Valentine’s Day in Paso Robles

by Shonna Howenstine

While the exact origins of Valentine’s Day are hazy, the current manner of celebrating the holiday in Paso Robles is clear – it’s all about love, romance, and…food. 

That’s right, food. Valentine’s Day is the second busiest day of the year for most restaurants (right
behind New Year’s Eve) and this is great news for lovebirds AND foodies. If the way to a lover’s heart is through the stomach, then Paso Robles is the place to be for Valentine's Day. Our restaurants and wineries pull out all the stops with their Valentine’s Day menus.

Here are a few examples:

Harvest - By Any Means Necessary!

Paso Robles Harvest Wine Weekend - October 21-23, 2011

Paso Wine Man is BACK!

The release of our latest digital short, Harvest - By Any Means Necessary, comes at the perfect time! Our first launch, Zinfandel - Paso's Wine, was announced as the 2011 Wine Spectator Video Contest Winner on September 20 leaving "spectators" wanting more...

We extend a warm thank you to all those who voted and for your continued support of Paso. So your wish for MORE is our COMMAND.  

Paso Robles New Fine Art Galleries!

by Guest Blogger Sasha Irving, Studios on the Park

Paso Robles’ blossoming art scene, anchored by Studios on the Park, the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival, the Paderewski Festival, and Festival of the Arts, now includes three new art galleries.

The addition of the Dale Evers Design Studio as well as Vale Fine Art and Pierce Modern galleries offers locals and visitors to Paso Robles an enhanced cultural experience. 

Explore Hearst Castle® on a New Tour

by Guest Blogger, Jim Allen, Director of Marketing, Hearst Castle, California State Parks

There is excitement in the air as Hearst Castle announces new summer tours!  Have you ever wanted to explore the castle grounds on your own at the end of your guided tour?  Now you are able to do just that.  Starting today, June 27th, there are three new tours available to quell your curiosity and satisfy that independent streak that lives in all of us.

Where will your spring and summer travels take you?

By Nancy Hoover

With spring just around the corner (hello March!), it's time to start thinking about spring and summer travel plans! I have no doubt that you've been thinking about where you want to vacation this summer, perhaps thinking "can we afford Hawaii?" or "the kid's would love a water park or horseback riding" and "can we even afford an entire week off of work?"  In today's economy, it's a tough subject for some, and we often tiptoe around the idea. But the daffodils are blooming and it's time to decide: where can we go that's affordable and fun?!

Wine Is...

By Nancy Hoover

To really get a feel for Paso Robles wine country - its wine, winemakers, vintners and sommeliers, take a peek at the video below. Members of the local wine industry were asked the question "What is wine?"  The answers range from heartfelt to downright hilarious.

Harris Stage Lines Featured on America's Heartland!

By Nancy Hoover

One of Paso Robles' most noteable ranch families was recently featured on America's Heartland, a weekly public television program that airs nationally.  You may remember Tom, Debby and Cactus Harris of Harris Stage Lines from an earlier blog post (see A Taste of the American West) written by Debby Harris in August 2010.  The Harris' are skilled trick ropers and stage coach drivers that work to celebrate western heritage by offering educational classes and horse related activities to visitors.  The Harris' believe in keeping western heritage alive in Paso Robles and wish to experience this passion with you and your family during your next visit!  It is an incredible way to experience Paso Robles' old wild west days!

Check out the Harris family's American Heartland segment below:

Watch the full episode. See more America's Heartland.

 

Outlaws, Hollywood and Piano Concertos

By Nancy Hoover

Having a Central California location, easily accessible from San Francisco, Los Angeles and the California Central Valley, it’s not hard to believe that many outlaws, movie stars, athletes and artists have graced Paso Robles at one time or another.  Well-known American outlaw Jesse James lived in Paso Robles from 1868 to 1869.  It is said that Jesse James took shelter with his Uncle, Drury James, a founder of Paso Robles, who hid the outlaw under the alias “Scotty” from sheriffs and bounty hunters at his Paso Robles ranch and hotel. 

After a quick ceremony at San Francisco’s City Hall, New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio and his famous movie star wife Marilyn Monroe spent their wedding night in Paso Robles after fleeing reporters and onlookers.  And, let’s not forget to mention James Dean’s tragic young end in a car accident just outside of town.  The intersection between California Highways 41 and 46, just East of Paso Robles, is now known as the James Dean Memorial Junction.

 
Paso’s Most Illustrious: Ignacy Paderewski
While all of these famous people have left their mark on Paso Robles, likely the most illustrious person to ever live in Paso Robles is the world renowned Polish statesman, concert pianist and composer, Ignacy Paderewski.  Ignacy first visited Paso Robles in the early 1920’s after learning of the healing natural mineral hot springs, which soothed his ailing hands from arthritis.  During his many therapeutic visits, Paderewski fell in love with the area and decided to make his stay permanent with the purchase of a 2,800 acre ranch in Paso Robles, where he eventually planted a vineyard and fruit orchards that still thrive today. 

Paderewski Festival November 10 - 14
Each year, during the second week of November, Paso Robles celebrates the accomplishments of this world famous concert pianist and composer with the Annual Paderewski Festival.  The Paderewski Festival Board of Directors, in collaboration with the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, compiled an outstanding schedule of events for the 2010 Paderewski Festival.  The festival’s array of concerts and festivities are held over the course of five days at various venues throughout the Paso Robles region, including the Mission San Miguel Archangel and several wineries. 

The festival’s Prelude concert at Vina Robles Winery, Wednesday, November 10th, will feature two young Polish pianists that are part of the Paderewski Festival’s Student Exchange Program, a program initiated last year between Paderewski’s native Polish town, Tarnow, and Paso Robles.  Other events include several concerts by famous jazz composers, including Krzesimir Debski and Jonathan Plowright, as well as a vineyard and ranch tour of Paderewski’s original Paso Robles property, along with wine tastings, lunches and brunches.

Find out more about the Paderewski Festival, schedule of events, history and more at Paderewskifest.com.

 

Backstage and Insider Tips with Tom Keffury of the California Mid-State Fair

By Nancy Hoover

A few days before the Fair officially opened I had the opportunity to meet Tom Keffury, Director of Marketing & Sponsorships at the California Mid-State Fair.  Tom took me on a backstage tour of Chumash Arena, the site of Paso Robles famed summer concert series where Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston have already performed for a full house.  On my backstage tour, Tom took me to the staging area to capture the commotion of vendors, production crews, and fair officials in full-blown set-up mode in preparation for the summer concert series.

With over 14,600 seats in Chumash Arena, the California Mid-State Fair certainly is a large venue by most county or state fair standards.  And with this many seats, it is a natural draw for past performers and big-name talents like the Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith and Carrie Underwood to entertain fans in Paso Robles.  “Chumash Arena is what really sets the California Mid-State Fair apart from the typical county fair,” Tom explained.  “The California Mid-State has the usual corn dog stands, carnival, pig races and unique vendors that sell anything from shoe polish to sunglasses, but in addition to all that, the California Mid-State Fair has an incredible venue for outdoor concerts, unlike any other county Fair.”

I posted my video clip to YouTube and embedded it below.  Take a peek and see what insider information Tom has to share!

Another insider tip: You may wonder as I did how the fair chooses the concert line-up.  I learned that the California Mid-State Fair uses a talent company out of Chicago named JAM Productions to book the performances.  Tom explained the key factor in who the Fair books depends in large part on the summer tour schedules for each artist.  For a list of this year's Chumash Arena and free stage entertainment line-ups, click here.

Cheers!