Friday was the big day of Homescapes’ annual birthday bash and I’m happy to say, “Thank God THAT’S over!”  That’s probably too big a statement what with the blasphemy and the capitalized letters and all, but man, those parties are MURDER!  (There I go again with the caps…somebody stop me).

The big drama this time was all because of procrastination.  There has been a crackdown lately in Carmel on businesses and galleries that serve wine to the public without a liquor permit.  In the past I’ve used a caterer with a liquor license so I hadn’t really given this party much thought.  Nor have I been paying attention to the aforementioned caterer’s business, as I hadn’t realized they’d retired.

By the time I found out that VERY IMPORTANT turn of events and started looking around for a new caterer with the right kind of licensing, I was so out of time that I didn’t actually find anyone who could make the party legal until after 1 p.m. on Friday…the day of that same-said party.  The party that had been in Wednesdays Weekly as a Hot Pick in part because we serve free wine.

Now, I kinda hope the people who come to our Open Houses actually like us, but I wasn’t born yesterday so the reality is that there are those in our midst who are just coming for the free grub, music and booze.  (Not YOU of course, Gentle Reader…you are golden and well-loved).

But those Others…minus the booze at a Homescapes party we were no-doubt in for a full on mob-with-torches scene.

Luckily that was averted when Tarpy’s Roadhouse and Ventana Vineyards took pity on me and did me the favor of sending over staff and wine after my last minute calls all over the Peninsula had failed.  If I hadn’t gone to the Taste of Carmel event on Thursday night and told them my tale of woe, thus getting in touch with all the right people who could make things happen on the turn of a dime, I’d more than likely be hanging from the beams in front of my store as a warning to all merchants who make Carmelites spend an evening sober.

Phew.