I would buy this wine...

[dianeduane]

...just for its name.

Sitting in front of a veteran agent’s desk are two cases of Red Car Syrah ...

(Well, I'd hope it was also a nice wine.) ...But working on The Big Meow has brought me a much extended appreciation of what the Red Car system was, and where it went, and how important it was to LA. And the affection in which it's still held in some quarters is surprising...

Comments

[lady-autumnstar.livejournal.com]

Red Car Syrah beats Fat Bastard Merlot.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

But what about Old Git Cabernet?

[lady-autumnstar.livejournal.com]

Isn't an old git about the same as a fat bastard?

This afternoon I almost bought a bottle of Smoking Loon cabernet. The picture on the label is of a cartoon duck with a cigar in it's mouth. I just don't know about that.

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

See, now, with a duck like that on the label, I would've called it Secret Word... :)

[lady-autumnstar.livejournal.com]

Good idea. You'd have to put a moustache on the duck, though.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Well, no, because old != fat. But I wasn't aware that 'git' actually was a term for a bastard, even though I do know what a twat is.

Anyway, for the wine: http://www.winelabels.org/labels10.htm, Old Git is there, and Old Tart is on the next page.

[lady-autumnstar.livejournal.com]

old != fat

You have a point there. And 'git' not being a common Americanism, I might not be using it correctly.

Thanks for the link.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I wasn't aware of the actual meaning of the word 'git' until I looked it up. It's used over here in the UK as a very mild derogatory term, with no other meaning that that of being a slight insult.

It's like 'twat', which is also commonly used without most people knowing its meaning, and usually with the word 'stupid' preceding it. It could be argued that both 'twat' and 'git' continue to exist almost purely as placeholder nouns - "you old git" and "you stupid twat" are both phrases where the actual noun seems almost irrelevant.

[mithriltabby]

I liked Le Cigare Volant.

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

As a former Angeleno, I understand the nostalgia. As an historian, I think it's misplaced: the Red Car line in the early 20th century helped spread sprawl into the San Fernando Valley.

And yet, as someone living in Tampa, I'd love to have some, any mass transit that's worth anything.

And I think I'll try the wine!

On another tack....

[zianuray.livejournal.com]

I just started _The Empty Chair_. Love your treatment of the Rihannsu, past and present. Uh, future and future-er?

Re: On another tack....

[dduane.livejournal.com]

Glad you're liking it! It was a book I enjoyed writing, and at the same time I was sad to write it (for reasons that become somewhat more obvious at the end...)

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

Being a Deadhead m'self, I've always been partial to Grateful Red (http://www.northwest-wine.com/Redhawk-Vineyard-Grateful-Red-Pinot-noir.html)...

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Should you find yourself back in SoCal some weekend, The Orange Empire Railway Museum has LA Yellow Cars and Red Cars.

And a 1/4 electrified system that they run the stock on during weekends.

:-)

[xnamkrad.livejournal.com]

Could be worse names
I was once given a present of a red wine called "Dogs Bollocks"

[were-gopher.livejournal.com]

And one for all the old kids TV fans out there. M&S have been known to stock a wine called 'Froglet'. Didn't have any last time I was in there though (grump).