What winos want.

Wine geeks love a map. Chances are they’ve had to study them extensively as part of their certification. This map takes the major French wine regions and lays them out like a subway map. Very pleasing to the eye and to the brain, I must say. DeLong, $24.95

This Capabunga reusable rubber wine cap is such a duh. I wish I had thought of it. They come in lots of different silly styles. $6.95/2-pack.

Whether your fellow wino has a good nose for wine or not, they’re sure to love this Le Nez du Vin master set. The mack daddy of all smelling kits, this one has 54 aromas- everything from the elusive bilberry to blackcurrant bud to butter. (Hmm- what DOES butter smell like?) I know a couple of Master of Wine candidates that never leave home without these things. They also come in smaller sets. $429.

Give the gift of education. Wine classes are always a great gift for a true oenophile. Even those at the top of their game always have something to learn. If you live in NYC or nearby, Corkbuzz Wine Studio is a fantastic place to take wine classes. Run by one of the world’s few female Masters Sommeliers, these guys know their stuff. The studio serves up great classes as well as being a wine bar and a restaurant. I’d like to find this in my stocking!
*Corkbuzz is offering a free $50 gift card with purchase of a $225 gift card until 12/15. Inquire when purchasing your gift card. They also have a great wine club.

Speaking of wine clubs, who wouldn’t love 6 bottles of great wine delivered every 3 months. And you could do it for $90/shipment with Food & Wine’s Wine Club. That works out to about $15/bottle. Not only a good deal, but you’re in good hands with F&W and Ray Isle’s selections. I’ve always been a fan of Ray Isle’s nose and his unpretentious approach to wine. These bottles are not your run of the mill grocery store wines. You can expect tasty, lively wines and a few indie selections like the boys from Banshee’s Rickshaw Cabernet- an unexpected and punchy little Cab kicked up with a bit of Petite Sirah. Your wino will be in good hands.

I am in love with these simple little shatterproof champagne flutes. They are perfect for a picnic, a party or just a night in by the fire (sans toss). The thumb indention is a nifty little design bonus. $12.95/4-pack tote.

I love the shape of the Tour wine glass by Crate and Barrel. Reminiscent of the more expensive littala glasses, they’re a nice change from the standard shape, and feel sophisticated. $11.95/each

Yeah, it would be nice to own your own vineyard but perhaps for now at least, you can settle for just making your own wine. You don’t have to live in wine country to do so. City Winery makes it possible to do so on their premises in both their NYC and Chicago locations. A fun little vanity project, these guys really do it right harvesting their grapes from top notch vineyards. You can choose your grape varietal and be part of a barrel share or customize your own project. Prices vary.

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I’m a sucker for Hitchcock- the style (which may be more Edith Head than Hitchcock), storytelling and images of his pictures are so memorable and nostalgic. This collection is extensive with 15 movies including the biggies- Psycho, Rear Window and The Birds.

Go Macy’s! I love that they commissioned former graffiti artist and current art world darling, KAWS, to design a Companion character balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kind of ballsy Macy’s. Love it.

Kir Royale- the perfect little drink. My sister in law, Lauren, reintroduced to me to love of a good kir royale- my new favorite and seriously divine. But done wrong, they can be absolutely terrible. I like mine light on the creme de cassis and heavy on the champagne. To be exact 1/4 oz. creme de cassis and 2 1/4 oz. sparkling wine.
*For Holiday Feting: add a little red decorating sugar around the rim and drop a couple of cranberries inside the flute. Voila.

Ok, I know it’s been out a while now but I just saw it and loved it. I love the intensity that Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes bring to this Bond. He’s a completely different animal but- dare I say- Daniel Craig rivals Connery in the badass department. Connery- yes, more smooth and debonair, but Craig- a total badass.

Falconwright’s handmade clutches are graphic and spot on. I would love to find this under my tree.

I have one of these Lucky Strike smoking Santa ads framed and proudly displayed on my credenza every Christmas season. It just makes me happy- so wrong yet so right. I figure I have a couple more years before the kids are really aware, then I’ll put it away until they’re old enough to share in my appreciation for this ridiculousness.

{Image credit: Kir Royale by oprah.com)

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Back in the day, I was a showgirl in Sin City (the top-wearing kind) and I returned there for a couple of days last weekend.  I was both inspired and a little miffed by the changes since the late 90s, but some things never change.
Here are my picks for a razzle dazzle Vegas weekend.

1. The Bellagio- most of the rooms here have been recently renovated and have a great modern feel. Swanky, Classy (dare I use the word- not sure it belongs anywhere, especially Vegas), and centrally located, the Bellagio is always a great place to stay. Dale Chihuly’s 2,000 hand-blown blossoms still shine over the lobby. Other great lodging options are the Cosmopolitan, next door and the Golden Nugget downtown where you get more bang for your buck- although taxis to the central Strip will cost you.

2. A great tip from our blackjack dealer- when ordering your complimentary cocktail while playing at the tables, be sure to specify a top shelf liquor. Hey, it’s the one time the house actually pays and it only costs you a tip to your cocktail waitress. Grey Goose vodka tonic, please.

3. Cirque Schmirque- if you want to catch an old school Vegas review, head over to the Planet Hollywood hotel to see Vegas the Show. My pal, Tiger Martina is the talented choreographer. They’ve got showgirls and Sammy Davis- seriously, what more could you want.

4. Love this cute little cutout sheath from Club Monaco- would look great at the craps table.

5. Loving this glittery number from Club Monaco as well- shines next to the slots.

6. We had a great meal at the Vegas outpost of LA’s Comme Ca at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Great wine list with a bargain basement section where you can find fantastic bottles for a deal. The beet salad with whipped feta, sunflower seeds and arugula is a must. The view  makes you feel like you’re in Tokyo- the Strip’s bright lights sparkle outside its windows.

7. Big fan of all of Kevyn Aucoin’s matte lipsticks- especially the Forever shade. I wear this one for day and night.

8. Scoot down to the Chandelier Bar after dinner at Comme Ca and if you’re lucky, the Jennifer Keith Quintet will be jivin’ up the joint. This is one of the best swing bands I’ve seen and I lived in LA during the overblown Swingers era. Great people watching to boot as Vegas’ Swing-hards hold court in the bar’s booths. Dressed to their hipcat nines with some talented moves to boot, it’s a pretty fun scene.

9. Get outta dodge for a few hours and head up to the Valley of Fire State Park. This Land That Time Forgot-like landscape is album cover worthy. After you soak in its beauty, turn your excursion into a photo shoot. It doesn’t really matter what you look like, with this radical backdrop, you’ll look like a badass in every shot.

10. The Peppermill Fireside Lounge is one of my favorite spots in Sin City. While I’m not a fan of its most recent update with its flat screen tvs, it still maintains its 70s charm. Sit around a fire pit and sip a giant exotic cocktail.

11. Do yourself a favor a B.Y.O.B. when it comes to champagne. Vegas will take you for all you’ve got in more ways than one and to get a decent glass of bubbly will really set you back. Bring a luxe grower’s champagne like this Vilmart Grand Cellier 1er Cru Brut NV and feel like a King even if you do lose your butt at the roulette wheel.

12. Get your Showgirl on with these Gasoline Glitter Flame heels from Topshop.

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My brother Matt had us over for Thanksgiving this year and my father in law, Jacques drove down from NY to be with us. It was a tasty good time and conversation about the Absinthe documentary- appropriately named Absinthe- sparked our curiosity to do a tasting, Matt just happened to have a bottle on hand- tastes kind of like ouzo to me. The Sea Smoke Southing ’09 Pinot was really a stunner with our bird- it was complex and subtle all at once, a really beautiful wine. I had been waiting to drink this one and it was a good time to break it out. I received it earlier this year after waiting for a spot on Sea Smoke’s mailing list for about 6 months. It was worth it. The vintage is showing nicely and was enjoyed by all.

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My mom and her longtime beau got married last weekend in the Valley of Fire State Park, just outside of Las Vegas. We did it up- took the babies to Vegas and had a swingin’ time.  More posts to come but one of my favorite moments was stopping at the Moapa Truck Stop just outside of the Park, to load up on champagne and other tasty treats. We had heard good things about the place, but were more than pleased and surprised to find that they stocked Veuve in their fridge. Veuve has never been a personal favorite, but it has found a new place in my heart and in the middle of the desert- what an oasis! Beats the Andre that came with our limo.

The photo op was too good to be true. The American desert is one of my favorite landscapes- so much expansion for the eye to see. It conjures images of John Ford heroes galloping through the desert off to save another damsel in distress or burning western town, perfectly worn down 1950s roadside signage and just plain Americana. I did my time in Vegas as well, as a showgirl in my youth (the top-wearing kind), so am very nostalgic about the desert.

Walking into this truck stop was a weekend highlight- a bevy of us donned in our Vegas bests clicking and clacking our way through the truck stop grabbing beef jerky, Ruffles and champagne. The best part- no one batted an eye.

What happens is Vegas (or just outside of)…

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Katy Robbins, one of my dearest friends, has obliged to be Volatizing the Esters’ personal stylist, giving us her educated and fashion forward picks each season. Katy and I met in acting class in LA. We were scene partners and I must say, we did some of our best work together but alas, she was destined to be a stylist. She styled me for my 1st Broadway opening night for The Boy from Oz in vintage Ungaro- apropos for a musical about Peter Allen largely set in the 70s-the girl knows her stuff. That’s what friends are for.

Hailing from Nashville where she is considered Country Music Royalty (her father is Kent Robbins, who wrote a myriad of hits for the likes of The Judds and Trisha Yearwood), Katy splits her time between NY and Nashville. The go-to girl for celebrities from coast to coast, Katy’s styling roster includes Hollywood heavies Tina Fey, Scarlett Johanssen, Laura Linney and Jimmy Fallon, and rock and country stars Debbie Harry, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert, to name a few. I should know. Between shows in my former life, I used to assist Katy on set- we had a blast. The silly string shoot with Mr. Fallon was a personal favorite. She has worked with some of the world’s most elite photographers including Arthur Elgort, Andrew Eccles and Nigel Parry (not the Nigel from ANTP, the really famous one).

Yeah she loves clothes, but more importantly, Katy is all about fit and personal style. She learned the importance of both on her first gig, interning for Patricia Field on Sex and the City. “I refuse to put anyone in something that looks bad on their body, no matter how fabulous it is. What I do is about people and making my clients look and feel their best.” Her looks are tried and true as she has seen them in the flesh, on her clients and knows they stand up to the try-on test. I can’t wait to showcase Katy’s looks throughout the year. Her fall looks include some high end pieces that she promises are worth the splurge.

one. Helmut Lang Plum Leather Leggings
two. NARS Blush in Orgasm
three. Sparkly DVF Sweater
four. Sonya Renee Pyrite Earrings
five. See by Chloe Fold Over Suede Boot
six. Topshop Little Plum Dress
seven. NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix
eight. Vince Vintage Leather Scuba Jacket
nine. Stuart Weitzman Saucy Pump

Piece by Piece-Katy Robbins

Plum is my favorite color for fall.  It’s been my favorite since last fall, but this year there are a lot more plum options out there.  Finally, everyone’s catching on.

one. For the best of the best leather leggings, it’s Helmut Lang – and they’re plum!
two. Okay – so I’m late to the game on this one.  It’s a long time cult favorite and really that perfect flush of cheek color.
three. This sparkly Diane von Furstenberg sweater is perfect with the best of the best Helmut Lang plum leather leggings
four. My favorite earrings – so versatile. Pyrite – fool’s gold is definitely not for fools.
five. Best boots of the season – the 3 inch heel is a great height – and they look amazing.  Not your basic black boot.  They make every outfit more interesting.
six. Instead of an LBD for Fall, it’s an LPD – Little Plum Dress by Topshop
seven. A lip pencil, lipstick and gloss combo. “Club Mix” goes very well with, you guessed it, plum!
eight. This is the best leather jacket I’ve seen in the last few years – yes I’ve been searching for the perfect leather jacket for that long.
nine. The Stuart Weitzman “Saucy” pump – as close to comfy as you can get in an almost 5 inch heel.  The bordeaux color works beautifully with my fave plum pieces. Also great in black.

Full disclosure: Domaine du Grapillon d’Or is a wine I used to sell when I worked for a small French importer.  I loved it so much that I stocked up my own tiny makeshift cellar (basically a box that doubles as a side table) with the 2005 vintage- a stellar year across the board and heaven in the Rhone Valley.  The 2010 is showing beautifully.

I love this wine because I think it has a distinct femininity.  It is a pretty wine- unusual for a Gigondas.  Its earthy and masculine notes of smoky plum, dark fruit, black licorice and black pepper are offset by a subtle floral hint of rose and its smooth, velvety texture.  The winemaker Celine, is afterall a woman- probably why the wine shows so gracefully.  This Southern Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is organic to boot and perfect with fall dishes including your thanksgiving bird. A well-crafted Gigondas is always a great alternative to its pricier neighbor, Chateauneuf du Pape.

A pretty plum wine for these pretty plum looks.

Domaine du Grapillon d’Or 2010, $23.99

{ Photo of Katy Robbins by Amy Dickerson }

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Weekend in Winnetka with the Wilsons

That’s a lot of W’s and there were lots of kiddos.  My mom and I took the bebes up to visit our friends in the northern suburbs of Chicago. We’ve all known each other since the 70s- that always sounds so funny- Carrie and I have been friends since we were 1.

It’s all too easy not to make the effort to visit friends that live a plane ride away- especially with little ones in tow- but time spent with loved ones is kind of what life’s all about. We were treated to a beautiful roasted pork tenderloin dinner prepared to perfection by Carrie and Patty, using one of Ina Garten’s recipes along with Patty’s famous twice baked potatoes (just think boatloads of butter and sour cream with some seriously whipped potatoes in a crispy skin shell-mmmm!), which we paired with an ’07  Casanova di Neri Brunello-awesome.  We also ventured out into town and shared a Dr. Frank Dry Riesling at lunch with a stop at the amazing local accessories and design shop, Maze Home and the beautifully edited neapolitan boutique.  I bought the colorful wool Christmas garland above for my tree this year at Maze and lusted over a vintage 70s necklace from House of Lavande- unsigned but looks like a Courreges to me- on the wish list.

When we returned home to VA., we went to a birthday party for a lovely little 3 year old where Rocknoceros was playing.  Straight from their Austin City Limits gig, we were psyched to hear them jammin’ out live.  I loved the little handwritten signs that the birthday girl’s mom posted all over the walls.  The one above was my favorite- it’s so true isn’t it!

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Jessica’s Biel’s Giambattisa Valli Haute Couture wedding dress is spot on.  What a bold choice- splotchy pink and white brush strokes, classic lines with a modern edge- it’s like a little candy confection and an abstract painting made a baby (or a wedding dress).  I just want to eat it.

Olive and Sinclair’s Salt and Pepper artisanal chocolate is one of my budget busting vices. I would eat a bar of this every day if I let myself, and I almost do.  I discovered it in Nashville last year while having brunch at Marche. I brought home a couple of bars and was thrilled to find them at my local eatery, Society Fair, here in Alexandria. Made by native Nashvillian Scott Witherow, it is a stone ground, slow roasted, small batch, handcrafted bean-to-bar confection. With all of those adjectives, its bound to be good- and it is. The perfect mix of pepper spice, salty tang and subtle sweet.

Sugar Paper presses these friendship cards.  A perfect little spot of glamour and love.

Domaine Tempier is a long time favorite.  I love every wine they produce.  I am partial to it because when I first started studying wine, I read and was completely romanced by Kermit Lynch’s Adventures on the Wine Route. This led me to the Tempier Peyraud family. While working at Balthazar, I attended a staff tasting with Kermit and heard stories about the family firsthand. I became fascinated with Lulu Tempier Peyraud- but more on her in a later post- and bought her and Richard Olney’s cookbook, Lulu’s Provencal Table- a must for Francophiles and lovers of Provencål cuisine.  Her recipes are not exactly short and sweet but well worth it in the end. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so proud of making a dish than when I attempted (and sort of pulled off) her Roast Chicken with Ginger, Macaroni and Roasting Juices recipe.

Lulu’s father gave her and her husband, Lucien Peyraud, the Tempier vineyard as a wedding. Lucien led a tireless quest to put Bandol on the map and resurrect the Mourvedre grape to noble status, and in turn is now beloved as the Godfather of Bandol. Tempier’s blends are now among the finest in the world and have achieved cult if not iconic status. Not just a great rose but a great wine, it is well-crafted and complex. The full-bodied rose sings with bright fruit, garrigue notes and wild spices. A great fall wine as its spices pair beautifully with roasted vegetables and fall dishes. I am a fan of drinking it all year long especially well into the winter, when you really need that splash of pink to pick you up.

No wedge has any business being this comfortable.  Tom’s Desert Chestnut Wedges are a fall must for anyone that values comfort as much as style.

I love this print by Anne Harper.  Its splotchy burst of colors make me any room happy.

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I recently headed out to Union Market DC where I found a charming assortment of food shops, farmers and a few local eateries.  You can shimmy up to the bar at the Rappahannock Oyster Co. for shellfish and a cocktail created by J.P. Fetherston of The Columbia Room, grab a new dill pickle to rival Russ & Daughters at the Oh Pickles! counter, pick up a flaky and perfectly crusted DC Empanada to go, and sip a beautifully swirled latte from Peregrine Espresso, all in a few strides. While the market aims to lead the artisanal DC foodie brigade, what’s really interesting is the neighborhood.  Industrial and rough around the edges (unlike the meatpacking district of NYC), this neighborhood’s still got grit, great signage and a genuine local flavor. The market is pretty polished and chock full of hipsters but because it is still finding itself, it feels authentic and is certainly flavorful.  I’m interested to see how it develops- good on ya, DC.

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