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!

Iowa Falls, IA — Make plans to visit this exhibit starting on October 24th. It will be available through November 22. Check out all the special events going on during this special showing.

“Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors is the story of farm families and rural communities facing change. Visitors to the exhibition’s farmhouse, fields, barn, and local gathering spots will explore how political, economic, and cultural roots influence families today, both on and off the farm.”

If you plan to stay overnight, you will enjoy a good night’s rest at the Bed and Breakfast of Cabin Cove along the Iowa River while you are in Iowa Falls. www.cabincove.com

Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Iowa River in the Scenic City Empress on October 16th. Music by Max Hay. This is the last dinner cruise of the season.

To fully enjoy the cruise experience, plan to spend the week-end lodging on the river at the Bed & Breakfast of Cabin Cove.  You’ll be in your own private hide away in a two bedroom cabin along the Iowa River.  It is a nature lover’s paradise, and is handicap accessible.  It has a full kitchen, a cozy fireplace and fun log beds in each bedroom!  Visit Cabin Cove online at: www.bbcabincove.com

Stay Warm & Cozy at Cabin Cove B&B

Spencer, Iowa ~ The Clay County Fair has come a long way since it grew out of a series of homestead era fairs, agricultural society expositions, a state high-wheel-bicycle meet, a trotting association and community barbecues and picnics — held in Spencer in 1871, only five years after pioneer settlers drove their covered wagons from Wisconsin to Spencer Grove. For entertainment this first fair ran races with horses and riders from Sioux Rapids, Peterson and Emmetsburg. Today, the Clay County fair is the largest county fair in the state of Iowa. It has the second largest agricultural exposition in North America. Bringing in over 310,000 visitors a year, the Clay County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the USA.

If you plan to visit the fair this year, you will want to consider lodging at one of these fine northwest Iowa bed and breakfast establishments — and, be sure to visit their booth in the Ag Building’s basement during the run of the fair:

When: June 21, 2009: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price: $29.95 each for adults, includes meal, wine and admission to Sunday Tunes
Where: Summerset Winery in Indianola, IA
What: Delicious BBQ and great music! Your dad will be LOVE his day at the winery, then pamper him at the local B&B: Garden and Galley!

Show how much you really appreciate him by spending a fabulous day enjoying delicious BBQ catered by Shane’s Rib Shack. Check-in to your room at Garden and Galley, then return to the winery for the Sunday Tunes from 3-6 p.m. performed by Tony Valdez & the Retro Rockets.

Buffet style meal includes:
* Shane’s Ribs with assorted sauces (original, spicy and hot)
* Pulled pork
* Chopped brisket
* Baked beans
* Potato salad
* Coleslaw
* Buns
* Fresh baked peach and apple cobblers
* Chocolate brownies
* Assorted cookies
* Ice tea
* Sweet tea
* Lemonade
* Glass of Summerset wine or sparkling juice

Reservations required for BBQ, call 515-961-3545 .

Father’s Day Lodging
Just minutes from the The Garden and Galley B&B will have your room ready and waiting to celebrate Father’s Day up right. Room rates begin at $90 per night. Select your room or check for availability by clicking here or call 515-961-7749.

*Pictured to the left is Garden and Galley’s Simpson Room.

Spencer, Iowa ~ The Clay County Fair has from an initial series of homestead era fairs and agricultural society expositions held in Spencer in 1871 into the largest county fair in the state of Iowa.  It has the second largest agricultural exposition in North America and attracts over 310,000 visitors a year.  Accord to Fair Association reports, the Clay County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the USA.

If you plan to visit the fair this year, you will want to consider lodging at one of these fine northwest Iowa bed and breakfast establishments — click here for a regional listing. and, be sure to visit their booth in the Ag Building’s basement during the run of the fair.

The Clay County Fair is filled with fun, excitement and lots of family activities.  Here is an example of one of the free performances from the 2008 venue:  Counsin Grumpy’s Singing Pig

ST. ANSGAR, IA —The Blue Belle Inn Bed and Breakfast and Tea House in St. Ansgar, Iowa, will sponsor a dinner theater production Friday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and performance are $29.95 and are available by calling the Blue Belle Inn at (877) 713-3113 toll-free.

“Mistress of Ceremonies” is a rip-roaring canteen extravaganza that features five glamorous film stars on stage singing vintage classics from the 40s. They’re entertaining the troops in London during the worst air attacks of the war. The only thing that doesn’t “bomb” is the performance. This star-spangled hit enjoyed long runs in New York and London.

Stebens Children Theatre has choreographed a fast-paced production from a script whose broad character based comedy and World War II period songs designed to keep the audience jumping. The musical revue has traveled through the northern Iowa area since November 2008 and will continue to be available through June 30. This musical production will fit on most stages or gym floors and can entertain at fundraisers, schools, churches, business meetings and community celebrations.

Blue Belle Inn
Telephone: 641-713-3113
www.bluebelleinn.com

Arts on Grand in Spencer will host a book fair on Sunday, December 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. A number of local authors will be on hand to sign their books. Books inscribed by the author make wonderful gifts.

Author Amelia Painter will be on hand to sign copies of her popular book Opening and Operating a Bed and Breakfast in the 21st Century  and take orders for her upcoming books Discover Iowa: Cooking with Iowa Wines, Meats and other Iowa Products and Discover Oahu: A Pictorial Guide to a Tropical Island Paradise.  Amelia Painter and Mary Nichols compiled Discover Iowa: A Culinary Journey Through Iowa and it will be available for sale.

Also on hand will be Alan Oppedal of Ruthven, author of The Inevitable Triumph, the story of a northwest Iowa community; Jim Oleson of Milford, who wrote In Their Own Words: True Stories and Adventures of the American Fighting Ace; Helen Augustine of Emmetsburg, who wrote They Opened the Door and Let My Future In about the country school teachers of Palo Alto County; and Julie Schmidt, author of Conflagration: The Great Spencer Fire of 1931. Other books of reminiscence are also available, including My Grandma Always Told Me … by Patricia Phipps and Snapshots: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl by Verna Hanson.

Among the books available will be the recently published Walking Beans Wasn’t Something You Did With Your Dog, stories of growing up in and around the small towns of the Midwest. Compiled by Jean Tennant of Everly, the book includes stories by members of Arts on Grand’s writers group, several of whom will be on hand to sign copies. Hartley artist and writer Katie Thompson will be present for the event. She is the author (using the pen name Kate Iola) of Deadstock, a novel that deals with agricultural terrorism in northwest Iowa.

Arts on Grand has a number of books with whimsical illustrations for young children, including A Mutt Wutter’s Tale and The Muttwutter in a Storm at the Zoo by Marjorie Ilich, illustrated by Mark Ilich, as well as a series books of animal books by Ina Faye Underwood with illustrations by P. K. Streets. Amy J. Maurer will be at Arts on Grand to autograph her book, A Purple Hippopotamus and Pink Penguin Sheets, which was illustrated by Rachael Smith with a cover design by Gina Bailey. Marjorie Roelofsen of Spirit Lake will also be on hand to autograph her children’s book, Sam.

Arts on Grand
408 N. Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA 51301
Phone (712) 262-4307
Fax (712) 264-0430

The 46th Madrigal Dinners will be held in the Simpson College Great Hall Saturday Nov. 22nd and Sunday the 23rd. Enter to harpsichord music played by the famous Dr. Robert Larson, founder and artistic director of the Des Moines Metro Opera Co. Feast to a menu of medallions of stuffed beef, hot wassail,lentil soup, scones,vegetables. sausage stuffed apples , English pudding with lemon sauce and tea. Than revel to around 50 songs and carols performed by the Simpson College Madrigal Singers. Step back in time and enjoy all this for just $50.00. What a wonderful way to get in the Christmas spirit. Consider a stay at the Garden and Galley B&B , just a 2 mile drive from the Simpson College Campus. Hot drinks served by the fire place to keep you warm! www.gardenandgalley.com

Okoboji Bed and Breakfast News:

Join the ladies at The Wash House and get in a festive mood at their annual Holiday Open House. The Wash House gift shop invites you to their 30th annual Holiday Open House Friday and Saturday December 5th and 6th. 

The Wash House first opened their doors in July 1978 in the renovated old wash house on Earl and Donna Muilenburg’s family farm near Hartley, IA.  There has been many changes over the last 30 years, one being a location change to the Iowa Great Lakes area.  The final relocation came in 1998 when the 1908 Milford Hospital was moved and remodeled into three floors of the gift shop and the delightful Annabelle’s Tea Room added to the business.  The gift shop has kept the unique look through the many changes over the years, and features one of a kind florals designed in house as well as home decor.  Each display in the store gives suggestions for customers to use in their own homes or for gift giving. 

Also featured at the Holiday Open House on Saturday December 6th from 2-4pm, will be local writer Amelia Painter showcasing and signing copies of her latest book, “Discover Iowa: Cooking with Iowa Wines, Meats and other Iowa Products”.  This new cookbook takes readers on a culinary journey across every region in Iowa.  Also featured in the new cookbook is The Wash House owner Donna Muilenburg, who now has added innkeeper to her job title with the opening of the Okoboji Country Inn  in the spring of 2008. The bed and breakfast is a historic 1870’s farmhouse and is located on the property adjacent to the gift shop.  Donna included several recipes to this new cookbook and many were favorites of Annabelle’s Tea Room luncheon guests over the years.  She will be serving some samples of her recipes during the Holiday Open House and you won’t want to miss out. 

More information about The Wash House (1712 Terrace Park Blvd, West Okoboji, IA) can be found at http://www.okobojicountryinn.com or call (712) 332-2358.