Purple Haze Daze To Be Held at Sequim's Lavender Weekend, July 17 to 19

Purple Haze Daze 3 Day Party at Purple Haze Lavender Farm

Purple Haze Lavender Farm will hold its inaugural Purple Haze Daze during Sequim's 19th Annual Lavender Weekend, July 17 to19, 2015. Purple Haze Lavender Farm is located at 180 Bell Bottom Road, Sequim, WA. Admission is $10.00 for all three days.

This three day Purple Haze Daze lavender party will include the music of some iconic musical figures. Geoffrey Castle will be wielding his world famous electronic violin. Aussie Blake Noble will delight crowds with his 12 string guitar and didgeridoo. Regional funk band Open Country Joy will also be on hand all three days with their eclectic blend of funk, country and original favorites. There will also be additional musical offerings and the possibility of some surprises.

Blondie's Plate, one of the Olympic Peninsula’s rising stars in the restaurant world, will provide gourmet food and an array of beverages.  This will include their specialty drink The Moscow Mule and a favorite at Purple Haze Daze, The Lavender Margarita.

Attendees of Purple Haze Daze looking for unique handcrafted items will enjoy the twenty plus artisan vendors displaying their wares throughout the farm. Photo ops abound everywhere on Purple Haze's twelve acres of flowing lavender fields. A stop in the orchard will provide an opportunity to meet Bob and Shirley, the farm's peacock pair, and a unique collection of egg laying hens.

Should one wish to take home some lavender goodies, the farm's gift shop is stocked full with Purple Haze's own line of culinary delights, bath and body products and lavender home care items. The farm also has its own ice cream shoppe with a variety of delicious lavender ice cream, tea, coffee, and lavender lemonade. Those looking for a more permanent souvenir will have over a dozen varieties of lavender plants to choose from to take home and plant in their own garden.

You will want to attend this family fun event - especially if you missed the the Northwest Wine and Cheese Tour on the Olympic Peninsula in May.

7th Annual Taste of Main on August 22nd to Benefit The Detlef Schrempf Foundation

7th Annual Taste of Main to Benefit The Detlef Schrempf Foundation

The 7th Annual Taste of Main, a one-day event on Bellevue’s celebrated historic Main Street, is slated for Saturday, August 22nd, from 12:00-5:00. This annual fundraising event has a strong reputation of bringing together the Eastside community and Old Bellevue, benefiting the Detlef Schrempf Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue.

The 7th Annual Taste of Main event offers patrons a fixed price Passport, allowing them to “tasting their way down Main Street” featuring specially selected Northwest wineries, distilleries, gourmet food, snacks and desserts from the city’s most acclaimed restaurants. Also featured are free giveaways, live entertainment, wine sales, and a silent auction, featuring Main Street Retailers products and services.

The 7th Annual Taste of Main is open to the public, and children are free (with special kid-friendly bites!).  The Taste of Main has been a favorite event of locals since it's first year and has started to attract a lot of wine lovers and foodies from all over the Puget Sound area.  This is an event you won't want to miss!

100% of the proceeds benefit the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. The Foundation is a support organization founded by former UW Huskies and Seattle Super Sonics star, Detlef Schrempf that has raised over $15-million for Northwest children’s charities. This event’s proceeds will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, through the Detlef Schrempf Foundation.

Learn more about the event and purchase your passport at 7th Annual Taste of Main. Learn more about the benefitting charities at www.detlef.com and www.bgcbellevue.org .

The Passport includes food offerings from some of Main Street’s finest restaurants, including:

520 Bar & Grill
99 Park
Bake’s Place Bellevue
Bis on Main
Cantinetta
Fran’s Chocolates
Gilberts on Main
Ginza Japanese Restaurant
Hedge & Vine
La Cocina Del Puerco
Local Burger
Mercato Stellina
Monsoon East
Pagliacci Pizza
Vavako Fine Chocolates
Whole Foods

Two Spaces Still Available for YouTube Marketing for Business Workshop on Tuesday

YouTube Marketing for Business Workshop Almost Full

There has been a lot of interest in Stacia Loo's free YouTube Marketing for Business workshop tomorrow night.  But the good news is that there are still a couple of seats left.  If you are interested in attending YouTube Marketing for Business you should RSVP asap.

If you are looking for better, less expensive marketing for your business, you cannot afford to miss the YouTube Marketing for Business workshop.  Don't let this opportunity slip to learn from an expert online marketer slip away.

 

Symphony of Gardens Tour to Benefit Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra

Symphony of Gardens to Feature Five Eastside Gardens and Benefit Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra's Symphony of Gardens fundraiser features five exciting private gardens in Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Kirkland and Mercer Island

The Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra is planning its 2nd Annual Symphony of Gardens Tour. This event, which benefits the East Side's premier orchestra, will be Sunday, June 28th, from 11am to 4pm. The tour will offer garden enthusiasts a rare glimpse of gorgeous private gardens in Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Kirkland and Mercer Island. LWSO musicians will play chamber music in the gardens from 1 to 2pm, weather permitting.

The Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra's Symphony of Gardens Tour is Sunday, June 28th, from 11am-4pm. Tickets are $25. Tickets are available at Grape Choice, Bellevue Nursery, Sky Nursery and Wells Medina Nursery or through Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1586858. For information about the LWSO, see http://lwso.org. 

  

Top 5 YouTube Tips for Bellevue Small Businesses

If you haven't explored video as a powerful marketing tool you might be missing out on a powerful marketing tool. YouTube is FREE and easy to use with a massive market audience which gives small businesses the kind of leverage big businesses have with TV and Commercials. However, like any strategy or tool, in order for it to see positive results it needs to be put into action.



I have put together 5 tips to help Bellevue Small Businesses get the most out of YouTube.

1. Create and Brand Your Channel
Just get started and sign up for a YouTube Channel. Once you start your channel make sure you customize your channel so that it has your company's logo, looks similar to your website and look of your brand. You can have your designer to create a YouTube Banner with your logo and images that will share what your channel is all about. It is well worth the time and will only take a few seconds to set up.

2. Develop a list of topics
My tip on finding out what topics to create videos around is to search Amazon's Books around your topic or industry. Find a popular book such as 101 Questions for ________(fill in the blank with your industry). Click on a book and search the contents of the book and you will see titles that will be great topics you could do videos about for your audience.

3. Search Google Keyword Planner
Search Google's keyword planner to find out more relevant topics and keywords to focus your videos around. Doing this research ahead of time will help you get your videos ranked on the first page of Google.

4. You Don't Need Expensive Equipment
These days everyone has a smart phone or an iPhone that has a very high quality video camera. People love videos that are real and raw. Try to to shake too much or have someone hold your phone while you film your video. Make sure that the lighting is in front of you or else the video will look dark. You can also make sure that you don't do videos behind a window. I have more tips on this but for now just don't go out and buy fancy equipment if you are on a budget. You can easily do it with a simple iPhone or very low end flip type camera.

5. Call to Action
At the end of your videos make sure to let your viewers know what to do next after watching your video. That might be telling them to visit you on your website, like this video, interact with you by commenting or asking a question the comment box below. People need to know how they can contribute to you or what they should do next with the valuable content you just shared with them.

If you would like to know more about how to start a YouTube Channel for your Bellevue Business I would love to invite you to my next workshop.

Join me June 2nd, 2015 at 6pm - 8pm

at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue in the Pacific Place Board Room.

Limited Seating is available! Please RSVP at www.YouTubewithStacia.Eventbrite.com.

Can't make this event and want to learn more about me go to: www.StaciaLoo.com/aloha to Get on my VIP List for more tips and tricks and my FREE 5 Day Online Marketing Training. 

Stacia Loo to Hold Free YouTube Marketing Event in Bellevue

Bellevue-based Social media professional Stacia Loo, who has successful clients near and far, is holding a free class on YouTube Marketing in Bellevue on June 2nd, 2015.  The event will be held at the Parkplace Boardroom on the 2nd floor at the Bellevue Hyatt from 6-8pm.  Complimentary parking is available courtesy of The Bellevue Collection.

Some of what you will learn from Ms. Loo:

• 
  

  How to brand and optimize your YouTube channel to attract leads

  
  


• 
  

  How to develop video topics that are most relevant to your audience

  
  


• 
  

  How to pick keywords and titles to attract targeted leads

  
  


• 
  

  Suggestions on the best and low cost tools to produce videos

  
  


• 
  

  Using cards, annotations, and playlists to increase engagement

  
  


• 
  

  Plus Creative ideas that will have even a novice doing videos like a pro!

  
  


• and my favorite:  Why it is important for your business to have a constant and fresh presence on YouTube (including the relationship between Google and YouTube and why your business cannot afford to ignore it.

To reserve your seat, make sure to register for YouTube Marketing For Business at Eventbrite.

 

IPA Week is scheduled at the Tap House Grill with 40 rotating IPA’s & a percentage of sales going to charity!

From August 13th through the 23rd, Tap House Grill in Bellevue and Seattle, will be celebrating IPA Week with the introduction of forty new IPA’s, **India Pale Ale’s, from around the world.

Over the past six years, IPA Week has grown into the biggest event of the year for Tap House Grill, serving over 10,000 pints or 100 kegs of Indian Pale Ale during the ten-day promotion.    Many of Tap House Grill’s brewing partners will offer hand crafted special releases or limited releases solely for Tap House Grill’s IPA Week.  In addition, Tap House will feature some “one time only” beers that will be tapped on certain days of the promotion.  These IPA’s are “limited releases” which will only be featured for this event.  Due to the frequent tapping of the limited releases, Tap House Grill will keep guests updated with daily announcements and IPA special updates on Twitter and Facebook; Twitter.com/taphousegrill andFacebook.com/Tap House Grill.

For the seventh year, a percentage of Tap House Grill’s IPA Week sales will be donated to Farestart in Seattle.

**(Abbreviated IPA, India Pale Ale is a type of ale that is light amber to copper in color, medium to medium-high alcohol by volume, with a hoppy, bitter and sometimes malty flavor.  IPA is a style of beer that is usually included in the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 18th century.)

Additional Information about Tap House Grill:

Over 20,000 Tap House Grill guests are members of the Tap House Grill Beer Club.  Beer Club Members are given a credit card style membership card that tracks everything they order when dining at Tap House Grill.   The member accumulates points and is rewarded along the way.  By joining the Beer Club, each member receives 20% off their guest check the first seven days of each month and their membership card is loaded with Tap House Grill reward dollars as they reach certain plateaus.   “We awarded over 30,000 dollars to our beer club members in 2014 and this year, in 2015, we have awarded close to 20,000 dollars so far,” added Paul.

Over the next several weeks Tap House Grill will be promoting Summer Beers, lighter beers ideal for enjoyment during the warm weather season.  The “summer” event will kick off in early June and run through August.

Tap House Grill will hold its’ 13^th Annual Oktoberfest Pint Night Celebration September 14^th through 17^th.  For Oktoberfest, Tap House Grill will bring the flavors of Munich to Seattle, accompanied with traditional and authentic German style food items.

*Farestart is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Over the past 20 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for over 3,500 people to transform their lives, while also serving over 4 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children.

Tap House Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and late night dining and has two locations; 

1506 Sixth Avenue Seattle Washington 98101

Phone - 206-816-3314
&

550 106th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98004

Phone – 425-467-1730

Kennedy - Loo Wedding Invitations Are in the Mail / FREE Airfare to Hawaii?

The invitations for the Hawaii beach wedding of social media marketing guru Stacia Loo and Joe Tesla Kennedy have finally been mailed.  You can read all about it and rsvp at JoeandStacia.com.

If you would like to attend the event on Kalama Beach in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii and are interested in free airfare, A New Day Real Estate will buy two (2) airplane tickets for every client who buys or sells a house or condo with Joe Kennedy and A New Day Real Estate between now and September 1st.

If you've never been to Kalama Beach, it is extremely beautiful and happens to be the location of the house that President Obama stays when on vacation in Hawaii.

Tickets Now On Sale for Feast Portland

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth year of Bon Appétit Presents Feast Portland: A Celebration of Oregon Bounty, September 17-20, 2015. The Feast Portland 2015 lineup is hotter than ever with the addition of their new Saturday night marquee event, Smoked!, a sizzling celebration of animal, vegetable, sea and forest. Taking place at The Fields in Portland’s Pearl District on Saturday, September 19 from 6-9pm complete with an epic view of Portland’s Fremont Bridge, Smoked! will be a wild night of live fire, bold Northwest Wines, classic cocktails, and some of the best bites of the weekend.

Feast will also feature legendary chefs from around the country and the around world like Ollie Dabbous of Dabbous in London, Christopher Haatuft of Lysverket in Norway, John Tesar of Knife at The Highland Dallas in Dallas, Philip Krajeck of Rolf and Daughters in Nashville, Ben Ford of Ford's Filling Station in LA, Paul Kahan of The Publican in Chicago, Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Viet Pham of ember + ash in Salt Lake City, Brad Farmerie of Saxon + Parole in New York City, Aaron Silverman of Rose’s Luxury in Washington, DC, Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb in San Francisco and dozens more, plus Oregon’s very best chefs, artisans, winemakers, brewers, cider houses and distillers. Tickets for Feast Portland 2015 are available now at www.FeastPortland.com.

As the flagship food and drink festival of the Pacific Northwest, Feast Portland has more than 30 events at beautiful venues across Portland, including large-scale marquee events, intimate dinners, tasting panels, hands-on classes and industry parties over four intense days of eating and drinking. Balancing debauchery with philanthropy, Feast Portland continues its mission to end childhood hunger in Oregon and across America by donating festival net proceeds to No Kid Hungry and Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, giving more than $162,000 over the last three years.

THE CHEFS:

In a region celebrated for innovations in food and drink, Feast Portland unites local talent with internationally recognized chefs, industry leaders, culinary media and influencers. Founded by Mike Thelin and Carrie Welch in 2012, Feasthas become a premier festival for emerging and established culinary talent.

“It has been thrilling to see Feast Portland evolve into one of the most celebrated food festivals in the country, but not surprising. From the quality and variety of ingredients to the talent and originality of the chefs and artisans, Oregon is peerless,” said Feast Portland co-founders Mike Thelin and Carrie Welch.

This year, Feast Portland is excited to welcome more international chefs than ever before to the 2015 lineup including Angus An of Maenam (Vancouver, Canada), Ollie Dabbous of Dabbous (London), Jackie Ellis of Beaucoup Bakery (Vancouver, Canada), Christopher Haatuft of Lysverket (Norway), and James Knappett of Kitchen Table at Bubbledogs (London).

Oregon chefs participating in Feast Portland 2015 include Aaron Barnett of St. Jack, Ben Bettinger of Laurelhurst Market, David Briggs of Xocolatl de Davíd, Kyra Bussanich of Kyra's Bake Shop, Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions, Beau Carr of RingSide Steakhouse, Jose Chesa of Ataula, Matt Christianson of Urban Farmer Restaurant, Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton of OX Restaurant, Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen, Rick Ebster of Bottle + Kitchen, Patrick Fleming of Boke Bowl, Ken Forkish and Rich Meyer of Trifecta Tavern & Bakery, Jason French of Ned Ludd, Alissa Frice of Frice Pastry, Rick Gencarelli of Lardo, John Gorham of Toro Bravo, Gregory Gourdet of Departure, Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood of Bunk Sandwiches, Tim Healea of Little T Baker, Sunny Jin of JORY at The Allison, Scott Ketterman of Crown Paella, Stephanie Pearl Kimmel of Marché, Carlo Lamagna of Clyde Common, Jenn Louis of Lincoln Restaurant, Troy MacLarty of Bollywood Theater, Tyler Malek of Salt & Straw, Joshua McFadden of Ava Gene’s, Tony Meyers of Serratto, Katy Millard of Coquine, Bonnie Morales of Kachka, Kristen D. Murray of Måurice, Earl Ninsom of Langbaan, Daniel N. Oseas of Broder Café, Vitaly Paley of Imperial, Naomi Pomeroy of Beast, Nong Poonsukwattana of Nong's Khao Man Gai, Will Preisch and Joel Stocks of Holdfast, Andy Ricker of Pok Pok, Ryan Roadhouse of Nodoguro, Allen Routt of The Painted Lady, Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon, Adam Sappington of The Country Cat, Sarah Schafer of Irving Street Kitchen, BJ Smith of Smokehouse Tavern, Nate Snell of Pip's Original Doughnuts, Scott Snyder of Levant, John Stewart of Meat Cheese Bread, Johanna Ware of Smallwares, Cathy Whims of Nostrana, Justin Wills of Restaurant Beck, Justin Woodward of Castagna Restaurant and Jin Soo Yang of Bamboo Sushi.

National chefs participating in Feast Portland 2015 include Nick Anderer of Maialino (NYC), Franklin Becker of The Little Beet (NYC), Justin Brunson of Old Major (Denver), Alvin Cailan of Eggslut (LA), Andrew Carmellini of Bar Primi (NYC), Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy (NYC), Chad Colby of chi SPACCA (LA), Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo of Fat Rice (Chicago), Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb (San Francisco), Harold Dieterle of Kin Shop (NYC), Elizabeth Falkner of Falk Yeah Productions (NYC), Brad Farmerie of Saxon + Parole (NYC), Ben Ford of Ford's Filling Station (LA), Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue (Austin), Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes (LA), Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer (Kinston, NC), Michael Hung of Faith + Flower (LA), Paul Kahan of The Publican (Chicago), Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis), Philip Krajeck of Rolf and Daughters (Nashville), Matt Lightner, Sam Mason of OddFellows (NYC), Tony Maws of Craigie on Main (Cambridge, MA), Steve McHugh of Cured (San Antonio), Harold Moore of Harold's Meat + 3 (NYC), Viet Pham of ember + ash (Salt Lake City), Paul Qui of qui (Austin), Chris Shepherd of Underbelly (Houston), Aaron Silverman of Rose’s Luxury (Washington, DC), Nancy Silverton of Mozza Restaurant (LA), Alex Stupak of Empellon (NYC), John Tesar of Knife at The Highland Dallas (Dallas) and Rachel Yang of Joule (Seattle).

“What I love most about Feast Portland is how, from day one, it has attracted the best, most innovative chefs in the world. Not because we pursue them, but because they want to be a part of Feast,” said Bon Appétit editor in chief Adam Rapoport. “They want to visit a city whose dining scene is as vibrant as any in the country, and participate in a festival that organically taps into that scene’s energy and creativity. The result is a food festival unlike any other in America.”

THE EVENTS:

Feast Portland’s 2015 lineup includes the return of raucous nighttime marquee events Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational Presented by Dave’s Killer Bread on Thursday, September 17 and USA Pears Night Market at Zidell Yards on Friday, September 18 as well as fan-favorite daytime marquee events Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Presented by Alaska Airlines on both Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 andTillamook Brunch Village Presented by Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card on Sunday, September 20 to conclude the epic weekend. Marquee events are large-scale walk-around tastings, and, like all Feast Portland events, tickets are all-inclusive of food and drink.

An exciting new addition to the Feast Portland 2015 lineup is a new marquee event, Oregonian Media Group Smoked! taking place on Saturday, September 19th from 6-9pm at The Fields in Portland’s Pearl District. Smoked! will be a sizzling celebration of animal, vegetable, fire, sea and forest. Featuring top masters of the flame from Portland and around the country, this event will stoke your appetite for everything flamed, grilled and free-ranged. Set to the tune of bold Northwest wines, classic cocktails and an epic view of the Fremont Bridge, Smoked! is ready to spark things up with live fire and some of the best bites of the weekend. Don’t call it a cookout!

Every year, Feast Portland creates the most coveted seats in town with its Dinner Series of utterly unique, intimate, multi-chef collaboration dinners hosted at top local restaurants and Portland's culinary incubator space, KitchenCru. Feast Portland is upping the ante for its 2015 Dinner Series by adding two unprecedented internationally themed dinners. Norway/Portland/Austin will feature chefs Christopher Haatuft of Lysverket in Norway, Paul Qui of qui in Austin, Naomi Pomeroy of Beast, Kyle Linden Webster of Expatriate and Will Preisch and Joel Stocks of Holdfast in Portland. London is a City in Oregon welcomes London chefs Ollie Dabbous of Dabbous and James Knappet ofKitchen Table at Bubbledogs, Brad Farmerie of Saxon + Parole in NYC and Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon in Portland. The 2015 Dinner Series lineup will also feature the return of the wildly popular Bon Appétit Hot 10 Dinner for the second year, hosted by editor in chief Adam Rapoport and restaurant and drinks editor Andrew Knowlton, celebrating Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurants in America. The exclusive Thursday night dinner will feature four previously nominated Bon Appétit Best New Restaurant chefs – both from inside and outside of Portland – as well as a chef from this year’s top 10 list.

At Feast Portland’s tasting panels, Drink Tank Presented by Imbibe, local and national beverage industry experts guide an intimate group of attendees through a tasting of premium beverages. Feast panelists like Joshua M. Bernstein of Imbibe, Christian DeBenedetti of The Weekly Pint, Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge, Jim Meehan of Mixography Inc., Jeffery Morgenthaler of Clyde Common and Pepe Le Moko, Rajat Parr of Seven Springs Estate and writer Bruce Schoenfeld will share their extensive knowledge along with a few good stories as they explore new trends in the wine, beer and cocktail world. Drink Tank 2015 will delve into hot topics like European-style farmhouse ales at American microbreweries, rare beers with cult-like followings, alcohol and balance in Pinot Noir, the resurging popularity of margaritas, and the love and lore of American whiskey. Drink Tank panels take place during the day on Friday and Saturdayof Feast Portland weekend in the beautiful Evans H. Roberts Sculpture Mall of Portland Art Museum.

For those who want to bring home more than just a full belly from the festival, Feast Portland’s Hands-On Classes provide a rare opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade directly from the nation’s most skilled artisans and chefs. Get hands on and learn to make Amaro cocktails from Mark Bitterman, the magic of candy making with Jami Curl, how to up your coffee game with Liam Kenna and the best beer and food pairings for parties with Christian DeBenedetti and Andrea Slonecker. Hands-On Classes take place during the day on Saturday and Sunday of Feast Portland weekend.

“Oregon has become a must-see, must-do destination for travelers who have a passion for great food and drink. In every corner of the state, you’ll find talented chefs, artisans, farmers and producers who call Oregon home because of our abundance of unique culinary experiences and ingredients,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “Feast Portland provides a national platform to showcase the rich diversity of Oregon’s bounty.”

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

The complete list of events, participants, and ticket information can be found at FeastPortland.com.

 

Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational Presented by Dave’s Killer Bread

Location: Director Park | Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015 | Time: 6pm-9pm | Price: $95

 

Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Presented by Alaska Airlines

Location: Pioneer Courthouse Square | Date: Friday, September 18, 2015 and Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Time: Friday 1pm-5pm and Saturday 12pm-5pm | Price: $60 (per day)

 

USA Pears Night Market at Zidell Yards

Location: Zidell Yards | Date: Friday, September 18, 2015 | Time: 6pm-9pm | Price: $135

 

Oregonian Media Group Smoked!

Location: The Fields | Date: Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Time: 6pm-9pm | Price: $135

 

Tillamook Brunch Village Presented by Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

Location: Pioneer Courthouse Square | Date: Sunday, September 20, 2015 | Time: 11am-2pm | Price: $75

 

Hands-On Classes & Drink Tank Tasting Panels

Location: Throughout Downtown Portland | Date: Friday, September 18, 2015 – Sunday, September 20, 2015 | Prices: $35-$75

 

Dinner Series

Location: KitchenCru Culinary Prepspace and Various Portland Restaurants | Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015 – Sunday, September 20, 2015 | Time: 7pm | Prices: $75-$175

Thursday, September 17

• KitchenCru Dinner Series: Bon Appétit Hot 10 Dinner hosted by editor in chief Adam Rapoport and restaurant and drinks editor Andrew Knowlton


• Dinner Series: Andrew Carmellini and Joshua McFadden at Roman Candle Baking Co.


• Dinner Series: Ken Forkish, Rich Meyer and Nancy Silverton at Trifecta Tavern & Bakery


• Dinner Series: Paul Qui and Andy Ricker at Sen Yai


• Dinner Series: More Girls! Girls! Girls!: Amanda Cohen, Elizabeth Falkner, Jenn Louis and Sarah Schafer at Lincoln Restaurant

Friday, September 18

• KitchenCru Dinner Series: London is a City in Oregon: Ollie Dabbous, Brad Farmerie, James Knappet and Gabriel Rucker


• Dinner Series: Aaron Franklin’s Stumptown Coffee Cookout


• Dinner Series: Jason French and Chris Shepherd at Elder Hall


• Dinner Series: Heartlandia Dinner at The Country Cat Calico Room


• Dinner Series: David Briggs, Scott Dolich and Matt Lightner at Park Kitchen


• Dinner Series: Chris Cosentino, Sam Mason and Vitaly Paley at Paley’s Place

Saturday, September 19

• KitchenCru Dinner Series: Norway/Portland/Austin: Christopher Haatuft, Naomi Pomeroy, Kyle Linden Webster, Paul Qui, Will Preisch and Joel Stocks

Sunday, September 20

• KitchenCru Dinner Series: Crucifery, Vegetables Rock: Franklin Becker, Viet Pham, Katy Millard and Cathy Whims 

Tickets for each event are available for purchase and prices are all-inclusive of food and drink. To experience all of Feast Portland’s marquee events, “The Package” includes one ticket each to the Friday Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting,Saturday Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting, Sandwich Invitational, Night Market, Smoked! and Brunch Village for $530.

 

WHY WE FEAST

 

At its heart, Feast Portland is a festival with a mission, donating all net proceeds towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon and across the country through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and No Kid Hungry. Since 2012, Feast Portland has raised over $162,000 towards this cause.

 

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon (PHFO) builds pathways out of poverty by providing on-the-ground technical and financial assistance to over 300 local children’s meal programs. Over the past five years, PHFO has helped provide over 700,000 meals to at-risk kids in Oregon. With the help of the community and strategic advocacy, PHFO works to make basic needs like food, housing and childcare more accessible for millions of working families. No Kid Hungry, a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength, is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and have healthy meals in the summer, and that families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. Since the campaign’s launch, No Kid Hungry and its partners have connected kids struggling with hunger with more than 345 million healthy meals.

 

Support and connect with Feast Portland’s charitable partners on social media leading up to and during Feast Portland by using #whywefeast.

Hydro Fever FREE Open House

The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum is pleased to announce their Hydro Fever FREE Open House – May 23^rd.

Come and see your favorite Vintage Hydroplane. We have the largest collection of Gold Cup winning hydroplanes in the world like the Slo-mo-shun V, Bill Muncey’s Atlas Van Lines along with Chip Hanauer’s and the Griffon Budweiser and many more.

SEAFAIR Clowns will be making an appearance, come early.

Memorabilia vendors will be selling vintage buttons, pins, and programs.

A live auction will be held at noon of rare hydroplane memorabilia to benefit the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum.

Casper model boat races will be taking place all day for the kids.

Food & Drink will be available for purchase.

Fun will be had by all!

 

Questions can be emailed to info@thunderboats.org

More information can be found on our web site: hydromuseum.org

Northwest Wine & Cheese Tour - Awaken Your Palette to the Flavors of Spring on the Olympic Peninsula

Spring on the Olympic Peninsula is time for discovering creative pairings of new wine and cider releases with locally crafted artisan cheeses during the region’s annual Northwest Wine & Cheese Tour. This year, hard cider enthusiasts can enjoy the tour debut of Port Townsend’s Alpenfire Cider, the third cidery to participate on the tour. Alpenfire produces a variety of organic ciders and vinegars made from estate-grown French and English cider variety apples. A total of ten wineries and cideries located in the Peninsula towns of Chimacum, Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles, and on Marrowstone Island will welcome tour-goers on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 from 11 am – 5 pm.

Advance tickets for the self-guided tour are available online for $25.00, or $30.00 at the door of participating wineries. Tour tickets include wine and cheese tasting at all ten wineries and cideries plus a commemorative wine glass. Independently, each venue charges a $5.00 tasting fee. Visit www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/nwwinecheese.php.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

•          Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Chimacum, is celebrating the sweetness of Spring with the release of its Honey Meadow botanical cider and honey-fermented Cyser.  Enjoy these sips of the season with beautiful bites of chèvre from local goat dairy, Mystery Bay Farm. Visitors will also enjoy Pane D'Amore cheese sticks hot out of the oven!

•          Marrowstone Vineyards, located in the town of Nordland on Marrowstone Island, is teaming up with Mt. Townsend Creamery to offer pairings of three new wine releases with delicious, locally made cheeses. Wine releases include the 2014 Wedding Day Chardonnay, 2014 Riesling Come Home,2014 Gewurztraminer and the 2013 Black Cat Pinot Noir.

•          In Port Townsend, Lullaby Winery will feature a curated selection of cheeses from France and the Pacific Northwest for pairing with its wines. The patio will be open and visitors will be able to purchase wines by the glass.

•          At FairWinds Winery, also in Port Townsend, sample current wine releases paired with a selection of cheeses by award-winning Mt. Townsend Creamery.

•          Alpenfire Cider, Port Townsend, will pair three hard ciders with Chimacum Valley Dairy’s West Valley Wheel Cheese and nut-based pastries from Port Townsend’s Pastry Design by Anca. Ciders include Spark! Semi-Sweet, Calypso Blackberry Rum Cider, and Smoke Barrel Aged Cider.

•          Another Port Townsend cidery, Eaglemount Wine & Cider, will pair its wines and ciders with cheeses from Whiskey Hill Goat Dairy and Crimson Cove Smoked Specialty, a smoke house located in Poulsbo specializing in smoked cheeses. New releases include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Rhubarb Cider and Raspberry Ginger Cider.

•          In Sequim, Wind Rose Cellars will pair its award-winning wines with the award-winning cheeses of Chehalis’ Black Sheep Creamery. A new vintage of Bell Bottom White, a delicious off dry Muscato, will be released for the tour. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the winery will host jazz singer Jenny Davis and award-winning pianist Eric Verlinde.

•          Olympic Cellars, Port Angeles, is celebrating with a Cinco de Mayo theme! Golden Glenn Creamery of Bow, Wash. is back this year with favorite cheeses for pairing with Madeleine Angevine 2014, Chardonnay 2014, Unoaked , and Dungeness Red – Lemberger 2013, an “Old World” grape with origins in Austria and Germany, this is Olympic Cellar’s heritage wine. Local jazz musician Al Harris will perform from Noon – 2 p.m. on Saturday.

•          Also in Port Angeles, Camaraderie Cellars will host Willapa Hills Creamery - delicious cheeses made from sheep and cow’s milk. New wine releases include the 2012 Malbec and 2012 Madrona. Visitors can also savor tasty bites of Northwest mac and cheese with smoked salmon from Michael’s Seafood and Steakhouse.

•          Harbinger Winery, Port Angeles, will pair some of its award-winning wines and new releases with the raw, organic cheeses of Cascadia Creamery. Try cheese samples with alluring names such as Sleeping Beauty, Glacier Blue, and Cloud Cap. Harbinger will also pour its wine made from locally grown grapes, Sieg-MA.

Take a spring drive to the scenic Olympic Peninsula and enjoy a tour that’s too good to miss.

More information at www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/nwwinecheese.php

ABOUT THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA WINERIES
The Olympic Peninsula Wineries are a group of hands-on owners/winemakers committed to handcrafting excellent, award-winning Washington wines. Each winery offers visitors friendly hospitality and a unique, memorable experience. Owners/winemakers are often available to personally pour for the visitors in their tasting rooms and to answer questions. Many of our members utilize grapes from eastern Washington's great vineyards while others harvest their own fruit grown on this side of the mountains. In either case, these Washington wines are made using classic methods that produce the perfect complement to a meal -- be it a picnic on the winery grounds or the most elegant of candlelight dinners.

Bobby Brown & Yuki Tsubota Win Men's and Women's World Skiing Invitational Slopestyle and Vincent Gagnier & Giulia Tanno Win Gibbons Big Air at World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler

The World Skiing Invitational (WSI) continued yesterday at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival in the Blackcomb Terrain Park at Whistler Blackcomb. Bobby Brown and Yuki Tsubota took the wins in the men’s and women’s Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) World Tour Finals Slopestyle and Vincent Gagnier and Giulia Tanno came out on top at the AFP World Tour Finals Gibbons Big Air.

In the best-of two run Men’s Slopestyle Finals, Bobby Brown (USA) held on to the highest score of 88.67, landing him on top of the podium with an $8,000 cheque. Taking home $4,500 in second place was McRae Williams (USA) with a score of 87.92 and rounding out the podium in third place for $2,000 was Antoine Adelisse (FRA) with an 86.25.

Whistler local Yuki Tsubota (CAN) brought her top game to the Women’s Slopestyle Finals earning her a score of 80.50 and a well-deserved first place and $5,000. Finishing the slopestyle season strong in second and third places for $3,000 and $1,500 was Katie Summerhayes (GBR) with a 78.33 and Kim Lamarre (CAN) with a score of 74.00.

Although the location of the Gibbons Big Air jump may have changed this year, the game was the same as skiers wowed the crowd on Blackcomb Mountain Saturday afternoon. In the average score from the best two out of three jump format, Vincent Gagnier (CAN) showcased his signature smooth style with a perfect right 1620 with a genie grab and a right 1260 with an octo grab earning him the top score of 88.50 and the grand prize of a 2015 Arctic Cat M 800 153 sled, valued at approximately $16,000. James Woods (GBR) grabbed second place and $4,000 with a switch right 1080 with lead octo grab and a well-executed right 1260 tail grab for a score of 84.83. In third place winning $2,000 was Elias Ambuehl (SUI), stomping a left double 1260 tail grab and a switch left 1260 mute Japan grab for a score of 82.33.

The Women’s Big Air competition was run simultaneously with the Women’s Slopestyle and it was Giulia Tanno’s (SUI) switch 900 that earned her a score of 83.50 for first place and a new GIANT Reign bike. Katie Summerhayes (GBR) threw a 1080 with a japan grab for a score of 79.50 to earn second place and $1,000 and Sennheiser Momentum headphones. In third place, winning $500 and Sennheiser Momentum headphones was Yuki Tsubota (CAN) who threw a 720 tail grab for a score of 77.50.

Complete results from the World Skiing Invitational can be found at www.wssf.com.

Tickets to the evening gala events are now available for purchase at www.wssf.com.

To connect with the World Ski & Snowboard Festival online, Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival has a brand new mobile app called WSSF Live. It is available for FREE in the App Store for Apple and Android phones.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is produced by Watermark Communications, a Whistler‐based event production & communications company, and presented in partnership with Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb. April 2015 marks the 20^th annual World Ski & Snowboard Festival and will celebrate how the event has grown over the years into the largest annual winter sports and music festival in North America. WSSF is a 10 day and night showcase of the best of snow sports, music, arts and mountain culture. Featuring major professional ski and snowboarding competitions, the largest annual free outdoor concert series in Canada, photography and film showcases, and spring skiing at Whistler Blackcomb, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival is the poster child for the ultimate ski and snowboard festival experience. In blazing the way for the youth of tomorrow, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival embodies the mantra: ‘Party in April. Sleep in May.’

From 70s Mood to Prep Chic; Spring Trends are Artful and Modern at The Bellevue Collection

Spring trends bring out the modern and artful side of fashion this season as featured in The Bellevue Collection’s Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Look Book. Designed for the ‘Modern Muse’ in us all, these trends are perfect for individuals who are independent thinkers and know themselves as well as they know the contents of their closets. This season’s go-to looks in fashion and accessories feature contemporary and classic styles in a refreshing and modern blend.

The Bellevue Collection’s key spring trends will also be featured on the runway at the Canvas of Style Runway Show, Saturday, April 25, 9:00 am in Bellevue Square, Center Court with 100% of ticket sales to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue’s BE a Smart Girl Program.

Official trends include:

• Denim Luxe: Modern, tailored denim suitable for evening and workplace.


• In The 70s Mood: The free spirited vibe of the 1970s via inspired silhouettes and accessories.


• Leading Lady: Tailored design elements and soft feminine features. Uncomplicated and flattering, the look is pretty personified.


• Bold Blooms: Bold, bright florals pack serious punch. Balance large-scale graphic blooms with soft fabrics and ultra femme colors.


• Prep Chic: A modern twist on country club classics highlighting gingham prints, polos and cardigans.


• Bohemian Spirit: A fresh take on modern Bohemia with a rich color pallet, throwback prints and dreamy fabrics with a free-spirited nature.


• Global Travel: Discover khaki tones in trench coats and travel-easy linens paired with exotic accessories.


• White Out: Explore a range of white hues, from bone to cream to ecru. Create interesting layers and proportions through a mix of soft shades while keeping accessories small and simple.

 

Spring Beauty Trends

• Smokey Brown Eye and Bitten Lip: This barely-there eye look delivers warmth and radiance. A bitten lip features lightly brushed color and avoids lip edges creating a “just bitten” look.


• Elevated Bohemian Braid: The essential look for the season is this loose side braid that projects an effortless attitude with a bohemian vibe.

 

See the trends come to life in the exclusive “Behind the Scenes” video of The Collection’s Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Look Book photo shoot and in two all new beauty tutorial videos. See what it takes to produce the fashion guide of the season and learn how to recreate the beauty trends as seen in the Look Book with step by step instructions from hair and makeup artist Lindsey Watkins. Visit bellevuecollection.com/springfashion to view the Look Book and videos and purchase your Spring 2015 Canvas of Style Runway Show tickets.

 

About The Bellevue Collection

Located in the heart of Bellevue, Washington, The Bellevue Collection, owned by Kemper Development Company, includes Bellevue Square, a super-regional upscale shopping center, Bellevue Place, a mixed-use property featuring the Hyatt Regency Bellevue and small boutiques and Lincoln Square, anchored by Lincoln Square Cinemas, restaurants, home furnishings and The Westin Bellevue. This distinctive collection features 250 of the finest shops, 30 destination restaurants, a 16-screen premier cinema, 1,100 luxury hotel rooms and 10,000 free retail parking spaces, all in one location. The Bellevue Collection is a shopping, dining and nightlife, and entertainment experience unlike any other in the region. It is located on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 10th Streets in downtown Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from Seattle.

@BelleCollection (Bellevue Collection Twitter) ∙ @BellesVue (Belle’s Vue Twitter) ∙ @BellevueCollection (Bellevue Collection Instagram) ∙ facebook.com/bellevuecollection

FILM TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR INTERSECTION PRESENTED BY BROMLEY BASEBOARDS AT THE WORLD SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL

Intersection, presented by Bromley Baseboards returns to the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) in Whistler, BC for its fifth year on April 17, 2015. The action sports film competition has become one of the signature events on the WSSF schedule and has seen some of the top ski and snowboard crews battle it out over the years for the title of Best In Show and the $10,000 grand prize.

In celebration of WSSF’s 20^th year in Whistler, some format changes have been made to the Intersection submission requirements for 2015. For the first time ever, crews will be allowed to use footage shot anywhere in the world from December 1, 2014 onward in their films. In previous years, crews were required to only use footage shot within 100km of Whistler, BC and all teams had the same seven day window to shoot, edit and produce their submission. The decision to switch up the format for 2015 was made to make the contest more accessible to teams from all over the world and hopefully attract some new crews to the event.

“We have been really fortunate to have had some incredibly talented teams compete in Intersection over the years,” says Jaime Kerrigan, Multimedia Events Producer for the World Ski & Snowboard Festival. “For the fifth year of the event and our 20^th annual WSSF, we were hoping to spread our reach to give even more crews the opportunity to get involved. In addition, with this new format for 2015 audience members will get to check out some of the best ski and snowboard footage captured this year, and they will get to see it before everyone else does. So that’s really exciting and we are pumped to see what this year’s teams put together.”

With an extended timeframe and no limits to location, each of the chosen crews have been tasked with producing a unique five to seven minute edit that incorporates an artistic vision and a whole lot of shredding. Seventy-five per cent of all footage must be on snow, plus all crews must somehow acknowledge WSSF’s 20 year history in their submission.

The crews participating in Intersection this year at WSSF include:

Full Moon Film

Full Moon Film is a creative documentary about connecting the past, present and future of women's snowboarding with some of the best current pro snowboarders in the world. This crew will be traveling in search of the best powder, right in their own backyard of beautiful British Columbia.  These women will be exploring everything from the mountains to the ocean and everything in between, showcasing personality and progressive riding. The film will feature riding from Leanne Pelosi, Marie France Roy, Robin Van Gyn, Hana Beaman, Annie Boulanger, Helen Schettini, Jamie Anderson, Tara Dakides and Barrett Christy.

Kontakt Films
Team Kontakt Films presents ON. Weekends, a short film focusing on the freestyle snowboarding scene in Ontario. Based in a province where the biggest resort has a vertical drop of 720ft, Kontakt Films has recognized Ontario is still a breeding ground for some of the best freestyle snowboarders in Canada. From a new and innovative rail jam in downtown Toronto, to the annual grassroots DownLow competition at Mt. St. Louis Moonstone, to a strictly fun session with friends, ON. Weekends will show a cross section of freestyle snowboarding in Ontario and demonstrate the province’s passion for the sport.

Legs of Steel

Legs of Steel was born in 2009, produced from the ideas and passion of four friends and professional freeskiers with the common goal of making high quality and innovative ski movies. The crew is in the final stages of filming for the fall 2015 release of their two year project, titled Passenger. The edit they will be producing for Intersection is an excerpt from a European Alps segment from their full-length film and will celebrate the 20 year history of the World Ski & Snowboard Festival.

Meanwhile in Canada
In 2014, the Meanwhile in Canada crew travelled from Vancouver to Halifax in an RV to produce a cross-Canada urban ski film. The project was hugely successful and even won the Best AM Film Award at the International Freeskiing Film Festival this fall. After the Canadian West Coast experienced an unusually mild winter, the crew decided to return to the RV in search of finding colder temperatures in Canada’s great white north. Mack Jones, Rob Heule, Pat Slimmon, Graeme Meiklejohn and Stewart Medford combine forces for another urban ski epic with their latest project, Ski The North.

UBC Freeride Collab
The UBC Freeride Collab brings together the next generation of skiers, snowboarders and filmmakers to present a look into their lives chasing winter.

The Wildcats

The iconic Wildcats crew, who first made their mark on snowboarding over 15 years ago, have reunited to produce a new full length movie called Wildcats Never Die. The film will celebrate the crew’s long history in the industry while at the same time recognizing the new faces of snowboarding. The crew has travelled the globe in search of this season’s best snow and has captured some amazing riding in the process. The film will feature Devun Walsh, Eero Niemela, Ryan Tiene, Benji Ritchie, Charles Reid, Romain deMarche, Jf Pelchat, Iikka Backstrom, Kale Stephens, Gaetan Chanut, Chris Brown, Chris Dufficy, and all the original Wildcats.

Whistler Creek Productions

Whistler Creek Productions’ latest project, Balance, follows the legendary David Carrier Porcheron (aka DCP) as he reflects on snow, skate and surf culture. The film explores the global hotspots of boarding culture, including Whistler, Indonesia, Shanghai and Norway, and will feature riding from DCP, Terje Haakonsen, Manuel Diaz, Clint Allan, Taj Burrow, Rizal Tanjung, David Gonzalez, and many others.

More information about Intersection, including ticket information, is available at wssf.com/Intersection.

 

Don’t Miss…

The WSSF Outdoor Concert Series, featuring free daily concerts in Skier’s Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain every day from April 10 to 19. Recent additions to the Outdoor Concert Series lineup include The Sociables, Live In The House, Case of the Mondays, Railway Prophets, Neph, Animal Nation and LOZEN. More information available at wssf.com/Free-Outdoor-Concert-Series.

The Silent Disco, taking place at the Garibaldi Lift Company (GLC) at the base of Whistler Mountain on April 17. Attendees will be provided with headphones and can then choose between listening to DJ Canosis, DJ Foxy Moron or Kid Kicko as they dance the night away. More information available at wssf.com/Silent-Disco.

Tickets to the evening gala events are now available for purchase at www.wssf.com.

 

To connect with the World Ski & Snowboard Festival online, Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

 

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival has a brand new mobile app called WSSF Live. It is available for FREE in the App Store for Apple and Android phones.

Bacon and Beer Classic to Take Over Safeco Field, Home of the Seattle Mariners on May 2nd

Bacon and beer lovers the anticipation is over! The Bacon and Beer Classic is back in Seattle on Saturday, May 2^nd at Safeco Field!

Now in its second year, the Bacon and Beer Classic combines bacon, beer, and the ballpark for an event not soon forgotten!

Cannonball Productions brings the Bacon and Beer Classic (www.baconandbeerclassic.com) to the home of the Mariners, for a unique tasting experience on May 2.  Fans can attend the Brunch session from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., or the Evening session running 7p.m. until 10 p.m. VIP guests will have 1-hour early admission (11am and 6pm respectively), exclusive entrance to the VIP area on the warning track and dugouts, samples of craft beer on the field, and more! The option to attend both sessions is available, however separate entrance tickets are required.

The Bacon and Beer Classic is a one-of-a-kind event uniting bacon and beer enthusiasts nationwide.  Hosted in major league baseball stadiums on non-game day Saturdays across America, The Bacon and Beer Classic brings in the best local breweries and restaurants for a day full of mouth-watering beer and bacon samples, accompanied by DJs, interactive games, beer schools and cooking demos. From novice tasters to expert consumers, there is something for everyone at this event!

The tour visited New York City and Seattle last year and has grown exponentially to include more than eight destinations nationwide this year!  “Seattle was a great kickoff to the Bacon and Beer Classic series last year and we are so excited to be BACK at Safeco Field!” says Kate Levenstien, founder of Cannonball Productions and Bacon and Beer Classic.  “Seattle is a dream town for foodies with some of the best restaurants and breweries in the world! We have even more vendors onboard than last year and cannot wait for everyone to taste all of the BEST local flavors of Seattle!”

The all-star line up of breweries and restaurants participating grows each day.  Over 40 local brewers including Elysian Brewery, Georgetown Brewery, Snoqualmie Falls, Northwest Brewing Company, and Fish Brewing Company are all signed up to serve at least two of their most coveted craft selections.  Chefs from 40+ expected restaurants are challenged to bring their most inventive and delicious bacon-inspired dishes to the plate.  Local restaurants including Dumpling Tzar, Manhattan Seattle, Hard Rock Café, Rhein Haus, Boom Noodle and Duke’s Chowder House will be dishing out their best bacon bites. The combination of refreshing craft beer and delectable bacon is sure to please all palettes!

The Bacon and Beer Classic brings in an all-star lineup at each event to judge all the sips and tastes, and award winners in select categories.  Seattle’s judging panel includes; Ethan Stowell, Chef/Owner of Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Charles Koh, Founder of EatSeattle, Ann Peavey, Chef Concierge and Blogger/Photographer, and Desiree and Chris Siegfried, of ABC's The Bachelorette.

The Bacon and Beer Classic is always an all-inclusive event! General Admission tickets are $59 and they are going fast!  Fans may choose to purchase the VIP Experience ticket for $99. All tickets include a souvenir Bacon and Beer Classic branded glass to take home. Designated driver tickets are available at a cost of $29.

Cannonball Productions works hard to make a national series event feel personal to each city.  They partner with neighborhood vendors and organizations to give this event that local hometown feel. This year they have partnered with One Brick, a charity that brings volunteers together to help share this experience with the community.

For up-to-date information on the event, please visit:http://www.baconandbeerclassic.com/

Direct link to tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattles-bacon-and-beer-classic-2015-tickets-14897399523?aff=website

Facebook: facebook.com/bandbclassic

Twitter: @bandbclassic

Instagram: bandbclassic

Hashtag: #bandbclassic

Chaplin’s Subaru and the City of Bellevue Present the Lake to Lake Bike Ride, June 13, 2015

Bring out the whole family for this enjoyable, non-competitive ride, as you explore the hidden treasures of Bellevue while emphasizing bicyclist awareness and rules of the road/trail.  Rain or shine.   Benefiting the City of Bellevue Youth camp scholarship fund.

Start/Finish:             Lake Hills Community Park, 1200-164th Avenue SE

(164th Avenue SE & SE 16th Street)

Day of event registration:

Opens at 8 a.m.; Start area open 9-10 a.m.

All participants must sign in/register and will be provided with a suggested route map.  The course will be marked and well-supported by staff and volunteers.

 

Registration and Entry fees:  $15 pre-registration, $20 day of event

 

Refreshments:        Pre and Post event beverages and snacks.

Aid station on longer “Lake” Loop.

Routes:                     Greenbelt Loop—mostly flat  9-mile route; Lake  Loop--more challenging 22-mile route with significant elevation gain.  The routes are approximately 80% on-road and 20% off-road gravel.

For more information:  425-452-4882,  bikeride@bellevuewa.gov

To register:              http://parksreg.bellevuewa.gov/     course #95182
Equipment:              A portion of the course is on unpaved surfaces, it is recommended to use a bike that can handle some dirt and gravel.  The event will have a bike mechanic from Gregg’s on site at the start to assist with safety checks and minor repairs. All riders must wear helmets.

Event Sponsors:    Chaplin’s Subaru, Escape Outdoors, Skout nutrition, John Duggan Cycling Attorney, Honest Tea, Whole Foods, Sports Authority  Gregg’s Cycles, Starbucks, Half Pops, Fitness, Pace Sportswear, KAVU sportswear, SOS socks , Golazo Sports Drink, Jamba Juice, Top Pot Doughnuts,  Starbucks Gregg’s Cycles

Prizes/Schwag:       Post event prize give-away.  All participants will receive a custom designed t-shirt and various freebies at the post event prize give-away.  Custom event socks to the first 150 people to register.

Event Partner:         Cycle the Wave, Bellevue Downtown Association

Requirements:       All participants must obey the rules of the road and trail.  Recommended for ages 8 and up. (Greenbelt loop). All riders under age 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult on all rides.

Skullcandy State of the Art Back at World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Skullcandy State Of The ART returns to the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) this spring to showcase international talent and encourage local inspiration. Skullcandy State Of The ART is a creative mix of mountain culture and artistic minds, which perfectly embodies the ethos of WSSF.  The gallery, showcasing over 50 artists, is set up in the Grand Foyer of the Whistler Conference Centre for the entire 10 days of WSSF and is free admission for attendees.

The Skullcandy State Of The ART Opening Party will kick things off on April 10 from 8pm to midnight. Guests will be able to rub shoulders with the featured artists, soak in the interactive demonstrations and of course, get first crack at purchasing a unique piece of art. The party will feature DJ Vinyl Ritchie spinning 45s, live caricatures from filmmaker Murray Siple, models dressed in clothing art by Angela Cooney, and performance art presented by Pokosha, a clothing brand from Squamish, BC.

The Skullcandy State Of The ART gallery will be open to the public from 12pm to 6pm daily with no entry fee required until after 8pm when tickets are necessary to enter the Whistler Conference Centre for evening gala events. There will be a cash bar and a DJ spinning in the gallery before all of the evening events, including the OLYMPUS 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown, the OLYMPUS Pro Photographer Showdown and Intersection, presented by Bromley Baseboards. The only exception is during the Silence of the Slams invitational roller derby bout on April 11 when the State Of The ART gallery will remain open with free access for the general public during the bout.

Skullcandy has partnered with Zero Ceiling once again this year to help raise funds for the Whistler-based charity. Twenty-five headphones will be painted by State Of The ART artists and will be on display in the gallery for the duration of the Festival. These one of a kind headphones will be available to bid on by silent auction with one hundred per cent of the proceeds going directly to Zero Ceiling’s life changing programs.

To encourage younger generations to be creative, Skullcandy State Of The ART will once again feature a Youth Gallery, which will host a collection of art and skateboards painted by young Whistler artists. There will also be a Creation Station where various experienced artists will be doing live art demonstrations between 3-6pm every day.

There will also be a photography wall and a topsheet art display from Prior Skis & Snowboards in the gallery.

WSSF will once again be hosting an online store to complement the Skullcandy State Of The ART gallery so the featured art can be browsed and purchased online. The online store will showcase all the same works featured in the State Of The ART gallery and can be viewed at www.artstore.wssf.com. The online store goes live at 11:11pm on April 3 and will remain open through to April 20.

For more information about Skullcandy State Of The ART at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival, visit www.wssf.com/event/state-art.

Don’t Miss…

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival keeps the party going well into the night with a full lineup of nightlife and official after parties, including:

April 12: Grown Up In The Mountain – A Comedy Show at Maxx Fish

April 15: The OLYMPUS 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown official after party at the Longhorn Saloon

April 17: The Official Intersection presented by Bromley Baseboards after party with DJ Billy The Kidd at Garfinkles

April 17:  Hedspin with DJ Dakota and DJ Corner at the Longhorn Saloon

Additional information is available at wssf.com/Parties-and-Nightlife.

Tickets to the evening gala events are now available for purchase at www.wssf.com.

To connect with the World Ski & Snowboard Festival online, Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival has a brand new mobile app called WSSF Live. It is available for FREE in the App Store and Google Play Store for Apple and Android phones.

MSTRKRFT and Swollen Members Added to the World Ski & Snowboard Festival Music Lineup

Plus New Events: The Monster Energy In The Beginning Party At The Bearfoot Bistro, The Whistler Comedy Showdown and Girls Gettin’ It Done Movie Night 

WHISTLER, BC – March 27, 2015 – Even more music has been added to the Outdoor Concert Series and Kokanee Freeride Club Series lineup at the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) in Whistler, BC.

MSTRKRFT will play a free show in Skier’s Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain on Sunday, April 19 to close out the WSSF Outdoor Concert Series. MSTRKRFT will turn the energy up and have the crowd dancing one last time before the 20^th annual WSSF begins to wind down for another year.

Swollen Members will play a free show in Skier’s Plaza on Saturday, April 11, following the Gibbon’s Big Air which will be held in the Nintendo Terrain Park on Blackcomb Mountain. Swollen Members has close ties with the Festival and have been a part of the WSSF Outdoor Concert Series lineup more times than any other band in WSSF’s 20 year history.

Longstride has joined the Outdoor Concert Series lineup on April 15 and will also play a Kokanee Freeride Club Series show at the Longhorn later that night.

Smalltown DJs, DJ Pump and Illo have all been confirmed to play Monster Energy’s In The Beginning party at the Bearfoot Bistro on Saturday, April 11. In The Beginning is a new event for 2015 and has been added to the WSSF schedule of events to kick things off in true Whistler style. Tickets are available for purchase at wssf.com/In-the-Beginning.

Also new for 2015, the Whistler Comedy Showdown is happening on Tuesday, April 14. The Whistler Comedy Showdown is a stand-up comedy competition featuring a lineup of both newbies and well-known comedians from the Sea to Sky Corridor. The competition will be held at Buffalo Bills with two preliminary rounds, the first on March 31 and the second on April 7. The top three comedians from each show (plus wildcards) will move on to the finale round on April 14 during WSSF. Details and ticket information available at wssf.com/Whistler-Comedy-Showdown.

Girls Gettin’ It Done: Monday Movie Night is another new event on the WSSF schedule for 2015. The event will celebrate women in sport and film and will leave viewers feeling empowered and inspired. The night will feature two films: The Little Things and Pretty Faces. The Little Things, by Darcy Turenne and Marie-France Roy is a snowboard movie project with a serious environmental message, while Pretty Faces from Unicorn Picnic Productions is an all-girl ski film that celebrates the women who are pushing the sport of skiing and living life to the fullest. More information about the event and the films is available at wssf.com/Girls-Gettin-It-Done.

For those who want to get involved with the World Ski & Snowboard Festival:

Registration is now open for the Monster Energy Shred Show Boarderstyle. Entry is free but interested athletes must register online in advance at wssf.com/The-Shred-Show. This year’s event will see a new women’s category and over $6,000 in total prize money. Online registration closes April 14 at 5pm PST.

Filmmakers can now register to compete in the OLYMPUS 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown. Participants have 72 hours to film, edit and deliver a three to five minute short film all shot within 100km of Whistler beginning April 10. Up to ten films will be selected by an esteemed review panel and screened at the Whistler Conference Centre in front of a live audience on Wednesday, April 15. There is over $10,000 in prizing on the line for the team that wins Best In Show and Olympus is offering a bonus prize of an additional $5,000 if the winning film is shot entirely using Olympus cameras and lenses. More information available at http://www.wssf.com/filmmaker-registration.

WSSF is always looking for volunteers to help out behind the scenes to help put on Whistler’s biggest party of the season. People interested in volunteering can register at wssf.com/Volunteer.

For those who want to make a difference:

The Sea to Sky Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser returns to WSSF on Sunday, April 12, where men from up and down the Sea to Sky Corridor will rally together to raise awareness in our community about the serious causes, effects and remediation of violence against women. Participants will don bright red high heels and march through Whistler Village at 4pm. Advanced registration is available at wssf.com/Walk-A-Mile-in-Her-Shoes or men can sign up on the day in front of Moguls Coffee House at 3pm. All proceeds from the event go to support the Whistler Women’s Centre.

Whistler Dog Fest returns to WSSF on Saturday, April 18. Dog Fest has been a part of the WSSF schedule since 1998 because Whistler knows canine companions like to party too. A fundraiser for the BC Humane Society, this year’s event will include a dog parade, exhibitions, agility demonstrations and competitions. More information will be posted to wssf.com/Whistler-DogFest as it becomes available.

WSSF’s annual Best of the Fest event will take place at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are available at wssf.com/Best-of-the-Fest with all proceeds from the event going to Playground Builders, a charitable organization that builds safe play areas for children in underprivileged or war-torn regions. The winning shows from the Olympus 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown, Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown and Intersection will be shown at the event.

For the kids and the young at heart:

Big Air Bear, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival’s official mascot, will celebrate his 13^th birthday with his cuddly companions at Mascot Mayhem on Sunday, April 19. Families are welcome to join Big Air Bear and his best friends for cake, games and good times in Whistler’s Village Square at 12:30pm. More information available at wssf.com/Mascot-Mayhem.

Tickets to the evening gala events are now available for purchase at www.wssf.com.

To connect with the World Ski & Snowboard Festival online, Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival has a brand new mobile app called WSSF Live. It is available for FREE in the App Store for Apple and Android phones.

The World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is produced by Watermark Communications, a Whistler‐based event production & communications company, and presented in partnership with Tourism Whistler and Whistler Blackcomb. April 2015 will mark the 20^th annual World Ski & Snowboard Festival and will celebrate how the event has grown over the years into the largest annual winter sports and music festival in North America. WSSF is a 10 day and night showcase of the best of snow sports, music, arts and mountain culture. Featuring major professional ski and snowboarding competitions, the largest annual free outdoor concert series in Canada, photography and film showcases, and spring skiing at Whistler Blackcomb, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival is the poster child for the ultimate ski and snowboard festival experience. In blazing the way for the youth of tomorrow, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival embodies the mantra: ‘Party in April. Sleep in May.’

Pike Place Market to Hold Annual Arcade Lights Festival April 24

Arcade Lights, the annual one-night tasting festival at Pike Place Market returns on Friday, April 24 and will feature more than 70 local purveyors, including Seattle’s best craft breweries, artisan food vendors, local wineries, distilleries and specialty drink makers.

As a longtime starting ground for small, local businesses with big ideas like Rachel’s Ginger Beer, Britt’s Pickles and Ellenos Yogurt, Pike Place Market gathers the best and the brightest purveyors in the region under one roof for just one night at Arcade Lights. The challenge is what to taste first!

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy returning favorites, such as City Fish, Pike Brewing Company, Piroshky Piroshky, The Yellow Leaf Cupcake, Veraci Pizza, Wildridge Winery, and more. Several new purveyors will also be joining Arcade Lights this year, including Bake My Day, Bavarian Meats, Copperworks Distillery, Pike Place Chowder, Red Duck Foods, and others.

Arcade Lights benefits the Pike Place Market Foundation, a major funder of five social service agencies located in Pike Place Market that support low income families and individuals including, a food bank, senior center, childcare and preschool, medical clinic and assisted living facility.

Arcade Lights is sponsored by Seattle Met, Vigor Industrial, Dry Soda and Pike Place Market PDA.

Entry fee includes 10 tokens redeemable for your choice of food and beverage and a keepsake glass. Additional tokens are available for purchase at the event.  For guests 21 and over.

 

What:	Arcade Lights, a one-night celebration of artisan food, craft beer and Washington wine
When:	Friday, April 24, 7 - 10 p.m.
Where:	Pike Place Market: North Arcade at Pike Place and Pine Street
Tickets:	http://2015arcadelights.bpt.me/$60     General Admission, 7 p.m. $80     Early Entry, 6:30 p.m. Your opportunity to enjoy the festival 30 minutes before General Admission! $120    VIP Tasting, 6 p.m. Access to VIP lounge with comfortable seating, exclusive tastings from local elite artisan vendors (no tokens required), 5 extra tokens, plus early entry into main arcade tasting area Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the U.S. It is a Historic District with 250 commercial businesses, 80 farmers, 225 craftspeople, 400 street performers, and 500 residents. In addition, there are social services to help downtown’s low-income residents. It is often called the “Soul of Seattle.” The Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) is a not-for-profit, public corporation chartered by the City of Seattle in 1973 to manage the properties in the nine-acre Market Historic District. The PDA is required to preserve, rehabilitate and protect the Market’s buildings, increase opportunities for farm and food retailing in the Market, incubate and support small and marginal businesses, and provide services for low-income people. www.pikeplacemarket.org

Winemaker Dinner Series announced for Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – The World of Merlot

Tickets are on sale now for the Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – The World of Merlot Saturday night winemaker dinner series. Participants can choose from one of 10 intimate dinners held at locations throughout the Valley. It’s an exclusive opportunity to wine and dine with winemakers and principals while enjoying food prepared by some of Walla Walla's most celebrated chefs.

“The winemaker dinner series offers patrons the chance to spend one-on-one time with our Valley’s winemakers,” said Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. “The dinner locations range from wineries set above vineyards, to urban downtown spaces and restaurants – providing a range of experiences to choose from.”

The winemaker dinner series is the grand finale of the three-day Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine event, which begins the evening of Thursday, June 18 with a vintage pour tasting at Dunham Cellars featuring a limited number of Walla Walla Valley wines from the 2008 vintage or earlier. The following morning of June 19, internationally-known wine critic Stephen Tanzer and Master Sommelier Fred Dame will serve as keynote speakers for a kick-off session at the historic Gesa Power House Theatre in downtown Walla Walla.  Tanzer, the Editor-in-Chief at Vinous, has been one of the most respected wine critics in the world since the launch of his wine publication, the International Wine Cellar, in 1985.  Dame was the first American to pass all three parts of the Master Sommelier Examination in one year, and also the first American to have served as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide.

Following the kick-off event on Friday, Sean Sullivan, contributing editor to Wine Enthusiast and founder of Washington Wine Report, will moderate an afternoon panel made up of winemakers from the Walla Walla Valley, the Bordeaux region of France, Napa Valley, California and Tuscany, Italy. Participants will have a rare opportunity to compare and contrast the growing conditions and wine styles from each region, and taste Merlot from all six producers:

·         Marty Clubb, L’Ecole N° 41 | Walla Walla Valley

·         Casey McClellan, Seven Hills Winery | Walla Walla Valley

·         David “Merf” Merfeld, Northstar | Walla Walla Valley

·         Renée Ary, Duckhorn Vineyards | Napa Valley, California

·         Vincent Lignac, Château Guadet | Bordeaux, France

·         Virginie Saverys, Avignonesi | Tuscany, Italy

On Friday evening, participants will be invited to take part in a special tasting of Merlot and Bordeaux-style white wines from more than 40 Walla Walla Valley wineries during a dinner featuring a line-up of acclaimed chefs.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Vintage Pour | Dunham Cellars | 4:30-6:30 p.m.

 

Friday, June 19, 2015

The World of Merlot: Kick-off Event | Gesa Power House Theater | 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Winemaker Panel Presentations and Tastings | Marcus Whitman Hotel | 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Merlot Wine Tasting & Dinner | Reid Center at Whitman College | 6:00-8:30 p.m.

 

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Winemaker Dinners around the Walla Walla Valley | 6:00-9:00 p.m.

 

Tickets on sale now at www.wallawallawine.com/celebrate.