I was in high school, and I was going on a date to see the stage production of Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam.”  It was the first legitimate play I had ever seen and I was excited to see it.  The play tells the story of a neurotic insecure man, who is visited by the ghost of Humphrey Bogart who schools him in the art of romance; albeit from the thirties.  The play was being shown in the Fisher Theater in Detroit, which to this day has legitimate theater productions.

I had made reservations at the famous (alas now gone) Al Green’s which was located in the Fisher Building.  It was at the time a celebrity magnet for the theater crowd.   A restaurant made for people watching.  I was giddy with excitement to me the night was magical.  I remember that we were both dressed to the nines and trying to look as mature as our age would allow.   Looking back, I am glad that the restaurant had dim lighting from that era, which may have made us look older as well.

I remember that my date and I both ordered steaks, as we were naïve to a lot of the dishes being offered.  The restaurant handled the pre-theater crowd very well, got them in and out in time for the play, with anticipation of some of the crowd coming back for nightcaps after the play.

I ordered a bottle of wine; a Chianti Classico from Castello Di Brolio (Barone Ricasoli) and they brought it to the table.  I presume from the label that it was a non-vintage blend as there is no vintage year listed.  It was all that I could afford at the time, between the theater tickets, the dinner and the wine.  I remember that this Chianti was much more mellow and refined compared to the home made “Dago Red” wines that were given to my father on occasions.  I was not very astute about wine at the time, which is understandable and most of the wine that I had encountered to that point were Chiantis.  The two of us finished the bottle of wine over dinner, and I asked if I could have the bottle as a keepsake, which they gave me.  Then we both had coffee in hopes that it would counter the effects of the wine.   I remember having to run to the parking lot to put the bottle in the trunk of my car, and getting back in time to see the play.  I was learning the ways of the world and had started my appreciation for wines, which has not slowed down yet.