HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?

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COOL HAND FRANK is all about great writing, curated art, fresh entertainment, delicious food & drink, impressive recipes, evolving culture, smart style, and modern living in the 21st century.

What will you be reading? All original content: prose, poetry, essay, humor, commentary, short stories, and more. There is no AI-generated content (though AI is a marvelous editor). Nice and easy, like Sinatra sang.

All images used in COOL HAND FRANK, except my occasional photography, are artistic works from extraordinarily talented creators and friends—no stock images. Want to own what you see? Contact the creators directly through this website.

Information and ads flood our eyes, ears, and brains daily. We’re all busy, and content overload is real. COOL HAND FRANK updates weekly, though long-form content updates bi-weekly. You’ll get one notification email that day or the day after, plus the occasional request for input. No pop-up or banner ads either. Consider this publication your digital oasis, your online shelter from the storm.

Content should have value. Yours should too. Read the free samples below, then hit that SUBSCRIBE button (all major credit cards accepted). Make it happen, live the dream—why wait?

FREE SAMPLES

  • PRESENT AND FUTURE

    Last week, rain poured down the highway, The Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds riffing away, as I drove to my destination: a holiday art show, mysteriously titled “Smoke and Mirrors,” showcasing brilliant, up-and-coming abstract painter Lynne McDonald.

    Photo credit: Chelsea Patricia Photography, 2024.

    CONTINUE READING

  • FREE SAMPLE: GIVE ME PASTA OR GIVE ME PASTA!!

    GIVE ME PASTA OR GIVE ME PASTA!!

    I love pasta. Aglio y olio is my go-to when I want to make a simple yet mesmerizing bowl of linguini. It’s also a legendary pasta for seduction, but that’s another story.

    I make all kinds, too. My preference is linguini, though I also enjoy spaghetti (who doesn’t?), and, for certain dishes with light, loose ingredients like shrimp and cherry tomatoes, angel hair. The fresher the ingredients, the better.

    Want to make your pasta go from great to mind-blowing? Of course, you do.

    CONTINUE READING

  • FREE SAMPLE: ONE HUNDRED WORDS: A SERIAL

    ONE HUNDRED WORDS: A SERIAL

    ONE

    Damon Beckett had won the genetic lottery.

    He knew—he knew!—

    CONTINUE READING

ON THE STEREO

  • THEY WANT MY SOUL (DELUXE MORE SOUL EDITION)

    THEY WANT MY SOUL (DELUXE MORE SOUL EDITION)

    SPOON

    One of Spoon’s finest albums hit the 10-year mark earlier this year and only sounds better with time. They Want My Soul (Deluxe More Soul Edition) offers alternate versions of each song plus the additional “One More Shot.” However, unlike many deluxe editions offering alternate versions nearly identical to the originals, you won’t find that here. Instead, the alternate versions strip down the production gleam on songs like “Inside Out (Home Demo)” and “Knock Knock Knock (Band Demo)” to music more earthbound without losing what made them distinctive in the first place. This is a better reissue than one would expect. So very Spoon of them.

    Want to read more about the newest, coolest music you can listen to right now? Click that button:

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ON THE SCREEN

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (SNL 50)

NBC

Fifty years! The gold standard for launching comic acting talent, “Saturday Night Live” may not feel as influential as it once was, but it remains the most-watched comedy show on network television today. Yes, it’s time for some long-standing SNL cast members to leave after this anniversary season (though Kenan Thompson might as well stay as long as he wants). Still, it’s thrilling to see live television rookies transform into comedy pros as seasons go by. Chloe Fineman, Michael Longfellow, and Marcello Hernández—your time is here, your time is now.

Want to know what movies, television, and apps are really cool? Again, click that button:

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (SNL 50)

RIDICULOUS WORD OF THE MONTH*

*Of the week if you do what you should…

GOOD HOLIDAY CAUSE

It’s the holiday season for many, but for artists and studios in Asheville and the surrounding Western North Carolina, this year is one of struggle, rebuilding, and ultimate rebirth.

According to Asheville, NC painter and COOL HAND FRANK artwork contributor Kelly Saunders: “Trackside Studios (where I had a working studio) flooded and nearly 60 artists temporarily lost our creative home. Fortunately, most of my work was spared, but others weren’t so lucky. But we’re a strong family, and we’ve set up a GoFundMe to help rebuild Trackside Studios at 375 Depot and support the affected artists.”

At COOL HAND FRANK, we feature a nonprofit organization every month that works to make the world a better place. We highlighted World Central Kitchen and American Red Cross in September and October. Both organizations continue to provide disaster relief to cities and towns devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Because COOL HAND FRANK aims to increase exposure to artists, designers, and other creators, we’ve compiled a list of nonprofit organizations providing those affected by the hurricane with food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials. We encourage you to support them in any way you can this 2024 holiday season:

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WHO IS THIS GUY?

FOUNDER. PUBLISHER, HEAD WRITER AND EDITOR.

HEAD OF MARKETING AND AUDIENCE DEMAND.

FUELED BY COFFEE. LOTS OF IT.

I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad to be anywhere.

This is my bio. Let the mystery be.

Let’s make magic happen and enjoy it.

Your present, your future,

COOL HAND FRANK