Savor the Flavors of Napa Valley

The distinctive bouquet of wine has hovered over Northern California's Napa Valley since the mid-1800s, when settlers discovered that the area's Mediterranean climate and rolling hills were ideal for growing grapes.  Local vintners made the leap from commercial to premium wine productions in the 1960s.  In 1976, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley beat many fine French labels in a blind tasting in Paris, putting Napa Valley firmly on the map as a destination for serious lovers of wine.

The fabulous flavors of the valley are not limited to wine - Napa is also prized as a fine dinning destination.  Local chefs use fresh produce and seafood, rich artisanal cheeses, free-range meats and locally produced olive oil to create dishes that complement Napa's wines.

This year, the food and wine experiences of Napa Valley will be showcased in a new event, Flavor! Napa Valley, to be held November 17-20.  The weekend's events will include tastings with wine experts; culinary demonstrations by accomplished chefs; a dinner with local vintners and sommeliers; and a Sunday lunch where growers will introduce guests to the tastiest and freshest local foods.

Most events will take place at the valley's Silverado Resort and Spa and the Culinary Institute of America.  Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund at the institute.

While fall is harvest season and the wineries are in full production mode, Napa Valley is ready to welcome visitors all year long.  Summer is the busiest season, when visitors enjoy sunny skies and warm-to-hot weather tempered by breezes from the Pacific Ocean.  Spring is quieter and very lovely as the countryside comes into bloom.  Winter can be rainy, but the valley is still beautiful and a perfect location for a quiet sojourn - and some serious wine tasting.

Experience Napa so you can enjoy the excellent food and wine.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to Open in August

Washington D.C's newest monument, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, will be dedicated on August 28, the 48th anniversary of the historic March on Washington and Dr. King's stirring "I Have a Dream" speech in support of civil rights and peace for all.

Located on the Tidal Basin, the King Memorial joins other famous sites along the National Mall.  It is designed to convey four fundamental themes of King's life and work - democracy, justice, hope and love - through natural elements such as water, trees and stone.

For example, a 450-foot stone wall in engraved with more than a dozen of King's most eloquent quotes to remind current and future generations of his humanitarian vision.  in the middle of the memorial, the striking "Stone of Hope" features a 30-foot sculpture of King.  The seasonal changes of the memorials majestic trees - including oak, cherry, pine and magnolia - reflect King's belief in the positive power of change via non-violent means.  Small streams of water combine into a larger cascade that will bring to mind the cadence and thundering conclusions of King's sermons and speeches.

The King Memorial joins many wonderful attractions on the National Mall, from the U.S. Capitol to the Smithsonian Castle, the National Archives, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and memorials to the Vietnam and Korean Wars.  A walk up Pennsylvania Avenue will take you to the White House - with perhaps a brief detour to learn about espionage at the International Spy Museum.

If you would like to attend the official opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on August 28, the dedication ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m.  While all tickets for seated and reserved standing areas have already been distributed through a lottery system, there will be public standing areas that do not require tickets.  After the official dedication, the King Memorial will be open to visitors for generations to come.