G&G Party Pics

G&G Weekend at the Omni Homestead

G&G readers experienced a memorable weekend of festivities celebrating 250 years of America’s first resort.

The weekend kicked off with a Welcome Party on the Croquet Lawn featuring food, drinks, and decor inspired by G&G’s The Southerner’s Cookbook. The next day, guests participated in an outdoor activity with the Omni Homestead team and enjoyed a Jeffersonian Luncheon, moderated by G&G contributor and author Julia Reed and G&G editor in chief David DiBenedetto. Preston Van Winkle of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery led a very special bourbon tasting and closed the weekend with a sunset dinner at the Homestead Shooting Club.

Special thanks to:
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Westrock Coffee

View as Slideshow

Guests start the weekend line-up with an outdoor feast inspired by G&G’s The Southerner’s Cookbook.

Photo: Joy Asico

Incredible panoramic views of the resort areas and tower at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Photo: Joy Asico

A delicious start to the morning with Westrock Coffee’s Rwanda Peaberry Supreme blend and the Homestead’s famous bacon and poppy seed doughnuts.

Photo: Joy Asico

Guests participate in Saturday morning activities, including a falconry demonstration with trained birds of prey.

Photo: Joy Asico

Amber Merl enjoys the sporting clays course at the Homestead Shooting Club.

Photo: Joy Asico

A lively lunch and discussion with G&G contributor and author Julia Reed and editor in chief David DiBenedetto about Reed’s new book, Julia Reed’s South.

Photo: Joy Asico

The luncheon’s menu is borrowed from the Jeffersonian chapter in Julia Reed’s South, inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s many culinary passions.

Photo: Joy Asico

Omni-Homestead_8

Preston Van Winkle of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery leads a highly anticipated bourbon tasting.

Photo: Joy Asico

A unique opportunity to taste the 10-year, 12-year, 15-year, and 20-year bottles of bourbon provided by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.

Photo: Joy Asico

Robert Ash, of Omni Hotels & Resorts, prepares a dish for the closing dinner at the Homestead Shooting Club.

Photo: Joy Asico

David DiBenedetto and Alayna Oram pose in front of the Allegheny Mountains, which serve as a beautiful backdrop for the progressive game dinner on Saturday evening.

Photo: Joy Asico