Saturday, December 19, 2015
A Food & Drink focus issue.
INSIDE: New Jewelry Store opens in the Heights 8B
Leader readers weigh in on deciding to stay in for NYE or go out By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com It’s New Year’s Eve and you’re trying to figure out whether to go out or stay in. The Leader asked readers what they would do if they had $50, and $200 respectively to use in celebrating the night. Here’s what they said. For $50, Sandi Gardner said she’d buy some nice food, a good bottle of champagne and stay home. “We’re partial to salmon, with whatever nice veggies are available,” she said. “On $200, I’d get champagne, veggies and dessert at Whole Foods, but get a variety of barbecue delights at my favorite out of neighborhood place.”
Lorraine Cherry would also stay at home “with a few bottles of Spanish sparkling wine, some good smoked salmon, and ingredients for blinis, and invite a few good friends over to celebrate.” With the extra dough she’d make it really good French Champagne, and throw in some Beluga caviar and some high end chocolates (e.g., Cocoa & Cardamom) to top it off. “We love to entertain and I think the quality of food and service on this holiday is better cooked at home,” said Michelle Janik, who said she’d make “fabulous appetizers with some good cheeses.” Ashley Muñoz would use the money to go to a nice restaurant downtown that has a preset menu for New Year’s Eve and then watch the fireworks before calling it
a night. Cat Theriot said she’d host a party for her friends and their kids. “I’d hire Angela Pennington to DJ and show a movie outside for kids closer to midnight so the adults can ring in the New Year in peace,” she said. Tracy Black would take her $50 and hit the Petrol Station or The Barking Pig. For $200, she’s heading to Rainbow Lodge or Shade. “Maybe Hunky Dory but we haven’t tried it yet,” she said. “My fiancé was a big fan of Feast.” “A movie and popcorn/drink at the theater is Siobhan Cassin’s choice for $50 while $200 would buy a big night out at See Decisions P. 5B
Photo by Betsy Denson Area bars like The Barking Pig will likely be filled once New Year’s Eve rolls around, but some are taking a different approach.
Designated Driver
Why do we only drink champagne on special occassions? By Christina Martinez Christina@theleadernews.com
Surge price peak
If you think about what we drink, or the type of drink that many of us consume on a regular basis - soda, beer, wine, even water - bubbles, or CO2, seem to be on every nutrition label. Recently, I have come to question why champagne is generally commercialized to New Year’s Eve, weddings or just special events and why it isn’t enjoyed more often than not? When my parents first moved to their house in Castroville, just west of San Antonio, every party or family gathering was held at their house. A cousin’s birthday, Fourth of July, any and every occasion for the first five years was held at my parents’ house. A mainstay for my parents’ parties was always champagne and sparkling cider for the kids. There was always a toast, a family toast, even if it was just to grill brisket and get the kids in the pool on Saturday. Spec’s fine wine buyer, Bear Dalton, enjoys drinking champagne or sparkling wine on a regular basis, and after being in the business for over 30 years, decided to come up with a formula that could allow him to enjoy bubbles on a regular basis. Dalton’s formula categorizes every day wines as less than $20 a bottle. The next category up would be weekend wines and maybe that would be between $20 - 40 a bottle. The special occasion category would be anything over $40 a bottle. “If I haven’t been home for four nights in a row because I’ve been out teaching classes or I haven’t had dinner with my wife, a Thursday night at 7 p.m., on the couch could be a special occasion,” Dalton said. “So you pick your spots for special occasions.” A couple of factors that may contribute as to why champagne or sparkling wine isn’t enjoyed as often - price and pick. When it comes to picking wine for upcoming celebrations, Coltivare’s wine program director, Jeb Stuart, says the solution is easy - pick something that fits your budget and try it. “When we try a wine for the first time, we usually try to find things that we don’t like about it,” Stuart said. “I don’t understand that. If we’re going to partake in something like wine, we should try to find things we do like and if you haven’t tried a wine before, don’t fuss over if someone will like it; just try it.” Whatever your budget is, big or small, there is a champagne or sparkling wine that will fit the occasion. So when you’re standing in the wine aisle this year, scratching your head on what to get or what your guests will like - just try something you haven’t before. If all else fails, one type of sparkling wine that Dalton and Stuart recommended on price and taste - a Spaniard rose sparkling wine. Try one out this year and report back.
Graphic data courtesy of Uber Blog According to Uber’s own blog, last year saw the highest demand for rides – and the highest fares – between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Riders are encouraged to not only plan ahead and request “right when the ball drops at midnight” or wait until fares return to normal prices. According to Uber, these rate increases are designed to “ensure reliability when demand cannot be met by the number of drivers on the road” and “encourage more drivers to become available.” Notifications will pop up on user’s phones when surge pricing does take place.
Planning that drive home from New Years celebrations By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com New Year’s Eve may be the one time of the year people are least likely to be completely happy about being the designated driver. Fortunately, with options like Uber, Yellow Cab and other offerings, people will have have plenty of chances to let the good times roll into 2016 without having to draw straws for the maligned driving duties – but not without a price. Sarfraz Maredia, general manager for Uber Houston, said demand around the Greater Houston area has consistently grown since Uber first entered the market. Their service typically sees its highest demand on New Year’s Eve between 12:30 and 2 a.m., right around the time people are likely leaving parties. “We’re going to make sure we’re doing whatever we can so that people are able to get a ride when they need it,” Maredia said. The service caught flak from users in cities around the country, however, by the end of the holiday last year. A report by CNN Money in January this year cited an Uber blog post that said demand for rides increased by 180 percent between 12:01 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. Over 50 percent of trips that saw prices surge up to five and sometimes six times the usual amount happened between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. According to Uber, these rate increases are designed to “ensure reliability when demand cannot be met by the number of drivers on the road” and “encourage more drivers to become available.” Notifications will pop up on user’s phones when surge pricing does take place. “We’re doing our best to increase the number of drivers, but certain regulations in Houston have made it tougher,” Maredia said. “But because demand has grown so consistently we’re making sure to increase the number of available driver partners when we can.” While Maredia said he couldn’t share exact details of ridership, a blog post on the company’s website last year said Uber expected to deliver more than 2 million rides in just 24 hours across the country as people welcomed 2015. Each of those riders can also use the app to make sure pricing is workable among groups and also improve safety during travel. “The app offers the ability to split fares across people who are also
on the trip,” Maredia said. “There is another feature called ‘Share My ETA,’ which allows users to select up to five contacts to receive information about the trip as well as the driver’s name and vehicle information. People can also use the fare estimator to help them plan a little better in advance.” Another option for Leader-area party-goers includes Yellow Cab, which offers rates at $2.80 for the first 1/11 mile and 20 cents for each additional 1/11 mile. According to the group’s website, there is an additional $1 surcharge on all trips which commence between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. A fare estimator is also on the organization’s website at www.yellowcabhouston.com and can also be accessed by calling 713-236-1111. There is also Houston’s Jitney Shuttle Service, which bills itself as a “hybrid between a taxi, limo and public bus,” and serves almost all areas inside Loop 610 and the Galleria. Some buses offer premium features like televisions, LED lights, upgraded seats and others. A one way pass costs $8 and an all-night pass costs $15. Rides can be booked online at www.thehoustonwave.com and by calling 713-836-WAVE. If all else fails, and there isn’t much in the way of a safe ride home, those who are a little less than sober can give AAA a call. The organization’s Tipsy Tow roadside assistance program provides complimentary ride and vehicle tow for both AAA members and non-members for up to ten miles from the point of pickup. To take advantage of the service, call 1-800-AAA-HELP (222-4357).
Using Digital rides
The Uber app, as many know, is available in both the Apple iTunes App Store and through Google Play. Downloading the app is as simple as doing a quick search through the store and pressing ‘Install.’ Once in the app, Uber will automatically use GPS and Wi-Fi to set your pickup location and you can also enter an exact address or search for a venue name by tapping the pickup location bar. The same can also be done underneath the pickup address. You can then select from the available vehicle options by using the slider at the bottom of the map. Rates can be seen by tapping on any one of the visible icons. Once you’ve set your location and vehicle option, tap “Set Pickup Location,” and your ride will be requested.
A birthday cheers with Christina’s best friends.
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