jack and dawn are a riot, and some of the most animated winery owners i have met. their tasting room is set up in carmel, CA but was introduced to them at a restaurant event hosted at state & lake in chicago.

dawn’s daughter’s roommates from college rubbed it in my face that they’d get wine shipments of some of the best (she went to school here in illinois). talk about things that can get you through a midterm week — lucky kid.

reds are their specialty and i’m all over their grand champion. however, i’m thoroughly convinced to save up for the cruises the two of them put together at least once a year… i heard they’re fantastic.

inside scoop: argentina may be the next stop, but that isn’t a finalized decision.

if you’re in the chicagoland area, they only sell their wine at one place. so if you’re interested in any wine from them and don’t want to do it through the internet, i can give you my wine guy’s contact info to speed up the process because i’m nice :)

stanley classic flask in hammertone green. this would have been mighty lovely on the night chris and i hit up quite possibly every liquor store in astoria hunting down flasks. memory bank set for future reference.

stanley classic flask in hammertone green. this would have been mighty lovely on the night chris and i hit up quite possibly every liquor store in astoria hunting down flasks. memory bank set for future reference.

benny the bull dancing behind the bar at roka akor during the chicago bulls “hoops for hunger” charity event.

a beer suggestion by yours truly.

a beer suggestion by yours truly.

gettin’ beat like a smoka fool ‘cuz it’s friday.

gettin’ beat like a smoka fool ‘cuz it’s friday.

listen up, universe.

this bottle of “lots of pulp” tropicana orange juice i just bought has absolutely no pulp. zip. nada. zilch. what the heyyyyyyaaaall. oh well.

beyond needed. my faaavorite.

beyond needed. my faaavorite.

we’re lacking bubbly drinks.

sonja taught chris to add sprite to our $5 bottle of chardonnay. yeah, we exude classy.

visual merchandisers for grocery stores have to love customers like me. impulse food purchase days far exceed ones when going based on a list or expected taste bud desires. i practically drown myself in the discovery process. this one’s a win for me, but i will say it won’t be for everybody. the closest way to describe it is it’s like dark chocolate in a liquid tea form. not milky, not creamy. and if you’re looking to get sugar blown, find something else. this is more tart than it is sweet. (i’ve said time and again, my relationship with acidic things rolls deep.)

visual merchandisers for grocery stores have to love customers like me.

impulse food purchase days far exceed ones when going based on a list or expected taste bud desires. i practically drown myself in the discovery process.

this one’s a win for me, but i will say it won’t be for everybody. the closest way to describe it is it’s like dark chocolate in a liquid tea form. not milky, not creamy.

and if you’re looking to get sugar blown, find something else.

this is more tart than it is sweet.

(i’ve said time and again, my relationship with acidic things rolls deep.)

steel bottle opener from arhogsett. each opener is manually machined from cold formed steel and hand stamped with the production number. finish is a dark gun blue with a light coat of wax to prevent rusting. the strap is sewn tanned leather.

steel bottle opener from arhogsett. each opener is manually machined from cold formed steel and hand stamped with the production number. finish is a dark gun blue with a light coat of wax to prevent rusting. the strap is sewn tanned leather.

golden bi luo is a delicious everyday tea.

golden bi luo is a delicious everyday tea.

got a drinks and pizza night in last week @ crust before it closed on saturday.

got a drinks and pizza night in last week @ crust before it closed on saturday.

and this is what’s up.

and this is what’s up.

.....fleeting moments and the daily grind.

from the city of wind, in a love-hate tango with nostalgia, doubts there'll ever be a point when common will not be relevant, revels in (eases) life's cherry pits, and fueled by words & beats.