Live music, food, and three samples of wine or beer poured in commemorative glassware, will be offered by Emporia Main Street at its annual “The Taste” event.
The event will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday in the main arena of W.L. White Auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave. The venue is considerably larger than for past Taste events.
“We’re in the arena because the event has grown to the point that we have to have that large area to host everybody. But we are limited to 300 tickets,” Main Street Executive Director Casey Woods said.
The Taste is the second for Main Street’s warm-weather season, with a design training session in Garden City, the Early Bird membership drive beginning May 1, Live in the Lot, the Sidewalk Sale, and the Great American Market on the horizon.
Samplings of foods from Main Street restaurants will be available at The Taste, along with the beer and wines.
Music always has been a part of The Taste, but this year a second band has been added, Woods said. The Tall Grass Quintet Jazz Band and The Basement Pickers Bluegrass Band are scheduled for play, and dancing is allowed.
“We always encourage people to try it, and sometimes people do and sometimes people don’t, but there will be the potential to that,” Woods said.
“Tastes” will be provided by Amanda’s Bakery & Cafe, Bad Ol’ Bern’s, Bobby D’s Merchant St. BBQ, Madelynn’s, Planet Sub, Pyramid Pizza, Marty’s Sweet Dreams Cakes, The Sweet Granada, Wheat State Pizza and Wings ‘N Things.
Wineries that will be featured are Pome on the Range Orchards & Winery of Homewood, Campbell Vineyard & Winery of Holton, Davenport Orchards & Winery of Eudora, Grace Hill Winery at Whitewater, Smoky Hill Winery and Wyldewood Cellars of Mulvane.
Beers will come from Boulevard Brewing Co. of Kansas City, Mo. Flying Monkey Brewery of Olathe and Tallgrass Brewing Company of Manhattan.
Vodka also will be available, distilled by Honor Vodka of Lawrence.
“That is something new. We’ve never had a Kansas vodka distillery at The Taste event,” Woods said. “That’s something that we’re trying new this year and so far ... we’ve had a lot of customer interest.”
A limited number of tickets remain available at $30 each and may be purchased from Caribbean Sun Tanning Salon, Madelynn’s, The Sweet Granada, Town Crier Bookstore and at the Main Street office, 12 E. Fifth Ave. Tickets also may be purchased online through a link at www.emporiamainstreet.com.
More information may be had by calling the Main Street office, 340-6430.
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Should be good again this year. Always look forward to the event.
April 20, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
royals4life (anonymous) says...
People of Emporia...Are you freaking kidding me? This is one of the dumbest things I've seen this community support in years. We refuse to allow mixed martial arts, smoking, and fourth of July fireworks displays, but we will go for something like this. So the message that Emporia wants to send is that public alcohol consumption is okay (Because it doesn't harm anyone...get my sarcasm here). The town is already known as a pool of hypocrites by surrounding communities due to our wonderful leadership, but must we make it worse? One would be left to wonder if the City of Emporia or "Main Street" will be providing cab services to those of our community that will without a doubt over-indulge here...
April 20, 2009 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Harlu (anonymous) says...
I know I can't wait til Friday. We have friends coming from out of town and always have a great time!
April 20, 2009 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gazette_reader (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a fun event. It's nice to see some wineries and such from around the state participating!
April 21, 2009 at 1:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jcook66801 (anonymous) says...
This is just another of one of those things that help make living life in Emporia pretty cool!
April 21, 2009 at 2:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bharz (anonymous) says...
The Tallgrass Jazz Band rocks!
April 21, 2009 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )