With the help of a gospel choir, fire dancer and a personable monkey, last winter’s inaugural season of the TOWN dinner series — short for Traveling Off-Season For Wine Night — redefined what a wine dinner can look like.
Arthur Murray, co-owner of Flambeaux Wine, and Alexander Harris (who goes by A3l3xzand3r), co-owner of The Harris Gallery Art & Wine Collection, co-founded the Wine Country dinner series in 2023.
With 2025 fast approaching, Murray and Harris are back at it, creating a new round of downright fun food, wine and art experiences.
“We’re getting wilder and weirder,” Murray said. “If there’s an antithesis to stuffy, these dinners are it.”
With the wisdom of TOWN’s 2024 season under their belts, Harris and Murray are making some tweaks. Last year there were five monthly dinners that started in November and ran through March. For the 2025 season, a series of three dinners will kick off in February, after the bustle of the winter holidays has calmed down.
However, the majority of what dedicated fans quickly grew to love is staying true to form. Every experience will have a unique theme where guests can only expect the unexpected. Last year’s entertainment included live clay sculpting, knockout performances by Muay Thai fighters, and photo opportunities with a monkey and sloth. Murray and Harris have developed a knack for making their wine dinner dreams reality.
Unlike conventional Wine Country dinners that ordinarily focus on one wine label, TOWN will continue to highlight multiple community businesses, including restaurants and wine brands other than their own.
When Harris and Murray created the TOWN dinner series concept, the goal was to attract out-of-town visitors during the off-season and encourage them to hang around for a night or more. That hasn’t changed. When dinner guests purchase tickets, they receive a discount code that can be used at participating hotels. The hotels this year include Montage Healdsburg, Hotel Healdsburg, The Madrona, Harmon Guest House and h2hotel.
The first two dinners will take place at local restaurants. Themes vary from “Banquet of the Gods” at Montage Healdsburg’s Hazel Hill (Feb. 6) to “Revolutions” at Dry Creek Kitchen at Hotel Healdsburg (March 7).
“We are thrilled to be a part of the series again next year. Last year’s dinner was such a fun event on multiple fronts and a great opportunity for our culinary and service teams to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience,” said Jason Pringle, Montage Healdsburg executive chef. “I also enjoyed seeing our local community gather and experience a non-conventional dinner with a playful, whimsical feel.”
The concept of community and bringing people together isn’t lost on TOWN’s creators. The third dinner will take place in Geyserville (April 4) with numerous neighborhood players joining in the “Spaghetti Western” action. Similar to a progressive dinner, Cyrus, Diavola, Catelli’s and Geyserville Gun Club will serve their take on spaghetti and meatballs, with a taste of the Wild West.
So kick up your boots and embrace your inner cowpoke, because the duo behind the TOWN dinner series is out to make it a night to remember. From tumbleweed to outlaws, anything’s possible.
“It’s going to be epic,” Murray said.
Visit the TOWN website and @towndinners on Instagram for the latest updates. Guest wineries include Aperture Cellars, Vérité and A. Rafanelli Winery, respectively. Ticket prices range from $250 to $350 depending on the dinner.
Ready to experience the extraordinary? Don’t miss your chance to be part of TOWN’s one-of-a-kind dinner series, where food, wine, art, and entertainment collide in unforgettable ways. Tickets are limited, so secure your spot today and prepare for a season of epic culinary adventures. Visit the TOWN website or follow @towndinners on Instagram for updates, and get ready to redefine your wine dinner experience.
