Warwick's Summer Festival & Sidewalk Sale slated July 23-25

Sidewalk Sale . . . It's almost here. The annual Sidewalk Sale and Summer Festival sponsored by the Warwick Valley Merchants' Guild begins next Friday, July 23 at 10 a.m. and ends Sunday, July 25 at 4 p.m. The event, now a Warwick tradition, is an opportunity for local merchants to reduce inventories and for shoppers to take advantage of the bargains. Participating merchants, restaurants and other vendors will display their food and merchandise along Main and West Streets and on Railroad Ave. Many of the stores also plan to run additional special sales and other promotions. Non-profit and charitable organizations have been invited to participate. The "Walking Gabriel" rock band will provide live musical entertainment on Saturday, June 24, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Village Park Green on Railroad Ave. Melinda Burgard of Melinda's Music will also be on hand to entertain the children. Georgian wine tasting and food sampler . . . If you are somewhat adventurous and you enjoy discovering interesting and different foods and wines, mark your calendar for next Thursday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Because Café SAMAYA, 18 Main St., Warwick, is to the rear of SAMAYA Gifts & Arts, a shop with a distinctive selection of hand crafted jewelry and imported crafts, it may be one of Warwick's best kept secrets. But anyone who has sampled the traditional dishes of the Republic of Georgia in the attractive and cozy café, is bound to return. The extensive menu does come with an English translation. But in any event, owners Lia Sirelson, a native of Georgia, and her husband Victor, founder of Dancing Crane Georgian Dance Theater, will be happy to offer a guided tour of a cuisine rich in soups, stews, meats, chicken and fish served with fresh vegetables, fruits, walnuts, herbs and spices. On Thursday evening, for $20 per person, guests can sample a selection of favorite Georgian dishes including shish kabob, egg plant salad, cheese and kidney bean bread and green beans with walnuts, just to name a few. Lia Sirelson, an accomplished cook, will undoubtedly influence the selection and preparation. To compliment the food, red and white Georgian wines such as Kindzmarauli Ancestry, Mukuzani and Tsinandali will be served. For reservations call 986-9200. And don't worry about the pronunciation. Just listen to the folk music and enjoy the experience of sampling Georgian foods and wines. Anniversary . . . In a relatively short period, Port of Call Home Furnishings and Gallery, 40 Main St., a regular stop for locals and visitors alike, has become an anchor for Warwick's downtown business community. Owners Anthony and Deborah Blomfield recently celebrated the third anniversary of their furniture store, which some describe as just like walking through the pages of the latest home décor magazine, and their popular upstairs art gallery which is a cultural gift to the community. "We constantly hear how surprised people are to discover the variety of items that are available and how often they change," said Deborah Blomfield. "Many people visit our store just to get ideas." The Gallery has also become a must do for school children on field trips doing the "Gallery walk", a phrase coined by Anthony Blomfield. It's also a convenient way for local artists to display their works and become inspired by their peers. And for the average person, visiting the Gallery is an opportunity to see what's new while enjoying the "SoHo" ambiance right in the middle of Warwick. "Although we are a little disappointed at the level of gallery sales," said Anthony, "the gallery has certainly highlighted the wealth of local artistic talent and I think it is generally appreciated by the community." While busy running their store, gallery and frame shop and raising their family; they also find time to support the community. Deborah is on the Board of Directors of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and is the President of the Merchant's Guild. Anthony is actively involved in the arts community and coaches recreational soccer. "We gave up our corporate careers, which required traveling and long hours commuting," said Deborah. "Now we are living our dream of working close to home, enjoying our family and making a contribution to this wonderful community." Queen for a Day . . . Nomination forms for the upcoming "Queen for a Day" selection during "Ladies Night Out" are now available at participating merchants including Newhard's, Pecks Wines & Spirits, Port of Call, The Book Store, The Inkwell, Toy Chest and Style Council. Stay tuned. More on this next week . . .