Booze for Boobs!

I know, Booze for Boobs, but read on.  I wrote about breast cancer awareness here.  I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow, Friday is the big party at Twist Wine Company.  From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Twist will donate 100% of their proceeds to the breast cancer fund.

Twist will be pouring the wines from Basket Case, Shy Wines and Reversal.  Several beers will be on tap as well.  Live music, disco ball and the "pole" at the end of the bar will keep the mood festive.  Pick out some vintage vinyl to spin before the live music starts.

You can find Twist just west of the 4-way stop in Pacific City.  6425 Pacific Avenue, Unit B.  2 blocks from my home at The Craftsman B&B.  Call them with questions at 503-965-NUTS.

We hope to see you there, but if you can't make it, Twist is donating 10% of sales for the whole month of October to Breast Cancer.

Come see me at the party, I'll be the blue dog with the pink shirt.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  All over the country there are events planned to raise awareness.

So here is a little history, in 1985 AstraZeneca, which manufactures breast cancer drugs, founded the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.  Most of you have seen the pink ribbons.  That all started in 1991 when the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.

It really took off to a nation wide symbol for awareness when Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 1993 and established the Pink Ribbon as its symbol.  Companies of all sizes have created pink versions of a lot of products.  If you are looking to do some shopping, I suggest you shop pink.

The Race for the Cure is now very popular, celebrating it's 25th year and takes place in cities all over the world.   Chenin, my neighbor and part time dog sitter, has participated in that for years and she even dies her hair pink in October. She and her husband Sean, have decided to bring the pink to Pacific City. Twist, their tasting room for Basket Case, Shy Wines and Reversal will be donating 10% of their total sales in October to breast cancer.

But for 4 hours on Friday, October 17, from 5 - 9 p.m., Twist will be having a pink party.  They will donate 100% of sales to the cause.  During the event, sultry sounds of Scott Siegel strumming his guitar will fill the room.  They will pour their wine and selected brews for your libation.  I'll just have a bowl of water and a few crackers.  If you have any questions, call Twist at 503-965-NUTS.

So come on down for the party, mingle with the locals and visitors to the Oregon Coast.  You can stay with me at The Craftsman B&B, we are walking distance to Twist.  Even if you don't wish to drink wine, you have to see the blazing pink display Chenin put in the window.   It's a head turner for sure.

If you can't make it to Twist, you can see Chenin at the Portland Farmers Market on Saturdays.

To find a place to get an exam near you, click here.

Now, I don't think I have any pink to wear to the party. . .

Asheville, A delightful Wine and Chocolate Package

For the next package, we move away from the bubbles and get in to the finer things in life.  Our Asheville, A delightful Wine and Chocolate Package includes a bottle of our Bin #41, 375ml Evesham Wood Cuvée "J", 2 Keepsake Craftsman B&B wine glasses and a box of Harry & David Truffles for $40.00.

Why did we choose to name a package after Asheville, North Carolina?  What do think of when you hear Asheville?  Most people think of the Biltmore Estate another Fredrick Law Olmsted landscape and largest private home in the US, or their Art Deco inspired City Hall, and other significant architecture in the area.  Even the McDonald's in Biltmore Village is styled for the surroundings, including a stone fireplace!  Others think of the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and white water.  We at The Craftsman Bed & Breakfast think of another famous building; the Grove Park Inn.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Grove Park Inn is furnished by Roycrofters.  We will get more into them in our next package.

The Inn hosts an Arts and Crafts Conference every year hosted by Bruce Johnson an expert on the history of the Inn, arts and crafts collecting and finishing.  Collectors from around the country gather to learn more about the movement and the furniture, functional and decorative pottery, iron work and everything that defines arts and crafts.  One year, Mike and Laura will make the journey.

Now on to the wine.  Evesham Wood is a small winery just outside of Salem, Oregon.  Their Cuveé J is a top barrel-selected blend of Pinot Noir.  This is an awesome pairing with the truffles.  Mike bought all the 375 ml bottles they had left one year.  This is such a great Pinot, we have just a few bottles left until next release in November.  You need to try this wine while we still have some.

While you may think Pinot Noir and chocolate are an excellent pairing for watching a sunset at the Oregon Coast in Pacific City, my favorite is what I eat everyday, duck and potato with a nice chilled bowl of water.  I have been known to drink a bottle of beer in my past, but this is an upscale package description, so I'll finish this off with a Cheers!