The Little Grape That Could...

Rich Butler – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:59:49 +0000

A toast to Rich our fabulous pro-bono lawyer, connector and coordinator with all the proper legal services we require. Rich’s prodigious legal skills have helped us get and stay ship shape as the Little Grape That Could sails into the new year. Cheers Rich!

Andrew Teehan – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:59:15 +0000

Andrew is our outstanding pro-bono lawyer who makes sure everything here at the Little Grape that Could is done with proper due diligence. He’s so committed he’s even done extensive sampling to make sure nothing in legally amiss in the bottles of the Little Grape That Could. Here’s to Andrew for making sure all our i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed!

Alla Yanivker – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:56:08 +0000

Alla is a wonderful friend who pays attention to the details in life. I met her three years ago at the AGO where she devotes her time to sharing her love of art with the world. She finds the connections in the gallery that no one else does, weaving magnificent narratives often missed. She brings still paintings alive right in front of your eyes. More importantly, she also pays attention to detail in her gestures. Like a second Mom she always remembers to ask me how I’m doing and to give me great life advice. When she travels she always returns with souvenirs to share a little piece of her journey with me. A mentor and friend, I could not feel more blessed to have Alla in my life. Love is in the details and this one is for you, Alla – Cheers! Jessy

[If you happen to find a bottle of special edition Alla Yanivker The Little Grape That Could, you might become extra considerate of those around you and find the beauty in the smallest of details. When your walk home from the LCBO is suddenly that much more beautiful as a result, crack open that bottle and make a toast to Alla!]

Nancy Cotter – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:34:23 +0000

Mrs. Cotter was my high school’s librarian. But she was unlike any other librarian I’ve met. She instilled a passion for life in me that she demonstrated by example every day I saw her. She taught me more than any other teacher ever did, and I never even had a class with her. She was the kind of librarian that would spend months organizing an annual arts and crafts show at my high school, bringing together over 600 vendors from across the province, and then she’d take the money she raised, fill up a bus with kids in Whitby and take them to World’s Biggest Book Store in Toronto to buy whatever books they wanted. She filled our high school library with the books WE wanted! We got to pick them! Have you ever gone to a bookstore and been told to get anything you want? It’s a pretty wonderful experience. To this empowering leader in education and one of my greatest mentors, as well as to all the teachers that care this much about their students– all my love and cheers! Jessy

[If you happen to find a special-edition Nancy Cotter The Little Grape That Could, you might feel the strength to move earth and mountains for a good cause, and when you do take a breather and drink to Mrs. Cotter!]

Itay Keshet – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:31:07 +0000

Ty is not only a brilliant and passionate doctor, he is also the founder of Samba Elégua, an open and free community band in Toronto that brings people from all walks of life together to play music whether they have musical experience or not. Some of my best friends are in this band. Ty went to many lengths to start our band and form it according to a vision that regular people could come together, be taught how to play instruments and sound good together. He succeeded! Hundreds have played in our band and now it boasts almost 80 active players. Ty has more passion than anyone else I know and he fills you with mischievous joy every time you’re around him. He is an excellent teacher and he fits my definition of an artist perfectly – someone who cannot live life without creating, and in doing so makes people see the world through a completely new perspective. Cheers, Ty! You have changed my life and I love seeing the world through your eyes.

[If you happen to find a special-edition Itay Keshet The Little Grape That Could, your hands will begin playing beats on every hard surface they can find and your life will be filled with music. You’re welcome.]

George Szabo – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:21:50 +0000

George is one of my best friends and I love him for very simple but amazing qualities.

Firstly, he loves to walk and I’d say that at least half of our friendship developed through walks around Toronto. Kilometres of jokes, theorizing, window shopping, people watching, and political discussion in both French and English, went by like nobody else in the world but us existed. Secondly, he cannot sing in tune but insists on singing anyway, out loud, on the street, everywhere. I love listening to him sing in public. I’ll never forget walking down the Toronto waterfront with George sharing one pair of headphones and my iPod one night. L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole came on and knowing that I loved it so much George burst into song and even clicked his heels in the air. To George, for his ballsy out of tune singing in public. Cheers!

[If you happen to find a limited edition George Szabo The Little Grape That Could, you may burst into song wherever you are, and after you finish your song, make a toast to George!]

Frances Darwin – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:15:47 +0000

When Fran and I were girls, we lived in a boarding school on the Lake Ontario waterfront. Having no parents around and a lot of time to fantasize, we dreamt of great adventure. Then, in our spare time, we took those dreams and made them into a reality within the bounds of the campus. One of our favourite adventures was to walk from rock to rock along the shore of Lake Ontario stripping our uniform one piece at a time until we were in boxers and t-shirts and reached our final destination – the downtown Oakville pier. It was the surest way of getting out of school grounds without asking permission or signing out. With Fran I learned that no matter the destination you want to arrive to, the fun is always on the rocky path that you could take to make a great adventure out of the seemingly mundane. Thanks for filling my life with magic, Franchu! Cheers!

[If you happen to find a limited edition Frances Darwin The Little Grape That Could, you might start finding beauty in the most unusual places, and when you do, make a toast to Fran!]

Chad Craig – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:08:10 +0000

Chad is one of those Renaissance Men that will fill your world with current events, pop culture, and even obscure information that you don’t really know you need until he tells you about it and then you wonder how you could have ever lived without it. He’s a connector – the guy that everyone knows and everyone loves, and therefore the guy that makes you love all the other people that love him. Chad could end up all alone on a desert island and somehow still manage to establish a community of any creature available in the area. Cheers to you for connecting me to the world and giving me the “street smarts” I could never get on the street. I love you, Chad! Jess

[If you happen to find a limited edition Chad Craig The Little Grape That Could, you might feel compelled to talk to everyone you meet from that point on and to tell them about it (and we hope you do)]

Aaron Doupe – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:57:28 +0000

Aaron has the uncanny ability to genuinely see the inner beauty of people. Three years ago I undertook a long journey to lose weight, during which I lost 100 lbs. The magic of Aaron is that around him I always felt beautiful no matter what. He was a positive force the whole time I was on a diet, not making a big deal out of anything but always joyfully declaring when my jeans got baggy that they were! He is someone I can be completely myself around and never feel judged. Cheers, my friend, for loving me unconditionally. – Jess

Jessica Perkins – 500 Bottles

thel7160 — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:38:09 +0000

Jessica Perkins is the most selfless person I know. She will not only help you move, paint your apartment, clean your house, re-file your e-mail and fix your resume – she’ll gladly do all those things for several people, simultaneously. She is a juggler of good deeds. But who cares about that?! The best part about Jess is that she makes me laugh. Jess has a knack for finding the most unusual and funniest facial expressions for every occasion. A couple of years ago she was the Maid of Honour at our friends’, Chad and Lucas, wedding. When the photographer came around to capture the serious moment in which she signed the wedding documents, she broke into a spectacularly goofy face resembling a suave James Bond. All the guests cracked up. I can only imagine what facial expression you’ll make when you read this. I love you, J-Puh – Cheers!

[If you happen to find a limited edition bottle of Jessica Perkins The Little Grape That Could you will probably make a goofy face and then be filled up with so much selflessness that by the time you’re through at the LCBO check-out counter, you’ll probably have volunteered to go visit the cashier’s grandma at the nursing home]