Another day of smashing, ripping
and hammering (David, Tim & Dave) and scraping (me). May I take this time to reiterate how much I HATE WALLPAPER!! There is a special circle in hell for those who create 90 years' of layered paint, paper and glue. I can't lift my arms higher than my waist without wincing and my face feels windburned from all that 'exfoliation': thousands of tiny paint chips pinging my face for hours. Is it lead paint? Who cares--I can't possibly get any dumber considering I'm opening a restaurant ;)
As a side note, I do not recommend applying lipgloss immediately before sanding. Sigh. At least the beer flowed freely.
Today's plans include taking down the rest of the dressing rooms (now that we found the breaker box--in another shop--and can cut power to the lights. Oh wait, I didn't tell you? Two
different shops share a circuit so we now have to get the service separated. Third trip expected for the electrician today. Also due for estimates from HVAC, plumber and draft lines. And then we have to figure out how to remove and save that giant mirror for behind the bar. Interestingly, it's bigger than any doors in the place. Ideas?
Then I'm off for a trip to the ABC and Health. Fun. My reward is checking out a rumor about dozens of really cheap Piretti chairs somewhere in a warehouse off Hermitage...wish me luck!
ps: anyone want to help? send me an email...info@rivercitycellars.com
progress, and I'm slowly getting 
used to the dull ache and sharp pain in my right arm. Tim attacked the crazily over-built dressing rooms with a rather large electric saw, and David G filled two dumpsters' worth of debris. Now we're left with only a bit of drywall and baseboards to pry out. The subs have started coming in for estimates (hood, electric--still need plumbing and HVAC if anyone has a suggestion: info@rivercitycellars.com). The joys of dealing with various codes and an old, carved up building are book worthy. All it takes is more money ;)
In the wine geek celebrity watch department, Michael Broadbent and his lovely wife Daphne stopped by the shop yesterday for some cheese. Of course I was sweaty, pig-tailed and covered in a patina of drywall dust, but it was exciting to show him around the wine bar space. "Lovely aspect, and I used to be an architect you know." And somehow I managed to deflect Bartholomew's (their son, Richmond transplant and an old friend) comments about how his dad likes a dirty girl... Sigh. It was a treat meeting them. Hopefully next time they're in town I can serve them a glass of chilled Manzanilla! (In the photo, left to right: David G our beer buyer, Daphne, Michael, Peter our wine buyer and me.)
