Some people may not even know what a balcony is, the multi-plex movie theaters don’t have them, and most local neighborhoods don’t have a movie house either.  When I was a kid, my local neighborhood had two on one block and there were another six or so within a couple of miles. We went to the Redford Theater for a double feature.  First, I have to explain that the Redford was built when movie houses were shrines to the cinematic arts, and now this theater is in an old community in Detroit and is managed and run by an all-volunteer staff; and they even make real popcorn and they have a pipe organ. We sat up in the balcony and watched two films made in 1932 when films were racy and eventually the Hayes Office developed teeth and scripts were censored, before the film was filmed.  Think of the problems that developed because of “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” and the amount of cleavage that Jane Russell could show, because of the Hayes Office.

We started the evening off at John Cowley & Sons Pub in Farmington, Michigan as we both felt like having a burger, and we have frequented this establishment many times, they even have curated wine and food nights, which we have never tried, as it usually conflicts with other planned events.  As we started looking at the menu, my Bride decided that she wanted one of the special menu offerings for the night, a Walleye Dinner with Sweet Potato Fries and Broccoli. I stuck with my guns and had their Downtown Dublin Burger of a half-pound Angus burger with Corned Beef, Caramelized Onions and Thousand Island Dressing.  We also had a Hot Chocolate Lava Cake that we shared afterwards. 

Since my Bride had backed out of the burger, she told me that she was going to have a Spanish Coffee with her fish dinner, especially since it was so chilly outside.  I was undeterred and had a glass of Finca El Origen Reserva Malbec Valle de Uco, Mendoza 2019.  Finca El Origen is a relatively new winery as they were founded in 1996, but located in a great location as they are in the Valle de Uco, which is a defined region in the much larger Mendoza district of Argentina and Malbec is the King there. The winery is owned by Vigna Santa Carolina of Chile.  This wine is from a single vineyard Los Chacayes.  Fermentation was for two weeks and thirty percent of the juice was aged with French Oak contact for six months, and I must surmise that the balance was aged in Stainless Steel.  The wine had notes of red fruits and vanilla, but on the palate, it was more black fruits and spices with full tannins and a medium finish of terroir.  After dinner we were off to enjoy the two titillating films.