Music, Food, Beer = A Great Weekend Combo

Posted on May 15, 2013 by VisitMadison

It’s no secret that combining good music, good food, and good drink can add up to a very good time. People have always enjoyed matching foods with wines, but now RiverRoots Music & Folk Arts Festival is expanding that experience to include the best combinations of craft beer and gourmet “food truck” fare.

“There is a really cool ‘foodie’ scene going on at RiverRoots this year. It is a festival within a festival,” said Craft Beer Committee Member Nick Ellis. “We are doing our best to match the best of our craft beers with the best of the food offerings. It can be a magical interplay between them.”

Five Indiana micro breweries with 15 different brews will be at the festival. The list of craft brewers includes Sun King from Indianapolis, Upland from Bloomington, Power House from Columbus. The New Albanian from New Albany, and Great Crescent from the Aurora / Cincinnati area.

“The greater reward is to find foods and beers that enhance and modify each other,” said New Albanian Brewing Company owner Roger A. Baylor. “Hoppy beers often pair well with spicy food not in the sense of quenching, but in the way that hop flavors and aromas weave in and around the spicing. My general rule of thumb is to seek balance and a degree of interplay. The only way to know for sure is to practice, which is the fun part.”

The addition of gourmet food trucks offers exciting food options to match with the beers. The trucks specialize in a wide variety of burger and ethnic selections from fine cuisine to BBQ and Bavarian Style Hand Rolled Pretzels. They use local ingredients whenever possible, and have vegetarian offerings. Eat your way through the festival (Like I’m going to do.) and try a Cuban pork sandwich from the Caribbean, or travel to Bavaria for a pastrami and Swiss with coleslaw and Sierra Nevada Spicy Brown Porter on a large Pretzel Bun.

Some of the brewers already have experience with some of the food truck menus. “Upland has worked with Taco Lassi in the past through our Tasting Room in Indianapolis, and there isn’t much of better pairing than our Dragonfly IPA and their Chicken Tandoori,” said Outreach & Education Manager Cari Crowe of Upland Brewing in Bloomington. “Don’t get me wrong, German style pretzels from Der Pretzel Wagon is a match that never goes out of style.”

Craft brew at RiverRoots is becoming a tradition for some of the brewers. “Great Crescent Brewery has been attending the RiverRoots Festival for the past few years and we are excited to see the selection of Craft Beer growing,” said Dan Valas, owner Great Crescent Brewery in Aurora. “RiverRoots is a perfect venue for our hand crafted beers and the reception has always been great. The addition of the Craft Beer/Food pairing is a terrific idea that goes hand-in-hand with what we do best – create a unique and memorable experience.”

Another highlight of the RiverRoots Craft Beer Tent is a book signing by Bob Ostander and Dick Morris, the authors of “Hoosier Beer,” the first complete history of brewing in Indiana, where beer is as old as the state itself. This event will take place on Saturday from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m., at the craft beer tent.

Madison in Bloom

Posted on May 9, 2013 by VisitMadison

Think Spring and Think Madison, Indiana, which is always at its best during the Madison in Bloom Spring Garden Tour –May 11 & 12 and May 18 & 18. Sponsored by The Jefferson County Historical Society, this event offers 9 private, blossoming gardens not normally open to the public and 2 public house museum gardens.

Getting Ready for Bloom

This year’s 9 gardens present a wide range of styles and sizes-sure to appeal to the novice or experienced gardener, those looking for new ideas or the weekend traveler looking for a getaway. There’s no better way to celebrate spring than the aroma of fresh flowers and the beauty of the many magnolias, tulips, dogwoods and red bud.

Relaxing!

While strolling through Madison’s National Historic Landmark District, don’t forget to visit our many specialty and antique shops, award winning wineries or one of our many delightful restaurants.

A great gift for Mom for Mother’s Day! Hours for Madison in Bloom are: Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm; Sundays, Noon to 4 pm. Tickets are $12 this year with children under 12 free.

Big Oaks NWR opens for 2013 public use

Posted on April 30, 2013 by VisitMadison

Beth Black
Park Ranger

It’s hard to believe that April is nearly over! Our spring season is in full gear here at the refuge, with the start of the 2013 public use season with fishing at Old Timbers Lake and the annual turkey season upon us.

The eaglets have hatched at the lake and we are watching them closely.

March brings one of my favorite activities to the refuge, frog surveys.

For a 2-3 week time span in March you’ll find us out on the refuge after dark listening for frog calls. We usually hear chorus frogs, spring peepers and Southern leopard frogs, but the species we are most interested in hearing is the crawfish frog.

Crawfish Frog

Crawfish frogs are in the same family as the bullfrog and leopard frog. Their spring breeding call is so much fun. It can be described as a loud snore or some will describe it as the sound of hogs at the trough. When these frogs are calling nearby, it is unmistakable. Their song fills the night air.

Doing frog surveys in March, when springtime is just beginning to emerge, is such a great time to be out on the refuge. As soon as we start, it seems it’s over and then we are on to April and all of the public use activities.

Along with these activities, we find ourselves in full planning mode for the annual Outdoor Women at Big Oaks event. This year’s event will be held on Saturday June 8^th and we’ve lined up several new course offerings including Beekeeping, Outdoor Fitness and A Taste of the Wild. The early bird registration for Outdoor Women ends on May 10^th, so register soon. You can download a copy of the form at www.fws.gov/refuge/big_oaks or call our office to have one mailed to you 812-273-0783. Hope to see you there!

Fourth Friday Events Return

Posted on April 23, 2013 by belles

Beejay Elles

With spring comes the Fourth Friday Art Jam. It is a free “happening” on the sidewalks & in the shops downtown. You will find art and music in galleries and out on the street. Shops are open late and many have free refreshments.

One notable part of this Fourth Friday (April 26) is at the West Street Art Center (301 West St.). A two-person exhibition titled “Singularities” featuring artworks by Leticia R. Bajuyo and Richard W. James will have a closing reception and gallery talk. The reception is 6-9pm and the talk will begin at 7:30pm.

This exhibition features recent ceramic sculptures by Richard James and recent graphite drawings by Leticia Bajuyo. Also on exhibit are site-specific installations by each artist as they responded to the unique space and structure of the West Street Art Center’s building.

These large, fun installations will draw you in off the street. They are great pieces for children to view, and they are in an amazing space at the West Street Art Center. If you haven’t been in this building, I recommend visiting to see the great space for new art in our community.

There are sure to be many other art events happening all over downtown. I am sure my family and I will be at the West Street Art Center and out walking the sidewalks this Friday, enjoying the weather and culture out on display.

-beejay

Spring into the Valley

Posted on April 17, 2013 by VisitMadison

Spring temperatures are finally returning, just in time for the 4^th annual Indiana Wine Trail “Spring into the Valley”, April 20th and 21st! The Trail partners, Ertel Cellars Winery and Restaurant, Lanthier Winery, Madison Vineyards Estate Winery, The Ridge Winery, Stream Cliff Farm Winery and The Thomas Family Winery welcome guests, experienced trailers and first-timers, to come taste their wines and celebrate the classic combination of breads and cheeses.

All the Indiana Wine Trail Partners will have a signature accent to the spring theme. Here are a couple of the treats to tempt you. Madison Vineyards will have wine bread and cheese spread along with chocolate bread paired with wine. They’ll also have special wine discounts in celebration of the spring that we’ve been not so patiently awaiting . Madison Vineyards will have grape vine cuttings from several of their wine grape varieties. Maybe you can start your own grape arbor!

The Thomas Family Winery will feature several fruit-based cheeses from Wales and Kentucky, and rich, dark breads to enjoy them with! Also, the winery will release two new white wines for spring!

“Trailers” should venture out to see the surprises offered by the other trail partners! Hours for the event are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Please check each winery’s web site for more detailed information.

The Indiana Wine Trail consists of six wineries-Thomas Family Winery, Lanthier Winery, Madison Vineyards, Ertel Cellars, Stream Cliff Farm Winery and The Ridge Winery- who have joined together to create a fun wine trail along and around the beautiful Ohio River Scenic Byway. Encompassing everything from secluded estate vineyards to historic pub-style bistros, the Indiana Wine Trail brings together the region’s best, each offering a different take on one of the state’s fastest-growing agricultural products: handcrafted Indiana wine. Those interested in more information about the Indiana Wine Trail can call Visit Madison at 800-559-2956 or log onto the website www.indianawinetrail.com .

Be There or Be Mild!

Posted on April 9, 2013 by VisitMadison

Who wouldn’t have a good time with this character?

Things are growing at the 17th Annual Hot Luck and Fiery Foods Marketplace, April 12, 13 & 14, at the Thomas Family Winery in Madison, Indiana. There will be big food events at the start and finish of the festival, plus an expanded area for cooking and other hot pepper demonstrations.

”We are quite pleased with last year’s response to the demonstrations, enough so that everyone involved wanted to expand, “said co-owner, Steve Thomas.

Many of the vendors, such as Hoboken Eddie and Tiki Jenni will give exciting food demonstrations and Thomas will join the demonstrations this year with a presentation on “Meat, Spice and Fire.”

Is he a magician? Some think so. Thomas is a true showman, and often hard to miss at winery events. One of the hallmarks of the winery success is Steve’s finesse at showing how certain wines match certain foods. Crowds will gather at his huge wood fired smoker as he handles large quantities of delicious main course meats. Some of the crowd is there to learn about Steve’s techniques, others just watch in amazement.

New food and pepper demonstrations being added this year include presentations by hot sauce and barbeque sauce makers Gary Duckworth and Cap’n Jim.

The Fiery Foods Marketplace will open and close with great “chilehead” meals. The weekend event kicks- off with the popular Fiery Foods pitch-in picnic on Friday when spicy food delights from around the world are brought to the winery. There are dishes from Africa, South America and India as well as Texas and the American Southwest represented.

On Saturday, guests can sample and purchase salsas, sauces, dried and fresh spices, hot breads, chili powder, vinegars and pepper plants as well as meet and chat with the vendors. Cooking demonstrations will take place throughout the day. Another gastronomic highlight for Saturday is the opportunity to taste the entries at the annual Grand Sombrero Salsa Competition.

Early afternoon judges will gather to jury the amateur and professional salsa competition. Two new categories have been added to the competition, Fruit Salsa and Traditional Salsa. The event has both amateur and professional categories, with awards for most traditional, most innovative, and best overall. The professional category is wide open, limited only to the imagination of the competitors.

Winner of The Best Overall category receives the coveted Grand Sombrero. The day will conclude with a house-raising performance by the ever popular folk musicians Greg Zeisemer and Kris Luckett.

Sunday will wrap up the weekend with the newest event, the Fiery Foods Jazz Brunch. Last year, fiery food fans began their day with a hot pepper jelly breakfast. This year, that gathering will expand to a Sunday morning brunch hosted by the flamboyant Hoboken Eddie.

“Hot Luck is so popular that on its own, it has expanded into a three day event,” said Thomas Family Winery Co-Owner Elizabeth Thomas. “Our Sunday brunch will feature spicy food prepared by Hoboken Eddie and jazz by the Rob Houze Trio. This will be an extraordinary end to a great weekend.”

The 17th Annual Hot Luck and Fiery Foods Expo will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 12, 13 & 14, at the Thomas Family Winery, located at 208 East Second Street in Historic Downtown Madison, Indiana.

For more information, call 812-273-3755, or 800-948-8466. For more information about the winery, follow us on Facebook, or visit the website at http://www.thomasfamilywinery.us

Vendors include:
• Capshew Cellars Small Batch Vinegars- they will feature products made from a small batch of peppers recently imported from Brazil.

• Cap’n Jim’s Hot Sauces- unique island styles

• The Chile Woman- premiere mail order chile specialista

• Galena Garlic Company- Everything tastes better with chiles and garlic!

• Gary D’s Authentic Hot Sauce- Rich & distinctive hot sauces and Bbq sauces

• Hoboken Eddie’s Hot Sauces- ‘nuff said!

• Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheeses- artisan farmhouse cheeses with a chilehead accent

• Madison Fudge Factory Artful fudges and confections with a spicy edge

• Marion’s Greenhouse- offering chile plants, bedding plants ready to go

• TFW Outdoor Food Company- everything tastes better when it’s cooked outside!

• In addition, there will be special breads and cheeses served at the Winery.

Kids on School Break?

Posted on March 26, 2013 by VisitMadison

Are you trying to find fun things to keep the kids occupied during Spring Break? The City of Madison, local organizations and Visit Madison have teamed up to give you some suggestions. We know the weather is NOT cooperating this year but many of these activities happen inside so that will help.

There is still time to take advantage of the activities offered for the rest of this week. We’ve seen several Moms & Dads with the families at our office trying out the workshops.

Even though it is cold outside, you can warm up with a brisk Architectural Walking Tour or Build a Straw Bale Building. Straw Bale Building sounds fun but I hope there is no big bad wolf to “huff and puff…”. And the reviews on the Architectural Tour are “awesome”. There is Story Time, a Silly Safari Animal Show, Arts & Crafts, Life in a Creek at Clifty and more.

Or you can pick up a History Scavenger Hunt Booklet at the Visitors Center and explore Madison. Lanier Mansion is offering 1 free adult with paid child admission and Jefferson County Heritage Center has free admission. There is open gym at Brown Gym Mon-Thurs from 1-3pm just in case someone needs to burn off a little steam.

A Garden Affair: Container Gardening

Posted on March 19, 2013 by VisitMadison

If you are ready to shake the winter blahs and get back to your garden, or if you just want to learn something new, don’t miss the fourth annual “Garden Affair” on Saturday, April 6. Sponsored by the Lanier Mansion Foundation, this year’s program includes a speaker, a spring luncheon and a chance to shop quality garden vendors. Doors open at 11 a.m. at The Old Market on Main located at 801 West Main Street in downtown Madison. The program will begin at noon and end around 2 p.m.

“Container Gardening” is the title of the post-luncheon presentation by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, also known as “The Hoosier Gardener.” Container gardening is the practice of growing plants in containers instead of planting them in the ground. Pots, traditionally made of terracotta but now more commonly plastic, and window boxes are the most familiar, but new, innovative containers are also popular. This planting method is useful in areas where the soil or climate is unsuitable for the plants desired, paved spaces or for ornamentation.

“Only imagination and drainage limit gardeners when it comes to containers,” says Sharp. The program includes tips on how to plant pots, great plant combinations and unusual containers that fuel the imagination.

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp grew up in Indianapolis and lives about 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis in a 1951 ranch. As a confessed “horti-holic,” she admits that her eyes are too big for her yard. “You just can’t have enough plants,” she says. For the last seven year, Sharp has worked as a manager of perennials, trees and shrubs at a large independent garden center. A former newspaper reporter, she now freelances. She was the founding editor and is a part owner of Indiana Living Green magazine. Her work appears in several national and local publications, including the Indianapolis Business Journal, Angie’s List magazine and her Hoosier Gardener column in the Indianapolis Star.

“One of the interesting features of the Garden Affair is that the tables are decorated by the Lanier Mansion Foundation board members,” said Lanier Mansion Foundation president Sandy Schaerli. “They are a creative group and its fun to see the distinctive look they create for each table,” she noted. When the doors open at 11 a.m. guests will be able to shop several quality garden vendors and peruse garden-related items from the Lanier Mansion Gift Shop.

Admission for the program is $25 and reservations are required to attend the program. Call 812.273.0556 to ensure your reservation.

BALD EAGLES ARE NESTING AT OLD TIMBERS LAKE!

Posted on March 12, 2013 by VisitMadison

Beth Black
Park Ranger

During the winter months, the refuge slows down. We are closed for public use from December to mid-April. However, that doesn’t mean we are hibernating. Since we have a strong research program here at the refuge, all of the data that has been collected throughout the warmer months is compiled, analyzed and then reports are written. We hope to publish our research in scientific journals.

In addition to the biology side of things, our prescribed fire program is busy writing their burn plan for 2013. Our fire program also hosts and instructs a prescribed fire refresher course for wildland firefighters from around the state and region during the winter months. All of these activities help us accomplish the mission of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which is to protect and conserve habitat for wildlife, so that it may be enjoyed by future generations.

And perhaps there is no other wild animal that inspires more awe and respect than our nation’s symbol, the bald eagle. So it is with that statement that I am thrilled to announce that the refuge finally has a pair of bald eagles nesting at Old Timbers Lake! After years of anticipation and speculation as to when it might happen, refuge staff spotted a nest under construction in mid- December. As of today, March 11^th, the birds are sitting on eggs. Of course we are still cautious about calling this a success until we see the fledgling eaglets make their first flights from the nest later this spring. For years we’ve had questions about eagles at the lake and my answer has always been that they are coming. It was just a matter of time, since there are successful nests at both Versailles State Park and at Brush Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area near Butlerville, both of these state areas are just a few miles from Old Timbers Lake. It only stands to reason that the birds would see Old Timbers as another suitable location to take up residence. Having the birds nesting here is a real thrill for all of us here at the refuge!

The Collection of Joeyg Art Sale

Posted on March 6, 2013 by belles

Beejay Elles

Back in November I wrote an entry about the art collection of Joeyg. Now everyone has a great opportunity to see the remainder of Joey’s personal collection, as well as purchase one of these pieces at a greatly reduced price. If you are an aspiring art collector with a very tight budget, this is the time to acquire some great original art. There will be a special reception and art sale for “The Collection of Joeyg” on Sunday, March 10th at Joeyg’s Restaurant and Nightclub from 2 to 5 pm. The sale is open to the public.

”Joeyg collected pieces he loved from artists he admired all through the years. This collection is a testament of one man’s love and passion for ART.”

- Patty Cooper Wells, friend of Joeyg and curator of the “On the Wall” art gallery.

Painting by Lou Knoble

These are original works, Paintings, 3-D art, photographs, prints, and collectible pop-culture and art posters. The late Joseph Gayles, aka “Joeyg” collected regional art from the places he lived throughout his life including: Louisville, Memphis, Columbus, OH, and Madison, IN. Many artists whose works are in the collection exhibited at Joeyg’s “On the Wall” gallery in Madison from 2000 through 2013.

Artists represented in the collection include: Jenna Watkins, Patty Cooper Wells, Leslie Gabbard, Bill Lackner, Mick Creech, Eric Phagan, Lou Knoble, Loretta Vinson, Kevin Carlson, Dave Petry, David Hammond, Melodie Y. Ramey, Migoet, Mike Hubbard, Jane Vonderhiede (formerly Devito), Beejay Elles, The Grand Conundrum, Rachel Roos, Cindie Vanderbur, Barb Ison, Paul Mailin, Gigi Straub, Fredrick Stan Yader, Christie Campbell, and more!

One of the Walls

There are also two original photographic prints by Joeyg, himself, that will be for sale. Most are unaware that he studied art at the Columbus College of Art and Design and was an accomplished fine-art photographer.

There are over 58 pieces in the collection, half of which are on display now until March 10th in the “On the Wall” Gallery, and half only being on display the day of the sale due to space limitations. Works will be priced at 75% off their retail value. There will be a price list available with information about each piece, and people can still bargain beyond that by making an offer if they wish. Cheri Gayles will decide whether to decline or accept such offer, and Patty will “field” the requests.

Even if you’re not in the market for a new painting or photograph, you can still stop in and see a great collection of local and regional art. There will be refreshments and “On the Wall” curator Patty Cooper Wells will be on hand to talk to people about the art.

I hope to see lots of art lovers there!

-beejay