GRAPE EXPECTATIONS ... AT 7TH AND MONTANA!

It was a Grape Escape at 7th and Montana this morning as the crew from Malibu Grapes -- a premiere tour service offering one-of-a-kind wine-tasting excursions through the Malibu Hills -- made the scene. I don't really know this group that well, but they are regulars at Our Favorite Starbucks and I admire how they've cultivated what sounds like an amazing business despite the tough economy. They were sitting at the next table over this morning, and I couldn't help noticing that they were brainstorming ideas for a new brochure. "I know," said one of them, "Let's use some quotes, like the studios do in movie ads." They began discussing the wonderful things various reviewers have said about them. And then it dawned on me: I've never been on a Malibu Grapes tour, but why should that stop me from waxing poetic? Here goes: "The Adventure of a lifetime. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Anything else is just Sour Grapes." "An edge of your seat thrill ride from one decadent wine tasting to the next ... let the Oscar Buzz begin!" "A Gorgeous Escape ... Julia Roberts is radiant!" To the folks from Malibu Grapes: Feel free to lift or use anything you like. I have no journalistic integrity. But if I were you, I'd be careful when it comes to the bit about Julia Roberts. I stole that from an Associated Press review of "Eat, Pray, Love."