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2025 Recap and an eye to the future

roadtrips, recaps, and favorites of 2025, but first an announcement..

We’re opening a restaurant and wine bar in the South End called mondo! To get the word out, we are going to be putting on a series of pop ups, the first of which will be January 16th and 17th. We are excited to share with you what we have been dreaming up, and to give a little preview of what’s to come. Tickets will be on sale next week, and announced through Neighborhood Wines’ Instagram (@neighborhood_wines)

Wine

here are some of my favorite wines I had this year. a top 11 if you will..

-Richard Leroy Les Noels de Montbenault 2020

-Leah Angles Divay 2023

-Moritz Schilling Badischer Landwein 2022

-Cantillon Magic Lambic (beer)

-iruai Poulsard 2023

-Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvee 3.14 2013

-Maison Valette Pouilly Fuisse 2015

-Jean Francois Ganevat Antide 2020

-Cascina Degli Ulivi Filagnotti 2010

-Coco Farm Pinot Noir 2022

-A Chingao Vineyards & Envinate Vidueño 2023

Local

i’m very grateful for everyone that came to the shop and showed off their crafts this year. Check these local creatives out and show them some love.

-Party Vintage (@partyvintagesalon)

-Ceres (@ceres_bakes)

-Ephemirus Floral Design (@ephemirus)

-Hillary Henrici (@hillaryhenrici)

-Teddy Benfield (@teddybenfield)

-Annie Russell (@annie_m_russell)

-de hua metals aka Ali Garvin (@de___hua)

-Adriana Sousa Estrella (@desousaceramics)

-Ivy (@thoughtofyoushop)

-folio, etc (@folio.etc)

-Sarah Mennell Ceramics (@sarahmennelceramics)

Travel

after a little road trip around California, I gathered some places that might be worth your time.

Monterey/Carmel/Santa Cruz

-Elroy’s Fine Foods: grocery store with a wild wine selection

-Wally’s Men’s Vintage & More

-WMV Visvim Carmel: beautiful handmade clothes, but $$$$

-Madson Wines

San Luis Obispo

-Thrify Beaches: massive vintage clothing store

Ojai

-Rory’s Place: good food, good wine, good vibe

-Farmer’s Market: just the town’s farmers market w/ really good produce

-Three Birds: coffee, breakfast

-Chief’s Peak: cozy bar next to the pool at Ojai Ranch Inn

-The Dutchess: good Burmese food

Los Angeles

-Stir Crazy: best overall meal of the trip

-Baby Bistro: a thoughtful menu designed to order one of everything

-Psychic Wines: excellent wine shop in Silver Lake

-Cafe Triste: wine bar w/ a great list by Dodger Stadium, same owners as Psychic

-Bar Etoile: wine list outshines the food

-Red Vintage Co, 194 Los Angeles, Varsity Los Angeles: three vintage stores around the corner from and next to each other

-Courage Bagels: best bagels

-Tartine: San Francisco chain, like Tatte but better

-Gjusta: very impressive cafe/bakery/enterprise with a nice patio in Venice

-Mohawk General Store: high quality retailer with prices to match. Men’s and Women’s stores next door

-Counter Space: best vintage furniture/small items store i’ve ever seen, price$$$ to match

-Pasadena Antiques Center: worth the drive if you like to find vintage and antique treasure that you need and don’t

-Wake and Late: perfect breakfast burrito

-Thatcher’s Wine: wine store in Brentwood..fancy wine

-Noodle Stories: great women’s clothing store

-Domaine LA: amazing wine shop since 2009, same owner’s as Bar Etoile

-Erewhon: fancy grocery store, but it’s worth the novelty

Music

the artists I’ve been listening to the most this year

Dijon: Baby! and Absolutely are great albums, but listen to some older stuff too

D’Angelo: a sad loss, but his music is eternal

Vince Staples: watch his show on Netflix too

Kendrick Lamar: thank you, kendrick

and some others to discover

Mk.gee: crazy guitar work

Stove God Cooks: been trying to spread the word for years..

reggie: fresh r&b take whose voice you might recognize in the background of your favorite artists’ songs

Lido Pimienta: esp her album, Miss Colombia

here’s to a big 2026 for everyone here..