Novato’s Maker Wine shakes up wine industry one can at a time

“When we were getting started what we heard a lot was that people would walk into a store and look at a shelf of wines and…

How we see the world is often how the world sees us

I would call the two of them older. But they were probably my age or younger. And aren’t we always kinder to ourselves when we judge…

Dharma bums and karmic cocktails

We were having a cocktail party. Not a large group but about ten friends for light snacks, cocktails, and conversation.   When one works in the hospitality…

Promises made are not the same as promises kept

The sun had already set, dimming the lights on the evening naturally. The electronic timers on the restaurant lighting did the rest. I’m not sure why…

Is “dry” by any other name still as sweet? That all depends on your definition of dry

 There is a saying that suggests that New Year’s Resolutions are merely a To-Do list for the first week of January. And if there has been…

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here

25 minutes until closing- The three women sat at the bar. Who knew what they were doing, but one look at the meticulous make-up, high heeled…

Mocktails for a “dry” January

Marcel Proust once wrote “It is always during a passing state of mind that we make lasting resolutions.” Or was it the other way around? Well,…

Barfly Podcast Season 3 Episode 16

guest: H. Joseph Ehrmann of SF’s Elixir In a stunning reversal the California ABC has changed the rules for ToGo cocktails, leaving standalone bars out in…

They’rrre back! Which is unfortunate in some cases

“I need a seat at the bar,” said the older man, while standing in the aisle to the kitchen, blocking not only access to the bar,…

Sometimes it’s better to be a significant minority rather than an insignificant majority

 “I was in several years ago,” said the man standing in the gap between two couples. OK, I nodded. “You had a red wine by the…