Red, White and Brews

Red (shoes), white (check) and brews (for you)

Join Red Shoe Cville at Wild Wing Café on July 23 at 6pm for Red, White and Brews – our way of celebrating our incredible Members and volunteers while reaching out to fun new people who might like to help us in our mission to build awareness for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville. This is your chance to get an answer to the question “What is Red Shoe?”, hear what we have planned for the rest of the year, meet some new people and, of course, have fun!

The evening’s activities will include a local brewery Tap Takeover, Flip Cup Competition (with prizes!), Corn Hole and presentation of a check to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville for over $20,000, raised at this year’s Red Shoe Cville Downtown Chili Showdown!

Additionally, Red Shoe would like to extend a special invite and thank you to all the hardworking volunteers that made the 2015 Downtown Chili Showdown such a huge success. If you volunteered at the event please know we have a complimentary beer with your name on it!

The only way Red Shoe Cville could be better is if YOU were a part of it!  We are excited about growing our organization this year and spreading the word about the great things the Ronald McDonald House does, so please bring your friends and join us at Wild Wings on July 23rd for a fun night of meeting, greeting and, of course, beer!

Red, White and Brews

Thursday, July 23

6:00pm - 10:00pm

Wild Wing Cafe
820 W. Main St.

Meals from the Heart

At the end of a long day at the hospital, a home cooked meal, prepared with compassion and care, is a welcome sight for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville.   In an effort to lessen the burden, reduce stress and enhance the quality of life for resident families, RMH of Cville provides a hot meal evening for families to share.  Most nights these meals are prepared by community volunteers.   

On the third Monday of each Red Shoe Cville Members are lucky enough to be able to provide one of these dinners as part of the RMH of Cville "Meals from the Heart Program". Not only is it a great way to give back to our community by supporting RMH of Cville, it's a really fun time that all of our Members look forward to.  

During the summer many of the regularly scheduled groups and organizations that usually fill the RMH of Cville meals calendar are away, so right now they are seeking additional help from RSC to fill in.  If you and your friends are interested in helping out, simply contact RMH of Cville Volunteer Coordinator Mary Ann Coffey at mcoffey@rmhcharlottesville.org.  

For more information on how you can sign up to make a meal with RSC check out our Sign-Up Genius page here. And don't fret if you're new to the process, RSC Volunteer Coordinator, Carl Schwarz, is happy to walk you through everything and answer any questions you might have.  Your help is greatly appreciated and brings comfort to those who really need it!

THANK YOU

We are thrilled to say that you all totally rocked the 2015 Downtown Chili Showdown and with your help we were able to raise over $20,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville.  Yep, you read that right, TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!   That is A LOT of chili and beer!

We're so grateful to our generous sponsors, amazing volunteers, talented cooks and all the wonderful people of Charlottesville and surrounding communities who came out to join us. While we joke a lot about "drinking for charity" (which we do enjoy doing), but what it really comes down to is that work we do through Red Shoe Cville truly makes a difference in the lives of families with critically ill and injured children who stay at RMH of Cville.  The money we raise allows them to house, feed and care for nearly one thousand families every year - and every single penny counts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

Downtown Chili Showdown

And the Winners Are...

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2015 Downtown Chili Showdown!

1st Place Judge's Choice:  Haven 151 B&B

Runner Up: Belly Achin' Chili

1st Place People's Choice: Belly Achin' Chili

Runner Up: Team Spicy Chicken (Beefalo Chili)

1st Place Best Booth: Belly Achin' Chili

Runner-Up: Doug's Maytag

Congratulations and thank you to all of the amazing chili cooks who participated in our 2015 event. We were blown away by the quality of the chili that each team presented and our judges concurred that narrowing it down to a favorite was extremely difficult.  On behalf of Red Shoe Cville and the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are all winners in our book!

Be a VIP

While we already know how important you are, here's your chance to make sure everyone else knows it too...

For the first time ever we're offering a few lucky chili cook-off attendees the opportunity to reserve a special seat in our VIP area, along with all the other perks being a VIP brings.  For just $100 you will get the following: 

• One reserved seat at a table in our exclusive VIP Area

• Unlimited chili samples

• One vote for your favorite chili cook

• One beer ticket for each of the 5 Blind Beer Battles

• Special VIP-sized pours of each beer purchased from our Local Brewery Booths 

• a commemorative Downtown Chili Showdown pint glass

• a highly sought after, difficult to acquire Red Shoe Cville light-up beer boot mug 

C'mon - you know you've always wanted a light-up beer boot mug AND wouldn't you just LOVE having the best seat in the house reserved just for you?!?!

VIP Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and are available on-line through April 16 only.  Visit the Downtown Chili Showdown website to purchase your VIP Seats today!

Calling All Beer Lovers!

If you've read anything about this year's Downtown Chili Showdown you already know that it's going to be pretty freaking awesome.  There's just one last little detail we need to hammer out to ensure that it is the BEST chili cook-off ever...we need volunteers to make it all happen! 

We are seeking volunteers 18 years or older to help with the Brew Ha-Ha Blind Beer Battle that will happen at the event on Saturday, April 18.  There are several one-hour shifts for volunteer beer pourers during the Blind Beer Battles, as well as a super special all-day shift for those of who you just can't get enough! All volunteers will receive a special RSC Volunteer T-shirt and volunteers 21 years and older who volunteer for the entire day will have the opportunity to attend a special beer-themed Volunteer Reception at the end of the event! Yep, you get the chance to have a super fun time while helping the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville accomplish their mission AND there will be beer!
 
If you are interested in helping out just fill out our preliminary poll here letting us know your availability.  You will be contacted closer to the event with specifics, so please include your email address in the comments section of the poll.  If you have questions about volunteering at this or at any RSC events, email our Volunteer Coordinator, SuperCarl Schwarz at caschwarz83@gmail.com

We so appreciate your interest in helping to make this event a success and promise a fun filled day with delicious chili and an opportunity to enjoy a great local beer tasting!

People's Choice: Yes, It IS a Popularity Contest

Did you know that our annual chili cook-off has two different tasting categories?  The first - Judge's Choice - is a blind taste test judged by an esteemed panel of local celebrity judges, based solely on which samples they think taste best.  The second category - People's Choice - is all about the taste...and the money.  With your $10 admission you get one vote, so place it wisely.  But, what if you want to give your favorite chili an edge?  No problem.  Since all of the money we raise goes back to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville, we are so not above giving anyone who is willing to pay for their team to have a competitive advantage in this category the opportunity to do so.   Each ten dollar donation over your initial entry fee gives you one additional vote.  You can give all of your votes to one team - or split them up amongst your favorites, but remember, the team with the most votes takes home not just the prize, but bragging rights as well!  With your donation not only are you giving your favorite chili cooks a competitive edge, you're making the difference in the lives of the hundreds of families who call RMHC a home every year!

So, Chili Cooks, it's up to you to rally your friends, family, colleagues, neighbors and everyone else you know who might owe you a favor to count up their pennies and get them downtown on April 18.  Your pride is depending on them! 

We LOVE Our Sponsors

Wow - the community has REALLY come together to support this year's Downtown Chili Showdown! It truly takes a village to pull this delicious day together so please, take some time to show our sponsors some love!

The Sasha Farmer Team doesn't just help families buy and sell homes across Central Virginia, as huge community supporters they help in a million other ways.  Having faithfully supported Red Shoe Cville in our efforts to build awareness about the Ronald McDonald House Charities since our inception (including having been a sponsor since our very first chili cook-off!) the Sasha Farmer Team has more than earned their highly sought after Spicy Chicken Sponsor designation. Thank you Team, we are so grateful for all of you!

Monticello Media has stepped up again to support us in a BIG way as our 2015 Media Sponsor.  In addition to great ads on all five of their stations, Hot 101.9's PJ Styles is hanging with RSC President Brooke Jenkins and local brewers for a special "What's On Tap?" video segment.  Check it out here! 

A big thanks to Presenting Sponsor  Main Street Arena, for allowing us to take over their amazing space on again on April 18, 2015!  There's no better place to house chili cooks, local breweries, an amazing special VIP seating area (stay tuned for info about this!), fun for the kids and hundreds of the most awesome people from our community raising money for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville!   

Please join us in welcoming The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, who is jumping in with feet first as our 2015 Habanero Sponsor! We're psyched to have them on board (no pun intended!) and are so very grateful for their generosity.  It would not be possible for us to hold this event without the kindness of our sponsors, so please help us in showing our gratitude by showing our friends at CHO some love!

Portions of the annual operating costs for Ronald McDonald Houses across the country are graciously funded by McDonald’s and owner/operators of local McDonald’s restaurants.  This makes the fact that McDonald's has stepped up as our Cayenne Sponsor for the second year even more awesome.   So, if you happen to be wondering what to do for lunch today....




We are incredibly indebted to the seven local breweries (Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Devils Backbone Brewery, South Street Brewery, Star Hill Brewery, Three Notch'd Brewing Company and Wild Wolf Brewing Company) who not only immediately hopped on board when asked to be a part of our Brew Ha Ha event, but responded with "How else can we help?".  While in most situations "Bring beer!" would be our answer, it takes a little more than beer to make this event happen.  So with that in mind, we're hoping we can twist your arms just a bit to ask that you visit their establishments as a way of showing just how thankful we are!

Make a Meal, Make a Difference

When a child is receiving medical treatment for serious illness or injury, taking away the worry of "what's for dinner?" can be a wonderful relief. This is why one our favorite ways to help out at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville (RMHC) is by volunteering for their "Meals from the Heart" program. 

Red Shoe Cville volunteers provide a meal for RMHC residents on the third Monday of each month. If you're interested in helping out check out our Sign Up Page here or contact our Volunteer Coordinator Carl Schwarz, at caschwarz83@gmail.com or 417-540-1791.  

If our regular dinner rotation doesn't work for you there are many other opportunities to give families - many of whom are through the hardest days of their lives - a little piece of mind the rest of the month. The goal at RMHC  is to have at least one prepared meal each day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, even brunch - so there are lots of chances to make someone's day a little better.  Some volunteers even come in just to bake cookies - and trust us, after a long day at the hospital, fresh baked cookies are a welcome sight and smell!

And don't fret if you're new to the process - the RMHC website provides everything you need to know about providing a meal. Plus, Carl is such a great guy that he'll even come to the house on your first evening to give you a brief orientation and make sure you're comfortable with everything.  Bon appetit!

Downtown Chili Showdown

Help Wanted

It takes a lot of effort to keep the the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville (RMHC) running 24-7, 365 days a year.  Despite their incredible dedication and long hours, there are not enough hours in the day to get absolutely everything done.  To help alleviate at least a little bit of their stress, two of our Board Members (Super Carl and Mike the Great) have coordinated with the the RMHC staff to create an opportunity for our volunteers donate a little bit of their time to help get some of these things done.  We are affectionately calling these opportunities  "Saturday Work Parties".  

Here's how it works.  On the first Saturday of each month we get together at the House to tackle whatever the Staff needs done. All you have to do is sign up for a Saturday that works for your schedule (see Sign Up Genius link below) and show up at the house to help that day.  Tasks are generally easy (cleaning, yardwork, basic handywork, etc) and can even be FUN. Recent Saturday Work Party projects included mulching the front yard and moving patio furniture and putting together lockers in the House pantry.

Saturday Work Parties start at 9:00am and we're usually done by around 1:00pm. So, if you're itching for another great way to help out the House (and trust us, every bit of help that you can offer really is valuable), sign up for one of these Saturday mornings. The feeling you get from helping is so much greater than the small amount of time you actually commit, and, dare we say, it can actually be a really good time?!?!?  (Not to mention, you get to spend the morning with your extra super fun fellow Red Shoe Members).  

So, what do you say - are you ready to come party with us? Next party will take place on March 7, but don't despair if you can't make than one, there's plenty of room in the months that follow! Just let us know you're coming by signing up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/8050B49A4A62FA02-1stsaturday 

Hot 101.9: What's on Tap?

Check out RSC President Brooke Jenkins as she talks chili and beer with Three Notch'd Brewing Company Brewmaster Dave Warwick and Hot 101.9's PJ Styles in the first awesome "What's On Tap" segment!

Downtown Chili Showdown

Pull out your aprons because April 18 will be here before you know it! We are certain that this year is going to be epic (though last year's event was so awesome it will be difficult to top), so make sure to read below for all the fun details!

WHAT:
We are so fortunate to be teaming with Main Street Arena and Monticello Media again this year to present the Downtown Chili Showdown! The event promises to be bigger and better than ever with even more teams, special judged categories, opportunities to win cash & prizes (not to mention the coveted Downtown Chili Showdown Trophy!) and - new in 2015 - the Downtown Chili Showdown Brew Ha Ha blind beer battle!

WHEN:
April 18th from 11:30am - 4:00pm

WHERE:
Main Street Arena on the Downtown Mall

HOW: 

• Hometown Cooks/Non-profits - $50 entry fee includes a 10'x10' booth with table, two event t-shirts and two tasting wristbands.  
• Businesses/Restaurants $150 includes an opportunity for on-air food sampling with Monticello Media radio DJs leading up to the event, a 10x10 booth with table, two event t-shirts and two wristbands for tasting (not to mention the opportunity to support a great cause!).
• All-you-can-eat Tasting Tickets - $10 tickets include access to all the chili one could ever want, entertainment from several great bands and lots of other fun event activities.

This year there will be prizes for Popular Choice, Blind Taste Test (judged by local celebrity judges) and Best Booth!

WHO:

Anyone and everyone! The bigger this event gets the better it is!  Interested in cooking?   Download your application here!

Not up for cooking? No problem! You can help by spreading the word, volunteering, and, of course, eating chili! And, by popular demand, we will be selling our infamous Red Shoe Cville boot mugs again this year!  Remember, the more people that eat, drink and cook with us, the more we can give back to The Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville!

QUESTIONS?
Visit the Downtown Chili Showdown website at www.downtownchilishowdown.com  or email redshoecville@gmail.com with any questions regarding cooking, volunteering, attending and anything else you may need to know.  

Meals From the Heart

When a child is receiving medical treatment for serious illness or injury, taking away the worry of "what's for dinner?" can be a wonderful relief. This is why one our favorite ways to help out at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville (RMHC) is by volunteering for their "Meals from the Heart" program. 


Red Shoe Cville volunteers provide a meal for RMHC residents on the third Monday of each month. If you're interested in helping out check out our Sign Up Page here or contact our Volunteer Coordinator Carl Schwarz, at caschwarz83@gmail.com or 417-540-1791.  

If our regular dinner rotation doesn't work for you there are many other opportunities to give families - many of whom are through the hardest days of their lives - a little piece of mind the rest of the month. The goal at RMHC  is to have at least one prepared meal each day – breakfast, lunch, dinner, even brunch - so there are lots of chances to make someone's day a little better.  Some volunteers even come in just to bake cookies - and trust us, after a long day at the hospital, fresh baked cookies are a welcome sight and smell!

And don't fret if you're new to the process - the RMHC website provides everything you need to know about providing a meal. Plus, Carl is such a great guy that he'll even come to the house on your first evening to give you a brief orientation and make sure you're comfortable with everything.  Bon appetit!
 

Brew Ha Ha

Imagine a day filled with tasting incredible chili from amazing local cooks and restaurants accompanied by beer from Charlottesville's best local breweries...Well, that is exactly what we have in store for you on April 18!

In addition to our annual Chili Cook-Off this year, Red Shoe Cville will be hosting Cville's first ever blind beer battle - the Downtown Chili Showdown Brew Ha Ha! We're going to take away the logos from your favorite beers and let YOU decide - purely on taste - who brews your favorite beers!! Added bonus...it's for the kids and families of Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville!

Categories will include IPA, Wheat, Malty/Brown/Stout, Lager and a Brewer's Choice. Tasting flights can be purchased for $5, entitling purchaser to vote for one beer per flight.  Additionally, each brewery will have a beer of their choice available for purchase at their booth for $5.

Participating breweries include: Three Notch'd Brewing Company , South Street Brewery, Blue Mountain Brewery, Devils Backbone Brewing Company, and Wild Wolf Brewing Company.


Stay tuned for more info....

SAVE THE DATE

Get your tastebuds ready because on April 18, 2015 home cooks, restaurants and businesses from around Charlottesville will be donning their chefs hats for the 2015 Downtown Chili Showdown!  This year's competition is going to be bigger and better than ever with even more competitors, great entertainment, and - new for 2015 - the First Annual Downtown Chili Showdown Brew Ha Ha blind beer battle!

Details on how you can get involved will be coming soon, so stay tuned!