Sacramento, CA: Launch 2012, Music & Arts Festival

LAUNCH Events today announced their 2012 LAUNCH Festival, an annual celebration of music, art, fashion, design and architecture July 23rd - 28th in the heart of Sacramento.

Since its inception in 2009, LAUNCH has grown from a single day event highlighting talent from the local community to a six-day celebration of local, regional and internationally acclaimed artists, designers and creatives.

Hosted at multiple venues throughout midtown and downtown Sacramento,LAUNCH is curated by some of the brightest artists in and around Sacramento to not only showcase their peers, but also introduce the community to a new generation of talent across multiple artistic platforms.

LAUNCH 2012 kicks off Monday, July 23rd when Model Citizens NYC outfits Hot Italian restaurant for an exclusive designer showcase, and concludes Saturday, July 28th when the LAUNCH Music Festival takes over Cesar Chavez Park featuring performances by Chromeo, DJ Shadow, Grouplove , !!!, Sea of Bees and more.

Visit http://www.launchsacramento.com for a full schedule of events, artists and ticket prices.

Monday, July 23rd: Model Citizens NYC @ Hot Italian Restaurant
Pop-up artisan retail from local and national designers.
6PM - Invite only event (open to public throughout the week)

Tuesday, July 24th: Capital Indie Collective @ Bows & Arrows
Silent movies with live scores played by local musicians.
7PM - $8 pre-sale/$10 door

Tuesday, July 24th: Le Twist @ Dive Bar
DNTEL of Postal Service headlines this event featuring classy and eclectic music from local DJ’s.
9PM - No cover charge

Wednesday, July 25th: Launch Midtown Sacramento @ MARRS Building
Architects and designers create visionary installations with performances by local musicians.
5PM - No cover charge

Wednesday, July 25th: Concerts 4 Charity presents King Tuff @ Harlow’s
8PM - $8 pre-sale/$10 door

Thursday, July 26th: Cut&Paste @ Ace of Spades
Digital design battle set to live music.
7PM - $15 pre-sale/$17 door

Friday, July 26th: Envision Talks @ California Museum
Inspiring talks from Llisa Demtrios and other creatives.
1PM - $20 pre-sale/$25 door

Friday, July 27th: Fashion Showcase @ The Landmark Building
Internationally acclaimed designers take charge of the runway with captivating creations.
7PM - $50 pre-sale/$65 door

Saturday, July 28th: LAUNCH 2O12 Festival @ Cesar Chavez Park
Live performances by Chromeo, Grouplove, !!!, DJ Shadow and more.
11AM to 11PM - $35 pre-sale/$45 door

To book hotel accommodations, contact: Melissa Land at (877) 294-3918, or [email protected].

Read More

Madera, CA: Meet the Winemaker Weekend

The Madera Wine Trail is gearing up for their next weekend event on May 12 and 13, and it’s just in time for Mother’s Day.

Located in Madera County, CA, at the base of the Sierra Nevadas, the Madera Wine Trail is home to a dozen wineries, and is accepted as one of the oldest grape growing regions in America.

The annual Meet the Winemaker Weekend is a popular annual event along the trail as wine-lovers can not only sample their favorite wines or find a new favorite, but also talk with those responsible for making that wine.

“One of the great benefits of the Madera Wine Trail is that the small nature of the wineries is guests can enjoy the wine in a more intimate setting and hear from the winemakers themselves about the processes, and the passion, that went in to a particular wine. It helps them develop a much deeper appreciation of the wine they are sampling,” said Jarrod Lyman with the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau.

In the late 1800’s, settlers came to Madera bringing their old world winemaking expertise from such countries as Italy, Armenia, France and others. Before the turn of the century, Madera County was host to two wineries that shipped wines bearing the Madera label to many parts of the world. Madera County has long been known for producing world-renown dessert wines and ports. It's microclimate is bounded and cooled by the San Joaquin River on the southwest and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the east. Warm summer temperatures and varied soil types in Madera County provide a foundation for the full development of the grapes. Recognizing these distinctive characteristics, Madera was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1985.

Guests visiting the Madera Wine Trail can enjoy the benefits of the region’s rich history, knowledgeable hosts and tasting rooms that are still small enough that you can visit with the winemakers themselves. Along the Madera Wine Trail, visitors can experience old world techniques and state-of-the-art technology in the same day. Madera County winemakers celebrate each other’s unique wine and winery styles and so can you!

Click map to enlarge

The timing of the Meet the Winemaker Weekend makes it a perfect gift for mothers who enjoy wine. Many of the wineries also bring in chefs showcasing local cuisine as well as local artists and musicians to add a festive atmosphere to the weekend.

Tickets cost $25 and include a commemorative Madera Wine Trail Glass and tastings at all the participating wineries along the trail. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.MaderaWineTrail.com.

For more information, contact...

Madera Vintners Association
P.O. Box 697
Madera, CA 93639
[email protected]
http://www.maderawinetrail.com/
Tel: 800.613.0709

For local accommodations and reservations, contact...

Elevation Travel
(877) 294-3918
[email protected]

Read More