Pittsburgh BYOB Gathering - Round 4

At the last gathering we talked about trying to do a sparking wine tasting before the holidays. Someone suggested River Moon Cafe in Lawrenceville. So I spoke with them and they could accommodate us on Friday Dec. 4 at 8:00PM. That's a little later in the evening than our other evenings, but I was thinking of mixing it up a little; everyone could have a light dinner on their own beforehand and we'd just do appetizers and desserts with our bubbly. Or, if you'd rather meet an hour or two earlier for dinner that's fine, just say the word.

Please reply back if you're up for it or not. If Dec. 4 doesn't work other potential dates would be Friday Dec. 11 or Saturday Dec. 12. The following weekend is the last weekend before Xmas and I already have plans and suspect that others may as well.

Thanks
Mark

I would be good for one on the 4th.
dontime

I'm in for 2
The appetizer idea is good for me. They don't mind staying open until 10-11PM??

Dec 4th is good.
My wife and I are in (2)

Dec 4th works - put me in for 1. I have not experimented much with the bubbly, so this should be fun.

Less than a week away - are we still good to go on this?

Yes we are. My wife and I are in which makes 8 by my count. ecola? hawk? Anyone else? T

The restaurant has offered to do a wedding-style arrangement where we give a dollar amount per person and they put appetizers together to fit that budget. We could also go and sit down and just order off the menu. There wouldn't be as many options that way as they have a separate catering menu which is more varied but we need to order from it in advance. Does anyone have a perference?

They have also offered a $2.50/per person corkage rather than their usual $5/bottle.

I'd go for the budget route but that's a bit of communication/coordination in 5 days. If you get all 7 appetizers on their menu it's $67 but some aren't real champagne friendly. Can they suggest 6 appropriate items for $10/item?

jlburd's suggestion of an array of apps works for me, considering the timing to organize and the fact that we will meet later in the evening. Any preferences by the group to mix and match would be just fine with me.

Mark,
My schedule unexpectedly just got crazy. I don't think I can swing it Friday. Unless you hear otherwise, I'm out.

Bummer dude, OK so the count stands at 6. ecola sent an e-mail that he's been having trouble getting logged in -- it's unusual for a week to go by without a half dozen new ratings from him(!) -- and can't make it. I guess there's lots of competition with holiday parties.

jlburd just picked up a bottle of Dom Perignon 2000 (we're splitting the cost). I will also be bringing a bottle of Louis Roederer Anderson Valley Brut.

I'm flexible on appetizers and I'm still in for 1. I bought a bottle of something or other when in VA week before last - not real knowledgeable with bubbly so I'm looking to learn.

Hi all. My Mom's in the hospital but Im going to try to attend. Sorry for replying last minute.

Just found this (looking for something else). Some interesting ideas for future gatherings...

Swirl Girls

They're in Florida, so you'll see references to buying wine at the local grocery store - what a concept....

We had fun last night. For being in the city, River Moon Cafe seems to be pretty much in the middle of nowhere..."tucked away" may be the best way to put it.

For those who missed it, there were six people, and for once, fewer bottles than people! The sparklers were:
1. Dom Perignon Champagne 2000 (Code #3896)
2. Viansa Brut Classico Carneros (Code #18317)
2. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut (Code #7933)
4. Montaudon Champagne Brut
5. Simonnet Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut (Code #29809)

That order pretty much follows the consensus of the crowd. The Dom Perignon was the hands down favorite although several people had a hard time justifying the price. (Even with the fancy box and the two flutes included, imagine that.) There are two #2s listed purposely because different folks preferred one or the other but everyone liked both. The Viansa is listed before the Roederer because it has a much cooler bottle! (Although the low rent label fell right off after an hour in the ice bucket.) #4 was underwhelming and #5 was not enjoyed by anyone except possibly the wait staff after we left.

Hopefully we can get back together after the holidays.

That was a good time Mark and all; as always, great conversation, and, heck, I am now better armed to choose a decent bottle of bubbly for the New Year.
As far as #5, uh, well, the evening was getting on and yes perhaps the wait staff was happy to find anything left :)
So, I'll confirm what I had eluded to at one point in the evening: I'll offer to set up the next get-together; thinking sometime in mid-late Jan. I'll look to set up a new thread soon.
Thanks again.