I couldn't resist posting this. The comparison was just too obvious, the humor too low-brow to NOT. This is a pic of the $125 "Wine/Champagne Saver" (AKA Wine Dildo) available at Williams-Sonoma this holiday season. I don't really think there's much to explain, especially when I noticed people walking by and laughing at it. Basically, you see it, you get it.

My friend Rebecca and I had a good laugh over it before heading out for a drink in San Fran's Marina district earlier this month. I'm happy to report that I DID find a wine gift worth giving on the same trip, so I don't consider the visit to the retailer a total wash.

Here are some more pics of the Wine Dildo and a snap of me with what I DO recommend giving this holiday season in the wine theme: this really cute tube filled with Riedel stemless "O" glasses. I plan to give some to members of my family (my dad, specifically, to up his wine cool factor) this year, and think the packaging's super appealing. Well done, Riedel!

And, down with the wine dildos! Here's to hoping you don't get one this year.

Posted by Courtney at 10:04 AM • Comments (2)

No, really: small child, make me a martini, stat.

Why on earth would small children mix cocktails? Because they've read the hip new mommy/kid book, "Baby, Mix me a drink" by Lisa Brown! The tiny tome, which is made from the same heavy cardboard-like unbending pages as all baby books (see if you can tear THESE pages out, tot!), features just five cocktail "spreads," but it's big on visual stimuli. Brown, an illustrator by day and full-time Mom, tells the "story" via images: the opening drink, a martini, is illustrated with a bottle reminiscent of Bombay Sapphire gin, a Vermouth-like bottle, a shaker & olives and a completed martini - all tied together with plus signs and finally an equal sign before the completed drink (i.e. this plus this plus this equals that).

Simple, cute.

And the copy is pleasantly inappropriate, for the enjoyment of overburdened parents. Sample: after running through five drink "recipes" for Mommy (martini), Daddy (margarita), Grandma (Bloody Mary), Grandpa (Old Fashioned) and Nanny (Champagne cocktail), Brown sums it all up with "Thank you Baby! (and please pass the pretzels.)" Tee hee.

I had the opportunity to meet Brown at a book signing the other night at Candystore, an adorable clothing/shoes/accessories boutique in the Mission district run by personable owner Jennifer Jones, who has excellent taste in shoes (see pics!). Back to the book: Brown said the idea for "Baby, Mix me a drink" came to her when she was reading to her 2 year-old from yet another BORING cardboard-like illustrated book. He was, yet again, chewing on it rather than reading it (not that 2 year-olds can read, but you know what I mean). And she thought, hey, if I have to put up with this I'd much rather this book be something I can get into, too.

And so "Baby, Mix me a drink" was born. Because, Brown added, in addition to wanting a baby book she could get into, she also just really wanted a drink at that moment (and probably lots of other moments, as a new mom). She's also published "Baby, Fix my car," "Baby, Make my breakfast," and "Baby, do my banking" as part of her Baby, Be of Use series of cardboard kid books. I particularly like the last title, although it really can't touch the drink tome for sheer hilarity. And I wonder: if maybe, in the spirit of the fab Candystore merch, next she'll do "Baby, do my shoe shopping" and feature illustrations of some of these fly kicks! (I require a suprisingly small kickback for idea generation. ;))

ps love this pic of Lisa holding up a tiny tee w/ martini olive on the front she had made for her kid - who apparently really does mix drinks.

Want to get it?
You can pick it up at Amazon for $9

Lisa's site

Candystore

Posted by Courtney at 08:32 AM • Comments (0)

Picture this: eclectic local art-smattered space teeming with Boho/grunge/fashionista types all tapping caffeinatedly away at Macs. The room buzzes not just with the effects of all the caffeine-induced energy but with something else as well - a low-humming excitement at just being there, amongst all the creative types. Translation: San Fran coffee haunt Ritual Roasters has got a very cool vibe, plus a very hip gaggle of hipster writer-types roaming around to match.

Future Kerouacs unite!
They can't all be plucking away at the next New Age cult hit manuscript, but you sort of feel like they are. Or at least, they could be. You just worry that they may not be able to make the hike back home up the ubiquitous San Francisco hills in their skinny jeans to send it off to their editors.

Fortunately, there's free wireless at Ritual so the creative types can send their future NY Times bestsellers directly from their laptops, without ever having to brave the mean streets of San Fran's Mission District. Whew! And, because the Mission's one of the few blessedly flat 'hoods in SF, there's no hill climbing upon departure anyway. All this, and it's almost always sunny over in these parts.

Are you beginning to the see the perks of Ritual Roasters?

Try the Hair Bender on for size
And the coffee's not bad either. They've got all sorts of tasty roasts to sell, some with crazy names like the Hair Bender, their specialty espresso. Plus, the foam kicks ass. No home espresso maker can touch it (I know, because I do the DIY latte thing every morning). It's ridiculously smooth and long-lasting, perfect for those days you're on deadline and plan to nurse each cup for a couple of hours or so.

Even better, you can stay as long as you want - even if that means all day. Which can actually be a good thing, because the people watching is outstanding. I swear the uber stylish patrons must dress up to go there, even though they all work hard to look stylishly undstudied (hence the grunge undertone). It's the only place I've found in SF where straight men seem to have put as much effort into their appearance as they do in LA, albeit with an "I just rolled out of bed/yes, I really am that cool" look.

Along those lines, with the tagline "We Take Coffee Seriously, Not Ourselves," I'm not entirely sure I can agree, but I still love it.

Ritual Roasters
1026 Valencia Street San Francisco tel (415) 641-1024
M - F 6am - 11pm ::: Sat 7 am - 11pm :::: Sun 7am - 9pm

Posted by Courtney at 12:35 PM • Comments (0)

8 = # of years of trash talking I've endured from obnoxious Trojan acquaintances
4 = # of points we beat those jerks by
1998 = last year I was able to celebrate sweet victory

Priceless = Finally beating #2 team in the nation and - more importantly - cross town rival USC last Saturday

Just remember: you can't spell SUCKS without USC!!!

Ok, back to that wine thing :)

Posted by Courtney at 11:01 PM • Comments (1)