Dueling lost-item ads on local telephone poles.
Zuzu's Petals, or somebody who really likes the wine bar on Hampshire Street in Inman Square, has been busy putting up fliers around the area in search of "lost" items - hats, vases and a single clog last worn there. Then, roving UHub photographer Andrea Gray reports, Lehrhaus, the new kosher tavern on Washington Street in Somerville, put up a flier for Israeli writer S.Y. Agnon's "A Book that Was Lost." Read more.
Kaitlin wonders where she can get some mulled wine in this burg, does not specify if she wants it heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves.
An upscale wine store that wants to move into a Cambridge Street mall uncorked opposition from neighboring liquor stores and some residents at a Boston Licensing Board hearing today.
VinodiVino, which already has stores in Brookline, Newton and Needham, wants a license to open in Charles River Plaza, within feet of the existing Simmons Liquor and Jobi Liquors.
VinodiVino attorney Dennis Quilty said the area needs an all wine store that can provide the sort of service an area such as Beacon Hill and the West End deserves.
It only took the legislature six years to comply with a federal court order. But don't place those orders just yet - the new regs don't take effect until January. And that gives Big Liquor plenty of time to try to figure out how to continue to squelch things.
InsideMedford.com reports the discount chain will start offering discount alcoholic beverages - some of it artisanal - at three stores, including the one in Medford.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled today that a Massachusetts law that prevents many out-of-state wineries from selling directly to local consumers is unconstitutional.
The ruling, which upholds a lower-court decision on a lawsuit by California winemakers, is on a 2006 state law that forces "large" wineries to chose between selling their wine to Massachusetts wholesalers for sale in stores or directly to consumers. Massachusetts wineries were exempt because none produce the volume of wine covered under the law - 30,000 gallons of wine a year.
Richard Auffrey reports on a "Grand Wine Tasting" at Grapevine Travelers in Medford that involved more than 60 wines - and some beer.
Richard can't say enough good things about this Beacon Hill wine bar/restaurant:
... Overall, this was a top-notch evening with not the slightest of complaints. The food, wine and service all came together in perfect unity. I heartily recommend that you check out this restaurant, for either lunch or dinner. I think it would work well for a couple seeking a more intimate meal, as well as a group seeking a fun time. ...
Mini highly recommends Clio in the Back Bay despite a mediocre fois gras:
... Fortunately however, the main courses and dessert saved the day. I ordered the butter basted lobster while SO got the pork rib (or pig as they called it on the receipt!). I loved my lobster, it might just be the best cooked lobster I've had! The meat was really tender and slightly undercooked towards the center. Wow delicious! I wonder how they do it? ...
Richard A. describes a new group: Boston Wine Writers, with monthly meetings at the Boston Wine School:
As long as you have a passion for good wine writing, it doesn't matter whether you're a published writer, editor, sales rep, importer, restaurateur, blogger, PR person, publisher, wine lover, whatever: you're invited!
365 Days of Wine reports on a heavy-duty, invitation-only wine tasting 33 floors above State Street:
...But then there were the wines that I very much did not want any instruction about. These were the wines that were so delicious I simply didn't want to talk about them. I didn’t want to learn about them. I just wanted to enjoy them. They were the wines that, when I smelled them or tasted them, the noise around me hushed.
When I smelled the 2007 Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, for example, my only thought was, "I would wear this as perfume." ...
Robert Aguilera, manager and cheese buyer for the Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge has teamed up with Julie Cappellano, the wine buyer at the South End Formaggio to bring Boston, the Bueno Queso Social Club. These are monthly wine and cheese pairing classes.
The next class is titled, "From the Stiletto Heel to the Thigh Highs of Italy." and will take place on March 25th at the Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge.
When you order a turkey sammich, and the deli man instead gives you a smoked turkey sammich, your first instinct might be to open that thing up and show him the exact difference between what you asked for and what he gave you. And by “show†I obviously mean mashing it all over his face.
Boston Wine Buzz is a new blog all about drinking wine in the Boston area - check out the guide to upcoming wine events in the region.
It's not every day that you see somebody at Blue Mass. Group saying something nice about Mitt Romney. But Bob raises his glass to Romney for vetoing a bill that would have put new restrictions on online wine sales to Massachusetts residents (following a Supreme Court ruling that states could not block such sales):
At least, until the Legislature passes some new regulations. Steve uncorks the news.
Judith reports:
Last evening Ken and I had a marvelous experience at the Wine Gallery on Route 9 in Brookline. This summer we've visited a number of Boston-area liquor stores that have excellent wine departments at discounted prices: Kappy's in Somerville, Martignetti's in Brighton, Marty's Fine Wines in Newton, and several others too unnoteworthy to mention. I must say I had the most fun and the most pleasant experience at the Wine Gallery. ...
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