The Big East has developed a bit of a reputation as the Rodney Dangerfield of the major BCS conferences-getting no respect. Despite the fact that they fielded a number of talented teams, and produced no fewer than 3 first round draft picks in the NFL Draft. The fact is, there’s plenty of talent to be had out of the Big East, and with a number of interesting stories happening at a number of schools, the Big East may well produce another new conference champion, and another school may rise from the ashes to see itself in a BCS Bowl. With a variety of schemes being employed, and with some top tier talent in the conference, there’s no shortage of exciting games on the schedule, and no shortage of teams primed to shatter the perception of the Big East as a second tier conference. With a lot of teams to like, and none that stand out, SportsLife will break down the grain from the chaff. READ MORE HERE.

Nothing quite says summertime like a tasty mojito or a pitcher of sangria. But then again, sometimes maybe you don’t want a muddled concoction, or some unworthy fruit mixed into your glass of wine. For hard nosed oenophiles, summer isn’t an off-season for tasting and trying new vintages. The problem is that when it’s 80 degrees and humid as Hell (the official Columbus forecast for about 2 months) it’s much more difficult to enjoy that robust Brunello or sip on that meaty Cab. So what do fans of the super Tuscans, do on such an occasion? Phone a friend. Here are some bottles worth trying that are enjoyable all year long, courtesy of some of the wisest palates in the local scene.
READ MORE HERE.

Date: Friday, August 28th, 2009
Location: Kafe Kerouac
Hours: 8:00 PM
Admission: $7
Address: 2250 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: (614) 299-2672
Web: http://www.kafekerouac.com/

ifeEpicurean.com Editorial Director Chris Spinato professes that Stone Brewing Co. is the finest of all breweries in the country. This Friday, find out for yourself, when Kafe Kerouac and LifeEpicurean.com partner up for a 7 for $7 tasting of the best of Stone Brewing. Check out 7 of the finest beers from their portfolio including the unrelenting Ruination IPA, and the Smoked Porter, and the ever poplar Oaked Arrogant Bastard! It’s Stone Brewing from San Diego, California. One of the best breweries in the world, and only at Kafe Kerouac will you get to sample this tasting. Brought to you exclusively by LifeEpicurean.com! READ MORE HERE! RSVP on our Facebook Event Page!

Each year the Refectory hosts a night of bubbly imbibing al fresco, romantically entitled Champagne Under the Stars. However, this year’s version began rather surprisingly under the roof, in the restaurant’s back room and lower level, reserved for their usual wine tastings and private events. The standard hors d’oeuvres were passed around: mini quiche Lorraine (good), eggplant crostini (a little bland), and as always, gougeres. One wouldn’t be surprised to see a small factory hidden in the depths of the restaurant churning out those inevitable perfect little cheese puffs. READ MORE.

Many singers will often demure when it comes to cigars, but when one looks at it, there are some of the biggest names in the history of music, and some of the biggest stars of today, who enjoy a cigar to celebrate, to relax, and to appreciate. While some of these superstars have been in our previous installment of our Cigar Icons series, like Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna, the music industry is chock full of icons who have turned to the cigar to light up their nights, burn off some stress, and carry away some of their ideas for their chosen craft. Here are just a few of them who have decided to make the cigar their vice of choice. READ MORE.

   

New LifeEpicurean.com staff writer Mike O’Leary brings his first beer review roundup, featuring the beers of Great Lakes Brewing Company. Writer’s Note: For my first LifeEpic  urean.com article, I thought it fitting to sample some beers native to Ohio. Being a new citizen of this fine state, I had not had the pleasure until now of indulging in this popular brand. Enjoy – live well, and drink well. READ MORE.

As any process in life, a cigar smoker’s experience begins at the foundation, of cutting your cigar, and ignition of the cigar. Mistakes made at this “ground level,” even somewhat small ones, can hinder your overall smoking experience, and take a great smoke, and turn it into a very pedestrian, even unpleasant, event. READ MORE HERE.

While there’s a plethora of fine craft breweries around the country, indeed around the world, it often serves only to remind us of a time when the macro-brews of the world didn’t run the show, and when local brewing was par for the course. In some senses, it was a part of the community, and of one’s everyday life. They went to the local butcher for their meats, went to the baker for their bread, and drank beer from the local brewery. It is in this spirit that Weasel Boy Brewing Company has brought unto Zanesville, Ohio, a new era of craft brewing. Jay and Lori Wince are more than proud to pick up the torch of being just such a brewery. READ MORE HERE.



Check out Weasel Boy Beer TONIGHT at 8pm @ Kafe Kerouac! 7 for $7 Tasting, and meet Lori Wince of Weasel Boy Beer! Details HERE

LifeEpicurean.com and Dragonfly Neo-V Cuisine are proud to present to you a very special, one of a kind event on the evening of July 24th. Chef Wolmark will be presenting a very special menu involving the culinary use of sugarcane and tobacco, as only he can, for a unique Lab event, pairing this special menu with a variety of drink pairings. LifeEpicurean’s founders, Editorial Director Chris Spinato, and Art Director Matt Reese, will be in attendance to offer complimentary cigars to those inclined to enjoy one in the open air of the patio at Dragonfly. The Prix Fixe menu will be $39, and reservations are suggested in advance, while the a la carte menu will be available for prices ranging from $8-$12. The Prix Fixe menu will include a flight of three small plates, and a selection of cocktails to coordinate within the tasting menu.
FOR MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING THE EVENING'S FOOD MENU, COCKTAIL MENU, AND CIGAR SELECTIONS, CLICK HERE.

So you’ve reached the point in your life where the wine you drink doesn’t come from a box, and rather than buy and try, you’d actually like to keep some of those bottles around for awhile. The first step in starting your wine collection is restraint. Before you put the cart in front of the horse and buy up more cases than you can drink in a year, start from the beginning. Whether you go all out on luxury or custom products or prefer the DIY approach, making and tweaking your cellar using some basic guidelines is essential for the burgeoning aficionado. READ MORE HERE.