Finally, a place for La Colombe denizens to retire to after the coffeehouse closes. L'Hexagone, a new addition to the "French Quarter" in Center City, threw an opening bash on Thursday, June 6th. Owners Jean Wilfrid Thibault and Raphael Perrier had case upon case of champagne to lubricate the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. As with any French hangout, the bar was thick with smoke and suggestive looks. 1718 Sansom Street has become one of the main places to go before heading to your favorite after-hours space.

Each spring, more than 10,000 individuals come together in more than 70 cities across the United States for Taste of the Nation food and wine tastings and dinners. In all, 60,000 attendees feast to help end hunger annually. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation events have raised $46 million which have supported more than 450 organizations working to end hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad. Last year's events raised more than $4.3 million. In Philadelphia, Loew's Hotel was the site of this year's 15th annual tasting on Wednesday, June fifth. Highlights included food by Figs, Capitol Grill, Blue Ox, Fork and DiBruno Brothers. 100 percent of the ticket price is to benefit the anti-hunger fight.

The Avenue of Dreams Gala at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Saturday, June first, drew a crowd of about 400 people. The gala benefited the American Diabetes Association. The Rich Posmontier Orchestra stirred everyone up after dinner with classic tunes and some dance music. People seemed to need to let loose after holding their collective breath through the live auction. One particularly hot item was a wine tasting dinner for fifty people – valued at $2,000, it went for over $6,000.

The Young Friends of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropolgy honored Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, with a Bacchanalia Garden Party in the Museum's new Stoner Garden on Thursday, May 16th. About 200 Young Friends and their guests came after work to hang out and enjoy a couple glasses of wine. All in the name of preserving history. The proceeds benefited the Roman and Etruscan Galleries at the Museum.

Philadelphia Magazine and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board hosted the First Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival on Thursday, May ninth at the Hyatt Penns Landing Hotel. Over 80 wineries were set up in the ballrooms to welcome the hordes of wine tasters and cheese nibblers. The event opened at 5:30 for a sold out VIP tasting and at 6:30 the general festival goers stormed the gates and rushed the tables. A shorthand list of a few of the wineries includes: Cain Vineyard, Chateau D'Yquem, Chateau Haut Brion, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards, Silver Oak Cellars, Moet & Chandon, Duckhorn Vineyards, and Castello Banfi.