Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2008 > April > 15
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Sunday Fair in Georgetown
The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival is the crown jewel of Austin’s expanding culinary empire. Spanning a long spring weekend every year, it introduces local and international cuisine and libations to tourists and locals alike.
Anthony Rodarte, Misty Rodarte
We missed 90 percent of the fest this year, mainly because of competing events, but couldn’t pass up the Sunday Fair at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown.
Eric Reesing, Jill Bell, Adam Dolch
The setting is flawless: A greensward below canyon walls, aside the splashing San Gabriel River. Three large tents and several tributary spaces showcased dozens of vendors, more wine than food this year, but also arts, crafts and real estate.
Lem Johnson, Donna DiCarlo
The sweet weather beckoned outside, but the goods and the happily grazing masses lured us back under the tenting.
Peter Lai, Laura Dillard
We spoke with Kate MacMurray, flame-haired, comedianlike daughter of deceased movie star Fred MacMurray, who each year presents her wines in tandem with her father’s films at Alamo Drafthouse.
Kate MacMurray
We ran into Rebecca Robinson, swanning around the fest, overseeing her cygnets from the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas, which uses the fest proceeds to supply scholarships for budding chefs.
Lisa Trudeau, Rebecca Robinson, Carol Robinson
One thing about the Sunday Fair, besides the long lines for edibles, was the heady mix of guests: Families with toddlers, young couples clearly in the throes of spring romance, trendy urbanites with apt inkings and shades, ranchers delighted that the barbecue outranked foie gras among the fair’s pickings.
Nico Alvarez, Linda Matamoros, Luna Matamoros
Karah Freitag, Landon Figer
No doubt some of the Williamson County contingent will be sad when the fair moves to another location next year, as we hear, but why not throw something similar in the park with a Georgetown slant? I’d attend.
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From J. Black’s to Rain
We generally don’t glorify the social exploits our coworkers, but Saturday’s romp at J. Black’s and Rain, in double celebration of Courtney Sebesta and Gary Dinges’ 29th birthdays, revealed fresh sides to the popular clubs’ personalities as well.
Courtney Sebesta, Chris Garcia
The semi-private lounge at the rear of J. Black’s for instance, is snug, but not snooty.
Monica Cardenas, Jackie Moreno, Clare Laughran, Babak Haghighi
Alert waitstaff regularly checks on the parties, and one is more likely to order from the menu (such as gourmet pigs in a blanket with eye-popping horseradish sauce) when seated on one of the lounge’s lounge-worthy sofas.
Gary Dinges, Ben Sargent, Diane Holloway
A group of some two dozen well-wishers sat, stood, chatted, imbibed, and, well, lounged, as they alternately puffed and teased the birthday duo.
Kalani Arce, Glen Minton
But then one must dance. So we headed to Rain, which, after 11 p.m., was packed, but not distressingly so.
What the night had in store
What pleased us most, besides the DJ’s cagey grooves, was the distinction of the crowd — a mix of genders, ethnicities and sensibilities unlike any other club in town. It had been a while since I’d danced away the night, but, thanks to my almost-thirty colleagues at statesman.com and austin360.com, the nightlife blessings rained down like prayers.
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