Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Starbucks

The EconoMuse's world was rocked this week. Her favorite coffee store caught on fire. 

On Tuesday morning, Ms. E-Muse awoke to the sound of circling helicopters. As she took her kids to school, she knew something big was happening. (The billowing smoke and cordoned off roads were a small hint.) As she drove into town towards the smoky haze, she started pleading with God. "Oh Lord, please don't let it be the bookstore." Phew. The bookstore was safe. She continued down the street. "God, I really need to stop at the bank, and I don't want to pay $2 to use someone else's ATM. Please let Wells Fargo not be on fire." The bank was good. But with each passing block, the cruelest of possibilities turned to reality in the EconoMuse's smoke-addled brain--a large plume was coming from, gulp, Peets Coffee.

You have to understand one thing about the EconoMuse: she has a big, bouncy dog who loves long walks, especially if they end up with her (the dog, that is) tied to a pole in the doorway of Peets, where she (again the dog) can hold court, greeting everyone who is coming and going.  Ms. E-Muse and Dog Muse Franny make this 3.2 mile round trip four or five days a week. It is as much about the coffee as the community. Yes, the EconoMuse has done the math, and she realizes she could save oodles of cash by brewing her own, but this is one luxury she'll never give up (however, she makes a point to order drip coffee, which is about half the price of those frou-frou frothy things). Plus, Dog Muse would not be e-mused if the trips stopped.

Which brings us to this week...

Good Muse? There is another Peets in the neighboring town, which is 4.6 miles round trip. Dog Muse gets to walk another 1.4 miles. Bad Muse? It takes more time, so Dog Muse doesn't get to go as often. Which means the EconoMuse is finally brewing more at home. And as a consolation prize, she is dipping into frou-frou territory. 

A few years back, Ms. E-Muse discovered an inexpensive little device that can make all that frothy stuff for a fraction of the cost of your local coffee bar: the Bialetti Mukka Express.

This baby rocks. Just like the classic Italian stovetop espresso machine, this nifty contraption can brew espresso, and it can steam milk, making a fab latte all in one step. The design is so simple, requiring no electricity or water mains or large tracts of counter space. It's so small, that the EconoMuse has taken to traveling with it, guaranteeing herself great coffee no matter what godforsaken place she finds herself in.

So here is the math part of today's post. Feel free to skip this and jump in at the next paragraph. Ms. E-Muse has seen the Mukka (as she affectionately calls it) for $70, more or less. Assuming ingredients cost $1 per latte (beans, milk, treacly syrup, etc.), and a typical coffee bar latte costs $3.50, the Mukka will save you $2.50 per latte and pay for itself in just 28 coffees. If you are like Mr. EconoMuse, that's just one weekend of coffee drinking! Heck, every weekend that goes by that you are not using a Mukka is costing you $70!!

Sold? Now What?

Thought you would never ask. A funny thing has happened in Mukka World in the past few years. Ms. E-Muse bought her original one at the ever-overpriced Williams-Sonoma. This past Christmas, she gave 'em away like candy and found them for decent prices at various e-tailers. And so can you. But that requires shipping costs and carbon offsets. Then, her Safeway--of all G.D. places--started carrying them. And now Target and Costco, as well. Go figure. There can be an upside to the mass-consumerization of fine living.

Full Disclosure

No, the EconoMuse does not own stock in Bialetti. Rather, she is forced to admit one tiny fly in the ointment, as loathe as she is to do so. There may be a learning curve. Now she doesn't want to scare off anyone since she just adores her Mukka, but her concern is that you might get a tad frustrated upon first purchasing your own, as did Muse Roo Hoo Hoo. Or worse, you might get a "Mukka Injury" (again, Muse Roo Hoo Hoo, and it was not what you would think--there was no burning involved.) If you listen to Ms. E-Muse and buy your own Mukka, bookmark this very useful website. It will help you get up the learning curve quickly. Not that everyone needs the help.

Final Note

On the sad day of the Peets fire, the EconoMuse was trading texts with all the Peets regulars. One regular (she'll call him Peets Paul) uses Peets as his home office between client visits. Peets Paul texted, "What am I going to do?" Ms. E-Muse, clearly in shock herself, had no useful suggestions for a new "office" location. However, she could offer him this axiom: Remember, friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.

Recession Proof: Return of the Happy Hour

On this St. Patrick's Day, the EconoMuse naturally has beers and bars on the brain (along with a touch of alliteration.) However, instead of celebrating the day by drinking in bars, she has chosen to write about drinking in them instead. For better or worse (probably better) she has been sidelined by a cold.

The EconoMuse loves chatting with fellow Muses, and recently a recurring theme has begun to emerge in these conversations. Apparently the early bird does get the worm--or at least the 2-for-1 cocktails with cheap appies. 

Now, most of Ms. E-Muse's fellow Muses had done their time on the college bar circuit (remember $2 pitchers at Tacos Tacos anyone?!), moved on to have families, and then graduated to fine dining with expensive wines and even-more-expensive babysitters. Maybe it's the economy, or maybe it's the imminent midlife crises, or maybe it is even the company she keeps, but whatever the root cause, Ms. E-Muse has noticed a spike in the number of friends who are hitting the bars again. However, with a few notable exceptions (and she won't name names), this time around going to a bar no longer means shutting down the joint, followed by late night pizza-by-the-slice. No, now her muses are opening the joint, getting out on the town early so they can still get stuff done afterwards. (Or at least the next morning!) And, they are rewarded for their get-up-and-go spirit with free stuff. As they should be.

Muse Clockwise (don't ask--its a semi-long story), first alerted Ms. E-Muse to this Happy Hour resurgence. Now let's get this straight: the EconoMuse is pretty sure the Happy Hour never went away. It's just her own demographic simply shifted out of it, and is only now shifting back into it. So when she says resurgence, she doesn't want to hear from all you people who never let it die in the first place. She knows who you are and what you've been doing all these years. 

Anyhow, Muse Clockwise pointed out that she and a friend, Muse Tracy, could go to a fancy-shmancy restaurant, have two drinks and an appetizer, enjoy a little camaraderie with fellow foodies at the bar, and spend an hour or two of their time and $15 each of their money. 

Now let's compare bang-for-buck at non-Happy Hour times:

"Can I start you out with something while you review the menu?"

"Yes, I would like a glass of Chardonnay."

Done. $15. 15 Minutes. 

Should have started with a glass of water while reviewing the menu--it would have bought a few more minutes of enjoyment for your $15! 

Tap water, that is.

Finding the Happy Hours

Recently, the EconoMuse set out to find the best nearby Happy Hours. She set to work at the Googles, and discovered that some drinkers had actually taken the time to put together lists of good local Happy Hours. Tingling with excitement, she quickly learned that these lists are not the golden ticket. They are only one piece of the puzzle, and as the economy has sunk deeper into that R thing, new deals are popping up right and left, while some restaurants are closing. It would take a hearty soul to keep all these lists current. Therefore, Ms. E-Muse turned to the standard review sites, such as Yelp, Chowhound (a favorite foodie site but not as exhaustive as Yelp on the Happy Hour front), and BooRah (sort of the Rotten Tomatoes of the restaurant world) to aid in her search. 

Best way to work the review sites? Just type in "Happy Hour" and the name of your town, click on the various restaurants or bars that are your speed, scan each quickly for key words (i.e. hours, offers, free spread of hors d'oeuvres, etc.) and then click directly on the restaurant/bar website to verify the details. If the restaurant doesn't advertise a Happy Hour on their home page, they usually will have a Events, Calendar, or Bar page that will have more info. But some don't, and you'll just have to make sure that the Yelp post that led you to their site was recent and applicable--some Yelpers generically refer to that time after work as Happy Hour whether or not there are freebies.

Site to watch: Unthirsty.com

The EconoMuse has concerns about Yelp and transparency, so she hates to rely on it too heavily, and she is always looking for alternatives.  Here is one site dedicated to Happy Houring that she is watching: Unthirsty.com. The catch here is it depends on a critical mass of user feedback to keep it current, and it isn't quite there for her region. However, all you lucky drinkers in NYC (Muse Susan? Muse Liz and Pete?) will find a lengthy list to peruse.  At any rate, check in on it from time to time, you might just find a good tip.

Tuesday: the New GNO

When the EconoMuse followed her own advice, a few trends emerged. First, Happy Hour no longer is an hour or two. Some bars start Happy Hour at noon and go all the way till dinner, for six hours of afternoon happiness. At others, Happy Hour has become Happy Night or a Happy Late Night. Check the hours. Sometimes the late bird actually gets the worm!

Second, the deepest discounts come earlier in the week. The aforementioned Happy Night? A Tuesday. This means you can sneak out with friends after the kids get home from soccer practice and everyone is fed. And you know what that means, right? Guilt-free, cheap cocktails!

Final Word: Don't Skimp the Tip!

Muse Maria, the original Depressionista, weighed in on this matter the other day. She is all about the bargain hunting, but she is not cheap. She told the EconoMuse to make sure she blogs this in bold: tip as if it were full price. Ms. E-Muse fully agrees. We should not have our e-musement at the expense of the waitstaff working hard for shrinking tips. Remember, people, now that the pendulum is swinging us back to the bars for a little inexpensive fun, don't start to think you are back in college. You're not. This time, drink responsibly!

Soup's On

News Flash: a food industry analyst has proclaimed, "People will eat during a recession." Um, duh. 

The real question is not if but what will people eat. With everyone making difficult spending choices, apparently one food item is not even on the bargaining table. That's right, we are not willing to give up chocolate. 

According to Cadbury, the world's second largest candy company, chocolate sales were up in the last half of 2008.  But chewing gum? Not so much. Evidently chewing gum is an impulse purchase made by people on the go, whereas chocolate is a stock-up-and-pig-out-at-home item. So in these hunker-down times, we refuse to give up chocolate. Again, duh. 

The EconoMuse would like to point out that living well during a recession is all about making trade offs. If one were to live on some inexpensive meal, such as--let's say--soup, then the savings can be put towards indulging in luxurious chocolate. Again, this feels like a total no-brainer. So to make your chocolate splurge a reality, Ms. E-Muse--putting on her Frugal Gourmette hat--would like to share some thoughts on soup.

Soup: It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

OK. Maybe you weren't raised in the EconoMuse's house where everyone fought over leftover dinner for breakfast. (It got to the point where they would make spaghetti to have it leftover and cold for breakfast.) So, yes, Ms. E-Muse has a storied past when it comes to adventures in eating. And all those stories began with Mom and Dad Muse (aka Ma Muse and Da Muse). 

When most kids were sitting down to meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the 70s, Ms. E-Muse was grating Sap Sago cheese on her pasta. Don't know it? Sap Sago is a hard, green, stinky, grating cheese from Switzerland. Capers? No problem. Katsudon Donburi? Bring it on! Full curry dinner? Only if it could be eaten without utensils! Ma and Da Muse were well-traveled and liked to continue their international adventures in the kitchen. There was a time (also in the 70s), when Da Muse had recently returned from Japan and Hawaii, so he decided the preferred method for making toast in the morning was to pan-fry it in butter, covered with sesame seeds, using chopsticks as a spatula, and doing all this while wearing a kimono and flip flops (or "go-aheads", as he called them). This was the zany 70s, after all, and Da Muse was doing his part. 

In honor of Ma and Da Muse, who knew how to make inexpensive food fun and exciting during the last really nasty recession, the EconoMuse would like to kick off this Frugal Gourmette post with one of Ma Muse's famous soups, adapted to today's recessionary shopping trends. In other words, everything can be purchased at Trader Joe's!

Tuna Palos Verdes Chowder

First of all, the EconoMuse has no idea where the "Palos Verdes" in the title came from. She worked the Googles and got nothing. She thinks it was meant to give a recipe made from canned goods a name with cachet. (Ma Muse's version, after all, was made with Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup.)

Ingredients

1 Carton of Trader Joe's Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

1 Can of white tuna, drained [N.B. Never get light tuna. Yes it is cheaper, but you might as well buy cat food! Yuck!]

1 Small onion, diced

2 Potatoes, peeled, cut in half long ways, then sliced thin

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 Heaping tsp. oregano

Directions

1. Saute onion in a bit of oil in a medium large pot until softened, about five minutes.

2. Add potatoes, pepper, oregano, and enough water to barely cover potatoes (about 1-1/2 - 2 cups).

3. Cover and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 15 minutes.

4. Add soup and tuna, and simmer for another 5 minutes.

5. Adjust seasonings to taste. Might need a touch of salt.

6. Enjoy.

7. Chase down with large quantities of chocolate.

Tuna not your thing? The EconoMuse understands. Her kids are split on the matter.  The funny thing is the non-tuna eater loved the soup, whereas the tuna eater? Well he hates everything new, so don't let it stop you...

The second soup is one of Ms. E-Muse's favs.  It's easy, yummy, and full of healthy things that can easily be picked out. (See paragraph above about picky eaters!)

White Bean, Sweet Potato, and Sausage Soup

Again, all of the ingredients can be bought at Trader Joe's. Ms. E-Muse's TJs even carries bags of whole sweet potatoes. But if you are inclined to waste a few dollars, you can buy those pre-packaged, peeled,and diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash.  Ms. E-Muse won't tell the Economizing Police.

Ingredients

1 Small onion, diced

1 Can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 Carton chicken broth

1 Medium-large sweet potato, peeled and cubed

3 Italian sausages (precooked or not), sliced in 1/2" slices. Ms. E-Muse prefers turkey so she doesn't have to precook and drain fat

A couple handfuls of baby spinach

Salt and pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Saute the onion in some oil in a soup pot, until soft.

2. Add sausage and saute until cooked.  Drain fat, if necessary.

3. Add broth, beans, and sweet potato.

4. SImmer for about 20 minutes or until potato is soft.

5. About 5 minutes before dinner time, add handfuls of spinach.

6. Adjust seasonings. It likes a few good grinds of black pepper.

7. Ladle into bowls and grate fresh parmesan cheese on top.

8. Enjoy.

9. Chase down with large quantities of chocolate.

Swapping Soup

Now, with blizzards in the East and dumping rain in the West, the EconoMuse wants her final word to be a plug for sharing soup. Years ago, Muse Jen P. wanted to have a soup party. Ms. E-Muse thought it was a grand idea. Mr. Muse Jen P.? Not a fan of the idea. Well, Muse Jen P., you could have been a trendsetter! The EconoMuse has stumbled across the notion of Soup Swaps. They are like those annoying Christmas Cookie Exchanges, except you go home with healthful soups instead of gazillions of extra calories at a time of year when people have way too many sweets anyways. Apparently there is even a National Soup Swap Day. We missed this years. It was January 24th. But no worries. And no need to wait a whole year to have your own. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to warm hearts and party with foodie friends during these recessionary times, check out Soupswap.com. Not that the EconoMuse needs an excuse to party...

Traveling Light: Taking a Straycation

The EconoMuse needs to start today's post with a big mea culpa or two. She plans to keep the mea culpas handy as she writes her blog, because she can see that she will need them often.

Case in point: no sooner does the EconoMuse hit the publish button on her most recent Recession Proof, essentially calling Mr. EconoMuse clueless about Valentine's Day, when in walks Mr. EconoMuse. With a box. For the EconoMuse. Wrapped with great artistic flair. (You should see how Mr. EconoMuse wraps presents. There is always an Exacto knife and hot-glue gun involved. Her most recent birthday present was wrapped using a dissected Stella Artois six-pack holder that was artfully rearranged to spell out the EconoMuse's name and date of birth!) 

Anyways, since Ms. E-Muse was taking the kids away for President's Weekend while Mr. EconoMuse headed to Europe on business, the EconoMuses would not be together on Valentine's. Not only did Mr. EconoMuse figure that out, but he also purchased a lovely necklace (breaking all rules of economusing). 

By the way, the necklace goes beautifully with the egg on Ms. E-Muse's face. Mea Culpa. 

Mea Culpa Part Deux

The EconoMuse has been lax with the posts in the past two weeks. But--hey!--when nobody is actually paying you, it's a lot easier to go on vacation. So that's what she did. Which brings us to one of her favorite topics: traveling light--on the wallet, that is!

By now everyone has heard of "staycations."  You know the drill: sightsee in your own 'hood. Get the kids an ice cream or two. Buy the t-shirt. And call it a vacation. Apparently they were all the rage last summer. And in Europe they went so far as to dump a pile of sand into the city centers so the locals could set up their beach chairs, pull out their coolers, and pretend they were at the beach.  As fun as that sounds, Ms. E-Muse does not see her little Northern California town hauling in the sand and installing a tiki bar anytime soon. So that's where the "straycation" comes in. It's kind of like a staycation but you stray (get it?!) a little farther afield and spend as little as possible doing it. And that's where the real fun begins. 

A few years back the EconoMuse started meeting her dear friend, Muse Julie, in San Francisco for dinner. However, since the pair love to eat and drink, the hour drive home proved to be an obstacle to serious indulgence. So they hatched the idea of staying in the city overnight. After a few false starts (oh, the stories Ms. E-Muse could tell, such as the room with the ringing phones), the two struck on a winning formula: Hotwire +/- Priceline < (+/-)($80) = (Hotel Room)(****).  For those of you who failed complex, scientific formulas in school, that means four-star hotels for less than $80, give or take. 

Beating the Priceline System 

Maybe you've used Hotwire and Priceline for hotels before. But have you decoded them? If not, the EconoMuse encourages you to peruse this essential website, BetterBidding.Com. Hotel secrets are revealed. Winning bidding strategies are illuminated. Through the help of other bidders, you can often figure out what you are bidding on or how much to bid. Ms. E-Muse has used this website for hotels all over the U.S. and Europe, and she has not been disappointed. In fact, she gleefully shares her bidding results with others online. 

Now I don't know if you are like the EconoMuse and have thought, "Who are those people who actually write on Yelp or take the time to review a recipe on Epicurious?" (Is it not enough that you must cook the recipe, but then they expect you to provide qualitative feedback? How kum-bay-yah!!). But alas, Ms. E-Muse has become one of "Them" on BetterBidding.  If you ever see input from someone named "thrillofthehunt", know it is yours truly.  And truly, she is thrilled by the hunt.  So much so that she doesn't quite get the warm and fuzzies from an equally-good deal on her other favorite travel site, Kayak.com. Even though this site rocks. It's an almost one-stop shop that lets you "search 140+ sites at once." If you need the flexibility to cancel your hotel or you are booking airfare start at Kayak, because there is no canceling your rezzies on Priceline. But if this is a true straycation, you are booking at the last minute anyways.

(BTW, Ms. E-Muse will not use Hotwire/Priceline for booking flights.  And nor should you, unless you have the flexibility of a college student back-packing around Europe. And if that's you, really you should just consider becoming a courier. It's way cheaper--as long as your "cargo" doesn't land you in a Thai prison. But we'll talk about cheap airfare in a future Traveling Light post...)

Getting the Dirt 

Now, when you solve any complex formula, as Ms. E-Muse tells her sixth-grader, you must check your work. What does that mean when searching for travel deals? Cross-reference!  

The EconoMuse never, ever books (or bids on) anything without looking it up in Tripadvisor.com. If you are a Yelper (which Ms. E-Muse is), then go ahead and Yelp. But take it with one giant grain of salt. Just a few weeks ago, they were discussing Yelp on NPR. One guy called in to say that when he worked for a hotel, the manager required employees to write fake reviews. Can you believe that? Of course you can! So remember that the Man is onto Yelp. And probably Tripadvisor as well. So please, take everything with a grain of salt, both the good and the bad, because just as there are false positives, there really are a lot of whiners out there, and they do crave the bandwidth. But if your BS detector is finely tuned, and you still have a nagging doubt about the hotel you are considering, just use the Googles and do one final cross reference. There are countless blogs and bulletin boards where you might get an untouched-by-management review. 

Now lets suppose you loved complex, scientific equations in school, you can take the EconoMuse's very-scientific formula and add even more complexity: the Class-Review Ratio. What might that be? It's actually quite simple. Go to your favorite review site, divide the number of stars in the review by the number of stars in the hotel class (assuming they use the same scale!), and violá, you get the C-R Ratio. Anything greater than one means you're getting good value for your money. And for all you mathletes out there, don't forget statistical significance. The C-R ratio won't work if the hotel only has one review.  Use your head, people. Don't rely solely on the truly obscure review sites!

Pulling it All Together: A Success Story!

Over President's Weekend, the EconoMuse took her fourth grader to visit the Carmel Mission so that he could faithfully render it into a cardboard-and-lasagna-noodle model. Since Mr. EconoMuse was headed to Europe, Ms. E-Muse was thrown a curve ball when she decided to take along the dog. Unable to use Priceline/Hotwire, she had to turn to her favorite pooch-in-tow site, Dogfriendly.com. For all you dog owners who fancy a straycation, bookmark this site. (And please, no easy jokes here about using dog and stray in the same sentence. Ms. E-Muse saw it, too, and moved on.) Now, you simply enter the city you are headed to, collect a list of dog-friendly digs, and then use old-standbys Expedia or Travelocity. This combo yielded a perfectly fine "beach resort" practically sitting in the ocean just comfortably away from the tourist traps in Monterey. 

               

For those of you keeping score at home, this is the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort. With a C-R Ratio of 1.167, it was a good value!

Another tip for straycationing? Garden View. Let's face it, straycations are not about spending the money for the Ocean View. And, yes, Garden View usually means a tree in the parking lot. This is not The Big Splurge. By taking the Garden View at the "resort" in Monterey, Ms. E-muse got a rate of $81/night. (Using the AAA discount, of course, even though the EconoMuse doesn't have a AAA card. Final tip: always ask for the AAA discount over the phone when you book the room.  They never ask to see your card at check in, even though they assure you that they will!) 

BTW, an ocean view would have doubled the cost and doubled the pet fee! The "resort" did have a nice giant lobby bar with ginormous ocean views and a roaring fire, so Ms. E-Muse and the kids hung out after dinner and enjoyed the Ocean View from the lobby and then went back to the Garden View to sleep. Woke up and enjoyed the Ocean View in the restaurant. And then off to Carmel. Not bad for $81/night. 

Mission accomplished.

                 

Recession Proof: That's Amore

How often does this happen?!  

The EconoMuse went to a wine shop today to buy a bottle of Italian red wine, and she asked for help finding something yummy in the $20 range. To which, the salesman helping her replied, "How about spending a whole lot less?" 

Okay...

The EconoMuse should back up. She was looking for a bottle of wine to recommend for this week's Recession Proof, bearing in mind that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. (Mr. EconoMuse: it is February 14th. No, this is not a holiday that floats based on phases of the moon. Nor is it always on a Monday, so that the banks can close.  For as long as you have been alive, it falls on the 14th. And banks stay open.)

So Ms. E-Muse was thinking about love when it hit her in the eye like a big pizza pie: this week's recommendation had to be an Italian red. That's amore. So she zipped over to K&L (Yes--it will be a recurring fave. As will Trader Joe's.) 

The salesman didn't even pause when asked for a recommendation. Ms. E-Muse was ready to plunk down $18.99 for a Dolcetto de Alba, because Dolcettos are usually so nice and soft that they just call out "Valentine's Day."  After all, the name Dolcetto means "sweet little one." Awww. But the salesman dragged a swooning EconoMuse to a newly displayed case. 

"...It's the 2007," he was saying. "Even better than the 2006. Which everyone loved..."

"...Huh?" It's not like Ms. E-Muse had a clue about the 2006.

"...Barbera..."

Hmmm.  Conjures up the image of Hanna-Barbera.  Or Conan the Barberian.  Not quite the romantic tone she was looking for, if she was shopping on name alone.  But the EconoMuse is fond of Grgich Hills, and that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.  And Barberas can be full of berries and playful, and that does sound like Valentine's Day.

"...It's only $10.99.  We haven't had it on our website yet, but when we do, it will fly out of here."  

Gulp.  That really was a whole lot less.

That's the thing about K&L. Constantly turning over new bargains. If you find something you like, grab it. It's no wonder the EconoMuse never tried the '06. It flew out the door too fast. Or at least that's what she could tell him as an explanation for the blank stare.

So he had her at "hello." However, he went on. It seems Wine Spectator likes the wine as well. They gave it 90 points. As the EconoMuse knows from working in the wine industry, 90 points from Wine Spectator doesn't come easily. Especially for $10.99 a bottle.

Recession Proof: Sip of the Week

2007 Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera

What can the EconoMuse say? Here are the adjectives: deep ruby red, loaded with black fruit, lively acidity, dry, etc., etc. Goggle it, and you'll find those words everywhere. You'll even learn that the previous vintage was named a Wine Spectator "Top 100" selection. And you'll find the Spectator's tasting notes ("Very plummy and grapey on the nose, with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, soft and succulent, with lots of flavor and a long, long finish. Delicious. Drink now.") Or you can just buy it online from K&L, because they "think it is better than the '06, which outsold every Italian red [they] carried last year."

So this is what Mr. and Ms. E-Muse thought: first of all, if you have yet to seal the deal this Valentine's Day, splurge for that Screaming Eagle and hint of good times to come in the future. However, if you no longer need to impress and can forgo the cult wine and the heart shape steaks (yes, Whole Foods actually sells them, but beware, they curl up when cooked, and what message does that send...), AND if you would rather send the message that you know how to economize while still enjoying life, then by all means, enjoy this inexpensive little bottle. It's surprisingly full-bodied, fruity and with the acidity that is meant to be paired with food.  It will need a little air when you first pour it, but Ms. E-Muse certainly enjoyed it more with each sip as she ate her ravioli and sausage dinner.  Perhaps any decent italian wine would have tasted good with her ravioli and sausage, but at $10.99 a bottle, that's amore.

Recessions Prefer Blondes

Full disclosure here:  The EconoMuse is blonde.  Both naturally, and enhanced by expensive means. (Yes, even the EconoMuse occasionally drops the big bucks.)

When the EconoMuse told Muse Jen P. about her new blog, she was promptly forwarded this article from the London Telegraph: "Women dye hair blonde amid recession" (Jan. 29, 2009). This week's e-musement certainly lands in the "What the ?" category.  

The EconoMuse is not even going to enter the age-old debate about blondes and fun. It really doesn't matter. However, whether or not it is true, it's the thought that counts. One London hair salon reportedly surveyed 1,200 customers on their attitudes towards blondes. Results were stereotypical--the top two beliefs were blondes are extroverted and more sexy. And 90% of the male respondents said they believe blondes do have more fun. (BTW, the other top-selling beliefs included: number three, blondes have childlike ignorance; and number five, blondes will kiss on a first date. Go figure. The EconoMuse has absolutely no idea where people could get those silly notions!)

And if it is the thought that counts, "blonde=fun" thoughts are driving our British sisters to expensive measures. "Celebrity Hairstylist" Andrew Barton claimed a 67% surge in blonde dye jobs at his London salon over this time last year. He sees this "gold rush" (his words--not the EconoMuse's) as an antidote to the doom and gloom of the economy.  

Wow. So last week we talked about alcohol sales rising during a recession, and this week we learn that since people think blondes have more fun, more women are going for the gold in this recession. This leads the EconoMuse to draw one conclusion: the economy is in the toilet, and we are all acting like we are on Spring Break, dying our hair blonde and knocking back the booze! Apparently denial is a river in Egypt. 

But does Andrew Barton's anecdotal evidence hold up under further Googling? The EconoMuse decided to find out. First she discovered that everyone loves his claim since this bit of pseudo-scientific journalism (I mean, come on--just how many hair salons have 1,200 customers to survey?!) was picked up by gazillions of magazines and newspapers ranging from Marie Claire to the Times of India. But nowhere did Ms. E-Muse find corroborating evidence or double-blind samplings. (Wait. I think there is a blonde joke in there somewhere.) Oh sure, she did find out that Mattel is investing big time in its own recession-dye-job by launching a six-story House of Barbie department store in Shanghai next month. This store will feature a luxurious spa, a couture clothing salon, and a restaurant that will sell--get this--Barbitinis.  And will Barbie reflect the skin tone and hair color of her newly adopted home? Nope. Apparently, while the doll does come in various skin tones and hair colors, it is the blonde version that drives international sales. (Source: The Guardian, "Barbie at 50: The Blonde Ambition Beneath the Hard Exterior," Jan. 9, 2009.)

So, before the EconoMuse loses her brunette faithful, she wants to let you know that while some of us are boozing and bleaching this recessionary season, a recent--and also unsubstantiated--study mentioned in The Times of India (no doubt meant as a soothing counterpoint to the Andrew Barton bit in a country with more than a few brunettes) reveals that when it comes to marrying, men prefer a brunette, because they are more dependable and sensible. Now Ms. EconoMuse would just love to ponder that as far as her limited brain power would allow, however, she is scootin' off to Palm Springs to knock back some Barbitinis and forget about that whole yucky-credit-cards-not-working-so-good-um-bad-receeding-economy thingy.