in this fast paced world we decided to get a dinner date on the calendar with four of our friends before anotheryearor two slipped by. wouldn’t you know, the one night we picked ended up being one dark and cold and snowy night fit for a grimm fairy tale. we made the decision, we were not going to cancel! let’s make it happen. we bundled up and plowed our way to west 29th – the restaurant. thank goodness our friends ned and catherine were the hearty type, you know the kind i’m talking about, good wine drinking buddies from san francisco; not the minnesota viking hearty type (like me). but they had east coast roots and a wine bottle was calling their name, so they made it. our other friends, courtney and mimi are also of the hearty stock and were not going to miss a good time. as evidenced by their appearance at our wine-not wine tasting party.