Hearty Boys Visit Woodstock

Chicago’s very own Food Network stars, caterers, restaurateurs, authors and genuinely nice guys, Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh highlighted the Woodstock Fine Arts Association's Creative Living Series Thursday at the Woodstock Opera House. And what a hit they were!

Calling themselves The Hearty Boys, Dan and Steve got their food start in an eight by eight foot Chicago kitchen that was so small they could stand in the middle and touch the stove, fridge, and the collapsible counter top they had rigged to the wall behind the back door. Four hundred twenty-three guests listened to The Hearty Boys talk of their journey, stopping to highlight events and share laughs with the group.

Neither Steve nor Dan went to culinary school or studied the hospitality industry in college. Starting out as actors in New York, Dan and Steve ventured into the food industry to help pay the bills, moved to Chicago, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Once in Chicago their lives became busier and busier. In one eight week period during the summer of 2005, Steve and Dan beat out 10,000 entrants to become The Next Food Network Stars where they launched their own show, Party Line with The Hearty Boys, opened their first restaurant called HB, and then adopted their newborn son, Nate.

The Hearty Boys Cookbook, Talk with Your Mouth Full, was released in September of 2008, and the restaurant and catering businesses have continued to flourish. A perfect gift for the holidays, the book is available through their HB Restaurant or here. Steve and Dan even treated the crowd to home-made brownies that melted in one's mouth, and provided the recipe, which will be on their web site tomorrow. Thank you Hearty Boys for making this visit memorable. You were fabulous!

Photo attribution: Somewhatforty Plus

Gary Vaynerchuk -- Wine in Woodstock

Wine guru Gary Vaynerchuk made it to Woodstock, IL a few weeks ago for a benefit to support the Woodstock Fine Arts Association. He was great! From the moment his feet hit the ground he was kind, generous and amazingly energetic. He talks wine because he really knows wine and can, from the top of his head, quote stats on all things wine, including the percent of people who drink a particular wine, how much of it was sold, etc. You get the idea. His kind heart and inspirational attitude left those in the audience inspired for several days. Gary was quoted in two local newspapers and his visit will "live on" for quite some time. Word on the street is he hopes to return to Woodstock next year for an all day event. Go Gary!

Woodstock native son Frank Gruber flew in from DC to introduce Gary on the stage of the beautiful Woodstock Opera House. This was one quick trip, lasting only 16 hours from airplane to airplane, with a wicked two hours of sleep. Frank and Gary were able to chat, enjoy dinner at Pirro's Italian Restaurante on Main Street in Woodstock, visit Arlene Lynes at the Reading Between the Lynes Bookstore, and enjoy the beautiful Woodstock Opera House. Check out this interesting video on the short visit to Woodstock. We loved you Gary and you are welcome at my house anytime you're in town!

Photo attribution: somewhatfrank

Gary Vaynerchuk Tickets Available Online

Tickets are now available online for the upcoming special performance of Gary Vaynerchuk, appearing at the Woodstock Opera House on Saturday, September 20, 2008 previously discussed here. Gary's appearance is a benefit for the Creative Living After Dark Series of the Woodstock Fine Arts Association. Gary will be introduced by good friend and Woodstock native son, Frank Gruber of somewhatfrank and TECH cocktail. To purchase your ticket to the event, which includes a wine and cheese party with Gary and Frank, click here.

Tickets are only $50 -- which includes the wine and cheese party -- and the event begins at 8:00 p.m. on the historic Opera House stage. Only 400 tickets are available and an evening with Gary V. is work a lot more then that! Get yours asap while good seats are available. You can also call the Opera House Box Office at 815-338-5300 to order tickets. I bought my tickets last week so I'll see you there!
Photo attribution: somewhatfrank

Gary Vaynerchuk -- Wine Guru Appearing Soon

Gary Vaynerchuk, author of 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to Your World, and star of WineLibraryTV.com, will appear at the Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock, Illinois, on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Ever the kind and knowledgeable guy, Gary will talk about wines, tasting and testing wines, as well as the human experience at 8:00 p.m. on the historic Opera House stage where Paul Newman and Orson Welles got their starts.

The fun with Gary will continue after the show with a wine and cheese party, book signing and all around good time. Those who know Gary will be sure to get tickets so as not to miss this benefit event to support the Woodstock Fine Arts Association, a not-for-profit community arts council. Flying in from Las Vegas, Gary will be introduced by social media expert and friend flying in from DC, Frank Gruber of somewhatfrank and TECH cocktail.

Tickets just went on sale, but will sell fast for this extraordinary event. Get yours from the Opera House box office today at 815-338-5300 or buy it at www.woodstockoperahouse.com when online sales are available. Tickets are $50 and include the wine and cheese party after the show. Will this be fun? Is a blue bird blue? Save the date and plan your party!
Photoattribution: garyvaynerchuk