Sunday, January 24, 2010

Django Reinhardt Festival-Ft. Worth, TX


I went to the second night of music at the seventh annual Django Reinhardt Festival at Arts Fifth Avenue in Fort Worth. It turns out to located in the neighborhood where both of my grandmothers and my great grandmother lived a long time ago. It was my first time back in over forty years!

Back to the music! The first act was Gypsy Moon, a husband & wife duo of very accomplished gypsy jazz guitarists, but I chose last night to see Slim Richey and his band Yo! Gadjo. As usual, they were fabulous, all very accomplished musicians. The biggest treat of the evening, however, was being introduced to a 14 year old fiddle prodigy, Ruby Jane Smith from Mississippi now living in Austin, TX. She is as accomplished a fiddle player as I have ever seen, including the likes of Phoebe Hunt, Warren Hood and Sid Page. The group also included Dennis Ludiker on mandolin, who is the reigning Texas fiddle champ! What music! This is the first time I have thoroughly enjoyed an entire show of strictly instrumental music. My friend that I met there loaned me her CDs from the previous evenings act, The Texas Gypsys. That may be another post!

This was a perfect evening, starting off with a wine tasting at Put A Cork In It also in Ft. Worth close to TCU. Then great music with two women, a lovely friend and a young music phenom-it doesn't get any better than that!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Women Stars of Wine & Food

A great event is coming to Dallas on 2/28/10 at the Fashion Industry Gallery in th f.i.g.Building on N. Akard between Ross & Munger from 6-9pm.

The Dallas chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier event features wine women from California & Texas along with food from over 20 Dallas chapter chefs and culinary professionals.
The California guests include:
Dolores Cakebread, Cakebread Cellars
Amelia Ceja, Ceja Vineyards
Kathryn Hall, Hall Wines
Robin Lail, Lail Vineyards
Joy Sterling, Iron Horse Vineyards
Janet Trefethen, Trefethen Family Vineyards

Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 after 2/26 or at the door and are available online at www.LDEdallas.org See you there!