Showing posts with label Napa Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Napa Valley. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Please Help Choose HopAlong's Thanksgiving Outfit

We went to Napa Premium Outlets today...



Craig went crazy and bought 2 jackets, 3 shirts, a pair of jeans, and shoes...



He did a little fashion show when we got home. It took me awhile to convince him that he would look better with his shirt tucked in. I don't know what it is with men in the UK and not tucking in their shirts. It was a real pet peeve of mine while I was there. Button down shirts should always be tucked in, it looks neater and sharper. Untucked button down shirt + beer belly = SLOB!

He looks quite good, I must say (thanks to my good taste..ahem). I do give him credit for the shoes though, he picked those out all by himself! Although, he can't decide what to wear for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday...I can't either!

Outfit #1: (Chocolate brown blazer, blue patterned shirt over white, jeans, brown shoes)


Outfit #2: (Chocolate Brown blazer, brown pin stripped shirt, jeans, brown shoes)


Outfit #3:(Navy blue velvet blazer, white pinstriped shirt, jeans, brown shoes)


Which Outfit Should HopAlong Wear for Thanksgiving Dinner?
Outfit 1
Outfit 2
Outfit 3
  
pollcode.com free polls

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Hedonism at its Best

G. and M. picked me up to go wine tasting in Napa Valley. They suggested a few wineries off the beaten path...

The first one was Darioush which looked like a mini palace of Persepolis. We tried some Shiraz here all the while M. was giving me a history lecture on Persepolis. Persepolis was the king of Persia.






The second winery, G. was totally excited for me to see, Sterling. She said the winery was hidden high up in the valley and we had to take a sky tram.





Once we got up to the winery, we took a tour and there were 5 tasting stations. Yes, FIVE! We tasted a pinot, sauvignon blanc, a merlot, a zinfindel, and a malvasia bianca (my new favorite!). The view of the valley was spectacular!

Intensely floral and aromatic! Amazing aromas of candied ginger, white flowers, white peach and honeysuckle. Slightly sweet with flavors of peach and pear, the wine is balanced by a spicy flavor of ginger. Rich and full bodied, this wine is a lovely pairing with Asian cuisine. Copy from Sterling. Photo courtesy of bongamom.




Mount St. Helena


Our last destination was Castello di Amorosa, which was a cute little castle on the other side of the valley. By the time we got there, they were closing but I took lovely pic TURES!



They filmed a scene for Disney's Bedtime Stories here




Our stomachs grumbled so we ate at a nearby five star restaurant, the In and Out in downtown Napa.

I had a protein style/animal style cheeseburger with fries. Protein style = no bun. Animal style = fried onions and special sauce. Mmmmm love In and Out!


The next morning I woke up with a splitting headache but it was all worth it!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Driving Through Wine Country (Long Post)



The weather was a gorgeous 75 degrees yesterday so we took a drive through Napa Valley, the Provence of California. The endless acres of vineyards with the valley as a backdrop against a pristine blue sky was absolutely stunning! Another reminder of how beautiful my hometown is, definitely one of the reasons why I will miss this place when I leave.

Our first stop was St. Helena...










Napa Valley Wine Train


Cute little houses along Main Street


The Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, the Harvard of culinary schools...









Vintage wine presses


Lecture theater


School supplies...





Uniform...





Our way back, we took a detour on a beautiful backcountry road which also happens to be the same road that the Zodiac murdered two people in 1968, to this day he still has not been caught. Skeery!

Lake Herman


If it weren't for the blue skies and sunshine, I could have sworn this was Norn Iron!


California Poppy surrounded by Blue Lupin. The California Poppy is the state flower and it is against the law to pick, dig up, or destroy. The California Poppy is also where The Golden Gate Bridge got it's name from. Before there was ever a bridge, the area where you sail into the bay was dubbed "the Golden Gate" by john fremont because the poppys were in full bloom and covering the hills on either side of what is now called the Marin headlands and the Presidio.


Grassy knoll dancing in the breeze




A video clip of our drive leaving wine country...