As long as we're all giving thanks tonight, it's important to remember to give thought.
Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson died yesterday. I never met Peter, never even "saw" him. But I sure did listen to his work. Played the hell out of it on the radio in the mid-80s, too. From his formative roles in Throbbing Gristle, to Psychic TV, to Coil, Christopherson was instrumental in producing some of the most influential pieces of industrial, electronic and trance music of the late 1970s through the mid '80s. Looking back, it might be all too facile to write off the canon of those bands as oh so much pretentious oozing. To each one's own, though, as I'd counter that all three of those bands were at the forefront of their respective moments, releasing music that got under one's fingernails and invaded the listener's thoughts then, and that continues to stand as meaningful, individualistic and anachronistic thirty years later.
Coil's 1984 12-inch single "Panic," along with its B-side cover of "Tainted Love," was among the first ever (if not the first ever) records released specifically to benefit HIV/AIDS programs. All profits from the sale of the single were donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust. The video for "Tainted Love," directed by Peter Christopherson, now resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Watch it. Like it or not, give a thought tonight to the memory of the man who made it. And going forward from Thanksgiving toward the year-end holidays, give thought to making a difference, or simply making a contribution, to a local charity, be it for HIV/AIDS or whatever cause is most meaningful to you.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Showing posts with label Charitable Giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charitable Giving. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wine on the Farm
Just a quick post today, as I'll shortly be heading out the door to pour wine at a benefit event for the Oakmont Farmers Market. Straight up, I should tell you that I have a proprietary interest in the market. First of all, it's in my own home town and, during the six-month growing season in this part of the world, I do my best to buy just about all of my fresh groceries at the market. Second, I'm a member of the all-volunteer Board of Directors that oversees the operations of the market, which is a 501c3 non-profit organization.The main point of today's event is to raise funds for the educational and community development efforts of the market; we do try to be much more than just a place to buy and sell meat and veggies. The main point of my pouring session, aside from abetting our attendees in the enjoyment of good wine, will be to build and reinforce the idea that real wine, honest wine, is first and foremost and agricultural product. Produce. So while I'm sure that questions about things such as sulfites, corks and all of the other usual suspects will arise, I hope to share a little enlightenment on the differences between small farm wine growing and industrial wine making, and on the idea of thinking about wine as food rather than wine as a lifestyle beverage.
For regular readers here, the list of wines I'll be pouring should come as no surprise. They're all things I drink and enjoy on a regular basis, and they all come from vignerons whose work I deeply respect. Should you care to follow along in practice or in spirit, here's today's line-up:
- Crémant d'Alsace, Domaine Barmès-Buecher 2007
- Touraine Sauvignon "Le Petiot," Domaine Ricard 2009
- Rheinhessen Riesling QbA trocken, Weingut Keller 2008
- Chinon "Les Graves," Domaine Fabrice Gasnier 2008
- Côtes-du-Rhône "Bout d'Zan," Mas de Libian (Hélène Thibon) 2008
- Dolcetto d'Alba, GD Vajra 2008
Wish me luck, y'all.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Canine Partners For Life 12th Annual Wine Auction: This Saturday Night
For the third time in the last four years, I’ll be pouring wine and then serving as emcee and co-auctioneer at the annual wine auction and dinner benefiting Canine Partners for Life (CPL). This year's event, scheduled for this Saturday night, April 10, 2010, marks the 12th year of the event.Canine Partners for Life, by the way, is a Delaware Valley-based non-profit organization working to better the lives of others. In their own words:
As a dog owner (and wine lover), I've found it pretty much impossible to turn down CPL's request for help over the last several years. Actually, I’m proud to work with an organization that makes such a direct impact on the quality of life of their recipients. And as an owner of two lovable but strongly willful, personality-rich dogs, I've found an unending sense of admiration for the incredible degree of training CPL puts into their canine workforce before placing their dogs with their lifetime partners."Canine Partners For Life (CPL) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to training service dogs, home companion dogs, and residential companion dogs to assist individuals who have a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities. Based in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, CPL places service dogs nationwide.
Each CPL dog receives a comprehensive and customized training program to meet the specific needs of their human partner. Depending on the assigned program, the dog will receive up to two years of training before being trained to work with its person. CPL has one of the strongest follow-up programs in the industry to ensure the success of each team throughout the lifetime of the partnership."
If you're still in the hunt for something to do this Saturday, and you'd like to help support a great, local charitable organization, come on out to the auction. Tickets can still be purchased by calling CPL directly at (610) 869-4902, extension 214.
If you're unable to attend on Saturday but would still like to help a great cause, donations are always welcome.
The event details:
Canine Partners For Life
12th Annual Wine Auction
Saturday, April 10, 2010
From 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
at Harry's Savoy Grill & Ballroom
2020 Naamans Road
Wilmington, DE 19810
Tickets are $125 per/person ($50 of which is tax deductible).
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Benefit for Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts at Chambers Street Wines Today
From the much better late than never department...
The fine folks at Chambers Street Wines and Louis/Dressner Selections are holding a charitable tasting today, January 16, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at CSW in NYC. All funds will go to Partners in Health to aid in relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. In their own words:
This is an easy way to do your part to support those suffering from the natural disaster in Haiti. And if you can make it to the tasting in person, your efforts will be rewarded with what I'm sure will be some pretty tasty vino.
Chambers Street Wines
148 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-227-1434
The fine folks at Chambers Street Wines and Louis/Dressner Selections are holding a charitable tasting today, January 16, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at CSW in NYC. All funds will go to Partners in Health to aid in relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. In their own words:
"Join the staff of CSW and Louis/Dressner Selections for a benefit tasting of some of the most interesting wines in our inventory. Suggested donations of $10 (or more) will go directly to pih.org, Partners in Health. They're organizing volunteer medical personnel and sending needed supplies. Chambers Street Wines, Louis/Dressner Selections and Douglas Polaner Selections will match your donations up to a total of $1,000 each. Other companies sponsoring the event and making generous contributions include Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, David Bowler Wines and Michael Skurnik Wines. Taste a great selection of wines (not for sale) and help respond to this crisis. If you can't come, please go to pih.org to make your donation. Their website has updates on the situation and information about their work. We will have forms from Partners in Health enabling your donation by credit card to be tax-deductible."
This is an easy way to do your part to support those suffering from the natural disaster in Haiti. And if you can make it to the tasting in person, your efforts will be rewarded with what I'm sure will be some pretty tasty vino.
Chambers Street Wines
148 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-227-1434
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Twestival Comes to Town
In the spirit of thinking globally and acting locally, a number of concerned global citizens are drawing on the strengths and popularity of social networking to try to make a difference in the lives of others. This Thursday, February 12, 2009, over 160 “Twestivals” will be held around the world, bringing together groups of “Twitterers” (yes, I’m on Twitter, though I’m still not sure I totally embrace it…) to have fun while also helping a good cause. And that’s something I think we can all embrace. Check out the main Twestival page for more info and for a list of the worldwide venues.
I would never have heard of the whole Twestival thing in the first place if not for the enthusiastic organizational efforts of Serge Lescouarnec, aka Serge the Concierge, who has quickly put together the New Jersey Metro event in Montclair, NJ. On my own local level, The Philly Twest is happening at The Get Happy Pub (509-511 S 2nd Street).
Food, beer, wine and raffle prizes have been donated by local businesses, and you’ll finally have a chance to meet some of those friends you’ve never really met. Admission costs and all other proceeds will benefit Charity: Water – a global non-profit organization dedicated to providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
I would never have heard of the whole Twestival thing in the first place if not for the enthusiastic organizational efforts of Serge Lescouarnec, aka Serge the Concierge, who has quickly put together the New Jersey Metro event in Montclair, NJ. On my own local level, The Philly Twest is happening at The Get Happy Pub (509-511 S 2nd Street).
Food, beer, wine and raffle prizes have been donated by local businesses, and you’ll finally have a chance to meet some of those friends you’ve never really met. Admission costs and all other proceeds will benefit Charity: Water – a global non-profit organization dedicated to providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Menu for Hope V: ‘Tis the Season to Make a Difference
A few people have asked me why I didn’t participate in this year’s edition of A Menu for Hope. Truth is, as lame an excuse as it is, the event snuck up on me during the thick of the seasonal crunch and I just didn’t have the wherewithal to put everything together in time. Add to that the fact that I’ve been a holiday season slacker this year – I’m only now doing my shopping, all of it on-line – and you’ve got the perfect recipe for non-participation. My absence aside, I’m confident that A Menu for Hope, now in its fifth year, will continue to build on the success of years past. Toward that end, I’d like to encourage each and every one of you who visit here to visit the official Menu for Hope host sites and to consider making a difference in this year’s program. For every ten bucks you donate, you’ll get a chance to win one of the many great prizes that have been donated by restaurants, wineries and some of my fellow food and wine bloggers from around the world.
As always, A Menu for Hope’s creator Pim Techamuanvivit is leading the drive. You’ll find a full listing of all of the raffle prizes up for grabs at her blog, Chez Pim. If you’d prefer to narrow things right down to the wine-specific options, you can visit Vinography, where Alder Yarrow is once again coordinating the vinous contributions to A Menu for Hope.
Photo courtesy of Chez Pim.All proceeds from this year’s A Menu for Hope will once again be managed through the United Nations World Food Programme and will be targeted directly toward helping schoolchildren and the agricultural economy in rural Lesotho, Africa. In Pim’s own words, the contributions from last year’s program,
“Bought 388,000 meals in Lesotho schools, which fed over 19,000 poor hungry children with school meals for a whole month. The children received food in primary schools across the remote mountainous areas of Lesotho, which are the poorest and hungriest parts of the country.
Some of the money was used to buy food from local small scale farmers practicing sustainable farming methods in remote areas, providing them with guaranteed market for their products.”
My recommendations? Give generously this year. And give often. Or just give what you can. Pick a prize that’s not super high profile (but that appeals to you, of course) and you’ll exponentially increase your odds of winning something cool in the course of doing a good deed. This year’s program ends on Wednesday, December 24, so get moving. Every $10 makes a difference.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Dining Out For Life
Like many other bloggers I presume, press releases and event announcements roll into my in-box on a pretty regular basis. I could hardly post about all of them without turning MFWT into a public PR shill machine. However, once in a while, an announcement comes through the wire that not only ties in to the core topics here – wine and food – but also represents a great cause.
Dining Out For Life is one such event. Next Thursday, May 1, 2008, over 200 dining establishments in the greater Philadelphia area will be participating in this annual, one-night charitable dining extravaganza. Each participating restaurant will donate 33% of your total bill to Action Aids, an organization that leads the local fight against HIV and AIDS.
Check out the list of participating restaurants. Many are offering both lunch and dinner as part of the event. It can be a busy night out but it’s well worth joining the crowds, as you can enjoy a great meal and make a difference in people’s lives at the same time.
Dining Out For Life is one such event. Next Thursday, May 1, 2008, over 200 dining establishments in the greater Philadelphia area will be participating in this annual, one-night charitable dining extravaganza. Each participating restaurant will donate 33% of your total bill to Action Aids, an organization that leads the local fight against HIV and AIDS.
Check out the list of participating restaurants. Many are offering both lunch and dinner as part of the event. It can be a busy night out but it’s well worth joining the crowds, as you can enjoy a great meal and make a difference in people’s lives at the same time.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Pouring for a Good Cause
When a good friend asked a couple of months back if I'd like to help out with a wine dinner at which he'd be cooking I just shrugged and said, "Sure." I figured it would be a good opportunity to hang out and pitch in with a little help. As it turned out, I was able to help more than just him. In discussing details prior to the event this weekend, I learned that I'd signed on to donate my services as sommelier for a private wine dinner benefiting Meals On Wheels Delaware. Why not? Meals On Wheels is a great cause. I've been involved with their Evening With The Masters event in the past via my day job, but that's a large, grand tasting gala and wine auction. This was an intimate dinner for 20, held at the home of the event's hosts and featuring wines donated from their private cellar.
My duties for the evening - extracting old corks, decanting, pouring, tending to guests’ needs, etc. - prevented me from taking notes. However, I did manage, discretely I hope, to snap a few photos at the end of the evening. And I tried my best to retain some rudimentary impressions of the wines.
Champagne "Dom Perignon," Moët et Chandon 1990
All bottles were consistently fresh and in fine shape, with excellent mousse retention. Cremini mushroom, lightly toasted croissant and a whiff of sulfur on the nose. Sweet front palate attack, followed by lime flesh, melon and honeysuckle notes. Drinking well. 12.5% alcohol.
Napa Valley Chardonnay "Library Selection," Trefethen Vineyards 1985
Trefethen often holds back some of their estate wines for later release, allowing the wines to develop some bottle age before reaching their customers. The 1985 Chardonnay was re-released as a “Library Selection” in 1992. The five bottles I opened had been resting in our hosts’ cellar ever since. One was corked, one was madeirized but the other three were in great shape – still fresh and alive, reflecting the relatively minimalist approach in the Trefethen cellars. It’s not that the wine was terribly complex, more that it was eye opening for so many of the guests to taste a 22 year-old California white that was still in great shape. Slightly coppery robe. Quarzite minerality, crisp Bartlett pear fruit and still crunchy acidity. 13% alcohol.
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 1990 and Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes," Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 1990
In a stacked field, these were the wines of the night. The Latricières was the planned pour. As I opened the wines, I was focused more on gentle handling and dealing with the uniformly crumbly corks. So it wasn’t until I taste tested each bottle that I noticed that one was significantly different. The Latricières was lacy and perfumed with dried wild red berry fruit and feminine sous-bois aromas. Lightly silky tannins and well-balanced acidity carried the same flavors through to the mouth. When I got to bottle three, suddenly there was black fruit, darker, richer earth and much more substantial tannic structure – not tight but muscular – along with a much more noticeable oak influence. I looked down and realized there was a stray bottle of Chambertin “Vieilles Vignes” in the mix. I wasn’t complaining about the little complication it added to service, as both wines were rare treats to taste and, in spite of the tired corks, in solid condition. Both 13% alcohol.
Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, Château Cheval Blanc 1983 (from Imperial)
The Crown Royal cradle (in the picture, at left) came in handy for getting this six-liter baby started into decanters. Lovely, developed Cabernet Franc driven nose, with sweet red currant fruit dancing with loamy, decaying leaves. Very supple, with elegant, restrained tannins. Lots of bottle bouquet and drinking perfectly, helped along no doubt by the super-sized format. Classic old school labeling: 11-14% alcohol. I’d put it at 12.5-13 based on tasting.
Pessac-Léognan, Château La Mission Haut Brion 1989
As tightly wound and ungiving as 18 year-old wine gets. Muted aromatics are clearly of Left Bank cab, with a gravelly, sinewy black cassis and graphite profile. But this is still as clamped down as a closed bear trap. A decent foil to the beef course with which it was paired but, compared to the rest of the wines of the evening, nowhere near ready to drink. Maybe it will be interesting in another 18 years but its total reticence now makes me wonder. 13% alcohol.
Sauternes Premier Cru Classé, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1990
Still very young but drinking quite nicely, with typical metallic, apricot and bittersweet orange marmalade notes allied to solid concentration and steely acidity. Hides its alcohol well. A lovely showing and fitting end to the evening. 14.5% alcohol.
My duties for the evening - extracting old corks, decanting, pouring, tending to guests’ needs, etc. - prevented me from taking notes. However, I did manage, discretely I hope, to snap a few photos at the end of the evening. And I tried my best to retain some rudimentary impressions of the wines.
Champagne "Dom Perignon," Moët et Chandon 1990
All bottles were consistently fresh and in fine shape, with excellent mousse retention. Cremini mushroom, lightly toasted croissant and a whiff of sulfur on the nose. Sweet front palate attack, followed by lime flesh, melon and honeysuckle notes. Drinking well. 12.5% alcohol.
Napa Valley Chardonnay "Library Selection," Trefethen Vineyards 1985
Trefethen often holds back some of their estate wines for later release, allowing the wines to develop some bottle age before reaching their customers. The 1985 Chardonnay was re-released as a “Library Selection” in 1992. The five bottles I opened had been resting in our hosts’ cellar ever since. One was corked, one was madeirized but the other three were in great shape – still fresh and alive, reflecting the relatively minimalist approach in the Trefethen cellars. It’s not that the wine was terribly complex, more that it was eye opening for so many of the guests to taste a 22 year-old California white that was still in great shape. Slightly coppery robe. Quarzite minerality, crisp Bartlett pear fruit and still crunchy acidity. 13% alcohol.
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 1990 and Chambertin Grand Cru "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes," Domaine Rossignol-Trapet 1990
In a stacked field, these were the wines of the night. The Latricières was the planned pour. As I opened the wines, I was focused more on gentle handling and dealing with the uniformly crumbly corks. So it wasn’t until I taste tested each bottle that I noticed that one was significantly different. The Latricières was lacy and perfumed with dried wild red berry fruit and feminine sous-bois aromas. Lightly silky tannins and well-balanced acidity carried the same flavors through to the mouth. When I got to bottle three, suddenly there was black fruit, darker, richer earth and much more substantial tannic structure – not tight but muscular – along with a much more noticeable oak influence. I looked down and realized there was a stray bottle of Chambertin “Vieilles Vignes” in the mix. I wasn’t complaining about the little complication it added to service, as both wines were rare treats to taste and, in spite of the tired corks, in solid condition. Both 13% alcohol.
Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, Château Cheval Blanc 1983 (from Imperial)
The Crown Royal cradle (in the picture, at left) came in handy for getting this six-liter baby started into decanters. Lovely, developed Cabernet Franc driven nose, with sweet red currant fruit dancing with loamy, decaying leaves. Very supple, with elegant, restrained tannins. Lots of bottle bouquet and drinking perfectly, helped along no doubt by the super-sized format. Classic old school labeling: 11-14% alcohol. I’d put it at 12.5-13 based on tasting.
Pessac-Léognan, Château La Mission Haut Brion 1989
As tightly wound and ungiving as 18 year-old wine gets. Muted aromatics are clearly of Left Bank cab, with a gravelly, sinewy black cassis and graphite profile. But this is still as clamped down as a closed bear trap. A decent foil to the beef course with which it was paired but, compared to the rest of the wines of the evening, nowhere near ready to drink. Maybe it will be interesting in another 18 years but its total reticence now makes me wonder. 13% alcohol.
Sauternes Premier Cru Classé, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1990
Still very young but drinking quite nicely, with typical metallic, apricot and bittersweet orange marmalade notes allied to solid concentration and steely acidity. Hides its alcohol well. A lovely showing and fitting end to the evening. 14.5% alcohol.
Friday, January 11, 2008
And the Winner is…
After technical glitches delayed the prize drawing by a couple of days, the winners of the items auctioned on behalf of Menu For Hope have now been announced. I know we’ve all been holding our collective breath in anticipation. So without further ado, the winner of my donation – Private Sommelier Services and Wine for a Night – is Lisa Phillips of Wilmington, DE. Congratulations, Lisa! You can reach me via the e-mail address on my profile page with any questions or to begin making arrangements for your wine and food fest. I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks to everyone who participated for your support of such a great cause. The entire list of winners is now available for your perusing pleasure at Chez Pim.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Few Updates
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Based on the amount of feedback humming through the local blogosphere via comments and new visitors as well as through posts and announcements on sites further afield, it looks as though the Wine Book Club is off to a promising start. I only hope that everyone who’s excited now will hang in there, make it through Vino Italiano and participate at the end of February.
Speaking of excitement generated by new announcements, I mentioned in a recent posting that the reservation books at Talula’s Table would soon open for dates in the second half of 2008. Michael Klein followed up with a full length feature in last Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer. When the shop and calendar opened at Talula’s on Wednesday morning, it took only two hours for the entire year to be booked. If you made it, good on ya! If not, save your energy; you’ll need to wait another six months for a shot at a spot in 2009. In the meanwhile, it’s well worth a day trip out to the shop to enjoy a casual lunch, afternoon snack or, heck, even an early casual dinner prepared by the same chef, served by the same staff and enjoyed at the same table. You’ll also find it much easier to take in the rest of the store, enjoy a coffee (or bring your own wine) and stock up on some fantastic provisions. Doubling up with a visit to Va La Vineyards or one of Chester County’s other wineries could be an added way to justify the road trip.
Lastly, there are only a few days remaining until the lucky winners are announced of the umpteen wonderful prizes donated by food and wine bloggers to the 4th annual Menu for Hope. This year’s event raised a grand total of $91,188.00, besting the 2006 tally by more than $30K. Tune in to Chez Pim on January 9, when Pim herself will announce the winners of all the goodies donated from around the world. I must admit I’m a bit curious as to who will come out with my prize. I’ll announce the outcome here as soon as I’ve learned the results.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Last Call for Support of Menu For Hope
Will you have a few friends over for dinner sometime in the New Year? Or perhaps you’ll go out to a favorite BYO restaurant with a small group of like-minded food and wine lovers? I certainly hope the answer you’ve all silently delivered to one or both of these questions is “Well, duh, of course.” How cool might it be not to have to worry about what wines to select, to buy and to pour for the evening, but rather to have a wine guy serve and entertain you and your group? For as little as $10, you can win the chance to do just that. In the process, you can also help to build a sustainable way for small farmers in Lesotho, Africa to feed their children and community without having to rely on outside financial assistance or on surplus grain shipments from the other side of the globe.
Today is the next to last day of the 4th annual Menu For Hope and this is my last – and last minute – call to action. Last year, Menu For Hope III raised over $60,000 in support of the United Nations World Food Programme. This year’s edition builds on that mission, with a more targeted delivery of your donations. And the goal, of course, is to at least equal the total donations raised in last year’s campaign. As of 10:00 AM this morning, our total sits right at $51K, so there’s still a way to go in the last two days.
Please help make it happen. For those of you who have considered it but not yet acted, or for those that are learning about MFH for the first time, you can visit my original post for the full details of my prize and for instructions on how to participate. And if you’re interested in other options, the entire list of prizes from around the world can be viewed at Chez Pim.
My thanks go out to those of you who have already made a contribution. Good luck! I’d also like to thank a couple of my fellow Philadelphia-area bloggers: Taylor at Mac & Cheese and Jennie at Straight from the Farm for helping to spread the word, and David at PhilaFoodie for also contributing a worthy prize to the program.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Mid-Term at Menu for Hope
Ten bucks. That's about two espresso drinks and a pastry at your chosen local coffee shop. Or it could be an easy, meaningful way to help those in need. And to get a chance to win my sommelier services -- and some tasty wine, to boot -- for an evening.
Check out my original Menu For Hope posting for full details and participation instructions. There's only a week remaining until the campaign ends. So what's to think about? Make a difference now!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Win Me For a Night!
Yes, that's WIN, not wine. I’ve donated my services to Menu For Hope, a worldwide food and wine bloggers’ fundraising effort. Now, in its fourth year, Menu For Hope was founded by Pim at Chez Pim. This year’s proceeds will be directed through the UN World Food Programme to benefit hungry farmers in Lesotho, Africa. Every ten dollars you donate gets you a “raffle ticket.” Each ticket can then be designated toward the prize of your choice – mine, natch! – and a computer program takes care of picking the winners. Specific instructions for entering can be found at the bottom of this post. So, on to the prize in question!Private Sommelier Services Provided by David McDuff (Prize Code WB23)
My donation consists of private sommelier services, provided by yours truly, for a party of up to six wine and food loving adults. I will bring an eclectic array of small farm wines – some from my own cellar – matched to the menu or theme for your event. I will pour for you and discuss the selected wines throughout the course of the evening. I am willing to do this anywhere in the greater Philadelphia area and am open to travel, if expenses are covered, throughout the Washington, DC to New York, NY corridor. The event can be held in your home or in a restaurant (if you’re willing to pick up the bill for my dinner and any corkage fees). My contribution of wine and sommelier services is valued at over $500 but you can have a chance to “win me for a night” for as little as $10. Of course, the more tickets you buy, the greater your chances of winning and the more you help to support a fantastic cause. Prize code: WB23.No procrastinating now – just donate! And be sure to check out the rest of the donations from throughout wine blogdom at Alder Yarrow’s Vinography.
To make a donation:
- Choose a prize or prizes of your choice from our Menu for Hope.
- Go to the donation site at http://www.firstgiving.com/menuforhope4 and make a donation.
- Please specify which prize you'd like in the 'Personal Message' section in the donation form when confirming your donation. You must write-in how many tickets per prize, and please use the prize code.
Each $10 you donate will give you one raffle ticket toward a prize of your choice. For example, a donation of $50 can be 2 tickets for EU01 and 3 tickets for EU02. Please write 2xEU01, 3xEU02. - If your company matches your charity donation, please check the box and fill in the information so we can claim the corporate match.
- Please check the box to allow us to see your email address so that we can contact you in case you win. Your email address will not be shared with anyone.
Check back on Chez Pim on Wednesday Jaunary 9 for the results of the raffle.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Canine Partners for Life
My apologies for the dead air over the last few days. It’s been a busy week, with events of one kind or another just about every evening, culminating in tonight’s big event. For the second year running, I’ll be pouring wine and then serving as emcee and co-auctioneer at the 10th annual wine auction and dinner benefiting Canine Partners for Life. CPL is a Delaware Valley-based non-profit organization working to better the lives of others. In their own words:
Canine Partners For Life (CPL) trains and places assistance dogs with individuals with mobility impairments to help increase their independence and quality of life. CPL has several types of assistance dogs in its program including service dogs, seizure alert dogs, home companions and residential (community) companions.
Our recipients come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of physical disabilities including muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders and more. The one thing they all have in common is a drive to become more independent and a commitment to do what is necessary to have an assistance dog in their life.
As a dog owner, I found it pretty much impossible to turn down their request. Actually, I’m proud to work with an organization that makes such a direct impact on the quality of life of their recipients. A donation would make for a great gift for that person on your list for whom you never know what to do.
For those of you who’ve been patiently waiting for more of my usual content, I’ll be back at it as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Remembering Michael Jackson: Raise a Glass for Charity
In tribute to The Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson, who lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease on August 30 this year, Belgian bars, brew pubs and draft houses all over the world will be hosting toasts to his memory this Sunday, September 30. 9:00 PM marks the official start of the toast, with ensuing celebrations running the course of the evening. Many establishments are taking this as an opportunity not just to celebrate Michael’s life but also to raise funds for the National Parkinson Foundation. Participating venues in the Philadelphia area include:- Tria (both at 18th & Sansom and 12th & Sansom)
- Monk’s Café (16th and Spruce)
- Grace Tavern (2229 Grays Ferry Avenue)
- The Belgian Café (2047 Green Street)
- Nodding Head (1516 Sansom Street)
If you’re unable to make any of these or the many other events around the globe, why not raise a glass at home. And consider making a donation directly to the NPF in memory of Michael Jackson.
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