wine & records

Hi there!  Have I mentioned recently that I live in New Hampshire?  I feel like I just don't talk about that enough.  All joking aside, let's get real for like, seven sentences.  Then after that, just pictures of food and wine, I promise.

This is week eighteen (or something like that) of my northeast adventure.  As far as work travel goes, it could be a much worse location, and I still get my weekends in Houston.  I promised myself I would never turn into one of those obnoxious travelers who thinks they deserve special treatment because of their status, but last week I yelled at United on Twitter over something relatively petty and ended up getting a $75 travel voucher, soooooo I don't really know what that says about me. I'm also about to throw my iPad up against the wall because I can't get the WiFi in this stupid hotel to work.  This project I'm on is a cool opportunity that several people had to go out of their way to offer me (I know that's usually a corporate euphemism for "terrible project," but in this case, it's true).  Plus I have enough airline and hotel points now to buy myself a decent vacation.  So I know my constant comments and complaints are probably getting old.  But occasionally this situation gets weird and lonely. Tonight I dined at a taco restaurant (in New Hampshire, breaking Liz's #1 food rule) then watched 'Bachelor in Paradise' in the Sheraton Club Room (I did get free wine, though).  If you've spent more than like, twelve seconds with me, you know that all of this is VERY OUT OF CHARACTER.  What am I doing?!  Who even am I anymore?!  I'll stop now.  Due to a crazy set of circumstances I won't get into (admittedly, it was mostly by choice), I recently spent five consecutive weekends somewhere other than Houston.  I realized I had friends I hadn't seen in over a month.  So when I finally got three straight days in this wonderful city, I made an actually relatively successful attempt to get everyone I know to hang out with me in some capacity.

This has been an extremely roundabout way of saying that last weekend I went to Vino & Vinyl in Sugar Land with my best friends and it was so great!!!  Y'all know I'm skeptical of the suburbs, but there IS some great stuff to do out there.  You just have to look a little harder and dodge a lot more youths.

Vino & Vinyl

Sugar Land

It's a super chill bar, and it's exactly what it sounds like.

They sell [good] wine by the glass or flight, plus they play [and sell] vinyl records.  There's also a solid food menu.

OH!  And frose / frozen sangria...which seemed appropriate for this weather.

"Are y'all going to make fun of me if I obnoxiously take pictures for my blog?"

"Yes."

"That's fair."

Who knew that Sugar Land Town Square would be this hopping on a Friday at 6PM!?  The place was already full and we had to sit outside.  The patio is nice and covered, though, and the people watching in this city is fascinating.

Flatbread pizza (it said the crust is gluten-free but I'm skeptical), meatballs, fried mac & cheese, and a gloriously simple but beautiful order of bread.  Not pictured: the skillet cookie that Emily sustained a minor injury from.

We ordered flights (4 for $14), and agreed that all four wines in the flight were excellent.  I know nothing about wine and describe most wines as "pretty good," so I am probably not the most reliable source on this. But my best friend Lizzie knows a lot about wine (I asked her to teach me some fancy words to use to describe it but I forgot them all), and she liked them as well.  And the flight comes with a "track list" page, describing each one in detail, get it because records!?!  Good stuff.

I dropped my sunglasses on that plate of sauce approximately twelve seconds after this was taken.

I noticed the waiter bring out several glasses of frose and/or frozen sangria to other patrons while we were eating, so obviously I needed one after I finished my flight.  I wish I could say that this decision wasn't partially influenced by the fact that I wanted to take a picture of said beverage for Instagram, but, unfortunately, that would be a lie.  I am happy to report, however, that both frozen drinks (Emily ordered the frose and I ordered the sangria) were enjoyable regardless of how photogenic they were.

A decent selection of records for sale.  And a quote on the wall that I actually sort of liked, but didn't get a good picture of.

Inside, an eclectic variety of music was being played on the fancy turntable setup they had by the door.  Not only was the music selection actually good, but it was being played at a reasonable volume that still allowed us to easily converse (does this comment mean I am officially old now?).  Good wine and good music, played on vinyl.  I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH.

I've found that the key to this whole Instagram / blogging thing (in addition to #noshame) is to spend time with friends who still love you even when you're being the most embarrassing human on the planet.  I asked Emily to take a picture of me on portrait mode looking super #basic and she DELIVERED.

Look.  I'm not insane.  I know that going to bars and coffee shops and restaurants and asking my friends to take obviously staged pictures of me so that I can post them on a blog with very little following is a completely ridiculous "hobby."  I have the greatest friends in the world for putting up with me, but most importantly for always being there for me, and always picking up right where we left off when I haven't seen them in weeks / months.  I never get this cliche / sappy about anything...ever...but maybe I shouldn't be so cynical all the time.  Or maybe I have had two glasses of wine and just watched part of 'Bachelor in Paradise' and my brain is melting.  Either way, I love y'all.

Support local businesses, and drink good [or mediocre, because tbh who can really tell the difference] wine with your friends.  Take fun pictures for Instagram, or don't.  Whatever floats your boat.

That's all I've got.

<3 liz