Tulsa Blue Dome Arts Festival May 19-21

3rd Annual Blue Dome Arts Festival May 19th through 21st, 2006

I've been getting quite a bit of email lately from folks asking for info on this year's Blue Dome Art Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event runs at the same time and nearby the Tulsa MayFest. It is a fantastic event that usually includes a few Oklahoma wineries pouring tastes of their wares.

It is open to all Oklahoma Artists. There is no entry fee, or jurying. The only rule is - YOU MUST MAKE THE WORK YOURSELF!!!!! And you must sell it yourself. You are in charge as the artist of everything. Where and when to set up , how to take money, security of your work , etc. Original work only-Nothing mass produced please! You just show up ready to display, and sell your artwork. You do not need to be there every day... just whenever you can.

On opening night, exhibiting artists and sponsors will provide wine and munchies for Blue Dome Festival guests. It is a very special event created by local artists and for local artists. I urge everyone to enjoy MayFest's bevy of visiting artists and vendors, then stop by the Blue Dome Festival for a taste of true local flavor!

Dates:
Friday, May 19th from 6:00 PM til 9:00 PM
Saturday, May 20th from 10:00 AM til 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 21st from 11:00 AM til 5:00 PM

Location: Blue Dome District 2nd, 3rd, Streets and Elgin. Walking distance from Mayfest

Admission: Free to the public! Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa

Technorati Tags: Tulsa Events, Tulsa, Festivals, Blue Dome, Art, Oklahoma

Cross Country Wine Blogging Adventure May 5

Readers of this blog should know by now that wine is made in every single one of the United States. Lenn Thompson author of the popular New York Wine Blog Lenndevours (http://www.lenndevours.com/) is on a mission to taste, review and write about at least one wine from every state in the union over the course of 50 weeks (starting May 5).

You can read more about it here: http://www.wellfed.net/winesediments/winesediments.php/2006/04/07/announcing_50_states_50_wineries_50_week

Oklahoma winemakers interested in participating should contact Lenn via his blog or email me and I will send you the address to mail your wine to for review.

Wine Sediments - Announcing: 50 States. 50 Wineries. 50 Weeks

Wewoka Blues and Jazz Festival June 24

Party Till Midnight in Wewoka, Oklahoma!
Saturday, June 24, 2006 from 6pm-midnight

Don't miss the 2006 Cedar St. Blues & Jazz Festival in Downtown Wewoka, Oklahoma.

Enjoy wine tasting from several Oklahoma Wineries including: Oklahoma Wine Company & The Grape Ranch. Plus live music from Tutu Jones, Sweet Brenda & the Sourmash and Dr. French E 'Doc Blues' Hickman. Fireworks at 10pm!

Discounted advance tickets are on sale now!
Contact: Wewoka Chamber of Commerce at (405) 257-5485
http://www.wewoka.com/

Wewoka's Cedar Street Blues & Jazz Festival
Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Events, Wewoka, Festivals, Wine Tasting, Blues, Jazz

Cabin Creek's Weekend of Fun May 13 - 14

A Walk in the Vines Party May 13

11-2:30pm Toast in the Vines, Picnic lunch & Live Music
10$ per person.

Mother's Day Jazz Brunch May 14

A special Treat for Mom's and 'Grand' Mom's

Tickets $23 per person info available at the website or call
918-783-5218

Cabin Creek Vineyard & Winery

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Winery Event, Big Cabin

Live Music at Summerside Winery in April

You can enjoy some great Oklahoma live music at the winery in Vinita this month.

Summerside Vineyards April Music Schedule

April 22, 2006 Allen Byrd on the Patio

Straight from OKC, where he performs at Cheeseburger in Paradise and Toby’s Keith’s, Allen with be singing and playing the acoustical guitar on our Grapevine Patio from 12:30-3:00. Lunch served from 11:00-3:00

April 29, 2006 Chris Clark on the Patio

Chris is the Guitarist with Band Camp and will be performing solo, as he does at The Fox & Hound and at Los Cabos, on our Grapevine Patio from 12:30-3:00. Lunch served from 11:00-3:00

Summerside Vineyards and Winery

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Winery Event, Vinita, Live Music, Oklahoma

Governor Supports Economic Protectionism

Maryland Expected To Pass Deceptive Direct Shipping Bill

Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich is expected to sign into law Senate Bill 812 which would allow any licensed U.S. winery that produces less than 27,500 gallons to self distribute to Maryland restaurants and retailers.

This bill does not improve the situation in Maryland. Although it is being advertised as a 'compromise' between Maryland wineries and wholesalers, it is basically par for the course. The only change is that now out-of-state small farm wineries can self distribute to Maryland retailers. Direct to consumer shipments will remain prohibited.

Score one for the wholesalers, who got their way at the expense of Maryland consumers.

If you are interested in learning more about how the Direct Wine Shipping battle is playing out nationally, here is a great new blog to subscribe to: ShipCompliant - http://www.shipcompliantblog.com/blog/

Technorati Tags: Wine Law, Free The Grapes, Wine Business, Maryland Government

More Popular Than George Bush in Oklahoma

Tres Suenos Winery Says: Free the Grapes!

The Midwest City Sun has done an article on the March 7, 2006 lawsuit by wine and spirits wholesalers Central Liquor Co., Jarboe Sales Co. and Action Wholesale Liquor Co. The three companies recently filed a law suit to reverse the 2001 decision by Oklahoma voters allowing state wineries to sell their own wine to restaurants and liquor stores.

They interviewed Richard Kennedy from Tres Suenos winery. He has some interesting insights about the three big alcohol wholesellers in the state trying to control distribution by overriding the voice of the Oklahoma citizens. He also discusses how he believes that one problem in getting fair and effective Oklahoma wine legislation is... bipartisan politics.

I support whoever supports our bills,we have both republicans and democrats working on it, but the Speaker of the House Todd Hiett, he won’t even hear us. I felt hopeful when he and Wes Watkins introduced their rural economic development plan but it turned out to be a total joke. -- Richard Kennedy, Owner of Tres Suenos Winery in Luther, OK

Later on, Richard did applaud Representatives Lance Cargill and Trey Worthern for hearing the wineries out. However, he had little good news about the future of Oklahoma wineries under the current political climate.

Oklahoma voters cast more votes for State Question 688 (whether wineries could direct sell) than any person or question on that general election, beating even President George W. Bush in popularity. Apparently, that loud statement to the Oklahoma legislature was not loud enough to drowned out the frantic bidding of corporate lobbists. Watch the OGGWMA site for more breaking news on this issue.


The Sun - Fighting to stay alive Free the Grapes!

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Wine, Free Trade, Wine Business, Deregulation

Grape Ranch Bud Break Festival April 22

The annual 2006 Bud Break festival at the Grape Ranch will be held from 2 to 11pm April 22nd in Okemah. Come out to enjoy FREE Crawfish and BBQ, Bocce Ball, Horseshoes and Live Music from 3 bands.

The Grape Ranch Winery in Okemah

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Winery Event, Okemah, Spring, Oklahoma Music

Ponca City Event to Include Local Wines

2006 Iris Festival in Downtown Ponca City, Oklahoma
May 5th - May 7th

This year's Ponca City Iris Festival will include an Oklahoma Wine Tasting. In addition to the fine local wines offered you can expect: flower shows, garden tours, arts & crafts, food & more at this fun annual event.

For more information call the PCMS office at 580-763-8082.

Ponca City Main Street - Iris Schedule Festival

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Events, Ponca City, Festivals, Wine Tasting

Family Picnic Day in Chandler, OK April 22

Family Picnic Day
April 22, 2006 from Noon until Dusk

Celebrate spring with a picnic at Greenfield Vineyard in Chandler. Bring your picnic basket and your family and friends. The folks at Greenfield Vineyard will bring the wine and the ambiance.

GreenField Vineyard Oklahoma Winery Events in Chandler, OK

Summerside Vineyards Tax Relief Day April 15

Summerside Vineyards in Vinita wants to ease your annual tax burden.

Summerside will pay the tax on any purchases made on on April 15, 2006 as part of their Income Tax Relief event. Don't miss out on your chance to 'stick it to The Man!'.

Phone: 888-508-9463
Website: www.summersidevineyards.com
Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Winery Event, Vinita, Taxes, Oklahoma

Vinography On Wine Business Salary Survey

Wine Biz Economics

Alder, the author of: Vinography: a wine blog, has published a nice posting on the annual salary survey results that Wine Business Monthly has collected. Results of the 2005 Wine Industry Compensation Survey reveal that 77 percent of the jobs showed an increase in annual base pay since 2004, and the average raise was 5.8 percent.

Here are some more wine industry pay highlights from Alder's blog posting:

• Head winemaker: $92,435
• Assistant winemaker: $53, 054
• Vineyard manager: $76,685
• Vice President for sales for a corporate winery: $151,555
• Tasting room manager: $47,217
• Cellar rat: $32,756
• Tasting Room staff: $24,701

Alder's blog is one of the most widely read wine blogs on the internet. Stop by and take a look at his article, some of his readers have added some very interesting comments. See Wine Business Monthly for the full Salary Survey story.

Vinography: a wine blog: Making a Living in The Wine Business
Technorati Tags: Wineries, Wine Blog, Wine Business, Salaries

Tidal School Vineyards Oklahoma Talent Search

It's Your Night to Shine!
Saturday April 29, 2006 6pm - 9pm

'Tidal Idol' Tickets are $10 in advance $12 at the door, very limited seating, reservations strongly suggested. 'American Idol' style judging will be a riot!

Order your tickets online or call toll free 1-866-258-1903 for more information.

Tidal School Vineyards - Oklahoma Winery and Event Venue

Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Winery Event, Talent Contest, Oklahoma Music, Karaoke