Fall is Flushed Away

Your Boulevardier snapped this photo of autumn leaves a few days ago -- before the big storms came in and swept away all reminders of fall, and told us in Castro Valley, in no uncertain terms, that winter is here.


Sure, the calendar may say that we still have a handful of days until the change officially hits. But the bare trees, overcast skies, and bitter cold -- especially in the mornings -- makes it clear that the deepest, darkest season is upon us.

Other reminders can be seen all over town. The reds, golds, and greens of the holiday have supplanted summer's yellows, oranges, and blues in shop windows. Furry Ugg Boots are footwear of choice, preferred over flip-flops and sneakers. Decorative lights along rooflines twinkle -- or don't, in the case of the LED variety that are now arrayed on Chez Boulevardier. Warming soups and coffee drinks have replaced cooling salads, smoothies, fro-yo and ice cream as the foods of choice.

Speaking of warm beverages, the Chabot Cinema will mark the season with an 11:30 p.m. showing of the Frank Capra classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," this Friday, December 18. Your Boulevardier hopes to be there, though he is not sure that the offer -- free hot chocolate with a large popcorn -- is good combination. Still, the $5 admission can't be beat.

The Drink's On Me

This juxtaposition of billboards on Castro Valley Boulevard caught Your Boulevardier's eye this morning.



One would not suggest that alcohol and soda are equally bad for young people (or for adults, for that matter). However, a good case can me made that neither one is very good for a person. Soda in quantity -- the billboard advertises 100 ounces for a family of four as a possible serving size -- provides a great deal of carbohydrates and little else. Those 25 ounces would deliver 75 grams of carbohydrates -- largely in the form of high fructose corn syrup, which some say is worse than good old glucose.

We have excellent tap water in Castro Valley. Perhaps that's the best choice of all.

Spanked by Hand

In spite of the risqué-seeming title, this post is about another hand-painted sign in Castro Valley: that of Spanky's Lounge, a tavern on Baker Road. Its sign is low-key and no-nonsense; Your Boulevardier's impression of the place (he is not, personally, a denizen of dive bars) is that domestic beer is the beverage of choice, but the sign depicts a rather tall martini glass, as painted with an airbrush.

Friday Night Sipping

Mon Petit Chou has alerted Your Boulevardier to an item in the San Jose Mercury News about summer cocktails - and, in particular, a drink called Boulevardier. Coincidentally, Your Boulevardier just bought a new cocktail shaker, so we will be making them this evening. The recipe is straightforward:

Ice
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 ounce Campari
Twist of lemon peel, for garnish

Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice. Add the bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds, then strain into a cocktail (martini) glass. Garnish with the twist of lemon peel.

Adapted by Jason Wilson from "Barflies and Cocktails," by Harry McElhone (1927; reissued 2008, Mud Puddle Books)