Sideways - you gotta see it. I haven't had so much fun at the movies in
a long time.

Being a California-ite, the scenery is very familiar, including the
ratty bungalow and funky waitress apartment. Also the elaborate
wine-tasting emporium and the gorgeous vineyards in between hills.

We drove some of those Central coast back roads a couple of years ago
when we vacationed in San Luis Obispo. Hope that the movie doesn't
"ruin" the area because it is gorgeous *and* unpretentious; plenty of
good food and the folks aren't spoiled. Yet. People feel much more
"middle America" in that wine country (than in say Sonoma or Napa) -
Santa Maria is home to an indigenous grilling tradition and you'll see
lots of monster barbecue grills on the back of trailers or pickups.
More American flags and Support the Troops stickers than you see in
Northern California, to be expected with all the bases nearby. So all
you red staters who think you wouldn't be happy in California ought to
come for a visit - it's our red state wine country.

I'm not into wine tasting particularly - I like vineyards and the
wineries themselves, though, and great farmers' markets seem to go with
the territory (Thursday night in San Luis Obispo is a *huge* party,
with live bands and barbecue as well as fresh produce).

Oh I just have to say a little more for out-of-staters who don't know -
the beauty of this area is that you are within 40 minutes of the coast
and Big Sur. You could do the wine country for a couple of days, then
go to Hearst Castle another day and be back for afternoon tea. You
could go look at the livestock at University paddocks in the morning,
then attend a classical music (or jazz, or rock) concert at night. SLO
has independent bookstores, fabulous coffee, plenty of darling shops, a
restored river with cafes and walk downtown, an old mission, etc. etc.
The local paper called the area the Gold Coast and also Bliss State and
they're not kidding. And if you didn't want to pay SLO hotel prices
(which when we were there were a bargain, but it was the beginning of
the Iraq war and the only other guests were Army reserve officers
called up for maneuvers) you can stay in Paso Robles or Santa Maria or
whatever that town was where they stay in the movie.

The movie is a hoot. Jill, rent it on DVD or VHS if it never came to
Memphis. Then spend your vacation in the Central Coast - cheaper than
Europe now that the dollar is down. Closest airport would be Santa
Barbara; if you flew to LAX it would be a 3-4 hour drive (I think).
Four hours from San Francisco (by car).

Leila