I was about 8 when Dave-O moved into the neighborhood. He was older than me, around 12 or 13, and was quick to inform me that he was a ninja. He dressed in black and occasionally sported a headband. He owned strange shoes that looked like socks with a split to accommodate his big toes. He said The Karate Kid was bullshit. I soon fell under his tutelage. I made throwing stars from cardboard and aluminum foil and fashioned nunchucks from a sawn broom handle and a discarded chandelier chain. 

I called them "numchucks" back then. I hid them behind the headless stone frog, an ancient relic from previous owners, in the weedy plot beside the house. I trained hard but never got far. One session I clubbed my ear with such force I thought I had done permanent damage. Maybe I did. My mom noticed the redness and I told her I fell off my brother's Mongoose. At school I showed Selena Sullivan my battle wounds, hoping to secure her admiration. I told her I got into a fight near my house. With a ninja. I had convinced myself it was true, in a way. She wasn't impressed. She just looked at me with confusion, maybe even concern. We broke up shortly after that and I abandoned my nunchucks and my training.

OAKLAND YARD is my dojo these days. Every Thursday and Sunday at OAKLAND YARD we offer a much more enjoyable type of training. It is painless and, even still, extremely rewarding. We offer tasting flights to explore various regions and varietals from around the world- to further enhance our understanding and appreciation of wine. Max has been my sensei of sorts for many years now and has taught me much about wine, and life. He hired me at a shop in Brooklyn when I was still wet behind the ears. His tutelage is sage and serene. I've never had to sand the floors. Come train with us this Thursday from 4-8.

THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS 2/9
(Red or White, 3 wines for $15): 

White Flight: Aligoté
2015 Berthenet Bougorgne Aligoté VV
2014 Goisot Bourgogne Aligoté
2012 Marc ColinBourgogne Aligoté

Red Flight: Gamay
2016 Pierre Chermette (Beaujolais)
2014 Chateau de la Greffiere Macon Serrieres Rouge
2015 B. Kosuge Gamay Noir (Carneros)


Sunday tasting will be ALL FRENCH BUBBLY ROSÉ! Lift off with us SUNDAY from 12-6pm.!


Cheers,

Daniel
(with an L)