Wine Blogging Wednesday #60: Ridge is Positively Zin-full!
For this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday #60, host Sonadora prompts us to Zin with BBQ and reminds us that Lenn of Lenndevours started this off five years ago this month. Happy 5th Birthday, WBW!
At my house, we love both zin and BBQ, and enjoy both often, so the only question around here was which zinfandel and what shall we BBQ?
Both questions were answered simply. For grilling, I found a beautiful, thick porterhouse steak on sale at Vons which we enjoyed with fire roasted CSA corn and new potatoes cooked with lots of garlic and rosemary. We also had a lively tomato/basil/garlic bruschetta with toasted sourdough.
When I think zin, I think Ridge.
Afterall, that’s where I cut my wine teeth when I worked the tasting room up on Monetbello Ridge back in my early 20s. I did consider opening something else–in the cellar up at my mom’s house I have a few zins to choose from including a Glaymond from Australia which I bought on Dan Phillips recommendation at a Grateful Palate warehouse sale that I’ve been looking forward to trying on the right occasion.
But I didn’t get a chance to peruse the wine cellar and so happily I went for the classic 2006 Ridge Lytton Spring Dry Creek Valley because I had a bottle here. I’m also thrilled that it’s organic even though they don’t brag about it.
I believe you should always have a bottle of Ridge zinfandel at home. No home should be without one!
Now before I get to talking about that bottle of Ridge wine and the grilling, I want to say something about zinfandel. And about Ridge:
Though born in the early sixties to the post-Prohibition world of modern California winemaking, Ridge relies on nature and tradition rather than technology. Our approach is straightforward: find intense, flavorful grapes; intrude upon the process only when necessary; draw the fruit’s distinctive character and richness into the wine.
Most people by now know the story of how some California wines showed strongly against the French thanks to the recent movie Bottleshock (and if you haven’t seen it yet, you should! It’s a really good which you can enjoy whether you’re into wine or not. If you are into wine, you might just want to buy a copy–it’s only $15. It’s cast really well with strong acting and the vineyard shots are gorgeous, too).
And that’s an impressive story–how Ridge’s Montebello Cab Sauv raised eyebrows and changed the wine world that day.
But the story about Ridge that moves me most is how a bunch of wine enthusiasts banded together to make wine and buy a winery. They figured since they were scientists and into experimenting, they’d buy a bunch of this grape juice that no one was interested in– a grape juice called “zinfandel.” And instead of blending it all together, why not make a bunch of small lots and see what they tasted like and how they might be different?
At least this is the version of the story I heard from the owners of Ridge Read more…
Last Friday, the Ventura ArtRiders Bicycle and Social Club went wild for the Animal Fair Ride. Some 30 people dressed in animal attire and met us along the route. W
e went as a family of snakes complete with masks.
Along the route. I passed out kazoos and we did the Animal Fair song as well as Old McDonald had a Farm and various other impromptu tunes. We started along the Promenade, rode aro
und the perimeter of the Ventura County Fair and Surfers Point, up the River Trail, the Main to Ventura Avenue to Bell Arts which is always a flurry of First Friday activity.
MB Hanrahan’s show at Vita fe
atured some of her panels which will next show at Burning Man, plus a closing for Richard Newsham’s fine show. Many studios were open and we stopped for awhile to visit with Bobbi Jo Free who made ears and a tail for a missing ArtRider. She also offered the best wine, Melville, since her daughter works there.
Next, on the recommendation of Russell Erickson from Art City, we ventured up Main and over to Buenaventura Art Association–with a quick, impromptu stop at the corner of California and Main to check out the CSUCI gallery. We had a blast in the large former bank space–we could still feel all the money in the vaul
t!
Next up the BAA, and our first time there since we weren’t sure where we’d park our bikes. Many of us (like me!) really appreciated Ines Marguelies show. I also really liked Robert Wassell’s two small oils which flanked a sweet sunflower print; all three were available for sale for under $200–a steal of a deal–and if you can’t afford that. you can rent much of the art shown at the BAA. Growing up, we always
had fresh, original art in our house because my mom rented it from the BAA.
After the BAA, we headed toward Seabreeze on Laurel and at Kalorama and Front, some of us crossed the bridge and went to the Fair while others visited Seabreeze and then went to Sylvia White to see 5×5–five minutes of performance art by five in
dividuals. Last month this was a highlight of First Friday for several ArtRiders; November will feature comedy writer, performance artist and Uncabaret workshop leader Beth Lapides.
Personally, we went to the Fair and gorged on Fair food and Sierra Nevada beer then danced to Huey Lewis and the News. They had a number of familiar hits
which were fun to dance to under the twilight ski even though they sounded very 80s.
The small boy hit a few rides then we made it out the gate to park our bikes directly under the fireworks which went off over our heads and rained debris down.
Too soon the alarm went off and I wrote at 315am and then again and it was time for me to get all snaked out. This time I put on my silver python boots, dress, gloves and hot pink wig and beat it over to check in for the Ventura County Pa
rade. Off I rode through town garnering a number of stares.
According to organizers, our spot was in the middle of the street, but the person in charge our section suggested we wait out the parade start by the fence in the share lest I start an accident in my short skirt…
It was a long wait–I was there from 830am until 11am before
we started moving west on Main following close behind an inspiring Dixie land band. It took us almost an hour to travel just over a mile from Ventura High School to Palm Street downtown: we did a lot of sharp ‘s’ turns and circled and circled–we must have ridden 10 mile in circles!
It was worth it, for sure: we spread the message of bike love far and wide on the ride.
Want to see the parade yourself? it’s on cable! Replays of the parade will be shown on Channel 6 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for two weeks, beginning Tuesday. Time Warner cable customers throughout Ventura County can view the parade on Channel 36 at 5:30 p.m. daily from Sunday through Aug. 13. Most of the parade is on YouTube but not our part or else I’d post it…
Join us! We meet on the First Friday of every month at 5:30pm on the Promenade at the end of California Street; we ride at 6pm. Upcoming themes: September–Full Moon Critical Manners Bike Ride, October–Mustache Ride, November Superheroes Ride, December Santacon Ride.
BTW, in case you didn’t guess already, most of us in the wildest costumes are Burners…
PS This is my summer subscription drive–please subscribe to my blog by clicking on the link in the upper right hand corner! I’ll take your pledge of support also: wine? money? books? undying love and adoration?
For All You Zinners, Wine Blogging Wednesday Celebrates Its 5th Birthday & Local Green Drinks Celebrates its First!
Sonadora announces Wine Blogging Wednesday #60: I Have Zinned
Host Sonadora points out that this month Wine Blogging Wednesday celebrates its Fifth Birthday! Amazing in that most wine blogs haven’t even been around that long. It’s truly a testimony to the vision of Lenn of Lenndevours –as well as to the legion of wine bloggers who keep it going every month.
The deadline to submit is this Wednesday, August 12th. If you want to participate, leave a comment on her blog or email her at ctsonadora@gmail.com with a link to your blog post. And let me know too, with a comment here so I will be sure to go see your post.
As a big zin fan who cut her teeth on Ridge zins and who found more zins to love at last month’s Wine Bloggers conference, I’m not sure which zin I’ll write about–guess I better decide on something before the deadline! (Want to know more about Ridge? I’ve written several times about the winery on the blog or check out their blog, 4488, on my blogroll).
BTW, for local readers of this blog, as usual Wine Blogging Wednesday lands on the same night as Green Drinks Ventura County which celebrates its first anniversary Weds from 530-730pm at PURE Life & Home 576 E. Main Street Ventura. The goal of Green Drinks? Good times shared among people working in, or interested in, environmental and sustainability issues.
Although this Green Drinks gathering is close enough to home that I could ride my bike, I think that’s the day we’re going back to the Ventura County Fair where my son won first place blue ribbons for all four of his artworks we entered!
PS It’s my summer subscription drive–won’t you please subscribe by clicking on the link in the upper right hand corner? Thank you!
3:15am 12/5
Lord Ganesha woke me up
earlier this evening
told me among other things
that he was Lord Ganesha
and not just plain Ganesh.
Most of what he had
to say I seem to have forgotten.
He told me not to worry
that everything he said
I already knew.
I was surprised when I saw him
by how he looked:
not as pretty as in the pictures.
He does not have cartoon large eyes.
Instead they are very small
like a real elephant
and his skin is not smooth
but very wrinkly, like a warthog
or a rhino. Forgive me, Lord Ganesha.
Don’t get me wrong: Lord Ganesha
is very beautiful, very striking
in his physical presence. He is
adorned with jewels and his tusks
they are for real, sharp, and he is
proud of them though he didn’t
say so I could still tell.
Lord Ganesha came to me in the moonlight
on the eve of the lunar eclipse.
He took shape in my mind.
I didn’t recognize him at first
but then I knew it was Ganesha
and then I was corrected: Lord Ganesha.
This seemingly small point had never
bothered me before but will
from now on I am sure.
I do remember more of what
he made known to me.
But I won’t tell you now;
for it belongs to the future
and remains to be seen.
I will say that he said he’d be present
two more times which I took to mean
the next two nights but now
I realize that the next two nights
for him could be anytime.
I would have willingly drowned in the depths
of moon in his eyes, but the waters of his mouth
are wicked and dangerous and scared me.
Even though the header date says 12/5, this was written on August 5, 2009 as part of the 3:15 experiment 2009. I don’t know why I wrote 12/5 but I did. What’s the 3:15 experiment, you ask? Here’s HOW TO DO THE 3:15 EXPERIMENT:
Register here. We also have a facebook page.
* Begin at 3:15 AM on August 1st (so set your alarms on JULY 31) . Continue each day until August 31.
* You may write any length, style, form, content, voice, rhythm, etc.
* DO NOT EDIT your work. This is raw stuff, baby. That’s part of the experiment. You are welcome to edit, collage, break apart the poems later for whatever purpose you choose, but please SHARE THE RAW STUFF with the rest of the group here or on the website once the experiment is over.
* (Optional) Do not read what you have written until the month is over, except to skim the work to make sure everything is legible.
TIPS: Do not use a felt tip pen unless you don’t care about ink stains on your bed. Many a poet has fallen asleep in the middle of writing. If you can help it, don’t even get out of bed! The point is to ride that dream state, that precarious point between sleeping and waking and sleeping.
I’m obviously breaking the optional rule by posting about Lord Ganesh here now. But it was such exciting news I couldn’t wait! Plus I have another post about him coming up related to this art show in Pasadena. Here’s another 3:15 experiment poem which features Ganesh and here are more tips and examples about doing the 3:15 Experiment:
How To Write at 3:15 (a YouTube video)
Jasmine and Jaguar (a 3:15 poem made into a YouTube)
For more poetry, jump on the train!
PS This is my summer subscription drive. If you’re not already a subscriber, please do so by clicking the link in the upper right that says “subscribe”! Right now is a very auspicious time to subscribe as I have 108,000 plus page views and 108 is a very auspicious number. So be auspicious and subscribe now!
“The Flight” by W.S. Merwin: some poetry for why we burn
The Flight
At times in the day
I thought of a fire to watch
not that my hands were cold
but to have that doorway to see through
into the first thingeven our names are made of fire
and we feed on night
walking I thought of a fire
turning around I caught sight of it
in an opening in the wall
in another house and another
before and after
in house after house that was mine to see
the same fire the perpetual bird—W. S. Merwin
from his poetry collection,
The Compass Flower (1977)
Maybe it’s just that it’s that time of year where we Burners are obsessed with thoughts of Burning Man.
But when I read this poem recently, the opening lines about wanting a fire “to have that door to see through” clicked: this is one of the huge reasons why I at least go to Burning Man: it provides me with a tool, a prism, a door way in and a door way out.
Maybe I’m reading this poem all wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time! But this is what it brings up for me, what it makes me think about–that:
Going to Burning Man connects and reconnects that fire which is in me with that fire which is in everyone. Black Rock City opens the walls, lets us in to see the fire within, a fire which seems to burn especially bright in those folks who call Black Rock City “Home.”
What does Merwin’s poem bring up for you–Burners, non-Burners, and wannabe Burners alike?
Watch this space for more Burning Man news! Coming up soon: theme camps! What are they? How do I Join one? How do I igure out where to camp at Burning Man?
P.S. This is Day 4 of my summer subscription drive–please subscribe by clicking the button in the upper right side! It’s free–but I’ll take any donations you wish to send (wine? books? positive energy? a great job?)
Bikes at Burning Man Part Two: Let’s go ride at night!
If you’ve read this blog with any regularity, you’ve figured out that Art Predator is way pro-bike. So it stands to reason that Art Predator would push bikes for Burning Man.
But having a bike at Burning Man isn’t a choice–it’s a requirement to fully appreciate the Burning Man experience.
Black Rock City is BIG. Like really BIG. Heck, it’s got a population of 50,000 people! To house that many people takes a space so big that unless you have a bike, you don’t stand a chance of getting around and seeing much of the art or making it across the playa to check out some giant flashing thing or to figure out what’s burning or just to get from the rave at 2 o’clock and the Esplanade back to your camp at 5:50 and Genome so you can stock up on liquids or get more batteries for your headlight.
Lights. That’s another topic I’ve been blathering about here for months. On the streets of a regular city, it might be illegal, adn it might be dangerous but you will probably make it home wthout a light on your bike.
At Burning Man, unless you have your own art car, having a bike and having it lit well is absolutely a matter of having a good time and a bad one.
To that end, get out your bike, get it in shape and you too! Take it out for a spin a time or two every day and night from now until Burning Man! Make sure the lights work–and you do too.
To light us up, we’ve got rechargeable headlights on our bikes, Monkeylectric LED lights on the spokes of a tire, and “sparks” on our valves. Last night, on the Animal Fair Ride, I left my headlight charging at home (I know, duh!) With these lights and riding close to the Big Monkey with his charged headlight I was able to ride home fine since my wheels gave off lots of light (and looked really cool too!)
At Burning Man, lights on your bike take on a whole new meaning. If you can’t see, you just might run into that couple making out under the moon and the stars. Or an art project. Or just about anything you can imagine.
And you’ll lose track of your friends which is really tricky under the best of circumstances. If your lights on your bike (and YOU!) are distinct, unique, it will be a lot easier for your friends to keep track of you and vice versa.
On the Burning Moms list, a big question is about babes and bikes. Yes, you can bring kids to Burning Man and your kids can ride! Read more…
Every City Needs Black Rock City’s Loaner Bike Program
Burning Man’s Yellow Bike Program Returns!
Burning Man’s Yellow Bikes (photo credit: Danger Ranger)The Burning Man blog reports:
Thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor, the Burning Man Project is able to offer a Yellow Community Bike program during Burning Man. Yep, a fleet of over 1,000 bikes are made available for participants to borrow for one-time, one-way, no-guarantees use.
The system works if and only if everybody adheres to the guidelines for Community Bike use. Which are:
- Community Bikes are for temporary use by anyone without immediate access to their own bike. This is not YOUR loaner bike for the week. Bike rides are only a one-way, temporary guarantee.
- If a Community Bike breaks while you’re using it, use Radical Self-Reliance to get it repaired for the next person. Check with Playa Info at Center Camp for a repair camp if you can’t Do-It-Yourself (DIY).
- NEVER LOCK A COMMUNITY BIKE. The bike camp team will cut any locks from community bikes. Don’t bring a Community Bike into your tent or RV, and don’t take it home when you leave the playa.
- Community Bikes are meant for short trips. Grab a community bike, make your trek, and then drop it off where you found it, or leave it in an obvious public place. Do not keep a community bike in your camp.
- Community Bikes should be treated with respect, as if it was your own. Be nice to the bike. Don’t trash it, vandalize it or part it out! It’s a shared community resource. And don’t forget personal hygiene … pants are required while riding a community bike.
It requires community cooperation to keep this resource alive for all to enjoy. So spread the word! For more information about bikes at Burning Man, see the Bikes page in our Survival Guide.
I am so jealous! One more reason why Burning Man offers so many of us a vision of how we can create a different way of living. How can we make a bike loaner program like this a reality in our communities off the playa?
More on bikes for Burning Man in an upcoming post!
PS I’m having a summer subscription drive. Please subscribe to my blog! I will be asking this daily as long as KCRW is having their summer subscription drive. Mercifully, it will be over soon.
Summer Subscription Pledge Drives: KCRW & Art Predator
On Friday, KCRW, my favorite radio station at 89.9 in the greater LA region and on the web at KCRW.com, launched their summer subscription pledge drive.It will last until next Monday, August 17.
They do this to me every year just when I need them most. When do I need them most? When I’m working on my syllabus for fall classes which typically start immediately after the pledge drive.
So I decided this year that I would have Read more…
What do Superman, Mardi Gras and Omar Faruk Tekbelik have in common? They’re all at LA’s Skirball Center this August!
Thursday, August 6, at 8pm enjoy the Mardi Gras music of The Wild Magnolias See New Orleans’s acclaimed Wild Magnolias in action, showcasing irresistible, upbeat music and stunningly ornate costumes. More…
Listen to Sample All Skirball galleries except Noah’s Ark are free and open during Sunset Concerts until 10:00 p.m. Be sure to catch the final weeks of the exhibition ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938–1950, on view through August 9–a great way to prepare for the Super Hero Bike Ride the First Friday in November!
The following week features Omar Faruk Tekbilek Ensemble Thursday, August 13, 8:00 p.m. I remember clearly the first time I heard this music many years ago on KCRW’s Cafe LA hosted by Tom Schnabel. I was reading student papers on the couch on a sunny afternoon. The music came on and electrified me. I stopped what I was doing and listened, then tracked down who it was and found the cd. It’s been a favorite ever since. Please do take a minute to listen to the video of “I Love You” before you move on with your day.
All concerts begin at 8:00 p.m. Free admission; no reservations. Plentiful on-site parking: only $5 per car. No street parking permitted. Limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis
Dine Al Fresco—Savor Zeidler’s Café’s delicious dinner buffet starting at 6:00 p.m. Reservations required and accepted beginning two weeks prior to the Thursday evening of your choice: (310) 440-4575. Reserved concert seating is available to Zeidler’s Cafe dinner buffet patrons. Or pick up grab-and-go light fare at Zeidler’s Cart. Note: No outside alcoholic beverages or chairs permitted.
Bring the Kids—Music lovers of all ages are invited to the family-friendly lounge. Art projects, toys, and games will be available. Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Can it get any better? How about free to all on Thursdays?? Here’s more about the Skirball Center and its programs.
art predator 