FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: J. Wilson

Phone: (641) 322-3990

Email: jwilson [AT] electricburrito . net

Rural Iowa Film Festival Call for Entries

CORNING, IOWA–July 13, 2009—Electric Burrito and Prairieland Yoga announce the Call for Entries for Rural Iowa Film Festival.

A cultural outreach project of Electric Burrito and Prairieland Yoga, Rural Iowa Film Festival (RIFF) is a three-day festival which will include five screening sessions and an awards ceremony, as well as beer and wine tastings, yoga workshops and a showcasing of the many sites, shops and art that Corning and The AC have to offer.

Launched to celebrate the second anniversary of Electric Burrito, RIFF is a celebration of film, food, family and friends. “We’re excited to bring a new layer of recreation to the community, and look forward to the response to our weekend of food-and-film shenanigans,” said J. Wilson, Electric Burrito owner and festival director.

Located in Corning, Iowa, Electric Burrito offers tasty Mexican-inspired food in a pleasant and unpretentious atmosphere. Electric Burrito proudly serves rotating specialty salsas, homemade desserts, as well as beer, wine and cider crafted in Iowa. Not only does Electric Burrito serve locally-crafted drinks, the restaurant also boasts Iowa’s own Maytag Blue Cheese; organic, fair-trade coffee roasted in Des Moines; as well as meat processed a block and a half from the restaurant’s front door.

Prairieland Yoga, owned by Certified Yoga Instructor Michelle Wilson, was also established in 2008, and brings another nuance to Corning’s Main Street District, as well as to the dynamics of the festival. Practicing yoga since 2000, and teaching since 2007, Michelle offers eclectic yoga to students of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

To enter, visit www.electricburrito.net/rural_iowa_film_festival.

For further information, contact Festival Director J. Wilson at jwilson [AT] electricburrito . net

Dates: Deadline-February 15, 2010; Festival-May 14-16, 2010

Location: Corning, Iowa; Screening Location TBA

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The quick info on our July beer tasting is that it will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 3-6pm. It will be a free and informal opportunity to check out a few nice beers.

We’re still working out the details as to which beers will be involved (it could be focused on one Iowa brewery–it could be a smattering of Iowa beers). Regardless, it will be an Iowa-centric tasting in conjunction with Main Street’s Arts and Cars Festival that day.

In fact, it will be one of two beer tastings that day. Again this year there will be local homebrews on offer at Corning Center for the Fine Arts (Electric Burrito’s J. will surely have a couple of his there, as well). That one will run from 1-3pm. Make sure you check it out, as well!

A quick reminder: our next tasting is this Saturday, June 20, at 8pm.

The theme this month is summer beers, and I’m really excited to tuck into the brews I’ve selected. I think you’ll like them, too. And I also think you’ll find that there’s an amazing diversity in flavor profile among these “light” beers.

Not all things light are created equally. And light does not equal lame. These are lovely. See you there!

Electric Burrito

626 Davis Avenue

8pm on June 20

So we’ve been scrolling our Twitterized salsa updates in the sidebar of this dandy Burritoblog for many months now, and many of you are checking it out, or have taken the step to sign on to Twitter yourself, and follow us there. If you haven’t, it’s a good way to update folks with short bursts of info.

For us, it’s a quicker way than a blog entry to say, “Hell-apeno today!”

If you want to give it a go, click here:

Taking the networking thing a step further, I’ve set up a Facebook page, also for the purposes of info distribution, though with the capability for more interaction with you. I’ll set up events info regarding our tastings, etc., and you can even be so sweet as to RSVP there!

To become a fan of Electric Burrito on Facebook, click here:

With May’s German Beer Tasting now a part of history, it’s time to talk about June. On June 20, we’ll feature a selection of beers perfect for the summer heat. Light, refreshing and flavorful.

I know you’re asking yourself, “Do I need to sign up in advance?” Folks have gotten out of the habit of signing up, but having a ballpark figure helps me gauge my beer buying. You see, I need less beer for eight people than I do for twenty. So if you could give me a pretty reliable heads-up, I’d appreciate it. I’m worried that I purchase beer for a safe number like 12-15 people, and accidentally have 25 people show up. Which could happen.

When: Saturday, June 20

What Time: 8pm

Cost: $10

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Sorry no real follow-up post on the German beers, but I’ve been uber-busy these days. And I forgot  my camera that night. Suffice it to say that the beers were much enjoyed. It would be a surprise to some of my readers, the attended tasters, those thinking of stopping by and/or those opposed to beer for whatever possibly wrong reasons that some of the lighter beers have been the least enjoyed and the darker beers the most eye-openingly glorious. That’s not a surprise to me, and I challenge you to come out for our next tasting.

Apologies, all. I’ve been busy enough that I’ve done a lousy job of keeping you informed on this month’s tasting, which will be a stroll through Germany.

When? This Saturday, May 16, at 8pm.

We’ll take a walk through a number of German biers, a wide variety, and I don’t know about you but the last month or so has left me thirsty. This will be just the remedy.

Show up early for the pre-show beer as always.

Peace and Pints!

J.

If you want to read about the April Foolishness Tasting, click here. We had a really good time, and feedback dictates that there are sure to be more blind tastings to come in the future.

Our next tasting has been scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 8pm, though I haven’t yet decided what we’ll be doing. Bring yourself and bring a friend. Talk to those that have been before, and you’ll see why it’s not a good idea to not show up.

On another beery note, I’d love it if you’d sacrifice about 4 minutes of your time to check out this little piece of video. It served as the introduction to Greg Koch’s (Stone Brewing Company) Keynote Address at the 2009 Craft Brewers Conference happening in Boston as we speak (or as I type).

While Electric Burrito is not a brewery or brewpub, I think this video does a good job of summing up our attitude about beer. Watch it and see why we have this odd-seeming passion. Then come to the Burrito and order something you’ve never had before.

A couple of people have noticed that both Electric Burrito and Prairieland Yoga have popped up in Lenox. A second location for both businesses?!

No, we’re in the movies.

A remake of George Romero’s The Crazies is in production, and I submitted our logos in hopes of our t-shirts getting a little lucky screen time. They liked our stuff, and not only do our shirts have a shot on the big screen, so do our storefronts.

On our night off last night, we trekked over to Lenox to see how it looked. Cool is how it looked. Someone in Hollywood thought the thing(s) we created were worthy of being in their movie. That’s cool. Michelle’s yoga studio is on the corner, coupled with the computer store. And the Burrito is across the street taking over Breadeaux Pisa’s space.

Cool. Lame, but the only word I can think of.

We haven’t met anyone famous, unless you count Caleb and Nicci (Michelle’s brother and sister), and Bonnie (one of Michelle’s yoga students), all extras. And my mother-in-law’s red Jeep, which was parked on Main Street while they were filming (so look for that). But we have met some folks from the art department (fans of our Electric Margaritas), and they’re going to try to hit the beer tasting this weekend.

Very good. But fiction. Don’t go to Lenox for a burrito or yoga class this week. It’s all fiction. But good fiction.

Hey, folks!

Here’s a quick reminder that our next Beer Education Project Tasting will be this Saturday, April 14. We’ll get started promptly at 7pm, and if you get here early, you’re sure to get something of a pre-show beer, as has been tradition from the start.

For this tasting, we’ll continue with the Foolishness of April, with a BLIND TASTING of several light American lagers. These are the ubiquitous ones we see advertised so much. I’ll be tossing in a few “better” beers, and the style of this event will take a different shape from prior tastings we’ve done.

Instead of me walking us through a number of beers, we’ll simply pour the beers and hand them to you. You can sniff and sip and ponder, and decide which brew suits you best. If you’re a lifelong Miller Lite person, you might be surprised that you actually like another beer. Funny what advertising can do. There’s nothing like comparing them blind to find the truth.

As I said a while back, I’m posting the planned beers so you can see if your favorite light lager is on the list. If it’s not, bring it, and we’ll knock two bucks off your entry fee. A couple 12-ounce cans will be plenty. Email me if this is your plan, and I’ll edit this post to include your addition to the line-up (or you can just comment for all to read your intent).

Here’s what I have so far:

Bud

Bud Light

Miller Lite

Milwaukee’s Best Light

Coors Light

Corona

Hub City’s Golden Ale

North Coast’s Blue Star

Zatec

All these samples, plus amazement, for only $8. We hope you can make it out.

Don’t worry; finding out you don’t like your favorite beer might be fun. And eye-opening. There’s a whole other world of beer out there. Fun, games, shenanigans and learning!

When, you ask?

Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 7pm

at the Burrito (626 Davis Avenue–Corning, IA)

Do you trust your favorite beer? If you closed your eyes, and tried it alongside several other beers, would you choose it as your favorite?

This month we’ll be sampling a range of familiar light lagers from well-known breweries. BLIND. Come and see if you’ll be surprised about what you choose.

April 18, at 8pm*

The Beer Education Project: Focused on quality over quantity, Electric Burrito’s Beer Education Project is an outreach to our community working toward a better understanding of beer’s role in history, culture and culinary enjoyment. Our tastings and events will discuss flavors, aromas, appearances of a variety of world beer styles, as well as brewing procedures and ingredients.

Take notes and sip along!

Limited to 20 participants, so register early.

Cost is $8

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A few days before the event, we’ll post the 6-8 beers we’ll be providing for this event. If your favorite isn’t on the list, bring a couple bottles or cans, and we’ll wave your registration fee!

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*Note the time and day-of-the-week change!