LAAL announces Art of Cooking with First Tailgate Cook-off Classic

Center, Texas – August 15, 2009 – The Lakes Area Arts League announces an open call for participation in the first Tailgate Cook-off Classic Art of Cooking to be held Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the LAAL Art Center parking lot located at 305 Nacogdoches Street, one block from the historic downtown square.

The cooking competition is open to anyone age 18 and above. A non-refundable entry fee of $25.00 secures the tailgate space. Team space is limited and advance registration is required by Saturday, October 3, 2009. Teams will be allowed to begin space set-up at 9:00 a.m. Food and space judging will begin at 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Teams will have the opportunity to compete in both the Tailgate Food category preparing food items on-the-spot and the Tailgate Space category creating a tailgate atmosphere within designated space by decorating with a theme of the team’s choice.

Advance event tickets are $10.00 per person to attend the 2009 Tailgate Cook-off Classic and will be available for purchase through Friday, October 16, 2009 at Austin Street Marketplace, 114 Austin Street (936.598.6244); Mill Creek Gallery, 130 Nacogdoches Street (936.598.6137) and Attoyac River Gallery, 111 Shelbyville Street (936.590.9968), downtown Center square. A total of 150 tickets will be sold; no tickets will be sold on event day.

Ticket holders will be allowed into the event beginning at 4:00 p.m. for the competition Food Sampling and can vote for their favorite Tailgate Food and Tailgate Space.

Awards will be presented to First Place $750 and trophy; Second Place $350 and ribbon; and Third Place $250 and ribbon in the Tailgate Food category. The Tailgate Space category awards include First Place $400 and trophy; Second Place $300 and ribbon; and Third Place $200 and ribbon. The Public’s Favorite Top Awards for each Tailgate Food and Tailgate Space will be recognized with trophies. One Grand Champion Tailgate Team will also be presented with $1,000 cash prize and trophy. The awards presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. after the final judging and public voting.

Homegrown and Homemade will be providing musical entertainment beginning at 4:00 p.m. Homegrown and Homemade is a music series highlighting local Shelby County guitar-pickers and songwriters. Spanning many different styles, ages and musical influences, five musicians showcase local talent including Colby Miller, Thomas Morrison, Tim Hopkins, Grant Harris and Danny Paul Windham. The musicians will share the stage and highlight a handful of songs that were hand-written in and about Shelby County. For additional about Homegrown and Homemade, contact Thomas Morrison via email at homegrownandhomemade@gmail.com or visit the website www.myspace.com/homegrownandhomemade to check out samples of the songs by the group.

To obtain an entry package or additional information, please either email your request to laal@ndemand.com or contact LAAL Special Events Karen Thompson, 936.590.0070, Carolyn Lamb, 936.598.2421 or Andi Foster 936.590.0298.

The Lakes Area Arts League is a non-profit organization established to promote interest and knowledge of all areas of the visual and performing fine arts through education and appreciation while enhancing the culture and tourism of the community and surrounding areas.

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