Saturday, as a real estate transaction thank you, estate planning attorney Jim Hastings presented me with two tickets to the Robert Mondavi Winery’s ‘Festival del Sole’ … oh my … what a treat! A quick zip in my little convertible brought us to Great food, a nearly full moon (I went with a good friend as my sweetie was in the Sierra foothills) and … the WOW!! … an evening with Chris Botti and his sweet jazzy trumpet.

The moon was plump (full moon the 26th) and rose during the second set as Botti wailed “Emmanuel”, did tributes to Miles Davis with “Kind of Blue” and “When I Fall in Love” and did an encore of “Italia” … but it was not just the man and his trumpet (Botti would have been enough alone) but two time Grammy winner Billy Childs was the pianist, violinist Lucia Micarelli melted our hearts and Lisa Fischer (Stones) was extraordinary (in a duet she ‘did’ the trumpet … and what that means will be left to your imagination).

Favorite food, braised lamb shoulder with olive jus, favorite cheese, Italian cow’s milk Fontina, extra well loved calories, basil whipped cream on a peach and berry clafouti … all with wine pairings so yummy … my pallet, my taste buds jumped and twitched when touched by the mellow 1998 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve …

And now, Sunday morning, real estate finds me on the road again heading off for a second showing of Sandra Park’s listing in Stinson … followed by a showing of Suzanne Shelhart’s recommendation, the great buy featured here at her insistence … the Lansburgh Chevalier Estate … originally listed at $6,450,000 then $4,945,000 … now a mere $3,885,000. Every $2.5M reduction counts!

Got a great buy you want to turn me on to? Do it! Want a great buy? Let’s talk … they are there, amid the magic of real estate in Marin, Sonoma and Napa, Ross, Belvedere, San Anselmo and Fairfax … beauty is in the eye of the beholder … or the pallet … have a great life …. and remember www.tomverkozen.com for all your real estate fulfillment!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen