Short Pump’s The Wine Loft – A Review By The Good Wine Guru

Local Tweep, Snark, and candidate for Mr. Awesomeness 2010, George R. Perry, everyone!  Remember, behind every man is an awesome woman, and Mr. Perry’s awesome woman April is pictured with him below.

In addition to being one of Richmond’s cutest couples, most dynamic twitterers, and social media sweethearts, the Perrys also enjoy a nice glass of wine every now and then.  George is actually the Good Wine Guru, so who better to review The Wine Loft than him?  Here begin the words of George…

Just inside the border of Short Pump, across from the Kohls and Best Buy on West Broad Street is a new shopping center – the West Broad Village Community in Short Pump.  Featuring numerous new restaurants, grocers, shopping, and living space, West Broad Village has quickly become home to some of the most popular new spots in Richmond.  One of these is the Wine Loft.

A cross between a casual lounge and an upscale wine bar, the Wine Loft offers atmosphere mixed with great food and drink.  The food offerings aren’t your typical faire, being tailored more towards groups of diners with their tapas style of delivery.  However, any conversation about the Wine Loft must begin, obviously, with their wine selection.

As a regular wine drinker, I am always looking for places that offer a wide selection of wine at a wide range of prices.  Sure, there are nights that I’m willing to spend $50 or more on a bottle of wine, but there are just as many nights that I want to drink a couple of $7 glasses.  The Wine Loft caters to both of my moods.

With wine available both by the glass and bottle, there is something for every palate and pocketbook – red or white, sweet or dry, Old World or New World – and the staff is knowledgeable and willing to help you find something to fit your tastes if you’re not familiar with their offerings.

As for their food selection, they’ve done an excellent job of putting together a menu that allows you to pick what will best compliment your wine, or pick your wine to compliment what you’re eating.  While I’ve yet to have anything that I didn’t enjoy, the Baked Brie en Croute for two (and really more than that) is a must-have any time you go there.

Vanilla infused and topped with spiced pecans and a balsamic reduction and served with sliced baguette – which you’ll need more of and they’re happy to provide – the baked brie is a can’t miss no matter what you’re drinking.  For those looking for something more robust, the oven roasted lamb lollipops, shrimp and blue cheese in puff pastry, and shrimp and lump crab four cheese empanadas are all nothing short of amazing.

The food and drink aside, the Wine Loft itself has set itself up as a great place to spend an evening either for an intimate dinner date or for a casual gathering of friends or co-workers.  Low couches, chairs, and tables abound on both levels (that’s right, it has an upstairs), and a center communal table – raised and lighted – is a great gathering place for groups or couples.

No matter the occasion or the size of the dining party, the Wine Loft is the perfect place to spend an evening and one you’ll want to return to time and again.

The Wine Loft
4035 Whittail Way
Glen Allen, VA  23060
804-368-1768

(located between Kona Grill and Mimi’s Café)

Post sponsored by MaverickLabel.com – providing custom wine labels.

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Becky’s – A Richmond Institution

About a hundred years ago (OK, more like 10 years ago) I worked at the corner of 1st and Cary Streets.  Across the street (on the north side of the street) was a breakfast and lunch place called Becky’s.  I had a fabulous metabolism back then, so I ate breakfast there almost every day.

Becky’s has been around forever – long before I worked across the street from it.  It has seen many different owners, operations, and managers, but the name has been the same, and the fare is consistently delicious diner food.

I wish I could tell you who the original Becky was, and what year the place opened the first time, but there is surprising little information out there on the internet.  I suppose I could go talk to Julia, who has worked at the tiny diner for 42 years.  She’s still there, and she remembered me when I walked through the door this past Friday for a nostalgic Becky’s breakfast.

The interior has changed quite a bit since the last time I was there, and they now serve cocktails, if you want to get a nice bloody mary or mimosa with your brunch.  I heard that they tried opening in the evenings for a while, but during these winter months not enough people make it to that part of town.

I ordered a cheese omelet with hasbrowns, a side of bacon, and toast.  My dad got a western omelet, hashbrowns, and rye toast.  Everything was tasty.  So tasty, in fact, that I neglected to take a picture of our food right away, and by the time I thought of it there was nothing left to photograph.  I detected bits of bacon in the homefries (a nice touch) and my omelet was cooked perfectly and was delightfully cheesy.  Dad’s omelet was likewise cooked perfectly, and his rye toast was buttered and golden crispy.  We both had tea, and Alfred kept the refills coming.

Becky’s is once again under new management, and Laura (a recent transplant from Connecticut who thinks our winters are downright balmy, thank you) is working hard to figure out the best business model and plan for Becky’s.  There might be some evening hours in the future, and look out for a website in the near future.  For myself, I believe I will have to go back to try the salmon cakes, because I bet they are awesome.

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Richmond Theatre Scene: Cadence Arrives in Town

Cadence Theatre Company makes its Richmond debut with Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love at The Firehouse Theatre from January 15^th running until the 24^th.  Artistic Director, Anna Senechal Johnson worked with the Company of Fools outfit in Idaho and as I recall, the very last person to return to Richmond from Idaho is Rusty Wilson.  Wilson has done very well for himself and as FfL has managed to attract a quality cast, the expectations are high for Johnson and the Company.

The venue is no surprise for a Richmond –debut either; Johnson is one of the five original founders of The Firehouse Theatre Project but has returned after 12 years working away in potato-land.  Potato’s aside, Idaho has been enjoying the fruits of Ms Johnson’s artistic endeavors with her stint as artistic director for several projects including serving as Artistic Director of a Sun Valley arts program.

Returning to Fool for Love, the production is facing the serious challenge of generating the atmospheric ambience demanded of the script.  The play takes place in a seedy motel in the Mojave Desert with the two main characters, Eddie and May, fighting to release themselves from the shackles of dark secrets and hidden pasts.  This is a deeply haunting story which relies on great lighting and sensitive direction as much as the soul-searching, emotional performances from the actors themselves.

Clearly, Johnson is not fazed by the challenge FfL represents.

Cadence and Johnson are also using The Firehouse Theatre for two further productions scheduled for 2010.

From August 19th to 29^th, The Fantasticks by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones will be playing.  The Fantasticks is a musical which starts out as a farm boy meets farm girl Romeo & Juliet, with feuding farmer neighbors.  Not a bit of it – the “feuding” fathers are actually in cahoots to get the two lovers down the aisle in a tongue-in-cheek, musical which has become the longest running musical in the world. A treat not to be missed!

Oleanna by David Mamet will be playing from November 4^th to 14^th and starkly contrasts with any light hearted musical. This is a story of the sexual harassment of a female student by a university professor, but in reality is about the power struggle between the two once the allegations have been made.  He is pompous and overbearing, she is devious and manipulative – who is right and who is wrong is unanswered, but the play has generated consternation, heavy debate and outright argument on the subject.  This is a gripping and tumultuous piece which will literally keep you on the edge of your seat.

The big question will be whether Cadence is here to stay or whether 2010 will be a one-off season for this embryonic theatre company.  Johnson clearly has a wide ranging agenda from her choice of the three productions, which seem to be a showcase of her scope and broad depth of artistic talent.  We’ll find out soon enough with the reaction from the first performance of Fool for Love shortly – I wish the Cadence Theatre Company, the cast and crew break a leg.

You can keep up to date with the Cadence Theatre Company Facebook page and on their website.

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