THE LONG ROAD TO A GRAND OPENING!

You know all those parables recited when thinking about starting a new business?  Here are a few good ones: "Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect." -Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder "The last 10% it takes to launch something takes as much energy as the first 90%." -Rob Kalin, Etsy founder "Find an unmet need and meet it." - Ross Perot Every last word recited above was truly experienced during the concept, build-out and opening of The Cellar Beverly Hills (est. Jan 2017).   And what is this miraculous achievement? Not just "a premier fine wine concierge and storage service," but:  "From on-demand bottle delivery and decanting to James Bond-esque security, our flagship facility introduces a multitude of innovative wine-centric services designed to optimize the collection experience." This is a sample of pre-opening social media (works for me!) So why is The Cellar Beverly Hills relevant here?  Because it is the brainchild of my son Sam.  And the endeavor would in all probability have been stalled (to say the least) without the guidance and financial acumen of the one and only hubby (and Sam's business partner).  They deserve enormous credit for not only surviving the process but for a job well done.  I even played a part with all the branding, incorporating my "day job" skills.   Beautiful wine openers (top) embellished with Swarovski crystals are presented in the leather case above. Sam's first foray into wine: Figuring out what to do with our wine at home. Not only did he design the cellar shown at left -- formerly a hallway closet (glass doors are open for the photo but it remains a cool 55 degrees in there), but he created an online inventory for us, including when the bottles are best to drink.  We knew he was on to something ... Photo:  Tamara Leigh Photography  It is with great pride and excitement that I share photographs of the space and from the Grand Opening on 1.17.17.   Next time you're in Beverly Hills, stop in for the grand tour.   Cheers!  Every locker has a beautiful brass plate (top).  The reception desk was conceived and executed by master woodworker Bill Schwalm to replicate a wine barrel and wine press.        At the helm ...  Upper left: bite-size delicious tastes from Divino Restaurant Above:  Some of the guests. Left:  It was "all Bialosky hands on deck" leading up to the opening event. Photos: Marvin Stendler Let's get this party started!

NAVIGATING ALL THOSE LISTS!

We're barely a nanosecond into 2017, and I can't even count how many "where to go" and "best places" and "should not be missed" lists of destinations I have received.  I began to think:  How in the world does one take all of that in, and what to do with all that information!   Following is my plan of attack, plus which sources I value/trust the most. I try to make an effort to read what comes my way. But I also do a lot of unsubscribing as I'm sure most of you do as well.  Given that I don't always remember what I signed up for (sound familiar?), I better at least check out the content before deciding to continue subscribing or end it there.   The hubby receives a huge amount of columns vis-a-vis his political writing; his method is to print them out on the back of used copy paper, then read them later -- at a ball game, or while watching something at home (he has reinvented the concept of multitasking). He never goes anywhere without reading. It might seem like a chore, but it's a very efficient system and a stress reducer when he has those inconvenient pauses in life.   I previously shared my filing system (shown below), separated by travel regions, airline info and the like.  When I have a free moment (ha!), I'll go through and purge old stuff. Believe me it helps to have a place to go for reference. As for the lists received, here are three that I like al                              ot.  Interesting that nearly every writer includes a specific number in the header -- most seem random -- but clearly it's a way to grab a reader's attention.  1.  New York Times: 52 Places to Go in 2017 -- where else could you find locations as disparate as Botswana and Minneapolis on the same list?? (Two of mine included: Agra and The Maldives!) 2.  Travel & Leisure: 50 Best Places to Travel in 2017 -- I like that it's in alphabetical order for some reason -- if I need to revisit, I can scroll faster! (One of mine:  Perth; but lots of others I would go back to in a heartbeat: Queenstown, Jerusalem, Cape Town ..) 3.  New York Times:  Eight Ways to Save on Travel -- because who doesn't want to know how??? I like #4 -- pick an airline and stick with it.  Don't drive yourself crazy.   Whatever you do, remember that travel is good for the soul ... at least it is for my soul! Happy trails in 2017.