Joseph Bembry 
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9437
 | | 09-03-2003 12:18 AM |
| Mrs. jb asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday last night. Hadn't really thought about it. Where would you go?
Travelling to CA/Napa is out. The fact that I've been there twice this year along with money constraints take that out of the running. A day trip to another state is possible. Also, maybe a special dinner in NYC where I order a special bottle without a cross-look is possible. What would you go for?
jb | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 09-03-2003 12:36 AM |
| Go to Veritas and get something serious. Food is not the top echelon but still very good and the wine list has multiple somethings for everyone. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts: 307
| | 09-03-2003 12:48 AM |
| i'd go for the local dinner with a great bottle. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13785
| | 09-03-2003 12:48 AM |
| I'll second Veritas. The food is not the thing at center stage, the wine is. The food is still really good and the atmosphere is pretty kewl too. Oh and they have a REALLY good wine list. If I ever win the lottery, we're having a VC party there.  | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts: 307
| | 09-03-2003 12:50 AM |
| tj,
count me in!!!! | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Master of Wine
Posts: 10199
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Bradley Molzen
VinoCellar.com Admin
Bayonne, NJ
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5080
| | 09-03-2003 01:32 AM |
| She likes elbows that much? | | | If you drink wine, you get smarter.... | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 09-03-2003 01:35 AM |
| Spend the night in a nice hotel and have room service. | | | |
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Bradley Molzen
VinoCellar.com Admin
Bayonne, NJ
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5080
| | 09-03-2003 01:43 AM |
| ahh yea.. the new sex casino in AC | | | If you drink wine, you get smarter.... | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12714
| | 09-03-2003 01:54 AM |
| Option 1: Spend a day in NYC (show, dinner & vino @ a nice restaurant, hotel & the works).
Option 1a: Helicopter ride around Manhattan. A friend did it. Loved it. Pricey. Of course, 2 key buildings are missing now  . And, whatever you do, do not take the boat ride. A waste of money. I hated it. Food is beyond "inedible".
Option 1b: Stay @ The Plaza. On sundays, very nice Breakfast Buffet. Don't think of it as a Buffet. I do not like Buffets either. This Buffet is very good. It's the Plaza. 'Nuff said. Everything they do is Class.
Option 2 (the Day Trip-option): Upstate NYC for a couple of days over the weekend. Lots of nice spas there. We loved it. Relaxing, nice, all that good stuff. Nice get away from the Metro-area. | | | |
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Seek
Upstate NY
Wine Thief
Posts: 2772
| | 09-03-2003 02:30 AM |
| I would opt for a trip to Upstate NY, say Saratoga Springs, to get away from people and traffic. Of course I would try to make time as well to visit some nearby forumites for dinner and wine. | | | |
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ttepper
Wine Thief
Posts: 2533
| | 09-03-2003 02:33 AM |
| Going to a special dinner in NYC is always great...there are many places to choose from....If you want to go to a place with good food and an unreal wine list (probably the best priced list in town) go to Bayards. You can view the list on the web You can come up to the Berkshires for a romantic weekend...There are some very good places to eat, all with great wine lists...Lots of things to do...We can bring in a masseuse (sp?). One of the best spa's on the East Coast is in the area...I know a nice place to stay Newport RI is a great place to visit...If you go during a weekend its kinda busy but still a great time...Castle Hill Inn is the best place I've stayed at...White Horse Tavern is very romantic and is my favorite place to eat... Or you can have your VC buddies arrange a special b-day party...With or without significant others... | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 09-03-2003 02:41 AM |
| Lots of good suggestions. I'd take a bottle or two of my best to a place where I'm known (No, not the county jail) and celebrate with a great meal. The food is certainly important, but the wine will shine. Whatever you do, have a happy birthday. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 09-03-2003 03:12 AM |
| You could send her to Victoria's Secret and get something for you, so to speak. | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Master of Wine
Posts: 10199
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Budman
Philly Suburbs
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 23705
| | 09-03-2003 09:42 AM |
| Uh... jb, I can't top any of these (mostly) excellent suggestions.
Happy upcoming b-day, whatever you decide to do! | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9437
| | 09-03-2003 11:28 AM |
| Wow, lots of great suggestions.
If I were to go NYC, I think Veritas would be an excellent choice. Maybe order a DRC from an off year (if there is such a thing with DRC)
If I were to go local, I will be at Green Gables
If I were to go non local, the Berkshires of Saratoga are great ideas. I've never been to either.
If I were to go T-Bird, I think it would be more fun than anything!
I'll keep you posted. BTW, I'd look pretty good in thigh highs...   
to the Chelsea crowd anyway.
jb | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 09-03-2003 03:43 PM |
| Quote:
Wow, lots of great suggestions.
If I were to go NYC, I think Veritas would be an excellent choice. Maybe order a DRC from an off year (if there is such a thing with DRC)
jb
JB, yes there are off years for DRC, though not so much lately. But some years are still much better than others.Personally I'd try something from the late 80's an 88, or 89 if you really want to try a DRC. | | | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1124
| | 09-03-2003 05:03 PM |
| Have people found that it is more and more difficult to achieve the WOW factor with restaurants, etc. ? I guess when you add in those bottles you wouldn't order otherwise, it kicks it up a bit, but what if your expectations for that bottle were so high, and it didn't meet your expectations ?
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Lee Ann
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1232
| | 09-03-2003 06:04 PM |
| JB- Happy B-Day!!
What about Cape May? (or is it too close to LBI?) | | | |
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