Taste3 Fellowship & A Sad Goodbye to Delicious Cupcakes

So I recently found out that I'll be going to the Taste3 conference in Napa this July! Very exciting stuff. Taste3:

[Brings] together more than forty of the most compelling writers, thinkers, chefs, winemakers, journalists, artisans, and executives as speakers and hosts, joining 400 attendees who are every bit as tapped-in. TASTE3 will thrill, tantalize, engage, intrigue, provoke, and inspire both its audience and its speakers. The single-track program is broken into themed sessions filled with hard-hitting, engaging short-format presentations. Sessions are interwoven with breaks with networking opportunities and interactive exploration.

TASTE3 is presented by Robert Mondavi Winery. In the spirit of founder Robert Mondavi’s vision, passion and leadership, TASTE3 aims to push the exploration and marriage of wine, food and art.

Normally, the fee is a bit out of my range (oh, by about $2,000+) so I have to simply hear about it from friends. However, I applied for the fellowship and wrote a nifty little essay, one that was apparently well received, and the fee was waived. Hooray!

I'm quite excited as I feel this will really be a chance for me to learn and network with some professionals in the food industry, and particularly the food writing sector, and really be able to take and apply the information I pick up. In addition, there are some awesome tours and winery dinners to attend, and from what others who have gone tell me, some pretty raucous drinking every night as well (you all know who you are...).

T'will* be the highlight of my Summer for sure! Luckily my friends Ashley and Raul are kindly giving me a floor to sleep on for the 3-day event, so even more yayness there.

Cannot wait!

*Yes, "t'will" isn't a real word, but I like it, so blah.
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I was privy to bad news today, the beloved blog, Cupcake Bakeshop is apparently closing shop. It's quite upsetting to me, Cheryl was one of my major inspirations for blogging, and she was the one who got me into baking to begin with.

Keeping up a blog can be demanding, but keeping up an incredible blog can be life absorbing. I can understand her need to leave and respect her decision. I want to publicly applaud her though for all the incredible work she has done and the amazing amount of creative cupcake creations she has produced over the years. If you haven't been to her site, I highly encourage you to go there and read her archives from beginning to end.

Bravo to you, Cheryl. Thanks for all your breath taking, educational, and inspiring work.