If (like us) you feel an informal union with the lovely, lovely people who’ve made dispensing adult beverages their profession, tonight you can support a more formal union by visiting 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar.

More specifically, the small but stalwart Lafayette Square establishment will host a fundraiser for the nascent St. Louis chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild from 6 to 9 p.m., according to 33 owner Jeff Stettner.

Members of the guild – including local mixology masters Ted Kilgore of Taste by Niche, T.J. Vytlacil, Monarch’s Nate Selsor and others featured in our November cover story, “Cocktail Hour” – will mix cocktails at the event, which will also feature a raffle, a wine tasting and a beer tasting. All cocktails will cost $8, with wine and beer a bit cheaper – but all proceeds, again, will benefit the guild.

We can’t imagine you’d want to miss out on free wine at your favorite hangout. (You did vote 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar as your favorite wine bar in this year’s Readers’ Choice poll, after all.) So join proprietor Jeff Stettner (pictured) tonight in tasting the Italian specialties of Small Vineyards Imports, including Tre Donne Barolo, Podere Ciona Chianti Classico Riserva, Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone, Ronco della Rocca Pinot Grigio, Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso Chianti and Marchetti Verdicchio. Josh Hanson, director of Seattle-based Small Vineyards, will be on hand to lead the event. See you from 6 to 8 at the usual?

Photo by Brian Fagnani

33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar in Lafayette Square has launched a dinner series called The Dorm Room. Don’t let the name fool you – this monthly event (to be held in 33’s new east flank) will offer the polar opposite of Hot Pockets and frozen pizza. Using only a hot plate and a microwave, St. Louis’ top chefs will prepare A-plus meals that incorporate a bounty of local ingredients. Session one is scheduled for June 22 with chef Joshua Galliano of Monarch Restaurant in Maplewood. There will be seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m., and each will accommodate 15 diners. For reservations and more information, call 314.231.9463.

I buy retail late
Sit at a table and write
No one throws me out

You may have heard that Jake Hafner has sold his (and my and possibly your) little corner of heaven in Lafayette Square, 33. I’m clearly not writing to break this news but to say a hearty thanks to Jake for all the good times I’ve had and to bestow an open-armed welcome to new owner Jeff Stettner.

Mr. Stettner, I’m sure many regulars have relayed this sentiment already, as they tend to be an outspoken bunch, but for any who haven’t, please allow me: For the love of God, don’t change anything! OK, not anything, doubling the space and filling it with more seats and wine will be nice. Oh, and put a Web site back up, too.

So I talked with Mr. Stettner and am confident that 33 will remain the place to take out-of-town guests if you want to hear them say, “Wow! I wish we had a wine bar like this in [insert big, pretentious city here].”

Mr. Stettner, I’m not afraid to say that I will cry if I am no longer mentioned in the elaborate wine descriptions on the menu, but I won’t love 33 any less.

– Dennis Lowery
Photo by Jonathan S. Pollack

We’ve heard the whispers for months now, but 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar owner Jake Hafner confirmed the news today that he is selling the Lafayette Square spot. New owner Jeff Stettner is in the process of obtaining a liqour license and will take the reins once that process is complete. While Hafner says that much of 33’s relaxed vibe will stay the same, he also notes that Stettner has a few changes planned, including an expansion that will provide room for a small retail shop.

The ownership transition is expected to occur with little fanfare, and Hafner’s fans will have the chance to say farewell: He will remain behind the bar for some time to help the new ownership learn the ropes.