September Alfresco Summer Wine Tasting

Our next summer wine tasting is Escape to Cape Town on Thursday, September 17, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with Wine Host Ron Toth of D’Andrea Wines. Just $45 per person!



Escape to Cape Town features wines from South Africa and its the first to feature the wines of just one winery, Robertson Winery. The Robertson estate sees mild days of unlimited sunshine combined with prevailing sea breezes which cool off the grapes by mid afternoon. This tasting will give you a chance to compare and contrast five superb varietals from the Cape Town region and made with a singular philosophy in these wines:

1. Robertson Chardonnay - Balance of fresh citrus fruits and rich melon characters.
2. Robertson Chenin Blanc - Powerful varietal flavors of pineapple, granadilla, melon & green apple.
   
3. Robertson Shiraz - Freshly crushed black pepper aromas with hints of cinnamon and cloves on the nose.
   
4. Robertson Pinotage - Rich aroma of plum and ripe banana, chocolate coffee and mocha.
5. Robertson Gewurztraminer - Full bodied wine with honeysuckle and rose petals in bouquet.

PLEASE PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE BY SEPTEMBER 16TH
Call 412.323.9394, email Gene Lucente, or visit the Priory Hotel Front Desk: 614 Pressley Street, Deutschtown, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

We've had tremendous success with these tastings and are hoping to carry them into October and November. Check our Blog frequently for more updates!

Where Am I in the North Side Contest

The Priory Hospitality Group is launching a new contest - "Where Am I in the North Side?"

Every month we'll reveal a picture taken somewhere on Pittsburgh's North Side. It's up to you to figure out the exact location and then send your answer back to us within the specified time period. We'll put everyone's name who answered correctly into a raffle to win a free overnight stay at the Priory Hotel! It's that simple!

Study this month's picture below and when you respond, please be as specific as possible. For example, don't just write "Museum." Write "3rd Floor of the Andy Warhol Museum, Sandusky Street."

If you think you know "Where I Am in the North Side," email your answer, name, phone number and address to john@thepriory.com by Friday, September 25, 2009. We'll announce the winner the following week on this blog! Good Luck!

Where Am I in the North Side?

Blendiferous! Summer Wine Tasting

Blendiferous! The Amazing Attributes of Blended Wines is our 4th Wine Tasting Event. The tasting will be held Thursday, August 20, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., with Capital Wine & Spirits in the Courtyard at The Priory. Just $45 per person!!

The tasting features Wine Host John Fogler of Capital Wine & Spirits and guests will enjoy samplings of the following blended wines:

Colombelle (South West France)
Barco Negro (Douro, Portugal)
St Francis "Red“ (Sonoma, California)
Beringer Alluvium (Napa Valley, California)

For Tickets: Call 412.323.9394, email Gene Lucente at gene@thepriory.com,
or visit the Priory Hotel Front Desk: 614 Pressley Street, Deutschtown, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Rivers Casino Set to Open!

August 9 is the big day for the opening of the new Rivers Casino here on Pittsburgh's North Shore. Many years in the making, the new casino will offer hundreds of slot machines and a wide variety of restaurants and lounges. The Rivers Casino will be located on the edge of the Ohio River, just west of the Carnegie Science Center and Heinz Field -- about a mile from The Priory. I've had a chance to meet a number of the Casino's operations folks, and it does promise to be a first class operation. I'll keep you posted. . .

New "Victorian Porch" at The Priory

Innovation is not always easy in an older building, but one of our recent additions is one so simple that we wonder why we haven't done it before. While our courtyard has always been a nice attraction, it's utility was somewhat limited by the environment - you couldn't use it if it was raining, it could be hot in the midday sun, and you couldn't relax and read if it was dark. Thus, in a brainstorm, we added an awning to cover the elevated brick porch adjacent to the Refectory and added some comfortable wicker easy chairs, along with lamps to illuminate the porch in the evening. We call the result our "Victorian Porch." It's intended to be reminscent of the porch of Victorian era grand hotels, allowing guests a spot to chat, read and reflect no matter what the weather. Guests seem to be pleased with the result. It is amazing how the simple innovations sometimes have the most impact.

Happy 4th of July

On behalf of my family and staff of The Priory Hospitality Group, please have a safe and happy fourth of July celebration with your family and friends!

And, to all of our veteran heroes and their families present and past, thank you all for the many sacrifices you made to give us the many freedoms we all enjoy today - Thank you!

P.S.: Here is a link to Wikipedia's entry about Independence Day. I thought you might enjoy reading about how it began, some interesting trivia and related customs too! For example, did you know that a salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base? And, that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

Free Wedding Reception For Afghan/Iraqi War Veteran

I am excited and proud to announce that for the second consecutive year, The Priory Hospitality Group is offering a free Winter White Wedding Reception – valued at over $12,000 - to any veteran or active serviceman/woman who was deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who is now residing or has resided in southwestern PA (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties) or is attached to a military unit located in southwestern PA. The wedding will take place in early 2010.

Interested veterans are encouraged to contact Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory and/or visit its Web site for complete rules and regulations. The Priory Hospitality Group is accepting applications through September 15, 2009. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on September 23, 2009 at contestant reception at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall. The winning couple will receive a Winter White Wedding package for up to 125 guests at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at the Priory to be held in January, February or March of 2010!

Here is a link to the rules. And, here is a link to the application.

Good luck to everyone and please spread the word!