Fall 2013 Schedule:
Specialty Dining, Workshops & Bus Tours

This page lists our Fall 2013 event schedule starting with Specialty Dining, followed by our Workshops and Bus Tours section. Scroll down to see all of the wonderful offerings on tap for our Fall 2013 season. To register for an event, click here now!

All events (except bus tours) are held on the grounds of Southern Exposure. Space is limited, so we strongly encourage you to register online. Click here to register. We look forward to seeing you soon at Southern Exposure!

Prices for Specialty Dining events include all food, valet parking, 18% gratuity and tax. A full service cash bar is available for your enjoyment. Make your reservations today!

SE-100, Fri., Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m., $60
THE MOUNT VERNON: Setting a place for tradition!
Bring your appetite, drop a napkin on your lap, and prepare to be delighted by favorites recalled from eighteenth- century Virginia. Register now!

• Zesty Corn-Crab Chowder
• Colonial Caesar Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
• Roasted Cornish Game Hen with Orange-Teriyaki Sauce
• Couscous with Currents and Pine Nuts
• Pineapple-Glazed Acorn Squash
• Hoe Cakes
• George’s Cherry Pie, à la Mode
• Glass of wine selected by our Sommelier

SE-200, Fri., Sept. 20, 6:30 p.m., $70
A TASTE OF PARIS: Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, Seine River...
Close your eyes, and let your imagination flow. Feel the splendor of Paris…surrounded by romance and passion. Come join the Southern Exposure staff in creating a night of simplicity, romance, and passion while dining in the majesty of an illuminated table setting. Paris turns to magic when night falls and so will your evening turn magic when you dine with us. Register now!

• Herb Tomato Bisque
• Tuscan Salad with Olives, Salad Greens, and Cannellini Beans
• Grilled Roma Tomato with Pesto     
• Beef Tenderloin served with Red Wine and Mushroom Sauce
• Gratin Potatoes
• Fresh Peas with Pearl Onions and Mushrooms
• Chocolate Mousse Pie with Raspberry Sauce
• Glass of wine selected by our Sommelier

SE-300, Fri., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m., $70
STARRY, STARRY NIGHT:  A moment in the twilight!
In October, the world looks as though a master gilder has touched every leaf with a delicate brush. Come gather with us and dine under the lantern of the Harvest Moon!  Weather permitting, we will be dining under our large white canopy or nested under candlelight in one of our historic dining rooms. Register now!

• Gruyere Cheese, Onion, and Bacon Tart
• Autumn Orchard Salad
• Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce
• Roasted Stuffed Pepper with Goat Cheese
• Herbed Mashed Potatoes with Chives
• Chef Elsie’s Crème Brûlée
• Glass of wine selected by our Sommelier

SE-400, Fri., Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m., $70
THE CHARLESTON: Time and time again!
Delicious, charming, and wonderfully engaging. Are we describing an evening
in Charleston or the experience of dining at Southern Exposure?  Join us tonight, and you be the judge. Register now!

• Old Charleston Style Potato-Leek Soup
• Baby Spinach, Apples, and Cheddar Cheese Salad
• Grilled Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Sauce
• Baby Beets with Caraway Seed
• Southern’s Sweet Potato Gratin
• Southern Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce, à la Mode
• Glass of wine selected by our Sommelier

SE-500, Sat., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m., $75
THE CAMELOT: Romantically inspired!
It’s that moment when the world becomes still, and the most pressing thing you have to do is nothing. Abundance begins with a setting where conversation is plentiful, and bounty is measured by hours spent with loved ones. Come fill your moments to overflowing. Register now!

• Black Bean Soup with Sour Cream and Cilantro
• Romaine and Endive Salad with Tangy Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
• Roast Prime Rib Au Poivre
• Orange-Dilled Carrots
• Mashed Potatoes with Herbs and Parmesan
• Chocolate Pecan Supreme Pie with Caramel Sauce
• Glass of wine selected by our Sommelier

Fall 2013 Workshops & Bus Tours

Prices include all supplies (if applicable), a beverage, dessert and tax. Some workshops include
a full meal; please read the descriptions below for more details. Make your reservations today!

SE-01, Thurs., Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m., $70
MAGICAL LIGHTED SPHERE with CANDLELIT DINNER: Bask in the glow!
The grandest garden decor often has the simplistic elegance of nature herself, like this intrically-woven, rusted Barbed Wire Ball all-aglow with glittering white lights. Hang it from a tree limb, light up an entryway, or place it in a garden as the delightful centerpiece. These illuminated, rustic spheres are popular in European Gardens all year round. Using your splendid yet rustic sphere, you will attach white lights to illuminate your garden display throughout the year. Upon your arrival for this perfect evening, you will enjoy a scrumptious, candlelit dinner prepared by Chef Elsie. Register now!

SE-02, Fri., Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m., $75
DINING IN THE DARK: This is one blackout experience you’ll never forget!
Dining in the dark has become the latest trend in culinary dining experiences. From Los Angeles to New York, diners now have the option of eating their meals while wearing blindfolds in an intimate and completely darkened dining area. Scott and Curtis experienced such an event in New York City and so enjoyed their awakening of flavor, taste, sound, and touch that they wanted to share this experience with you. The evening will be a five course dining experience with wine pairing with two of the courses. This unique culinary experience will raise awareness of those who have reduced sight or vision while expanding your sense of smell, touch, and taste. Register now!

SE-03, Thurs., Sept. 12, 6:30 p.m., $70
FAUX BOIS ANGEL PLANTER and EUROPEAN DINNER: 
You don’t need to be told when something’s a classic!
While traveling abroad and touring an assortment of private Parisian gardens, we stumbled across a wonderful technique called Faux Bois. The Faux Bois statuary added an “old world” appearance to the gardens we visited. Most pieces today are handcrafted and will fit into any garden theme, inside or out. Weather staining, moss, and lichen gently age Faux Bois and settle the statue  into your landscape. The term, which literally means false wood, is used to finish statuary to make it appear like ancient wood. In this workshop, you will replicate this technique using a fourteen-inch concrete angel planter statuary from an early twentieth century mold. To initiate this amazing workshop, Chef Elsie will prepare a grandiose, tasty European dinner. Register now!

SE-04, Sun., Sept. 15, 1:00 p.m., $65
TIMELESS TOPIARY: Treat you senses to the sight, smell, and taste!
Topiary is the centuries-old art of training plants or trees to grow in creative shapes. Bring the essence of the Mediterranean Countryside to your garden, patio, or home with this twenty-four inch rosemary topiary tree grown in an aged terracotta pot. As a symbol of remembrance and an emblem of fidelity, a rosemary topiary makes a wonderful gift to bless loved ones - for weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. Treat your senses to the sight, smell, and taste of this special herbal topiary tree. For lunch, you will enjoy Chef Elsie’s rosemary inspired entrée. Register now!

SE-05, Thurs., Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m., $55
CONCRETE LEAF BEAUTIES with DAIQUIRIS and DINNER:
A garden accent that achieves rare grace!
Concrete leaf impressions are a great way to add an inspirational touch to your garden as a water-catcher or inside your home as a decorative accent. Scott has placed large botanical leaves into a mixture of reinforced concrete and allowed it to cure. You will enjoy one of Chef Elsie’s astounding dinners and sip on Curtis’s Strawberry Daiquiris. After dinner, we will guide you through the process of decorating and staining your own personalized concrete leaf to take home. These leaf impressions are stunning for your garden’s thirsty visitors or used as a centerpiece to hold your favorite potpourri. Register now!

SE-06, Sun., Sept. 22, 1:00 p.m., $70
A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LAVENDER: The essence of a prized herb! 
There is documented use of the herb Lavender for over 2,500 years. Egyptians used lavender as perfumes…the Romans used it as oils in their baths…and it’s also mentioned in the Bible. Spend an afternoon at Southern Exposure learning the history of this incredible herb. Upon your arrival, Chef Elsie will prepare a Lavender inspired luncheon using old English recipes. Afterwards, each guest will prune and trim a Lavender Topiary and infuse lavender to make Lavender Soap using techniques learned while visiting a lavender farm on a recent French vacation. Register now!

SE-07, Fri., Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m., $60
SOUP'S ON: Get ready to be bowled over!
It's time to warm up with some hearty soups. When the weather gets blustery and gloomy, there are few foods as comforting as soup. Whether it’s a simple ode to one of the beautiful vegetables of the season or something heartier, Chef Elsie's soups will be a welcome addition to your fall and winter menus. Celebrate the arrival of the autumn season with soups from tomato bisque to baked squash soups, from the hearty lentil sausage to the black bean soups, and more….all enjoyed at different locations throughout the farm!  Nothing says comfort more than a big bowl of homemade soup, unless it is enjoyed with a delicious glass of Curtis's  favorite wine. Register now!

SE-08, Thurs., Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., $75
URN OF PLENTY AND FALL BOUNTY: Showcase a sunset-hued medley of fall!
Bring on the brisk!  Now is the perfect time for this elegant arrangement inspired by the onset of cooler weather. We intend to create some drama near your front door with this bold and lively urn display. Using a thirteen-inch concrete urn, you will create an energetic arrangement using autumn botanicals with striking, bold fall colors. We are going for a loose and natural arrangement with a combination of fall botanicals and fruit grown here at the farm. Come enjoy our fall bounty feast and a delicious glass of wine before you create your “urn” masterpiece. Register now!

SE-09, Fri., Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., $75
HOLLYWOOD COCKTAIL FESTIVITY: Take a trip back in time!
The glamour of the cocktail will come to life in this celebration of some of Hollywood’s greatest movie stars and the libations that made them famous. Enjoy an evening strolling down memory lane as we recreate authentic drink recipes, fresh classics, and modern spirits sure to reinvigorate playful conversations and an air of relaxation. Each cocktail demonstrated will be sampled and then paired perfectly with Chef Elsie’s scrumptious cuisine. Come ready to eat, drink, and toast the fall months ahead. You are encouraged to come dressed as your favorite movie star. This evening will emulate what Bette Davis once said while holding a very dry martini, “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” Bottoms Up! Register now

SE-10, Sun., Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m., $65   
ROSES AND BITTERSWEET ARRANGEMENT WITH BOUNTIFUL FEAST: Romancing the past! 
Use a tin Verdigris window box, pink roses, and the alluring twist of bittersweet…and you have the ultimate in a polished, modern fall arrangement. The garden-weathered window box with a scalloped top provides a sleek base for your masterpiece. Pink roses have a rich history that comes with being one of the longest existing roses known to modern-day botanist – in fact, pink roses are depicted in some of the earliest known pieces of art. Bittersweet, one of the world’s best-known symbols for fall, is well known as “truth” in the language of flowers. Its integral weave surrounded by the pink roses is both striking and mesmerizing. A bountiful feast by Chef Elsie awaits you before creating your impressive “work of art.” Register now!

SE-11, Wed., Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m., $65
THE ART OF MODERN FLORAL DESIGN with HARVEST DINNER:
Inspiring ideas announcing autumn!
Flowers express what we are unable to articulate: they bring out the best in us and make us feel good. Floral design is the blending of all previous eras of historical floral arranging as handed down from one generation to the next. In this workshop, we will discuss the influence of European and oriental styles in American floral design. Micah Stanislowski will help you create two sophisticated contemporary arrangements: a horizontal centerpiece in a square glass vase; plus a contemporary Ikebana floral design. Before beginning this evening of maximum creativity, Chef Elsie will present a wonderful fall harvest dinner. Register now!

SE-12, Thurs., Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m., $65
BIRCH WREATH WITH AUTUMN DINNER: The allure of the "white forest!"
Wreaths have been a favorite form of decoration since the ancient Greeks honored their heroes with Crowns of Laurel. More recently, we’ve adopted wreaths as a traditional symbol of welcome all year long. While visiting a small village in Poland, Scott saw branches of birch woven into wreaths and displayed on the front door of the local homes. Birch is associated with many celebrations and is used widely in Central and Eastern Europe. Using the finest of artificial birch leaves, real branches, and a grapevine base, you will assemble a beautiful wreath to brighten your home and celebrate the beauty of fall. Before learning about this beautiful white and mystical tree, you will enjoy a delectable autumn dinner prepared by Chef Elsie. Register now!

SE-13, Fri., Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m., $65
LET IT FLOW, LET IT FLOW...with an Oktoberfest Twist!
Thirty- four billion gallons of beer are consumed each year worldwide. Pharaohs of Egypt developed the art of brewing on a large scale to give a supply to their armies. Fall is peak season for beer and ales, especially during the month of October. In this workshop you will learn the history of several beer and ale classics from around the globe, each paired with Chef Elsie's wonderful Hors D Oeuvres which will help us celebrate Oktoberfest. Following this workshop, you will amaze your friends with the knowledge of remarkable beers and winning foods to compliment any special fall event. Register now!

SE-14, Sun., Oct. 13, 1:00 p.m., $55
BOO-HOO and LUNCH: Final curtain call on the growing season!
What’s a gardener to do when summer’s over and the yard’s in a slump?  The perennials are past their prime, an early frost killed most of the annuals, and you are desperately clinging to what’s left. Sounds like you need a pick-me-up to send the growing season out with a bang…and Scott’s got the cure. After experiencing one of Chef Elsie’s culinary delights, you will learn about pruning, cleaning, and splitting plants in your gardens. Creative ideas will be shared to keep your garden a focal point throughout the winter months. You will leave with ornamental grasses, a Siberian Iris, and bulbs to place in your garden to help bring it “back to life” in the spring. Register now!

SE-15, Thurs., Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m., $65
BEWITCHING TOUCHES: A “spooktacular” Halloween event! 
Cast a spell with this bounty of easy decorating ideas for fall and Halloween. Join Scott and his staff as they let fall's exuberant palette lend a hand with decorating ideas in the large white wedding canopy while layering in atmospheric Halloween accents as the theme. Autumn foliage, faux crows, flickering candlelight, and enchanting jack-o'-lanterns will cast a welcoming spell on Chef Elsie’s fastidious fall dinner to include: Skeleton Bones Breadstick, Witches’ Broom Mixed Greens Salad w/Brainy Juice Salad Vinaigrette, Mysterious Killer Beef Tenderloin smothered in a secret sauce, Ghoulish Pearl Onion Eyeballs with Smashed Potatoes with Herbs, Wicked Succotash, Black Mud Pie, and a Sludgy Chocolate Martini. Please dust off your favorite Halloween costume and join us for a “fang-tastic” night. Register now!

SE-16, Sat., Oct. 19, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., $205 
MICHIGAN WINERY BUS TOUR: Eat…drink…and relax!
Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan are fertile wineries producing award-winning Michigan wines enjoyed throughout the world. Our proximity to Southwest Michigan’s vineyards makes it easy to visit at a relaxed pace in just a single day. While our bus tour drives through picturesque wine regions, you owe it to yourself to sit back, take in the scenery, and chat with your companions. We plan stops at Domaine Berrien Cellar, Tabor Hill Winery, Round Barn, Hickory Creek Winery, and Free Run Cellars where you will visit their tasting rooms, learn their secrets of wine making, and stock up on your favorite wines to share with family and friends.  As we return, we make one final stop for dinner at Tosi’s Restaurant in Stevensville, MI. Our bus tour leaves Southern Exposure Farm promptly at 8:00 a.m. and returns at approximately 9:00 p.m. The cost of the tour includes: bus fees, Chef Elsie’s European on-board breakfast and lunch, winery tour charges, dinner at Tosi’s Italian Restaurant, and Curtis’s many refreshments along the way. Please sign up early as this is a popular bus tour. Register now!

SE-17, Sat., Oct. 19, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m., $90
EXPERIENCE A FALL DAY AT THE FARM: Living a step back in time!
Day at the farm – freshly picked ideas from plot to table
Join us at the farm early for a hearty farm breakfast prepared by our own Chef Elsie. Afterwards, we begin the day by enjoying planting a cool weather container of pansies, kale, and peas. Then we are off to the garden to harvest basil to prepare pesto in the old 1839 farmhouse kitchen. Picking herbs from the garden will be preserved by freezing for your soups and stews. “Cook through growing and grow through cooking,” Chef Elsie says. She will be with you from garden to table, with recipes and samples to enjoy. Finally, using prepared dough, each guest will learn how to infuse bread with herbs when baking at home. A batch of herb butter will also be made. We will then spread a tablecloth and enjoy a harvest luncheon with all that the garden gave us this day. Each guest will take home a container with cool weather plants, pesto, herbs to freeze, herbal bread, butter, and recipes from this exciting day. Register now! 

SE-18, Sun. Oct. 20, 1:00 p.m., $60
PEAR WREATH AND LUNCH: A pear-fect afternoon!
Early colonists brought the first pear trees to America’s settlements where they thrived. Pears are one of the world’s oldest cultivated and beloved fruits. The ancient Greeks laud the pears as a “gift from God,” the Romans prepared pears boiled with honey, and the early English enjoyed the fruit for culinary delights from jellies to pastries. Thomas Jefferson, acting as America’s foreign minister to France, fell so in love with the delicious French pears that he planted an orchard at Monticello. Chef Elsie will create a wonderful lunch using European pear recipes. Afterwards, each guest will accent an assembled permanent botanical pear wreath, filling in with moss and other botanicals. This unique and historical wreath can be used all year long in your home’s decor. Register now!

SE-19 , Thurs., Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. $65
PUMPKIN PANACHE with DINNER and COCKTAILS: Boo! Do you scare easily?
Carving your Jack-O-Lantern the same way again?  Now that’s a scary thought!  Unique, inspiring, and sophisticated, our ideas for decorating your home with pumpkins go far beyond the basic Jack-O-Lantern. Using fall’s definitive fruit, you will take home two pumpkins: one filled with autumn flowers and herbs and   a “terra cotta” Jack-O-Lantern complete with a candle. As the colors change and falling leaves herald the arrival of autumn, bring the season’s calling card indoors with this exuberant, fun-filled workshop as Curtis unveils his legendary Pomegranate-Apple Cocktail. Register now!

SE-20, Sat., Oct. 26, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., $225
CHICAGO’S BUCKTOWN/WICKER PARK FOOD TASTING & CULTURAL WALKING TOUR
The perfect fall adventure...in one of the world's greatest cities!
If you like exciting activity and consider yourself a foodie, this day trip to Chicago is designed with you in mind. Spend a day with Southern Exposure as they take you to Chicago’s Bucktown/Wicker Park area in search of the ultimate Chicago food and cultural experience. You begin the day by enjoying one of Chef Elsie’s on-board European Breakfasts while sipping several of Curtis’s special morning refreshments. Upon arrival to the Bucktown/Wicker Park side of Chicago, you begin a guided walking tour, enjoying delicious ethnic foods and diverse musical and entertainment venues which exist within Chicago’s liveliest, historic neighborhoods.

Besides tasting great food, you will learn about history, culture, architecture, and neighborhood entertainment offerings. After a three-hour journey, which includes visits to the award-winning George's Hot Dogs(#1 rated Chicago-style hot dog "stand"), Hot Chocolate (Chicago’s top pastry & dessert restaurant), Goddess & Grocer (A gourmet foods & organic grocery), Sultan's Market (Middle Eastern food store and falafel deli), Piece (New-Haven style pizzeria & award-winning brewpub), and iCream (Designs and creates ice cream instantly on the spot), you’re free to shop and enjoy some of the most beautiful areas of Chicago. Before we begin our trip home, we’ll meet for dinner at a local Italian Chicago restaurant. The cost of the trip includes: bus fees, breakfast on board, tickets for the walking/tasting tour, dinner in Chicago, and the many refreshments to and from this exciting destination. Bon Appétit! Register now

SE-21 THROUGH SE-38, 6:30 p.m. each evening, $48
HOLIDAY DECORATING ON A SHOESTRING with TRADITIONAL DINNER:
Ideals for a heartfelt holiday!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Entertaining is so simple: Just open the door to your house and your heart, and allow people to come in. There will be parties for hosting, sweet yummies for sharing, and dressing up your home for the holidays. This is the time of year to really pull out the stops, trying new recipes, and merging time-honored traditions with something new and different. With some creativity and a dash of style, you can mix old and new, traditional and contemporary, classic and refined and all combinations assimilate beautifully. Scott will astound you with his imaginative and inspiring holiday décor ideas. The purpose of this workshop is to demonstrate creative ideas, enjoy a complete holiday inspired dinner prepared by Chef Elsie, and sip a delicious wine. With over one-hundred decorating ideas, your home won’t be the only thing that lights up the holidays! Register now

SE-21, Mon., Nov. 4
SE-22, Tues., Nov. 5
SE-23, Wed., Nov. 6
SE-24, Thurs., Nov. 7
SE-25, Fri., Nov. 8
SE-26, Sat., Nov. 9
SE-27, Mon., Nov. 11
SE-28, Tues., Nov. 12
SE-29, Wed., Nov. 13
SE-30, Thurs., Nov. 14
SE-31, Fri., Nov. 15
SE-32, Sat., Nov. 16
SE-33, Mon., Nov. 18
SE-34, Tues., Nov. 19
SE-35, Wed., Nov. 20
SE-36, Thurs., Nov. 21
SE-37, Fri., Nov. 22
SE-38, Sat., Nov. 23

Because this is our most popular workshop of the season, please register early to ensure your desired date is secured. Please dress appropriately, as we will be moving inside and out.

SE-39, Sat., Nov. 30, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., $205
SCOTT’S “NORTHERN” JUNQUE BUS TOUR: Let’s make a steal!
Perhaps it was discovered on a dusty shelf of an antique shop, buried in a box at a flea market, bought with a winning bid at auction, or found through an antique dealer; regardless of means, one of the joys of collecting is the thrill of pursuit. We plan to go north this season making stops in the Livingston, Mason, Old Town Lansing, Dewitt, and Grand Rapids areas of Michigan. Southern Exposure’s Scott Stokes will show you how to shop vintage sales with confidence, where to find bargains, how to spot a good buy, when to dicker and deal, and how to transform newfound treasures into decorative, useful objects. Spend a day discovering creative foraging as only Scott can offer. The cost of the tour includes: travel to and from junk locations only Scott knows about; Chef Elsie’s European on-board breakfast and lunch; dinner at Charlie’s Crab House in downtown Grand Rapids on the return trip; and Curtis’ many on-board refreshments and snacks!   And of course, you can put your priceless “finds” in the storage compartment under the bus. Register now!

SE-40, Sun., Dec. 1, 9:00 a.m., $60
SE-41, Sun., Dec. 1, 1:00 p.m., $65
HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING with HOLIDAY FEAST:
Hospitality, with a hug or handshake, begins at your front door!
Fragrant evergreen, pine, and cedar gathered from the farm are woven into a beautiful, hand-wrapped wreath. This seasonal decoration, which can be displayed in different ways, will bring versatility, charm, and warmth to your home. At the beginning of this workshop, you will enjoy a hearty holiday breakfast or luncheon before creating a wreath which you will be proud to share with family and friends as you prepare for the holiday season ahead. Register now!

SE-42, Mon., Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m., $65
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS with a HOLIDAY DINNER:
Where beauty and grace depend on simplicity!
Many of us enjoy putting out the manger scene as the holidays draw near. The figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and wise men tell the story of the very first Christmas. Along with our display, we use herbs and ancient plants that have come through the ages graced with legend and lore. After enjoying one of Chef Elsie’s favorite holiday dinners, you will spend an evening learning the herbs of the cradle and the stories and traditions of the botanicals associated with the holidays. You will take home a beautiful vase filled with flowers and herbs, symbolizing the true meaning of the first Christmas. Register now!

SE-43, Tues., Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.,  $65
HOLIDAY GREENS SPHERE with SCOTTISH HOLIDAY DINNER:
Celebrate the holiday season with fragrance and charm!
Bring the rich holiday greens and reds into your home with our alluring evergreen kissing ball. The Scottish tradition of the evergreen kissing ball goes back to the Middle Ages when villagers wound together twine and evergreen branches into a loose sphere to hang from the ceiling along passageways in houses and castles. Blessings and good luck were thought to come to all who passed under the ball…not to mention a sweet-smelling spot to steal a kiss. Dressed with evergreen tippings, pine-cones, holly, winter berries, and finished with a plaid Scottish ribbon, this aromatic accent will be a delightful conversation piece that is a true holiday eye catcher. Chef Elsie’s Scottish holiday dinner is the perfect start for an evening filled with laughter and creativity. Register now!

SE-44, Wed., Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m., $65
WILLIAMSBURG TRADITIONAL WREATH with ENGLISH DINNER:
A fresh take on a traditional idea!
Nothing captures the spirit of old Williamsburg better than rich green boxwood, shiny lemon leaves, and fresh apples all wrapped into a wreath. This special holiday decoration recreates the Williamsburg Wreath, a tradition many generations have embraced. Proudly displayed as a centerpiece or gracing a door, this wreath will simply say “welcome” to your holiday guests. Before creating your holiday wreath, you will enjoy an English dining experience prepared by Chef Elsie. Register now!

SE-45, Thurs., Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m., $65
WHITE CHRISTMAS CANDLE-RING with a TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY DINNER:
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!
When Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1942 film Holiday Inn, no one in Hollywood knew it would become a peace anthem with sentiments express directly to a nation torn apart by World War II. Many of this era's traditional Christmas decorations easily lend themselves to sparking, snowy embellishment - garlands of flocked greenery hung with silver accents. In this workshop, you will capture the essence of a white Christmas with a candle ring adorned with artificial flocked greens, pine cones, berries, and adorned with silver bulbs and ribbon; a perfect decoration for your mantel or table. Chef Elsie will extend the white Christmas theme with her inspiring holiday dinner that will set the ambiance for your delightful evening. Register now!

SE-46, Fri., Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m., $75
TOAST THE SEASON: 'Tis the season to savor the flavor!
Dom Perignon, upon the discovery of Champagne, stated, “Come quickly, for I am drinking the stars.”  Toast the holidays with an array of wines, including bubbly!  Relax, unwind, and sample wonderful wines and fabulous treats while you mingle and make new friends. As the holiday season approaches, you will enjoy an abundance of exquisite food, exceptional wine, and great company. You will enjoy one of Chef Elsie’s legendary dinners complete with four courses that complements each of the six-featured wines. The wines featured this evening will undoubtedly make the perfect stocking stuffers! Register now

SE-47, Sat., Dec 7, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., $205
ONE OF A KIND HOLIDAY BUS TOUR: Jump-start your holiday shopping! 
The annual "One of a Kind Show" is the quintessential Chicago's holiday shopping show! A refreshing alternative to traditional retail, the show is the ideal place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your holiday list. More than six-hundred talented artists from across North America will bring their imaginative, handmade creations to this show offering a wide range of media and categories. Speak with the artists individually, attend artist demonstrations, and join in a crafting workshop. Enjoy gourmet cafes, fashion shows, and live music.

This is a one-of-a-kind experience – and you have an entire day to enjoy it!  Experience artwork in the making!  The cost of the tour includes: travel to and from Chicago; Chef Elsie’s European on-board breakfast; cost of tickets into the show;  a return-trip dinner at a downtown Chicago restaurant; and Curtis’s many on-board refreshments and snacks!   And of course, you can put your priceless “finds” in the storage compartment under the bus. Register now!

SE-48, Sun., Dec. 8, 1:00 p.m., $70
BASKET O’ GREENS & IRISH LUNCH: Let the color of green inspire you this season!
This attractive basket, which is designed and filled with generous amounts of pine, holly, and boxwood, can be placed outside your entry door to convey the ultimate traditional Irish greeting to your guests. These enchanting yet blissful baskets can be used as portable gardens, outdoors or indoors, for the upcoming holiday season. Before creating your Irish masterpieces, you will enjoy an authentic eighteenth-century Irish lunch prepared by Chef Elsie. Register now!

How to Register for a Workshop:

We strongly encourage you to register online using a major credit card. It's fast, easy and fully secure to protect your privacy. To begin, click on the button below:


To register by phone, please call the Southern Exposure office during normal business hours at (269) 962-1255. Welcome!