Blue Ridge CTC's Master Chef Series with Chef Steve

                          

If you love to cook, this class is for you. If you know you can't cook, this class is for you. If you're one of those people who says "it's just reading a recipe,"  this class is definitely for you.

Join Blue Ridge Community and Technical College's Steve Weiss on Saturday mornings from 10AM to 1PM to get a taste (or two or three) of what it's like to be a real chef. Supplied with professional grade equipment, Chef Steve will walk you through every step from sifting to sampling, as well as lending some tricks of the trade along the way.

For $59 per class, you get Chef Steve's expertise, 100% hands on experience, and you take home whatever you make--can't complain about that kind of homework!
            
Some of the past classes have featured homemade pastas, breads, and vegetarian cuisine just to tempt your tastebuds. I dropped by the macaroon class *swoon* and watched the students create coconut, almond, and French macaroons. The French macaroons were especially fabulous; not only were they pretty, but they were the tastiest of any I've ever tried.
      
There are still some great classes left for the fall semester and then there will be a whole new batch for spring. Visit www.blueridgectc.edu to sign up today, as spaces are limited. The Italian Class is already booked full, and as the holidays approach I'm guessing the gingerbread class will be gone soon too!

     

11/5- Couples Cuisine

Spend time heating up the kitchen in this class. Especially made for couples!

   

11/12- Breakfast Pastries

Sticky buns, Cinnamon Buns, and Danishes will be some of the sweets you will learn in this class.

12/10-Gingerbread House Class

 Learn how to make and decorate your own gingerbread house for the holidays. Every guest is allowed to bring a partner to help in their house decorating.

                         

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

(Technical Center)

5550 Winchester Avenue

Martinsburg, WV 25405

For more pictures from the macaroon class, visit Pretty in the Panhandle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prettyinthepanhandle

Chelsea McBee "Put This in Your Jar (and Sip It)" Party at The Timber Frame Folly

Chelsea McBee Pickin' the Night Away

Chelsea McBee released her second album, "Put this in Your Jar (and Sip It)" on Saturday, October 15, by throwing a lovely little fête at The Timber Frame Folly in Shepherdstown, WV--one of the most magical venues ever, hands down, no question.
             

The cover of Chelsea's latest album (a vinyl, no less) features a tree trimmed with glowing jars that appear as if they may be fueled by fireflies. The Folly, illuminated by candle-filled Mason jars and a campfire or two, made you feel as if the album had come alive and you were part of the cover art.
              

Chelsea was joined on stage by Bob Keel, Steve Cifala, and Rob Receavuer as well as some special guests from the album including her mother, sister, and a first time fiddle performance by Lilly Noel. Meanwhile, friends, family, and fans were fed hearty helpings of vegetarian chili and focaccia fresh from The Folly's newly fashioned stone oven, and beverages were served in your choice of vintage glassware or mason jars (sip away).
                       

If you missed out on the festivities, you can purchase "Put This in Your Jar (and Sip It)" here. Even better, catch Chelsea on November 5, at Good Natured in Martinsburg, WV, for a live performance that's sure to have you humming her tunes through the Wind and Rain and all the way home.

For more pictures from Chelsea's fête at The Folly, visit Pretty in the Panhandle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prettyinthepanhandle

Join DISH of Charles Town Friday Night for a Farm Dinner, Hootenany, and 3rd Anniversary Celebration

Friday, October 21, Dish Bistro in Charles Town, WV, will celebrate their 3rd Anniversary by hosting a four course feast, featuring fresh ingredients from five area farms. Participating farms for this year's dinner include Tudor Hall, Slaynt Vie, Community Garden, Spriggs Delight, and Kilmer’s Farm Market.

Since it wouldn't be a hootenany without bibs and banjos, The Speakeasy Boys will be providing the entertainment for the evening and guests are encouraged to wear their finest bib overalls and straw hats. Admission to this farm fab evening is $35 and includes everything from soups to sweets. Space is limited, so call (304.728.8464) or e-mail (info@wvdish.com) to reserve your table now!

You wouldn't want to miss all of this, now would you?

 ~ butternut squash soup with pear, cider, and vanilla bean

 ~ roasted beets and mixed greens with goat’s feta, sage, candied almonds,

and citrus balsamic vinaigrette

 ~ slow-roasted pork loin with mac+cheese, stuffed squash, and cherry cola jus
 [-or-]
 ~ roasted pumpkin and garlic lasagna with sauteed greens

 ~ apple-gingerbread cake with caramel whipped frosting

 What

Farm Dinner/Hootenany

When

October 21, 2011
7:00PM to 9:00PM

Where

Dish

213 W. Washington St.

Charles Town, WV 25414

Cost
$35

(plus tax and gratuity)

Wine, beer, and cocktails will be available a la carte

Lotus of Shepherdstown's Autumn Open House 2011

                

Saturday, October 8, was one of those perfect autumn afternoons, that fools you into thinking that maybe summer hasn't quite ended. Whether it be late summer or early fall, it was an idyllic day for Lotus' Annual Autumn Open House. Lotus, like many locales in Downtown Shepherdstown, has a wonderful backyard garden area, that is perfect for helping clients relax or in this case hosting an outdoor dinner party.
To show just how much they love their clients, the ladies of Lotus (Chrissy Lewin and Chelsea Eyler) prepared an Ayurvedic, Indian-themed feast. Every dish was super tasty and healthy--apple chutney, lentil soup, hummus, ginger cookies--I left wanting recipes for everything!
       
For this occasion tables were scattered throughout the yard and each were set with an arrangement of herbs, a bottle of natural mosquito repellent, and a quiz to help find your dosha to figure out which foods are best for your body. Fall flowers adorned the food station, and wines were served from an antique vanity. Chelsea's dad strummed his guitar, while family and friends feasted and frolicked.

Guests left this gathering with a gift bag in  their hand, perfectly groomed brows on their face, and some new recipes in their pocket.

If you missed Lotus' Open House, you can find the recipes for the dishes served here. I've also posted the lentil soup recipe after the page break. Don't be scared by the ingredient combo--I was a little shy at first, but one small sample and you'll ask for a full serving.

reFINEments of Shepherdstown: A Consignment Store with Style

When I heard there was a new consignment store in town, I was just dying to go check it out! For me, the thrill of consignment shopping is never knowing what treasures you'll find. Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Chanel--what's not to love?! 
              
Located at 125 West German Street in Shepherdstown, WV, reFINEments, carries a nice selection of high-end consignment pieces as well as some very lovely vintage finds. You will definitely want to add Refinments to your Shepherdstown shopping circuit.

Want to know why?

Placement: Even in its infancy, Refinements is very well put together. You'll be drawn into the store by the stunning mannequins mingling by the entrance, but don't fret, they're not just teasers. The gorgeous little things you will find in the shop are just as fabulous (if not more so) than the preview you saw on the porch.

Prices: Lots of great pieces for under $20, including some very on-trend vintage dresses. For the higher-end designers and vintage pieces, expect to pay more, but I believe you'll still find the prices quite fair and guaranteed much more cost effective than what you would pay in a department store.

Refinements proprietor, Judi Platz,
preps some hats for their new home.

Pieces: Expect to see familiar favorites like J. Crew, Anne Taylor, and Lilly Pulitzer, but just because something doesn't have a label, does not mean it should be overlooked. A lot of vintage pieces may have lost their labels over the years, but certainly not their style. Shepherdstown has been home to some very fashionable ladies over the years, and you'll find that reflected in Refinements' stock of vintage clothing and hats. Speaking of hats, Refinements has some of the absolute most fabulous hats ever; however, great hats sell quickly, so if you see something you like be sure to snatch it up before someone else (ahem yours truly) grabs it first. ;)

Refinements

125 West German Street

Shepherdstown, WV 25443

304.876.8599

Chelsea McBee Album Release Party, Saturday at The Folly

           
Saturday, October 15, join Chelsea McBee--singer, songwriter, and Shepherstown native--at the Timber Frame Folly in Shepherdstown, WV, for the release of her second album "Put This in Your Jar (and sip it)."
                   
While this is Chelsea's second album, this is her first release on vinyl! As someone who prefers vinyls, I was pretty happy to hear this news. However, if you prefer something a little more technologically advanced, the 7" vinyl will come with a digital download card as well.
                       
Festivities at The Folly will begin at 6:30 with food and beverages (you can also BYOB) and the tunes will start around 7:00 PM. In addition, to a performance by Chelsea you'll also get to enjoy the sounds of Bob Keel, Steve Cifala, and Rob Receavuer (of The Outpatients). Should you be musically inclined, there will be an open jam starting at 10:00ish, so guests are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in the jam.
                     
If you're not familiar with Chelesa's solo work or her band, The Lady Dies, I highly recommend that you check out her website and listen to a few of her songs. You can also read more about Chelesea in her August Interview with YEP, by clicking here. Better yet, just come out to The Folly on Saturday and meet her for yourself!
                   

What

Chelsea McBee

"Put This in Your Jar (and sip it)"

Album Release Party

                    

When

October 15, 2011

6:30PM - 11:30PM

                                       

Where

The Timber Frame Folly

301 Big Oak Road

Shepherdstown, WV  25443
                           

Cost

Free

(BYOB)

P.S. Don't forget cash monies for an album or two ;)

                     

 “I chose to press a vinyl for the intimacy and interaction of playing a record as well as the warm, layered, crisp sounds that can only be created with this process.”

-Chelsea McBee

Rock Ink' Roll 2: A Night of Rockabilly, Tattoos & Pinups

 

Grab your dancing shoes and your favorite fishnets--Saturday, October 15th, Earth Dog Cafe in Berkeley Springs, WV, will host Rock Ink' Roll 2. Sponsored by B.S. Tattoo & Skate, WDHC 92.9, and Retrodini Vintage Clothing and Oddities, this is a party like no other in the Panhandle.

                                   

Rock Ink' Roll 2 will feature Rockabilly bands The Hillbilly Huxters and The Garnet Hearts, as well as DJ Eddie spinning some vintage vinyls. There will also be a raffle to benefit local charity Access Independence, AND a Pinup Contest!  Prizes for the most perfect pinup (or perhaps the pinup with most perfect pins?) will be awarded for first, second, & third places, and include cash monies.

Haven't got a thing to wear? Drop by Retrodini this weekend while you're in Berkeley Springs for the Apple Butter Festival! I promise they'll find you a divine little vintage number, and they may even teach you a retro hair-do or two ;) 

          

What

Rock Ink' Roll 2

When

October 15, 2011

8:00 PM

Where

Earth Dog Cafe

398 S. Washington Street

Berkeley Springs, WV

Cost

$5

Lotus Skincare to Host 2nd Annual Autumn Open House

Saturday, October 8, from 4PM to 8PM, Lotus Skincare & Wellness of Shepherdstown, WV will be holding their 2nd Annual Autumn Open House.
 
Lotus was founded on the belief that people should be treated as a whole--mind and body, inside and out. In keeping with those principles, there will be complimentary brow waxing and henna tattoos to beautify you on the outside, and healing Ayurvedic foods will be served to keep things pretty on the inside.
            
Once you're feeling all pretty, you can enter to win a free facial or massage. You will also receive $10 off any treatment booked during the month of October, so your wallet can feel some healing benefits as well.



    

What

2nd Annual Autumn Open House
          

When

October 8, 2011

4PM to 8PM

(Brows and Henna Tattos, 4-6)

          

Where

Lotus Skincare & Wellness

121West German Street

Shepherdstown, WV

"Beauty is rooted in vibrant health, and as you nourish health on all levels, you radiate beauty outwardly."