Photographer Extraordinaire Ralph Alswang Here In Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Thursday Morning July 24th,2008

     Ralph always comes and speaks so highly of us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and the feeling is more than mutual. We love him, too just as he says so often the same about us. Ralph comes to our wine-tastings when he can and enjoys meeting the wine-makers and owners. He's come when we have done some of our best Italian events here and sometimes his wife and children are with him. He's engaging, lively, very personable and smiles broadly as he points out many things that people might think and even notice but never mention. Thanks for being so up-front and honest and congratulating as often as you are Ralph: you've got both the artist's eye and the guts to share and speak your mind - traits that I love and try an emulate myself.

     You're an excellent photographer, too and I'd love to see more of your work. You also do something that absolutely floors me each and every time you do it. You will buy some wine for yourself and really amazing gifts for your friends and customers. Often Ralph will buy us each a lottery ticket and ask us to choose which one as he spreads them out in his outstretched hands. Wow. What if I win? What if Ravi or Santos or Mike wines? How amazingly generous and wonderful a gesture. Ralph's the only one that I know that does this and I love the generous/outlandish quality of this gesture! Thanks Ralph. If I ever wine I will share the proceeds with you I promise.

     You should all check out Ralph's photographs. If you need anything done for you : events/ weddings/ portraits/ news please contact Ralph at : <>, also at <>. You can also call him at : 202-487-5025. He comes highly recommended by me, Anthony Quinn. Give him a holler! Cheers Ralph and let's get together and drink some wine, chew the fat and look at some good pictures while I snap away and take more myself. I'm only an amateur photographer but I love it as an art form and a way to preserve a moment from various angles and not always the most obvious. 

     Sorry I don't have to straighten your photo out Ralph and that you are on your side as if you were sleeping! What were you thinking as I snapped this photo? It's a good one of you, like the smile a lot. Cheers,  TONY

Jim Stutsman, Absolute Total Wine Educator ALL American 50 States Wine Guru/Drummer Retired Opera, Too , July 2008 Here In Cleveland Park Wines & Spir

its / He Also Shopped @ The Mayflower Wines & Spirits Back In The 1980's! WOW! So Many Memories and Great Times Jim / Glad To Have Shared So Many With You, Too!!!!!

I can't say enough in praise for Jim Stutsman. He is a big inspiration to me and should be to anyone interested in the wealth and diversity of wines: especially if they are interested in the wines being made in the 50 states of the United States! Jim gets nothing from his efforts of buying and tasting these wines from the various US States that he visits and brings the wines home to North Arlington, VA to share with family and friends. JIM SHARES EVERYTHING! Thanks Jim. I don't go to enough of your home tastings but I know that you are interested in spreading the wealth about what the 50 US States have to offer and for that I personally am eternally grateful! Cheers to you and your continued efforts. I am thrilled to be able to call you a friend and to know that you shop here at Cleveland Park Wines And Spirits. It's fun to see you here most Saturdays with your special glass win-tasting cut glass ! Jim is one of our few customer/friends that actually carries around a tasting glass as he goes from store to store looking for the great new " undiscovered wines ! Bob and Marilyn also travel with a real glass to taste from. Kudos to you three! Here you are with that glass preserved for all eternity. Hope you like the pictures. You do look a bit serious except in the picture with the two beautiful ladies ( Mary-Shannon and Paulette ) Jim. Cheers to you and your fine, selfless example.

I wrote this Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 here in the store at Cleveland Park Wines and Spirits. TONY

It's now Thursday, April 14th, 2011 here at home in northern Virginia at 8:54AM and I am thinking a whole lot about you Jim as you knew Sidney Moore Margolis of the Mayflower Wines & Spirits that just passed away last Saturday morning, April 10th, 2011. Your name came up yesterday when I received a call from wine writer Dave McIntyre that wants to write a piece on Sidney Moore Margolis and the Mayflower Wines & Spirits. He asked me to share what I knew since I worked there from 1983-85 and I had many things to impart! I was verbose and happy to be as there were many things to talk about from those days way back when .... when the Mayflower was a destination place. People wanted to go there and be there. They wanted the olive oil, the Italian wines, the Poggio Lamentano unfiltered olive oil and the Panelle breads from Hoboken, New Jersey and the FOSSI Chiantis Classico's going all the way back to 1958.

You knew all this Jim. You lived it right along with me including buying the dry white Tuscan Monte Carlo wine that you brought me back your last bottle to give to Sidney with a note on it. Did she ever respond? Anyway, it was nice to be able to talk to you and to Harry Moore her son on that Saturday morning when Harry shared the news with me and then I shared it with you.

An era has gone and it sure was a glorious one and I am thrilled that both you and Sidney and all the rest were a part of it. Cheers and stay-tuned for more as I have many memories and this is a great time to share many of them with you all.

Sidney always did support me in the arts - mine - and she let me hang my artwork in the store as well as my hand-painted bottles, too. Cheers, TONY

Pamela ( Pam ) J. Ginsberg, Our Favorite Local Butcher Has Moved Away!

     Pam was just here in the store the other day, this July 2008. She was up at the register talking with both Santos and Ravi. She really took care of us all over the years that she was at Brookville Market. Thanks Pam. You can contact her at : ( 202 ) 365-2370. She's the best. Here are some pictures that I took last week in July 2008. Enjoy. Thanks Pam for all the good sandwiches and meats in the past. I appreciate all you did for us/me. Cheers to you. Satay well and healthy and keep cutting the best meats, etcetera.  

     As you know my pictures are now often taken through the wine glass to add that something extra, something a bit more special as the light breaks and refracts the light and dices peoples faces up a bit and makes them appear a bit more unique/different. Hope you like the results. We love you Pam!  Cheers,  TONY