Wine Down Wednesdays series launches Sept. 4 at the Arboretum

The Arboretum is hosting a new event series, Wine Down Wednesdays, that starts Sept. 4.

The event will be on the first Wednesday of every month through December from 6–8 p.m. Attendees will be able to sample wine and food and enjoy live music while businesses will host in-store discounts and events.

One business participating is the local franchise of Savory Spice Shop, owned by Alicia Phipps. She said attendees can taste her spices in sampler items, such as dips. Phipps said that although events held at the Renaissance Hotel in the Arboretum sometimes help bring in customers, business in the center often slows down around 6 p.m.

"We hope it drives more traffic into the center in the evenings," she said. "Our nights would be more productive."

The events are free, and attendees may check in at the registration table between Amy's Ice Creams and Restoration Hardware to sign up for a gift card giveaway. The drawing for an unannounced grand prize will be Dec. 4.

For the Sept. 4 event, bands include Dave Madden, Chris Hawkes, Haydn Vitera and Ryan Gould. Primizie Catering will be providing food at different wine stations. Items include chipotle grilled chicken salad with avocado mousse, blue cheese mousse crostini, caprese skewers and vegetables served in a pine wood cone.

Phipps, who opened her shop in September 2011, said she hopes the event series will catch on.

"It's a fantastic idea," she said. "It's about time [the Arboretum] did something."