If those two random thoughts flow in your brain with a medley, you are like my Bride and myself and of a certain age and era.  We caught the first show of “The Beatles Invasion” and there were four different shows.  The first show was packed, and the four musicians/singers had to compete with the audience, as everyone knew the song and were definitely singing along.  It was narrow lapels, pegged pants, skinny ties and Half-Wellingtons with Cuban heels.  All they needed was an introduction by Ed Sullivan.

The next evening, it was even more packed with Standing Room Only and it was Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band, and in full regalia.  A great night of nostalgia and more sing-alongs, whether intentional or not, the audience wanted to join in the fun.  I guess word of the show traveled quite quickly, as each evening had more people and an even more enthusiastic crowd.  The third evening, we got there almost an hour early to save two sets of tables for our small group, and the demand for the chairs was getting fierce, but I defended my turf and saved them all.  I didn’t make the last show, but my Bride said it was good, but the first two shows were the most memorable according to her, but then again that is nostalgia settling in.

As for drinks, there was a bar in the back of room, that shut down during the concerts.  We didn’t know what to anticipate, so there was a wine bar across the hall from the music room, and we went and got our libations there in a more serene atmosphere and took our drinks with us, as each show was for an hour, it was easy to enjoy a glass of wine.  One night we had Borges Tawny Porto NV.  Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges was founded in 1884 by two brothers who had an interest in a myriad of endeavors and in 1904 they purchased Quinta da Soalheira estate and it is now over 340 hectares, and they eventually filed for seventy brand registrations.  In 1998, José Maria Vieira business group acquired shareholder control, and they had been the main distributor for the Portuguese market.   The   estate for this wine is in the Douro region on schist soil with vines from thirty to forty years, and they grow Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo).  This reddish-brown colored wine offered notes quince jam, plums, caramel, walnuts, raisins and vanilla.  On the palate this wine was rather syrupy and offered tones of spiced red fruits, citrus, bitter apples and vanilla with a medium count finish of fruit and spices.