The party's over
It's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It's time to wind up the masquerade
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid
("The Party’s Over," Words by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Music by Jule Styne, Sung by Judy Holiday in her last film, “Bells Are Ringing,” 1956)
It’s been quite a run for our favorite city in the entire world. The celebrations were world-class by all measures of such a statement. We met or exceeded expectations from every participant and we, along the way, had a pretty good time ourselves.
The true measure of a great party is that you hate to see it end. But, in truth, as we dined in the Rib Room Mardi Gras night, late, enjoying our traditional end-of-Carnival-Season meal, I was ready to “call it a day.” It's interesting to note that Kelly Clarkson, in her performance at the Endymion extravaganza in the Dome, pretty much admitted that she was tired and this town kicked her ass. She revealed she does not know how we all do it.
And she was not even here for the weeks leading up to Carnival’s crescendo. A very disappointing remark from such a young person. Where is the next generation of party animals coming from, if not from the entertainment community?
So we take a few days of rest, and then it’s time to go again. That’s the way it is around here. As the saying goes, “Living in New Orleans is not for wimps.” Amen to that, brother. Amen.
There are a number of wine festivals in our region, happening just around the bend, and they deserve your attention. If we don’t stay in practice, how are we going to perform up to our usual excellent standards at upcoming local festivals?
South Beach Wine and Food Festival
Feb. 21-24, sobefest.com
Sorry for the short notice on this, but we’ve been in a bit of festival mode ourselves here. South Beach is a biggie. And they attract some very big stars, both at the entertainment level and in the food world, or both. Paula Deen and Guy Fieri come to mind as examples of the latter.
There are beer tasting seminars, hosted by Spiegelau. There are also several seminars hosted by Wine Spectator, and a whole raft of activities sponsored by Food and Wine Magazine and the Food Network.
It’s all very South Beach so there will be Zen, Yoga, Yogurt, Bellinis and Buddha. Go with the flow.
Savor Dallas
March 14-17, savordallas.com
This ninth go-round of a fun event is close enough to reach quickly via reasonable airline fares or just take a bit of a drive up the Interstate system, 10 to 49 to 20. When you get to Dallas, you are going to need a car anyway.
However you get there, this is a very approachable and enjoyable event. Jim White and his wife, Vicky, have done a great job building Savor Dallas in a solid way.
Don’t need to tell you that there will be a lot of wineries represented (Dallas is a pretty important market for those wineries), but what this festival has done is stage tasting experiences in some pretty nice venues.
On Thursday there will be a tasting at a new development in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Trinity Groves, incorporating the many food outlets in that area. Friday is at the Perot Museum of Science. Saturday will be seminars and a Grand Tasting, all at the new Irving Convention Center. And on Sunday the Dallas Arboretum serves as the backdrop for a food-centric wine tasting.
Jim freely admits he “borrowed” some thoughts about putting on such an event from our own New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Keep in mind that we “borrowed” from Aspen’s Food and Wine Classic so it only seems fair to pay it forward.
Sandestin Wine Festival
April 18-21, sandestinwinefestival.com
This Festival, celebrating 27 years, is actually older than our own New Orleans Food and Wine Festival. This year there will be no Sunday Grand Tasting, with that one moved to Friday, April 19, 5 to 8 p.m. Should be a fun way to spend the evening.
On Sunday, there will be a Champagne Brunch at Baytowne Marina, overlooking the Bay. Works for me on a Sunday morning.
South Walton Beaches Food and Wine Festival
April 25-28, sowalwine.com
Haven’t heard of this one before, have you? Oh, but you have.
Chan Cox, big time wine retailer all over Florida’s panhandle, was the founder of the Sandestin Wine Festival. I have no idea what happened but that festival goes on without him (see previous section above) and now we also have this one. All in Destin. On two succeeding weekends. Seems like we will be the beneficiary of whatever is happening over there.
This one will be staged in an upscale retail area just east of Sandestin, Grand Boulevard. If you went to the original location of the Sandestin Wine Festival before it moved to Baytowne Wharf, you will probably have a bit of nostalgia. But Sandestin Village is not Grand Boulevard. Grand Boulevard is quite upscale and roaming around through several days of Grand Tastings with wine sampling tables set alongside upscale clothing stores is going to be quite appealing to a certain segment of the population intent on spending us out of the effects of the recession.
New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
May 22-25, nowfe.com
This one should be very well known to you.
Starting with the Wednesday evening wine dinners, usually involving more than 35 New Orleans restaurants, to the upscale Vinola wine tasting, giving way to the Royal Street Stroll, and the grand tastings and seminars of Friday and Saturday, all are fun and wonderful happenings.
The reasons I am bringing all of these up to you at this time is: 1) you would not have paid attention if I noted them two weeks ago because with all you had going on, you would have delayed action until now, or later, anyway; and 2) you remember how you wait until the last minute to register (yes, you do. Don’t deny it.) and then are not able to attend those functions, seminars, tastings or dinners you really, really, really wanted because they long ago sold out to people who planned just a little further ahead than you.
So now you know, and now the best selections are still available, with the possible exception of South Beach.
Wine festivals are a lot of fun. You will meet winery executives, sometimes even the winemaker, who can answer all your questions and help you enjoy the wines that much more. And you will hang with people just like you, who enjoy special events laden with adult beverages. Maybe you will even make some new friends.
That crowd from Indianapolis who was in town for Carnival and you hung with last weekend are long gone. New drinking friends may very well be in order.
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