Driving Miss Daisy

If you are in College Station this weekend, you should not only stay at the Rudder Jessup B&B, but you should also look into attending the play Driving Miss Daisy. Put on by the Stage Center Community Theatre, this play is described on Stage Center's website as:

Driving Miss Daisy affectionately covers the 25-year relationship between a wealthy, strong-willed Southern matron and her equally indomitable Black chauffeur, Hoke. Both employer and employee are outsiders, Hoke because of the color of his skin, Miss Daisy because she is Jewish in a WASP-dominated society. At the same time, Hoke cannot fathom Miss Daisy's cloistered inability to grasp the social changes that are sweeping the South in the 1960s. Nor can Miss Daisy understand why Hoke's "people" are so indignant. It is only when Hoke is retired and Miss Daisy is confined to a home for the elderly that the two fully realize that they've been friends and kindred spirits all along.

This play sounds like an entertaining time, and not only will you be getting entertained but you will be supporting the local arts in the process! For lodging visit the Rudder Jessup website and for ticket information visit here.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Texas Reds Festival-Not Just Steak and Grapes

So, as it turns out, many of you are missing out on a great opportunity to stay here at the Rudder Jessup B&B during the Texas Reds Festival. Which means you are missing out on fabulous gourmet breakfasts here and delicious steak and wine at the festival. You can fix this problem though by making a reservation ASAP on our website!

And if steak and grapes aren’t enough to entice you to come into town on the weekend of October 7-9, then you need to hear about some great musicians and artists taking the stage so you can be informed about the entertainment you can enjoy in between filling your stomach.

MUSIC:

Four-time Grammy Award nominee Joe Nichols will be the entertainment headliner on the main stage for the Texas Reds Festival on Saturday night. Nichols has released eight albums and those albums have produced fourteen Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One singles "Brokenheartsville," "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" and "Gimmie That Girl" as well as five other Top Ten entries.

From the start, Nichols established himself as a solid neo-traditionalist who could balance message songs with aching ballads and breezy, playful tunes that evoke a sly smile. Joe Nichols has an impressive baritone and subtle way in which he can express wisdom and humor as well as pain and pleasure. Nichols has secured his spot as a rock-solid traditionalist who can master lighthearted swing, blue ballads and message songs. Nichols always sounds convincingly real and believable. Like forebears George Strait and Alan Jackson, Nichols manages to forge a variety of earthy, bedrock country styles into a distinctive sound all his own, all the while sounding as laid-back and natural as the friendly guy next door—OK, make that the extraordinarily charismatic, good-looking guy next door.

He has not only drawn the praise of critics and fans of old-school country music, but he gathered a wide array of fans across the board who love his authenticity and genuine talent. As a result, Nichols has already received four Grammy Award nominations and we are so excited to hear him live in our very own Bryan, Texas in just a few short weeks!

For a full music  schedule, click the music  link.

In addition to the festival, the weekend of October 7-9 is also First Friday First Friday in downtown Bryan, and many shops and local artists will be catering to the many visitors that are roaming the streets. For a full list of attractions click here.

For the sporter vistor, this festival of food and fun has some fitness and fore  for you! A Cancer Benefit 5K Fun Run and Charity Golf Tournament are taking place in conjunction with the festival, and we would hate for you to miss out!

Also, feel free to bring your children! There is a Kid Zone with all sorts of fun activities for your kids to enjoy. Plus book  the Rudder Suite or the Genealogy Room and your whole family can easily come!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Texas Reds Festival-Steak and Grapes

Texas Reds Festival?  What are reds and why is there a festival for them? Well, Texas reds are steak and grapes, and Texas does them so well that Bryan, TX decided in 2007 to start celebrating them yearly as a way to bring in tourism, music, arts, and food to our Historic Downtown. And we at the Rudder Jessup B&B really want you to experience this delicious festival with us.

STEAK:

Texas is stereotyped as being full of horses and cattle, and as Texans we sometimes actually fit in that cowboy mold. And few things make us prouder to fit that mold than a good Texas steak. Featuring only the finest Angus rib-eye steaks provided by Bryan’s own Ruffino Meats and Food Service, the Texas Reds Festival is expected to sell hundreds of juicy steaks this year.

Steaks will be served:

Friday Night from 6-9pm and Saturday from Noon until 9pm.

Discounted tickets are now available online!

GRAPES:

Some of you may not know this, but Texas has quite a few wineries, and the Texas Reds Festival will feature more than 20 of these wineries. The Festival Committee has selected these wineries based on awards received, selection available, and pricing.Click on Grapes above to see the exquisite list!

Messina Hof Brunch:

Sunday, 10:30am

Cooking Party with the Chef-- Brunch Style

Please visit the website for menu and reservation information.

Grape Stomp:

One of the festival's most popular actitivies, The Grape Stomp, is located in front of the historic Carnegie Library. The activities kick off at 11am with a local celebrity Stomp Off. The contest for public teams begins at Noon and ends at 6pm. The Grand Champion Stomp Off is at 6:30pm with awards announced at 7pm.

To find out how to participate, check out the website.

Winery Shuttle:

Free shuttle to visit Messina Hof Winery from Texas Reds Festival includes free winery tour & tasting.

Shuttle Times & Dates:

Friday 5:30-8:30pm ,Saturday 12:00-8:30pm

Winery Tour Times:

Friday – 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, Saturday – 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm

Wine Tasting:

Friday – 11:00am to 8:00pm, Saturday – 10:00am to 8:00pm

So if any of this sounds good to you, go ahead and book a room at the Rudder Jessup! We would love to have you!

Texas A&M 2011=2012 Football Season

On November 20, 2010 , I was a part of the largest crowd (90,079 fans) Kyle Field has ever seen at the Texas A&M vs. Nebraska game. 

That day I experienced the overwhelming power the 12th Man can have, just as I do at every A&M football game, and Nebraska once again was reminded why Kyle Field is known as one of the nation's most intimidating road venues.

Tradition thrives at A&M and no where more vibrantly than on the gridiron. Home to the Aggie football team since the mid-1920s, Kyle Field is a tough place to beat the Aggies as evidenced by their overall 174-148-19 record on the field. While I was growing up and being taught the Aggies ways in the 1990s, everyone the Aggies played was being taught those ways as well. Boasting a 55-4-1 (92.5 winning percentage) record during that decade, the Aggies put together two of the longest home winning streaks in school history. Winning 31 straight games from 1990 to 1995, the Aggies hold the fifth-longest streak by an NCAA Division 1-A school since World War II. Then from 1996 to 2000, the Aggies won 22 straight  games at Kyle Field.

I, as are all good Aggies, am praying for another one of those record season this year, and with a sister who is going to be a student at Baylor in the fall, I will be yelling especially loud at that game. If you are a good Ag, or an Aggie parent, or just want to experience the best college football venue in the country, book a room at Rudder Jessup B&B or through Aggie B&B Finder . The Rudder Jessup and a few other B&Bs are within walking distance to Kyle Field, which will save you money and the hassle of parking on campus. Plus from 115 Lee you can hear the Aggie Band playing on Game Day mornings.

Here is the football schedule so all of you can be informed when booking rooms:

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time / Result
09/04/11	vs. SMU	College Station	6:30 p.m. CT
09/17/11	vs. Idaho	College Station	6:00 p.m. CT
09/24/11	vs. Oklahoma State	College Station	6:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11	vs. Arkansas (Southwest Classic)	Arlington, Texas	TBA
10/08/11	at Texas Tech	Lubbock, Texas	TBA
10/15/11	vs. Baylor	College Station	2:30 p.m. CT
10/22/11	at Iowa State	Ames, Iowa	TBA
10/29/11	vs. Missouri	College Station	2:30 p.m. CT
11/05/11	at Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	TBA
11/12/11	at Kansas State	Manhattan, Kansas	TBA
11/19/11	vs. Kansas	College Station	2:30 p.m. CT
11/24/11	vs. Texas (State Farm Lonestar Showdown)	College Station	7:00 p.m. CT

Now go and brush up on your Aggie Yells!

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

If you are looking for something fun to do tonight close to the Rudder Jessup B&B, and you aren’t into rodeo, I suggest you check out The Theatre Company’s first summer show, A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum. 

 

Please read the description as found on The Theatre Company’s website:

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251–183 BC), specifically Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus and Mostellaria, it tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from the line that vaudeville comedians often used to begin a story: "A funny thing happened on the way to the theater". The musical's original 1962 Broadway run won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book. A Funny Thing has enjoyed several Broadway and West End revivals and was made into a successful film starring the original lead of the play, Zero Mostel. It is a popular choice for school and community theatre.

Extras!
Cast List
The Current Show Season 

Performances are July 15-17, 2011. See the Theatre Company’s website for tickets!

Excuse me while I dance around to my Broadway Stars station on Pandora... 

And don't forget our New Student Conference Special!

40th Annual Bryan Breakfast Lion's Club PRCA Rodeo.

Being raised as a proper Texan, I have been to many rodeos in my life, so needless to say I was pretty excited to hear that we are having a rodeo in our very own Bryan, Texas, this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Held just 15 minutes from Rudder Jessup at the Brazos County Expo, this event is being hosted by the Bryan Breakfast Lions Club for the 40th year! A PRCA event, this rodeo is sure to entertain. With all the best rodeo events: roping, barrel racing, bronc riding, and my favorite bull-riding, this rodeo will be a fun time for those who love and follow rodeo to those who have never been to a rodeo before. This rodeo also has stuff for the kids including: a petting zoo and pony rides for kids, plus a kids calf scramble, and for the kid at heart, the ever entertaining rodeo clowns. In addition there will be performances by the World Famous Catalena Cowgirls each night.


Get your tickets in advance at Atkinson Toyota, Catalena Hatters, Cavenders Boot City, Producers Cooperative, and The Eagle. Adult tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the gate, and kids tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate.  So come book a room here at the B&B and then go out and experience a real taste of Texas Thursday, July 14, 2011 - Saturday, July 16, 2011 at the Brazos County Expo!


I’m off to go polish my cowgirl boots...

I Love America

It is about time to celebrate our country’s independence! So on July 4th, if you are in College Station, head to 13th annual College Station Noon Lions Club’s “I Love America” Celebration right around the corner from the Rudder Jessup B&B at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. 


From 9:30am to 8:30pm the museum will be open with FREE admission for everyone all day. Historical characters will be mingling with the crowd to pose for photographs and answer questions about their distinguished careers. Bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets, and arrive early!

Live entertainment will include singer Kathy Ross and Jason Adams as Elvis. There will also be a performance by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra , presented by H-E-B.



Schedule of Events:
7 a.m.: Fourth of July 4K Fun Run, Veterans Park and Athletic Complex (Free event for serious runners, families; strollers welcome, no bikes)

9:30 a.m. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum opens (Free admission all day)

4:30 p.m. Barbara Bush Drive closes; free shuttles begin to museum from West Campus Parking Garage and Reed Arena; handicap parking in Lot 41

5 p.m. Concession stands open and entertainment begins outside the Bush Library and Museum;
-All tickets are $1 each, tickets for concessions are required and can be purchased on-site;
-Concessions include snow cones, ice cream from Schwan's, Slovacek Sausage, beverages from Bryan Coca Cola, free watermelon and more;
-Entertainment includes historical characters and inflatable games;
-Picnics, coolers and lawn chairs are welcome, but please no glass containers or pets

5:30 p.m. Live performance by Kathy Ross

6:00 p.m. Presentation of Colors, national anthem, and F-16 flyover

6:30 p.m. Live performance by Kathy Ross

7:45 p.m. Live performance by Jason Adams as Elvis

8:30 p.m. Bush Library and Museum closes

8:45 p.m. National Anthem

8:50 p.m. Live performance by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, presented by H-E-B.

9:45 p.m. Laser light show by Nu-Salt Laser Light Shows International begins. Watch a demo video here.



According to the press release: All times and events are subject to change and are weather dependent. Please NO PETS or GLASS CONTAINERS.

Links:
Information about free parking and shuttles

Master of Ceremonies for the event is K.O. of 104.7 The Mix

Event partners:
College Station Noon Lions Club
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Texas A&M University
the City of College Station
104.7 The Mix.


Event sponsors:
Arts Council of the Brazos Valley
Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra
City of Bryan
KAMU
Astin/Winkler Charitable Trusts
Texas Commercial Waste
RDM

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Off to go stock up on some hot dogs to celebrate the 4th...

And remember about our New Student Conference Special!