The Maxi Dress- The Perfect Fashion Statement!

Barbara from PlumpJackSport at The Carneros Inn gives you a fashion DO!

The summertime phenomenon that is sweeping beaches and resorts everywhere is the maxi dress. These amazing dresses are the answer to many of our prayers. They look chic but require minimal effort. Slip one on and you look instantly stylish. Traditionally made from knit fabric these dresses couldn't be softer or more comfortable. Dress them up or down depending on your choice of footwear. Haviana's for the days by the beach, Mystique sandals for out to dinner. If your legs are not yet tan, you are covered. If you realize you missed a spot while shaving your legs, no problem. If you want to actually eat while you are out at dinner, easy- these dresses are made to flow away from the body.

I am wearing a maxi dress today topped with a distressed denim jacket and later tonight. I will change into sparkly shoes and a lightweight wrap while I attend the wedding of two friends. Perfect dress for day to night!

We've got them in a variety of colors and prints and the celebs love them too! The singer, PINK was in last week and she picked a black maxi from Michelle Jonas. It looked awesome on her, needless to say.

Hop in a taxi and come get your maxi! See you in Napa!

Biking Around the World... and Back to Tahoe

Step up to the bar at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn and you'll have more to talk about than just the cocktails. Bartender Jake from PlumpJack Cafe tells us of his ventures around the globe...

Summer in Tahoe is trying to start. It always comes late and never lasts long. As we count down to the solstice, we’re seeing thunderstorms, even some occasional hail, a shy, sneaky sun, cool days and cold nights, rushing streams and thundering waterfalls carrying away the icy-cold remnants of another winter passed---all signs that spring is still working its course. Fresh, green life sprouts up everywhere. The birds are chirping to celebrate the coming of the warm season. Everything is calm and quiet. Locals explore the trails and watch the snow recede; tourists enjoy nice drives around the lake. Boats begin to appear, white specks out on the azure span. Soon enough we’ll wake up, the summer will explode upon us, and the sun will have free reign of the sky for a few months as we reap the benefits of living in one of the most glorious places in the world.

I joined the Plumpjack Family back in 2005, a perfect addition to my still relatively new life in California. Having always enjoyed great food and wine, I found working behind the bar at the Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn to be a perfect fit for me. During my first two years, I found myself becoming more and more interested in wine, cuisine, cocktail-mixing, and just being a part of a guest’s experience as they passed through our paradisal destination and happened upon our unique and welcoming place. In the winter, I could ski all day and work at night, and in the summer it was time for biking.

Eventually, I found myself planning the trip of a lifetime on a bicycle, a four-man, 15,000+ mile, unsupported charity ride from Alaska to Argentina. The ride would benefit our newly-formed non-profit organization, Biking for a Better World. We received huge support from the Plumpjack crew here in Squaw as we hosted fundraisers in our conference center. Then, in June of 2007, it was time for me to leave my days at Plumpjack and Squaw behind. The overwhelming possibilities of what could happen in a life lived on a bicycle for nine months were daunting. Mentally, I decided to let life beyond the ride work itself out.

Well, luck was on our side, and eight months after departing, we arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina, at “the end of the world,” as they say. The journey was a huge success, both as an athletic accomplishment and as a catalyst to fully fund the building of the school in rural northern Nicaragua, which we had the opportunity to visit as we passed through the small country.

I returned to Plumpjack at the end of last summer after receiving a call about my old position behind the bar being available. I bought a flight and headed back to my home in Squaw, and I haven’t regretted it for a second. I can’t thank Plumpjack enough for supporting the efforts of my charity in so many ways over the years.

I am always happy to mosey down the hill to our spot on the corner under the looming and spectacular tram face, get behind the bar and chat it up with the good folks coming through. So come to Squaw and say hi this summer, enjoy some wine and delicious food, hit the pool for a refreshing dip, and maybe get a good ride on our endless array of trails hugging the hills and dipping through the valleys.

For more info on our charity and our upcoming projects, please visit www.bikingforabetterworld.org.

Take advantage of all that is Lake Tahoe today. Stay two nights at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn and get the third night free. Rates are as low as $129. Visit PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn for all of the details on this deal and more.

And don't miss the One on One Wine Maker Tastings and Dinners at PlumpJack Cafe.

cade Napa Cuvee in Battle of the Vines at Martini House

The cade Napa Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is positioned to push defending champion, Wicker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, off of the By the Glass menu at famed Napa Valley Martini House. What is the Battle of the Vines? Martini House has created this friendly "good ol' fashioned smackdown" to determine which wine continues to be poured by the glass. The wine with the most "unit sales" will continue to be poured and face a new opponent

Get in to Martini House this week and enjoy a glass of cade Napa Cuvee!

CADE Winery is the latest property from PlumpJack. A sister winery to PlumpJack, CADE is an environmentally sensitive winery that is striving to acheive Gold LEED certification. Located on Howell Mountain at 1,800 feet elevation, 21 acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The cuvee is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot. The fruit is sourced from some of the Valley's top vineyards.

The Napa Scene- Boon Fly Cafe and the Cranberry Mojito

A weekend in Wine Country...


My boyfriend and I were on the way back from St. Helena on Saturday morning, headed to a wedding in the city. One thing was certain... we HAD to stop by Boon Fly on the way down. Brunch was calling our name.


We took a seat at the bar and ordered the amazing Eggs Benedict and the Omelet Special. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. A group of friends from San Francisco were at The Carneros Inn for a wedding that evening. They had just finished breakfast, but they were up for Round Two of bartender Jamin's popular Cranberry Mojito.


What happened next was quite the spectacle. The hand-made cocktail was catching on like wild fire across the restaurant. Our friends ordered TEN! Jason headed out to get more mint. We watched Jamin set out glasses, add fresh mint, fresh cranberries and muddle each by hand. Then came the rum and simple syrup.

What next? An order for eight more! Onlookers had seen and heard about the famous Cranberry Mojito and wanted to experience it. At just 1 pm Boon Fly had to retire the specialty beverage for the day. In total I think we saw 20 Cranberry Mojitos made right before our eyes.


But not to worry. When they ran out of cranberries, Jamin started to pour the Boon Fly Dark and Stormy, made with Boon Fly's own Ginger Beer. Just as the Boon Fly and the Balboa Cafe battle over Bloody Mary's, the St. Francis Yacht Club should watch it's back with this Dark and Stormy.



Check out Boon Fly's new weekly specials. It's worth the drive!


Tuesday Night- is Civil Servant Night (Police, Firefighters, Teachers, etc. To show our appreciation for all they do!) They get 30% off our Nightly Prix Fixe three course dinner usually $28, which comes to about $20 for 3 courses!!


Wednesday Night- is Special Burger/Beer Night- Get the special burger of the evening PLUS a beer on draft for $15.

Thursday Night- is free corkage night.


In the news...
Balboa Cafe in the San Francisco Social Diary

PlumpJack Winery and CADE in Washington Wine Blog

PlumpJack and CADE in Arizona

PlumpJack Communications Manager, Michelle, has a tale from her home in the desert...

A few months ago I answered a call from my dad, who lives in my hometown of Phoenix. I was expecting the normal, "How are you? What's going on? What do you need?" type call... but this was quite different. He immediately asked, "Are you coming to Phoenix for the PlumpJack/ CADE Wine Dinner?" I thought... "Ummm, not that I know of." Now if you know my dad, you know he loves wine... and he loves PlumpJack. So of course I was going to come home. A Wine Dinner had been planned at his favorite restaurant, Avanti, owned by his long time friends, Benito and Angelo.

Weeks later we arrived at Avanti to a restaurant filled with wine-lovers and PlumpJack fans. Mattias Stolpe of CMS Marketing and Kevin Smith of Allliance Beverage had put the dinner together, and PlumpJack supporters came from all corners of the state. The CADE Sauvignon Blanc was a huge hit, not to mention the PlumpJack Reserve Cabernet. The pairings were perfect and the crowd was dreaming of days at the winery... not to mention nights at The Carneros Inn.

Put me on the list! I can't wait for the next wine dinner! Perhaps we can do this one in Hawaii?

Spring Shopping for The Imagine Bus Project

Hundreds gathered in Pacific Heights last week for the PlumpJackSport Spring Trunk Show. In support of The Imagine Bus Project, shoppers brought art supplies for this San Francisco not-for-profit and received a discount on their spring attire. Tory Burch apparel was flying off of the rack, along with picnicking totes complete with water-proof lining. "Perfect for watching polo matches during these summer months," mentioned one shopper. JBrand Boyfriend Jeans were also a buzz. Page Sargisson was also in attendance showing her current line of jewelry. Kara James purses were quite the hot topic.

The Imagine Bus Project is an arts education organization that addresses the lack of visual arts programming in kindergarten through 12th grade by providing arts education to underserved children and youth in partnership with local school districts, juvenile detention centers, after school programs and community based youth organizations.

There's still time to score your spring apparel! Stop by PlumpJackSport when you visit The Carneros Inn or PlumpJackSport at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. (Now's the time to visit! Look for great Get Away rates on both websites!)