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imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-27T11:31:34-07:00

It's easy, CLICK HERE, spend two minutes placing the order, and within days a brand-spanking-new copy will be waiting on your doorstep. ...We were dead at Fox, and everyone from Polly Holliday to Tracy Nelson to Nick Lachey’s personal trainer’s assistant was threatening to sue me, so Fisher really had to earn his ten percent of nothing to get me another meeting in town. It wound up being at MTV, where I met with a twenty-two-year-old African-American development exec named Blake Shipley to discuss an idea I had for a reality TV show called Ride My Pimp!... Fisher thought the idea had legs, and that there’d be ample opportunity for promotional tie-ins…mostly from gun manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that specialize in penicillin. I recall being excited when I learned that Blake Shipley was black, because at that time, in yet another misguided attempt at bettering myself, I’d taken to incorporating “street” jargon into everyday conversation. I’d found that when dealing with, say, some of the more youthful magazine editors or folks from the entertainment industry, simply tossing in a few words and expressions co-opted from hip underprivileged youth really added extra validity, or “cred” as they say in the giddyack, to whatever message I was attempting to convey. ...“We hired a market research firm to evaluate the show’s prospects, and the results of a comprehensive study were extremely encouraging, especially in the highly-coveted 18- to 34-year-old male demographic,” I told Blake, adding, “and the concept is the shiz-nit, bee-otch!” ...“I’m sorry, but I’m not quite following,” said Blake, his gaze drifting from my FuBu skully down to the brand-new Malcolm X t-shirt I’d worn for the occasion. ...The kind of show that will really bring in the advertisers, so that you and I will be rolling in the luchini. ...“Look, can you just tell me, in as straightforward a manner as possible, what this show is about? ...And they’ll be carrying prostitutes on their backs in a series of timed challenges...like racing against each other...away from the cops, gangbangers, etcetera. ...At this point an angry Blake, clearly envious of my superior ebonics skillz, pressed a button on his intercom and asked an assistant to summon security. ...“Man, I don’t get why you’re so angry,” I said with one leg already out the window. ...I decided then and there that I was done swallowing my pride just to make it in Hollywood.*[footnote: *I also decided not to share that information with Fisher.]... Aside, that is, from people in AA, those poor bastards on the waiting list for liver transplants, and anyone interested in living past fifty?*[footnote: *Statistics show that spirits writers live an average of only forty-nine years, but on the bright side, many of us continue to work well into our seventies.] ...When I got home I shared the news of my showbiz emancipation with Bottomfeeder, who greeted me with all the enthusiasm of a kid who’d been routinely denied entry to the candy store. It was 11:15 a.m. and he’d been up all night parked in front of the television drinking Chambord straight from the bottle and surfing the 24-hour news channels. It’d been days since he’d showered, spoken, or even moved off the living room sofa, distraught over having been beaten out for a role in an upcoming David Lynch film by the kid who played Bud Bundy on Married...with Children. It was not an ideal time to engage Bottomfeeder in conversation — but then again, when was it ever?“Everything okay?” ...I nodded and said nothing, having learned from experience that it is best to remain silent whenever Bottomfeeder began arguing figures of speech with himself. On the television, California’s Governor Terminator was delivering a “state of the State” address in which he vowed to weed out the special interests he claimed were compromising the integrity of the legislative process. ...That exchange was followed by a rather lengthy lull in the conversation, in which Bottomfeeder picked at his skin and I tried unsuccessfully to get comfortable with the notion that we might have just shared a moment. ...Before I had a chance to answer, Bottomfeeder launched into a heated one-man debate over the likelihood of ever needing to deliver a great performance in order to stave off the Grim Reaper. On television a talking head was babbling about the push for campaign finance reform, and I tried to ascertain whether the stench in the air was emanating from stale ideas or my besotted roommate.... He said he’d do his best, but in light of his disappointment over what had transpired at MTV, I wasn’t really counting on it.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-26T11:55:33-07:00

All-Time Great Drinking-themed Music Video #44 Velvet Revolver covering “Roadhouse Blues,” by the Doors

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-25T17:54:25-07:00

Buy This Funny Book

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-21T20:35:22-07:00

Gone Fishin' Actually, as the pix below clearly illustrate, we've gone drinkin' and male bondin' and scammin' on the ladies. Everyone needs a vacation now and then, right? Back soon with new updates. Mahalo! ***the Imbiber Staff***

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-20T15:53:11-07:00

Feelin' Fine on Felton Road By Dan Dunn To give you an idea about the difference between biodynamic and organic farming, imagine pitting legendary “Spinal Tap” guitarist Nigel Tufnel’s custom-made amp against a basic Marshall stack…like Tufnel’s sooped-up sound system, in the realm of sustainable farming, the biodynamic approach goes to eleven. “I imagine biodynamic agriculture might seem a bit wacky and excessive to the average bloke, but it seems to be working for us,” says Nigel Greening, himself an accomplished British-born musician who’s rubbed elbows with guitar heroes such as Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. Over a mostly liquid lunch recently, Greening talked of how he abandoned his rock and roll dream long ago, and in 2000 purchased the Felton Road winery in the Central Otago region of New Zealand. Since then, he and his winemaker Blair Walter have become rockstars in the wine world, turning out award-winning pinot noir year after year at their biodynamic property. “We look at the winery as a single organism in which everything we need is produced on site,” says Greening of the biodynamic concept, which was developed in the early 20th century by the Austrian Renaissance man Rudolph Steiner. The “wacky” stuff Greening alluded to includes planting based on the lunar calendar, music in the vineyards (apparently grapes dig The White Stripes) and an elaborate ritual involving dung from lactating cows that yields a “bacterial soup” used to feeds the vines. “Again, we know it’s weird, but the results are hard to quibble with,” he says. No quibbling here. Felton Road’s just-released 2007 vintage pinot noir ($45) is a truly marvelous achievement. Aged 11 months in French oak, the wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and wasn’t filtered or fined (a clarification process that involves agents usually made from animal products – a no-no for vegans!) Fans of classic Burgundies will fall in love with this creamy delight, with its hints of chocolate and leather. On a scale of one to ten, we give it an eleven.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-20T15:00:50-07:00

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imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-20T14:57:32-07:00

Favorite new LA bar The Edison 108 W 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 613-0000 Here's what CitySearch has to say about it: Located near Harlem Place Alley--core of L.A.'s early 20th century music scene--this converted cocktail spot with a "Sherlock Holmes-post-industrial vibe" caters to the area's upscale-loft residents. According to project partners Marc Smith (Golden Gopher) and Andrew Meieran (Mercury Liquors), renovation efforts keep the 1910 Higgins Building's original structure intact, and that includes preserving many of the original boiler room features such as the enormous central power generator.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-15T12:22:53-07:00

Kickin’ it with Kelli Sushi Roku’s “mixologist with the mostest” Kelli Bautista was the guest bartender mixing rum drinks on last Friday’s Maxim Radio segment on the Stretch Show (Sirius, Channel 108). Kelli was a hit, and lots of listeners emailed to say they want more of her. I’m all about giving the people what they want, so Kelli will be back with us on the air this Friday, August 15th. Oh, and in the meantime you should definitely check this out (along with the another Kelli video a little further down this page)…

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-14T17:14:57-07:00

It doesn’t get much more Lower East Side circa 2008 than this: Wading through TV/Movie shoot cables, wondering about the odds of getting caught stealing candy bars from the craft service truck, mentally composing debates about the name of the much-anticipated restaurant/lounge you’re seeking. ...A quick burst of your usual post-literate “must give up Google” self-loathing and then you’re there, sliding into an igloo-like entrance while noting the interesting street-interface that belies the sleekness of the interior. ...Actually, thor (the lower-case is their doing) is, among no doubt many other things, a leader in the “destination drinks” craze sweeping the Civilized World. Their specialty drinks menu includes more than a half-dozen creative libations rumored to induce celebration in all but the most snarky of nightlifers ...The Hamptons place Bogarted by your former in-laws under that nasty codependent settlement agreement? Well, a few moments in the right LES establishment with just the right combination of alcohol, alchemy and lighting might lessen your burden. And this is the place for that. ...The Champagne-based Pear-a-dise (hey, they do the lower-case “t” and they’re gonna do cute drink names, too) was probably the biggest hit in the celebration category. Nearly sweet -- and I have no idea if they “infused” the pear, but it was perfect -- it scored high on the Imbiber’s “get your own” tasting index. Honestly, we’ve seen lifetime NRA members give up their guns easier than our cohorts responded to the “may I try a sip of that?” ...The “lemonade” offering was nearly as popular, but with a bite that stopped short of celebration-inducing and went instead into a more serious-drinking mode.... My personal favorite was an iced tea and Jim Beam creation that tasted exactly like some genius – who I’d like to hails from Kentucky like me -- figured the two greatest tastes in the world were sweet tea and mint juleps and why not marry them up? Honestly, if this stuff makes its way to Louisville, the mint julep mafia is gonna be chillin’ at the Lipton Box Seats at next year’s Derby. ...Alas, the online warnings about service, even for people obnoxious enough to carry REPORTER NOTEBOOKS with the words “Restaurant Review: thor” across the page, was, uh, uneven. Great at times, the wait staff simply disappeared into (A) some Stargate vortex or (B) what have to be among the best make-out bathrooms in Manhattan -- huge, entire-wall, floor-to ceiling mirrors, two rows of private bathrooms (no door-banging interruptus here) along a dimly lit corridor...don’t make it like we’re the first to notice...this restaurant is sexy enough to constitute foreplay so these bathrooms just acknowledge the social contract. Okay, so nobody wants their, ahem, performance judged by how they do on some random Tuesday in August between the hours of 8:30 and ten p.m. (we’re back to talking about the restaurant here, people) and thor is only a normal place through the week, apparently being belted by gamma rays and turning into something huge with velvet-roped superpowers on weekends. ...Foodies note: We tried the East Coast Oysters, which took us right to the sea; the grilled octopus was a bit less inspiring. We stayed traditional, but with a “for the table” menu that includes the likes of goat cheese fondu and gnocchi, we’ll shoot for an “apps as dinner” approach next time. Besides, the “medium rare” hanger steak was well overcooked -- yeah, poor babies with their overcooked hanger meat. But it’s worth noting that thor gets too many of the Big Things right to let us down on the smaller things -- like getting a check quickly enough that we don’t have to text our cool friends in Williamsburg that the train is out and we’ll have to cab it after all. The Imbiber insider tip: try the threesome of Ceviches (snapper, shrimp and a squid-ink selection) and hang onto the bread basket -- coupled with the designer drinks they make a great taste-counter-taste toggle. And, again with some Google self-loathing admitted, we’ll comment on the $15 price for the destination drinks: Well? Imagine the living hell of the weekend crunch and you’re longing for the days of whiskey neat, cursing that Tom Cruise movie that led you into bartending in the first place. It’s not like you’re going to have five of the things like some stem-clutching Imbiber researcher run amuck on sweet tea nectar. As for the core mission: maybe it ain’t a cool Aspen jazz evening, but the combination of well-concocted, well-executed drinks and a great design can surely make up some of the difference.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-14T15:40:34-07:00

Cocktails of the Week B&B Peppermint Paradise 1.25 oz. B&B liqueur 1 oz. Grenadine 1 oz. Crème de Menthe .25 oz. port Peppermint chocolate powder Freeze Grenadine and water into ice cubes overnight. Rim chilled rocks glass with peppermint chocolate powder and add Grenadine ice cubes. Put rest fo the ingredients in a shaker, shake well and strain over ice. Sapphire Pineapple 2 oz. Bombay Sapphire 1/2 cherry brandy 2 oz. pineapple juice 2 wedges of lime Lemon drop sugar Freeze pineapple juice into sphere shape the night before. Rim chilled martini glass with lemon drop sugar. Pour cherry liqueur into bottom of martini glass and muddle limes an cherry liqueur in a Boston glass. Add Sapphire and ice and shake. Place frozen pineapple ball into the martini glass and strain Sapphire and limes over it.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-13T12:25:59-07:00

**Tripped-out Rum Promo** Fidel Castro fascinates me. So does Cuban history, which is why I dig this funky “Cuba Shark” ad for Matusalem Rum. Well, that and ‘cuz I really like the taste of Matusalem Rum, too. Check it out…

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-13T12:18:41-07:00

The emails keep pouring in about the unhinged adult beverage segment we do every Friday from 1-2 pm EST on the Stretch Show on Maxim Radio. For the uninitiated, “midget” is a term of endearment in Stretch-speak and is NOT intended to insult the vertically challenged among us…of course, if you were looking to insult an entire group, midgets would be a relatively safe way to go since they’re small and, thus, easily handled. ...Hey my midget— Your site is badass, but the front page is extremely hard to read with a white background. It's killing my eyes. It might be my iPhone not loading it right. I laughed my ass of at you and Stretch today (July 8th show).... If you haven't tried it (but I bet you have) spiced rum and 7up. It's great with Captain Morgan. You can mix it half and half and it tastes like cream soda. Maybe not the first one, but the second will. ...Oh, and it’s not this site killing your eyes. It’s your iPhone. ...I don't think you can get the real stuff in this country, but next time you go to Europe try to find some Strohs Islander Rum in butterscotch flavor, and prepare to get knocked down. ...(The Imbiber replies: Thanks for the note, Rick. You're talking about Stroh Inlander Rum, which is from Austria. It's got a very high alcohol content. That shit will bang yer ass up!) A Call for the Three Wise Men I have been listening to Stretch since he came on board on Maxim Radio. Now that the merge (with XM) has happened and you two can get kinda nutty-kuku again, I think Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker and Jim Beam should share the studio with u guys one Friday. A few triple shots of the three wise men and Stretch will sing and u will laugh harder than ever along with all us crazy-named listeners. ...(The Imbiber replies: Having the Three Wise Men pay us a visit in-studio sounds like a fantastic idea… or an unmitigated disaster.... Is there such a thing as BUI – Broadcasting Under the Influence? If so, does it apply to satellite radio? I’d like an answer please, people.)

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-12T07:55:35-07:00

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imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-11T15:55:49-07:00

Writin’ About Rioja Regular visitors to this site may no doubt be aware that the Imbiber recently traveled to Rioja to sample the wares of that storied wine region. I chronicled my adventures in north-central Spain for the esteemed beverage journal, Patterson’s The Tasting Panel. Click the "Dunn on Rioja" link below to check out a PDF of the article from the magazine’s current (August) issue.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-11T01:13:34-07:00

What it tastes like: It tastes like what I imagine blood would taste like if I were a vampire whose victim has eaten a lot of plums and licorice. What to serve it with: Phil Collins greatest hits (trust me on this). ...Say this and sound smart: Grenache is the dominant variety in most Southern Rhône wines. ...Why you should buy it: Cuz it’s some damn tasty Champagne.... The pinot noir is grown in Montagne de Reims. ...What it tastes like: It’s creamy and has a little baked apple thing going on. It’s very well-rounded. What to serve it with: crab soufflé… or frozen pizza in a pinch Say this and sound smart: La Montagne de Reims est un ensemble géographique boisé, situé entre Reims et Epernay et bordé au nord, au sud et à l'est par des coteaux de vignes. ...Why you should buy it: Felton Road may very well be the best wine producer in all of New Zealand.... They made “Lord of the Rings” AND “Whale Rider” there – it’s, like, the greatest country in the world. Sure, it’s more popularly known for its pinot noir, but as this bottle proves, the chardonnay kicks serious ass as well. What it tastes like: You’ll instantly pick up the melon, and that’ll be followed by tart citrus. Then you’ll note the light oakiness and truly breathtaking balance…seriously, that’s exactly how things will go down on your palette. ...I’d pour this stuff over corn flakes and be happier than a Maori princess watching the All Blacks dance the haka. Say this and sound smart: Central Otago is the most southerly wine-producing region in the world. ...Why you should buy it: This is, undoubtedly, some of the finest pinot noir this scribe has ever tasted. Indeed, 2007 is considered to be a subpar year for wine from Central Otago, but Felton Road pulled off a miracle. What it tastes like: Perfectly balanced, fruit forward (but not a fruit bomb) with some Snickers bar action. ...What to serve it with: Mushroom risotto, preferably prepared by the chef at Comme Ca in LA.... Say this and sound smart: All of Felton Road’s vineyards are managed organically and biodynamically ...Why you should buy it: J’s legendary winemaker George Bursick is a slave to fashion, and in fact may very well be the most stylish man in all of Healdsburg. His designer duds cost major bucks, so by buying his wine you’re helping to sustain haute couture alive in style-challenged Sonoma County! ...I suspect it’ll only get more refined after a few years in the bottle, but it’s ready to drink now. What to serve it with: Liberty Farm duck in a red wine barley sauce Say this and sound smart: Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-08T23:57:44-07:00

Rum Hottie Tottie Talkie Friday, August 15th, on our weekly segment on the Stretch Show on Maxim Radio (Sirius, Channel 108, 1-2 p.m. EST) we’ll be talking tequila and gin and elderflower liqueur, and drinking all of it, and relentlessly hitting on our in-studio guest rum-tender, Kelli Bautista, who is back by popular demand. Check out Kelli in this, uh, revealing video.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-07T09:00:59-07:00

[Barry is on tour, performing his comedy shows across the US and Canada all summer long. Today's dispatch comes from Montreal, Canada...] ...I've been wrong on such a level so many times that you'd think I'd be used to it by now. For instance, back in 1999, I was a full believer in the Y2K scare. I had cases of tuna, buckets of beans, water filters, grain grinders (like I was going to become some post-apocalyptic wheat farmer or something). I might have even had a gas mask, but I'd prefer not to admit to such things. My friends who thought Y2K was a paranoid delusion perpetuated by internet nut-cases received my scorn, and I secretly marked them down on the "don't share tuna with" list. As we know, Y2K came and went without any nuclear meltdowns, jets plummeting from the sky or worldwide martial law. The only lasting change is that Prince's "1999" can never listened to in the same way again. ...Everything that I use for finding my way - my intellect, my intuition, my keen sense of smell - they all told me that the doodie was about to hit the fan, and that I'd better have my duck jerky in a row for when it all goes down. ...But man, the wrongness really made me wonder what other things I'm totally convinced of and an equally wrong about. I know that Y2K may be an obscure example, because chances are you were among the majority of right people all those years ago. And sure, I'm a bit paranoid and gullible, but that doesn't make me any less right. ...So now, years later, here I am in Montreal, embarking on a summer of performing autobiographical solo comedy shows. Standing on stage for an hour talking about your life (in what you hope is a funny and entertaining way) leaves you a bit, well...exposed. The exposure at the moment is intense enough - tell a joke, nobody laughs, ouch, move on - but what really gets me are reviews. I got a great review of my new show in the Montreal Gazette early last week.... The review said that my style has evolved (this is my third consecutive year in Montreal) into something slick, resembling a Michael Moore film, and that I could just record my voice, play it over my slide show thingie and not even bother to show up. The final line was the one that stuck with me - "It may not be theatre - but it's good." ...You mean my performance was so bad that I didn't even need to be there?... What, because I wasn't prancing around pretending to be lots of other people - acting, I think they call it - I'm not theatre? "It was good" is nice enough, but why just "good?"... Why not "It may not be theatre, but it f**kin rocked!" ...I don't want slick, I want punk rock!), my performance could have been phoned in, and my show isn't theatre. I know my show isn't really theatre, but why point that out? ...Later that day I turn up to do my show and my stage manager, Nicole, says, "Hey, you got a good review in the Mirror today!" ...She pulled the paper from her bag and showed it to me - the exact same review I'd read that morning - and sure enough, at the top of the page, the introduction to the four reviews, it said, basically, "Of the 70 shows in the festival, here are four that you can count on to be worth seeing."

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-07T08:45:27-07:00

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imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-06T10:40:53-07:00

The Secrets of Chambers ...Chambers is a writer/bartender/actress/astrologer living in Venice, CA, who has worked in and around the adult beverage biz for eight years. Plus, she was once expelled from Coronado High School for drinking, making K.D. a natural to write a blog about the in's and out's (mostly outs) of corner-bar boozing. ...I've barely arrived for my 7pm shift at Jake’s Place and Betty Page (the beautiful daytime bartender) warns me that the crack addict du jour has apparently gone off the rails. "He seemed cool at first," she says. Of course he did (Cue Beethoven's 5th). Between guzzling sessions he seems to have gone outside and transformed into someone who is more twitching and distrustful than your average “joe cool.” ...It’s clear he might – scratch that – WILL fly off the handle at any minute, and Betty feels bad leaving the dirty work to me in the event his demons decide that the c-break wasn't enough to prevent a time-release rageball in my direction. So she goes over to where he's twitching and "politely" tells him that it's just not a good idea that he has anything more to drink at Jake’s. I can't help but think: what if we were really honest to the people we cut off? "Sir, we're afraid of you." How can you politely tell a grown man he's finished with that beer he's about to enjoy? Because in his mind, he's just fine. He's having a good ol' roil at the neigborhood pub, sniffin' some of the good shit and coming back in for some revelry with other bar lovers. It's always a downer to burst someone's bubble even if it's for our own self-preservation. I mean he doesn't know he might kill us. It's not like he's planning on shooting liquid capsules of hot spit in my face if we, say, cut him off somewhere down the line. But we've seen enough cases to know when to cut our losses. ...His erratic behavior has even elicited a commiserative response from Gay Stearns. "I have more and more compassion for what you guys have to deal with."... Of course I'd like to follow that comment with the question "then why don't you stop conducting price comparisons and just pay your tab...please?" But I don't. I suck that little dribble of compassion into my heart and continue to deal. Betty successfully cuts the man off with a wince-inducing dump of his beer into the slop bin and when he protests that we owe him for the beer, she reminds him that the beer was bought for him and therefore we owe him nothing. He gargles and haws a bit making no real claim to his dissolved ego and makes a zig zag out of the bar and into the street whence he came.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-04T17:01:57-07:00

It's Always Funny on "Sunny" A couple of years ago at a bar in Santa Monica frequented by impassioned Philadelphia Eagles fans like the Imbiber, my friends and I met a cool couple named Rob and Kaitlin and a grand old time was had by all. Turns out Rob and Kaitlin were the stars of a then brand-new show on FX called "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and soon enough they became regulars at our table at the Eagles bar. And now here we are years later, "Sunny" is a huge hit and Rob and Kaitlin, well, those sonsofbitches still owe me money for the bar tab they skipped out on the day we met. It's okay, though, cuz I know where to find them...every day from 4-9 pm at a strip club down near the airport. YOU can find them on FX beginning this September when "Sunny" returns with all new episodes. For now, you simply must check out this hilarious promo for the show, inspired by an LL Cool J classic...

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-03T20:07:05-07:00

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imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-08-02T10:17:08-07:00

Look, it’s a famous nip! If Paris’s namesake Perez Hilton has taught us website managers anything, it’s that having photos of celebrities can really help boost a site’s traffic numbers. As this photo clearly indicates, like the Fox Network, I will do anything for ratings. And despite visual evidence to the contrary, I was NOT drunk when this photo was taken… we here at TheImbiber.net pride ourselves on promoting responsible drinking at all times. That said, the ecstasy I’d taken that night really fucked me up.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-07-21T23:25:21-07:00

From tiny ski-bum apartments in Aspen to European palaces, The Imbiber lives a life few people could imagine. But how does a Philly street kid go from penning totally prostituted restaurant reviews for a local lawyer’s newsletter to writing about wine and spirits for the world’s elite magazines and newspapers? That’s the almost entirely true story you'll find within the confines of this groundbreaking website. It’s entirely likely TheImbiber.net will be embraced as the first Bible of the 21st Century Drinking Class. In addition to Dan Dunn's surprisingly thorough spirits reportage, we'll delve into his curious relationship with his squatter/roommate Bottomfeeder, a destined-to-be legendary wastrel who is unemployed, out of shape, clearly in need of some sort of intervention, if the restraining orders taped to the refrigerator can be believed. The informative wine and spirits material will be intermittently flavored with hilarious yarns involving unscrupulous agents, hapless Hollywood executives, porn-star neighbors and assorted other outlandish characters who exist within the author’s sauce-soaked domain. This site is part drinking guide (well, in the same way that “Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” is a child-care tipsheet); part bartender’s guide (well, in the way that “The Sun Also Rises” is a travel guide); and part expose into the sloshy world of big-time spirits reportage (well, in the way that “Airplane 2” exposed the truth about airline culture).

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-07-19T22:01:33-07:00

Upon further review… "Wine and spirits writer Dan Dunn will be the first to admit that he drinks more than he should. He loves his 'nectar from the gods' and shares the boozed-out debacle that is his life in this new book. Dunn is a constantly-plastered, womanizing smartass who’s, unfortunately, funny." -- Alia Cruz, Sacramento News & Review (Imbiber says: Guess we’ll file that review under “backhanded compliment.” Why is ‘unfortunate’ that I’m funny? Hmm…) CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-07-14T23:27:14-07:00

"When it comes to drinking, Dan Dunn is a man who knows what he’s talking about." -- Pete Nichols, The State News, Michigan State University Click here to read the complete article "Former Philly guy Dan Dunn has just released "Nobody Likes a Quitter (And Other Reasons to Avoid Rehab)" with Thunder's Mouth/Perseus Books. The booze writer, who blogs at TheImbiber.net, details drunken run-ins with Paris Hilton, Bono, Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland, Hunter S. ..."His ability to grab a reader's attention seems at points, effortless." -- Lauren Smith, The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina Click here to read the complete article "Quitter is written in such a way that the reader feels more like he or she is hearing stories told by a slightly tipsy uncle than actually reading a book."... Louis University Click here to read the complete article "Dunn consumes nearly every known mainstream and indigenous intoxicant in North America and Europe while remaining ever so loyal to the Deadline, capital D, and his responsibility to his readers. " -- Christopher Wanjek, author, Bad Medicine Click here to read the complete article ...While many alcoholics end up begging for change on street corners, Dunn actually gets paid to drink for free." -- Bianca Phillips, The Memphis Flyer Click here to read the complete article "Provocative and at many times raunchy, the book is hilarious." -- Kelli DeWalt, The Hofstra Chronical, Hofstra University Click here to read the complete article "I have tippled and traveled with Dunn, and I know that at least some of these stories have some connection to the truth.... -- Chris Rubin, The Los Feliz Ledger Click here to read the complete article “His hilarious memoir chronicles his voyages across the seas of booze-column stardom. Accompanied by a crew of quirky characters, including his freeloading roommate turned Hollywood superstar, Bottomfeeder, and a demonic, blackmailing attorney, The Beast, Dunn sets out to prove that sobriety is completely and utterly overrated.” -- Andrea Bullard, The Pitt News, University of Pittsburgh Click here to read the complete article “Other parts of the book are dedicated to Dunn’s interaction with his roommate Bottomfeeder, a parasitic character for whom the reader would feel more contempt if Dunn himself were not so thoroughly annoying.” -- Jason Engelhart, The Badger Herald, University of Wisconsin Click here to read the complete article Thank you from the bottom of my heart (that's where all the sweet stuff has settled) to everyone who ordered the book. If you haven't ordered the book yet, it's okay, I forgive you.... Just click on any one of the handy little Amazon.com links below. I've provided four of them, in consideration of those of you that may have poor eyesight and/or the shakes.

imbiber@theimbiber.net — 2008-07-13T13:07:58-07:00

Babes Dig The Imbiber! To see more pictures, click on the hottie