Vibrant Rioja Tasting!

Happy Friday Brickgals!  I wanted to get the word out about a fabulous tasting happening at the Intercontinental Miami this coming Monday 4/30, the Vibrant Rioja Tasting.

Many of you have probably heard of Rioja before, and many actually think it is a type of wine, but it is not. It is actually a region in Spain, and might I add, the most well know.  You will find red (tinto), white (blanco) and rose (rosado) wines all from this region, but majority of the wines from Rioja are red, and made from the Spanish grape Tempranillo.

Wines from Rioja also are broken down in several categories.  You have basic Rioja, or Joven, which are more of the young, basic table wines.  Then you will find the main 3 classifications; Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.  These classifications are used to show the aging of the wines, Crianza spending the least amount of time in oak barrels, and Gran Reserva’s the most.

While I can tell you the basics about Rioja, to get more in depth knowledge, and to taste 200+ wines from different producers, come to the Vibrant Rioja tasting next week.  You will be able to meet and discuss with the winery owners and winemakers directly from Rioja who are making a special stop in Miami to help educate us about this fabulous region!

Check out more information on the Vibrant Rioja Tasting!

12TH ANNUAL TOBACCO ROAD & ROSEY BABY’S CRAWFISH BOIL & SEAFOOD FEST

No need to travel to New Orleans for some fresh crawdads, for the 12 th year in a row Miami’s Oldest bar, Tobacco Road, will welcome 1,000 of their closest friends to peel up 1,500 pounds of the best Crawfish available, flown in yesterday from New Orleans to be served right here in South Florida by the legendary Rosey Baby Cooks from Fort Lauderdale.  Hopefully the weather holds up!

Jeronimo’s Lounge on Brickell Grand Opening Party

The last night is tonight, so make sure to check it out!!

DWNTWN Miami Concert Series

Mixing Miracles: All You Can D4C This Friday for March of Dimes!

Hi BrickGals!  This Friday, join me to D4C at Blue Martini Brickell for March of Dimes.  For $45, a VIP wristband guarantees open bar from 6-8 pm.  God knows I normally spend more than that for happy hour at some places in the hood so count me in!  Email me at BrickGals@gmail.com or hit up Bryane (970-237-1089) for wristbands or more information.

Easter Wines

Hey BrickGals, sorry for the late wine post today, this week has totally gotten away from me.  Here are some good suggestions on wines to drink with your Easter menu.  Whether you are hosting or joining, wine is a MUST for the table on Easter Sunday.

If you are going traditional with Ham and/or Lamb, I would recommend a slightly sweeter white to go with the ham.  Something along the lines of Riesling or Gewurztraminer.  If you remember my blog from a few weeks back, I LOVE wines from Alsace, France, and this is a fantastic region to get Riesling & Gewurztraminer.  Both wines tend to offer fresh, flavorful taste profiles with enough sweet fruit to balance the salt in the ham and enough acidity to support the combination without compromising the flavor in either the ham or the wine. Also, a nice dry rosé would pair well.  If you are a hard core Chardonnay drinker, you can probably get away with a lightly oaked Chardonnay, but the key is lightly oaked!  Do not go for a rich, buttery styled wine, it will kill the food.

For the Lamb, I would highly suggest a red wine such as a Pinot Noir, Syrah or Tempranillo.  If you are a traditional red wine drinker and prefer staples such as Cabernet and Merlot, you can also pair these varietals with lamb as long as these rich, full bodied wines are not going to be overpowering the flavor of the lamb.  I would say a medium bodied red wine (such as the 3 listed first) would be your best bet!

I hope this makes your trip to the wine shop a little quicker this weekend.  Have a great holiday!

Get SunSmart 5K This Weekend!

While D4C is everyone’s thing, E4C (otherwise known as Exercise for Charity) just might not be.  Well, guess what BrickGals?  I don’t give a crap.  Just like I tell my little high school lacrosse girls everyday, “I don’t want to hear excuses and I definitely don’t want to see anyone whining.”  When BrickGal Jen calls me and says “Yo, BrickGal Meg, I need you to run a 5K for me this weekend.”  I say, “Shittt, yo I gots you.”   Who knows if I’ll make it running the whole way (haha syke I don’t walk… unless the BF can’t make it those 3.2 miles), but I’m sure going to try.

So let me give ya the deets, besides the fact that Sebastian the Ibis and Dolphins cheerleaders will be in house, there will be free food and you can meet BrickGal Meg (whoa, those four glasses of red wine are getting to my head)…

The 3rd Annual Golden Key Gets SunSmart 5K is being held this Saturday, April 7th in Crandon Park South on Key Biscayne.  The event supports two great causes: melanoma awareness and Miami’s TEAM FOR LIFE. T4L is an Automated External Defibrillator Public Access to Defibrillation Program that helps make defibrillators available in public and/or private places in Miami in order to improve survival rates of those who suffer a cardiac arrest (think, when BrickGal Jen walks by and stops the hearts on those BrickGuys, they live… YAY!).  In addition, UM (University of Miami) Dermatologists will be giving free skin cancer screenings in booths on site.

BrickGal Becky's Most Recent Facebook Profile Pic... She's ready to run.

Oh, and BrickGuys, why should you do it?  Well besides the fact that you get a free tshirt, that hot little tart BrickGal Becky has already informed me she’ll be kicking your ass in only a sports bra.

Check out www.goldenkey5k.com to learn more and to register! Cost is $15 for UM students and $20 for non-students.  Race starts at 8 am, and registration at 6:30.