March 18:2011: Spring is here at last! Or at least is raising its sleepy head. We expect to be seeing roadside signs proclaiming ramps for sale very soon.  The Ramp Festivals and Ramp Dinners will be starting around West Virginia soon—usually April and May. Gillum House has been known to include ramps in a breakfast during ramp season by request of guests who had never had them.A La Carte Chocolate at 410 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV (10 miles from Shinnston) is having an event on April 9.  This event will have cooking demonstrations all day from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. There will be several premiere foods vendors from central West Virginia showcasing their products as well as flower shops, jewelry and more. A La Carte Chocolate makeswonderful creams, truffles, cordials, etc—all hand-dipped chocolate that makes a perfect gift for the person you love most—YOU!The following week (April 16), Shinnston is holding its first Arts & Crafts Festival. This is a City that is small but mighty! Do not think it is going to be too small to bother with! This is SHINNSTON!! Already a variety of artisans and crafters have  signed up to participate. April 16, 2011 will see a steady stream of people coming to the Festival starting at 9 A.M. in the parking lot behind the Bice-Ferguson Museum. In addition, the Shops of Shinnston plan to participate with sidewalk sales so their shops can also be open for our visitors. Melissa Aldridge, owner of Home Style stated, ”We want to show support for the Festival, so we will have a Sidewalk Sale since we are so close to the event site.”Gillum House Bed & Breakfast will be there with Shinnston cups being sold by the Shinnston ON TRAC Team (precursor to Main Street Program) and freshly-roasted coffees from the Gillum House from our selection of green coffee beans from around the world.        Guests of the Gillum House for this weekend will receive the coupon book, Shop Shinnston, with coupons from many of the shops in Shinnston. Book your room now!