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.)

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

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...

Minerva has two kids!

This is Minerva!

You might actually recognize her as the face of Caromont.

I was lucky enough to witness the birth of her two kids this year.

She's an old pro in the birthing department and, I must say, a great Mother.

Attentive, careful, protective, nurturing.

This was kid number one.  

(Julia didn't want me to share the really graphic pictures, but it was a truly amazing, crazy thing to witness!)

Bear checking out her new charge.

Amazing to see these HUGE Great Pyrenees being so tender with the wee ones.

She would give her life for any one of these babies if it came down to it!

Kid number two!

And by the time he arrived, his big brother was already trying to stand up!

So sweet!

I can't wait to see how big these little La Mancha/Nubian kids are now!

Wishing I was still there...

Baby Goat Bonanza!

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a total city girl, born and raised, so what's with all the fantasies of farm life I've been having lately?? What is going on here? All I can do is think about what a great time I had at Caromont last week and dream about when I can go back for another visit! It was such an amazing trip! I really had no idea what to expect going down to the farm for kidding season - I mean I knew I would have a great time and that I would probably work pretty hard - but other than that - I was really in the dark. I even tried to do some research online but that quickly turned into just watching silly goat videos on youtube, which, for the most part, just reinforced the fact that baby goats are super cute! Ha. So, what did I learn after spending 3 days with several dozen 3-week old kids? I learned that "super cute" doesn't even begin to describe the rambunctious, head-butting, jumping, joy that is baby goats. In fact, "super cute" might just be the understatement of the year. It was impossible not to get caught up in the click clack of their little hooves as they romped around, sidestepping and leaping on and off things with such reckless abandon! These little, stocky, curious, loud-mouthed, boot-nibblers were hilarious, playful and gorgeous and they were EVERYWHERE. And when hungry? Forget about it - they became a blurry swarm of land-piranhas needing milk 3 times a day! I have never seen cuteness of this magnitude ever before in my life!

Coolest farm cat, EVER.

This is Boudin - at least I think he was named after the sausage - and he is, by far, one of the coolest cats I have ever met. He has no fear, tons of attitude, a purr as loud as a train and I think he will make a stellar goatherd one day! I know, I know, I've never heard of a cat herding goats before either, but this cat has mad skills, folks, mad skills on the field. You just have to see it to believe it. And who are we to say that a cat can't herd goats anyways? Just because one never has? Hee. Well, this crazy feline is certainly breaking down the notion that herding is just a dog's job, and I, for one, am all for it! And he's young yet - give him a bit of time and some training - I think we'll see great things from him.