{"id":6749,"date":"2014-08-29T17:27:44","date_gmt":"2014-08-30T00:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6749"},"modified":"2014-08-29T12:32:05","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T19:32:05","slug":"cocktail-corner-my-happy-dance-worthy-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6749","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: My Happy Dance-worthy List"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The

The gals at Grassini are pouring on Sunday at the annual Wine Collection of El Paseo Labor Day Weekend Block Party, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

We’ve got a long, Labor Day weekend ahead of us, which is certainly more than enough to make me smile. Here are a few more happy dance-worthy things on my list right now:<\/p>\n

1. Taste of the Tow<\/a>n<\/p>\n

The\u00a033rd annual Santa Barbara Taste of the Town,<\/a>\u00a0a wine and\u00a0culinary event benefiting the\u00a0Arthritis Foundation<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span>Sunday,\u00a0Sept. 7 is sure to be a wonderful\u00a0afternoon of wine tasting and delicious nibbles presented from many\u00a0of Santa Barbara\u2019s finest restaurants and wineries.\u00a0For more information and to purchase tickets call Arthritis Foundation at 805\/563-4685\u00a0visit\u00a0TasteofTheTownSantaBarbara.org<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Labor Day Sunday block party<\/a>\u00a0at El Paseo<\/p>\n

This Sunday (Aug. 31) from noon to 3 p.m., you can enjoy the once a year\u00a0Wine Collection of El Paseo Labor Day Weekend Block Party. A $30 fee gets you tastings from\u00a0Margerum Wine Company,<\/a> Grassini<\/a>, Au Bon Climat<\/a>, Happy Canyon Vineyard <\/a>and Jamie Slone Wines<\/a>,\u00a0as well as a\u00a0commemorative glass\u00a0and\u00a0taco lunch.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>813 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara in El Paseo.<\/p>\n

3. Oysters and Bubbly<\/p>\n

Oysters and sparkling wine make beautiful music together, especially this time of year. We like\u00a0to pair local oysters from Santa Barbara Fish Market<\/a>\u00a0with a sparkling Italian wine like Berlucchi Franciacorta Brut<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Barbecue Time<\/a><\/p>\n

Long weekends are the perfect time to\u00a0fire up the coals (or gas up the grills). Luckily, I’ve already compiled a wealth of winning wine options to pair with your favorite foods.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. A Real Happy Dance<\/p>\n

Check out Audrey Hepburn in this fun clip from Funny Face<\/em>.<\/p>\n