Blue Plum Festival

The Easter holiday is just around the corner, and while browsing online I ran across something that was SOOO appropriate for the season, AND features PLUMS! The following recipe and images were featured on www.eatingoutloud.com in 2007..and I just had to share!

Rustic Plum Tart

Crust
1 1/4 c. All Purpose Flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. Unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" pieces
3 Tbsp Ice water

Filling
1 1/2 lbs Plums halved, pitted and sliced
6 Tbsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground ginger
1/4 tsp Ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp All purpose flour
2 Tbsp Unsalted butter, melted
1 Egg beaten (to glaze)
1/4 c. Apricot preserves

For Crust: Blend flour, sugar, salt. Add butter and cut into mixture until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 Tbsp of ice water, blend until moist clump forms, add more water by teaspoons if mixture is still dry. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least one (1) hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss plums, 4 Tbsp sugar, ginger, and cinnamon in a bowl. Roll dough on a floured surface into a 12 1/2" ball. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Mix 1 Tbsp sugar and 1Tbsp flour in a small bowl, sprinkle over the dough leaving a 2" plain border.

Arrange plums in concentric circles on the dough leaving a 2" plain border. Drizzle with melted butter. Fold dough border toward center. Brush border with egg glaze, sprinkle with 1 Tbsp sugar.

Bake tart until plums are tender and the crust is golden..about 35-45 minutes. During the last few minutes, warm the apricot preserves on the stovetop. Remove the baked pie and brush the warmed preserves over the top of the plums. Tart must cool at least one (1) hour at room temperature before serving. ENJOY!

Well, now I'm wondering how many of you have cooked with plums? What's your favorite dish? Want to have your "Blue Plum" recipe featured on this blog? Then email it to media@blueplum.org! If I have a few recipe submissions..I'll create an on-going article!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Blue Plum Festival's Media Director

Hi! My name is Brandi Woodall, Media Director for the 2010 Blue Plum Festival held in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee. My function for the BP Festival is simple...promotion! It is my goal to use social media to raise awareness for this FREE art and music festival held annually.

Last year the Blue Plum saw almost 80,000 visitors over the two-day event. THIS year the festival has been extended into Sunday, so we anticipate even more foot traffic! The dates of the festival are June 4-6, 2010 and a full schedule of events and artist line ups will be listed on the main site www.blueplum.org very soon. The headliners are still being lined up!

In an effort to keep the Blue Plum Festival in the spotlight (although we are the largest event held in the Tri!), you can find us in various social media networks including Facebook (over 1200 fans and growing daily), Twitter @blueplumfest, and Spot Social. Unlike other area events, we want to engage with our friends and followers. Because we want our fans and friends to know that we create and execute this event with all of you in mind. Because without the fans, the team of hardworking volunteers, and our sponsors there would be no festival!

Our Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Clements is working on "Plum Up!", our volunteer program that covers most every aspect of this 3 day festival. Want to work in your community??? Then shoot an email to us and let us know you're interested.

OHHH and where else in the area can you reach 80,000 potential clients in one weekend??? Contact David Pennington, the Blue Plum Festival Director. He'll send you over a promotional package with all of the options and opportunities to shine the light on your organization!

In closing, thank you for the follows and friend requests...keep reading, posting, and twittering! And I look forward to bringing you more information about the 2010 Blue Plum Festival as it unfolds!

Brandi Woodall
Blue Plum Media Director

Brandi Woodall is owner of Positive Approach Events & Consulting. The Premier Event Service in the Tri-Cities area. From full service event management to social media marketing, we offer services for every corporate and leisure event.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

First Friday- February 5, 2010

First Friday is once upon us! And February's theme is Mardi Gras! What a list of things to do! So many events...something for everybody!

The King Centre (300 E. Main Street Johnson City, TN 37601) will feature Dilly-Dally the clown for the kiddies! From juggling to balloon animals, the kids are sure to enjoy!

Do you know what a King Cake is??? If not, come and learn all about this traditional cake and find the baby! That's right...find the baby..the winner will receive a prize!

And what is Mardi Gras without music, The King Centre will welcome the Mud Bugs to the lobby at 7:00pm...they are the area's feature New Orleans-Style band

Nelson Fine Art will also be presenting a new exhibit "Art from the Buffalo School", featuring art and design from the students of Milligan College. The reception will be hosted from 7-9pm with the faculty and student artists on-hand to discuss their work.

And a MUST for any Mardi Gras Celebration is beads!!!! So stop in at Beadworks on Main Street to pick yours up! Also, they'll be having live music and instructions on making your own jewelry. AND they are giving away 2 children's bead partys (up to 8 guests at each) during First Friday!

So whatever your fancy, whether it is beads, music, art, or food and drink...you'll find it all in Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee!

Come "Treasure" Our New Exhibit @ The Hands On Museum

Do your kids love treasure hunting? Well if so..then the Hands On Museum in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee should be on your list of things to do in this New Year!

On January 16, 2010 a new exhibit opened and will continue until April 25, 2010. This new exciting exhibit organized by NRG! Exhibits of Washington State has a dozen hands-on activities that allow the visitors to try tools for treasure hunting as well as investigate treasures! Visitors can drive an Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), underwater, crack a safe, learn their weight in gold, and experiment with real metal detectors to locate treasure!

In addition to underwater treasure hunting, the exhibit also teaches visitors to locate treasures in the attic, family heirlooms, and long-lost toys that may have hidden value. Ever heard of "geocaching"? It's a new form of treasure hunting that includes various ways of locating treasure such as; maps, landmarks, compasses and of course....GPS!

"Treasure Hunting has found it's way into popular culture through books and movies. And now, modern "Treasure Hunters" use some really exciting technology in their search for treasure," said Kristine Carter, Marketing Manger for the Hands on Museum. "This exhibit is something the whole family can enjoy together."

Hands On! Regional Museum is located at 315 E. Main Street in downtown Johnson City, Tennessee. The museum offers daily programming and exhibits focused on the arts, sciences, and humanities for all ages. For more information about this exhibit, or the museum, please call (423) 434-HAND or visit www.handsonmuseum.org.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Blue Plum 2008

Just wanted to share a video shot in 2008 at the Blue Plum Festival, courtesy of GoTricities. Jared Bentley takes a stroll through the festival and gives you a bird's eye view of vendors, music, and the experience of what the Blue Plum Festival is all about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOsvOTQqLI

Friday, April 9, 2010

Market Street and Jazz Stage Lineup

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Main Stage Line-Up Announced!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Calling All Cooks!

Thursday, February 18, 2010