I've probably told some of you this story before, but I was texting with my older brother and this memory returned. 

I have a small army of siblings. Growing up, there was a consistent and somewhat fair "you snooze, you lose" acceptance in our house. One summer evening my brother and I were out playing Batman and Robin. I was around 6, Jeff 8. It wasn't terribly fun. Jeff was always Batman. But we got to wear capes, so life was good. The charade was mostly just running about in our nylon capes and homemade eye masks. I'd point at a tree or something and shout "there's one of those no good...!" and Jeff would throw some boomerang we'd fashioned earlier that day from glued popsicle sticks and I'd say "Nice SHOT, Batman!" And Jeff would say (in the calm, deep voice of Adam West): "Thanks, Robin". I'd have to improvise if he'd miss the target "Aw, he's a wily one!..." and scramble to retrieve his weapon. You get the idea.

Ignoring my mom's hollering that day, we finally came in and the kitchen smelled so sweet. Fresh pineapples were chopped earlier, now all devoured. We were bummed. The family was watching a movie so we quietly pouted on the kitchen floor. Then Jeff spotted discarded strips of the hard pineapple skins in a plastic bag. There still seemed to be so much yellow flesh exposed, we started licking and thought we'd struck gold. Still so sweet and sublime with everlasting flavor! So we kept licking away, giggling and snickering to ourselves (who needs those jerks!) as evening settled on Gotham. All was well until the screaming started.

In the way that seeing one's ex can open a wound, pain sometimes needs a visual. I looked up and there was blood in Jeff's mouth. That's when I too felt the sting. I looked down at the pineapple I was licking and it also was covered in wild, bright crimson streaks. Our super powers were no match for the hidden barbs and the aggressive enzymes and acid. The pain was intense. Like a million paper cuts on our tongues, doused with lemon juice. The Joker had the last laugh once again.

Best to come when you're called, sometimes.

TONIGHT at OAKLAND YARD: Thursday Night Flights! Three German Whites and Three Spanish Reds. Wines so good you'll want to lick the inside of the bottles. Come help us take these bottles down tonight. Same bat-time, same bat-channel. Flights, $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm. 

ALSO!!! We're sending out the signal once again: PROVECHO returns to OAKLAND YARD on Saturday February 11th from 2-6pm! Locally sourced, seasonal and intentional dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from Oakland Yard. Best to come when you're called, trust me...

SATURDAY FLIGHTS: Wines of Austria 
2021 Bernhard Ott Am Berg Gruner Veltliner
2020 Umathum Sauvignon Blanc
2018 Prieler Johanneshohe Blaufrankisch 
NV Moric Hausmarke Rot
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm!
*Provecho Pop Up out front 2-6*

Finally... mark your calendars: SUNDAY MARCH 12th we will be taking over the back lot for an all day party, welcoming spring, and bringing some Catalan spirit to 40th St. with our own Calçotada Festival! There will of course be fire-grilled calçots and salvitxada sauce to accompany the spring onions as well as grilled spanish sausages, wine, beer and cider, and other culinary treats available that day! Music and food and fun! Stay tuned for more details about pre-sale tickets in the days to come!!!


Cheers,

Daniel