Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Smashing Good Times!

I'm really pleased with our demo 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.)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Gratuitous Violence

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

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

One Girl, Two Beers & a Hammer

Very exciting times here at RCC. After two years of planning, one year (?!?) of paying rent on an empty space and five months of waiting for the City of Richmond to see things my way, we FINALLY got our construction permit Thursday for Secco Wine Bar. I celebrated by smashing walls yesterday. (Note to self: while stubbornness is indeed high octane fuel, there are consequences to hammering for 8 hours when one is almost 39 with the muscle-tone of milk-fed veal...ouch.) Here are some photos to show the um, progress.

Today we (hopefully I'll have some help from the boys) will tear down the free standing walls, dressing rooms and whatever those weird riser things are in the window. Oh, and I'll be taking a break to sip Prosecco with Enrico (Adami) & Katie (Michael Downey Selections). Let's see if Ican taste through a fine dusting of drywall debris...