"Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart"
- Winnie-the-Pooh
There is a light, both far away and all around us. And if you whisper: Turtle.... you'll see the world flash brighter. Maybe feel the light, deep within.
We recently learned of the passing of Turtle, the sweet, tiny Chihuahua-fox-little man... the magical creature casanavoa who served the neighborhood as our greeter and shop dog for years, years ago. A daily companion of our first manager, Jessie - and indeed, a true companion of all. Turtle was, in many ways, our spirit animal, and illuminated so much of what we wanted Oakland Yard to be. A space of warmth and welcome, where all who came through might be united by some unique delight.
In the time of Turtle, anyone who entered was greeted with a calm, kind, pure enthusiasm. A particular comfort offered and available if needed. A little joy ready to be received. Turtle was beloved and will always be. We'd receive more notes from regulars sending their regards to Turtle than to any of us (which is OK, love is not jealous). We'd receive far more inquiries about Turtle than any about wine or events or anything else. If Jessie was away on vacation or out sick, disappointed faces of children and adults would momentarily darken our doorway. I'm sorry honey, no Turtle today... a parent might say, and they'd walk off as if all the ice cream in the world had melted.
And that's our feeling in a way too now. No Turtle today. But Turtle lives on in every smile - the smiles that some of you have now, reading this, remembering his teenie bootie shake and his slow, sweet, silly strut as he approached to give or receive love. Turtle lives on in the bright light in our eyes that greet our friends and neighbors. The smiles we share with loved ones, or with strangers, that say: Welcome.
TONIGHT: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS... Loire Valley Muscadet & Eastern European Reds
2023 Domaine Gadais Navineaux Amphibolite Muscadet
2023 Domaine de la Pepiere Les Gras Moutons Muscadet
2015 Les Bêtes Curieuses Huchet & Mourat Monnières-Saint Fiacre Muscadet
2021 Zlatan Bilo Idro Plavac
2021 Black Lamb Eazy Refosk
2020 Stoka Izbrani Teran
Tasting Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close!
SATURDAY 5/24: French alpine whites form the Jura and Arbois
NV Domaine Ligier Crémant du Jura
2020 Domaine Courbet Côtes du Jura Savagnin Sous Voile
2022 Les Matheny Poulsard Arbois Rouge
2020 Overnoy Crinquand Arbois Pupillin Trousseau
Flights $20 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm
Turtle forever,
Daniel