Self-taught sculptor Andrew DelaRosa says this storefront is meant to be an incubator, especially for those working in offbeat media. DelaRosa, whose day job is historic preservation carpentry, builds sculpture from found objects and leases space (a bargain at $100 per month) in his basement studio to a few other artists. The commission-free gallery shows his work, their work, and select pieces by “anybody who walks through the door with something interesting.” No regular hours, but the doorbell rings in the studio; if someone’s working there, they’ll let you in.
Just over a year old, Taste offers a little Euro-style epicurean indulgence in a neighborhood where Italian pancetta and sweet Irish butter are thin on the ground. Most of the wines are under $20, and there’s a small spirit collection, including grappa made in Michigan and Death’s Door Spirits, made from wheat grown on Wisconsin’s Washington Island. A booth lets customers dig into panini or the soup of the day on the spot, and the store holds free wine tastings every Monday and Friday from 6 to 7:30 PM.