http://seanbrendan.com Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:25:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last week I was fortunate to volunteer with the Washington WIne Ambassadors at the Auction of Washington Wines Picnic with the Winemakers.  This was my first event as a volunteer wine pourer, and I found it interesting, hot, and worth my time (beyond the great cause). Having attended ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/auction-of-washington-wines/ Another partnership from Mark Ryan and Chris Gorman?  Could the guys that brought us The Ghost of 413 deliver another reasonably priced wine that offers surprising value and an interesting wine experience?  Yep. They need to work on their website and SEO, as I couldn't find anything online for ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/elle-2006/ What an incredible summer for worldwide sporting events. From the Euro Cup to the French Open and Wimbledon to the Tour De France.... I've been able to turn on the tube everyday and watch interesting international sporting action. And, the Olympics are right around the corner. It's been enough to ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/le-tour/ What a great tournament. Luckily, for me, as basketball in the Seattle of Seattle completely turns me off the the NBA, we have great international soccer to keep me intrigued.   The Euro 08 finals are set,  Germany vs Spain in a classic soccer power match-up.  I think Germany ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/euro-2008/ I don't go to concerts or live events very often, but every time I find myself interested in going to one, I am repelled by the ever growing (in)convenience charge that ticketmaster is tacking onto every sale.  For a $35 concert ticket... $9.95 convenience charge.  Are you kidding?!  ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/ticketmaster-is-the-worst/ A perfect wine of the week, this has got to be the best $12 wines i've ever had, and it was brought to us once again by the good folks at Garagiste. It seems to be going to closer to $20 at online retailers, which shows just how good Garagiste's ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/domaine-du-clos-dalari-2004/ I'm actually excited about an NBA series! This is the first time in a really long time that I'm looking forward to any NBA game.  I'll be tuning in to watch the Garnett/Gasol, Bryant/Allen, Pierce/Oden matchups.  In a finals for the ages, the Celtics win game 7 at home to ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/nba-finals-lakers-vs-celtics/ I've been playing around with this project for about 6 months and thought I would share the setup and How To.  My Goal: buy/build a clean, easy to use setup to make all of my media accessible through the HD TV that is the center of our living ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/how-to-make-a-mac-mini-a-htpc-or-media-center/ We toured around the state of Washington on the annual Wine Highway at Chateau Ste Michelle yesterday.  We enjoyed the nice afternoon, some delicious wines, and interesting foods.  Wineries that stood out to me were Dunham and Basel and Gifford Hirlinger....   all from Walla Walla region.  The folks from ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/washington-wine-highway/ Last month I attended the huge Ad:Tech conference in San Francisco and have been intending to post some highlights. here we go: tons of energy in online advertising Noticeable buzz around ad networks Test, test, test was a theme ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/adtech-sf/ Take a look at this project. More coming soon... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/2008-boating-adventures/ Mark Ryan is one of my favorite local Puget Sound wineries.  Having been to one of his release parties, I found that his gregariousness and ability to turn great fruit into really good wine has lead to a dedicated following of wine collectors and connoisseurs.  If you get a chance ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/2006-mark-ryan-crazy-mary-mourvedre/ The dudes from Oklahoma appear to have stolen the Sonics from Seattle and Clay Bennett finally decided it was time to tell the truth: "I'm thrilled for Oklahoma." http://seanbrendan.com/2008/clay-bennett-finally-tells-the-truth/ How about something writing about something that wasn't disappointing? Bodegas Tomas Cusine El Vilosell If you see this on a menu, order it. If you see it at a local wine shop, buy a couple bottles.   This is a tasty blend of 50% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/tomas-cusine/ Lets get this thing started already.  Its nice to be the underdog again, even though we are seeded higher than Davidson, have more talent, play a tougher schedule, have won bigger games this year, and have a more prestigious program.  Go Zags! http://seanbrendan.com/2008/bracket-2008/ That game on Monday in San Diego was brutal.  I was there and just watched it on the dvr.  San Diego flat out, out played us in the second half.  They out-rebounded us, out-hustled us, and out-coached us. This team still has not found a way to play together as ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/go-zags-6/ My favorite time of the year. March is right up there with September when football starts, and the weather is perfect.  March is about spring and basketball and Zags.  With two weeks left until Selection Sunday and a lot of basketball left to be played, I'm going to take a ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/its-march/ From Guest Blogger Liz: I placed an order with AmazonFresh on Wednesday and I was pleasantly surprised with the transaction, and thought I'd share. The fresh produce arrived before 6 AM on Thursday; clean and packaged nicely. Aside from fruits and vegetables, I bought some prosciutto and Italian sausages ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/amazon-ingly-fresh/ Speaking of social networking, LInkedIn just published a bold site upgrade today, and it looks more like facebook now with pictures, status, and the general layout.  I use both, check both a couple times a week, but would not consider myself a very active user, other than checking for more ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/linkedin-or-facebook-or-both/ One of the things I really want to do more of in 2008 is play more golf.  It's felt like Spring in the Pacific Northwest the past few days, with temperatures soaring into the 60's. Driving around Bellevue and Seattle I've noticed multiple courses with numerous groups out enjoying the ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/spring-means-golf/ Castello Di Verduno - once reviewed by Food & Wine as one of the must visit spots in the Piedmont region. 100% Nebbiolo. Pomegranate hue, nose of new leather. Powerful with full fruit, mouth-filling fruit and round. 550 cases What I think: I'll be honest, I was ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/wine-castello-di-verduno-langhe-nebbiolo-2005/ From Owen Roe. We enjoyed this wine this afternoon with good friends at the Grape Choice in downtown Kirkland.  Beside sporting a fantastic label with a great story (read  more below), this Washington grown wine is made in Oregon and is flat out really good.  it went perfectly with ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/wine-2006-sinister-hand/ From Guest Blogger, Liz O'Connor: Valentine’s Day has come and gone but my memories of the wine we enjoyed that night have not. Sean prepared our traditional Valentine’s meal of lamb alongside small, yellow potatoes and green beans. The bottle of 2003 Kennedy Shah Syrah from Woodhouse Family ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/wine-kennedy-shah-2002-syrah/ the baseball steroids/hgh saga is really unfortunate. Roger Clemens was too good for this. http://seanbrendan.com/2008/roger-will-be-misremembered/ Eyrie Vineyards. About Eyrie:  In 1975, The Eyrie Vineyards produced the first American Pinot noir to compete successfully with the renowned Pinot noirs of Burgundy. (Paris, 1979; Beaune, 1980). Total annual production is around 10,000 cases. All wines are estate-grown and produced. About the Pinot 2001: ... http://seanbrendan.com/2008/wow-the-eyrie-vineyards-oregon-pinot-noir-2001-reserve/