Time erases: Signs, signs, everywhere signs; some coming, some going.

Quite a few of us always will love Chef Israel Landin and his food, and we enjoyed his ill-fated previous restaurant, La Rosita's (now he's rocking here), but isn't it pleasant at long last to see the old sign gone, the building being painted and a business (RecBar 812) coming close to occupying it?

Next up: That annoyingly permanent Preston's signage, always a decaying reminder of the store's demise eight years ago.

Power move: Him Gentleman's Boutique and Mane Alley Color & Extension Bar to transform the moribund Preston Arts Building.

Of course adjacent to the future Him is the currently moribund River City Winery, surely downtown's favorite topic of eatery speculation, and perhaps with new signs of hope ... like this one, although the bank comes off a tad badly.

Last, and appropriately, this one. It may have been my own former business, and it seems a shame to cover the artwork with fresh paint, but it has to happen eventually -- and no, I don't have any updates about the future occupant.

The Green Mouse keeps listening, you know.

River City Winery's sly Facebook tease about a move to Jeffersonville.

I blame it entirely on Mike Moore.

Conversely, RCW provides no further information apart from the revised logo, and these things take time.

May 8, 2019

River City Winery news flash: "We're selling our Pearl Street properties."

April 3, 2019

BZA tables winery production request, so the latest news about River City Winery's future isn't much clearer than the last update.

February 27, 2019

River City Winery: "We are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana."

River City Winery news flash: "We're selling our Pearl Street properties."

This is as close to a definitive statement about River City Winery's future as we've seen in a while.

RCW: We're selling our Pearl Street properties! Serious inquiries only. Message us!

Reader: New location?

River City Winery: We're currently looking at several locations.

As for related scuttlebutt, the former Gospel Bird space on Main Street remains unoccupied; there have been rumors, but none that I can verify. I'm also hearing rumblings about another downtown restaurant business. Again, nothing verifiable.

BZA tables winery production request, so the latest news about River City Winery's future isn't much clearer than the last update.

River City Winery: "We are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana."

BZA tables winery production request, so the latest news about River City Winery's future isn't much clearer than the last update.

At this point, seemingly nothing about River City Winery's future seems clear. The last update came in late February.

River City Winery: "We are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana."

Beats me. As for winemaking in a pole barn off Old Vincennes Road: NIMBY, at least so far.

New Albany BZA tables request for River City Winery production site, by Brooke McAfee (Tom May Content Multiplier)

NEW ALBANY—The future of River City Winery remains up in the air after a Tuesday zoning appeals meeting.

The New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-0 to table a motion on a land use variance regarding River City Winery proprietor Gary Humphrey's request to use his home at 1800 Old Vincennes Road in New Albany for wine production. Board members Marcia Booker and Steven Schmelz were absent from the meeting.

The River City Winery location on 321 Pearl Street in New Albany has been closed for months, and Humphrey is going through possible liquidation of the property with his ex-wife, he said. If the liquidation occurs, he would like to acquire a farm winery license for Old Vincennes Road and maintain the winery's tasting room in Franklin.

He also grows grapes at a vineyard in Washington County. However, if he loses the Pearl Street facility, he will not have enough space for wine production, so he wants to use the Old Vincennes Road property until he finds another location.

"If [liquidation] happens, River City winery will not have a place to go," he said. "This plan is a backup plan."

Humphrey is also looking at three other locations in Jeffersonville, Seymour and Evansville for additional tasting rooms, he said. If approved, the land use variance for the Old Vincennes Road property would be temporary, and it would need to last about three years.

While he is considering presenting private events and tours, there are no plans to create a tasting room or restaurant at his property on Old Vincennes Road. He hopes to move the wine production to a pole barn and plant additional grapes on the property, where he would be the only operator for the most part, he said.

At the meeting, a number of residents voiced opposition to Humphrey's request to move his wine production into a residential area. Several expressed concerns about agricultural runoff, including the use of pesticides and fungicides for the grapes.

Many discussed safety concerns regarding traffic and speeding on Old Vincennes Road. Susan Johnson Nguyen, who lives near Humphrey's property, said she is concerned about the "integrity of the neighborhood," and she does not want to see any kind of business operation in the area.

Board members cited the absence of two members and the need for additional information as reasons to table Humphrey's request. Board member Daniel Riggs said he would like to have input from New Albany's wastewater department about possible waste issues before making a decision.

River City Winery: "We are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana."

Problems at River City Winery began in earnest around September of 2018. On the surface these had to do with licensing to produce wine, but it soon became evident that other, deeper issues were at play.

Yesterday this appeared at Facebook.

RCW will continue putting out award winning Indiana wines as soon as possible but we are exploring the relocation of our entire operation to another part of Southern Indiana. We shouldn't be more than a short drive away. Stay tuned!

I mention all this only because in 14 years of NA Confidential, there has not ever been a topic generating as many queries as this one. Dozens of people have texted, e-mailed and message me wanting to know whether RCW was open or closed, what had happened, and what the outcome might be.

There surely is a story, but I don't have it.

At least I don't have enough proof for a story. For six months it's been like being seated in a theater, facing a curtain. Behind the curtain can be heard the sounds of a knock-down, drag-out fight. However, it isn't clear who is fighting or why. You can piece together some bits from the din, yet in the end it's a complete mystery. The ultimate fate of River City Winery lies just beyond our view; we can sniff shell casings on social media, but remain unable to arrive at a conclusion.

Someday I'd love to be able to tell this story. Until then, the best I can do is express the hope that everyone involved on all "sides" eventually emerges from the maelstrom feeling a measure of peace.

The fog of war, indeed.

Eat, drink and repeat: Six updates about downtown New Albany food and dining.

When there is time, it's always good to gather various news items and social media postings into one place -- and today there is time. You may have seen them already, but if not, let's begin with Aladdin's Cafe, now rocking its new location at Underground Station.

GOING UNDERGROUND: New Albany's Underground Station fills its last storefront; Station contains 11 businesses and three apartments, by Danielle Grady (News and Tribune)

On Aug. 23, Aladdin’s Cafe closed the doors on its West Market Street location of three years.

There weren’t any public displays of grief for New Albany’s long time-Middle Eastern favorite. That’s because the restaurant would reopen one day later — just at a new location. A shiny, new place at 37 Bank St., with 10 other New Albany businesses and a peaceful, well-paved courtyard.

The mandated monthly local Alcohol & Tobacco Commission hearing took place on September 6, and Aladdin's Cafe passed with flying colors. Final regulatory approval should come in about two weeks,and then adult libations will return to Aladdin's accompany the area's finest Baba Ganoush (among other delicacies).

Taco Steve appeared at the very same hearing on the 6th, garnering approval to serve beer, and subject to the same two-week wait. In the meantime, an Internet list has touted ten places to get tacos in Indiana, and Taco Steve is one of them. As the young folks say, "Woot."

Lunch is now being served at Brooklyn and The Butcher, which also scored an excellent review by Robin Garr in LEO Weekly.

The other night, as we rolled across the Sherman Minton Bridge to New Albany for an evening at Brooklyn and the Butcher, it crossed my mind that New Albany is actually a little bit like Brooklyn.

New Albany, like Brooklyn, is a city across a river from a larger city, long ignored by its neighbors, but suddenly awash with excellent new places to dine, drink and have a good time. And as with Brooklyn, crowds are starting to make their way over to check it out.

River City Winery has long-awaited expansion news.

River City Winery is growing ... next week RCW will begin a long awaited expansion in the old Preston Art Center.

The beginning remodel phase will start with our kitchen expansion. We are excited about this opportunity for growth, but, in the process we do have to make some TEMPORARY changes.

Beginning Tuesday 9.13.16 we will have a new Fall / Winter menu. A few of our well known favorites will not be available during the kitchen remodel ... STARTING MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12 WE WILL BE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK.

Breweries aren't built in a day. During our New England trip, we visited four breweries that are at least two decades old. These traditions begin, are nurtured and then grow. The investments are made not by political parties and chambers of commerce, but by real people leveraging their own finite resources. As such, congratulations to Floyd County Brewing Company on its first anniversary, and making it past the first "one year" hurdle.

That's six, including Underground Station. I'm intent on making these updates a recurring feature at NAC, so let me know what's up and what I may have missed.

River City Winery: On the right side of New Albany street grid history.

River City Winery

October 24 update: My two-way street project and how you can help.

Rosen visits River City Winery and is quite pleased.

The C-J's free-lancing food writer Marty Rosen likes River City Winery. The Confidential household does, too.

The crab cakes aren’t quite as big as a baseball. But they’re close. And they make much better eating.

In fact, the crab cakes at River City Winery are the best you’ll find in the Metro region. They’re formed of good-quality lump crabmeat, lightly packed, pleasantly seasoned and fried to a toasty brown finish. Then they’re sluiced with a light, creamy sriracha-lime aioli that’s studded with black-eyed peas, kernels of corn, herbs and other goodies (market-priced, recently $7.50 per cake). A couple of these and a salad would make a fine meal.

Shane says: "The River City Winery has really been one of our favorites for some time now."

My pal Shane likes to write about food and drink, and I like to reprint his ruminations here and at my companion blog. This piece about River City Winery appeared at the Louisville Restaurants Forum on September 14. Today it's Sunday ... so, where is Shane today?

I find that the harder I work, the harder I need to play. Wednesday nights have become a much needed and anticipated respite from the stressful week. Two days ago, New Albany provided the best escape from those rigors in recent memory.

We decided to mix things up on Wednesday, so our usual party, minus a regular and plus a special guest, reserved a spacious table for six at the River City Winery. The RCW has really been one of our favorites for some time now; alas, they cannot legally serve beer, but what they do have is a beautifully comfortable restaurant, an amazing menu (including my favorite pizza this side of the river), and lots of their own wine … and on Wednesday nights, they have live music and 20% off the wine.

We visit the RCW most often on Sundays after indulging in a Bank Street Brewhouse brunch. Still, we have sampled quite a lot of RCW’s menu, including all of the appetizers, a bunch of different pizzas, and the best crab cakes I've ever eaten. I know right?

(My daughter says I'm not to use such current terms. I told her she's not allowed to indulge in seventies and eighties rock.)

Anyway, I've spent some months’ time in the Chesapeake Bay area, so when crab cakes were recommended by our server on my very first visit to RCW I was doubtful, to say the least. I'm a doubter no more. We nearly always end up with a “three-cake” serving at our table. This Wednesday night was no different in that respect, but we also had a Capriole cheese plate, cheese bread, and a couple of pizzas. We were most excited to have the Philly Cheese Steak pizza special this night, as it had been provided at our request.

We don't know the RCW owners, and until an hour or so into our meal had neither met nor spoken with the chef. However, we’d previously asked for the special. A couple of us walked over to RCW after our BSB session last Sunday to pick up some bottles of wine. While there, we simply asked when the Philly Cheese Steak would be on special again. Our server said she didn't know, but she'd ask chef. She came out a few minutes later and said, “When do you want it?” We were surprised that she had bothered to ask at all, and even more so that the chef had responded. We suggested Wednesday night, and our server returned a few minutes later and said we were on.

It was after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday before I remembered to call and get a reservation. No problem; it was quickly confirmed, and we were told we could have one of the large round tables. I then casually asked if the special would be the Philly Cheese Steak. The person replied yes, and then paused for a moment before asking if we were the ones who had requested it. The deep voice told me this was not our server on Sunday, unless she had one hell of a cold, so I was doubly impressed. IK, R?

We had a great time. Mellow music was provided by a large fellow (one fully entitled to listen to legacy rock) in a flowery shirt, and while unremarkable it was pleasantly non-intrusive. The food was marvelous as always. The ingredients used by RCW are of the highest quality. I'm told the beef on the cheesesteak is tenderloin. Excellent service was provided by Jessica, and Executive Chef Nick Davis came out and visited with us for several minutes. The Traminette was so tasty we polished off four bottles. Yet, somehow we were still thirsty and not at all ready to call it a night so we strolled a short block west in the pleasantly fall-like evening to Bank Street Brewhouse, where we gathered around a sidewalk table. A glass of light cellar man's beer was enjoyed with more conversation before we at last agreed that as the next day was a work day, the play must end.

Downtown New Albany is becoming the foodie destination this side of the river. It's like Bardstown Road, albeit with a twentieth the venues -- but ten times the parking. In time, it may be that we cease wondering which new and exotic spot has most recently opened in that strange foodie Mecca in the Highlands.

Shane's bonus link: Indy Champion Vignoles Isn't River City's Only Gem.

Previously at NAC: First time ever for a Hoosier winery: River City Winery wins "Wine of the Year" at The Indy Int'l Competition.

River City Winery and Louis le Francais at Artisan Market for Tasting Thursday, September 20.

First time ever for a Hoosier winery: River City Winery wins "Wine of the Year" at The Indy Int'l Competition.

Congratulations to Gary, Melissa and the crew at River City Winery for making an award-winning, event-headlining Hoosier wine. Perhaps finally the area's wine drinkers will begin looking beyond the ratings pages to the "local" shelf, and cure themselves of the snobbishly mistaken notion that wine must come from elsewhere to be good. Follow the link, and join me in gloating.

Indiana Winery Wins Wine of the Year

Posted on 03 August 2012 by Gary Truitt

Nearly 2400 wines traveled to West Lafayette for one of the nation’s largest wine competitions, the 21st Indy International Wine Competition, August 1-3 at Purdue University.Wines from 41 states and 14 countries – as far away as France, Australia, Chile, and Ethiopia – were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste by 52 international judges. And for the first time in the event’s history, an Indiana winery – River City Winery of New Albany  has won Wine of the Year at The INDY, topping all 2400 competitors to be named “the best of the best” for their 2011 Vignoles.  “I am shocked and humbled to be awarded Wine of the Year,” said Gary Humphrey, owner and winemaker at River City Winery. “To have only been in business for three years, and to be recognized as the best wine, validates all of the hard work we have done!”

Shout out to the River City Winery.

We walked down to the River City Winery over the weekend and had a lovely afternoon break. There's always a good crowd there, and RCD is a pillar of New Albany First. Good wishes for the remainder of 2012, guys.

Support your local winnery, er, winery -- unless you're a troglodyte character assassin, that is.

Enjoy the following comment exchange on another recently constituted "mad as hell citizen" blog, or in other words, a forum for disgruntled naysayers to vent toward others the bile they harbor about their own congenital irrelevance in the cosmic scheme of things.

Anonymous said...
Another one bits the dust. "The Winnery" is the next bar to close. I was told by the Humphrey's they will be closing soon. U celebrate the day Bank Street Brewhouse goes how about the rest of you?
August 21, 2010 2:24 PM

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The New Albanian said...
Where's the Winnery? Can losers go there, or just winners? If winners, then you may be out of luck, anonymous -- again.

Happy to see you pulling for small business. Hopefully your Wal-Mart stock will see you through until you learn to spell.
August 21, 2010 6:11 PM

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Anonymous (the Humphreys) said...
I'll assume Anonymous is talking about the "winery" as in River City Winery. As a note, RCW is not a bar. But if there is such a term "Winnery" that would describe us well. We just won 11 medals in the Indy International Wine Competition including a Double Gold for Pomegranate Blueberry. We also just won the right to include ourselves on a very short list known as "INDIANA ARTISANS" There are less than 150 in the whole state. Not sure who Anonymous is but he or she is an obvious liar. They didn't hear anything of the sort from us. Business couldn't be better. In fact, we're looking to expand.-----The Humphreys
August 21, 2010 9:24 PM

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Anonymous (the Humphreys) said...
I've never respected nor do I take seriously others that blog anonymously. Mr. Anonymous, I offer you three tips:

1. Please educate yourself with the facts before you blog about my business downtown. If you have questions about the "WINERY" I'm there Tuesday through Sunday and would be more than happy to meet with you. I'm not sure what Humphrey you spoke to, but I assure you it wasn't the owners of River City Winery.

2. Use spell check next time you blog.

3. Take a grammar class. The plural form of Humphrey is Humphreys. Humphrey's, as you wrote, shows possession.
August 21, 2010 10:19 PM

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Anonymous said...
I was in the bookstore the other day at 6:55 and the manager told me they were closing soon. Sure enough, at 7 o'clock they kicked me out and locked the door.
August 22, 2010 8:07 AM

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The New Albanian said...
It's just a perpetual giggle for me when the social misfits courageously lie from behind their aliases, and then disappear back under their rocks when their bluffs are called. I'm about to close, too -- the lid on the toilet, so I can flush troglodyte lies with grace and confidence.
August 22, 2010 8:17 AM

NA Event Watch: Bubbles and Bluegrass on Friday, September 25

"Bubbles and Bluegrass" is a free concert event at the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater on Friday, September 25. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with bluegrass jam sessions for everyone (bring your instruments) and a free bluegrass guitar workshop conducted by Chris Brandstatt at 6:30 p.m.

The headline act is Cast Iron Airplane, which includes some of Louisville’s premier bluegrass players. Uppa Creek is rumored to be playing prior to Cast Iron Airplane.

Sonny Fenwick's legendary Bubble Truck will be on site, promising bubbles, root beer, hula hoops, balloons and more bubbles. There will be other bubbly things like beer in the Studios riverfront beer garden, boasting a special appearance by NABC Elector for this occasion. The River City Winery also will be there, and there’ll be food.

The organizers urge visitors and attendees to “eat at the event or stop by one of New Albany's many independent restaurants on the way and make a New Albany night of it.”

“Bubbles and Bluegrass” is sponsored by:

Duke Energy
The Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County
The City of New Albany
Sarah Ring of Real Living Realty Services.

A wonderful day: Historic Home Tour and snacks afterward.

My wife Diana's friend, Amy, has been looking for a house to buy here in New Albany. She met us at the house this morning around 10:30 a.m., and we promptly embarked on the historic homes crawl. It was time well spent, although I'll leave the photos to someone more talented than me. Ted?

The three of us began by walking to the Farmers Market to register and receive our maps, then adjourned to the new apartments above Studio's.

The firehouse on State was to be saved until last, so we continued on foot: East on Main, north on 13th to the church, Cardinal Ritter house and Cedar Bough, then east again to complete a loop that included properties on Ekin, Elm and Spring.

The Sears Roebuck catalog house on Ekin opposite the national cemetery will be remembered as the find of the day. $4,398 in 1928, and quite well planned and executed. Amazing stuff, indeed.

We strolled back to the 1117 East Spring Street Neighborhood Association and took the car to the firehouse before ending at River City Winery to redeem the tasting tickets included in the tour programs and to relax with appetizers and wine.

It was our first chance to try the hummus, crabcakes and chees plate at RCW, and all were good. The crabcakes may well become a signature dish, as are Chef Josh's scallops at Bank Street Brewhouse, which were Friday night's dinner prior to the Carnegie Center fundraiser:

(Gotta give props to my man, too)

The Carnegie fundraiser seemed quite successful, and we had a great night at BSB. The atmosphere was laid back but festive on Bank Street last night.

The evidence is beginning to accumulate that a corner has been turned. The only point of dissonance I heard in the past 48 hours was a rumor that an unnamed councilperson would be seeking to overturn the riverfront development ordinance approved by the previous council -- the one that makes possible the three-way alcohol permits prefacing several downtown start-ups.

Why would anyone so much as contemplate killing the goose that continues laying golden bureaucratic permission slips? Is it because there might be too many bars downtown?

Or is it because there's too much progress downtown?

And: When is the last time progress was even an issue?

If the rumor is true, I hope it's Steve Price. Any further effort of his to squelch economic growth within his own council district should be sufficient for us to purchase a few garlic-encrusted coffin nails come 2011.

Appetizers now available Wed. - Sat. at the River City Winery.

Gourmet pizza is coming soon, but not quite yet. There's a short appetizer menu (crab cakes, cheese plate, shrimp, Caesar salad) being served evenings from Wednesday through Saturday. I think the winery's open every day now, and of course, wine is pouring by the glass (bottles sold to go, too).

The winery's located at 321 Pearl Street in downtown New Albany. The phone number is (812) 945-9463, and in addition to wine and nibbles, you'll be awed by the interior and exterior remodeling work that was done in preparation for business.

Old and new at River City Winery and Bank Street Brewhouse.

Seeing the breathtaking renovation of the River City Winery on Tuesday had the curious effect of enhancing my confidence that the modernistic approach we've taken at the Bank Street Brewhouse was the proper way to go. A winery and a brewery, two radically different design ideas, and a city block separating the two.

Q: That's progress, don't you think?

A: Yes, unless you're a conjoined councilman.

Taking extreme caution not to be too self-promotional, here are three recent postings at my beer blog that show our recent progress toward the exterior build-out. With the walk-in and grain room almost finished, and pieces of the brewhouse beginning to arrive, the current aim is to finish the outdoor seating area on the north side of the building as soon as humanly possible. As always, thanks go to Mose Putney and the saintly crew of Resch Construction.

Bank Street Brewhouse: Modified outdoor seating plans.

Bank Street Brewhouse walk-in update.

The grain room at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Yesterday's "First Tuesday" event and a chance to visit the River City Winery.

Yesterday was the monthly "First Tuesday" mixer, co-hosted by Develop New Albany and the River City Winery. The photo above was taken by Ted Fulmore, and to view more, click here. I was busy dodging paparazzi determined to catch me in the act of drinking something other than beer, which turned out to be a dryish Cabernet/Merlot blend.

The building renovation is nothing short of amazing, and the winery crew was busy bottling and applying labels downstairs as the event took place at ground level. I gleaned that there will be limited evening hours for wine tastings only beginning immediately, with food to follow later this summer (late July or August).

River City Winery website

Develop New Albany's "First Tuesday" at the new River City Winery, May 5.

Upstairs at the (forthcoming) River City Winery.

Develop New Albany's most recent board meeting was held upstairs at the future River City Winery on Pearl Street. We all can see the marvelous restoration of the exterior facade, which the first photo above shows in its flooded 1937 appearance. Accompanying below are a few more views of the upper floor interior. Note that the large banquet/meeting room will be available for rental once the winery as a whole opens, which I'm told should be late winter or early spring. Speaking for myself, I can hardly wait.