Staying on the wine theme, congrats are in order for John and
Carolyn Aver, owners of the boutique Aver Family Vineyards which is
across the way from Jason-Stephens Winery on the beautiful Gilroy
hillsides. Double congrats, actually
Nice Post of the Week on our Web site from Liz Garcia after the story and video on Campus Supervisor Pete Garcia’s retirement from Mt. Madonna Continuation High School Friday. Pete received a spiffy plaque, heartfelt accolades from students and staff and this post from his daughter, “Love my Daddy!!! I’m so proud of him!!,” she wrote. That’s nice, all the way around.
Dad is going to morph into “Pops” for me when “junior” is born this April, making me a grandpa. I’m borrowing the moniker from the Hemeon grandchildren who call their family’s patriarch “Pops” (as in Sugar Pops are tops). Sounds good to me, hopefully “junior” who is kicking up a storm will agree.
Happily agree to patronize the downtown bookstore, Garlic City Books, expected to open on Friday, Feb. 12 downtown on the Monterey Street corner just up from OD’s Kitchen. What makes it even cooler is that the bookstore is going to have an ice cream counter inside – perfect for ducking in on those hot summer days after some book browsing. A big pre-welcome to Gilroy for owner Brad Jones, who also operates Booksmart in Morgan Hill. It’s great to have your business here and in our downtown.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a wine bar/shop, with all our up-and-coming local vintages available? Miss Jenny and I had fun at D’Vine Jazz & Wine on Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill last Friday. First time there for an evening out. Place was packed, music enjoyable and the wines, well, divine. Ran into past Garlic Prez Kirsten Carr and Ann Marie Guinn, daughter of Assistant Garlic Festival Director Joann Kessler, who threw themselves a joint birthday bash. Ideal spot for an adult celebration … now wouldn’t Station 55 in downtown Gilroy make a cool jazzy wine bar with great munchies from the brick oven?
Staying on the wine theme, congrats are in order for John and Carolyn Aver, owners of the boutique Aver Family Vineyards which is across the way from Jason-Stephens Winery on the beautiful Gilroy hillsides. Double congrats, actually … the Avers are celebrating a first – having one of their wines placed on a restaurant list – and earning two high honors at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, a bronze for their 2006 Central Coast Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon and a silver for their beautifully sinuous Rhone style blend which they labeled “Hope” after watching the Hummingbird Fire roar toward their beloved vines in 2008. Firefighters saved the day, and the carefully tended vines yielded “Hope,” a scrumptious spicy blend alive with flavor. The Petite Sirah welcomes the Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache grapes the same way John and Carolyn welcome guests to the vineyard – with great enthusiasm and passion. Taste their wine at Rosy’s at the Beach in Morgan Hill, and hint, hint … now would be a good time to get in on the ground floor and join the Aver Family Vineyard wine club. This is an outstanding local boutique winery rapidly coming of age and the wine supply will be limited.
No limits to the amount of perfect polenta available at the Italian Catholic Federation’s annual Polenta Dinner Saturday at St. Mary’s on First St. Just follow your nose to dinner served from 6 to 7 p.m. Call Kathy Santos, 842-8547, for details. Take out is available and I’d suggest taking an extra plate or two home to refrigerate and enjoy during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Super prediction: Saints over the Colts, 33-28. Went to New Orleans for Super Bowl XXIV with my Dad and witnessed the 49ers’ relentless 55-10 victory over Denver … 55 points the most ever scored by one team, 45-point margin of victory largest ever … ah, glory days. Quite a party on Bourbon Street afterward, can hardly imagine what it will be like if the Saints do, in fact and at long last, go marching in …
Should the city go marching in and fine the vacant building owners downtown who won’t make their buildings earthquake safe? Fascinated by the closeness of the vote (52% to 48% yes) in our Web poll this week. Yes, I know the economy stinks, but cajoling, incentives, pleading communication, etc. has not worked in too many cases. I’m for one more round of incentives with a mandatory cut-off date followed by mandatory escalating fines.
Not fine with me that there seems to be trouble getting enough candidates to apply to become our sister city representative in Takko-Machi, Japan, and to become the Garlic Festival Queen. Young people interested in arranging international travel, teaching English and American culture and representing Gilroy abroad should be lining up for the experience of a lifetime in Japan. Send an email to Patrick Foley for details at Ta******@***il.com. For Garlic Queen details just head to the great, the one, the only Gilroy Garlic Festival’s web site.
Within sight on my desk is a “Thank you Gilroy Dispatch” spiral book of letters from the St. Mary School 8th grade Sea Monsters. Kind and well-written letters adorn the inside, I particularly liked this from Rylie Ellis: “Your paper is something my Dad uses to relax with. He reads it while he’s sitting on the porch …” and this from Clara: “I’m in charge of The Spirit of St. Mary, my school’s student-run newsletter … I love to read and am inspired by your newspaper.”
On that note, enjoy the weekend!
Reach Mark Derry at md****@************ch.com
