October 2014

HOME TOUR

THE WENDY VAN METER HOME

Eclectic Design Welcomes Family & Friends

TRAVEL

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Close to Perfect

CULINARY

THE PERFECT FALL TRIO

Stuffed Pumpkin Fondue October 2014

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PAGE

24 HOME TOUR The Wendy Van Meter Home

COMMUNITY

Tasting Downtown, One Sample at a Time

8

Letter from the Executive Editor

10 Word Play 12

History: Jordan Building - Taking the Center Street Spotlight

20 Performance: William Close and the Earth Harp Collective PAGE

40 Preserve: An Evening Under the Oaks

16

50 Literary Arts: Navigating Griefland with Words and a Friend

CULINARY

54 Spirits: The Perfect Fall Beer

The Perfect Fall Trio

56 Happenings

Stuffed Pumpkin Fondue

PAGE

34 T R AV E L

Close to Perfect Barcelona, Spain

PAGE

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L I FE S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2014

ON THE COVER: The eclectic design of the den is a complete reflection of the homeowner, Wendy, with bright pops of color and bold prints.

PICTURED: The front of the residence resembles that of an old Colonial style home, very unique to the central valley.

Sculpted Solutions

By Alex Lechtman, M.D., F.A.C.S. Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon All follow-ups are performed personally by Dr. Lechtman at The Aesthetic Center.

The Aesthetic Center

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alechtman@vmchealth.com 5530 Avenida De Los Robles (West of Applebee’s), Visalia

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• Breast Augmentation • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Tummy Tuck

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OCTOBER 2014 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY Graphic Designer KACI HANSEN EDITORIAL Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Content Coordinator KATIE PRESSER Editorial Staff KELLY LAPADULA Marketing Manager KIM BATTY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHERYL LEVITAN DIANE SLOCUM ELAINE DAKESSIAN JORDAN VENEMA RYAN LAPADULA TERRY L. OMMEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT MALKASIAN ACCOUNTANCY LLP GARY MALKASIAN CPA JEFFREY MALKASIAN EA Operations Manager MARIA GASTON ADVERTISING SALES LEAH PEREZ leah@dmiagency.com SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com

RACK LOCATIONS

Bravo Farms Smokehouse DMI Agency Evolutions Fitness Center, Tulare Tazzaria Coffee & Tea The Lifestyle Center Visalia Chamber of Commerce Visalia Convention Center COUNTERTOP LOCATIONS

210 Cafe Café 225 California Fitness Academy Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Courtyard Aesthetics Details Party Rentals Exeter Chamber of Commerce Fast Frame Franey’s Design Center Hobbs-Potts Associates Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Keller Williams Reality Pacific Treasures Pita Kabob Smiles by Sullivan Smile Visalia Suncrest Bank Tulare Chamber of Commerce V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Business Bank (Downtown) Visalia Harley Davidson Visalia Imaging & Open MRI Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildflower Café, Exeter Williams, Jordan, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

VIEW THE MAG ONLINE! issuu.com/lifestylemagazine

Facebook.com/LifestyleMag www.VisaliaLifestyle.com

Visalia Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 13,000 homes in the upper-middle and high-income neighborhoods in Visalia and Exeter. An additional 2,000 copies are distributed at various distribution points around both communities. Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of DMI Agency or its advertisers.

Circulation of this issue: 15,000 © 2014 DMI Agency

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PICTURED: Wendy’s dog, Charlie, posing for the camera.

Photo by Becca Chavez | Hair and Make-up provided by Velvet Sky

I

f you’ve dared to step outside in recent weeks, it might come as a surprise to you that it’s fall. As I sit here today, staring at my computer screen, it’s a screaming 93 degrees, making fall barely recognizable. Since I favor warm climates over cold, I’m not complaining, except that I’m ready for some fall flavor in my life, including pumpkin, cinnamon and of course, a little bit of brown sugar. Maybe it’s the color orange (SF Giants, anyone?), but whatever the attraction, start preheating those ovens and get the scent of fall happening around here.

If you’re still hesitant about getting in the fall mood, then you’ll want to turn to page 34 for this month’s Stuffed Pumpkin Fondue. Pumpkin, cheese, heavy cream and spices – oh my goodness - what’s not to love about that combination? We’d like to thank contributing chef Elaine Dakessian for this month’s “The Perfect Fall Trio” recipe collection and the special flavors she always brings to our Lifestyle readers. Fall is also the perfect time to add to your beer portfolio. If you’re ready to step away from light, summer brews and try something heavier bodied and fit for cooler weather, be sure to check out “The Perfect Fall Beer”

by Ryan Lapadula on page 54.

In almost every issue of Lifestyle, you’ll find at least one feature about a local nonprofit or charity organization. This is part of our mission – to offer a voice for groups who might otherwise go unnoticed. Last month’s feature on “the concert that wasn’t” (Oval Park: A Community Conversation), turned out to be one of our more controversial articles. After 11 years of publishing Lifestyle, I can count on one hand the number of times someone has called or emailed to let us know they didn’t agree with something we’d written. Most of the time, the feedback we receive is delivered thoughtfully and considerately from people who wanted to share their opinions. This particular event we covered was a little more emotionally charged, which in the end, is a good thing since we always welcome responses from our faithful readers.

This issue is an exciting one for us, as it marks our 11th anniversary of publishing Lifestyle. We are very thankful to our advertisers, our readers and our online supporters for allowing us to continue doing what we love. We look forward to another great year of bringing art, style and culture to the pages of Lifestyle and in a small way, contributing to the pride we feel about where we live and the people with whom we share this earth – both those who agree with us, and even the ones who don’t.

KAREN TELLALIAN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@dmiagency.com or www.VisaliaLifestyle.com www.facebook.com/LifestyleMag call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

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W WORD PLAY

NEWS ON WRITING, BOOKS AND THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING Text by Diane Slocum

S

cary doesn’t have to be thought of in the usual Halloween sense of the word. What could be scarier than having your brain washed so you don’t even remember who you are and will do whatever you’re told? And what if it’s the U.S. government that’s doing it? Scott O’Connor’s third book, Half World (Simon & Schuster, February, 2014), takes off from a 1950s CIA attempt at mind control. No one escapes unscathed when a discredited agent and some hard cases are sent to California to turn unsuspecting johns into mindless minions. Even the next generation is thrown into the deadly game.

Scary in yet another way, is a midwife who steals babies to raise as her own. In Jim Scott’s debut novel, The Kept, Elspeth Howell trudges through the snow to her isolated home, returning from months of delivering babies to find her own family slaughtered – except for one son who is in hiding. Elspeth and 12-year-old Caleb set off to avenge the killings. Instead of the west, the story is set in the wilds of the frozen northeast, where the bad guys are at least as bad, and it’s hard to tell who’s good.

Valley Writers Golden West High School graduate Marlan Smith, writing under the name of Martin Kee, was putting the final touches on his fourth book last month. The book is a sequel to his first novel, A Latent Dark, which he published in paperback in 2012 and on Kindle earlier this year. He writes about the ins and outs of producing a sequel on his website at http://marlanesque.com.

The first novel is a steampunk fantasy thriller about an 11-year-old girl named Skyla who can see people’s lives in their shadows. Of course, her special powers put her in special danger. In the first chapter, her house is nearly destroyed, her mother disappears and Skyla barely survives, thanks to a friendly raven. Then, the scourging religious zealot appears.

Kee’s other books are Bloom: Or the Unwritten Memoir of Tennyson Middlebrook, where a world is afflicted with a parasitic fungus and GLEAN, featuring a teenage con artist and a tender from a dying planet.

Valley authors who were scheduled to attend the Author’s Faire in Oakhurst last month included Doug Hansen 10

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(illustrator of children’s book Mother Goose in California), Robert A. Williams, Sr. (fantasy T.Y.M.E. Interrupted), Gayle Taylor Davis (self-help Grief Sucks…But Love Bears All Things: How Grief Tore Me Apart and Put Me Back Together) and Flora Beach Burlingame (historical novel Charcoal and Chalk).

Elizabeth Strickland’s latest book, Captain Chuck Yeager Visits Sunset Elementary School was published last month.

She signed copies at the Dust Bowl Festival at Sunset School in Weedpatch.

Fairs and Festivals The Miami Book Fair International will be in its 30th year when it convenes from November 16 to 23. The eight-day event attracts hundreds of thousands of writers and readers. The event features evenings of readings and discussions with noted authors. The Street Fair includes more than 350 authors in the Festival of Authors.

More than 250 publishers and booksellers will exhibit their products. Details at: www.miamibookfair.com Writing Contests The Carpe Articulum Screenwriting Contest deadline is November 30. The contest is open to anyone over 18-yearsold. By submitting, the author gives the Carpe Articulum Literary Review the right to publish the work. Work anywhere in the production process is not eligible.

Maximum of 20 pages. Winning entry receives $1,400. Reading fee is $29. Details at: www.carpearticulum.com The Early Bird deadline for the Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition is November 17. The final deadline is December 15. First prize is $3,000 for a story with a maximum length of 1,500 words. The winner will also be published in Writer’s Digest Magazine and receive a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference.

Details at: www.writersdigest.com/ competitions/short-short-story-competition.

What’s New According to Information Today, Inc., the latest trend is the networked book.

A networked book could be one that is critiqued online by readers before it goes to press. Why just have your semi-literate friends, an old English teacher or some

guy who wrote a book once look at your manuscript when the whole cyber-connected world is willing to give their two-cents worth? But there is more to it than that. The book can be open for additional material, it can be rearranged, open for communal authorship and more.

The Last Word “It was the kind of terrified look that reminds you that no matter how rational or grown up a person might seem, some part of him is absolutely sure - knows - that an evil other-world exists just outside of our regular, everyday world. And that although we don’t expect that world to collide with our calm, predictable one...well, really, at any moment that is exactly what might happen.” – Ann M. Martin (1955 - )

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CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION Gift cards available

Margaret Vassilev, M.D. 1644 S. Court Street, Visalia 559.739.1042 www.vmedspavis.com

All medical procedures and consultations are performed by a physician

H HISTORY

JO R DAN BU I L D I N G – TAK I N G TH E CEN TER ST R EE T S P OTL I GHT

Reflections OF VISALIA Text by Terry L. Ommen

T

he slender, old, brick building seems out of place as it rises above Visalia’s skyline near Court and Center streets. This two-story throwback to an earlier time is obviously one of the oldest in the area. It seems almost unbelievable that this 125-year-old antique continues to stand today. Its survival is not by accident, but rather the result of the effort of two forward-thinking men who could see beyond its age spots and were willing to transform the tired and beaten-up structure into beautiful law offices. Michael Farley and Michael Lampe acquired the declining old-timer in 2005, restored it at considerable expense, and today the Jordan building stands proudly as a wonderful reminder of Visalia’s pioneer past.

In the 1880s, Visalia and the surrounding area was in the midst of a land rush. The fertile land, abundant with water, was being heavily marketed. Settlers, lured by the dream of productive soil at

a cheap price, arrived and parcels were quickly sold. Even in these early years, savvy real estate buyers wanted to make sure that the land they purchased had a clear and flawless title, so they hired abstractors to search maps and legal documents to give them that assurance.

Daniel K. Zumwalt is credited with establishing the first abstract company in Visalia. However, John F. Jordan is probably the most well-known of the early local land detectives.

Jordan was born in Texas in 1850 to parents Frank and Alabama Jordan. In 1854, the Jordans joined 73 other California-bound families and crossed the plains by wagon train. They settled in Santa Clara County. John’s mother died in 1858 and his father, a cattleman, moved John and his brothers and sisters to Visalia. John was educated in Visalia public schools and, in 1875, he graduated from Heald’s Business College in San Francisco.

PICTURED: John Jordan in his Knights Templar uniform circa 1904.

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H HISTORY

TOP: The Jordan Building, circa 2014.

INSET: The Jordan Building, circa 1890.

After college, he returned to Visalia and became a respected community leader. Jordan held responsible positions, including Tulare County Deputy Sheriff, Tulare County Auditor, Deputy Postmaster, president of the Citizen’s Bank of Visalia, and he even served as a member of the Visalia Common [City] Council. In 1881, he married Alice Neill.

In 1884, Jordan started his abstract company. His first office was in the Tulare County Courthouse; he later moved it to the Palace Hotel building. Needing more space, he built a building on Center Street, just west of Court around 1888. Some said it was the first building constructed exclusively for the abstract business in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

The offices inside were “elegant,” but the feature that attracted the most attention was the ground floor vault. The tools-of-thetrade for an abstractor were real estate transaction books and maps, and Jordan’s collection, worth more than $12,000, was stored in the burglar and fire proof vault. Jordan proudly advertised that his Visalia Abstract Company used the “Durfee’s Self Correcting System of Deducing Land Titles” and boasted he could furnish any information regarding real estate titles on any piece of property in the county in just minutes.

The Visalia Abstract Co. was incorporated in 1892, and over the years, many prominent businessmen were affiliated with it, including Daniel Overall, J.R. Pendergrass and James H. Bliss.

The company stayed in its building until 1923, when Security Title Insurance and Guarantee Company bought the old abstract firm and moved the operation to a new building at Locust and Acequia streets. When the old building was vacated, the location continued to be a popular office and retail space and for years housed a multitude of businesses, including a dance studio, massage and tattoo parlor, print shop, thrift store and shoe repair shop.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the building was showing its age and looking shabby. The site was being considered as a new transit center in 1998, so demolition of the old building was a real possibility. When the downtown site was rejected as a transit hub, the building was spared, at least for the moment.

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A few years later, Michael Farley, a local attorney, spotted the neglected old building. He liked its architecture and its location and was able to see beyond the obvious cosmetic blemishes. He talked with his friend, Michael Lampe, also an attorney, about buying it. Initially, Lampe was not at all excited about the building in which pigeons and transients had taken up occupancy. Farley was persistent, however, and after several more conversations, visits and a positive structural engineer report, Lampe began to come around. Farley sweetened the deal with his reluctant friend when he mentioned that the vault would make an excellent wine cellar. That cinched the partnership and they submitted an offer. On December 15, 2005, the building at 108 W. Center Street belonged to them.

The purchase was easy, but the new owners had the difficult task of restoring the 5,000-square-foot pioneer building. They commissioned restoration expert Chuck Barnes, general contractor and owner of Charles Barnes Construction Co. of Visalia, to do the work. Barnes worked on the project for over a year. In 2007, the beautifully restored landmark was finished and Farley and Lampe moved into their new offices.

The two attorneys have been in the Jordan building for about seven years. The restoration work on the building was expensive, but they have no regrets. They are proud of their effort and pleased by the positive response they have received from the community.

“We think we’ve given the building another hundred years,” Michael Farley proudly shared. But Farley and Lampe have given much more. They have given all of us and the generations that follow a chance to enjoy and admire one of Visalia’s historical architectural treasures.

C COMMUNITY

TASTING DOWNTOWN

One Sample at a Time Text and Photos by Kelly Lapadula

T

here’s something truly special about a “small town” Main Street like the one right here in downtown Visalia. That nostalgic, hometown vibe becomes even more evident when the whole community comes together in one place, at one time to celebrate some of the best things about life: food, family, friendship and maybe a little bit of wine. It happens once a year, and it’s called the Taste of Downtown.

If you were out strolling along Main Street on the evening of October 7, there’s a good chance you were participating in this sold-out, 21st annual event that has attracted over a thousand people from all over Tulare County, and sometimes even tourists from out of town.

This year, 28 restaurants and five organizations participated in the Taste of Downtown, serving samples of delicious food, portioning out the most popular menu items and hosting wine and beer tastings.

Elaine Martell, executive officer of operations at Downtown Visalians, the organization that puts on this event, has 16

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watched the Taste of Downtown grow from year-to-year as more restaurants and people participate.

“We started with 10 restaurants and have grown to at least 28 and sometimes 30 restaurants,” said Martell.

Martell remembers the Vintage Press being one of the first restaurants to participate, and they have done it ever since. A few more faithful restaurants include Café 225, Fugazzis and Henry Salazar’s Fresh Mex. Of course, every year there are a few new guys on the block (literally), and this time around they were Pita Kabob, Quesadilla Gorilla and Tachibana, all of which had some pretty delectable spreads.

An extra fun aspect of the Taste of Downtown is that the menu items are always a surprise. While some restaurants tend to serve the same hit items from year-to-year, many of them switch it up to show the array of dishes they can provide.

“Menu items are always a surprise,” said Martell. “A lot of times the chefs will serve something they are contemplating putting on their fall menu. And then other times, they

C COMMUNITY

will serve an old favorite, one they just can’t take off their menu.”

Several popular items served included coconutcrusted prawns from Fugazzis, mini crab cakes from Café 225, tiramisu and cappuccinos from Little Italy, Tommy’s famous bread pudding, tortilla soup from Rookies, beer-battered pulled pork sandwiches from Brewbakers and clam chowder at The Planing Mill. By the end of the night, it’s a safe bet to say that no one was left hungry. But that didn’t keep many attendees from continuing the festivities afterward at one of the local restaurants for a drink. Restaurants like Pita Kabob, Fugazzis, Rookies and Brewbakers were packed with “Tasters,” relaxing with a good brew or cocktail alongside friends and family.

As Martell said, “at this event, neighbors and friends meet, they walk to three or four restaurants, they catch up and visit, they do all their the tasting and then they meet at a restaurant for a night cap.”

Several restaurant booths even added a festive, fall touch by decorating their table with some gorgeous displays of pumpkins, cornucopias and fall-colored leaves. One of the most ornate floral displays was the focal piece of the room at the Bank of Sierra’s wine tasting event.

With over 20 varieties of wines, from Syrah to Cabernet to Rosé, the liquids were flowing a-plenty at Sierra and the crowds

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loved every sip. One of the tables even had a few craft beers to choose from, which was a nice touch for those who prefer a good brew over a glass of Merlot. But the beer tasting didn’t stop there – attendees could head over to Suncrest Bank to try even more craft beers.

Once the night was over and the last of the tasters went home, the voting polls opened up on the Downtown Visalians website (a new feature this year), and people voted for their favorite restaurants.

The Taste of Downtown is an event that makes this city of nearly 130,000 people feel more like a town of a few hundred. While it may be an event for people to taste some of Visalia’s best restaurants, it’s much more than that: it brings people together.

“I think it exemplifies the hometown atmosphere – friendly people are having fun and they meet friends and neighbors who they might not see except at this event,” said Martell. “It brings people together, whether they see each other every day, every week or only once a year; it just kind of brings people back to the heart of the town.”

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More invasive procedures like liposuction aren't needed. Just a few treatments with Vanquish and you'll be ready to show off your new body to the world. Loose 2-5 inches in 4 treatments.

Vanquish technology heats away fat cells. It simply activates a natural process in the body of flushing away broken down cells, thus removing fat and leaving you with gorgeous new curves. Those areas that just won't seem to go away no matter how hard you exercise and diet will vanish with Vanquish.

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You can expect months of gorgeousness.

Shop ‘til You Stop Breast Cancer

FREE LEATHER BAND WITH THE PURCHASE OF A DIAMOND MICHELLE WATCH

Saturday, October 25th 10am-5pm featuring

Michelle Watches and Rebecca Jewelry Trunk Show Part of the proceeds will be donated to Kaweah Delta Foundation Breast Cancer

free pink bracelet for every woman who walks in while supplies last prizes and fun games VA N Q U I S H C A N M A K E YO U R D R E A M S O F H AV I N G T H AT H O U R G L A S S F I G U R E A R E A L I T Y

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

Margaret Vassilev, M.D. 1644 S. Court Street, Visalia Visalia’s Most Elegant Jewelry Showcase

559.739.1042 (559) 625-3119 | 4212 S. Mooney Blvd.,www.vmedspavis.com Visalia | www.ashoorijewelers.com

Gift cards available

All medical procedures and consultations are performed by a physician

P PERFORMANCE

WILLIAM CLO and the

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earth harp

PERFORMANCE P

OSE

p collective

Text by Kelly Lapadula | Photos provided by ART House Live

concert benefits visalia education

H

arps are one of the world’s most ethereal and beautiful instruments to hear played, but experiencing the musical sounds and vibrations of the harp from inside its walls is a whole different ball game. The concept seems strange and a little hard to imagine, but this is exactly what audience members experienced in the L.J. Williams Theater on Saturday, September 27.

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective transformed the Redwood High School theater into a giant harp with about 100 feet of wire traveling from the stage, above audience members’ heads, and up into the balcony. The entire theater became the instrument and the audience became a part of it; it was truly a performance unlike anything out there.

The third-place contestant on NBC’s hit TV show “America’s Got Talent,” William Close has performed all over the world, at places like the Roman Colosseum, the Space Needle in Seattle, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the temples of Vietnam. But on the evening of September 26th, William Close and the Earth Harp Collective arrived in Visalia, CA to set up their well-traveled instruments in the Redwood High School theater.

So why did this jet-setting musician, artist and architect choose to perform in Visalia? It wasn’t because of any ties that Close had to Visalia, or because he was paid the big bucks to come here, or because it would get him more publicity. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective performed in Visalia’s L.J. Williams Theater because of their love for education and to help raise funds for a local non profit, the Visalia Education Foundation.

It all started when a board member from the Visalia Education Foundation, Phil Walker, saw Close perform on “America’s Got Talent.” He was so impressed by the performance and Close’s passion for education and learning that he wondered if he could get Close to put on a concert as a fundraiser for the arts in Visalia schools. Once Walker presented the idea to the board, the committee agreed that Close’s philosophy for his music and art lined up with the foundation’s mission to “secure and distribute contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations for the benefit of students of the Visalia Unified School District.”

“We thought William Close would be a unique contribution for Visalia,” said Paul Hurley, a board member of the Visalia Education Foundation.

“When Phil Walker contacted William, he discovered that William shared our commitment to musical education for young people. In fact, he was so committed, that he agreed to reduce his usual performance fee.”

William Close is extremely passionate about creating, inventing and helping others learn, which is evident in the fact that he did this concert to support the Visalia Education Foundation.

L I FE S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2014

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P PERFORMANCE

When Lifestyle Magazine caught up with Close after the show, he said, “I think the [Visalia Education Foundation] was aware that I was an appropriate act to be celebrating education and I think that the elements of what I do are about bringing together science, music and architecture, so there is this element of deeper thought that goes into it all.”

The Visalia Education Foundation board of directors was more than pleased with the performance the Earth Harp Collective brought to Visalia. The response from the audience was nothing short of satisfying, and it was truly something different; something that Visalia had never seen before.

“His act was a special performance that we believed would thrill Visalia audiences,” said Hurley. “We hoped that William could show students how they could translate their dreams to his reality, and he did.”

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective played around thirteen pieces, some original compositions, and several special arrangements of well-known songs – a few crowd favorites included a piece that combined “Cannon and D” with U2’s hit “With or Without You,” as well as a rendition of “Hallelujah,” which has become a popular song for artists to cover ever since it was originally released by Leonard Cohen in 1984. Another fun treat for the audience was when the Earth Harp Collective performed a new piece that had never been heard live before.

Close told the audience that they composed the song just three days before the show, and were premiering it specially for Visalia.

So how did the Earth Harp come to life in the L.J. William’s theater? The night before the show, a crew of nearly 15 to 20 volunteers helped in the process of setting it up. The base of the harp was set up on the stage, while the wires were strung above the seats and attached to a rope that hung from the balcony. It took a total of four to five hours to get the harp completely set up. During his performance, William literally stood in between the strings of the Earth Harp and played it using gloves covered in violin rosin. Throughout the show, another member of the Earth Harp Collective played along with Close, making the experience even more grand for the audience.

The Earth Harp, however, wasn’t the only unique instrument on stage. Close brought along five instruments that he designed and invented, including the Aquatar, the drum

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cloud, and a crowd favorite, the “drum jacket.” Once Close slipped on the drum jacket, which is exactly what it sounds like, a jacket that has drums in it, Close got the whole crowd clapping along. Including the five instruments that Close brought, he told that crowd that he has invented over 100 new instruments, proving that he is altogether a musician, an inventor and an architect. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective even got a standing ovation at one point during the show.

The Visalia Education Foundation was excited about the outcome of the event and the opportunity that it provided for Visalians. They got a great reaction from the audience and had more than 800 tickets sold before the show (not counting attendees who bought tickets at the door). They also received a generous $7,000 in event sponsorship from the community, which will help the foundation reach its goals this year.

“This event was meant to raise money for all of the VEF’s programs, including disciplines that are not in music education, such as science, technology and the performing and visual arts,” said Hurley. “But certainly, some of the proceeds for this event will be used to support students in musical education.”

Hurley mentioned that this year alone, more than 140 students in the district want to study instrumental music in band or orchestra, but the district does not have the instruments to lend them. While this event will help fund a variety of district needs, some of the proceeds will go toward purchasing the instruments that these kids need.

Close told Lifestyle Magazine how exciting it is for him to be involved in the Visalia Education Foundation’s goals to promote musical education for young people.

“From an educational point of view, I see the instruments almost as tools or teachers about sound and music and the beauty of harmonics and resonance,” said Close. “And so whenever I am given the chance to celebrate education, I am always up for it.”

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective recently released their first two albums with Network Records, and will be traveling to Singapore to attempt the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest Earth Harp. You can find Close’s recently releases albums, “Behind the Veil” and a Holiday album, on www.iTunes.com.

H HOME TOUR

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THE WENDY VAN METER HOME

HOME TOUR H

ECLECTIC DESIGN welcomes FAMILY & FRIENDS Text by Jordan Venema | Photos by Taylor Johnson

PICTURED: The living room is full of bold prints, with an assortment of décor pillows and art pieces.

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very home is built from the inside out. The physical process begins by pouring the foundation, completing the rough framing; followed by the plumbing and the laying of electrical wiring, and then the insulation, and step by step until – viola! – four walls and a roof. But the process that turns a house into a home isn’t only physical – that transformation begins with self-expression. A family makes a house their own by decorating, painting walls, arranging furniture and renovating. In short, a home becomes an extension of their style and individuality. But even then, the real shift, the moment when one says, “yes, this is home, this is where I belong,” can be a matter of perspective.

This kind of perspective requires timing. Sometimes, things click at the right place and at the right time. That is certainly the case for Wendy Van Meter, who moved into her new home just over a month ago. “This house,” she says, “is a good lesson in trusting the process, a lesson in timing.” And the process, she admits, has been surreal. “If you had asked me a year and a half or two years ago how my life would be, this is not what I would have pictured.”

But to ask her now, she probably wouldn’t want to picture it any other way, because she’s found home.

Van Meter tries to explain why this new house brings her peace and comfort. “I can’t really put my finger on

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TOP: The large kitchen leads into the dining room with views of the backyard from both rooms.

BOTTOM: The large, framed chalkboard that hangs in the kitchen serves as the family’s personal piece of art; decorated with inspirational quotes, quirky sayings and drawings.

H HOME TOUR it … it’s just a feeling.” But it’s a familiar feeling, she says, “like maybe from when you’re younger, like going to grandma’s. It kind of has that nostalgic air to it.”

Looking at the house, it’s easy to see what Van Meter means. The 2,700-square-foot home looks like it belongs in another time, another place. Built in the 1970s, the box-shaped, symmetrical home rests on two acres adjacent to a busy northwest Visalia street, hidden from view by a surrounding hedge. A driveway off a side street opens to the property, and the two-story, white Colonial style home surprises the senses. The front façade is symmetrical, like most colonial style homes, with a door in the center and bordered by two windows on either side, while a row of windows lines the second-story. Square columns rise to meet the overhanging roofline of a lightly slanted gable roof. Standing in front of the house, with its green shutters and green door, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of Visalia, and easier to think you’re somewhere in 19th century New England.

Van Meter felt that way when she first saw the house five months ago. “It’s a hidden country home in the city,” she says. She had picked up a friend at the house and felt so drawn by it that she asked the renter to let her know when the house became available. A few months later, Van Meter got a surprise call: the house was hers – if she wanted it. Van Meter, who for the previous 18 months had been living in an apartment with her sons, jumped at the chance; the timing was right.

The process of finding a home was more than just a matter of timing, it was also “a process of healing, moving on,” explains Van Meter, who went through a divorce in 2013. “Everything changed,” says Van Meter. “We’ve had a really rough year and a half and now to be here, and be at peace… to move here was such a God thing.”

Had Van Meter moved into this house sooner, it’s likely she wouldn’t have been ready to make it her home. As rough as the previous year and a half had been for her, the time prepared her “to feel fully in charge of my own life,” she explains.

One of the most important aspects of Van Meter’s healing process was through creativity. A large, framed chalkboard (pictured on page 26) hangs on the wall of her kitchen, covered with illustrations and inspirational phrases that she and her sons have written in colored chalk. The board, like Van Meter – like all of us, really – “is always a work in progress,” she explains. “When it gets full, we take a picture of it and then we start over. The board, which she began around the time of her divorce, is Van Meter’s outlet, a way to completely speak her mind. Phrases like “Trust the timing of your life” and “Drink from the well of yourself – begin again” are written next to sketches of a rising sun and a skateboarder riding

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TOP: The dining room table is a meeting place for family and friends to enjoy a meal.

BOTTOM: Inspirational rocks rest in a metal plate on a bookshelf in the dining room.

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H HOME TOUR

LEFT: The guest house, currently occupied by Wendy’s son, Matt, sits just to the left of the main house.

TOP RIGHT: The back porch is adorned with twinkle lights and colorful wrought iron crosses, giving the home a welcoming feel.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Two old trunks serve as a home for Wendy’s succulent garden, dressed up with a cute saying “It’s All About Me,” and pumpkins.

a half pipe (drawn by her sons). There is one phrase in particular that stands out, and which seems to capture the purpose of the board: “And then one day… she decided to design a life she loved.”

In one short month, Van Meter has begun to design for herself a life she loves, and a home where she can live it. Much like the board, the house is awash with color, and vintage signs with encouraging words and phrases hang throughout the house. The den, which her youngest son, James, calls the “Harry Potter” room, looks like the inside of a Crayola box. Colored candles and pillows brightly stand out against the room’s more traditional atmosphere, a brick hearth and wooden floors.

The house, like its exterior, has an old-home feel: built-in bookshelves and a kitchen buffet, box frame windows, and wooden and brick floors throughout the first floor. Typical of colonial-style homes, the entryway occupies the middle of the home, with the 30

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living room on one side and dining room on the other, and the kitchen in the rear. A center stair hall leads to the three bedrooms upstairs. Between the old-home feel and Van Meter’s style, the house has an eccentric personality – “it’s colorful, it’s fun, it’s funky,” she says “Or,” adds her friend Asha Pratt, “it looks how she dresses.”

Like most people, Van Meter struggles to describe her own style, but her son, Matt, says she’s one of a kind. “She thinks she’s normal but she’s not,” he says. “She’s just crazy creative, she’s inspiring.

I have songs I’ve written for her that say how inspired I am by everything she does.” It’s evident that Van Meter and her sons are close (Matt lives in the guesthouse in the backyard), and that they enjoy spending time together. For Van Meter, that seems to be the most essential part of her home. “I have my boys with me, it’s peaceful… I don’t know, life couldn’t be any better,” she says.

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H HOME TOUR

Matt adds, “there’s nothing better than everybody being here.”

There is something about the home, or about the people who live there, that makes for a welcoming environment.

There’s no fence to separate the front from the back yard, and during the interview some of Van Meter’s friends arrive, and pour themselves a glass of wine. “This is the type of place where I’m never here by myself,” says Van Meter. “People are always stopping by.” And it’s easy to see why. The backyard is comfortable and spacious with plenty of shade from full-grown trees. A pillow-laden hammock hangs from the smooth trunks of eucalyptus trees, and a small pond lies next to a tennis court.

James and Matt built a four-foot half pipe in the backyard, out of sight, behind the pond. Under a pavilion, Matt teaches guitar to Pratt’s daughter, Charlie, and an adopted cat walks in and out the open door of the guesthouse. People, and animals, seem free to come and go as they please. Even Van Meter’s friend, Pratt, laughs, “I would come here even if they weren’t here.”

It’s only been a month, but Van Meter says she’s basically done moving in. “Now I really want to just start enjoying it, relax, make food, have people over.” But she and her family talk about adding a few things, like a volleyball net, a fire pit, a big country table – anything, it seems, that would encourage more people to come and enjoy their space. Van Meter laughs, “we’re going to have a carnival here before all is said and done.”

Van Meter can laugh about turning her backyard into a carnival, but clearly hospitality is part of her creative outlet, a part of her healing process. But again, while she struggles to put her finger on it, to find a way to describe why this house has so quickly become a home, Matt finds the words. “It’s a stronghold, like a refuge… it’s our spot, where we can relax, be at peace,” he says. “There’s always something going on, and at any given moment, family will just show up.” Even he hesitates, saying, “I can’t really put my finger on it… it’s just a feeling.”

But then it comes to him. “It’s magic.”

TOP LEFT: Towards the back of the two-acre lot rests a hammock full of decorative pillows, perfect for enjoying a beautiful fall evening.

RIGHT: With chairs, couches and pillows, this comfy seating arrangement is decorated with bright colors and fun textures.

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C CULINARY

Recipes by Elaine Dakessian, Très Bien | Photos by Taylor Johnson

T

he crisp, cool air will soon be making its way through our lovely local cities (hopefully). And when it does, the urge for warm, rich flavors will be the first things on our minds. With these three recipes, your palates will be pleased and your stomachs will be full. So pick up a pumpkin and some butternut squash, and get cooking!

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Butternut Squash Crostini MAKES 12 PIECES INGREDIENTS:

1 average sized butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed into ½-inch pieces ½ C olive oil to toss Kosher salt and pepper Baguette (I used pumpkin seed artisan loaf cut into 1-inch slices) 12 thin slices of Serrano ham or prosciutto Olive oil to brush 4-6 balls of burrata cheese Fried sage leaves ½ C vegetable oil DIRECTIONS:

In a small sauté pan, heat the oil to about 325°F. Take whole sage leaves and fry until just a little crisp, remove and place on paper towels.

To prepare, toss the cubed squash in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Place the squash on a baking sheet and put into a preheated 400°F oven for approximately 30 minutes or until caramelized and golden brown.

Brush the sliced bread with olive oil and grill on your BBQ or on a grill pan on top of the stove.

To assemble, spoon a tablespoon or so of burrata cheese onto the grilled bread, place some squash on top, place a slice of Serrano ham in a ribbon fashion and garnish with fried sage leaves. Drizzle with quality olive oil.

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Butternut Squash Soup SERVES 6-8

INGREDIENTS:

4 T butter Butternut squash, 2-3 lbs., peeled, seeded and cubed into ½-inch pieces 2 C yellow onion, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 3 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped 6 C chicken broth, low-sodium ½ tsp dried sage leaves ½ C heavy cream DIRECTIONS:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add squash, onion, carrots and celery; sauté until slightly softened, about 15 minutes. Mix in apples and sage. Add stock. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until apples are tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Working in batches, purée soup in blender. Return to pot, add cream and heat through. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche and freshly clipped chives.

C CULINARY

Stuffed Pumpkin Fondue

(ADAPTED A BIT FROM A RECIPE BY DORIE GREENSPAN) SERVES 4-6 INGREDIENTS:

1 3 lbs. pumpkin 1 loaf your favorite artisan bread, cubed ½ lbs. cubed cheeses – (I used white cheddar and gruyere; I also like fontina and mozzarella) 4 cloves garlic, chopped 6 strips cooked pancetta, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 T fresh thyme ½ C heavy cream Salt and pepper Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare the pumpkin as you would for Halloween carving; cut off the top using a sturdy knife, scoop out the seeds and season the inside with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss the bread, cheese, garlic, pancetta and thyme. Pack the mix into the pumpkin until it is well filled.

Reserved filling is good, as I like to add more at the end. Add the cream.

Put the top back on and bake for two hours, checking half way through to make sure everything is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is becoming tender. Remove the top during the last 30 minutes, add a little reserved bread mixture and top off the pumpkin.

Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake with the cap off for the last 30 minutes to melt the remaining cheese and brown the top.

Place very carefully on a serving platter.

Serve with knives so you can cut slices and eat the entire pumpkin, not just the filling.

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P PRESERVE

AN EVENING UNDER THE

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OAKS

he Sequoia Riverlands Trust soiree celebrates an expanded Kaweah Oaks Preserve, its 30th year, and its major benefactors, new SRT Alan George Conservation Award.

A canopy of stars shines aloft. Beneath, an illuminated Valley Oak tree shelters 150 guests who mill below its verdant broad reach on a warm, early fall evening. Nearby, luminous orbs highlight native Valley Elderberry trees.

Those enchanting elements were more than enough to set aglow An Evening Under the Oaks, a celebration of Kaweah Oaks Preserve’s 30th year and recent 22-acre expansion, enabled by preserve owner Sequoia Riverlands Trust’s (SRT) successful $552,000 capital campaign.

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“We were delighted, not only by the enthusiastic attendance at an event we hope will become an important annual happening on Visalia’s social calendar, but also by our community’s overwhelming philanthropic support of the campaign for Kaweah Oaks Preserve,” said Aaron Collins, SRT cirector of communications and community relations, who pointed out that the campaign hit nearly 100 percent of its goal.

“We hosted An Evening Under the Oaks to honor our contributors’ generosity, which enabled us to secure a highly-sensitive parcel whose central location was key to making Kaweah Oaks whole,” added Diane Hayes, SRT development director, a former Visalia Times-Delta executive editor who joined SRT earlier this year.

PRESERVE P

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P PRESERVE

PICTURED: Greg Collins presents the inaugural SRT Alan George Conservation Award.

INSET: Kevin Cho, a local musician who provided entertainment, mingles with another guest during the event.

Presiding over the evening’s festivities was Visalian Mike Chrisman, former California secretary of natural resources, appointed by thenGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chrisman ably orchestrated a diverse program with entertainment from Visalia musician Ken Cho to Yosemite National Park’s “Raven Lady,” Karen Amstutz to a host of Visalia area dignitaries who addressed a well-fed crowd, delighted by the culinary feats of Visalia favorites, The Vintage Press, Café 225 and Tazzaria.

Greg Collins, former Visalia mayor and current Sequoia Riverlands Trust board chair, presented the inaugural SRT Alan George Conservation Award to the eponymous Mr. George, who was also in attendance at Kaweah Oaks’ founding celebration in the early 1980s, having been instrumental in its formation.

Nino Mascolo, who is Southern California Edison’s manager of natural resources & public lands and regulatory affairs, detailed why SRT and SCE have remained key partners in delivering environmental education to area students. SCE is a longtime SRT supporter.

Major donors included Barbara and Donnie Kidd, Bill and Libby Clark, Don Kaplan, The Dwelle Foundation, Eric Shannon, Fred Lagomarsino, Carol and Terry Manning, Jody Nicholson, and Arthur and Marian Goldeen, among many other notable SRT 42

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supporters.

Organizational contributors included a grant from the California River Parkways program and Tulare County Office of Education, the latter whose contribution means KOP will get permanent restrooms, offered due to the heavy school use of the preserve.

“Our donors ensured that KOP will remain a vital natural, educational and recreational destination in the decades ahead,” said Aaron Collins (no relation to Greg). “We also owe them a debt of gratitude for enhancing the experience of thousands of annual school field trip visitors. Many area students are urban dwellers whose very first venture into nature happens at Kaweah Oaks, so we feel the preserve is a vital educational tool as it is the last remaining forest of its size and kind in the region,” he said, adding that even smaller capital campaign donors of $10 were honored at the event.

In addition to the added land, Collins said the nonprofit’s fundraising success will enable “new signage, [which] will make Kaweah Oaks more visible to Sequoia National Park’s 1.5 million annual visitors, many who currently pass by without realizing the preserve’s historic and natural significance, or in some cases, even its quiet presence.”

PRESERVE P

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T TRAVEL

BARCELONA, SPAIN – CLOSE TO PERFECT

Text by Cheryl Levitan

PICTURED: The La Rambla is a central street in Barcelona that is lined with trees and is a popular tourist destination.

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Text by Marsha Roberts

T

here are many places I’ve traveled to where I want to return, but Barcelona? I could live there. My reasons, however, don’t include linguistic skills. “Californian” Spanish doesn’t work in a city whose residents proclaim (at every opportunity) that they are Catalonian, not Spanish.

Although part of Spain, Catalonia is an autonomous region with a parliament and dreams of independence. Although the language has similarities to Spanish, its words and accents are completely different. Globalization has made English widely understood, but in Barcelona you only need one word – wow; a feast for the eyes, mind and stomach.

With pedestrian friendly streets, Barcelona is made for walking.

If bicycles are your style, this city has completely separate lanes devoted just for to two wheels. Walking or riding, the weather

almost always cooperates. Situated along the Mediterranean, the ocean ensures a mild climate, low humidity and sunny days. Maybe it’s the weather that creates Barcelona’s accessible ambience, but you don’t have to look far to see “real” people or hunt for things to see, do or eat. They find you. The only things that out number the choice of what to do are the people out doing them. Barcelona’s “social network” is found outside as residents spend a good portion of each day interacting with each other. Logically, it isn’t possible for everyone in a city of 1.5 million to be acquainted, but it certainly feels that way.

To navigate Barcelona, use La Rambla. Its ¾-mile series of connected tree-lined avenues bisect the areas of interest. Beginning north at Placa de Catalunya Square in the Eixample District, to the west is El Raval, east is the Gothic District, with the harbor and L I FE S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2014

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Photo by Cheryl Levitan

beaches marking the south. The wide central pedestrian avenue is flanked by one-way service roads on either side, leaving the central walkway vehicle free and bustling with people, souvenir kiosks, flower stands, street performers and cafés.

Spending a day strolling La Rambla is a must. On your way, watch out for the waiters. Appearing to materialize from invisible kitchens, they are actually dashing from restaurants located past the side roads and through the hubbub on the avenue. Somehow they still manage to arrive with trays intact. Now that’s a waiter’s race! The first notable site is the Font de Canaletes. Easy to miss, it’s difficult to believe this drinking fountain / lamppost combination is famous. Legend says that drinking the water here ensures you will return to Barcelona.

This fountain marks the traditional gathering spot for fans of Barcelona’s soccer team. When Barca FC (representing Barcelona, therefore Catalonia) defeats Real Madrid (representing Spain), the celebration shuts down La Rambla.

Further south, about 3-4 blocks, is one of Europe’s largest food markets. With 20,000 square feet, La Boqueria is also a perfect place for an early lunch since amongst all the stands of fresh produce, meats and cheeses are counters serving meals with the freshest ingredients. Just south of the market is the Plaça de la Boqueria.

Impossible to miss, it’s where pedestrians nonchalantly walk on a large mosaic created by Joan Miró. Look carefully (maybe under your foot) and you’ll find the one tile that he signed. Just to the left is one of the most photographed spots on the boulevard – a former umbrella factory. Its walls are adorned with plaster umbrellas and its sign is a dragon sculpture complete with an umbrella and Chinese lantern.

Just a block south is the Liceu Theater, the city’s ballet and opera venue, followed by Guell Palace. Antoni Gaudi built this ornate mansion for an industrial tycoon, with its odd roofline sculptures that conceal vents and chimneys. Not as whimsical as Gaudi’s later architecture, it has a story. Picasso, who opened a studio in 1902 across the street, detested that building and all of Gaudi’s work.

Remarkably, 1902 was also the year Picasso began his dark and dreary Blue Period. Coincidence? I think not.

TOP: As the only higher ground in Barcelona, riding the cable car up the hill to Montjuic Castle gives you a panoramic view of Barcelona and the harbor.

BOTTOM: The Catalan Modernisme architect Antonio Gaudi planned for an exterior that featured a Nativity Facade with a melted wedding cake appearance, pictured here.

After he died in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

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Photo by Cheryl Levitan

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Photo by Cheryl Levitan

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BOTTOM: Casa Batlló built by Antonio Gaudi is a marvel of ornamental design with wavy exterior walls covered with a mosaic of colored glass and ceramic discs.

East of La Rambla is the Gothic Quarter. As the center of the old city, many of the buildings date back to medieval times with a few remaining Roman walls. The area is full of artists, specialty shops, bars and restaurants with small squares and twisting labyrinth streets.

This city has it all: unbelievable architecture, perfect weather, medieval walkways and grand boulevards, beaches, amazing shopping, great nightlife and events – all while feeling unhurried.

Most striking is that this city’s culture is easily accessible at all levels, whether it be formal art exhibits and concerts or pavement artists and performers. Are you ready to pack your bags?

Photo by Cheryl Levitan

After passing Guell, La Rambla widens as you near the Colom monument. Built to commemorate Columbus’ announcement of his discovery of America, his statue is said to be proudly pointing towards America. Across the street is the marina’s wooden walkway, which leads to an impressive aquarium and IMAX theatre. This harbor underwent massive reconstruction for the 1992 Olympics and has continued to develop ever since. A huge copper fish sculpture by Frank Gehry marks the former entrance to the Olympic village (now condos and hotels) and most of the current three miles of beach and boardwalks are recent additions.

The area north of La Rambla is my favorite. Placa de Catalunya Square and the surrounding 19th century Eixample District is known for design. It’s a fashion destination with the Corte Inglés department store on the plaza, Pelayo Street with its thousands of shoes a block west, and Barcelona’s answer to Rodeo Drive on the square’s east side. Those eight blocks of Passeig de Gracia’s have well-known, high-end fashion stores mingled with renowned Spanish designers and affordable Spanish brands.

If architecture is your interest, this district is tailor-made.

Designed by visionary Ildefons Cerda in the mid 1800s, great consideration was given to traffic, lighting and airflow. The unique octagonal intersections, created by diagonally cutting off the last building’s corner, gives the area wide and stunningly beautiful intersections with excellent visibility. Eixample is also home to many distinctive Catalan Modernisme buildings.

From the same time frame as Art Nouveau, Modernisme has no peer when it comes to imagination and creativity. This style’s best-known architect is Antoni Gaudi, whose name and work gave us the word “gaudy.” Eccentrically ornate, Gaudi’s rippling lines and warped surfaces appear as if they were grown by nature rather than built by man. The Gaudi structures on any visitor’s list should be the Cathedral of Sagrada Família (the most visited building in Spain), La Pedrera and Casa Batlló (constructed without straight lines or right angles). Casa Batlló stands next to three other Modernisme buildings whose disparate styles have dubbed the block Illa de la Discòrdia, or Block of Discord.

To the west of La Rambla, El Raval offers excellent museums and Montjuïc has the views. El Raval is an old part of the city undergoing an up-and-coming gentrification. It’s home to Barcelona’s cutting-edge Museum of Contemporary Art and Contemporary Culture Center. The hilly Montjuïc district is further west and a cable car ride to Montjuïc castle promises panoramic views. Montjuïc’s National Palace (housing the National Art Museum) offers stunning views of the city and the Magic Fountain’s display of color, light and motion in the plaza below.

LEFT: Casa Mila, built by Antonio Gaudi, is known as La Pedrera (the stone quarry) because people believe its rough stone exterior resembles an open stone quarry. It’s located on Barcelona’s premier shopping street, Passeig de Garcia.

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A LITERARY ARTS

A

ARMEN BACON

Navigating Griefland with Words and a Friend Text by Diane Slocum

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rmen Bacon has been on a 10-year journey through a place no one wants to go. She calls it Griefland. At first, it was like being on a hijacked airplane that crashes in a country where you don’t know the language or how to leave. She found no guideposts in this strange, desolate land of grief.

Bacon’s son, Alex, died of a drug overdose in 2004. She felt isolated, despite the kindness of family and friends. The absence of Alex filled her mind. To survive, she wrote. As best she could, she managed to put into words on paper, this thing of grief that became her life.

“Words really became my oxygen,” she said. “I started filling journals and writing op-ed pieces and newspaper columns.”

As she progressed and tried to heal, she sought books from others who had faced the death of a child and found little help. There were good sources dedicated to the death of a spouse, but not many for children.

“I decided I wanted to explore and create a language for that kind of loss,” she said.

She wrote all about about grief, the one-year marker of her son’s death, and the moments between. She submitted to The Fresno Bee’s “Valley Voices” and various journals. She also had numerous speaking engagements during that time.

“A lot of people said you need to give a voice to this part of life’s journey,” she said. “This is kind of the last taboo subject. People don’t talk about grief.”

They suggested she write a book, and she wanted to, but she held back, even though what she had already written could have filled a book.

Four years after her son’s death, a friend called, hoping Bacon might contact a colleague who had lost her daughter to a drug overdose on Christmas Day. Bacon followed through and contacted Nancy Miller, an English and literature professor at CSU Fresno and managing editor of The Business Journal in Fresno. They met and bonded instantly. They agreed to face their grief, chronicle their journey and share every bit of darkness with each other for one entire year.

“We knew that walking through that fire together would either melt us or recreate us,” Bacon said. “In a way it did both. It gave renewed passion for living by shaking hands with that sorrow.”

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They wrote during the night while their families slept, ultimately producing 1,500 pages of email exchanges. These messages became the genesis of their book, Griefland: An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss and Unlikely Friendship.

“We thought what we had written was unique,” she said.

“It was really uncensored. It was raw. It was intimate. It also was a book that said you can survive and having a friend by your side can make all the difference in the world. Nancy and I became each other’s best friend and soulmate. We wrote the book to let others know that it is possible not only to survive, but to come out the other side more human.”

Bacon and Miller discovered that another thing they have in common is their Armenian roots; Miller on one side of her family and Bacon on both. They discussed their families dealing with losses during the slaughter of Armenians in the Turkish genocide.

“Both of us had grandmothers who were really silent about the atrocities and the loss of their loved ones,” Bacon said. “My grandmother went to her grave carrying the stories. She never talked about them. She became part of the reason I needed to write these stories. I wanted to pass them down to my children and grandchildren. We are so def ined by our stories and I wanted my children to know, not just about the happy moments, but I want them to know that life is challenging and this is the human condition. Through love and loss and living life passionately, we do become more human. “ Bacon’s grandparents left Armenia during the massacres and made their way to America. Her mother’s family settled in Selma and her father’s in the east. His family eventually came to the San Joaquin Valley, where Bacon’s parents met and married. They moved to Fresno where she was born and raised.

She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Fresno. At that time, she had no inclination to be a professional writer. Bacon did write letters, though, especially when she was studying in France during her fourth year of college. She sent elaborate letters home to her family about her adventures and her mother saved them.

“It was in my DNA,” she said. “But it wasn’t showing itself quite yet. When I read them now, I see there was a budding writer in my storytelling and my adventures.”

She worked for over 20 years as administrator of

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Communications and Public Relations for the Fresno County Office of Education, retiring last December. Her career in public relations required some writing, but a totally different type than writing from the core of her being.

From 2009 to 2012, Bacon studied with the CSU Summer Arts Program. This rotating program travels to different CSU campuses. The campuses bid and lobby for it and Fresno supporters, including Bacon, pushed hard to bring it to the valley. Once they succeeded, it was so well received that the program stayed in Fresno an unprecedented 13 consecutive years.

It is an intensive two-week program where students live on campus and are immersed in his or her field of art. Bacon attended four years in a row and immensely enjoyed nonstop, practically 24-hour days of lectures and writing.

“It really fueled my passion for writing and taught me enough of the craft that I thought I could be dangerous,” she said.

It was during her fourth year that that she found an agent for her book, Griefland. The book was published that year by Grove Pequot Press.

Bacon and Miller have been asked to write a sequel to their book, which currently has a working title of either Stretch Marks or Daring to Breathe. This will be a compilation of e-mails and letters they have received from people sharing their own survival stories in response to Griefland.

Bacon’s next book, written solo, comes out November 1, 2014.

My Name is Armen: My Life in Column Inches, is published by The Press at CSU Fresno and is based on her decade of essays.

She describes it as a very spirited book. The title resembles a William Saroyan title because Bacon credits Saroyan with having a great influence on her.

“When I first read My Name is Aram,” she said, “it was probably the first time I felt comfortable in my own skin. He spoke directly to me.”

She did actually cross paths with him a few times, but what influenced her was his writing – writing by a person with an Armenian name and heritage like hers. “In the time of your life, live,” Saroyan wrote. In her writing, Bacon hopes to infuse a passion for living.

“Even though Griefland was written from a place of profound loss,” she said, “my goal is to have my words dance off the page and be full of life and infuse life into other people.”

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S SPIRITS

Text by Ryan Lapadula

F

all has arrived and so have the pumpkin beers. Nearly every store is stocking some sort of pumpkin spice brew and no genre is left untouched by this craze; breweries country-wide are releasing their fall seasonals, packed with nutmeg and cloves and it seems that there is no style of beer that can hide from the Jacko-Lantern. Lagers, hefeweizens, stouts and porters – they can all be doctored up into a spicy, soul-warming elixir that hits the nostrils like a fall candle and goes down like pumpkin pie. Some folks have their staple autumn beers already picked out and aging in the cellar, while others find the wide array of infused brews to be a bit daunting. If you are caught in the swirl of all these harvest-inspired beers, just take a step back and think, “simplicity.”

Along with fall comes a change in colors - leaves turn amber-red and so should your beer. It’s time to break away from the yellow lagers and wheat beers by adding some depth to your palate. Amber and red ales are a great cornerstone for your fall beer portfolio, and you can branch out to try flavor infusions from there. Virtually every microbrewery totes an amber or red as one of their flagship brews, as they tend to be some of the most popular beers on the market. This makes the battle for standing out even more beneficial to the consumer; some have heavy malt notes, some lay on more of the hop flavors, and some contain crisp, floral notes.

If you are looking for something with a heavier body, English and Belgian brown ales are also a great choice. They tend to be a bit darker and contain

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more malted notes, so they are great for sipping on when the temperature drops and you need a little warmth in your belly. While this style isn’t as popular in the States as the amber ale, there are still many options out there. Additionally, nut brown ales can add a tad more caramel and sweet notes to the profile that can satisfy your eclectic taste buds.

Last but most certainly not least, there is always the ‘Old Faithful’ of fall beers: the Oktoberfest. This German-style has been around for centuries, and its name is derived from the festivities of drinking the last of the beer that was brewed during the springtime. Some of the heavy hitters of the German Oktoberfest beers have been around since the 1300s. With over half a millennium of celebrations under its belt, it’s no wonder why the Oktoberfest style is popular world-wide. These beers are on the lighter side and don’t often branch out into the realm of funky flavors. The color can range from light-gold to amber with mild malt and hoppy notes. The Oktoberfest is a great default for fall when you are looking for a beer to pair with your food, without overpowering it or filling you up.

There is an endless selection of beers to choose from that can be perfect for fall. Some people enjoy lagers and hefeweizens that encompass that autumn feeling with spices and toasted notes, while others might say that a cider beer is perfect for those crisp October nights.

But in the end, the perfect fall beer for you is the one that warms you up and makes your taste buds dance with satisfaction.

If you’re not sure where to start, or could use a few suggestions, here’s a list of great beers for those October cookouts or cool nights spent inside watching the game.

These beers are all fairly easy to find in the valley and won’t break your beer budget: Nut Brown Ale SAMUEL SMITH Double Barrel Ale (DBA) FIRESTONE WALKER Kellerweis SIERRA NEVADA Pecan Harvest Ale ABITA BREWING Oktoberfestbier WEIHENSTEPHANER Red Hoptober NEW BELGIUM

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JERSEY BOYS The story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history hits the stage.

They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – before they were 30! Hear Jersey Boys hits “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Oh What a Night.”

When: Oct. 28-Nov. 2 Where: Saroyan Theatre, 700 M. St., Fresno Contact: 445-8200

THEATRE & PERFORMANCES

OCT 26

NOV 3

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AN EVENING WITH C.S. LEWIS

Described by critics as “extraordinary” and “a must see,” An Evening with C.S. Lewis has proved again and again to be an enthralling theatrical experience and one that has led many thousands to discover the continuing impact of a man who died over 50-years-ago. Set in his living room in 1963, C.S. Lewis recalls the people and events that inspired his thoughts and shaped his life. Tickets are $15-40.

When: Oct. 26, 2:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

KEN DAVIS

Best selling author, and one of the most sought-after inspirational and motivational speakers, Ken Davis’ mixture of side-splitting humor and inspiration delights audiences of all ages.

Ken has made thousands of personal appearances, while teaching speaking spills to professionals and corporate executives. Tickets are $20-25.

When: Nov. 3, 7p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 200 Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

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ART EXHIBITS

NOV 1

TAKING ART TO THE STREET

Created by the Urbanist Collective and students and faculty at COS and Fresno State, this exhibition will grow and transform as the month goes by. Visitors to the exhibition at the beginning of the month will see an entirely different show when they return at the end of the month.

New works will be added to the mix, while other artworks will have new additions made to them.

When: Through Nov. 1 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak St., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

“FROM THE THM VAULTS”

Take a tour featuring personal Tulare Historical Museum artwork from the museum’s vintage art collection. The gallery is open Thurs.-Sat., 10a-4p.

When: Through Nov. 1 Where: Heritage Art Gallery, 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: Terry at 686-2074

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24TH ANNUAL TASTE TREATS IN TULARE The Tulare Historical Museum presents this highly anticipated food-tasting extravaganza. Sample the best foods and beverages in the valley without leaving town.

The area’s finest restaurants will be offering tasters of their best dishes, drinks and desserts. Tickets are $50.

When: Oct. 27, 6-8:30p Where: Heritage Complex International Ag-Center, 4500 S. Laspina St., Tulare Contact: 686-2074 or www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org

NOV 7

NOV 24

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“HIDDEN IN THE LEAVES”

This art exhibit features local artists, celebrating the beauty of autumn in Three Rivers. The exhibit will run from Nov. 1-30.

When: Reception: Nov. 7, 5:30-8p Where: Art Alliance of Three Rivers and Sierra Subs, 41717 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers Contact: 967-8281

OCT 25

35TH ANNUAL HARVEST OF HANDWEAVERS

DIVERSIONS & EXCURSIONS

Handweavers of the Valley invite you to join them for their show and sale event that showcase an array of beautiful weaving and knitting, equipment and books. Demonstrations of spinning, weaving, felting, bead weaving and more will be available.

When: Oct. 25, 10a Where: Exeter Veterans’ Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter Contact: Nikki Crain, 561-4048

POP-UP RESTAURANT

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Join The Gardens at Cal Turf at their Italian inspired fall feast. Enjoy a wine pairing and delicious, seasonally inspired meal by the talented chef, Elaine at Trés Bien.

Grab your friends, and spend a pleasant evening under the stars. RSVP before the date. Tickets are $65.

When: Oct. 24, 6p Where: The Gardens, 950 N. J St., Tulare Contact: 688-2084

L I FE S T Y L E | O C TO B E R 2014

The Tulare County League of Mexican American Women welcomes all to be guests at their traditional Dia de los Muertos event, held in downtown Visalia. The family event includes Aztec and folklorica dancers, altar displays, food vendors, face paintings and other activities for children, as well as sugar skull make-up competition. Join in the celebration of honoring those in the families that have passed on.

When: Oct. 25, 11a-4p Where: Garden Plaza, Visalia Contact: Virginia Arenas, 909-3411

HAPPENINGS H

You’re in charge of many things.

Including your future.

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H HAPPENINGS

LET’S FIESTA The Ruiz 4 Kids Fiesta is a unique opportunity to invest in restoring children’s hopes and making dreams come true. Enjoy cantinas and tequila tastings, mariachi music and dancing, live and silent auctions, Mexican cuisine and more. Tickets are $100.

When: Nov. 11, 6p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 591-5510 ext. 2118

OCT 25

HARVEST FESTIVAL

The Harvest Festival will bring together live music, local products, family fun and great food all in one place to celebrate what the central valley does best. The event will be held on the grass, under the string of lights in an atmosphere that will get you ready for fall weather and festivities.

When: Oct. 25, 12p Where: International Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina Ave., Tulare Contact: 688-1030

HALLOWEEN AT CRYSTAL CAVE

Join Sequoia Natural History Association’s team of experienced cave naturalists for a day of spooky Halloween fun at Crystal Cave. This special onehour long tour will stop in beautiful cave rooms and along the way we’ll meet the “ghosts” of Crystal Cave’s past.

Participants must be 8-years-old or older, and tickets must be purchased at either the Foothills or Lodgepole Visitor Centers in Sequoia National Park.

When: Oct. 24, 25 & 26, times vary Where: Crystal Cave, Sequoia National Park Contact: 565-3759 or www.sequoiahistory.org

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NOV 1

75TH CELEBRATION

Join the Visalia Parks & Recreation in celebrating 75 years of parks making life better. Carnival games, a car show, craft booths, petting zoo and live entertainment are just a few of the attractions at the event. This free event is great for the whole family.

When: Nov. 1, 10a Where: Plaza Park, 700 S. Plaza St., Visalia Contact: 713-4365

4TH ANNUAL POMEGRANATE FESTIVAL

Head north and attend the 4th annual Madera Pomegranate Festival. Bring the family and enjoy a day of arts and crafts, food, wine and more. Admission and parking are free.

When: Nov. 1, 10a-4p Where: Madera Municipal Airport, 4020 Aviation Dr., Madera Contact: 673-3563

HAPPENINGS H

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H HAPPENINGS

CHARITABLE EVENTS

OCT 24

14TH ANNUAL BOB CAREY MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Join the Visalia Breakfast Rotary at their annual golf tournament and crab feed.

Enjoy a nice day on the links, and a great evening full of all-you-can-eat crab, an exciting live auction and more.

When: Oct. 24, 10a for tournament, 5p for crab feed.

Where: Valley Oak Golf Course, 1800 S. Plaza St., Visalia Contact: 799-8073

A TOAST TO THE CHILDREN

NOV 1

2ND ANNUAL TASTE OF TRIUMPH

Crime Victim Advocacy Center of Tulare County invites you to join them and the community at their annual event. Live entertainment, wine and tapas will be available. Assemblywoman Connie Conway, TC Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and others will be speaking at the event.

CVAC is a local organization that ensures that crime victims of Tulare County get the support, compensation and justice they deserve.

When: Nov. 7, 6:30p Where: Visalia Marriott, 300 S. Court St., Visalia Contact: 636-1111

Join the Prague Central California Adoption Service for an evening featuring a variety of local wines, craft beer, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, a silent auction and more while celebrating families and the joy of adoption. The money raised will go to provide care and services for expectant parents, local children, families and adopted individuals. Tickets are $50.

When: Oct. 24, 6-9p Where: Engelmann Cellars, 3275 N. Rolinda Ave., Fresno Contact: 447-3333

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