Delivery, please!

Picture this: You’re at your house with your buds, you run out of beer and … no one is sober enough to drive. Bummer, right? You either cab it to the liquor store, hoof it or give up. Maybe now you don’t have to. In the past couple of weeks, two businesses have popped up on my radar for delivering … drum roll … booze.

The first was Celestino’s in Paradise. The pizza and pasta joint on the Skyway now will deliver beer with your Godfather, according to co-owner Alfonso Magdaleno. He tells me the change, which took place around the first of August, is going well so far. (Throw in some fried raviolis with your order—they’re the best!)

The second spot to offer alcohol delivery is Spike’s Bottle Shop, which announced last week that it would begin taking delivery orders on Sept. 1. You can call the shop between 3 p.m. and midnight and order anything in the store, owner Kevin Jaradah tells me. He says he’s been wanting to add the service for a while and just recently some friends started up Chico Express Delivery, which he described as “Similar to Entree Express for food, but for booze!” Delivery costs $12 (or $10 with a $50 order) and cards are charged by phone (delivery fee paid in cash along with showing ID).

In other Spike’s news, Jaradah tells me he’s in the process of growing his whisky selection, so check in for new additions.

Call Celestino’s at 876-0460 or Spike’s at 893-8410.

Downtown O-town I popped into Butte County Wine Co. on Myers Street in downtown Oroville last week and chatted up owner Colin Nelson. I’d written about the place a little over a year ago, just before its opening, so I was excited to see how things were going. Turns out they’re going pretty well, Nelson told me. First of all, he bought out his partners, so he’s now the sole proprietor of the wine bar, which has well over a dozen offerings from wineries in Butte County, including a few that don’t have their own tasting rooms (Straw House in Butte Valley and Rolling Hills in Oroville), plus a few taps from local breweries like Feather Falls Casino Brewing Co. and British Bulldog Brewery. He’s currently open till 8 p.m., but check back soon because he says he’s considering staying open till 10 to catch more after-dinner customers. (Note: Butte County Wine Co. doesn’t serve food but does have cheesecake from the Joker’s Bakery, if you’ve got a sweet tooth!)

Nelson tells me he’s working with other businesses in downtown Oroville to liven up the district, and the opening of The Exchange just down the road on Montgomery Street already has made its mark. I decided to mosey on over and see it in action. Inside, the place was lively, with most of the bar and tables occupied. I ordered a Spiced Cherry Press cocktail—subtle, delicious and presented nicely. For eats, they just serve small plates (and brunch on weekends). I opted for the crab cakes, which came three to a plate, nicely spiced and crusted and with a complementary aioli. With the beautifully refurbished décor, the place is a fun addition to downtown Oroville. Between those two stops, I had a perfectly pleasant afternoon there and will happily go back.