Riffs

I do stand-up when my thoughts stage a rebellion, or when my family dangles dessert like a peace offering and whispers, “Be funny.” Riffs is my stage, my playground and my confessional, where jokes tumble into musings, punchlines pirouette and laughter sneaks in when you least expect it.

You will find plenty of photographs here, too. I worked as a photojournalist for two decades before writing, and I share images from my travels and explorations of the world around us.

And then there is food. After decades as a food columnist, I have learned that a good meal and a good laugh share the same magic. They linger, they surprise and they make you feel at home.

Riffs also serves up the offbeat, the awkward and the absurd: language gone sideways, Southern encounters too strange to invent and the tiny rebellions of everyday life that remind us humor can be a bridge, a balm and sometimes a quiet act of defiance. It is a place to marvel at the ridiculous, chuckle at the human and savor the flavors of life, both edible and immeasurable.

Follow me on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, where I share stand-up clips, sit down with fellow comedians and explore the craft behind the laughter. In Riffs, we do not just laugh. We eat, we wonder, we rebel and occasionally snort in public, because some joy is too big to swallow quietly.