Enjoy Magazine: South Valley Living—April 2016 by Enjoy Magazine: Northern California Living

South Valley Living

APRIL 2016

Spring Inspired

www.enjoysouthvalley.com

Enjoy the magazine It’s on the house

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Contents ®

South Valley Living APRIL 2016

BE AU T Y T R ENDS

11 Get Ready to Step Out in Style this Spring

CR A FT I NG

42 DIY: Spring-Inspired Ikat Print Shoes

GOOD FI NDS 17 Finding Treasure at Hanford Antique Emporium

GOOD T I M ES

6 Celebrating Earth Day and More with Yosemite National Park 27 4th Annual Black Pot Cook-Off & Cowboy Poetry in Clovis

INSPIR ATION

20 Finding Magic in the City of Exeter Mural Tour 33 2016 Wedding Trends

I NT ER EST

14 Empowering the Next Generation at Bitwise in Fresno

LOCA L S 24 Albert Utomo Brings Art to Sushi in Visalia

SHOW T I M E

30 Exploring Visalia’s Planetarium & Science Center

I N EV ERY ISSUE 34 36 38 40 46

Enjoy the View—Brittany Wilbur What’s Cookin’—Balela – Middle Eastern Bean Salad Spotlight—Calendar of Events Store Front—Mom-Inspired Giving Back—Supporting The Education of Girls and Women with the American Association of University Women

Sushi Kuu Photo by Amber Smith

Enjoy magazine is not affiliated with JOY magazine or Bauer German Premium GmbH. APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 3

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OUR PRODUCTS T ELL STORIE S.

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APRIL 2016

COV ER PHOTO

Nicole Gaines by Tamara Orth

Vibrant wildflowers blanket the valley floor, and a dusting of snow still covers the foothills – it’s a glorious time of year. Ready for a springtime treasure hunt? Check out Hanford Antique Emporium, where you’ll find one-of-a-kind items that are lessons in history. A stroll through a quaint town is always delightful, but the experience is that much more engaging when the buildings are blanketed with art. The hamlet of Exeter has harnessed the magic of murals, which present a living history of the area. Have a hankerin’ for some homemade chili? Check out the Black Pot Cook-off & Cowboy Poetry festival. Watch amateur chefs whip up their best dishes without the benefit of modern-day kitchen gadgets, while local artisans demonstrate industrial crafts of the time. Or savor some sushi at Sushi Kuu, where head chef and owner Albert Utomo has devoted his life to mastering his craft. The skies may be cloudy, but you can still enjoy a breathtaking view of the stars. The Sam B. Peña Planetarium & Science Center captivates and educates those who wish to immerse themselves in the joy of the cosmos. The facility’s two theaters draw rave reviews from guests of all ages. And speaking of science, Bitwise Industries is like Fresno’s own Googleplex – it’s helping put Fresno’s technology industry on the map. Finally, you can celebrate Earth Day one day late (April 23) at one of the planet’s loveliest locales – Yosemite National Park. Admission is free from April 16-24, and family-friendly festivities are planned throughout the day. Be inspired by spring, and enjoy!

SOUTH VALLEY LIVING

YVONNE MAZZOTTA publisher MICHELLE ADAMS publisher RONDA BALL editor-in-chief KERRI REGAN copy editor MICHELLE ADAMS graphic design JERED MILLER STEPHANIE GIMLIN contributing graphic designers MONICA FATICA consultant/ advertising sales representative LYNN LEARNED advertising sales representative VALERI BARNES advertising sales representative JENNIFER SAECHAO sales assistant/event calendar/website AMANDA NAMBA event calendar/website HAYDEN MCCAW JOSH LOPEZ AUSTIN REYNOLDS deliveries www.enjoysouthvalley.com 505 W. Center Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 559.804.7411 Email General: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net Sales and Advertising information: infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net

© 2016 by Enjoy Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproductions without permission are strictly prohibited. Articles and advertisements in Enjoy Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management, employees, or freelance writers. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If an error is found, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us of the mistake. The businesses, locations and people mentioned in our articles are solely determined by the editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. Enjoy and Enjoy the Store are trademarks of Enjoy, Inc.

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Bitwise Industries Photo by Amber Smith

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 5

GOOD TIMES

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

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o t ea n w

C E L E B R AT I N G E A R T H DAY A N D M O R E W I T H YO S E M I T E N AT I O N A L PA R K

6 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

“THIS YEAR, we’re making it extra special,” begins Scott Gediman, Yosemite National Park public affairs officer and ranger. “But as we say, every day is Earth Day,” he chuckles. As though to prove the point, Yosemite National Park will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 23, the day after our planet’s recognized celebration. The Saturday schedule offers potential guests the opportunity to enjoy a full day in the park, which they will probably appreciate since Yosemite is packing this year’s event with plenty of other reasons to celebrate. For starters, August 25 marks the National Park Service’s centennial, “so that’s a theme that’s running throughout the year, but for Earth Day we’ll make a centennial theme,” says Gediman. “We’re also celebrating our National Junior Ranger Day, which is real exciting,” he continues.

They’ll also recognize the 150th anniversary of Yosemite’s first ranger, Galen Clark, appointed in 1866. And to top it all off, April 16-24 is National Park Week, which means free admission to Yosemite. Festivities begin at 10 am right outside the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, and will include activities and giveaways, with booths set up by groups including REI, the American Alpine Club, and state and national parks. At the center of all the booths and swag, Yosemite will set up a stage which will cycle through educational presentations and children’s songs led by a park ranger. The stage will also host a swearing-in ceremony for new Junior Rangers, an event that is particularly close to Gediman. “It sounds corny, but I became a Junior Ranger here in the late ‘60s, and it inspired me to become a park ranger. I actually still have my patch,” says Gediman. “We’ll be swearing in as many Junior Rangers as we can that day.”4 continued on page 8

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 7

“It sounds corny, but I became a Junior Ranger here in the late ‘60s, and it inspired me to become a park ranger. I actually still have my patch…”

Though the Junior Ranger title is mostly ceremonial, the patch can have lasting impact on children who will be encouraged to become good stewards of the planet. What better day than Earth Day to bring a child up to go through the requisite worksheet? “They have to pick up a piece of litter, or ask a ranger a question, or find some landmarks, and when it’s done, they get sworn in as Junior Rangers and they take a pledge and get a badge,” explains Gediman. So yes, there are some tasks a Junior Ranger must perform, “but I’m pretty lenient about it,” Gediman chuckles. He’s excited the patch is being given to kids not only down the mountain from Yosemite, but from around the world. “Just a couple weeks ago, I swore in a couple of kids from Finland and Sweden.” The 150th anniversary celebration of Galen Clark will begin at 2 pm on stage. Rangers will be wearing vintage uniforms, “and we’ve got a retired state park ranger who does living history commemorating Galen Clark.” Clark, California’s first ranger, moved to Yosemite after the Gold Rush. “He was told he only had a year or two to live, then he came up to the mountains and regained his health and opened up a park’s station,” says Gediman. Clark lies buried just a few hundred yards from the visitors center, a site he picked himself, and where he planted giant sequoias that now stand sentry to his grave. With so much planned for the Earth Day celebration, it’s easy to forget that the biggest draw to Yosemite is the park itself. “With the great winter we’re having, there’s peak waterfalls,” says Gediman. “From the visitors center, you can walk right over to lower Yosemite Falls, with a wonderful one-mile loop around it.” 8 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

Come for the activities and giveaways, or come for the history, or come to be sworn in as a Junior Ranger, or just come for the hikes – remember, it’s free. But whatever you end up doing this Earth Day, get outside and appreciate the natural beauty of this planet. • Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9035 Village Drive, Yosemite • (209) 372-4386 Yosemite Earth Day April 23 www.yosemite125th.com/events (search for “Earth Day”)

Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, impetuous traveling, live music, and all the food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 9

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BEAUTY TRENDS

| BY MELISSA GULDEN

bold

beautiful

spring

G E T R E A DY T O S T E P O U T I N STYLE THIS SPRING

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! After months of static cling hair, dark makeup tones and chapped lips, we’re ready to break out some colorful beauty goodies. Even the most adventurous of beauties gets sick of the deep tones after a few weeks. Lucky for us, spring gives us the chance to experiment and infuse a bit more color into our beauty routines.

Embrace the “it” color of the season—blue. Believe it or not, a stroke of blue revitalizes dull, tired eyes. Lining just the lower lashes in cobalt instead of your usual brown or black adds nearly effortless pop. Choose a soft pencil and apply it very close to the lashes, smudging with a small brush. If you want the color to stand out more, layer a similarly hued shadow on top. To define more of the eye, use a soft, neutral shadow, such as champagne, on lids and line the top lashes in black.4 continued on page 12

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 11

If red lipstick is the LBD of the beauty world, then fuchsia is the leather jacket. This season’s orchid color is feminine yet edgy. To achieve this look, layer a matte fluid formula under a cream lipstick for a vibrant, longwearing finish. (Try MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Personal Statement and To Matte With Love, $20 each, and lipstick in Girl About Town and Flat out Fabulous, $17 each.) For a more subtle color, try Nars Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Années Folles, $26. The lavender hue is surprisingly flattering.

The days are slowly getting longer and you know what that means – it’s almost time to trade our winter sweaters for cute tops and our snow boots for sandals. But before you start stocking your wardrobe with shorts, sleeveless tops and sundresses, there are a few skin issues you need to take care of. Just like animals shed their winter coats, you, too, need to shed all the dry, dead skin from your body. To do this, use an exfoliating cloth or brush with a good scrub all over your face and body while you’re in the shower. (Use something gentler on your face.) Replenish your skin’s hydration by applying a soothing lotion all over, and don’t neglect your elbows or feet, which probably have a few dry patches after a long winter. And even though you’ve been avoiding your razor since October, now is the time to get back into your hair removal routine—be it waxing, shaving or lasering. No matter what the method, be sure to moisturize afterwards and always use sunscreen.

Color not really your thing? What about sparkle? Go 24 karat with a gold shadow, or full Cleopatra with black, winged liner and a bold wash of gold glitter. A few swipes of light-reflecting metallic eyeliner can pull your look together, stat. Copper or bronze are best for those with green, brown or hazel eyes, and silver or gold for blue peepers. Used along top, bottom or both lash lines, it’s more powerful than shadow but not quite as heavy as the typical pigmented liners.

But don’t let your face have all the fun—paint on three to four coats of glitter polish to get a chunky, raised effect. To up the shine, paint on three layers of glossy topcoat. Even if you’re only heading to the grocery store, a metallic sheen gives a rich flair to your entire look. Bye-bye dark manis, hello pretty pastels and bright hues! This spring, the color of the moment is anything that makes your fingers sparkle.

Many people shy away from color, concerned that it makes them stand out. On the contrary, a uniform of all black stands out more when the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the stores are awash in a sea of springtime pastels and Easter egg brights. Embrace this season’s vibrant palette and know that there really is a hue that will bring the color back into your cheeks, add a “spring” to your step and a cool, self-assured spirit of confidence to the (finally) warm air. •

Melissa Gulden is an English teacher and sports enthusiast with an extensive background in cosmetics and makeup artistry.

12 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

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GOOD FINDS

| BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: AMBER SMITH

14 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

WIRED IN E M P O W E R I N G T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N AT B I T W I S E I N F R E S N O IMAGINE WORKING IN A SPACE where hoodies are more common than business suits, and the office kitchen has your favorite beer on tap. What if during your lunch break you could blow off steam at the onsite gym or by smashing buttons on an arcade? If your workspace had a 200-seat theater, would you get any work done? The track record of the 100 or so companies that call South Stadium home would emphatically suggest, well, yes. Located at 900 Van Ness Ave., the 50,000-square-foot South Stadium, owned by Bitwise Industries, is like Fresno’s very own Googleplex. The complex isn’t just a cool place to work, but it’s also helping put Fresno’s technology industry on the map. If your first reaction to the last sentence was “what tech industry?”, you wouldn’t be alone. Jake Soberal, CEO and co-founder of Bitwise Industries, agrees that while Fresno technology companies have long been thriving, “there wasn’t an industry for them.” Let’s call it a matrix, or just a space where these companies could exist physically. Soberal and co-founder Irma Olguin began Bitwise in 2013, somewhat “frustrated that nobody was seeing what was going on with technology” in Fresno, he says. Soberal wanted to create an inspiring workspace “that makes you think of San Francisco, or Manhattan, or Austin.” They began with their first “tech hub” in the north end of downtown Fresno, which became home to 28 tech companies, and recently opened the South Stadium in 2015. Other than recognizing Fresno’s need for a physical presence in the tech industry, Olguin and Soberal identified two areas that Bitwise could contribute: education and execution. Though Fresno has its successful tech companies, there was no obvious means for people to enter the industry without education, says Soberal. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t an answer in Fresno. There wasn’t an internship opportunity. “So we launched what’s called Geekwise Academy, teaching folks how to code, to teach them a skill that connects them to opportunity.” Bitwise also turned its focus to helping individual companies execute their business plan through software development, and currently employs about 300 people. These three components – space, education, and execution – “were not the beginning of the technology industry in Fresno, but they were the missing pieces to its growth,” Soberal says. He adds that Fresno’s technology industry, though successful nationally and internationally, hasn’t gotten the coverage it deserves.

“After 9/11, when Rudy Giuliani was looking at security solutions for the city of New York, he didn’t go to Silicon Valley. He came to Fresno to me with Pelco,” says Soberal, referring to a Fresnobased security company, “because what we were doing was more sophisticated than anywhere else in the country.” “The list is significant,” Soberal says of the various Fresno companies with national and international reach. Just recently, a Fresno-based company called Decipher was bought by an international firm, Focus Vision, for a quarter-billion dollars. But Soberal stresses that Bitwise isn’t attempting to transform Fresno into something it isn’t. “We’re not trying to replicate the Silicon Valley,” he explains. “We want Fresno to be the best version of itself that it can be.” Perhaps Bitwise’s biggest contribution to the technology community in Fresno is through Geekwise Academy, a six-week evening course open to the general public. The $250 course has proven popular, “and since our second offering, they’ve sold out every time,” says Soberal. Through the courses, students are “engaged in across-the-board, project-based learning. For instance, our very basic courses are spent learning HTML, as well as other web programming tools.” Both Soberal and Olguin grew up in Fresno but, says Soberal, “much like many young people do, we had gone away, went to school, ultimately bounced around the country and made our way back. “This is home,” he adds, “and I want to do something about it.” But that doesn’t mean Bitwise exists to create its own technology bubble. Soberal expects Bitwise will “reach out to the ocean of people in Fresno interested in opportunity, and specifically in the technology industry.” But that doesn’t mean he expects them to stay in Fresno. “Some will choose to leave and that’s just fine,” says Soberal, but he hopes that if they do, they’ll have left with a better impression. “That deeply ingrained negative opinion of Fresno is perpetuated by those who leave Fresno and talk negatively about it. But if we train people up and put them on a path for an outstanding future, and they find that future someplace else, they’re going to talk about us very differently.” • 700 Van Ness Ave, Fresno www.bitwiseindustries.com • (559) 500-3305 Find them on Facebook and Instagram

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 15

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| BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: TAMARA ORTH

F I N D I N G T R E A S U R E AT H A N F O R D A N T I Q U E E M P O R I U M THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE of reality television might very well be the ultimate litmus test for the interests of the average American. If true, then the longevity of shows like Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, American Pickers, and Antiques Roadshow suggest people are really fascinated with finding that diamond in the rough. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and from the woodpile in a backwoods barn to the clothes rack in a thrift store, or from the old milk crate packed with record albums to the neighbor’s driveway during a Saturday morning yard sale, there’s no shortage of buried treasures out there. With all that ground to cover, however, the hunt can sometimes be tedious.

Thankfully, Linda and Frank Hall brought together under one roof all those hand-me-down, thrown-outthen-recycled, forgotten-and-rediscovered antiques and treasures. In 1992, the Halls opened Hanford Antique Emporium, an antique mall with vendors dealing one-of-a-kind antiques, each a lesson in history. Even the Emporium’s building is from the pages of a history book. The two-story building was built in 1905 by the Odd Fellows, “a men’s fraternal association similar to the Masons,” explains Linda. “They didn’t have TV or things like that.” 4 continued on page 18

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 17

“OUR STORE IS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL...IT’S THE ULTIMATE RECYCLE”

According to Linda, ground floor storefronts supported the organization, which had a ballroom in the back for Odd Fellows dances. The upstairs rooms were used for ceremonies, “and there are a lot of closets,” Linda adds, for storing their costumes for their events. When the Halls purchased the building in 1991, they weren’t just preserving one of Hanford’s unique buildings, but also one of its pastimes. “There were several antique malls in Hanford at the time,” says Linda, and many people traveled to Hanford not just for its antiques, but also for its furniture stores. Now, Hanford Antique Emporium is the largest mall of its kind in the area. The Halls themselves were new to Hanford when they bought the property in the early ‘90s. “We’ve done a lot of things,” says Linda, “but we’re avid antique shoppers and we knew what we wanted to do with the building when we bought it.” Antiquing was such a hobby for the Halls that they furnished their house with antiques they’d purchased over the years. In fact, they initially stocked the Emporium with some of their personal antiques, while other items came from auctions, thrift stores and even other shops. When the Halls opened the store, they only began with three rooms in the building, but they’ve since expanded into the entire downstairs area. “Right now I think we have 10 other dealers,” says Linda, each with their own unique collections. Among those dealers, shoppers will find at the Emporium anything from vintage clothing to furniture, knick-knacks and miscellany, and even yard supplies from the Emporium Gardens. Local artist LaFaun Bales offers three-hour oil painting classes for just $10.

18 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

That’s 8,000 square feet of antiques and vintage items, “a huge collection of this and that which you’re not going to find elsewhere,” says Linda – certainly not a bigbox store. “Our store,” she continues, “is a little more personal.” “It’s the ultimate recycle,” Linda explains. Plus, “you’re getting better quality.” Most items one buys new today won’t be here 60, 70, 80 years from now, she says. But an antique will, because in most cases it’s already been here that long. Personally, Linda knows it’s sometimes hard to let things go – especially the Victorian pieces, “even though its not really in style right now.” But that’s the great thing about antiques – they never really go out of style. They just get passed on to somebody else who will appreciate them. • Hanford Antique Emporium 108 E. 8th St., Hanford • (559) 852-1504 Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm; Saturday: 10am – 5pm Sunday: noon – 5pm Find them on Facebook and Instagram

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INTEREST

| BY FACHE DESROCHERS | PHOTOS: AMBER SMITH

20 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

F I N D I N G M A G I C I N T H E C I T Y O F E X E T E R M U R A L TO U R THERE’S A CERTAIN MAGIC to a mural. Perhaps it is the art form’s resemblance to a movie set: Sheer size coupled with an easy presence amongst decidedly tangible storefronts makes a mural believable as a window into the moment it depicts. Or maybe we enjoy the sort of rebellious spirit that murals embody, how they cheekily slip the surly bonds of size and indoor habitation that confines so many other art pieces, and bridge the gap between gallery and graffiti. But apart from being intrinsically compelling, murals represent the very heart of the artist, where the charge to make things beautiful and interesting is the highest law: The function of a building’s wall becomes secondary to its potential as a canvas. And a mural is also necessarily public, in a sort of community-sponsored pledge for a democratic right to beauty. Happily for the Valley, the foothill hamlet of Exeter understands all these truths about murals, and has made a concentrated effort to harness their magic for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike. In the early 1990s, while vacationing in British Columbia, a couple from Exeter came across a town called Chemainus. Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, this small village had been a logging town since 1858. But when the local timber industry began to dry up in the early 1980s, residents rallied together to save their city from economic collapse by creating a tourism

draw of 39 outdoor murals. Like Exeter, Chemainus is a locally focused community which is small enough to consolidate its mural collection into the perfect walking tour to delight and inspire visitors, which is exactly what happened to the vacationing Californians. “They just fell in love with the idea, so they came back and pitched it to the city, who took a chance and commissioned Exeter’s very first mural which was completed in 1996,” says Exeter’s Chamber of Commerce head Sandy Blankenship. “And everything kind of blossomed from there.” This first mural was “The Orange Harvest” by Colleen Mitchell-Veyna and Morgan McCall. Although already an accomplished artist, Mitchell-Veyna had never painted a mural before. She designed the piece, and enlisted McCall to help execute the painting. “We kind of got her going on murals; she’s very much in demand now for that,” Blankenship says of Mitchell-Veyna, who has since completed some 100 murals. “Exeter is lucky to have her work on several murals, but we strive for variety.” Quite a few local artists are represented, and are chosen for their strength at a particular style and compatibility with the mural’s subject. “Typically we come up with the subject first,” explains Blankenship. “It has to be a part of history, and be based on a photograph or writing, some historical element that we can cite and authenticate as part of Exeter’s heritage.”4 continued on page 22

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 21

THIS CITY REALLY PRIORITIZES LOCAL ART, AND SUPPORTING IT JUST MEANS A LOT TO US. Exeter’s mural tour features 29 full murals (not including two that have been retired, painted over and marked with plaques to memorialize their place in the tour). Together, they present a living history of Exeter and the Valley through everything from scenes of agricultural and railroad history, to the daily lives of native peoples, to tributes to members of the community. This visual tour of Exeter’s past has proven to be a hit with both travelers and local businesses alike, as the mural walk also provides a tour of Exeter’s charming downtown shopping and dining culture. A group of volunteer docents can guide visitors, but casual, self-guided tours are the norm. Printed maps are available from the Chamber of Commerce or online, and they list the artist, subject and selection of items that may be hidden in any mural. “Our tradition of hiding things in the murals started kind of by accident,” Blankenship says. Apparently, the artists working on the mural “The Packing Ladies” would flip a coin every morning to decide who paid for coffee, and eventually decided to incorporate an image of the coin into their piece, purely for fun. This little quirk was quickly adopted by Exeter’s subsequent muralists, and

22 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

most stops on the tour now hide a little something for the sharp-eyed and inquisitive. “Kids are especially quick at finding the hidden things,” Blankenship says with a grin. Although the mural tour’s curation is ongoing, the current number seems close to ideal for Exeter’s size. And as production slows on the mural front, the city is already looking toward the next idea in community art. “There are some great ideas in the works, though I can’t say any more about them yet,” Blankenship says. “But I’m excited. This city really prioritizes local art, and supporting it just means a lot to us.” • City of Exeter Mural Tour www.cityofexeter.com (choose “visitors,” then “mural tours”)

Fache Desrochers is a writer, photographer and artist. Her work can be viewed at fachedesrochers.com.

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| BY JORDAN VENEMA | PHOTOS: AMBER SMITH

24 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

A L B E RT U TO M O B R I N G S A RT TO S U S H I I N V I S A L I A DINING AT SUSHI KUU isn’t just a delicious meal – it’s a visual experience. Head chef and owner Albert Utomo explains, “With sushi, I can express myself with food. Everything is attention to detail. It’s an art.” Utomo opened Sushi Kuu in February 2015 following a two-year stint as head chef at Neta, an upscale sushi restaurant in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, where he acquired a flair for artistic presentation. But like any traditional Japanese sushi chef, Utomo would never place presentation before flavor. With one exception. Utomo isn’t Japanese. “Yeah, it does sound like a Japanese name,” Utomo chuckles. His name is actually Indonesian, and the 30-year-old chef grew up in Indonesia until he moved to the United States with his family at 17. Though Utomo learned to cook in Indonesia with his family, who are also in the food industry, he feels a connection with Japanese cuisine. In his early 20s, Utomo began culinary school in Las Vegas, working parttime at a sushi restaurant. There Utomo learned the basics: how to cook rice, how to slice fish, until “I moved to New York City where I learned more sauces, more fine dining.” Not content only to learn from the sushi chefs under whom he worked, Utomo traveled to Japan to experience its cuisine firsthand. “This is my profession,” he explains. “So I had to see the root. I wanted to see how they actually do it there, and I brought it back with me.” Utomo admits that as an Indonesian working in a predominantly Japanese industry, he sometimes felt like an outsider. But that didn’t stop Utomo from expressing himself through his sushi, or adapting traditional sushi to the modern palate – even when that led to criticism. “The older Japanese chefs will actually say, ‘Oh, that’s not Japanese style,’ but here we are in the United States, you know? We have to actually serve what people want here, too,” says Utomo. After more than a decade working in sushi restaurants, you’d never guess that Utomo wasn’t Japanese – not just because of the phonetically similar name, but from the quality of his food. He calls his style of sushi “traditional with a twist,” and serves more than 25 fish, each with its own pairing sauce. If the chef ever felt like an outsider in the sushi world, he’s put that behind him, and since opening Sushi Kuu in early 2015, Utomo has made himself at home. In fact, that was the lure – the sense of home – that brought the accomplished chef to Visalia. Utomo and his wife long had been thinking about moving to California, though neither had ever even heard of Visalia. “I got on the map (online) for a sushi restaurant that was for sale in California, and this restaurant was for sale,” says Utomo. He flew out, stayed in Visalia for two weeks, “and I liked it. I like this city. The people are very nice.” When Utomo was chef at Neta, he would sometimes get home at 2 am, “but as a father, I want to see my daughter. I want to have a connection with her. “To be honest,” Utomo says, “in the beginning, we were scared.” He and his wife had no friends or family in Visalia, but they quickly felt comfortable with the “family style” and “slower pace” of the city. “People here are more close to each other,” Utomo adds, which has allowed him to make the kind of connections he never had with customers while working in New York. “Over here, people will actually talk to you,” says Utomo. “Now I have regulars. I know what they like, I know what they usually order, I even know them by name.” Compared to New York, Visalia might seem like a small town, but Utomo still presents his dishes as though they’re under bright city lights. Sushi Kuu only uses fresh fish, never frozen, and everything is made in-house, down to the ramen broth. He couldn’t do any of it without his staff, says Utomo. “Everybody is important. They’re like a little family to me.” And as successful as his career has been, that’s what keeps him going: family. “I know career is important, but family comes first.” • Sushi Kuu • County Center Shopping Center • 3109 W. Noble Ave., Visalia • (559) 735-9680 Monday-Thursday 11:30am-2pm, 4:30-9pm; Friday 11:30am-2pm, 4:30-9:30pm; Saturday noon-2pm, 4:30-9pm Find them on Facebook and Instagram

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GOOD TIMES

| BY BEN RALPH

4 T H A N N UA L B L AC K P OT CO O K- O F F & COW B OY P O E T RY I N C LOV I S

THE VALLEY HAS A HISTORY. For some, this history is related to a long, arduous journey in which their ancestors crossed oceans, mountains and deserts in hopes of a new life. For some, this is related to a more recent Quixotic quest of journeying from the mean streets of Iowa to live the California fashion dream of bleached blonde hair and surfboards. But before there was the oft-stereotyped coastal culture in California, there were cowboys, cattle drives and rodeos. This is the history of the Valley, and beginning in April, this history is the centerpiece of a train of events beginning with a cookoff and culminating in the Clovis Rodeo. Cowboys can handle the bulls and blood and dust and mud, but they still gotta eat. To whet the appetites of those hungry for Western history and culture, Old Town Clovis will be the stage for the fourth annual Black Pot Cook-off & Cowboy Poetry, sponsored by the Business Organization of Old Town. On April 17, amateur chefs will bring their smiles, their charm, their culinary skills and, true to the name, their black pot (also known as a Dutch oven) to prepare their best dishes in hopes of winning the favor of the judges and the crowd. Starting at 9am, teams of chefs will set up their stations and get their fires going. Time is a factor, as all entries must be ready for judging by 1pm. This may seem like a non-issue when viewed from the lens of modern4 continued on page 28

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 27

techniques and high-tech culinary gadgetry, but it must be remembered that such advantages did not exist in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As best described succinctly by Carole Lester, executive director of the Business Organization of Old Town, “It’s much more complicated than you think.” True to the time period, all dishes must be prepared onsite, by hand and without the convenience of choppers, blenders, propane or any other electrical/mechanical device. Contestants must then make use of unregulated heat to carefully regulate the cooking of their dishes to the point of perfection within a four-hour time frame. And yet, one may be surprised to learn of the dishes from past years: Mexican Mac n’ Cheese, Boeuf Bourguignon, Chocolate Stout Cake, Southern Fried Chicken and the list goes on. Western methods, yet surprisingly cosmopolitan outcomes. Though a culinary spectacle, the event is largely educational. Cooks take time to decorate their booths, chat with visitors, discuss their methods and provide history lessons on black pot cooking. Local artisans demonstrate industrial crafts of the time, including saddle making, rug hooking, blacksmithing and wood carving. The fine arts will also be on display, as the event features the art of Cowboy Poetry, officially beginning the National Week of Cowboy Poetry, and the event also hosts local folk bands and cowboy musical performers.

The central focus of the event is the cooking, but “black pot is not big enough to stand alone,” notes Lester. Despite the agrarian roots of the state, Dutch oven cooking and competitions are just not as popular in California as they are in other states. The hope of the organization is that one day the cook-off will be an International Dutch Oven Societysanctioned event, and thus be a draw for professional cooking teams. The Society currently sanctions professional cook-offs in more than 30 states and Canada, and culminates in the annual International Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah. To have a sanctioned event in the Valley, then, would bring a new level of professional competitiveness that would allow the cook-off to stand on its own. Until then, the event has been amalgamated with other features throughout the years. In prior years, the Craft Beer Crawl, now its own event, was paired with the cook-off. This year, in another clever mix of the old and the new, the event will have food trucks and a car show. Mixed together, it’s all bound to add up to a dish worth its weight in California gold. •

AND YET, ONE MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN OF THE DISHES FROM PAST YEARS: MEXICAN MAC N’ CHEESE, BOEUF BOURGUIGNON, CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKE, SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN AND THE LIST GOES ON.

28 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

www.oldtownclovis.org Black Pot Cook-Off, April 17 9am-5pm • (559) 298-5774

Ben Ralph is a longtime off-and-on Visalia local. Originally hailing from the outskirts of Ave. 328, he now spends his time balancing a career with walking the Earth, like Caine from the TV series Kung Fu. His writing is about the latter.

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SHOWTIME

| BY FACHE DESROCHERS | PHOTOS: AMBER SMITH

I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students. -Carl Sagan E X P L O R I N G V I S A L I A’ S P L A N E TA R I U M & S C I E N C E C E N T E R ON THE SUBJECT OF THE EXQUISITE mysteries of the cosmos, few people are more captivatingly poetic than scientist Carl Sagan. And like most people who enjoy the gift of wisdom as well as great intelligence, Sagan understood something very important: Nothing is more nourishing and suitable for a young mind than knowledge, and plenty of it. And when it comes to youth instruction, the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) couldn’t agree more. The newly renovated and relocated Sam B. Peña Planetarium & Science Center is designed to captivate, educate and give local students an immersive introduction to the joys of knowledge and discovery. Every kid loves a good field trip, and a visit to a planetarium is an elementary school outing that most of us have a memory

of, perhaps because it is a uniquely peaceful experience as far as field trips go. Reclining in the dark with your classmates, caught somewhere between the familiarity of a movie theater and the even deeper familiarity of lying supine and stargazing on a clear night – it’s an enjoyable and sensory way to absorb a presentation about space and the cosmos. But the Peña Planetarium doesn’t confine itself to space exploration alone. The new facility comprises two theaters: one features a 30-foot Spitz dome screen with a high-definition digital projection system optimized for imagined journeys through space and time, and one shows complementary science, astronomy and social studies presentations and will not be a theater for long. This second theater is slated to become the planetarium’s other

Starry Nigh 30 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

ghts

half: an interactive science exhibit hall. And as a member of the noble quest to bring the wonders of science and space exploration to the public, the Peña Planetarium is in excellent company. “NASA has exhibits that organizations like ours can host or rent out for periods of time, and this new facility was built specifically with the goal to be able to accommodate things like that,” says Conan Palmer, Planetarium & Science Center supervisor. But whatever the exhibit, the Peña Planetarium celebrates the best in effective, interactive education that elevates and inspires visitors. “The focus and the priority of the planetarium is to create a great educational experience for the students in the county,” explains Palmer. “And our new location is designed to facilitate that goal: it’s more centrally-located in the county, it’s bigger and it has room for us to expand on our immersive education goals. It’s truly ideal.” Named after Sam B. Peña, a nationally recognized Visalia artist and longinstrumental member of the TCOE, the Peña Planetarium’s new facility is a multimedia educational experience that has been carefully designed to expand the classroom curriculum by providing an exciting and compelling learning opportunity for students. A variety of educational programs developed and produced by the TCOE Planetarium & Science Center staff are offered throughout the school year and are available to all students in Tulare County, including special education and preschool.

“Our function is primarily to serve the school kids that visit us for field trips,” says Palmer. “But the planetarium is open to the public, too. We try to do two shows a month on average for non-students.” Tickets are sold ahead of time (they usually sell out), and Palmer says the organization is looking for ways to offer more shows to the clamoring community. From stargazing to social studies, the Peña Planetarium is able to serve the Valley with the cultural and educational development that is the interactive museum. After all, lectures and textbooks are only a small part of what makes learning truly compelling. Sometimes, you just have to engage with the subject matter. Sometimes, you have to stop and count the stars. With his eternal knack for encapsulating the inspirational, Carl Sagan reminds us, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” And happily for young Valley students and older space enthusiasts alike, that something can be found right in the heart of the community, under one very special domed roof. • Sam B. Peña Planetarium 11535 Ave 264, Visalia (559) 733-6433 www.tcoe.org/Planetarium Fache Desrochers is a writer, photographer and artist. Her work can be viewed at fachedesrochers.com.

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 31

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13th Annual Exeter Garden Walk “Full Bloom 2016” Tour Amazing & Beautiful Private Gardens, Visit the Master Gardeners Garden Festival in Joyner Park & Enjoy a Lovely Tea Party at By the Water Tower Antiques

Saturday, May 7th 9 am to 2 pm Tickets $20 Exeter Chamber of Commerce and By the Water Tower Antiques Call 559-592-2919 www.exeterchamber.com

32 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

INSPIRATION

| BY PAUL DAVID

ON TREND 2016 WEDDING TRENDS

LET YOUR FLOWERS BLOSSOM Photo by Heather Armstrong Photography

Loose floral arrangements continue to make a big splash. The organic, unstructured feel is simply beautiful. Flowers are making their way back to the center of attention, and bigger centerpieces, floral chandeliers, bouquets and more abound this year.

calligraphy takes over

Handwritten calligraphy has always had its place in wedding trends, but today it has taken over everything from cake toppers to custom notes, invitations, signs and more. Look for creative ways to communicate your message with calligraphy.

Outdoor Extreme

Gold trend

Gold is a timeless color that gives a touch of elegance and sophistication. It can be matched with a wide variety of colors, including peach, teal, navy, rose gold, burgundy, purple, light blue, black and emerald.

Photo by Heather Armstrong Photography

From a family heirloom to vintage-inspired modern creations, more brides are looking for a classic feel when it comes to their rings and other jewelry.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Make a statement with bold lighting and let your reception shine. From chandeliers to candles, make lighting a key factor in your decor planning.

THE MORE STYLE, THE BETTER

Your wedding can have an identity crisis in 2016. Mix and match from different styles and give your wedding a unique look that makes it completely yours.

Photo by Holly Kiker Photography

Old Is New With Vintage-Inspired Jewelry

Photo by Billings Photography

Rustic brides are taking their love for nature and the outdoors to another level in 2016, with more opting for outdoor weddings in national parks and other scenic places. These locations create some of the most dynamic backdrops imaginable and are sure to keep your guests in awe through the ceremony.

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 33

ENJOY THE VIEW

| PHOTO: BRITTANY WILBUR

34 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

ALMOND ORCHARD IN PIXLEY

Sweet Nectar Society co-founder Brittany Wilbur uses photography to captures special moments for medically fragile children across the central valley. www.sweetnectarsociety.org

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 35

WHAT’S COOKIN’

| BY LANA GRANFORS | PHOTO: KARA STEWART

April Recipe

If I am out running errands, I often stop at Trader Joe’s for something quick for lunch. I peruse what I call the “grab and go” case trying new things, and I recently came upon Trader Joe’s Balela. I immediately became obsessed with Balela. The flavors were amazing. It is a bit pricey, so I decided it might be more economical if I tried to make it myself, especially if you are serving as a side with your family dinner. Also, by making it yourself, you can control the salt for a healthier

36 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

version, or add other ingredients to make it even more to your liking. Looking at the list of ingredients, I played with it a few times and I think this recipe is pretty close to the Trader Joe’s version. It is a pretty simple recipe, but definitely a winner!

Enjoy!

BALELA – MIDDLE EASTERN BEAN SALAD S E RV I N G S : 4 – 6

INGREDIENTS ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¹⁄ ³ cup fresh lemon juice 2 T red wine vinegar ½ tsp. finely minced garlic, 1 clove 1 – 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 – 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup finely chopped red onion 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes ½ chopped jalapeno pepper, seeds removed (optional) 1 cup finely chopped Italian Parsley, packed ½ cup finely chopped mint, packed Sea salt & pepper to taste PREP TIME: 25 Minutes

DIRECTIONS STEP 1: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and garlic. Set aside and allow flavors to blend. STEP 2: Rinse and drain beans and pat dry with paper towel or use a salad spinner, being careful not to mash beans. Place beans into a large mixing bowl. Add red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, parsley and mint to the bowl and mix carefully. STEP 3: Place the beans in large bowl and gently toss this mixture with the dressing, stirring just enough to combine and coat the ingredients with dressing. For optimal flavor, let salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. Season with more salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Lana Granfors enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking and spending time with her friends and family– especially her grandchildren, Jillian and Garet.

LOVE OUR RECIPES? Come into Enjoy the Store (Visalia, Redding or Red Bluff ) each month and ask for your FREE recipe card.

ASTERN MIDDLE E BALELA –

AD BEAN SAL ING RE DIE

A pril Recipe

S ¼ cup extr a virgin oliv ¹⁄³ cup fres e h lemon juic oil 2 T red win e e ½ tsp. fine vinegar ly minced garlic, 1 clov 1 – 15 oz. can e blac k bea 1 – 15 oz. can ns, rinsed and garbanzo drained beans, rins drained ed and 1 cup fine ly choppe d red onio 1 cup cho n pped fres h tomatoe ½ choppe s d jalapen o pepper, (optional) seeds rem oved 1 cup fine ly choppe d Italian Par ½ cup fine sley ly Sea salt & chopped mint, pac , packed ked pepper to taste

2016

PRE P: 25 Min ute s

GRANF ORS RECIPE BY LANA

DIRECTION

STEP 1: Wh S isk togeth and garlic. er olive oil, Set aside lemon juic and allow e, vinegar flavors to blend. STEP 2: Rin se and dra towel or in beans use and beans. Plac a salad spinner, bein pat dry with pap er e g careful onion, tom beans into a larg not to ma e sh atoes, jala mixing bow the bowl peno pep and mix car per, parsley l. Add red efully. and mint to STEP 3: Plac this mixture e the beans in larg e bowl and with the combine dressing, gently tos and stirring just s optimal flav coat the ingredie enough to nts or, let sala least 30 d sit at roo with dressing. For min m salt and fres utes before serving temperature for at . Season h ground black pep with more per to tast e.

STEWA RT | PHOTO : KARA

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 37 MIDDLE BALELA –

AD BEAN SAL EASTERN ING RE D

SPOTLIGHT

APRIL 2016

in the april spotlight FROM FOOD TO FUN SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY

‘Rain’ Beatles Tribute Band

Renaissance Faire

SAROYAN THEATRE APRIL 4 | 7:30 PM

PLAZA PARK APRIL 23 - 24 | 10 AM

(FRESNO)

Featuring hits such as “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together,” “Hey Jude” and more, Rain delivers the Beatles experience in a stunning live concert setting. Don’t miss the Broadway smash that’s taken the world by storm. For more information, visit www.fresnoconventioncenter.com.

Chocolate Romance Affair

Car Show

EXETER MEMORIAL BUILDING APRIL 2 | 5PM - 8PM

DRAPER STREET APRIL 16 | 4 - 8 PM

(EXETER)

The Optimist Club of Exeter presents its Eighth Annual Chocolate Romance entree, dessert and champagne tasting and silent auction event. Tickets can be purchased at Main Street Exeter or The Foothills Sun Gazette Newspaper in Exeter or online at www.optimistsofexeter.org. For more information, call (559) 909-2996.

(KINGSBURG)

The 22nd annnual Kingsburg car show includes food booths,

(VISALIA)

This faire is organized by the Guild of St. Mortimer, a Tulare County non-profit organization. Vendors will sell wares that they have made themselves, rom soap and body products to jewelry to swords. Stage acts perform live. Members of the guilds make the presentation both historically accurate and entertaining. For more information, visit www.tularecountyrenfaire.com.

2016 Earth Day Festival

(VISALIA)

ST. JOHN’S RIVERWALK PARK APRIL 23 | 10 AM - 2 PM

This year’s event will focus on sustainability, conservation and energy efficiency and

kiddy area, “Auto Alley”

will include live music, exhibitors, vendors,

and great shopping. Partcipant judging starts at 10 am

food booths and multiple demonstration

and trophy presentation at 3 pm. For more information,

workshops. Earth Day workshops include

visit www.kingsburgchamber.com.

green and food waste composting, green cleaning, phenology, low-water use irrigation systems, Cal-Water incentives/rebates

Spring Wine Walk

(CLOVIS)

OLD TOWN CLOVIS APRIL 30 | 5 - 8:30 PM

Stroll the streets of Old Town Clovis and enjoy wine and food tastings from a variety of wineries and local restaurants. Shop, sip and taste your way through Old Town Clovis and then purchase the wines you love in the Wine Shop, located at the corner of 5th and Pollasky. For more information, visit www.oldtownclovis.com. 38 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

and low-water use gardening. For more information, visit www.visalia.city.

CALENDAR

Clovis •

• • • • • • •

•

April 2 California Classic Century Ride, Bike the Freeway, Chukchansi Park, 7-10 am, www.californiaclassicweekend.com April 2 -3 Big Hat Days, Old Town Clovis, 9 am-6 pm April 3 California Classic Half-Marathon: Run thru the Zoo, www.californiaclassicweekend.com April 6 The Killer Dueling Pianos!, The Lounge, 408 Clovis Ave., 8-11 pm April 9, 16, 23, 30 Old Town Clovis Farmer’s Market, 521 Pollasky Ave., 8:30-11 am, (559) 298-5774, www.oldtownclovis.org April 17 Jamboree Car Show & Black Pot Cook-Off, Pollasky Ave., Old Town Clovis, noon-5 pm April 21 - 24 Clovis Rodeo, Clovis Rodeo Fairgrounds, www.clovisrodeo.com April 28 - 30 Disney’s Little Mermaid presented by Bear Stage, The Mercedes Edwards Theatre, www.bearstageweebly.com April 30 Old Town Clovis Spring Wine Walk, Pollasky Ave., Old Town Clovis, 5-8:30 pm, (559) 298-5774

Dinuba • • • •

April 8 Dinuba Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament April 9 Celebration of Sweeties, Sweet Nectar Society Fundraiser, R Wedding House, 11 am-2 pm April 13 Good Morning Dinuba, 8 am April 29 Hands in the Community - 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, Ride Creek Country Club, noon

Dunlap

April 12 - 13 • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Saroyan Theatre April 17 • Fresno Mini Maker Faire, Chukchansi Park, noon-5 pm, find them on Facebook April 21 • [Modern] Classic Film: The Great Outdoors, Warners Center, 6 pm April 22 • Y&T at the Tower Theatre, 7:30 pm April 23 • Tower Theatre presents: Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys Tribute Band, 7:30 pm April 23 • Yoshi Now! Spring Flea 648 Broadway. Antique, vintage and upscale junk, 10am-3pm (559) 485-8142 April 30 • 8th Annual Water-Wise Plant Give & Take Event, Fresno State Horticulture Nursery, 8 am

Hanford

April 20 • Pink Diamonds Fashion Show Luncheon, Hanford Civic Center, 11:30 am-1:30 pm

Kingsburg

April 16 • 22nd Annual Kingsburg Car Show

Lindsay

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • Lindsay Community Theater presents: In My Life, www.lindsaycommunitytheater.com

Madera

April 16 • Run with Heroes, Valley Children’s Hospital, 7 am-noon

Porterville

April 2 • P.C. Veteran’s Memorial Run, L.B. Hill School, 8 am April 23 • ColorBlast 5K Run, 8 am, www.active.com

Selma

April 30 • Spring Twilight Tour, Cathaven, 5-8 pm

April 23 - 24, 28 - 30 • Selma Arts Center presents Shrek

April 2 • Optimist Club’s “Chocolate Romance,” A Food Lover’s Affair, Exeter Memorial Building, 5-8 pm April 9 - 11 • Exeter Mercantile’s 100th Year Anniversary Sale, April 16 • Exeter Eagle’s 2nd Annual Rib Cook-Off, 555 W. Visalia Road, 10 am-6 pm, (559) 592-1771 April 17 • “Exeter Night” at the Rawhide Baseball Park in Visalia, 1 pm, (559)732-4433 ext. 6 April 30 • Bark ‘N’ Bid Benefit, Whitney Barn, 30162 Road 192, 5 pm, (559) 731-0757

April 16 • Jackass Mail Run - Old Fashioned Family Fun

Exeter

Fresno

April 1 - 30 (Thursdays - Sundays) • Good Company Player presents The Little Mermaid, Roger Rockas Dinner Theatre, www.rogerrockas.com April 1 - 17 • Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre presents The Glass Menagerie April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Vineyards Farmer’s Market, Blackstone & Shaw, 3-6 pm, www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com April 7, 14, 21, 28 • Carthop, Fulton Mall, 11 am-2 pm April 7, 21 • ArtHop, 5-8 pm, www.fresnoartscouncil.org April 9 • March for Babies 2016, Woodward Park, 9 am April 11 • The Tower Theatre presents: Jake Shimabukuro, 8 pm

Springville

Three Rivers

April 7 - 10 • 43rd Annual Jazz Affair Musical Festival, www.sierratraditionaljazzclub.com

Tulare

April 2 • Cars at the Park, Zumwalt Park, 10 am-3pm • Design Charette: Designing YOUR Landscape, The Gardens, 10 am - noon April 9 • Barks & Bourbon, International Agri-Center, 5:30-10 pm April 15 - 17 • California Antique Farm Equipment Show, International Agri-Center

Visalia

April 1 •11th Annual “Global Village” Birdhouse Auction, Wydham Hotel, 6:30-10 pm April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Farmer’s Market at Quail Park, Quail Park Retirement Village, 10:30 am-1:30 pm April 3 • 6th Annual Celebrant Singers Bowl-a-Thon, AMF Lanes, 1-5 pm April 7 • Hand in the Community - The Vintage Press Dinner/ Cooking Class, 6-8:30 pm • 5th Annual Wine, Chocolate & Cheese Walk

APRIL 2016

April 8, 29 • Wine and Paint Night, Garden Street Art Studio April 9 • 9th Annual Goat Head Cancer Run, Harley - Davidson 30681 Highway 99, 9 am-4 pm April 14, • Opening Night at Rawhide, 7 pm • Hands in the Community - Clay Cafe 2016, 6-8 pm • Mosaics and Margaritas, Garden Street Art Studio April 22 • Learn to Make a Basket in a Day, Visalia Elks Lodge April 22 - 30 • College of the Sequoias presents Animal Farm April 23 -24 • Tulare County Renaissance Faire, Plaza Park April 24 • Tulare County Museum Grand Re-Opening, Mooney Grove Park, 10 am-3 pm April 30 • Tulare County Symphony League Annual Fundraising Event, Visalia Country Club, 625 N Ranch St., 6 – 10 pm

Ice House Theatre visaliaplayers.org

April 1 - 3, 8 - 10, 15 - 17 • The Outgoing Tide

Tachi Palace Casino

April 17 • Ariba El Norte Leyendas Nortenas

Visalia Fox Theatre

April 2 • Marlon Wayans, 8 pm April 9 • Tulare County Symphony presents Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade’s Desperate Housewives April 14 • CHOICES presents Way Back Wednesday: Classic Flicks at the Fox - Amadeus, 7 pm

RaboBank Arena - Bakersfield

April 6 • Blue Man Group April 9 • Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra April 10 • G-EAZY April 22 • Chris Stapleton April 25 • Joe Bonamassa April 27 - 28 • Shen Yun 2016

Save Mart Center - Fresno

April 5 • Carrie Underwood “The Storyteller” Tour April 30 • Luke Bryan “Kill The Lights” Tour Event times and dates are subject to change without notice. Please check event phone number or website to verify dates and times. Enjoy Magazine is not responsible for any inconvenience due to event changes.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE CALENDAR! Please visit www.enjoysouthvalley.com or email infosouthvalley@enjoymagazine.net to post your calendar events. If you’d like your event to be listed in this section of Enjoy magazine, it must be posted on our website or emailed by the 5th of the month—one month prior to the next magazine issue. For example, a May event will need to post by April 5. Thank you. APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 39

STORE FRONT

SPRING 2016

TASTE SMELL TOUCH SEE MOM-INSPIRED

Let the Adventures Begin. SOUTH VALLEY

Custom stamped copper mugs by Pressed Rose Jewelry Co.

Linen-blend aprons by O’Mam

Body wash and lotions by Dirty Bird Soaps

40 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

Trinket dishes by The Painted Press

Water color cards by Natasha Holland Studio

Coffee beans and mugs by Slow Train Coffee and Honey Bee Pottery

505 W. Center Avenue Visalia â&#x20AC;˘ (559) 901-3513 Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm Saturday 10am-4pm Enjoy the Store Visalia @enjoythestorevisalia APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 41

CRAFTING

| STORY AND PHOTOS BY TAMARA ORTH

SUPPLIES

• Canvas shoes (found at local craft stores) • Paintbrushes • Water-based paint (I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) • Paper • Waterproof shoe sealer (optional)

if the shoe fits D I Y: S P R I N G - I N S P I R E D I K AT P R I N T S H O E S

Cool and customizable - these fun pastel patterned shoes are sure to be a hit in the spring months. 42 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Practice your pattern and colors on a piece of paper first. 2. Use small brush strokes to create diamond shapes. 3. Continue this pattern so you are left with a few rows of the diamond pattern. This will be your base color. 4. Using your second color, repeat the small brush stroke process to make another diamond. This time, paint inside of your first diamond shape to create a layered look. 5. Continue this process with all of the diamonds. 6. You can stop there, depending on your preference. I wanted to break up the symmetry by painting additional diamond shapes and playing with different color combinations. Customize them to fit your style. 7. Spray your shoes with a waterproof sealer to help keep them looking fresh and new. •

Beautiful Gifts, LOCAL FARMED GOODS a Passion for Taste

1240 E Caldwell Ave. Visalia CA 93292 (559) 697-6561

5 TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOME THIS SPRING 1. Pay attention to curb appeal 2. Pare down possessions 3. Do pre inspection repairs 4. Price it right 5. Hire a marketing expert

Connie Kautz REA LT OR

559.901.1567 ConnieKautzRealtor.com 400 E. MAIN STREET, VISALIA APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 43

EAT LOCAL, EAT FRESH OPEN YEAR-ROUND

SEASONAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, DAIRY, S M S S S • MS • S M S S • M S • S MS S S M S M S• S M S

RAIN OR SHINE • SATURDAYS FROM 8 AM TO 11:30 AM ON THE CORNER OF CALDWELL AND MOONEY BLVD. IN SEARS PARKING LOT THURSDAYS 5-8PM • MARCH 17TH-SEPTEMBER DOWNTOWN VISALIA AT CHURCH & MAIN ST.

Kids Camp

Fan Fest

1946

2016

GIVING BACK

| BY JORDAN VENEMA

The Next

Chapter S U P P O R T I N G T H E E D U C AT I O N O F G I R L S A N D W O M E N W I T H T H E A M E R I C A N A S S O C I AT I O N O F U N I V E R S I T Y W O M E N WHEN CYNDY MCBEE and her husband moved from Colorado to Visalia two years ago, “I was looking for a place to plug in,” says the retired teacher. One of those places might have been a bookstore, except “when I first moved here, I was very disappointed because there were no bookstores in the area,” says McBee. “But our Realtor assured me that American Association of University Women (AAUW) had great books.” The Realtor was referring to the semi-annual book sale held in Visalia’s Sequoia Mall, sponsored by the Visalia chapter of the national organization. McBee wasn’t unfamiliar with AAUW, to which her mother belonged in the ‘70s, and “I always supported their cause, but I wasn’t involved in it,” she says. The mother, wife, grandmother and teacher had other things to keep her busy. But retirement and the move to Visalia changed that. “We’d left our four kids and eight grandkids and friends and family so I had a lot of time and energy,” says McBee. Driven by her passions, among which she cites literacy, education “and of course, women’s issues,” McBee connected with the Visalia AAUW chapter. “They have social groups, but their core mission is to support the education of girls and women,” explains McBee, now the chapter’s copresident. The Visalia AAUW has served women in the community since its first meeting 90 years ago on May 18, 1926.

That may seem like a long time, but consider that women only got the right to vote in the United States just six years earlier in 1920. “It’s hard to imagine how few rights women had,” says McBee, “and in 1926 so few women had an education past high school. AAUW gave them an opportunity to get together and try to support and promote education for young women.” Though things have come a long way since 1926, there are still subtle inequalities, like financial disparity. As of 2014, women’s median weekly earnings for full-time workers were still only 82.5% of men’s salaries. So the work of an organization like AAUW is still very relevant, and necessary. McBee thinks of her daughters and granddaughters. “I want them to have equal opportunities for pay, and I want them paid the same amount as a male in the same capacity. I want them to be able to live and travel the world regardless of which country they’re in, and to have equal rights.” The Visalia AAUW chapter has a local and national impact through education and fundraising. The semi-annual book sale generates about $40,000 a year, of which about $25,000 went to scholarship funds for students who graduate from College of the Sequoias to attend a four-year university.4 continued on page 46

APRIL 2016 ENJOY | 45

But the scholarships are not just for women. McBee acknowledges that “occasionally there’s a male student” who receives an award from AAUW. Other than funding students, the organization supports education of young women through programs like Expanding Horizons, which takes about 60 elementary girls to a “sanctuary program” at College of the Sequoias, where they can explore options past high school. The organization also sends 12 middle school students to a week at Fresno State University for STEM camp, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. The camp, held in June, “is a very powerful experience,” says McBee. AAUW membership is $85, “and a lot of that is spent on lobbying and legislation on a national level,” says McBee (members must also have an associate or four-year degree), but “it’s the interest groups that really capture a lot of people.” From knitting groups to reading clubs, volunteer opportunities and bridge games, there’s an outlet for almost every interest. The Knit Wits – a knitting group – meet every Tuesday at Panera. A walking group gathers regularly, and there’s another group called Coffee and California Concerns.

46 | ENJOY APRIL 2016

At monthly meetings from September through May, “we might have an author come speak, and we had a member come from China to talk about her experiences” relative to women’s rights. Basically, says McBee, “the group is a whole lot of fun, and you can have a great time supporting important causes in our area.” About 170 people belong to the local chapter, but McBee encourages other women to find out how they can get involved. • American Association of University Women visaliasequoia-ca.aauw.net Semi-Annual Book Sale April 13-18, 10am-8:30pm Sequoia Mall in Visalia

Jordan Venema is a freelance writer and California native. He’s a fan of wild stories, impetuous traveling, live music, and all the food. But mostly, he’s a fan of his seven-year-old son, Cassian. He can be contacted by email at jordan.venema@gmail.com.

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