EDIT: Java's house, high noon!

Fullerton, not far from the LA county border near the junction of the 91 & 5 freeways.

Details will surely come below later. Pipe up and post if you think you might come!


OK, so we're looking at Syrah primarily, and related varietals, Syrah blends, Rhone-ish wines maybe. Keeps the palates less confused.
I'm bringing [at least] one of various woot Syrahs from the past year, to give you an idea.

A few white wines are always welcome to kick off with maybe, it being summer. Hope to try the White Zep (alexa?!) and the Rhino if anyone can bring. I can also bring a Harvey or a Jana or an Ann Amie if anyone likes.


WE have a good bunch of people already. So let us kno if you want to join in, what you might bring (food too.. there's a BBQ grill goes well with the Syrahs etc).

Make your preferences known!

*bump*

I'll add this to the roundup. Recommend that you reformat the title to look more like the other GTG titles. That should help distinguish it when scanning down the w.o.w.w listings.

I really wish I could come for this! I'll be 3 timezones away.

richardhod wrote:Any takers? HitAnyKey is interested in something, and I want to do a Syrah horizontal. You may have seen my post elsewhere: meaning compare as many Syrahs as we can and consequently end up horizontal.

No idea where yet, or exactly if it'll work, but thinking in the LA area. So, folks, fire away!

[EDIT: or don't. HAK wants to meet up with some peeps on 17th / 18th. Bueller.. Bueller...?]

hmmm.... if you have something around the 17th/18th let me know - I may be in the area

alexa84 wrote:hmmm.... if you have something around the 17th/18th let me know - I may be in the area

I'm a definite maybe for whenever. I haz no syrah, though. But I haz other stuf.

kylemittskus wrote:I'm a definite maybe for whenever. I haz no syrah, though. But I haz other stuf.

splendid.. with alexa and HAK we have potentially four already. I'm sure we can work out what wine to bring / how to work that out km. And there are more SoCal people with too much in their cellar who might be tempted (for example, mark, I believe...)

richardhod wrote:splendid.. with alexa and HAK we have potentially four already. I'm sure we can work out what wine to bring / how to work that out km. And there are more SoCal people with too much in their cellar who might be tempted (for example, mark, I believe...)

I can't imagine Sparky and Java NOT showing up. Those two are always down to drink.

alexa84 wrote:hmmm.... if you have something around the 17th/18th let me know - I may be in the area

It'd be great to see you.. and also perhaps do something about that possible wootlegging you wanted. 18th also possible, though after this music gig I'll probably be getting up at noon with a humungous hangover

LA looks to be at least 2 hours away from where I would be down in San Diego, so that might be a little tough for me. Especially depending on what I actually decide upon as my transportation options for that weekend. Still haven't decided when/where/if I'll be renting a car.
Need to chat with my friend who I'll be staying with to confirm if one of them would be willing to pick up me at the airport, since I've heard renting cars from the San Diego airport is obnoxiously expensive. And I might even wait until Saturday to do the rental, to eliminate a day of rental costs.
Guess I'll be needing to do some car rental research at lunch today and toss her an email.

HitAnyKey42 wrote:LA looks to be at least 2 hours away from where I would be down in San Diego, so that might be a little tough for me. Especially depending on what I actually decide upon as my transportation options for that weekend. Still haven't decided when/where/if I'll be renting a car.
Need to chat with my friend who I'll be staying with to confirm if one of them would be willing to pick up me at the airport, since I've heard renting cars from the San Diego airport is obnoxiously expensive. And I might even wait until Saturday to do the rental, to eliminate a day of rental costs.
Guess I'll be needing to do some car rental research at lunch today and toss her an email.

they have a really cool and efficient train from San Diego (or Carlsbad and stops in between) to LA. Given Friday traffic, most certainly faster too. Cheap too. And downtown may be close to where anything happens. But hopefully some of the regulars will have some ideas there.. plenty of time.
And someone might pick you up and then take you to a plane from LA. Or not, of course.. just to remind you of options :D

*bump*

sooooo.... what's going on with this?

alexa84 wrote:*bump*

sooooo.... what's going on with this?

ssshhh .... we're trying to hide from HaK!



Java, what's that restaurant Clayfu took you guys to that time? BYOB right?

MarkDaSpark wrote:ssshhh .... we're trying to hide from HaK!



Java, what's that restaurant Clayfu took you guys to that time? BYOB right?

I was really hoping to experience partying at Casa Madwine, but I guess I'll probably be out of luck in that regard. You guys just speak so highly of it. LOL

Oh, and it's impossible to hide from me.

alexa84 wrote:*bump*

sooooo.... what's going on with this?

Btw, you had commented on that you might "be in the area"...what area is it of which you speak? Is it that you would be traveling to the area, or that you live in the area? As I've realized SoCal is a pretty big area, for which I may end up having to travel a great distance after my flight (if it's on Friday) to get to.
I really do need to remember to call my San Diego friend to start working out how I'm getting from the airport to their place. Heh.

HitAnyKey42 wrote:Btw, you had commented on that you might "be in the area"...what area is it of which you speak? Is it that you would be traveling to the area, or that you live in the area? As I've realized SoCal is a pretty big area, for which I may end up having to travel a great distance after my flight (if it's on Friday) to get to.
I really do need to remember to call my San Diego friend to start working out how I'm getting from the airport to their place. Heh.

I definitely won't be there on Friday - driving out, specifically, to the LA area on Saturday (from AZ) to visit a couple of friends for a few days. If there is a gathering, I'd love to be a part of it!

For what it's worth, the airport is pretty conveniently located near the heart of San Diego, but if your friends are in the further reaches of beach cities, up North or inland it might be a bit of a trek to wherever they are.

As for the meetup, Richard's suggestion about the train is a good one - traffic is always a nightmare up through Orange County into LA and the train has got to have some neat sights on the way up I've also only heard good things about it's ease of use.

alexa84 wrote:I definitely won't be there on Friday - driving out, specifically, to the LA area on Saturday (from AZ) to visit a couple of friends for a few days. If there is a gathering, I'd love to be a part of it!

For what it's worth, the airport is pretty conveniently located near the heart of San Diego, but if your friends are in the further reaches of beach cities, up North or inland it might be a bit of a trek to wherever they are.

As for the meetup, Richard's suggestion about the train is a good one - traffic is always a nightmare up through Orange County into LA and the train has got to have some neat sights on the way up I've also only heard good things about it's ease of use.

I'm thinking Sunday too. So, can we get the regulars from SoCal here? Mark and apparently javadrinker? We can broaden out the wine from Syrah if that's not everyone's thing.. Just was a thought.. nice lighter drinking than other reds. Hell, we can bring some whites too for tasting.

not sure if y'all found spots to meet yet...
but there are quite a few restaurants here with very decent food and no corkage charge...

for example:

Manchego
Colori Kitchen
Cobras & Matadors
Girasole Restaurant
Speranza

sukeiasa wrote:not sure if y'all found spots to meet yet...
but there are quite a few restaurants here with very decent food and no corkage charge...

for example:

Manchego
Colori Kitchen
Cobras & Matadors
Girasole Restaurant
Speranza

Thank you, perfect! what might some Syrahs go well with peeps? I hear Cobras and Matadors is good, though I forget what sort of grub it is. Might have to arrange transport home...

although I did possibly have in mind a lunch / afternoon outdoor affair. Anyone like that idea?

richardhod wrote:Thank you, perfect! what might some Syrahs go well with peeps? I hear Cobras and Matadors is good, though I forget what sort of grub it is. Might have to arrange transport home...

although I did possibly have in mind a lunch / afternoon outdoor affair. Anyone like that idea?

Well if you were doing Friday, it would have to be evening. If Sunday, I would actually prefer lunch/afternoon since I would have a long travel back from LA to San Diego (plus my friend lives a bit east of SD) and I don't want a late night before my early morning flight on Monday up to SFO.
If on Saturday (which personally I think I'd prefer), anytime would be good.

I need to get ahold of my friend and confirm exactly what their address is, so I can start figuring out transportation options for that weekend. I need to do as cheap as possible, so if I can somehow avoid renting a car that would be good, but not sure how possible that will be.

most of the places i listed are either tapas or italian... good drinking food

Well, there's also Green Field Churrascaria in Long Beach on PCH (close to the 7th St. Exit off the 405.

Java, ClayFu, zTimBz, and I have all eaten there before, and IIRC corkage is only $10 a bottle.

mmmmm, Brazilian BBQ. :drool:


There's also possibility of going to San Antonio Winery for a tour and free tasting.

Or ...... TEMECULA RUN 2: The Living Dead


There's always the potential to hit up some Temecula wineries. We got a van & driver the first time, which worked out very well.

Also, the Pechanga Casino is there with their dinner buffet (Crab).

One of us could potentially get a suite/room that we could hang out after dinner and enjoy more wine.

I vote for the Sunday afternoon option since that puts less pressure on me to get anywhere at a reasonable time on Saturday (I'm not known for packing before trips, or being on time anywhere, ever), but PLEASE don't make any decisions based on me in case I can't work out getting to the event. My intention is absolutely to attend, but my first loyalty is to the two friends I've committed to splitting that short time between. And, before you even say it, yes, I will invite them! I know, the more the merrier - and if not, too bad! I'll bring extra bottles as their entrance fee

Mark, the winery has definitely piqued my interest. More an FYI than a declaration of anything: locales South of LA might prove slightly more difficult for me, as the friends I'm visiting are a bit more North-ish (Thousand Oaks and Woodland Hills). But also to be noted: I will by no means not attend as a result of location - I'm generally very adaptable.

HitAnyKey42 wrote:
I need to get ahold of my friend and confirm exactly what their address is, so I can start figuring out transportation options for that weekend. I need to do as cheap as possible, so if I can somehow avoid renting a car that would be good, but not sure how possible that will be.

If you do try to rent, I suggest going through priceline.com, "naming your own price" and low-balling the hell out of it (keep in mind taxes/fees will be added after your bid, so go even lower than what you ideally would like to spend.

Ok, so I've been out of the loop thanks to the new job but I've gotten a quick once over of recent posts from WhizzoTWB. Sounds like things are a bit in the air at the moment. I don't know which way people are leaning for now but I would be willing to offer my place in Fullerton for a Saturday barbecue which could eventually become an evening event.

HAK, the Amtrak station is very close to me so I could pick you up there if you choose to take the train up. There's a futon too if you can't make it back the same day. Discuss amongst yourselves and let me know if Fullerton is central enough for everyone.

javadrinker wrote:Ok, so I've been out of the loop thanks to the new job but I've gotten a quick once over of recent posts from WhizzoTWB. Sounds like things are a bit in the air at the moment. I don't know which way people are leaning for now but I would be willing to offer my place in Fullerton for a Saturday barbecue which could eventually become an evening event.

HAK, the Amtrak station is very close to me so I could pick you up there if you choose to take the train up. There's a futon too if you can't make it back the same day. Discuss amongst yourselves and let me know if Fullerton is central enough for everyone.

Great idea and congrats on the new job! Saturday's entirely out for me, hence the Friday / Sunday. From what I'd gathered from early folks, Sunday was more likely, and given people work, traffic etc, proably a lot less fraught. And anywhere near public transport / easy overnights if an evening do is a good idea when wine's involved :D But apart rom Saturday, all can be flexible.

I'd been thinking a couple of opttions:

1. Griffith Park or something like that (where boozy outings have been held before), an al fresco deal. We can bring appropriate grub..

2. Yet perhaps a good meal with the syrahs would be wise, though the corkage overhead would probably add $100 or so to the bill (how many bottles will we get opened, experienced people?)

3. Winery sounds good, but Perhaps After a syrah tasting, which was my plan for this, leading on to:

4. We could even make it a two-header with lunch and our wine tasting, then something else: either going outdoors for a nice SoCal sunny walk, skydive / beach then a second round of tasting. (Skydiving unlikely;) or if in fullerton maybe that winery.

5. javadrinker's fullerton offer sounds lovely has the benefits of public transport and a couch for at least one person. But can you do it on Sunday?

6. Sparks' ideas: Green Field Churrascaria in Long Beach or San Antonio Winery

7. or the Temecula Wineries with option or Pechanga room for drunken more tasting. I love your ideas, and keep me posted about Temecula II, but maybe that's for another time.


My suggestion is that this time is see if we can stick to the original Syrah comparison idea if at all possible and find somewhere we can drink/taste bottles brought. Unless I get seriously outvoted, of course.. :D Then we can maybe make it so we can accommodate Alex / HAK if at all possible! And yes, bring your pals Alex! They'll get a fine induction, I suspect.

It seems like so far Sunday Syrahs at lunch late lunch or afternoon works best, stretching later in the afternoon or eve to round II if so desired. Location and format to be argued!

Hi y'all, Java's +1 here...

I'm bummed that Saturday is off the table, since that'd be far and away the best for me. I'm tied up in a work event on Friday evening. I can certainly do something on Sunday, but only mid-day into very early evening, since I live in L.A. proper and have this pesky thing called "work" that comes early on Monday morning ;)

So my humble vote is for something low-key, low-cost and picnic-esque starting relatively early on Sunday. I wouldn't be up for a big Temecula adventure or late evening events, I'm afraid. Of course, I'm just a +1, so take my input with a grain o'salt!

P.S. At the risk of volunteering Casa Java out of order, his place does have a nice little porch and backyard for dining al fresco as well as a grill for cooking sundry meat & veg...

alexa84 wrote:If you do try to rent, I suggest going through priceline.com, "naming your own price" and low-balling the hell out of it (keep in mind taxes/fees will be added after your bid, so go even lower than what you ideally would like to spend.

At current, I'm not not renting at all unless something changes. My friend will pick me up at the airport on Friday (they live only about 15 min away, in Santee) and her hubby should be able to get me there Mon morning for my flight to SFO.

javadrinker wrote:I don't know which way people are leaning for now but I would be willing to offer my place in Fullerton for a Saturday barbecue which could eventually become an evening event.

HAK, the Amtrak station is very close to me so I could pick you up there if you choose to take the train up. There's a futon too if you can't make it back the same day. Discuss amongst yourselves and let me know if Fullerton is central enough for everyone.

I know personally I think Saturday would be best for me (though I know it don't work for richardhod, who kicked off this thread), and looks like Amtrak up to you is only $28 or so (so not too bad). I would just need to find my way to a station from Santee.

I'll be packing in wineries the following week with the tour, so personally I'd prefer something more relaxed (I think) and definitely prefer a place that doesn't involved corkage fees, as it'll be an expensive enough week for me as is.

I also can't continue too late on Sunday since I gotta get up early for my flight to SFO on Monday, and it looks like I'd have to take into account the 2+ hours of travel time back to Santee from wherever we do this.

Oh, and I'll be mentioning this to my hosts for the weekend but as they have a 14-mo old not sure if I can get either of them to come as it would leave the other behind with their daughter.

I'm still in for whatever. All the rest of you are pains in the ass!

kylemittskus wrote:I'm still in for whatever. All the rest of you are pains in the ass!

Great. Glad to know you are.. I didn't know. anyone else in your pose too?

I'll start canvassing and get it down the the nextg few days. . Make yor views heard on here, the rest of you folks. So far it's lookig like a chilled Sunday lunch / afternoon, possibly at java's if he's around on Sun, or elsewhere tbc.

Kind of what I was hoping we'd and up at...

WhizzoTWB wrote:Hi y'all, Java's +1 here...

I'm bummed that Saturday is off the table, since that'd be far and away the best for me. I'm tied up in a work event on Friday evening. I can certainly do something on Sunday, but only mid-day into very early evening, since I live in L.A. proper and have this pesky thing called "work" that comes early on Monday morning ;)

So my humble vote is for something low-key, low-cost and picnic-esque starting relatively early on Sunday. I wouldn't be up for a big Temecula adventure or late evening events, I'm afraid. Of course, I'm just a +1, so take my input with a grain o'salt!

P.S. At the risk of volunteering Casa Java out of order, his place does have a nice little porch and backyard for dining al fresco as well as a grill for cooking sundry meat & veg...

I second or third the motion ...

Lurking, might come down that weekend, but nowhere near committed enough to put in a word for preferences.

tenuki wrote:Lurking, might come down that weekend, but nowhere near committed enough to put in a word for preferences.

Ditto

at least interest seems to be growing

So we're at about 3 weeks away... any solid plans besides Java without a shirt?

kylemittskus wrote:So we're at about 3 weeks away... any solid plans besides Java without a shirt?

Java is okay with Sunday I believe if everyone leaves before 5:30pm or so, and as long as someone has Kyle on a leash.

MarkDaSpark wrote:Java is okay with Sunday I believe if everyone leaves before 5:30pm or so, and as long as someone has Kyle on a leash.

kylemittskus wrote:So we're at about 3 weeks away... any solid plans besides Java without a shirt?

Holy shnikey!!! 3 weeks?!?!?! I better get cleaning.

And I better buy a shirt.

Thank goodness you didn't say anything about pants.


So did we all agree on a Sunday during the day kind of thing?

javadrinker wrote:Holy shnikey!!! 3 weeks?!?!?! I better get cleaning.

And I better buy a shirt.

Thank goodness you didn't say anything about pants.


So did we all agree on a Sunday during the day kind of thing?

I'm pretty sure it works for me, sans my +1. It's 2 days before her bar exam.

javadrinker wrote:Holy shnikey!!! 3 weeks?!?!?! I better get cleaning.

And I better buy a shirt.

Thank goodness you didn't say anything about pants.


So did we all agree on a Sunday during the day kind of thing?

So close and yet so far. We'll be in San Mateo visiting cousin Bob. But, the following weekend we'll be in your neck of the woods in Ontario with cousin Alice. However, since we will only be visiting each for 1 - 2 days we can't possibly run off to taste more wine with our friends.