Renew Your Vows at the Wedding and Special Events Expo in Paso Robles

by Erica Renkert

Planning a wedding or special event? Know somebody who is considering it? Then you should come and experience all the fun and excitement of the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo in Paso Robles.

The Paso Robles Main Street Association will be holding their 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo, on March 4th at 11:00 am at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom, and it is free to attend. There will be over thirty vendors featured, all there to help you bring your dreams to life and ensure every detail is not forgotten on your big day. You will be able to browse through vendor booths, speak one-on-one with consultants, hear potential bands and even sample food and wine.

Looking to share something special with your loved one?  Complementary vow renewals by Ceremonies Your Way, will be taking place in the colorful gardens at the Paso Robles Inn.  Photo Booths, DJ's, Formal Wear, Venues, Decor, Lighting Experts, Photographers, Flowers, Hair, even Insurance consultants will be on hand to answer all your questions and give you a multitude of ideas for any event you're planning.

Each of our vendors has generously donated a raffle item; every 15 minutes we will have a winner. That's over 30 prizes to be won just for coming to the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo. Every person who attends and registers will be given a raffle ticket along with their own bag filled with information and coupons from the vendors.   

The Paso Robles Main Street Association would like to thank the following business for helping to make the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo possible. Paso Robles Inn, N2 Events, Paso Robles Press, Flowers by Kim, Howard Signery, Central Coast Bride, KPRL 1230AM and Jerry Craig DJ/Karaoke & Décor Lighting.

I hope to see many of you there on March 4th at 11:00 am; remember it's free to the public so bring yourself and all your friends!

Come, enjoy and remember - you can schedule appointments and even book your dream day or event with one of our expert vendors that day!

 

(Photo at left is the Paso Robles Inn ballroom)

 

Erica Renkert is the chairperson of the 2012 Wedding and Special Event Expo and the General Manager of the Paso Robles Inn.

Pairings in Paso: Cioppino & Vino

 

 

by Tina Swithin

Come to find out, I’ve been pronouncing the word, “cioppino” incorrectly for years.  (It’s pronounced, chuh-pee-noh. Discovering that  was almost like having a piece of pepper in your teeth and no one tells you.)  Now that I’ve mastered the proper pronunciation, I am even more excited about the upcoming Cioppino and Vino Event which benefits the Paso Robles Children's Museum.

The Cioppino and Vino Event is held on Sunday, October 16th in the Grand Ballroom at the Paso Robles Inn.  The event features cioppino creations from local chefs, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, music and silent auction.  This will be my first year attending; however, it seems to be creating quite the buzz around town and from afar.  I had the pleasure of speaking to Tamara Richardson, Museum Manager who said that her first ticket sales came in from Bakersfield, a town two hours from here! Good news does indeed travel fast.

Paso Robles Ballroom Weddings

by Guest Blogger and Wedding Planner, Sarah Angelique

Hello Wed Heads!!

 We are officially in the midst of wedding season!  Have you dusted off your party clothes for a summer event?   You know I have.  It’s been a great season so far and I’m sure I’ve seen some of you at one of my events. 

Those of you who have been following this blog know that I’ve been writing all about the beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception sites that Paso Robles has to offer.  But what about the brides who don’t want the outdoors, or choose to get married in the winter? 

Or there are the brides who want the elegance and sophistication that only a ballroom can bring.  Not to worry!  Paso Robles has beautiful ballrooms and inside event spaces.  From the hottest days in August to the coldest nights in December, Paso Robles can easily accommodate any wedding-- any time of year.

Paso Robles Inn , The Park Ballroom , Robert Hall Winery, Vina Robles Winery, Eagle Castle Winery and Pear Valley are just a few of the elegant and stunning ballrooms you can reserve for your Paso Robles wedding.  Ballroom weddings take the worry of weather-related issues out of the equation; flowers and décor can usually be set up the day before making for a very relaxed wedding day.  Brides love going to bed Friday night knowing that their wedding day is secure.  So do wedding planners.  ;-)

Bring your guests to Paso Robles during the winter months for a ballroom wedding that will create memories for everyone in attendance.  Paso Robles as a destination wedding provides a unique travel experience your guests have not likely experienced.  Would you like to plan your own Paso Robles ballroom wedding?  Email me, or connect with me on facebook, let’s start planning!

Email me or find me on Facebook

 

 

Mussels Prepared "Vina Robles Style"

By Tina Swithin

I was one of those children who asked a million questions.  I am happy to have a job that allows me to put my natural curiosity to good use, like with this month’s recipe of steamed mussels from Vina Robles, one of my favorite wineries on 46 East in Paso Robles. I’ve seen various mussel dishes over the years, but I have never actually prepared a recipe using mussels. These little shellfish have admittedly piqued my curiosity and I was left wondering what the main difference is between mussels and clams.  So, I went on a little search to dive in (no pun intended) and find out more about them.

Celebrate in Paso: Vineyard Weddings are a Dream Come True in Paso!

By Guest Blogger, Sarah Angelique

Hello Wed Heads!!  May is here!  Spring has sprung!  It’s wedding season in Paso Robles!  The other night I sat on my front porch until around 7:30 pm.  The weather was perfect – a wonderful 80 degrees with a slight breeze.  This is why I love Paso Robles.  I could almost hear the music and see the smiling faces of wedding guests dancing in the moonlight. 

A Taste of the American West

By Debby Harris, Guest Blogger

Hello everyone! We are Tom, Debby and Cactus Sam Harris of Harris Stage Lines.  Judging from our name most would think we are a bus company, but no, we are an actual stage line, with an actual stagecoach and a team of horses for hire! 

We are not native Paso Roblans, however, we love sharing the history of the region.  We feel it is important to keep the agricultural heritage of Paso Robles alive. For example, we farm with our horses and mules growing grain hay, which is a big part of Paso Robles’ early history.  We also offer visitors the opportunity to visit Harris Stage Lines to experience a variety of activities and educational classes that include learning about and caring for horses.

 

Harris Stage Lines operates as a working horse ranch that provides horseback riding and stagecoach driving lessons, day and night horse camps, horse training, horsemanship clinics, and driving school for both children and adults. We also offer field trips for students and have worked with schools all over California.

We have horse drawn vehicles for hire, and hold birthday, anniversary, graduation and any type of party you can imagine. If you wish to experience a real western BBQ, stagecoach ride or working horse show, we encourage you to plan an event at Harris Stage Lines.  Our events are perfect for small and large gatherings like tour groups, family reunions and special birthday parties.  And yes, we even host western weddings at Harris Stage Lines.  Everything we do here involves our horses.  We invite you to come check out what we do here, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Listed below are some upcoming activities that we have planned at Harris Stage Lines:

August winds up our Summer Horse Day Camps. Our day camp is scheduled for August 16-20 and is open to children ages 7-18.  Kids will learn what it takes to own a horse, ride, drive, trick ride and trick rope.  The camp ends with a choreographed show in which the campers perform the skills they have learned for family and friends.

If you plan to visit Paso Robles, schedule a horseback riding lesson to learn horsemanship skills that you can use in your travels as you venture to other places and plan trail rides.  We have different horses to suit each person’s riding level.

Want a unique horse experience?  Take a horse driving lesson to try your hand at driving a single horse buggy up to a team four horses.  You may get hooked and come back to one of our driving schools!

You can also schedule a stagecoach ride to experience what a way station is like as the horses are hitched to the coach and you board for your ride.

 For a real taste of the west, you can visit the ranch to cook your own steak on our western BBQ.  We will provide all the food for a tasty meal, then we’ll take you on a stagecoach ride and end the evening around the campfire telling Wild West stories.

Harris Stage Lines is located on North River Road just four miles north of downtown Paso Robles.  All activities and events at Harris Stage Lines are on a reservation basis.  Please contact us at: info@harrisstagelines.com. For more information and some great photos of the activities, go to www.harrisstagelines.com.

All photos courtesy of Harris Stage Lines

Get Educated at First Crush's Berry to Bottle University!

This weekend First Crush Winemaking Experience kicked off its innovative series of educational wine workshops and classes with its Sip and Learn: Tasting 101 wine appreciation class.

"We really wanted to create a fun way for locals and visitors to Paso alike to experience and learn about winemaking and the winemaking industry here in Paso," says First Crush owner and founder, Becky Zelinski.

The Berry to Bottle Univserity is a year long program consisting of various one day classes and blending seminars; each focusing on a different aspect of wine appreciation, viticulture, or enology.  These classes allow wine lovers to enjoy a taste of what it might feel like to be a winemaker or a vineyard owner here in Paso Robles' burgeoning wine industry.

The Sip and Learn Wine Appreciation class began at In Vino Veritas, the custom crush facility that houses the wines of many Paso Robles winemakers, as well as all of the vintages from the 2009 First Crush Harvest Experiences.  Following the barrel sample tasting (pulled by winemaker Aaron Horn of Nacimiento Lake Cellars), guests then moved to the Kaleidoscope Lounge in downtown Paso, where they tasted wines provided by Ecluse winery, and enjoyed appetizers and cheeses expertly paired with the wines by Chef Andre Averseng of Dining with Andre.

Don't let cost keep you away from discovering your 101 wine side! Whether you are on a budget or looking for a luxury getaway, Paso Robles offers the value of quality accommodations at any price, with a wide range of amenities. Located mid way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso is an easy drive for most Californians and visitors. Enjoy!