Last week I found myself at the department store formerly known as Kaufmann's in search of Lenox wine glasses. Normally I do not go to a store for a specific branded item that I can get online at Amazon. But in this case, I found myself in a bind.

The Clock formerly known as the Kaufmann's Clock

Please don't misunderstand. I love Amazon. It is hands-down my favorite place to shop (which is not to say I ever buy books on Amazon; that's what the Carnegie library is for). They sell nearly every sort of thing imaginable. Which is why I went first to Amazon when I wanted to buy a set of Lenox Tuscany Classics Grand Beaujolais wine glasses for a friend's birthday. I placed my order early two weeks ago, but in the final stage of shipping, UPS reported the shipment damaged. Amazon graciously offered to send a replacement shipment free of charge, and additionally to upgrade my shipping to two day. Having ordered numerous sets of wine glasses from Amazon in the past, I thought nothing of approving the second shipment. There was still plenty of time for delivery before my friend's birthday, especially with the two day upgrade—and more importantly, no additional dollars were coming out of my pocket. Unfortunately, the second shipment was reported damaged once again in the final stage of delivery. I called Amazon, told them how much I love them, but asked for a refund citing the time crunch. They offered it just as graciously as they offered the replacement glasses.

Lenox Tuscany Classics Grand Beaujolais

Faced with the Saturday deadline of my friend's birthday, I stopped at the downtown Macy's on my way home last Wednesday night. I went to the seventh floor and searched through the display of Lenox Tuscany Classics boxed sets. Grand Beaujolais were nowhere to be found. They had plenty of Balloon Wine glasses, which look frustratingly similar to the Grand Beaujolais on the side of the box. But I didn't want to get my friend the Balloon Wine for two reasons: first, I have the Balloon Wine and the thought of buying them as a gift somehow felt redundant: second, as much as I like the Balloon Wine, I'm a little disappointed at the smallness of the bowl, a mere 15 ounce full capacity compared to the 24 ounces of the Grand Beaujolais. One is not, after all, supposed to fill a red wine glass to the brim at a civilized supper—on such occasions drunken revels make teeming wine glasses necessary, the Lenox crystal is best kept under lock and key.

Frustrated by my fruitless search, I decided to consult the saleswoman on the floor about my dilemma. I asked if they carried the Grand Beaujolais, because I had seen it offered on the Macy's website. She informed me that they didn't carry it, citing the fact that merchandise stock varies from one Macy's store location to another depending on local demand. I pointed out in wonderment that the downtown store apparently stocked every other item in the Lenox Tuscany Classics line, except the Grand Beaujolais. She told me, "You might want to check South Hills; we wouldn't have that sort of thing at the downtown store."

Clearly, it was absurd of me to believe that anyone downtown might drink Beaujolais.

Lenox Tuscany Classics Grand Bordeaux

I grudgingly returned to the stemware to take up the search for something else. I certainly wouldn't be going to South Hills before Saturday—I'm a city girl with no car, the South Hills might as well be in Westmoreland County. I rejected the Mikasa Cheers. I've always found the etchings a bit ostentatious. I considered but ultimately vetoed the Waterford Vintage—while I otherwise adore Waterford, the Vintage series is in every way comparable to Lenox Tuscany, only the stems are shorter and they're always ten bucks more expensive for a set of four. In the end I returned to the Lenox display and selected a box of Tuscany Classics Grand Bordeaux, the market for Bordeaux glasses being obviously so hot among downtowners.

In the end, I am pleased with my purchase. The bowl of the Grand Bordeaux glasses is a roomy 26 1/2 ounces. Like all of Lenox's full lead crystal, it has a weighty feel in the hand and a sonorous ring when clinked. I compared it side-by-side to my Riedel Wine Cabernet glasses, a non-lead crystal version of the Riedel Vinum series. The bowls are nearly the same size and shape, and considering that Riedel Vinum are twice as expensive and not nearly as elegant, the Lenox are an excellent choice.

As a result of this weighty decision however, I left my Manhattan knock-off sunglasses in the Macy's housewares department. I convinced myself to go back and check their lost and found the next day with the promise of stopping off at the bakery for thumbprints. On the upside, I found my sunglasses waiting for me in housewares; unfortunately, the bakery was already closed by the time I got out of class on Thursday. Otherwise I would have brought a half-dozen thumbprints to the Squirrel Cage Friday night.