Congratulations to the city of Grapevine and all who work to make our city such a great place to live.  The International Festival and Event Association (IFEA) has given Grapevine it's '2012 IFEA World Festival & Event City Award' recognizing the best in community leadership and festival and event partnerships around the world. Historic Grapevine, Texas is the premier go-to destination when planning a trip to Texas! 

'Grapevine, Aged to Perfection' continues to turn up in all sorts of places.  It has been found in Oregon, Utah, Georgia, Washington state and New York.  But it has also been taken home by visitors from Scotland, Mexico, Austria (Krems, Vienna), England, Germany and very recently to Tanzania.  Six books will be traveling home with the Rotary GES Team from Brazil by the end of May.
     'Grapevine, Aged to Perfection' book makes for a wonderful gift to clients, visiting friends and family that lets them know what a delightful city we live in.  And the price is a modest $26.95.  There are few gifts that will outshine this book.

More Comments and Friends finding the Needle

www.grapevinebook.com
Susan Peabody was given a copy of Grapevine, Aged to Perfection this week and found she could not put it down.  And then by happenstance, she read about the hidden needle in the book and went back through it till she found it on her first try.  Congratulations Susan and thank you for your kind comments.  

12.)  Susan Peabody, Grapevine, March 20, 2013

Recent Comments from Friends and Readers

I am sure enjoying my New Grapevine book!  I have read the book three times!!  You have done such a great job, I have been bragging about it all over town!!!! Now I want two more !!!   Edie Gillette

The Mayor told me last night that he had seen it and that the photographs were absolutely amazing. Darlene Freed

We received our copy of "Grapevine, aged to perfection" today and have thoroughly enjoyed reading and looking through it. Chuck Edwards

The book is fantastic.  Wanda Gibson

I Love the book, I have it front and center in my office. Found the Needle!  Blake Thompson

Found Needles!

A lot of people are continuing to look, and some find the proverbial needle in the haystack.  The folks below have found the needle just recently:

5.) Tiffany Ross at Robinson Orthodontists, Grapevine, Sept 12th
6.) Blake Thompson at Sewell Cadillac, Grapevine, Sept 15th
7.) Duff O'Dell, Grapevine, Sept 18th
8.) Megan Overman, GCISD, Sept 20th
9.) Matthew Mitchell, Grapevine, Sept 20th
10.)  Patricia Pulley, Grapevine, Oct 12th
11.) Kailey Yoder, 10 yrs old, Willamina, Oregon, Oct 22

Then and Now!

www.GrapevineBook.com   I was showing many of the pages of the book, 'Grapevine, Aged to Perfection,' to a gentleman who grew up in Grapevine.  When he turned to the two pages of the Grapevine Elementary School classroom, he became transfixed. The 2 page spread shows a 3rd grade classroom from 1952 and a classroom of today. He wasn't in the particular 1952 photograph, but he knew most of the children who sat in Mrs. Wright's class and he began going through the photograph and pointing them out to me.
   There is a gulf between the two photographs of 60 years. Teaching is done very differently and also very much the same. The students in the Digital Classroom at Grapevine Elementary School are using computers, digital cameras and all manner of devices to do their schoolwork and learn to use today's technology.
   But nearly everyone who pages through the book stops at these two pages for a few extra moments, even if they didn't grow up here. There are several 'Then & Now' spreads in the book, but this one takes everyone back to an earlier point in their lives and causes them to ponder.  Our personal history is important to everyone of us.
   It is also important for our community to look back and to look forward. How will the photographs of today be looked on by our descendants in 60 years?  What kind of life will they be living?  What kind of community are we leaving for them and what will their values be?

FOUND A NEEDLE?

 www.GrapevineBook.com
    The book is of course finished and is being distributed as quickly as we can get it around.  All of the books ordered online have gone out, and many of the sponsors and advertisers have received theirs.  Should have almost everyone covered by Wednesday morning, Sept 12th.
    In the meantime, a little game was enjoined with readers of the book.  I have hidden a needle, yes, a sewing needle, in one of the photographs of the book.  I have a hint, which you will either find very helpful, or completely befuddling.  Sooo...  use it at your own risk.  It goes: "You can walk on them, stand on them, or sit on them.  But this one doesn't go anywhere."
    The first 50 winners receive an autographed copy by Santa himself of 'Conversations with Santa' about the delightful things children say to Santa, and a gold reindeer button. I will tell you that at the rate people are finding this needle, you will have to act fast.
    The first two winners are:
1.) Diane Cammarata, Grapevine, Sept 8th  
2.) Kayleigh Frank, 12 years old, Grapevine, Sept 8th.
3.) Chuck Edwards, Oak Leaf, Sept 11th
4.) Marc Ben-Meir, Fort Worth, Sept 11th
    BTW, the book remains on sale at a 20% discount through the end of GrapeFest, September 16th.  These make a great coffee table book for your home and office, and an equally wonderful gift for Christmas for friends, family and clients who live far away.