Just Wandering Around the Store

Hey! Cisco, the Harwich Spirits Shoppe blogging cat here…

You know, there are times (especially during these hectic summers) when closing time nears, and things slow down, and a cat just likes to grab his digital SLR and wander around the store. That being said, here are some pics…

And here’s the new back room…

And more of the back room…

And yet still more of the back room…

What’s a liquor store without a guitar???

Did we mention that Da Gizz is now selling high-end meat?

And there it is now… Meat!

Anyone for a few “Twisted Shotz”? Four shots (with alcohol) for $5. Try matching that in a bar…

Of course, there’s always the wine…

More wine…

One might even go so far as to say that Bruce has a plethora of wine…

So that’s about it… Just a late wandering on the moors of Harwich Spirits Shoppe, Friday, July 22nd, 2011…

See you by those packed racks…

Two cats blogging…

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

More Roaming with Da Gizz and Three Contests Await

Hey! Cisco the HSS blogging cat here…

Just when you think you’ve seen all of the store… Well, here’s some more!

Sorry for the herky jerky nature of the video, but at least you get the idea. Ya know… There’s got to be a better way… How about this? How about we set up the cam on a tripod in strategic locations throughout the store, and then have Bruce speak a bit for all things that fall within the lens’ grasp. Next we can have him move to the next area, reposition the cam, and repeat the process ad nauseum. There would be no jitter, but you could still get a good feel for the funkiness of the place… Now that has possibilities!

Finally, we still have three contests worth $25/each in beer and wine for all you adults out there. (A note here… Harwich Spirits Shoppe does not “sell” your contact information. Aside from that being wrong, we’re just too damned lazy to go through the hassle!)

See you by the racks,

Two cats blogging…

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

Roaming the Harwich Spirits Shoppe with Da Gizz, and Those Open Contests

Hey! Cisco the blogging cat here…

Hope you had a pleasant and safe Christmas… Pochita and I sure did… We pillaged some of Bruce’s most expensive wines, ate all the jerky, called Da Gizz at 2AM and told him that if he had Prince Albert in a can, he’d better let him out because he couldn’t breathe. (What a riot!!!) Then we used his office chair for… Ah-hem… But back to business…

In case you’ve never visited the store (or haven’t been there in the last few days), here’s a walk-around including the new back room. Let’s just say that the establishment is distinctly unique. (Think of a cross between Provincetown and Hunter S. Thompson…)

Sorry for the slight fuzziness – we’ve got a new camera and we’re still fussing with it… Hopefully, you get the idea. (Here’s another video tour of the joint…)

Let’s see… What else??? Oh yeah… At last glance, we still have three contests just waiting for a winner…

• I.D. the tool – A little bit of research would go a long way on this one.
• Tell the story – Just make up a story about a painting. Remember… We decide the winner.
• Suffer through one of the worst movies ever – This contest is virtually unwinnable. The movie is worse than Pat Boone trying to cover Ozzie Osborne. In fact, when the flick was released, the director tried to kill himself. (No, he really did.)

So who has the guts to take a shot at one of these puppies??? (We’re especially interested in any attempts to endure the movie straight faced… If you can do that, I’d like to meet you (or not)).

Well, that should do it for tonight… Once again, happy holidays!

See you by the racks…

Two cats blogging

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

Da Gizz Sells Some Art

Hey,

Cisco, the Harwich Spirits Shoppe cat here…

It’s no great secret that Bruce collects art. Just walk in the door and the paintings almost mug you. But the time has come to let others share in Da Gizz’s passion, and some of the paintings and prints move on to new aficionados. (Read that: “Gibson is simply running out of wall space!”) But before His Gizzedness puts these puppies up on a formal auction, he thought he might give you guys first crack. So here goes…

First up:

“Bay View”, is a signed print (205/450) by William J. Maloney. Price: $150…

Click above twice for large image

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Next is the pastel, “Lost in the Story” by Odin K. Smith. Price: $1,400…

Click above twice for large image

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Here is the striking acrylic “Memories of Provincetown”, again by Odin K. Smith. Price: $2,000…

Click above twice for large image

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And Ms. Smith’s pastel, “Blustery”… Price: $900.

Click above twice for larger image

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“Flowing” is a particularly serene pastel work by Ms. Smith. Price: $800.

Click above twice for larger image

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Lastly, there is a wonderful canvas by R.A. Moseley… Price: $700.

Click above twice for larger image

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And there you have it – a genuine insider’s track on some superb artwork before the dealers lock you out. You snooze, you…

See you by the oils and the racks,

Two cats blogging

P.S. And then there’s the word search and “write-a-story” contests…

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

New Wine Room, Contest Rolls On, and Free BBQ

Hi,

Cisco the blogging cat here…

Well, Da Gizz had to do it; he just had to add yet another wine room. See block illustration below…

Now, before you go jumping ugly on me and “enlightening” me to the fact that there’s more than beer and wine in the joint (we’ve also got “in season” liquor that is stacked against the walls (in some places floor to ceiling), let me remind you… I know… I live here. The above is just a non-scale rough – something to give you a feel of the store. Now here’s a couple of construction shots of the new Sistine Chapel… The first is looking from the front of store to the back. The new wine room is on the right.

The next is the view looking from the storage area in the back to the front of the shoppe…

And here’s the new “Oenophile Cave”…

I’m telling ya, Bruce is going completely nuts! You watch, you just watch… He’ll have this refuge packed to the scuppers in no time. Sigh… Where is a cat to sleep?

And on a more depressing note… We still don’t have a winner in our weekly wine contest… You wimps!

Finally… You are intending to show up for next Saturday’s free, behind-the-store, PM, pot-luck BBQ aren’t you??? If for no other reason, you’ve got to watch as Da Gizzz turns plain hot dogs into little tubes of ash. Amazing! The late Billy Mays couldn’t have done it better.

See you in the sawdust and the charcoal by the racks,

Two cats blogging

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

Wanted: Da Gizz! (and Yelena)

There you go… There’s your wanted poster. Trust two cats to bring you the facts. Yeah, the boss (Bruce on the left) and Yelena know their wines. We won’t argue with that.  The wines behind them stretch to the ceiling… The store is loaded to the scuppers with beer and wine. Fine, but that’s not the story here! Not even close.

Take a close look to the right of Da Gizz’s left ear. See that thumb? A ha! That’s just one of Bruce’s massive thumb collection… We should know… As cats, we wander the store late at night and have stumbled upon vast caches of thumbs. (We told you that we should have kept Da Gizz locked in the wine cellar.)

Look, here are the straight feline facts… If you want beer, wine, liquor (in season) soda, snacks, lottery, wholly random stuff, Cape and Harwich lore, a touch of insanity, please come to the Harwich Spirits Shoppe. We won’t let you down. (That’s especially true concerning the insanity part.) But just do yourself one huge favor – watch your thumbs around Da Gizz – he’s crazier than an outhouse rat, and we should know…

Two cats blogging

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

Ultimate Wine Cork Counting Contest Prizes

Wow, it all started with a simple idea for a contest! Guess the number of corks in the big jug by the door, and the one whose guess comes closest, wins a prize from Da Gizz. Here’s the jug (with Biff as a size reference…)

Well, things have just spiraled out of control since then! With over $2,000 in prizes from 22 local merchants, this contest is cooking! And it will all come to fruition on Valentine’s Day, at 3pm with a big blow-out at our own humble abode, Harwich Spirits Shoppe, home of the Two Blogging Cats.

There will be wine and beer tasting, pot luck treats, door prizes for everyone, and the Official Counting of the Corks! All prizes will be distributed, and the decisions of the judge (Da Gizz) will be final.

This event will be streamed live over the internet worldwide. So if you can’t attend in person, at least you can still take part!

Just take a gander at the swag you could scoop up if you enter:

• Sea cruise on Schooner Tyrone – $500 value
• George’s Place Fish Market and Food Court – $50 gift certificate
• E.R. Lilley/820 Main Street Gallery – $80 framed painting
• True Value Hardware – $25 gift certificate
• Cape Cod Lavender Farm candle – $18 value
• Hot Stove Saloon – $50 gift certificate
• George’s Pizza – $25 gift certificate
• Harwich Junior Theatre – gift certificate for two to the Broadway Musical…”25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
• Pampered Kitty – $8 Kitty Kicker
• Gardens by the Sea – $175 in landscaping consulting value
• Dr. Gravity’s Kite Shop – two garden spinners $69
• Harwich Spirits Shoppe – $300 in stuff
• 7 South Antiques – $150 in two antique pieces
• Cape Cod Bear Factory – $30 gift certificate
• Cranberry Jewelers – Several pieces worth $100
• Harwich Port Getty – $150 in select repair work
• Cape Sea Grille – $25 gift certificate
• Port O’ Call Gift Shop – $25 gift certificate
• Malley Designs – $25 gift certificate
• The Port Restaurant/Embers Pizza – $25 gift certificate
• Mayflower Brewing Co. – $200 in gifts including a twelve-person tour of their brewery in Plymouth, beer glasses given away with six-packs, and very nice key rings/bottle openers
• Alterations Unlimited – $50 gift certificate

Sooo… If you haven’t guessed the cork count yet, get hopping and leave a comment below with your guess… Valentine’s Day waits for no soul!

Who’d a thought that this was all caused by Ponch and Cisco…
Two Cats Blogging

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

Video Tour of Harwich Spirits Shoppe

Yeah… Ya give two cats a couple of pair of stilts and a digital video camera, and what do you get? I’ll tell you what you get… a quaint (though slightly jerky) tour of the HSS Gizzdome… (Knock yourself out Roger Ebert!)

There… I (we) described the place before, and now you’ve seen it up close and furry…

I’m tellin’ ya… Ya gotta’ dig this joint if for no other reason than the “ahhm-bee-aunts”.

Quiet on the studio! … Action!

Two cats blogging right by those wine racks…

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.

New Harwich Spirits Shoppe Online Store, More Strolling…

Hey!

First off, we now have a Harwich Spirits Shoppe online store! You can buy neato keano merchandise like the tote bag below and never have to even bother with Crazy Bruce the HSS owner. Nope. Just do your dealin’ with CafePress and walk away the superior human being. (Imagine the envy of your co-workers, strangers, and even your pet turtle when you dig the scene with some of this stuff!)

Right now we’re stocking shirts, bags, mugs and steins, buttons, and frig magnets… Who knows what the future (and future raffles) might bring. Be afraid.

Now about that Harwich Port Stroll… Friday was a smash! I mean it was a blowout. People were everywhere. So if you read this in time, head out Sat PM, 12/5/09… Same Bat Stroll, Same Bat Conditions.

Gotta run… Remember that we got cool junk for sale, and they make for fine presents during this season of peace. Then again, they also make for good homecoming gifts for that significant other who is just getting out of jail. Ummm… Ah… Hmmm…

Moving forward… To get to our store just take a gander at the “Shopping” box to the right on our “Home” page and click on “Harwich Spirits Shoppe CafePress Store”. Hot dang and peppered asparagus!

Working by the racks,

Two cats blogging

P.S.  Next time, we’ll provide photographic proof of the existence of the fabled “Invisible Harwich Spirits Shoppe Blood-Eyed Demon” Scary!

 

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Wine Glossaries

* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.

Beer Glossaries

* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.