Moving to a new city solo can be an intimidating experience. If you’re like me, you might be too impatient to wait for friendships to develop before venturing out to see all that the new city has to offer. In light of that experience, I’ve realized that bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and other gathering placesContinue reading “Book-friendly Adventures”
After a fun but hectic Saturday working at the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival with RayLen Vineyards & Winery, I was eager to read the write-up in the Elkin Tribune. Reading local news coverage about my interests produces a very basic pleasure. But, then, this happened: “A popular wine yolk glass holder adorned the neck ofContinue reading “Grape Yolks for the Young at Heart”
Over the weekend, I headed outside the city to attend Raffaldini Vineyards’ Assemblaggio! Grande Riserva Trials. Wine blending? Why not? For two hours, our group enjoyed the good company, savory wines, beautiful scenery, and lots of the laughter that accompanies untrained, amateur wine blending. As part of the trial, each group had to invent aContinue reading “Wine Not?”
Eating healthily in springtime means hiding your after-work cocktail behind your salad when you stage an Instagram photo of your food—and conveniently ignoring the fish sticks in the oven. Yeah. I know all about this “healthiness” bit. You’re welcome.
Movies are better than life only in that they come with a soundtrack. Life’s lack of soundtrack is a serious deficiency–especially when it comes to wine festivals. This weekend, I kicked back (i.e. tripped over a tent stake) and upended a few bottles of wine (i.e. pouring it into customers’ glasses) while enjoying the sunshineContinue reading “Mix Tape for a Wine Festival”
Although I have explored many of the wineries in my native Yadkin Valley, the Haw River Valley, encompassing parts of Greensboro and Burlington, was largely unknown to me. On a misty Saturday morning in mid-January*, I found myself with time to spare on an eastward transit of Interstate 40. Having recently cleared a few spotsContinue reading “Locavino: Grove Winery & Vineyards”
My stomach and I converse fairly regularly. We have a good rapport, and I would rate our communication at about an 8/10. That being said, my stomach does not often issue direct commands, so I am apt to listen when it does. Call it the mystery of Twelfth Night, but this evening, my stomach decidedContinue reading “Suggestion from a Stomach”
On the fifth day of Christmas, my locale gave to me… Five RayLen wines Four to-do lists Three deadlines Two aspirin and a deer crossing just before me.
Tonight, I may be feeling a little less snarky than usual, because I get to watch the premiere of some rockin’ original songs by my before-there-was-Facebook friend Leah Shaw (leahshawmusic.com). Leah will be playing from 5 to 7 p.m. at what is for both of us an alma mater of North Carolina wine: RayLen VineyardsContinue reading “Getting on the L Train”
It’s a gorgeous Friday afternoon in October. After a week of rain, the sky is a clear blue with a white tint on the edges of the horizon. I’m sitting on the patio of Cellar 4201, a small boutique winery in the Yadkin Valley AVA of North Carolina, surrounded by crape myrtles, ferns, and brightContinue reading “Locavino: Cellar 4201”
Snark on the Side 