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Posts Tagged 'Zinfandel'
What I Drank Last Month (Nov 2013) Part 2
By Nikki Lincoln
Here is the second part of my post on November wines. Part one can be found here.
Cline 2012 Ancient Vines Zinfandel
This wine was a sample sent over a few months ago. I had wanted to hold onto it for a little while but I had been craving a good Zinfandel and decided to open the Cline Ancient Vines sample. I'm glad I opened it when I did as it was light for a Zin and had nice pepper and smokiness to it. It was also very acidic which I particularly enjoyed. I definitely thought this was a great value for all of the complexity in the wine. I would love to pick up a few more bottles of this to have around when I don't feel like opening something too pricey but still want a good quality wine.
Price: $18
Vinum Cellars 2010 White Elephant White Table Wine
I am a huge football fan, but after giving up beer several months ago, finding an alternative beverage for tailgates and other beer heavy events has been a bit of a challenge. Obviously wine has been a big go-to for me, but a lot of wines that I have I would rather save for an occasion when I can really sit and taste it and appreciate it. I decided to grab the Vinum White Elephant Table Wine because I had gotten it rather cheap from a wine club. The wine ended up really surprising me. It was an extremely well balanced blend of 59% Chenin Blanc, 26% Roussanne, and 15% Viognier. It was light and refreshing and perfect for a warm, outdoor setting such as a tailgate. I normally don't take notes on the things I drink in a party/tailgate setting but I knew I had to tell you all about this one.
Price: $20 (but can be found for closer to $10)
Sheldon 2007 Deviant Velocity
I won the Deviant Velocity at an open house for Sheldon Wines, Krutz Family Vineyards, and Two Shepherds. I had been feeling under the weather and wasn't up for doing any wine tasting which had made me pretty sad. I decided to throw a few dollars in to buy some raffle tickets to win a case of wine. I actually ended up winning and was able to take home a box of the wines that I hadn't been able to try, including Sheldon's Deviant Velocity 100% Petite Sirah. The wine was full of plum and blackberry flavors with some pepper as well. It was another wine that felt perfect for fall. When I went through my pictures, I also found it funny that my devious cat snuck into the background to give me one of her judgmental glares.
Price: $28
Imagery 2008 High Valley Tempranillo
I always lose track of the different wine days. I really need to find a wine calendar or something because I always end up finding out about them at the last minute and I get really sad if I don't have that particular variety. When I got an email from the TAPAS society that the next day was Tempranillo Day, I was really happy that I had a bottle of the Imagery High Valley Tempranillo. The wine had high acidity and a taste of tart blackberries and spice. I loved how light and complex it was for a Tempranillo. I saw a few older reviews from last year that said it needed more time. I think the extra year really helped this wine develop properly because it was tasting great when I had it last month. On another note, I ended up finding a few more bottles of Tempranillo after the fact…
Price: Unavailable directly
Feb 2nd is The Largest Tasting of Zinfandel: ZAP Details, Ticket Contest, & Promo Code Inside!
February 2nd is the 22nd Annual Zinfandel Festival, also known as ZAP. This lively event is the world's largest tasting of Zinfandel, and has blossomed from just a tasting to food pairings, education, and more.
Read for more details, a discount code, and a chance to win $130 in tickets!
(1) EPICURIA – Food & Zin Pairings. Thur., Jan 31, 6-9 pm
The Concourse, 635 8th Street, San Francisco, (8th at Brannan in South Market area)
At Epicuria you will embark on a gourmet adventure exploring the versatile flavors of Zinfandel at ZAP's informal dine-around event. Sample culinary creations from master chefs, perfectly paired with 50 top Zinfandel wines. Taste delicacies from the ZinKitchen celebrity chefs while learning their professional techniques. Immerse yourself in the Zinfandel culture as you mingle with winemakers and culinary experts.
The Zin Kitchen will provide cooking demonstrations and talk about Zinfandel and food matchings.
(2) FLIGHTS – Forums of Flavor Friday,February 1, 10:30am – 1:00pm (SOLD OUT!)
The Fairmont Hotel, Nob Hill, San Francisco
Explore the passion
Designed for the enthusiast with a passion for the legendary, this exclusive seminar-style tasting ignites your imagination for the varietal as you delve into the history, culture and science behind the many flavors of Zinfandel. Flights offers unique insight into the Zinfandel varietal and allows you to experience the true character of the wines through the eyes of experts as you revel in a sensory experience like no other.
(3) WINEMAKERS DINNER – A Benefit with Taste: Friday, February 1 5 pm – 10
Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill, San Francisco
A benefit with taste
The fabulous forties reign as you venture to the exotic at our Casablanca-themed VIP benefit. Premier winemaker hosts buy cheap viagra india as they share the intrigue and romance behind their craft at this elegant reception and dinner, while pouring their specially chosen private selections of Zinfandel. Journey back through time as you learn about the origins of America's Heritage Wine and the modern-day practices that make Zinfandel so legendary.
A live and silent auction features rare and one-of-a-kind lifestyle lots, with proceeds benefiting ZAP programming, education and Heritage Vineyard Projects.
(4) The Best for Last – The GRAND TASTING Saturday, February 2
The Concourse, 635 8th Street, San Francisco, (8th at Brannan in South Market area)
- Trade & Media 10 am – 1 pm
- Members: 1 pm – 5 pm
- Public: 2 pm – 5 pm
Enjoy the thrill of creating your own Zinfari at ZAP's Grand Tasting! Make the quest for your personal Zinfandel flavor destination as you journey through the varietal's unique growing regions to experience the diversity of America's Heritage Grape. This expedition takes you through the world's largest Zinfandel tasting where you can enjoy hundreds of barrel samples, new releases and premier Zinfandel wines. The return of the ZinKitchen will be a highlight.
ZAP members also have access to special features like Winemaker Workshops, Located in the Members' Lounge : Seminars conducted by two Vintners rotating every half-hour starting at 10:30 am and continuing until 4:00 pm. Workshop Schedule & Presenters.
As well as the Heritage Club Lounge, Located next to ZinKitchen. Members enjoy table side service of select library and reserve Zinfandels while you relax in the comfortable Heritage Club Lounge at the Grand Tasting. Heritage Club Lounge
Simple Hedonisms Readers Can Save 20% Off Tickets
To purchase tickets, go to: here
At checkout, enter code "simple" hit apply, and Voila – save 20%!
Bonus! Enter to Win A Pair of Tickets to The Grand Tasting, a $130 Value!
Next Thursday, Feb 24, we will draw a pair of winners at random, with the correct answer.
To Enter to Win simply tell us (in comments below)
a. Your favorite food to eat with Zinfandel
b. If the producers pouring (list here) which is your favorite, or the one you want most to taste?
Enter with EACH answer for two chances to win! Watch your email and here for winners!
And in conclusion….my favorite Video on Zinfandel:
Get your Zin On – Cheers!
Related Articles:
Celebrate the 4th of July with the "All American" Grape – Zinfandel; and these Dry Creek Events
Events for This Weekend and Two Routes for the Wine Road Barrel Tasting
Guest Post by Fred Swan
This weekend's events look a little sparse on the surface. But one little line item portends barrels of adventure. Hundreds of barrels. Full of wine. canadian viagra
tle="The 34th Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting in Northern Sonoma" href="http://www.wineroad.com/events/barrel_tasting/3#tabs-5″ target="_blank">The 34th Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting in Northern Sonoma.
There have already been excellent articles on this site about the barrel tasting. I don't want to repeat what has been said. But, the list of more than 120+ wineries makes it hard to know where to start. So, I'll offer a couple of itineraries for you to consider:
(Editorial note by William, for those of you who listened to me on KRSO tonight and are looking for the Tips & Ticket Contest, see Monday's Post Here: Wine Road Barrel Tasting – The Premier Wine Buying Event of The Season. Learn, Share and Win Tickets! (4 winners!) )
Route 1: Get it While You Can — Wineries Open This Weekend Only
Saturday, focus on wineries west of Hwy 101. I might start at Moshin. Their Sauvignon Blanc will ease you into tasting. Follow it up with vineyard-designate Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Next, head up Westside Road to De La Montanya. They have five different wines for you to sample, starting with Pinot Noir and closing with a late harvest Sauvignon Blanc. The dessert wine will lead nicely into lunch. You did pack a lunch, right?
Head north on Westside Drive as it turns into West Dry Creek. Pull in at Quivira. Eat your lunch near their biodynamic gardens. Then enjoy their Mourvedre and Petite Sirah.
From Quivra continue on to A. Rafanelli Winery which will be pouring 2010 Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their wines are always very good. And they age well.
On the second day do an eastern route. Rodney Strong will have a tasty assortment. Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Dry Creek Zinfandel.
From there, go to Stryker Sonoma. See how the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate differs from the Dry Creek wines you tried on Saturday. The'll also pour Merlot.
Stay on the Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon path by going to Trentadue. They'll let you try their reserve, the La Storia Cabernet Sauvignon. The La Storia Zinfandel and La Storia Cuvee 32 blend will also be available.
For a taste of a completely different Cabernet Sauvignon AVA, head back across Hwy 101 to Ridge Vineyards. They've got a barrel of 2011 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Ridge is open the 2nd weekend too, but why wait?)
Route 2: Que Syrah — There's more to Sonoma than Chard, Zin, Pinot and Cab
Formulate an itinerary from among these excellent Syrah producers:
Joseph Swan (Forestville) will be pouring not one but three vineyard-designate Syrah. Give them a try and see how the terroir of the different vineyards shows through in the wines. The winery will also have Zin, Tannat and more.
Vintoteca in Santa Rosa will be featuring six different wineries. Among the wines will be Olson Ogden's Dry Creek Syrah. Before you dive into that though, try the Pinot Noirs from Bjornstadt and Baker Lane.
Krutz Family Cellars (Santa Rosa) Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stagecoach Vineyards of Napa Valley was one of Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Wines for 2011. They're opening a barrel of Syrah from that same vineyard, which excels with that variety.
Lauterbach Cellars (Windsor) has acclaimed Syrah fruit, but makes wine in tiny quantities. This is your chance to try some. They'll have the 2009 Syrah, but will start you off with Pinot Noir and their Syrah Rosé.
Red Car (Sebastopol) is un-bunging their Estate Syrah. But first, enjoy Heaven & Earth and their estate Pinot Noir.
Dutton Estate Winery will be pouring My Father's Syrah. …I didn't even know my dad had Syrah! I'm sure it will be good though. They've also got Pinot and Chardonnay on tap wine thief.
Lake County
Six Sigma Ranch Pro & Amateur Pruning Competition —Lower Lake: March 3, 10:00am – noon
Learn pruning from the pros and try your hand at it, too!
Napa Valley
Cab Release Weekend at Velo Vino — St. Helena: March 3 – 4, 11:00am – 6:00pm
A special Vertical tasting of our 2006, 2007 and 2008 kit's killer cab.
Charles Krug Winery Celebrates Charles Krug's 187th Birthday — St. Helena: March 3, 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Imagine the light the birthday candles will put out! There'll be appetizers and three-course wine dinner.
Sonoma County
34th Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting – Northern Sonoma: March 2 – 4, 11:00am – 4:00pm
144 wineries open their doors this weekend, many will be offering futures. Advance ticket sales are over, but you can buy tickets at the door.
Inspiration Vineyards Winemaker Dinner — Santa Rosa: March 2, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
There are still a few seats available for this dinner and the menu looks great!
Music at Vino di Amore Tasting Lounge — Cloverdale: March 2, 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Unwind after work, or barrel tasting, to rock and reggae played by Oscar Caleron.
Hanzell Vineyards Winemaker Dinner at Santé — Sonoma: March 8, 6:30pm
Join Hanzell winemaker Michael McNeill for a delicious four-course dinner paired with past and current vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
A Quick Plug:
The Wine Advocate will soon be releasing Antonio Galloni's report on Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. You can learn levitra viagra online more about him and what he looks for wines by reading my in-depth interview with him. It's being published in daily doses this week at NorCalWine.com.
Enjoy your weekend!
Wine Events in the North Coast for February 15 – 24
Wine lovers and romantics are still coming down from the chocolate-induced sugar high last weekend's pre-Valentine's Day festivities caused. Fortunately, events for the coming days put the emphasis back on wine.
Start off your weekend with a jaunt
to the town of Sonoma this Friday evening. The Lodge at Sonoma is hosting the VinOlivo Grand Tasting. Nearly 60 different Sonoma wineries will be pouring and 25 restaurants and caterers serving.
If you're a fan of Alsace varietals, or just like to laugh at people trying to say "Gewurtztraminer," then I highly recommend you head up to Boonville this Saturday for the 7th annual Int'l Alsace Varietals Grand Tasting. There you'll find more Pinot Gris under one roof than imagine. And, if you get white wined out, you can amble down the road a bit and enjoy some lovely Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.
If you have an interest in California wine history — and would like to meet it — you've got to go the 6th Annual Vintners Hall of Fame Induction Celebration at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. The food and wine are always excellent and you'll never have a better opportunity to meet the legends of the California wine industry. Here are this year's inductees.
All events listed below are in chronological order by region. Some events require advance reservations or ticketing, so it's best to click through for any event you'd like to attend. The headline links for each event will take you to the calendar at NorCalWine.com where you'll find further details on that event. And event organizers sometimes change details at the last minute, so it's always a good idea to contact the host prior to showing up at their doorstep. For events in other regions, also check the calendar or my weekly NorCal event articles.
Lake County
Saturday, February 18
Ceago Winemaker Dinner at the Tallman Hotel — Upper Lake: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Owner Jim Fetzer, winemaker Barney Fetzer and family members will be there to introduce the wines and pairings.
Mendocino County
Saturday, February 18
Int'l Alsace Varietals Festival Technical Conference — Boonville: 9:00am – 11:30am
Winemakers from around the globe discuss winemaking and grape growing specifically for Alsace varietals.
7th annual Int'l Alsace Varietals Grand Tasting — Boonville: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Meet the winemakers and taste Alsace-style white wines from around the world, including Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat.
Alsace Festival Winemakers Dinner at Shaffenberger Cellars — Philo: 6:30pm
Enjoy a sumptuous dinner with the winemakers and learn more about their wines in the elegant private dining room at Sharffenberger Cellars.
Napa Valley
Ongoing Events
Saturday February 11 – Monday, February 20
The Ultimate Decadent Tasting at Trefethen Family Vineyards — Napa: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Enjoy special selections of Trefethen wines paired with handmade confections produced by one of Napa's finest chocolatiers.
Friday, February 17
Cornerstone Cellars Winemaker Dinner at Bardessono — Yountville: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Enjoy a special 5-course tasting menu drawn from Lucy's Garden by Chef Victor Scargle, inspired by the wines of Jeff Keene.
Saturday, February 18
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Release at Nichelini Family Winery — St. Helena: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Leona Marini, 4th generation, will be on hand to offer food pairings and stories.
Winemaker's Dinner & Bob James Concert at Miner Family Winery — Oakville: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
An intimate concert in the caves followed by a a four-course dinner prepared by La Saison chefs Natalie & Jonathan Niksa paired with new release 2009 Miner Cabernets.
Sunday, February 19
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Release at Nichelini Family Winery — St. Helena: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Leona Marini, 4th generation, will be on hand to offer food pairings and stories.
Monday, buy online prescription viagra February 20
6th Annual Vintners Hall of Fame Induction Celebration at CIA Greystone — St. Helena: 4:00pm – 8:00pm
A rare opportunity to mingle with noted winemakers, famous chefs, and wine-loving celebrities.
Sonoma County
Friday, February 17
VinOlivo Grand Tasting at The Lodge at Sonoma — Sonoma: 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Sip Sonoma Valley's best wines as you get to know the personalities behind the
wine. Sample food from more than 25 of Sonoma's purveyors.
Music at Vino di Amore Tasting Lounge — Cloverdale: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Guitar ballads with Brian Ward
Saturday, February 18
Mardi Gras Celebration at Meadowcroft Wines — Sonoma: noon – 4:00pm
The St. Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band, down home Louisiana cookin', a Second Line-Parade, award winning wines and of course BEADS!
Sunday, February 19
Amphora's Zinvitational: Zinfandel and Cioppino at Amphora — Healdsburg: 11:00am – 4:30pm
Current, library and barrel-sample Zinfandel plus Cioppino, sourdough and green salad.
President's Day Celebration at Old Roma Station — Healdsburg: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Limited production wines from Bluenose, Hart's Desire, J. Keverson, Kelley & Young, Sadler-Wells, Sapphire Hill, Skewis, Shippey and Willowbrook.
Sundays on the "Terraza" at Santa Rosa Vintners Square — Santa Rosa: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Bring a picnic. They'll will provide the wine, bocce ball court and live music.
Thursday, February 23
J Vineyards & Winery Winemaker Dinner at John Ash & Co. — Santa Rosa: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Join J Vineyards & Winery Assistant Winemaker, Scott Anderson, for an excellent dinner paired with five J wines.
Event organizers and publicists get your events published here. Post your events in the calendar at NorCalWine.com. Posting events there requires a one-time registration (easy, peasy), but is totally free of charge. And it only takes a couple of minutes. I'll soon post a guide at NorCalWine.com with tips on how to make event posts as effective as possible.
Disclaimer: The events I'll call attention to here are those that I've become aware of and which offer something beyond the standard winery tasting room experience. Neither I nor William are compensated by any of the event organizers in any way. The listings are for the benefit of the community. Event details are subject to change without notice.
This article is by Fred Swan for Simple Hedonisms. All rights reserved.
Valentine's Day Weekend Wine Events Update
Everybody wants to be your Valentine! Wineries, wine bars and restaurants are pulling out all the stops. And all the chocolate! Even if you don't have a romance to kindle, you can cuddle up with a glass of wine and y
our sweet tooth this weekend.
My previous post included a whole box of chocolate and wine events. And even some without cacao. But then I got a Kiss-o-Gram with even more events for this weekend!
All events listed below are in chronological order by region. Some events require advance reservations or ticketing, so it's best to click through for any event you'd like to attend. The headline links for each event will take you to the calendar at NorCalWine.com where you'll find further details on that event. And event organizers sometimes change details at the last minute, so it's always a good idea to contact the host prior to showing up at their doorstep. For events in other regions, also check the calendar or my weekly NorCal event articles.
Mendocino County
Saturday, February 11
Valentine's Wine & Chocolate Sampling at Milano Family Winery — Hopland: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Bring your Valentine and tickle your taste buds with heavenly creations by the ladies of Milano Family Winery.
Parducci's Valentines Day 'Death by Chocolate' Event — Ukiah: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Parducci Wine Cellars presents a romantic day of music, sensuous wines, and exquisite chocolates to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Napa Valley
On-Going Events
Saturday February 11 – Tuesday, February 14
Chocolate and Wine at Cornerstone Cellars — Yountville: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Bring your sweetie to Cornerstone Cellars and indulge them in a wine flight paired with 3 chocolates hand crafted by Brent and Anette at Anette's Chocolates, Napa Valley.
Saturday February 11 – Monday, February 20
The Ultimate Decadent Tasting at Trefethen Family Vineyards — Napa: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Enjoy special selections of Trefethen wines paired with handmade confections produced by one of Napa's finest chocolatiers.
Daily Events
Sunday, February 12
Cooking up Sweet Passion: Amy Reiley, Author of Romancing the Stove at Peju — Rutherford: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Learn to make hand rolled chocolate truffles from Amy Reiley's new cookbook Romancing the Stove while sipping Peju wines.
Sonoma County
Friday, February 10
An Evening with Merry Edwards at Paradise Ridge Winery — Santa Rosa: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Come spend a great evening celebrating Merry Edwards stellar career at a benefit for the Sonoma County Wine Library.
Music at Vino di Amore Tasting Lounge — Cloverdale: 7pm
Music by Michael Hantman plus belly dancing by Kimberly Andora.
Saturday, February 11
Special Valentines Day Vertical Tasting at John Tyler Wines — Healdsburg: 11:ooam – 5:00pm
2004-2006 Pinot Noir and Zinfandel wines in a mini vertical tasting paired with Brix Chocolates.
Wine & Chocolate at Amista Vineyards — Healdsburg: noon – 3pm
Join canadian healthcare viagra sales us at Amista Vineyards for award-winning wines paired with specialty chocolates from Sebastopol chocolatier Peters Chocolates.
5th Annual Amphoradisiac Winemaker's Dinner at Amphora — Healdsburg: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
A multi-course gourmet dinner with fabulous wine pairings, white tablecloths, candlelight and roses.
Event organizers and publicists get your events published here. Post your events in the calendar at NorCalWine.com. Posting events there requires a one-time registration (easy, peasy), but is totally free of charge. And it only takes a couple of minutes. I'll soon post a guide at NorCalWine.com with tips on how to make event posts as effective as possible.
Disclaimer: The events I'll call attention to here are those that I've become aware of and which offer something beyond the standard winery tasting room experience. Neither I nor William are compensated by any of the event organizers in any way. The listings are for the benefit of the community. Event details are subject to change without notice.
This article is by Fred Swan for Simple Hedonisms. All rights reserved.
Great surprises from Lake County Wineries found at "Wines with Altitude" event
I recently attended Wines with Altitude, where the vintners of Lake County California brought their wines to town — literally, to a stunning San Francisco venue on Treasure Island. Casually dressed wine-makers and staff members poured and chatted with the attendees between baguettes and hummus. A folksy event put together by the Lake County Winery Association, the four-hour pow-wow came with a classy glass sporting the Wines with Altitude slogan, a fresh personal-size baguette, and booklet with info and space for wine-tasting notes. I attended as press.
The event was held at The Winery SF on Treasure Island. WARNING: This is a place of jaw-dropping city views. It was easy access and there were a couple of food trucks outside with picnic tables.
Inside there was a large main floor of wine pouring. An upstairs room featured winning wines from the 2011 Lake County Wine awards. In all, over 100 different wines were pouring from 20 or so wineries. There were olives and olive oil, pizzettas and gazpacho and some nice lounging areas in the
old building.
I've been known to favor Lake County Sauvignon Blancs. The Altitude theme suggested Reds. I arrived with my notebook and spit-cup, eager to commence tasting, and not really knowing what to expect. It turned out to be a day of surprises, some professional – like tasting a Lake County Aglianico, and some personal – like running into Napa Valley winemaker Nils Venge, the first person who exposed me to garagiste winemaking. The story: About twenty years or so ago, a group of friends and I loyally appeared every season to help Nils bottle his fledgling Saddleback Cellars wines in a small concrete block building on Money Road in Rutherford, CA. The little block building is still the nucleus of Saddleback and Nils now also owns Cougar's Leap in Lake County.
I made an effort to taste every Sauvignon Blanc (SB), and there were quite a few. The Lake County SB's were each so different, I couldn't identify a Lake County "style" or varietal "character." The only label I recognized was Guenoc, a widely distributed and solid SB. This was a good sign I was discovering a number of labels for the first time. I learned that Guenoc is a Valley – and it's own AVA — and that the premium SB is their Langtry Sauvignon Blanc (250 cases produced vs thousands of Guenoc). I liked the Langtry. My other favorite Sauvignon Blanc's were 2 from Six Sigma Michael's Vineyard – the 2010 stainless with bright fresh melon on the nose and classic grapefruit on the palette – and a single vineyard, very lightly oaked version that maintains a crisp, cleansing acidity while adding dimension from the oak. This wine recently won best-in-class in the 2011 Lake County Wine Awards Competition, directed by Ray Johnson.
Cougar's Leap offered a unique Sauvignon Blanc rendition – the 2010 Black Rock White which is 70% Semillion, 30% SB and, according to vintner Nils Venge, includes a boost from a one-time barrel of Albarino. Cougar's Leap was pouring 2 other wines and they were memorable: The 2008 Black Rock Zinfandel with lots of fruit coming through structure and tannins, and which Venge claims with a crooked grin is "17% alcohol." Reviewers have dubbed it "Ballistic!" Definitely a wine with "Altitude." I finished with a 2007 Petite Sirah at Cougar's Leap.
Nils introduced me to Gregory Graham, and I spent quite a bit of time at Greg's table. Former wine-maker at Rombauer, Graham has been at it for 30 years. At one point he was making 4 different Zinfandels for them. For his own label, he makes only small lots using bins for fermentation. He says this has freed him from the constraints of tank-based wine-making, giving him a lot of flexibility. He was pouring several wines. I tasted the 2009 Gregory Graham Red Hills Bartolucci Vineyard Viognier, one of the nicest Viognier's I've had … and it's a $16, 13.5% alcohol wine. Graham's 2007 Grenache was my personal favorite of the day, delivering a mouth-filling intensity and lingering romance of fruit and texture on the palette. The 2008 Cinder Cone was my red blend favorite of the day – 48% Syrah, 24% Cabernet, and 14% each Malbec and Grenache. Big, balanced, and Red. Graham's wines are well-priced, running from $15-16 for Dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, to a high of $38 for a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir he wasn't pouring, and a number of wines in the $18-24 range. Gregory Graham wines represent star-quality wine-making at excellent value pricing.
Rosa d'Oro Aglianico. This is a red varietal grape of Southern Italian regions – Basilicata and Campania – pronounced alianico. I've had the Corte Normana from Campania (imported by Salvia Bianca), and heard of one or two Aglianico's being vinted in California. So I was pleased and surprised to find Pietro Buttitta pouring his family's estate-grown 2008 Aglianico. It's a lovely wine expressing the full Aglianico character, if in a smoother, less rustic style than it's Italian brethren. Well-priced at $18. I tasted the 2008 Barbera, which won a Silver medal in the Chronicle Wine Competition – also a fine wine at the $18 price point.
I decided the only way to cope with the bounty of Rosa d'Oro, is to visit the their Tasting Room in Kelseyville and do some serious sampling of the Primativo, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Dolcetto and maybe a Rosato. And in another year or two, they will be bringing out a NegroAmaro! (You read it here first.) Pietro is also a prolific blogger – check him out here.
It's clear I have a lot to learn about Lake county as a wine region and I'm planning to make a trip. You can find various Lake County Wine events online; next up is the Lake County Wine Auction on Sept 17. The event that interests me most is the People's Choice Wine Awards and blind tasting on November 5.
I love blind tastings … as long as I can see the view!
One last surprise: Many of Lake County Wineries have active Facebook pages, but there is definitely room for growth in the Twitter realm. The Winery SF's most recent tweet was in July, nearly 2 months ago. One would expect better care and feeding, especially when you have a high-profile name, location, and over 2000 Twitter followers.
El Dorado of Wine: Exploring Calaveras Tasting Rooms
I visited a number of tasting rooms in and around the gold rush town of Murphy's CA this weekend. My brother raised his children in Murphy's but I hadn't been back in nearly 10 years. When they were little, there were 3 or 4 wineries in town. Now there are well over 20, with new and expanding grape cultivation evident on the drive up Highway 4. Down in the valley, the road is lined with apple and peach orchards as it always was. As it reaches the higher elevations of the Sierra Foothills, Highway 4 gives way to glimpses of vineyards and new plantings between rolling hills.
Many wineries have opened tasting rooms on or near Main Street in Murphy's. If the July 4th weekend was a bellweather, this once declining community is now a thriving village of cafes, bistros, boutiques and wine establishments, all grown up around the tasting rooms. Great care has gone into establishing the atmosphere of each room.
Day One:
I loved the intimate and funky Zucca Mountain Vineyards tasting room with it's cool, dark stone cellar, wall of awards, and an afterhours patio with music and misters on a 100-degree plus day. Their 2008 Barbera was smooth, forceful and balanced with soft wood tones. It stands alone but calls out for a food pairing. Zucca smartly distributes recipe cards keyed to their wines. I picked up the Steak with Horseradish-Chive Sauce to be paired with the 2009 Sangiovese, complete with photo of the mouth-watering steak. Other Italian varietals produced by Zucca include Sangiovese, Dolcetto, and Sorprendere.
Newsome-Harlow tasting room, just a couple doors up the street, was the polar opposite of Zucca, with equal appeal. Enter through an enclosed patio lounge complete with fire pit, which opens onto their food franchise, The Kitchen to the north and the Tasting Room to the east. Lots of natural light through ample glass, zoned lighting and wood floors complete the euro high-tech look and feel. I wanted to taste with small plates but The Kitchen was only open until 3pm (in a week or two they will open for dinners).
I really liked the wines at Newsome-Harlow. The tasting room personnel were top-notch. They explained that this is the label of local Scott Klann, winemaker at Twisted Oak and Tanner. I didn't have a chance to taste Tanner but between Twisted Oak and Newsome-Harlow I sensed a vast repertoire of styles emanating from Klanns' wine-making influence.
Newsome-Harlow 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is classic grapefruit SB of which I am a huge fan. The wine was pure, simple and refreshing, a perfect synonym to the scorching weather outside. The 2010 Rose of Grenache (10% Zin) was also a winner
at 13.2% alcohol. I took home a bottle of each. NH featured a trio of Zinfandels, one from each of the Sierra Foothill regions – Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras — which makes for interesting tasting room discussion. I particularly liked the 2009 Donner Party Zinfandel from the local Dalton vineyard, described as "not for the faint of heart." I really wished The Kitchen had been open when I got to tasting these Zins!
A galactic opposite Tasting Room experience was Ironstone, where the entry is through theme-park-like gates. In fact, the winery's Amphitheatre hosts a complete season of fireworks, concerts and performing arts (Sammy Hagar plays in Sept). The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, a snack and sandwich bar is housed right in the large tasting room, and the beautiful shaded gardens are an oasis of coolness on a hot day. To top it off, the wines are nicely made and range from value-priced to fine wines.
Day Two:
I visited the new Twisted Oak Winery in-town tasting room. It's across the street from the former location, in a lovely Victorian cottage where most of the inter
ior walls have been removed to make one big bright light room. I was very well taken care-of despite the holiday crowds. Having followed Twisted Oaks' Jeff Stai "El Jefe" on Twitter since my earliest wine tweets, I felt an obligation to be thorough. I tasted the entire list, which is amazingly long (12 wines were pouring) and diverse (3 whites, 7 blends, over 14 varietals) for a small-production (5000-8000 case) winery.
Another 100-degree day, and I was finding a dearth of whites. So I really enjoyed the Twisted Oak 2010 Calaveras County Verdelho and appreciated the light touch (13.6% alcohol). Of their many reds, I was partial to the 2008 Calaveras County Parcel 17 – a finely tuned and approachable blend with cranberry notes – of Mourvedre, Carignane, and Graciano all sourced from a single parcel of a Calaveras vineyard. This wine has won best of California and Double Gold at the California State Fair and a Gold Medal at the Orange County Fair. Even thought it's not the biggest, slamming-est Twisted blend, t's good to know I'm not alone in my tastes …
Twisted Oak has branded a kick-ass wine-making style which was evident in the dramatic acids of the 2010 Calaveras County Viognier. And in the 2008 Calaveras County Torcido that ROARS into the mouth like a forest fire in the pines. Torcido means "Twisted" and it's made up of "estate-grown Garnacha blended with a little Petitie Sirah." Wines like these beg for food; I'm thinking to pair the Viognier with hotly spiced Thai. I'm open to suggestion on the Torcido … perhaps a fire extinguisher?
Another novel approach to tasting was the Allegorie Tasting and Art Gallery. Here an artistic couple have designed a line of wines that pair with their art. Their wines are made by Jonathon Phillips of Val du Vino Winery (Murphy's), in very low case production and available only in the gallery. The 2009 Allegorie Calaveras County Grenache is one of the best I've tasted. Ever.
In an homage to Spain, Metate Hill Vineyards tasting room boasts soft archways and cool tile counters to highlight their focus on artisan produced Spanish varietals. Two treatments of the same Albarino wine were tasting: The 2008 Albarino Acero – aromatic and clean-finishing, and the 2008 Albarino Barrica — from the same pressing using different fermentation and aging techniques. Followed by 2008 Carinena Rosado, a boldly dry rose' with tones of bramble bushes and pepper that produced a lingering refresca against the blistering heat of the afternoon. I took home a bottle, hoping to recreate the sensation.
I was fortunate to taste a couple of not-on-the-list wines: a 2008 Metate Hill Carinena (aka Carigniane) I would describe as a pure expression of the varietal character of the grape. Then, a very special 2008 Graciano, a joyous wine with a soft mouth feel and full fruit ripeness and yet a serious intensity, moderated nicely. The grape is from the Rioja region of Spain. I noticed it in the Twisted Oak Parcel 17 and again at Metate Hill. I think I've just discovered another varietal preference!
Metate Hill on Facebook
Two words sum up my visit to Calaveras: Atmosphere and diversity. Atmosphere for the effort taken by the wineries to create unique tasting room experiences. Diversity for the range of varietals and winemaking styles – including Italian, Rhone, and Spanish — represented in the tasting rooms of one small town. I think the food pairing and access to food for tasting here in Calaveras, where there's such a proliferation of food wines being poured, is a very important strategy not yet addressed by most of the tasting rooms. These are a just a few of the rooms I had time to visit on a 36 hour trip. Others called out to me and I promise to see them on my next trip. Which may be soon!
If you're going:
The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) has an excellent and informative website with a great map of area wineries.
Events upcoming: Any of these would be a good reason to take a drive Calaveras and visit some of the tasting rooms.
July 22 CWA hosts a tour of six Calaveras vineyards with world-renowned viticulture specialist and Professor Emeritus at UC Davis, Dr. James Wolpert
July 31, Steve Miller Band at Ironstone Amphitheater
August 13, Cave-Looting Extravaganza at Twisted Oak Winery
Our Highlights of Passport to Dry Creek: Food & Music Pairings
Take a pristine, gorgeous day with spectacular vistas in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, California. Combine it with a wide range of wine varietals and styles. Add generous portions of thoughtfully paired foods. Mix it up with music and friends – blues, salsa and even zydeco – and you have the makings of a weekend that brings together all of my favorite things. And, all the wineries have specials, case discounts, and in some cases $1 case shipping – a big saving for travelers. One of the best things about this wine event is the active involvement of the vintners, winemakers, vineyard managers, owners, and family members in serving the foods, pouring the wines, and mingling freely with the guests to share their perspectives on the wines.
This was Passport to Dry Creek 2011. Here are some highlights:
Day One
Dutcher Crossing: Coconut Prawn Cones with Mango Chili Sauce paired with 2009 Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc. The taste is unique on this SB made with 9% Viognier, 7% Semillion, and 1% Roussane. It was well chilled and paired nicely with the prawns.
I found a hidden surprise in the tasting room: 2006 Dutcher Dry Creek Port, fortified with brandy and made from 40% Cabernet and 60% Syrah, all grown on the estate. The port was dark and chocolat-ey. Extra points for pairing it overnight canadian viagra with Frozen Chocolate Whoppie Pies – two pieces of soft Oreo crust wrapped around a dollop of frozen chocolate ice cream. Yummy.
Sbragia Family: 2008 Gamble Family Ranch Chardonnay (grapes from Napa), paired with bean and pasta soup with Pancetta. I prefer unoaked, and this Chardonnay is made with oak. But it's subtle oak flavors — without the buttery mouth feel and syrupy texture of so many over-done Chardonnays — made it highly drinkable.
Besides the wine, food, and hospitality, location is the highlight of Sbragia. The winery is a stunning building perched on a ridge opening to views all the way to Marin. By the time I got there the temperatures were in the high 70s, and live music from the terrace was filtering out over the property. Sbragias' good wine and kitchen make this a must-stop for future tasting days. Now that summer weather is here, check the website for regularly scheduled music dates. An added bonus when you're there: In the Italian tradition, Sbragia shares recipes from their kitchen. I took home a "Skewered Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Dried Fig Sauce," recipe card from the tasting room – can't wait to try this.
Unti Vineyards: Unti sells about 50% of their 60 acres worth of grapes to other wine-makers. I've had wine made with Unti grapes, but this was my first visit and first taste of their wines. The Grenache wines were the highlight for me. Two: a 2010 Rose of 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre that was a lovely peach color, ultra-dry, 13.5% alcohol wine. Chilled, it's a perfect lunchtime wine. And the 2007 Grenache itself was my favorite red wine of the day. Paired with a blues vocalist and tortilla nacho plate with melted cheese from Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. Thumbs-up.
Mazzocco. I couldn't pass up the Cuban music and food theme at this wonderful winery location. Orchestra Borenquen and Zinfandel? Yes! The pairing was Flank Steak with Chimichuri and Saffron Prawns. It was the best food of the day. In addition to other varietals, Mazzocco makes vineyard-designate Zinfandels from 9 ranches in the region. They were barrel-tasting 4 of their 2010 Zinfandels for Passport. I favored the Stone Ranch Vineyard – their only Alexander Valley Zinfandel. Tasting right from the barrel, the wine was soft, fruity and naturally balanced. The Stone Ranch 2009 was sold out; but there were good discounts available on futures.
The Mazzocco property was beautifully laid-out for the event. The orchestra was shielded by a gigantic sunshade. Flank steak was cooked to order, perfuming the air. A Cigar Loft stood slightly away from the center, completing the Cuba theme.
Seghesio Family. Seghesio went to town with a "Big Easy" theme. I loved the Cajun Barbequed ribs as served up by Pete Seghesio. They were meaty and succulent and went well with some of the featured Italian varietals such as a tobacco-ey 2008 Alexander Valley Sangiovese and a Zinfandel – Petite Sirah blend called "San Lorenzo."
The Big Easy backdrop was the sounds of Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic. A local bay area group, Andre Thierry's accordion brings his music heritage from southwest Louisiana together with an R&B sensibility to create upbeat and highly danceable music. If there had been a dance floor at Seghesio you would have seen some zydeco dancing too. As it was, the shaded venue on a warm afternoon was perfect … Mardi Gras beads handed out at the door and a glitter tattoo station completed the theme. That and the fresh beignets at the end of the tasting line.
Day Two
A. Rafanelli. It's always special to taste the limited production, handcrafted wines of the Rafanelli family. Even more special to visit this historic homestead winery, which is open by appointment only. And on Passport weekend the Rafanelli's went "all-out." I spoke to a number of people who return here each year for Passport. The 2008 Rafanelli Zinfandel and 2008 Rafanelli Cabernet – both of Dry Creek Estate-grown grapes – were pouring.
With this there were 5 food stations with 3 dishes each. Five stations! Fried artichoke hearts with Parmesan sauce, steak marinated and cooked in heaps of fresh rosemary, roasted red potatoes to name a few of the small bites offered each guest. The final station is two tables of chocolates. Two tables! The interplay of chocolate, Zin and Cab was sublime. Back outside the sounds of a traditional Italian trio with accordion and vocals set a festive mood.
Mounts Family. The short drive up to Mounts was worthwhile. The new 2010 Estate "Pink" Syrah (a light rose') and delicate yet well-structured 2008 Estate Malbec were standouts, as was the shaded belly-dancing pavilion in the middle of a benchland vineyard just above the Dry Creek Valley floor. Middle-Eastern foods and a mini-cupcake of ginger capped with incredible syrah frosting completed the experience.
Quivira. A biodynamic winery and farm, Quivira served the only Sauvignon Blancs of the day. Both from the same vineyard and vintage but made in two different styles. One produced in pure stainless and the other in neutral oak with new acacia barrels and a hint of Viognier. I surprised myself by liking the acacia-fermented taste. Both wines were crisp and refreshing on the warm afternoon, and paired with small savory bites to enhance. My friend Sheri found her favorite wine of the day – a GSM+ red blend at Quivera. Called Elusive, the wine is 34% Syrah, 32% Grenache, 28% Mourvedre, 6% Petite Sirah. Quivera was also pouring a Mourvedre made from locally grown grapes; unusual because it is made without blending – it's 100% Mourvedre. Mushrooms and blueberries delighted us in this wine.
Passalacqua. This is a charming winery hidden in plain sight across the road from Dry Creek Vineyards. I loved the gardens and vistas from their back deck, and their 2007 Sangiovese. This is a well-balanced Dry Creek Sangio with a highly satisfying tannic finish on it. Paired with flatbread pizza and Chocolate mousse gelato.
Amista Vineyards. I wasn't hungry but I couldn't pass up the Truffle Mac-n-Cheese with Arugula at Amista. It set off the Amista Syrah wines so nicely that I joined the wine club and brought some home. As a wine-club member I had access to the 2007 Syrah and a Sparkling Syrah that is not sold to the public. And soon a new Rockpile Cabernet will be available to members only. I'd been eyeing the Amista wines, their club and cooking events for some time. With the club benefits and entry-level membership, the time was right. We ended our tasting on a jolly note with proprietor and vintner Mike. A must-visit anytime you roll down Dry Creek Road.
(Note from William – special thanks to Katherine for covering this event, and doing a great write up so quickly. I had previously accepted a Media invite to Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles, so she attended and covered.)
Wine Review Panel – Six Sonoma Zinfandels from Wine Guerrilla
A few months ago I was contacted by Bruce Patch, the owner and proprietor of Wine Guerrilla and asked if I would like to receive some samples. These days samples come in decent amounts, and my own cellar is burgeoning with wine, but when someone has taken the time to contact me and wishes to send a bottle, most times I accept, and will attempt to review.
Bruce it turns out was local, so I offered to let him drop off the wines to save shipping. It also allows me to meet the winery face and glean a bit of their story. I was expecting a few bottles, lo and behold, Bruce had six. I like do like, buy, and review zinfandel (especially cooler Russian River Valley or Zin with some bottle time) but of the many wines I consume, Zin is less common. I realized it would take me quite a bit of time to get through six, nor would readers want six back to back Zin reviews, so I decided to try a different, more fun approach.
I was enthused, some of his Zin's were well regarded, including prominent California Wine writer Charles Olken. Additionally it was a great opportunity to compare many fruit sources.
The Tasting Panel
One of the great things of living in an area where there are over 200 wineries in a 30 mile radius, is enthusiasm and knowledge on wine cheap canadian viagra is very high. Many of us have changed our entire lives in pursuit of passion of this nectar of the gods. It's as much a lifestyle as it is a beverage, and I blessed with many good friends who are like minded in this passion.
I decided to ask 4 friends all passionate about wine and all in the industry in various manners, ranging from wine maker, to blogger, to tasting room, to join me to taste through these wines.
I kept it simple to keep it fun, but focused still. Panelists were asked to write down basic tasting notes, and then rank their top 3 of the 6 zins.
Wine Guerrilla makes a crazy amount of Zin's, over a dozen are on the website for sale. Most are 200 cases or less.
#1 2009 Sonoma County Zinfandel 81% Zin, 10% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignan & Cabernet
#2 2009 Adel's Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
#3 2009 Harris-Kratka Vineyard 2009 Alexander Valley Zinfandel – 85% Zinfandel, 10% Carignan & 5% Petite Sirah
#4 2009 Conte Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel- A field blend of 83% Zin, 12% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignan, 2% Alacante Bouchet, & 1% Grenache
#5 2009 Clopton Vineyard 'old vine' 2009 Russian River Valley Zinfandel –
#6 2009 Coffaro Vineyards 'old vine' Block 1 2009 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel – 84% Zin, 16% Petite Sirah
The tasting was not blind, and tasters had access to the tech sheets. This was an experienced crew, I wasn't worried about influence.
Each reviewers top pick got 3 points, #2 two points, and #3 a single point. As you can see, the number one choice scored almost twice as many points as the second. And they quickly trailed off.I should add, there wasn't a single wine we didn't like, and for many it was a hard choice, with a few re-visits. The styles were surprisingly, refreshingly different.
|Total Points
|2009 Sonoma County Zin; 81% Zin, 10& PS, 8% Carignan, & Cab
|2009 Adel's Vineyard DCV
|2009 Alexander Valley – Harris-Kratka
|2009 RRV Conte Vineyard
|Clopton Vineyards Old Vine RRV
|Coffaro Vineyards DCV 84% Zin, 16 PS
Wine Review – Wine Guerrilla 2009 Alexander Valley – Harris-Kratka
The winner by a margin.
To The Eye: Lively, dark red.
One The Nose: Cocoa, spice, cherry pie, black fruit
In The Mouth: Brambly, jammy, complex, good finish.
Recommendation: A crowd pleaser amongst a wide variety of palates. 91 points $30 (media sample)
Wine Review: Wine Guerrilla 2009 Russian River Valley Clopton Vineyard
To The Eye: Hazy dark red
One The Nose: Earth, blackberry, pepper
In The Mouth: Rich, viscous texture, ripe red fruit
Recommendation: A zinfandel that starts out with lots of fruit, finishes nicely, making come back for more. And more. 89 points.
Wine Review: Tin Barn Vineyards Russian River Valley 2007 Zinfandel Gilsson Vineyard
This is a big (15.5% alcohol!) Zin in an elegant package from Tin Barn Vineyards, artisan producer of fine wines in Sonoma, CA. Michael Lancaster is a Toronto native living and practicing independent winemaking here. Even though Russian River Valley is known primarily for its' Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, there are a number of Zinfandel vineyards in RRV and many Zin producers including DeLoach, Passalacqua, and the newer Portalupi label.
Tin Barn says this Zinfandel is from 35-year-old vines planted in a flat sandy block of the Gilsson Vineyard, just east of the town of Windsor in Sonoma County. The 2007 vintage is said to be reminiscent of the 2005, which won Gold, Best in Class honors at the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The timing is perfect to get a taste of Tin Barn Zinfandels, which include this RRV as well as a Napa Valley Zin. Tin Barn is one of 10 neighboring wineries joining together in a food and wine pairing open house this Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Here you will find great wines, unique food pairings at each tasting room, and easy interaction with winemakers, family members and their dogs. See Simple Hedonism's contest for a chance to win free tickets. Or, purchase tickets ($30) here.
To the Eye: Dense, cloudy rich garnet
On the Nose: Scent of the riverbed, gravel and menthol, almost like a RRV Pinot Noir. Lush, ripe stone fruit and savory herbs … like a full-figured dancer in a tight dress.
In The Mouth: Plums and dried cranberries emerge, puckering along the sides of the mouth and finishing on licorice and tobacco notes. Front of mouth softens as the wine is exposed to air in the glass. Back of mouth retains earthy, gutteral finish. Cries out for food.
Where to Buy: The 2008 is available from Tin Barn at $27. The 2007 might be found in small lots at some local retailers.
Food Pairing: Roasted meats with root vegetables and potatoes, adding some berries in the gravy to play off the fruit in the Zinfandel. Think Pizza with sweet sausage and thick tomato sauce,BBQ'd Tri Tip or other grilled meat.
Recommendation: Plan a hearty meal around the opening of this wine. I let the bottle breathe for a couple hours before drinking, which allowed the aromas and flavors to open up nicely. Highly recommended for lovers of big wines and RRV nuanced aromas.
Pricing: $27 (media sample).
Wine Geek Info:
- Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
- Harvested: September 28th, 2007
- Barrels: 35% New American Oak
- Aging: 15 months
- Bottled: January 27th, 2009
- Alcohol: 15.5%
- pH: 3.73
- TA: 5.87g/L
- Production: 579 cases
- Release: November 2009


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Public meeting set on streetcar routes
Published 1:38 pm, Thursday, March 21, 2013
VIA Metropolitan Transit will hold a public meeting March 28 to get input on possible routes for its downtown streetcar line.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Central Library, 600 Soledad St.
VIA has budgeted $190 million to $200 million to pay for the roughly five-mile system. The streetcars will travel between VIA's West Side Multimodal Transit Center on Medina Street and its Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome; and between Southtown and near the Pearl Brewery.
VIA consultants are still determining exactly where to lay down track and will present a handful of proposed routes at the meeting.
News Channel
The streetcar could be up and running by 2017.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sorry, the book that you are looking for is not available right now.
We did a search for other books with a similar title, however there were no matches. You can try selecting from a similar category, click on the author's name, or use the search box above to find your book.
Map your own adventure. Las Vegas Day by Day is the perfect answer for travelers who want to know the best places to visit and the best way to see the city.
Packed with color photos, this bestselling guide offers dozens of itineraries that show you how to see the best of Las Vegas in a short time--with bulleted maps that lead the way from sight to sight. Featuring a full range of thematic and neighborhood tours, plus dining, lodging, shopping, nightlife, and practical visitor info, Las Vegas Day by Day is the only guide that helps travelers organize their time to get the most out of a trip. Inside this book you'll find:
1 The Best Full-Day Tours 7
The Best in One Day 8
The Best in Two Days 14
The Best in Three Days 18
2 The Best Special-Interest Tours 21
Las Vegas for Sinners 22
Las Vegas for Elopers 26
Las Vegas with Kids 30
Las Vegas for Thrill Seekers 34
Las Vegas for Culture Lovers 38
3 The Best Neighborhood Walks 41
South Strip 42
Luxor Las Vegas 46
Mid-Strip 48
Bellagio 52
Downtown 54
4 The Best Shopping 59
Shopping Best Bets 60
Las Vegas Shopping A to Z 63
5 The Best Casinos 73
Casino Best Bets 74
Casinos A to Z 76
6 The Best Dining 83
Dining Best Bets 84
Las Vegas Restaurants A to Z 87
7 The Best Nightlife 99
Nightlife Best Bets 100
Las Vegas Nightlife A to Z 103
8 The Best Arts, Entertainment & Weddings 111
Arts, Entertainment & Weddings Best Bets 112
A&E on the Strip 114
Wedding Chapels A to Z 119
9 The Best Hotels 121
Hotel Best Bets 122
Las Vegas Hotels A to Z 125
10 The Best Day Trips & Excursions 139
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead 140
Valley of Fire State Park 144
The Savvy Gambler 147
Playing the Games 148
Players' Clubs 148
Baccarat 149
Blackjack 149
Craps 151
Poker 154
Let It Ride 156
Roulette 156
Slots 157
Sports Books 159
Video Poker 160
The Savvy Traveler 161
Before You Go 162
Getting There 165
Getting Around 166
Fast Facts 167
A Brief History 175
Toll-Free Numbers and Websites 178
Index 179
Series: Frommer's Day by Day Las Vegas
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 192
Published: 14th August 2012
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 18.42 x 10.8 x 1.27
Weight (kg): 0.23
Edition Number: 3


text:
Salmon is delicious, nutritious and immensely healthy, making it one of the world's most unique and versatile foods. Smoked, roasted, steamed or as sushi, salmon can be enjoyed in all sorts of different ways.
We have sourced and developed a number of delicious recipes, using locally sourced ingredients to help you make the most of our salmon. We're always on the look out for interesting ideas, if you would like to share your recipes, we would love to hear from you… Click Here
Sugared Salmon Dessert
Recipe by Frederik Walter, Executive Chef, British Embassy Tokyo
- 100 gr salmon fillet
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 demerara sugar
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cracked star anise
- 2 cracked cinnamon sticks
- Cut salmon into 8-12 very thin slices and lay them out on a large tray and sprinkle them with the salt.
- Rinse under running water then return to plate and cover with paper towel to absorb any liquid.
- Put the brandy in a small bowl, dip the salmon slices in the brandy and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover a dish large enough to hold the salmon with half the sugar. Arrange the soles in a single layer.
- Combine the remaining sugar with the black pepper, star anise and cinnamon and sprinkle over the salmon.
- Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Wipe the sugar and spices off the salmon. Arrange two or three pieces on plates – serve with any kind of citric sherbet – and edible flowers.
Pan-fried salmon and wasabi peas
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 tsp light oil, such as groundnut, for frying
- 2 skinned salmon fillets, about 100g each
- 1/2 quantity New-style Sauce
- Pea shoots, to garnish (optional)
- First cook the peas in boiling, salted water for 2 minutes, then drain. Transfer them to a bowl and mix in the spicy sauce, wasabi, salt and pepper. Mash or blend the mixture for just a few seconds to lightly crush the peas. Set aside.
- Heat a nonstick frying pan until really hot. Add the oil, then sear the salmon for about one minute on each side, until the outside is golden brown but the centre remains pink. Transfer to a plate to cool.
- To serve, spoon the peas onto plates and place the salmon fillets on top. Pour a little of the new-style sauce over each serving and offer the rest separately. Garnish with pea shoots, if you like.
New-style sauce
Salty and zingy all at once, this is a great freezing for sesame-coated grilled salmon or pan-fired mackerel. Stored in a screwtop jar, it will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 garlic clove, grated or crushed
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 10g fresh root ginger, grated
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Scottish Salmon Confit served with Hijiki (Japanese seaweed)
Inspired by Mr Ishinabe of the Japanese Chef Federation.
Ingredients (per person):
- 120g Scottish salmon, 2cm thick, cut to 10cm lengths (x2)
- Olive oil, salt, pepper
- Thyme
- Consommé
- Butter
- Sugar
- Langoustine/shrimp
- Green peas
Japanese ingredients:
- Soy sauce
- Japanese Sake
- Wasabi
- Japanese cornstarch
- Dried Hijiki (Japanese seaweed)
- Sichuan pepper
- Cover the Scottish salmon with a glaze of salt, pepper and thyme and rest for 15 minutes. Roast the salmon in olive oil at 40 to 45°C for 40 minutes.
- Soak the dried Hijiki in water and then cook with soy sauce, sugar and Japanese Sake.
- Combine the previous stage with half of Hijiki and butter to make a purée.
- Make the sauce by combining Consommé and Japanese corn starch then add Wasabi.
- Serve with a garnish with green peas and Langoustine on side of dish.
Mini Scottish Salmon Fish Cakes served with Herb Tartar Sauce
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 500g Scottish salmon fillet
- 500g mashed potatoes
- Handful of roughly chopped mint leaves
- 1 tbsp. tartar sauce
- 3 tbsp. plain flour, for dusting
- 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
- Zest of 1 lemon
For Tartar Sauce:
- 2 tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. crème fraiche
- 2 tbsp. capers, drained and roughly chopped
- Preheat oven to 180º C.
- Bake the salmon for 15 minutes and cool.
- For the tartar sauce mix together all listed ingredients.
- Flake the salmon into a bowl, removing any skin and large bones, then add the mashed potatoes.
- Add the mint, tartar sauce and lemon zest, and season to taste. Mix well, then, using floured hands, shape into bite sized fish cakes. Dust with flour.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the fish cakes in two batches for 1-2 minutes each side, turning carefully with a fish slice or spatula, until golden and crisp.
- To serve, spoon a little tartar sauce onto each fish cake.
Stornoway Salmon Surprise
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 4 Scottish salmon fillets
- 4 slices of Stornoway Black Pudding
- 4 potatoes
- 1 onion, diced
For Hollandaise Sauce:
- 3 egg yolks
- 250g butter, chilled and diced
- 3 tbsp. lemon juice
- Preheat oven to 180º C. Peel and par-boil the potatoes, drain and grate once cooled. Make the grated potato into cakes and pan fry until browned on each side, then put into the oven to cook for 15 minutes.
- Season the salmon fillets and sear in a pan on each side, and place in an oven tray and cook for 8 minutes.
- Heat a pan and cook the black pudding for 3 minutes on each side.
- Put the lemon juice in a pan with the onion and reduce until there is one tablespoon left.
- For the hollandaise sauce, place the egg yolks in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water and add the reduced lemon juice. Whisk together until the whisk leaves ribbons and then start to slowly add the butter, until it is all incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (If you feel you need more lemon juice, add it at this stage).
- To serve, place the black pudding on the potato rosti and place the salmon, topped with hollandaise sauce, on top.


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The whitetail has walked away; leaping back into the forest to wait for the hunter to come again. A majority of hunters make sure to focus on everything from waterfowl to woodchuck, finding a way to hunt all year long in order to make sure that their skills remain top-notch for when their favorite season comes around again.
The predator of the whitetail is definitely a focal point when it comes to the late spring and summer months in most areas. Hunting this particular predator basically kills two birds with one stone, so to speak. Not only does the hunter get to consistently make sure his/her aim remains perfect, but they also get to save the whitetail at the same time.
Over the past decade, research has been done by wildlife managers, as well as biologists and landowners regarding the fact that fawn mortality rates are not good. When it comes to dealing with their natural predator, the numbers are quite frightening: Whitetail fawns account for approximately 80 percent of one coyote's diet during the summer season in some areas.
The all-out aggressive behavior has been shown in videos across the internet, of the coyote basically trapping and destroying vulnerable fawns that hunters want to save.
Many areas have relied on people – hikers, campers, etc. – to actually spook the coyote away from the young deer. It is an absolute fact that a fawn will not be able to survive a coyote attack, not to mention have the speed to get away. If 'Dad' happens to be there perhaps there's a chance, but if the fawn is only being protected by the doe, or lost and on its own – the coyote will definitely win the war.
The hardcore whitetail hunter is taking a very active role, jumping to the forefront of this issue in order to save fawns residing in their favorite hunting areas. After all, without the fawns survival, any chance at a buck grows smaller and smaller which is exactly what the hunter and the environment does not want to have happen.
The summer months are truly the perfect time to go to battle with canine predators in the states where it's legal to hunt them all-year round. And there are a few tips that could help the hunter make sure they have the upper-hand when it comes to the cunning predator.
To begin, the hunter must target the summer hotspots where the whitetail will congregate in order to receive the protein they need to get through the winter. On the edges of summer food crops, watering holes, not to mention fruit orchards – all of these places will be where the does and fawns roam. And most definitely where the coyote will be, just biding its time.
In order to get the coyote into view, fawn distress calls are often used by the hunter. Sounds of the fawn in distress will always sound like a quick meal to the coyote and it will show itself. From pain to fear, lost fawn bleats that sound as if the fawn is calling out to the doe will also being the sneaky coyote out into the open.
When it comes to setting up your own position, remember that the instinct of the coyote is strong. They are literally having their own summer vacation knowing that they are far less likely to be killed now that the majority of hunter's have turned to other prey.
The whitetail is what that coyote is after, so using some type of doe spray/scent around your location will peak the coyote's interest. Not to mention, the use of a fawn decoy that the coyote will most definitely see. Again, the coyote is a smart, sneaky fellow and has lived this long simply because they've learned to stay just out of range. But with the veil of safety they feel during the warm months, the hunter can most definitely take advantage.
June, July and August are sometimes, depending on location, extremely difficult to hunt in because of the extraordinary heat; however, this is the challenge that the coyote hopes you don't take. This predator wants nothing more than for the hunter to sit home with iced tea instead of ruining his chances of taking as many fawns as possible before the snow falls. Coyotes are lazy in the summer, as well. They lie in the shade simple waiting for their prey. But when the hunter calls, whether at night or during the day, the coyote will most definitely respond.
Accept the challenge. The more coyote taken down, the more deer remain in your favorite habitat!


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Canvas Print
Crystal Hamletby C86 | Matt Lyon
20% Off + Free Worldwide Shipping - Ends Tonight at Midnight PT!
Fine art print on bright white, fine poly-cotton blend, matte canvas using latest generation Epson archival inks. Individually trimmed and hand stretched museum wrap over 1-1/2" deep wood stretcher bars. Includes wall hanging hardware.
The Sims is all about creating fictional worlds and communities, which in a funny way is parallel to certain themes that inspire some of my work. As a child I would build Lego towns and dioramas, places to escape to in my imagination. I love drawing houses and buildings, so this design offered me an ideal opportunity to create a small haven of my own making. This is my own little Sims village.


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You know the old adage "love is blind." Well, that's exactly what so-called "sweetheart scammers" on counting on. In one case, the victim was told the man she loved was in the middle of divorcing his current wife.
"She fell in love on the Internet," explained US Postal Inspector Ricky Vida. "It's what we call a Sweetheart Scam. She believed she was going to marry a U.S. Soldier stationed over in Nigeria."
The victim was asked by her "sweetheart" if she would pawn some jewelry she would receive in the mail and then wire the money to him in Africa.
"She showed us the text messages she was receiving from her love interest overseas-- her Sweetheart," said Vida.
Instead of love, this victim found herself caught in a scam.
"This individual is what we call a "money mule" -- a middleman," added Vida.
The jewelry sent to her was essentially stolen in an online auction scam. Here's how it works: Someone trying to sell something online receives an email from an interested buyer.
"The email would be a spoof email it would appear like it is from Paypal. There would be a request for a tracking number then once I get the tracking number you'll get your money from Paypal," explained Vida.
So the seller goes to the post office and sends the merchandise to get the tracking number, then realizes he's been duped.
"The seller wouldn't receive payment or anything and would be out the jewelry or other things they were selling online," said Vida.
Those "goods" are sent to a middle man, like the victim in the sweetheart scam, who has no idea the merchandise is part of a rip-off scheme.
If you're selling something online, inspectors have a warning.
"The best thing you could do is closely read the email. If there are misspellings in there if the language doesn't seem right, be aware it could be a spoof email," said Vida.
If you have any doubts, postal inspectors say do not reply to the email.
"The most important thing you can do, just contact the business and ask them about it," added Vida.
Federal officials say the average financial loss from these romance schemes is between $15,000 and $20,000. That's nearly double what it was a decade ago.
As for how to avoid being the "sweetheart" caught in the middle, authorities say never trust someone you've met online until you meet them face to face and confirm they are who they say they are.
The National Consumers League, on it's website Fraud.org, has red flags that the person you're communicating with may be a scammer.
Copyright 2014 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The former professional basketball player holds back tears as he talks about the late Lakers owner on the Jay Leno-hosted show.
Dennis Rodman got emotional when visiting "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Monday, February 18. In the wake of Dr. Jerry Buss' death, host Jay Leno asked Rodman about the Lakers owner and the retired professional basketball player couldn't hide his sadness.
"He's just like my dad," Rodman began remembering the late Buss and talking about Buss' role in his life. "And he just -- damn, man, it's like wow," he got choked up and couldn't continue to speak.
Buss died at 80 years old on Monday in Los Angeles after battling cancer. He had been hospitalized for 18 months. A successful real estate investor who obtained a doctorate in physical chemistry, he bought the LA Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979.
Rodman played for Lakers in 1998-1999. Expressing his condolences, he tweeted earlier the day, "My thoughts and prayers are with the Buss family. Dr. Jerry Buss was like a Dad to me and is a tremendous loss to Lakers fam."
Rodman stopped by "The Tonight Show" to promote his upcoming appearance on All-Star edition of The Celebrity Apprentice". The new season of the reality TV series will premiere Sunday, March 3 on NBC.


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OUR village pantomime, Dick Dunnington And His Cat was superb from start to finish. Such good value too, with mulled wine and mince pies for the adults, orange for the young ones.
Of course the Theatre Royal's Robin Hood was something else, with Berwick Kaler and some fresh faces from Canada and London's West End.
Martin Barrass, Suzy Cooper, the main stalwarts doing what they do best in entertainment. The dancers and children were a delight.
The story romped along, the audience booing at the new, excellent baddie.
The usual water scene, amusing as always, for once, Martin Barrass was not the victim.
The glorious sets were amazing, with the woodland animals excelling, somewhat reminiscent of Babes In The Wood.
The orchestra with a new addition adds to the excitement. In all, the best pantomime ever?
The staff at the Theatre Royal are fantastic, too, greeting everyone like old friends, long may it continue with the Wagon Wheels and Newcy Brown.
Pamela Z Frankland, Hull Road, Dunnington, York.


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Nederland en Morokko
i got so used to speaking French for a month, it was nice to return to a (slightly) warmer french speaking country, Morocco! I have spent the Christmas and New Years holidays with family in the Netherlands and Morocco. Morocco was awesome! We landed in Marrakech and stayed in a Riad, then off inland to Ait Ben Haddou, close to Ourazazate for New Years, then back to Marrakesh for a night. the scenery is really something else, sometimes you have to really have to look closely because the towns are the same color as the mountains and blend right in! Youssef, the guy who worked in the Riad, took me on his motorcycle to a local market for me to buy some cheaper items, he said i was his girlfriend and not a tourist and got good prices (haha). The roads were definitely chaotic, so riding around on his motorcycle was definitely exciting. The night market was also fun, Daniel and I played a game where you have a fishing pole with a ring attached at the end, and you must put the ring over the top of a soda bottle, if you manage, you get to keep the bottle...it definitely tested our patience. In Ait ben Haddou, we took a dromadaire ride to some caves and back, which was as they say 'the boat of the desert' because you definitely get josseled around a bit! For new Years, Tessa, Daniel and I kept up with the 'Nieuw Jaar's Duik' tradition and jumped into the cold pool at about 2am with a room full of people looking at us funny The ride back to Marrakech was just as beautiful...the road winds around and through the mountains. There are men who sell beautiful quartz rocks along the side of the road, as well as tajines and plates and argan oil. We also went to a Hammam and got scrubbed down with salts and essential oils, with a nice massage afterwards! Dromadaire ride with the family to some caves was also done, and it was fun to climb around the caves and through a little town..My dromadaire Maryline was so sweet, if you said 'bisous' she would lean over and kiss you!
I even got to touch some snow! I thought I would skip winter, but it was quite chilly in Morocco. We drove to an Oasis, visited the Jardin Marjorelle in Marrakesh, which is a beautiful garden filled with all kinds of species of Cacti.
I have a sweet tooth but man do Moroccans like their sugar, mint tea with sugar, the deserts and meals can be very sweet... it was amazing to see the family again and now i'm off to Reunion Island
Posted by dutchnomad 06:54 Archived in Morocco


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Practicum I (SLEE5012)
The practicum component involves application of the theory presented during the previous two semesters work. A presentation will be recorded electronically by the student who is expected to use the knowledge gained to present a well structured, well referenced coherent presentation on a topic of their choice. Nocturnal recordings, with the software required to analyse it will be provided. The student will score and comment on these studies.
Further unit of study information
Self-directed learning and application of previous theory. Expected student effort 6 hours per week. Also, an optional 1x1week residential school consisting of a series of lectures and practical classes is offered.
Presentation on a topic chosen by the student (50%), 1x sleep stage scoring assignment (50%)
Faculty/department permission required?
Unit of study rules
SLEE5003 and SLEE5005
Study this unit outside a degree
Non-award/non-degree study
If you wish to undertake one or more units of study (subjects) for your own interest but not towards a degree, you may enrol in single units as a non-award student.
Cross-institutional study
If you are from another Australian tertiary institution you may be permitted to underake cross-institutional study in one or more units of study at the University of Sydney.


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Smartphone app lets parents communicate with the device. Memory card slot. Bundled rechargeable battery. Proprietary Wi-Fi connectivity. Backwards-compatible with all InnoTab game cartridges. KidConnect feature allows parents to send emails to device from their smartphones.
Noticeable lag in boot up time, as well as when moving to different apps. No more dedicated stand. Card slot now for MicroSD rather than SD. Card slot is hard to access.
Bottom Line
With its improved controls, increased storage and bundled rechargeable batteries, the VTech InnoTab 3S is an attractive tablet for those who bought the previous iterations. But the laggy performance frustrates, and its addition of a MicroSD card slot (rather than the SD slot of old) is a head scratcher.


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- Home /
- Make Today /
- Bridal Showers /
- Bridal Shower Banners You Can...
Bridal Shower Banners You Can Totally Make
There's no reason why you can't DIY your own bridal shower banner! We found these 5 ideas for you to make for your bridal shower.
Planning a bridal shower is always a ton of work - there's just so many details to sort out! But it's this attention to detail that makes a bridal shower so special. That's why we're huge fans of creating DIY bridal shower banners. It gives the event a nice personalized touch and you'll have fun in the process of making it!
From bunting banners to making ordinary paper banners even more cute, we found a few creative ways you can DIY bridal shower banners to match whatever theme you are working with. Check out these ideas and get inspired to DIY!
A Banner You Can Read!
This DIY bridal shower banner creatively uses old book pages that gives your bridal shower a nice cerebral look! It's amazing how a few printed letters images strung together create a really pretty and unique DIY bridal shower banner.
A DIY Banner Made Out of Brown Paper Bag
Kelley Maria featured this super creative banner that uses an old Trader Joe's brown bag. Don't fret at the sound of using a brown bag! Using twine and glitter, you can make a rustic and beautiful looking banner that's neutral and can match any décor while still remaining stylish.
A Travel Theme Banner
An "Around the World" theme is quite popular for bridal showers. La Belle Bride featured this cute and colorful banner that incorporated paper airlines into it perfectly! See how they used fabric maps to make this adorable bridal shower banner.
Burlap Square Banner Ideas
DIY Bride featured this DIY bridal shower banner made of burlap. By hot gluing colorful card stock, it's is a very simple yet stylish looking banner you can create with not a lot of materials or time required.
Sometimes Simple is Better!
There are instances where you don't have to go all out on a DIY-ing craze. Sometimes going the simpler route is more cost effective and still elegant. Vancity Bride featured this DIY bridal shower banner that is flexible.
A Pretty and Girly Banner
If shabby chic and all things girly is your theme, this is one adorable DIY banner you must try making. Landee See, Landee Do featured this pretty idea using beautiful patterned paper.
See how Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali elevate the every day with their fantastic recipes and ideas!Read More »


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James Suckling
Cuba's Best WrapperBy James Suckling : June 1, 1995
Francisco LinaresThe new chief of Cuba's Habanos S.A. wants to return Cuban cigarmaking to its former glory.By James Suckling : May 31, 1995
Tour d'Argent, ParisFew places in the world are better for smoking a cigar than the Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris. It's breathtaking to sit at one of its tables six...read more
Port StarsVintage Port's Highest-Rated Wines Come From Fonseca, Graham, Quinta do Noval and Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman Vinnos SA
Fun in Monte CarloThe Casinos of the Principality by the Sea Combine Glitz with Old-World Money and Charm
Joel Robuchon, ParisIt's never worth rushing a great meal or a great cigar, but if you wish to have one of France's great gastronomic experiences, you better get to...read moreBy James Suckling : June 1, 1994
Buyer Beware: Counterfeit CigarsNot the real thing—counterfeits of the top Cuban cigar brands are flooding the world market.By James Suckling : June 1, 1994
Pierre Gagnaire, St. Etienne, FranceSt. Etienne has the feeling of an industrial town on its way down. But although it's bleak and gray with '60s- and '70s-style concrete blocks...read moreBy James Suckling : March 1, 1994
Irish GoldPolitics and religion might be common topics of conversation while having a drink, but a religious whiskey? Willy Chestnut had a good laugh when he...read moreBy James Suckling : March 1, 1994
Old HavanasThe best aged cigars, from 30 to 60 years old, are refined, stylish powerhouses of flavor.By James Suckling : December 1, 1993
Ratings & Reviews
Search our database of more than 17,000 cigar tasting notes by score, brand, country, size, price range, year, wrapper and more, plus add your favorites to your Personal Humidor.


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With Season 3 premiering at the end of the month, we're getting more and more Game of Thrones treats--and we are definitely not complaining! Instead of the dragons theme that we've been seeing everywhere, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen have made it to the cover of Entertainment Weekly and fans got to see two exclusive photos from the shoot on Facebook!
Check them out:
Nice to see the cast having fun in their Game of Thrones attire! Entertainment Weekly is also counting down to the Game of Thrones premiere with exclusive GoT stories every day, so keep an eye out!


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The literary meaning of the word Amritsar means
"holy pool of nectar", and the city is the home of the
famous Golden Temple. The city is the center of spirituality and
culture of the Sikh religion. Golden temple is massive in terms
of architectural expertise. Like other Sikh architecture, Golden
Temple stands in simple majesty. The gilded splendor of its paneling,
dome and minarets shining in the morning light, silhouetted softly
in the water and etched gently across the city is a sight that you
will never forget. For the Sikh community the Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara
as Golden Temple is popularly called, is the final spiritual "vision".
The city of Amritsar, plays host to thousands of
pilgrims from all over the world. Such is the beauty of the city
that it also attracts tourists who do not intend to visit the religious
places. The hotels of the city are well accomplished in handling
international tourists as they often have to do. Foreign tourists
flock to the city of Amritsar to savor the flavor of the typically
Punjabi culture. The place has a lot of tales to tell and if you
have made a few local acquaintance you will hear quite
a few interesting stories, some of which trace back to the medieval
Hotels in Amritsar are excellent in terms of food
and amenities that they provide. You will simply be overwhelmed
at the hospitality that you will receive from luxury hotels as well as budget
hotels in Amritsar. With the availability of online hotel reservation, Amritsar has become one of the prime touring destinations
in the world.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/5/2013 (1561 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There are tough encores in sports, but just imagine what is staring the Toronto Argonauts in the mug today after their enormously successful 2012 campaign.
Just to briefly recap some of the highlights from '12, the Argos...
-- Traded for all-star QB Ricky Ray in one of the greatest heists in CFL history;
-- Signed former Montreal Alouettes' offensive boss Scott Milanovich as head coach;
-- Played host to and won the 100th Grey Cup in their own backyard.
And now their mission -- and they have eagerly chosen to accept it -- is to do it all over again, a feat that has been accomplished only twice since the Edmonton Eskimos' dynasty of 1978-82 (by the Argos in '96-97 and the Alouettes in '09-10).
"We know the amount of work we had to put in last year and that's why, to be honest with you, all this talk about last year makes me uncomfortable because I know it's an entirely new challenge this year," said Milanovich, the CFL's coach of the year, in a conference call on Wednesday. "And the quicker we are able to turn the page as an organization, the better we're going to be able to get started."
Now, despite winning the title last year the Argos weren't without their flaws. They were a 9-9 club during the regular season that finished sixth in scoring and in points allowed before reeling off three straight wins in the playoffs to capture the title.
Over the off-season Milanovich and GM Jim Barker embarked on upgrading their Canadian talent while working to get younger. Several Argo vets -- most notably kicker Noel Prefontaine -- were jettisoned while familiar defensive faces like ends Rickey Foley and Ronald Flemons have exited and Armand Armstead signed with the New England Patriots.
In their place management, as always, looked to get younger, deeper and more talented.
"Winning the Grey Cup is the ultimate, what we all worked for. The day after the parade Scott, myself and the rest of the staff sat down and tried to figure out how we could improve ourselves. There's a lot of room for improvement."
What might work in the Argos' favour going forward is this: everything that happened last season came with a new coaching staff with a rookie head coach at the controls. Now the club is hoping some familiarity can breed even more success -- especially on offence where there are a number of weapons at Ray's disposal.
"We should be starting at a higher level this year than we were last year," said Milanovich. "It wasn't just Ricky... Ricky's comfort level is going to be significantly higher than it was a year ago and so that should make the whole product look a little better.
"Our goal is to try and pick up where we left off and then try to take that to a new level. Our expectations are definitely higher than they were a year ago."
email@example.com Twitter: @WFPEdTait
The CFL is conducting a series of teleconference previews on the league's teams. This is the fourth in that series.


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Engineered specifically for close quarter tactics, the Melee features lightweight, flexible, athletic performance for quick offensive operations.
Danner's lightest and most flexible tactical boot, the Melee features a unique outsole design. Our unique Melee outsole is constructed with a 360? pentagonal low lug pattern for grip in all directions, a rugged outer lug pattern with molded siping that disperses water and provides maximum surface contact and Danners patent pending VIA technology which provides a V-4 abrasion rubber compound in the medial side arch for fast roping control.
Boot Features
- Breathable, moisture-wicking mesh lining
- Water-resistant exterior protective coating
- Durable 1000 Denier nylon upper
- Abrasion resistant toe and heel cap
- Cushioning polyurethane footbed
- EVA midsole for shock absorption with an ESS external coating for abrasion resistance
- Patent pending Danner® VIA technology featuring a Vibram® V-4 ultra-abrasion rubber compound in the medial side arch for fast roping control
- Danner® Melee outsole featuring a 360° pentagonal low lug pattern for grip in all directions with a more rugged outer lug pattern which sheds water and provides maximum surface contact
- Imported
- 6″ height
- 35 oz
- Style 15923
Size and Fit
DLE-01 Last
The DLE-01 last was designed to be an extension of the foot with superior forefoot and heel capture, stability and a more anatomical shape for comfort. The additional space in the toebox allows the foot to naturally react when bearing a heavy load or changing directions laterally in high intensity environments.
Tips for the Perfect Fit
- Measure both feet. If one foot is slightly larger than the other, select a size that fits the larger of the two.
- Consider the type of socks you'll be wearing with your boot. For thicker socks, you may want to select a half size larger than you normally wear.
- When you do receive your boots, we recommend first wearing them indoors for a few hours to ensure they're the right fit.


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Model mama Alessandra Ambrosio wowed on the runway in barely-there lingerie during November's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show – despite the fact that she was already 2 months pregnant!
Alessandra, who just last week confirmed that she and her fiance Jamie Mazur are expecting baby #2, admits that she was hesitant to tackle the catwalk while pregnant.
"When I first found out I was pregnant I thought, 'Oh my gosh I don't think I'm going to be able to walk on the show,' and I didn't tell anybody so no one knew at the show that I was pregnant," the 30-year-old beauty tells US.
With the help of her trainer, Alessandra says she was still able to squeeze into her wardrobe come show day
"A week before, I told my booker I don't think I'm going to be able to fit into the clothes because I gained a few pounds already, but we were just quiet. I cut all the sugars and sweets 10 days before and I got my trainer — the one I usually get — and we were doing lots of glutes and arms and back exercises."
Alessandra and Jamie are already parents to 3-year-old Anja Louise.


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Charlie Sheen offered Angus T. Jones a job on his FX show, Anger Management. Sheen has been on a very benevolent path as of late. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Sheen forked over a bid wad of cash to help Lindsay Lohan with her tax troubles. Charlie might be Hollywood's resident party boy, but he appears to have a big heart when it comes to a friend in need.
Angus T. Jones has a spot on the FX comedy series any time he wants to make the move from Two and a Half Men, according to Sheen's statements during an ABCNews interview. During a video Jones' created for the Forerunner Christian Church, he referred to the Chuck Lorre show as "filth," and urged viewers to stop watching the series. After Sheen was killed-off the CBS sitcom and Ashton Kutcher joined the cast, the show's ratings never quite recovered.
Charlie Sheen had this to say during his job offer to Angus T. Jones:
"My former 'nephew' is welcome at the Goodson Anger Management home anytime. It is radically clear to me that the show [Two and a Half Men] is cursed. I dare anyone to spend 10 years in the laugh-track that is Churck Lorre's hive of oppression and not suffer some form of emotional tsunami."
Two and a Half Men is now in its 10th season. Angus T. Jones' character "Jake" may likely be written out of the series if it is renewed for another season, according to the Huffington Post. Since the character joined the Army, he does not appear in many episodes of the once very popular series.


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Tignes Snow Report 17/02/2015
Good morning! It's a bright and sunny day here in Tignes. There has been a light dusting of snow in the last 24 hours which has kept the pistes in good condition. Nearly all of the trails and lifts are now open and it looks as if it will be a mixed week of both sun and snow!
Forecast: There will be light snow showers between Monday and Wednesday and then the weather will clear up and it is forecast to be a beautiful sunny day on Thursday. The wind speed will stay between 5-15km throughout the week, and after Thursday the snow showers will continue across the weekend.
Last Snowed: 16 February 2015
Fresh Snow: 10cm
Lifts Open: 34
Lower Depth: 163cm
Upper Depth: 10cm
Runs To Resort: Most open
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: -5°C
Piste State: Good
Off Piste Snow: Tracked powder


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
GARFIELD is approx 8 months old and is current on vaccines and is on flea/tick preventative. He is fostered in the Tri City, TN area. He is available for transport if an out of state adopter is approved for adoption. If you are interested in making Garfield a part of your family, please contact us at email@example.com
Garfield, a Bluff city Domestic Shorthair kitten was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Domestic Shorthair for sale in Bluff city, or seeking a Domestic Shorthair kitten from a breeder in Bluff city.


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Keys To Colts Winning AFC Championship Over PatriotsAfter knocking out the Denver Broncos, 24-13, last weekend, the Indianapolis Colts need to focus on key areas to defeat the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough.
Buccaneers' Mark Dominik Emerging As One Of Top Talent Evaluators In NFLAfter a dismal finish to the 2011 season, Bucs GM Mark Dominik started to feel the pressure. But he was never fazed by it and has done an exceptional job with the Bucs.


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I recently read a statistic that said nearly two-thirds of all Americans are on a diet plan. In 2007 I found myself at my local weight-loss center joining the ranks of the dieting legions and I wanted a way to document the transformation I was undergoing.
There are several ways you can create a weight-loss journal. The most important thing is to make it personal, and to create something that is easy to access and that you are excited about using. Keeping a journal is a wonderful motivator and stress reliever. Nearly a year and half after I started my own weight-loss journey it still moves me to read about what I went through to get healthy.
Here are a few ideas for weight-loss journals:
- embellished composition notebook
- 6" x 6", 8" x 8" or another small scrapbook
- embellished 3-ring binder
- custom, hand-bound mini-book[K1]
- altered board book
- altered calendar pages, bound with photos
- unique store-bought journal
- file folder album
- paper bag album
The easiest way for me to journal the ups and downs of the weight-loss plan I was using was to use my computer. It's a place I find myself at several times per week, and I could easily jot down a journal entry without having to worry about my messy handwriting, spelling errors, or misplacing my journal when I wanted it. Keep in mind how often you journal - this will help you decide the best format for your own project. I'm not a very active writer, so I only had a few entries for each month.
Once I hit the one-year mark I decided it was time to put my first year's worth of entries into a keepsake-type album, and add some photos taken throughout the process. I wanted something very personal so I printed all of my journaling onto 5" x 7" pages, and I saved all of my related photos, as well as a backup of the journal entries onto a CD. A small album from Making Memories was the perfect size to hold my printed entries, and a pocket page at the very back of the album holds the CD. Journal entries that have accompanying photos are labeled as such in the album.
My first page is an introduction with my starting statistics, a before photo, and my weigh-in record book from the weight-loss center. Other than that it was simply a matter of getting the journaling pages inserted in the correct order.
- album - Making Memories
- title letters - Cursive 101 for Cricut by Provocraft.
- cardstock - Bazzill
- velvet flower - Making Memories
- vellum tag - Making Memories
- journaling pen - Slick Writer, Fine Point from American Crafts
- pastel brad - Karen Foster
- satin ribbon - May Arts
This style works for me because it's simple, easy to store when it's complete, and it can hold an entire year of entries in one place, including a backup of the entries on CD for safe keeping.
For more ideas be sure to check out the Scrapbook.com gallery. You can search for journals, or by the subject of weight loss. I'm sure you'll be inspired by the creativity you find, as well as the inspirational stories!
Shop all journaling products at Scrapbook.com


text:
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/7/2014 (1128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A necklace that holds the final remains of a young boy tragically killed in a plane crash near Waskada last year has been stolen in Edmonton.
Edmonton police are asking for the public's assistance in locating the remains of Dawson Pentecost -- a nine-year-old boy who died in a plane crash on Feb. 10, 2013 -- that were contained in a necklace stolen from a truck at approximately 9 a.m last Friday.
Pentecost's parents, David and Crystal, moved to Edmonton two weeks ago.
Dawson lost his life in a crash that also claimed the life of his two young friends, Logan and Gage Spence, along with their father Darren Spence, who was piloting the six-seat Cessna.
The necklace is a cremation pendant, which contains the boy's final remains in a gold and silver cross with five crystals, and hangs on a silver chain. The cross is approximately 4 cm in height and 2 cm in width.
"It's very likely that the thief had no idea about the tremendous sentimental value of this piece of jewelry," said Edmonton police spokesman Const. Michael Roblin. "The EPS asks the public to keep an eye out for this keepsake necklace and anyone with information about the incident is asked to come forward. It is our hope the necklace will be recovered and returned to its rightful owners, even if it is turned in anonymously."
The boy's parents are scheduled to speak at a press conference later today.
Edmonton officers responded to a report of an attempted theft of vehicle in the area of 113 Avenue and 86 Street. It was reported that a male broke into a red and black, 4-door Dodge Ram at approximately 9 a.m. After unsuccessfully attempting to start the vehicle, the suspect allegedly took a necklace and loose change from the truck, and travelled on foot through an alley to the north before heading east through a backyard.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male, in his late teens or early 20s, with blonde, curly hair. He was seen wearing red and white shorts.
Anyone who has information about this crime is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.