The kayaks are coming...

THE KAYAKS ARE COMING, THE KAYAKS ARE COMING!

"GCKR" IS FINE IN 2009"

It's 2009 and the kayaks are coming again! Jump in a kayak, dance at the concert or volunteer for The Great Castell Kayak Race June 6th, 2009 to raise money to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and ("gicker") GCKR .This is the seventh year of the race and it has become a Hill Country tradition. The Llano River is Texas' cleanest and wildest river, flowing through some of the most historic portions of central Texas. Organizers distribute bags donated by LCRA for trash clean up for all (so those who decide to mosey down the river can do a good deed). Even though this is a "race" many folks participate to help with the cause and for a nice family day. Many serious boaters do the GCKR race to practice for the Texas Safari later in the month of June.

The race begins at the 87 river bridge over the lovely Llano River on Saturday June 6th, 2009, at 8 AM and The Llano river RV Park hosts the put in. Pre-registration fee is $40and includes t-shirt, bandana, snacks, free live music concert starring the Dust Devils and much more. Raffle for gift baskets $5 per ticket!

There is a free music concert all day at Riversounds at the finish line featuring Texas Songwriters in the Round, Daniel Link, the Dust Devils and more. The race founder, Jerialice, is a musician and wanted to provide some live original Texas music at this event as an addition to the fun aspects of the fundraiser. There will be opportunities for folks to donate at the music concert which begins at 11 AM at the finish line. The music is being generously supported by "KFAN FM Texas Rebel Radio" and Mitchell Planning Group LLC to help raise as much money as possible.

This year KXAN/CW of Austin Texas is a major media sponsor and will help spread the word all over central Texas. Organizers are appreciative to have so much support from all the media of their region.The Race is proud to announce Scott & White and Llano Memorial Health Care System, two regional medical facilities that are very involved in community efforts and the fight against cancer, as new underwriters.

The race has a new 501-c3 foundation, GCKR, in Castell where the race ends every year from it's starting point in Mason County. The first five years the beneficiary of the 12 mile race rotated until Jerialice Arsenault, founder and Director, lost her sister Judith Curtis to cancer in 2007. After that, she and her surviving sister, Janice Ramalho agreed to try to help others.

The hope of the Race is to raise awareness of needs in the rural areas and to bring together the elements for healing. GCKR will focus on writing grants in place of the yearly auction. 100% of all donations will go to the foundation in lieu of the auction. In years past, the auction raised the majority of the funds, so some changes will be happening over the next year as the board members paddle down new waters!

The pre-registration fee is $40 - forms on web site - www.castelltexas.com. Day of Registration at the park is $45. Call 512-217-4596 for race info! Llano River RV Park can be contacted at 866-640-9696.

Cloud Nine Facial at Salon Infusion

CLOUD NINE
LUXURY FACIAL



90 Minutes of the Ultimate in Skin Care Pampering…




Revitalize your skin with deep pore cleansing, pore

extractions, customized masque and moisturizers,

therapeutic paraffin for hands and feet

$80 ($110 value)

Add one of these:

Tropical Mango Peel—High in acids and

Astaxanthin, which has been shown to greatly

enhance the immune system while reducing acute

inflammation of the skin and tissue….A wonderful

Anti-Oxidant peel

Zesty Orange Peel—from the Florida Sunshine State—orange is renowned for its vitamin C fiber,

folate, potassium, Vitamin A + Vitamin B1. This gentle, anti-aging, peel

contains the zest and is loaded with D-Limonene

$25 ($55 value)

For more information, call 830-816-5354 or visit our website.

Roots Music Concert - Bluegrass

WHAT

The Pioneer Museum brings world-class bluegrass music to a hometown setting for the season’s first Roots Music Concert

WHEN

Saturday, May 16, 2009. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the music running from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

WHERE

The Pioneer Museum is located at 325 West Main Street in Fredericksburg, with concert entrance on Milam Street.

WHO

Lost Pines play traditional bluegrass

The Onion Creek Crawdaddies follow with their beergrass sound

The Waybacks play newgrass

WHAT ELSE

Beer, wine, soft drinks and meal available for purchase

Grilled ribeye, thick-cut bourbon glazed smoked pork chops, or stuffed chicken breast

Includes a mix of green beans with new potatoes, black-eyed peas, rolls and butter, with blueberry cobbler for dessert, all for $8.50

HOW MUCH

Admission is $10. Students high school age and younger are free. Parking is free.

WHY

Roots Music is a series of live, open-air eclectic concerts on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum on Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas. Concerts feature both emerging and established artists in an informal, family setting. The 2009 series continues on June 27 - Rock 'n Roll; July 25 - Blues/R&B; August 29 - Western Swing; and September 26 - Cajun/Zydeco.

Net proceeds support the mission of the Gillespie County Historical Society. For information call 830-997-2835.

PHOTO

The Onion Creek Crawdaddies (pictured), Lost Pines, and the Waybacks bring bluegrass back to the Pioneer Museum for this season’s first Roots Music concert on Saturday, May 16, 2009. The music runs from 6 to 10 p.m., and the Longhorn Cafe will be grilling ribeye steaks for the meal.

CONTACT

Gillespie County Historical Society

312 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg TX 78624

830-997-2835 - FAX 830-997-3891

Visit the Inn's Website

Travel Channel/TexMex/Bluegrass - at historic Gruene Hall

EVENT: Travel Channel to visit Gruene!

DATE: Friday, May 8, 2009

DETAILS: Plans are underway for the filming of a pilot series celebrating "honky tonks and joints" to air on the Travel Channel this Fall and into next Spring. They will be featuring Gruene Hall as one of the three pilot shows they are filming. They will include a food segment featuring the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, but will also highlight the entire culture of the Gruene area, including shopping and river activities. Mickey Raphael will host.

TEXMEX COLLIDES WITH BLUEGRASS @ HISTORIC GRUENE HALL Gruene Hall presents a raucous mix of TexMex and Bluegrass music during the afternoon of Fri. May 8 with the VATO VALLEY BOYS, featuring Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson's harmonica player), Flaco Jimenez & Augie Meyers (from the original Texas Tornados) and Dan Crary (Bluegrass guitar legend). The Vato Boys and their band are in historic Gruene, TX to rev up the party with their unique blend of Hillbilly and Cholo culture, mixing 5-string banjo and accordion, while filming a documentary series on historic dancehalls and honkytonks for television. The legendary Gruene Hall represents an essential artistic link from the present to the past, and is a venue where many of the Vato Valley Boys have performed over the past 35 years. Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is the oldest continually running dance hall in Texas, and the Central Texas birthplace to many great songwriters and musicians that include George Strait, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Texas Tornados and many more. The colorful puro-party jam starts at 3:30pm on May 8 when the Vato Valley Boys hit the stage with a raucous collision of TexMex and Bluegrass music reminiscent of the spirit of Gruene Hall in the 1970s. VATO VALLEY BOYS - featuring Mickey Raphael, Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers & Dan Crary Fri, May 8, 2009 3:30pm. start Public is invited No cover charge

Riven Rock Ranch Sunset Dinner

The theme of May’s spring dinner is a mixed heritage sort of thing, a little French, a little Italian and a little American. Kind of like a lot of us, I guess. The menu sounds yummy and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the evening. If the weather continues to be as lovely as it is today you may want to come early and enjoy wine on the patio. For additional information, click here.

Sunset Dinner—May 5^th 2009

$49.95 ea. plus tax & gratuity

Reservations from 5:30 ‘til 8:00

Call: 830.995.4045

Appetizers

Cornmeal Blini Bites

Sweet corn blini cakes sautéed until golden brown in olive oil

Topped with fresh ricotta cheese, red & white grapes & honey

Antipasto Sausage Skewers

Simple yet elegant skewers comprised of grilled Italian sausage, roasted red bell pepper, quartered artichoke heart, marinated sun dried tomato & a fresh basil leaf Served on a mirror of balsamic & extra virgin olive oil

Salad/Soup

Accompanied with rosemary, pine nut & English white cheddar corn muffins

With whipped sweet cream butter

Vichyssoise

A light cream based soup blended with roasted leeks,

Yukon gold potatoes & chicken stock

Served chilled & garnished with fresh snipped chives

Strawberry & Organic Baby Spinach Salad

A wonderfully light salad of sliced strawberries & organic baby spinach leaves tossed in a lavender honey & red wine vinaigrette

Topped with crumbled goat cheese & toasted almonds

Entrees

Rack of Lamb

Sweet curry dry rubbed rack of lamb served pan seared & topped with crème fraîche

Accompanied with a warm tangerine fennel salad & crew cut carrots

Pork Chop

Pan seared center cut pork chop with a honey mascarpone sauce

Served with roasted fingerling potatoes & crew cut carrots

Salmon

Grilled fresh salmon topped with a sweet corn coulis

Accompanied with a warm sweet corn & asparagus salad & crew cut carrots

Desserts

Panna Cotta

A traditional Italian custard served chilled on a chocolate sauce mirror

Topped with fresh berries

Lemon Thyme Bars

A spin on a classic, these sweet & savory pastries are topped with

Grand mariner soaked strawberries & fresh whipped cream

Bon Appetite!

Mother's Day at Canyon of the Eagles

This Mother's Day, show how much mom means to you with an amazing family getaway to Canyon of the Eagles! Take advantage of our exclusive Mother's Day lodging rates, enjoy fun-filled activities and treat mom to a mouthwatering brunch.

Can't get away for Mother's Day weekend? Come stay with us the weekend before and enjoy our unbeatable rates for the night of Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Lodge Single - 89.00/night | Lodge Double – 99.00/night | Cottage Double – 109.00/night

Mother's Day Savings

Reserve our special "Mommy Rate" for this special occasion! Save on your Mother's Day escape with these incredible deals:

• Cottage-Style Rooms – 119.00/night
• Lodge Lake View Rooms (1 or 2 queen beds) – 109.00/night
• Lodge Courtyard View Rooms (1 or 2 queen beds) – 99.00/night

Mother's Day Brunch
Give mom a break and treat her to a delicious Mother's Day Brunch brimming with all your traditional favorites.

• Sunday, May 10, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Adults – 32.95 | Children 4-12 – 18.95
• Learn more.

Mother's Day Memories
Canyon of the Eagles is a scenic, nature-inspired destination, the perfect place for families to relax, recharge and reconnect.

• Explore endless acres of breathtaking Texas Hill Country.
• Don't miss our exciting Mother's Day activities for guests of all ages.
• Pamper mom with one of our indulgent on-site facial and skin care treatments by Rouchelle. View details. Make your appointment by calling 512-585-8460.

For group discounts (10 + rooms) call Annette Norman at 830-980-4014 or email Annette@canyonoftheeagles.com

For more information on our lodge or packages, please call us at
(800) 977-0081 or visit us online http://www.canyonoftheeagles.com