Sip & Savor | Winter 2020 by Rosebud Media

Winter 2020

Wi n t e r 2 0 2 0

ADVERTISING INDEX Café Dejeuner............................................12

Porters Dining at the Depot.......................21

Cartwright’s Market .....................................8

Rosario’s Italian Restaurant ......................19

Ella Lane Boutique ....................................28

Shoji’s of Medford.....................................10

CEO & Publisher: Steven Saslow

Jacksonville Inn ..........................................5

Wayback Burgers ......................................15

Design & Production: Paul Bunch

Luna Mexican Cuisine .................................3

White Lotus Day Spa.................................17

Jackson and Josephine Counties’ Guide to Wining and Dining!

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Sales Supervisor: Laura Perkins Sip & Savor is published quarterly by the Rosebud Media Advertising Department 111 N Fir St., Medford, OR 97501 General Information: (541) 776-4422

ON THE COVER Jacksonville Inn - “Roasted tenderloin

on a bed of lemon risotto paired with DANCIN Pinot Noir.”

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on local restaurant & winery gift certificates!

ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE 5 DAYS ONLY! Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18 On Monday, December 14, go to SOGiftCards.com and find gift certificates from dozens of local restaurants, wineries, and local businesses for 10% off face value. On Tuesday, they will be 20% off, and so on until the final day of the sale on Friday, December 18, when all remaining gift certificates will be 50% off. Buy as many as you like, but don’t wait too long - the certificate to your favorite local business may be gone!

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Questions? Please contact the Rosebud Media Advertising Department at (541) 776-4422

Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

Thank you for all your incredible support during these unusual times! We look forward to serving you our authentic Mexican cuisine with love and gratitude! #MedfordStrong #LunaMexicanCuisine

Open for curbside service only. Lunch and Dinner Daily 10:30AM – 10:00PM

1310 Center Drive, Medford • 541-816-4615 MF-00130030

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David Gowan, 30, has long been known to bust out his favorite Christmas movies a little on the early side, often just before Thanksgiving. “Elf.” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” “Christmas With the Kranks.” But in 2020, he pulled the trigger much earlier than even he expected. The instructional-support teacher who lives by himself in Jamestown, N.Y., was home channel-surfing on a Tuesday night when he unexpectedly took in his first Hallmark Channel holiday movie of the year. It was July 28. Gowan can’t remember the name of the movie he landed on that night, but he remembers it involved a guy losing his job, moving from the big city back to his quaint hometown and falling in love with a beautiful woman who owns a bookshop (not terribly helpful as a search filter, it turns out). Gowan also remembers the movie was an excellent distraction from his real life. He wasn’t working at the time. He was bored and stressed staying home alone. Outside, the country was in the grip of a deadly pandemic. “Christmas movies just bring that warm feeling,” he said. In such a tense time, “seeing happy movies just helps.” In 2020, a year when an alarmingly small number of things are normal, Christmas movies are affecting viewers and would-be viewers in unusual ways. Over the many months of pandemic-related chaos and isolation, some people have made holiday movies their anytime movies, with their low stakes, guaranteed tidy and hopeful endings, and ability to make staying indoors seem appealingly cozy. Meanwhile, in a season when festive family gatherings are discouraged, others have found that watching holiday movies is a 4 Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

more bittersweet experience than usual. Nicole Sunderland, a 36-yearold travel blogger and influencer based in Alexandria, Va., got an even earlier head start on the holiday-movie season than Gowan did: When she had to abruptly stop traveling the globe in March, she found some comfort in old favorites like “Bad Santa” and “Mixed Nuts.” As the year wore on and she

endar” between 15 and 20 times. “Christmas is my happy place,” she said. Screenwriter Karen Schaler - who’s earned the nickname “Christmas Karen” by writing two Lifetime Christmas movies, a Hallmark Christmas movie and the 2017 Netflix hit “A Christmas Prince,” as well as multiple Christmas novels - isn’t surprised by this trend. Holiday

Holiday movies aren’t their own genre just because they take place during holidays. They also contain uplifting messages about “honoring our family, our friends, our faith, our community. felt more and more distressed by the worsening pandemic and the tumultuous presidential election, she kept returning to them. At this point, Sunderland estimates she’s watched Netflix’s 2018 original “The Holiday Cal-

movies aren’t their own genre just because they take place during holidays, she pointed out: They also contain uplifting messages about “honoring our family, our friends, our faith, our community.”

Screenwriters have long understood that people crave from entertainment the emotions they aren’t getting from the real world, Schaler added. “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes has said that after the Obama administration ended and the more unpredictable Trump administration took over in 2017, the appetite for the show’s suspenseful story lines about turmoil in Washington waned. Schaler has seen firsthand how pop-culture appetites have changed in 2020. She said she faced pressure not to release her new Christmas book, “Christmas Ever After,” because of the pandemic, but decided to publish it independently in response to requests from readers. “My fans were reaching out basically saying ‘Please, please, please, please - we need something,’ “ Schaler said. “ ‘We need CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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DINING • CATERING • LODGING • EVENTS • WINE SHOP

www.jacksonvilleinn.com

Due to the governor’s mandate, our restaurant is temporarily closed, but the wine shop is open with a huge selection of wines that are perfect for holiday dining and gift giving!!

Gift Cards Available

GQ magazine has recognized our wine shop as one of the top 50 in America. Reservations are being accepted for our historic hotel rooms and our luxurious cottages where the U.S. president and first lady stayed. Gerry Frank of the Portland Oregonian has recommended the Jacksonville Inn as the Most Romantic Inn in Oregon.

Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year! Dining & Lodging Reservations: 541-899-1900 or 800-321-9344 175 E California Street, Jacksonville MF-00133632

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it. We need something happy.’ “ But for some, the standard holiday plotlines - family bonding and stroke-of-midnight romance - can be difficult to watch once the viewer realizes that, this year, they can’t do any of that. For example, in “The Holidate,” a new Netflix offering, two strangers connect in a bustling mall and decide to spend New Year’s Eve together in a crowded club. Nowadays, two singles might strike up a conversation on the street, but they’ll only be able to see one another’s eyes and foreheads. A successful chat might lead to a Skype date, but definitely not to a night of dancing in close quarters with hundreds of strangers. Francis Ferdinand, a 25-yearold woman in Dallas, was watching “The Holidate” last week when it struck her that she’d be alone for the holidays. “It was definitely something I haven’t been thinking about because my mind’s been consumed with 2020,” Ferdinand said. “Overall I enjoyed the movie, but it hit a lot harder with some of the tropes that you wouldn’t think about as much if you’re with friends and family.” Some of those tropes include: The hubbub, the arguing, maybe the burning of a turkey and always the prying into single relatives’ love lives. “When I go home, things are definitely chaotic,” Ferdinand said of her big Italian family in Rhode Island. And they’ll usually ask: Who are you dating? Are you bringing anyone special home? “This year it’s like: ‘No, I haven’t gone on a date. I’ve been locked in my apartment,’ “ Ferdinand said.

In June, she moved from the East Coast to Dallas, where she doesn’t know many people, and will be cooking holiday dishes solo and re-watching favorites like “White Christmas.” There are a handful of holiday films that feel in sync with our times. Two strangers corresponding over the internet in “You’ve Got Mail,” with no idea that they’re business rivals. Or this year’s Netflix holiday-themed darling “Dash and Lily,” about two teenagers who write to one another, complete dares and solve puzzles in a notebook they pass off to each other without meeting. Series creator Joe Tracz said that when the cast and crew were filming in New York in late 2019, they were wondering: “Will people buy that two people can have a connection when they’re not in person?” This year has

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shown that the answer is “absolutely yes.” And the series has an unexpected lesson for 2020: Even while physically separated, he said, “you can still have connections that are meaningful.” From the first episode, the lead characters are gearing up to spend Christmas largely alone: Dash by choice and Lily by circumstance. It’s a plot point that hit Tracz hard. A year ago, Tracz’s own family had planned to do a big Christmas in New York for 2020. “And then obviously as the year went on, it became clear that wasn’t going to be happening,” Tracz said. “I really felt that I was in Lily’s shoes, realizing that the plans you make to be with your family - sometimes life intervenes.” For some viewers, watching experiences they won’t have is a way of bringing a small degree of normal into 2020. Felicia Felton,

a 41-year-old writer in Los Angeles, watches holiday rom-coms all year round because she writes these kinds of screenplays - and this year was no exception. “It makes me feel like I’m going to get through whatever I’m doing: with work or no work, or dreams I’m going after,” Felton said. Come holiday time, these movies are some of the only traditions she’ll get to maintain. Whereas last year, she went to a tree lighting and had celebratory dinners and activities with friends, this year her plan is to “decorate my house, sleep, watch Christmas movies, watch Christmas movies, watch Christmas movies,” Felton said. “I’m probably going to be crying a little,” she added. “It’s going to hit me a little bit more than normal.” ■

on local restaurant & winery gift certificates!

On Monday, December 14, go to SOGiftCards.com and find gift certificates from dozens of local restaurants, wineries, and local businesses for 10% off face value. On Tuesday, they will be 20% off, and so on until the final day of the sale on Friday, December 18, when all remaining gift certificates will be 50% off. Buy as many as you like, but don’t wait too long - the certificate to your favorite local business may be gone!

ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE 5 DAYS ONLY! Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18

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Questions? Please contact the Rosebud Media Advertising Department at (541) 776-4422

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For gifts that keep on giving,

try retailers that offer one-for-one deals or make financial donations By Laura Daily

Special to 2020, The Washington Post

Savvy shoppers love the acronym BOGO, because it means “buy one, get one” free. But BOGO also spells stretching your buying power when it stands for “buy one, give one.” So, you might want to consider holiday (or any occasion) gifts that give to others. You’ve probably heard of shoe retailer Toms. Since 2006, for every pair of shoes the company sells, it gives a new pair to a child in need. This one-for-one model inspired other businesses to do the same. Some donate products, others a significant portion, if not all, of their sales to nonprofits and those in need. In researching this story, I put out a call for examples, and I was overwhelmed by retailers large and small promising to give back in some fashion with every purchase. But ensuring that a perfect gift for your BFF truly keeps on giving long after it has been unwrapped may take cutting through the marketing hype and reading the fine print. For advice, I turned to Kevin Scally, chief relationship officer for Charity Navigator, which independently evaluates and rates 160,000 nonprofits. “People want to do good when buying a product, so they naturally gravitate to companies promising to do so. The task for the consumer is understanding how much of the purchase goes to the cause,” he says. When a company says it donates one for one, the answer is clear. When it says “a percentage of profits,” “a portion of proceeds” or “a percentage of sales,” it’s murkier. For example: Company A says 10 percent of sales are donated. That means for every $100 in sales, it donates $10. Company B says 10 percent of profits/proceeds

are donated. That means for every $100 in sales, the company subtracts expenses, then donates 10 percent of whatever is left. Bottom line: Look for transparency. Scally says good questions to consider are: Where is the money or product going? At a glance, is it clear whom a business is supporting? Is there a charity named, or does it say “to help a cause”? Is there information on the seller’s website that articulates and validates its claims? Although you may not be able to vet small businesses, you can use Charity Navigator to quickly check out many nonprofits to see if they use their money efficiently and effectively. Once you’re satisfied with the answers, you can start shopping. Here are gifts that give, no matter

the season or reason. This is in no way a complete list; I’m digging out of 300-plus suggestions, and there are many more out there. That said, I did find some great gifts that give back. Those brands that don’t use the one-for-one model pass along a significant chunk of change, enough that I would feel confident buying from them. If nothing else, I hope you’ll find inspiration to check out similar “giving” retailers in your community. Socks Super-comfy socks make the perfect stocking stuffer. Bombas is at the forefront of the one-forone movement. For every item purchased - the company added T-shirts to its line in 2019 - Bombas gives a specially designed item

(reinforced seams, antimicrobial treatments to reduce bacteria and darker colors to minimize visible wear) to those at risk. More than 40 million socks and T-shirts have been donated. Soap This may be the year your loved ones truly appreciate being gifted luxurious soap, shampoo or hand lotion. For every Soapbox product you purchase, the company donates a bar of soap to someone in need through food pantries, clinics and homeless shelters. By the end of 2020, Soapbox will have donated some 20 million bars to needy communities. Blankets Sackcloth & Ashes blankets CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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($69 to $129), each a near work of art, are woven from 100 percent recycled materials and an ecofriendly wool blend. Through the campaign Blanket the United States, for every blanket sold, the company donates a blanket to a homeless shelter in the buyer’s ZIP code. The company’s goal is to donate 1 million blankets by 2024. Aprons BlueCut’s limited edition Planting Change apron ($75 for an adult size, $48 in kid sizes) features California-based artist Alexandra Bowman’s illustration of people growing and harvesting crops to sustain themselves and the community. Each apron purchased provides at least five Line aprons to black-owned restaurants. Since October, nearly 500 aprons have been donated. Pottery painting kits Creative children may be a bit more appreciative knowing that receiving a pottery painting

kit (figurines, paint, brushes and sealer, $32 and up) means other kids can be artistic, too. Pottery Awesomeness’s A Kit for You = A Kit for Two donates a kit of art therapy supplies to hospitalized kids. Donations go to Children’s National Hospital in D.C., with plans to expand nationally. Eyewear Warby Parker’s one-for-one program is widely known, though there have been changes since the pandemic. A newer brand, Bold Dots, which launched earlier this year, sells contemporary, unisex eyewear ($135 and up). For every pair sold, the brand donates a pair of eyewear and funds for an eye exam to a person in rural India. In less than nine months, the company has donated more than 600 frames, optical lenses and eye exams. Founder Akshar Patel hopes to increase the donation to two for one in 2021. School supplies Yoobi offers colorful (and

glittery) school and office supplies, including pencil cases that double as makeup pouches and an eye-

shaped wire board. For each item bought - either online or at stores such as Target or Kohl’s -

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Yoobi donates a school supply to students in need nationwide; more than 74.4 million school supplies have been donated since 2014. Activewear For every item sold by Madi Apparel, it donates a new pair of underwear to women in need. Why underwear? It tops the list of urgent needs for nearly every domestic violence and homeless shelter, yet these organizations rarely receive new underwear; most donations are of used clothes. More than 6,500 pairs of underwear have been given across different countries. Totes and bags Celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas, Martha Stewart and Pierce Brosnan have supported FEED, best known for its canvas, cotton and burlap bags. Founded by Lauren Bush, FEED helps provide school meals - more than 100 million and counting around the world through each purchase. Products are labeled to represent the number of meals given. For example, the FEED 10 Bag ($28) provides 10 meals to children in need. FEED has also added home goods to its collection. Backpacks The water-resistant Adventurist Classic backpack ($65) is a great gift for students and hikers alike. For every backpack sold, Adventurist Backpack Co. provides 25 meals to families in need across the country. It partners with Feeding America and has donated more than 150,000 meals. Greeting cards Whether you buy a pack of these bread-shaped greeting cards or attach one to a gift, Food for Thoughts donates the cash equivalent of one peanut butter and jelly sandwich to hunger-fighting organizations. Bricks-and-mortar retailers can designate a local food pantry to be the recipient. Check out the Celebrating You line ($3.25) with its uplifting messages. Sunglasses Online-only retailer Shady Rays

provides 10 meals to fight hunger for every pair of sunglasses sold. More than 10 million meals have been donated through Feeding America, and as its sales have expanded worldwide, Shady Rays is partnering with the Global FoodBanking Network to provide the same per-order donations to fight hunger internationally. Comfort clothing Two visually impaired brothers donate 100 percent of profits ($750,000 so far) from their clothing line, Two Blind Brothers, to fund research to find a cure for retinal eye disease. You can buy ultrasoft hoodies, polos and T-shirts online, but customers can also “shop blind” and buy mystery boxes. The company handpicks the collections. You pick the price point and receive a package with something it promises you’ll love or you can return it, no questions asked. Boxes are changed out every two to three weeks. Night lights Jasco may be best known for selling home security and lighting products. But its collectible night lights ($6.99 and up) for children’s rooms are a big hit - come on, everyone needs the Mandalorian and the Child keeping watch. Regardless of what product you purchase, 50 percent of the net profit goes to a nonprofit cause (food, water, shelter or disaster relief) of your choice, designated at checkout through the Give Your Way program. National park-themed goods When you buy a Tour the Parks enamelware dish set ($80), a Parks Project gift box ($60) or any of the other apparel and home items from Parks Project, money goes toward a conservation program to help protect our national parks. (The product description tells you which program.) Parks Project keeps a ticker on its website’s homepage to show how much has been donated - more than $1.1 million to date. ■ Daily specializes in consumer advocacy and travel strategies. Find her at dailywriter.net.

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Rob

15 h

by Natalie

Voted Southern Oregon’s Best of the Best 8 years in a row! Lunch - Monday thru Friday 11:30am to 2pm Temporarily open for take out only Dinner 7 days a week 4pm to 8pm

Black Oak Shopping Center 2640-C Barnett Road, Medford MF-00130360

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541-779-6860

Robes, candles and cocktail essentials: 15 hotel gifts for anyone missing travel by Natalie B. Compton

It’s the job of a good hotel to curate lovely items for guests to enjoy during their visit. Hotel designers and consultants scour the globe for the right linens, paint colors and fragrances to make a guest’s stay just right - and some offer those items for sale in gift shops and online stores. At the end of a year that kept most would-be travelers at home dreaming about travel instead of actually doing it, gifts from hotels may make the holiday season a little brighter. Here are gifts that bring the glamour, comfort and hospitality of a hotel experience home. Food and drink The DoubleTree Cookie, $15.50 https://www.doubletreecookies. com/shop/doubletree.html The free cookie on arrival at a DoubleTree hotel is a great American tradition, and you can enjoy it at home this holiday season. DoubleTree by Hilton sells them online (all year, for the record) in tins of six for $15.50. And if you’re feeling ambitious, you can bake them yourself - the hotel revealed its secret recipe earlier this year.

toast accordingly.

Bar Hemingway cocktail glasses, $113

“The NoMad Cookbook,” $61

https://www.ritzparisboutique. com/en/set-of-2-bar-hemingwaycocktail-glasses.html It’s going to be a long winter. Embrace it Ernest Hemingwaystyle with the right accessory: a perfectly made martini in iconic glassware. Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Paris sells cocktail glasses in sets of two, so you and your pandemic drinking partner can

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/ 1607748223? linkCode=ogi&amp; tag=veranda_auto-append20&amp; ascsubtag =%5Bartid%7C10069.g.33 371378%5Bsrc% 7C%5Bch%7C% Savor 552 pages of recipes from NoMad Hotel’s former chef Daniel Humm, his business partner Will

Guidara and bar director Leo Robitschek in this cookbook that also doubles as a beautiful coffee table book. Recipes range from dishes, such as tagliatelle king crab with Meyer lemon and black pepper, to pandemic-soothing cocktails, including classic Pimm’s Cup. The Breakfast Edition from Claridge’s Hotel, $200 https://shop.claridges.co.uk/ collections/all/products/thebreakfast-edition CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

on local restaurant & winery gift certificates!

ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE 5 DAYS ONLY! Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18

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There’s breakfast, and there’s a 5-star luxury hotel breakfast. Without a highly trained chef and access to the best ingredients, replicating a Claridge’s Hotel breakfast at home is a challenge. Luckily, this breakfast hamper can help. Start your day like royalty with looseleaf tea, coffee, preserves and elegant tableware. The Connaught cocktail shaker, $147 https://shop.the-connaught. co.uk/collections/connaught-barcollection/products/connaughtbar-cocktail-shaker For the cocktail lover, visiting the Connaught Hotel in London can feel like a spiritual awakening. The award-winning Connaught Bar is one of the best places in the world to get a drink. Until you can travel to the martini paradise again, you can shop the Connaught bar collection online for bar cart staples, like this professionalgrade cocktail shaker. Beds and bedding Four Seasons Signature Sleep Collection, starting at $3,800 https://shop.fourseasons. com/products/four-seasonssignature-sleep-collection?varia nt=20472081875014

Not loving the mattress you bought online after hearing 30 ads for it on a podcast? For the ultimate upgrade, there is the Four Seasons Signature Sleep Collection, which includes the mattress and topper (with optional foundation), a sheet set, duvet cover set, duvet insert and two pillows. If the ultra luxurious, absolutely pricey full set is out of your budget, you can buy individual pieces to bring touches of a Four Seasons sleep into your bedroom.

Serving Medford since 1998

We Look Forward to Serving You in 2021

Wynn Resorts down pillow, $100 www.wynnathome.com/ collections/full-catalog/products/ wynn-resorts-down-pillow What happens in Vegas you can try to replicate at home thanks to the Wynn At Home collection. The hypoallergenic Wynn Resorts down pillow is made with 25% CentroClean down and 75% feathers. Prefer an option to take on the road? The pillow also comes in a travel size.

Café Dejeuner is currently closed. We will reopen as soon asOpen theMonday-Friday restrictions are lifted. from 10:30-2:00 We appreciate your continued support! Please see us when we reopen.

The Westin Heavenly Bed, starting at $1,395 www.westinstore.com/product. aspx?Mattress-Box-Spring It took years of research before Westin Hotels & Resorts landed on the perfect formula for its signature bed. The resulting

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Additional parking available at St. Peter’s Church. Street parking available on Vancouver and Willamette.

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1108 E. Main Street, Medford

Heavenly Bed mattress and box spring was built to complement all body types and designed with pillow-top construction for comfort and support. Guests immediately took notice. Requests to purchase the Heavenly Bed poured in and haven’t stopped since. Customers can buy the whole setup, or parts of it, online at the Westin Store. Robes Indian Springs Resort seersucker robe, $90 www.indianspringscalistoga.com/ shop Slipping into this seersucker and terry spa robe from Indian Springs Calistoga feels like you just finished a massage treatment in California wine country, even if you’re actually watching Netflix on your couch.

Hotel San Jose robe, $190 www.sanjosehotelstore.com/ products/san-jose-robes The Hotel San Jose’s robe captures the beauty of an Austin sunset. The robe is designed by hospitality organization Bunkhouse and is made of 100% cotton. Want one with pockets? The sister property Hotel Magdalena has you covered with a similar unisex option. Kimpton Plush leopard robe, $74.25 www.kimptonstyle.com/product. aspx?leopard-terry-robe Fans of this leopard-print robe made of 100% ring-spun Turkish cotton use words like “huge” and “plush” and “obviously cool looking” when describing this Kimpton Hotel amenity. For a terry version, Kimpton also sells one in zebra stripes.

Candles and toiletries The Ritz-Carlton Antica Farmacista candle, $23 www.ritzcarltonshops.com/ category.aspx?candles The Ritz-Carlton creates signature scents for each of its properties. In New York, the hotel’s candles nod to Central Park with scents of elderflower. For D.C., the sakura candle captures the city’s springtime cherry blossoms. You can give the gift of a Ritz hotel stay, or at least the smell of one, by choosing your preferred destination’s candle. The Fairmont’s Le Labo Rose 31 Travel Kit, $45 us.fairmontstore.com/collections/ le-labo/products/rose-31-travel-kit For when we can travel again, travel luxuriously with this Le Labo toiletry kit, which has shampoo, conditioner, hand wash and shower gel. Should your budget allow for it, there’s also the much more extravagant $355 Le Labo Experience that contains

even more bathroom luxuries. The Royal Hawaiian Malie candle, $35 www.malie.com/collections/ candles/products/kokee-soy-candle The magical aromas enjoyed by guests at the Royal Hawaiian is courtesy of Malie, a local, organic beauty brand. The Waikiki hotel stocks Malie products in the rooms and gift shops, and it is partial to the fragrance Koke’e, which brings together scents of Hawaii’s native maile vine, fresh pineapple and dewy jasmine. EDITION candle, $68 www.shopedition.com/product. aspx?edition-hotel-candle Fans of the EDITION Hotels’ candle say it lasts forever. Made in France, it features notes of black tea, citrus, smoke, chocolate, pepper and Sicilian bergamot. Not a big candle person? Try the EDITION fragrance diffuser set that lasts approximately 300 hours. ■

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Millennials are into wine, but the industry hasn’t figured that out yet

by Julia Coney

Special to The Washington Post

Wine consumption is up among millennials, but you couldn’t tell from the way it’s being advertised. Marketed around tasting notes and points, instead of any sense of fun, wine is still perceived as intimidating. Grape varieties, regions and industry terms can be hard to grasp. To make it more approachable, we should meet the new wine drinkers, millennials and Generation Z, where they are: on such platforms as TikTok and Snapchat, and apps such as

Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

Vivino. Millennials drink wine, but their approach is vastly different than previous generations, who chose bottles based on various publications and their scoring systems. Millennials use tech-

nology and social media as their first resource for discovering wines; Vivino, for instance, is the most-used wine app in the world with more than 47 million users. Instead of judging what they drink, the wine world should try

Millennials use technology and social media as their first resource for discovering wines; Vivino, for instance, is the most-used wine app in the world with more than 47 million users.

to understand what they do and don’t like about the industry. After working in retail over the past few years, and interacting with plenty of young people along the way, here’s what I’ve learned. Generally speaking, millennials think of wine as a social drink, a connector that is meant to be shared. They look at wine as entertaining and engaging. While CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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the industry frets about losing young drinkers to hard seltzer, the seltzer companies do a much better job of marketing to millennials and Gen-Z drinkers. The industry mistakenly assumes that millennials have chosen beer, hard seltzer or other low-alcohol beverages over wine. Meanwhile, millennials indicate to me that hard seltzer and wine can coexist; why should they have to choose? One interesting lesson may lie with the natural-wine movement. Many winemakers, sommeliers and media dismiss it as an excuse to make faulty wines. Whether the juice in the bottle is good or bad is a different story, but the natural-wine community has embraced hip labels and interesting techniques, and has marketed itself as easygoing and approachable, thus drawing the interest of millennials. Reggie Leonard, 35, associate director for career connections and community engagement at

University of Virginia, remembers the moment he got bitten by the wine bug. “The thing that made it all click was when I watched Action Bronson tasting natural wines in France on

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YouTube,” Leonard said. “I had never seen wines with those colors, and had no idea there could be so much variety and so much fun with wine. I loved how much Action and the fellas were in the streets of Paris, drinking something traditionally relegated to white linen-lined tables on a sidewalk, in shorts and a T-shirt.” That weekend, Leonard got a bottle of 2015 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel. “I had instantly gone from $6 Carmenere at Trader Joe’s to a $55 bottle of natural wine grown on the side of Mount Etna in 20 minutes, and have been diving deeper down the wine rabbit hole ever since,” he said. Victoria Principato, 24, a research analyst who created the podcast Yuptown, worked at Wardman Wines while in college. “I didn’t know much about wine . . . so obviously I wasn’t buying the good stuff,” Principato said. “I think I had this vision that . . . [wine] had to be expensive to be good. I just kind of felt intimidated. I learned it is a communal experience and can be accessible. I learned there is not only one lens to see wine through.” Wine sales were down in 2019, but according to a recent study

in Wine Business Monthly, consumption has increased during the pandemic, and the rise in virtual wine tastings has been a much-needed way to connect. That might be one of the keys to making wine more accessible and relatable. We can enjoy all the nuances in a glass, the exploration of terroir to palate, and the sharing of wine even if it is on a Zoom call. We can showcase untraditional pairings, such as champagne and ramen. And if we want wine to continue to be relevant, the industry needs to connect to consumers’ emotions, one glass at a time. Here are suggestions for a few bottles to share and enjoy - socially distanced, of course. Treveri Cellars ‘Blanc de Blancs” Brut. (Yakima Valley, Wapato, Wash., $16.99) Bubbles bring the party. Sparkling wine is often treated as if it’s not wine, but it pairs well with a multitude of foods and shouldn’t be relegated only to celebrations, even if these celebrations look different these days. Alcohol by volume: 12%.

Wine sales were down in 2019, but according to a recent study in Wine Business Monthly, consumption has increased during the pandemic, and the rise in virtual wine tastings has been a much-needed way to connect. Ovum Big Salt 2018. (Willamette Valley, Newberg, Ore., $19.99) The wine world loves the word quaffable, and this wine is exactly that. Refreshing, salty, and great year round. It works for happy hour and the

hly, con- main course. Buy two bottles, during because you don’t want to be ise in without it. ABV: 12.5%. Old Westminster Carbonic. been a nnect. (Westminster, Md., $9.99) Wine in a can. Yes. Good wine e keys cessible comes in different containers njoy all and the carbonic process makes he explo- this wine interesting without being complex. ABV: 12.1%. e, and Grotta del Sole ‘Ottouve’ n if it is Penisola Sorrentina Gragnano. showgs, such (Campania, Italy, $15.99) n. And if This wine has been popular ue to be over the past few years, and I eeds to understand why. It’s fun, it’s apmotions, proachable, and it’s delicious. It’s perfect for pizza or truffle mac or a few and cheese. ABV: 11.5%. oy - soConey is wine writer, the Founder se. of Black Wine Professionals, and de a Contributing Editor at VinePair. alley, She is also the recipient of Wine y. Spar- Enthusiast’s 2020 Social Visionary ed as if Award. ■ well ds and nly to se celthese e: 12%.

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We only have to do this once. How to celebrate the holidays alone By Jessica Roy

Many of us are about to spend the holidays the same way we spent most of 2020: at home. In the interest of forgoing this holiday season altogether in order to ensure many more with our extended families, let’s focus on the good news. Though it might be hard to believe right now, as things get so grim, the promising vaccine developments suggest the proverbial tunnel finally has a light at the end of it. We just need to hang in there a little longer. You’ll likely be able to plan a spectacular family feast for Easter 2021, said Paula Cannon, a virologist and professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. (For calendar-marking purposes, that’s April 4.) “Come Easter, you can have two turkeys. You can make up for it,” she said. For now, “I think there is no greater way to show your gratitude and give thanks for your family than to forgo the usual family get-together this year.” In other words: We only have to do this once. So let’s make the most of it and celebrate everything that makes the holidays special without putting anyone else at risk. EMBRACE IT AS SELF-CARE This won’t be the first time for Jacy Topps, a freelance writer who’s written about why she chooses to celebrate the holidays alone.

It started when she moved to New York City and couldn’t afford a ticket home, but she discovered she enjoyed making new traditions on her own, like watching all the “Harry Potter” movies on TV while drinking homemade butterbeer. After she got married she spent the first few holidays with her in-laws, but this year, she said she’s opting out. Her wife’s family holds different political views, and she said that although a part of her wishes she could see them and gloat, it’s more important to her to take this time for herself. Indulging your own wants and needs over fulfilling a duty to be with family (for a potentially contentious gathering) is a radical act of self-care, particularly as a black woman, she said. “There is that stigma that you have to spend (the holidays) with people even though you don’t want to see these people or travel or hang out with them or do their traditions. It’s more of a societal pressure,” she said. “Sometimes you have obligations, and that’s fine, and you do those some years, but some years it’s OK to treat yourself and do what

S AV E U P TO 5 0 %

makes you happy. Your obligation is to yourself.” She and her wife are going all-out this year, at home. An extensive menu has been brainstormed and wine-paired. The tree has been trimmed earlier in the season than usual, like a lot of us this year. A full day of movie viewing is in the works. “Whatever brings you joy, just find it,” Topps said.

RE-CREATE RITUALS An expert on holiday rituals echoes that assessment. Ovul Sezer, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at the University of North Carolina, led a study about how participating in rituals and traditions affects enjoyment of the holiday season. The verdict: “Family rituals improve the holidays,” Sezer said, and add to overall holiday

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enjoyment. And they didn’t just look at religious rituals. Things like having a board game night or opening gifts at the same time or eating a traditional family recipe all contributed in the same way. These are all things we can try to re-create with the power of phone– and video-call technology. So while it might be tempting to skip doing anything holiday-related altogether to pretend we are merely in late, late, late, late March of 2020 it’s worth doing. If you are someone with Zoomsavvy friends and family, I went over ideas for staying connected during the holidays starting around the 27-minute mark in The Times’ We Can Teach You That event. A few ideas to get you started: • Have everyone buy the same holiday craft supplies, puzzle or Lego set and do them together at the same time. • Send out a family recipe and cook it together. • Open a video call and decorate your houses at the same time (a virtual form of parallel socializing). • Do YouTube karaoke with holiday songs. • Plan a virtual game night with online versions of the board games you usually play together at home. It might seem like trying to re-create things would make it all worse, amplifying how different it really is. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, said America was already in a loneliness epidemic even before the pandemic set in. We don’t have a lot of good data yet as to whether getting together on a video call alleviates loneliness, she said. It might come down to personal preference and whether people are comfortable using the technology. Offline, another critical aspect of alleviating loneliness is increasing the quality of the face-to-face interactions that you are able to have, Holt-Lunstad said. When you have downtime with the people you live with or your pod, don’t spend it all looking at screens. Engaging

in hands-on activities together and having real conversations will make you feel more connected to one another than scrolling Twitter simultaneously. MAKE A HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST MaCenna Lee, whose YouTube channel “XO, MaCenna” has more than 600,000 subscribers, describes herself as “very much a Christmas person.” Already, you can watch her video where she puts up Christmas decorations in her mid-Wilshire apartment. “I’m having it big this year. If I can’t do anything else, I’m going to enjoy everything that holiday decorating brings,” she said. Her goal is to “inspire people to welcome in the holiday season indoors and make sure they’re spending time enjoying traditions and keeping up their traditions and not letting them dissipate because they’re not able to see family.” Her plan for the rest of the season: a “holiday bucket list,” where she writes down all the things she loves doing during this time of year and crosses something off it every day. Some of the activities she has planned include making hot cocoa, creating DIY gifts to send to family and Christmas decorating. Another thing to add to your list: practice gratitude. Holt-Lunstad said research shows that expressions of gratitude are associated with increased social bonding and reductions of loneliness. Telling people you appreciate them makes both of you feel better, whether it’s going around on a Christmas video call to say what you’re grateful for this year or leaving a note for your neighbor saying thank you for letting you borrow a roll of toilet paper. And be grateful for the things you can still do while taking pandemic precautions. Cannon, the USC virologist, said her backyard is permanently set up for COVID-safe gatherings: two tables, spaced 20 feet apart. “There’s really nothing you can do that’s as safe as moving a party outdoors,” she said. We’re lucky to live in Southern California, where the weather will stay reasonable through winter, though not exactly toasty, especially if you’re out past sunset. She just made a critical California-winter investment: patio heaters. ■

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Mailing gifts?

Use these tips from the pros on boxing items properly by Jura Koncius

As the coronavirus surge continues to force the cancellation of holiday travel plans, more and more presents and baked goods will be getting packaged up and shipped out this year. Sure, you can let retailers take care of your mailings when you order online. But if, like me, you enjoy the more artful touch of wrapping presents with festive paper and writing gift tags, you’ll be doing lots of shipping this year. It seems straightforward, but like any chore, there are always things you can learn from pros to make it a smoother, more efficient process. Before we get to those, though, a reminder: Don’t postpone package assembly and mailing for much longer. Dec. 15 is the ground holiday shipping deadline for continental United States shipments at UPS and the U.S. Postal Service to get your package to its destination by Christmas. Kim Frum, spokeswoman for the Postal Service, says its busiest time starts two weeks before Christmas, with Dec. 14 to Dec. 21 predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week. The longer you wait to send your package, Frum says, the more limited - and often more expensive - your options will be. Both the Postal Service and UPS offer details on deadlines and pricing plus information on restricted or prohibited items for shipping on their websites: usps.com and ups.com. One thing to keep in mind: “No more brown paper packages tied up with string,” Frum says. “Your grandmother probably wrapped her packages in paper and tied them with twine.” Today, that’s a no-no, because twine can get caught in conveyor belts and machinery, and the thin paper can rip. Here are ways to make sending and receiving - your holiday packages go smoothly this year. Create a shipping station Gather shipping supplies in a designated spot, so you don’t waste time later. You’ll need corrugated boxes in various sizes, unless you’re using boxes provided by your carri20 Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

er. Stock up on cushioning materials such as kraft paper, newspapers (print does live on), bubble wrap, air pillows and/or shredded paper. (This year, the Container Store has crinkle-cut paper shreds in a mix of red and green, according to Container Store buyer Laura Rainey.) Three-inch packing tape, mailing labels and scissors should complete your supply list. Choose the right box To be cost-efficient and to protect your box’s contents, look for the box that most perfectly fits your items. “The less movement of the materials or items in the box, the better,” says Ken Bautista, owner of the UPS Store at the Wharf in Washington, D.C. “If you can use a smaller box, it will take up less room in the vehicle, and the cost to ship will be lower. The cost of sending things is based on three things: location, weight and size of the box.” If, like me, you have frequently ordered online during the pandemic and have a stash of boxes ready to reuse, examine them carefully. Experts say not to reuse boxes that have already been shipped several times, because they weaken in the process. “A box that has been used three or four times becomes compromised,” Bautista says. “Boxes are damaged by the normal wear and tear of the environment, and sometimes, they are delivered in a downpour, losing their shape.” Be careful not to overpack one box with heavy items, because your box could burst at the seams; divide it into two packages if needed. Most liquor boxes have thin walls and aren’t good for mailing. For baked goods, ensure your containers don’t roll around in the box, resulting in a gift of cookie crumbs. The Container Store sells a 10-inch square cookie tin shipper box that fits an 8 1/2-inch tin perfectly to keep gingerbread Santas from being damaged in transit. Cushion gifts with packing materials “If you want things to arrive safely, leave space for extra cush-

ioning,” Frum says. Whether you use crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap, stuff your packages so nothing moves around. For photographs, Frum says, take the glass out of the frames and wrap it separately. For vases and other glass items, stuff them with plenty of cushioning, both inside and out. Bubble wrap might crush your standard ribbon bows, so the Container Store suggests using more wire-edged ribbon or tulle, which can be fluffed out, or cording. It also sells a springy tubular ribbon designed to resist the squished look after shipping. Tape the box properly Use good-quality, three-inchwide professional packing tape, whether brown or clear. Experts do not recommend using masking tape, duct tape or standard Scotch tape, none of which are as durable. Bautista’s advice is to tape on six seams - down the middle and the two side seams on both the top and bottom of the box. First, put a strip of tape down the middle seam of the box without leaving a gap, then tape the outer edges; do the same on the bottom of the box. Frum takes it one step further. “After you put the tape on, run a credit card or your fingernail down the edge of every flat surface to make sure it’s adhered and won’t bubble up,” she advises.

Label carefully - both inside and out Make sure you have the correct address, and never guess at the ZIP code. You can look it up online and even get the ZIP code plus four if you don’t have it. If your handwriting is bad (you know who you are), use a computer to print a label. Frum suggests putting a card with the “to” and “from” address inside every package. “If your label gets torn off or the box breaks open, there’s an idea of where to send the package.” If you are reusing a box, remove all old labels and bar codes. If you can’t peel them off, cover them up. Failure to do this may delay your package. Use care when opening Have you ever taken a slice out of a piece of clothing packed near the top of a box while opening a package with a knife? Bautista recommends a box cutter as the most efficient way to open boxes. But some people, especially those with children, may fear the razor-sharp blade, so many choose to use scissors, letter openers or knives. His method is to slit open the sides of a box first, then slightly lift up the middle before you slice down, so you don’t puncture or nick anything packed near the top. “Some people take pens and run them down the center of the box and struggle to force it open,” he says. “Some people use their keys. Others just use their bare hands.” ■

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Light up your home with these illuminating tips By Laura Daily

Special To The Washington Post

What’s Christmas without holiday lights? For starters . . . no worries that a hot bulb will melt your favorite plastic Snoopy ornament, or fears that adding one more string of lights will plunge your den into darkness. And maybe your heart won’t skip a beat when you receive your December utility bill. Yes, they have a reputation for being a hassle. But holiday lights have changed. Thanks to LED technology, the nightmares of Christmases past have largely been resolved. Even Clark Griswold would approve of the more reliable, energy-efficient options available these days. As a consumer expert, I know how to find a great deal, but I haven’t untangled a string of lights in years - since I moved to the city from a larger home in the mountains. So I asked several experts for their advice on light features, safety, storage and more. Here are our illuminating tips. Make a plan It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Mike and Jenn Onstott, whose spectacularly lit Commerce City, Colo., home attracts thousands of spectators annually, suggest asking yourself: Do I want lights everywhere or in a few select spots? A classic look or more modern? Showy or subdued? Take some measurements. Remember: A 10-foot rail may need 16 feet of lights if you plan to wrap it tightly so the lights are close together. Choose a theme or color scheme. Frank Skinner, director of marketing for online retailer Christmas Lights, Etc, says: “If you know you like Christmas and will be decorating for years to come, build up a collection. Initially, you might buy clear lights and then add colors in subsequent years. You aren’t locked in, because you can mix and match and rearrange strings.” Choose your bulb With their soft, warm glow, traditional incandescent lights evoke cozy memories for many. But the more vibrant LEDs have come a long way. LEDs use far less electricity, stay cool to 22 Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

the touch, last longer and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, lens styles, colors and finishes. Over the past six years, the Onstotts have converted 90% of their 27,000 lights to LED, mostly to save on electricity, reserving the remaining incandescent lights for special displays. Whether you opt for incandescent or LED, experts agree it’s best not to mix the two in one display. Not only will the lights visually clash, but you may also experience power issues. Decide how much you want to spend Would you rather save money now or over time? A box of 50 mini-incandescent lights can cost as little as $3 in a big-box store, whereas a 50-count string of LED

lights may start at $10. Outdoor-specific or commercial-grade lights will cost more. Although incandescent lights are less expensive, they use significantly more electricity and typically last one to three seasons. Though pricier, LED lights are energy-efficient, allowing you to plug more lights in to one outlet. And although most LED light manufacturers say they will last up to five seasons, Skinner says test sets lit 24/7 at his company offices are still burning bright after seven years. Buy with confidence Take note if lights are rated “indoor” or “indoor/ outdoor.” The latter are usually more durable. Depending on your local climate, you may want to buy commercial-grade lights that hold up to extreme heat or cold. If you

are especially picky, check a sample light string if the lights are on display in the store. Major brands, such as Wintergreen or Kringle Traditions, that supply detailed specifications (such as wire style, color or plug) to manufacturers will stamp their name on the tube near the plug. That’s a clue that the product is of a higher quality. Try outside-the-box tricks Substitute icicle lights (normally used outside) for traditional strings if you want a well-lit indoor tree, suggests Albie Mushaney, host of the HGTV holiday special “You’ll be Home for Christmas.” Instead of wrapping your tree 20 times, you may only need two strands and three to four wraps to achieve the same amount of coverage and light.

Jenn Onstott says to look for lights with faceted bulbs and add reflective ornaments to your tree, so you don’t need as many lights. If you have children or pets, consider erecting and decorating some sort of barricade around your lit tree. Incandescent lights do get hot to the touch, and pets that chew may find light strings tempting. The Onstotts use a baby gate. Mushaney, who has two Great Danes, built a small picket fence. Know your power I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: The biggest difference between LED and incandescent lights is the amount of electricity used. For example, Mike Onstott redid a reindeer display at his home. The original, with 300 incandescent lights, used 122 watts; the new version, with 360 LED lights, uses three watts. “When you’re not pulling as much power, you can put up more lights without short-circuiting your home,” Jenn Onstott says. You need to determine not only what outlets are available, but also what else in your home lamps, electronics, appliances - is being powered by that circuit. A kilowatt meter ($20 to $30) easily monitors an outlet’s power usage, so you don’t overload it and trip the breaker.

Minimize hazards Remember: Water and electricity do not mix. For outdoor displays, buy lights with a “sealed connection.” That means the base of each bulb has an acrylic seal to permanently affix it to the wire, keeping moisture out. To avoid standing water (or snow), Mike Onstott recommends using stakes to keep plugs above the ground. He also wraps any electrical connections in plastic bags secured by a rubber band. And Skinner says you shouldn’t use a staple gun to hang lights. “You risk nicking or ripping off the wire coating, causing a potential electrical short.” Instead, use inexpensive clips to attach lights to your roof or gutters. As a timesaver, in lieu of clips, Mushaney rims his house and windows with small screw-in hooks and leaves them up year-round. Take the easy route Sure, you could invest the time, money and effort in hand-wrapping lights around the trunks of outdoor trees or artfully decorating bushes, but you don’t have to. Manufacturers have developed reasonably priced trunk-wrap lights (essentially lights woven into netting with loop clasps) that expand and stretch around a tree trunk. Net lights can be easily draped over bushes and hedges. So he doesn’t have to run out nightly, Mushaney uses a solar switch on a timer. At sunset, his outdoor lights automatically turn on, then turn off a few hours later. Store lights properly Everyone has their own preferred method for keeping their lights organized when they aren’t in use. Skinner says to simply wrap lights in a circular pattern or roll them into a ball. Then store them in a box. The Onstotts suggest looping them, but instead of using the “palm and elbow” technique commonly used to store extension cords, start by dangling the strand and make decent-size loops, as if you were spooling a cord onto

a vacuum cleaner without a hook at the bottom. Use Velcro or zip ties to keep cords together. Sort lights into plastic bins, and label either by location or specific tree. Mushaney hangs outdoor lights over chairs to dry, then puts lights in plastic grocery bags - one strand per bag with the plug hanging out. Bags go into storage tubs labeled “inside” or “outside.” Take advantage of post-Christmas sales Although retailers run sales in November and December, to get the best deals, shop right after Christmas. You can often find lights and other decorations discounted by as much as 75 percent to 90 percent. Mushaney says he sets the following year’s theme based on what he scores at a discount. Look into recycling options Christmas lights are made from copper, glass and plastic - valuable materials that can actually be recycled and reclaimed. Contact your city’s municipal solid waste office. Many will recycle the lights if you bring them in. They may even run collection days for old lights or point you to a drop-off spot. If you live in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia or

the District, you can drop off your lights at any Mom’s Organic Market. Get online help You’ll find all sorts of guides for holiday lighting on topics including artfully wrapping tree trunks, safely hanging lights on gutters or calculating wattage. Christmas Lights, Etc has a collection of lighting and decorating resources on its website, christmaslightsetc.com. Serious decorators should check out the Planet Christmas Forum (planetchristmas.com) or search for fellow holiday light enthusiasts in Facebook groups. Make memories No matter the design, Christmas lights brighten the holidays, and they may spread joy far beyond your front yard. “I grew up poor, and my family had to find ways to entertain us kids, so we drove around looking at holiday lights on houses,” Mushaney says. “That created wonderful memories I’ll always remember. Now, maybe my house will be one that families drive by and build memories, too.” Daily, who is a Denver-based writer, specializes in consumer advocacy and travel strategies. Find her at dailywriter.net. ■

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Holiday trends to watch Adult Play-Doh; stores that ship By JOSEPH PISANI and ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writers

The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other. Toy companies are targeting stuckat-home grown-ups with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols. Those who added a puppy to their family during the pandemic will see tons of gift options for their new furry friend. And with more people shopping online, stores are doing double duty as shipping centers to try to get gifts to doorsteps as fast as possible. Here’s what to expect: TOYS FOR ADULTS Kids aren’t the only ones who need some fun. Toy companies are targeting bored adults stuck at home during the pandemic. Need something to fidget during your next Zoom meeting? Hasbro has new moldable Play-Doh varieties that smell like stuff grown-ups would recognize: lattes, fresh cut grass and smoked meats. Lego, meanwhile, wants adults to put on their headphones and “forget about the rest of the world” while turning the plastic pieces in their new kits into hangable art, like Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe portraits. Marissa DiBartolo, editor in chief of toy review site The Toy Insider, says she’s seen more coloring books and challenging puzzles being designed with adults in mind. FROM YOUTUBE TO THE TOY STORE The canines on “Paw Patrol” better watch their tails. YouTube stars with millions of viewers are heading to the toy aisle, a place where TV cartoon characters used to rule. It’s all because kids are spending so much time watching YouTube instead of cable TV, says DiBartolo. That’s made stars of the video-streaming site just as recognizable as those on Nickelodeon. Figurines of Blippi, a man who wears orange suspenders and hosts educational kid videos on YouTube, are being sold at Target and Ama24 Sip & Savor ▪ Winter 2020

zon. At Walmart, toys featuring Ryan Kaji, a kid who reviews toys on his Ryan’s World YouTube channel, have been hot sellers. Toy company VTech is playing into the trend in another way, selling a KidiZoom Creator camera that comes with a green screen so kids can add special effects and pretend to be YouTube influencers themselves. And if you need another sign of just how big YouTube stars have become, a 42-foot-tall (13-meter-tall) balloon based on Kaji from Ryan’s World appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, floating next to TV icons like SpongeBob and, yes, Chase from “Paw Patrol.” STORES AS SHIPPING HUBS Retailers including Walmart and Best Buy that were already using their locations as hubs to ship e-commerce orders are now coming up with new strategies to get even faster. The moves come as they face a holiday crunch expected to tax shipping networks and likely result in delivery delays. Walmart this week launched a special program for the holidays. It has some of its online orders being fulfilled directly from stores using delivery services like Postmates and DoorDash instead of carriers like FedEx or UPS. The aim is to ensure customers will be able to get their orders quickly, even on the same day. Meanwhile, Best Buy says that 340 of its stores are being specially designated to handle a higher volume of online orders, though all its stores ship e-commerce packages. Its goal: to have the 340 stores ship more than 70% of its ship-from-store units during the holiday quarter. And then there are many small-to-medium sized businesses

increasingly turning to operators of micro-warehouses mini-shipping hubs that are located in urban areas to help pack and delivery goods. Ben Jones is the CEO and founder of Ohi, which operates five micro-warehouses for various brands like sparkling tonic Olipop, or provides software for third parties at 115 locations for e-commerce fulfillment across the U.S. He says he’s seen more brands using his software because many aren’t able to guarantee delivery by Christmas via standard shipping if items are ordered after the first week of December. GIFTS FOR THE POOCH More people adopted puppies and kittens during the pandemic, and stores are pouncing to cash in. Petco is selling matching pajamas for dogs and their humans with snowflakes and Christmas trees. And Chewy, the online pet store, is getting more personal, inscribing pets names into bandanas, bowls or beds. Consulting firm Deloitte expects half of shoppers to spend some of their money on pet treats and other supplies this holiday season.

FORGET ABOUT IMPULSE SHOPPING It’s not just frenzied crowds that will be absent this holiday season. So will impulse shopping the practice of throwing in extra items like toys or bath balms as shoppers go in and out of the aisles. Typically, 25% of holiday shopping is based on impulse, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor at NPD Group, a market research firm. This year, Cohen said he expects that figure to drop to about 10% as shoppers dramatically shift their buying online to avoid physical stores. And when they do go to stores, customers will be buying with a purpose, picking up things they need as they try to minimize exposure to COVID-19. “Impulse shopping is the icing on the cake,” Cohen said. “It is the difference between a successful profitable holiday and a ho-hum holiday.” ■

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from robot earrings to beeswax mushrooms star on Etsy and Amazon By Janet Eastman

The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon is populated by artisans and craftspeople who make one-ofa-kind or limited-edition treasures. To help with your holiday gift giving, we searched for cool, cute, collectible objects available online for contactless shopping. The new, Built Oregon Marketplace makes it easy to pick up at shops or have locally made items delivered. MadeHere, which has works by more than 200 Pacific Northwest makers, offers a flat $5 shipping rate in Portland. Global shopping sites like Etsy and Amazon also stepped in to connect buyers to makers, especially as craft markets and fairs are closed due to coronavirus restrictions. Here are gift ideas that showcase the beauty of Oregon art and craft and other creations. Etsy makes it easy to search for Oregon-made products.

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pumpkin enamel belly plates by robjewelry are handcrafted with 3/8inch diameter tubing and articulated appendages. Amazon’s handmade category lists gifts made by small businesses in Oregon. Highlights: Peace Blossom Candles makes 3-inch-tall beeswax candles shaped like tiny morels ($19.25 for a set of four). The Beekeeper’s Wife states that foragers brave it all: mud, ticks and rain. Emerging from the woods with a big bag of mushrooms is braggin’ rights around here! Watercolor greeting cards depicting Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Mount Hood, cherry blossoms and Oregon vineyards by Emily Miller fine art ($24 for eight cards and envelopes that are 4.25 inches by 5.5 inches). Bearded Oregon’s Beard Balm with the scent of coffee and coconut, the Grants Pass blend ($18 for 2 ounces), is made with natural ingredients and softens facial hair. See more small Oregon businesses listed on Amazon Also made in Oregon: Hydro Flask has outdoor gear like bottles, tumblers, packs and coolers. Take 25% off all items on the site. The Bend-based company has donated $1.5 million to its Parks For All program. Leatherman’s multipurpose products and multitools have been made

S AV E U P TO 5 0 %

in Portland for four decades. Get free shipping on orders over $75. Every time you buy one of the attractive blankets at Sackcloth & Ashes of Salem, owner Bob Dalton sends a blanket to a homeless shelter in your area. The handsome blankets for sale (around $115, sackclothandashes.com) were designed for home, travel and camping, and are made of 100 percent recycled materials with solid bands of color as well as arrow and diamond patterns.

Gresham grandmother and photographer Sandi Swiridoff was captivated by the friendship between her expressive Australian Labradoodle, Reagan, and a bespectacled foster boy, whom Swiridoff calls Little Buddy. So she dressed the two alike, took carefully styled portraits and produced fundraising calendars and three books to benefit Portland-area nonprofit groups that support foster care and adoption. The 2021 Reagandoodle Wall Calendar is $20 at reagandoodle.com. ■

on local restaurant & winery gift certificates!

ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE 5 DAYS ONLY! Friday, December 18

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Questions? Please contact the Rosebud Media Advertising Department at (541) 776-4422 Winter 2020 ▪ Sip & Savor

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A restaurateur sees vegan food as key to post-COVID success by John Gittelsohn Bloomberg News

As the restaurant death toll soars across the U.S.” nearly one in six U.S. restaurants have closed since the start of the pandemic” Matthew Kenney sees opportunity to grow. The Los Angeles-based chef has opened five vegetarian restaurants since September in California, New York, and Buenos Aires, with plans to add at least eight others to his international roster of more than 25 existing Matthew Kenney Cuisine establishments. The locations are spread around the globe, from Dubai to Los Cabos, Mexico, featuring concepts like the pizzafocused Double Zero and Sestina, which specializes in plant-based Italian. Kenney is pushing forward with that goal even as a November surge of COVID-19 led Los Angeles authorities to limit service to takeout, and as the National Restaurant Association reports that about 100,000 restaurants have closed across the country this year. Pre-pandemic, the food industry added an average of 10,000 restaurants a year, according to a spokesperson for the NRA. We’re finding it a very attractive industry to grow in, Kenney, 56, says in a telephone interview. Two forces are driving Kenney’s optimism: Rising demand for plantbased food “even McDonald’s is testing the McPlant, while the meatfree market is expected to hit $74.2 billion by 2027” and vacancies creating real estate deals. Pessimists say discounts on leases aren’t enough to offset the risks of opening a business while the virus rages. There’s just too much uncertainty, says Jennifer Frisk, a senior managing director at commercial real estate brokerage Newmark in Los Angeles. Restaurants are likely to undergo a winnowing process with a barbell effect, according to David Portalatin, food industry adviser at the market research firm, NPD Group. On one end will be quick-serve, app-based eateries, which are already operating above pre-pandemic levels. On the

other end, white napkin dining will recover for people willing to pay big bucks for a food-related experience. I wouldn’t want to be caught somewhere in the middle, Portalatin says about restaurants that lack omni channel service or the bells and whistles of fine dining. Kenney argues that the adversity caused by the pandemic leaves room for experimentation. When the first lockdown started in March, he introduced an online culinary academy that now has more than 1,000 students. In response to California’s latest closure order in November, he’s opening a ghost kitchen” for pick-up and delivery only”with three different menus for a fraction of the cost of creating a sit-down restaurant. We think this is a really good time to be creative and develop concepts, he said. So when things hopefully rebound, we’ll be prepared. He sees local opportunity in the L.A. vegan market: Just

beet carpaccio, avocado tikka, and cashew raclette. One key to Kenney’s expansion is deep-pocketed backers who believe in his plant-based products. The international cast of investors include Sebastiano Cossia

There will always be demand for places to dine out, especially now with the pandemic putting a lid on so many travel and entertainment options: It ‘s not a good thing happening to the industry, but I think the transition we’re going through is going to last a lot longer then just COVID. 23% of the city’s restaurants offer herbivore alternatives compared with 40% in New York, according to fitness vendor MyProtein. Kenney, who started his first restaurant in Manhattan in 1994, has a checkered history of disputes with partners. He blamed the Sept. 11 terrorist attack for the failure of an early New York venue. He was sued in 2005 by the owner of Pure Food and Wine in New York when he left as manager and opened another restaurant. He relocated to Los Angeles in 2011 where he saw opportunity for innovation, opening Plant Food + Wine in 2015, where vegan riffs on classics include

Castiglioni, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, a Saudi venture capital investor, and tech entrepreneur Kyle Vogt, who is coowner of Kenney’s ambitious vegan San Francisco restaurant, Baia. “Matthew Kenney plays a huge role in enabling people to try and love a plant-based option,” Alwaleed, an early backer of Beyond Meat Inc., said in an email. “This is one of my key drivers to backing him and his ingenuity, and his latest launch couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.” Rents haven’t declined dramatically, but we’re able to negotiate lease agreements that

have, for lack of a better term, a COVID clause, Kenney says. That includes provisions for tenant improvements and reduced payments if health authorities restrict operations, he adds. It’s created a lot of available real estate that comes with better terms than what would’ve been available eight months or a year ago, he says. Both he and Newmark’s Frisk say there have been too few new leases to put a percent change on cost differences. Kenney prefers locations with outdoor dining in residential areas, where guests can linger over wine and shared plates, running up tabs that are double or triple a typical lunch outing. Neighborhood restaurants have a better chance of building up repeat visitors than business area establishments, he says. Still, making deals on spaces is not the same thing as opening restaurants. While Matthew Kenney Cuisine lists over 40 places on its roster, one-third of them aren’t open yet. Kenney argues that there will always be demand for places to dine out, especially now with the pandemic putting a lid on so many travel and entertainment options: It‘s not a good thing happening to the industry, but I think the transition we’re going through is going to last a lot longer then just COVID. ■ Winter 2020 ▪ Sip & Savor

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