MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Sisters, the Cougar Crawl is this Friday, October 30, and I could not be more excited. Six patios. Six pours. One very good cause, which we will get to.
For our new members: the Crawl is a progressive patio tasting through six of our most beautiful backyards. It is not a “wine walk.” A wine walk is something that happens downtown. This is fellowship that happens to be poured.
The Route
- Patio 1: Blakely’s (the outdoor kitchen, not the second kitchen). Welcome pour and name tags. Name tags will include your membership tier, for networking.
- Patio 2: Margaux’s. A biodynamic orange wine, served next to the sound bowl. Margaux would like everyone to know that orange wine is not orange. It is “amber.” Amber is on the palette.
- Patio 3: Sloane’s. Bryce will be grilling. Bryce will also be explaining the grilling.
- Patio 4: Kinsley’s. Charcuterie, plus the original valet vest, framed.
- Patio 5: Mine. Champagne tower. Please do not touch the tower.
- Patio 6: Mitzi’s. The Grammas will be there. They will have opinions about your shoes.
A Few Gentle Rules
- Patios only. Nobody goes inside. Kitchens are for showing, not for using.
- Dress code is Elevated Patio: cream knits, a good boot, and a vest that has never seen weather.
- Rideshare or walk. We have also hired four Red Mountain University seniors as Designated Drivers. They will drive your car home and then jog back for the next one. The posting said “must be comfortable with eye contact.” They are.
- Our bartender for Patio 5 is under 30. Please let him work.
Where the Money Goes
Becca asked a great question at our last meeting: how much of the $34,200 actually goes to the school?
All proceeds go to the school after expenses. The expenses are the champagne tower, the Designated Drivers, the name tags, the string lights, the second set of string lights (warmer), the patio heaters, the florist, and a small honorarium for Bryce. After expenses, we are projecting a gift to the school of $412, which I will present to Dr. Cathy in person, with a balloon arch.
Becca said the second-grade teachers still need printer ink, and that Southwest’s PTO did a chili cook-off last month and bought ink for the whole building. We loved hearing that. Several sisters had not heard of Southwest. Blakely thought it might be “the one by the Publix.” It’s great that they have a chili thing.
Superintendent Queen’s office has asked that the Crawl not be described as a school event. We completely agree. It is a school-adjacent fellowship. The flyers have been updated, and the Cougar on them is now holding a wine glass, which makes that clearer.
Dr. Cathy was invited and has politely declined. She has a block on her calendar that night that just says “car.”
UPDATE: The balloon arch for the $412 presentation came in at $460. We are calling the difference a matching gift.