How great it was to be with many of the La Tienda community at our first annual Giant Paella & Sangria Festival in Williamsburg. We enjoyed putting faces to the names of so many people we have known only through the Internet. In addition, our family enjoyed sharing memories with others about the good times we all had in Spain.

Some of you came from all over the Mid-Atlantic states - a lot more from all over Virginia and North Carolina. Close to 500 of us gathered during the afternoon and early evening. It was an extraordinary event which raised $3,000 for charity. We were brave souls, as it was the hottest day of the year, with the temperature topping an unseasonable 100 degrees! Some of the children had the right idea, chasing each other with squirt bottles!

But the band kept playing and the patient souls in line enjoyed some free sangria while our volunteer chefs from José Andres' Jaleo Restaurant in Washington made several paellas - two of them were nine feet in diameter. The Festival was an "all hands" effort of the entire La Tienda staff and many friends in the Williamsburg area.

Many of you have asked whether we will have another Paella & Sangria Festival next year, and that is our plan. Based on the huge response to this year's event we're working on adding tapas to the menu, more seating in general, and shortening the lines!

Thanks again for your enthusiastic support. We hope you enjoyed yourselves and we look forward to seeing you again in 2009!