Fri, November 7, 2008 8 p.m.

This Spring LRSmedia kicks off a 10-city LEGENDS OF JAZZ Tour Presented by AARP, Legendary jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck , Grammy Award-winning clarinetist and saxophonist and LEGENDS OF JAZZ guest Paquito D’Rivera, Grammy-nominated vocalist and LEGENDS OF JAZZ guest Kurt Elling and the world’s premier contemporary jazz all-star group Fourplay,  featuring Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason. .  Experience LEGENDS OF JAZZ live in concert!

 More Here!

Hey Chicago, listen up! If you live in the Windy City and you love wine — you know who you are — then there’s someplace you better be on November 15th.

So on Saturday November 15th at 1:00 PM, if you call yourself a wine lover you should probably be standing on Navy Pier with a ticket in hand for Chicago Pinot Days. While the event is not as large as the one put on in San Francisco, it represents an opportunity for Illinois wine lovers to taste a lot of wines that they may not ordinarily have access to.

Of course, if you’re a hardcore wine lover, you may want to participate in more than the Saturday Grand Tasting. Friday night features a winemakers’ dinner at Bin36. Check out the event web site for more information on the dinner and other activities.

Chicago Pinot Days 2008 Grand Tasting
Saturday, November 15, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

More Here!

With its beautiful country club atmosphere, Pocono Palace combines an endless array of activities and sports with the ultimate accommodations - our unique and famous Roman Tower and Fantasy Apple suites (exclusive to Pocono Palace).

Couples enthusiastic about sports and passionate about each other find what they’re looking for at Pocono Palace Resort. The resort is ideally located in the Pocono Mountains near Marshall Creek, PA.

Winter offers snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and many other activities and sports to keep you active throughout your stay. Escaping in the summer? Serve it up on the tennis courts, or head down to the lake for a speedboat or paddleboat ride, waterskiing or fishing.

Pocono Palace Resort

Definitely mood music. What mood? I’ll let you decide………Omar Akram encourages listeners to come with him on an exotic Secret Journey, an appropriate title for his new album since Akram’s father was a United Nations Diplomat and the family lived in such diverse locales as the U.S., France, Cuba, Afghanistan and the Czech Republic. On this, his third CD for Real Music, strong melodies are presented within tapestry-like arrangements, Omar’s acoustic grand piano interwoven with acoustic guitar, violin, duduk, flute and ethnic percussion, played by a group of world class musicians.

“After Omar’s last release “Free as a Bird” this musician became a force to be reckoned with. “Secret Journey” gives us the one- two combination hit that reflects a musician that is in full stride creating compositions laced with unbridled passion and poised grace. Rooted in world themes layered in smooth jazz and new age influences, Omar’s music has become distinct yet highly accessible that this album has all the ingredients to be not only a chart topper but also a critic’s darling.”

Michael Debbage, Solo piano publications.

Find your mood here.

With the fall weather in tow and the summer months behind us. I tried to find some things that are great in a pot and warming to the body, soul and spirit. What did I come up with? Soups, Chowders, Crock Pot specials and my favorite, what I lovingly refer to as, Pressure Cooker wonders. So I thought we’d start here with this great chowder. Enjoy! 

Cheddar, Corn and Potato Chowder

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter*
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon flour*
32 ounces vegetable broth*
2 1/2 cup diced Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 large)
2 cups frozen yellow corn*
2/3 cup milk*
1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese*
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of cayenne pepper (garnish)
Chopped parsley (garnish)

Instructions

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter and sauté onion about 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in flour, coating the onion. Add broth and bring to a boil, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat, add potatoes and simmer 20 minutes until tender. Slightly mash potatoes in soup, then stir in corn and milk. Cook another 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish, if desired.

Riesling  

Aromas lean towards the fruity-side with apple, peach and pear standing at the forefront mixed with delicate floral undertones. Rieslings tend to pick up flavoring from the mineral content in the soils they are grown in, making it common for hints of slate or stone to make their way into the aroma and flavor of Riesling wines.

SCARLETT BLOOM
The Chef: Julie Rainer of Flatiron Lounge

Servings
One Drink

 

Ingredients
2 oz. tea-infused Miller’s Gin 
3/4 oz. South African youngberry juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 bar spoon simple syrup
3/4 oz. champagne

Instructions
Pour the first four ingredients into a martini glass and add the champagne.

Price: $80.00

This is their big-gun for the vintage — WS 94 points, with these notes: “Silky, refined and unexpectedly generous on the finish, this sashays over the palate with lots in reserve. Starts with pretty currant and blackberry fruit, then deepens with hints of cream, slate and chalk notes, all the while retaining a sense of sweetness and elegance. Drink now through 2015. Only 400 cases made.

Cheers to you!

The oldest tobacco store in Arizona, Ford & Haig - the Tobacconist, has been doing business for over forty years.

Ford and Haig was opened by John Ford and his wife. The story is that Mrs. Ford’s maiden name was Hoag, but the Fords named the store Ford and Haig because it sounded more “British”. 

Famous people have always seemed to be associated with the shop.  During Spring Training, professional baseball players can be seen going in and out of the old shop front, daily. 

Bill Cosby used to buy cigars and pipe tobacco there as well.  Even the non-smoking Dick Van Dyke used to drop in on occasion just to hang out.  Milton Berle bought cigars there, both in person, and by mail.  One of  “Uncle Milty’s” sons was even employed there, for about three years in the nineties. 

 

Ford and Haig
7070 Fifth Ave
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
480-946-0608

Oct. 25, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Amarone 

Deep ruby red with an aroma of dried cherry, cinnamon, sage, tar and oak. Medium-full with excellent concentration. Very generous mid-palate, this has layers of flavor that coat the palate. Lengthy, beautifully balanced finish with elegant tannins and lively acidity. This is a gorgeous Amarone - power, spice, earth and finesse. Drinking beautifully now, this will keep for another 5-7 years - maybe longer.

 

Gorgonzola

Gorgonzola is a traditional, creamery and co-operative, blue cheese. The greenish-blue penicillin mould imparts a sharp, spicy flavor and provides an excellent contrast to the rich, creamy cheese. Gorgonzola is made in the northern Italian village, according to which the cheese has its name, either from unpasteurized or pasteurized milk to which the mould is added. At about four weeks the cheeses are pierced with thick needles to encourage the spread of the mould. Gorgonzola ripens in three to six months. The cheese is usually wrapped in foil to keep it moist. Its color ranges from white to straw-yellow with an unmistakable marbled green or bluish-green mould. The taste ranges from mild to sharp, depending on age. Gorgonzola is also excellent in salads and dips.