17th May 2015: Port drinking in New York City

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 23:34 Wed 21 Jan 2015

Details
Date: Sunday 17th May
Time: 5pm
Venue: Left Bank
Location: 117 Perry St, New York, NY 10014; between Hudson St & Greenwich St in the West Village

Provisional Guest List
djewesbury
SushiNorth
differentdave
Miguel Simoes
g-man

Non- guests
+2:
Rachel Brown
Conor Kneeshaw (nephew of Justin K)

The tasting has been simplified to a straight blind tasting with 7 attendees and no music. Bring a bottle, wrapped in foil.

The placemats (and parameters by which made).

Post by **DRT** » 00:30 Thu 22 Jan 2015

Is it available on Skype?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:39 Thu 22 Jan 2015

Perhaps.

Post by **DRT** » 01:03 Thu 22 Jan 2015

Perhaps I'm in.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 05:01 Thu 22 Jan 2015

Investigating. Might be possible to do a weekend in NYC.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 08:29 Thu 22 Jan 2015

If Glenn can contemplate travelling across the whole of the continental land mass to be there, I think the least you could do is fly over to join us Derek.

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 21:20 Fri 23 Jan 2015

I'll take the lead on setting something up, getting us a place, etc. Are there particular nights that you are Unavailable?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 21:47 Fri 23 Jan 2015

Hi Josh. No nights unavailable at present but I'll keep this thread updated on that score. Glenn, if you're serious about making the trip, what would work best? My trip is weekend to weekend so possibly not great in terms of a weekend tasting - but maybe Sunday 17th or Friday 22nd would work? The evening chosen will also affect corkage costs, I'm guessing.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:20 Fri 23 Jan 2015

Three attendees so far, all of whom have used the placemat software. Though I’d be willing to oblige, I expect not to.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:23 Fri 23 Jan 2015

Thanks Julian. We will do our best to make exuberant placemats that show off the capabilities of the software. Tastefully.

John M · Post by **John M** » 20:01 Sat 24 Jan 2015

I'm Interested...mid-May is often tough with Mother's Day and several Birthdays...but fully interested if I can swing it.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:35 Sat 24 Jan 2015

Do consider sending a PM to the group New York tasters.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 00:06 Sun 25 Jan 2015

DRT wrote:Perhaps I'm in.

I think it is the port which is putting him off. If it was just the atonal music...

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:08 Sun 25 Jan 2015

AHB wrote:
DRT wrote:Perhaps I'm in.
I think it is the port which is putting him off. If it was just the atonal music...

Listen buddy, you got somethin' to say about Boulez, you better say it to my face…

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:09 Sun 25 Jan 2015

John M wrote:I'm Interested...mid-May is often tough with Mother's Day and several Birthdays...but fully interested if I can swing it.

Great news John, will be good to see you.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:09 Sun 25 Jan 2015

jdaw1 wrote:Do consider sending a PM to the group New York tasters.

SushiNorth is on top of things.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 00:12 Sun 25 Jan 2015

The last concert I went to was a recital of an assortment of works by Debussy. The next concert tickets have just arrived through the post, for the screening of Breakfast at Tiffany's with the score played by the London Philarmonic.

You might spot from the clues that I am not an atonal man. There is a reason why atonal music does not top the classical charts.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:13 Sun 25 Jan 2015

The classical charts??? Oh dear oh dear. You'll be playing the violin in a wet t-shirt and calling yourself 'Bridgeman' next.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 00:16 Sun 25 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:The classical charts??? Oh dear oh dear. You'll be playing the violin in a wet t-shirt and calling yourself 'Bridgeman' next.

'cello please. The violin is a dreadful instrument. All screechy and waily.

Your post reminds me of the 'cellist's joke - what is the difference between a viola and a trampoline?

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 06:52 Sun 25 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:Glenn, if you're serious about making the trip, what would work best? My trip is weekend to weekend so possibly not great in terms of a weekend tasting - but maybe Sunday 17th or Friday 22nd would work? The evening chosen will also affect corkage costs, I'm guessing.

My trip would likely be a Wed-Sun or Thurs-Sun type of long weekend, so Friday 22nd would probably be best. Still in the investigation phase here.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 18:18 Sun 25 Jan 2015

[quote="In this thread, AHB"]
'cello please. The violin is a dreadful instrument. All screechy and waily.

Your post reminds me of the 'cellist's joke - what is the difference between a viola and a trampoline?[/quote]
Notwithstanding his failure to provide the punchline to this joke, I hold that Alex's apostrophes (denoting the French 'violoncello') are superfluous and do not relate to the word as it has developed in English, which is simply cello, with no additional punctuation necessary.

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:25 Sun 25 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:the word as it has developed in English, which is simply cello, with no additional punctuation necessary.

Mayhap he didn’t fancy the italic.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 18:27 Sun 25 Jan 2015

The italic is, as you well know, chosen to highlight the word without using any inverted commas or quotation marks, such as might cause confusion in the context given.

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 21:45 Tue 27 Jan 2015

As always, I will be far more likely to secure us a venue that can accommodate lots of bottles (at low/no corkage) if we don't aim for a friday or saturday evening. That said, I'll start with May 16th as our target date, but we may need to go with Thurs May 21st or Fri May 22nd as alternatives. Glenn, do you have a preference before I start calling around?

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 19:49 Wed 28 Jan 2015

SushiNorth wrote:As always, I will be far more likely to secure us a venue that can accommodate lots of bottles (at low/no corkage) if we don't aim for a friday or saturday evening. That said, I'll start with May 16th as our target date, but we may need to go with Thurs May 21st or Fri May 22nd as alternatives. Glenn, do you have a preference before I start calling around?

No preference, other than "not mid-week," which realistically means not Tuesday or Wednesday. For me to make the trip it will need to involve a weekend and not involve more than 2 days of vacation. A Tuesday tasting implies flying back to Seattle on Wednesday, but a Thursday tasting only implies flying to NYC on that same Thursday. That can be done.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:32 Wed 28 Jan 2015

Thanks Glenn. OK, I have a little more clarity in my plans. I think I will arrive in NYC lunchtime of Fri 16 May and depart on the evening of Sat 23 May. So any times in between suit me.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 21:44 Wed 28 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:Thanks Glenn. OK, I have a little more clarity in my plans. I think I will arrive in NYC lunchtime of Fri 16 May and depart on the evening of Sat 23 May. So any times in between suit me.

Sunday evening 18 May would be perfectly acceptable for me. I could arrange for my flights to be on Friday and Monday, thus satisfying the 2 days of vacation rule while still effectively retaining the weekend for touristy things in NYC with my wife and her brother.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:00 Wed 28 Jan 2015

Brilliant - Josh, where does that leave us?

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 22:10 Wed 28 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:Brilliant - Josh, where does that leave us?

Sunday is often a very good day to schedule a tasting

Let's aim for May 18.

John M · Post by **John M** » 13:46 Fri 30 Jan 2015

I believe May 18th is a Monday....if it's the 17th I am definitely out.

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 13:49 Fri 30 Jan 2015

John M wrote:I believe May 18th is a Monday....if it's the 17th I am definitely out.

You are right, Sunday is May 17 and that is the day we should aim for. What if it was during the day (like 2-6), instead of in the evening? Would that work for you?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 15:52 Fri 30 Jan 2015

Yes sorry - first post being corrected now.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 15:55 Fri 30 Jan 2015

I'm open to the idea of the afternoon, but what would we do afterwards?

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 16:02 Fri 30 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote:I'm open to the idea of the afternoon, but what would we do afterwards?

I was figuring we'd do tasting then early dinner. Currently looking at a steakhouse and an italian restaurant, will also try to find a contemporary american option.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 16:46 Fri 30 Jan 2015

SushiNorth wrote:
djewesbury wrote:I'm open to the idea of the afternoon, but what would we do afterwards?
I was figuring we'd do tasting then early dinner. Currently looking at a steakhouse and an italian restaurant, will also try to find a contemporary american option.

Everything after "steakhouse" is blurry and unfocused.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 17:40 Fri 30 Jan 2015

I am inclined to agree but would like to at least hear about the contemporary American option!

Post by **flash_uk** » 19:00 Fri 30 Jan 2015

djewesbury wrote: I am inclined to agree but would like to at least hear about the contemporary American option!

McDonalds

differentdave · Post by **differentdave** » 20:50 Fri 30 Jan 2015

I will do my best to attend. I will know shortly after date/time/location is finalized if I can attend or not. I can bring up 120 tasting glasses, some vintage port as well as tongs if need be.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:53 Fri 30 Jan 2015

differentdave wrote:I will do my best to attend. I will know shortly after date is finalized if I can attend or not. I can bring up 120 tasting glasses, some vintage port as well as tongs if need be.

You're in! This event is already looking rather nicely developed.
I'll update the first post.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:06 Thu 12 Feb 2015

Josh, Glenn, John - any thoughts on a theme yet? Are there any ports only available in the UK that you're curious about (perhaps BOBs)? I'm certainly curious about the Trader Joe QH11. With sufficient notice I can decide whether I'm sending bottles in advance from home or trying to secure them in the States (again, presumably a little in advance).
I'm also wondering what merchants I should visit when I'm in NYC.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 23:38 Thu 12 Feb 2015

djewesbury wrote:Josh, Glenn, John - any thoughts on a theme yet? Are there any ports only available in the UK that you're curious about (perhaps BOBs)? I'm certainly curious about the Trader Joe QH11. With sufficient notice I can decide whether I'm sending bottles in advance from home or trying to secure them in the States (again, presumably a little in advance).
I'm also wondering what merchants I should visit when I'm in NYC.

To keep with the atonal music theme, none of our bottles should match in any way.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 23:46 Thu 12 Feb 2015

Glenn E. wrote: To keep with the atonal music theme, none of our bottles should match in any way.

Ah, that's perfect. Then we should declare soon.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 04:39 Fri 13 Feb 2015

djewesbury wrote:
Glenn E. wrote: To keep with the atonal music theme, none of our bottles should match in any way.
Ah, that's perfect. Then we should declare soon.

I won't know until at least next week, and likely not until the first week of March whether or not I can make it. Looking good for now, but I just can't say for certain yet.

Miguel Simoes · Post by **Miguel Simoes** » 14:22 Sat 21 Feb 2015

If spots still available pls count me in!
V much looking forward to drinking wonderful port in great company.

Happy to contribute anything I own except the 1950s (will be drunk at my boy's 1st bday celebration). Am msimoes on cellartracker - dont have a ton of stuff but such is life.

Disclaimer... wife will be 2 weeks away from her due date at that point. I may not be able to make it last minute, perhaps best to count me in as likely and if spots run out I'll just sit it out.

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 14:19 Tue 24 Mar 2015

All -- sorry for the radio silence; in the midst of a big shift @ home but will tune back in shortly w/ details.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 14:24 Tue 24 Mar 2015

SushiNorth wrote:All -- sorry for the radio silence; in the midst of a big shift @ home but will tune back in shortly w/ details.

Great - no problem Josh, hope it's all going smoothly, and looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Daniel

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 03:19 Sun 29 Mar 2015

Sunday, May 17 is now looking very promising. We don't have plane tickets yet, but that's really the only thing that's preventing me from being 100%.

Do we wish to co-ordinate our atonal Ports, or simply bring blind and see what happens?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 08:48 Sun 29 Mar 2015

I'm still up for a theme if anybody else has one.

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 13:03 Sun 29 Mar 2015

Just to confirm, the preference is still Steakhouse?

I'll throw some themes out here this week: I'm packing up the port cellar (we're moving) so it's a great opportunity to pick a couple of "I have one of these?" ports

SushiNorth · Post by **SushiNorth** » 22:03 Tue 07 Apr 2015

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

As i'm busy packing port tonight and tomorrow, i'll set a few bottles aside, but input would be most welcome.