Here’s another great reason to attend the upcoming Poverty Bay Wine Festival this coming weekend – a parade of MINI Coopers will end up at the Landmark Event Center on Sunday, March 7th sometime shortly after Noon.

The parade will start at the south end of the Des Moines Marina, where MINIs will congregate at Anthony’s Home Port (421 S. 227^th St.) at Noon, then motor on up to the Landmark Event Center and park in the front parking spaces (excluding handicapped, etc.).

As everyone knows, it’s always cool to see one unusual, groovy MINI Cooper. Now imagine 20 or more, all detailed, each unique in its own way, cruising in, parking and showing off.

If you’re a MINI Cooper enthusiast (Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer drives one), and you’re interested in being in this parade of fun and funky little MINIs, you should consider joining the Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club at their website here.

This will be the second specialty sports car event at the fest – as you may recall, the Tyee Triumph Car Club will be displaying their classic Triumph cars on Saturday, March 6th (read our coverage here).

To buy tickets for the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, click here, or visit CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug, and/or purchase directly from any Des Moines Rotary Club member. All proceeds go to the service projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines.

For more information, including details on wineries, food vendors and entertainment at the fest, read our previous coverage here.

A very unique 9-liter bottle of Five Star Cellars 2006 Cabernet Savignon will be raffled off at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival next weekend (Saturday, March 6th & Sunday, March 7th) at the historic Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

This one-of-a-kind, big, beautiful bottle contains nine liters – equal to a full case of wine (!) – and is engraved with the Poverty Bay Wine Festival emblem on one side, and the Five Star label on the other.

This 2006 Cab was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator and 94 points by the Beverage Tasting Institute – that means it’s an excellent case of wine in one big bottle!

No purchase is necessary– this is a drawing for anyone who wants to enter – but you will have to show up at the festival, which is just $20 per person; for that amount, you’ll also receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tokens, a sampling of delicious foods, and live music both days.

Also, for all you non-wine drinkers out there, Pike’s Brewing will also have a booth.

The value of the wine plus the engraving is $1,000!

The opening night Gala will be this Friday, March 5th at 7:30pm at the Landmark Event Center. The theme is A Night in the Vineyard. A lavish buffet will be provided by Anthony’s HomePort. Tickets for the gala are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. The ticket price includes food, entertainment, and wine.

Wine Fesival tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for the Wine Festival and Gala are available at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive in Des Moines (206-824-9462); or online at www.dmrotary.org.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is the major annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Des Moines.

For full details on the festival, check out our previous coverage here.

BTB Advertiser E. B. Foote Winery will be holding a special “Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease” event the weekend of March 18 – 21st.

Ten percent of all sales donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Rich Higginbotham, co-owner/winemaker who died of the disease in 2008 (read our coverage here).

Envelopes will also be available so visitors can make a donation directly to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To further honor Rich, his wife Sherrill Miller has made a special wine called “Remembrance” and she donates 50% of the purchase price to the Alzheimer’s Association for a particular research project being headed by Dr. Brian Kraemer. Remembrance is a 2007 vintage blend of 60% Cabernet, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with grapes from three different Columbia Valley vineyards, including Milbrandt, Graves and Arianses. When all of this wine is sold, more than $100,000 will be raised for research on Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and a new case of Alzheimer’s is diagnosed every 70 seconds. More than 5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s and that number continues to grow.

Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease, featuring wine tasting of six current releases including Remembrance along with snacks, will be held on:

• Thursday, March 18: 5-8 p.m.
• Friday, March 19: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Saturday, March 20: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday, March 21: Noon – 6 p.m.

The event has a $5 tasting fee, which is applied toward a purchase of a bottle of wine. Sherrill reminds customers to dress warmly, as E.B. Foote is a working (and cool…literally) winery.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd St. in Burien, and is open for tasting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Sherrill Miller at E.B. Foote Winery:

• Phone: 206-242-3852
• Email: winemaker@ebfootewinery.com
• Website: www.ebfootewinery.com
  

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 Rotary Club of Des Moines has announced that their Sixth Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, March 6th, from Noon– 7pm, and Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 5pm at the historic Landmark Event Center (formerly Landmark on the Sound) just down the road in Des Moines.

The opening night gala will be held Friday night, Mar. 5th, beginning at 7:30pm.

This festival is a must for anyone who loves wine, as well as for anyone who wants to support the work of Rotary, which supports schools and families in our community and around the world or anyone who enjoys an afternoon of good food, good wine and great music.

“The wine festival is an opportunity for wine-lovers to come taste samples from 25 Northwest wineries,” said Rotary spokesperson Catherine Carbone-Rogers. “All of the wineries typically offer two, three, or four different wines. Each winery will have wine by the bottle for sale. The festival is also a great opportunity to see the newly-restored Landmark Event Center, a unique architectural gem of the Des Moines community. Many people have driven by for years but have never had the opportunity to see the interior.”

What can participants expect while at the event? Besides the wine tasting from 25 Northwest wineries, there will also be a sampling of food from local restaurants, along with numerous musical guests throughout the festival. Here’s the preliminary lineup:

Friday, March 5 (Gala):

• Steve Ryals Trio
• Ed Taylor and TaylorMade

Saturday, March 6:

• Darren Motamedy Duo
• 4th Degree

Sunday, March 7:

• Rouge
• Billet-Deux

For just $20, participants receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tokens, a sampling of delicious foods, and live music. What if you run out? Don’t worry, there’ll be tokens for sale at the event.

And for all you non-wine drinkers, Pikes Brewing will also have a booth.

Major sponsors are Anthony’s HomePort, 98.9 KWJZ, Landmark Event Center, Fred Meyers, Powell Brothers Custom Homes, Highline Times/Des Moines News, Kent Reporter and The Waterland Blog and its sister sites.

The opening night Gala will be Friday, March 5th at 7:30pm at the Landmark Event Center. The theme is A Night in the Vineyard. A lavish buffet will be provided by Anthony’s HomePort. Tickets for the gala are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. The ticket price includes food, entertainment, and wine.

Wine Fesival tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for the Wine Festival and Gala are available at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive in Des Moines (206-824-9462); or online at www.dmrotary.org.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is the major annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Des Moines. Lisa Meineke is the club President and Brian Snure is chair of the wine festival.

The main purpose is to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines that include:

• Financial and volunteer support of Des Moines Food Bank
• Financial and volunteer support for Fireworks Over Des Moines on the Fourth of July annually
• “Dictionaries by the Dozens”: Rotary provides a new children’s dictionary to every third grade student in Des Moines
• Mini-grants of up to $1000 to schools or teachers in Des Moines for special projects
• College scholarship of $2,500 to a Highline Community College student
• Pacific Middle School essay contest
• Funding for after school program at Pacific Middle school
• Financial support to Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, a non-profit benefiting Highline Public Schools
• Financial support for a women’s shelter in South Africa
• Purchase of sewing machines for women in Peru so they can generate income

“We hope to have more attendees than ever this year,” Carbone-Rogers added. “Each year, we have taken the wine festival up a notch with the number of wineries, the entertainment, and the food. The gala is classier every year, and the Landmark Event Center is an amazing venue. We also hope that people coming to the event will get interested in Rotary and join us in our work to support community causes and families,” she added.

For more information on the Des Moines Rotary, please click here: http://dmrotary.org/aboutrotary.php.

BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery wants all our loving Readers to know about their upcoming “Red Wine and Chocolate” event, which begins Thursday, Feb. 4th.

Nothing says looooove much better than red wine and chocolates, doncha think?

Here are the tasty details:

WHAT: “Red Wine and Chocolate” at E. B. Foote Winery

WHEN: Dates and times are:

• Thursday, Feb. 4, 5 pm – 8 pm
• Friday, Feb. 5, 11 am – 8 pm
• Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 am – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 7, Noon – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, Noon – 6 pm

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127 SW 153rd St. lower level, Burien; (206) 242-3852; www.ebfootewinery.com

COST: $10 tasting fee, applied toward bottle purchase (No tasting fee for Wine Club members)

INFO: “Enjoy dozens of chocolates along with our current and newly released red wines.  We will be sampling red wines including the new releases. No reservations needed! Get a friend or two and drop in during these hours.”

Scheduled for release:

• 2006 Merlot
• 2007 Northwest Duet
• 2006 Perfect à Trois

More information available at E.B. Foote’s website here.

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by Gina Bourdage

Set in the familiar location of Snoqualmie Pass, an unlikely group of travelers find themselves trapped by the snow-closed passes in “Snowbound,” which opens Friday, Jan. 15th at BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery.

In the solitude of a quaint local inn, each guest is faced with conflicting personal struggles, not only with themselves but with the other guests as well. Learning that the local sheriff (a guy reminiscent of Barney Fife, played by Scott Green) is looking for an escaped convict only adds to their heightened sense of self preservation and sends each person seeking answers about who they can trust and what they are really looking for.

The cast of this Breeders Theater production showcases an array of experienced talent, all of whom holds your attention and keeps you guessing. Each actor brings a unique perspective to their role, including:

• Binky (played by Brenan Grant) the “emo” young man who relishes in his own misery.
• Lovely (played by Teresa Widner) whose out of control hormones seem to be too much for even her to handle at times let alone her trail of conquests.
• Ike (played by Martin J. Mackenzie) the innkeeper who had such a convincing of role of the friendly small town fellow whose trustworthy and friendly nature draws people to him.
• Glenda (played by Kelly Johnson), Binky’s mother, shows hints of a 50s sitcom housewife whose traditional values are challenged by raising a rebellious young man.
• Hank Thompson (played by Andrew Smith) the seemingly sincere, reliable and at times dryly sarcastic chef finds himself thrown into uncomfortable positions of his fellow traveler’s dilemmas.
• The young couple “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (played by Stephen Scheide and Laura Smith) who find themselves in a suspicious bind that even they are unsure of how to resolve.

Each guest is presented with the overwhelming concern of not only wanting to avoid an encounter with the escaped convict, they have to question; could the convict be among them? Distracted by only their own egotistical veils, each person reveals humorous and deeper struggles among each other.

While I found each performance to be well played, I struggled with the level of general air-headedness that most of the women and at times the men possessed. Being confused is one thing, but as the script rolled along the naivety prevailed leaving me to question the characters’ intended intelligence.

The lack of an actual set was at first distracting for me; however the actors/characters got and kept my attention quickly enough for me to get past it. The theater in the round, or more like “audience as bookends,” might be new for some viewers, but brings a complete perspective to the show and allows you to see each scene as if you were actually there.

All in all this TM Sell play directed by Michael Brunk was humorous, charming and engaging while bringing a level of the traditional whodunnit to an unsuspecting ending that I can only say was jarringly layered and thought-provoking.

I would recommend not missing this performance of “Snowbound,” especially for Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone fans, as the references are abundant…just be sure to bring a coat.

No, seriously – it can get a little chilly at E.B. Foote Winery this time of year.

Tickets are $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote.

You can purchase them at the winery (127-B SW 153rd in Burien; 206-242-3852), at CorkyCellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or online here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Non-Reviewer Doesn’t Review Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

For the third year in a row, BTB Advertiser Vino Bello Wine Shop will be exclusively offering the newest ‘Lady in Red’ Holiday Red Wine from Kestrel in Prosser, beginning this Saturday, Oct. 17th at 636 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien.

As always, this highly collectible, very drinkable and super gift-able wine is extremely limited in production and sells out fast.

You can secure your order today by stopping into Vino Bello or by calling (206) 244-VINO with your credit card number. The wine will be available for pick up on its release date (Saturday, Oct. 17th) only at Vino Bello.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Kestrel Vintners Lady in Red Holiday Edition Release Party

Tasting Lineup:

• Lady in Red Holiday #4
• Kestrel ‘07 Old Vine Chardonnay
• Kestrel ‘08 Rose
• Kestrel ‘05 Merlot
• Kestrel ‘06 Winemaker Select Cabernet Franc
• Kestrel ‘06 Cabernet Sauvignon

WHEN: Saturday, October 17th from Noon-8pm

• Noon-8pm: Tasting
• 4pm-8pm: Bottle Signing

WHERE: Vino Bello Wine Shop

COST: Tasting Fee: $10

INFO: Details from the winery:

The fourth edition in this series is by far the best one yet. Creating a wine for the Holidays that can be enjoyed with the wonderful wide range of flavors at your dinner table is just what Kestrel did. A rich red wine which is the best holiday gift giving idea.

From the winemaker:

“Deep color is reminiscent of blackberry juice. In the aroma you will find luscious ripe cherry, blackberry, black currants, figs, plum, cranberries and herbs. This extremely full-bodied wine boasts great structure and balance. The lingering finish holds many layers of blueberry, cranberry, dark ripe fruits, spice, cocoa and dried herbs.”

Blend: 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet, 20 % Syrah, 5 % Sangiovese, 4 % Viognier and 1% Malbec

Oak: 18 months (French, American and Hungarian)

Always a bargain at just $18/bottle with 10% discount on 6 or more.

Follow this link to learn more about this wine: Lady in Red #4

Release Date 10/17/09 • LIMITED!

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]

Returning B-Town Blog Advertiser Vino Bello Wine Bar and Wine Shop is celebrating three years in Burien this Saturday, July 11th – owner Michele Smith and her team have planned a special anniversary party and invite all BTB readers to stop by between Noon and 9pm to partake in the festivities!

Vino Bello’s anniversary events include a Wine Tasting with Wind River Cellars Winemaker, Joel Goodwillie.

“From the Columbia River Gorge, Joel brings us his new releases and a serious dose of humor, and we are very excited to have him back in the house,” Michele told us.

Winemaker Joel has a very simple winemaking philosophy – begin with some of the best grapes in Washington State and let them do their own thing.

“It’s similar to raising children,” says Joel. “Hopefully you begin with something healthy and then you provide a healthy, caring environment for both to mature. The only difference I see is wine doesn’t drop French fries between the seats of my car.”

• Noon – 9pm: Wine Tasting
  
• 4pm – 9pm: Meet Winemaker Joel from Wind River Cellars

In the Vino Bello tradition, you can’t have a real party without live music. Saturday’s shindig will feature “Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde.”

You can catch the NW’s hottest Blues act live at Vino Bello starting at 6pm and playing through 8pm.

Son Jack Jr. is a blues singer, songwriter and guitarist who performs acoustic solo, duo & electric band sets. His live shows have been described as “intoxicating, intense, exciting experiences” and are comprised of mostly original material and a heady mix of classics from a wide range of country blues greats.

But a rollicking third anniversary party is not all that’s happening at Vino Bello – it’s also a wine shop where low production and high quality wines can be found in a wide array of prices from $7 to $150.

“We also take special orders for whatever you need if we don’t carry it at that time,” Smith said. “We provide quality bulk wines for weddings and large parties and offer discounts on all case and mixed case orders. We have gift certificates and four different wine clubs. We also offer Illy Italian espresso to enjoy here or buy the beans to take home. We carry Theo 100% Organic chocolates from Fremont.”

If you’re not into wine, but love beer, Vino Bello carries 16 eclectic brands of brew that you can enjoy in their sophisticated bar/tasting room or outside on the sidewalk patio, where you can watch the world of Burien pass by.

And did you know that Vino Bello also does private parties? They’ll work with you to create the perfect party for any occasion, from private wine tastings to sit down dinners, you’ll experience food, wine pairing and fun that your group will surely remember.

Vino Bello is located at 636 152nd #F, in downtown Burien. Hours are: Tues-Thurs 11-9, Fri-Sat 11-10, with a Tues-Friday Happy Hour from 4-7 where wine is an affordable $6.00 per glass.

So if you like parties, great wine, beer, people and music in a great location, you’ll love this Saturday’s third Birthday Bash at Vino Bello – here are the details:

• Noon – 9pm: Wine Tasting
  
• 4pm – 9pm: Meet the Winemaker
  
• 6pm – 8pm: Live Music with Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde
• $10 tasting fee and $5 cover charge for the music only

For more information, please visit Vino Bello’s website here, or call them at (206) 244-VINO.

We proudly welcome Michele and Vino Bello back as an Advertiser on The B-Town Blog, and like fine wine, Vino Bello continues to age well with the years!

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Sherrill Miller hopes her newest wine makes a lot of money, but not for her.

E.B. Foote’s newest wine, Remembrance, will raise money for Alzheimer’s research, in honor of her late husband, Rich Higginbotham, who died of the disease last year.

“Rich’s dad had Alzheimer’s, and research has shown a strong heredity link,” Miller says. “Once Rich was diagnosed at 56, he knew what would eventually happen, but he didn’t know a timeline. We learned as much as we could about the disease and found out that often the earlier the onset, the faster the timeline.”

Miller and Higginbotham took over the winery, one of Washington’s oldest, in 1991. They moved from South Park to Burien in 1999.

In that time, they learned to make award-winning wines, focusing on reds using grapes from Washington’s Columbia Valley.

“Rich had always liked to make blends and I tended to be the purist,” Miller says.

“From early in our winemaking career, he wanted to make a Bordeaux-style blend. In 2002 we finally had all three grapes to do it, and we made Perfect a Trois.

“He was pleased with the wine, and he was pleased with the name that I had come up with,” Miller recalls. “The wine was well received by customers, and earned a Gold Medal at the Northwest Wine Summit and 89 points from Wine Spectator.”

Now Miller is using that knowledge to create a new wine, Remembrance, also in the Bordeaux style (French wines from that region typically are blends of different grapes, unlike varietals, which largely use a single grape variety).

Higginbotham was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003.

“Rich’s decline too soon got to the point where he was not able to do very much at the winery,” Miller says. “I decided that I wanted to make a wine in tribute to him that would benefit Alzheimer’s research. Of course the wine had to be a Bordeaux-style blend.”

Using 2007 vintage grapes, Miller created Remembrance, a blend of 60 percent Cabernet, 30 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from three different Columbia Valley vineyards, including Milbrandt, Graves and Arianses.

“I wanted to make as many cases as I could, and I will end up making 795 cases of this wine, the most of any wine I’ve made by nearly double,” Miller says.

The label, designed by Sharone Fischer, features Higginbotham’s picture with information about him and the creation of the wine.

Miller is donating 50 percent of the $28 purchase price to Alzheimer’s research. That could raise as much as $133,000. In addition, 50 percent of the purchase price of a special commemorative wine glass also will be donated.

Miller continues to collect Alzheimer’s donations at the winery as well.

“My plan is to make my ‘Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease’ an annual fundraising weekend in March, and all year I plan to donate 10 percent of all Perfect a Trois sales to Alzheimer’s,” she says.

An estimated 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s.

“We wanted to do what we could to support the Alzheimer’s Association so that someday no other families would have to suffer with this dreadful disease,” Miller says.

“I’ve seen first-hand what this devastating disease can do to a person and a family,” she says. “It may be the worst diagnosis to receive since there is neither a treatment nor a cure.

“Unlike other diseases like diabetes or heart disease where medications can control the disease, current treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease only slow the progression of the disease for a very short time. I am hopeful that this money can make a difference in finding a treatment or a cure.”

Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s, featuring the release of Remembrance, will be Thursday, March 26 from 5-9 p.m.; Friday, March 27, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 29, noon-6 p.m.

The event includes a $5 tasting fee, which can be applied toward a purchase of a bottle. Miller advises customers to dress warmly, as E.B. Foote is a working winery.

For more information, contact Sherrill Miller at E.B. Foote, 206-242-3852, or email winemaker@ebfootewinery.com.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127B SW 153rd St. in Burien. It is open for tasting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Twenty Northwest wineries will offer tastes at the fifth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, with an opening night event Friday, Feb. 27th called “Gala of the Gods” at Des Moines’ historic Landmark On The Sound.

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.

View Larger Map

The B-Town Blog is proud to welcome our latest Advertiser: Breeders Theater’s “Prairie Heart,” a new romantic comedy playing at E.B. Foote Winery starting Jan. 16th!

Love blooms unexpectedly in “Prairie Heart,” written by local Playwright T.M. Sell. The plot revolves around Scandinavian pioneers in North Dakota in the 1890s.

“That’s about the time my great-grandparents homesteaded there,” says Sell.  “The story is based on the kinds of stories their descendants used to talk about when I was a kid.  But I think it’s an immigrant experience that a lot of people will be able to relate to.”

The show is directed by Alan Wilkie with music by Nancy Warren, choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• Luke Amundson
• Eric Hartley
• Melissa Grinley
• J Howard Boyd
• Steve Scheide
• Melissa Malloy

Show dates are:

• Friday, Jan. 16
• Saturday, Jan. 17
• Sunday, Jan. 18
• Wednesday, Jan. 21
• Friday, Jan. 23
• Saturday, Jan. 24
• Sunday, Jan. 25
• Wednesday, Jan. 28
• Thursday, Jan. 29
• Friday, Jan. 30
• Saturday, Jan. 31
• Sunday, Feb. 1st

On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday performances, doors open at 6:30pm, and the show starts at 7pm.

Sunday shows start at 2pm and the doors open at 1:30pm.

The annual “Escape from Super Bowl Sunday” show is Sunday, Feb. 1 and starts at 1pm.

Proceeds from the Jan. 29 show go to benefit the Highline College Foundation.

Each performance includes tasting of E.B. Foote’s award winning wines and hors d’oeurves, still for only $20.

Tickets are $20 per person and include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the play. The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually.  Tickets are available at E.B. Foote Winery and at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines; phone: 206-824-9462. Visit the winery or call for tickets, 206-242-3852 or check out breederstheater.com.

Tickets can also be ordered online at E.B. Foote’s “Current Releases” page here, and Sherrill will call you to confirm a date and other details (credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket OR your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or check.)

For more information, contact T.M. Sell at breederstheater@aol.com.

And now, a quick Q & A with T.M. Sell:

Q: What is “Prairie Heart” about?
A: “Prairie Heart” is about Scandinavian immigrant farmers in North Dakota in the 1890s.  From what I’ve heard and read, life was a bit of challenge then, so it’s about what people went through when they got there.  It’s also about the difficulty of romantic life.

Q: How is this different or similar to your previous work?
A: It’s similar in that there’s romance; it’s different in that there’s no mutant aliens, no talking animals, no gods descending from heaven; just fairly normal folks trying to get through life.  But I hope it’s still funny.

Q: Why 1890s in North Dakota?
A: That’s where my great-grandparents homesteaded, near Minot.  We visited there this summer, and it was very interesting.   So parts of the story is based on their stories.

Q: Are there any parallels to modern-day life in the general Burien area?
A: At some level all of our ancestors were immigrants who went through some struggles to get there.  And at some level, most of us have struggled with romance and relationships and trying to figure how to say the right thing to the right person, while hoping that he or she doesn’t laugh in your face.

Q: Tell us about your cast.
A: Luke Amundson plays Ole, a bachelor farmer; he played Tom Monroe in Crazy/Naked last year.  Adrienne Grieco plays Ingrid, a young woman who ends up alone and basically penniless in his town.  Eric Hartley and Melissa Grinley play a more settled, successful farm couple; Steve Scheide plays another young man who is interested in Ingrid; J Howard Boyd plays a narrator who helps explain the story as it unfolds.   It’s a very strong cast and I feel very lucky to get work with them all once again.

Q: I understand you’re doing a benefit show – details please?
A: Jan. 29 is our annual fundraiser for an arts scholarship that we created at Highline College.  We’ve been able to help a dozen students with tuition assistance in the eight years we’ve been doing the scholarship.

Q: Let’s talk about the important stuff now – the wine – what’s on tap for this production? And do the cast members get to imbibe during the show?
A: Sherrill will be tasting six wines, featuring her reds, of course.  I can’t speak for how medicated the cast might be for a show, but they do tend to take their work very seriously.

Q: As 2009 begins, do you have any predictions for Readers of the B-Town Blog?
A: More crazy weather; more timely local news; perhaps more awareness that we really do live in a very nice part of town.

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We’d like to raise a toast to our latest returning Advertiser: E.B. Foote Winery!

E.B. Foote Winery was founded in 1978 by Eugene Foote, and it is one of the oldest wineries in Washington State.

And it’s located right here in Burien.

In 1991, Rich Higginbotham and Sherrill Miller became the owners and winemakers and they moved the winery from south Seattle to Burien in 1999.

Sadly, Rich passed away on Sept. 15th, but Sherrill and crew will be releasing a wine in his honor sometime next year.

The grapes come from the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington and are trucked in. The grape hauling, crush, press, fermenting, bottling, labeling, and sales are done right at the winery in Burien. The winery makes approximately 2,200 cases each year. All the winemaking is done at the winery in Burien with the help of their Volunteer Vintners.

The winery is open for free wine tasting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Both white and red wines may be available for tasting and purchase in the winery gift shop.

These award-winning wines may include:

• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Red Zinfandel
• Red blends
• Sweet Sherrill, a Riesling-like wine

Upcoming Events include:

• CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
  $5 tasting fee, applied toward bottle purchase
  
  • Thursday, Dec. 4, 5 pm – 9 pm
  • Friday, Dec. 5, 11 am – 9 pm,
  • Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 am – 7 pm
  • Sunday, Dec. 7, Noon – 6 pm

  Sample our current award-winning wines and our new releases along with snacks. We have new gift ideas, and three new wines will be released. Jim from Chocolate Serenade will have samples of his decadent chocolate truffles and have boxes of truffles available for purchase. Get a friend or two and join us during these hours, no reservations needed! The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually. Scheduled for release: Rainy Day Red V, 2006 Northwest Duet, etc. (all three wines are red blends)

• BRASS BAND CONCERT PERFORMED BY PUGET BRASS- FREE!
  • Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7 pm – 9 pm

  Enjoy traditional brass band music performed by Puget Brass, a 20-piece brass band conducted by John Falskow.  All ages are welcome to attend this free event.  Complimentary cheese and crackers will be served.  Complimentary wine tasting will be available for those 21 years and older, and wine will be available for purchase by the glass for $5 or $8 each.  The gift shop will be open for wine or gift purchases. No reservations needed.

• BREEDERS THEATER PRESENTS “PRAIRIE HEART”
  Tickets $20 each, advance purchase recommended
  
  • Jan. 16 – 18, 21, 23 – 25, 28 – 31, Feb. 1
  • Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings door opens at 6:30 pm
  • Sunday matinee door opens at 1:30 pm
  • Sunday, Feb. 1 door opens at 12:30 pm

  Join us for live theater at the winery. A local, professional theater group puts on original comedy plays between wine tasting and food. It’s fun, entertaining, adult humor. Performed in the winery. Tickets are $20 per person and include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the play. The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually.  Tickets available beginning November 1, 2008.  Visit the winery or call for tickets, 206-242-3852 or check out breederstheater.com. (Credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket OR your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or check.)

E.B. Foote Winery produces quality wines at an affordable price. Because it’s not about what it costs. It’s about how it tastes.

Celebrating 30 years as a Washington winery, please welcome E.B. Foote Winery back to the B-Town Blog by clicking on their ad on the lower right sidebar and checking them out!

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127 SW 153rd St. (downstairs in the lower level) in Burien, and their phone number is (206) 242-3852:

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It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of our Advertisers – Rich Higginbotham of E.B. Foote Winery passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 15th from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

He was 61.

As a tribute to Rich, a special wine will be bottled and labeled next year. Called “Remembrance,” the label for this red table wine will include Rich’s photo from above. When released, 50% of the sale price will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

An open house will be held at E.B. Foote Winery this Sunday, Sept. 21 from Noon – 6pm to share memories and celebrate his life. At his request, in lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Alzheimer’s Association for further research into this dreaded disease.

To donate online, click here, then select the third choice, “Tribute/Memorial donation (to honor someone)” and enter Rich’s name where appropriate.

Our condolences go out to Sherrill, Rich’s family, friends, co-workers and the entire E.B. Foote Winery family.

Here is his obit as provided by E.B. Foote:

Rich is survived by Sherrill Miller, his wife of more than 34 years; his sister Betty Brabban; in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.  He was born and raised in Nitro, West-by-God Virginia, a small town outside of Charleston.

He would often tell stories about his growing-up years — being in Cub Scouts, parking cars for events at the town Moose lodge, mowing lawns to make money, painting the local water tower with high school buddies, sneaking out of the house after dark, lifeguarding during summer vacations at Lost River State Park, playing in the high school marching band, and his time in the Army during the Vietnam era. He was discharged from the Army in 1971 at Fort Lewis and decided to stay in Seattle to experience life on the other coast. He met Sherrill in 1972, and that same year he went to work at the King County Jail in food service. After a short time he became the Food Service Supervisor, planning menus and ordering food for more than 1500 inmates and staff.

In 1991 he and Sherrill decided to buy E. B. Foote Winery in south Seattle. They had never made wine before, but they learned together. They were making award-winning wine by their second vintage. In 2001 he retired from King County to become a full-time “wineaux.” The winery was growing and he was passionate about winemaking, striving to make the best possible wines.

In 2003 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He and Sherrill worked together to keep the winery going. As Rich became less able to do “wine work,” Sherrill gradually took over more and more responsibilities. Even when he was unable to help at all, he still enjoyed being at the winery and listening to Sherrill speak to groups about the winery’s beginning. In May 2008 he needed more help than Sherrill could provide, and he went to live in an adult family home until his passing.

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B-Town Blog Advertiser and longtime Burien winery E.B. Foote Winery has just announced that they are now selling wines online.

From their press release:

Gas prices getting you down?

Want to enjoy E. B. Foote wines but can’t get to the winery? 

You can now order E. B. Foote wines online! 

The Current Releases page of our website has a list of the wines that are for sale, prices, descriptions and awards won, AND you can order the wines you want to be shipped to you.  Wine can be shipped to adults in Washington State only.  All you need is a credit card and an address.  Wine will be shipped via FedEx, and adult signature is required for delivery. (Wine Club members — of course you pay the Wine Club price on your order.) 

There is a shipping charge, and the shipping amount is determined by the quantity of wine you order.  Once you place an order, the order is e-mailed to us on a secure line, your credit card is processed, the wine is shipped, and you receive an e-mail with your FedEx tracking number.  

It’s that simple.  Gas is expensive but good wine is priceless – why drive when you can have it delivered?

Wine Club members — If you haven’t picked up your July wine yet, please do so by Labor Day weekend.  If you want it shipped, there will be an additional shipping charge of $12 plus tax put on your credit card on file.  Just let us know by phone or e-mail if you want us to ship it to you.

Summer is in full swing with plenty of sunshine and lots of activities to keep everyone busy.  As you plan your fun, we hope you’ll plan to join us over Labor Day weekend to toast the end of the summer with great prices on wine.  In honor of the winery’s 30th anniversary, we’ll have 30% off selected wines.  (Wine Club members save even more!)  There will be eight wines for sampling and snacks to go with them.  The $5 tasting fee will be applied toward a wine purchase.  (No tasting fee for Wine Club members or Volunteer Vintners.)   This would be a great way to end a great summer.

What’s this Wine Club you keep reading about?  If you like E. B. Foote wines and want to save money on every purchase, you want to join our Wine Club.  There is no cost to join!  Wine Club members receive three bottles of wine each quarter, and always receive a discount on wine purchases.  When new wines are released in December and February and April, Wine Club members receive them before the release date.  The July wines are half-price.  When it’s time for your Wine Club wine, we send you an e-mail telling you which wines you are getting, the amount to be charged to your card, and when you can come to pick it up OR when it will be shipped.  Wine Club members do not pay a tasting fee to attend our special weekend events. 

To join, go the the Wine Club page of our website for an application that can be faxed or brought in for immediate membership and savings.

For more info, go to the E.B. Foote website.

Coriander, a “spicy little parable about policy” opens next Friday (July 11th) at E.B. Foote Winery (a BTB Advertiser), located at 127-B SW 153rd in downtown Burien.

From their press release:

A tunnel?  A surface street?  A bridge?

Watch the Gods and the Greeks debate policy in Coriander

BURIEN — Breeders Theater offers a spicy little tale about urban policy in its new show, Coriander. 

In the ancient Greek city-state of Aurora, where the living is above-average and housing prices are high, they might need a road to open up some new land.  The road would have to pass through the Garden of the Oracle, raising the ire of people of faith.  Meanwhile, some folks favor a surface street; some a tunnel; and some a bridge. 

In the middle of this is Coriander, chief administrator of the government, caught between the factions (including Tentacles, the developer, and the passionate radical Antagone), angry Gods, and the city council, led by Dimes, Draco and Ricotta, who are deep in the land of process.   And wither old King Freon?

The script and lyrics of Coriander are by T.M. Sell, with music by Nancy Warren.  Martin J. Mackenzie directs, with choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

Scott Green stars as Coriander, with Eric Hartley, Doug Knoop, Steve Scheide, Adrienne Grieco, Melissa Malloy, Julie Wenzel, Marianne Everett, Steve Coffey, Amber Rack, Jackie Graybill and Mark Wenzel.

The show will be at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien, 127B SW 153rd St.

The show runs July 11-12, 16, 18-20, 23-27.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with show time at 7 p.m., and 1:30/2 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 and 27. 

Tickets are still only $20, which includes wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres.

Visit the winery or call for tickets: 206-242-3852 or check out breederstheater.com. (Credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket OR your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or check.)

Here’s a Q&A with Coriander’s prolific local Playwright TM Sell, who also serves as a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at Highline Community College:

Q: Why is your new play named after a spice? Will you be serving any cilantro during the play (cilantro is derived from Coriander)?

A: As often happens, I start with a title.  I can’t tell you why.  I like good titles, not that mine are.  Then I see what’s either going on in the world, or something that’s been bugging me, and try see where the title gets me to saying something about that topic.  Coriander sounds like an old Greek name, and the Greeks were one of the inventors of theater, so that gave me a way of creating a situation that, as it turns out, has parallels to ours.

Q: What is Coriander about?

A: This play is about a couple of things: the public policy process and the nature of religion.  Politics and religion are two of my favorite subjects, which most people don’t want to talk about.  So if I get them to laugh, perhaps they’ll think about it a little more.

In the Ancient Greek city-state of Aurora, a developer wants to put a road to some fresh land for more housing, and Aurora, as the most desirable place in Ancient Greece in which to live, is short of housing.  But the road will go through the Garden of the Oracle, a disused but very holy site.  And in Aurora, that means you need a hearing, and public debate, and a lot of process.  In the middle of this is Coriander, a civil servant and a virtuous man, caught between various factions within the city and the city council.  Meanwhile the Gods are deciding whether to intervene.

Q: Any parallels to the “real world” to this topic?

A: Very strong parallels between our own political process, and the attitudes of some people about the world and how it should be.

Q: Any parallels to the “old Greek” drama world to this?

A: We do have a Geek chorus, though I haven’t used it quite like the Greeks would have.

Q: Was there ever a viaduct in Greece?

A: No, but the Romans built a lot of aqueducts.

Q: Talk about your writing process – how do you come up with story ideas? How do you then go about writing an entire play? How many drafts before you’re happy? Does anyone review/edit your work? etc.

A: The first thing I need is an idea.  Then I make notes about the plot.  When I’ve got that figured out, and if I have uninterrupted time, I just start writing.  I get pretty deep into that process, and I really enjoy it.  The first draft won’t take more than three or four days.  I then have to go over it a few more times, with less major surgery on each succeeding draft.  And then we read it, and members of the company make comments.  And even then, in the rehearsal process, people will think of things they like or that don’t make sense, or I’ll hear a line that’s just wooden or a joke that gets in the way, and revisions happen.

Q: You seem to be a very prolific writer – how many plays a year do you churn out?

A: Two a year.

Q: In April, we posted an audition notice for Coriander – how did the auditions go? Anyone new/interesting? Anything unusual?

A: Auditions are always odd and interesting.  You never know who will show up.  We didn’t get many men this time, but we got some very good women, and we did OK in filling what we needed filled.  Most of the company are people who have worked with BT before, and it helps to know somebody to get in.  Group chemistry is very important.  We don’t make enough money to deal with people who are high maintenance.

Q: Will the alleged, impending recession affect theaters? Why/why not?

A: Spending on entertainment is discretionary spending, so yes, of course, that makes it harder to sell tickets.  But I think we tend to fall into the category of an affordable luxury, and at $20 the tickets are cheap enough.  Also, the economy in King County is so far in much better shape than it is in other places.

Q: Should people bring jackets to EB Foote or will it not be so cold this time?

A: The winery has air conditioning for summer, which gets turned off during the show.  So it should be fairly comfortable.

Q: On a more important note, what is your take on the B-Town Blog’s progress and rising popularity?

A: Are you getting lots of traffic?  Then there’s room for more venues for information.  That’s the good news.  The other news is, in my limited understanding, if finding a way to make internet information sites profitable.  At least your costs are lower than those of a full-fledged newspaper.

This Reporter previously enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling and entertaining “cheap date” out for TM Sell’s previous play Crazy/Naked, held at E.B. Foote last fall. We recommend it highly.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd in downtown Burien:

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Please raise a glass and make a toast to our latest Advertiser: E.B. Foote Winery!

Wait, you’re saying…there’s an actual Winery in Burien?

Why yes, there is…and it’s called E.B. Foote Winery.

It was founded in 1978 by Eugene Foote, and it is one of the oldest wineries in Washington State.

In 1991, Rich Higginbotham and Sherrill Miller became the owners and winemakers and they moved the winery from south Seattle to Burien in 1999.

The grapes come from the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington and are trucked in.  The grape hauling, crush, press, fermenting, bottling, labeling, and sales are done right at the winery in Burien.  The winery makes approximately 2,200 cases each year.  All the winemaking is done at the winery in Burien with the help of their Volunteer Vintners.

The winery is open for free tasting and tours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment.  Since the winery is small, tasting is done in the winery itself, not in a separate tasting room.  The temperature in the winery can be quite cool, as a wine cellar should be.  Both white and red wines are available for tasting and purchase in the winery gift shop.

These award-winning wines may include:

• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Red Zinfandel
• Red blends
• Sweet Sherrill, a Riesling-like wine

The winery has six annual events: 

• For Valentine’s Day it’s Red Wine and Chocolate, where a variety of chocolates are offered to sample along with red wines
• To brighten the doldrums of winter, March has Step Into Spring
• The May Barrel Tasting has a barrel sample of a future release
• Father’s Day Weekend in June is a chance to enjoy wine with dad
• Labor Day weekend sees the Summer Celebration with 10%-30% off all wine purchases
• In December it’s the Christmas Open House

At these events, appetizers are served that compliment the wines, and new wines are released.

For three weekends in January and July, a local, professional theater group (Breeders Theater) puts on original comedy plays in the middle of the winery.  These shows are fun, entertaining adult humor with no profanity.  A $20 ticket includes wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the play.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We here at the B-Town Blog have been to one of these comedy play/wine tasting event, and we whole-heartedly endorse this as a very affordable, fun, worthwhile event worth attending – great wine, excellent snacks and outstanding live entertainment – what's not to like?]

Sherrill strives to make award-winning wines from premium Washington grapes.  The wines started winning awards with the 1992 vintage and these accolades have continued.  Their success is a result of hard work and Bacchus’ blessings.

E.B. Foote Winery produces quality wines at an affordable price. Because it’s not about what it costs. It’s about how it tastes.

Celebrating 30 years as a Washington winery, please welcome E.B. Foote Winery to the B-Town Blog by clicking on their ad on the Right Sidebar and checking them out!

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127 SW 153rd St. (downstairs in the lower level) in Burien, and their phone numer is (206) 242-3852:

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Tickets are now available for the upcoming Breeders Theater production of an original TM Sell musical play Coriander, which opens at the E.B. Foote Winery in Burien on Friday July 11th:

According to our friend, the talented playwright Dr. T.M. Sell:

In the ancient Greek city-state of Aurora, where the living is above-average and housing prices are high, they might need a road to open up some new land.  The road would have to pass through the Garden of the Oracle, raising the ire of people of faith.

Meanwhile, some folks favor a surface street; some a tunnel; and some a bridge.

In the middle of this is Coriander, chief administrator of the government, caught between the factions (including Tentacles, the developer, and the passionate radical Antagone), angry Gods, and the city council, led by Dimes, Draco and Ricotta, who are deep in the land of process.  

And wither old King Freon?

The script and lyrics of Coriander are by T.M. Sell, with music by Nancy Warren.  Martin J. Mackenzie directs, with choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast includes:

• Scott Green as Coriander
• Eric Hartley
• Doug Knoop
• Steve Scheide
• Adrienne Grieco
• Melissa Malloy
• Julie Wenzel
• Marianne Everett
• Steve Coffey
• Amber Rack
• Jackie Graybill
• Mark Wenzel

Coriander will play at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien, which is located downstairs at 127B SW 153rd Street. Keep in mind that this is a working winery, so despite the warm July weather, you might want to bring a light jacket or sweater.

The show runs July 11-12, 16, 18-20, 23-27.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with showtime at 7 p.m., and 1:30/2 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 and 27.

Tickets are still only $20, which includes wine tasting and hors d’oeurves [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a bonafide bargain folks – great humorous, musical entertainment, snacks and outstanding locally-produced wine...for $20 dolla? Get outta town! Okay don't do that since that'd mean you'd miss this event...].

Tickets are available at the E.B. Foote Winery: (206) 242-3852, and at Corky Cellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr. South: (206) 824-9462.

More info at the Breeders Theater website.

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Courtesy Vino Bello, 636 SW 152nd St – F, Burien, (206) 244-VINO:

This Saturday, Mar. 22nd, from Noon-8pm, Vino Bello wil be hosting a tasting of wines from Seattle’s O•S Winery.

About O•S Winery
O•S Winery (formerly Owen•Sullivan) is devoted to producing opulent, voluptuous, concentrated wines, blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from a handful of Washington’s finest vineyards: Klipsun, Champoux and Sheridan.

“From their jury rigged winery in a nondescript business park near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, Bill Owen and Rob Sullivan are making some of Washington’s plushest and headiest reds…and..their wines may sometimes be hard to find but seeking them out is well worth the effort.” (Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator Magazine)

Noon-8pm: O•S Winery tasting, $10

5pm+: Live Music featuring Robert Stewart

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Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery is celebrating 30 years in business this year with new releases and old favorites at its Anniversary Celebration, March 27-30.

Boeing engineer Gene Foote started the winery in South Seattle in 1978, at a time when Washington state had only six other wineries.  Foote carved out a reputation for interesting and careful wines, but decided to retire from the business and sold it to Sherrill Miller and Rich Higginbotham in 1991.

Washington still only had 35 wineries at this time.

“It was a big deal when Washington had 50 wineries, and it was not thought that we would have many more than 100 wineries.  What a difference 30 years makes,” Miller says.

The couple mortgaged their house and came up with the money to buy the winery, which was then in a warehouse in South Park.  Neither had ever made wine before.  Gene Foote worked with them the first year, and after that, they were on their own.  Having been serious wine drinkers, they knew how they wanted the wine to taste but had to learn what to do–things like contracting with top-quality grape growers, what flavors oak barrels impart to a wine, and sales and marketing.  While learning the ins and outs of winemaking and the wine business, they began to develop the distinctive character of their product that has since earned so many awards and high ratings from wine festivals and publications around the country.

Miller and Higginbotham moved the winery to Burien in 1999.

“We needed a bigger location and one that was a little easier to find,” Miller says of the Burien site.

Tucked away in a warehouse underneath a strip mall, for some years, as news of the winery leaked out, people were often heard to remark “There’s a winery in Burien?”

Increasingly, however, people know about E.B. Foote’s offerings, from its distinctive Sweet Sherrill dessert wine to its full line of remarkable reds.  The reds in particular continue to bring home awards and honors from wine festivals across the country.   It is featured at a number of local restaurants and wine shops.

The walls of the winery are covered with awards, including a Platinum Award for their 2000 Syrah from Wine Press Northwest magazine’s Best of the Best judging; 91 points from Wine Spectator for their 1998 Cabernet Reserve; and Gold Medal and Best Washington Wine award for their 2004 Perfect à Trois.

But the wine that most often piques customers’ interest is the Sweet Sherrill.  Sweet Sherrill started out as a Chardonnay, but Sherrill made a couple of mistakes.

“Bacchus intervened to transform my unfortunate accident into a crowning achievement,” Miller says.  “Since it was my mistake, we decided to name the wine Sweet Sherrill.  I like to say ‘The wine reflects the winemaker herself – a bit sweet but with plenty of complexity.’”

Making wines that suit consumers’ palates can be a challenge, Miller says.  And most wine drinkers don’t have the patience or the place to cellar wines for any length of time.

“As a winemaker, I want my wines to be drinkable at release.  Our reds will improve with a bit of age, but I don’t want to wait 10 years for a wine, only to be disappointed,” she says.  As a result, E. B. Foote wines are a balance of fruit, oak, tannins and acidity.

E.B. Foote Winery is rolling out new labels for its wines, and a new wine to celebrate the anniversary, Founder’s Red.

“It is a Cabernet Franc, a new varietal for us, and the label has Gene Foote’s picture on it,” Miller says.  Mr. Foote will be on hand for part of the celebration.

The Spring Anniversary Celebration will include commemorative wine glasses for sale and anniversary cake, as well as tasting of E.B. Foote wines.

While developing the brand and the business, Miller and Higginbotham have attempted to make the winery a destination.  The winery has hosted a variety of events, from fund-raisers to live theater to musical performances.  They host private tastings for a variety of groups.  The winery gift shop offers a variety of items, from wine glasses and bottle openers to clothing to decorative wine bottle bags.

Recently they also added a wine club, in which members get generous discounts and receive regular shipments of wine throughout the year.

E.B. Foote is open for tasting Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd St., Burien.

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Winery

$5 tasting fee, applied toward wine purchase

Thursday, March 27, 5 pm – 9 pm
Friday, March 28, 11 am – 9 pm
Saturday, March 29, 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday, March 30, Noon – 6 pm

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the winery with the release of our limited release Founders Red. Our Founder, Gene Foote, will join us for most of the weekend.  Kerry Smith, our Artist-in-Residence, will have paintings, prints and cards available for purchase.  Truffles from Chocolate Serenade will also be for sale.  Enjoy wine tasting, snacks and anniversary cake.  Get a friend or two and drop in during these hours, no reservations needed!  The winery will be chilly so dress warmly and casually.

 

Scheduled for release:  Limited release Founder’s Red (a Cabernet Franc)

CONTACT:
Sherrill Miller
E. B. Foote Winery
(206) 242-3852 – winery
(206) 715-3114 – direct
www.ebfootewinery.com

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Courtesy Vino Bello, 636 SW 152nd St – F, Burien, (206) 244-VINO:

Join us in tasting some of Walla Walla’s best from Cougar Crest Winery – an estate winery located in Walla Walla.

The “Estate Grown” designation is an important feature of this winery.

In order to qualify for this closely regulated designation, the wines are made from grapes grown in their own vineyards and fermented, aged and bottled at the family winery.

Estate grown wines deliver unsurpassed quality and consistency from year to year.

Noon-8pm: Cougar Crest Winery tasting, $10

5pm+: Live Music featuring Gertrude’s Hearse

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Lots of fun stuff going on at Burien’s Vino Bello this Saturday, Feb. 2nd:

1. Noon – 8pm: Pepper Bridge Winery tasting and bottle signing:

RG Hess of Walla Walla’s Pepper Bridge Winery will showcase award winning Pepper Bridge Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well as the Amavi Semillon, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.Robert Parker’s ‘The Wine Advocate’ gave the 2004 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon a score of 93 and said that the wine “has great balance and a lengthy finish.”

Master Sommelier Shayn Bjornholm describes the 2005 Pepper Bridge Merlot as “sipping this wine is like driving an Aston Martin on a silk highway.”

Best part? RG Hess will actually sign your bottle – that’s right, you can get a souvenir autograph! How cool is that?

2. 4 – 8pm: Meet Wine Trails Author Steve Roberts

Planning a wine tasting getaway in Washington State? Then WineTrailsNW is the place for you. Get detailed driving directions, pictures and specific information about the tasting rooms of Washington including hours, tasting room fees, events, availability of picnic facilities, wine-related gift items, and much more. Reviews for each winery include a written description of 50 to 300 words that presents the story behind the winery’s unique position, winemaking philosophy, location, source of grapes and more!

Enjoy Live Music featuring Trio Continuo during the tasting 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

WHEN: Saturday Feb. 2nd, Noon – 8pm
4pm – 8pm: Bottle Signing
4pm – 8pm: Meet Author Steve Roberts
5pm – 8pm: Live Music featuring Trio Continuo

WHERE: Vino Bello, 636 SW 152nd Street, #F in Burien:

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