Straight stars

> BY ROSE MARCUS

AMay 3 to 9, 2018

relatively smooth and straightforward end to the workweek is on the roster. Although some can’t and some can, most of us will be in the mood to ditch work early on Friday.

Saturday can be productive, thanks to the transiting moon in Capricorn. There can be something to work through. Take care of business. It’s good to get it said, done, and out of the way. Sunday, the Aquarius moon aims for something fresh. Replenish yourself in whatever way works best for you.

Monday, stay open; stay creative. Go with what is readily available and don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure. If you feel at a loss, don’t make a choice; ride it out.

Tuesday is the better day to set wheels in motion. The sun’s opposition to Jupiter can put more people and more money on the move. Shop around, travel, get a move on. The sun’s opposition to Jupiter calls for more evaluation, questioning, negotiating, or soul-searching. Emotionally or materially, what’s it truly worth? Are expectations real? This planetary pairing can expose, motivate, or captivate. They can make things more obvious. They can also reverse a trend and/or take you from a minus to a plus. Holding favourable aspects to Mercury and Uranus, Tuesday’s moon in Aquarius sets a good backdrop for attending a class or event: enjoy something social; look forward and plan ahead.

Next Wednesday/thursday, the transiting moon slips into Pisces, creating a quieter, more fluid atmosphere. Go easy on yourself and others too. Allow for things to take their natural course. The flow is good.

ARIES

March 20–April 19

Business and personal, use Friday/saturday to get the job done. Tend to the priorities. If it isn’t necessary, don’t add it to the list. Sunday, take the morning off and relax. Monday/tuesday is best used for connecting and catch-up, for marketing, exploring, errands, or travel. The rest of the workweek can evaporate before you know it. The going should prove mostly smooth.

TAURUS April 20–May 20

You should feel you have it under good control through Saturday. Sunday, sleep in; chill out. You deserve a day off. Monday/tuesday, aim to hit it full tilt and/or get the show on the road. Wednesday/thursday are easy navigating. The stars set up a fluid and flowing backdrop. Put your charm offensive into action. Use these days to sell it or sweet-talk them.

GEMINI

May 21–June 21

Quality over quantity is the right aim. Through Saturday, stick to the tried and true: say less and demonstrate more; minimize expenses and output; don’t waste your time on the unnecessary or marginal. Sunday, give in, relax, and ease up; enjoy yoga or meditation. Monday, take it as it comes. Tuesday, there’s further to go and more to know, ponder, explore, spend, or choose from.

CANCER June 21–July 22

Stay on top of it; be resultsdriven and see the end of the week to a productive close. Saturday can require an added push. Sunday, take it as it comes: relax and create; enjoy company or spend it on your own. The week ahead is mostly par for the course. Tuesday to Thursday, go by feel; reach out and set it in motion.

LEO

July 22–August 22

Friday/saturday can keep you working or working at it, but you know there’s good value in the act. You should see substantial gains for your efforts. Sunday, go with the flow. Monday/tuesday, dive into something fresh. Let stream of consciousness or spontaneity dictate the play. You could spend, divulge, or dig up more. Wednesday is a quiet day. Time can evaporate, nicely so.

VIRGO

August 22–September 22

Set yourself to task; take charge and you’ll have something substantial to bank on through Saturday. Sunday, let yourself off the hook; replenish spiritually and physically. Romance or a creative project hits the spot too. Monday/tuesday delivers an activity and social upswing. Tuesday brings you something more. Go for it; take it on—but also know you can pay/spend more or expect too much.

LIBRA

September 22–October 23

Home, family, or professional responsibilities are the focus through Saturday, but you should feel you that you can stay on an even keel and that you are gaining good ground on most fronts. Sunday, ease up and relax. Monday to Thursday keep you on a positive/lucrative upswing. You’ll find yourself well in sync and hitting it just right. Ideas and conversations maintain a good flow.

SCORPIO

October 23–November 21

Take charge and call the shots; have it/do it your way. Thursday through Saturday, the getting is good. Sunday, let the spirit move you. Monday/tuesday, you’re quick on the ball. Powered up by the sun, Jupiter in Scorpio takes you deeper into the process, conversation, questioning, or soulsearching. Your intuitive radar and power of persuasion is on full dial-up.

SAGITTARIUS November 21–December 21

Put your time and money to good use through Saturday. Finish it and reap the reward. Sunday, take it as it comes. Monday/tuesday, the stars pick up the pace. Motivation is in ample supply. Sun/jupiter clues you in to more and gives you a deeper read on yourself, on it, on them. Take it further. You’ll make a significant impression on them or vice versa.

CAPRICORN December 21–January 19

Thursday night through Saturday, the transiting moon in Capricorn puts you in the driver’s seat. You’re the boss. Take charge; make it happen. Sunday, take your hands off the steering wheel. Take it as it comes. Monday/tuesday, conversation, connection, and good ideas are on ready spark. Sun/jupiter keeps everything on the upswing. Next Wednesday/thursday are built for ease.

AQUARIUS

January 20–February 18

Minimize outside distractions. A quiet or out-of-sight place to work, to spend your quality time, or to catch up with yourself is ideal through Saturday. Sunday sees the start of an energy perk-me-up. By Monday/tuesday, the opportunity peak of the week, you’ll be on a full reload. Wednesday/thursday are smooth-rolling.

PISCES

February 18–March 20

Business, pleasure, and profit mix well through Saturday. The moon in Capricorn enhances clear-mindedness, good organization, and decision-making skill. We may not see so much of you—that’s because you have stuff to get at. Sunday through Tuesday keeps life on the move. Next Wednesday/ Thursday, the Pisces moon enhances resourcefulness and keeps you motoring along well.

Vancouver’s Meet restaurants (with locations on Main Street and in Gastown) was first in line for Canadian distribution of California-based company Beyond Meat’s plant-based burger patties.

Yep, among the many presentations, the taking of notes, and interviews with winemakers, there was indeed cheer to be had, and is anything cheerier than a glass of sparkling wine? Not to the Germans, who consume more than 25 percent of its global production, often referring to it as Sekt when it is homegrown. From schinkenspeck to schnitzel to stinky cheese, there’s plenty of food to wash down with the stuff, and many of them are just fine on their own, thank you very much.

Out of the Mosel region, Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling NV ($16.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) continues to be a dependable pour year after year. It’s made in the Charmat style, where the second fermentation takes place in a tank (rather than the traditional method, or Champagne style, where it happens in the bottle). Although there are more than 27 grams of residual sugar in the wine, there’s also generous acidity, which keeps all those Anjou pears, grilled peaches, and notes of lemon curd aloft.

Speaking of the Mosel, I had a chance to catch up with winemaker Nik Weis, whose family’s St. Urbanshof winery has been the stuff of legend for generations. His Old Vines Riesling 2016 ($26.49, B.C. Liquor Stores), out of sedimentary soils, has well-concentrated fruit—including lime, pink grapefruit, and mango—with a good stony minerality and vibrant acidity.

Although it’s been a couple of years since his last (relatively regular) visit to Vancouver (he says to say hi to everyone and is pushing to return soon), there’s an extra kinship his family has with our region. Some of our more famous Okanagan old-vine Rieslings from the likes of Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Tantalus Vineyards, and Sperling Vineyards were cuttings brought over from St. Urbans-hof’s nursery in 1978, making them 40 years old now that we’re in vintage 2018!

Of course, we ventured beyond Mosel wines, with one of the days centred around the Pfalz region. It’s the second-largest German growing region, next to the Rheinhessen (which sits north of it), while the French region of Alsace is situated to the south.

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