Amizetta

Last night I spent a couple hours at Border's writing. That was nice until a group of high school idiots took over and spread their rain of gossip so loud that I couldn't take it any longer.

I packed up and left. I headed over to the food court and ordered my usual chicken teriyaki rice bowl. The place was crawling with teenagers.

Not quite ready to go home yet, I exited the freeway and drove through the old part of downtown Auburn. This is a very small area with few parking spaces, so when I spotted one, I pulled in and parked. I sat there for a few moments trying to decide what to do.
I starred at the sign that read "The California". It's a bar. The same bar that was used in the film Phenomenon. That movie came out a while ago and stared John Travolta.

There were several people hanging around the entrance. They looked creepy. Me go into a bar? ALONE? I don't think so. Right next to the bar was a much nicer looking place. It actually had windows with lights on inside. The sign overhead said, "Wine Bar, Tasting Room and Art Gallery."
Okay- so maybe I am a California yuppie, but I knew this had to be safer. It catered to my sense of class and elegance. Bars are for getting hit on...I don't need to get hit on. Besides, I don't like beer and hard alcohol is fine when you've got a ride home.

So, I gathered my courage and walked into the tasting room. The music was soft and soothing. Hundreds of dark wine bottles rested on wall mounted hooks that stretched from floor to ceiling as you walked in the front door. All the other walls displayed beautiful paintings and prints that depicted various scenes of wine and fast cars or city lights.

I approached the bar and asked to taste their Merlot. The bartender introduced himself and we talked for a little while. I decided to purchase one glass of the wine, if only to have a reason for sitting there a little while longer.

Drew (the bartender) pointed to a door just on the other side of the bar. It was an old wooden door with wide, warn down planks. It's rustic hinges hinted at it's age, but I wondered if it were one of those reproduction pieces made to look old.

"Go peak your head around that door." Drew said with a smile. "There's an old building back there. It's the oldest building in Auburn. We discovered it not to long ago and now we use it for wine dinner parties."

I hesitated.

"Go ahead, it's a neat room."

I got up and did as he suggested. First thing I saw was a narrow alley way between the two buildings. A large heater greeted me with a blast of warm air. It felt great. The narrow space had been decorated with candles and nice outdoor patio furniture. A waitress was coming out of the newly discovered "old building" and informed me that this narrow alleyway is their smoking patio.

Ah, that's nice- but I don't smoke.
"Drew told me about this old building and wanted me to peak my head in."
"Of course" said the waitress, "go right ahead."

I wasn't sure. I could see behind the heavy iron door that there was a dinner party going on right then. I didn't want to interrupt. I could hear music. But the temptation was to great. I love old buildings and this one looked to be promising with it's crumbling old bricks and mortar.

With one foot I leaned my body forward to see the rustic walls of tiny room. Immediately everyone looked at me and I quickly said to them, "Hi, I'm just wanting to look at the room. It's so pretty."

Three rectangular tables had been placed in the room which allowed just enough space for the waitresses to serve their guests. There couldn't have been more than 25 people, as the space simply couldn't hold more than that. The farthest corner was saved for the guest of honor to perform his music. His name was Spencer C. Clark.

My eyes explored with delight the many cracks and crevices of the crumbling walls. Candles had been placed in many spots where the walls had shifted over time. Wax dripped and splattered, landing in the most interesting formations, adding to the beautiful ambiance of the place. Above, 2 black iron chandliers hung from a puffy style canvas roof top. At least 10 votive candles illuminated softly from each one.

I hadn't really had much time to look around when I was immediately ushered in and invited to stay. An older man (named Gary) poured me a glass of wine and asked my name. For some reason they liked me and I found them equally interesting. Everyone was older than me and the subject of my age soon came into question.

Married- 2 kids- 35 years old. They couldn't believe it! Seriously, I had to get out my drivers license to prove it. Spencer thought I was 20. Then it was my turn. I was asked to guess HIS age.
Hmmm, I'm not very good at this. I'm an artist-not a mathematician. Wanting to be polite, I aimed low and guessed 43. I was 10 years off. He is 53.

Gary chimed in and said he was 55 and said to Spencer "You're my little brother!" He's not really, of course.

I tried to be very outgoing since they invited me to stay and all. I talked mostly with a lady named Lynn. Also with Gary's wife, whose name escapes me, but she looked exactly like a friend I have that moved to Kansas 2 years ago.

Spencer owns a vineyard (click the title of this post for his website) in Napa. He also writes and sings songs. The music you hear on his site are all songs that I heard him perform last night. It was a full course meal that I interrupted. I came in just before the main course. Fillet Mignon. It was delicious. So was the wine. I couldn't believe they were sharing this with a stranger. The lowest price on this wine is $80.00 a bottle, and you have to buy it by the case! I wish I could have afforded to buy some. O'well.

Everyone was so nice and friendly. Spencer would sing inbetween courses and talk to Lynn, me and Gary the rest of the time. It was fun. Gary kept calling this a "happening". I learned that Gary is a publisher of a magazine (Sacramento magazine, I think- which explains the VERY nice camera resting on the table in front of him) and the owner of the tasting room I was currently sitting in.

Dessert came next; a chocolate cookie sandwich with ice cream in the middle and hot fudge poured on top served with Spencer's port wine. I didn't have much of the port. Not that I don't like port...I certainly do! But I know port is at least 18% alcohol and I'll be driving home soon. I took a couple sips. It was so sweet and yummy! The dessert, I picked apart and carefully tried to consume as little ice cream as possible. They were being so generous to me that I didn't want to tell them about my dairy issues. I know that seems crazy- but it was how I felt.

Drew came in and set down next to me the glass of wine that I had been drinking earlier. He smiled.
I never did finish that glass. It was good, but the Amizetta was better. Honestly, when am I going to get a chance to drink this stuff again? It was their finest reserved cab!

Before I knew it, 2 hours had passed by. The tasting room was closed and the night was coming to an end. I worried that MB would be upset with me for staying out so late (11 is late?). It is when he expected me home around 9.
Anyway- I tried to pay for my earlier drink, but Lynn waved me off. They weren't going to let me spend one dime.

I shook hands and said good bye. I was in such a hurry that I had forgotten to thank Gary and Drew for their kindness. I did wish Spencer a safe flight, as he was scheduled to fly to Chile the next day to visit his son.

I had a great time with some very classy and talented people. Just thought I'd share that with you. I know this post was long...so kudos to everyone who took the time to read it!