... and now it's time for WINE CORNER

Wine corner visits Juicy Wine Company & the Violet Hour!

by Double D

My good friend Gretchen was out of town for Thanksgiving, and her boyfriend George was lonely so I thought I'd cheer him up with a trip to Juicy Wine Company. Wine + cheese + meat = good times!

Upon arrival we immediately handed off all decision-making to our waiter, who seemed to have it all under control. We just said "spicy red" and he took it from there, bringing us each a glass of the Two Hands "Gnarly Dudes" Shiraz (excellent - smooth & spicy at the same time) followed by a giant platter of meats (lamb prosciutto, mole-spiced salumi and spicy sopressata, all from Armandino Batali, aka Mario Batali's dad) and a tempting array of cheeses (an american Humboldt Fog and 2 other semi-soft cheeses whose names escape me because I was getting a little buzzed at that point. One of them had a rosemary-infused rind.) That was a long sentence! Moving on - We finished both plates along with a second glass of wine, and then a decision had to be made: do we stay and make it an all-cheese all-meat evening, or is it time to go somewhere new? We opted for the latter and headed over to Violet Hour, which wasn't surprising since we seem to wind up there at the end of every evening.

Oh Violet Hour, how I adore you. Your delicious brown butter-basted deviled eggs with candied pork belly. Your scrumptious 6-million-calorie peanut butter, honey & bacon sandwich. Your "it can't work but it does" curry-flavored rice krispie treats. And of course,
your amazing cocktails. My current favorite is the Dark & Stormy, a tantalizing blend of Cruzan Black Strap, Brujal Anego, ginger syrup and awesomeness wrapped around an ice cube as tall as the glass. Do you understand what I'm saying? Even the ice cubes are interesting at Violet Hour! If you haven't been there, go immediately. But not on Saturday nights around 11 because that's when I generally go and the line is too long as it is.

And that brings this week's Wine Corner to a close. I realize there wasn't much in the way of wine this week & I will try to work on that next time. But Violet Hour is a wicked temptress.

Great Wine Bar

It's called Swirl and we can't believe we've never been there before! Located at 111 West Hubbard it's the perfect place to wind down after work if you are in the area. Good sized wine pours, great tapas menu, and a very relaxed and cozy atmosphere. They also offer live entertainment every night of the week. Look for it in an upcoming Wine Corner.

Shoe of the Day

I know what you are thinking... these shoes? In this weather? But just look at them. They are irresistible. And as with all of our Shoes of the Day they are guaranteed to look great with tights. Wear them on a night out to small dinner party with a bubble skirt and a cozy sweater. You'll look great and like you are not trying too hard. The Jigs & Reels Ballerina.

Thursday Video Presents

... and now it's time for WINE CORNER

WINE CORNER! visits Bistro Campagne.

The weekend wound down with a delightful trip to Bistro Campagne, the favorite restaurant of my good friends Gretchen & George. We kicked off the meal with a round of Kir Royales - was there ever a more perfect drink? I don't think it's possible! Crisp, sweet but not too sweet, the perfect accompaniment to appetizers. For the next round Gretchen ordered the Cote du Rhone, which she described as "nice, dry, food-friendly." Which is good because you don't want a wine that argues with your food. George ordered the Cabernet but they had run out, so our waitress brought out the other 3 by-the-glass options for him to try. I was super impressed by this and wondered if they do it for all their customers or only the regulars. I'm never going there
with anyone else, just in case. After sampling a pinot noir and a rhone blend, George settled on the Chateau Haut-Nadeau merlot. I chose a delicious Sauvignon Blanc which even avowed-red-fan Gretchen enjoyed. Yes, it was that good.

Ok, about the food - holy SHIT it was great! Perfect cozy French fare. I had the beef Bourgignon, Gretchen chose the cassoulet and George had the venison. He must have really liked it because he ate every bite. I mean literally nothing left on the plate. But of course there's always room for dessert, so we ordered a chocolate pot de creme, followed by a
caramel-drizzled bread pudding, followed by another pot de creme when we decided we still needed more dessert. Right around this point, the owner came over and excitedly informed us that Neil Young was there, celebrating his 62nd birthday. I felt bad knowing that there were fans who would so thrilled to see Neil Young in person and I totally didn't give a shit. Oh well, somewhere in the world somebody's eating next to Johnny Depp right now and they don't care either, so I guess it all evens out.

Anyway - Bistro Campagne is wonderful. Try it and it may become your favorite restaurant too!

Erin Fetherston designs at Target

Go now. Go now, before it all goes away!

While getting a baby shower gift this weekend at Target we noticed that the women's clothing section was stocked full of super cute things. Among the standouts were some Erin Fetherston designed pieces.

Target has partnered with American designer Erin Fetherston to create the next limited-edition collection for GO™, a program that brings affordable fashion created by world-renowned designers to the Target stores and Target.com. The collection of women’s fashion and accessories will be available through December. Believe us, you'll have a field day when you see the stuff.

Thursday Video Presents

Arrested at Walgreens

Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested at the Walgreens at 757 N. Michigan Av. around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Apparently the Transformers star was drunk and refused to leave the store after a security guard asked him to. He was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

Sofa Love

For a mass market brand Room & Board has some very interesting and dare I say mouth-watering pieces. Their furniture is also durable, well designed, and sold at reasonable prices. Chicago is one of the few lucky cities to have a showroom. This is where I first came upon and fell in love with the Hutton 75" Single-Cushion sofa in Vance. Although beautiful in every color available, when wrapped in the Indigo vance fabric it becomes too wonderful for words. Did I mention it is also incredibly deep (41")? Perfect for lazy Sunday napping.

Shoe of the Day

Perfect for the holidays. The Frye Moondust Lace-Ups. Available through the Anthropologie website.

Elegy for Isabella Blow

Pic via flavorpill.com

Isabella Blow. Oh, she was a true fashion original and quite an eccentric character. How we would've loved to have met her. An exhibition of paintings, drawings, and prints by novelist/printmaker Audrey Niffenegger pays tribute to the deceased British fashion editor. At Printworks Gallery. Fri Nov 2 - Sat Dec 29.

Art Deco Bags

These versatile bags are irresistible. They can be carried by the handle, slung over the shoulder via detachable strap, or folded over and carried like a clutch. All for the low low price of $46! Available at the Lori's shoes website.

Fresh Hot Sounds: Kasper Bjørke

Kasper Bjørke. From Denmark. Synthy and dancy. Smooth voice.

Thursday Video Presents