The Critics Choice Association will present the annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on Monday, Dec 6 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel LA.
Since 2014, the Celebration of Black Cinema has honored standout achievements in Black filmmaking.
This year, for the first time, the awards ceremony will also celebrate achievements in television.
Our guest, as in the past 3 years, is Shawn Edwards, Executive Producer. He’s based in Kansas City.
I rode the movie junket buses with Shawn for many years – to and from screenings and after-parties.
Shawn was always talking about this dream he had. To celebrate Black filmmaking and cinema.
As the world around us changed (BLM) the celebration changed from fantasy to fact.
The broadcast can be seen on KTLA-TV Los Angeles (which is available on many cable providers across Canada)
#criticschoice #celebrateblackcinema
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing almost 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.
Budget wine gifting for The Holidays with The Wine Diva!
THE SHOW:
Daenna van Mulligen
For 15 years Daenna van Mulligen (The Wine Diva) has created her Top 100 wines. For 15 years we’ve welcomed the audio version of her choices. All wines have been tasted and scored – www.winescores.ca Those receiving 89 points or better and under $20.00 make the list.
When I saw her 2021 list get posted – www.winediva.ca – I knew once again it was time for The Wine Diva to make her seasonal appearance on Tasting Room Radio.
Daenna is a highly respected wine judge and reviewer who tastes every day of the year. Her tasting notes are always a great read and her instincts about where wine is headed and labels to keep an eye on always find their mark.
If you go to the Wine Diva website, you’ll see a heading of WINES. Click on that and on the drop-down list click on wine lists. Just a note, there’s a link that says print up as a shopping list. I highly recommend doing this. Keep it handy for easy reference at home or when shopping and you’re facing a wall of wines.
Keep in mind when you read her rave reviews, that all wines mentioned here are under $20.00 Several are steals.
On the interview, I divided up her wines into three categories –
Roses, Reds and Whites!
The last segment of the show is Daenna taking us through her Wines of the Year.
Here are the wines we talked about
From Top 100 under $20 list…
Jose Maria da Fonseca ‘Periquita’, Portugal $10.99
Red Rooster Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley, BC N/A
Monte del Fra Bardolino DOC, Custoza, Verona Italy $16.99
Oops ‘Voluptuous Beauty’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley Chile $15.99
Intrigue Wines ‘I Do’ Sparkling, Okanagan Valley BC $20.00
Medici Ermete ‘Concerto’ Lambrusco Reggiano Frizzante, Emilia-Romagna, Italy $19.99
Undurraga ‘Sibaris’ Reserva Especial Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley Chile $17.99
Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon, California $20.00
Robin Ridge Gamay, Similkameen Valley BC N/A
Bodegas Piqueras Castillo de Alamansa Reserva, Alamansa Spain $15.99
Red Rooster Winery Cabernet~Merlot, Okanagan Valley, BC N/A
Ryder Estate Pinot Noir Rose, Central Coast California $19.99
We start with a birthday salute to Al Jackson, the legendary drummer of Booker T and the MG’s and every third hit to ever come out of Stax. Then he would drive across town and record with Al Green at Hi Records. He’s long gone now but the records he played on remain…
Steve Cropper – Funky Broadway
Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady
Hard to Handle – Otis Redding
Let’s stay together – Al Green
Knock on Wood – Eddie Floyd
Good to me – Mavis Staples
New music from
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss
Bahamas
Nathaniel Rateliff
Blue Rodeo
Jr. Gone Wild
Colin James
The Band
Steve Marriner
Leeroy Stagger guests to give us an update on the situation in his flooded studio. His friends have started a GoFundMe effort.
Steve kicks things off with an extended jam on The Big Bang
Steve and many music fans believe it was Feb 9, 1964, when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show but Steve also riffs on the Summer of 1965 when Bob Dylan released Subterranean Homesick Blues and he’ll tell you WHY that was the Real Big Bang.
Check out the pod on Spotify, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts
Who, what and when was the “Big Bang” of Popular music?
Who changed rock into an “art form” in 1965 and with what song?
What songs did Steve suggest to close the Sopranos?
How much did Sopranos change his life?
What does Steve consider the world’s “universal music” and who is the star of that music?
All those opinions and lots more from Steve van Zandt are included in his new autobiography Unrequited Infatuations.
It’s a great read.
We all know about growing up pals with Bruce Springsteen and forming the E Street Band but this book reveals all of the other stories and events that shaped not only his life but in no small part the history of the World. (Think of his single Sun City and the dismantling of Apartheid government in South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela)
Steve van Zandt is in the Rock Hall of Fame. Frankly, he’s a human Rock Hall.
He’s an actor and an activist, a musician, and a mentor. He’s Miami Steve van Zandt and this is his story Part two
The Hatch becomes Jason Parkes Customs/Emily Walker Wine List/New Emandare pours
THE SHOW
Jason Parkes is….
A former member of a punk band whose van broke down and he needed money to fix it – so he made wine.
the hub of an ever-expanding wheel.
The dark star at the center of a distant universe
Lead singer of the house band Proper Man
Founder, winemaker, visionary winery owner who surrounds himself with like-minded thinkers and doers.
Actually, his greatest talent is being a husband and father. From that family base comes his strength to start The Hatch, then create, build, open, or buy Hatching Post Brewery, Crown and Thieves, Black Swift Vineyards, Screaming Frenzy, Truck 59 CiderHouse, Smoke Show by JPC, Gobsmacked, and Jason Parkes Customs.
Team JPC
JPCustoms will become the new name of the overall company.
That’s why it was time to slow the man down long enough to talk things through and get a sense of what the road ahead looks like.
There are very few BC wineries expanding at this rate. Not just creating new wines and new destinations but whole new concepts in how to reach people, how to entertain them, and at times speak an entirely different language. Best of all, the wines are as memorable as the man.
(a video of Emily’s interview and her wines can be found below)
Emily Walker – working it
Imagine you’re Emily Walker and you are the Wine Director of the historic Naramata Inn in the village of Naramata.
The Inn is surrounded by 100’s of wineries. As far as the eye can see.
Naramata Heritage Inn
Every one of those wineries would like to be on Emily’s wine list but only a select few are chosen.
It’s those choices I wanted to know more about. Many of the wines she chooses are small lots. Perhaps as few as 25 cases.
But in between those hard-to-find wines, you’ll find gems that we can all search for. They’re all worth the chase.
Emily Walker is up to the task. Running wine programs at The Four Seasons Vancouver, the group Sommelier at all Tap and Barrels, and the opening of the Fairmont Pacific Rim in time for the Winter Olympics. Emily Walker brings all that big room experience into a dining room built-in 1907. You are going to love the experience.
I asked Emily to choose a handful of wines to tell us about.
Lightning Rock – 2021 Rose Pet-Nat $29 (Summerland)
No sugar. No yeast. Whole cluster & double pressed. One night on skins. Fermented in concrete tanks. Cloudy. Lower alcohol. Yummy!
Pedro Parra, renowned soil expert proclaimed their soil conditions Top 15% in the World. Matured in a combination of new oak, concrete, and stainless steel… Notes of nutmeg and caramel. Mighty texture and finish. Award-winning chardonnay!!
Made in Georgian Clay Vessels. Neutral oak. Unfined and unfiltered. A very different wine. Unpolished. Layered and textured.
And gorgeous. Special Syrah from a very special spot.
Nichol Vineyards St Laurent. A medium-dark red. The oldest St Laurent in Canada. Ripe blueberry and cassis on the nose. Tannins, acidity, and pepper in the mouth. Unfined & unfiltered. Cellared in Neutral French Barrique.
Mike Nierychlo Co-founder (with wife Robin) and winemaker of Emandare Wine (Cowichan Valley)
Team Emandare
It was raining ugly when Mike showed up for a quick pour.
I turned on the recorder and Mike took it from there.
He was pouring his new releases from Emandare.
2020 Alice $40 Traditional Method Rose made from 100% Cowichan Pinot Noir. Named after Robin and Mike’s 2nd daughter.
20ALICE
Strawberry, peach, and citrus scents and flavors abound. It is a great pour but very little was made. If you see it – buy it.
A big congratulations to everyone involved. Especially the label artists.
2020 Estate Pinot Noir – Mike and Robin’s original vines. Some 20 years in the ground now. They present a juicy, cherry, and cranberry-driven experience. Also, a texture that surprises. These are very happy vines.
2020 Estate Marechal-Cabernet Foch. $35 Flavours of ripe blackberries and black current. Cracked pepper delights.
2021 (From the Valley) – Farm Fresh Foch. $25 85% M. Foch and 15% Pinot Noir. It’s Mike’s Beaujolais.
Or because it’s from the Cowichan Valley it’s perhaps Cowjolais. It’s very drinkable. Restaurants are going to love this as a house pour.
Mike explains “from the valley”. It’s a neighborhood thing.
He turns 71 on Nov 22nd and celebrates the release of his new autobiography Unrequited Infatuations.
Steve and Bruce Springsteen found each other because they both really weren’t interested in going to school but both did have guitars and a keen sense that that was the road they wanted to walk. Steve played in Steel Mill and the Bruce Springsteen Band. It all came together when he became a permanent member of The E Street band in 1975 just in time for The Born to Run album and tour. From musician and performer, he became a songwriter, arranger, producer, actor, director, Broadway producer, TV and film composer, activist, teacher, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( now is very much a part of the committee that decides future nominees). Last but not least, he’s one of the World’s most knowledgeable authorities on the history of rock and roll. He also created two radio shows that became singular channels on Sirius – Little Steven’s Underground Garage and Outlaw Country.
He formed his own label Wicked Cool Records. Stevie also leads his large solo band The Disciples of Soul
Perhaps his finest moment? In 1985 he forms United Artists Against Apartheid and released Sun City a song protesting the Apartheid system in the South African resort Sun City. Over 50 artists were involved. It leads to the removal of Apartheid and the release from the jail of Nelson Mandela.
Here’s a link to all of these events and a staggering list of all the others. It makes you instantly want to read the story of his life. That’s what Unrequited Infatuations is all about.
This is part one of our conversation. We start with the early roots of rock and roll and the beginnings of Bruce and The E Street Band. What happened to the sounds of rock records in the ’70s and why after leaving Bruce’s E Street Band his first thought was “I thought my life was OVER”
Read the book – you’ll realize his life had just begun. Enjoy!
His wonderful new autobiography is called Unrequited Infatuations
Stevie Van Zandt guests on the entire second hour of The Stew.
Right off the bat, he reminds us of the lasting power and legacy of the original late 50’s/early 60’s rockers, Bruce Springsteen’s place in that music history, leaving the E Street Band.
“I thought my life was over”
BUT he surprised even himself by creating another life. Leading the fight against South African Apartheid through the Sun City single. Helping to free Nelson Mandela and shutting down Apartheid.
Fighting for Aboriginal rights in the USA through numerous events and fundraisers.
Then the amazing transformation into acting on Sopranos and Lillehammer series.
Creating two Sirius channels. Little Steven’s Underground Garage and Outlaw Country.
A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Teacher, Mentor, Activist, Producer, Visionary.
And many more projects.
Saturday. Hour two of the Stew.
Heads Up Check out Part One of the Complete 50-minute interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast this week.
I was ready for his tour. I Love my ciders and admire the artists who create them. Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are blessed with many choices. Many destinations. Best of all it has always been a home for heritage orchards and hundreds of different apples for cider making.
Cider pour
Saanich
Jay starts with Saanich where Growers Cider first started in 1922.
Also in Saanich
Junction Cidery – Their first cider was rhubarb. Lots more coming.
The Gulf Islands were once the apple farming capitol of BC. That’s why you can find 450 different types of heritage apples on these island jewels. Salt Spring Island has a yearly Apple Fest (Oct 2021)
Twin Island Cider – Voted the Best Cider at the last BC Cider Festival. Harvest antique and heritage fruit from orchards on Pender, Mayne, and Saturna Islands. Some of those orchards were planted almost 150 years ago. Matt and Katie are using old-school techniques plus Pet Nat and small-batch offerings. Very different and surprising ciders. Bravo!!
Caitlin Quinn – Master Distiller. Eau Claire Distillery Turner Valley, Alberta
Caitlin Quinn
The return of a fine whisky maker, Caitlin has created Eau Claire’s newest release
Eau Claire Single Malt Whisky Batch 005.
Alberta’s first single malt is batch distilled in the traditional way. In her Glaswegian accent, Caitlin says “Batch 005 is a throwback to Batch 002 with the reintroduction of ex-Sherry Casks in this blend. I believe it will turn out to be a lot of peoples favorite batch so far”
Nose – burnt sugar, dark chocolate
Taste – Nutty, white pepper, toffee
Finish – Long and warm.
Barrell aged in New Hungarian Oak, Ex-Bourbon American Oak, Ex-Sherry French Oak.
Think Gifting this year. For your friends or yourself.
Christa-Lee McWatters – GM Time Family of Wines. (Penticton)
Christa-lee Mcwatters
A follow-up interview to our Wine Align interviews last week. The Nationals awarded Time Family of Wines in Penticton 8 Bronze medals and their 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon was named Top 10 in Canada.
I found a very busy Christa-Lee at the winery dealing with the remnants of this year’s harvest and planning for next year. (It never ends)
I did my first interview with Dan Mangan years ago on a hot and dusty day at the Calgary Folk Festival. Had never met him or heard him perform.
He was one of half a dozen interviews I was scheduled to do. I started with the lame opening of…
Please tell our at-home audience your real name.
“I’m Dan. Dan MAN-GAN”
I was hooked. My kind of guy.
Dan Mangan
Many years later, The Dusty Dan of the folk festival has become a winner of 2 Juno Awards. Each tour has gathered more and more fans around the World.
EP’s, albums, tours, festivals, film scoring, co-creating Side Door Access, and full-on family guy.
Now comes the latest project! A beautifully crafted concert documentary by Amazing Factory called, All Together Now, recorded at his homecoming concert in 2019 at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver.
It’s unlike any other concert film you might have seen. There’s a sense of truth, honesty, and clarity in every song. Pure MAN-GAN.
And best of all I still see “the guy” behind the songs. Dusty Dan.
That’s right – four guests but still a lot of music.
Tracks I tried to play during fall fundraising but never got played.
Tedeschi Trucks Band, early Chicago, Aretha, Taj, Nathaniel Rateliff, Joni, Stevie Ray, and a three-song tribute to Curtis Mayfield, featuring Mavis, Rod Stewart, and the man himself.
Colin James, Steve Marriner, David Gogo
Colin James talks about his 20th studio album – Open Road
Steve Marriner talks about his new solo album Hope Dies Last and touring with Colin.
David Gogo takes us through his latest album Silver Cup. (Produced by Steve)
And they ALL talk about the 2021 Maple Blues Awards nominations. Between them, they have 12!!!!
Right at the end of the show I finally find my pal Roy Forbes who’s doing his first live stream on the Internet Web machine.
Saturday night at the Blue Frog Studios in Whiterock, BC
Have a memorable Saturday Night – Turn it UP
PLAYLIST:
Thank You Donors – The Stew Nov 13 2021
4 Guests Colin James Steve Marriner David GoGo Roy Forbes
Since 2014, the Celebration of Black Cinema has honored standout achievements in Black filmmaking.
We start with a birthday salute to Al Jackson, the legendary drummer of Booker T and the MG’s and every third hit to ever come out of Stax. Then he would drive across town and record with Al Green at Hi Records. He’s long gone now but the records he played on remain…
All those opinions and lots more from Steve van Zandt are included in his new autobiography Unrequited Infatuations.
He turns 71 on Nov 22nd and celebrates the release of his new autobiography Unrequited Infatuations.
Bruce Springsteen’s place in that music history, leaving the E Street Band.
