CARBONDALE — Jim Talerico set out to bring a little Margaritaville to Carbondale.
The vintner who just this year went pro with his new business, Talerico’s Tropical Wines in Taylor, was a first-time vendor at the popular Taste of the Town fundraiser Sunday, which raises money for the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.
The fervid Jimmy Buffett fan admits none of his grapes come from the tropics.
No, he sources most of his grapes from the Finger Lakes region, but the lei draped over his floral button-down shirt, and the splashy bottle labels announcing flavors like “Drunken Pirate” and “Jamaica Me Smile” might convince you otherwise.
On the mezzanine inside the Anthracite Center at the NBT Bank Building, Talerico poured a few mouthfuls worth into plastic cups for Maureen Price and her mother, Janet Price, who were taking a minute from their own stand, Barbour’s Bakery, below for food and drink.
Among the crowd below, Carbondale musician J. Falbo Acoustic played a medley of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.
Janet Price’s grandmother, Mary Barbour, started the bakery 107 years ago in Childs, she said proudly, and she’s brought their tradition of sweets to Taste of the Town for years.
Around 150 people bought tickets to sample food and wine from 20 area restaurants and wineries, said chamber Executive Director John Gorel.
“These vendors do it for nothing, just to help the chamber fund-raise,” he said, adding that money raised helps fuel the nonprofit’s other endeavors.
“This helps the Tinsel Trail and the light parade; the money goes right back into the community.”
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