Mount Ayr, Iowa — The new Pavillion Reception Hall located on  Ramsey Farmsis at Lesanville is open and available for use year round.  The large facility can accommodate any gathering — from an intimate meeting to a large corporate convention. It seats 300 and is one of the finest in the area.

The hall can accommodate corporate banquets, wedding receptions, graduation parties, anniversary parties, community celebrations, family reunions, and much more.  The Ramsey Farms catering team offers quality food served with pride and can cater almost any type of an event.

Make your next event memorable at Ramsey Farms!

Indianola’s Dayton Duncan reveals the first hour of the new PBS series THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA”S BEST IDEA at an event today at Lekber Hall on the campus of Simpson College in Indianola. Screening of clips from this documentary, a Ken Burns film written by Duncan, will take place at 3:00 and 7:00 PM today. A reception with Duncan will be held at the Indianola Public Library from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. The reception costs $25.00 a person and gives you the oppertunity to meet Duncan and have him sign his books. Don’t miss this special advanced screening of one of the most breathtaking films ever. daytonduncanevent@yahoo.com

Hope you can be downtown Des Moines when they Flip the Switch at Holiday Lights Des Moines on Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Brenton Skating Plaza, bringing together the sights and sounds of the season. Admission is FREE!

Holiday Lights Des Moines will feature live performances from musicians and choirs, a horse-drawn carriage, specialty food vendors, face painting, and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus from 4-7 p.m. on the evening after Thanksgiving! At 6:28 p.m. we will light up the night sky as Des Moines mayor Frank Cownie flips the switch on a beautiful lighted tree!

Brenton Skating Plaza will also be open for public skating from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Adult admission to skate is $3.00, admission for children 12 and under is $2.00, and skate rental is $2.50.

Following the lighting, join us for another special community event under the stars at Festival of Trees and Lights at the Polk County Convention Complex. Admission to Festival of Trees and Lights is free from 6:30-8 p.m. on Nov. 28, but goodwill donations will be accepted.

Holiday Lights Des Moines is sponsored by MidAmerican Energy, Operation Downtown, City of Des Moines, Brenton Skating Plaza, Lite 104.1, KIOA 93.3, and produced by Downtown Events Group.

Stop by Brenton Skating Plaza to view the lighted tree throughout the winter season, and enjoy the holiday offerings from downtown businesses, restaurants and retailers.

Come stay in the Garden and Galley B&B in Indianola, a short drive from Des Moines, and enjoy the perfect leaf peeping views and holiday decorations of the South River Valley from the inns walls of windows. Visit them online at:  www.gardenandgalley.com

Don’t miss the chance to step back in time at the Indianola Log Cabin celebration Friday through Sunday, September 19, 20 & 21. A parade through the town led by the log cabin float and the king and queen on Saturday plus many events at the Warren County Historic Museum located on the county fair grounds are among the things to enjoy at this annual event. A flea market, antique show and lots of good, down home food including home made pie and ice cream are great reasons to join in on the fun. If you are looking for a place to stay that has more antiques to see, the Garden and Galley B&B is just the place and it still has rooms available. www.gardenandgalley.com

The Simpson Room at Garden & Galley B&B

The 2008 Iowa Wine Festival is a one-day event held from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008 on the Indianola Town Square with entertainment from Tony Valdez & The Large Band and Big Daddy Blues. Click here for a full schedule of events

This year’s Festival will offer a variety of Iowa grown wines to both sample and buy, as well as, an assortment of art, food and other exhibits as well as the return of Chef John Weiler of Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar!

Tickets for this event $25 in advance and are available at Participating Metro Hy-Vee Food Stores, The Indianola Hy-Vee and The Indianola Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are only available on the day of the festival at the gate for $30 each. Wine Sampling is free. This is a 21 and older event and ID’s will be checked at the door. Please contact the Indianola Chamber of Commerce to order tickets over the phone…

Need lodging? Garden and Galley Bed & Breakfast
This 1950’s Frank Lloyd Wright style home sits on nine rolling acres in town features an apple orchard, peaceful gardens and magnificent country views from practically every window! The Inn has four themed bedrooms with private baths — all rooms have spectacular views of the South River Valley and the picture-perfect Grant Wood countryside. Located just minutes away from three wineries and the City of Des Moines. For more information call (515) 961-7749, or visit Garden and Galley Bed & Breakfast’s website at www.gardenandgalley.com

Don’t miss the 4th Iowa Wine Festival in Indianola Saturday, August 23 from 1:00 - 9:00 around the city square. www.iowawinefestival.org Come enjoy the best of Iowa’s wine right in the ‘Napa Valley’ of the state! Wine, great food, grape stomping, food demonstrations using wine as the key ingredient and great music by Tony Valdez and The Large Band Big Daddy Blues. Be sure to stop at the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper’s SW region booth for delicious wine biscuits and gourmet olives. www.iabedandbreakfast.com Need a place to stay? The Garden and Galley B&B right in Indianola is the perfect pairing with the wine festival! www.gardenandgalley.com

Balloonist from all over the US will be arriving in Indianola this Friday to take part in the annual Balloon Classic — www.balloonclassic.com .  Character balloons, night glow, balloon races, music, art and craft festival, and great food are just of the few things you can enjoy during this colorful ten day event in Indianola. Come see them fly!

There are still rooms available at the Garden and Galley Bed and Breakfast the 29th to the 3rd ~ www.gardenandgalley.com.  Enjoy watching the balloons fly over the inn’s 9 acres while you sip a glass of Iowa wine!

The Adel Sweet Corn Festival will be held in downtown Adel on August 9, 2008. Adel is located approximately 20 miles west of Des Moines on Highway 6 (Hickman Road). The historic Courthouse Square is the focal point of the Festival. Spend Saturday at the Festival and then come and soak in you private whirlpool tub at Timberpine Lodge B & B just 5 miles away.

Main Stage Entertainment
Adel Community Stage and Pavilion at 10th & Main

11:00 - 1:45 pm Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts
2:00 - 3:15 pm Keith West, Magician
3:30 - 4:45 pm Remnant Christian Blues Band
5:00 - midnight Beer Garden - gate charge is $5.00
16 oz beer or Mike’s hard lemonade $3
5:00 - 7:45 pm Exit 113
8:00 - midnight Toaster

We look forward to seeing you there!!

Greg & Cheryl
Innkeepers
Timberpine Lodge B & B

The Des Moines Metro Opera starts a new season next week in Indianola, Iowa with this line up:

A Masked Ball, Regina and The Elixir of Love. This is opera at it’s best, preformed in the intimate Blank Performing Arts Center on the campus of Simpson College. www.desmoinesmetroopera.org

There are still rooms available at the Garden and Galley B&B in Indianola. Opera guests get the works- Summerset wine (www.summerserwine.com) and cheese before and desert after the opera. www.gardenandgalley.com B&B’s and opera are a perfect pairing with a glass of Iowa wine!

Get yourselves to Indianola, Iowa today for the annual Iowa Wine Festival — http://www.iowawinefestival.org/.

The 2008 Iowa Wine Festival is a one-day event held from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008 on the Indianola Town Square.

This year’s festival will offer a variety of Iowa grown wines that you can sample and/or purchase.  Plus there will be an assortment of art, food, and exciting exhibits — which will include the Iowa Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Association!

Come eat, drink and be very merry! Reserve your room early at the Garden & Galley Bed and Breakfast, then, on Sunday you can do a winery tour right here in Warren County. Drive to La Vida Loca and taste their most exotic wines. Then drive over to Summerset Winery to sample some of their award winning wines and listen to a great band. You can even dance if you will feel like “dancing and celebrating” on their beautiful patio. It’s the perfect wine experience weekend!***Mention reading this for a 10% discount on your lodging at the Garden & Galley Bed and Breakfast.