Thanks to everyone who has checked in during my absence! I am merely taking a hiatus until mid-January, so that I can enjoy the holidays and plot my world domination. Talk to you soon, have a happy holiday and a fabulous and sparkly new year!!
than our decision to break a bottle of champagne against our new house. We are sailors, but after the home purchase we can no longer afford to buy a boat, thus we needed to christen the house. We invited the new neighbors over for an impromptu commissioning and cocktail. No damage to the house, but The Boyfriend almost lost an eye. It was so much fun though (do not try this at home)!! Mommy was in a panic, when I informed her of our plan via telephone, as we were standing in the liquor store attempting to decide which bottle to drink (White Star) and which bottle to break against the house (Andre - we bought two in case of a failed first attempt). Mommy's only words of advice - wear your sunglasses. Good thing The Boyfriend listened, otherwise I would be marrying a pirate...
A few weeks ago, we were en route to the wedding of the Pink Lemonade Diva, the Irish social event of the year, and we decided that we needed to hop into our "way back machine" and act like we were in college again by doing a little pre-partying prior to the ceremony. Rather than swigging out of a bottle in the street, we decided that the more discreet option might be the Sofia Blanc de Blancs from Coppola Vineyards, which comes in cute little pink cans (and, obviously, I am a fan of pink).
Sure, we were not expecting anything fantastic, but it was nearly undrinkable (although it gets high marks for portability and little attached straw). That is why I am
rather afraid of Iron Wine's new packaging - wine in a can. The Argentine winery is serving up a vinto tinto (malbec-cab blend) and a vino blanco (chenin blanc) in both 8.5 and 12 ounce cans. According to the Associated Press, Iron Wine claims that the cans of wine, which keep out light and air, are similar to the steel vats used to age many wines... hmmm... certainly a thought to ponder.... Of course, being a sucker for every marketing gimmick that comes along (hence the sparkling wine in a pink can incident), I will try it, if only for educational purposes...
Photos:
Coppola
Iron Wine
Sideways was amusing when it came out, I admit. Not the best movie ever, but an interesting nod to the California wine industry. and it has some great quotes. Even so, nearly three years later, people are still referencing it in relation to wine. It drives me crazy. Move on, people.
That is why I am so, so excited to read that documentary-maker Rudy McClain is
creating "Merlove," which will serve as an homage to Merlot, telling the "universal story of championing the underdog." Sounds like he has a bit of a complex about Merlot, but, perhaps it is warranted, as three years later, there remains a definite movement to promote Merlot to counteract the impact of Sideways within the general population. Programs like Swanson Vineyards' "Merlot Fights Back" - a traveling wine tasting tour (the site references a 2007 tour schedule, but no specific dates or venues are listed yet) and now "Merlove" will certainly help in doing that. It amazes me how the media was able to affect the wine industry in such a manner. Hopefully this documentary, coupled with the ongoing winery campaigns, will be a rebirth for the Merlot industry and the public will finally be able to quote something other than Sideways.
Personally, I think the subtitle for the movie should be "Merlove: Drink some f'ing Merlot."
by launching a wine label, "Martha Stewart Vintage." The woman is like Hello Kitty - she is EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING. La Martha is partnering with Gallo Winery to produce: 2006 Sonoma County Chard, 2005 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Sonoma County Merlot. It is a limited production of 15,000 cases with a $15.00 price point and it is scheduled to be released in January 2008 in six cities: Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte, NC (B!! Please send me some!!); Denver, Phoenix and Portland, OR.
Guaranteed to make any of your craft projects look good after you consume a bottle of it.
...with good intentions and all of the good intentions and happy vibes that I was trying to hold onto yesterday were accidentally sent out the window when The Boyfriend started an argument about something that was totally his fault (wink, wink) -- so, after a few minutes, I had enough and decided to take part in my favorite temper cool down exercise - shopping. Fall in the city is my favorite time of year -- everyone is back in the city from their summer vacation spots, the weekends are full of parties and you can get away with a little more flash than the weeknights during the summer.
I decided to go hunting for some fall party wear. I usually tend to avoid chain stores like French Connection, but then, this....
caught my eye as I passed by and I had to go in. I ended up with a similar, but even more fabulous, black sequin mini-dress with key-hole back that helped to channel my inner Zelda Fitzgerald meets Edie Sedgwick party vibes, which, instantly made me happier and I went home, cool, calm and collected. After all, I am the boss, Applesauce.
Photo: French Connection
Tonight, The Boyfriend is away, so I intended to have a little wine, read some magazines and just hang out after a loooong week (I made a former nun cry during a deposition, for starters). I began over analyzing the wine selection and finally settled on a 2001 Ridge Petit Syrah Essence. I completely f'ed up with my choice. I was aiming to try something new in the apartment (yes, we have so much wine crammed into a 550 sq. ft. apt that we find "new" things when we do a wine search) and I decided to give the Ridge a chance. It started out well, the wine has a great aroma of black, black cherry and a bit of chocolate and it showed a bit of raspberry once the wine was given a good swirl in the glass. Then there was the taste. UGH. I doubt Robert Parker or any other wine authority condones a rating such as that, but Oh God, it was horrible. It was like a bad glass of Welch's, with notes of tobacco and hell. The label says it can be cellared for 10-20 years, but I would be scared. Ridge no longer produces Essence and I can only venture a guess as to why.
The palate having been busted by the Ridge, I settled on 2005 Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Riesling Spatlese. It was a solid choice, with a clean, almost astringent aroma, with flavors of mineral, steel, apple and a little pear. Not overly heavy on the palate. Random leap from the Ridge, but it was light, refreshing and helped to ease my Petit Syrah disappointment.
Update: The Boyfriend disagrees with my verbal assessment (although he did not taste) of the Ridge. He claims it should have been enjoyed as a dessert wine. Oh well, I noticed we have another bottle in the apt, so we will see....
Here we are, a week and a half after my return from Napa. Work finally, slightly calmed and, anywho, now I have had ample time to reminisce about the highlights from the fabulous wine hunting trip.
First, before we get to the wine (which I am doing in separate parts, for cataloguing purposes), let me set the mood by giving you the weekend soundtrack:
Rockstar - Nickelback
Time after time - Quietdrive
Party like a rockstar - Shop Boyz (we have delusions of grandeur, what can I say?)
Stolen - Dashboard Confessional
Clothes off - gym class heroes
Burt Bacharach Greatest Hits
Sure, I should be embarrassed to share this list, but we had a fun time, so I have no worries....
today while procrastinating at work, I found a cute little avatar site, tizme. I think I am going to use this one, although the blonde hair is not quite right, but, oh right, i forgot...it is a cartoon on an otherwise anonymous blog....
Seriously, is there anything that this cat cannot do?! I am a little scared, but I really cannot put a finger on what scares me the most: (1) are little girls going to be brandishing this card? (2) are adult girls going to be brandishing this card? (3) what are the purchase rewards? little backpacks and diaries with locks? OR (4) the fact that I am strangely attracted to the card...
As I sit here in my dreary office, I am suddenly inspired to make these slippers - according to Bluelines, I can do it. Now, keep in mind, I have never sewn in my life, but I am suddenly overcome with the notion that I must make a pair for everyone I know (everyone I know that is worthy of my slipper handiwork, that is). Imagine the colors... imagine the embroidery... Imagine me quitting once I bought all of the necessary equipment and made one ugly pair that people make fun of...
Photo: Bluelines
So this is not the best picture, but I never claimed to be a photog. Even still, I wanted you to see this shot - can you imagine having this as the trellis constituting your carport?! How fabulous - as is the guest house that is attached to it. Our trip to Napa was lovely, we are still recovering and I have a bit of "real" job catching up to do, so no updates this evening - I hope to fill you in tomorrow!
After partying all night, we head back to NYC, full of insight on new, fabulous wines and other finds in Napa. Then we will sleep. See you Monday!
While I usually run from physical labor, we have the opportunity of being at the vineyard during the very beginning of harvest. Right now, they are mainly harvesting grapes for sparkling wine - so we will get up early Friday morning and help out. From there, we will spend the rest of the day tasting, and of course I will fill you in on all the deets later....
....giving these mother of pearl spoons as a gift with a little note that says, "Hoping for you the best champagne wishes and caviar dreams...(in your new house...for your engagement...for your promotion...etc.)
Source: Dean and Deluca
OR.............
....layering this organic cotton blanket between white 1200 thread count sheets and a summer quilt
Source: West Elm
OR............
....making this fabbie lemon cake, topping it with a quick homemade lemon glaze and passing it off as your own? (Me? what? Never.)
Source: Williams Sonoma
I have great memories from my prior life, waiting on drunken Senators, (in)famous attorneys and other (more sober and classy) individuals such as Larry King and Letitia Baldrige. Now that I am dining out quite often, rather than waiting on people (or shall I say, the tables have been turned.... lol), I think back to some of the more interesting times... like the time I was waiting on a major real estate developer and his girlfriend, wherein she proceeded to vomit on the table after they downed no less than two and a half bottles of wine and champagne to celebrate their engagement. It always makes me smile. Awfully embarrassing moment at an extremely formal and stuffy restaurant, but it certainly brought some levity to the place.
That is why Frank Bruni's article in the New York Times today, "Fine Diner to Riffraff: Tipsy Tales of 4-Star Benders," brought a laugh. That memory, coupled with my extreme desire to emulate a Zelda Fitzgerald moment (the happy, drunken, dancing in the NYC fountain stuff, not the whole crazy, asylum, plagiarized, unhappy marriage stuff), found me plotting my fountain dance. Four Seasons, be warned. I am SO there. You have to read the article.
Illustration: CIIA
I want a birthday cake (I will accept them for everyday celebrations as well) like the cake Peggy Siegal had for her 60th birthday celebration last month in NYC.
I have been a fan of Jonathan Adler since he was merely the significant other of one of my favorite people, Simon Doonan (great author, btw). Adler's designs are completely original and quirky -- perfect for my friends and I. Today, I was shopping for a birthday gift for one of my favorite people (close your eyes, B!) and I came across this.....
