As Max mentioned in his last newsletter, this Saturday, July 14th, is the annual 40th St Block Party. The timing is a funny coincidence (Alanis Morissette might even say it's ironic), that the party is held this particular weekend each year. As I've certainly mentioned before, Max and Glenny and I all met years ago working at a wine shop in Brooklyn, on Smith St - and each year, right outside the shop would be the annual Smith St. Fun Day and local Bastille Day celebrations. In addition to the expected vendors and food carts, these events would be marked by a massive petanque tournament in front of Bar Tabac, with throngs of spectators enjoying chilled Ricard and Lillet and gallons of wine and beer. Just up the street the beloved local cheese shop, Stinky, hosted a cheese eating contest - appropriately called Stinkfest, a grand and sometimes grotesque affair that always drew an impressive crowd. 

It was fun seeing the neighborhood come together. Regulars at the shop would be out wandering about, inviting us and familiar folks passing by to join them on their stoop for an ice cold beer, some passing around bottles of rosé, and others sneaking up fire escape ladders and onto their rooftops to share a joint and take in the cityscape and the spectacle below. 

It's exciting to have another opportunity to enjoy this weekend in a similar way each year. To peer out the window and see all the faces, to step outside and take in the sights and smells and sounds and to say: I live here.


TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights! Crisp, dry and mineral-driven whites from France's Loire Valley or bright, expressive reds from Piemonte. Your choice, flights just $12 from 4-8pm.

SATURDAY: 40th St Block Party from 11-5! Outdoor Wine & Beer Bar  - and Rosé Flights at OAKLAND YARD. It's on and 40th St is going off. Get on down. Share a bottle and some laughter. Be a part of the party. Wine and beer will be flowing all day. Bands and bites! A skate park! Max in shorts! Two stages of music and DJs, food trucks galore. It's all happening here on 40th, from Webster to Opal. OAKLAND YARD Wine Shop will be open regular hours 11- 9pm for bottle sales, Rosé Flights, and wines by the glass. Cool A/C and warm hearts. All joy and love here, always.

SUNDAY: The Wines of Olivier Lemasson! These are the first natural wines I tasted, that very same summer in Brooklyn - and I would often bring his Poivre et Sel to summer BBQs to convert friends. They, too, were immediately hooked. Lemasson produces natural wines from the Loire Valley. His wines are fresh and dynamic - as he states: "wines that are sincere, and true to their terroir and vintage... and whose production is not conditioned by the current fashion of the time or 'law of the market' but by nature".  He is still one of my favorite producers. Come taste why. Flights $15, from 2-5pm


This weekend is going to be a blast. Let's do this...

See you soon,

Daniel