September 2012

HOME TOUR

THE ICENHOWER HOME CULINARY

Beer-Infused Food TRAVEL

Devonport, New Zealand: Worth a Day Trip September 2012

ECRWSS RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER LOCAL

Presort Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Visalia, CA Permit No. 100 ECRWSS

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24 HOME TOUR The Icenhower Home

CHARITY

24th Annual Tommy Elliot Memorial Golf Classic

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Letter from the Executive Editor

10 Business Cents 14 Word Play 16 Local Adventure: Rock Climbing 42 Wine: The Mystery of California

Chardonnay

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50 Gardening: Indoor Houseplants 52 Fashion

CULINARY

54 Performances 56 Happenings

Beer-Infused Food

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34 TRAVEL

Devonport, New Zealand: Worth a Day Trip

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LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

ABOVE: The Icenhower's dogs are almost as active as the homeowners, though they do join in some of the many races the couple enjoy taking part in.

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2012

BENEFICIARIES BENEFICI BLIND BABIES F O U N D AT I O N CASA OF TULARE COUNT Y VISALIA POLICE AC T I V I T I E S L E A G U E W I S H U P O N A S TA R We honor Skip Nugent for turning great loss into a great passion for the lives of children. Skip’s daughter Heather passed away after a tragic car accident just days before her 18th birthday. Her final days were spent at Children’s Hospital Central California. Out of appreciation for all that the staff did for Heather and his family, Skip has become a passionate fundraiser for CHCC. He also supports many other organizations benefiting the Central Valley. It’s our privilege to recognize his great efforts that help so many.

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SEPTEMBER 2012 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER Content Editor Kyndal Kennedy ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Andre Goddard Cheryl dieter Chafic Dada Diane Slocum JORDAN VENEMA KRisten CASTILLO KYNDAL KENNEDY MARSHA PELTZER Robert whitley Sharon Mosley BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA Operations Manager Maria Gaston

RACK LOCATIONS

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

210 Cafe Advanced Body & Laser Center Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash Sequoia Laser Aesthetics Smiles by Sullivan Tiffany’s Luxury Medispa Tulare Chamber of Commerce V Medical Spa Velvet Sky Visalia Community Bank (Downtown) Visalia Eye Center Visalia Imaging & Open MRI Visalia Marriott Visalia Medical Clinic Wildflower Cafe-Exeter Dr. Keith Williams Williams, Jordan, Brodersen & Pritchett, Attorneys at Law Windows Plus, Inc.

ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Bridget Elmore SALES OFFICE 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • Fax 559.738.0909 E-mail: lifestyle@dmiagency.com VIEW THE MAG ONLINE! issuu.com/lifestylemagazine

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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 © 2012 DMI Agency

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COVER: The warm tones infused in the décor and furnishings of the Icenhower home welcomes relaxation from their busy lives.

LEFT: Eclectic prints, artwork and figurines decorate the Icenhower home in Visalia.

LOVE THAT

SMILE! Dr. Sullivan is the Past President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the only AACD Accredited Member in the Central Valley. Call us today for a free smile consultation!

E EDITOR NOTE

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

It’s been years, (let’s be honest, decades) since I’ve ridden a bicycle.

One weekend, while my daughter, the triathlete, was away on a hiking adventure I thought I’d give her bike “a whirl”. One little push on the pedal landed me flat on the ground. My initial response was to be mad at the bike, but it didn’t take me long to realize I was the one unprepared.

The bike, a finely tuned racing machine, was solid and ready to go. Me, on the other hand … I was in my flip-flops and hadn’t even taken the time to brush up on tips or techniques for relearning how to ride a bike. Short on skill, short on footwear, and short on patience, in modern urban language it was “my bad.”

It was weeks before my bruises healed and I regained my nerve, but slowly I’ve gotten back on the horse, so to speak. Making an adjustment to how I approach the pedals seemed appropriate. So, now with only one foot in the clip and the other free (in an effort to help catch me in the event of another fall), I can get going. It’s riding with the expectation of crashing … or like waiting for the other shoe to drop. My, what an eye-opener this has been when I think of how a lot of us have been running our businesses over the past six years: one foot on the pedal, the other dragging on the ground. True, there is some feeling of security operating this way, but we sure don’t go very fast. Can anyone else relate to this?

At least two people in town have no idea what I’m talking about, and that would be local residents Brian and Jill Icenhower, this month’s Home Tour feature. Both experienced marathon runners (that would be 26.2 miles), Brian an Ironman competitor (2.4-mile ocean swim, followed by 112-mile bike ride, and finishing with 26.2 miles of running), and with two full-time professional careers, volunteer boards, and traveling, the only way to fit everything in is to run full speed ahead. “Up and Running: Home on Hold” can be found on page 24.

In sharp contrast is this month’s Traveler’s Trek to Devonport, New Zealand. As local travel writer Cheryl Dieter strolls the “ma and pa” shops in the seaside village, you might find yourself craving a Devonport Chocolate, and booking the next flight out. For story and photos, be sure to turn to page 44.

As we send another issue of Lifestyle to print, we hope all of you are better prepared and better equipped for the final months of 2012 than I was on the bike. It was a very good lesson for me, one I plan on not repeating anytime soon. We’re already looking ahead to the next few issues, and promise you won’t see any of our feet on the ground.

Karen Tellalian, EXECUTIVE EDITOR For more information or to submit a story idea email Karen@dmiagency.com or call (559) 739-1747 or fax (559) 738-0909.

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LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

B BUSINESS CENTS

What You Should Know About Market Corrections Text by Andre Goddard, VP – Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

T

here is no way around it … markets generally move in cycles.

Although the past is no guarantee of the future, historically the stock market has spent more time on bullish advances than on bearish retreats, which is why stocks have been considered a good investment over the years. The market also tends to retrench more than the average investor would like to think about. The traditional definition of a bear market is a 20 percent or greater decline in stock prices, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average or other relevant index. A full-fledged bear market can persist for many months or, in rare cases, years.

Some corrections, on the other hand, are sharp but brief, lasting only a day or two—such as the Dow’s 500-point drop in October 1987—or for a few weeks. Sometimes a short, dramatic decline serves as a prelude to a lengthier downturn. The 1929 crash and subsequent three-year bear market, which saw the Dow lose almost 90 percent of its value, illustrates this latter possibility.

Government and securities-industry officials are constantly learning from their experiences with previous declines. Regulations established in the wake of the 1929-1932 bear market have helped prevent another decline of similar magnitude. For example, margin requirements were raised from 10 percent to 50 percent to prevent investors from becoming excessively leveraged (indebted) the way many were in the months leading up to the 1929 crash.

More refinements were introduced after the 1987 correction, including our current system of circuit-breakers. In theory, these circuit-breakers would stretch out a decline over several days, rather than allow it to gain momentum immediately. The assumption is that the additional time would help curb panic selling.

Although the securities industry is committed to doing everything in its power to protect investors, it cannot prevent market corrections. It is essential for investors to take responsibility for their

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own investment activity, and to arm themselves with as much knowledge as possible about the risks and potential rewards of investing.

In the 1930s, the Cowles Commission, formed to guide investors through the aftermath of the 1929 crash, came up with five essential rules for successful investing, which are still applicable today: Invest for the long-term. While the stock market can be risky over the short-term, risk decreases as your investment time horizon lengthens. A good rule of thumb is that stock and bond investments should be funded with money you won’t need for at least five years.

Some investors hope to improve their returns by selling a portion of their holdings just before a correction. Such “market timing” is something that even professional investors find difficult to do well with any consistency, and is not recommended for the average investor. Aside from the very real difficulty of identifying the end of one market phase and the beginning of a new one, the basic emotions of greed and fear work strongly against those who attempt market timing, constantly tempting them to overstay their positions in a bull market and to remain on the sidelines for too long in a bear market.

Invest systematically. One way to avoid the timing dilemma is to use a simple strategy called dollar-cost averaging: the practice of investing a fixed amount of money in a particular investment at regular intervals. Because the amount invested remains constant, the investor buys more shares when the price is low and fewer shares when the price is high. This means that the average cost per share

B BUSINESS CENTS

tends to be lower than the average market value of the investment over the same period.

Dollar-cost averaging cannot eliminate the risks of investing, guarantee a profit, or protect against a loss in declining markets.

The success of the program depends on making regular purchases through advancing and declining market periods, and on selling when your investment is worth more than the average price you paid. Since such a plan involves continuous investment in securities, investors should consider their financial ability to continue purchases through periods of low price levels. But dollar-cost averaging does offer a disciplined method of investing in the securities markets and lowers the price you have to get to break even.

Diversify investments. When people think about investing their money, they probably envision themselves comparing the merits of various investments. But before they get to that step, there is a more basic decision to make: asset allocation. Asset allocation is the percentage of investment funds an investor allocates among asset classes such as stocks, fixed income, cash equivalents, and tangibles/ real estate.

The decision is an important one. A study of large pension funds determined that a pension manager’s allocations among asset classes had a far greater long-term effect on returns than the individual securities selected. Of course, asset allocation or investment timing cannot eliminate the risk of fluctuating prices and uncertain returns.

Buy quality. Periodically, investors become enamored with initial public offerings (IPOs). For those who know how to invest in them and understand the risks, IPOs can be an appropriate investment.

By definition, however, IPOs involve companies whose stocks are untested in public trading. The average investor should approach this arena with extreme caution and commit no more than a small percentage of investment capital to it.

At the other end of the spectrum are the many companies with histories of consistent sales and earnings growth. Although nothing is guaranteed in the investment markets, there is a lower probability that such companies will drop off the investment map during a correction. Rather, a correction presents investors with the opportunity to acquire more shares of historically seasoned, financially sound companies at reasonable prices.

Get professional advice. Each investor brings a different outlook and level of sophistication to the markets. Most investors can benefit from some degree of professional input. Whether that means professional research on individual securities, advice on asset allocation, or entrusting money to professional portfolio managers, investment professionals are great resources for helping investors achieve their financial goals.

Particularly during corrections, it helps to have a coherent investment strategy worked out in advance and to be able to keep that strategy clearly in mind as events unfold. A qualified investment professional can help plan a sound investment strategy. * Gary P. Brinson, Brian D. Singer, and Gilbert L. Beebower, "Determinants of Portfolio Performance II: An Update," Financial Analysts Journal, May/June 1991.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Andre Goddard, Vice President-Investments in Visalia at (559) 636-8590.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDICINSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

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LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

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W WORD PLAY

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

W

ith “Read a Book Day” and “International Literacy Day” in September, we already have enough good excuses to take time off to read. But we can also use O. Henry, Roald Dahl, and H.G. Wells’ birthdays as reasons to pick up a book.

A trio of books gives us a glimpse into the struggles men have in making their way in today’s world. Bruce Machart’s short story collection, Men in the Making, tells the stories of 10 men who go through life-changing events or moments of insight, all of which affect who they are as men. Whether it is the death of a child, the fall from a ladder into an oil rig tank, or the loss of a woman, each man has to deal with it in his own way.

In Stay Awake, Dan Chaon writes short stories about characters who are haunted by their personal ghosts. His characters mess up their lives in some way and have to live with what they’ve done.

They have to learn to process grief and loss.

East of Denver is Gregory Hill’s debut novel. In it, Shakespeare Williams returns to his family farm to bury his dead cat, only to find that the farm is falling apart as his father moves deeper into senility. Shakespeare stays on the farm to attempt to put things back together, and hooks up with former schoolmates stagnating in their small-town life. They all bungle their way toward an unlikely plan to take revenge on an evil banker.

Valley Writers Jeff Hopper, with co-author Jeffrey Cranford, has a new book out this year. Love Never Fails is aimed at parents who are grieving over their children who do not join them in their belief in Christianity. Hopper is the chief organizational officer of Links Players International, headquartered in Clovis. The group nourishes belief in Jesus among golfers. Another of Hopper’s books, Go for the Green, was published in a new edition this year. Cranford and Hopper have another book, The Red Door Community, that was published last year.

Hmong American Writers’ Circle holds monthly writing workshops and provides opportunities to emerging writers.

Workshops are usually held at Stone Soup in Fresno. For details, email: hmongwriters@gmail.com.

Sharon Lathan continues her stories on what happened to the Pride and Prejudice characters after Jane Austen quit writing about them. Her debut novel Two Shall Become One: Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy was first self-published in 2007, then reissued by Sourcebooks with the two parts of the name reversed in 2009. Her eighth and ninth books, published in 2011, are The Trouble with Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy Falls in Love.

Writers’ Conferences The Emerald City Writers’ Conference, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America, will be held October 26-28 at the Westin Hotel in Bellevue, WA. Forty-two percent of the sponsoring chapter’s members are published. Keynote

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speakers are Susan Wiggs (The Charm School), Michael Hauge (Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds), and Victoria Alexander (My Wicked Little Lies). Registration: $289. Space is limited. Details at: http://tinyurl.com/9fsbj6y.

The World Fantasy Convention will be held in Toronto, Ontario, from November 1-4. Guests of honor will be Elizabeth Hand (Saffron and Brimstone), John Clute (The Encyclopedia of Fantasy), and Richard A. Kirk (The Lost Machine).

The Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2012 will be presented to Alan Garner and George R.R. Martin following the Sunday afternoon banquet. Attending membership is $250 Canadian.

Details at: www.wfc2012.org.

The keynote speakers for the La Jolla Writer’s Conference of San Diego will be New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins, Jacqueline Mitchard, and Tess Geritsen. The conference will be held at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. Registration: $385.

Details at: http://tinyurl.com/8q2hxhj.

Writing Contests With September 22 designated as “Dear Diary Day”, it is a good time to look into memoir writing contests. The Fish Publishing International Short Memoir Contest will accept entries up to 4,000 words until January 31. Winners will be published in the July 2013 anthology, which will be launched at the West Cork Literary Festival in Ireland. Details at: http://tinyurl.com/7a2jqzf.

The Writers’ Workshop 22nd Annual Memoirs Competition deadline is November 30. The contest accepts up to 4,000 words.

Entry fee: $25. First through third place winners receive their choice of a stay at the Mountain Muse B&B, workshops, or line edits of a manuscript. Details at: www.twwoa.org/contests.

Publishing September 18 marks the date when the New York Times was first published in 1851.

A new biography commemorates the 100th birthday of Julia Child. Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz was released on her birthday in August. Spitz traveled with the cooking icon for about a month in 1992 and recorded their conversations.

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

Rock Climbing Before it turns into an all-out wet and wild slip-'nslide come the rainy season, take advantage of the granite surfaces in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Moro Rock and the Obelisk make for a couple of the most favored rock climbing adventures around.

With a rocky surface comparable to Half Dome in Yosemite, Moro Rock’s granite dome is the most climbed summit in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

Perhaps this is due to the short drive to its base, or because after a short climb to the top, climbers are rewarded with spectacular views (6,725 feet above sea level) of the Great Western Divide (the Sierra Nevada Mountain range that borders the two parks).

The west face offers 1,000 vertical feet of cracks and knobs, boasting a myriad of climbing routes. The rock is composed of mostly free climbs with some aid routes interspersed, perfect for those who have an itch to go climbing but don’t want to battle the crowds at Half Dome.

For a more rugged rock, technical climbers can take their adventure to the Obelisk. The Obelisk is another granite monolith in the western part of the Sierra Nevada.

Its formation lends itself to grandeur, as it is steep on all sides and rises up to form a perfect dome. The Obelisk is covered in chickenheads (jutting horns of rock), which usually makes a perfect handhold or foothold for climbers.

However, these can make the descent more dangerous as ropes can get tangled up.

The wonderful views from its summit include Tehipite Dome (the largest dome in the Sierra Nevada), the steep slopes leading down to the middle fork of the Kings Canyon River, and the High Sierra peaks in the distance; much of the reward for making this climb is encompassed in these views.

Of course, if rock climbing is looming in your near future, take the necessary precautions and make safety a priority. It’s always a good idea to check in with the Park regarding closures and weather conditions, and, as always, respect the nature we are fortunate enough to play in.

For more information about rock climbing in the Sequoia/ Kings Canyon National Parks visit www.nps.gov.

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C CHARITY

Tex t by Kyndal Kennedy | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

D

uck and cover! If 200 golf balls were dropping from the sky, that is what most people would do. But not on August 10 for the 24th Annual Tommy Elliot Memorial Golf Classic at the Visalia Country Club. In fact, the crowd eagerly watched in anticipation as each ball rolled and landed in its resting place. Each of these golf balls were assigned to a golfer and the ball which dropped closest to a mark on the fairway won the golfer a cash prize. Why, exactly? For the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation – each golf ball was a symbol of support for an ongoing project to benefit our community.

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CHARITY C

LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

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C CHARITY

In the last 23 years of this annual event, Visalians have contributed their time and support to our area’s leading hospital. Since the first Golf Classic in 1989, $1,100,000 has been funded and used to advance the medical technology and patient-centered services provided by Kaweah Delta Health Care District. This year’s golf classic was no different, as all proceeds are to benefit Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation’s Helipad Campaign.

The benefits brought with the inclusion of a helipad are needed in our area; Kaweah Delta is the only level III trauma center in Tulare and Kings Counties, which means Kaweah Delta has one of the busiest emergency departments in the state, treating 86,000 patients this past year.

However, when a critical patient needs to be transferred in or out of the hospital, they must be rushed six miles by ambulance to the Visalia airport and then airlifted out of town. With a helipad already at the hospital, the time it takes for this process will be eliminated.

“The installation of a helipad at Kaweah Delta will have far reaching effects for all the residents of the region. Treatment in the first hour has a significant impact on survival, especially when it comes to trauma,” said Dr. Nichole Meissner, director of trauma at Kaweah Delta.

TOP: (Left to right): Kaweah Delta Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Garfield; Kaweah Delta Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Rayner; Kaweah Delta Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Omar Araim.

CENTER: Kaweah Delta Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Linda Pruett; Kaweah Delta Emergency Doctor, Dr. Steve Carstens; Kaweah Delta Trauma Program Manager, Amber Myers.

BOTTOM: Bud Erickson, the founder of the tournament.

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Featuring two great weekend COOK-OFF’s supporting child nutrition and local food banks.

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C CHARITY

In collaboration with Visalia Community Bank and The Elliot Group, the Foundation’s annual event is more than a fundraiser – it is a day of fun and games for those who attend. The popular scramble charity golf event involves contests and prizes many would risk a bump on the head from a golf ball for.

All 168 participants had a chance to win $10,000 cash from Quality Jewelers for a hole-inone at hole four, a boat from ETCO Marine for a hole-in-one at hole eight, a car from Lexus of Fresno, and many more cash prizes. Players could even test their skill at the putting contest, or the straightest drive competition, and win their share of cash.

Cash prizes were awarded to the top 10 teams.

The winning team was comprised of Larry Brown, Joe Menchaca, Dr. Ronald Marconi, Chris Williams, Seth Benevento, and Christine Plocher.

They each walked away with $150 in their pocket and a grin on their face. The teams are determined through a “blind draw” based on their handicap, as opposed to self-structured teams, making it a fair tournament for all involved.

Other winners of the day include: Kenneth Sheely for winning the putting contest; Gerry Beckers who won the helicopter ball drop, and hit his ball nearest-to-the-pin; and Ann Huber, who showed that a woman can have the straightest drive. But overall, the real winners are the residents of Tulare and Kings Counties, as $82,000 was funded for the Helipad Campaign.

This event and the money raised directly benefits our community and because of that, it's fair to say everyone here scores a hole-in-one – minus the car, or boat, or money.

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have YOU seen Raise Magazine yet?

Pick up a copy of the Central Valley's premier family resource guide in Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, and Woodlake, or view it online: issuu.com/RaiseMagazine.

For more information or to advertise your business, call (559) 739-1747.

H HOME TOUR

UP AND RUNNING:

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HO

HOME TOUR H

OM E on HOLD THE ICENHOWER HOME

Text by Jordan Venema | Photos by Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

PICTURED: The formal living room in the Icenhower home is a place for reading and playing music on the piano.

LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

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H HOME TOUR

B

rian and Jill Icenhower know a thing or two about running the good race—foot races, that is—and biking, and kayaking, and swimming, and doing just about anything at a hundred miles an hour. In short, the Icenhowers are extremely active people; active enough that they’ve had to put a low emphasis on their home. But between running three or four marathons a year, and as many half-marathons in between, traveling, volunteering, presiding on the boards of various foundations, and working their fulltime jobs—Jill, a District Attorney, and Brian, CEO of Keller Williams Realty—well, how could they put any emphasis on their home, let alone find the time to live in it?

Even if the Icenhowers say they don’t give much attention to their home, the three-bedroom house, which is located in the Northwest Visalia neighborhood, The Lakes, suggests otherwise.

The home isn’t the largest or grandest dwelling, but they’ve personalized it with prints and artwork, some of which they’ve collected throughout their travels. A sunlit room adjacent to the home’s entranceway hints they pursue at least some non-exhausting activities: the comfortable couch, photos of family members, photos of their dogs, and a grand piano with open sheet music on its stand. Jill plays the piano in spurts. “I tend to favor classical music,” she said, “but sometimes I’ll mess around and try a little ragtime.” What appears to be an antique suitcase sitting at the end of the couch is actually an accordion – a musical hurdle Jill hopes to jump once she finds a good instructor.

Whatever emphasis has been put on the home might be thanks to Jill’s influence. Before the two married, Brian lived in the house alone, and Jill laughed to describe its condition: emerald green carpets, stark white walls and linoleum, a conference table in the living room, and a large trophy case in the bedroom – symbols of Brian’s conquests. Since their marriage, the house has received a bit of a makeover: new carpets and wood-laminate floors, walls painted browns and tan, the trophies moved to the garage. But Jill didn’t only bring a new décor to the home, she also brought a balance to their relationship.

“Extreme” is the word Brian would use to describe his activities.

He tends to push himself, whether by swimming another lap or running an extra mile. He wakes every day at 3:45 a.m. to give himself enough time to swim at the gym or run outside. While vacationing in Fiji, Brian saw locals swimming alongside 20-foot blacktip sharks and he knew he had to do it too. “Well, if you just swim strong, the sharks won’t mess with you,” the locals told him. That wasn’t a problem; Brian swims strong, runs strong, works strong. Perhaps it’s easy for someone who thinks running a marathon is fun – so much that last year he decided to run an Ironman triathlon: a marathon preceded by a 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike. “Now that,” said Brian of the race, “that was really fun.” Not to underestimate the achievement, he also considers it the hardest thing he’s ever done.

Jill didn’t run the Ironman with Brian, but they, and sometimes the dogs, run most marathons together. In fact, they often ABOVE: Chocolate brown adds warmth to the walls in the dining room of the Icenhower home in Visalia.

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H HOME TOUR

TOP: Jill Icenhower dries off Nacho, the half-Chihuahua, half-Papillion; one of three dogs at the Icenhower home that most prefers the land to water.

BOTTOM: With a love for endurance activities, Brian and Jill Icenhower ran the Hell of a Half Marathon in Exeter, CA, last month.

vacation in the cities where they’ll be running. “Even when we travel,” said Brian, “it’s geared toward working out.” In July, they ran the San Francisco Marathon, making the weekend a kind of marathon in itself, attending a performance of Les Miserables on Saturday night, running the marathon Sunday morning, cheering on the Dodgers at AT&T Park in the afternoon, then driving home that evening.

While Brian appears to be the more active of the two, he actually only began running after he watched Jill run a half marathon first. Brian concedes that Jill is just as active as he, but adds that she is more balanced. As for Brian? “I can relax,” he said, “but it’s a challenge.” Jill, however, insists she has no problem relaxing, having spent many an hour lounging poolside, or reading on a couch. Hardly surprising that Jill is the more relaxed; anyone who has flipped a coin to decide between attending law school and pursuing a degree in psychology would have to be somewhat laid back—laid back, though she was named the District Attorney of the Year by the Central Valley Arson Investigators Association.

Brian, on the other hand, searched for a word to describe himself.

“Hyperactive?” he asked. Jill, laughing, offered another: “Maybe high-strung?”

Jill runs much for the same reason that an adventurer will climb a mountain: simply because it’s there. There’s the course and the sense of accomplishment waiting across its finish line. But Brian’s 28

LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

drive to “see how far I can go before I can’t go anymore” tends to rewrite the parameters of any course, to stretch it out and push back the finish line indefinitely. Such drive can be a gift, but, “it’s also a problem,” admitted Brian. “I’ve stretched myself too thin many times in my life. It’s caused damage where I’ve mentally and physically collapsed.”

Which is why the two complement each other. They are both outgoing, active people who enjoy being outgoing and active together. In a foot race, good partners help both to push and to pace the other. In their relationship, Brian provides the push while Jill keeps the pace. But sometimes the push can outweigh the pace and, losing balance, a mental and physical collapse becomes inevitable.

Maybe it’s surprising that the Icenhowers—between their work and races, and sitting on two or three boards at a time— hadn’t collapsed sooner. Brian has served on the board for the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation as well as the Tulare County Association of Realtors, for which he also served as the president this past year. Jill sat on the board for the YMCA, The Creative Center and SPCA, but is currently most passionate about playing softball with disabled children though the Visalia Miracle League.

Brian’s longstanding commitment has been with the Boys & Girls Club, which began in 2004 when he donated money to buy the club new bleachers. And like most things with Brian, buying

H HOME TOUR

TOP: The living spaces of the Icenhower home are simple, but cozy. Both Brian and Jill invest much of their time and efforts in life's activities, whether it be running, biking, swimming, charity work, or traveling.

LEFT: Like much of the house, the master bedroom in the Icenhower home has had some improvements since Jill moved in. The trophy case (once located in the bedroom during Brian's bachelor days) has found a new home in the garage.

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the club bleachers proved to be only the first lap of many; he joined the board, helped to establish 14 new clubs, and last year served as the board’s president.

Last year Brian’s pace finally got away from him. Managing five offices for Keller Williams Realty, serving as the president of two different boards, training for and racing the Ironman, the activities were too much even for this self-described “extremely active” person. “I extended myself to a point where I…” Brian trailed off, and Jill finished the thought, “disappeared.”

“Yeah,” he continued, “I disappeared. I’m kind of getting my life back.”

Brian hopes to reclaim it by slowing down, cutting back—you know, “just running marathons,” and none of those 140.6-mile races (though he plans to run a half Ironman in April of next year). But a decrease in physical activity leaves room for an increase in other areas. Brian is devoting more time to spiritual growth, as well as trying to get better at living in the moment rather than always trying to accomplish the next feat. During one race in which he swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco, he described how he’d been advised to stop in the middle of the race to take in the view. “I made a point to stop half way across and look around. Because you look to your left and see the Bay Bridge, look straight ahead you see the city, to your right you see the Golden Gate Bridge, and behind you is Alcatraz. You’re in the middle of it all. It was really cool.” It may only have been a few seconds spent treading water, and Brian ultimately had to finish the race, but it was a lesson learned about forgetting finish lines and enjoying small moments.

HOME TOUR H

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H HOME TOUR

Brian hopes this will translate into more moments with Jill, more moments at home. And that means putting a little more emphasis back on the once neglected house. They have already ordered the French doors that will open onto the patio, and Jill plans to tear down the “weird geometric block” above the island in the kitchen. And their backyard access to the neighborhood’s manmade lakes has allowed them to kayak in the evening, but not so much as for a workout as for reconnaissance, checking out neighbors’ homes for ideas to renovate their own backyard. Once Brian and Jill got started, they really began to run away, as they’re wont, with new ideas: open up the space between the living room and the kitchen, knock out its cupboards, redo the bathroom, renovate the patio, get a new roof. Perhaps it would be too much for the Icenhowers to come to a complete rest. But even if Brian and Jill decide to keep moving at a runner’s pace, the good news is they’ll be running it together.

PICTURED: The Icenhower's three dogs, Cassidy, Bagwell and Nacho, Brian describes as “marathon dogs", (yes, even Nacho), as they often run with Brian and Jill during training … and even some races, too.

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HOME TOUR H

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C CULINARY

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FOOD Recipies by Chafic Dada, Pita Kabob Mediterranean Fusion Grill Photos by Taylor Vaughn

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Firestone Double Barrel Ale

Battered Onion Rings Ingredients: 4 very large yellow onions Ice water Vegetable oil, for frying Kosher salt Batter Ingredients: 12 fluid oz cold Double Barrel Ale 1 tsp (heaping tsp) cayenne pepper 1 tsp (heaping tsp) kosher salt ½ tsp paprika ½ tsp granulated garlic 1 C all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder

Directions: Cut off the ends of each onion, cut in half crosswise (around the equator). Remove the papery skin and thin outer membrane. Soak in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes.

Drain the onions, then separate and spread on kitchen towel to dry.

Pour the Double Barrel Ale into a mixing bowl. Stir in the cayenne pepper, salt, paprika, and garlic. Sift the flour and baking powder together, then add them to the beer mixture slowly, whisking well until they’re evenly and thoroughly incorporated. You may need a bit more or less flour to reach the ideal consistency for a tempura-style batter. It should be just thick enough to coat whatever you’re frying.

Grab a wide cast-iron or other heavy-duty pan at least 4 inches deep, pouring in the oil to a depth of 2-3 inches, and no more than halfway up the side of the pan. Heat the oil to 350 degrees.

Dunk the onions in the batter, and fry in batches until crispy and a reddish golden brown color (approximately 5 minutes). Do not over-crowd the pan.

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CULINARY C

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C CULINARY

Drunken Stone Ruination IPA

Beef Kabobs

Ingredients: 2 lbs top sirloin 12 oz Stone Ruination IPA Âź C olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 T Worcestershire 1 T paprika 1 tsp cumin Juice of one lime

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Directions: Cut beef into 1.5 inch square cubes, and marinate in Stone Ruination IPA for 3-4 hours. Combine the rest of ingredients with 4 oz. of Stone Ruination IPA (that means you have to drink the rest).

Heat Grill, add meat.

LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

CULINARY C

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C CULINARY

Watermelon Feta Salad

with Stone Ruination IPA Dressing Ingredients: 1 7-8 lb seedless watermelon 2 C feta cheese candied walnuts Stone Ruination IPA Dressing (recipe below)

Stone Ruination IPA

Dressing

Ingredients: 3 oz Stone Ruination IPA 1 T minced shallot 1 tsp finely grated orange zest Âź C fresh chopped mint Âź C fresh chopped basil 1 T honey 1 tsp Dijon mustard 4 T extra-virgin olive oil Kosher Salt

Directions: Cut rind from the watermelon, and then cut the watermelon into 1-inch chunks. Place chunks in a colander to drain as you cut.

Drizzle Stone Ruination IPA Dressing over watermelon (to your liking).

Sprinkle feta cheese and candied walnuts on top. Garnish with fresh mint and basil. Enjoy!

Dressing Directions: In a small bowl, whisk the beer with the shallot, orange zest, honey, and mustard. Gradually add the oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Season the vinaigrette with kosher salt, to taste.

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CULINARY C

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W WINE

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WINE W

The Mystery of

California Chardonnay Text by Robert Whitley

C

alifornia chardonnay, according to the Wine Institute, is far and away the most popular wine sold in America.

At the end of 2011, there were nearly 100,000 acres of chardonnay under vine in California. And chardonnay accounts for nearly 30 percent of all the table wine shipped from California to the U.S. market.

So how is it that hardly anyone seems to drink the stuff? This is the mystery of California chardonnay. Few will admit they love it, yet wine merchants can't keep it in stock.

I believe I know the answer. Chardonnay is the Wonder Bread of wine. It is consistent (there really isn't a great deal of truly bad chardonnay around) and reliably impresses with its richness and flavor. For the winegrower, chardonnay is a money crop. It can yield several tons per acre and still produce credible wine. For the winemaker, making chardonnay is sort of like painting by the numbers.

The result is predictable: Millions upon millions of gallons of very decent chardonnay come to market each vintage, and consumers buy it because it's not only good, but it is also relatively cheap. The problem for those who have a deeper curiosity about the wines they drink is that the chardonnay narrative is boring. All of these wines are remarkably similar in taste and texture, as well as price.

Whether your producer of choice is one of the big companies such as Gallo, Kendall-Jackson or Bronco or the likes of the Napa Valley chardonnay titans Beringer and BV, you can get a good bottle of wine for less than $10, which is the price point that takes up about 90 percent of the market.

If you want to ratchet up your chardonnay selection a notch, you've got to pay. The question then becomes, what's the point? Is more expensive chardonnay necessarily better? Well, yes and no.

There is plenty of expensive chardonnay I can't get excited about.

Rombauer, despite its dedicated following, comes to mind. It is too rich, creamy and buttery for me. I can replicate the same taste sensations with a much less expensive bottle of wine.

The chardonnays that rock my world are those that have the capacity to improve with age, much like fine white Burgundy.

Cellar-worthy California chardonnay is a rare commodity. Most of the chardonnay produced in California, and elsewhere in the United States for that matter, is made with the idea that it will be consumed within days or weeks, rather than months or years.

There are exceptions.

These would be chardonnays that have the firm structure necessary for extended ageing in the cellar. I can count them on one hand; at least the California chardonnays that I've had good luck with over the past three decades. Typical California chardonnay will begin to go darker in color and show signs of oxidation after about five years in the bottle. Exceptional chardonnay, with the structure to improve over time, will remain fresh and lively, with good color, at a similar stage of evolution.

Chateau Montelena resides at the head of the class. This is the wine that triumphed over a stellar group of white Burgundies at the Judgment of Paris tastings in 1975. The Montelena story was portrayed in the 2008 movie Bottle Shock. Chateau Montelena chardonnay retails for about $45 a bottle and is likely to improve for up to 10 years, if stored under ideal conditions.

Grgich Hills Estate is right up there with Montelena. In fact, Mike Grgich, who made the wines at Grgich Hills for more than 30 years before his recent retirement, was the winemaker at Chateau Montelena at one time and made the chardonnay that won the Judgment of Paris. Grgich has so much confidence in its chardonnay that its new releases are always a vintage behind its rivals in the Napa Valley.

Nickel & Nickel Searby Vineyard chardonnay is one of the finest wines in the Nickel & Nickel portfolio and probably its top chardonnay. It is a vineyard-designate chardonnay from Sonoma's Russian River Valley. The Searby chardonnay always exhibits good spine, with fresh mouth-watering acidity and inviting aromas of lemon oil and spice.

Patz & Hall Zio Tony Ranch chardonnay is another simply stunning Russian River Valley chardonnay that's always firm and crisp, with underlying richness and a broad, complex palate of aromas, most notably a bright citrus and lemon oil overlay. Year after year this is one of California's greatest chardonnays.

Franciscan Cuvee Sauvage chardonnay is typically richer and heavier on the palate than I care for, but it has the acidity to penetrate its oily texture and the backbone to carry the wine for up to a decade in a good cellar. I've had many vintages that were remarkably complex, fresh and alive at the 10-year mark.

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T TRAVEL

Devonport, New Zealand: Worth a Day Trip Text and Photos by Cheryl Dieter

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TRAVEL T

Text by Marsha Roberts

A

uckland, New Zealand, is an interesting albeit diverse city of immigrants. And so it was with a sense of disappointment that I began to notice an inquiry pattern that went something like this: “Where are you from?”

“Visalia, California.”

“Oh I’m from San Diego…Boston…Denver, etc.”

Name any city in the USA and there is probably a local living on the North Island of the country, and it seemed that said expat would (for some reason) strike up a conversation with me. It only took a matter of days to realize that Auckland was very much like Seattle, Washington, except with a lazy spring accent stolen from the Brits that rolled quite slowly over the tongue, and dripped out of the mouth of locals with a campy sense of playfulness.

Obviously, it was time for a day trip.

The 12-minute ferry ride across the harbor hardly qualified as time away from the city, but in fact, Devonport is a bit like stepping into an old Victorian seaside village. I was told the first ferry service started with a reclaimed whaleboat, which was rowed across the water; today, ferries leave every half-hour, docking at the revitalized Devonport Wharf with its eclectic collection of “ma and pa” shops. Once on shore we made an abrupt right, and to our surprise, landed at Devonport Beach Park. We hoped to wear the kids out a bit, and so we launched them toward the playground while we sat and marveled at the view of Auckland afforded from the park benches placed strategically under behemoth shaggy trees.

Sailboats glided past, and huge cargo ships got help lining up for the docks from tiny tugboats that frantically bobbed up and LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

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T TRAVEL

down due to the wakes. With the local library located on the other side of the waterfront park, it is no wonder that its patrons appear to spend as much time gazing out the windows as reading.

We headed toward North Head by way of King Edward Parade.

We followed the shoreline and I suddenly felt deja vu coming on.

Majestic, historic homes lined the walkways, and their tidy flower strewn gardens and exquisite water views reminded me of some of the quintessential California port towns I have visited. Coronado comes immediately to mind. While it is true many of the homes are less grand than their California cohorts, the flavor of the place is there. Towns like Coronado and Devonport bring out a primal urge to grab a chair and sit on the porch for a few minutes, even if the porch isn’t yours.

We passed by the Devonport Yacht Club, which from the front appears to be the local Pep Boys of ship repairs: big boats, little boats, canoes, and fishing boats are dry-docked and being made over to look like slick shiny prom queens. Organized in 1905, the Yacht Club has a rather proud and long racing heritage, with its racing cups displayed in a grand showcase inside the club.

If you are lucky enough to find favor with a member, you may land yourself a spot at the Friday night social for dinner and a wonderful view of the sunset as it wraps its last tentacles of light around Auckland.

Further along was the Watson Memorial – a public clocktower dedicated to Alexander Richardson Dickey Watson, a local

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TRAVEL T

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LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

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T TRAVEL

citizen whose generous bequest allowed for the building of the sea wall. Eighty years later, it stands tall, clock ticking away in his name. I think he got his money’s worth.

Soon after, we crossed the road to visit Art By The Sea. It’s a quaint gallery featuring over 50 New Zealand artists whose works include ceramics, paintings, fine furniture, and sculpture. The kids were mesmerized by the vibrant colors of Craig Platt’s wildlife canvases, while my husband, Dave, found a particular delight in the most comfortable wooden chair he had ever sat in. “How,” we wondered, “can we fit this magnificent wooden creature into our suitcase?”

We made our way to Church Street in search of the Devonport Historical and Museum Society that is housed in the old Presbyterian church. While it is not the Guggenheim (nor is it meant to be), it is an entirely charming place full of local people, places, and things. Not a bad way to spend a few minutes during the day and a great way if you have a genealogical link to the area.

We soon came upon the road which lead to North Head the northern promontory that sits atop the city guarding the mouth of Auckland Harbor. A mere 30,000 years ago, the area was comprised of three volcanic cones; North Head and Mount Victoria remain, while Mount Cambria became a victim of

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excessive quarrying. The native people, known as Maori, lived here until the 1790s when warring tribes wiped them out; remnants from this great civilization can still be seen on the island.

Due to instability of some European nations and the perceived threat of a Russian invasion in the late 1870s, the military decided to construct a fort overlooking the harbor. Prisoners used picks and shovels to construct an elaborate military complex, consisting of a vast network of underground tunnels, bunkers, gun emplacements, kitchens, storerooms, and guardrooms. Now under the auspices of the Department of Conservation, visitors can roam through the labrinth of tunnels and gun batteries at the North Head Historic Reserve. A flashlight is suggested.

Perhaps the most well-known artifact in the reserve is its elusive Disappearing Gun. The gun got its name because of its fierce recoil, which pushed it underground where it was able to be reloaded safely. While the Fort originally had three of these weapons, today there is only the one, and it’s the last of its kind anywhere in the world. As it turns out, the predicted military invasions never occurred, and the guns were only used for target practice, or for saluting the Queen when she visited the island. But even if you are not a military buff, the views of Auckland, Hauraki Gulf, and Mt. Victoria are spectacular and well worth the trip.

TRAVEL T

Down the hill and back onto King Edward Parade is Torpedo Bay, home to the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. Since Devonport is also home to the Royal New Zealand Navy, it is a most fitting place to locate the museum. We experienced a “rumbly in our tumlies” so we stopped in the Torpedo Bay Café located in the museum. Sandwiches, coffee, wine, and luscious pastries are on the limited menu. And, of course, watching the sailboats skim across Waitemata Harbor was priceless.

From the café we walked 10 feet to the entrance of the museum.

With kids’ activity kits, period costumes to dress in, and talking exhibits, it was a hit with our younger crowd. The main entrance was dedicated to the Wrens who served in the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service from 1942 until disbandment of the unit in 1977. There are also some particularly good exhibits about the deployment of U.S. forces to New Zealand after many of the country’s Royal Navy ships were destroyed in 1942.

As we walked back along the shore, scallop seashells in desert mauves, corals, pinks, and yellows washed upon the beach and were magically deposited at our feet. Before we knew it, a new collection was born.

Downtown is where all the action is. Built in 1912 by American John Leon Benwell, The Victoria Picture Palace & Theatre

(“The Vic”) is a two-screen cinema that has undergone historic renovation, and is the oldest theater in the Southern Hemisphere.

But instead of indulging our sense of sight, we opted to please our stomachs and stopped for dinner at a quaint little café called Manuka. The menu was full of goodies but Dave’s chunky chicken potpie with philo was the real hit of the entrees.

With 30 minutes until the next ferry departure, we strolled through the local shops, stopping at the front door of Devonport Chocolates. (The last of my diet resolve magically disappeared as the decadent silky homemade chocolate melted in my mouth.)

House of Toys was a hit with the kids (you can find some unique take-home gifts there), while others found solace in the Lode, a jewelry shop where every piece is crafted by hand. With restaurants galore, nifty local stores, and sweeping vistas, Devonport is a historical haven that is worth at least a day trip when in the Auckland area.

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G GARDENing

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GARDENing G

caring for

Indoor Houseplants Text by Kristen Castillo

H

ouseplants are a great way to bring the outdoors inside. Whether or not it has flowers, a plant can add a cozy touch to any home.

Going Green "Many houseplants actually improve the air quality of your home by removing toxins and allergens from the air, so go ahead and enjoy them," says Julie Day-Jones, lawn and garden writer.

A new plant delivery service in New York City, called The Sill, is helping city dwellers "incorporate greenery into our living spaces," says the company's Eliza Blank.

The Sill aims to match people with the right plants. "We know that becoming a plant owner can be intimidating, and we wanted to eliminate a lot of the common stressors that go along with caring for a houseplant," says Blank, noting they offer instructions and customer service to answer plant owners' questions.

Easy Plants While you're in charge of all the conditions in your indoor garden, including water, light, soil conditions and temperature, you can still cultivate pretty plants.

"Even homeowners who don't have a green thumb can have success with houseplants," says Day-Jones. "I'd start with plants that don't need a whole lot of light or maintenance, such as pothos, spider plant, snake plant or peace lily."

She also suggests foliage plants, which don't have flowers.

"Most of them are very forgiving and can usually bounce back from all sorts of neglect," Day-Jones explains.

"Blooming plants, like orchids and African violets, are more challenging to grow, as are cacti and succulents.

These plants need specialized growing conditions that aren't particularly difficult, but they just aren't as forgiving if you let things slide."

If you travel a lot or simply don't have lots of time to care for plants, you definitely want ones that are low-maintenance.

Blank recommends the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), which she says is "very tolerant of a wide range of conditions," including "long stretches without water, dark rooms, dry air and is more or less pest-free."

Sunlight Getting enough sunlight is one of the biggest challenges for houseplants.

"Most indoor conditions, while sufficient, do not offer the kind of sunlight that a plant would naturally get outdoors," says Blank. "Most apartments have windows on one or two walls only – whereas, outside, the plant would get sun from all directions."

The way to meet this sunlight challenge is to move the plants to different locations in your home, until you can determine where they grow best.

"In general, with foliage plants, light-colored leaves will tolerate more sunlight, and plants with dark green leaves can tolerate lower light conditions," says Day-Jones. "When in doubt, locate your houseplants in bright rooms and windows that get direct sun only part of the day."

Water and Fertilizer When and how to water houseplants is another concern.

"People tend to overwater plants in an effort to care for them – while typically, underwatering is better for a plant, than overwatering," says Blank.

Day-Jones advises watering "most tropical houseplants" once a week from spring to fall and then watering them once every two weeks during the winter. It's best to water your houseplants when the top half-inch of dirt feels dry to the touch. Gently add room-temperature water until a little bit runs out into the drainage tray."

Make sure the drainage tray doesn't fill up or else your plants could rot. Fertilize your plants once a month during the spring to fall growing season.

How Many Plants?

Houseplants tend to be small and cute, but how many are too many?

"It's definitely possible to overdo it," says Day-Jones, who warns that too many houseplants can cause increased humidity, "which can lead to mold, fungi and bacteria growth, both in the moist plant soil and elsewhere in your home."

For that reason, she recommends one 6-inch plant for every 100 square feet.

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F FASHION

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FA

ALL

FASHION F

Fashion Wish List Text by Sharon Mosley

M

ove over skinny jeans! There are some new style moves in town this fall, and these clothes are more fun than ever.

Yes, fashion is fun again with bright colors, bold shapes and glamorous graphic prints. It's enough to put you in a shopping mood again. Here's a quick list of some of the biggest hits this season:

Tough black leather. You need to have at least one piece of leather in your wardrobe. It's the new "go-with-everything" fashion trend that gives you the freedom to mix and match anything and everything, as well as add a little slickness. From sleek zippered jackets to cropped pants or quilted skirts, take your pick and put some modern spin into your life.

The lace dress. Kate Middleton may have inspired lots of fans with her chic slip dresses covered in lace, but now you, too, can dress like a princess. There are lots of interpretations of this favorite available this fall, and chances are you'll love wearing one of these to not only any cocktail event but also holiday parties as well.

Printed pants. These can be tricky but oh, so fun, too.

Choose a pair of trousers in a graphic print. (I think the smaller patterns are best.) Then you can pair them with a solid-colored sweater or jacket. If you're really adventurous, pair printed pants with another coordinating print.

A colorful coat or jacket. What one piece can really make a statement in your wardrobe this fall? One bold coat or jacket in an intense color. Whether it's a traditional trench style or a menswear overcoat or a patent parka, any outerwear piece this year makes a real style statement in color from pastels to brights.

A heavyweight sweater. Cooler weather always means a return to sweater staples. So take advantage of the new textured knits and warm up your wardrobe by mixing them in with your printed pants and skirts.

The gold piece. Metallics this fall are making a golden statement. Yes, silver always shines, too, but there are plenty of reasons to be a golden girl this season – from shimmering gold jeans to leather shift dresses and embroidered jackets. Accessory tip: Animal print shoes and boots are tres chic with the golden girl glamour.

The pantsuit. It's been a few years that working women really had options when it came to getting dressed for the office. If you didn't work in a creative industry, then it was tough to wake up and throw together separates that had a stylish flair. Now designers have once again embraced matching trousers, pencil skirts and jackets that make getting dressed for work easy again.

The suits this fall are made contemporary with architectural silhouettes that are menswear inspired but still feminine. Don't hesitate to combine these "matched" pieces with other things in your wardrobe ... like a leather jacket ... or colorful blouses to give them even more versatility.

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P PERFORMANCES Text By Marsha Peltzer

Masterworks Series

For those of you who might not be familiar with the meaning of “Masterworks Series” in symphonic music parlance, the term simply refers to the more classical repertoire. Each season the Tulare County Symphony presents six concerts in the series, as well as Pops in the Park, and the annual Holiday concert. Season tickets may include the series by itself, or the series and the Holiday concert.

Music Director Bruce Kiesling conducts informal talks about each performance at 6:45 p.m. He is a wealth of knowledge and makes the concert come alive.

A Spanish American Affair October 13 - 7 o’clock | Visalia Fox Theatre

The opening concert for the season will include Aaron Copland’s El Salon de Mexico a rip-roaring celebration of Mexican dance hall music. The work is a musical depiction of “A Popular Type Dance Hall in Mexico City” as noted in the subtitle. It was completed in 1936. Although Copland visited Mexico early in the 1930s, he based his tone poem on written music for at least four Mexican folk songs. The most powerful refrain that appears in the piece three times stems from one of these entitled, “El Palo Verde.” Listeners find the music moves seamlessly from one theme to another, with no clear boundaries.

The concert continues with the most beloved guitar concerto of all, Rodrigo‘s Concierto de Aranjuez. The piece was inspired by the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the spring resort palace and gardens built by Philip II in the last half of the l6th century, and rebuilt in the middle of the 18th century by Ferdinand VI. The work attempts to transport the listener to another place and time through the evocation of the sounds of nature. Rodrigo described the concerto itself as capturing “the fragrance of magnolias, the singing of birds, and the gushing of fountains” in the gardens of Aranjuez. Rodrigo, blind since the age of three, was a pianist. He did not play guitar, yet still managed to capture the spirit of the guitar in Spain.

Composed in early 1939, in Paris, amid the tensions of the impending war, it was the first work Rodrigo had written for the guitar and orchesstra. The instrumentation is unusual: rarely does the guitar face the forces of a full orchestra.

However, the guitar is never overwhelmed, remaining the solo instrument throughout.

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The symphony is privileged to welcome Robert Belinic as guest soloist. Belinic was the first guitarist to be a winner at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. Born in 1981 in Croatia, he began studying classical guitar at age 11. Belinic has received multiple international awards, including the 2002 Ivo Vuljevic Award for outstanding Croation musicians. Of note, he performed with the Orchestra of St. Lukes under the direction of Michael Stern, conductor for the Kansas City Symphony.

The concert concludes with the beautifully moving illustration of one of America’s great natural wonders. The Grand Canyon Suite composed by Ferde Grofé is a suite for the orchestra composed during 1929 to 1931. It consists of five parts or movements, each an evocation in tone of a particular scene typical the of the Grand Canyon. Initially titled Five Pictures of the Grand Canyon, these include “Sunrise”, “Painted Desert”, “On the Trail”, “Sunset”, and “Cloudburst”. In the conductor’s score, the coda to the “Cloudburst” movement is notated as a separate movement: "Distant Thunder with Crickets Chirping." It is, indeed, a stirring finale to the first Masterworks concert this season.

For tickets and more information, call the Tulare County Symphony Office (559) 732-8600.

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Visalia Home EXPO The South Valley's largest fall home show in one location with the best in remodeling, decorating and technology. Come check out all the new styles in home décor this fall, and much more!

When: Sept. 22 & 23, 10a-6p and 10a-5p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-4000

Theater & Performances Encore Theatre Company Presents Baby Baby tells the story of three very diverse couples who deal with the overwhelming, rewarding, and comical consequences of conceiving a baby. This charming show encompasses an upbeat musical score embracing jazz, rock, Broadway schmaltz, and takes a humorous and heartfelt look at "what to expect when you're expecting!" Tickets: $12.

When: Sept. 21 – 23, 28 – 30, 4 – 6, 7:30p; Matinees (9/23 & 9/30 at 2p) Where: Encore Theatre, 324 S. “N” Street, Tulare Contact: 686-1300

SEP 28

Taste the Pops Check out the sounds of the Tulare County Symphony and taste the art as part of this years Taste the Arts event.

When: Sept. 28, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 Hansel and Gretel Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company presents the beloved nursery rhyme Hansel and Gretel directed by Donald Williams.

When: Sept. 28 – 30, 5 – 7, 12 &13, Evening, 7p; Matinee, 2p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 E. Main St., Visalia Contact: 739-4600 The Laramie Project A play by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of Wyoming gay student, Mathew Shepard, in Laramie. The Murder was denounced as a hate crime motivated by homophobia and brought attention to the lack of hate crimes laws in various states, including Wyoming.

When: Oct. 5 – 7, 12 – 14, 19 – 21, Evening, 7:30p; Matinee, 2p Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: 734-3375

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OCT 8 OCT 13 OCT 20

Imagination Movers Want to add some rock n’ roll excitement and entertainment to your family’s life? Then don’t miss the Imagination Movers’ 2012 Rock-O-Matic Tour!

Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty – of the Emmy-winning Disney Channel TV series “Imagination Movers” – will be bringing their high-octane rock concert to Visalia, and it's an event the whole family can enjoy.

When: Oct. 8, 3-4p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 Masterworks I “A Spanish American Affair” Enjoy our very own Tulare County Symphony Orchestra and their first Masterworks performance featuring Copland’s El Salon Mexico, Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez with Robert Belinic, guitar and Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite.

When: Oct. 13, 7:30p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369 The Kingston Trio In 1957, The Kingston Trio emerged from San Francisco's North Beach club scene to take the country by storm, bringing the rich tradition of American folk music into the mainstream for the first time. During the late 50s & early 60s, the Trio enjoyed unprecedented record sales and worldwide fame, while influencing the musical tastes of a generation.

When: Oct. 20, 7p Where: Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 625-1369

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AT T E N T I O N

TULARE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHERS

Raise Magazine is looking for cover photo submissions.

What kind of photos?

• Children (ages 5-15), or children with pet • Single children only; no group or family photos • Vertical format Please submit high-quality, electronic files only.

Email photos to Bridget@dmiagency.com (Photos are free to submit but submission does not guarantee placement.)

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Visalia's Taste the Arts Festival Taste the Arts is an annual festival presented by the Arts Consortium. This five-day free event in Downtown Visalia is a celebration of the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Tulare County. This year will include the annual Waiters Race, free concerts from the Tulare County Symphony and new Visalia Opera Company, the Urbanists Collective show, and a full Saturday street fair with artist booths, kids activities, and youth performers. You won't want to miss the festivities.

When: Sept. 27 - Oct. 1 Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 713-4324 or www.artsconsortium.org

Art Exhibits Near and Far: Landscapes _by Japanese Artists; Rotation 1: Imagination of Nature This rotation focuses on works by Japanese painters that feature fictitious landscapes. It introduces to the visitor not only the principles of landscape painting in Japan, but also the concept of creating an ideal landscape and its role within the art of painting.

When: Sept. 2 – Dec. 22 Where: The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, 15770 Tenth Ave., Hanford Contact: 582-4915 That Extra Dimension 2012: Invitational Sculpture Exhibition That Extra Dimension is an annual invitational exhibition featuring sculptural works by artists from throughout Central California. The exhibition serves as a well-rounded survey of the quality and diversity of work being made by sculptors from throughout California's San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding region.

When: Sept. 5 – 29; Reception: Sept. 7, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905 the Whey (way) n. to center A major solo exhibition which will unveil the latest works from Amie Rangel.

When: Oct. 3 – 27; Reception: Oct. 5, 6-8p Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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Diversions & Excursions

SEP 22

Hey Kids, Let’s Cook!

Watch the area’s youngest master chefs compete at the Visalia Home EXPO. The cook-off is hosted by Kathy Powers.

When: Sept. 22, 11a- 4:30p Where: Visalia Home Expo at the VisaliaConvention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: www.heykidsletscook.com Master Gardeners Mini Garden Festival Master Gardeners is having a mini garden festival on the corner of Main St. and Fairway (near the Ralph Moore Rose Garden). There will be activities for adults as well as Fall flower seed plantings for children to make and take home.

When: Sept. 22, 10a-2p Where: Corner of Main St. and Fairway St. Contact: chefearly@sbcglobal.net

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2nd Annual TriTulare The Boy Scouts of America Troop 234 is proud to host the TriTulare events and welcomes you for a Saturday morning filled with good times and challenges. The three events of the day are the Sprint Triathlon, 5K and the Kids Race. All proceeds will go to support Boy Scout Troop 234. The funds raised will be used for summer camp, equipment, and overnight camping.

When: Sept. 29, 6:30a Where: Tulare Western High School, 824 W. Maple Ave., Tulare Contact: www.tritulare.org

OCT 2

OCT 5 OCT 6

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19th Annual Taste of Downtown Visalia Downtown's fabulous community of restaurants open their doors once a year and offer a taste of their favorite menu items. A ticket admits you to all of the participating Downtown restaurants as well as entrance to wine tasting by the Bank of the Sierra and beer tasting hosted by Visalia Community Bank.

Spend the night strolling the streets enjoying culinary treats and live music or jump on the Visalia Towne Trolley for a lift to your favorite restaurant. Tickets: $35.

When: Oct. 2, 5-9p Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: 732-7737 Perfect Little Planet – Planetarium Public Show Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes - a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda, sail through the rings of Saturn, feel the lightning storms at Jupiter, and walk on the surface of Mars. This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages.

When: Oct. 5, 7p Where: Pena Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia Contact: 737-6334 Harvest 5K & 1 Mile 5K run/walk and one-mile run/walk in Cutler Park.

Funds raised will be used to support needy families during Christmas. Post-event treats will have a harvest theme like apples, doughnuts, pumpkin pie, coffee, and apple cider.

When: Oct. 6, 8a Where: Cutler Park, Visalia Contact: www.visaliarunners.org

LIFESTYLE | SEPTEMBER 2012

OCT 7 OCT 13

8th Annual Lost Girls Breast Cancer Women’s Motorcycle Ride All bikes welcome on this annual women's only ride.

The men in your life are of course welcome and encouraged to join at the final stop, Exeter City Park, corner of Cedar St. & "D" St., in Exeter. There will be lunch, raffles and entertainment! Support breast cancer awareness at this fun event.

When: Oct. 7, 8a-4p Where: KD Imaging Center, 4949 W. Cypress Ave., Visalia Contact: www.lostgirlsmc.com Visalia Lions Club 32nd Annual Invitational Band Review Come and check out the parade and field show displays of the area’s middle and high school bands and color guards. Always a fun and exciting event, so be sure to join and cheer on your favorites!

When: Oct. 13, Parade Competition Step-Off, 8a; Stadium Gates Open, 9a; First Band Competes, 10:30a Where: Conyer/Main, Visalia Contact: www.visaliainvitational.com Exeter Fall Festival The Exeter Chamber of Commerce sponsors this family friendly festival. Includes arts & crafts, food booths, live entertainment, parade (10a-11a), car show, and 10k run and 2-mile walk.

When: Oct. 13, 10a Where: Exeter City Park, Exeter Contact: Chamber of Commerce, 592-2919

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Wine Makers’ Social United Way of Tulare County invites you to enjoy a live auction, local entertainment, appetizers prepared

by The Gateway Restaurant & sample wines from the Sonoma Valley. $100 per person. Includes commemorative wine glass & VIP round trip seat in a limousine.

When: Sept. 22, 4-8p Where: The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge, Hwy 198, Three Rivers Contact: www.unitedwaytc.org

OCT 19

Dawn of the Space Age – Planetarium Public Show From the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik to the magnificent lunar landings and privatelyoperated space flights, you'll be captivated by this most accurate historic reconstruction of Man's first steps into space.

When: Oct. 19, 7p Where: Pena Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia Contact: 737-6334

SEP 22

Springville Apple Festival For the 32nd year, Springville welcomes all to enjoy this annual event. The Apple Festival is filled with craft booths, music, clowns, kid’s games, carnival rides, and of course, apples!

When: Oct. 20 & 21, 7a-5/4p Where: Springville Veterans Park, Springville Contact: 539-0619 Visalia Farmers’ Market – Harvest of the Valley Weekly event open to the public featuring free live music, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and local, fresh produce available for purchase.

Downtown Market ending soon!

When: Thursdays - Downtown Visalia, 5-8p/ Saturdays - Sequoia Mall, Sears parking lot 8-11:30a Where: Church & Main/ Sears parking lot at Mooney and Caldwell, Visalia Contact: 967-6722 or www.visaliafarmersmarket.com

Charitable Events Bounty of the County Enjoy local food, wine, beer and music while you support local farmers, restaurants, wineries, and families.

When: Sept. 22, 5-8p Where: Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch, 32985 Road 164, Ivanhoe Contact: Tulare County Farm Bureau, 732-8301 or www.tulcofb.org Relay for Life No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay. Each dollar you raise will help save lives. How far will you go to make a difference in the fight against cancer?

When: Sept. 22, 9a Where: El Diamante High School, 5100 W. Whitendale Ave., Visalia Contact: 287-8050

SEP 24

A Night at the Library, Where the Books Come to Life!

Come see the library transformed into a world where Charlie and his Chocolate Factory are real, Fairies come to life, and Vegas comes to you!

Tickets are $50 each and include all you can eat and drink. We will also have entertainment and a silent auction. Proceeds to benefit the Tulare Library Foundation and the Tulare Public Library.

When: Sept. 24, 6-9p Where: Tulare Public Library, 475 N. “M” St., Tulare Contact: 685-4506

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Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest community celebration provides a unique opportunity for our food service industry to shine. Local restaurants and other businesses set up booths and provide samples to the thousands of local residents who attend to celebrate the fall season and enjoy live entertainment, excellent food, and a great time together. $30 advance ticket, $40 at the door.

When: Oct. 5, 5:30-9:30p Where: Recreation Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: Chamber of Commerce, 734-5876

SEP 29

4th Annual Calvary Chapel Car Show & Shopping Boutique Come out and enjoy a car parts swap meet, food, bounce house for the kids, a bake sale, and more!

Proceeds to benefit the “Reaching Youth” Ministry.

When: Sept. 29, 8a-2p Where: Calvary Chapel, 11720 Avenue 264, Visalia Contact: www.ccvisalia.com

Writers & Readers Tulare County Library First Tuesday Book Club (Oct. 2, 6:30p) Socrates Cafe (Oct. 9, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (Oct. 17, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org

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Event Listings If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Happenings” section, please email your submission to lifestyle@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, Attention Happenings. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission.

Submissions are due six weeks prior to publication.

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