Charlie Green, who owns Neo’s pizza in Victory Park and another Olivella’s near SMU, also owns this Olivella’s location at Mockingbird and Abrams.

Angelo’s will donate 15 percent of all sales Thursday, April 26, to Promise of Peace. The volunteers and children of Promise of Peace will use the money to spruce up the fountain in front of the Lakewood Theater.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Elizabeth Dry, says they plant to amend the soil and install new plants. If the budget allows, they might do some painting as well.

The volunteers and kids will be working Saturday, April 28, and the Lakewood Theater will be grilling. The community is invited to lend a hand.

The fountain is owned by D.O.T., the charity thrift store at 5810 Live Oak. The Mills family, which co-owns the old Lakewood Library building, pays the taxes on the fountain area on behalf of D.O.T.

One day, perhaps, I’ll figure out how the multi-national wine companies make brand decisions. For example, why would the company that owns Chateau Ste. Michelle also own two grocery store brands, Columbia-Crest and 14 Hands, that make the same kind of Washington state wine that sell for about the same price?

Until then, I will appreciate the value and quality that these wines offer. The 14 Hands ($12, sample, widely available) was just as pleasantly surprising as the Columbia-Crest cabernet was, making it yet another example of the first rule of wine writing — taste the wine before you decide whether it’s worth writing about.

Look for lots of cherry fruit in the 14 Hands, though the fruit is not as sweet as in similarly-priced California cabernets. It also has some heft and the appropriate tannins, and people who are determined to notice chocolate in cabernet will probably pick up a little of that, too. In this, the wine reflects Washington state’s style and terroir, which doesn’t happen much in $12 wine. Though it’s not as big a wine as its corporate sibling, the 14 Hands is definitely cabernet and not cabernet lite.

Call it a safety wine — something you can buy or order when you’re stuck somewhere and the wine selection is decidedly limited. It will pair with most red meat dinners, as well as a very gooey sausage pizza.

Help Mom branch out — but don’t foist something on her she may not like — with these three suggestions.

Most Bryan Street Tavern diners come for the stone-fired, thin-crust pizza with ingredients from revered Italian grocer Jimmy’s Food Store.

Coming soon to Casa Linda: Torchy's

Torchy’s Tacos, the ever expanding taco chain that started several years ago in a trailer in Austin, will open in Casa Linda in the former  Souper Salad spot. I have never eaten at Torchy’s, but based on the menu description, it could very well be a big win.

Thanks to Advocate reader Michael Mosteller for snapping and sending this photo.

We are waiting on word about the opening date. I’ll update you as soon as I know more.

WANT MORE? Click to sign up for the weekly newsletter and be the first to know what’s happening in our neighborhood.

The Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation has partnered with four schools on fundraisers at neighborhood restaurants in the coming week. All you have to do is eat at places you already patronize, and our schools will benefit.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, April 24: Eat at Fuzzy’s Tacos on Mockingbird anytime, and mention your support of J.L. Long Middle School at the cash register.

Wednesday, April 25: Eat at Burger House on Mockingbird anytime. A percentage of proceeds from all purchases will go to Lipscomb Elementary School.

Sunday, April 29: Eat at La Popular Tamale House on Columbia and Munger from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.. A percentage of proceeds from all purchases will go to O.M. Roberts Elementary School.

Monday, April 30: Eat at TCBY and Subway on Mockingbird from 5 p.m.-close. A percentage of proceeds from all purchases will go to Robert E. Lee Elementary School.

Benny’s Classic Grill, a new restaurant from the owners of Lover’s Pizza and Pasta, is expected to open in about a month in the former Arby’s on Garland Road.

Owner Benin Zeqiri, who is from a town in Slovenia on the Italian border, says a trip home inspired the new concept.

He noticed that panini and grilled pizzas with gourmet toppings are popular in his hometown and in Venice.

Benny’s menu will include burgers, panini and grilled pizzas, all under $10.

Total Wine, a large regional chain, is supposed to open in Dallas shortly. Throw in Trader Joe’s, which is supposed to open this fall, and Spec’s, Texas’ largest chain, which opened at the end of last year (as well as all of the current retailers), and we have an abundance of wine choices — not just more than we’ve ever had, but lots and lots more.

Which will not only drive the retailers crazy (and probably put a couple out of business), but give consumers more choice and lower prices. How can I argue with that?

Case in point is the Vin Gourmand ($13, purchased, available at Spec’s), a white Rhone blend. It’s a style of wine not much sold here; Dallas is an oaky California chardonnay kind of town when it bothers with white wine, and that’s usually an afterthought to red. And, when you do find a white Rhone, it’s usually a couple of dollars more than in the rest of the country. So, when I saw the Gourmand and for less than elsewhere, you can imagine how quickly I scooped it up.

My enthusiasm was amply rewarded. This is quality wine at a terrific price — a blend of grenache, roussane and viognier that is fresh and clean, with lime and apricot fruit (the latter from the viognier). It’s not overly complex, but it’s not lacking in a middle or finish, either, and even has a bit of stoniness on the end. This is perfect warm weather wine that will pair with almost any kind of summer food. Given that we’ve already been in the 90s, this is a a welcome addition. Highly recommended. 

Whether you made money or paid money to the IRS this year, celebrate the end of the dreadful process with a free cup of coffee and biscotti at the Lakewood Whole Foods, Gaston and Abrams.

All Whole Foods locations will be handing out free 12-ounce Allegro drip coffee and a non-fat biscotti while supplies last 8-10 a.m. Tuesday. So, swing by on your way to work tomorrow morning (if you’re not already at work by then) and enjoy something free for a change.