Cork Wine Bar, a fantastic Tacoma wine bar, which took second in the South Sound Magazine Best of South Sound wine list, is definitely worth checking out. A friend and I recently hit it up Wednesday night—all flights $8. We sampled two of their wine flights, with generous two-ounce pours.

Love the names, too: Forgive Me For I Have Zinned, with Alexander Valley Temptation zin, California; Tobin James Ballistic, California; and Writers Block zin, California and You Had Me at Merlot, featuring McGavick, Washington; Napa Cellars, Napa Valley, California; and Shooting Star, Kelseyville, California.

They offer a simple yet satisfying menu, featuring mainly Italian goodies like bruschetta, antipasti, yummy cheese plates, a delicious Caprese salad, and a great variety of topped flatbreads. Tuesdays and Fridays are all-night happy hour, Thursdays feature complimentary wine tasting, and Saturdays there’s live music.

Oh, and leave room for dessert. We had Amaretto Almond Biscotti Torte, layers of biscotti soaked in amaretto with a smooth amaretto almond mousse filling. In fact, maybe it’s just safer to start with dessert!

Ta ta,
Danielle

As soon as I heard about this event, at the Tacoma Dome, I was reminded of a day when I was a little girl. It was late November and my mother took me to the huge hall at the county fairgrounds. We spent the entire day visiting booths at this giant “Christmas Fair.” We made gifts, bought gifts, got ideas of what to make later on our own. It was one of those magic days that you have as a kid.

Well, maybe your magic day is awaiting at the 27th Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival. I’m hoping that the art and crafts booths, the sparkling jewelry, and the tables overflowing with Christmas ornaments and decorations inspire a bunch of great gift ideas.

If not, I can always just get an eggnog latte and gawk at the 45-foot hanging Christmas tree and get my picture taken with Santa.

Ta ta,
Danielle

I don’t how I’d live without mani/pedis. Not sure how I survived before. I justify them by telling myself that foot and hand massage and treatments promote all-over health. It does. But it doesn’t hurt that it feels good and looks good. Plus, being at the Murano, I’m right down the hall from Savi, our hotel spa . I’ve been to others, but Savi is my favorite set-up in town, and not just because of its convenient location.

Savi offers the usual—manicures, pedicures, facials—but also includes a warm, lavender neck roll and an eye pillow (some treatments even offer a complimentary cocktail!). There are private rooms and special chairs with many of the services. You can also get a foot treatment (without the pedicure) and a cryotonic foot and leg treatment that helps circulation and sore muscles. And who doesn’t have those?

There’s also the option of ordering from room service and/or the bar while you’re getting the kinks worked out. Pampering at its best.

Ta ta!
Danielle

If you’re a blues fan, here’s your chance to do your part while taking in some great music. It’s the Blues Vespers Benefit for Peace, on the fourth of October, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Come hear one of the modern blues greats, Bill Sims Jr., a NYC regular who’s got a long resume that includes musician, actor (Lackawanna Blues at Seattle Rep), composer, and director (August Wilson’s Seven Guitars on Broadway).

Joining Sims will be the Mark Riley Trio, with Howard Hooper or Rob Moitoza on bass and Marty Vadalabene on drums. Formed in 2003, the eclectic trio counts Fleetwood Mac, Sonny Landreth and the great Robert Johnson as influences. Buck England will join the trio, on a B-3 organ, for the show.
This free Tacoma music event is part of Immanuel’s 100th anniversary of their north-end sanctuary.

All donations will go towards the church’s ongoing peace-keeping efforts. Doing good was never so easy.

See ya later,
Dale