2012 July « Around Dripping Springs

By Around Dripping Springs

www.arounddrippingsprings.com

Area residents filled City Hall for a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on July 24th, to discuss the proposed construction of a low-to-moderate-income apartment complex in Dripping Springs. More than 80 residents signed up to speak publicly about the controversial project. Photo Courtesy: Thomas Stuart Johnson Photography

Despite an overflow crowd at City Hall on Tuesday night, and opposition in the form of 1,800 resident signatures on petitions opposed to the controversial Cypress Creek complex planned for Ledge Stone, the City of Dripping Springs Planning & Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the project as proposed by the developer.

The vote by the P&Z Commission enables the developer to continue to move forward with the project as currently proposed, for consideration by City Council in August. Commissioners who voted to approve the site plan were Vice-Chair Danny Hubbard, Mim James, Whit Smith, and Ted Lehr. Opposed were Chair Larry McClung, Josef Martin, and Eric Burgeson.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY…

The 4-3 decision was a blow to local opposition efforts. Teresa Scott, who lives in the Ledge Stone subdivision adjacent to the proposed apartment complex site, began organizing opposition to the project back in February.

“I am shocked that the commission had the gall to disregard and blatantly ignore the wishes of over 1,800 citizens,” Scott said.

Scott, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting, said she has since received More…

The Tuscan-themed Texas Hill Country Olive Company Store & Tasting Room sits alongside an artisinal olive orchard that produces a variety of gourmet organic oils and balsamic vinegars.

By Carline Schwartz for AroundDrippingSprings.com

The 5th annual Dripping with Taste Wine & Food Festival will take its popular foodie-tainment event to a new level on Saturday, September 8, with a location upgrade and expanded offerings of gourmet foods, local wines, craft beers, artisans, and live music.

Shannon Moler, Director of the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau which sponsors the festival, said the venue relocation to the Texas Hill Country Olive Company offers the perfect setting.

All ticket levels are available online until August 31. Beginning September 1, only General Admission tickets will be available.

“The Texas Olive Company’s Tuscan-styled tasting room and orchard is breathtaking, and right in the heart of Dripping Springs,” Moler said.

Moler, who is also the event chair, said the festival will kick off the Hill Country wine & food festival seasons with a showcase of the variety and quality of foods and wines throughout the Central Texas Hill Country region, starting with Dripping Springs.

“Local wineries like West Cave Cellars , Duchman Family Winery, and Bell Springs are coming, and Fredericksburg wineries like Grape Creek and Becker Vineyards are coming. We have more than 20 wineries from throughout the region, as well as top area chefs and dozens of gourmet and specialty foods, plus more than two dozen creative artisan vendors.”

The festival logo is new for 2012. Organizers say it was designed to reflect the look and feel of the event’s new venue location.

Moler said other unique beverage options at this year’s festival will include locally handcrafted sparkling hard cider from Argus Cidery, made in Dripping Springs, and rice wine sake made in Texas, from the Texas Sake Company. “Another surprise for visitors to Dripping Springs is the local craft beers, which will be represented at DWT2012 by area breweries like Jester King, Thirsty Planet, Independence, Twisted X, Real Ale, and Live Oak Brewing Company,” added Moler.

Making their first festival appearance also will be Texas Coffee Traders from Austin. Williams-Sonoma will make its first DWT festival appearance, as well, with W-S culinary Chef Tara Weaver’s afternoon cooking demo.

The lineup of live music entertainment will be varied and upbeat, with six bands scheduled to play throughout the day. Genres include “hippy swing,” blues, country, Americana, pop, rock, acoustic, Latin jazz, and world beat.The band schedule is listed on the festival website’s Music page. The event will close with a VIP awards ceremony.

Even the women’s restroom facilities will be upscale, with an “Elite Silver Platinum” air-conditioned trailer on site featuring 10 individual stalls with sinks and mirrors.

Proceeds from the Dripping with Taste Wine & Food festival benefit the non-profit Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau, launched in early 2012 with a mission to attract Hill Country visitors and guests to the town. According to Moler, the Dripping with Taste festival is made possible only through a concerted community effort that pays off for both visitors and residents.

“This event takes a lot of energized volunteers, community leaders and business owners but the effort is worth it,” Moler said. “Visitors are delighted to learn they can experience all the Hill Country has to offer this close to Austin. That’s why we have a new tourism slogan at the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau that says, ‘It all starts here!’ The DWT festival is proof of that. Everyone loves this event and it just gets better each year.”

Volunteer event communications director, Linda Freeman, says a larger-than-ever turnout is expected, thanks to the new venue location and to social media.

“The big payoffs for this year’s event have been the fantastic venue site, and good use of social media to promote the event,” Freeman said. “We’ve had so much visibility and buzz, we even got a call from the ASCAP folks (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) – which is headquartered in New York City – to make sure the festival is in compliance with their music licensing legal requirements! The media and bloggers are asking to come – always a good sign. This festival is definitely on a more statewide radar and taking a bigger stage this year. Plus, it’s the first one of the fall 2012 Hill Country wine & food festival season. So, it really does ‘all start here’!

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Festival tickets on sale online: www.DrippingWithTaste.com

“Like” the festival on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrippingWithTaste

Follow the festival on Twitter: @DWTWineFoodFest

Texas Hill Country Olive Company online: www.texashillcountryoliveco.com

2012 Dripping with Taste Festival Sponsors include: