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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain Views News Saturday, May 31, 2025


THE TASTING ROOM


BEACH. POOL. PORCH. CONCERT. 
VALUE. DELICIOUS!

I’m Gustavo Lira, Tasting Room Manager and Wine 
Buyer at The Bottle Shop in Sierra Madre with another 
wine and spirits selection. 

Are you looking for a white wine that will cool you 
off during the summer heat? It’s zesty, bright, acid 
driven, and friggin’ delicious. Think of lemonade, 
melon, and grapefruit, and this is what you get in 
a glass of the 2023 Manuel Costa Alvarinho “Magnate” 
Vinho Verde. 

The company was founded in 1989 by Manuel Costa 
and is now managed by his sons. Vinho Verde is 
a wine region in Portugal located in the northwest 
corner of the country. It hugs the Atlantic Ocean 
which has a great influence on the vines. Vinho Verde usually is a blend of several grapes, 
but this wine is a single grape varietal – Alvarinho. If it sounds like the grape Albariño from 
Spain, that’s because it is the same grape varietal. With this being 100% Alvarinho that is sustainably 
farmed, that makes this wine extra special. 

This is a serious wine that’s fun 
to drink. Several nicknames 
come to mind with a wine 
that drinks so well that you 
just want to chug it…. porch 
pounder, pool pounder, crushable, 
and glou-glou (the sound 
you make when drinking it so 
fast!) Pair this wine with salads, 
fish, shellfish, and veggies. 

The 2023 Manuel Costa Alvarinho 
“Magnate” Vinho 
Verde is available at The Bottle 
Shop for $12.99. Buy two bottles 
and get the special price 
of $11.70. The price elsewhere 
is $16.99. This special price is 
good through June 6th. I am at 
the Tasting Room every Thursday night and Friday night. Come in and taste with me! 

Until next time – Salud!

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IN SUMMARY: 

 The Best Bar Scenes in Pasadena — Then and Now

Two of the most common questions I get are:

1. What’s the best restaurant in Pasadena?

2. Where’s the best bar scene in Pasadena?

We’ll save the restaurant debate for another time — this week, let’s raise a glass to Pasadena’s 
bar scene.

There’s a new sheriff in town: the AC Hotel Pasadena, operated by Marriott. Now, running 
a hotel bar isn’t easy (just ask anyone who remembers The Constance), but AC is off to a 
strong start. The indoor-outdoor vibe is a hit — on warmer days, the windows slide wide 
open, making it ideal for people-watching and sipping something chilled. It's modern, 
stylish, and drawing a good after-work crowd.

Granville, located on South Lake Avenue, continues to impress. While it’s technically a 
restaurant, the rooftop bar is the real star here. If the weather is cooperating — meaning 
not too hot and not too chilly — snagging a rooftop table with a drink in hand is a must. 
It's one of the better places in town to enjoy the sun setting behind the San Gabriels.

Now, if elegance is your thing, The Langham Huntington Hotel still sets the gold standard. 
Live music on weekends adds to the charm, and the bar feels like something straight out 
of old Hollywood. Valet parking can be a hassle, so do yourself a favor: take an Uber. Yes, 
drinks are pricey — but the setting is priceless.

Houston’s, on Arroyo Parkway, remains one of my personal favorites. They recently removed 
the TVs — a choice I still don’t fully understand — but even so, it’s tough to beat for 
a light lunch and a perfectly made cocktail. There’s a quiet sophistication to sitting at that 
bar — the kind of place where the staff knows your drink before you order it.

Another must-mention is Plate 38, tucked on the east side of town. It’s where locals gather 
for strong drinks, scratch-made food, and casual conversation. Behind the bar, you’ll find 
Eric, Ali, and Jose — three bartenders who know their craft and make everyone feel like a 
regular. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic Old Fashioned, a local beer, or something 
off the chef-driven cocktail list, Plate 38 delivers.

And let’s not forget Mi Piace, still holding court in Old Pasadena. The bar lounge is as 
lively as ever, often packed with regulars and tourists alike. You’ll pay premium prices, 
sure — but the buzz and energy of the place make it a top-tier stop for a late-night drink 
or a pre-dinner martini.

A Toast to the Past

It wasn’t always like this. There was a time — not all that long ago — when the Pasadena 
dining and bar scene was, let’s say, sparse. You had Woody & Eddie’s, The Chronicle, and 
if you blinked, you missed the short-lived Madre’s, the Jennifer Lopez-owned restaurant 
with white couches and Cuban flair. It was more flash than flavor, but we still talk about it.

There was a charm to those simpler days, when you could count the good spots on one 
hand. But Pasadena has grown — and with that growth has come a renaissance of bars, 
lounges, rooftops, and hotel hideaways.

________________________________________

IN SUMMARY:

Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or sipping the latest craft cocktail, Pasadena’s bar scene has 
something for everyone. From polished rooftops to neighborhood gems like Plate 38, this city’s 
got your next great drink — and story — waiting.

Host of Dining with Dills thechefknows@yahoo.com

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ALL THINGS 

By Jeff Brown 

NON-DUALITY PHILOSOPHY—offers several 
profound insights and practical benefits. Here’s what can be 
helpful about it, both philosophically & experientially according 
to some of those who look into it.

 1. Inner Peace Through Detachment from Ego

Non-duality teaches that your true identity is not the ego 
or the story of "me and mine," but awareness itself. Why it’s 
good: It helps reduce anxiety, overthinking, and suffering by 
loosening identification with the constantly changing mind 
and body. “When you realize you are not the thinker, a new dimension of consciousness 
arises.” – Eckhart Tolle

2. Radical Freedom

In non-duality, you are not bound by roles, past actions, or the illusion of control. You are 
the formless awareness in which experience arises. Why it’s good: It liberates you from guilt, 
shame, and regret, offering a deep sense of spaciousness and acceptance.“The self is not 
something you find. It is something you stop believing you lost.” – Rupert Spira

3. Unity and Compassion

If there's no real separation between "you" and "others," then compassion becomes a natural 
expression. Why it’s good: It dissolves judgment and fear of the "other," fostering love and 
empathy.“Love is the recognition of yourself in another.” – Eckhart Tolle

4. Freedom from the Tyranny of Thought

Non-dual insight can show that thoughts are just appearances in awareness—not necessarily 
true or personal. Why it’s good: Helps people deal with overthinking, anxiety, and intrusive 
thoughts.“You are the sky. Everything else – it's just the weather.” – Pema Chödrön

 5. Resolution of Existential Questions

Non-duality offers a direct answer to the deepest philosophical question: Who am I? Why it’s 
good: Instead of endless seeking, it points you back to your own being—something immediately 
present and unchanging. “The seeker is the sought.” – Nisargadatta Maharaj

6. Direct Experience over Belief

Non-duality doesn’t require blind faith—it invites investigation and direct insight. Why it’s 
good: It's compatible with deep inquiry, mindfulness, and self-awareness practices.

Benefit - Why It Matters

Inner peace Frees you from suffering tied to ego and identity

Emotional freedom Reduces guilt, fear, and attachment

Deeper compassion Sees others as not separate from yourself

Clarity and simplicity Cuts through complex belief systems with direct truth

Spiritual fulfillment Ends the seeking by revealing what was never missing


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