"february" news and stories

This year is the 10th anniversary of Open That Bottle Night, an evening invented by Wall Street Journal wine writers Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, and they invite you to participate.

What exactly is Open That Bottle Night? It's an excuse to open a bottle you've been hoarding and saving for a special occasion (that never seems to roll around). It's a night where you can savor an incredible wine all by yourself, with someone special, or with a big group of foodie friends. It's a night where you have a reason to Open That Bottle.

As a confirmed wine hoarder, I love the idea. I tend to save special bottles and then never open them because it's never the right time, or I don't think the occasion warrants it. OTBN is about letting go of those packrat tendencies. I've gone through my wine and can't decide what to drink. I'm leaning toward the 2005 Fort Walla Walla Cellars Treaty, a gift from my parents and a truly amazing wine, but then again, it's supposed to be good for another decade or longer, so maybe I should hold off. I've got some unique wines like Norton from Missouri, and a bunch of South African Cabernet.

The important thing is to open something. And this year, you can Twitter about it. What will you be drinking on Saturday for OTBN 10?

On Valentine's Day, more than 30% of all Americans will eat at a restaurant, making it the second most popular holiday for dining out, after Mother's Day. When numbers are broken down by age, it is not surprising to see that for people between the ages of 25 and 34, the numbers are much higher, with 41% of people dining at a restaurant on February 14. The highest numbers are among the 18-24 year olds, with 47% percent heading out to eat. Those who dine out will spend an average of $62 dollars on dinner, while possibly spending more on gifts such as chocolates and flowers. OpenTable.com is a great way to check for reservations are some of your favorite restaurants across the country and the world.

Though dining out can be fun and romantic, for some lovebirds there is nothing as romantic as a home-cooked meal shared across a table for two. Cooking together or cooking for a loved one can be a more romantic and thoughtful gift than a box of chocolates, for those who enjoy cooking.

Happy Groundhog Day! Today, February 2nd, is the day that people gather to watch a large rodent predict the end of winter. Of course, the only official weather-predicting groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, who has been predicting the weather annually from Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for 120 years. Though the average lifespan of a groundhog is only 6-8 years, Phil cheats death by sipping a secret "groundhog punch" every seven years.

It seems inadvisable to eat large rodents when FDA approved sources of meat are readily available, but recipes for groundhog stew and fried groundhog do exist. A better way to celebrate the critters is by making a batch of cookies. Punxsutawney Phil has a favorite recipe for ginger cookies and Hi Monkey's Rock Cakes are adorned with tiny paper groundhogs.