Speaking of Slope restaurants, it’s time to put in a good word for Black Pearl. We had a very impromptu birthday party for Hepcat there a few weeks ago (very impromptu). Black Pearl was incredibly accomodating. They cheerfully created a huge table for our party of 15 or so. The service was great and so was the food.

My writer’s group has been going there for drinks and sometimes food after writer’s group for about six months now. I’ve been very impressed with the service, the food, and the cocktails. It’s a fairly quiet place; a good place for conversation.

The other night after writer’s group, a group of us went in and I asked the Maitre’ D if he remembered me. "Of course. We call you guys the Rosenblums because your party drank ten bottles of Rosenblum’s California Zinfindel," he said.

That’s a lot of wine. I didnt’ realize we drank so much. Hey, it was a nice party.