Weekend Date Idea - PORT SAMPLING!

Port Prefunk at Portalis

Article courtesy Jessica Voelker of Seattle Met!

This Friday, get your Date Night going with a port sampling on Ballard Avenue. Try seven warming fortified wines at Portalis!

Portalis in Ballard is holding a holiday port tasting this Friday, December 10.

A $19 fee includes

1. A $10 store credit (Portalis is both a wine bar and a wine shop).

2. Half-ounce pours of seven fortified wines from two Portuguese porteries (that’s not a real word).

3. Food pairings.

These are the ports to be tasted:

• Porto Rocha NV Lagrima White Port
• Porto Kopke 10y White Port
• Porto Rocha 1994 Colheita Tawny Port
• Porto Kopke 10y Tawny
• Quinta De La Rosa NV Finest Ruby
• Quinta De La Rosa 2003 LBV Ruby

The tasting lasts from 6:30 to 7:30pm. It sounds like a festive way to start a night out on Ballard Ave but don’t forget to eat during and after—port sneaks up on you like nobody’s business.

Call Portalis (206.783.2007) to reserve.

This Week’s Cheap Date Idea!

This week’s Cheap Date Idea is brought to you by the FABULOUS Fresh Picked Seattle (@FreshPickedSEA) – your one-stop Seattle resource for all events relating to Food and wine! Check her site out for fabulous inspiration!

This Thursday, April 8th at 6:30pm, head over to Greenlake’s PCC Natural Foods Market, where they’ll be hosting

Wine Tasting: You Say Syrah, I Say Shiraz…

Here’s what they have to say about that:

PCC Wine & Beer Tastings: Our selections are always changing as we seek out the best new wines from around the world. These informal tastings are a great way to taste at your own pace, ask questions of our staff and discover new wines before you buy them.

You say Syrah, I say Shiraz… Thursday, April 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (Edmonds, Greenlake) Thursday, April 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (Issaquah) Let’s call the whole thing … a delicious, versatile varietal!

Cost is only $5 per person, paid at the door. http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/products/winebeer/events/index.html

After the wine tasting, why not take a stroll around the lake? Or better yet (since rain is in the forecast), grab some food from the market and head home for a deliciously healthy home-cooked meal!

For more great wine tasting events around Seattle, be sure to check out Fresh Picked Seattle’s wine events section!

This Weekend’s Splurge Vs. Steal!

Hellooooo, Thursday! This means it’s time to start thinking about your weekend plans, dreaming up how you are going to spoil your special someone. There are quite a few things going on this weekend, regardless of the dreary weather. So pull on your galoshes, grab your girl (or guy!) by the hand, and get ready for a fun-filled night on the town, with this week’s version of Splurge Vs. Steal!

Like a lot of fun, and like it fast? Me too. Which is why you HAVE to check out 14/48 at ACT Theater this (final!) weekend.

According to the ACT Website, 14/48 -- the world's quickest theater festival -- is 14 plays conceived, written, designed, scored, rehearsed and performed in 48 hours.

The combination of deadline, talent, speed, nerves and genius inspiration serve to strip away the creative inhibitions from more traditional theater, proving that, contrary to popular opinion, sometimes the first idea is the best. 14/48 involves more than 75 artists per weekend with at least 25% participating for the first time. Artistic participation is by invitation only and is predicated on the most rigorous professional standards.

Tickets can be purchased to this whirlwind event online ($20) or at the door ($25).

Still confused? Me too. Let’s read THIS together to find out what this whole festival is REALLY all about!

ACT Theatre
700 Union St
Downtown Seattle

Start the night off with dinner and beers at the Tap House Grill (at 1506 6th Ave). Remember to start early, because with over 160 beers on tap, trying them all will take you a while! Be sure to check out the Boundary Bay IPA – one of my FAVORITES!

Short on cash but still wanting to take your sweetie out for some high-class fun? Don’t go BROKE, go BAROQUE! (i know, i know… i groaned when i wrote it, so I'm sure you’re groaning while reading it!)

Baroque & Northwest Wine Series Kicks Off on January 15!

Toast the New Year with wines from the region's best vintners — just $10 for five pours. Then, hear Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan — one of the world's foremost early music experts — lead Seattle Symphony in a program of Baroque masterpieces, including Handel's Organ Concertos, featuring Seattle Symphony Resident Organist Joseph Adam. January 15 & 16.

Purchase wine tasting cards in advance by calling the Ticket Office at 206.215.4747 or visit us at the corner of Third Ave. & Union St. in downtown Seattle.

Who says a night of symphony and wine has to cost you more than $20?

Happy Dating!

xo,

B&M

Seattle Weekend Date Ideas: Splurge Vs. Steal

SPLURGE VS. STEAL!

Well, it's Thursday. Which means I'm probably not the only one who is in desperate need of the Weekend. And a drink. Which happens to be the theme of this week's installment of Splurge vs. Steal!

SPLURGE!

Now, you all know that Brett and I love us some beer. But we also love wine! Really, we're alcoholics we don't discriminate when it comes to booze.

So, we thought we'd alert our fabulous fellow wine-o readers of this weekend's fabulous wine event, happening November 21st, 2009 at Fremont Studios : Seattle's hottest wine event returns this fall! Featuring more than 75 of the hottest Washington winemakers pouring their $30 and under favorites (2 pours from each), and the trendiest up-and-coming chefs from 15 restaurants serving delicious culinary treats. It's designed to be an unintimidating and fun night where winemakers mingle with the crowd. Plus, there's a DJ, which means: DANCING!!

Of course, the 35 and under “at heart” are welcome as well. ;)

Tickets on sale now! $50 Single, $90 Pair HOURS: 6 - 10p.m.

STEAL!

Love wine but the above event isn't quite your thing? Why not play the Wine Game with your special someone?

"What in the world is the Wine Game, Brett and Mandy??"

I'm glad you asked: Get together with your sweetie for a night in. Each of you provides one (or two, or three) bottles of wine (as cheap as $2.95 each at your friendly Trader Joe's!), but first, cover the label with paper so your honey can't see what type of wine it is.

Next, you open the first bottle and have a sip. Or a glass. Or several glasses.

Each of you has to write down FIVE DESCRIPTIVE WORDS that you think will show up on the label somewhere (no cheating in using words like 'wine' or 'alcohol content' -- think up creative words like 'fruity' or 'nutty' or 'earthy' or 'sexy' or 'flabberghastingly good' ... which is my favorite.) Write them down, then once you have both completed your lists, compare with the wine label and see who is closest!

With each round, you can think up a new 'punishment' for the loser, or 'reward' for the winner. Email us if you need suggestions.

Why not put in a good movie as background noise? Here is a list of the Top Ten Wine Movies of all time. And yes, Sideways is one of them!

(This couple has the right idea! not sure if Brett and I are good enough to guess the BRAND, but hey, we'll keep practicing!)

Cheers, and Happy Dating!

xo,
B&M

Seattle Weekend Date Ideas: Splurge vs. Steal!

It's that time of the week again: Thursday! Which means in TWO DAYS Brett and I will be up at Crystal Mountain for our first run of the season (and my maiden voyage to Crystal - I'm so nervous!)!

That is, however, if Brett snaps out of this whole 'being sick' thing... he woke up this morning feeling like a truck hit him. Which, let me tell you, is not the BEST feeling in the world. This means that tonight's Date Night will consist of me in one of these:

Feeding him some of this:

While i do this (so i, too, don't get sick!):

And nurse him back to health so we can do this:

With that said, i will pass on to you my jewels of wisdom for the fun things happening this weekend. Yes, it's this week's installment of Splurge vs. Steal!

While my ULTIMATE Splurge date idea for you is to purchase a $500 - $900 season's pass at one of the 11 AMAZING mountain ski areas we are lucky enough to have within a 5 hour driving range of this city... that is just TOO expensive for a Date Night. (Although, definitely stay tuned for some snow-related Date Night posts in the future!)

So instead, I thought I'd share with you This Saturday's Wine Dinner at Volunteer Park Café. Saturday at 7pm, for $95, come and enjoy a multi-course meal paired with wine from Efeste Winery.

Wine dinners at the Volunteer Park Cafe are not your grandfather’s wine dinner — no white linen tablecloths, no intimidating line-up of crystal stemware, no uncomfortable silence while guests swirl, sniff, and sip. Volunteer Park Cafe wine dinners are much like the cafe itself — funky, casual, and tons of fun! Reservations are required and can be made by calling VPC at (206) 328-3155. For more information, click HERE! Cheers!

And, if $95/per person is a bit too steep for you, but you still want to do something fun and cultural... For only $7 per person, you can go and check out the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra while they play at Town Hall this Saturday at 7.30.

This season-opener at Town Hall (1119 8th Ave, Seattle) will include Helios Overture, one of the most famous short orchestral works by Danish composer Carl Nielsen; Brahms’ Variation on a Theme by Haydn, first performed in 1873 by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Brahms’s baton; Wagner’s Prelude to Act I (from Lohengrin), marked by a grand, all-encompassing climax; and the dramatic one-movement Symphony No. 1 by Samuel Barber, the first American work performed at the Salzburg Festival.

Start the evening off three blocks west at Purple Cafe and Wine Bar (1225 4th Avenue (206) 829-2280‎)) where you can order a couple of inexpensive nibblies from the 'taste bar' ($3-$6/each) and a flight of wine (only $6 for white, $7 for red)!

Image via.

Thanks to @seattle_events for BOTH these great date ideas! Follow @seattle_events on Twitter for even more amazing ideas for great dates!

(Also deserving a mention, This weekend is Columbia Winery's Taste of Red! The winery's annual red wine event features barrel tasting, food vendors & music. Tickets are $10 for members, and $20 for the general public!)

Happy weekend, and Happy Dating!

xo,

B&M

Seattle Date Night: Redhook-ED, Line, and Sinker!

August 9th, 2009:
Redhook Brewery Tour

He Said: 1981 gave the world some remarkable things. Betty Davis Eyes won best record. Chariots of Fire won best picture. The shuttle first took flight and of course it was the year Mandy and I were born.

One of the most critical events to occur in 1981 though, in my books anyway, was the birth of Redhook Brewery!


[Original Redhook Sign from Fremont Brewery Location]
This week for Date Night, Mandy and I crossed the water to visit Woodinville’s nation-famous Redhook Brewery and take their behind the scenes tour.


[Tour times]

Nestled in the wine district of Woodinville, the tour starts, fondly enough, with an icy cold 5oz beer!


Set in a room above the brewery, the guide provides a detailed history of the company and an insightful look into the beer making process itself. Broken into four parts, we were given 5 five oz tastes of Redhook's entire range. A great, fun hour of education and beer AND for the low price of $1 per person. That’s right, 1 DOLLAR! AND you get to keep you glass at the end. You can’t buy the materials for that. Absolute result as my English mates are often quoted.


[Cheers!]
Afterwards we headed down to their in-house restaurant for an early tea. I had an 8oz steak and Mandy had an Asian salad. Both reasonably priced and tasting.


[Steak: $19.99; Salad: $9.99]
The setting though was fantastic. Sitting outside, surrounded by hops vines, it was really hard to beat.

Cheers,
Brett

She Said: Not much to add to Brett's great review except GO HERE, immediately!

And, as if the $1 tour, the affordable food, and the brewery atmosphere isn't enough, Redhook adds to their mix-o-tricks Moonlight Cinema! Yep, that's right. They offer outdoor movies every Thursday night throughout the summer. And they have a beer garden. And bar-b-q. Did i mention the beer garden?

So, basically, we're in love with this place.

Every Thursday night during the summer months (July-August), Redhook Brewery plays host to a dusk showing of famous cult classics, with this summer's line-up including must-see films like The Big Lebowski, JAWS (for all you Shark Week fans!), Top Gun, and of course, the Sex and the City Movie (gents, bring your ladies to this and they will love you forever!).

Click HERE for additional information, including hours, price (only $5!) and what you can (folding chairs) and canNOT (bbq's, outside alcohol, space ships) bring into the outdoor movie.



As another side-note, We also noticed a lot of bicyclists when dining at the Redhook restaurant, too. With the wineries and brewery being so close to the Burke Gilman trail, Brett and i decided that the next time we ventured this way, we wanted to do it on bike!

With over 40 wineries in Woodinville, what a FUN day that would make, biking to each tasting (with a helmet, of course! And maybe even knee- and elbow-pads!) and then retiring for the evening at one of Woodinville's amazing hotels. Sounds like a recipe for romance, if you ask me!



Here's a map of all the drunken debauchery mature, responsible adult fun you can have in Woodinville, just 30 miles outside Seattle (click to enlarge).

RATINGS:

Redhook Brewery
14300 NE 145th St
Woodinville, WA 98072-6950
(425) 483-3232

Romance: 3 -- not a lot of romance here, but the beer helps aleviate inhibitions--several of the other couples on our tour were fondling each other's back pockets more than what we'd see at, say, a tour of the Boeing Plant...

Cool Ambiance/Interior: 5 -- I"m sorry, it's a BREWERY! That in itself is just AWESOME.

All Around Service: 4 -- The tour guide, Spencer Czapiewski, was GREAT. Young, sharp, and witty -- but mostly, PASSIONATE about what he was teaching us. His love of the product shone through.

[Spencer Hard at Work!]Cost: $$ = entrees from $8 - 13, tour was only $1 each! A STEAL!

Would we recommend it? 5: Yes! And can we come with you?

For more information on Redhook, take the tour! Call them for tour hours, as they change throughout the year. And, if you want to brush up your knowledge prior to the tour, read about these crafty beers HERE.