Farmer's Markets in Berkeley Springs and Shepherdstown Opening for the Season on Sunday!

 

Nothing beats the taste of fresh spring produce, and this weekend you'll be able to stock your kitchen with fresh, local garden delights by visiting two of the Panhandle's finest open-air farmer's markets. This Sunday both the Berkeley Springs and Shepherdstown Farmer's Markets will be coming out of hibernation and welcoming the arrival of spring!  

See below for details on Sunday's festivities. For more information be sure to "Like" both markets on facebook by following these links: Berkeley Springs Farmer's Market & Shepherdstown Farmer's Market

Berkeley Springs Farmer's Market

Location

 Downtown Berkeley Springs, WV

Intersection of Route 522 & Fairfax Street

Hours 

Sundays 10AM to 2PM

Opening Weekend Events

 "Incredible Edible Herbs and Flowers"

 Kids of all ages can paint a flower pot and get a free herb or edible flower to fill it.

The Master Gardeners will continue with the herb theme for the month.

Opening day they will demonstrate making home decorations

with herbs and have herb garden design plans.

Shepherdstown Farmer's Market

Location

Downtown Shepherdstown, WV

Behind the Library on German Street

Hours

 Sundays 9AM to 1PM

Opening Weekend Event

10:00 Ribbon Cutting

11:00  Live Music by Robert Caruthers & Friends

Blue Ridge CTC's Divine Madness to Debut at the Apollo March 24-27



"Divine Madness questions what is socially acceptable in the eyes of America and stretches the boundaries of what is considered taboo. "

 March 24-27, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College will present Divine Madness at the Apollo Theatre in Martinsburg, WV. Written by Professor (and playwright) James Ralston, Divine Madness touches on themes of tough times, crazy family members, and the struggles of dealing with both. This play will also feature a musical score written and performed by sibling duo Bethany and Jonathan Slick.

Show times and cast are listed below. Tickets are $10 ($5 for students) and available at the door.

What

Divine Madness

When

March 24-26, 7:30PM

March 27, 2:30 pm

Where

Apollo Civic Theatre

128 East Martin Street

Martinsburg, WV  25401

Cost

$10 General Admission

$5 Students

CAST

DAPHNE: Audra Grapes

OTTO: Tim Perski

HENKA: Debbie Etter

TV: Andrew Felton / Andrew Johnson

DORA:  Kristin Karnes

ROSA:  Deidre Morrison

THOMAS:  Jim Ralston

LASH:  Chris Lewis

PAUL: Mickey Lee

PAULINE: Ann Kidwell

ERNIE: Garrett Kysar

BAXTER:  Bill Lucht

Directors:  Deidre Morrison, Todd Young, and Jim Ralston

Producer:  Bill Lucht

Stage Manager:  Keisha Turpin

Assistant Stage Manager:  Cassidy Ponton

Lost Dog Coffee to Donate 5% of Weekend Sales to Benefit Victims of the Disaster in Japan



Photo: LostDogCoffee

This weekend Lost Dog Coffee in Shepherdstown, WV, will be donating 5% of their gross sales to the Japanese Red Cross and World Vision Canada. This is a perfect opportunity to grab a beverage, stock up on some coffee, and snag some of the new Lost Dog accessories. I Love the new travel mugs with the carabiner on the side! As for coffee blends, my personal faves are Shepherdstown Sunrise, Morning Warrior, and Werkin' Dog.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend, so be sure to pencil in a trip to Lost Dog Saturday or (and) Sunday--think of it as caffeine for a cause!

Also, be sure to visit their new online store at: http://www.lostdogcoffee.com/

Only Three Days Left to Snag Tickets for Salon of Style's Relay for Life, Red Carpet Magic!

"Wear large sunglasses, sport a Hollywood star hairstyle, don a sparkly feather wrap or tuxedo. Dress to impress with classy or tacky... Everything goes in Hollywood"

Join Salon of Style, Saturday, March 26, for an evening of fah-bulous fundraising at their Relay for Life fundraiser "Red Carpet Magic--A Night in Hollywood." Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple and include dinner and dancing. The evening will also feature raffles, door prizes, and some simply mah-velous silent auction items including a camera and Coach sunglasses--you know, Hollywood essentials. And, just as celebrities are always jaunting off to a beach somewhere, one lucky door prize recipient will even win a family beach get-a-way!

Tickets sales end Friday, March 18, so stop by Salon of Style (34 Aikens Center, Martinsburg, WV) or call 304.267.3051 to snag yours today!

What

Red Carpet Magic--A Night in Hollywood

When

Saturday, March 26

 5PM - 11PM

Where

Martinsburg Moose Lodge

201 Woodbury Avenue

Martinsburg, WV

Cost

$25 Per Person

$40 Per Couple

Last year the Salon of Style, Relay for Life team raised over $15,000! Even if you can't make the fundraiser, you can help them top last year's number by donating here.

You Are Cordially Invited to the Pretty in the Panhandle One Year Anniversary Tacky Prom Party!

It's crazy to think that one year has passed since I launched Pretty in the Panhandle! I've learned more about this region in the past 12 months than I had my whole life, and I've met more amazing people than I could ever possibly count! I thank you all for reading the posts, liking the Facebook page, and following my tweets on Twitter. Now, let's talk Tacky Prom!

What

 Tacky Prom

When

 April 2, 9PM

Where

 Sweet Caroline's

29 West Cork Street

Winchester, VA

Cost

 $7

(Junk Food is Playing!)

Dress

 Pretty Tacky

RSVP

Email: rsvp@prettyinthepanhandle.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105173966231919



RSVP is not required, but greatly appreciated!

Ante Up for Kids Casino Night to Benefit the Children's Home Society of West Virginia

Saturday evening the Children's Home Society of West Virginia will be holding their Second Annual "Ante Up for Kids" Casino Night at the McFarland House in Martinsburg, WV. Tickets for the event are $35 per individual or $60 per couple and include tasty treats and $100 in play money for use in the "casino," or the money can be reserved for the live auction, which will take place towards the end of the evening. A cash bar will be available, and guests can look forward to live jazz music from the Rodney Kelly Experience.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 304.264.0225 or drop by 445 Winchester Ave., Martinsburg, WV.

What

2nd Annual "Ante Up for Kids" Casino Night

Where

McFarland House

409 South Queen Street

Martinsburg, WV  25401

When

5PM to 10PM

Saturday, March 12

Cost

$35 Per Person

$60 Per Couple



Reserve Your Ticket Now for the Fourth Annual Wine Auction to Benefit the Shepherdstown Day Care

Tickets are going fast for Saturday's Wine Auction at the Bavarian Inn, in Shepherdstown, WV. This is the 4th year running for this event which serves as a fundraiser for the Shepherdstown Day Care Center (SDC)--the only day care in the region with a sliding scale for tuition, tied to family income. Tickets are $30 per person and include pre-auction wine, scotch, and food tastings as well as live music. The reception begins at 6:30 and the auction at 7:30. For a peek at some of the packages being auctioned off and for more information on SDC visit the official website at http://www.sdcwineauction.org/.

You can also view the invite on the Bavarian Inn's facebook page, which can be found here.

Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot now by calling 304.876.2551

What

Fourth Annual Wine Auction to Benefit the Shepherdstown Day Care

When

 Saturday, March 12 at 6:30PM

Where

 The Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown, WV

Cost

 $30 (plus bidding money!)

Pickin' in the Panhandle's March Pickin' Preview

Saturday night at the Pickin in the Panhandle, Pickin' Preview, fiddles were hot and it was impossible to find a toe in the theatre that wasn't tapping along to the beats of bluegrass bands Circa Blue, The Back Creek Valley Boys, and Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice. It was nearly a full house at the Apollo as patrons of all ages came out to enjoy some great music and support a couple of very worthy causes. Saturday's concert doubled as a fundraiser, which raised $2,300 for the Apollo Civic Theatre and the Eastern Panhandle Blue Grass Association! 

For another preview of some of the Pickin' bands, mark your calendars for July 9th to catch Stoney Creek, Drymill Road, and Appalachia at the Hillbilly Daylilies Bloomin' Bash. In the meantime, be sure to check out the slideshow below as well as this video clip of festival newbies, Circa Blue.

The 2011 Pickin' in the Panhandle will run September 9-11 at the Lazy A Campground in Hedgesville, WV.  This year's festival will feature over 25 artists including Marty Stuart, Confederate Railroad, and Trent Tomlinson. Early bird tickets are available now online or at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB located at 115 North Queen Street. For more information visit http:///www.panhandlepickin.com

Water, Water [from] Everywhere at the 21st Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting

Last weekend at The Country Inn at Berkeley Springs, both judges and the general public were given the opportunity to sample some of the world's best waters. The 21st International Water Tasting in Berkeley Springs, WV, presented a diverse sampling of waters from bubbling Bosnian varieties to samplings from local spigots. 

Waters were divided into 4 categories for the official judging which included Municipal, Purified, Bottled, and Sparkling. Judges were served numbered samples, and each sample was judged on clarity, odor, taste, feel, and aftertaste--additionally, sparkling waters were critiqued on carbonation levels, ranging from aggressive to fine bubbles.  New to this year's tasting, and favorites of both judges and attendees, were the rain water entries in the purified water division. Virginian Natural from nearby Charlottesville, VA, placed 5th and Texan Independence Water from League City, TX, which took home a first place, gold medal win! 



In keeping the the all-inclusive atmosphere, the winners of the Packaging Design Award were determined by the people. Everyone was encouraged to inspect the entries and rank their top five choices based on package appeal, graphics, structure, and function.  

People's Choice Packaging Finalists



Mike & Luisa Peters snagged waters
 from as far as New Zealand!

Of course, the highlight of the evening for many attendees is the infamous "Water Rush" at the end of the night. After the awards are through, the crowd poises with bags, boxes, and even suitcases to await the countdown 'til they can rush the water display and take home as many of the bottles as they can carry! As you can see from the video below, this year was rather orderly, but I've heard some pretty crazy stories about past Water Rushes.

Special thanks to event organizers Jeanne Mozier & Jill Klein Roe and to Acting Water Master Michael Cervin of Bottled Water Web.

Full Results from the Water Tasting after the Break!