Fire and Ice event promises to keep it cool

By KIMBERLY A. WEYANDT

NARROWSBURG, NY — Narrowsburg will welcome the very first “Fire and Ice” event this Saturday, February 19 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Downtown Narrowsburg will be a hot spot as local chefs put their skills to the test in a chili-tasting event; wine and hors d’oeuvres sampling will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and an ice sculpture will be on display on the observation deck. Hosted by the Town of Tusten and sponsored by the Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce and local merchants, local art galleries and stores will remain open.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m., “Narrowsburg Fine Wines and Spirits” will serve hors d’ouvres with a Mexican flavor to accompany the tasting of three different wines. Wines will include one sweet white fruit wine as well as an Italian blend and a sturdy cabernet from California. Samples of Michael Eurey’s Texas style, beanless chili will be available for tasting. A very slow-cooked chili filled with Mexican spices, ground beef, onion and tomato, Eurey makes the same chili he’s made since growing up in Dallas, TX.

At The River Gallery, Jill of “Jill’s Kitchen” will serve her own version of what chili should be. A traditional meat and bean chili, Jill’s chili is zesty and flavorful, with just a little bite. Her chili will be available for purchase as well as for tasting. Also available will be her homemade corn bread and cookies.

Firemen from the Narrowsburg Fire Department will set up shop in the parking lot of the post office. Serving alongside a pumper fire truck will be fireman Stephen Stuart, whose black bean, vegetarian specialty has been described as “pleasantly pleasing to the palate.” Alongside of Stuart will be Tom Wood and his “Five-alarm Special,” a traditional meat-based chili con carne. Wood’s chili is sure to start a few fires. And true to the fireman tradition, fire extinguishers will be available in case anyone overdoes it.

Doing his part to keep it cool, Ice Sculpture artist Mark Crouthamel of Sculptured Ice Works will present Narrowsburg with an ice sculpture of a firetruck that will be on display on the observation deck overlooking the frozen Big Eddy.

And at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance Arts Center from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. will be the opening reception of “Hobbijee,” a show by Honesdale artist Jeff George. George’s exhibit has an inventive feel and will be on view through March 11.

“Hobbijee” followed by the subtitle, “A Two-dimensional Sculpture Park,” is a presentation of beautifully rendered and highly imaginative watercolor and ink paintings based on George’s ideas and designs for three-dimensional objects and inventions.

“For years now, I’ve been filling sketchbook after sketchbook with parts, pieces and ideas for things I thought I should build,” said George.

“In an attempt to bring these rough sketches to a higher level of mental fabrication, I began rendering each idea to a finished state. It is like taking a three-dimensional idea and flattening it down to a two-dimensional work of art,” he said.

George brings to his artwork twenty-five years of experience in the graphic and product design fields, with special focus on magazines, books and games. From 1996 to the present, he has been the creative director and owner of the design company, “Jeff George Design and Salvage Company,” with clients such as Himalayan Institute, Fantasy Factory, RBI Communication and Scholastic Inc as well as numerous others. For many years George was affiliated with Honesdale’s Highlights for Children, where he was an art director for the new products division.

For more information about the gallery call 845/252-7576.

With unique art to inspire your mind and a variety of chili to inspire your palate, the first “Fire and Ice” event in Narrowsburg promises to keep things as hot as they are cool.