Santa Clarita, CA— Soroptimist of Greater Santa Clarita Valley (SIGSCV) is excited to announce their 11th annual Wine Affair fundraiser will be held on Sunday, March 24th from 2pm – 6pm. The event is an extravaganza of wine (and beer), food and local music that has grown in popularity year after year.
Sand Canyon Country Club (www.sandcanyoncc.com) is the title sponsor of the event.
Nola Aronson’s Advanced Audiology (www.scvadvancedaudiology.com) is a Platinum Sponsor.
An exciting change to the popular event is the location – the March event will take place on Main Street in Old Town Newhall, introducing attendees to a new array of venues, delicious appetizers, new wines as well as craft brews. There is surely something for everyone to enjoy while experiencing the transformation of our Old Town Newhall district.
Karen Schnurr, SIGSCV President stated, “We are thrilled to be able to hold this event in the heart of Old Town Newhall, introducing the community to the vitalization and excitement of this area of our city. We are so grateful for the number of inquiries from businesses up and down Main Street wanting to participate.”
Proceeds from this event will go toward improving the lives of women and girls in our community.
General admission tickets are $60 and VIP tickets are $110. Both can be purchased online at www.thewineaffair.org.
Mystic Hills Vineyard is the VIP ticket area wine sponsor. At press time there is not a current list of wineries participating but some of the venues hosting tastings will include Newhall Refinery, Double Trouble Wine Room, The Old Town Junction, Persia Lounge and Restaurant, Brewery Draconum, Pulchella Winery, Smokehouse on Main, The Press Room and at least another half dozen more.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Aida Weinstein at 661-713-2656.
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that improves the lives of women and girls. More than 110,000 members and supporters in 20 countries and territories invest in the dreams of women and girls through access to education. Soroptimist’s main program, Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards for Women, has disbursed about $30 million to almost 20,000 women since 1972. Its newest program, Dream It, Be It, targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. Soroptimist also powers LiveYourDream.org, its online community that provides on and offline opportunities for volunteer action benefiting women and girls.
The Santa Clarita community will once again will be asked for their support for great non-profits, while having a great time. This year’s event is sure to be our best. This is founder Nicole Stinson’s 7th successful year, whom will be working hard and diligently to bring in sponsors, donations with her co-chair Steve Portaro to help make the event go off without a hitch. The upcoming event will be benefiting two amazing shelters in our area that are saving the lives of animals, Shelter Hope Pet Shop and St. Bonnie’s Sanctuary/Lange Foundation. Steve Portaro, Co-Chair commented, “Our goal has no cap and we are benefiting two charities this year, so we need twice the donation power to help both amazing causes with their continued success.”
Tastings.com judges described Old Rasputin as “a craveable hoppy imperial stout that is superbly balanced,” rewarding it with a ranking of 94 points and a gold medal at the Tastings.com World Beer Championships.
This was the first year the “Best in Fest” judging was open to the public. Attendees tasted the twelve brews alongside the judges. The esteemed panel of judges included: Kevin Pratt, the nation’s second highest ranked beer judge; Jason Hendrick, General Manager of Barrelhouse 101; Zach Rosen, Certified Cicerone; Erin Peters, also known as the Beer Goddess; and Bec O’Neal, Sales Rep for Stone Distribution Company. Guests also received delicious small bites from other Annex tenants: Pancake, Scratch Sandwich Counter, and Seoul Sausage Co. Another welcome addition to the competition was the dispensing of beers via numbered taps. In years past, competition co-chairs Curtis Taylor and JC Lombardo collected the brews and stored them in coolers until the judging.
More than 15 internationally known bands will perform on two stages. On the Bluesapalooza Main Stage, the Beyond Blues Thursday Night (5:30pm-9:30pm) kicks off with Harper and Midwest Kind with Lazer Lloyd. Friday Night Rock ‘N Blues (5:00pm-10:00pm) features headlining performances from TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band, Revered Peyton’s Big Damn Band, and Alicia Michilli, and Saturday’s Bluesapalooza (12:15pm-9:30pm) features Ozomatli, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Eric Gales, Danielle Nicole and Wee Willie Walker and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra. Festivalgoers can unwind, kick back and relax on Soulful Sunday (12:15pm-5:15pm) with ZZ Ward, The Reverend Shawn Amos, and Vanessa Collier. On the Minaret Stage, Dennis Johnson and The Mississippi Ramblers, Dirty Cello, and The Bald Eagles will perform throughout the weekend, and during late night sets after the Main Stage performances.
Stephen La Sala, executive chef of Searsucker, will prepare a sampling of brunch selections to pair with the beer offerings. Three food stations will offer fresh salt and brine offerings, including poke hand rolls, oysters on the half-shell served with a spicy cocktail sauce and lager mignonette and Bloody Mary shrimp cocktails; brunch favorites, including beer-brined pork belly bennies, served with homemade bread, lemon-dill hollandaise and beer-cured salmon, Mexican poutine served with stout-braised carnitas, rajas and Oaxaca cheese and short rib fries, made with beer-braised short ribs and topped with Vermont cheddar and egg; and Chef La Sala’s traditional taco bar, with an authentic pastor taco, an infamous charred octopus taco and beer-braised crispy pig ears.
The weekend will begin with the return of the Mad Craft Experience, which was added to the Great Vegas lineup last year, from 7-10 p.m. on April 6, with culinary competitions and select beer tastings from notable breweries. The Grand Tasting will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, with early entry at 2 p.m., and will offer more than 500 craft beers from more than 120 local, regional, national and international breweries, in addition to beer-inspired and infused cuisine from some of Las Vegas’ top chefs.
Here’s Liz…
More than 20 internationally known bands will perform on two stages. On the Bluesapalooza Main stage, the Beyond Blues Thursday Night (5:15pm-10:00pm) kicks off with Robert Randolph and The Family Band with special guests Flow Tribe and Dreddie Poppins and The Professionals. Friday Night Rock ‘N Blues (3:00pm-10:00pm) features headlining performances from Mavis Staples, Valerie June, Eric Sardinas & Big Motor, Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind, and Saturday’s Bluesapalooza (11:30am-9:30pm) features Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Malina Moye, Samantha Fish, Dirty Revival, and Anthony Gomes. Festivalgoers can unwind, kick back and relax on Soulful Sunday (11:00am-5:30pm) with Vintage Trouble, Janiva Magness, Cedric Burnside Project, and Griff Hamlin & The Circle City Horns. On the Minaret Stage, RJ Mischo & Paris Slim, Brother Yusef, The Bald Eagles and additional special guests will have scheduled performances throughout the weekend.
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