Tag: Black Businesses

Just a Marvelous Time with Marvelous Oak (A Black Owned Wine Tasting Event)

During my visit to the Reisterstown Wine and Beer Tasting in 2023, I expressed the need for more wine festivals in Baltimore. It seems I’ve spoken a new wine tasting into existence by attending the annual Marvelous Oak Mo Wyne Cookout.

The Need for More Wine Festivals

Baltimore should have more wine and spirit tastings, particularly those featuring Black-owned businesses. I was fortunate to come across Marvin Parker in my ventures with alcohol last year. It led me to this wonderful event.

[Read We Need More Wine Festivals In Baltimore (A Doc’s Castle Recap) on Doc’s Castle Media]

Marvin Parker owns the Marvelous Oak Wine brand. I was thrilled to attend the Annual Marvelous Oak Cookout last summer. I loved seeing Black people enjoying themselves with cups of Marvelous Oak wine in hand.

The Marvelous Oak Experience

The star that sat gloriously in my cup was Marvelous Oak’s semi-sweet Malbec wine. At the picnic table, guests found a pitcher filled with sangria, using Marvelous Oak as its main ingredient. I enjoyed a cup while dining at the barbecue and watching the festivities. The atmosphere was lively, with guests grooving to line dances, playing UNO, and simply having a great time. The wine was smooth and stealthy, perfect for an enjoyable day.

Watch the 1st Annual Mo Wyne Cookout

About Marvelous Oak Wine Co.

Founded in 2022 by Marvin Parker, Marvelous Oak is a boutique wine brand dedicated to crafting exceptional, small-batch wines made entirely by hand. With a Level 2 WSET certification, Marvin brings expertise and passion to every bottle, ensuring a unique and memorable experience for wine lovers. Marvelous Oak also hosts exclusive wine-tasting events that highlight the artistry behind each vintage.

Posted on the Marvelous Oak Instagram page, there are details about an upcoming tasting event planned for March 29th! 

Have you been to any wine and spirit festivals in your town? Share your favorites in the comments below!

FOOD: Kora Lee’s Gourmet Desserts in Baltimore #BusyDoingNothing Interview & Review (Watch Episode 27 of BDN Podcast)

On September 6, 2017, not even a full 3 months away, was the birth of another successful small black business in Baltimore, MD. Hellooooo Kora Lee’s Gourmet Desserts and Brunch! It’s about time I got around to sharing some new black excellence on Doc’s Castle Media.

Kora Lee’s Gourmet Dessert and Brunch is located in downtown Baltimore, directly off light rail stop of N Howard Street and W Monument Street. The neighborhood looked sketchy but what can anyone expect dinning on Howard Street, where more than half of the strip is out of business and filled with vacant buildings. But I digress because that’s a topic for another blog.

I visited this Gourmet shop while accompanying my fellow co-hosts of the Busy Doing Nothing Podcast to interview the owner of the newly open spot on Howard Street. Our faces were greeted with friendly faces as soon as we walked in. It felt like walking into your aunt’s or granny’s house on a Sunday afternoon.

The atmosphere was great. As soon as I walked in the door, I felt like I was visiting a close aunt as I caught onto the music vibes. Classic MJ played on the radio as we waited to order some southern style brunch. I had to remind myself where I was when Thriller came through the speakers because I was ready to get in-formation to perform the infamous Thriller dance. I was ready to dance for my food.

Chris, Jill and I placed our orders. I ordered The Lanrane, a southern styled cheddar biscuit smothered in creamy gravy, itsy-bitsy bites of sausages, and a side of sliced tomatoes sprinkled with parsley leaves. I’m drooling as I’m writing about it while recalling the exact taste my taste buds experienced that afternoon. Such creamy goodness surpassed all cheddary biscuits I’ve ever tasted including Red Lobster’s famous cheddar biscuits.

Jill and Chris enjoyed their dishes too. So much so they didn’t dare to demolish them on camera. They savored them for once the interview with Kora Lee was done. But as for me, it became RIP to my plate. I was “hangry” and couldn’t wait.

During our interview with Ms. Kora Lee, we discussed many topics. Just to touch on a few, we discussed her motivation to open her restaurant in Baltimore, whether she gains a lot of support from other Black people and businesses, and what’s new to expect from this young but thriving small business.

View the full interview with owner Kora Lee of Kora Lee’s Gourmet Dessert and Brunch via the Busy Doing Nothing Podcast, below.

What’s your favorite small business to support in Baltimore? Share with our readers in the comments. Let’s start a movement to build non-traditional business customs.

Be sure to like Kora Lee’s Gourmet Desserts and Brunch on Facebook, and other social media, to keep up with events happening at the restaurant.

Have you heard of the Busy Doing Nothing Podcast? Read Doc Finally Joins A Podcast Series as a Regular on Doc’s Castle Media and learn all about it!