Fredericksburg Rotary Club's Cupid Bow Bash

            On Valentine’s Night, Thursday, February 14th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. the Fredericksburg Rotary Club will sponsor their annual Cupid’s Bow Bash. Admission to this celebratory evening is open to the public and will feature live music from Bob Appel and his five-piece band. A catered gourmet Italian dinner, open beer and wine bar are included in the $75 ticket price. As part of the celebration, there will be a live auction and raffle. The event will be held at St. Mary’s Holy Family Center, 306 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg, TX, 78624. Tickets to the event can be purchased online at FredericksburgRotary.org or by calling 830-461-0440.

            The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with beverages service from an open wine and beer bar, followed by buffet service Italian meal with the main entrée being a choice between chicken saltimbocca or pork puttanesca. Following dinner service, Country and Western Artist Bob Appel and his band will take the stage. 

            A regular performer in the Hill Country area, including Austin’s legendary Broken Spoke, Northern California native Bob Appel has unlikely roots for a country singer. He was exposed to the neo-traditional country sounds of Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, George Strait, Dwight Yoakam, and Aaron Tippin as a teen. It was through the allusions in the lyrics and sounds of these singers that Bob found the music of icons like Hank Williams, Faron Young, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, and Wynn Stewart.

            After one visit to Austin, Texas, Mr. Appel found music brought back to the basics, on a small stage with a small audience -- a participatory audience with diverse ways of appreciating traditional country music, by two-stepping and waltzing, tapping a foot, singing along, marveling at the fiddle and steel, or simply reminiscing. He moved to Austin in 2010 and now stands up every day and night -- at dance halls, festivals, markets, opry shows, honky-tonks, beer joints, and bars -- bringing the musical traditions of times gone by to times yet to come.

    Along with the dinner and live music, a variety of exclusive items and experiences will be auctioned at the Cupid's Bow Bash, including a Ruger 270 Caliber rifle, a gift basket from Garrison Brothers distillery, and a 30-year old bottle of Dom Perignon champagne. Professional auctioneer Sammy J. Leverett will oversee the live auction. Besides the auction, $5 raffle tickets will be sold that evening giving attendees the opportunity to win a variety of items from local merchants.

            “Cupid’s Bow Bash will be lively, fun, and elegant,” said Fredericksburg Rotary Club President Joe Cavanaugh. “This event features a great live band, catered dinner, and a chance to dance if you desire. The proceeds will benefit a wonderful cause, scholarships for students in the Gillespie County area. I recommend bringing a friend or joining together with several to reserve a full table.”

            Reservations for Cupid’s Bow Bash can be made online now or by calling 830-461-0440. Because seating is limited, interested parties should act quickly to reserve their place.