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Wine

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Franklin Fine Wine & Café to Open on Monday

“Soft opening” on tap to work out any problems for later grand opening.

Downtown Royal Oak has a new business neighbor – Franklin Fine Wine & Café. Manager Mike Larranaga has been busy getting the inventory and recipes together for the store. Steve Soka owns the store along with two others in the metro Detroit area. “It’s a little bit of everything – it’s a fine wine shop by definition – but in the planning stage we just kept getting bigger,” Larranaga said. “There’s a full wine cellar, a cigar humidor, a full-blown kitchen with all prepared foods – we’ve got a chef on the property. It’s fun for me because I get to pair food and wine all day long.” Larranaga, a southern California native (La Jolla, a suburb of San Diego) will have $1.5 million worth of inventory on hand in the 7,500-square foot store when he …

Sherry Lane

11:32 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013

My husband & I thought we would try this place out tonight, we parked on the side of the building, off the street got out of the car proceeded to the side door, when we seen that there wasn't a menu on the door, most eateries in Royal Oak have there menu's posted on a door or window, we started to walk to the front window to see if there was a menu there, as we started to walk a guy came out and …   more ›

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

What Wine Should You Buy for Thanksgiving Dinner?

From Beaujolais Nouveau to Eiswein, there are a whole variety of wines to complement your Thanksgiving dinner.

  • HOLIDAY GUIDE
  • Judy Davids
  • Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Thanksgiving means turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and other great things to eat. All that good food deserves something good to drink. Fortunately, your local wine seller has plenty of options for Thanksgiving Day, including the ever popular Beaujolais Nouveau, which goes on shelves Thursday, a week before Thanksgiving “It’s a bottle to celebrate the harvest,” said Calvin Khemmoro of Merchant’s Fine Wine in Grosse Pointe Woods. The red wine, best served chilled, is young (about 6 weeks old) and does not age well. The price of a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau ranges from $8.99-$12.99, Khemmoro said. “People look forward to it,” Khemmoro said. “It’s very fruit forward. It’s very dry.” But if Beaujolais Nouveau is not your style, Khemmoro …

In this Article:

Merchant's Fine Wine (in Grosse Pointe Patch), 4th Street Stop, Cloverleaf Acquisition, and 7 more ›

Friday, May 13, 2011

Popular Royal Oak Wine Stroll Expands

Participants can sample wine and appetizers and take advantage of special retail discounts during event Saturday in downtown area.

Royal Oak retailers are ready to pour it on Saturday afternoon as the city hosts the 7th annual Wine Stroll, featuring more than two dozen restaurants, bars and a variety of stores and salons. Each restaurant or bar involved in the event will feature one wine and an appetizer. This year's event is expanding, with some new restaurants and retailers participating and 300 more tickets being made available. Last year, the event sold out its 1,200 tickets. A bigger draw is expected this year with 1,500 tickets available. "We have a few new venues participating this year who did not last year," said Wendy Christie of Quill Communications. "Tom's Oyster Bar, Woody's, and Stella Boutique. We also have more retailers who do not have wine samples, …

In this Article:

2011 Wine Stroll, Boys & Girls Club of South Oakland County, Royal Oak Police Department, and 25 more ›

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Get Out: Social Media, Wine and Deadliest Catch

Check out this week's Patch picks.

Outside the grass is getting greener and trees and flowers are waking from their long winter's sleep. Here are some fun things going on this weekend. 1. SOCIAL MEDIA & THE ARTS: FASHION, MUSIC AND DESIGN Where/when: dolce MODA, 505 S. Main St; Thursday 6:30 p.m., 18 and up Why go: dolce MODA will be featuring a panel discussion of fashion, music and design professionals. There will also be a QR code scavenger hunt, live music, an art installation created by Icon of Street Culture Mash and window displays featuring Michigan-based designers. Pricing: $10 for business owners and professionals, $5 for students 2. DEADLIEST CATCH Where/when: Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. 4th St; Friday 8 p.m. Why go: Join Captain Sig and the Hillstrand …

In this Article:

Dolce Moda, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Detroit Zoological Park, and 6 more ›

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Get Out: Cinco de Mayo, Music and Wine

Check out this week's Patch picks.

The warm weather is on its way and downtown Royal Oak opened up its patios for the approaching summer. To celebrate warmer days, here's a few things going on this weekend promising a fun evening. 1. SALSA BASH 2011 Where/when: Sangria & Sky Club, 401 S. Lafayette Thursday 8 p.m., 21 and up Why go: It's a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Sangria & the Sky Bar. Come get your Salsa dance on! There will be gift giveaways and a lot of drink specials.  Pricing: Free  2. KATHLEEN MADIGAN Where/when: Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St; Thursday 8 p.m. Why go: Kathleen Madigan has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and recently completed writing, producing and performing on The Root of All Evil for …

In this Article:

Sangria, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, Vintner's Cellar of Royal Oak, and 7 more ›

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Get Out: Good Eats, Music, Arts and Crafts

Check out this week's Patch picks.

Spring has sprung, the trees are beginning to bud and Robins have been spotted bobbing around our yards. Here are a few things going on for a fun-filled weekend. 1. TASTE OF MICHIGAN: UNCORKED Where/when: Holiday Market, 1203 S. Main St;  Thursday 7 p.m., 21 and up  Why go: This palate pleasing event will feature over 15 different wines and a delectable strolling dinner. The event will be hosted by Holiday Market's in house sommelier Brian Croze and the Holiday Catering culinary team. There will also be four wine distributors onsite to answer all of your wine related questions. Pricing: $29.95  2. EARTH DAY Where/when: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile; Saturday 9 a.m. Why go: Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family. Activities include a …

In this Article:

Holiday Market, Detroit Zoological Park, UHF, and 7 more ›

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Open Mic Night Strikes a Chord with Local Musicians

Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak hosts the artistic night on the first Sunday of every month.

Gusoline Alley sits unassumingly at 309 S. Center St., just down the way from Noir Leather. If you didn't know it was there, you might walk right by it. Gus's (as the regulars affectionately call it) is a gem of a dive bar. And on the first Sunday of every month for the past seven years or so, it has hosted an open mic night. The open jam starts at 5 p.m. and usually goes till about 9:30 or 10 p.m. The idea for having an open mic night came to fruition when musician Gino Fanelli and now-deceased owner Sam Stone discussed the idea. Right from the get-go, the event was a success. "That’s basically how it started," Fanelli said. "It didn’t take long before it caught on, word traveled pretty quick. It’s been packed in there since the beginning…

In this Article:

Gusoline Alley, Noir Leather, and D'amato's Italian Restaurant

Bernard Staples

3:06 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011

Like Gino said in Natalie's write-up, I met Nick Pivot at the "Gus' Open Jam", and now sit-in regularly with his band "The 99ers" - along with Clifford Hill, Sir Tim Duvalier, Jef Reynolds, Benjamin Teague. And too, I met John and CJ Milroy of "The Milroys", and Bob and Ellen Doster of "The Motor City Sidestrokers" and we all eventually formed "The Rickety Nelsons". Lots of other players have …   more ›

Friday, February 25, 2011

Get Out: Comedy, Music and a Madeiran Wine Dinner

Get a taste of humor, music and wine.

This week there are all kinds of fun and tasty happenings around Royal Oak. Here's some of our picks for adding a little spice to your weekend adventure. 1. THE NEW DEAL & CONSPIRATOR Where/when: Royal Oak Music Theatre 318 W. 4th St; Thursday, 8 p.m. Why go: Get out your dancing shoes and get ready for a night of pulsing electronic music. The New Deal is a three piece electronica outfit from Toronto, Canada and their brand of electronic music is branded as "livetronica." Conspirator is Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits. Their music is sure to get your feet moving as you dance the night away. Pricing: $25  2. MADEIRAN WINE DINNER Where/when: D'Amatos 222 S. Sherman Dr; Thursday, 7 p.m. Why go: D'Amatos will be hosting a…

In this Article:

The New Deal & Conspirator at the Royal Oak Music Theater, Royal Oak Music Theatre, D'amato's Italian Restaurant, and 6 more ›

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Dating in the Darque Comes to Royal Oak

A new and unique dining and dating concept explores sensory perception.

Royal Oak will welcome its inaugural Dating in the Darque event next week, bringing a unique dating and dining experience to the downtown area. The social event, which uses complete darkness to enhance sensory perceptions other than sight, begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Commune, 419 S. Main St., beneath Bastone. A second event is scheduled for March 3 at Como's Restaurant in Ferndale. Similar events are gaining popularity in major cities such as London, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, and they are touted as an exploration for the senses. By eliminating the sense of sight, Dating in the Darque allows the other senses to come to the forefront, creating an exhilarating and sensual experience. Roman Chantal of Haus of …

In this Article:

Bastone

Friday, January 7, 2011

Vinotecca: Wine and Dine on Main Street

Whether you love white or red, the helpful staff will make sure your wine drinking experience is perfect.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEWS
  • Joe Hakim
  • Friday, January 7, 2011

Even with the introduction of good, affordable wine into the collective palates of Royal Oak by stores such as Holiday Market and Trader Joe's, wine still has an aftertaste of mystery for some. Vinotecca, 417 S. Main St., wants to change that. By focusing on wine knowledge with emphasis on each patron's likes and dislikes, the staff at Vinotecca can guide you through its extensive list of wine and pair each one with a delicious dish or two. "What we do here is we take the allure of being a high-end place and make it casual by serving wines that you enjoy with every and each product," said our waiter Dave Egres. "Our concept is to bring wines from around the world and indigenous wines just to show them off. We do a lot of beginning wines (…

In this Article:

Holiday Market, Trader Joe's, and Bastone

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