Another huge reason to venture down is that it is being held in the Landmark Event Center, a grand, historic building that once served as the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington. Built in 1926, this majestic, six-story, castle-like building is so cool that you can get lost just walking around admiring it. And when you do come, be sure to check out the ultra-cool time capsule that’s set in the center of the front courtyard.

A quick lesson for all of you history buffs out there: In 1892 the seeds were planted for the establishment of a haven for needy Masons, their wives, widows and orphans. In 1922, the Masonic Lodges were favorable to the erection of a Home in Des Moines. On May 19, 1924 the site was purchased for $78,624.95 – a total of 82 acres. The building was dedicated on June 21, 1927. The first year the Home had 107 residents. Time and expenses caused many changes over the years, including the sale of a total of 47 of the original 82 acres. In 2003, a redevelopment plan for a new retirement community was unveiled. In the late 2000s, the redevelopment plans were put on hold and the Masonic organization opened up the building for use as an event center.

The Landmark Event Center truly is the Castle on the Hill. With beautiful grounds, stunning views and ornate architecture, we recommend that our wine festival attendees venture in and explore the dining hall, the library, living room and wander up the ramp to the third floor auditorium, paying special attention to the long-dead Grand Master Masons whose pictures line the wall, as well as some of the detailed touches, such as a marble plaque dated Feb. 12, 1913 near the entrance. It’s no wonder the Landmark Event Center’s tag line is “History, elegance and spectacular views…. all in one place!”

The Rotary Club of Des Moines has held the Poverty Bay Wine Festival in this historic site for the last three years. The entire gang behind our sister site The Waterland Blog will be there this year as well – so come on down!

For more information on the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to order tickets, please visit www.dmrotary.org.

Here’s a story first posted in March, 2009 when our sister site The Waterland Blog had its “coming out party” at the wine fest that gives a pretty good taste of the place:

by Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman

The Landmark On the Sound, host to this weekend’s Poverty Bay Wine Festival, has quite the Masonic history.

In 1926, the Masons decided to build a retirement home for themselves on a ridge with a commanding view of Puget Sound in the then-town of Zenith, which is now part of Des Moines. Constructed of slate and copper, Terra Cotta and Terrazzo, marble and stained glass, this majestic “castle on the hill” played host to the Des Moines Poverty Bay Wine Festival this weekend. This impressive 27-acre campus, as well as the historic Landmark building, is undergoing a complete renovation and expansion into a new senior living community.

In between manning our table, we had a chance to wander around, and on one such wandering, found our way to the top of a ramp near the second floor auditorium tasting room and performance stage, where we found some classic photos of previous Masonic Grand Masters.

Yes, that’s right – photos beginning with, as the caption on the picture says, “Our first Grand Master, Thornton F. McElroy,” [term beginning Dec. 8, 1858].

If you ever have a chance to visit this building, be sure to wander up the ramp and enjoy the mugs of such brethren Masonic luminaries as:

• Selucius Garfielde [1860]
• Yancey Crawford Blalock
• Platt Preston
• Asa Herbert Hankerson [1913]
• Elwood Evans
• Loomis Baldrey [1934]
• Audley F. Mahaffey [1967]

and, of course,

• Fred Winkels [1953]

We recommend re-reading the above names…ALOUD…to anyone in the room at home with you right now.

Particularly: Fred Winkels…and…Audley Mahaffey.

While our Waterland Blog Reporters were upstairs capturing the Grand Masters’ names and the Masonic spirit of the era, they happened to bump into a Wine Festival visitor today, one Phyllis Askren, daughter-in-law of Grand Master Thomas M. Askren, who served his term when Herbert Hoover was in the White House.

From left, Julian Lopez, Betty Askren-Lopez (granddaughter of Grand Master Thomas M. Askren) and Betty’s mother (Thomas’ daughter-in-law) Phyllis Askren.

Living history and enjoying great wine, one unique name at a time!

Ric Jacobson

For all of you wine connoisseurs out there, you will recognize and appreciate the following quote by Robert Mondavi:

“Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture.”

For Rotarian Ric Jacobson, owner of Corky Cellars in Des Moines, wine is also a lifetime passion. Ric brought to the Rotary Club of Des Moines the idea of a wine festival as a fund raiser, and we are pleased to say seven years later it has been a resounding success and is now a staple in the South King County area. We are also delighted to say that we have over 20 Washington wineries at this year’s festival. Each winery is well-known for the premiere quality of their wines and each bring their own personal story and tradition. One winery in particular has an amazing story that we would like to share with you.
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Otis Kenyon Winery is a family owned and managed winery with deep historical ties to the Walla Walla Valley. The story of Otis Kenyon Wine begins in the Walla Walla Valley in the early 1900s. A young man, James Otis Kenyon, was a struggling dentist practicing in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. When a new dentist moved to town, James, for reasons that remain a mystery, burned his competitor’s office to the ground. Ostracized by his wife and presumed dead by his two sons, the family moved to Walla Walla, Washington. Robert Otis Kenyon, the eldest son, never spoke of his father even to his son, Stephen Otis Kenyon. Yet, almost exactly 50 years after the incident that began the family legend, Steve discovered his grandfather living quietly on the Oregon coast.

James was reunited with his sons and became a joyful part of their families living long enough to witness the birth of his first great grandchild, Muriel. Although he passed on at age 101, James would have delighted in the birth and naming of his great grandson, Samuel Otis Kenyon.

Otis Kenyon label

Today, in tribute to four generations of Otis Kenyons each with strong ties to the Walla Walla Valley, owners Stephen Otis Kenyon and Deborah Dunbar have returned to the area to make wine. Guided by an unyielding commitment to excellence, they are passionate growers and producers of elegantly structured and affordable Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines.

In honor of James Otis Kenyon, the label bears his silhouette.

You’ll be able to sample Otis Kenyon wines at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which will be at the Landmark on the Sound Event Center the wekend of March 4-6th. Plus, come meet us and our co-bloggers from our sister site The Waterland Blog, who will be there all weekend, “blogging live” and hanging out, exploring the many Masonic mysteries of the historic Landmark on the Sound building (we’ll even show you where a time capsule is buried) – so come say hi!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Tickets are just $25.00 in advance, which includes 10 tasting tokens (tastings range from 1 – 3 tokens).
• Additional tasting tokens available for $1.00.
• Discounted Advance Ticket Sales end at Noon on Friday, March 4, 2011.
• Tickets purchased at the event will cost $30.00.
• Groups of 20 or more contact Ric Jacobson at 206-824-9462 for discount pricing.
• Wine Festival tickets are good for a one-day admission on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
• 21 and over ID Required at Door.
• No Pets Please.
• This is an indoor event with free parking and free shuttle service from the Des Moines Marina (limited parking available at site for $10.00 per day)

For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.dmrotary.org/.

Courtesy our friends at the Des Moines Rotary, here are this week’s Top 10 Reasons to attend the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, coming to the Landmark on the Sound the weekend of March 4-6th:

10. Tastings from 22 Northwest wineries, each sampling 2 or 3 wines.

9. Live music! Including Michael Powers, Susan Pascal, Uncle Ernie, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, and Tor Dietrichson with Mambo Cadillac.

8. If you’ve never been inside Landmark on the Sound, you owe it to yourself to see this magnificent architectural treasure.

7. Where else are you going to get wine, food, and live music all afternoon for $25? That’s the best deal in town!

6. Opening night is 15 Token Friday! You get five extra tasting tokens if you attend Friday evening.

5. Proceeds support all the projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines, including college scholarships, help for the hungry and homeless, and support for school children.

4. The Des Moines Rotary also reaches all around the world helping people in Haiti, the Philippines, Kenya, and many other countries with our international projects.

3. Did I mention the food? Fresh bread, cheese, smoked salmon, Salty’s clam chowder, Forte chocolate, and specialties from Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub!

2. As a bonus, we’ll have two car shows: Triumphs on Saturday and Mini Coopers on Sunday.

And the number one reason not to miss the Poverty Bay Wine Festival…

1. Not only will you be having a great time, you’ll be doing something good for our community and our world!

Now that you’re convinced, here are the details:

WHAT: WINE Tasting! Event includes complimentary wine glass and 10 tasting tokens. Additional tasting tokens available for $1.00 each. For more information or to purchase advance tickets online click here. If you attend the Friday night event, you will get 15 tokens per ticket!

WHEN: March 4-6, 2011:

• Friday, March 4, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Saturday, March 5, 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, March 6, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

WHERE: Landmark On The Sound, located at 23660 Marine View Drive South, Des Moines.

DRESS: Casual attire.

TICKETS: $30 at the door or $25 in advance good for a one-day admission on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday – buy them online here.

Ric Jacobson is the Des Moines Rotarian in charge of lining up the largest line-up of wineries – 25 – in the six year history of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which is coming to the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines on March 6th and 7th.

Ric reports that the following Northwest wineries will be at the festival on Saturday and Sunday to serve the guests. If you taste a wine you want to take home, bottles will be for sale at the event. All proceeds of the sale of wine will go directly to the Rotary Club of Des Moines, who use the funds for the many great things they do for the community.

The following wineries will be in attendance for the event:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (WLB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

Des Moines Rotarian, Dave Loft, in charge of food and goodies at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has lined up the “best of the best” for food and snacks for wine-fest guests:

• Des Moines’ Anthony’s HomePort
• Des Moines’ Salty’s at Redondo
• Charley’s on Central Avenue in Kent
• Cafe Pacific Catering
• Forte Chocolates
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Panera Bread
• Poverty Bay Coffee
• Waters to go
• Redondo Fred Meyer
• Archery Bistro
• Elliot Bay Brewery

The sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival is surely the hottest ticket in town – well lots of towns, surrounding Des Moines. Your ticket includes fun, music, wine, food and even beer, all presented in the historic and magnificent Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound), which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines.

Tickets for the event are just $20 in advance from CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug or your local Des Moines Rotarian.

Parking and free shuttles will be available in the South Marina Parking lot.

All attendees must be 21 years of age and photo ID is required.

Click here for more information.

The Des Moines Rotary kicked off their 2010 Poverty Bay Wine Festival sponsorship drive with an evening gathering at Des Moines’ historic Landmark on the Sound last Thursday night (Sept. 24th).

The event was to thank past festival sponsors and to encourage them to participate in next year’s event, which will be the fifth festival, and is scheduled to take place on the weekend of March 5th through the 7th at Landmark on the Sound. A variety of wine from Corky Cellars and food from Charley’s were a welcome respite from the daily grind for attendees.

The Print Place is producing next year’s collectible posters, which were created from a pastel by local artist Steve Morris. The pastel was on display and will represent the image of the opening Friday night gala, titled “An Evening in the Vineyard.”

The Des Moines Rotary donates 100% of the net proceeds from the Wine Festival and its other fundraisers back into the community. They are able to do this because of their club’s commitment to the Rotary motto of “service above self”. Club member contributions, both volunteer and financial, cover all of the club’s administration expenses.

Attendees admire Steve Morris' artwork.

According to their website:

The Rotary Club of Des Moines is an association of community leaders who are making our community and the world a better place to live, learn, work and play. Club members adhere to our motto, “Service Above Self; embrace the high ethi- cal standards of Rotary International; advocate on behalf of children and the needy; support programs to eliminate polio and provide clean water worldwide; and offer assistance with educational and recreational projects in our community.

The Rotary is currently seeking sponsors for this annual festival, which last year had more than 1,200 people attend over three days. The festival attendees purchased more than $58,000 of wine, food and festival merchandise in 2009 and organizers are hoping for an even better event in 2010.

Sponsorship of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival will directly support the Des Moines Rotary mission of making a lasting difference at home and abroad through service and financial support. In 2008-2009, the Rotary Club of Des Moines supported the following projects:

• Dollars for Scholars Highline Community College Foundation Pacific Middle School – Afterschool Program Dictionaries by the Dozens (giving a dictionary to every third grader in Des Moines) Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence Cle Gunsel Foundation Scholarships Mini Grants to local schools.
• Bike Helmet Program
• Des Moines Food Bank
• Fireworks Over Des Moines
• Des Moines Park and Recreation Youth Scholarships
• Des Moines Park and Recreation play field equipment
• Rotary First Harvest Food Program
• Mt. Rainier High School Track Project
• House Painting and Yard Care Service Projects for the elderly
• Zhang Zou Sister City Project
• Rotary International Projects
• Pakistan Schools Project

The Rotary Club of Des Moines donates 100% of the net proceeds from the Wine Festival and its other fund- raisers back into the community. Club member contributions, both volunteer and financial, cover all of the club’s administration expenses.

To become a Sponsor, please contact Wayne Corey at 206-824-1066 or email at wayne@corey.cc.

To download and view Sponsorship info, click here for a PDF file.

Des Moines’ Landmark on the Sound is holding its “almost annual” Masonic Retirement Center Garage Sale this Saturday, Sept. 19th from 9am to 3pm at their historic building, located at 23660 Marine View Drive.

Here are the details:

WHAT: The “almost-annual” Masonic Retirement Center Garage Sale (a fundraiser for Landmark Outreach Services)

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19th from 9am to 3pm

WHERE: Landmark on the Sound’s historic building, located at 23660 Marine View Drive South, in Des Moines. Info line: 206-878-8434, extension 304.

INFO: Here’s an email from Michael Gray:

There's bound to be plenty of really cool stuff for sale in 10,000 sq. feet of space in this building.

“Hello:

Just wanted all your readers to know about our “almost-annual” Masonic Retirement Center Garage Sale, being held Saturday, September 19th, from 9am to 3pm at Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Drive South, in Des Moines. Info line: 206-878-8434, extension 304.

We’re still in the process of emptying out the Masonic Retirement Center building, which operated from 1927 till 2005. There will be thousand of items spread out over 10,000 sq ft of selling space. Featured items include furniture, kitchenware, office supplies, books, hardware and home improvement items, framed art, luggage, appliances, and much more.

• Cash only, no checks accepted
• VISA and MasterCard accepted for purchases over $25.00.
• All items must be picked up on the day of the sale.

All proceeds go to benefit Landmark Outreach Services, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, which provides care for former residents of the Masonic Home, as well as information and referrals to all seniors in the community.”

For more information, visit Landmark’s website here.

Photos and Story by Janet Grella

The Poverty Bay Wine festival in Des Moines will be an event not soon forgotten by Burien residents Emma Wagner and Al Halvorson, pictured above.

Al and Emma re-create their first dance at the exact spot where they met at last year's Festival at Landmark on the Sound.

They met here last year at the festival when Al asked Emma to Salsa dance.

One short year later, they’re back at the festival with the big announcement that they’re getting married on March 14th!

A big congratulations Al and Emma from all the folks at The Poverty Bay Wine Festival and your friends at both The B-Town and Waterland Blogs!

The Des Moines Rotary Club Poverty Bay Wine Festival continues through Sunday at the historic Landmark On the Sound, and your very own Waterland Blog has a table in the main room (near the back, by the kitchen of course), so come on in and say hi!

It’s for a great cause, and you can buy tickets at the door. $25 gets you inside, and you also get 10 tokens which can be used for wine samples. Parking on site is very limited, but there is free parking and free shuttle service from the Des Moines Marina.

Sunday’s entertainment will be:

• Double Cookin’ (Acoustic Blues)
• Island Jazz Quintet (Jazz)

Staffers from sister site The Waterland Blog will be there, so come on down and have a sip with us:

The staff of The Waterland Blog will be hanging out all day Sunday at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival demonstrating our brand spankin' new website; from left: Bart Bryan, Janet Grella, Scott Schaefer and Mark Neuman. Not pictured: Gina Bourdage.

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The fest will then run Saturday Feb. 28th and Sunday March 1st, and each winery will offer two to four wines for tasting. The event includes a full slate of live music and free samplings from local restaurants.

Among the wineries pouring tastes will be Willis Hall, one of Washington’s up and coming wineries, and Five Star from Walla Walla. New to the festival this year are Sweet Valley, also from Walla Walla, Vashon Winery, and Masset Winery from one of the region’s fastest growing wine areas, Lake Chelan.

Recognizing that value is top-of-mind for many people in today’s economy, tickets include twice as many tasting tokens this year. An afternoon of wine, food, and live music costs $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Friday’s opening night event will usher in this year’s festival with a Greek theme, and will feature:

• Belly Dancers
• Live music from Takis Dotis and the Mad Greeks
• A Fine Art and Wines Auction
• Anthony’s HomePort will present hors d’oeuvres and dessert buffet.

The evening starts at 7:30pm, it will be a “black tie optional” party, with valet Parking included, and tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door. Must be 21 to enter.

This will be one of the public’s last opportunities to attend an event at Landmark On The Sound. This elegant estate overlooking Puget Sound will close for reconstruction this summer and reopen as a private senior living community. The early 20th Century mansion features stunning interiors with classic period details.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Des Moines. All proceeds benefit the charitable projects of the club, which include scholarships, support for the Des Moines Food Bank, grants to local schools, parks improvement, and efforts to assist women in South Africa and Peru.

Tickets are available at Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462); Des Moines Drugs, located at 627 South 227th Street; or online at www.dmrotary.org. All proceeds go to local Des Moines Charities.

WHAT: Fifth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival

WHEN: Opening night is Friday, Feb. 27th, 7:30pm+; also Saturday, Feb. 28, Noon-7pm and Sunday Mar. 1st from Noon-5pm:

• Saturday, March 1st:
  Hours: Noon-7pm
  Featuring Michael Powers and Mambo Cadillac
• Sunday, March 2nd:
  Hours: Noon-5pm
  Featuring CocoLoco and Global Village

WHERE: All events will be at the historic Landmark On The Sound, which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines (see map below).

COST: Opening night event is $75 in advance or $85 at the door (must be 21 to enter); Festival admission fee is $20 per person pre-sale or $25 at the door, which includes:

• Souvenir wine glass
• Tokens for wine tastings (certain tastings may require more than one token)
• All proceeds go to local Des Moines Charities
• ID Required at Door
• No Pets Please
• This is an indoor event with free parking and free shuttle service from the Des Moines Marina

TICKETS: You can purchase tickets online by clicking here, or go to Corky Cellars (206) 824-9462, Des Moines Drugs, and through Rotary Club of Des Moines. All proceeds go to local Des Moines Charities.

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12/19/08 UPDATE: THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SATURDAY, JAN. 3rd; David sent us this email:

This year’s Christmas Concert has been postponed to Saturday night, January 3rd.  Same place, same time.  For more info, go to www.davidtempleton.com and click on “Calendar”.

Burien resident David Templeton, an amazingly-talented classical/jazz pianist who’s released five albums, will be performing an evening of Christmas music at the Landmark on the Sound on Saturday, Dec. 20th starting at 7pm Saturday, Jan. 3rd!

This venue is a chateau-like castle built in the 1920s overlooking Puget Sound. Located in Des Moines, this theater harkens back to the romantic days of the Grand Hotel featured in the movie “Somewhere In Time.”

We met with Mr. Templeton recently, and found him to be a charming, engaging, intelligent artist who knows the Burien area quite well. In fact, he’s lived in the Three Tree Point neighborhood since 1987, where he has his own music studio.

He even loaned us a CD called “The Crossing,” with permission to include some tracks – so if you haven’t yet heard his music, click on the “Play” buttons below:

[display_podcast]

Here’s his website bio:

I began playing the piano at the age of three, before I could even reach the pedals. I have never been able to read or write music, I just hear it in my head and then play it. People often ask me how I come up with the ideas for my songs. The source of my inspiration varies from people I’ve known to places I’ve been, to those that I dream of knowing. Sometimes I get inspired by walks along the beach around Seattle and spending time in Washington State’s beautiful San Juan Islands.

I always hear music in my head, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I listen for the best ideas and work them into songs, refining them until I say only what I need to say in the most elegant way possible. Then I record them at home in my studio. The piano I play and record on is called a Bosendorfer, a hand made instrument, which some say is the finest in the world. Take a look at some photos of the Bosendorfer in the image gallery. It takes seven years from start to finish to build and the one I play has 92 keys instead of the usual 88. Having such a wonderful piano to practice and record on inspires and motivates me to create better and higher caliber music.

WHAT: David Templeton’s Christmas Concert

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 20th at 7pm. SATURDAY, JAN, 3rd. Refreshments will be served.

WHERE: Landmark on the Sound is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South, Des Moines (map below)

COST: Advance ticket price is $25. Night of event, $30. To order tickets, click here.

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