Rain or shine this annual festival has got something for everyone young or old! It's all about the "Salmon"! Watch them swim up stream, watch them at the hatchery, and take in all that is salmon. But there's more, there's live music, arts & crafts, rides, food and all kinds of fun for everyone!

Since I was a little girl growing up on Lake Sammamish, my parents took us to this great festival to watch the majestic salmon at the hatchery and fish ladder -

it was exciting seeing them make their way up and through to the other side to freedom! And now it's time again as another season takes course!

The Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, present by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, is the annual celebration of returning salmon to the lakes, streams and downtown hatchery with a weekend of non-stop FREE activities.

Attracting more than 150,000 visitor's in two days, the Festival includes a Grande Parade, a marketplace of more than 250 artists, Foods of the "Whirled", the "Field of Fun" and four (4) stages of live entertainment. This fun annual community celebration has been around for 39 years!

For more information, please visit: "Salmon Day's"

I've been going to this grand event for the last three year's and it just keeps getting better and it's all for such a great cause too! It benefit's the YMCA and it is bringing families the much needed assistance they need in these trying times and you can help by participating in this event!

A unique silent auction and culinary extravaganza, Chefs' Fest has created sell-out excitement for the past four years. Chefs' Fest features a selection of gourmet tastes created by leading Northwest chefs, winemakers and epicurean artisans, as well as an array of fine auction items for silent bidding. Chefs' Fest generates critical support and awareness for YWCA programs serving more than 3,600 low-income and homeless families on the Eastside each year. For more information and a list of participating chefs and wineries, view the 2008 Chefs' Fest Fact Sheet.

For more information, please visit: "Chefs' Fest"

October is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" and the Palomino restaurant in Bellevue will be donating $1.00 for every Cosmopolitan cocktail and alcohol-free Rasberry Mojito Breeze in the month of October 2008 to our local Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate!

The Palomino Restaurant is located at:

610 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone:425.455.7600

Please visit there website at: "Palomino"

Side note: Parking is free in the Lincoln center parking garage - and if you go down to the 5th floor and go up to the lobby of the Westin hotel, the restaurant is located just around the corner.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Fun news for one of our own fantastic musicians!!! We Eastsider's are blessed in more ways then one, and so are you if you've ever heard the mesmerizing electric violin music of a man that has paid his dues in the music world and has, "been there done that", Mr. Geoffrey Castle

I've been going to Geoffrey's shows for years now, and I am always pleasantly pleased and excited to see that he is always so great as per usual! And just lately he's had some very exciting and fun things happening in his career.

He just played at the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" benefit concert! You also might of noticed a new "Taco Time" commercial in where there is a jaded Violinist? Well yes, that's Geoffrey! Here's the scoop directly from Geoffrey Castle himself:

"First of all, I have to say, one of the weirdest experiences one can have is seeing oneself on TV. I had that experience last night. I got cast in a Taco Time commercial, and it was lots of fun--hanging out with Pat Cashman and Ned the Cactus--but suddenly, there it was, my commercial, during the MTV Fashion Rocks awards ceremony…crazy man, crazy…. Keep your eyes peeled for a jaded strolling violinist in a tuxedo!

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfVS7oj3jUc

I've been doing recording sessions for TV and film spots for years, but usually in the studio as part of the relatively anonymous backing tracks. Some of the things I've done are "Do the Puyallup" for the Puyallup fair, "Let's work together" for Schucks, movie soundtracks for "The Gift" for Paramount Pictures, Wooly Boys with Peter Fonda and Kris Kristopherson, and dozens more - everything from political ads for candidates in Wyoming to public service announcements for the Washington State Highway commission... So when the director of the Taco Time spot was looking for a violinist - they needed someone who could both act AND play for the spot to work - he asked one of the guys that I've done sessions for in the past and I got recommended. The director came down to one of my Monday shows at the Wilde Rover, and the rest is history. I may never live this one down.

My recent trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame benefit concert in Raleigh North Carolina happened when my friends Alan White and Bernt Bodal asked me to be a part of an All-Star Band that they were putting together specially for this concert. The band was composed of some amazing players from both coasts. The Seattle contingent was comprised of myself, Alan White, Bernt Bodal, and Randy Hansen. The East Coast All-Stars included Eric Bazilian (Leader of the Hooters, wrote "What if God was one of us"), Tommy Williams (amazing guitarist, played with Debbie Gibson in the 80's), and Tom Bowes on vocals (lead singer of Tower of Power for 8 years). It was an incredible gig. There's footage all over YouTube right now, and when I get the official DVD from the concert I'll try to get it put up on my web site. The two day concert at the Koka Booth Ampitheatre outside of Raleigh, featured some names like Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, Jefferson Starship, Jack Bruce (Cream) and folks from Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple, Blue Oyster Cult and more. Crazy. I just heard that we've been invited back to do it again next year. I can't wait.

Right on Geoffrey! - We will look forward to more exciting news from you!!

You can see Geoffrey play at of few of our great Eastside venues like Wilde Rover & Hector's (while it lasts) in Kirkland and at the Cypress Lounge in Bellevue inside the Westin hotel.

For more information on his gigs, please visit: "Geoffrey Castle"

This time of year is very exciting in the wine business and what's fun is that Washington is really becoming quite the mecca for cool wine events, wineries and winemakers!

Here's a few of the wine events coming up that you really should check out:

The Herbfarm out in Woodinville starting September 25th thru 28th - "You're the Winner" for the exciting themed event called: "IRON SOMMELIER"! Here's the skinny: They pit their talented sommeliers against each other in this battle of the wine titans. Who will conjure up the cleverest and best wine and food matches for our end-of-summer menu? Vote for your favorites and they'll tally the winner in the entertaining and tasty wine-inspired September dinner menu. Clothing optional for non-drinkers. LOL

Then this coming weekend September 26th to 28th is a major weekend for wine events and "PengWine" warehouse will be starting it off with one party after the other! Starting on Friday (a little one with music by the talented David Head ) and then the big blowout is on Saturday and Sunday with wonderful Chilean wines, food and entertainment by the beautiful jazz singer "Cheri Seymore"!

On October 8th at 6:00 PM experience the marriage of food and wine at the Daniel's Broiler Educational Winemaker's Dinner Series Event with DeLille Cellars! Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue is proud to invite you and your guests to an evening with DeLille Cellars.

Joining them from the Winery will be Head Winemaker Chris Upchurch. They will begin the evening with some passed hors d'oeuvres and an aperatif until Chris offers us a small education on the power of Red Mountain. Shortly thereafter we will have the call to the table where you will be delighted by the talents of Chef Peter Kelly.

Price: $95.00 per person, plus tax and service - To secure your reservation request, please e-mail your name, phone number and number of people in your party to the Daniel's Broiler Wine Director at vintagelounge@schwartzbros.com. The Wine Director will then call you to confirm availability. Please note: your credit card will be charged upon making the reservation and no shows will be charged. Only the first 16 confirmed reservations can be admitted into this private event.

Time: 6:00pm - Welcome, light hors d'oeuvres, seminar - 7:00pm - Dinner
Location: Vintage Lounge, Daniel's Broiler, Bellevue

Saturday October 11th, 2008 12:00pm - 4:00pm "Celebrate the Reds" - A Salute to the Pleasures of Autumn in the Northwest. Annual fundraiser to benefit the Arboretum Foundation. Ciscoe Morris the Northwest's own nationally acclaimed

gardening guru presents "Gourmet Plants to Whet Your Fall and Winter Appetite".

They'll have food from RACHA Thai restaurant, Wine Tasting from 12:00 to 4:00pm with these fine wineries: Cedergreen Cellars, Chandler Reach Vineyards, Chatter Creek Winery, Di Stefano Winery, Mercer Estates, Otis Kenyon Wine, Ross Andrew Winery, Thurston Wolfe Winery, Yellow Hawk Cellar. Tickets for wine tasting priced: 3 tastes for $10.00 or 8 tastes for $20.00. Music & Chocolate too!

Free admission and complimentary valet parking.

Also on October 11th, 2008 out at "Challenger Ridge" it's the "Harvest & Crush Party", featuring "The Troy Fair Band" from 11am-4pm (music noon to 4pm)

Join them for a day of family fun with the crushing of grapes with your bare feet, live music, barrel tasting, wine tasting, Jet Boat Rides, Bocce Ball, Horshoes, BBQ, Pumpkin Bowling.

They will also be having a Harvest Dinner that evening. Tickets go on sale September 15th. Reserve your spot since there is limited seating. Please visit, "Challenger Ridge" or call: Rachel for ticket purchase at 425-422-6988.