Fish Creek Winter Fest is Coming Soon! Be There!

The Fish Creek Winter Fest is just plain fun! You must try it - it's great for kids of all ages and fun for all. Here ar ethe official details, just released:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
From: Paige Funkhouser
Fish Creek Civic Association
Office: (920) 868-2316 or 800-577-1880
Fax: 920-868-9425
Email: manager@fishcreekinfo.com
Web: http://www.fishcreekinfo.com
Cure the winter blues, escape the everyday & come to the 22nd Annual Fish Creek Winter Festival!
Fish Creek, WI, Jan. 2008 — Cure your winter blues, escape the everyday and come to the 22nd annual Fish Creek Winter Festival in Fish Creek, Door County, WI: Feb. 6, 7 & 8, 2009. Come check out the wintery fun and excitement and make sure to wear warm boots!
The Winter Festival will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon with a community bonfire and live music with Julian Hagen and some surprises at Fish Creek Beach. After warming up at the bonfire, check out Hands On Art Studio for a Rock ‘n Roll Art night, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Join the revelers Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for Fish Creek’s zany parade down Main Street (Hwy. 42).
The Door County Sled dogs are new to Winter Festival this year. The eight-dog teams and their owners Bonnie Ulrich and Richard Desotelle will give rides, demonstrations and talk to visitors about the dogs, Sat., Feb. 7 – so make sure to get to Winter Festival early to get a ride!
Fantastic soups and handmade bowls will be available at Peninsula School of Art for visitors to purchase, and help support Feed My People of Door County and the Peninsula School of Art’s Outreach program. Soup is on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Don’t miss the fifth annual Door County Idol! Six talented young singers will entertain the audience as they compete for the Door County Idol crown. Show is Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
Music by Big Mouth will rock Fish Creek Saturday night at Alexander’s Restaurant. Check out the tunes, and don’t forget to buy raffle tickets for your chance at the BIG prizes – a 10 foot kayak and Packer tickets, or package prizes valued at $100 donated by Fish Creek businesses. Raffle tickets are available for purchase at various locations in Fish Creek.
Door County Trolley will offer free rides around town to help visitors get to and from areas of activity. Family-friendly games and activities (listed below) will begin around 11 a.m. and be ongoing until dusk, as will food and drinks. This year, area businesses are collaborating with Door County non-profit groups to share resources and help create a successful family-friendly winter festival.
Schedule for the 2009 Fish Creek Winter Festival:

Friday night:
4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Community campfire – Music with Julian Hagen & some surprises @ Fish Creek Beach
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Rock-N-Roll Art Night @ Hands On Art Studio. Music by Big Mouth Trio. Free pizza, beer available for purchase.
Saturday:
7 a.m.-noon: Great American Pancake Show at the Gibraltar Fire Station on Cty. F. Great tasting, high flying, pancakingly fun! Coffee, juice & milk with your pancakes. $7 donation benefits the Door County Fire Departments.
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Build your own kite @ the Nor Door YMCA. Sponsored by the Fish Creek Kite Co., families can stop in and build their own kites. Kids can fly their kites in the parade too! $4 per kite.
10 a.m.: Winter Festival Parade – come watch the goofy fun as it rambles down Hwy. 42
11 a.m.-4p.m.:
• Kites Over the Bay @ Fish Creek Beach, sponsored by the Fish Creek Kite Co. Check out amazing kites as they fly brilliant colors in the winter sky.
• Concessions: Beer, Food & 2009 Winter Festival memorabilia
• Free Trolley rides around town and to the games
• Dog Sled Rides from Fish Creek Beach. The Door County Sled Dog team will offer rides - $10 for children, $15 for adults.
Family-friendly games & activities:
• Bike Toss @ Edge of Park & the Trillium Shop – Show off your muscles & balance & toss a bike. Tosser with the greatest distance wins!
• Fish Boil Toss – @ White Gull Inn (proceeds go to Girl Scouts) – Aim fish boil ingredients at the pot
• Fish hoops – @ Parkwood Lodge (proceeds go to Peninsula Players Theatre) – Warm up and toss rubber fish at the hoop in the indoor pool
• Ice bowling – @ Hat Head (proceeds go to Nor Door Athletics) – This slippery lane and winter weather will test your bowling skills.
• Kids Fishing Pond – @ Noble Square (proceeds go to Gibraltar Historical Association) – Bring the small fries to Noble square to try their luck at fishing in a small pond
• Kids Treasure Hunt @ Top of the Hill Shops – Kids of all ages are welcome to hunt for candy and prizes
• Kick-a-Fish & Football toss – @ Noble Square (proceeds go to Door County United soccer team) – Test your foot, hand and eye coordination
• Miniature Golf – @ Founders Square (proceeds go to Wellness Center of Door County) – Fish-themed mini golf course. Compete against your friends or strangers for the lowest par
• Prize-in-a-Fish – @ Santa Fe Shop (proceeds go to Family Centers of Door County)
• Snowshoe dance @ J. Jeffrey Taylor Jewelers – Think you have two left feet? Try dancing in snowshoes! Snowshoe Dance contest in the front yard of J. Jeffry Taylor Jewelers.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Winter Wine & Cherry Fest @
Orchard Country Winery & Market; Live
music from 1-4 p.m., winter sleigh rides
all day
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Homemade soups and bowls @
Peninsula School of Art – Buy a bowl, eat some amazing soups & help Feed My People of Door County & the Peninsula School of Art Outreach Program
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Chainsaw wood carving by
Dave Bartels @ HideSide Corner Store
11 a.m.-TBD: 4-on-4 Ice Volleyball Tournament
on the ice. Sponsored by the Northern Door Volleyball Association
12 p.m.-4 p.m.: Goldfish Races – @ Hands On
Art Studio (proceeds go to Door County Humane Society) with a Trolley to Hands On every 15 minutes
1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Pie Tin Toss @ Sweetie Pies in
the Settlement Shops (proceeds go to Sustain Door). Get the pie tin in the mouth of the polar bear and win a whole pie!
2 p.m.: Cherry Pit Spit @ Orchard Country
Winery & Market (proceeds go to Fish Creek Civic Association). Can you spit the pit the farthest?
5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Candlelight Ski @ Peninsula
State Park
7 p.m.: Door County Idol @ Door
Community Auditorium. Six of the
peninsula’s most talented young singers will perform for a panel of judges. Come cheer them on, the audience will vote for the finalist!
9 p.m.: Live Music @ Alexander’s Restaurant with Big Mouth

Sunday:
• Kites Over the Bay @ Fish Creek Beach
• Watch snow take form as carver Jeff Olson sculpts a masterpiece in Clark Park
• 9-11 a.m.: Chili Cook-Off entries accepted. Cook-off sponsored by the Gibraltar Grill. Test your “chili-ability” and bring a crock-pot of your favorite chili recipe to the Old Town Hall.
Top three winners receive cash.
• 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Chili Cook-Off judging
• 12 p.m.: Chili Cook-Off winners announced and bowls of chili available for sale
Raffle drawings after Chili Cook-Off winner announced!

BIG Raffle prizes include:
A 10’ Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 Kayak
Fishing shanty built by Door County Habitat for Humanity
2 Packer tickets

Make sure to check out the Pick-A-Prize raffle for more great prizes to Fish Creek businesses!
For more information, visit the Fish Creek Civic Association website: http://www.fishcreekinfo.com, call (920) 868-2316,or e-mail: manager@fishcreekinfo.com.

How to Combine Guiness With A Cooking Class!

We just received word from the Inn at Kristofer's about this great new cooking class! Yep - read all about it below! This is a super restaurant, and Terri and Chris do an excellent job with the cooking classes as well. If you check them out, please be sure to tell them that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!
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New Guinness Beer Gourmet Dinner and Cooking Class Announced
Friday, March 27 6:00 p.m.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Guinness beer. Join me on Friday, March 27 for a fun filled evening featuring a five course Irish themed dinner and cooking class featuring menu items that use Guinness beer.

The evening begins with a one hour cooking demonstration featuring the recipes being served at the dinner. After dinner, participants will be seated in our main floor dining room and enjoy a terrific Irish themed dinner. The first course of our Irish feast will be delicious oysters with steam cabbage and smoked bacon napped with a Guinness flavored hollandaise sauce. Our salad of organic spring greens will be topped with thinly sliced smoked salmon and steamed asparagus with a mustard vinaigrette. Dinner will be a succulent pork tenderloin which has been marinated in Guinness, garlic, fresh rosemary and a hint of honey. The pork will be grilled and finished with a wild mushroom sauce and Guinness onion rings.

For dessert, we switch to Ireland's other great beverage, Irish Cream. A bittersweet Irish Cream chocolate mousse tower will be served for dessert.

The My Goodness, My Guinness Gourmet Dinner and Cooking Class event is $59 per person and includes the cooking class, dinner, a complimentary champagne beverage, your choice of a selected wine or a bottle of Guinness beer, coffee/tea and tax. Seating is limited so sign up early. For full information on the event, check out our updated special events page:
http://innatkristofers.com/special_events.asp
To register for the class, give us a call at 920-854-9419

Winter Wine & Cherry Fest!

This is a fun event! See below for all the details:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Carrie Viste, co-general manager: info@orchardcountry.com
920.868.3479

Orchard Country Winery & Market
Celebrates
Winter Wine & Cherry Fest

While the snow is falling and the winds are blowing, Orchard Country Winery & Market is celebrating the joys of winter with a wonderful family festival. The Fest will be held on Saturday, February 7th from 11 am - 5 pm and will feature fun activities for the entire family.
One of the county’s original “family farms,” Lautenbach’s Orchard Country is an old world blending of vineyard, wine tasting room, and country market surrounded by one hundred acres of apple and cherry trees. And as the snowflakes swirl, the atmosphere inside Orchard Country’s charming country-style building will be toasty and warm with taste-tempting treats to savor and sample.
The popular Door County Montmorency cherry will be featured throughout the day in celebration of National Cherry Month. From salsa to brats, poppy-seed dressing, or a sip of juice…the ruby red “super fruit” will reign supreme.
Steaming homemade soups, breads and assorted baked goods will fortify every spirit before a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the surrounding winter wonderland. A warming fire, along with hot wines and ciders, will greet chilled cheeks and tingling toes following the countryside tour.
In the past 23 years, award-winning fruit wines have become the hallmark of Orchard Country; its winery currently produces over 30 blends. Complimentary wine tastings will be available throughout the day. An opportunity to paint a wine-glass or wine bottle will provide a “take home memory.”
A highlight of the day’s festivities is Orchard Country’s annual cherry pit spit contest. A favorite of visitors, the contest begins at 2 pm and is open to the young and not so young, with event registration available until 1:45 pm.
Local favorites, musicians Ryan Thompson and special guest Sam Pankratz will perform classic bluegrass tunes from 1 – 4 pm. A wide selection of door prizes will be awarded hourly; the Fest’s Grande Prize is a “Door County Romance” package.
Orchard Country Winery & Market, located at 9197 Highway 42 just south of Fish Creek, is open year round. For additional information call 920.868.3479 or visit www.orchardcountry.com. Seasonal winter hours are Friday through Monday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Reservations for the horse-drawn sleigh rides are recommended and can be confirmed by contacting John Mayberry at 920.421.1152 or visiting www.mayberryscarriages.com

We just sent out this Press Release to the media in and around Door County. We have engaged the services of Leif Lautenbach, a long time friend and talented young man, to help us with DoorCountyNavigator.com sales. The lifeblood of every website is first its users, and we have the best and most loyal users in the world! The second element, is the way the site can generate revenue so that the site continues to develop, prosper and grow in its offerings to our users and grow in effectiveness in delivering the right information at the right time to our large user base. Leif will help us with this,and we are thrilled to have him helping us out. He is a true professional!

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For release: January 19, 2009
Contact: Donna Marie Pocius
Donna Marie Pocius Writing Services
donnamarie@dcwis.com, 920/743-5930

DoorCountyNavigator.com retains Leif Lautenbach as sales associate

DoorCountyNavigator.com, an online guide to traveling the Door Peninsula, has retained Leif Lautenbach as a sales associate.

Lautenbach will be meeting with representatives of hotels, restaurants, retail and others to share the benefits of advertising on DoorCountyNavigator.com Web site.

He has first-hand experience with DoorCountyNavigator.com and did sales for the site in the past before joining Sarkis and Associates, Egg Harbor, where he also works as a sales associate.

“I was one of the original and first advertisers on the ‘Navigator,’ for my family’s business, Cornerstone Suites (Egg Harbor). And we knew right away the value of the ‘Navigator,’” said Lautenbach, who resides in Valmy.

“’Navigator’ is results-driven. It is one of the best investments you can make,” he continued.

He is offering people free in-person consultations and online tours of “Navigator.”
The independently owned “Navigator” site was founded 10 years ago by Daniel Silvestri, a former Microsoft sales/marketing executive. It has significantly grown in unique visitors, time spent on site and more as it attracts travelers and local residents seeking information on Peninsula-wide places to stay, play, eat, shop and purchase real estate. DoorCountyNavigator.com also owns a sister site, DoorCountyDining.com.

The ‘Navigator’ site also profiles natural attractions, recreational activities, people, towns and events. Video tours, a companion blog and travel itineraries are featured, as well. The content is highlighted by independently written reviews, which give Web visitors insights into their travel destination.

Advertisers receive reports on how the “Navigator” drives business to them.
Thousands of dollars are annually invested by ‘Navigator’ in Internet search engines, a wide variety of online advertising, radio and more—to benefit the ‘Navigator’ advertisers and to help drive first-time users to the site, Lautenbach said.

“‘Navigator’ is doing so many new, innovative and promotional things to bring attention to businesses that advertise. Anyone can jump on the bandwagon and hang on to its coattails,“ Lautenbach said. More information is available by calling Lautenbach at 920/493-8845 or by visiting DoorCountyNavigator.com.

Winter Sunset

We caught a nice winter sunset - this picture was taken at Andeson Dock (near the Hardy Gallery) in Ephraim. We'll be releasing a winter sunset video soon - so look for it at yoru local (and international) DoorCountyNavigator.com website!

Dan/DCN

The Challenges of Shooting Video In the Cold, Cold Air!

We had a good week out shooting video around the County. But it was very, very cold! We were bundled up pretty good as you can see, but we have to watch the equipment - which is mechanical and has moving parts - when it gets too cold, it can malfunction. And we have special thin gloves that make it easier to operate a camera in the cold, but sometimes to get the shot you have to take one off! So we were in and out of the vehicle as often as we needed to be. Which was good for the equipment - and good for us too!

Dan/Gus/DCN Crew

Sunset Park - Fish Creek - Frozen Bay

The Bay is frozen all the way out to Chambers Island. We were at Sunset Park a couple of times, and caught this gentleman enjoying the beautiful view.
Dan/DCN

Follow The BLOG and Let the World Know

We just added a new feature on the upper left hand corner of the BLOG called FOLLOW The BLOG. Here you can sign-up to be a follower - and have a public or anonymous profile. So we posted up the footprints in the snow picture as a symbol of "following" or "tracking." OK - corny, but what the heck! This just allows you to show that you are active on the BLOG, and allows others to see your profile. Kinda fun :)

Sign up and let us know you are out there!

Dan/DCN

Breakfast at White Gull

Warming fire in the fireplace, great food and atmosphere - ah it's breakfast at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek. Cherry coffee cake (awesome) and cherry pancakes.

Almost time to head out into the zero degrees! Fun though!
Dan/Gus/DCN crew
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Peninsula State Park - Icy Cold Beauty

We are at Eagle Bluff Lookout Point in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek. 5 degrees now, but the roads, trees and vistas are worth a look here.

We are videoing, so look for this vista in the future on our site.
Dan/Gus/DCN Crew
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fish Creek

We're at Sunset Park right now - coffee in car. Warmed up to 5 degrees already :)

Shooting the snowscapes here then further north. The bay is frozen as far as the eye can see.
Dan/Gus/DCN crew
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Breakfast at Bistro

Eating a great breakfast at The Bistro in Egg Harbor, with a hot cup of coffee - because it is about 1 degree outside!

We'll be heading north to shoot video so if you see us say hi and give us some coffee!
Dan/DCN
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

At John Henrys

In Egg Harbor - getting colder so here's a hot buttered rum. Chicken dumpling soup is next, then a great Philly steak sandwich. 2 is projected high for Tuesday with 15 below wind chill. . . . Ccccold vvvvideo dday!
Dan/DCN
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Greens n Grains

Stopped in at Greens n Grains in Egg Harbor stocking up on healthy stuff!

Stopped at the Door County Lighthouse Inn too in Egg Harbor to chat with the owners, Claire and Frank - great place!

Dan/DCN

Getting colder out! Als
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Cold Day!

Out in Egg Harbor and places north shooting some new winter shots and video - cold day near the water . . . uh ice I mean. :)
Dan and DCN crew
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Happy New Year - January Giveaway Begins!

Happy New Year to all our loyal DoorCountyNavigator.com users! We love having you with us, and you once again made DoorCountyNavigator.com the # 1 independent Door County website in 2008! Let's do it again in 2009!

To kick off the New Year, we just launched our January 2009 Giveaway - the first of the new year! You can win a 2 night stay at Cornerstone Suites - a unique inn, housed in an old-time barn! Awesome place - so come on over right now and enter!

If you are a subscriber to DoorCountyNavigator.com - and receive our emails and Navigator News(tm) newsletter, there is a secret hint in the current email that went out today about how to earn more entries! If you have not signed up yet, you can on our Giveaways/Newsletter page on our site.

Happy New Year everyone!