Wine! Expensive sports cars! Forget today’s depressing economic indicators and join me in a late nineties day-trading fantasy world of conspicuous excess!Actually, I snapped this picture a few weeks ago at the Classic Car Show. All drooling aside for the shiny roadster parked in front – let’s concentrate on Mission Wines, the charming shop in the background. Don’t assume South Pasadena’s wholesome Mayberry reputation requires tea totaling. Hardly. This is definitely a wine drinking town. It boasts several wine bars, any number of restaurants with great wine lists, a true French café, a specialty French gourmet food and wine shop, Bristol Farms and – get this—two killer wine shops within walking distance of each other on Mission Street. (My husband and I joked that the reason there is such an abundance of wine here is because so many South Pasadena residents are the parents of young children. Even our little 1350 square foot house has a wine cellar!)
Mission Wines is a fantastic boutique wine shop specializing in “small production, hand crafted, artisan wines from around the world.” In other words: great finds from cool little wineries you have probably never heard of. And don’t think you have to be George Soros to afford the selections – with help from the knowledgeable staff, you can find something special for $10 and under.
Wine tasting is available during business hours. (Walk to Busters or Kaldi for coffee afterwards…) You don’t even have to live in South Pasadena to enjoy the great selection. If you’re a US citizen, you can shop online.
25 comments:
Sister, you are preaching to the choir here! I'm much more of a wine than a beer person.
Oops! Forgot to be a paste-in pest:
I'm being a pest today, and letting all the CDP bloggers know that the November Theme has been chosen, and it's time to vote for the December Theme in the Portal Forum section!
I like this photo with the fancy car out front. Economic troubles, phhht!
There's quite a few wineries around Roanoke (who woulda thunk it?) that I'm wanting to visit :)
Sigh, I have yet to learn the nuances of wines. I have a very uncouth tongue — I like dark beer. ;)
Oh yeah, young chldren = winos. Throw in grandchildren on that one too, bless their little hearts.
Bravo E for getting the theme out there so early. You are ON it.
LOve your photo today. I have no clue what kind of car that is, but i like it!
True confession: I've never been to South Pasadena but after reading your blog, especially this one, I've got to make the trip over there.
combine Mission Liquors with the only reliable thing in the Wall Street Journal: Friday's wine column.
What a great find. I wish we had something similar here. We have a variety of fine wine shops, but none seem to specialize in the unusual finds from small wineries.
Nice car! We have a few wineries in East Tennessee, too! Surprising, yes! I love the black & white!
I've yet to get into the conspicuous consumption set. I buy my wines at the 99 cent store and slap a label of my own design over the front of the bottle. Works like a charm.
L.
My two favorite Paris books: Cartier-Bresson's Paris photographs and In a Paris Moment by Meredith Mullins are missing from my stash today because I have misplaced them! Say it ain't so Joe!!!
V
I can't speak intelligently about wine because I am a boring tee-totaler. (How do you spell that?) I do like mango tea. And I will now talk about the car. Wow! Zoom, zoom! Sun glasses in place, scarf blowing in the wind.......destination, anywhere.
Thanks for the tip. Virginia, you're a hoot! One does not need children or even grandchildren to need wine, however.
Agree with petrea on not needing children or grandchildren of one's own to NEED to drink wine. OTHER people's kids/grandk can cause people to drink! ;-) Yes, me who just picked up a few bottles of Conundrum for a dinner thing tomorrow night that will involve someone else's children who grate on me!
I believe the cars are Corvairs, late 50's early 60's? I'm much better when looking at behinds than fronts...oh, wait, that came out wrong!
There used to be a wine supposedly grown and made in SoPas---Raymond Hill (ala the Raymond Hill faultline). I believe it has been picked up by Bronco Wine Co, yea who give us $2 Chuck. RH used to be a decent wine, not fantastic, but okay. Have not seen it in eons, but am guessing we've had a bit of it when $2 Chuck has passed our lips!
Wine? Did someone mention wine? Meet ya at drink-thirty!
Hi everyone -
Be sure to click on the link to
"a true French cafe". We just went there for dinner on Sunday. It was our first time there, but the ambiance was so familiar. When one of the owners came to our table and said she recognized us from our former favorite French restaurant, it made sense. She and her husband sold the other restaurant, which was in Eagle Rock, and are now the owners of Bistro de la Gare! We had a nice long talk about South Pasadena.
Laurie - she said for you to say hello next time you're in. She is the stylish woman who is often behind the bar. So...libraries aren't your only night spot!!! Lovely night shot of the restaurant!
Great photo of an E Type Jag in hopefully British Racing Green. A fantastic sports car to both look at and drive.
Who needs a wine cellar, when you've got this beauty in your garage!
Now Laurie, black and white is all fine and well, but it's almost fall and I want.....South Pasadena light and color! gimme gimme gimme that wonderful Cali color you are so good at!
I'm afraid I can't get past the sexy elongated hood of that car, to think about wine. Now I'm going to be scouring the internet to figure out if that's a Jaguar (I'm not seeing the hood ornament) or something more exotic. I love a spoked wheel.
Nice ride. We saw some old cars at the fair tonight, but I forgot my camera. :(
Nice shot, L.
But, this is a case where i think it woodah been nicer in living color.
Another improvement woodah been with a beautiful girl in the drivers seat next to her equally beautiful doggie in the passenger seat.
Justa random thought or 2.
Hey kids,
Welcome Mamageek and gail's man!
Kevin, come on over! I'd love to see South Pas through your camera lens.
Pasadenaadjacent, you should make labels with those angry dog and three legged hog line drawings!
Trish, Raymond Hill wine? Now THAT is cool!
Shanna, I thought you guys would love Bistro de la Gare. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It truly is my favorite restaurant.
Ken, okay, okay, I'll get back to the beautiful Cali light and color. I'm just having my usual "I miss my old Tri-X film" monochrome moment. :-)
Cafe, random thoughts always welcome here!
Thanks, all. (And cheers!)
Artisan eines and a classic car. Who needs more.
Indeed, Babooshka!
Very nice car in B&W...
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