CALL to ARTISTS, Plein Aire All Day at the Concours!

CALL TO ARTISTS * Plain Air painting opportunity, on site Saturday, Sept. 24th. as a part of the Concours d'Elegance. 

NO entry fee, no sales fees & a free lunch. Now what could be more fun!   This is a fantastic opportunity to capture those rare and fun autos of other eras, all in one location. Over 300 classic cars represented as well as classic boats, tear drop trailers and historic motorcycles. And if that weren't enough, costumes galore, 4-H animals and the stunning Ironstone Vineyards Gardens. 

Participating artists also have the opportunity to exhibit framed paintings for sale in Ironstone's Gallerias through October 6th.  Email for more information cgomez@ironstonevineyards.com

The Concours Foundation is a non profit organization raising funds for the California 4-H scholarship funds and the California State Faire Scholarship funds. In addition to the entry fee, funds are also raised through the live auction. Through the years, fine donated paintings have lead the bidding and helped the foundation meet their goals.  Should you wish to donate a painting, you may contact infor@concoursfoundation.com 

Registered Artists must be on site from 9:30 - 3:00 pm Saturday and are free to move throughout the facility and show site.  If you are interested in joining us that day, please contact Chris Gomez at cgomez@ironstonevineyards.com or call 209 728 1251 ext #45.

For additional information, here are two sites with great information

http://www.ironstonefoundation.org/  and http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/06/29/ironstone-concours-offers-a-chance-to-take-a-ride-in-a-1913-stutz/.

Wine Down the Middle, Fork of the Salmon that is....

Ironstone joins OARS for a great white water rafting trip down the middle fork of the Salmon River in Idaho Aug. 27th.  Considered one of the continent’s primo rafting destinations, this Middle Fork trip takes you through what are touted as legendary rafting waters. I can attest to the beauty of the high country forests, granite canyons & precious grassland having had the pleasure of representing Ironstone on this same voyage several years ago. 

The food is always outstanding on these trips, but the special treat on the wine trip is our very own Chef James will be on the waters with the group, cooking up a storm at every evening camp.  Paired with the foods, Chris Foppiano will be pouring select Ironstone wines to the happy crowd.  Now, challenging the waters isn't the only fun that goes on with these trips... take a look at the photos of "dress up" night.

Now, OARS didn't do that on my trip!  Can't wait to see what Chef James brings back!

Check out OARS link!
http://www.oars.com/idaho/middleforkwhitewaterrafting.html


Then, sign up for the time of your life!

July 9, LAVAY SMITH AND Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Look out! Lavay is back! 
We love this wild and crazy lady.

Lavay Smith is internationally recognized as The Queen Of Classic Jazz & Blues in the authentic style of the 1940's and 1950's. Lavay's last album received a prestigious 4 & 1/2 Star review in Downbeat magazine.

For details on July 9,  Click Here;  http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/?method=pages.showpage&PageID=fbd86f9f-f8b3-d605-0c12-e2fc85607f1e&WineryID=ccfb1398-cbb1-13a8-2060-60519bcc4868

“Lavay is wonderful! She and her band are a breath of fresh air. It is so unlikely and so exciting that a band would appear on the scene today that plays classic jazz and blues so well and so convincingly.”

---Johnny Otis

“The San Francisco-based Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are a notable exception to the retro-swing norm. The saucy vocalist and her eight-piece crew actually know the difference between jump music and bland R&B in corny suits. They have been a working unit since 1989 and sound as tight as the legendary musicians they choose to emulate.”
---Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe

“A lush vocal style recalling both Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington.”
----Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

“Splendid vocals and exemplary material.”  ---Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat

“Hands-down the best thing to come out of the jump/swing revival...the gal can sing her tail off.”
---Paul de Barros, Seattle Times

“First-rate vocals...magnificent arrangements...the best combo in town.”
--- Phil Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

“A living testament to the jump-blues era, Lavay is an impassioned singer.”
---William Stephenson, Jazziz

“As close to the real deal as you can get.”  ---Adam Mazmanian, The New York Press

“Pure class and a sense of humor...a time machine in vintage threads.”---Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue

“As a singer, Smith is both ravishing and compelling, and her band, led by pianist Chris Siebert, is world-class.”  ---Marian Wallace, Alternative Press Magazine

“Outstanding...the real deal. Unlike some retro-swing outfits that put posturing above musicianship, Smith and her red-hot musicians are schooled in the nuances of blues, swing, and bop.”
---Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express

“The Skillet Lickers are bona fide jazz players, proffering chops and Basie-esque arrangements to shame all other modern groups of their ilk. Then there's Smith, whose sultry vocals readily betray the influence of Billie Holiday, Little Esther and Dinah Washington while sounding slavish to none.”
--Buddy Siegal, Orange County Weekly

“I love this band-they’re great!”   ---President Bill Clinton

Country Throwdown Com'n to Town! Murphys that is!

Mark your calendars! June 26 @ Ironstone! Here they come! Willie Nelson and the Country Throwdown Tour!
Check out the Willie page above! 
Buy your tickets here!  http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&q=Ironstone&search.x=74&search.y=8