Taste of Sisters a hit

Fun, food, fantastic music and art were feature fare at the first "Taste of Sisters" last Saturday, from 4 to 7 p.m.

"Something is going on in Sisters," Amber Blanchard, Sage Meadows resident said. "We should have this once a month."

Strollers visited 10 different sites, sampling food from local restaurants, meeting artists and viewing their work.

Gary Tripp, owner of Out West Designs with wife Nancy, said the turnout was, "Fabulous, better than expected with locals and 'Bendites.'"

Julia Rickards, Clearwater Gallery, and Teri Applegate, DonTerra Artworks, were co-coordinators of the event, with planning begun just eight weeks ago.

The event evolved from last year's September Art Stroll with art galleries, restaurants, the Chamber of Commerce and other small businesses working together (see list).

Jan Daggett, owner of The Jewel since 1991, said the event was a great way to build awareness of the quality of art and restaurants in the Sisters area.

One that started last November is Brand 33 at Aspen Lakes Golf Course. Grant Cyrus said the name came from the brand used by his great-great-grandfather in Central Oregon.

"This is great visibility and exposure and it is nice to see familiar faces," Cyrus said.

Four venues featured live music, including a harpist at Navigator News and a band at High Desert Gallery.

The event centered around the pairing of art and food. Galleries and shops that feature art partnered with local restaurants and specialty food providers to give the art event its culinary bent and its "Taste of Sisters" name.

Participants in the event were:

DonTerra Artworks/Pleiades; Clearwater Gallery/Jen's Garden; The Way We Art/Three Creeks Brewing Co.; Cork Cellars/Rachel's Song; High Desert Gallery/Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon; Ghiglieri Gallery/Black Butte Ranch; The Jewel/Brand 33; Navigator News/The Lodge at Suttle Lake; Out West Designs/Sisters Olive and Nut Co.; Sisters Coffee Company/David & Austin Skelton.