NYC's best summer, Dan Tana's greatest hits, and a founder worth knowing.

Discussed in this issue: The concert I have the most FOMO for, why NYC is winning, beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk on the creator economy, Italy eats, and the LA restaurant that I learned to love.

From Jamie’s Desk:

Anyone who has been a loyal follower of Jamie’s List knows that I definitely have strong opinions about New York. LA is my favorite city in the world (do I really need to explain why again? The weather alone should prove my point – if you live in London, NY, Paris, Tokyo, or wherever, you have at some point this summer questioned your choices). Still, I must admit: NYC has won summer 2026, and if there’s ever been proof that there’s a higher power, this might be it. Let’s recap the events that have taken place this season so far (including this upcoming weekend). 

The Knicks won the NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, Taylor and Travis had their wedding at the iconic MSG, and Jay-Z played Yankee Stadium 3 times. Then there’s Fanatics Fest, the ESPYs, the Game Plan summit, and the World Cup Finals all in the same week – not to mention the MLB All-Star Game being held just a short train ride away. This week alone might be one of the most high-powered weeks NYC has ever seen – the only thing we’re missing is the Jets winning the Super Bowl, which sadly is never going to happen again.

As a former New Yorker (yes, former!) I’m bummed to have missed every one of these events, but there is without a doubt one that gave me the worst case of FOMO. If you know me, you probably know the answer: the three Jay-Z shows at Yankee Stadium. In the 20+ years since I moved to LA, there hasn’t been a single NYC event that I’ve wanted to be at more than those shows. Music has a special place in the world. It makes us cry, makes us feel joy, brings back memories and evokes emotions we didn’t even know were hiding within us. 

Jay-Z’s music is a hit of pure nostalgia for me. I’ve seen him more in concert than any other artist, and have been a fan since the first time I saw him perform in 1993 (see the photo above to prove it, which I took in 1993 during my days as a photographer for Rap Sheet magazine). Watching the weekend shows from afar brought up so many memories from the past three decades in a way I haven’t experienced in a while. Yes, I know he is coming to other cities: Paris, London and LA. Of course I’ll be in the audience at SoFi, and will love every second of it. But to see him in the house that Ruth built, with 50,000 other die-hard Jay-Z fans with a passion for the city he loves so much – that’s impossible to recreate. To those who went to those shows, I’ll forever be jealous. Send me videos. Actually…don’t. 

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

Governor races. Senate runoffs. Billboard charts. Celebrity news. Rotten Tomatoes scores. Kalshi has real-money markets on all of it. Every price reflects what the crowd actually thinks will happen next. If you're already following politics and culture closely, you're already doing the work. Kalshi lets you act on it.

Trade what you know

_{Trade responsibly.}

🎙️ Last week’s episode of Lunch With Jamie featuring Senator Cory Booker is one of my favorites in a while. Be sure to listen here if you haven’t already.

📍Los Angeles: Dan Tana’s
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Aaron Stern, David Nathanson, Eli Meyer, James Ponsoldt, Jason Spivak, Jerrold Son, Matt Karatz, Neal Moritz, Rachel Halilej, Todd Steinman, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Goop, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Special Occasion, Business Dinner
Pro Tip: "Order the garlic cheese bread before you even sit down" -Jordan Okun (from Mad Food World). And if you want the Neal Moritz special, get that cheesy garlic bread with light garlic and a side of bolognese sauce.
What to Order: Garlic Cheese Bread, Fried Calamari, Tana’s Salad (Not Chopped) or Caesar Salad, Chicken or Shrimp Parm, Chicken or Veal Piccata, Chicken or Veal Florentine, The Dabney (NY Strip), Spaghetti Aglio Olio (order on the side with all entrees), Sautéed Broccoli, Potatoes Beckerman, Cappuccino Ice Cream, Tiramisu
Notes: I have a confession to make: I was a Dan Tana’s hater for many years. Personally, I don't need to be treated with any special attention at a restaurant – but if I have a 7pm reservation, I want to be seated within a reasonable time frame. If I am with a group of 4, I want to be comfortable at my table. I care less about scenes than food, and more than anything I want the best of the best for that type of food. When I first moved to LA, I went to Dan Tana's with a group of friends. I was sat probably an hour late, and they put 6 of us at a table clearly meant for 4. Not to mention, I wasn’t blown away by any bite. However, after a self imposed 15 year boycott, some of my friends who are Dan Tana’s regulars convinced me to come back and try it again with them. And they were right. I loved my night. Restaurants like Dan Tana's are few and far between these days. Restaurants with history, with a story to tell, with waiters in jackets, with people who know your name and that serve damn good food. Not every bite at Dan Tana's will be one to write home about, but if you stick to the hits – you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read the recent profile in Vanity Fair, I highly recommend it. Then figure out that friend that goes often, ask them to make you a res, realize you still might have to wait a few minutes, and you might still have to sit a slightly cramped table – but you will be transported in time to an era that is harder and harder to find. Thank you to Jay Luchs and Neal Moritz for finally helping me over the hump — I’m well on my way to becoming a regular.

📍Athens: Manári Taverna (reviewed by Chad Gutstein)
Cuisine: Greek
Crew: Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler
Good For: Great Wine List, Date Night, Small Groups, Casual
Pro Tip: The menu changes seasonally, but stick to Greek specialties and you can’t go wrong!
What to Order: Fried Zucchini and Eggplant, Tzatziki, Lamb Meat Pie, Lamb Chops, Tomato Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Bread
Notes: While in Athens, I had lunch at the counter at Manári Taverna. This spot is everything you want in a Greek taverna. Wood fired grill, meat pie, lamb chops, perfectly ripe tomatoes, a perfect feta with just the right amount of spice and made in-house grilled bread. I’ve been really impressed by the Greek wines. The ones from Santorini are some of the best dry mineral whites I’ve ever had. Pairs perfectly, even with lamb! And you can’t go wrong with a little fried zucchini and eggplant with a dollop of tzatziki. The lamb meat pie may have been the best I’ve ever tasted. The pastry was rich, buttery and alternated between a nice crisp crust with the inside moving from flaky near the crust to dense sugar cookie consistency around the sweet lamb.

This week, my guest was Tyler Denk. If you don’t know his name, you should – as he’s the reason you’re reading this right now. Or at least, the reason you’re seeing it in this style, on this platform. 

We spoke about the genesis of beehiiv – the newsletter platform which has cemented itself as the operating system for the content economy. It powers tens of thousands of the top newsletters in the world, is home to superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, independent journalists like Oliver Darcy, and media organizations like TIME Magazine and Newsweek. And of course, Jamie’s List.

He and I discussed our recent trip to Cannes Lions, and the rise of the creator economy. If you missed the newsletter a few weeks ago, I went more in depth – but in short: I’m all in on that. Tyler told me about his origins at Morning Brew, how it led to the creation of beehiiv, and his motto: never let perfection get in the way of progress. 

This was a great conversation with an impressive founder who’s not afraid to take risks and build in public. I’m looking forward to getting lunch with him at Steak 48, and continuing to see the ways in which beehiiv grows.

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast.

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan