Generous Pours, Bottomless Talent at Spoonbill Neighbors’ Event
By Gerry Kurth
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when Marsh Creek’s Spoonbill Neighbors discover lederhosen and a wine list, wonder no more.
Tom and Karen Smith recently opened their home for an Oktoberfest-themed wine tasting that can only be described as creative Bavarian. Dirndls were donned. Lederhosen were buckled. German flags appeared from somewhere. Wine was poured — repeatedly and with enthusiasm.
The evening was one of the Wine Lovers Group’s signature events, organized with his usual care and forethought by Mark Turgeon, who curated a selection of Rieslings and Gewürztraminers — classic German varietals that would have made any Bavarian proud — and contributed a standout bottle of his own that was, by all accounts, the wine of the evening. The tasting was thoughtful, the pours were generous, and then things got interesting. What began as a curated evening somehow became a runaway train with a Bavarian soundtrack. No one complained.
The Smith family’s connection to the theme runs deeper than decor. Tom and Karen hosted the evening as a fond nod to the years the father was stationed in Bavaria with the Army — a place that left a permanent mark on the whole family. The authenticity showed.
It showed perhaps most dramatically when guests were treated to a live performance of The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music — a number no one saw coming and everyone will have difficulty explaining to their children. The yodeling was committed. The choreography was unrehearsed …and unexpected. The audience was supportive.
The entire 4 minute story unfolds here: https://youtu.be/s1W5jAL2HDM
Joanne and Gerry Kurth provided essential support — choreography, organizational energy, and what witnesses described as deeply suppressed Bavarian roots
There are rumors about an encore. Broadway got mentioned. The bar has been set. Disturbingly high.
Prost to all involved — and Danke to the hosts
