Daily Loaf

So how does it happen that the director, star and co-writer of the 2004 hit film Sideways are all converging on St. Petersburg this weekend? They just needed a little sun? They heard about the wine list at the Vinoy and had to try it? Not exactly. Alexander Payne, Virginia Madsen and Jim Taylor are here to help The Studio@620 celebrate its fifth anniversary with a screening of the film at the Vinoy tonight and a discussion tomorrow at the Studio. The connection? Studio Co-Artistic Director Bob Devin Jones explained via email:

Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor and I lived next door to each other in Silver lake (East Hollywood near Griffith Park). I had a small part in Alexander’s graduate (UCLA) student film, I also catered one day of the shoot. I and my best friend Joe Marenelli were the two actors in Jim Taylor’s graduate film that got him into the film school at NYU. We have all known each other for nearly 25 years. In Silver Lake – I still have that apt – we would have these Friday night dinners nearly every Friday night (lots of stuff from Trader Joe’s). Jim and Alexander were frequent guests. Alexander loves to cook.

Makes sense, then, that Payne would make one of the best movies ever about the joys of wine and food. (And if you remember Virginia Madsen’s heartfelt delivery of the film’s most memorable monologue, you know she’s someone who appreciates the pleasures of wine.)

Here are the details on the weekend’s festivities: 620 Sideways: Sideways screening and discussion Fri. May 29, 7 p.m., Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. $50, includes food and wine (but no merlot). Sideways panel discussion only, Sat., May 30, 1:30 p.m., Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, free admission. 727-895-6620.

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