.

HE CLEARLY WAS IN ON -- AND HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY OF THAT 17 -- NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF THE 17-PLUS MILLION ST. LOUIS SPENT ON WHAT I THINK WAS A PRETTY FLIMSY EFFORT FOR THE STADIUM WENT TO HIM AND HIS FIRM, SO -- I'M SORRY, I DON'T THINK IT'S -- >> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, THEY DIDN'T RAISE THIS UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY AND THEY RAISED IT IN PART BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET A BUNCH OF DEPOSITIONS THROWN OUT THAT HE HAD TAKEN OF SOME OF THESE NFL EXECUTIVES.

I THINK SOME OF THESE DEPOSITIONS POSSIBLY DIDN'T GO THAT WELL FOR THEM AND I THINK RIGHT NOW NFL IS RUNNING A LITTLE BIT SCARED.

THEIR LAWYERS ARE VERY GOOD LAWYERS.

THEY'RE DOING EVERY PLAY THEY CAN TO TRY TO DELAY THIS, GET A YARD HERE OR A YARD THERE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M DOING FOOTBALL NET THAT FORCE.

>> LISTEN TO YOU!

>> DOES THAT THROW OUT THE DEPOSITIONS THEN?

>> THEY'RE ALLOWED TO STAY, THE JUDGE RULED, WHICH I THINK IS THE RIGHT CALL.

SO THEY'RE JUST DOING EVERY SINGLE THING THEY CAN, EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.

>> AND I AGREE WITH THAT, THAT LAWYERING, IF THAT'S SUCH A WORD, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND I THINK THEY WON THIS ROUND.

QUITE FRANKLY, WHOSE FACE HAVE WE SEEN AND WHOSE WORDS HAVE WE READ?

IT'S BOB BLITZ MAKING THE STATEMENT.

AND WHEN THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF JOHN GOTTI, THEY GOT RID OF HIS LAWYER FIRST.

>> IS JOHN GOTTI PART OF THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS TO WORRY ABOUT PRISON HERE.

>> JOHN GOTTI, STAN KROENKE, THERE YOU GO.

>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE.

ALL RIGHT, IN ST. LOUIS, WE'RE LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE MORATORIUM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST. LOUIS IS WITHDRAWING ITS SPONSORSHIP OF ONE AND IT'S NOW WITH THE BORED OF ALDERMAN.

SARAH, THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

I'M NOT A FAN OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, BUT THEIR EXISTENCE X'D OUT?

>> I THINK THEIR EXISTENCE IS CRITICAL FOR A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES IN THE CITY.

I THINK YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES LEAVE THE CITY AND HEAD TO THE COUNTY.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHARTER SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY.

THEY'RE SAYING WHY CAN'T THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HANDLE THESE KIDS.

THE FACT IS THESE ARE NOT PARENTS WHO WOULD SEND THEIR KIDS TO THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE QUITE FRANKLY NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ALL THE KIDS PPS IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, ONE REASON WE'RE LOSING SO MANY FAMILIES.

I CAN SEE THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS MORATORIUM, LET'S TOSS AND SEE WHERE THINGS UP -- LET'S PAUSE AND SEE WHERE THINGS UP AND COME UP WITH A PLAN.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS UP.

>> WELL, YOU BROUGHT IT UP, SO LET'S GO THERE.

BOARD OF ALDERMAN, PLAN, AND EDUCATION.

>> AND THE CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

>> I DON'T MEAN TO LAUGH.

>> I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT, BUT THAT TO ME TAKES A SKILL SET -- IF I WERE ON THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN, I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> I'M GOING TO DEFEND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN ON THIS.

WE'RE ALL SAYING, LOOK, IT'S A BETTER PLAN THAN NO PLAN AND WHATEVER THAT PLAN IS, IF DONE CORRECTLY -- AND I KNOW I'M ASKING A LOT -- IT COULD ACTUALLY BE A -- YOU KNOW, GET THE BALL ROLLING ON IMPROVING EDUCATION IN THE CITY.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PLAN.

THEY JUST ALLOWED CHARTERS TO POP UP HERE AND THERE AND EATING AWAY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, SO THE IDEA OF GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT A LONG-TERM STRATEGY, THAT'S CRITICAL.

>> AND I THINK THE POINT YOU MAKE IS ALSO CRITICAL.

HITTING THE PAUSE BUTTON INSTEAD OF GOING HEAD-LONG INTO IT.

>> BUT SPEAKING OF BEING A FAN, I'M A FAN OF DR. ADAMS AND WHAT'S TRYING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOLS.

IT'S HARD TO SAY, THIS IS A CHICKEN AND EGG THING ABOUT WHETHER THE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE DILUTED THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO MUCH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME -- AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

THAT COULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A PLAN IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH CHARTER SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR HOW MUCH NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS THAT ARE WELL-FUNDED IN THE CITY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I PREFER -- I'VE NEVER REALLY BOUGHT INTO THE CONCEPT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

I ALWAYS SEE THEM AS SCHOOLS WITHOUT RULES.

IF THEY CAN DO THINGS THAT ARE SMARTER AND MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO CHANGE THE RULES.

LOOSEN THE RULES ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RATHER THAN GO TO CHARTERS.

THAT'S MY -- >> HE SOUNDS LIKE DR. -- >> I'VE TALKED TO PARENTS WHOSE KIDS WERE GOING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT GOT SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY JUST WEREN'T PERFORMING WELL, BUT THE PARENTS STILL BELIEVED IN THE SCHOOL AND THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING HEARTENING ABOUT SAYING THE PARENTS BUYING INTO THE EDUCATION THING.

>> BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, AS ALVIN MENTIONED, THIS ONE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST. LOUIS HAS BEEN THE SPONSOR OF, THIS SCHOOL IS SHOWING TERRIBLE BLULTS, UMSL IS PULLING OUT AND NOW YOU HAVE THESE KIDS GETTING STRANDED AND UPROOTED.

THAT'S SO BAD TO EDUCATIONAL OUT COMES, TO THAT ENDS UP HE SAIDINGS THINGS WAY BACK.

>> IMAGINE BEING A PARENT -- TO ME, THE THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE WITH PUBLIC CHARTERS IS WE HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T WORK, WE SHUT THEM DOWN.

TELL THAT TO THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT JUST GOT RIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND THE TEACHERS THEY'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW.

THEY'RE NOT MAKING THEM GUINEA PIGS AND SAY, WELL, WE SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.

IF YOU LOOK OVERALL, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN TEST SCORES AND STUFF.

THERE'S NO STATISTICAL DIFFERENCE.

I SAY GIVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MORE SUPPORT THAN -- THAT'S MY VIEW.

THE POOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT'S -- >> OKAY.

WELL, TWO WORDS: COUNTY COUNCIL.

[ LAUGHTER ] THEY'RE BACK AT IT AGAIN.

THERE'S BICKERING OVER WHETHER THEY SHOULD WEAR MASKS.

THERE'S ARGUMENTS OVER WHETHER THE PEOPLE WHO COME SHOULD WEAR MASKS.

SHOULD EVERYBODY BE CARTED OFF TO JAIL?

IT'S JUST A MESS AND IT CONTINUES.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

RAY, YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE ON?

>> YOU PUT THAT IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION?

WELL, YEAH, LAST -- TUESDAY NIGHT, THE DEMOCRATS -- YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

THE DEMOCRATS DON'T GET ALONG THAT WELL, THE FOUR DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND I HAPPEN TO BE IN FAVOR OF NONPARTISAN COUNTY COUNCILS AND CITY MAYORS AND WE'RE GETTING THAT.

BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING IS LISA CLANCY, WHO'S A DEMOCRAT, PROPOSED THAT THE MASK MANDATE BES FORCED RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THAT THEY ASK PEOPLE TO LEAVE WHO WERE THERE.

THAT PUT, I THINK, VERY UNFAIR BURDEN ON RITA HEARD DAYS, THE COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN.

I AGREE WITH LISA IN SPIRIT THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE A MASK REQUIREMENT IN THOSE BUILDINGS FOR SURE, BUT YOU CAN'T SPRING IT ON THEM AFTER THE MEETING'S ALREADY STARTED.

I THOUGHT RITA HEARD DAYS AND TIM FITCH, FRANKLY, WERE RIGHT TO SAY -- AND THE FOUR ALONG WITH -- IT WAS AN INTERESTING VOTE BECAUSE IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW, THE POINT IS IT WASN'T A PARTY LINE VOTE.

>> WASN'T ERNIE AND SHALONDA AND -- >> RIGHT, IT WAS THEM.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THAT YOU COULDN'T DO IT ON THE SPOT.

I THINK THAT THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO REQUIRE MASKS, NOT TO REQUIRE MASKS IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME IN WITH THEM, THEY SHOULDN'T LET THEM IN.

>> WELL, IF THERE'S NO PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATING THE MANDATE, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE -- >> I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE PUNISHMENT.

I JUST DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD LET THEM IN THE MEETING IN THE FUTURE FOR NOT WEARING A MASK.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE THE OUTRAGE?

THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY PRETTY WOUND UP AND THEY'RE GETTING TURNED AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WOULD INSIST ON BEING HAND KUFRD AND DRAGGED OUT OF THE ROOM.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE FOR CHAIRWOMAN DAYS.

I DON'T BLAME HER -- >> THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD DO IT THAT NIGHT.

>> I LIKE THE WAY SHE BASICALLY PUT IT RIGHT BACK INTO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S LAP OR ON HIS DECK.

IF HE WANTS TO MAKE THE BUILDINGS, BECAUSE HE'S THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, HE HAS THE FINAL SAY IN TERMS OF MAKING THOSE TYPES OF DECISIONS.

IS HE AVOIDING MAKING THAT DECISION?

IS HE TRYING TO FORCE HER HAND?

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TELENOVELLA ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

>> IT'S THE POLITICS OF THIS.

IT ISN'T ABOUT SAM PAGE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

>> BUT HE'S ACTING LIKE A PARENT WHO CAN'T CONTROL THE KIDS AND JUST KEEP SAYING YOU WILL DO THIS AND THE KIDS SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

HE INSISTED AFTERWARDS, WE HAVE A MASK MANDATE.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE A MASK MANDATE WHEN NOBODY'S WEARING A MASK?

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE, TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY -- NOO TO ENFORCE -- >> TO ENFORCE IT.

IF I WAS THE CHAIR, ALL RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MASKS THEY HAVE AROUND THERE IN THE HALLS OF THE COUNCIL BUILDING, BUT I WOULD HAVE FOUND ONE FOR EVERYBODY IN THERE AND SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT IT OR I'M SHUTTING IT DOWN.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MEETING TONIGHT.

I WOULDN'T GIVE THEM THE PLEASURE OF GETTING ARRESTED, BUT I'M SAYING WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN THERE, WE'LL MEET ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE'LL MEET TOMORROW MORNING AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO IF THEY COME BACK AND WOULDN'T WEAR IT THE NEXT DAY?

>> YOU DON'T GET IN.

>> DON'T LET THEM IN THE DOOR.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT WEARING A MASK, YOU WILL BE ESCORTED OUT OF HERE.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE 100 POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT THAT'S WHY THIS NONSENSE IS CONTINUING.

>> THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES.

>> THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES.

WHAT YOU DO OUT THERE, I DON'T CARE, BUT WHAT YOU DO IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER, THEN, I DO CARE.

>> THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.

>> IF I'M THE CHAIRMAN OR CHAIRWOMAN, THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND I THINK -- THAT'S A TOUGH DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE BECAUSE THIS NEEDS TO STOP AND WE NEED TO GET ON WITH BUSINESS AND THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S TOUGH TO SAY THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE RULES AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE REGULATIONS AND YOU CAN GO ON FOX AND YOU CAN FOR ON HERE AND YOU CAN GO CRAZY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT IT STOPS INSIDE OF THESE WALLS HERE WHERE WE HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS.

WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT DOESN'T STOP, THE McCLOSKEY FAMILY.

THEY DIDN'T PAY THEIR WATER BILL FOR YEAR AND IT WAS BECAUSE THE MAIL WAS NOT BEING DELIVERED.

IN ALL FAIRNESS, IT HAS BEEN PAID.

ARE YOU ANY OF YOU ALL BUYING THIS?

IS ANYBODY BUYING -- >> I'M WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ON THIS.

IF I WERE A BLACKMAIL CARRIER, I WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE NAIL TO THE McCLOSKEYS HOUSE.

I'M NOT DELIVERING IT.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD LEGAL ARGUMENT AID MAKE WITH THE UNION.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING NAIL.

>> YOU PUT IT ON THE PATHWAY UP TO THE DOOR AND JUST KICK IT.

YOU WOULDN'T WALK UP TO THE -- I WOULDN'T WALK UP TO THE DOOR AND THE FACT THAT MRS. McCLOSKEY, SHE SAID THAT MAIL SERVICE HAD JUST RESUME AND WE KNOW THAT THE MAIL SERVICE HAS BEEN A LITTLE SPORADIC BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND BECAUSE OF THE USPS BEING SHORT-STAFFED, SO I'M WILLING TO GIVE -- IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE HOUSE ON PORTLAND PLACE, I'M THINKING THAT THEY CAN PROBABLY AFFORD THE UTILITY BILLS THAN THIS WAS SORT OF AN OVERSIGHT INSTEAD OF SOMETHING DELIBERATE, BUT I'M SURE IT'S STILL GOING TO END UP IN THE CAMPAIGN LITERATURE OF EVERYBODY RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

>> I JUST FIND IT HARD THAT THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO ANY VOTES AGAINST HIM.

OH, THEY'RE REBELS WHO DON'T EVEN PAY THEIR BILLS!!

>> BUT IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, NOBODY IS GOING TO USE THAT AGAINST THEM.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO -- WHAT IS THE POST OFFICE, THROUGH RAIN AND SLEET AND SNOW AND GUNFIRE FROM POORLY DRESSED PEOPLE?

NO.

>> I DON'T THINK -- I CAN'T IMAGINE, THIS IS NOT A RED MEAT ISSUE, SO IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY -- >> BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

>> YES, YOU.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> ARE YOU KIDDING?

CAN YOU IMAGINE GREITENS SAYING -- ERIC GREITENS IS GOING TO GO AFTER SOMEBODY FOR NOT PAYING THEIR WATER BILL?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE CAPABLE OF.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM -- >> COME ON.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO REALLY LET THEM OFF THE HOOK HERE BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THEIR OTHER UTILITY BILLS GOT PAID, OKAY?

AND IF ANYBODY'S MAIL IS GETTING DELIVERED IN PROBABLY THE STATE OF MISSOURI, IT'S TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OVER THERE ON PORTLAND PLACE AND IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE NORTH OF 110th STREET, YEAH, YOUR MAIL MIGHT BE A LITTLE SPORADIC, BUT I THINK THEY -- I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM OFF.

>> BUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO -- SO YOUR POINT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF SOMEBODY NOT PAYING THEIR WATER BILL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- NO.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT STUFF THEY CARE ABOUT.

>> I ABOABOUT -- I BEG TO DIFFER.

>> WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THAT CASE?

>> I'M RUNNING AGAINST YOU.

I'M REPUBLICAN AND I'M RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

>> QUITE A RACE THERE.

>> YOU ARE JUST A BIG -- >> SCOFFLAW.

>> SAME AS THAT SCUM THAT WANTS MEDICAID EXPANSION.

I'D THROW ALL THAT ON YOU BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PAY YOUR WATER BILL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW POLITICS ARE.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE IF YOU -- THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THIS STUFF.

>> YOU ASKED WOULD I USE IT AGAINST THEM AND I WOULD.

I'M GOING TO THROW IT AT YOU REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE BECAUSE RAY, YOU HAD A GOOD POINT.

I GOT BLUES TICKETS.

I GOT A SHOW THAT I'M VACCINATED AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR MY MASK, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE GAME IF I'M NOT EATING AND DRINKING.

SAME WITH THE SYMPHONY AND OTHER.

IS IT TIME TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU PROVE YOU'RE VACCINATED, CAN WE NOT WEAR OUR MASKS WHEN WE'RE INDOORS IN BUSINESS?

>> I'M THERE, I'M READY TO SAY YES TO THAT.

>> YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SORT OF -- >> ESPECIALLY AT THE HOCKEY GAME.

THAT'S NOT A LITTLE BIT CLOSED-IN THING AND IF EVERYBODY IS VACCINATED, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

>> WE WENT TO A MOVIE THEATER IN THE CITY AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WEAR A MASK, BUT EVERYBODY WATCHING JAMES BOND WAS PRETTY RELAXED.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A DRINK IN THEIR HAND AND THEY SAY, OH, I'M DRINKING, I CAN'T WEAR A MASK.

I HAVE A 6-YEAR-OLD KID AND I THINK WE'RE A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM GETTING VACCINATED.

WE'VE COME THIS FAR.

CAN WE WAIT A COUPLE MORE WEEKS?

>> I APPLAUD THAT.

HOW ABOUT WE JUST DO IT?

I WAS FIRED UP ABOUT THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I'LL BE QUIETER ABOUT IT IN THAT REGARD.

I JUST DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WEARING A MASK.

>> IT'S NOT PAINFUL.

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IN THE POLITICIZATION OF THIS THING, WE CONFLATE THE VAX ISSUES AND THE MASK ISSUES.

TO THE POINT THAT IF THE BLUES ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND THEY ARE, BY REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION, I THINK IT CHANGES -- AND THEY'RE SERVING CONCESSIONS, I THINK IT DOES CHANGE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MASKS A LITTLE AND I AM FOR MASK -- I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT SCHNUCKS REQUIRES MASKS AND I WOULD WEAR ONE IN ANY CASE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE KEY STEP, WHICH IS ABOUT VACCINATIONS, I THINK IT CHANGES THE DISCUSSION ON MASKS A LITTLE BIT.

>> I JUST, IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE RIGHT NOW, IF IT'S NOT OUTDOOR -- I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CARDINALS GAMES, BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BEING INDOORS WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE.

>> I'D PROBABLY WEAR A MASK, BUT I DON'T THINK IT -- I'M NOT SURE IT SHOULD BE -- FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT, SO IT DEPENDS.

>> ONCE AGAIN T WHY AREN'T THEY ABLE TO ENFORCE IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A REAL RISK THING?

>> AT A HOCKEY GAME, OKAY.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DRINKING AND EATING -- >> JUST IMAGINE THE POOR USHERS AT A HOCKEY GAME.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH BEING AN USHER AT A CROWDED EVENT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP, HEY, THE GUY SITTING NEXT TO ME IS NOT WEARING A MASK.

AND I DO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I DO THINK WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AROUND BUSINESS -- WALKING AROUND, ALL THOSE THINGS, HALF THE PEOPLE HAVE A MASK AND THAT RULE WOULD BE REASONABLE.

I WOULD WEAR THE MASK, BUT I DON'T THINK I'D BE WEARING IT AT THE GAME DRINKING A BEER.

>> THAT IS TRUE, YES, AND THAT WHOLE THING, I'LL JUST KEEP A BEER IN MY HAND AND NOBODY WILL BOTHER ME, BUT NOW THAT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS.

ALL RIGHT, RUNNING OUT OF TIME TONIGHT.

LET'S GO TO THE FAIL BAG.

NOT SURE IF YOUR PANELISTS HAVE CHANGED OR IF YOUR SELECTION OF TOPICS NO LONGER MANDATES PICKING A TOPIC THE PANEL DISAGREES ON, BUT I'VE NOTICED LATELY THAT YOU SEEM TO LACK DIVERSE OPINIONS ON YOUR SHOW.

WHEN MISSOURI POLITICS ARE THE TOPIC, IT SEEMS TO TURN INTO FIVE PEOPLE BASHING THE REPUBLICAN REPS IN JEFF CITY.

THAT FROM L. CAROL.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT TO ST. LOUIS MORE THAN A THOUSAND HERE, A THOUSAND THERE, OF PEOPLE FROM HAITI, ETCETERA?

APPARENTLY NOT WITH JOE BIDEN.

AND ANGIE, NOCO ST. LOUIS, GAD YOU'RE READING VIEWER COMMENTS AGAIN.

ALMOST AS GOOD AS YOUR TURN.

SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108 OR DONNYBROOK AT NINEPBS.ORG AND REMEMBER TO TWEET US USING #DONNYBROOKSTL.

DON'T FORGET IF YOU MISS DONNYBROOK, YOU CAN CATCH US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST OUTLET.

WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT FOR NEXT UP.

WE HAVE THREE LADIES WHO KNOW ALL TOO WELL HOW HARD THE HOSPIT HOSPITALITY STRIZ HAS HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE HEARING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE ST. LOUIS RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SUPPORTS EACH OTHER.

BILL AND WENDY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> WELCOME, WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

BILL McCLELLAN AND I ARE SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE IN STUDIO SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE AND LOVE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION.

AND WE KNOW FIRST HAND, SECOND HAND, THIRD HAND, HOW THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, THE FOOD INDUSTRY HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THREE WOMEN TONIGHT WHO HAVE A VERY INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS MEANT TO THE BUSINESS, WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE WELCOME NATASHA BAHRAMI.

SHE'S THE OWNER OF THE GIN ROOM INSIDE CAFE NATASHA ON SOUTH GRAND.

>> HELLO, SO WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU, NATASHA.

AND MEREDITH BERRY.

MEREDITH IS OPENING A BRAND NEW VENTURE THIS FALL.

PLATYPUS BAR IN THE GROVE.

VERY POPULAR PLACE.

SHE ALSO WORKS FOR NICHE FOOD GROUP.

THANK YOU, MEREDITH, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

>> AND CLARA NOBLE, ANGEL'S ENVY WHISKEY GUARDIAN, SO SHE'S BILL McCLELLAN'S NEW BEST FRIEND.

I THINK THEIR FAMILIES ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS.

BUT BILL, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE OPENING SHOT IN TERMS OF THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS IN ST. LOUIS.

>> WELL, BEFORE WE GET TO THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, WENDY, I WOULD ASK CLARA, HOW DOES ONE GET A JOB WHERE -- AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A WHISKEY COMPANY AND EXACTLY WHAT DO YOU DO TO REPRESENT THEM?

>> SO, I -- PRETTY MUCH I THINK THE ONLY REASON I GOT THE JOB IS JUST BECAUSE I'M THE BIGGEST NERD IN THE WORLD.

SUPER GEEK.

SO WHEN I FIND THINGS THAT FASCINATE ME, I JUST DEEP DIVE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR HISTORY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY FASCINATED IT WITH.

I WORKED AT A BAR AND SOMEONE BOUGHT ME A POUR OF ANGEL'S ENVY AND I WAS LIKE, USUALLY I SHOOT THESE THINGS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY SAID DO NOT SHOOT, SIP IT.

SO I SIP IT AND I GO DEEP AND WAS ABLE TO COMBINE THE TWO, THE HISTORY AND THE WHISKEY.

I MEAN, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHISKEY, I'M GOING TO GO ON AND ON NERDING, BUT I PERSONALLY LEAVE AND I COULD PROBABLY WRITE A DISSERTATION ON THE FACT THAT THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AS WE KNOW IT WOULD NOT EXIST IF IT WEREN'T FOR WHISKEY AND BOURBON.

HOWEVER, THAT KNOWLEDGE SHINED THROUGH AND SOME PEOPLE GOT WIND OF IT AND THEN I GOT A PHONE CALL ONE DAY AFTER HELPING HER OUT AT A GIN WORLD EVENT AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, SURE, YEAH.

WHAT, WHAT?

AND NOW I'M -- >> AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> THE REST IS HISTORY.

MY BUSINESS CARD LITERALLY SAYS WHISKEY GUARDIAN ON IT.

>> WHISKEY GUARDIAN.

DO YOU HIRE FORMER JOURNALISTS?

IF HE'S EVER A FORMER JOURNALIST, HE MIGHT BE GIVING YOU A CALL.

>> LET ME ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.

THAT IS, IT SEEMS TO COUNTERINTUITIVE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM GETTING HELP THESE DAYS.

I MEAN, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WHEN THE RESTAURANTS WERE ALL SHUTTING DOWN AND BARTENDERS AND WAITRESSES WERE OUT OF WORK, THE PEOPLE WOULD BE DYING TO RUSH BACK TO WORK, AND YET, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE CASE.

I MEAN, WHAT'S -- YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE RESTAURANTS I KNOW, SOME OF THEM -- EVERYBODY SEEMS SHORT OF WORKERS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?

>> I THINK THE TIME THAT WE HAD WHEN THINGS CLOSED WAS A CONTEMPLATIVE TIME, REALIZING THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY PREVALENT BUT THAT WERE EXASPERATED AND BROUGHT EVEN MORE TO THE SURFACE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT JUST ARE WITHIN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN GENERAL, AND SO PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK SO QUICKLY.

THEY WANTED TO FIND OTHER WORK THAT APPRECIATED THEIR VALUE, AND THEREFORE, TO ME, THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE AND APPRECIATE PEOPLE'S VALUE.

THEY, WITHIN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ALSO DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE CARED FOR, SO WHY RUSH TO WORK TO SOMEWHERE THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU?

>> AS SOMEBODY WHO, I PUT MYSELF THROUGH COLLEGE WORKING IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HERE IN ST. LOUIS, AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT BEHAVIOR, THE CUSTOMERS' BEHAVIOR AND SUCH, AND TASHA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE, IS IT AS BAD AS WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE?

ARE CUSTOMERS ABUSIVE IN 2021, OR -- OR LEVELS OF ABUSIVE OR IS THAT MORE COMMON PLACE THAN WE REALIZE?

>> I'M GOING TO START WITH THE BEGINNING OF YOUR QUESTION.

AS I'M -- I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE HAVE GROWN AND FLOURISHED OUT OF THIS INDUSTRY OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, AS YOURSELF, HAVE GROWN THROUGH COLLEGE, GETTING THROUGH IT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY.

I MYSELF WAS CRAWLING, CAFE NATASHA STARTED WHEN I WAS A TODDLER AND WE'RE NOW AT 36 YEARS.

THAT IS A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THESE THREE DECADES THAT HAVE HAPPENED, AND I THINK A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IS THIS HAS MOVED FROM SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE TO A HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

THAT WORD IS SO IMPORTANT IN WHO WE'VE BECOME, THAT WE'RE NO LONGER, OKAY, HERE'S A STEPPING STONE JOB TO WHAT WE WERE DOING.

EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, INCLUDING ALL THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, HAVE DEGREES OR ADVANCED DEGREES, AND YOU'LL FIND THAT TAKING PLACE IN A LOT OF INDUSTRY.

AND MOVING TO WHAT WE ARE NOW, IT HAS CHANGED AND GUESTS HAVE CHANGED AS WELL.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY, I'VE WATCHED IT GROW, I'VE LIVED AND WORKED IN NEW YORK, D.C., LEBANON, ALL OVER THE WORLD, SPAIN.

COMING BACK HERE, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I'M GOING TO SAY IT RIGHT NOW.

ST. LOUIS HAS SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

CARING AND APPRECIATIVE AND THE REASON WHY MANY OF US ARE STILL IN THIS INDUSTRY, INCLUDING MY MOTHER WHO STARTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, HAS CONTINUED IN ST. LOUIS RUNNING HER RESTAURANT BECAUSE THE GUESTS ARE SO AMAZING AND THEY'VE BECOME FAMILY VERSUS JUST GUESTS WHO WALK IN.

SO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED IS GUESTS ARE AMAZING, AGAINST ARE WONDERFUL.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND THAT CREATES AN ISSUE, IT CREATES BURDENS ON US WHERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY, WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE APPRECIATED FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SEEN AS MORE AS A MEANS TO AN END.

AND AGAIN, IN THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY, THEY ARE AMAZING.

THEY ARE POINTS WITHIN THAT THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR US IN THE INDUSTRY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> MEREDITH OR CLARA, DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

>> I KIND OF WANT -- OUTSIDE OF BEING A WHISKEY GUARDIAN, THAT'S ACTUALLY PART-TIME JOB.

I'M ALSO A BARTENDER IN THE INDUSTRY, LIKE STRAIGHT-UP BEHIND THE PINE SLINGING DRINKS, COCKTAILS, MARTINIS, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

I HAVE WORKED ANYWHERE -- I STARTED OUT WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD BUSING TABLES AT TWO HARGEG RESTAURANTS IN SOULARD.

THAT'S MY FAMILY'S RESTAURANT.

LIKE I GREW UP, BORN AND RAISED IN THIS INDUSTRY.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF REALLY CRAZY STUFF, AND IT'S -- THAT ASPECT IS, LIKE, GUESTS -- I'M GOING TO SAY CUSTOMERS.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GUEST WHO SITS AT YOUR BAR AND A CUSTOMER WHO SITS AT YOUR BAR.

>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> GUESTS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THEIR OWN HOME, THEY'RE IN ANOTHER ENVIRONMENT.

THEY'RE THERE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE THERE TO LEARN, THEY'RE THERE TO EVEN -- I JUST -- EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S THE KEYWORD.

>> THEY'RE IN YOUR HOUSE.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE IN MY HOUSE, THEY'RE IN MY HOME AND THEY'RE HERE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE WITH ME, GUIDING THEIR PATH, GUIDING THEIR WAY.

A CUSTOMER IS THERE TO ESCAPE.

A CUSTOMER IS THERE TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> SURE.

>> AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN CUSTOMERS AROUND.

I JUST THINK THAT -- AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY EITHER.

IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY.

>> SURE.

>> IT'S PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THIS CURRENT CULTURAL SHIFT IN SOCIETY THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, BUT COVID HAS EXACERBATED IT TO THE POINT THAT I'LL JUST BE SITTING BEHIND A BAR WORKING, DOING -- MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS WEARING A MASK AND I'M GETTING YELLED AT FROM ACROSS THE LOBBY FOR, YOU KNOW, WEARING A MASK.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, RIGHT?

AND IT'S -- I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

REGARDLE LLESS OF WHAT MY OPINIONS ARE, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

IT IS LEGALLY MANDATED.

THEY CAN SHUT US DOWN.

IT'S THE SAME AS LIKE, REGARDLESS OF ANYBODY'S OPINION, YOU KNOW, TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND THE STATE OF MISSOURI, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HP -- OR THE -- HEP-A, YOU HAVE TO.

THAT'S BEEN THE RULE FROM THE BEGINNING SINCE I STARTED, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS ON THAT ASPECT, BUT I ALSO -- I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

SO WHY ARE YOU PUNISHING ME FOR JUST TRYING TO DO MY JOB AND CREATE AN EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?

WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A CUSTOMER OR GUEST, WHEN YOU WALK IN THAT DOOR, I HAVE NO IDEA.

I JUST KNOW THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, I HAVE NO IDEA.

I'M THERE TO GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT -- TAKE MY EFFORT TOWARDS YOU AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND THEN TALK DOWN ON ME OR YELL AT ME OR -- >> YEAH, SO WHAT IS -- MY QUESTION IS WHY DO PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S A RIGHT TO GO OUT?

I FEEL LIKE IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE.

>> IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO GO OUT.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE ALL ANSWERED THE QUESTION WHILE BEING INCREDIBLY DIPLOMATIC, VERY DIPLOMATIC.

>> RIGHT.

MEREDITH, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT OPENING A NEW RESTAURANT AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, DO YOU -- >> CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST?

>> VERY OPTIMISTIC.

>> ARE YOU MODELING YOUR NEW RESTAURANT, THE PLATYPUS, AFTER ANY PARTICULAR RESTAURANT?

ARE YOU SEEKING A NICHE OR HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, DETERMINE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BEING HONEST.

>> TONY CHAPPUTTO AND I, MY REALLY DEAR FRIEND AND NOW MY PARTNER IN THIS BAR THAT WE'RE CREATING, IT IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT GOING OUT.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE DIVE BAR, A COMBINATION OF COCKTAILS.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET JUST SOME REALLY GOOD FOOD AND SOME REALLY GOOD DRINKS WITH NO PRETENTIOUSNES PRETENTIOUSNESS.

YOU WALK TO THE BAR AND GET A DRINK, YOU WALK UP TO THE FOOD COUNTER AND GET A DRINK AND JUST SIT DOWN AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR EMPLOYEES AND THEN OUR UTMOST GOAL AND THAT'S OUR MAIN FOCUS RIGHT NOW, BEFORE WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT TONY ARE LIKE, LOVE YOU, WE'LL GIVE YOU A HUG, A COVID HUG, YOU KNOW, BUT WE ARE -- WE WANT YOU ALL ALSO TO KNOW THAT THIS IS KNOW THAT THIS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYBODY.

AND FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THEM THAT IS AN EDUCATIONAL SPACE, SO IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO KNOW COCKTAILS OR KNOW DRINKS, BUT IT'S THAT BARBACK THAT'S BEEN WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD, WHO HASN'T GOTTEN A CHANCE YET.

IT'S SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE WAS JUST WORKING BEHIND A COUNTER IN A REGISTER, BUT KIND OF WANT TO DO SOMETHING MORE AND WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MORE AND BE MORE INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE AND LEARN SOME INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SPIRITS AND HOW TO MAKE DRINKS AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN A BIGGER WAY.

AND WE WANT TO OFFER THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE, SO WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN WE HAVE MOST PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KEEP BRINGING THEM IN TO BUILD THIS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FURTHER FROM THE BOTTOM TO TOP.

AND TO SHOW THEM THAT EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, ALL OF YOUR EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT AND IT BUILDS ON ONE, AND NOT ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER.

NOT ONE JOB IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER.

EVERYBODY IS IMPORTANT IN THIS SITUATION.

LEADERS INCLUDED.

WE DEFINITELY FEEL THAT -- AND I'M GUILTY OF IT AS WELL, OF HAVING THIS IDEA AS A LEADER THAT I'M ABOVE SOMEBODY, AND MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE BEEN MARGINALIZED MYSELF IN SITUATIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S BEST TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EVERYONE AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.

AND THAT'S LEADERSHIP.

A LEADER CAN BE A STUDENT AND THEY CAN BE SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, BEING LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I GOT THIS.

IT'S UNDERSTANDING, AND TONY AND I ARE REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OURSELVES TO LEARN IN THESE SITUATIONS, TO BE BETTER LEADERS, TO KNOW WHEN TO BOW OUT AND TO KNOW WHEN TO BE THERE FOR SOMEBODY AND BE A MENTOR.

>> CAN YOU ALL KIND OF WALK US THROUGH, IN TERMS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT AND SHORTAGES AND DELAYS, HOW -- I MEAN, AFTER YOU HAVE NEGOTIATED AND NAVIGATED EVERYTHING WITHIN THE PANDEMIC THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, TO NOW BE FACING THESE SHORTAGES AND SUPPLY CHAIN KINKS, HOW DO YOU WORK THAT INTO YOUR PLANS, NATASHA?

>> SO COMMUNICATING OUTWARDLY IS SOMETHING WE TRY OUR BEST TO DO, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MANY VOICES YOU CAN CONNECT WITH.

BUT SUPPLY CHAIN, FROM THE CONTAINERS YOU'RE GETTING YOUR TO-GO ITEMS IN TO YOUR FAVORITE WHISKEYS OR GIN, TO REALLY BEEF OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU NEED TO RUN YOUR RESTAURANT OR YOUR BAR IS NOT AVAILABLE.

AT TIMES, AT TIMES.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S NOT AVAILABLE.

AND SO I THINK THOSE WHO HAVE STAYED WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, AND THERE'S NOTHING AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE MOVED ON TO DO THINGS THAT WORK FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST AS WELL, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF US WHO HAVE KIND OF LIKE -- OUR SOULS ARE DEEP IN THIS INDUSTRY AND IT'S HARD TO UPROOT THAT, AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU MAKE -- TRY TO MAKE A RESERVATION AT OUR PLACE, WE LOVE HAVING YOU.

THE ANSWER TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS, PLEASE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENT.

WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY SHORT ON STAFF OR ITEMS OR SUCH.

PLEASE, YOU KNOW, COME WITH AN OPEN MIND AND BE PATIENT WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE I COULD HAVE A FULL FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF, WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, OR I'LL LOSE HALF OF MY BACK OF HOUSE STAFF AND IT'S JUST THERE'S NOTHING TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TILL DAY OF.

>> WOW.

>> AND IT IS NOT CONSTRUCTIVE TO HAVE A PROPER SERVICE AND GIVE THE BEST SERVICE IN HOSPITALITY WE WANT TO GIVE, SO WE SMILE, WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

THE WHISKEY YOU CAME TO GET OR THE BEER YOU REALLY WANTED OR THE BEEF KEBAB YOU REALLY WANTED TO DO, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT WE CAN HAVE AT THAT MOMENT, BUT WE TRY TO HONE IN ON THOSE SKILLS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FOR MANY YEARS THAT WE -- YOU ARE OUR GUEST AND WHETHER YOU'RE A GUEST IN OUR HOME OR A GUEST IN OUR SPACE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.

IF YOU COME INTO ANY PLACE THAT YOU HAPPEN TO PATRONIZE ON ANY GIVEN DAY, JUST KNOW THAT I PROMISE, NOT EVERY WHEEL IS WORKING PROPERLY AND MOST LIKELY MANY OF THE WHEELS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY, BUT WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STILL GIVE YOU THAT GUEST, BE OUR GUEST EXPERIENCE AND JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ON ALL OF THESE TERMS.

SO YEAH.

>> HOW DID WE GET SOPHISTICATED THAT WE WENT FROM A TOWN THAT HAD A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD BARS WHERE EVERYBODY DRANK BUD WISER OR BUSCH TO -- >> WHICH IS ALSO AMAZING.

>> YEAH, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT TO A CITY WHERE WE HAVE A GIN BAR?

I MEAN, YOU'RE AN INTERNATIONAL GIN STAR WITH YOUR GIN FESTIVAL.

WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO YOUR PLACE, DO THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF A DRINK THEY WANT?

>> NO IDEA.

>> NO IDEA, OKAY.

>> NO IDEA.

>> I FEEL BETTER ABOUT THAT.

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

AND AGAIN, TO ALL THE OTHERS IN THIS INDUSTRY, HALF THE TIME GUESTS AREN'T COMING IN -- MAYBE THEY JUST WANT REPRIEVE.

MAYBE THEY JUST WANT -- THEY HAD A HARD DAY AND THEY'RE COMING IN AND THEY JUST HAPPEN TO JUMP INTO A BAR THAT'S A GIN BAR AND THEY'RE LIKE, I WANT A WHISKEY.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE THEM WHISKEY, RIGHT?

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS UNDERLYING AGENDA THAT WE'RE LIKE, SO I HEAR YOU LIKE WHISKEY.

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS THING CALLED BARELY GIN OR THIS COCKTAIL THAT'S MADE FOR BOURBON LOVERS, BUT THERE'S FOR BOURBON IN IT, YOU KNOW?

AND ALL OF US, WHETHER WE'RE AT A VODKA BAR OR GIN BAR OR A BEER BAR AND SOMEBODY WANT AND COCKTAIL, RIGHT?

WE JUST TRY OUR BEST TO MANEUVER THROUGH IT, BUT IT'S WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID HERE.

EDUCATION IS A PART OF IT.

WHEN WE STARTED EIGHT YEARS AGO, THIS IS FULLY -- IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, ST. LOUIS IS A BEER AND BOURBON TOWN AND BARBECUE.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE, BUT A BIG, NOW, FOODIE TOWN OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

WE HAVE GROWN, EVOLVED, MASSIVE ETHNICITIES.

ON SOUTH GRAND WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE MORE ETHNICITIES THAN EPCOT CENTER, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S OPENED UP FOR THINGS AND PEOPLE TO BE OPEN FOR EDUCATION THAT WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT LIKE COME FOR EDUCATION.

WE'RE LIKE, COME, CAN I PROVIDE YOU SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU HADN'T ALREADY BEEN FAMILIAR WITH AND MAKING YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THAT YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU SAT INTO A MASSIVE WHISKEY BAR WITH 900 WHISKEYS AND FEELING OVERWHELMED.

OUR GOAL AS HOSPITALITY IS TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT.

SO -- >> AND THAT HELPS, OBVIOUSLY, TO A MORE ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> FOR EVERYBODY, AND YOU ALL HAVE TO FEEL FANTASTIC.

IF YOU'RE INTRODUCED SOMEBODY TO SOMETHING NEW, THAT THEY WEREN'T EVEN THINKING OF.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

>> IT'S THE ONLY REASON I STILL DO THIS, TO SEE THAT LIGHT BULB GO ON IN SOMEONE'S EYES WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THAT NEW EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY COULD HAVE.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD HUMMUS?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, I CAN.

>> YEAH?

HOW LONG WAS IT?

>> PROBABLY 25 YEARS AGO, I WANT TO SAY.

>> CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HAD, LIKE, A REALLY WELL-MADE COCKTAIL?

>> OH YES.

CAN'T I, BILL?

YEAH, I CAN.

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS, LIKE, BEING HUMAN BEINGS, YOU KNOW, OUR MEMORIES ARE RETAINED BASED ON OUR SENSES.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS LITERALLY CREATING EXPERIENCES AND CREATING LASTING MEMORIES.

SO YOU REMEMBER -- SO KIND OF TO YOUR POINT, I MEAN, WHEN I GREW UP, WHAT THE F WAS HUMMUS, RIGHT?

I HAD NO IDEA.

WHEN I FIRST SAW HUMMUS, KIND OF GROSSED OUT, NOT GONNA LIE, BUT I EAT IT ALL THE TIME WITH CARROTS.

NOW I EAT IT ALL THE TIME.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS.

OPENING UP OUR BORDERS TO ECONOMICALLY GETTING MORE TRADE AND GETTING -- AND GETTING MORE TRADE, PEOPLE WANTING TO HAVE MORE EXPERIENCES, HAVING MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

I MEAN, A LOT OF THIS REVOLUTION THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO BOURBON WHISKEY IS JUST HUGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, WE'RE IN THE RENAISSANCE OF BOURBON RIGHT NOW, BUT COCKTAILS, ALL OF THAT, IT STARTED WITH, LIKE, THE TERROIR MOVEMENT WITH WINES AND PARTNERING UP WITH CHEFS FROM THE BACK OF HOUSE AND WANTING TO BE MORE LOCAL BECAUSE EVERYTHING COMING IN WAS INTERNATIONAL AND YOU LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS AND YOU START TO THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS ACTUALLY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS.

AND YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN MY FOOD, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN MY DRINK AND IT JUST KIND OF WENT FROM -- AND YOU WANT TO GET MORE LOCAL BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS INTERNATIONAL FOR SO LONG.

>> I THINK SUSTAINABILITY AND THINKING ABOUT WHERE THINGS COME FROM IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE?

SUSTAINABILITY IS TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT FOR YOU.

>> RIGHT.

WE ARE SORT OF AT THE THREE-MINUTE MARK AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE.

HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE IN TERMS OF THE INDUSTRY?

NATASHA, YOU WANT TO START, OR MEREDITH?

>> YOU POINTED AT MEREDITH.

>> OKAY, MEREDITH?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.

HOW DO WE CONTINUE?

WE'VE REALIZED THAT HUMANIZING AND REMEMBERING HUMANITY IS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING IN THIS INDUSTRY IN WHAT WE DO.

>> WHAT DO HUMANS NEED?

>> WHAT DO HUMANS NEED, EXACTLY.

>> MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHCARE, FEELING LIKE YOU'RE PART OF A TEAM OR PART OF THIS HUMANITY AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

IT'S MANY THINGS THAT THIS SERVICE, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY DOES NOT GET, AND IT'S -- >> WE FORGOT.

>> THE POOR HUMANS FORGOT.

I THINK DUE TO COVID, A LOT OF US WERE FORCED TO BE MORE INSULAR AND FOCUS ON OURSELVES, SO WHEN WE ALL HAD TO GO BACK OUT AND IT'S A WIDE WORLD, YOU KIND OF FORGOT THAT THAT'S JUST ANOTHER HUMAN ACROSS THE BAR.

SO STEPS FORWARD, AND THIS ISN'T JUST THE RESTAURANT HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

IT'S THE GREAT RESIGNATION AS NBC PUT IT THE OTHER DAY.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE VALUED.

YOU WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO, AS A FEMALE, I DON'T WANT TO GET BEHIND THE BAR AND HAVE A CUSTOMER BE, YOU KNOW, TELL ME THAT I'M HOT.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT TO THE GUY THAT'S BARTENDING WITH ME?

F NO.

IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND WE ALL DESERVE RESPECT AS PEOPLE.

>> IS THERE A BUSINESS MODEL -- I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND REMEMBER WE'RE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK HERE, I'M SORRY.

>> NO, HONESTLY, RIGHT NOW I'M STILL -- I'M OPENING MY OWN BAR, BUT I'M ALSO WORKING FOR NICHE FOOD GROUP AND I DO FEEL THAT AS A BUSINESS MODEL, THAT THEY ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO LISTEN AND TO CHANGE AND DO BETTER, AND RIGHT NOW, REALLY COOL THING THAT'S HAPPENING, THEY DECIDED TO START DOING IS SURVEY AND IT COULD BE ANONYMOUS AND WE STARTED DOING THAT AS WELL FOR INDUSTRY PEOPLE.

WE DID IT AND WE WERE LIKE, LET'S DO A SURVEY, JUST LIKE PUT YOUR OPINIONS IN.

IT CAN BE ANONYMOUS.

>> OPEN AND COMMUNICATIVE.

>> LET US KNOW THAT YOU NEED AS A HUMAN BEING.

WHAT DO YOU NEED AND WHAT CAN OUR BUSINESS DO FOR YOU TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> DO YOU THINK PRICES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP?

>> IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP.

WE CAN'T FIND THINGS.

THINGS AREN'T COMING IN.

IF THEY'RE COMING IN, THEY'RE JUST WAITING AND SITTING THERE AND IT'S -- THERE'S NOBODY TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST THE TIME THAT WE'RE IN.

>> SOMETHING TELLS ME THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A TWO-PART CONVERSATION, SO WE HAVE ALL OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND YOU'LL PROBABLY BE HEARING FROM US VERY SOON.

NATASHA BAHRAMI, OWNER OF THE GIN ROOM INSIDE OF CAFE NATASHA ON SOUTH GRAND, MEREDITH BERRY OPENING A NEW VENTURE THIS FALL OPENING PLATYPUS IN THE GROVE, BUT SHE ALSO WORKS FOR NICHE FOOD GROUP AND CLARA NOBLE, SHE'S A WHISKEY GUARDIAN AND SHE ALSO WORKS AT ANGEL'S ENVY WHISKEY BAR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ON BEHALF OF BILL McCLELLAN AND THE ENTIRE KB TEAM, I'M WENDY WIESE, THANKS FOR WASH. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com .

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.