hot dog

…and I can drink what I want to.

It was my 30th birthday a few days ago. I’m sure everybody reading already knows this. See- I like to make sure EVERYONE knows. Strangers, new friends, co-workers, blog readers. If a day can be all about you, just go for it. Soak in it. Accept gifts, praise and love in abundance! Do it.

I raided my cellar at home and decided to open up some of my favorite all-stars for a little birthday BBQ with friends- the La Clarine Farm syrah, the Ameztoi rosado, some Donkey & Goat and Chenu pinot. I also threw in a couple new dudes just to keep it fresh- Luis Pato baga, an Edmunds St. John and Clos Roche Blanche pineau d’aunis among others.

If that wasn’t enough, add hot dogs to the mix and the situation just got straight up joyous.

There were hot dogs in various shapes and sizes…

So, the sun went down and that’s when things got all Super 8 up in here. Take a bunch of buzzed adults, give them toys you light on fire and then watch float away and you’ve got a recipe for some childlike glee.

Gracias Jenelle and Toby for documenting the seemingly cult-like launch of the Chinese floating lanterns! Those things really brought the party to the party. I highly recommend them! Maybe they are illegal or something? I don’t know NOTHIN’. I DO know they are compostable, though…so there.

A huge thank you to all my lovely, special, hilarious, weird, talented friends for showing up and being you. I love you all. Almost as much as my wine.

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toast

Well folks, this here is one of my last posts in the good ole U.S. of A. I had a wonderful time spending my last few hours in Los Angeles with some of my best gals. And about 300 other people. The setting: high atop the beautiful Barnsdall Art Park. Every Friday this summer, Silverlake Wine hosted 4 selection wine tastings for $15. And I write this in the past tense because, sadly, yesterday was the last tasting of the season. I made it just in time!

line up

We started off with a grenache blanc from the Cotes Catalanes that just had the most lovely light caramel color (see pic above.) We all unanimously thought it reminded us of whisky… on the nose and on the taste buds. I think this more concentrated flavor must be because the grapes used were from very old vines. Needless to say, I’ve never had a grenache blanc like it. The second wine in the line-up, a malbec rosé from Argentina, was the hit of the night for us. Ripe berry fruit and incredibly balanced. It is a bit more full in the mouth with less acidity, but it’s just fun to drink. We finished off our tasting with a seriously delicious hot dog from Let’s Be Frank and watched the sun set over the tops of the palms with hundreds of our east side Angeleno neighbors.

frankly delicioso