Full Bottles to Light Pours: A Spot for Wine Lovers

Barrique takes its name from a type of barrel used in winemaking; bottles, barrels and wooden wine crates make up much of the décor. A beamed ceiling and lots of brick give the place a cozy, rustic ambiance. Tables are bare wood; napkins look like French dish towels.

Barrique is owned by the Babylon Restaurant Group, which also runs the Argyle Grill and Tavern, a lively 10-year-old spot across the street. Barrique is just as lively and noisy, but it has something its older sibling lacks: the cooking of Pierre Rougey.

Mr. Rougey, the executive chef, had been the chef and co-owner of Emerson’s, the cafe that occupied these premises before Barrique. His menu is designed for sampling; every table is set with stacks of plates for sharing.

It’s a pretty positive review, although with more typos than you’d expect in the paper of record. I’ve heard good things about the place, but I’m not much of a wine lover and Debra doesn’t drink at all, so one of the main appeals is pretty much lost on us. We actually haven’t been out to dinner since Aurora was born, so there’s not much chance of us showing up there anyway.

By way, I noticed on their web page that Barrique also has a blog. I’m always interested in Babylon Village blogging, so I clicked right over. Sadly, all they seem to have there are reviews of the restaurant.

A Little Alfredo With That Listing?

A mention of Winkler Real Estate

In the interest of keeping his clients happy, after a ranch house he listed was inspected, Ed Schmid, an agent with Winkler Real Estate in West Islip, climbed a tree and cut off a limb that was hanging over the house. He put a fresh seal coat on the driveway, after asking the homeowner to buy the supplies. He often shovels snow for his clients.

“Instead of telling somebody to hire someone,” Mr. Schmid said, “I take care of it for them. It keeps them loyal to me.”

And one for Century 21 American Homes in Babylon Village.

Mary Adams, a managing partner at Century 21 American Homes in Babylon Village, said her agents had been doing garage sales at no cost to clients; getting furnaces fixed; mowing lawns; or picking up the cost of a lawn-care service.

While parents shop for real estate, one agent serves as a baby sitter and another shows homes. Once a home sells, agents take elderly homeowners shopping for boxes and moving supplies and help them pack.

“There is the psychological end of all of this, pretty much holding their hand through everything,” Ms. Adams said. “Years ago, it was more about the real estate, about, ‘Here are the homes, choose one.’ ”

The Senate might pass its version as early as Wednesday, and aides to Congressional leaders say the House could accept it this week, sending the bill to President Obama to sign into law. After weeks of partisan delay in the Senate, Democrats are eager to show progress before Friday, when the October jobless report is again expected to show high unemployment.

The homebuyers’ credit — enacted last year, expanded this year and scheduled to expire Nov. 30 — would be extended to cover homes under contract by April 30. Also, it no longer would be limited to first-time buyers; people who have owned a home for at least five years could get a $6,500 credit on a new residence. Income limits for eligibility would be raised, making many more people qualify.

Not a tremendous shock here. I spoke with a bunch of people during the late summer and they all were pretty convinced that the credit would be extended.

There have been a lot of people rushing around the last few weeks trying to close before November 30 and get their eight grand from Uncle Sugar. This should calm people down a bit and maybe let people move their closing dates into December to lighten the load on mortgage people.

I know a couple people who already scheduled their closings for November 30. That day was going to be all kinds of crazy. I bet it’s still going to be crazy, just less so.

Somewhere along the way, tramping around a solidly built old house became my version of the ultimate in weekend recreation.

After the house museums, the heirloom houses most likely to be available for scrutiny without attracting the attention of the police are properties for sale. Back in the day, the classifieds were the most popular way to get an idea of what was on the market, but not every house was advertised. The other alternative was to seek the help of real estate agents, but you had to be pretty genuine about buying to spin their wheels.

Now, with all the information that’s available on the Internet about real estate for sale — street addresses, maps, directions, even satellite photos — it’s easy to make a solo reconnaissance mission, whether driven by mere curiosity or serious shopping intent. You may not get inside, but you can get a good look at the architecture, the lot, the condition, the neighborhood — enough to fuel your dreams or earn your scorn.

On my own or with an equally obsessed companion, I regularly make jaunts, camera in hand, to as many old houses as I can manage to visit. Credit crunch notwithstanding, I’m not ruling out a purchase, should the right many-times-preowned thing come along. But that’s not necessarily the point.

House hunting can easily become an end in itself. I really want a house to live in, but the search is a lot of fun. I’ll be a little sorry when it’s over.

I enjoy the internet searching and the poring over pictures. Debra and I often look at the pictures in promising listings, trying to ferret out what secrets the images hold. Does a missing bathroom picture mean that that room is a disaster? Do various design choices mean that the owners are old and looking to move off Long Island. Perhaps a crib in the bedroom shot means that they’re expanding their family and they need a bigger place. It’s a fun game for a lazy afternoon.

Of course, once I buy a house, I can become one of those lookie-loo people who go to neighborhood open houses just to see what they look like. That can be fun too, although I think it might feel a little disreputable.