Downtown Warwick merchants will host second annual Winter Blues weekend on March 5-6

WARWICK - Last year’s “Winter Blues Weekend,” an event designed to fill in the gap between Home for the Holidays and Springfest, was a huge success. And so the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and its Merchant Guild are hosting the second annual “Winter Blues Weekend,” on Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6. The “Blues” in the title refers not only to getting rid of any seasonal depression at this time of year but also to the music visitors will enjoy throughout the weekend. The event, which is sponsored this year by Warwick ShopRite, will feature “Blues” music by Larrama and Uncle Shoehorn and The OC Blues Express. And, in a departure from last year to accommodate more visitors, these bands will perform under a tent in the Railroad Green Village Park. Other merchants and restaurants will also offer special events, entertainment and more “Blues” music. And there are sales and promotional events. Visitors, as an example, are invited to celebrate National Nutrition Month with sponsor Warwick ShopRite’s Retail Dietician Melanie Dwornik. And there’s a blue pottery sale at The Eclectic Eye. Next door, everyone is encouraged to sample blueberry and chicken Cordon Bleu crepes at La Petite Cuisine or a special blue martini at Grappa Ristorante. Forever Jewelers will feature a blue topaz sale and you may beat the winter bulge and win a pair of Spanx at Style Counsel or visit “Blue,” next door and win a pair of NYDJ Jeans. Peck’s Wines and Spirits is also offering “Winter Blues,” wine tasting. This year Pennings Farm Market will be hosting “Uncle Shoehorn,” blues band on Saturday evening from 8 p.m. to midnight. That same night you can also drop in at Yesterdays from 9 p.m. on to enjoy the “blues” music of Bobby Messano. Country Chevrolet, Corwin Florist, Newhards, Frazzleberries, Etched in Time, Toy Chest, Mima’s, The Red Shutters, Eddie’s Roadhouse, Jean Claude’s Patisserie, Fabulocity, Track 7, Vastu and others are also gearing up to make this a special and enjoyable weekend for anyone visiting downtown Warwick. “Once again we are all so lucky to be part of this vibrant, bustling town and village,” said Winter Blues Weekend Chair Tim Mullally. “This vitality is all in part because of all of our efforts to grow our own businesses as well as our involvement in our community as a whole. Our Chamber and Merchant Guild is responsible for conceiving and successfully launching several yearly events like Applefest, Springfest, Sidewalk Sale and Ladies Night Out that continue to put Warwick on the map and bring thousands of customers and thousands of dollars into our village. The annual “Winter Blues Weekend” is now an exciting part of our fantastic line up of events for 2011.” For more information about the “Winter Blues Weekend,” call Tim Mullally at 986-9588.