The 37th annual Mathews Market Days Festival will take place in Historic Downtown Mathews on September 9 - 10, 2011.  The festival is a family fun festivity: no alcohol served. Hours are:  Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Street dance:  8 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday.

They will showcase over 90 booths displaying local arts and crafts, tempting food items and many locally made products. Craft fair winner entries will be located in the information booth on Friday and Saturday.  Highlighting the local talent will be over 30 Artists from the Mathews Art Group.  Visit their website for more information at www.mathewsartgallery.org.  Also on sale will be 2011 Market Day Posters.  
 
Several organizations will be on hand to offer financial planning environmental awareness information, security, health tips and much more.
 
The Youth Corner includes pony rides, air filled activities, pet parade, Buttons the Clown, ice cream and other fun and games.  Friday the 9th, show time karaoke will be featured on the main stage from 3 to 5 p.m.  
 
Musical entertainment begins on Friday with youth rides open all evening.  Musical entertainment on Saturday at 11 a.m. and continues with the street dancing ending at 11 p.m.  The Saturday night dance is guaranteed to keep you up and dancing!
 
On Saturday from 2 – 4 p.m., spelling bees will be taking place in the Old Courthouse Building.
 
On Saturday September 10th, inside entertainment will be at the Westville Church from 11 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. with six different groups performing.
 
Also on Saturday, the Classic Cruisers Car Show will be displaying at Thomas Hunter Middle School.

Come to Mathews Market Days on September 9th and 10th and share with your family the fun, food and festivities.  We look forward to serving you!
 
For more information, visit our website at www.co.mathews.va.us or call Art Dubey @ 804-725-7941.

Our Northern Neck has an enormous collection of old and antique items.  

Find out the history and value of those wonderful pieces around your house or stashed in your attic, garage, and barn.  Or maybe even find out what that ‘thing’ is, what it was used for, and how rare and valuable it is.  Wonderful antique and collectible items are discovered daily in our historic area.  It could be your time to have the great find at this year’s Antiques One-stop Road Show.

The Antiques One-stop Road Show is sponsored by the Northern Neck Branch of Preservation Virginia and the Richmond County Museum. Eight very knowledgeable, professional appraisers have volunteered to assess antiques and collectibles.  The annual Road Show has identified and valued uncountable family treasures over the years.

Louise Jessee of Epping Forest Antiques is evaluating jewelry, furniture, toys, silver, china, clocks,and other collectibles.  Joe Johnston of Woodlawn Sandy Antiques is evaluating furniture, baskets, kitchen ware, and tools.  David Jett (conservator, curator of the Richmond County and Essex County Museums) and Hugh White (an expert in antique paintings) are evaluating paintings, pastels, and posters.  Richard Carter (a private collector and dealer of prints) is evaluating prints, books, maps, and posters.

Jim Francis (a dealer in antique arms) is evaluating guns, swords, Civil War relics, and other weapons of all varieties.  Jim Alexander (a dealer in antique guns and native American articles) is evaluating native American artifacts and period guns. Michael Malone (a noted area automobile collector) is evaluating antique cars, motorcycles, pens, and watches.

The Road Show is on Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 9 am until 1 pm at Wellford Hall of St. John’s Church, 5987 Richmond Road in Warsaw.  Tickets are available at the door.  The price is $10 per item or 3 items for $25.  Lunch will be available for purchase from the Episcopal Men’s Club.

As the market produce increases and plenty of veggies are available in July so do the variety of special events flurish each Saturday in July.
 
The calendar for July includes:

• July 2nd - Carolyn August will be providing music and entertainment on the this Saturday of the July 4th weekend.  Music is made possible by the Chesapeake Bank.
• July 9th - Stephanie Brown sets up at the Market with a demonstration of Hypertufa pot making for your garden.  Compliment your flowers with this do yourself art projects that you can try with the whole family.
• July 16th  - The Community Tent will be “a buzz” with a mini spelling bee provided by The Adult Literacy of the Middle Peninsula. The market honey bee will be on hand to challenge you to “out spell” you neighbor and your kids!  
• July 23rd  - The Mathews Woman’s Club will be hosting the Community Tent.  Stop by and find out about the civic projects these busy Mathews Women are doing for the community.  Be sure to purchase the Woman’s Club cookbook which contains the secrets of delicious southern food, Mathews style!
• July 30th – The Mathews Lions Club will “sweep” you off your feet with their special broom sale at the Community Tent.  This annual broom sale helps the club sponsor the other projects like their eyeglass recycling program. Jean Howard will also be on hand this Saturday to serenade you while you shop the market.

 
By the way, to round out your morning in Mathews, we recommend that you visit the art galleries and antique stores in the village.
 
For more details, call 804-725-5747.

The vines are growing like crazy and loaded with grapes.  It looks to be a great year with our 6,000 vines of Vidal Blanc, Norton, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec.

The Vineyard Restaurant is still on track to open early in September…been great fun getting it all together.  Our telephone number is 804-580-4053.

News from the Wine & Cheese

Lots of renovation work going on with Mike Robertson completely remodeling the interior and kitchen. If you are in the area make sure to stop by and say hello as he is there most everyday and plans to open sometime if June with some great ideas.  Plans are for the Wine & Cheese to remain a wine shop and restaurant

June at the Mathews Farmer’s Market offers an interesting line up of special events that complement the focus of sustainable agriculture by your local farmers.  It is what you would expect to find at a local produce market with the Community Hosting organizations providing insights into their organization and events.
 
The calendar for June includes:

• June 4th - The Mathews Historical Society will be on hand to give you the “scoop” of the historic places and things to do in Mathews this summer.
• June 11th - Mathews Woman’s Club will host the Community Tent.  The ladies of Mathews are famous for their cookbook and mouth-watering family reciepes and the ladies will have them on hand to sell to at the Market.  Be sure to taste Jean Howard’s homemade honey and sit a spell to listen to her sweet music!
• June 18th - Creation Care Team from the United Methodist Church will host the Community Tent. The Team will present “Repower at Home.”  Repower at home is a free interactive website that offers everyday practical tips for energy saving in the home & the UMCOR Coffee Project.  UMCOR, The United Methodist Commission of Relief, has partnered with The Equal Exchange Fairly Traded network to offer shade-grown, environmentally friendly, fair trade coffee. 
• June 25th - Natural Health & Beauty - Ever wonder why the girls are so cute in Mathews?  Join “Dirt Woman” for a look at her home grown brand of organic body products.  And for those who want the full treatment stop by and see 5-Star Oriental which will feature cosmetic acupuncture and other tips.

 
Stay the day and enjoy all the shopping and restaurants in Mathews!  You are sure to find some delicious happening!
 
For more details, call 804-725-5747