When Donna Riniti came on board as the managing broker at my Coldwell Banker office, she introduced herself to the agents as a “neatnik” and rated applause for the revelation. Why is that I … [Read more...]
Grapevine: The Evolution of An Omnivore and His Glass of Wine
If the last quarter century has taught us anything it is that we are no longer “creatures of habit,” the well-turned phrase of older generations. Growing up in my Italian household, I knew exactly … [Read more...]
Home Guru: Yes, Size Does Matter, But Make Mine Smaller–Please
Fed by a booming post-World War II economy, many of us and our parents grew up with the notion that bigger is better in all things It started with larger refrigerators that replaced tiny ice boxes; … [Read more...]
Grapevine: Seeking Consensus at the 21st Century Dinner Table
Pairing wine and food is a favorite activity for me. Finding a complementary match creates a culinary experience that is invariably greater than the sum of its parts. A food dish on its own may be … [Read more...]
Home Guru: All the World’s a Stage and Our Homes Head the Bill
When I was a young man, I thought that staying home was being “no place” and that the high points of my life were to be played out on the stage of the world, away from where I slept at night. But as I … [Read more...]
It’s Summertime; Reach For a Cold One and Chill Out
I run into a personal wine dilemma every summer. I prefer red wine, but wilting summer temperatures preclude me from enjoying my favorites off the home or wine shop shelves. Most red wines at these … [Read more...]
Nature’s Influence Takes Many Forms in the Vineyard
Wine is both simple and complex, on planes that are both juxtaposed and contraposed. On the one hand its baseline is as a simple agricultural product, farmed similarly to a multitude of other … [Read more...]
Home Guru: Keeping Cool About Keeping Cool, Both Then and Now
Just as the heat wave alerts are broadcast, I sprint into my early summer ritual of installing my window air conditioners. Yes, my house is one of those relics without central air because it was built … [Read more...]
Grapevine – Wine Clubs: The Real Deal or a Marketing Ploy?
Have you received snail mail or e-mails espousing the virtues of another “wine club?” Have you been tempted to subscribe to the club based on the expensive, seductive marketing materials or the teaser … [Read more...]
Home Guru: Parents Mold Future Homeowners, Consciously or Not
As far as I know, there is no research to support my observations about how parents influence the eventual choices of their children regarding the kind of home they choose and household they … [Read more...]