Rainy days were the worst in elementary school. Recess indoors was a drag but lunch in the classroom was extra depressing. My reputation by then was less a true troublemaker and more a frequent wisecracker. This earned me an assigned seat close to the teacher and surrounded by geeks and mutes. They likely have a similar story about having to pass rainy days with a jackass. 

It always creeped me out watching my teachers eat. One of the nuns was known to literally chew her food 32 times before swallowing. We could barely keep conversations going, too often distracted by the spectacle of an everlasting apple or a slowly tortured ham sandwich. Looking back she may have been messing with us. That would have really been some commitment on her the part. 

On rainy days I couldn't mix with my friends, as Sister Mary Anne Lenore would only allow us to "spin" our desks in one direction or another. So I'd end up adjoining desks with the likes of Grace Capul or Jason Steingart. It would be many years later that I'd look back on the rainy days and realize it was kind of cool having to break our routines occasionally. Kickball was still the best, naturally, but those odd, quiet gray days were memorable too. Playing Go Fish or Hangman or Chutes & Ladders with relative strangers and sometimes sharing stories, or disfigured animal crackers. Trading knock-knock jokes, or a Capri Sun for a Fun Dip.

Tonight at OAKLAND YARD: Thursday Night Flights! In the spirit of the new year we'll be pouring lesser known and under-appreciated new, unusual varieties. All exciting, dynamic, and delightful in their own way. White Flight: a Spanish Xarel-lo, an Italian Robolla Gialla, a Croatian Debit. Red Flight: Xinomavro from Greece, Negrette from France, and Alfrocheiro from Portugal. Flights $12, from 4-8pm.

The New & Unusual Varieties theme will continue on SATURDAY Tasting (1/13) with some higher end wines on the menu. Flights from 3-6pm, $15. 

SUNDAY FLIGHTS: Sparkling! For any who missed the chance to toast to the New Year with us, stop on by from 2-6 and lift up and away with us with all bubbly flights! Let's do this, 2018.

Stop by tonight or roll in this weekend to OAKLAND YARD. Get out of the comfort zone of Pinot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Try something new. Bring a snack to share if you want. Make a new friend. Compare notes and file them away in your Peechee folder. 

See you soon,

Daniel


p.s. Stay sweet. Don't ever change. Hope we have classes together next year.