Off The Vine

There's nothing worse than buying a bottle of a wine you end up not really loving. It can be a date drainer, a confidence killer, a mood masher, a romance squaher and an evening ender.

El Gaucho in downtown Tacoma has a solution.

Once a month (or so), an in-house wine event dubbed Off The Vine is held for wine lovers - the curious and the cautious. This is an opportunity for guests to taste wines available in the restaurant, only without plunking down all the cash it takes to buy a bottle. Basically, it can take the risk out of the wine purchasing proposition.

The event is a confidence builder: Wine representatives Lily Marlene from Noble Wines and John Deardorf from Cordon Selections will be on hand to answer questions and share notes on featured wines from Longshadows, Wineglass Cellars, Abeia and more.

Chefs at El Gaucho have prepared a simple menu of crostini appetizers - tomato and goat cheese, marinated shrimp, mushroom ragout - to complement the tasting experience.

The evening will be hosted by El Gaucho's knowledgeable wine captain, Scott Schultz.

[El Gaucho, Off The Vine, Friday, Oct. 15, 4-6 p.m., no pre-registration required, $10 at door, 2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 253.272.1510]

Tacoma Harvest Fair

Boasting too many competitions and categories to list here, Tacoma ushers in its first annual (indoor) Harvest Fair this weekend. Expect the typical baked goods, gourds, jam and pickled veg competitions, as well as competitions with a T-town twist, including Most Awesome Mustache, Greater Tacoma Mutt Show, Best Pansy Container Garden and Mr. and Miss Tattoo Tacoma. The entire thing is rather tongue in cheek, and meant to be a fun celebration of Tacoma. Or, like "a mini Puyallup Fair with a Tacoma feel," as Christy Scerra of Serenity Garden Design and Middle Floor Merchants Association put it.

Tacoma Harvest Fair judging will be done by local business leaders and experts in each specific category. Scerra and Club Silverstone will judge Best Pansy Container Garden; Flash from Hell's Kitchen will judge Miss Tattoo; Johnny's Seafood is hosting a cook-off; and Valhalla Coffee has put out the challenge of creating coffee-inspired desserts. Blue ribbons, some gift baskets and huge props will be awarded to the winners.

Besides the competitions there will be hot dogs by Red Zeppelin, games for kids and adults, music by DJ Bilori and others and public how-tos both days. Betsy of Java Cupcake will lead "Cupcake Decorating 101" Sunday.

Admission is free. Competitions are open to everyone.

Show ‘em what you got. 

[Sanford and Son Antiques, Oct. 16 and 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 743 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.0334]