Food writer Lindsey Nair

• lindsey.nair@roanoke.com | (540) 981-3343

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Steppin' Out, Blacksburg's annual street fair, is usually a big success.

But the folks at the Blacksburg Partnership thought there was room in town for another yearly festival, and they wanted to find a way to highlight regional wineries and restaurants.

Voila! The Blacksburg Fork and Cork, an event that melds food, wine, art and music, debuts May 2.

"We wanted to create a signature event that we could have in Blacksburg that was for the community, but would also bring in people from outside the area," Blacksburg Partnership President Diane Akers said. "We hope that when they come into First & Main, not only will they experience First & Main, but they will wander into downtown Blacksburg."

First & Main is a new shopping center at King Street and South Main Street in Blacksburg. It is home to stores such as Talbot's and Ann Taylor Loft, as well as restaurants such as Baja Bistro, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill, El Rodeo, Elderberry's, Sal's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Salad Creations and Sake House.

Yes, that is where Salem's beloved Sake House has gone.

But on May 2, the front parking lot of First & Main should be a delightful jumble of artist and restaurant booths, as well as the site of a wine garden with a stage for live music.

Akers said one row of the festival is called "Artists' Alley," where guests can see or purchase the work of 21 artists. Adjacent to that is "Restaurant Row," which will be populated by Bull & Bones, Sal's, Sake House and The Chocolate Spike, as well as Awful Arthur's, Bookbinder's and Preston's Restaurant at The Inn at Virginia Tech.

Each restaurant will be selling some of its usual fare. No tickets are required to buy food on Restaurant Row or check out Artists' Alley. And the entertainment, although set up in the wine garden, will be audible all over the festival, Akers said.

The coolest part of the festival, in my opinion, could be the cooking demonstrations. Several local chefs and culinary experts will do demonstrations inside the wine garden throughout the day. The dishes they create will be paired with wines from the participating wineries.

To get into the tent, you have to buy a ticket, which is $15 in advance and comes with your own Fork and Cork wine glass. Wine tastings are not limited to cooking demonstrations.

"Each winery will offer tastings of their wine, and if you see something that you like, they will have it by the glass, bottle or case," Akers said.

She added that they will set up a "wine holding area" where festivalgoers can store the wine they've purchased until they are ready to go home.

"It just seems like wine festivals are getting popular everywhere," Akers said. "People love to go to them. We did research to try and find out what makes them successful."

What they discovered: It takes a wide variety of wineries but not so many that any one winery is overlooked. It also requires good music, great food and art.

Four hundred tickets have already been sold. Advance tickets for the wine garden are available at any Awful Arthur's location, Bull & Bones, Wikiteria Market & Cafe, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce or the Fork and Cork Web site at www.blacksburgforkandcork.com.

It's a good idea to buy your tickets in advance if you plan to go -- they will be $18 per person the day of the event.

"We want to continue to have this every year," Akers said, "and hopefully we will continue to grow it every year."

If you go to Blacksburg Fork and Cork, let me know what you thought by logging on to the blog.