I am heading to beautiful Mendocino County for the Dancing Fools’ Tango Festival at the Weller House Inn . Tonight there’s going to be a milonga with live music by Hombres de Tango and tomorow, lessons with Valeria Carmel & Daniel Rodriguez as well as Santiago Croce and Amy Lincoln. All of this in the amazing redwood ballroom on the top floor of the Weller House Inn.
We are having a book party on Sunday, March 28th at 5 pm. From the crew involved in this event, it can only be great. The hosts of the Inn, Vivien LaMothe and Sonny (Jack) Moore are not only dedicated tangueros, but could not be more gracious. We are having a BBQ, and the Argentinean tango teachers are selecting the meats from Roundman’s Smokehouse, a Fort Bragg destination for meat lovers (I have actually been bribed with their bacon—I wasn’t proud, but happy.) Their motto is “We’ll Smoke Anything.” Ahhh, Mendocino.
Two of California’s top winemakers will be on hand pouring: Van Williamson, head winemaker at Edmeades, is also a tango dancer, and wild boar hunter. (Kind of a Mendocino Renaissance man). And Peter Mathis, head winemaker at Ravenswood has started his own Grenache label, Mathis Grenache, which he will have for us to try. He told me that he chose Grenache because of its versatility with food and because “it tastes like joy”. Perfect for a dance event. The tango teachers will be demonstrating their art, and Gallery Bookstore , a wonderful Indie located in Mendocino will be selling Hold Me Tight and Tango Me Home. It is free. The Pacific Ocean and redwood forests nearby. I am so excited.