Normal life might be put on hold for now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stock your kitchen with all the food and ingredients you need! Check out these 15 Chicago grocery stores delivering now:
This is a fully-stocked grocery store offering pickup and delivery, as well as discounts to senior citizens, nurses, and doctors (you might feel like you’ve aged 65 years in the last month, but these discounts are for the real seniors),
Now that so many of us are cooking more at home than ever before, this might be the best time to add freshly-ground spice blends to your cooking arsenal.
If you like to indulge in the finer things, Second City Prime has you covered— get deliveries of high-quality meat and seafood, with free shipping for the entire Midwest.
You may have to restrict any picnicking to your living room (or, at best, your backyard), but at least the food can be great with delivery from Picnic Wine & Provisions.
This South Side urban farm is delivering freshly-harvested greens and working with other local farms and vendors to bring more healthy food items to more people in Chicago.
Mary Jane is known by a lot of names these days, chief among them: legal. Quarantine doesn’t have to be dull when you have your best buds. Check out this list of top marijuana strains, and see if you can find them at Chicago dispensaries near you. Happy 420!
Space Monkey
85% indica; 15% sativa
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Out of this world, y’all. Space Monkey is ideal for days on the couch with a package of Oreos. When you don’t want to feel overwhelmed or stressed from quarantine life, escape to sublime relaxation with your primate friend from the stars!
Mimosa
30% indica; 70% sativa
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You might not be able to brunch on Sunday, but you’ll brunch erryday with Mimosa. Mimosa is the perfect wake ‘n’ bake strain that increases focus and lifts your energy. If you’re confronted with a stressful work-from-home day, Mimosa’s citrus aroma and woody flavor will let you carpe the diem with these easy-breezy brunch vibes.
Gelato
55% indica; 45% sativa
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Ben and Jerry’s ain’t got nothing on Gelato — and that’s saying a lot! More of a head high than a body high, Gelato effortlessly pairs tranquility with its earthy aromas and creativity with its sweet taste. You may not be Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked… but you’ll be ready for some!
Girl Scout Cookies
60% indica; 40% sativa
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Stock up on your favorite cookies before you light up your Girl Scout Cookies strain. Although best for folks who are better acquainted with smoking marijuana, Girl Scout Cookies alleviates arthritic pains while giving you a euphoric sense of well-being. The flavor profile is sweet with a nutty, vanilla aroma. Thin Mints? Never heard of ’em.
Wedding Cake
60% indica; 40% sativa
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Wedding bells may not be ringing this spring — in person. Say “I do” to this strain. This strain will give more of a head high than anything – but don’t let that fool you. The more you acquaint yourself with Wedding Cake, the more you’ll feel an intense body high. Wedding Cake is appealing because it makes your body feel heavy and warm while keeping your mind creative and aware.
Pink Lemonade
80% indica; 20% sativa
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Make lemonade with your quarantine lemons… sort of. Pink Lemonade is an ideal strain for those who need a little more inspiration with their work and creativity. This strain is a favorite among people because it can help you maintain focus without making you feel amped up. Not available at neighborhood lemonade stands.
Cheesecake
70% indica; 30% sativa
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Cheesecake, much like its name suggests, is a creamy and sweet strain with dank candy aromas. Cheesecake is best for folks who want to feel relaxed, heavy, and sleepy while still being able to participate in (or even lead) conversations. You’ll have a sweet, almost lackadaisical awareness of your surroundings, so cheesecake is best for staving your anxiety and inviting sleepy vibes.
Triple G (AKA Ghost OG)
70% indica; 30%sativa
Marijuana’s version of the Holy Trinity. Triple G is the union of tranquil relaxation, increased appetite (!), and deep, almost profound, contemplative thoughts. Not for the casual smoker or those new to the weed bandwagon, Triple G floods your senses with a sleepy creativity, while also giving you a heavy body high.
Zkittlez (AKA Skittles, Skittlz)
40% indica; 60% sativa
Taste the rainbow — and maybe see it, too! Zkittlez is a euphoric option for those who can get past the initial effects (most notably slight pressure around your head and eyes). Once your senses are hyper-activated, you’ll feel, taste, and see the rainbow! Flavors of the Zkittlez strain are sweet and sour — almost berry-like nature. A fan-favorite, Skittlez is ideal for those who want to declutter their mind from cyclical thoughts while feeling physically refreshed and mentally uplifted.
Alien OG
50% indica; 50% sativa
Greetings, nervous Earthling, and indulge in one of the greatest strains for those who experience exhausting anxiety. Alien OG has hints of lemon and pine, which bring you a clean spark of creativity and a touch of relaxation. Take me to your dealer!
With crazy times of quarantine, explore better living through plants!
As most of us are social distancing right now, we all are probably starting to miss our friends and family that we’re used to hanging out with. It can be hard to go so long without seeing loved ones, but until this is over, one Chicago pastry chef came up with the idea of quarantine-themed cakes.
Emily Nejad, the owner of Bon Vivant Cakes, is trying to bring joy and humor in a time like this. These heart-shaped cakes serve eight and are available in two different flavors, chocolate, and birthday cake, with four different fillings, vanilla buttercream, cookies ‘n cream, salted caramel or strawberry preserves.
Once choosing the flavor of the cake, customers have to make the decision of what phrase they want on top of the cake. You can choose from options like, “Can’t Touch This,” “Free the TP,” “Confine Me Daddi,” or “Stay Home.”
Members of the Eastern Illinois University football program use Zoom to conference with Tim Kelly, former EIU player who is now the offensive coordinator with the Houston Texans. (photo courtesy of Adam Cushing’s Twitter account)
Eastern Illinois head coach Adam Cushing talks time and again about turning negatives into positives and adversity into opportunity. With an empty campus and spring practice wiped out by the shelter in place order as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the second-year Panther leader has found a way to practice what he preaches.
“As I evaluated the offseason from a year ago, our first year, one of our absolute strengths as a football program is all these giants that we walk in every day and see hanging from O’Brien [Field]. We see the names in the lobby,” Cushing said. “Our No. 1 goal this offseason has been to create connections.
“Obviously it starts within the football program, player to player, player to coach, support staff, etc. But talking with Adam Gristick, our linebackers coach who played here, we got to a point in time where we were ready to take the next step.”
That next step for the staff is to share the benefits of Panther past with the team. Using modern-day technology such as Zoom, EIU’s football program has experienced video conferences with a virtual who’s who of not only Panther pride, but of names that resonate outside of Charleston.
One day it was former Panther quarterback/current New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Another day it was Mike Shanahan, who turned his collegiate career derailed by a life-threatening injury into three Super Bowl rings (two as a head coach and another as a offensive coordinator).
There was John Jurkovic, former two-time conference defensive player of the year who spent nearly a decade in the NFL and now can be heard daily on Chicagosports radio.
Before leading Naperville’s North Central College to the Division III national championship this past season, head coach Jeff Thorne was a four-year starting quarterback at Eastern. Greg McMahon, a member of EIU’s 1978 Division II national championship team, won a Super Bowl ring as a Payton assistant. This past fall he was the special teams coach for LSU’s national champions.
“That’s two national champions from EIU in 2019,” Cushing noted, “that’s really something special.”
Jimmy Garoppolo
Last Tuesday, it was Jimmy Garoppolo, the highest NFL draft pick in school history who quarterbacked the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers to February’s Super Bowl.
And so the list goes on with other guests the likes of former defensive backs Ray McElroy and Pete Houlihan to all-time leading tackler Tim Carver to FCS single-season receiving record holder Erik Lora to longtime EIU sports information director Dave Kidwell.
Like McMahon, there have been other members of the ’78 championship team such as Randy Melvin, the Aurora native who has coached in the NCAA, NFL and CFL, or Scott McGhee, who now makes his living managing artists in the Nashville music scene.
There was Tim Kelly, a former Panther defensive tackle who is now the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans. Brian Callahan played in the offensive line at EIU and began his collegiate coaching career there as a restricted earnings coach in 1993 under Bob Spoo. Today, Callahan is an assistant coach for P.J. Fleck’s University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
And Roy Wittke, the man who convinced Spoo to offer Romo a scholarship. Wittke did two coaching stints at Eastern and is widely heralded for his work developing Romo and Garoppolo as quarterbacks. Today, he is the director of player development at Syracuse.
“It’s really cool to see so many have so much pride in EIU,” said Gristick, a Pennsylvania native who played for the Panthers from 2010 to 2014. Gristick knows success as a player; he played a key role in back-to-back conference champions and on the 2013 team that reached the FCS quarterfinals.
And the list just keeps going.
“We’re adding video conferences nearly every day,” said Cushing. “It’s something we talked about doing for a long time, but given the circumstances we’re in [with no spring practice and players not on campus], we’re able to do a lot more. The guys don’t have the same levels of structure. They still work, they just don’t have the classtime like before.”
But, enough of the past. What have the current players gotten out of it? Prairie State Pigskin asked a few players recently:
Anthony Manaves, redshirt freshman tight end, Chicago St. Patrick High School
“Learning about the past at Eastern. how much these guys did . . . what it means to us in the future. We’re learning so much and I feel like it’s building our connection as a team. We don’t want to let people down . . . we’re gaining more pride and knowledge in our school.”
Aaron Woods, redshirt junior defensive lineman, Hinsdale South High School
“For me, it’s a culture thing. We walk in that building every day and before this we thought Pat O’Brien was still alive [he died in 1990]. We’re learning small things so that we can make big changes in the program. We’re learning about our history and can connect more. Learning about the name of the guy who is associated with the building we walk into every day is a pretty significant thing. It’s an honor to learn about that.”
Trevon Brown, redshirt freshman wide receiver, Oak Park-River Forest High School
“It’s an honor to be associated with the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Being a part of the culture that Sean Payton was a part of, Tony Romo was a part of, Jimmy Garoppolo. Having them speak to us is really getting our culture together. It’s a pretty impactful moment in life right now. Like Jimmy Garoppolo said to us, not many people have the opportunity to be associated with an organization like this. It’s pretty humbling and [we should] honor it.”
Cameron Leach, sophomore defensive lineman, Nazareth Academy
“For me, knowing that we have basically the best history in all of FCS, so with that I think it’s important that we get all the information we can. You’ve got to know where you came from to know what your limit is and what you can do in the future. That helps all of our players a lot to build on that and to build a better program than when we came in.”
Nikola Wadsworth, redshirt senior linebacker, Oswego East High School
“A lot of the guys already covered it, but what I’m getting out of it is learning the history of the school, Eastern Illinois, itself. It’s very humbling to know that the people walked down the same hallways and campus as us. We have pride walking down those halls and down the block to go to class. Instead of just going through the motions it gives us pride. I’m a transfer [from Idaho State], so the more I learn, the more I have for this school. That’s what I’m getting out of it.”
TJ Davis, redshirt freshman defensive back, St. Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic
“Learning about the tradition and the culture that was there before us. Knowing that guys like Sean Payton, Tony Romo, Jimmy G walked the same hallways as us, went to the same dining halls. That’s cool.”
Isaiah Hill, redshirt junior wide receiver, Minooka High School
“Out of high school, I had offers from bigger schools. I kind of got stuck on the FCS level [first at South Dakota State before transferring to EIU last summer]. I always felt like I belonged somewhere else, like I’m better than this. When you look at the history here, all the big names like Romo, Garoppolo, people like that, it gives you more hope that no matter what level of football you’re playing or what school you’re going to, you can make it. You can achieve your dreams wherever you’re at. That’s really powerful to me.”
Blog co-authors Barry Bottino and Dan Verdun bring years of experience covering collegiate athletics. Barry has covered college athletes for more than two decades in his “On Campus” column, which is published weekly by Shaw Media. Dan has written four books about the state’s football programs–“NIU Huskies Football” (released in 2013), “EIU Panthers Football (2014), “ISU Redbirds” (2016) and “SIU Salukis Football” (2017).
The girls loved her so much. She was getting the purse in this picture cleaned up to give to my daughter. It’s still in her apartment, waiting for us to clear up her things.
There’s a numbness that feels like it isn’t numb. I will be going about my business, helping Mike with his rehab, tucking the kids into bed, taking notes on a Teams meeting with doctors or nurses wearing what I assume is a smile on my face. I will be answering emails, or figuring out what load of laundry I need to clean, and all the while there’s this quiet whisper in my ear, You know Shana is dead, and you’re going about your business, right? Your sister is dead. You’re never going to see her again. You’re never going to talk to her again. And you’re going about your business?
As if I have a choice.
The last picture I took of her alive. One of my kids was taller than her. The others were so excited to get taller than Aunt Shana, too.
It’s my birthday today. I was eighteen months younger than Shana two weeks ago. Am I the oldest now? Or do I have to wait another birthday-and-a-half to claim that title from her? We were so competitive in so many ways. I fought my whole childhood for everything she had, by right of being the oldest or through being the smartest or just by being so damned determined in everything. If she isn’t aging anymore, I am rapidly catching up on those eighteen months. They seemed less important every year, anyway, but they have grown over these last two weeks. Their days are legion.
I think about throwing myself a Zoom karaoke birthday party. All my friends, sitting in their own homes, singing along to karaoke tracks on youtube… it could be so much fun. And then that little voice in my ear, Planning a birthday party? Two weeks after your sister died? Shana was a blast at karaoke. The two of you could have done Amy Winehouse together. She’d have laughed so hard.
I wonder if Passover will always mean that Shana is dead. If my birthday will always mean that Shana is dead. If everything I ever did with he will hurt me forever. If I will ever manage to make another brisket.
There’s a disassociation that isn’t dissociative. I will be sitting across the table from Mike as he reads jokes or memes or news aloud from his phone, and I’m not there. I am there, I am physically there, I am emotionally there. But I’m not. I’m a million miles away, not even thinking about Shana, sometimes, just… not there. I’m tired, all the time. And I can’t sleep. And I’ve got this stye I’m dealing with, no doubt from rubbing my eye so much through all the crying. I should have accepted a kleenex, but it keeps me tethered a little. Something physically hurts. It helps.
The days are so long, and they go so fast, and I have done nothing. There is so, so much that needs to be done.
The three Borenstein girls, two or three years ago
There’s a flavor to my grief, like Meyer lemons. Bittersweet, acidic, addictive. I keep slipping back in it, sucking on more of it, even though it stings and sickens.
As I was falling asleep the other night, I imagined Shana talking to our mother. In the way of half-asleep people, I could tell what they were talking about but I couldn’t hang onto the words, Shana was worrying about me, which I thought was sweet. She was worrying about how much I had to carry, and she wanted to offer to help, and in the self-martyring way I have of doing such things I wanted to tell her she didn’t need to trouble herself and that I would take care of things myself, and then I remembered that she was dead and my mother was not here and I had to take care of things myself anyway, and I couldn’t go to sleep.
I had heard her voice so clearly in my ears. I heard her saying things I desperately wanted to believe she said when she thought I couldn’t hear. And as I closed my eyes and tried to pick out the words, I realized I would never hear her say something new, ever again.
Her voice, lisping and rough around the edges, lilting and somehow also gutteral, is as gone as the rest of her.
I wish I knew what she said. I wish I knew what she would say now.
Here she is making breakfast after the family Channukah party, in my kitchen
There is disbelief, but I believe it. I know it’s real, but my brain can’t seem to accept it. She isn’t supposed to be gone. She was done being gone. She was present, and affectionate, and she and I still didn’t get along perfectly but we were sisters. It’s okay to not get along perfectly with your sisters. Until it’s not.
I can’t handle my kids bickering. I hear them prod at each other in the bored way of siblings trapped in a house when the weather is turning nice and there’s nowhere to go and not enough to do, and I envy them, and I have no patience for it.
What I wouldn’t give to bicker one last time. What I wouldn’t give to have remembered every time I saw her how grateful I was to have a sister who didn’t get along with me perfectly. What I wouldn’t give to hear her tell me I’m being overly sentimental and twee.
Her vocabulary would be better.
There’s a regret that isn’t regret. I don’t know what it is, yet.
Maybe it’s only grief.
Her obituary is here: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/ShanaBorenstein/ If you knew her, please feel welcome to leave stories about her, pictures of her, anything. We miss her dearly, and every remembrance warms our hearts.
Lea Grover scribbles about sex-positive parenting, marriage after cancer, and vegetarian cooking. When she isn’t revising her upcoming memoir, she can be found singing opera, smeared to the elbow in pastels, or complaining/bragging about her children on twitter (@bcmgsupermommy) and facebook.
You didn’t get a cold this winter, did you? That’s what my general practicioner asked me at our last appointment, which occurred eight days before every single large gathering of people in the month of March and April got cancelled. He’s completely right, and what he was referring to was the Vitamin C and Vitamin D that he had prescribed me, months prior, to fight off a very stubborn plantar wart.
I haven’t had a common cold, or anything of that variety since mid 2019, and that’s a wonderful thing given how closely COVID-19 symptoms resemble those of seasonal flu or colds, and hence create high anxiety for anyone experiencing them. So what can you do to keep your immune system in tip top shape right now? Let’s run through some habits and supplements.
First off it’s good to eat foods rich in Vitamin C like oranges, and obviously, drink orange juice. It’s also a great time to become acquainted, or perhaps further familiar, with organic Cannabidiol products like premium hemp flower, CBD oils, tinctures, topicals and extracts. Even America’s founding father, George Washington himself, grew hemp on his plantation, and thus saw the virtues of the plant. Another food that boosts immunity against bacterial types of infections is plain yogurt; due to its being high in concentration of the good types of bacteria.
It’s also important to state right now, although we really hope we don’t have to, how there is no known effective and safe therapeutic for coronavirus. Right here in Chicago, Gilead Sciences Inc’s remdesivir has shown a lot of promise, but that’s only in a limited study.
It was extremely effective, but only anecdotally, and the stock market’s positive overreaction to this bit of positive news was all about hype, not substance.
However, what you can do is take care of yourself the best that you can, and that starts with sleep. The nutritional specialist at my gym told myself and small group back in February: “the most important thing you can do, individually, for your health is to consistently get a lot of sleep each night; and yes, this is a dietician telling you this.”
That’s obviously much easier said than done, but there are steps you can take. Too much alcohol can disrupt your sleep, and the sauce is botoriously known to deplete your immune system. It’s also a good idea to turn your gadgets off long before you go to sleep- the lights from your smartphone and computer will only keep you up. In terms of exercise, take the stairs wherever and whenever possible.
Who sponsors the stair climb races of the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center here? That’s right, the American Lung Association, so you can draw a straight line on this one.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, wear a mask in public. The stigma on that is long gone! The New York Times has a great guide as to what kind of masks you should wear at this link. Most importantly, stay home and help #FlattenTheCurve! #StayHomeSaveLives #StayHomeSaveLives
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and ChicagoNow.
He’s been a featured guest in dozens of media outlets including The History Channel. His work has been cited in hundreds of publications including the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
When my book group chose its next novel, someone suggested Albert Camus’s The Plague for its current relevance. The rest of us wanted something less depressing in the present circumstances, so we’re reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
Wanting something less depressing is nothing new for me. Back in the 1990s, I realized that many of the novels I was reading left me deflated. I started to look for more hopeful literature with relatable characters who face challenges and come out better.
A friend suggested that other people might also be looking for such a reading list. And so I put my list online, creating the website Positively Good Reads. The no-frills site has grown to list more than 250 recommended novels, with a brief description of each to help others judge whether they want to read it.
Obviously I couldn’t have anticipated a pandemic, but since Positively Good Reads is intended to counteract dejection, this seems a suitable time to blog about it.
Over the years a few people who found the site emailed to let me know that they too crave what I labeled “feel-good fiction with substance.” From Tracie: “It’s a pet peeve of mine how hard it is to find quality books that don’t make you want to open a vein.” Amanda: “I am glad to have found your reading list! I love to read fiction but find that grim stories depress me sometimes for days after finishing.” Cyndi: “This is exactly what I need. I’ve been having panic attacks . . . I love books but have had a hard time finding one that doesn’t upset me during this difficult time.”
I’ve also been criticized for not accepting the reality that life is a b____. Somehow upbeat fiction became equated with escapist genres. “Literary fiction,” said a website I came across as I was searching for upbeat titles, “rarely has a happy ending.”
“When did this become literary dogma?” I wrote on the home page. Shakespeare could be plenty gloomy. But he also wrote comedies. Great literature and happy endings aren’t incompatible in Jane Austen.
Besides, it wasn’t necessarily a happy ending that I sought. As I explained on the site, I’m not looking for novels without moral dilemmas, loss, struggle, and conflict; I’m looking for novels that leave me feeling that there’s reason to go on living. Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Gilead, the heartfelt reflection a sickly minister writes to his young son, was offered as an example. It’s a book readers might decide to return to as spiritual reading, not just as a novel.
Books with tragedy and death, like Ernest Gaines’s account of an ex-slave’s life, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, made the cut because of an inspiring protagonist. Heroic characters aren’t required, however. Kent Haruf’s Eventide is full of deeply flawed humans, but theirs is a community where people care for one another. A melancholy tone doesn’t disqualify Barbara Pym’s portrait of aging coworkers, Quartet in Autumn, which ends with faith in the possibility of change at any age.
It’s sometimes hard to draw the line between sad-but-ultimately-uplifting and depressing. Each reader has a different threshold of too depressing. There are books in the “recommended” category that some people no doubt would put under “some may not find these upbeat.”
If you look at Positively Good Reads for a book recommendation, please excuse its plain-text appearance. Since it is a site for people who love words, I never got around to adding images.
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NORMALCY OR NORMALITY?
Everyone’s talking about a return to normalcy. Whatever happened to normality?
The website Grammarist says that the two words have the same meaning, although many English authorities consider normality the better usage. Quora, on the other hand, says that there is a slight difference in meaning, with normalcy meaning a usual condition and normality meaning within the range of normal. DailyWriting makes the point that since there is no abnormalcy in standard English, one would need to use normality in a contrast with abnormality.
Although normalcy has been popular for a century — since Warren G. Harding’s presidential campaign slogan of 1920, “Return to Normalcy” — I can’t recall ever using it. And although by Quora’s definition it’s the proper word for what we hope to return to in 2020, it’s not likely to be part of my normal speech.
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ANTI-TRUMP QUOTATIONS: 110TH IN AN ONGOING SERIES
“[T]o encourage people to go protest the plans that you just made recommendations on, it just doesn’t make any sense. We’re sending completely conflicting messages out to the governors and to the people, as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations.”
— Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan
I retired in August 2015 from Northwestern University after 25 years as an editor in University Relations. I live in the South Loop and am a volunteer Chicago Greeter. Getting the most out of retired life in the big city will be a recurrent theme of this blog, but I consider any topic fair game because the perspective will be that of a retiree.
It’s really nice if you are helping them with their paper. Also, they can use https://dissertationauthors.com/blog/how-to-cite-a-dissertation-in-mla service for assistance.
1050 Anderson Dr., Libertyville: $979,000 | Listed March 10, 2020
This 5,961-square-foot Libertyville home has six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Enter through the foyer with an imperial staircase and views of the formal living and dining rooms. The kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, an island, a walk-in pantry and exterior access. The family room boasts two-story ceilings, recessed lighting, a wet bar and fireplace. A walk-in closet and bathroom, featuring a two-sink vanity, Whirlpool tub and shower, complete the main floor master suite. The lower level features a recreation room and media room. An in-ground pool, tennis court and patio can be found outdoors.
Crowned guinea pigs Momma Rose, a two-year-old female, and her one-year-old daughter Coco are looking for loving guardian together.
These girls get along beautifully and momma Rose is one of the sweetest guinea pigs I’ve ever met. Her daughter Coco has adorable sounds.
These sweet girls are easy to handle and hold.
Guinea pigs eat a diet of unlimited Timothy hay (or Orchard hay if you have allergies), limited pellets, and fresh greens including romaine, red leaf and green leaf lettuces, cilantro, etc. And, since guinea pigs like humans can’t manufacture their own vitamin C, so they needs daily red pepper or Vitamin C tablets.
Please read up on guinea pig care and diet before adopting by visiting this excellent web site http://www.guinealynx.info/.
They would love a home with a family who will handle them daily, keep them well fed, and keep their habitat nice and clean.
If you’re interested in meeting and possibly adopting Rose and Coco, please contact [email protected]
They are being fostered in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood.
Their adoption fee of $60 as a pair benefits the Friends of Petraits Rescue. For an additional $50, we’ll include a starter kit of everything you need to care for them including cage, hay, litter, food, hidey hut and water bottle.
Picture yourself on the porch at Stags Leap Winery sipping a 2016 Ne Cede Malis Petite Sirah
With necessity being the mother of invention, during the global lockdown, one of the more creative “inventions” is the virtual wine tasting.
You may not be able to go to Napa (or Sonoma or wherever your dream vineyard may be), in person, but many wineries are offering “virtual’ tastings.
Last Thursday evening, I attended my first virtual tasing with Stags’ Leap Winery. It won’t be my last.
Stags Leap Winery Manor House.
Stags’ Leap initiated the virtual tastings on instagram live on the last Thursday in March. The virtual tastings will continue throughout the month of April and beyond–until the winery reopens.
To participate, just follow Stags’ Leap Winery on instagram. Then download or log into your instagram account a few minutes before the Thursday tastings (3:00pm PST/6:00pm EST) and click on live when it pops up.
What to expect
Last Thursday, we were treated to a tour of Ne Cede Mali’s vineyard and a tasting with winemaker Christophe Paulette (pictured above).
Paulette discussed the 125-year history of the winery and the Stags’ Leap District of Napa Valley, while we tasted the 2016 Ne Cede Mali Petit Sirah.
Ne Cede Malis (pronounced Ne KAY Day Mah LEES) comes from the Latin phrase “Don’t give in to misfortune,” the family motto of Stags’ Leap founder Horace Chase.
We were able to comment and asks questions throughout the feed that lasted about 45 minutes.
I asked Paulette about cheese pairings for the wine. He said the 2016 Ne Cede Mali Petit Sirah pairs well with a variety of cheeses but suggested, since I’m from Chicago, that I try pairing it with a nearby Wisconsin cheese Merlot – Bellavitano.
Are you in?
Then let’s get started. First you need the wine.
Wine
Here is a list of the upcoming themed tastings for the rest of April, which is also posted at stagsleap.com and on Instagram, @stagsleapwinery:
4/23: 2018 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2016 The Leap Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Wines can be purchased in advance online at the Stags’ Leap Winery website or go to their Store Locator to check for local availability.
Glasses
All purpose wine glass from Crate and Barrel.
Next you need glasses. After all, you want to drink a good bottle out of a Dixie cup like Paul Giamatti in “Sideways.”
Traditional and popular glasses are available from Riedel, Zalto, or Schott Zwiesel.
Or if you are short on storage or cash, check out Master of Wine Jancis Robinson’s all-purpose glass on the high end.
Or you can purchase more budget friendly options such as the all-purpose glass at Crate and Barrel for $4.95. Or kick things up a notch withSpiegelau Universal’s crystal wine glasses on sale at $39.99 for a set of 4.
Educate
Go the Stags’ Leap website to learn a little about the wine before the tasting.
Atmosphere
Whether you are tasting alone, with a significant other or a socially distanced group of friends, you may want to give some thought to the atmosphere.
You can create a warm, inviting atmosphere, with lighting dim enough to keep it moody, but bright enough to see the wine. Unscented candles can add a nice touch. Or if the weather is nice you can take the tasting outdoors to the deck or patio.
Pairings
Since Stags’ Leap virtual wine tastings are relatively short, having some cheese. bread and water is probably all you’ll want. Click here for some cheese pairing ideas.
Cheers!
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Paulette discussed the 125-year 
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