So this is recession related and Eagle Rock related, but only tangentially wine related.  In case you missed it, the NYTimes did a piece last week on the struggling businesses in Eagle Rock and it has caused quite a ruckus amongst Eagle Rock natives and newbies alike.  The writer and everyone interviewed for this article are either customers, friends or both, and Jennifer and I were both interviewed a handful of times, but were ultimately edited out of the final piece. 

     While there are very respectable arguments for and against the opinions in this piece, there is no doubt that it struck a cord.  I'll just throw one opinion into the mix on the whole idea of gentrification/de-gentrification/ hipsterville/ the next silverlake this-and-that.... As much as any neighborhood in Los Angeles, the Eagle Rock commercial corridor is full of first-time entrepeneurs making a very conscious decision to bet their dreams and livelihoods on this neighborhood -- it's diverse, it's open, it's wacky as all hell (that's a good thing) and it's a great place to raise a family.  If the idea were to make a quick buck, all these businesses would have sprung up elsewhere in LA.  Eagle Rock is not going to be the next anything, it's Eagle Rock and that's a unique and wonderful thing in a city where neighborhoods are becoming bland cubby holes for big chain stores.  And to those that are wishing for the 'new' businesses of Eagle Rock to go out of business or go away?  Sorry, Charlie....aint gonna happen. 

     Ever wonder why most beer and wine selections at bars or restaurants really suck?  There are many answers to that, but there is one specific reason that you may not know if you've never worked in the food and beverage business.  It's rigged...it's crooked....it's a sham...you're getting hoodwinked...beguiled...ripped off... schnookered....bamboozled... hopplecapped....ok, I made up that last one.

     Here's the thing, there are a few (but primarily one) big alcohol distribution companies that handle most of the wine/beer/liquor in any given state or territory.  A typical visit from one of these companies to your bar might go like this:

BAR: Hi, I've just spent my life savings and worked my ass off to open this bar.... I'd like to taste some wine and beer with you, choose what I like the best, then bestow on you the honor of featuring the best of the best in my bar

THEM:  Shutup.  The only way we'll sell you these three liquors that you have to have in any bar to survive, is when you devote 4 of your 6 taps to our beers (no matter how mediocre) and all of your wine lineup.

     Nice, huh?  The only other version is when they punch you in the face and steal your wallet when you're done with that conversation.  Seriously, there's no other possible variation to that exchange.

     This is why you see the same wines over and over and over again as 'glass pours' in these establishments.  It's easier...it's cheaper...it's less stressful really if your pride hasn't been destroyed.  So, let me issue a call to arms for all you barflies and foodies...cheer on those establishments that buck this trend!  They work hard to keep in the obscure stuff, the stuff from the little guy that eventually expands your palate and brings you back to that stool.  Especially in an economy like this when the big players are offering deals that are structured to drown the little guy out of business, it's more important than ever to save money, but also to spend those precious few bucks wisely. 

Debatable

Well, the first presidential debate is airing this Friday evening and it is probably going to be the most watched debate in political history.  Now, we hate to dissuade anyone from coming to our Friday tasting so use your tivos wisely and join us for some pre-debate political pontification.  But when you do sit down to watch the debate, let us offer some drinking....ahh...tasting advice.   

Are you a McCain fan?  Well you may want to go with our Orcella Orsus Garnacha 2001 or Copertino Riserva 2001, both those wines have quite a bit of age on them.  They've been around the block...straight shooters...and unlike McCain, have not spent any time in the direct sun.

Now for the Obama-Rama crowd, based on the reports we've seen, it seems you'll need something that pairs with arugula.  Perhaps our Auratus Portuguese white, a crisp, dry wine that would work with any rightwing-perceived-sissy-greens.  Or if CHANGE is what you desire, go for something different...maybe our Bordelet Dry Apple Cider from France or the Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz from Australia.  Speaking of change...

Should you need more incentive to watch the debates (though that is bordering on a crime)...here's an idea to keep your head in the game....

drink/sip everytime McCain smiles innapropriately

drink/sip everytime Obama says "silly season"

drink/sip everytime McCain says "my friends"

drink/sip everytime anyone says CHANGE (even Jim Lehrer)

Comment below if you feel you have genius Presidential pairings inside of you, just dying to spring forth...

     Everyone remembers where they were when the Great Chalkboard War of 2008 broke out....or least we do.  I was sitting at the front desk when I turned to Jen and said, "I think some guy just very methodically moved our sidewalk chalkboard sign two inches to the right."  What started as a curiosity became a small town battle in sunny, strange Eagle Rock. 

     Now, before continuing, some of you may be wondering what this has to do with wine.  Well, it has to do with mom and pop businesses, Los Angeles neighborhoods, and the relationship between the two staying healthy (and yes, it's a short week and September is a notoriously slow month so...humor us).  And we were recently reminded of how fragile this relationship can be with the unfortunate demise of Doughboys on 3rd street in Hollywood.  

     So, back to the war, we would keep our dinky little chalkboard sign on our half of the sidewalk which is approximately 13 feet wide.  Well, what began as a surgically precise shift of our sidwalk advertising became a grumble and a swift kick which ultimately left our advertising flat on the ground or facing the store instead of the street every day.  Polite confrontations posing questions like "excuse me, sir, why do you do that" and "are you angry at wine?" became pretty heated with quotes like "all you people are only in it for the money!" and "why should I have to walk on the side of the sidewalk! I want to walk down the middle and it's a free country!"  In it for the money?  Clearly he's never been in retail. 

     To be fair, though you see these types of signs up and down every retail corridor in our city, they are illegal.  And soon enough, after a few more run-ins with our friendly neighborhood sign abuser, we received a notice from the city forcing us to remove it from the public sidewalk.  And when an employee accidentally put the sign out the following week, our landlords were summoned to appear before the city downtown!  Ultimately, we settled with the city over the phone and all was forgiven provided we never EVER spit in the face of justice again by putting out our little chalkboard trying to make our business a little more noticeable. 

     This is a tough year on almost everyone and small businesses need to do whatever they can to get you to stop in.  But there is always this push and pull between residents who want services and restaurants nearby their homes, but don't want to deal with the decreased parking and increased noise associated with these businesses.  So how can you be heard?  Please, oh please, join a neighborhood community group.  These issues are on-going and need to be discussed frequently in order to keep people happy in their homes and businesses able to bring in enough money to survive.

     We're fairly sure many of you won't entirely agree with us and will agree more with the man whom we dubbed "Mr. Very Angry Irish Man", which is why we have the handy comment section below.  Please let us know! 

Hometown Pairings - Round 2

     Continuing with our Hometown Pairing series, we next move to Dave's Chillin' and Grillin' , one of those places that makes Eagle Rock a unique, neighborhoody place in the middle of a big city.  In addition to providing great service and delicious sandwiches, Dave can (and will) provide you with the most detailed description of every ingredient of his sandwiches from the exact fat content to the mood the driver was in when he delivered that crate of pork sausages last Tuesday.  It's truly remarkable.  So.....let's get to why we're really here....what to eat and what to drink with it....

     Every Friday and Saturday, Dave and his staff run a deal on their mouth-watering meatball and sausage hoagie.  The sandwich comes dressed up with melted provolone, grilled onions, grated cheese and this great spicy/tangy pepper spread (you would be very, very, very silly not to get the pepper spread) for $6.  After selflessly tasting a dozen different wines with the meatball/sausage wonder, we settled on the 2007 Mas Malbec from Mendoza Argentina for $11.99/btl.  The vanilla, plum, tobacco and smokey notes from the malbec pair perfectly with the sweet from the meatballs and sauce and the spice of the sausage and pepper spread.  Let me see if I can tell this story in pictures...