Capping off the Capital Home Show

What a whirlwind weekend! As quickly as we took over the Dulles Expo Center it seemed it was time for us to leave. That's right folks, the Capital Home Show has come and gone - and what an amazing event. We'd like to take a moment to thank the incredible and talented celebrities, DIY gurus, interior designers, Realtors, and home improvement professionals who came together to make the show such a success. We're very fortunate to work with such a skilled group of individuals.

If you weren't able to attend the event, don't worry. We've rounded up our favorite moments from the show, so everyone can feel like they were there. Here's what you missed:

Jason Cameron, host of Man Caves, Sledgehammer, and Desperate Landscapes wowed Main Stage audiences with his home improvement know-how and a fun behind-the-scenes look at his work on the DIY Network.

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, took to the Main Stage to talk about life on the Beekman farm, how sustainable living has changed their lives, and their latest book.

Denise Sabia, the voice behind The Paint Home Blog, designed a beautiful Main Stage to help show guests the power of mixing new and old decor, and how they can upcycle thrift store finds.

The French Country Cottage

The Wine Tasting Room

The Writers Retreat

Home show attendees were able to explore three fully customized sheds at our ShedQuarters feature. Designed by members of the Interior Redesign + Staging Association, each space had a different theme. There was: the Writers Retreat, the French Country Cottage, and the Wine Tasting Room. It was so hard to pick a favorite!

Don't forget your mark your calendars - you don't want to miss the 2016 Home + Remodeling Show! With exciting celebrity guests, hundreds of home experts, innovative features, and so much more, it promises to be the home and garden event of the season. So make sure to save the date! We're at the Dulles Expo Center January 22-24, 2016. Hope to see you there!

DULLES EXPO CENTER
JANUARY 22-24, 2016.

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The Fabulous Beekman Boys at the Capital Home Show

The story about how a New York Times best-selling author and the former Vice President of Healthy Living for Martha Stewart Omnimedia would end up running a goat farm in upstate New York together might be an unlikely one, but it’s the story of the Beekman Boys.  In 2007, author Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, bought a farm in Sharon Springs, NY as a weekend getaway.  What the couple did not know is that the farm, Beekman 1802, would change their lives forever.

Josh and Brent, known as The Fabulous Beekman Boys, have their own show on the Cooking Channel (airing Thursdays at 10 am).  The Boys offer seasonal recipes, gardening tips, and inspired home decor advice on their website, Beekman1802.com.  As a result of their recent success, the Beekman Boys not only took part in the 21st season of CBS’ Amazing Race, but were the grand prize winners.

We had a chance to catch up with the Boys and talk about their visit to the Capital Home Show.

What will you be talking about at Capital Home Show?

“For those in the audience who have not heard of us, we will start by telling the unlikely story of how two guys wound up on a goat farm in upstate New York. We love to interact with the audience and will leave plenty of time for questions and photos, especially for our fans of The Fabulous Beekman Boys as well as CBS’ Amazing Race.” 

Your brand includes cooking, decor, gardening, crafts, cheese…Which projects are you most passionate about? 

“Beekman 1802 Farm is our life and we are passionate about every single season of the year on the farm.  Each experience helps generate exciting new ideas.  Right now we are excited about our newest book Beekman 1802 Style.

We partner with Country Living magazine to share our home design tips, tricks, and resources. In an exciting new partnership with the magazine, we have curated more than 200 images from our extensive archive, including never-before-seen photos of the historic Beekman farmhouse, to put together an inspiring volume for readers. Finally, we will all be able to create a home that is inviting, warm, and perhaps most importantly, fabulous."

Where do you gather most of your inspiration for your new projects?

“Everything we design, whether it’s a book, food project, piece of furniture, or bedroom linen draws inspiration directly from our life on the farm.  William Beekman built the farm in the year 1802, and he was our village’s original mercantilist, so we always think about what items he would have had in his original store and then put a little modern twist on it.”

What is your favorite piece of furniture in your home?

“We love everything in our home and take great pride in the pieces we incorporate.  We are minimalists and are careful about the pieces we bring in.  We would have to say the 600 lb. black walnut table we built for our dining room from a local tree we salvaged from a storm is one of our favorites.”  Learn more about the story here.

Catch the Fabulous Beekman Boys sharing their unique story and expertise on all things home on the Main Stage at the Capital Home Show at 4 pm on Friday, September 25 and 1 pm on Sunday, September 27.  The Capital Home Show takes over the Dulles Expo Center September 25 – 27, 2015.  

Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show! You won't see this kind of deal at the box office, so buy early and SAVE BIG!

DULLES EXPO CENTER
SEPTEMBER 25-27, 2015.

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Stretch Your Dollar With These DIY Tips

Looking to stretch your home improvement budget? There's no better place to get ideas, inspiration, and a little DIY know-how than the OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show. Check out our list of the top four things to do and see at the show to help you become a DIY darling.

1. Stop by the U Build It and Be Your Own Builder booths to get information about doing your own construction or renovation on your home or office.

2. Learn how to reduce and re-use when it comes to water consumption. SqueezeEveryDrop.com will share ways to use less water outdoors and in with drought-tolerant landscape materials, proper irrigation, and leak solutions. Register to win a rain barrel and other cool irrigation tools.

3. Make your home safer. Did you know most accidents in the home are due to slips and falls? Rebuilding Together OKC will share information on increasing safety within the home by implementing a few simple fixes.

4. Catch these DIY presentations at the show:

• "Design Tips to Flip For" and "Undercover DIY: Secrets to Becoming a Do-It-Yourself Guru" are fun, interactive presentation by John and Whitney Spinks of HGTV's Flipping The Block fame.
• "What to Plant When" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, stars of the Cooking Channel's The Fabulous Beekman Boys, will inspire you to grow more of what you eat.
• "Container Gardening - Anyone Can Do It" by Julia Laughlin, former Oklahoma State University Horticulture Professor is ready to help folks discover this innovative gardening style.
• "DIY Home and Office Building Projects" by Bob Braudrick of U Build It will give attendees insight into a variety of DIY projects, from small ones to 50,000 square feet.

The OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show takes over the Oklahoma State Fair Park March 20-22, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Stretch your home improvement budget even further with this exclusive offer: get 2-for-1 tickets on Facebook!

MARCH 20 - 22, 2015.
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR PARK

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Sharing Success: Lessons From The Farm

Josh-Kilmer Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge are stars of the Cooking Channel's hit series, The Fabulous Beekman Boys. But things weren't so fabulous in upstate New York when they lost their "city-slicker" jobs in 2008 and had a mortgage on the Beekman Farm. They turned their story of job loss and debt into one of success and sharing.

The Beekman Boys worked with a neighbor to learn about goat farming. Their first lifestyle products were soaps and cheeses made from goat milk. As they were working to make the farm profitable, Josh and Brent won CBS' Amazing Race. It allowed them to pay off the mortgage on the farm; however, their aspirations were higher. They wanted to give back to their community. They created a pasta sauce made from heirloom tomatoes called Mortgage Lifter. The pasta sauce is now carried in large retail locations and part of the profits go to help other farmers pay off their mortgages.

Through it all, the Beekman Boys learned a lesson on how to live. Sustainability became part of their lifestyle. They learned to delay gratifications so that the first tomato of the season tastes like a dream after growing them from seeds and not having tomatoes for months.

During the OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show, Josh and Brent will share their story and encourage others to live off what they "grow" and give back to the community. Hear The Fabulous Beekman Boys present "What to Plant When" Saturday, March 21st at 12pm and 4pm, and Sunday, March 22nd at 12pm and 4pm. The OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show takes over the Oklahoma State Fair Park March 20-22, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and come enjoy the show!

MARCH 20 - 22, 2015.
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR PARK

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Don't Miss The Fabulous Beekman Boys At The Birmingham Home + Garden Show

Guests at the Birmingham Home + Garden Show will get to hear all about Dr. Brent Ridge's and Josh Kilmer-Purcell's antics and life on the farm with 100+ goats when the Fabulous Beekman Boys appear at the show February 13, 14 and 15.

But before they leave the farm behind to spend a couple days with us, we asked them a few of our most burning questions:

Marketplace Events (MPE): What is your favorite seasonal vegetable to cook, and your favorite way to prepare it?

• The Fabulous Beekman Boys (BB): "We love all of the winter squashes. One of our favorite (and easiest) ways to prepare butternut squash (Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls) can be found in our original cookbook, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook."

MPE: The farm-to-table movement continues to be popular with consumers. What tips do you have for consumers wanting to better connect with and support their local farmers?

• BB: "We know that all consumers are budget conscious and have a dedicated amount each week or month to spend on their family's food. We encourage people to take 5 or 10% of that budget and commit to spending just that amount at your local farmer's market."

MPE: You won CBS' Amazing Race. What two celebrity chefs or lifestyle experts would you love to see paired up on the next season?

• BB: "When we were speaking with our friend Martha Stewart right after the race, she seemed VERY intrigued, so we think she and her daughter, Alexis, should make a run."

MPE: Everyone loves the baby goat cam at your farm. What life lessons have you learned from the goats?

• BB: "What we try to do at Beekman 1802 (and help others do via our website) is to help people make the very most of each season. Anyone who lives on a farm will verify you just never know what the next one is going to bring."

The Fabulous Beekman Boys take the Fresh Ideas Home Stage at the Birmingham Home + Garden Show February 13 at 7pm, February 14 at 2pm and 7pm, and February 15 at 2pm. Don't miss them! Buy your show tickets early to avoid box office lines and get the best price - right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets on Facebook.

FEBRUARY 12 - 15, 2015.
BIRMINGHAM-JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX

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The Fabulous Beekman Boys At The Philadelphia Home Show

The story about how a New York Times best selling author and the former Vice President of Healthy Living for Martha Stewart Ominmedia would end up running a goat farm in upstate New York together might be an unlikely one, but it's the story of the Beekman Boys. In 20017, author Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his now husband, Dr. Brent Ridge bought a farm in Sharon Springs, NY, as a weekend getaway from the hectic city lifestyle. What they didn't know was that farm, Beekman 1802, would change their lives forever.

To many, Josh and Brent are known as The Fabulous Beekman Boys, which is also the name of their show on the Cooking Channel (airing Thursdays at 10pm). The Boys offer seasonal recipes, gardening tips, and inspired home decor advice on their website, Beekman1802.com. As a result of their recent success, the Beekman Boys not only took part in the 21st season of CBS' Amazing Race, but were the grand prize winners.

We recently got the chance to talk to Brent and Josh about their upcoming trip to the Philadelphia Home Show and the unique experience they'll be bringing with them.

Marketplace Events (MPE): What will you be talking about at the Philadelphia Home Show?

• Beekman Boys (BB): "For those in the audience who have no idea who we are, we always start out telling the unlikely story of how two guys wound up on a goat farm in upstate NY, and we always leave lots of time for questions and photos for all the fans who know us from our Cooking Channel show, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, and our time on CBS' Amazing Race."

MPE: Your brand includes cooking, decor, gardening, crafts, cheese...Which projects are you most passionate about?

• BB: "Beekman 1802 Farm really is our life and we are passionate about every single season of the year on the farm. Each experience helps generate a thousand new ideas. Right now we are most excited about the fact that our Mortgage Lifter sauces, made using real heirloom tomatoes, will be available in every Target store in America this spring. For these sauces we give back 25% of the profits to give other small farms a 'Lift'."

MPE: Where do you gather most of your inspiration for your new projects?

• BB: "Everything we design, whether it's a book, food product, piece of furniture, or bedroom linen draws inspiration directly from our life on the farm. William Beekman built the farm in the year 1802, and he was our village's original mercantilist, so we always think about what items he would have had in his original store and then put a little modern twist on them."

MPE: Are there any new recipes or tips you'd like to share?

• BB: "It's been a brutally cold winter so far, so why don't we share one of our favorite soups from our latest cookbook: the smoky corn chowder. People can get the recipe here."

MPE: What is your favorite piece of furniture in your home?

• BB: "This is a tough question as we are very particular about the things that we bring into the house. We are anti-hoarders and labor over every single decision about what comes in. We would probably have to say the 600lb black walnut table that we built for our dining room from a local tree that had been blown over in a storm." Learn the story of this table here.

Catch the Fabulous Beekman Boys sharing their unique story and expertise on anything horticultural on the Main Stage at the Philadelphia Home Show at 4pm on Friday, January 23 and at noon and 4:30pm on Saturday, January 24. The Philadelphia Home Show takes over the Pennsylvania Convention Center January 23 - 25, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on our Facebook Ticket Deals.

JANUARY 23 - 25, 2015
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER 

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The Fabulous Beekman Boys’ 10 Essential Kitchen Items

Interested in spicing up your dishes and bringing more life and freshness into your food? Get inspiration from The Fabulous Beekman Boys and the things they keep in their kitchen that add a little wow to each plate. Check out the top ten culinary necessities Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell can't live without, and learn why they make such a difference.

1. Immersion Blender: We make a lot of soups, many of which need to be pureed. Transferring the mixture to a food processor is not only messy, but can be dangerous if the mixture is still hot. An immersion blender takes care of both of those problems.

2. Lemons, Lemons, Lemons: We make sure we’re never out of lemons. We use the zest to garnish and brighten the flavor of all sorts of dishes. If we don’t need the juice right away, we freeze it in ice cube trays. And we don’t even throw away the juiced carcass; we use them with salt as an easy way to keep our copper polished.

Image via the kitchen

3. Demitasse Saucer: No cup necessary. No, we’re not being precious. For years we would get annoyed by the ground pepper “footprint” left underneath the pepper grinder no matter how well we would shake it after use. Now we set it on a random demitasse saucer we found at a flea market, which is the perfect small size not to take up more counter space but still capture the spilled pepper.

4. Panko: Better than breadcrumbs, and now readily available in most grocery stores.

5. Instant Tapioca: We feel confident enough to settle the flour vs. cornstarch thickener debate once and for all: neither work as well as instant tapioca to thicken fruit for pies and sauces.

6. Corn Meal: We like to add a little corn meal to pie crusts and other cold-weather baked good. It adds a flavor and texture that using 100% flour can lack.

7. Real Cultured Butter: For greasing baking pans and sautéing vegetables, regular grocery store butter is fine. But when baking desserts, real cultured (often European branded) butter adds a much richer flavor. And if you’re taking the time to bake from scratch, make it count. Check your farmer’s market for local sources.

8. Plain Yogurt: When a dessert recipe calls for whole milk, we almost always substitute yogurt or sour cream for a portion of it. If you get the chance to add more flavor to something, why wouldn’t you take it?

9. Beekman 1802 Apron: This might seem self-serving, but we designed our apron to fulfill a need we couldn’t find elsewhere. Our apron has two thermal-resistant pockets sewn into the hem, so there’s no more looking for potholders.

Image via Beekman 1802

10. Nylon Pan Scrapers: Much easier to use and longer-lasting than steel wool pads.

To get more tips for simple cooking that tastes great, and for getting more involved in the farm-to-table movement, make sure to see The Fabulous Beekman Boys at the Deseret News Home Show, October 10-12 at the South Towne Expo Center. This fantastic duo will grace the Kitchen Stage on Friday and Saturday.  

Treat your taste buds and a friend or family member to the show - right now you can get two tickets for the price of one when you like us on Facebook. What are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now. We can't wait to see you at the show!

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Seasonal Living On The Beekman Farm

In 2008, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell purchased a beautiful neighborhood farm in upstate New York for weekend getaways to relax and refine their gardening skills. At the time, both were leading busy lives in New York City—Brent was a geriatrician turned vice president of a health and wellness magazine, and Josh was a former advertising executive and New York Times bestselling author. During the recession, both men were hit hard and were forced to make an important decision about their futures in the city. Fortunately, this difficult time only brought Brent and Josh closer and served as the catalyst to finally start their own business with the Beekman farm as the foundation. From that moment on and with the support of many in the community, Brent and Josh inspired a movement in seasonal living.

We're thrilled to have Brent and Josh, or The Fabulous Beekman Boys as they're better known on their hit Cooking Channel show, joining us at the Deseret News Home Show. These city-meets-country charmers will be appearing live on the Kitchen Stage to talk about the farm-to-table movement, living seasonally, and creating traditional, wholesome, delicious dishes. But before you see them at the show, get to know the boys a little better with our brief interview below.

 Three Questions for the Beekman Boys

Marketplace Events (MPE): How have your lives changed since moving out of New York City to the Beekman Farm in a much smaller community?

• Beekman Boys (BB): "With our careers in the city, we were merely part of the daily grind. Days were indistinguishable, and we had a tendency to take things for granted. Life on the farm has taught us the pleasures of seasonal living, delayed gratification, and truly appreciating what we have around us." 

MPE: What is one of the most memorable moments from filming The Fabulous Beekman Boys?

• BB: "The most memorable experience for us is watching how the show has changed our little community of 547 people in Sharon Springs. We have annual Harvest Festivals that now bring over 12,000 new “friends and neighbors” into our community each autumn." 

MPE: What will both of you discuss on stage at the Deseret News Home Show in Salt Lake City?

• BB: "We’ll discuss how our life together on the farm inspires everything we create and design - from our recipes to our beauty products to our furniture collection. We also want to inspire the Salt Lake audience to visit our little community in Sharon Springs." 

The Deseret News Home Show takes over the South Towne Center October 10-12, 2014. Make sure to grab your tickets soon so you don't miss The Fabulous Beekman Boys. Right now you can get two tickets for the price of one when you like us on Facebook. We can't wait to see you at the show!

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The Fabulous Beekman Boys At The Jacksonville Home + Patio Show

Guests at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show will get to hear all about city-meets-country antics and life on a farm with 100+ goats when The Fabulous Beekman Boys appear live at the show, October 3-5, 2014. Before asking Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell to leave the farm behind and spend a couple days with us, we asked them a few questions about sustainable living. Enjoy a sneak peek of what to expect from them at the show and get some vegetable cooking inspiration.

The Fabulous Beekman Boys

Marketplace Events (MPE): What is your favorite fall vegetable to cook, and what are your favorite ways to prepare it?

• Beekman Boys (BB): "We love all of the winter squashes. One of our favorite (and one of the easiest) ways to prepare butternut squash, Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls, can be found in our original cookbook, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook."

MPE: The farm to table movement continues to be popular. What tips do you have for individuals looking to better connect with and support their local farms?

• BB: "We know that all consumers are budget conscious and have a dedicated amount each week or month to spend on their family's food. We encourage people to take 5 or 10% of that budget and commit to spending just that amount at your local farmer's market."

MPE: The holidays are around the corner. What vegetable side dish do you recommend for those who want to WOW their guests with something other than the same old green bean casserole? 

• BB: "These are so many options. How about celery root puree? Or perhaps Brussels sprouts au gratin?"

MPE: You won The Amazing Race. What two celebrity chefs or lifestyle experts would you love to see compete on the show?

• BB: "When we were speaking with our friend Martha Stewart right after the race, she seemed VERY intrigued, so we think she and her daughter, Alexis, should make a run."

MPE: Everyone loves the baby goat cam at your farm. What life lessons have you learned from your goats?

• BB: "What we try to do at Beekman 1802 (and help others do, via our website, Beekman1802.com), is to help people make the very most of each season. Anyone who lives on a farm will verify you just never know what the next one is going to bring."

Don't miss The Fabulous Beekman Boys at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show. They'll grace the Fresh Ideas Stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Make sure to buy your show tickets online to get the best deals - right now, you can get two tickets for the price of one when you like us on Facebook. What are you waiting for? Save today. We can't wait to see you at the show!

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