Oak Ridge Today

Nine Lakes Wine Festival returns to Oak Ridge, Knoxville

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The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville. The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville. The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville.

The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19.

The main event is the Grand Tasting from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 19, on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. This event features more than 15 Tennessee wineries pouring more than 100 locally made wines and ciders, with live music, chef demonstrations by The Savory Whisk, and wine seminars by a variety of Tennessee wine experts, a press release said.

Music will be provided by the Nashville band Arts Fishing Club and two East Tennessee bands, Wild Blue Yonder and KUDZU.

Two other smaller events are offered earlier in the week: [Read more…]

Dine & Donate: Enjoy fantastic food, support amazing organization

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The featured restaurant for Dine and Donate in May, which benefits ADFAC, is Hoskins restaurant at 111 N. Main St. in Clinton. (Submitted photo)

The featured restaurant for Dine and Donate in May, which benefits ADFAC, is Hoskins restaurant at 111 N. Main St. in Clinton. (Submitted photo)

 

Thirteen local restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties on Monday.

“The weather is finally warming up, so come enjoy any of the restaurants’ outdoor seating, or maybe even get a meal to go for a picnic,” a press release said.

The featured restaurant for May is Hoskins restaurant at 111 North Main Street in Clinton.

“This staple of the Clinton community has long been a supporter of worthwhile causes in our area, and ADFAC is thrilled they have chosen to work with them as well!” the press release said. [Read more…]

Agape House ‘Evening of Everything Chocolate’ features chocolate contest on Saturday

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Melanie Fillauer, second from right, will join judges Carol Smallridge and Phil Yager for this year’s chocolate contest at the Agape House “An Evening of Everything Chocolate.” Fillauer was last year’s Gold Medal winner. With her, from left, are 2017 judges Jeanne Gorman, the 2016 Gold Medal winner, Oak Ridge City Council member Kelly Callison, and Elaine Graham, owner of Estate Sales Professionals. (Submitted photo)

Melanie Fillauer, second from right, will join judges Carol Smallridge and Phil Yager for this year’s chocolate contest at the Agape House “An Evening of Everything Chocolate.” Fillauer was last year’s Gold Medal winner. With her, from left, are 2017 judges Jeanne Gorman, the 2016 Gold Medal winner, Oak Ridge City Council member Kelly Callison, and Elaine Graham, owner of Estate Sales Professionals. (Submitted photo)

 

Amateur dessert chefs are invited to prepare their best chocolate dessert for a culinary contest Saturday, April 28, at “An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” benefitting Agape House of Oak Ridge.

Judges will be Melanie Fillauer, last year’s Gold Medal winner, community volunteer and culinary expert Carol Smallridge, and Anderson County Commissioner Phil Yager.

Those entering should prepare at least eight servings for judges, with any extras available for those attending the event. At least one ingredient must be chocolate, which could be milk, dark or white chocolate, cocoa, syrup, or other form of chocolate. Each contestant may enter up to two desserts.

Prizes will be awarded to the top winners. There is no entry fee, and contestants need not be present to win. Entries should be at the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, by 6 p.m. April 28. Contestants should fill out a form there with their name, name of dessert, phone number, and e-mail address for each entry. [Read more…]

Celebrate National Pi Day with a pie from Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

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While National Pi Day on March 14 has been observed in many ways due to a pun based on the words “pi” and “pie” being homophones in English, the Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence has planned a unique way to celebrate Pi Day by doing what else? Having a fundraiser selling delicious homemade pies baked by Blossom’s Angels for everyone to take home to enjoy.

The pie sale was the brainchild of one of the Angels (also knows as the fund development team) to raise money to help support Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence while also helping the community learn more about programs available to families.

A variety of pies including key lime will be available for purchase for $25 each at Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence on Pi Day, Wednesday, March 14, between 3 and 6 p.m. Advance orders can made between March 5 and 14 by calling (865) 294-4233 or by email to jinxwats@utk.org. (Please put “pie” on the subject line.) Blossom is located at 280 Royce Circle (across from Willow Brook Elementary School) in Oak Ridge.

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence offers excellent child centered programs that are affordable and accessible seven days a week to all families, thus closing the gap in Oak Ridge between what working higher and lower income parents can provide to enhance their children’s learning, a press release said. The nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization provides care for children 1 through 12 years. The center is open 20 hours a day; from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Currently 48 children are enrolled. More information about BCCE can be found on line at blossom24-7.org or by calling (865) 294-4133.

This press release was submitted by Maureen Hoyt.

International Festival at Children’s Museum to feature entertainers, food, crafts

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The Knox Accordion-AIRs, Wolfgang Schaber and Linda Warren, will be featured performers at the Children’s Museum International Festival on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The Knox Accordion-AIRs, Wolfgang Schaber and Linda Warren, will be featured performers at the Children’s Museum International Festival on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The Knox Accordion-AIRs will be the featured performer when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 17. The lively accordion duo will join Native American dancers, Greek and Indian folk dancers, hip hop dancers, and others during the multi-cultural festival, a press release said.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home. The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Knox Accordion-AIRs are Wolfgang Schaber and Linda Warren. Schaber began studying the accordion as a child in his home country of Austria, the press release said. Warren, who describes herself as “a Tennessee girl through and through,” has been playing accordion since she was six. She enjoys squeezing country, rock ‘n roll, and Memphis blues and gospel music on her accordion. Schaber enjoys playing polkas, marches, a waltz or two, folk tunes, and classical music. [Read more…]