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With the Uncorked Wine event coming up tonight at the Statler City downtown I thought it might be interesting to take a look at how local wines compare against others produced in other parts of the country and the world. This area ranks very well and it all has to do with the soil and climate.

New York State has 31-thousand acres of vineyards and hundreds of farms dedicated to producing grapes for wine and many of them are right here in our own backyard. Vineyards in Erie and Chautauqua County along the Lake Erie shoreline are noted for growing some of the best Concord grapes. They’re used in making sweet, white wines.

Niagara grapes are common along the Lake Ontario shoreline from Canada’s Niagara Peninsula all the way to east of Rochester. Niagara grapes are used in making another sweet wine – almost the flavor of grape juice with a very strong grape aroma.

In the Finger Lakes region you’ll find over 100 wineries and several wine trails. In an article last year USA Today named the Finger Lakes region among the Top 10 in the country. The Finger Lakes is known for Riesling, another sweet grape producing a sweet wine.

One of the newest of the designated wine regions is along the Niagara Escarpment. Although there are only four wineries there – the grapes and wine they produce are slightly different.

Many of the wineries appearing at Uncorked tonight will feature their own local wines, but Passport Wine & Spirits will offer wines from other parts of the country and the world. One of the really unique wines you can sample are the African wines. And right alongside Passport Wine & Spirits will be Francesca’s Italian Cuisine offering samples of their menu items. So sample some of their food and see how it goes along with the various wines around the world.

The word wine is derived from the Latin word “vinum” meaning vine.

SOURCE: winegeeks.com

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Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens has been having some financial troubles as of late and now he’s facing foreclosure on another one of his properties.  According to TMZ.com, Owens allegedly owes over 1-million dollars on his…. condo in Miami Beach.  Terrell has already had to sell off a couple of homes in the Dallas area as well.

It amazes me that these player get all of this money to play a sport, then spend the money on foolish things.  I wonder how many of them make smart choices with their earnings?  I bet less than 50% of them!  It’s not just football, it’s all sports.  It’s entertainment too…movie and music industry!

The eyes have it!

Can you identify who owns these eyes? Here is a hint…it was a star that I interviewed at the CMA show last November.If you are a big fan of this person, it’s probably no contest…so let your answer rain down at the bottom of this post! From the correct guesses we will pick ONE winner to get tickets for the Dark Shadows at Regal Cinema

flickr.com-courtesy of ihateworkinglate

Oh how we love our cell phones!  We take them everywhere we go.  They’re like our little digital buddy.  We constantly check them throughout the day and even take them into the bathroom with us to keep busy.  What ever did they do on this earth before this glorious invention?  Any way…the topic of using cell phones at the dinner table came up the other morning, but the show as full.  Clay, Dale and I decided to ….leave it for today, when we can really discuss “cell phones at the dinner table” in depth.  Rascal Flatts even weighed in on the topic (which you can hear as you click on).

At my house, we are pretty lax.  If you need to use it at a casual dinner, no problem.   If the extended family is in, sneaking a few looks at the cell phone might be OK, but it has to be super quick!.  I know some families who won’t even tolerate a peek.

How do you feel about cell phones at the dinner table?  Do you believe that dinner time is family time?  Does technology interfere with really “connecting” as humans?

Hear What Rascal Flatts Has To Say About Cell Phones At The Dinner Table

(WIVB-TV)

One of the things I enjoyed the most about when my kids were still small enough to be pushed around in strollers was taking them to The Buffalo Zoo.  We all had our favorite animals to look at.  But one of the exhibits may become a thing of the past.

According to WIVB-TV, the zoo needs about 6 million dollars in order to fund a project that would rebuild the habitat.  The current enclosure was built in the 1890′s and is currently below standards to keep the bears.

The project requires approximately $18 million.  They’ve raised around $12 million through fundraisers and some private sources and are now in need of the $6 million balance. 

The two bears that currently reside at The Buffalo Zoo will be leaving in the fall while renovations continue at the zoo.  However, if the remainder of the funds cannot be raised, the temporary departure may become a permanent one.

Buffalo Zoo’s polar bears in jeopardy: wivb.com

Words written in the snow outside of the New York City apartment building where John Lennon was killed in 1980 (Getty Images)

For 31 years he’s been behind bars at Attica Correctional Facility, but just this week Mark David Chapman was moved to Wende Correctional Facility in Alden.  Both are considered maximum-security correctional facilities.  The reason for the move after all that time?  State officials won’t say.

Chapman is the man who in 1980 shot and killed former Beatle John Lennon outside of Lennon’s New York City apartment building.  Chapman fired five shots, four of them striking Lennon.

Chapman was sentenced to a prison term of 20 years to life, but has been denied parole six times.  His next parole hearing is scheduled for August.

Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow, has spoke out against Chapman’s parole in the past and is expected to renew her objections again this summer.

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I still watch the ‘Reba’ sitcom in reruns on Lifetime I miss that show and Reba on television but not for much longer.  Superstar Reba returns to network TV next fall in a new ABC sitcom called ‘Malibu Country’.  The show is based on a single mom (Reba) who relocates her family to Malibu to re-launch her singing career.  The show also stars comedian Lily Tomlin whom I love and actress Sara Rue who is really funny.  It seems like the family sitcom is back and strong and I hope this one from Reba is funny and a hit.  Here’s a sneak peak of the show along with a look at Reba when she last visited Buffalo.  We need to get her back here soon.

Paul Kane, Getty Images

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear Taylor Swift‘s ‘Mean’ performed from a male prospective? Thanks to a gender-bending performance of the No. 1 country song on last night’s (May 15) episode of ‘Glee,’ fans are now truly able to appreciate the tune from both sides of the spectrum.

McKinley High’s resident heartthrob Puck (Mark Salling) tackled an acoustic arrangement of Swift’s tune with a little help from Coach Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones) in the most recent episode, which also featured celebrity cameo appearances by actress Lindsay Lohan and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

‘Mean’ seems a likely candidate for recognizable cover tunes — and we’re surprised ‘Glee’ didn’t take it on earlier, considering the series recurring themes of self-acceptance and teenage angst in a high school setting. In the past, the show has tackled country covers in Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene‘ and Toby Keith’s ‘Red Solo Cup,’ among others.

How does the new version measure up to Swift’s original recording? Watch below and voice your opinions!

Watch Taylor Swift’s ‘Mean’ as Performed on ‘Glee’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

These days, I make it a point to stay away from that area of town. And if I do go, I am usually carrying one of my pistols on me. With all the cocaine traffic on the east side, it can be a very dangerous place to be. Even innocent bystanders can get hurt or killed just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I guess every major city has areas like this, but it would be great if the city could do more to clean it up. Mayor Brown should be making it his priority to try to get the east side back on track.

(Actual truck may vary) - Ford.com

You could win a brand new 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab XLT 4×4, from the Western New York Ford Dealers at the Taste of Country on June 1st. Listen for us to fire up the Ford F-150, be caller 9 at 644-wyrk or 800-696-wyrk for a shot to grab a cd from our music library and get in to win the brand new Ford F-150, the official truck of the Taste of Country.

 Here are our first four finalists that will have a chance to start the truck at coca-cola field on June 1st at the Taste of Country.  Good luck from Country 106.5 WYRK.

CINDY CHRISTY- BUFFALO

AUDREY MAJCHRZYCKI -CHEEKTOWAGA

LIZ RENIG -EDEN

DON SNELL -TONAWANDA

[Official Rules]

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A few weeks ago, we had a story about Jake Owen bring arrested while out to eat at a Steak and Shake, back in his home state of Florida.  What we knew then was that he was dragged out of the restaurant while dining with his family for wearing a mask of some sort.  Now, more of the story is coming out.  Jake told Chicago-US-99 that all it was was a big misunderstanding.  What happened is this: Jake put on an old man mask and went into the restaurant. What he didn’t know was that Florida has a law, where you can’t wear a mask inside of a public business.

Be at Buffalo UnCorked Thursday (Getty Images)

First and foremost cuz it’s going to fun! Thursday is the new Friday in Buffalo and we are holding a wine tasting party like no other. We expect a great crowd and you can even save some money if you buy your ticket in advance!Plus, when you get a ticket we give you a $25 gift card you can use at the Buffalo Chophouse!! Tons of wineries all in one spot! Here’s what you can expect at the party…

Craig Morgan spoke with Clay and Dale Wednesday (Getty Images)

Dale and I caught up with Craig Morgan on the show Wednesday. We asked him about his latest song “This Ole Boy” and about the video. I asked him about his award winning show on the Outdoor Channel and wondered if it is as ‘real” as it appears.A bunch of my fiends contend that the hunting shows are staged that they show on the Outdoor Channel. What was Craig’s take?

Charlie Daniels on the schedule this summer at Artpark (Getty Images)

Big name acts are set to appear at Artpark this year including the Charlie Daniels Band.  What previously had been free shows, the Tuesday night concerts will now cost $5.00 to $10.00 to get in. 

Among the other acts on the schedule are Peter Frampton, Kansas, Sheryl Crow and Heart.

The Tuesday series of concerts begins June 19th with Kansas.  Here’s the rest of the lineup:

• June 26th – Foreigner
• July 3rd – Huey Lewis and the News
• July 10th – Sublime with Rome
• July 17th- Yes with Procol Harum
• July 24th – Heart
• August 7th – Peter Frampton
• August 14th – Sheryl Crow
• August 21st – Roger Hodgson – the Voice of Supertramp.
• August 28th - The Machine performs Pink Floyd
• September 4th – Charlie Daniels Band

Shoreline Trail in Tonawanda (photo by Dale Mussen)

For those who have never been here, Western New York really has a lot to offer.  I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a beautiful spring afternoon than taking a bike ride on the Shoreline Trail along the Niagara River thru Niawanda and Isleview Parks in both the City and Town of Tonawanda.  From the terminus of the Erie Canal at the border of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, the Shoreline Trail will take you all the way to the Peace Bridge.  But I think the nicest section is the one thru the Tonawandas, about 10 miles upstream from Niagara Falls.

That’s what I did Tuesday afternoon to stretch the legs and kill a little time.  And to take a little breather during the jaunt, sometimes I stop at Mississippi Mudd’s or Old Man River’s for a foot long hot dog.  The two restaurants are only a block apart so I always pick the one with the shortest line.  So there I was, hot dog in one hand and soft drink in the other sitting outdoors watching the river and the world go by.  Anytime I have things on my mind it’s a guaranteed way to relax.

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If you like beer, you’re gonna love this. Beer contains more than 30 minerals including all the essential minerals including calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium and zinc. If you drink two pints of beer it’ll provide almost half of the adult daily requirement of magnesium, 40 percent of phosphorus and 20 percent of potassium.

But of course you can get all of these essential minerals from eating the right foods, but let’s not spoil the fun.

And oh, there’s no cholesterol or fat in beer – but you can get fat because there’s lots of carbs and calories.

When happens when you drink too much beer? You get a hangover, but in other countries they have different ways to describe it.

• In Spain they call it “backlash.”
• In Sweden they call it “pain in the hair roots.”
• In Italy they say it’s “out of tune.”
• In Germany it’s called “wailing of the cats.”
• It’s called ‘wood mouth” in France.

And how do you cure a hangover?  There are some interesting cures from around the world.

• Some Germans say the way to do it is by eating red meat and bananas.
• The Chinese drink spinach tea.
• The French drink strong coffee with salt.
• Some Puerto Ricans rub a lemon under their drinking arm.
• Russians cure a hangover by drinking vodka.

SOURCE: Omg-facts.com, Listverse.com

John La Mond images

If you own a motorcycle, classic car, street rod or hot rod, please bring it out tonight for the WYRK Country Cruise and Bike Night at Dunn Tire Raceway Park on Gunnville Road in Lancaster. Gates will open at 5pm.

This FREE WYRK event will feature grudge racing and the ever-popular burnout pit contest with prizes from Dunn Tire raceway park for the winner. Enjoy new lower food and drink prices.

Tonight is Chevy night, so if you own a coll Chevrolet car or truck, bring it down to the WYRK Country Cruise and Bike Night. WYRK will be there tonight and every Wednesday night. It’s good clean fun for the whole family. We will see you there tonight.

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I have to admit, with the price of going to the movies these days, I rarely do!  I usually choose to spend the bucks on a fun night out, capped off with a little dinner.  When I do find a movie worthy of going to, I’ll go!  These 3 movies that I’m recommending are only based on what I’ve seen in the movie trailers and the buzz I hear about some of them.  At first, I was really excited about “The Dictator”, but the more and more I see of it, it just looks like ” Borat” part 2.  I probably won’t go to the movies to see it, but I surely will rent it.  Either way, I’m….. including it in my little list.

“The Dictator”

Another movie that I will recommend, and this is only based off what I saw in the trailer is “Ted”.  Watch this….If you don’t agree…well then we see funny differently! Due out in July

“Ted”

The last movie that I chose for this list of 3 movies to see is ‘The Campaign.”  It stars Will Ferrell & Zach Galifianakis.  It’s a political comedy that hits theaters in August!

“The Campaign”

Flickr.com- courtesy of LeeHoffmanPhoto

Over Mother’s Day weekend, a friend of mine gave me a copy of Ransomville’s new CD “Country Is What I Am.”  I’m all about local artists, so I figured to give it a listen.  I’ve been out to many events where local country groups perform, but believe it or not, I’ve really never listened to these guys before.  Ransomville’s new disc has 6 tracks and its produced by….. Cowboy Troy.  I only know of one Cowboy Troy, so I’m thinking it’s him.  If it is, that’s a pretty big name to have on your album.  It adds to the credibility, I think!  So, I popped the disc in and checked it out.  In all honesty, I only skipped over one.  I really liked track 3 and 5 (“100 MPH” & “All I Need”…respectively)  If I had to pick a favorite it might be track 3- “100 MPH”

Find out more about Ransomville here!
“Country Is What I Am”

Cover Tune- “Hurts So Good”