Tag: Infants Garment
Texworld Worldwide Textile "Rendez-vous" exhibition is scheduled to be held on 22 – 25 September 2008 at Paris Le Bourget.
Visitor target group:
Manufacturers of clothing, Fabric Manufacturers, Private Label, Textile Retailers and Wholesalers, Garment Retailers and Wholesalers, Mail-order, Large scale retailing, Chain store, Department Store, Trading Companies, Agents, Designers, Buying Offices, Sales Representatives.
Product groups:
Texworld Fabrics: Silk, Silky aspects, Wool, Cotton, Shirting, Knitted, Prints, Denim, Linen, Functional Fabrics, Embroidery / Lace, Accessories, Yarns, Fibers, Full Package. Texworld Clothing: Ladieswear, Menswear, Children and Infants’ wear, Sport and Casual Wear, Swimwear and Lingerie, Textile Fashion Accessories, Garment made from functional and eco fabrics. Design – Style – Trends, Trade Publisher, Textile Machinery, Logistics and supply chain management.
Texworld Clothing reflects the most dynamic Ready-to-Wear in the world, complementing Texworld Fabrics, the world meeting-place for Fabrics: 1 show, almost 950 exhibitors, 2 complementary themes, 4 days.
2008年4月27日星期日
Occupational therapists help get patients back on track
Tag: Infant Socks
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE NATION use April to spotlight occupational therapy. Many people are unaware of what occupational therapy, as a profession, actually does, and most are misinformed on the profession because of the broad scope of practice and many contributions occupational therapist make in health care.
Occupational therapists often find themselves struggling in pursuit of increasing awareness - not only in educating family and friends but also other health care professionals, who are often misguided by the profession's title. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings: hospitals, home health, skilled nursing facilities, schools, outpatient clinics, community settings and inpatient rehabs.
Contrary to popular belief, OT is not a therapy aiming to assist persons in finding jobs or solely focused on getting people back to work. The focus is much broader in treating plans pertaining to identifying, analyzing, interpreting and implementing a plan of recovery through compensation or adaptation in activities of daily living, which pertains to everything that makes a person independent.
An OT's job is to assess a person's routines and patterns in their individualized daily routines to address deficits affecting their normal function and independence. This often affects a person at work and play or in education and leisure activities upon facing conditions, injuries and illnesses that force people to face challenges that affect how one performs a daily task that once seemed second-nature.
To see the importance, see the job in these potential patient scenarios:
# A car wreck victim has experienced a spinal cord injury and can no longer feed herself or care for her infant child independently.
# A kindergarten student has difficulty performing his handwriting and scissor-cutting tasks because of poor fine motor control.
# A man receives a hand injury while using a skill saw on the job. The injury has caused damage to his nerves and requires splinting and hand exercises to improve hand functions to return to work and continue playing his guitar with his weekend band.
# An elderly woman recovers from hip replacement and can no longer perform the task of putting on her socks and shoes.
These are all common types of disorders that occupational therapists treat in order to assist people in regaining a more confident and independent self so they can return to a functionally independent lifestyle.
Occupational therapy was named in the U.S. News and World Report 2008 Top 31 Best Careers in addition to being named in the 2007 U.S. News and World Report Top 25 Best Careers. For more information regarding the field, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association at www.aota.org.
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE NATION use April to spotlight occupational therapy. Many people are unaware of what occupational therapy, as a profession, actually does, and most are misinformed on the profession because of the broad scope of practice and many contributions occupational therapist make in health care.
Occupational therapists often find themselves struggling in pursuit of increasing awareness - not only in educating family and friends but also other health care professionals, who are often misguided by the profession's title. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings: hospitals, home health, skilled nursing facilities, schools, outpatient clinics, community settings and inpatient rehabs.
Contrary to popular belief, OT is not a therapy aiming to assist persons in finding jobs or solely focused on getting people back to work. The focus is much broader in treating plans pertaining to identifying, analyzing, interpreting and implementing a plan of recovery through compensation or adaptation in activities of daily living, which pertains to everything that makes a person independent.
An OT's job is to assess a person's routines and patterns in their individualized daily routines to address deficits affecting their normal function and independence. This often affects a person at work and play or in education and leisure activities upon facing conditions, injuries and illnesses that force people to face challenges that affect how one performs a daily task that once seemed second-nature.
To see the importance, see the job in these potential patient scenarios:
# A car wreck victim has experienced a spinal cord injury and can no longer feed herself or care for her infant child independently.
# A kindergarten student has difficulty performing his handwriting and scissor-cutting tasks because of poor fine motor control.
# A man receives a hand injury while using a skill saw on the job. The injury has caused damage to his nerves and requires splinting and hand exercises to improve hand functions to return to work and continue playing his guitar with his weekend band.
# An elderly woman recovers from hip replacement and can no longer perform the task of putting on her socks and shoes.
These are all common types of disorders that occupational therapists treat in order to assist people in regaining a more confident and independent self so they can return to a functionally independent lifestyle.
Occupational therapy was named in the U.S. News and World Report 2008 Top 31 Best Careers in addition to being named in the 2007 U.S. News and World Report Top 25 Best Careers. For more information regarding the field, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association at www.aota.org.
From Sneakers to High Heels
Tag: Heeles Shoes
It's quite common for women who spend most of their time in sneakers to have difficulty transitioning into new shoe styles, especially those with high heels.
Sneakers and high heels are totally different things. Different shoes distribute our body weight differently, and if we are so accustomed to one shoe, making a switch takes a lot of getting used to.
The good news is, sneakers are actually much better for your feet than high heels are - but there are some occasions when many of us feel that sneakers or casual shoes just won't do.
I am particularly sympathetic to this problem, as I spent my entire school career in sneakers, and still prefer them to most shoes. But I love high heels as well. I wanted to move beyond just admiring them, and actually start wearing them. Here are a few things I tried when transitioning from years of sneaker-wearing into more dressy shoes.
Finding the Right Style of Shoes
Avoid shoes with pointy toes. All high heels can be hard on your feet, but cramming your toes into shoes that are too pointy can be extremely painful. Many of the women who do this repeatedly for years end up with foot deformities. A round, open toe or square toe is a much better choice, and much easier to get used to.
How High for High Heels?
As far as heels to, start off with something lower, and definitely under 2.5 inches. Also, choose a chunky or a wedge heel - a stiletto or really pointy heel can be a killer, even for women who are used to them. Fortunately, there's plenty to choose from these days in the chunky and wedge heel styles, so you can still have a really sexy looking shoe without the increased discomfort and danger of a stiletto.
Shoe Widths are as Important as Shoe Sizes
For women who have never worn dressier shoes very often, it might feel as if they don't fit properly, and perhaps they don't. Many styles of dress shoes tend to be more narrow than athletic shoes. And, even if you've measured to find your shoe size and width, it will vary from shoe to shoe.
Next time a dress shoe speaks to you, try this: in your bare feet, or in the socks or hose you want to wear with the shoe, hold the bottom of the left shoe against the bottom of your right foot (and vice-versa) - you should be able to see the outline of the shoe around your entire foot. If you can't, it's either the wrong size or not wide enough - try a different style, width or size.
While it's always best to find a shoe that is the exact length and width we need, it's not always possible. Some people find they have to go up a half or full size to get the width they need, but then they have a shoe that is too long. If this happens to be the case for you, opt for a sling-back style with an adjustable strap to help keep your heel in place. Heel pads can also help to keep your foot from sliding in your shoes.
Additional Shoe Shopping Tips
Always, always, always try on shoes late in the day (our feet swell over the course of the day), and always stand up when trying shoes on - take a stroll around the aisles to see if they cause any pain or discomfort when walking. Shoes should feel good when you first put them on, so don't make the mistake of thinking you'll break them in - this is especially true with high heels that probably won't be worn every day.
It's quite common for women who spend most of their time in sneakers to have difficulty transitioning into new shoe styles, especially those with high heels.
Sneakers and high heels are totally different things. Different shoes distribute our body weight differently, and if we are so accustomed to one shoe, making a switch takes a lot of getting used to.
The good news is, sneakers are actually much better for your feet than high heels are - but there are some occasions when many of us feel that sneakers or casual shoes just won't do.
I am particularly sympathetic to this problem, as I spent my entire school career in sneakers, and still prefer them to most shoes. But I love high heels as well. I wanted to move beyond just admiring them, and actually start wearing them. Here are a few things I tried when transitioning from years of sneaker-wearing into more dressy shoes.
Finding the Right Style of Shoes
Avoid shoes with pointy toes. All high heels can be hard on your feet, but cramming your toes into shoes that are too pointy can be extremely painful. Many of the women who do this repeatedly for years end up with foot deformities. A round, open toe or square toe is a much better choice, and much easier to get used to.
How High for High Heels?
As far as heels to, start off with something lower, and definitely under 2.5 inches. Also, choose a chunky or a wedge heel - a stiletto or really pointy heel can be a killer, even for women who are used to them. Fortunately, there's plenty to choose from these days in the chunky and wedge heel styles, so you can still have a really sexy looking shoe without the increased discomfort and danger of a stiletto.
Shoe Widths are as Important as Shoe Sizes
For women who have never worn dressier shoes very often, it might feel as if they don't fit properly, and perhaps they don't. Many styles of dress shoes tend to be more narrow than athletic shoes. And, even if you've measured to find your shoe size and width, it will vary from shoe to shoe.
Next time a dress shoe speaks to you, try this: in your bare feet, or in the socks or hose you want to wear with the shoe, hold the bottom of the left shoe against the bottom of your right foot (and vice-versa) - you should be able to see the outline of the shoe around your entire foot. If you can't, it's either the wrong size or not wide enough - try a different style, width or size.
While it's always best to find a shoe that is the exact length and width we need, it's not always possible. Some people find they have to go up a half or full size to get the width they need, but then they have a shoe that is too long. If this happens to be the case for you, opt for a sling-back style with an adjustable strap to help keep your heel in place. Heel pads can also help to keep your foot from sliding in your shoes.
Additional Shoe Shopping Tips
Always, always, always try on shoes late in the day (our feet swell over the course of the day), and always stand up when trying shoes on - take a stroll around the aisles to see if they cause any pain or discomfort when walking. Shoes should feel good when you first put them on, so don't make the mistake of thinking you'll break them in - this is especially true with high heels that probably won't be worn every day.
Marlee Matlin Hangs Up Her Dancing With the Stars Shoes
Tag: Heated Shoes
LOS ANGELES -- The good news: this "Dancing with the Stars" results show had less taped filler segments. The bad news: it seemed to have more Samantha Harris interviews. Mute button, thou art my friend.
During the recap of last night, Shannon was in tears after being called out for her lack of hip action and Derek went off on the fact that other couples are hitting "horrific, demented lines" and getting 9s and 1's. The audience "oooo"ed at that because thems fighting words. Speaking of fighting, the group Country number gets the encore.
Back from the commercial break, we get a number from musical guest Ashlee Simpson performing her new single with two pairs of professional dancers. If any of you are wondering, I'm fairly certain she's singing live this time. Strangely enough, I kind of like her. I saw a YouTube clip of Ashlee playing Roxie Heart in Chicago in London and she did well plus I found that jig she did on Saturday Night Live oddly endearing.
Anyway, after that we get the Leaderboard reminder complete with more Upset Shannon who took umbrage to Carrie Ann telling her that she can't dance but is trying really hard, which isn't exactly what she said but okay. Well, after all that bawling she gets rewarded by being saved first. Marlee & Fabian, however, are not as lucky - they're in the Bottom Two.
We get our first painful reaction interview after the commercial break. Derek has big old lipstick marks on his cheeks and forehead. Uh-huh. Anyway, Shannon (mostly) & Derek apologized for being so "heated" in their post dance interview. Uh-huh. That's what the kids call "good PR." I really do like Marlee and would like to see her get another chance but I think the point deficit may be too much to overcome.
The Stars of Dance segment is back this week and featuring Riverdance, sans Michael Flatley. It was enjoyable. There's not much else I can say about it as it is what it is.
After yet another commercial break, Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris introduce the DWTS Kids segment, only Samantha's mic isn't on initially. Somehow I doubt that was a mistake. Brandon & Brittany are 13 and have been dancing together for 3.5 years. They're dancing the Cha Cha to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. They're very good, they both have great lines and Brittany deftly recovered from getting her skirt caught on her heel. Brittany is deaf in one ear so naturally Tom made a brief Marlee connection to that. It was mentioned in the taped segment and they explained that he mouths counts or gives hand cues to make sure they're on the same page.
The other couple is Austin & Liza and they're both 12. Austin chose ballroom dancing to be a rebel since everyone else at the school is a jock, but he says he gets more girls. Austin is barely 5-feet tall and Liza is about 5'2. They're dancing a Samba and when they do this double-sit maneuver at the end, they both fall over thanks to the height difference but they were very good too. This one will be hard to decide.
Ugh! After yet another uncomfortable Samantha interview, we find out the Brandon & Brittany move on in a split decision. A random aside: I think I've figured out one of the major things wrong with the house band. It's that the singers try to sound like the artists they're covering instead of just singing the song as their own but using the same structure (runs and such). Example: the standards come out great...except when they're trying to sound like Frank Sinatra.
We're now treated with a filler piece about how hard it is to judge/critique the couples. Carrie Ann says it's like they're married - she has two husbands and they're both crazy. Also, they all say there are times they feel they've over or under score someone after the show.
The next couples that are safe are Marissa & Tony and Cristian & Cheryl. I'm not surprised about either. I figure they're saving the Kristi & Mark reveal to try and breed tension. Unfortunately, instead of getting on with the results, we get another painful interview with Samantha in which she tries to get Marissa to say who she thinks is going home. Boo! She also tries to toss it back to Tom but actually, it's back to the commercials.
With 3 minutes left, let's see if we get reveals in a timely enough fashion for the booted celeb to give a proper goodbye. Kristi & Mark are safe as are Jason & Edyta. Mario & Karina are in the Bottom Two.
As I feared, Marlee & Fabian are out. Since Shannon was the closest to her points-wise and wasn't in the bottom, it was mathematically inevitable. She gave a lovely interpreter-assisted farewell and Fabian thanked her for making his first season so memorable and probably the best season he'll ever have. Tom took a moment and stepped out of his host bubble to tell her, as a friend, that he was very proud of her as a majority of the remaining contestants were teary-eyed.
And they're dancing their goodbye to "Dust in the Wind." What the hell? Awful, just awful.
LOS ANGELES -- The good news: this "Dancing with the Stars" results show had less taped filler segments. The bad news: it seemed to have more Samantha Harris interviews. Mute button, thou art my friend.
During the recap of last night, Shannon was in tears after being called out for her lack of hip action and Derek went off on the fact that other couples are hitting "horrific, demented lines" and getting 9s and 1's. The audience "oooo"ed at that because thems fighting words. Speaking of fighting, the group Country number gets the encore.
Back from the commercial break, we get a number from musical guest Ashlee Simpson performing her new single with two pairs of professional dancers. If any of you are wondering, I'm fairly certain she's singing live this time. Strangely enough, I kind of like her. I saw a YouTube clip of Ashlee playing Roxie Heart in Chicago in London and she did well plus I found that jig she did on Saturday Night Live oddly endearing.
Anyway, after that we get the Leaderboard reminder complete with more Upset Shannon who took umbrage to Carrie Ann telling her that she can't dance but is trying really hard, which isn't exactly what she said but okay. Well, after all that bawling she gets rewarded by being saved first. Marlee & Fabian, however, are not as lucky - they're in the Bottom Two.
We get our first painful reaction interview after the commercial break. Derek has big old lipstick marks on his cheeks and forehead. Uh-huh. Anyway, Shannon (mostly) & Derek apologized for being so "heated" in their post dance interview. Uh-huh. That's what the kids call "good PR." I really do like Marlee and would like to see her get another chance but I think the point deficit may be too much to overcome.
The Stars of Dance segment is back this week and featuring Riverdance, sans Michael Flatley. It was enjoyable. There's not much else I can say about it as it is what it is.
After yet another commercial break, Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris introduce the DWTS Kids segment, only Samantha's mic isn't on initially. Somehow I doubt that was a mistake. Brandon & Brittany are 13 and have been dancing together for 3.5 years. They're dancing the Cha Cha to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. They're very good, they both have great lines and Brittany deftly recovered from getting her skirt caught on her heel. Brittany is deaf in one ear so naturally Tom made a brief Marlee connection to that. It was mentioned in the taped segment and they explained that he mouths counts or gives hand cues to make sure they're on the same page.
The other couple is Austin & Liza and they're both 12. Austin chose ballroom dancing to be a rebel since everyone else at the school is a jock, but he says he gets more girls. Austin is barely 5-feet tall and Liza is about 5'2. They're dancing a Samba and when they do this double-sit maneuver at the end, they both fall over thanks to the height difference but they were very good too. This one will be hard to decide.
Ugh! After yet another uncomfortable Samantha interview, we find out the Brandon & Brittany move on in a split decision. A random aside: I think I've figured out one of the major things wrong with the house band. It's that the singers try to sound like the artists they're covering instead of just singing the song as their own but using the same structure (runs and such). Example: the standards come out great...except when they're trying to sound like Frank Sinatra.
We're now treated with a filler piece about how hard it is to judge/critique the couples. Carrie Ann says it's like they're married - she has two husbands and they're both crazy. Also, they all say there are times they feel they've over or under score someone after the show.
The next couples that are safe are Marissa & Tony and Cristian & Cheryl. I'm not surprised about either. I figure they're saving the Kristi & Mark reveal to try and breed tension. Unfortunately, instead of getting on with the results, we get another painful interview with Samantha in which she tries to get Marissa to say who she thinks is going home. Boo! She also tries to toss it back to Tom but actually, it's back to the commercials.
With 3 minutes left, let's see if we get reveals in a timely enough fashion for the booted celeb to give a proper goodbye. Kristi & Mark are safe as are Jason & Edyta. Mario & Karina are in the Bottom Two.
As I feared, Marlee & Fabian are out. Since Shannon was the closest to her points-wise and wasn't in the bottom, it was mathematically inevitable. She gave a lovely interpreter-assisted farewell and Fabian thanked her for making his first season so memorable and probably the best season he'll ever have. Tom took a moment and stepped out of his host bubble to tell her, as a friend, that he was very proud of her as a majority of the remaining contestants were teary-eyed.
And they're dancing their goodbye to "Dust in the Wind." What the hell? Awful, just awful.
March 2008 Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report
Tag: Iron Oxide Red
Regional drill program testing over twenty individual iron oxide redcopper-gold and silver-lead-zinc targets progressing on the Mount Isa projects. Assay results from drilling on the
Oonoomurra and Corkwood projects return broad intervals of low-grade copper
mineralisation in hydrothermal breccia.
New airborne electro-magnetic survey data over Lakes project in South Australia defines stratigraphic and structural uranium targets north of the Beverley and Four Mile uranium
deposits and a possible extension to the paleo-channel hosting the Goulds Dam uranium
resource into Red Metal's tenement. Detailed interpretation is in progress in preparation for
drilling.
Diamond drilling scheduled to begin during the June quarter on a range of new gravity anomalies targeting hematite associated iron oxide redcopper-gold mineralisation on the
separate Peake and Denison, Algebuckina and Robins Rise projects in the Gawler Craton,
South Australia.
Regional drill program testing over twenty individual iron oxide redcopper-gold and silver-lead-zinc targets progressing on the Mount Isa projects. Assay results from drilling on the
Oonoomurra and Corkwood projects return broad intervals of low-grade copper
mineralisation in hydrothermal breccia.
New airborne electro-magnetic survey data over Lakes project in South Australia defines stratigraphic and structural uranium targets north of the Beverley and Four Mile uranium
deposits and a possible extension to the paleo-channel hosting the Goulds Dam uranium
resource into Red Metal's tenement. Detailed interpretation is in progress in preparation for
drilling.
Diamond drilling scheduled to begin during the June quarter on a range of new gravity anomalies targeting hematite associated iron oxide redcopper-gold mineralisation on the
separate Peake and Denison, Algebuckina and Robins Rise projects in the Gawler Craton,
South Australia.
Citywide Spring Cleanup Set for April 26
Tag: Gloves Set
Annual Report for LDEQ's Small MS4 LPDES General Permit No. LAR041015 (AI 94338) is the dry mouthful of a title of the most recent report the City of Slidell submitted to the state Department of Environmental Quality as one of the requirements for the city's permit to discharge treated sewage into local waterways.
Really interesting reading, right? Well, actually, much of it is if you're interested in the aggressive efforts of the city and Keep Slidell Beautiful (KSB) to crack down on litterbugs and to pick up as much as possible of what's left after the crackdown.
"The most significant achievements for this reporting year are the activities of the Keep Slidell Beautiful organization," the report says. "Their focus is on litter prevention, beautification, community improvement and waste reduction ... Partnerships with the business community, civic organizations, homeowner groups, schools and faith-based organizations are being developed through education, participation in programs, and activities to improve the physical environment and quality of life in Slidell."
Page after page of the report details the year-round activities of the quasi-public agency, its various programs, the organization's governing board created by the Slidell City Council, council passage of hide-the-dumpster and hide-the-garbage can ordinances, the hiring of inspectors to enforce the anti-littering and anti-dumping laws, and the like.
Ready to do your part? How about starting by spending a few hours Saturday, April 26, with Slidell's 2008 citywide spring cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. A free lunch sponsored by the Krewe of Dionysus will be provided for volunteers, the number of which thus far has exceeded 250.
Volunteers will start out at 9 a.m. and fan out to their designated routes across the city in areas where litter tends to accumulate more quickly than others. Group leaders should show up at the park between 8:30 and 9 a.m. In the event of rain, the cleanup will be held Sunday, April 27, from 1 to 4 p.m.
"Come on out and show your civic pride by volunteering at this great event," KSB Executive Director Bill Mauser urged the public. "We'll provide trash bags, safety vests and gloves."
KSB still needs the help of businesses and organization(s) who would like to donate prizes for the workers. For donations, call Mauser at (985) 265-5029. The city can always use more volunteer litter-busters, too. So, if you're just now learning about the cleanup and want to pitch in, just show up at the park before the kickoff.
For more information about Keep Slidell Beautiful and its programs and projects, call Bill Mauser at (985) 265-5029 or Wanda Beelman at (985) 646-4307.
Annual Report for LDEQ's Small MS4 LPDES General Permit No. LAR041015 (AI 94338) is the dry mouthful of a title of the most recent report the City of Slidell submitted to the state Department of Environmental Quality as one of the requirements for the city's permit to discharge treated sewage into local waterways.
Really interesting reading, right? Well, actually, much of it is if you're interested in the aggressive efforts of the city and Keep Slidell Beautiful (KSB) to crack down on litterbugs and to pick up as much as possible of what's left after the crackdown.
"The most significant achievements for this reporting year are the activities of the Keep Slidell Beautiful organization," the report says. "Their focus is on litter prevention, beautification, community improvement and waste reduction ... Partnerships with the business community, civic organizations, homeowner groups, schools and faith-based organizations are being developed through education, participation in programs, and activities to improve the physical environment and quality of life in Slidell."
Page after page of the report details the year-round activities of the quasi-public agency, its various programs, the organization's governing board created by the Slidell City Council, council passage of hide-the-dumpster and hide-the-garbage can ordinances, the hiring of inspectors to enforce the anti-littering and anti-dumping laws, and the like.
Ready to do your part? How about starting by spending a few hours Saturday, April 26, with Slidell's 2008 citywide spring cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. A free lunch sponsored by the Krewe of Dionysus will be provided for volunteers, the number of which thus far has exceeded 250.
Volunteers will start out at 9 a.m. and fan out to their designated routes across the city in areas where litter tends to accumulate more quickly than others. Group leaders should show up at the park between 8:30 and 9 a.m. In the event of rain, the cleanup will be held Sunday, April 27, from 1 to 4 p.m.
"Come on out and show your civic pride by volunteering at this great event," KSB Executive Director Bill Mauser urged the public. "We'll provide trash bags, safety vests and gloves."
KSB still needs the help of businesses and organization(s) who would like to donate prizes for the workers. For donations, call Mauser at (985) 265-5029. The city can always use more volunteer litter-busters, too. So, if you're just now learning about the cleanup and want to pitch in, just show up at the park before the kickoff.
For more information about Keep Slidell Beautiful and its programs and projects, call Bill Mauser at (985) 265-5029 or Wanda Beelman at (985) 646-4307.
Beaujolais good enough for more than once a year
Tag: Fresh Grape
p>Based on nothing but my gut feeling, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that probably 90 percent of all beaujolais purchases and consumption in the United States happens within one three-hour period at only one time during the year, Thanksgiving.
p>The wine, which takes its name from the historical Beaujolais province and wine-producing region, is made from the gamay grape. Wine made from gamay is typically fresh, fruity, uncomplicated, fairly light-bodied and is made to enjoy a year or two after the vintage.
p>As far as pragmatics are concerned, cheap, fruity beaujolais may be the ideal first wine to drink; a bridge, so to speak, to more serious red wines.
p>Because of its refreshing acidity, the lighter stuff can be drunk with a variety of foods, while the more serious stuff can actually be the centerpiece of a meal. I know that most consumers consider beaujolais a cheap, light and unserious wine, which unfortunately results in a wine that falls into the category of "just bring this one because no one at the party is a wine drinker anyway" kind of wine.
p>Many of you serious drinkers know exactly what I'm talking about.
p>Recently, our shop has fielded several requests from customers looking for beaujolais, so I was very excited to find that we'd taste several beaujolais at a supplier's tasting the next weekend. It wasn't until this tasting that I understood the quality and results beaujolais can achieve.
p>Here's why: Most of the beaujolais that the average Joe will encounter in a lifetime comes from two of the largest and most reliable negociants, Georges Duboeuf and Louis Jadot. Rather than grow the grapes themselves, negociant firms like these buy the grapes and wine from growers and blend, bottle and actually sell the wine under their own labels. Since the wine from these producers can originate from any part of the Beaujolais region, the resulting wines are usually pretty good but not great. They are good mostly because of the reputation of these quality negociants.
p>The very best beaujolais though, like the ones I tasted, come from one of the 10 specific areas in the north and are known as cru beaujolais. These wines are made by small, family-owned chateaus, where the owner is also the farmer, winemaker and salesperson.
p>Hand-crafted wines like these are the ones worth seeking out. They have enough easygoing character to be enjoyed as a slightly chilled, knock-back wine, but they also have enough nuance, perfume and structure to warrant serious contemplation, thought and even cellaring. Like their expensive burgundy cousins in the north, their labels display the name of the commune where the wine is from. This stamp of approval for quality is a good thing, especially if you're afraid you'll be viewed as a cheapskate or jokester when bringing this wine to a tasting, because it will actually make you look as though you know something.
p>In the end, it really just goes back to the basic tenets of quality. The hand-crafted stuff should be (and usually is) better than the mass-produced ones.
p>While it is definitely not a wine for everyone, it is surely a wine that will cause those who are willing to take the chance to be pleasantly surprised.
p>So let's band together to change my based-on-nothing assumption, and seek out a cru beaujolais, to help get that once-a-year consumption percentage under 90 percent.
p>Beaujolais worth seeking out:
p>Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais Nouveau ($15.95): A good starter. Not a cru beaujolais, but it's medium-bodied and refreshing, and it goes surprisingly well with much of our local fare.
p>Thivin Cote de Brouilly ($20.95): Fuller and more concentrated, this one boasts exotic spices and dark fruit characteristics.
p>Chignard Fleurie Les Moriers ($23.95): This area will usually produce the most expensive bottlings. More elegant in style, this one is layered, nuanced and has velvety fruitiness.
p>Thevenet Morgon Vielles Vignes ($19.95): Delicious, firm, earthy and even a little musky. Morgon wines can usually age for five to seven years, and in fact, benefit from a couple of years in the bottle before consumption.
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