1st Annual Thank Your Military Day

Just to take a few moments out of your day to give back to the ones who have given you so much! There will be food and entertainment. We are going to be raising money to put care packages together for the soldiers overseas, and writing letters of encouragement for them. There will be soldiers here throughout the day so you can come and personally thank them and show them your support.

So, if you know any soldiers who would like to come in uniform, from any generation, any branch, any war, please let them know they are more than welcome! We would love to have many soldiers here and lots of people to come out and show their support. So please come show your love for the ones who have given so much so that you can have everything you have!

Mineola Naturefest

May 28th and 29th

The astonishingly beautiful Mineola Nature Preserve is the site for Naturefest. Come on our and see the booths and entertainment or maybe just fly a kite. Be sure to wear your walking shoes so you can take advantage of the 4 miles of nature trails at the preserve.

On Friday night there is a Longhorn Cattle Drive, Chuck Wagon Dinner, Storytellers around the campfire, and Star Gazing.

On Saturday, all kinds of nature activities all day from 8-6, including nature walks, birds of prey, kids survival traing and The Butterfly Guy-plus a whole lot more. Make the Rosevine Inn your base-we have a few rooms left on Friday night!!.

EAST TEXAS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE

Annual Memorial Day Concert                                                       

Sunday, May 30, 2010 – 4:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church – 230 W. Rusk – Tyler, Texas

What a Great way to spend Sunday afternoon. Listen to patriotic music. Make your plans NOW. We have rooms available on Sunday!!!

Time for Berry Picking

      A couple of farms in the area are   Rainbow Ranch – Blueberries

Phone: 903-597-7986. Directions: Please call to arrange picking times. One and a half miles north of I-20 on Lavender Road, Exit 560.

Tyler Berry Farm – blackberries, blueberries, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area

9628 County Road 429, Tyler, TX 75704. Phone: 903-526-4440 or 888-584-8054 . Email: TYLERBERRYFARM@HUGHES.NET. Directions: I20 East, South on exit 556, south on 69, go 3 1/2 miles to the second traffic light and turn right onto CR 429, Plantation farm Road, go across FM 3271, then go 1 1/2 miles, we’re on the left, at the white picket fence, turn into the drive with the fence on your left, follow the drive around to the berry shed. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in June, July, August. Open: Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm for U-Pick and from 10 am to 4 pm for ready picked. Closed Sundays. No animals are allowed in the berry fields. Fruit preserves are available. Payment: Cash, Check.                                                                                                                                                          This is by no means all of the places in the area.  We can direct you to others.

Then . of course, there is Canton First Monday Trade Days

It falls on  June 3rd thru June 6th.

See ya’ll soon!!!

Innkeeper Becca

Next Theatre! The Civic Theatre has two offerings
’The Kingfisher’
Cecil, a successful novelist living comfortably with his fussy butler, is contemplating marriage. The object of his affection, Evelyn, is the same woman he loved and lost fifty years ago. When news comes that Evelyn’s husband has died and she is about to pay a visit, Cecil is determined to rekindle old flames with a charming proposal. Plans go awry, however, as he completely underestimates the feelings of his prospective bride and that of the moody old Hawkins.
&

TCT’s Original Interactive Puppet Show

Both performances are free so come and enjoy the show!

Some Christian Music!!
DecembeRadio LIVE in concert

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 @ 6:00pm
For those of you who haven’t heard, the winner of the DOVE ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2009 and GRAMMY NOMINATED band, DecembeRadio will be live in Chandler, Texas this weekend. That’s right! Saturday, May 22nd at 6pm at FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH. Tickets are $5 at the door!!! Just in case you missed it…$5 at the door for a killer Christian Rock (and I mean ROCK) band!

Sports!!!!                                                                       

East TX Drillers Arena Football 2010 Season

IIFA) Although based in Tyler, Texas, the Drillers consider all of the greater East Texas their home. With 2010 serving as the inaugural season of the team, the Drillers will be poised to try and bring a league championship to East Texas. The Drillers are committed to serving in their community and will welcome the opportunity to lend their services when duty calls. The Drillers will help build character in the community, not only in the game of football, but in the game of life!

The focal point of the team is the development of players who have skills to play the game of football. These players will have the opportunity to move up to the next level which consists of the Intense Football League (IFL), Arena Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and the National Football League (NFL).The Drillers will be committed to being an organization that operates with dignity and integrity, realizing that as professional athletes and coaches we are indeed role models!
East TX Drillers vs. Mid-Cities Mustangs -Saturday, May 22 at 7P
East TX Drillers vs. Texas Wranglers – Saturday, May 29 at
East TX Drillers vs. Mid-Cities Mustangs – Sunday, June 20 at 3P
East TX Drillers vs. Mid-Cities Mustangs – Sunday, June 27 at 3PM

Dance
“The Art of Dance” Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Come and enjoy an exciting evening with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre of Dallas, Texas. “The Art of Dance” is a premiere fundraising event for the Arts & Humanities Council of East Texas (AHCET). This exhilarating performance takes place at Tyler Junior College’s Wise Auditorium, adjacent to the Tyler Museum of Art at 1300 Mahon Ave. The dynamics of this world class dance troupe is a crescendo of movement– integrating pizzaz and jazzy, funny and spiritually stunning agility. “The Art of Dance” is an event where rhythm, grace, and vibrancy meets culture and class. Come and support the Arts & Humanities Council of East Texas, whose mission is to educate and edify economically disadvantaged youth via the arts in the Tyler/East Texas area. “Educate a child in the arts, uplift an entire community.”

Tickets are $20 /$10 for students with an ID. AHCET is a 501 c 3 non-profit. For more information, please call 903.216.3671.

Visitors will enjoy the scenic beauty of the Caldwell Zoo’s African Overlook while listening to live music arranged and performed by members of the Tyler Youth Orchestra.

And this is just this weekend!! Stay tuned more soon- Stay at the Rosevine Inn and enjoy all these activities!!

Easter Eggs

The Azalea Trails officially end on Sunday the 4th, but if I was you I would come to Tyler the weekend after that. Everything is just blooming and you will see some gorgeous flowers. The Four Winds Renaissance Faire goes on through the 24th of April. Come down one weekend and see what it is all about. It is an annual 8-weekend Renaissance festival featuring knights, jousting, belly dancers, magicians, 100 craftsmen and demonstrating artists. Games, rides, food and fun for the whole family.

On April 9th there will be a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Cowan Center. It will be preformed byThe Acting Company who has turned out some of the finest actors of our time – Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Jesse L. Martin – to name a few. Who knows?…the members of the company you will see could very well be tomorrow’s Oscar and Emmy winners.

Then on  April 10th. First East Texas A Cappella Celebration. From Classical to Jazz, Barbershop to Gospel, area vocal groups of all sizes and genres come together to celebrate the beauty and magic of the human voice at the East Texas A Cappella Celebration. The free community concert will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 6 P.M., in the Glenwood Church of Christ auditorium, at the corner of Rice and Hollytree, in Tyler. Participating groups include The Blessing (women’s contemporary worship), Clearly Vocal (five-voice vocal jazz), Faithful Praise (gospel), John Tyler High School Choir, Then & Now (barbershop quartet), TJC A Cappella Choir and UT Tyler Patriot Singers.

Oh my gosh, April 17th brings the Historic US 80 Highway Sale. If you have never done this, you should try. Stay at the Rosevine Inn, a great Tyler Bed and Breakfast. Shop all day then return and relax with us. 

Texas Film Round-up 

This takes place on April 17 at the Tyler public library. Sounds interesting.  

The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) partners with the City of Tyler to bring its traveling educational program, the Texas Film Round-Up, to the Tyler Public Library. Area residents can drop off Texas-related films or videos for TAMI™s free digitization program and view TAMI™s traveling exhibit Preserving Memories: Texas™ Moving Image Legacy.

TAMI will be screening footage from the region throughout the weekend and will host a special screening Saturday at 3 p.m. of the locally shot 1948 feature film, Strike it Rich.TAMI footage will also be shown on Saturday evening in conjunction with Tyler™s Movies in the Park film series. TAMI™s free digitization program is available to anyone with Texas-related film or video who is willing to contribute an electronic copy of their materials to TAMI™s video library: www.texasarchive.org/library. After digitization is complete, TAMI will return the originals to contributors, along with two DVD copies of their materials. This is a FREE event.

Also on the same day is the  2010 Natural Wellness Expo. Among the largest events of this kind! Natural Health Speakers – Exhibits – Demos – Workshops – Prizes – & More!

Then on the 18th is East Texas Earth Day at Camp Tyler. 

Earth Day East Texas is an annual event held at Camp Tyler to celebrate the natural heritage of Texas, while educating the public about being good stewards of their environment. Free admission and free activities will include: hayrides, fishing, nature walks, farm tours and environmental educational games.

Fee-based activities include zip-lining and pony rides. Kids are welcome to bring their cameras for a photography contest. Food and beverages will be available at food vendor booths. Come enjoy a day of fun!

The Civic Theatre brings us a CS Lewis work beginning on April 23rd thru May 9 on weekends. 

’The Magician’s Nephew’

This is a play that encompasses realism and fantasy, interesting characters, humor and lyrical beauty, excitement and suspense. The script lends itself to imaginative staging, either simple or elaborate, providing a memorable visit to C.S. Lewis’ mythical kingdom with the great lion, the evil witch, the heroic children and the talking animals.    

Guess who is coming to town On April 23rd??    ZZTOP no Kidding

  ZZ Top LIVE in concert

Wow-then for all you conservatives out there Glenn Beck will be here on April 24th. Glenn Beck, well-known author and commentator, is making 1 of only 6 national appearances in 2010 at Tyler’s Oil Palace on Sat, April 24th @ 7:00PM. The evening with Glenn Beck will be in the round similar to a town hall meeting and in addition to him speaking, Mr. Beck will be taking questions from the audience.

OR

How about Listz, Strauss & Tchaikovsky

The East Texas Symphony concludes the season with a concert that celebrates the orchestra, including the annual Side by Side performance featuring young musicians, and a solo turn by principal horn, Brian Brown.

Other activities coming up a train  memorabilia show, Tyler Rose Sunday, May Canton Trade Days and alot more. Look for my next post coming soon!!! We will talk more about the big concerts coming up the end of the month.

Becca

The best thing I would recommend to to is the “Spirits of Oakwood”  Walking Tour through historic Oakwood Cemetery

Tour guides lead groups every 15 minutes through this historic cemetery, stopping at various graves, where historians dressed in period clothing portray notable Tyler and Smith County citizens.

First tour at 1:00 pm, last tour at 4:30 pm. $6 per person, children 10 and under Free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Oakwood Cemetery. Corner of Palace and Oakwood St., please enter back gate on Ellis St. For more info 903.593.4642.  Sat., March 27 (gates open at 1pm).

The Historic Home Tour is always so interesting and benefits a good cause-Historic Tyler     

Stroll through these elegant neighborhoods and grand lawns soaking up the beauty of East Texas in bloom as you tour private residences in Tyler’s Historic District listed in the National Register.

Since 1980, Historic Tyler has presented Historic Tyler on Tour, an annual tour of historic homes held during Tyler’s spring Azalea Trails.

This year’s Tour is scheduled for March 26-28, 2010. The Candlelight Tour and Party kicks off Historic Tyler on Tour on Friday evening, March 26. A tour of five historic homes from 7-9 pm will be followed by a party from 8-11 pm at the Azalea District residence of Becky and Jim Robertson, 322 West Fifth Street. The outdoor event will feature live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres catered by Dakotas of Tyler. Tickets are $50 each in advance or $60 at the door.

Day tours are offered Saturday, March 27, from 10 am-6 pm and on Sunday, March 28 from 1-5

     The 10k run is always lots of fun and beautiful too. I actually have run it a couple of times!          

The Flower Market

Enjoy an historic setting alive with the color of bedding plants, cut flowers, herbs, garden decor and more at the Main Street Flower Market. This event, now in its fourth year, is regarded as one of Tyler’s most beautiful and most highly anticipated event. No admission, though gardening items will be for sale at individual booths.

Bedding plants, fresh-cut flowers and landscape plants abound at this scenic outdoor flower market on the Goodman Museum grounds, 624 N. Broadway.

The Azalea Trails of course are the highlight of this

weekend-so come and enjoy= Of course you will want to be at this Tyler Bed and Breakfast during your stay in Tyler. Rosevine Inn is the best place to relax after a hectic day

 I am going to list the activities, with links, if there is one, for you. I will eloborate on some of them after that!

Starting March 19th and 20th

Four Winds Renaissance Faire  , Tyler Area Council of Garden Clubs 4th Annual Flower Show, Tyler State Park Dogwood Days Driving and Walking Tour, Beauty and the Beast Bicycle Tour , Tyler Rotary Chili Cook-Off , and Azalea Trail Arts and Crafts Fair.

We talked about the Renaissance Faire in the blog posted on March 2. So just click on the happening to read on! On march 13th, we detailed Tyler State Park’s Tour and Beauty and the Beast. Just click and you can read all about it!

The Chili Cookoff is really neat because it takes place right in the thick of things. It will be held on Dobbs street between Broadway and College, near the Tyler Woman s Building, 911 South Broadway, on Saturday, March 20th, rain or shine! Wander through and observe chili cooks doing their thing. They love to talk Chili! Some will even be putting on a show, trying to impress our Showmanship Judges. It starts at 11 am on the 20th.

The Azalea Trails Arts and Crafts Fair is my favorite one of the year. It is held in Bergfeld Park.  An Annual outdoor fair offering only handcrafted merchandise offered by over 75 craftsman. Then there will be free concert. David Berryhil and Band and Generation North Band will perform in the Bergfeld Park amphitheater from 6 to 9 p.m on Saturday.

The McClendon House will be open on Saturday and Sunday for Tours. Do not miss seeing this gem.                                                                           

The Flower show should be great. This year’s theme is “Remembering Historic Tyler” and features displays of horticulture, design and educational exhibits by members of area garden clubs. The Woman’s Building, 911 S. Broadway.

Events in Tyler that are not really related to the Azalea Festival abound.  Tyler Civic Theatre is presenting The Chalk Garden  by Enid Bagnold that premiered in 1955 on Broadway. The play tells the story of Mrs. St Maugham and her granddaughter Laurel, a disturbed child under Miss Madrigal’s care. The setting of the play was inspired by Bagnold’s own garden at North End House in Rottingdean, near Brighton, Sussex, the former home of Sir Edward Burne-Jones. It plays from March 19th thru March 28th.

Chalk Garden

Also there is a a Jr. Golf Classic for kids from 7 to 18 and Ballet Tyler is having a Spring Concert that same weekend. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra performs music of two masters, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven on Saturday at  7:30  pm-                               If you cannot find something to do this weekend it will be a shocker!

A little teaser about what to do through the end of March and the first Of April.  Blogs will be posted with more information in the days before.

Weekend of March 25and 28– A Book Fair, An Art Show, Apache Bell Spring Show, East texas Porcelain Art Exhibit and Sale,  Annie the musical, a Flower Market, A Quilt Show, a 10K run, Historic oakwood Cemetery living history tour (this is really something!!), Camp Ford reenactment, Orchid show, and Historic Tyler’s Historic Home tour.

Rebecca Powell

Rosevine Inn Bed and Breakfast

Tyler, Texas

But First-March 2nd is the 174th anniversay of Texas Independance lets say Happy Anniversay Texas!                 

Four Winds Renaissance Faire

The sixteenth annual Four Winds Renaissance Faire celebrates life in the 17th century with The longest full contact Joust competition in America Eight full weekends of competition to select the Texas State Joust team that will compete in the international finals in September in Estes Park, Colorado. Numerous shows, fabulous food, hand crafting demonstrations and wondrous merchants ensure all our guests a great time at the Four Winds Renaissance Faire. Come spend a Day with our knights.

Until next time-stay warm Spring is almost Here!!!

Extreme Makeover will be here February 25 to knock on the door of a very deserving family. Come to town and see them.  it should be interesting .

The Emmy-award winning reality show on ABC Television, is coming to East Texas to surprise one lucky family with an extreme home makeover. Local builder Bayless Custom Homes has accepted the challenge to construct a new home in just one week for one very deserving family. “When we watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, we realize how blessed we all are, and that with God all things are possible. We are humbled and excited to accept this challenge.

However, completing this project will only be possible with the help of many volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and the generosity of the entire community. This is about showing America the heart and soul of East Texas and we challenge everyone to come together to give a few hours of your life to change someone else’s life. Together, we will build a quality home that will show Texas pride with love & compassion, which will resonate with East Texans forever.

There are other things going on here at that time let’s see!!!

First Monday weekend for March actually falls in February. Monday March 1st is Monday-so the weekend before  is   February 26th thru 28th-Make your plans now!!

“Our Town” is being performed at The Tyler Civic Theatre thru February 28th. These actors really do a great job. 

Tyler Civic Theatre Presents

Then there is a  Home Products  show the 26th through the 28th at Harvey Hall. Many great ideas and inovative products all in one spot!!  30th annual Home Products Show, “The Greatest Show on Earth!”  Browse the latest products and talk to the professionals who have all of the answers.

Now this sounds fun! A Night of Rock and Roll to Benefit Breckenridge Village.

Roll up your jeans, pull out your poodle skirts and shine your loafers as we get ready to go back in time and enjoy the sights, sounds and music of days gone by. On Friday night, February 26, 2010 at 7 pm, Chick-fil-A presents A Night to Remember the 50s & 60s at the KE Bushman’s Celebration Center.

This musical extravaganza is a premier event all in benefit of Breckenridge Village of Tyler. This night promises to be a big success thanks to the support of long time BVT friends, Ed & Sandy King of Chick-fil-A and Pierre deWet of Kiepersol Estates. Breckenridge Village offers programs and services care  adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilites.  It only costs $15.

If dancing is not your style-be entertained at the Cowan Center on the 26th at 7 p.m. 

Hold on to your seat! You’ve just arrived in TAO – where athletic bodies, innovative choreography and explosive drumming meet for a performance overflowing with extraordinary precision, energy and stamina. Over one million spectators worldwide have experienced the talents of these highly trained artists from the mountains of Japan making them one of the most popular acts on the globe!

Each star of TAO reaches the highest level of virtuosity after years of intensive study and training. Plus, they each offer a modern take on the traditional art form through varied and diverse backgrounds: a hard rock musician, a gymnast and a composer. It’s one of the most powerful and unique performances you’ll ever witness! Click below for a preview—-

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Chili anyone? There is a cookoff scheduled on Saturday the 27th. Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI)and Half Moon Grill & Saloon host the 3rd Annual Charity Chili Challenge. Held at Half Moon Grill & Saloon. Benefits St. Mary Magdalen Church Youth Group.

Okay how about a Celtic Music Concert-Coming on the 27th in Edom is Beyond The Pales’ eclectic and diverse mix of traditional celtic and contemporary styles is the key to their popularity. They have developed their unique sound by blending their own original songs and compositions with an array of traditional dance tunes and folk songs of Ireland, America Scotland and Europe using a wide range of instruments including fiddle, flute, accordion, guitar, hammered dulcimer, tin whistle, saxophone, harmonica, concertina, mandolin, clarinet, bodhran, percussion and of course the voices of band members. True to their name, Beyond The Pale delivers a wild musical ride outside the boundaries of convention. The concert is at The Old Firehouse at 7: pm.

Now if that does not keep you busy for the next few days WHAT WILL!!!

Just a note -starting March 6th through April 24 is the 4 Winds Renaissance Faire-the 16th Annual-It will be featured in my next blog.  If you miss the Chili Cookoff next weekend-there is another one March 6th The Rose City Cookoff- I will do a short blog about it next week.

With spring around the corner, lots of things to do and see in the area. I see Tyler State Park is having Dogwood Days and the City of Tyler will have its Annual Azalea Trails starting in the middle of March. More on these to come!!

Snow angels anyone?

 Valentines Day is here and our lovers are enjoying the Inn. We have one room left-why not come and join the fun.

What is going on this week and next-If you like Flowers, Plants and Gardening-this weekend  is for you

The annual 2010 East Texas Landscape and Garden Conference is brought to you by the Smith County Environmental Horticulture Committee Texas AgriLife Extension Service, part of the city of Tyler Parks & Recreation Dept.Saturday, February 13th, 2010 @ 8:30am It is only $15 per person and includes lunch and door prizes!!

Want to see Play-there is a great one coming up

Thorton Wilders “Our Town”

It starts Feb 19th and rins thought the 28th-Stay with us and enjoy the play just down the street from the Inn.

Okay this is not my favorite thing-but you may be into it

Friday Feb. 26th-Wrestling !!!@!!

Tyler Wrestling

Next post we will tell you about upcoming events in March. Make plans now for the Tyler Azalea  and Spring Flower Trails. Last two weeks in March and first week in April. Also, Don’ t  forget Canton Trade Days. Starts Feb. 25th Thru March 1. We will do quick post next week about Trades Days.

Until then!!!

Roses

The best thing to do for Valentines is to make a reservation at a Tyler Bed and Breakfast. Rosevine Inn has a few rooms left and what a wonderful and romantic thing to do for your loved one. Sitting by the fire and sipping a glass of bubbly is so special!!

Guess what else! There is going to be a Valentine’s dinner event on the Texas State Railroad. It leaves from the Palestine Depot. It  starts with a champagne reception at 6:30.  You can check out all the details at by clicking here  http://www.texasstaterr.com/events.php

Not much else going on for Valentines but there are a few thing happening in the next couple of weeks.

Folk singer Peter Mayer will be in Edom on Feb. 5th.  His music breaks the boundries of “Folk” and transcends to a realm beyond everyday love song, to a place of wonder. You could combine the evening with the Edom Bakery and Grill for dinner!

For a fun girl’s night out-The Real Women’s Expo is on Tuesday               February 9th starting at 11 am. Looks like lots of fun and freebies. 

Finally on Feb. 12th Rodney Atkins is in Town!   He will be at the Oil Palace live in concert at 8 pm.

Rodney Atkins

Just a tease- coming later in the month Stephen Pyles (the chef!) and Queen (the rock group)

Till next time–stay warm and don’t forget your sweetie!!