CheekyChicago

Here is the thing: although America now drinks more wine than any other country, we are not exactly drinking wine in the way that Europeans drink wine. Here’s what I mean: when you go to book club, someone asks if you want a glass while you discuss Unbroken; when several couples come over for dinner, one of the first questions is “red or white?” – no matter what appetizer you are serving; or you call your girlfriend and say, “Let’s get together for a glass of wine.” Nothing wrong with any of this, but what it means is that at this time we are a “wine as a cocktail” culture more than …  Read more

Awards Season is in full swing, and to me that means one thing: dresses-a-plenty! As Sunday evening’s red carpet proved, the Golden Globes allow for a less formal environment. Starlets were able to indulge in more playful fashion choices, and even for some, unconventional ones. Trends of the night were as follows: muted color palettes (think Champagne, pale pink, nude), Grecian silhouettes (see Emma Stone and Mila Kunis), mermaid skirts (Sofia Vergara and Reese nailed it), and jeweled headbands (a la Michelle Williams and Charlize Theron) – all truly gorgeous touches for an event such as the Globes. Although there were many a beautiful ensemble, I wanted to share my …  Read more

I love statistics. No, not the spreadsheet kind of thing, but the year-end reports of what’s hot and what’s not based on the numbers. So, here is a curious one for you. Even though unemployment is dragging the economy and house prices are still depressing, last year, according to the number crunchers at Nielsen, the consumption of luxury wines (bottles priced $15 and up) rose 13.1% in dollar volume. And what about ultra-luxury wines (bottles $30 and up), you ask? They rose even more, 16.1% in dollar volume. What’s up with that? “Yes, honey, I know we have to give up the vacation to Naples,” (that could cost thousands) or “Really, I don’t …  Read more