The 5th Annual Winnipesaukee Wine Festival at Church Landing!

Get ready for two great nights of music, food, and wine next week, as the Fifth Annual Winnipesaukee Wine Festival and the Pre-Festival Beach Party come to the shores of Meredith Bay on Wednesday, June 23^rd and Thursday the 24^th!

The Wine Festival will be held on Thursday from 5:30 – 8:00 in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing, where 21 vendors and winemakers will offer tastings of hundreds of fine wines accompanied by delicious hors d’oeuvres.  These delectable dishes will be prepared by several local eateries, including Lakehouse Grille, The Corner House Inn, The Coe House, Wild Coyote Grill, Owen’s Farm Stand, Town Docks, Lago, and Camp.

Also on hand will be Cisco Brewers, a microbrewery and distillery from Nantucket, offering samples of their small-batch beers, as well as their popular Triple Eight Vodka.  They will even set up an ice bar, where folks can enjoy martinis poured through the ice luge!

Music will be provided by the talented local jazz duo of Don Williams and David Tonkin, who play frequently throughout New Hampshire in various jazz ensembles and bands, and are also on staff at the Concord Community Music School.  Nothing goes better with fine wine and food than great jazz music!

A $50 donation per person is requested, and all proceeds benefit The Haiti Limb Project, a small charity that was started locally to help survivors of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  All the money raised will be hand delivered to the people who directly help the amputees there.

The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are helping out too, by extending special rates just for the occasion.  With proof of your ticket purchase for the festival, a room at Mill Falls is $99, and a room at Chase House or Bay Point only $109.  You can wine and dine all night long and not worry about driving home!

Frank Barbagallo of Duckhorn Wine Company in Napa Valley, California pours samples for attendees at last year's Winnipesaukee Wine Festival.

“It’s the biggest bang for your buck,” says Diane Downing of the Common Man Family, who is organizing the event.  “There will be over 100 wines, beautiful food, wonderful music, rooms at the Inns at half price… and every penny goes to our charity.”

To top it off, there will be a raffle for the fundraiser with some great prizes, including magnums of wine from some of the vendors, an overnight stay at the Inns and Spa at Mill Falls, an overnight stay at the Common Man Inn, something special from Wholly Tara Boutique in Ashland, and a vacation package of three nights and four days for four people at a beach cottage on Nantucket.

Kick off the event early at the Pre- Festival Beach Party to be held at Town Docks Wednesday evening at 6:00.  Enjoy some summer sangria while you dance on the sand!  Robbie Leblanc, formerly of Toto, will be there with his new band to keep the party jumping!  There will be no cover charge for this event and half the proceeds will go to the Haiti Limb Project.

These two days of festivities are “more than just sipping wine,” says Diane.  “These people give so much.”  To join the fun and the good cause, call the Common Man Family at 603-968-9330 or visit their website at www.thecman.com.  For the special room rates at the Inns, please call 800-622-6455 and mention the Winnipesaukee Wine Festival.  Hope to see you there!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit:  yashima at Flickr.com

“Seven Deadly Sins” Wine Dinner at Lakehouse Grille

There’s still time to reserve your seats for the upcoming wine tasting dinner in Meredith!  The Seven Deadly Sins Wine Dinner will take place on Thursday, June 17^th at Lakehouse Grille at Church Landing.  Reception begins at 6:00pm, and the first course will be served at 6:30.

The event is a seven course dinner, with each course balanced by a complementing wine and named after one of the biblical Deadly Sins, also known as the Cardinal Sins or Capital Vices.  The dishes on the menu are so decadent, they must be sinful!  For example, the fourth course, “Greed,” features marinated super jumbo lump crab, micro greens, poached white asparagus, and grilled heirloom tomatoes drizzled with white balsamic vinaigrette.  It is paired with a glass of tantalizing Lunetta Prosecco.  The dessert course is called “Lust.”  Tempting!

The dinner is a great deal at $75 per person, and there are still some seats available.  For reservations, call Lakehouse Grille at 603-279-5221, and get ready for a sinfully good time!

Image credit:  gfpeck at flickr.com

Beautiful Weddings at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls

Summer season is upon us, and with that, the joyous sound of wedding bells!  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls in Meredith are proud that many couples choose to hold their wedding weekends here, and the reasons are obvious:  a beautiful setting, ample accommodations, and top-notch service.  But summer isn’t the only time to tie the knot, and the team at this New Hampshire resort makes weddings memorable at any time of year!

The Inns have two different wedding locations.  The Chase House can accommodate weddings of up to 120 guests, and The Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing can accommodate up to 230 guests.  Church Landing was recently featured in New Hampshire Magazine’s BRIDE as part of a “perfect summer wedding”, and as icing on the cake, this setting has been awarded Best of BRIDE “Best Outdoor Ceremony” for 2009!

Stacey Dumais and Hilary Thurston are the event coordinators at Mill Falls, and offer couples personalized service in planning their weddings.  “From the time of the first phone call, the initial contact, we take that phone call all the way through the day of the wedding,” said Stacey in a recent phone conversation.  “We give them a tour, go through the booking process… through the planning process, and then put all of those details and plans into motion on the wedding weekend.” Read the rest of this entry »

Hybrid Parking Spaces at Mill Falls!

As a new part of their Green Initiative, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls have created designated parking spaces for environmentally friendly cars.  The “preferred parking” spots are being tested at Church Landing and the Inn at Mill Falls, where there is one space at each location to start.

“Our Green Team came up with the idea,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of the Inns.  “Our green team includes members from each department within the hotel.  The team’s intention, in respect to signifying these spaces, is to increase consumer awareness and encourage guests to use lower emission transportation.”

Ms. Batstone adds that the Inns wanted to build upon their current Green Mission Statement, which describes several ways the company is making environmental efforts in all areas of operation.  According to the initiative, “We continually seek improvements and initiatives to lessen the impact on the local and global environment.”

The Inns plan to add more designated hybrid spaces if the project proves successful.  Meanwhile, the management is looking forward to guest feedback.  Feel free to share your thoughts!

A Mini Working Vacation at Mill Falls

Feeling like you need to get away for a change of scenery and a little relaxation, but can’t be completely disconnected from your working life?  No worries.  You can have the best of both worlds at The Inns and Spas at Mill Falls.

On a recent visit to Meredith, I stayed at beautiful Church Landing, where the atmosphere was instantly peaceful, calming, and nostalgic—and modern in all the right places.  The lobby was warm and inviting with a fireplace and plenty of comfortable seating that just begged some quiet time away from all the hustle and bustle.  And yet, at arm’s length was a nice selection of newspapers, such as The New York Times, USA Today, and The Boston Globe, as well as local publications, so if anyone wanted to catch up on the daily buzz, it was right there.  The Wi-Fi connection was fast and easy, too, with various networks to choose from.

In my room, with an unparalleled view of Lake Winnipesaukee and a cozy fireplace and loveseat, I felt nurtured and truly away from it all.  I could step outside and soak up the beauty and the fresh, clean air, then come back in to check my e-mail on another handy network.  I was able to keep up with assignments while enjoying one of the nicest getaways in a long time.  Talk about peace of mind!

It was a little too cold to work outside when I was there, but I noticed a newspaper article on the wall near the Lakehouse Grille that stated there was even Wi-Fi at the beach for those who wanted to hang out by the water while surfing the internet!  The Inns offer this wonderful amenity at no charge, so guests and others visiting the lake can stay in touch with the world.  This also makes the Inns a great place to hold a business conference!

What are you doing this weekend?  Or even mid-week (the rates are lower)?  Don’t let work stop you from recharging your own batteries.  At the Inns at Mill Falls, it is win-win!

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Inns

Lakehouse Grill

It’s not too late to make this Mother’s Day memorable for the special woman in your life.  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are offering a unique getaway package, as well as a grand buffet brunch, to treat moms to the elegance and respite they deserve.

Bring your loved one to the Inns on Saturday, May 8^th and enjoy a special rate that includes dinner for two at one of the Inns restaurants, such as Lago, Lakehouse Grille, Mame’s, Camp, or Giuseppe’s, all within walking distance of any of the Inns.  The package also includes two seats at Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday morning.

The gourmet brunch buffet will be held from 10:30am – 3:00pm in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing and will feature fine Mother’s Day fare prepared by Lakehouse Grille.  Bring the whole family to celebrate Mom!  A professional photographer will be on hand taking family portraits that will be available to take home that day.  All moms will also receive a gift of a carnation and a wallet photo with any photo purchase!

Whether she is your own mom, mother to your children, or a woman who has inspired you, show her how much you appreciate her on this beautiful spring weekend.  Take her away to lovely Meredith for a little fresh air!  To inquire about the special getaway rates or to make a reservation for brunch, please call the Inns at 800-622-6455 or the Grille at 603-279-2253.

Celebrate Easter at the Lake with The Inns

Come enjoy a beautiful Easter Weekend at this lakeside resort.  On Sunday, April 4^th, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls will be hosting Easter Brunch in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing, with a decadent buffet provided by The Lakehouse Grille.

On the menu for the Brunch are such goodies as Fresh Cut Fruit, Breakfast Pastries, and House-Cured Salmon with assorted Mustard Sauces.  There will be a carving station with Honey-Glazed Roasted Ham with Pineapple Raisin Sauce and Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Mint-Infused Demi-glace, as well as a Waffle station with assorted toppings.  Also available will be Baked Haddock, Pan-Roasted Chicken, and various side dishes.  Children will also be able to choose Chicken Fingers or Creamy Common Man Mac and Cheese.  For dessert, guests can enjoy assorted Cakes and Finger Pastries with our Famous Chocolate Fountain with a Variety of Dipping Sweets!

In the true spirit of a community meal, seating will be at tables of 8 to 10 guests, thus smaller parties will be able to dine with others and share in the experience of the day.  There will also be a professional photographer available nearby in the Chris Craft Room for those interested in having a family portrait taken.  The photos will be printed within 30 minutes so guests can take their keepsake home with them.

Easter Brunch will be served from 10:30 – 4:30, and The Lakehouse Grille will then reopen for regular dinner service at 4:00, as they will not be open for the usual Sunday brunch or lunch.  The Inns are now taking reservations for this special event, which can be made directly through the Lakehouse Grille at 279-5221.  There is also of rooms available at all of the Inns that weekend, so gather up the family and spend some quality time together in quaint Meredith Village while welcoming the return of spring!

Meredith Hosts First Annual Pond Hockey Classic Tournament

Get ready for another busy weekend in the village—The New England Pond Hockey Classic will be held February 5^th through the 7^th and will bring together 77 teams from across the northeast to compete on seven rinks that are ready on the ice of Meredith Bay.

Pond hockey is a form of ice hockey that is a traditional winter game played by pick-up teams on a natural frozen body of water in northern towns. “It’s going to be a throwback experience, like going back in time to hockey’s roots, to the real basics. People have a lot of good memories of pond hockey and that’s really how the game was born,” said Scott Crowder, tournament director.

The 3-day tournament will accommodate adult teams in five different age divisions.  Games will be played in a four-on-four, no goalie, round-robin format, with small, six-inch high goals. “That discourages slap shots and makes accuracy and passing a big part of the game,” Crowder said.  There will be no referees, but instead a rink monitor who will ensure that the competitive spirit of the players stays in place.

The New England Pond Hockey Classic (NEPHC) has partnered with four non-profits:  The Greater Meredith Program, Restore Hockey, Lakes Region Youth Hockey and the Special Olympics of NH.  All will be present throughout the course of the weekend hoping to raise some money to benefit their missions.  NEPHC will hold a silent auction and raffle in the Chase House Flagship Ballroom on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 – 5:00, with all proceeds going to benefit the non-profit partners.

NEPHC is also planning two socials to take place in the Flagship Ballroom.  On Friday evening, tournament participants and guests can be merry while watching the Hockey East game live on NESN, and at the Saturday night social, winners of the Silent Auction and Raffle will be announced.  Both events will have a cash bar and light fare provided by the Common Man Restaurant.

“We have received a wonderful response from participants, sponsors, and volunteers alike,” says Crowder.  “We currently have over 35 teams on a wait list for the tournament.  We have over 60 volunteers and a number of wonderful sponsors on board to help make this event a great success in its first year.”

Crowder, the founder of Ekal Excursions LLC, which was formed to promote the Lakes Region lifestyle year-round, says, “I couldn’t be happier to call Lake Winnipesaukee and Meredith my home.  Visitors during tournament weekend will truly feel like they have traveled back in time as they pull into the village with its charming character and old New England architecture and see a frozen lake filled with pond hockey rinks.”

Crowder says the New England Pond Hockey Classic is looking to run an event that will grow over the years and ultimately involve multiple locations around the lake for much larger tournaments.  “It’s nice to provide this opportunity for pond hockey players from New England.  We hope the Pond Hockey Classic will become an annual event for the players of this region for years to come.”

Can’t make it to the event? 
Thanks to InterLakes.TV, you can watch the 2010 New England Pond Hockey Classic from the comfort of your own home!  Some videos will be pre-recorded and others will be streamed live from Lake Winnipesaukee.
 Please visit www.interlakes.tv to watch the action!

Pond Hockey Tournament in Maine:

sources:

http://pondhockeyclassic.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pond_hockey

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH’s+Pond+Hockey+Classic+will+draw+hundreds+next+month&articleId=c39a1111-b9e8-4d25-a520-40e2103e7529

http://www.vacationlakesregionnh.com/ArticleView/tabid/310/smid/920/ArticleID/649/reftab/311/t/New-England-Pond-Hockey-Classic/Default.aspx

“Freezin’ for a Reason” in Meredith

Come on out for a good cause tomorrow—the second annual Winnipesaukee Dip to benefit the Special Olympics of New Hampshire (SONH) will be taking place at noon near the Meredith town docks on Sunday, January 10^th.  The Winni Dip is one of the fundraising efforts of the Law Enforcement Torch Run sponsored by the NH Association of Chiefs of Police.  Approximately one hundred dippers representing police, fire, emergency response crews, and other public safety agencies are expected to plunge into the ice-cold waters of Lake Winnipesaukee to benefit the 3,500 participants of SONH.

Participation is open to everyone, and it’s not too late to sign up.  Registration is taking place online at the SONH website, or on the day of the event at the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing.  A twenty-five dollar, non-refundable commitment fee is due at registration for each individual and a total of $250 in contributions is the minimum to participate.

The costume theme for this year’s event is “Superheroes.”  Prizes will be awarded for individuals and teams with the best costumes, as well as to individuals and teams who raise the most money for SONH.

Carol Cray, Special Olympics Development Director, said that the Winni Dip Management Team expects the number of participants in 2010 to be double that of 2009.

Participants may also designate 15% of the funds they raise to the not-for-profit organization or government agency of their choice.  Mike Sielicki, Chief of Police in Rindge and Director of the Torch Run said, “This is a great way for all public safety agencies to support the Special Olympics and earn some money for local projects.”

So even if you’re not dipping in the Lake, come down to Meredith tomorrow to cheer on those brave “Superheroes!”

sources:

http://www.nh.com/features/recreation/505084-167/meredith-gets-ready-for-2nd-annual-winni.html

http://www.sonh.org/winnidip/

Mill Falls Resort Hosts New Year’s Silver Celebration

Get ready for a very special New Year’s holiday on the lake—The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls will be turning 25 this coming year, and they are throwing a big party to celebrate!  The resort is hosting a New Year’s Silver Celebration Gala in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing, which promises to be spectacular!

The lucky guests will arrive to a champagne and strawberries reception in the lobby and a chance to mingle amid the sound of live piano music in the Oval Room.  The party continues in the Ballroom, where a beautiful gourmet dinner will be served.  Five plated courses, from Hors D’Oeuvres to decadent dessert, will be prepared by the Lakehouse Grille and accompanied by a champagne toast.  Dancing into the wee hours is expected, with energetic live music performed by Center Stage.

Outside, folks will be able to enjoy the festive holiday lights adorning Meredith while taking a Horse & Buggy ride around the village.  And at 10:30, everyone in town will be watching the breathtaking fireworks display over Meredith Bay!

The Ballroom Gala has already sold out, but you may still be able to find a table at Lakehouse Grille, where one can luxuriate in a fine, candlelight dinner with a view of Lake Winnipesaukee.  The restaurant does not take reservations, but will put your name on the list with call-ahead seating that night, so plan to arrive early and relax with a beverage by the fireplace before dinner.

Congratulations to The Mill Falls Resort, and Happy New Year to all!