I'll be Home for Christmas

I leave tomorrow for Christmas at my parent’s house in Sacramento. I’m so excited to be in a decorated house with my family and our traditions of my father reading from Luke in the Bible, playing poker while drinking beers of the world, coffee and Baileys with sausage balls, George Winston’s December, and a deep fried turkey.
In my own home, I’m not much of a seasonal decorator other than this nativity scene I bought in Mexico last year for 30 pesos.

Doug's 30th

Last night was my “other boyfriend” Doug’s 30th birthday. We started with wine and cheese at his apartment and ended with a seasonal and impeccable 3 course dinner at Ici in Brooklyn. In true Doug form, he (and his boyfriend, Justin) didn’t miss a detail.

Curbing Cabin Fever

This weekend New York got a blizzard Saturday afternoon and into Sunday. We did our best drinking all the Baileys, wine and champagne on hand and staying out of the snow (and then the black/brown/yellow slush that comes with an NYC snow storm) only leaving to stock up on nacho ingredients and Zicam.

Christmas Balls and Weiners

I’m not sure how I managed to live here for so many years without going to Rolf’s during the holidays. Its like eating inside of a Christmas tree, but with wieners, schnitzel and steins of beer.

(As appetizing as the picture looks, the food is mediocre. Next year we are planning to just get a weizen at the bar and eat somewhere else)

Bauhaus and Cheese

Last night I went with Jamie and Joe to a PopRally party for the MoMA’s new exhibit, the Bauhaus. I should probably be ashamed to admit that I was unfamiliar with the Bauhaus before last night. I was also unfamiliar with the “fornication chair” (pictured)

Despite the free wine, naughty chair and getting a sneak peak of the Tim Burton exhibit, the highlight was the dinner of French onion soup and fondue fromage at Le Bonne Soupe.

Librarian Whore

I went to the New York Public Library to pick up my latest subway reads (I’m cheap) and when I couldn’t find my reserves on the shelf I had this conversation with a rather judgmental librarian.









me: I don’t see my reserves on the shelf.
old bag: (after scanning my library card) Lets see… you’re picking up ‘My French…’ ohhhhh, my.
me: ‘My French Whore’
old bag: Yes, I see that. (shooting me a scornful look)
me: Its by Gene Wilder. The comedian. Willie Wonka? Blazing Saddles?
old bag: Mmmmmhmmmm (twisting her nose in more scorn)
me: Its not porn or anything. Its about his wife. Like a term of endearment. Like me calling my girlfriends ‘my bitches’ or something.

I eventually got my books and I’m pretty sure a flag on my library account.

Tis the Season for Bringing Wine to Parties

Since I came across this post on thekitchn, Joe and I have been making our way down the list. So far the biggest hit (and only $5.99 a bottle!) has been the Trentatre Rosso.

White Party Wines from Trader Joe's
• 2007 Kunde Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley $8.99 - Toffee, toasty oak nose, Creamy palate with ripe apricot , melon flavors. A bit hot on the finish, but definitely an appealing party wine.
• 2008 Jean Luc Colombo 'Les Abeilles', AC Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France $9.99 - The least aromatic of all the whites tasted, which might detract from its popularity. But appealing herbal and stone fruit flavors.
• 2008 Lacheteau, AC Vouvray, Loire Valley, France $6.99 - A delightful wine. Floral nose, orange blossoms. Juicy flavors, some honeysuckle notes, slightly off-dry, refreshing and bright. This was one of our favorites. No harsh sides to it.
• 2008 Laugel Cuvée Michel Léon Gewürztraminer, Alsace, $9.99 - Another firm favorite. Especially, as a day earlier a friend asked if I thought he could get a nice Gewürztraminer for $10, and I said ‘unlikely’. Well, I ate my words. This wine was well balanced. Classic rose petal, spice, and lychee aromas. Nice texture, refreshing and good flavor intensity. Not a masterpiece, but very well-made.
• 2008 Anton Bauer Grüner Veltliner 'GMÖRK', Wagram, Austria $7.99 - Another pleasant surprise. Dry, showing good Grüner typicity of savory aromas (dried grass, green bean) and white pepper. Simple, but enough fruit flavor and refreshing.
• NV Pacific Rim Riesling, USA $7.99 - I have tasted this wine before and liked it better. This example I found a little forced. Quite a fusel/kerosene nose. Ripe fruit flavors, but a little astringent on the palate.
• 2008 Chateau Saint Michelle Riesling, Columbia Valley $8.99 - Attractive floral nose. Light bodied with pleasant stone fruit. Easy drinking and refreshing.

Red Party Wines from Trader Joe's
• 2007 Albero Monastrell, D.O. Jumilla, Spain $6.99 - Made from organically grown Monastrell grapes (known as Mourvèdre in France). Earthy, lots of ripe dark fruit, prunes, plums and some leathery notes. Simple but amazing value and tasty.
• 2007 Trentatre Rosso, IGT Salento, Italy, $5.99 - A blend of the local Montepulciano grape, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. On the nose, cassis notes of Cabernet prevail, proving that a little Cabernet goes a long way! Some obvious oak notes, but not over-powering. Ripe, smooth, well made with lots of black fruit. Excellent value.
• 2008 Ruffino Chianti, DOC Chianti $6.99 - Easy drinking, fruity with lots of strawberry, red-currant and cherry flavors. Light-to-medium body. Little astringency on the finish, but it does not detract from the wine. Refreshing and ideal for a party.
• 2008 La Loggia Barbera d'Alba, Italy $6.99 - Another tasty gem. Simple but has lots of ripe red cherry-berry flavors. Soft and smooth on the palate. Very juicy and refreshing.
• 2007 Yalumba Shiraz-Viognier, South Australia, $7.99 - Upfront ripe, sweet fruit - raspberry, blackberry. Soft tannins and easy drinking. Probably the most 'stylized' of the reds tasted. Also a little sweet on the finish. But sure to be a party hit.

Sweet Berry Wine

Last night Joe and I got invited to sit in on a class in Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Cooking School. The school itself is an 8 week course for $1000, but we became friendly with the girl who does the PR and arranged for us to be a free guest for a week. We picked the class based on dates not knowing that we chose the best night for us; Red Wines of California. Despite being from the region and visiting countless CA tasting rooms, I learned so much about why I like the wines that I do.
And apart from learning a subject as valuable as wine, it was a lot of fun!!

Random Awkward Guy in the Back

This isn’t an invitation to pop into the back of my future posed pictures, but the ‘random awkward guy in the back’ pictures are some of my favorites.

Carmen Miranda and Crocodile Dundee

Once again, I have a hard time half-assing Halloween. Its only fitting that I should date a guy with the same love for a holiday wrapped around dressing up and candy.

Jello

In “only in New York” form, last night I went to a happy hour that Joe won in midtown and followed it with going to a gay bar to watch Donna and Christina Jello wrestle each other.
Hilarious.

Breath Right

Joe and I went to my first NFL game on Sunday. For a girl who hates to watch any kind of sport on TV, it turns out that I love going to live games, which I now know includes The Giants (especially since they pass out Breath Right Strips and the cold air was “nothing compared to how the rest of the season is going to be like”).

No Spring Chicken

I turned 30 yesterday to finally end the birthday month.

The first birthday toast of sweet berry wine started 3 weeks ago in Napa/San Francisco with my parents, little sister, my best friend, her hubby, my favorite married couple, and my boyfriend.



Then came the night of close friends, tacos, tequila, champagne (in a can) and compliments of Donna and Suzanne, one too many shots.















As if that weren't enough, I started the actual birthday day with Donna, lobster and black truffle mac n cheese then ended it with Joe, caviar deviled eggs, yellowfin tuna and wild boar lasagna.


If my birthday month is any indication, my 30’s are going to be chock-full of many cocktails, great wine, great food and great company.

Party at the Plaza Hotel

Its legal according to Martha.

(and that girl knows how to throw a party!!)

Awksome

My friend Rob made up a word last week; awksome.


Awksome: -adjective

1. Awkward for you while being awesome for me.

Robs example: “Watching Joe meet your dad for the first time is going to be awksome.”




(pictured is our modern Shakespeare, Rob)

I'm Back (a bit, anyways)

My reasoning for stopping my blog was a mixture of wanting to be an author someday and not wanting to blow my wad on this stupid blog, having my camera stolen, and simply not giving a shit. But for those of you who have been annoyed by logging onto this site and seeing this dumb last post about the Girl Scout cookies over and over; you’re welcome.

Most notable since my last post, I am an aunt to this little girl,



I’ve been dating this wonderful guy,
and I’m the new owner of this thing (the camera, not the mountain range).





No promises for an updated blog at all times, but if something worth writing about comes my way, I’ll try to do better at posting stuff.

Its Cookie Time

Nothing good can come from this.

Fat Birthday

In honor of Oliver’s 6th birthday, here is his most compromising picture.


And this is the fat ass giving me a death stare after getting a bath.








(and happy 1st birthday to my niece, Madeline!!)

Running with Cherry Blossoms

The last 2 evenings I took advantage of the unseasonably warm and went for a Central Park run. The Reservoir is covered with cherry blossoms in full bloom, making it delightful to run on a track peppered with pink confetti.

Viva La Mexico

I just came back from a week in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico for my favorite married couple, Rob and Marisol’s wedding.
Adding to why they are my favorite couple, they had a “white trash” themed party a few nights before the wedding. Here are a few of me “in character”/bringing shame to my family.






The very classy bride and groom.





We did have moments of rock climbing, snorkeling, boat riding, volleyball and being classic tourists in town, but for the most part the rest of the week was spent on the beach consuming guacamole and endless cocktails.



And of course, the wedding.

Modern Dance

Last night I went to a Danspace Project performance to see Doug's boyfriend dance. I'm not a fan of ballet, let alone modern dance. It was only the second time that I've been to a modern dance performance and its the first time that I actually stayed to the end. Not being a critic or even someone who appreciates modern dance, the only word I can think of to describe it is entertaining.

When my niece, Grace practices modern dance however, mesmerizing seems the more appropriate description.


(I don't know what I like more about this video; my sister holding back the laughter or baby Madeline popping in the shot)

Gig ‘Em… whatever that means

This morning I gave up my seat on the subway for a very pregnant woman. I'm not writing this to sound like a good samaritan. I'm writing this because more than half of those seated around me were men and for the first time that I can recall, I miss the men in College Station, Texas.
Granted, they also say "ma’am" to 19 year old girls, they have no problem yelling at you should you accidentally walk on the grass, and their idea of a good time is chasing their dip with a pitcher of beer at the Dixie Chicken. Regardless, I spent 4 years riding Texas A&M shuttles and I think that its safe to say that I never stood while a man sat. Here in New York chivalry is dead; at least in public transport.

Smell

I don't have a picture to accompany this entry, which is actually quite appropriate.
Last night I went to a lecture by the New York Times perfume critic, Chandler Burr. The nerd side of me came out as it was an enlightening evening where I learned first hand the reason that Tide cost more than any other detergent (the patented added scent), why the process of creating perfumes is not too far off from prescription drugs, and why synthetics are more valuable than natural materials in perfume.
Most shockingly, we learned some of the "old school" processes of how a particular molecule was literally extracted from a tortured cat's rectum. I also learned that my nose smells Chanel No. 5 as "my Grandma; so either Chanel No. 5 or Oscar de la Renta", the additive to all detergents as "a clean floor" and the fragrance Cool Water as "a good looking man".
The evening inspired me to branch off from the only scent I've worn for over 6 years and to see (or smell rather) that there is an artist in a perfumer. It also made me feel normal surrounded by a room of people who also have way too much fun in Sephora or the Duty Free.

Erin Go Bragh

This is going to have to cut it since I have a hole in my wardrobe in the green department. If it weren’t for Heidi’s cookie delivery, I would have really been screwed.

Weekend Recap

Saturday began with endless mimosas (and a blue shot) at Bondi Road with Suzanne, Deena and the other Erin.

And it ended with 8 hours of drinking at Black Mountain wine bar in Brooklyn with Jamie, Maria, John and Gonzalo.

In turn, Sunday was spent on my couch with this fat guy.

The Armory

After dim sum, Doug, Deena and I went to The Armory Show on Pier 94 where we saw a lot of fantastic art.

And a lot of very strange art.