Wine, women, and song has an interesting history. A quick Google search will tell you that it’s a hendiatris—a commonly used, “one from three” phrase (think “sun, sea, and sand” or “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll”) to celebrate a Bohemian or even a hedonistic lifestyle.
But that’s not how I was first introduced. I came across wine, women, and song in Neil Gaiman’s (completely underrated, in my opinion) novel, Anansi Boys. There’s a scene where the main character, Fat Charlie, is mourning the passing of his father with his long-lost and recently rediscovered brother, Spider. In the midst of their messy reunion mottled by grief, Spider laments:
“There are three things, and three things only, that can lift the pain of mortality and ease the ravages of life… These things are wine, women, and song.”
That quote always stood out to me, not because of the wild lifestyles associated to the history of the hendiatris (I do hope that’s your word of the day, or at least that you walk away having learned something). To me, it felt more meaningful, like there was some deeper truth.
It surprised me when this quote popped into my head as I was brainstorming LoftHouse’s debut event. The call of my heart was to put on something that not only supported women authors but celebrated all women and the stories they have to share—more of a party than a conference. The team and I knew we needed something at the end of the Leading Lady WE LEAD conference, and we wanted to make it something new. We wanted it to be connection- rather than commodity-driven, a place where we not only opened up a space to celebrate women’s stories but could also have a wicked good time while doing so.
Wine, women, and song may seem trite, but on a deeper level, this infamous little hendiatris makes perfect sense.
How do we make our experiences meaningful? How do we ease the ravages of life?
I’ve got a few ideas.
Wine
Dining together. Gathering in a place where we can be nourished, body and soul, not just with each other’s company, but with delicious food and drink. We’ll be serving wine, scrumptious light fare, and decadent desserts.
Women
Intentionally creating a communal space to celebrate women and their stories. The event not only features prominent local authors; it’s an open invitation to share our own stories and connect on a deeper level.
Song
Telling your story—sharing your truth—is about so much more than words on a page. What better way to celebrate that than open mic karaoke? Sure, it’s not the same thing as beat poetry or a book reading. But there sure is something cathartic about belting out Free Bird to a room full of cheering ladies.
And that’s just the beginning.
If you’re looking for your next great read or have ever wondered about the road to publication, we’ll be featuring a host of local authors, including:
- Liz Murphy, author and professional speaker
- Lisa Van Wormer, author of The Rucksack
- J.C. Gardner, author, ghostwriter, book coach, and editor
- AliceAnne Loftus, author of Take the Lead
And
- Michelle Douglas, author of Don’t Wear Shoes You Can’t Walk In
This night is about celebrating. It’s about having fun. Sure, we might not be awkward, bumbling demigods like Fat Charlie, but there’s inherent power in story—especially in women’s stories.
I’ll raise my glass to that. 🍷
Join us on November 5 from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm to cap off the WE LEAD Leading Lady Conference.
You can reserve your tickets here.
Photo credit to Kelsey Knight.