Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

In early February, I began an experiment. I enrolled in a digital marketing course, and our assignment was to run a social media campaign for a fake business. I was assigned the best fake business in the world, It’s Criminal! Book & Wine Bar. 

Over the last twelve weeks, I’ve written blogs about everything from presidential wines to what I’m reading this week. I’ve introduced promotions happening at the Bar, shared two :30 commercials and 3-minute podcasts, and ran a contest. 

I struggled early on when Facebook flagged my blog as “unsafe,” which made it difficult to post convenient links for readers. To very loosely paraphrase Joseph Conrad, I had a voice, and a blog that wants to be read cannot be silenced. Through a few weeks of trial and error, I figured out a way around it. 

I love to write, and I hope you enjoyed reading my blog as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for reading and supporting me in this amazing learning experience!

Proudly Introducing...

Image courtesy of Flickr.

We are proud to announce we are testing a new app! Click here to check it out. 

We invite your feedback on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Tell us what you think!

Bacon and Eggs. Laverne & Shirley.

Salt and pepper. Hall & Oates. Peanut butter and jelly. Batman and Robin. Macaroni and cheese. Sonny and Cher.

What do they all have in common? As the old song goes, “You can’t have one without the other.”

Ever since we arranged a special surprise, pairs have been on our mind. What surprise, you ask? We’re thrilled to announce our first ever wine-paired dinner! We’ve partnered with the beautiful new River Prairie Event Center to host a five-course gourmet wine-paired dinner. During this sumptuous meal, you’ll enjoy an appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, and dessert, all paired with a wine specifically chosen to bring out the flavors in each dish. Best of all, we’ve invited noted Twin Cities food and wine critic Mary Beth Parker to introduce each course.

This fantastic dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person, or $150 per pair, and only 100 tickets will be sold. Visit our website or stop by the Bar to pick up your tickets today!

To learn more about wines that go well with different dishes, click here to listen to our latest podcast, “What Wine Should I Serve With…”

Chips and salsa. Burgers and fries. Milk and cookies. Wine and cheese!

What Wine Should I Serve With...

Our staff is often asked for their recommendations of what wine would go best with a specific dish. Grab a glass of wine, sit back, and click here to listen to our latest podcast to find out!

We love talking about wine (and books), and we'd love for you to join the conversation. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

And the Winner is....

Congratulations to Kristi Thompson, winner of the drawing for 2 tickets to ECCT's Purses with Purpose fundraiser! 

There's still time to get your tickets for this fun night of shopping and drinks, but you must act today (Friday, April 13). Log on to www.ecct.org or call 715-839-8877. Great event, even better cause! Maybe you'll be the winning bidder of this Michael Kors inspired purse!

The Fine Print - This content ended on April 10, 2018. The winner is Kristi Thompson. She has been notified and has claimed the prize according to the promotion rules provided here.

Have you done your taxes yet?

Still trying to figure out if you can claim that deduction?

Don’t know the difference between a qualified dividend and a short-term capital gain?

So when exactly is the deadline anyway? April 15? April 17?

Ugh.

We all could use a little relief from taxes, and your friends at It's Criminal! are here to help with our Tax Relief Promotion. From April 10-17, we’ll pay the sales tax on your in-store purchase.

So, stop by and pick up that really great bottle of wine you’ve been dying to try. Or get that thriller that caught your eye. You’ve paid your taxes to Uncle Sam. Now it’s our turn to pay the taxes for you. 

But hurry! This promotion ends April 17!

We'll Pay the Tax Promotion

Still trying to figure out if you can claim that deduction? From April 10-17, we’ll pay the tax on your in-store purchase. Come see us at 2311 North Los Robles Avenue in Eau Claire. Hurry! Promotion ends April 17, 2018.
It's Criminal! Book & Wine Bar. A tax-free experience, so good, it's criminal!