One of our upcoming events is being hosted by Kids Kicking Cancer, a unique nonprofit organization with a mission: to combat cancer through karate. Awesome, right? The organization's mission is "to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally" through relaxation and mental imagery, meditating, breathing and active karate exercises. The Kids Kicking Cancer program also seeks to integrate parents, siblings and medical personnel into the healing process through these unconventional healing methods.

Rock, Paper, Scissors: Karate beats Cancer

The First Annual Kids Kicking Cancer Gala

Ticketbud: Standing Beside Cancer Orgs since Day 1

As September leaves blow away and October festivities roll in, a month of beer tasting and Autumn fun will begin. For the past two years, Chan's Wine World  has extended the craft beer movement across the states by hosting the Greater Gulf Beer Festival, and will do the same this year when hosting the newly branded Destin Beer Festival. We were lucky enough for Randy Hayden, the General Manager of Wine World Destin, to answer some of our burning questions about this exciting event!  Ticketbud: Tell us a little about the history of the Beer Festival. How did it get started? Randy: This is going to be a long answer. First off my boss and owner of the company, Chan Cox, has been throwing beer festivals(among many other festivals) since the early 1980's. Our company, Wine World, has actually thrown smaller beer festivals in Destin before this year. When I joined the Wine World team from Atlanta GA almost 2 years ago I witnessed one of these smaller festivals and the gears started turning. I then attended other beer festivals in the area and quickly realized we had  to throw a big time event on a much bigger scale. We then proceeded to organize the Greater Gulf Coast Beer Festival at Uptown Station in Ft Walton Beach last November. The event was the first of it's kind in our area featuring more than 3 times the selection of the next beer fest, celebrities from the beer industry and an overall quality never seen at a beer fest in region. Despite the event's success we knew we had to move our event to the heart of the Gulf Coast, and that heart is Destin. We truly love the city of Fort Walton Beach but people who travel to the Emerald Coast travel to Destin and this event is for the people. The move had to be made. The rest is soon to be history.... TB: What is your favorite thing about Destin Beer Festival? Randy: That's easy, it's the cause. There are three main reasons for the Destin Beer Festival. First and foremost the focus of the festival is raise money for Children in Crisis. After that, this event is all about our community and the craft beer movement. These three components are the heart and soul of this event and the motivation behind everything that goes into it. TB: Ticketbud was founded for non-profits and charities, so we love that this event benefits the Children's Neighborhood of Children in Crisis! What made you choose this charity? Randy: Chan has worked with Children in Crisis for years and once you learn about the charity and meet the people behind it you understand why. There are so many great charities out there but when it comes to the children it's hard to think of a better cause. I urge everyone who reads this interview to research some info on CIC and they too will understand our partnership. TB: With several types of beers as well as culinary stations at the festival, a quick guide to complementing beer with food would be really helpful! Do you have any pointers? Randy: Well I love food and beer so I often choose my beer around food and vice versa. I suggest trying any and all combos of beer and food parings and choose for yourself. A saying one of my friends and mentors, Michel Thibault, always says is" It's not what someone else says is good or bad it's what you think." Now he is usually talking about wine but it works for beer as well. Beer is very versatile and there are endless combos that work. I guess my advice is go into any a paring with an open mind, and palate, and see what works for YOU! TB: What is your favorite beer and meal combination and why?

Ticketbud is proud to Spotlight Austin based Texas 4000 with their annual ride from Austin to Alaska benefiting cancer research. Program director, Lance Pyburn, tells us about the organization and their upcoming event- Homecoming Bash! What is the longest bike ride you have ever gone on? Ten miles? Fifty miles? Try 4,700 miles! This is how long a group of University of Texas Students traveled. They participated in the longest charity ride in the world—pedaling for the majority of their summer on a 70 day trek all the way from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. This was the 8^th annual ride that the organization has held since being founded in 2004. This year 43 students participated from ages 19-26. Students met with groups in cities along the way and gave presentations about the importance of hope. Ticketbud had the opportunity to talk with Lance Pyburn, Program Director of Texas 4000. Here’s what he had to say: [caption id="attachment_12298" align="alignleft" width="224"] Lance Pyburn - Program Director[/caption] Ticketbud: How did you get involved with Texas 4000? What is it like organizing the events? Pyburn:   After participating in the ride back in 2009, I continued to be involved in Texas 4000 in various volunteer roles until the Program Director position was created in the spring of 2011.  After experience firsthand how Texas 4000 can impact your life as a young adult, I knew that I wanted to step into the role of Program Director to work directly with the students and help ensure that the program continues develop them as the next generation of leaders and cancer fighters while growing our presence in the Austin community and communities along our routes across the nation. Ticketbud: You went on the 2009 ride—what was that like? Pyburn: Being involved in Texas 4000 as a rider has definitely shaped my life and given me experiences that I never thought I would have at such a young age.  The ride itself was life changing getting to cycle across a continent and spread the message that cancer can be beaten.  The planning and preparation the year before the ride was also very much a part of the Texas 4000 experience.  Before even going on the ride, a Texas 4000 rider is responsible for raising $4,500, logging 1500 training miles, and volunteering 30 hours in the community. In addition to this, many of the riders take leadership positions to actually plan the ride from start to finish.  This is where the leadership development aspect of Texas 4000 comes from, and it works! Ticketbud: How do people react to the presentations on the ride? Pyburn: Having the opportunity to interact with members of the communities we cycle through is one of the biggest rewards of the ride.  The generosity of the human spirit is amazing, and it’s truly humbling to see the kindness shown to the riders each year as community members offer up their homes, food, and stories to the team. Ticketbud: What is the purpose of the Homecoming Bash? Pyburn: Homecoming Bash is a fun and informal welcome home party for the team.  It’s a low key and casual environment in which friends and family members of the riders can get a very close look into what the riders experience over the summer and celebrate their accomplishment.  I actually served as the very first Homecoming Bash Coordinator back in 2010 when we created the event in conjunction with our annual Tribute Gala (6:30pm August 25^th at the Four Seasons) which is a more formal reception of the team.  Kathryn Flowers, 2010 alumni rider, is this year’s Homecoming Bash Coordinator, and she has a great event planned for the 2012 team. [caption id="attachment_12302" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Finally in Alaska![/caption] If you are in Austin be sure to come out for the Homecoming Bash and congratulate the riders! Tickets are only $20 and you can get them here. For more information you can visit the Texas 4000’s website. Don’t forget—Ticketbud is free for all cancer charities!]]]]> ]]>

Ticketbud is pleased to Spotlight Austin’s Bread and Circus Supper Club with their monthly dinner events. Executive Chef, Brenton Schumacher, tells us about this month’s event—Pirate Soiree! Once a month Pink Avocado Catering, uses local, seasonal ingredients to create a fun dinner at Palm Door. Each dinner has a different theme and August is Pirate Soiree, featuring dishes such as Octopus Terrine and Dark Rum Tortuga Cake. Ticketbud had the opportunity to speak with Brenton Schumacher. Here’s what he had to say: [caption id="attachment_12442" align="alignleft" width="326"] Chef Brenton Schumacher[/caption] Ticketbud: How did Pink Avocado Catering get involved with Bread and Circus Supper Club? Schumacher: Though we absolutely love designing and personalizing menus for our clients, Bread and Circus Supper Club offered our chefs the opportunity to really think outside of the box. We also wanted to create a fun place for people to enjoy themselves and eat great food. Our mission from the beginning has to been to make inventive multi-course menus, but without the pretention. That’s kind of where the themes come in. It’s important to have fun and not always take everything so seriously. Our space in the Palm Door also just happens to make for the perfect setting. Ticketbud: The food chosen for the event themes is genius! How do you guys come up with such creative menus? Schumacher: Again, our chefs are incredibly inventive and we love the opportunity to flex those culinary muscles. Once we come up with a theme, we typically come together and collectively decide on what dishes we think will complement that theme best. It’s a really fun process. Ticketbud: This month's theme is Pirate Soiree. What has been your favorite theme so far? Schumacher: We’re very excited about the pirate soiree, but our favorite theme to date has got to be our Seven Deadly Sins dinner. Coming up with a dish that best articulated each sin was amazing and we all really enjoyed the fast pace of cooking a seven-course meal. Ticktbud: How do the guests usually respond to the unique themes? How many people do you usually have to cook for? Schumacher: We typically cook for 60-75 people depending on the menu. Our tables are set up family style so everyone can mingle with those around them. And we don’t want to jinx anything, but the themes have been well received so far! But Austin really helps make it possible. This city and more importantly, our guests, understand what we’re trying to accomplish. We are already building our “regulars” and that’s awesome! It’s always fascinating to see what each person’s favorite dishes are. Everyone chooses something different and that’s the beauty of it. It’s also what makes Bread & Circus Supper Club so rewarding. It’s hard to believe our year anniversary is coming up in September! If you are an Austinite (or a pirate) who appreciates gourmet food and is looking for an enjoyable dinner on August 15^th, then Bread and Circus Supper Club is your answer! Remember, Ticketbud sells tickets for for this monthly event so give it a try. You can buy tickets Here. Photos are property of Paige Newton Photography]]]]> ]]>

After the tragic events that took place in Aurora, Colorado it didn’t take long for Good Samaritans across the United States to unite and begin devoting their time and efforts to aid the victims and the community of Aurora in any way they could. The Aurora Benefit 2012 is an incredible event that is a product of countless people volunteering themselves to create an opportunity to be a light in the lives of those who have been temporarily put in a place of darkness. Ticketbud was fortunate enough to get a brief interview with Peggy Foster, the lead organizer of this amazing benefit: Ticketbud: How did this idea of the benefit come to life? Peggy Foster: The event came about as I listened to the news in the early morning hours and was overwhelmed with a feeling of duty to serve the greater good. Ticketbud: Who is it that is putting on this benefit? Foster: There are members from the community both individuals and business owners involved. The involvement has led to a greater collective consciousness about humanitarian events. Benefit 2012 is registered as a non profit corporation in the state of Colorado for the purpose of this event. Registration lends itself to transparency and legitimacy. Ticketbud: What will this event mean to the community and those directly involved in the shootings? Foster: The hope and goal of the benefit is not merely a monetary one, but one of support for the courage and strength of those involved and a sense of collective consciousness for anyone involved in the planning as well as attendees. Ticketbud: If you know/ are able to tell me, what are some of the possible prizes that attenders could possibly win at the benefit? Foster: “Raffle prizes and silent auction include but are not limited to gift certificated for $100 Mrs. Fields, Wine Basket, and Spa day coupons as just a sampling.” On August 24, 2012 at the Oriental Theater in Denver, Colorado from 3pm to 9pm you’re invited to come and enjoy yourself while listening to live music, participating in a silent auction as well as raffles, and venture around to the various vendor booths that will be set up for your amusement ! For your listening pleasure Highway 50, 2 Boy Tuesday and Sean Kelly of The Samples along with a few others will be performing. Ticketbud is honored to be the outlet used to be selling tickets to this generous benefit online, and they are only $25.00! Of course, all proceeds from the benefit will be going directly to the victims and their families who were involved in the shooting in Aurora. The victims went to the movie theater that fateful night to essentially see a super hero help those in need. This can be your opportunity to help make sure that they know that there is still good in this world despite their terrible circumstances. This can be your opportunity to be a super hero! So spread the word and remember, August 24^th at the Oriental Theater from 3pm to 9pm!]]]]> ]]>