{"id":6993,"date":"2015-03-13T19:48:37","date_gmt":"2015-03-14T02:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6993"},"modified":"2015-03-16T21:38:14","modified_gmt":"2015-03-17T04:38:14","slug":"6993","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6993","title":{"rendered":"News From Over the Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s Going on in North County This Spring<\/h3>\n
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Take flight over wine country with Sky’s the Limit Ballooning Adventures. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Craft Beer Month<\/strong><\/p>\n

It takes a lot of beer to make good wine, which is probably why the craft beer movement has exploded in Santa Ynez Valley. Our local wine country celebrates the virtues of beer for the entire month of May, when suds lovers can enjoy an impressive array of out-of-the-ordinary tastings, classes, dinners, demos and more. One of the highlights is the Buellton BrewFest<\/a>. Featuring more than 50 breweries (and some wineries), life-sized beer pong, food trucks and three live bands, this fun festival is sure to sell out, so buy your tickets early. | Santa Ynez Valley Craft Beer Month, May 1\u201331, various locations, visitsyv.com\/craft-beer-month. Buellton BrewFest, Riverview Park, 151 Sycamore Dr., Buellton, May 9, VIP 11:30 a.m.\u201312:30 p.m.; general admission, 12:30\u20134 p.m., buelltonbrewfest.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Cowboy entertainer Dave Stamey appears in Tales from the Tavern at the Maverick Saloon, courtesy of Dave Stamey.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tales From the Tavern<\/strong><\/p>\n

Come hunker down at Maverick Saloon<\/a>, Santa Barbara County\u2019s quintessential cowboy bar, for the tavern\u2019s annual concert series. Dave Stamey<\/a>, who True West Magazine<\/em><\/a> named the \u201cBest Living Western Solo Musician,\u201d takes the stage on March 11. This cowboy, mule packer, dude wrangler has delighted audiences in 14 states and says that he prefers this to being stomped by angry horses. Jamaican-born reggae singer-songwriter Owen Plant<\/a> and Brother Sun<\/a> play on March 25; then musician, rancher, storyteller and Canadian icon Ian Tyson tells his tales in a special Thursday night performance on April 16. Wrapping up the spring season on April 29 is American musical legend Janis Ian<\/a>, who began her professional life at 12 years old and is probably best known for hits like \u201cSociety\u2019s Child,\u201d \u201cAt Seventeen\u201d and \u201cBetween the Lines.\u201d Fun fact: Ian was the very first musical guest on the debut broadcast of Saturday Night Live<\/em><\/a> on October 11, 1975. | Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 805\/688-0383, talesfromthetavern.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ballooning<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the best ways to enjoy the valley is to go up, up and away in a hot air balloon with Sky\u2019s the Limit Ballooning Adventures. Flights capture beautiful views over the wine country surrounded by transverse mountain ranges, the Channel Islands, Lake Cachuma and the historic towns of Solvang, Los Olivos, Buellton, Santa Maria and Paso Robles. A variety of packages are available, including one that includes wine tasting at vineyards such as Bedford, Alma Rosa, Rusack, Brander, Carhartt, Bridlewood, Dierberg and Blair Fox. | Sky\u2019s the Limit Ballooning Adventures, Santa Ynez\u00a0Valley Airport, 900 Airport Rd., Santa Ynez, 760\/602-0295, santabarbaraballoonrides.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Craft Beer Month in May is an excellent time to taste small batch beers, courtesy Firestone Walker Brewing.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Penelopiad<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Margaret Atwood\u2019s new stage adaptation of her wry, witty and wise novella The Penelopiad is a reimagining of the ancient story of the Trojan War, Helen of Troy and Odysseus, told from the point of view of Penelope (perhaps the first desperate housewife to appear in art). She fends off the attentions of greedy suitors, as traveling minstrels regale her with the news of Odysseus\u2019s epic adventures around the Mediterranean, only to have him repay her devotion with heart-wrenching ruthlessness. This PCPA (Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a>) production runs March 5\u201322. | Severson Theatre, Allan Hancock College Campus, 1100 S. Bradley, Santa Maria, 805\/922-8313, pcpa.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Taste the best of Solvang this March, photo by Liz Dodder.<\/p><\/div>\n

Taste of Solvang<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s always something delicious going on in Solvang, but they really bring out all the stops at this annual event. Now in its 23rd year, Taste of Solvang offers a menu\u2014from farm-to-table rustic Italian cuisine to new American and modern Danish fare, plus desserts in all forms, award-winning beers and world-class wines\u2014that\u2019s sure to please every palate. This year\u2019s highlights include Farmers Market Chef Walks led by Chef Budi Kazali of The Ballard Inn & Restaurant<\/a>, Chef David Cecchini of Cecco Ristorante<\/a> and Chef James Owens of The Bistro at Hadsten House<\/a>; Bubbles and Brunch at Wildling Museum<\/a>; a Winemaker Dinner with Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard & Winery<\/a> and Bacon & Brine\u2019<\/a>s Chef Pink; plus sips and sweets, the Solvang Wine and Beer Walk, the Grand Tasting with treats from more than 30 businesses and much, much more! | March 18\u201322, various locations throughout Solvang. 805\/688-6144, solvangusa.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/a>, Spring 2015.<\/em><\/p>\n

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