February 2013

HOME TOUR

THE BOYD HOME Modern Aesthetics Meets a Preserve for the Past

NEXT GEN

Jessica cavale When a Calling Becomes a Career

MUSIC

PENTATONIX

Local Vocalist, Avi Kaplan, Comes Home for a Community Benefit

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24 HOME TOUR The Boyd Home

MUSIC

8

Letter from the Executive Editor

Pentatonix

10 Business Cents: Turnaround Year

Local Vocalist, Avi Kaplan, Comes Home for a Community Benefit

12 Word Play 14 Local Adventure: Forestiere

Underground Gardens 16 Arts: New Artist, Old Soul

PAGE

18

22 Literary Arts: Sunny Frazier 40 Travel: Bordeaux – A Perfect Blend

CULINARY

Simplicity Meets Gourmet Pan-Seared Salmon with a Blackberry-Merlot Reduction

46 Spirits: English Brown Ales 50 Performances 52 Fashion 54 Chamber: Visalia 56 Chamber: Exeter 58 Happenings

PAGE

34 NEXT GEN

Jessica Cavale When a Calling Becomes a Career

PAGE

48

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ABOVE: The home of Michael and Mimi Boyd can be described as a traditional floor plan with a “contemporary bend.”

LOVE THAT

SMILE!

FEBRUARY 2013 PUBLISHED BY DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ART & PRODUCTION Art Director ROSS YUKAWA Graphic Designer CHRIS BLY EDITORIAL Executive Editor Karen Tellalian Assistant Editor TAYLOR VAUGHN Content Editor KYNDAL KENNEDY Calendar Ciara norton Copy Editor DARA FISK-EKANGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CAROLE FIRSTMAN cheryl LEVITAN Diane Slocum JORDAN VENEMA KAREN HURLBUTT KENNeth HILDENBRAND MARSHA PELTZER NANCY MOTA CHILDRES RYAN LUCAS SHARON MOSLEY BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Malkasian Accountancy LLP Gary Malkasian CPA JEFFREY Malkasian EA

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 Creekside Day Spa & Wellness Center Exeter Chamber of Commerce Exeter Golf Course Holiday Inn Kaweah Delta Hospital Red Carpet Car Wash 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.

Operations Manager Maria Gaston 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

Facebook.com/LifestyleMag 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 © 2013 DMI Agency

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COVER: Between the upstairs loft showcasing memories of the past and the contemporary decor downstairs, the Boyd home is evocative of two distinct worlds.

LEFT: The Boyds have design elements throughout their home that act as cohesion between rooms such as earth-tones, black and copper, Asian symbols and artwork as shown in one of the bathrooms.

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E EDITOR NOTE

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

Had this been written two weeks ago, before the Super Bowl, it would have been a much different letter. Before the Super Bowl it would have been all about the Forty-niners’ incredible season and how they were poised to bring it all home with a win over that other team. Two weeks ago we patiently waited and looked forward to that history-making day – the first time in the NFL two brothers went head-to-head as opposing coaches in the league’s biggest game of the year. Boy were we excited.

Even after the first half, the Niners trailing 21 to six, we remained hopeful. They’d come back before and they could do it again. And, come back they did, scoring 25 points in the second half. That other team seemed tired, flat and for a short while it seemed nothing could stop the Niners from winning. Nothing. Nothing, except their failure to capitalize on opportunities so close to them they almost couldn’t lose, but did. Even a major, 37-minute power outage, changing the momentum in their favor, wasn’t enough.

Can anyone else relate to that feeling? That a big win is so close you can see it, but suddenly it disappears from your sight? It’s certainly happened to me, both professionally and personally and I spend a lot of time beating myself up over what could have, or should have been. The difference between how a lot of us respond to what we consider failure and the Niners’ loss is they have tapes to review where they went wrong.

They will review and rethink their strategy, pinpoint where they missed opportunities to score, and learn from those mistakes. Can you imagine being video taped all day and having your every move, every decision reviewed and critiqued? Shudder.

Although I don’t know any of them personally, my guess is they won’t lament too long as they will want to look forward. I love that about professional sports – play to win but if you don’t – try harder next time.

To some degree that is what we do here at DMI Agency and Lifestyle Magazine. Every month we review the previous issue, looking for areas where we can improve. We critique our articles and photography and design, find ways to improve, and look forward to the next opportunity.

Our favorite issues are always those filled with others’ accomplishments and as such, this one tops our list. We think you’ll agree.

We hope everyone (even our non-Niner fan readers) is looking forward to the coming weeks and months ahead. It’s almost time for spring training and that’s enough to get our minds off of a failed Super Bowl victory and onto the next opportunity to rally behind our favorite team.

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

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B BUSINESS CENTS

2013 Poised to be the Turnaround Year

Text by Nancy Mota Childres, Branch Manager & Sr. Loan Officer, Kings Mortgage Services, Inc.

B

arring any negative government intervention, it is believed we will continue to see stabilization in our housing market this year. There are many positive signs signaling a turnaround.

Tulare County was again included in the National Association of Home Builders Improving Markets Index, marking December 2011 as the trough with prices up 7.3 percent since that time. The Index identifies metro areas that have shown improvement from their respective lows in housing permits, employment, and house prices for at least six consecutive months.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is quoted as saying there is “healthy” market demand. “Momentum continues to build in the housing market from growing jobs and a bursting out of household formation,” he said. “With lower rental vacancy rates and rising rents, combined with still historically favorable affordability conditions, more people are buying homes.”

The “shadow inventory” of bank-owned properties is being absorbed by buyers in the market, including bulk sales to large investors. And, as prices continue to rise, we will see “normal” sellers able to return to the market. A shortage of inventory is currently seen as the biggest obstacle for many local buyers.

Congress kept the mortgage interest tax deduction, which is good news. They also reinstated deductibility of mortgage insurance for incomes up to $100,000 with a phase out up to $110,000, and it is retroactive to include premiums paid in 2012.

This was an unexpected surprise from the “fiscal cliff” debate.

Interest Rates Will Remain Low In December, the Federal Reserve said it would not raise interest rates until the unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent and/or the long-term projection for inflation reached 2.5 percent. This came as a surprise since previously the Federal Reserve used vague timerange targets, saying it was unlikely to raise rates for a certain period of time. The unemployment number gives us something more tangible to watch.

While low mortgage rates alone are not enough to fuel home sales, they do make homeownership more affordable – and that’s certainly helping the market. We at Kings Mortgage don’t believe the rate is the reason people are buying, but when they start the process and they learn that their mortgage payments can be less than what they are paying for rent, they want to take advantage of that.

Stated Loans are Gone The mortgage industry is preparing for the Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule, which was released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) last month; however, note this rule does not take effect until January 2014. QM, or the Ability to Repay rule, lays out specific lending standards that lenders have to follow when extending credit to borrowers, including verification of income and assets along with maximum ratios of debt-to-income.

And, now that the QM rule has been issued, lenders anxiously

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await the Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) rules that will determine which loans can be sold into the private secondary market. The year 2013 will be a busy one of hashing out the details for lenders and the industry in general.

Lenders ARE Lending Buyers should not be afraid of applying. Lending is going strong, despite most media reports. We see continued accounts of “stringent underwriting” – but please don’t believe everything you see. Guidelines are very similar to what they were before the bubble – though documentation requirements may be a bit more thorough. Borrowers should expect and be prepared to verify all income and source all assets. A decent credit history is also a must.

Yes, there are rules lenders must abide by and yes, we must document everything. This is the result of the lax underwriting standards during the boom and the fact that too many borrowers complained they were given loans they could not afford.

Consulting Financial Protection Bureau, as the name implies, is here to protect the consumer in all transactions and is here to make sure that lenders make sure that a borrower can afford the payment.

Like it or not, the rules were written to protect the consumer (you).

Not Too Late to Refinance Not least to mention are the refinance opportunities.

Homeowners should contact a local Loan Officer to take a look at what’s available to lower payments, even when they find themselves underwater. The programs have changed over time – just because it wasn’t available a year ago, doesn’t mean it’s not available now. If you haven’t checked in the last six months, you should check again – and then check again in another six months, as there is pending legislation in Congress that could increase availability to even more homeowners.

All in all, we see 2013 as a growth year in prices and, most likely, an increase in mortgage rates later in the year. There is no reason to procrastinate if you are looking to purchase or refinance – and there is no reason to look further than your local loan officer.

Keeping it local means local incomes, local taxes and local residents employed.

I should not need to remind you how much this helps all of us overall.

W WORD PLAY

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

L

ove plays a central role in the novels of three writers embarking on what appear to be promising careers.

In Scott Hutchins debut novel, A Working Theory of Love (Penguin Press HC, October 2012), Neill Bassett has an odd job for a business major with no technical knowledge – he is helping develop a computer that might win the Turing prize for artificial intelligence. His qualification is that the computer is being programmed based on Neill’s father’s life-long journals.

As the computer takes on the persona of his father, Neill learns about his father’s suicide and grows to understand himself and his attempts at love.

In The Best of Youth (W. W. Norton & Company, January 2013), Michael Dahlie’s second novel, the young man struggling with life and love is Henry Lang. Heir to his parents’ $15 million fortune following their untimely death he is unsure of what he should do with his life beyond the knowledge that he has some talent for writing. He has a confusing relationship with his fourth cousin Abby and struggles with not turning everything he touches into a disaster for himself and others – heirloom goats, inherited handguns, his writing assignment, a tattooed girl and an egocentric movie star.

Ben Schrank’s characters also learn that love is not as simple as the title implies in Love Is a Canoe (Sarah Chrichton Books, January 2013). Fifty years ago, Peter Herman spent a summer with his grandparents and 10 years later turned the experience into a best-selling self-help book on marriage. Now, ambitious editor Stella Petrovic develops a contest to renew sales on the book – the winners get to meet Peter and improve their good marriage with his sage advice. Emily Babson wins the contest but all is not as it seems for any of the characters, and they must go through devastating times to get a better understanding of themselves and the complexities of love.

Valley Writers The Fresno Bee’s George F. Gruner published his third book, Into the Night, last November. It tells the military history of Camp Pinedale, the Fresno Fairgrounds and Hammer Field during World War II. An abundance of period photos illustrate the book. Stories of individuals such as Chief Master Sergeant Chester Kemp give the personal touch. The book is published by the Clovis Veteran’s Memorial District and sales benefit the district. Blue Water Beat: The Two Lives of the Battleship USS California and The White Flyers, Harvard and Yale: American Coastwise Travel are his earlier books.

Former Visalian Kim Sirrah published When Angels Fly: A Novel

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of Romance and Suspense last May through Strategic Book Publishing. In her story, Hailee Bradford Richards lost her mother as a young child and as an adult has to come to grips with the sudden death of her doctor husband. Hailee turns to a fellow doctor for moral support and may rethink the beliefs of the Shoshone woman who raised her on stories of the spirits who walk among us. Sirrah lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She is the wife of retired Visalia orthodontist Dr. Perko.

Writing Conferences The Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference lays claim to being the oldest writing conference in America. It was founded in 1926 and has continued to meet in mid-August at Middlebury College in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont ever since. The idea for the conference came from Robert Frost, Willa Cather, Katherine Lee Bates and Louis Untermeyer. Among the early writers to participate were Stephen Vincent Benet and Hervey Allen. For admission, apply online and send a sample of your work

by March 1. Beginning and published writers over 18 years of age may attend. Last year, 26 percent of applicants were admitted for the 10 day conference. The fee of $2,834 includes room and board.

Details at: www.middlebury.edu/blwc/admissions.

Writing Contests Entries for the James Jones Fellowship Contest are due March 1. The contest is open to US citizens who have never published a novel. Entrants must submit an outline and the first 50 pages of their novel. First prize is $10,000. Entry fee is $25 ($28 online). Winners must attend the James Jones Literary Society Conference held in early November. Usually about 600 manuscripts are received for the contest. The 2012 winner was Lise Brody with For One Thing She Did. Details at: www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp.

A $23 entry fee for the Gulf Coast writing contest also includes a one-year subscription to the journal of literature and fine arts. The journal offers contests for poetry, fiction and nonfiction/lyric essay.

The deadline for entry is March 15. Submit online or by mail. First prize in each genre is $1,500 plus publication. Details at: www.gulfcoastmag.org.

The Last Word “Love is always bestowed as a gift – freely, willingly and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.” – Leo Buscaglia (1924–1998)

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L LOCAL ADVENTURE

Forestiere Underground Gardens

W

ith popular areas like Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park in the Central Valley’s backyard, many people often overlook the other smaller forest areas. Well, not this month. Grab your friends and family and head over to the Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno for this month’s local adventure.

This California Historical Landmark is a complex of courtyards, patios, grottos, fruit trees and flowers.

And the best part is … it’s all underground.

The Forestiere Underground Gardens were created

by Sicilian immigrant, Baldassare Forestiere, who moved to America in 1901 to pursue his dreams.

Forestiere was an architect, engineer, horticulturist, spiritual artist and environmentalist who created his underground world with the ancient catacombs in mind. Arches, stonework, passageways and vegetation dominate this subterranean landscape that interconnects with the living quarters of the artist and builder. There are no architectural drawings to look back on because Forestiere created his entire underground masterpiece by using only his mind and simple tools such as picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. He did not use any dynamite or motorized mechanical methods to create this adventure of the underworld.

By the time he was 44 years old, Forestiere had created over 10 acres of underground magnificence.

He lived for 23 more years and it is unknown how many more acres he carved by the time of his death in 1946.

Fortunately, for those of us appreciative of natural beauty and a legacy of hard work, the Forestiere Underground Gardens are open to the public.

All tours are weather permitting and of course as the weather heats up, remember there is no air conditioning in this underground adventure, simply the natural relief of about 10 to 30 degrees cooler than above ground.

Because the temperatures underground can also get extremely cold, the Gardens have been closed for the winter season, but are scheduled to reopen for the spring and summer starting on March 2. So make your plans to visit now. The entrance to the Gardens is located at 5021 W. Shaw Avenue, Fresno.

Adult tickets are $15, kids $7.

For tour schedules and more information on this local adventure, visit: www.undergroundgardens.com 14

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A arts

Anees Akhund

NEW ARTIST

OLD SOUL Text by Karen Hurlbutt | Photos by Taylor Vaughn

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arts A

T

here may be a silver lining in every dark cloud, but for Anees Akhund the lining was alive with color. Anees has always had an interest in art, but never seriously pursued it until a life-threatening medical emergency changed the course of his life, illuminating the importance of having a creative outlet. Not long after recovering from heart surgery, Anees, a local Principal Financial Group advisor and community volunteer, was approached by Pro-Youth/HEART to contribute something to the Arts 4 HEART fundraiser. This auction features civic-minded, non-artists creating tongue-incheek works as “celebrity artists.”

As Anees went to work on his contribution to the auction, latent creativity poured out onto a 4’ x 5’ acrylic canvas. The result was an impressionist-style Zen garden with splashes of vibrant color and light. The piece fetched $800 at the auction, and the compliments Anees received fueled his passion to continue painting.

“I always wanted to paint and was given the opportunity through the Sofa Art, Art for HEART auction,” Anees said.

“The response was so overwhelmingly positive, I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of creating art. It came very naturally to me. I get ideas every day and write them down.

I don’t dwell on the ideas, they sort of percolate; and once I start a painting, it takes on a life of its own. When I start, I don’t necessarily have the entire painting thought out, though some days an image comes to me clear as a sunny day.”

An early riser, Anees now paints nearly every morning before heading to his office in Visalia. He completed 30 paintings in 2012, five of which he donated to local nonprofit organizations for auction.

“I plan to do twice as many paintings in 2013, and I am committed to donating five more pieces to non-profit organizations this year,” he said.

During Anees’ 27-year career in the financial services industry, he has made time to give back to the community through volunteer leadership and involvement. He is currently on the Pro-Youth/HEART and Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation boards; and, as past president of Visalia Breakfast Rotary, Anees has overseen the club’s wildly successful annual golf tournament, crab feed, and auction fundraiser for the past 10 years. The tournament annually raises on average $120,000 in a single night. He has also worked with the club to place life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public buildings.

“Through Rotary I have had an opportunity to contribute locally and be part of an organization that makes a difference

in the lives of youth and promotes cultural understanding and peace internationally,” said Anees.

Anees’ global interests come naturally. A native of Karachi, Pakistan, his 14 siblings are scattered around the world, from Pakistan, Austria, England and the US. He moved to Visalia in 1978, pursuing the American dream of education and freedom. After attending College of the Sequoias and Fresno State University, he went to work for Principal Financial Group in 1986. He earned his Life Underwriters Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF) and membership in the Million Dollar Roundtable, and he has continued his financial services education through American College.

Though Anees has found his financial career fun and rewarding, his plan is to transition to life as a full-time artist in about eight years and have more time for his other passions that include spin class, running, cycling and golf. Anees says staying physically active is not only crucial to his health but to his artistic process as well.

“Moving and being in nature clears my mind and provides inspiration. When I stay active, my art reflects that movement and the vibrancy it creates.”

Anees is also inspired by works of other artists, including painters Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Jackson Pollock, and photographer Ansel Adams, though his style does not mimic any of them.

“I learned that as soon as you try to copy another artist’s style, it doesn’t work,” said Anees.

Anees’ unique style will be on display for the whole month of May as Arts Visalia sponsors his first showing titled “New Artist/Old Soul.” Two of his paintings are currently on display at Bravo Farms in the Tulare Outlet Center, and another hangs permanently in the Congregation B’nai David synagogue in Visalia “It’s not uncommon that we find ourselves returning, later in life, to the artistic impulses we had as youth, but in Anees you find that renewal of the creative impulse coupled with a determined work ethic as well as a truly inquisitive nature. As a result, in little more than one year, he has produced literally dozens of paintings, many of them quite large and ambitious. I think that when people see his work on display in the exhibition we have planned for May, they are going to be impressed by the striking, vibrant colors and the dynamic handling of the paint.”

– Kevin Bowman, Gallery Director at Arts Visalia L I F E S T Y L E | F E B R UA R Y 2 013

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M MUSIC

Text by Jordan Venema | Photos by Jen May Pastores

S

o, first things first. A cappella had already come a long way since the barbershop quartet, but Pentatonix came along and made the genre cool. They soundly proved it on January 28 to the sold-out audience at the LJ Williams Theater. Never mind that

Pentatonix had already sold-out San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre just a few nights prior; and never mind the choreographed dance moves, the fog and the lights, and the roaring audience. Never mind all that because that’s all bells and whistles when compared to the powerful sound this group can produce with their five bare voices. They could have stood motionless in a straight line and still gotten the audience fired up.

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MUSIC M

Who knew it was possible to shake the foundations of the theater without instruments or musical tracks? But Pentatonix, the a cappella group of five vocalists, (Scott Hoying, Kirstie Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola) who won NBC’s The Sing-Off little more than a year ago, is doing just that: exciting sellout crowds and rocking theaters wherever they perform. It seemed only right that Pentatonix should bring their show here to Visalia (the third stop of this national, yearlong tour) since the show was something of a homecoming.

Avi Kaplan, the group’s vocal bass, grew up in Visalia and attended Mt. Whitney High School. He even performed on LJ Williams’ stage as a student. Pentatonix will sell out theaters across the nation, but none will be so full of family and friends, and none such a reminder to him that his dream is coming true. That may be why Avi spent extra time signing autographs and taking photos with fans before the show – his way of saying thanks to his hometown.

But Esther Kaplan, Avi’s sister and Pentatonix’s tour manager, says he’s always like this, and not just here in Visalia. Esther, who admits to tearing up a little at each show, says it blows her mind to see her brother living out his dream and changing lives. Because Avi’s “passion,” explained Michael Kaplan, Avi’s father, “is not just to sing, but to lift other people’s spirits. That’s really what drives him.”

In a sense, Avi could live out that dream if he were directing a choir. But he’s not directing a choir. Instead, he forms the fifth part of Pentatonix, a group that he describes as a second family. For each member of the group then, this Visalia show is also a kind of homecoming. Scott Hoying, one of the three original members of the group, said, “We’re all a big family now.” That bond, he said, made it particularly special to see Avi point out, “That’s where I went to school … That’s where I went to the dentist.”

Watching the group take photos and chat with the fans, friends and family who attended the “meet and greet” before the show was rather like attending a kind of family get-together, listening to the retelling of old memories and hearing somebody say, “I remember Avi when he was just this tall.” Coming home to perform with Pentatonix is a dream come true for Avi, but not to show off. “It’s so cool to be able to come back,” he said, “and to give back to the community.”

Avi and the rest of the group began giving back to the community just by agreeing to perform here. But not just as some form of entertainment, though they definitely did that, too.

The concert was a benefit for the non-profit group Hands in the Community, an organization run by just one full-time and one part-time employee and a network of about 2,500 volunteers.

Lester Moon, the founder of Hands in the Community, saidt the ministry is simply “about helping people who are less fortunate

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M MUSIC

It’s so cool to be able to come back, and to give back to the community.

– Avi Kaplan

than we are” by connecting people with means to those without.

For Moon, the concert was a huge success, but not only by selling out and generating funds for the organization.

“Look at the diversity,” said Moon, pointing out the various sponsors who supported the concert. And more than that, he explained, the first act was a survey of six musicals from five different high schools in the city and a performance from TCOE. The concert as a whole, explained Moon, not only represented the community but showed how people can come together to support that community.

And Pentatonix did its part, with a collage of original songs, ‘NSYNC mash-ups, a Lady Gaga cover, and Kevin Olusola’s solo cello beat boxing performance. The group only ever slowed down to speak to the crowd with a kind of familiarity that showed how down-to-earth the group really is. Because next to their talent, an ability to harmonize and vocally emulate dub step beats and synthesized waves, Pentatonix’s humility is likely the biggest key to their success – or at least to their accessibility with their fans.

Between songs, Hoying told the audience that “the three of us” – the three original members of the group – “were the nerdiest choir kids that existed. Ever.” And the audience, perhaps made up of its fair share of nerdy choir kids, roared its approval.

Pentatonix, like the show Glee and the movie Pitch Perfect, is transforming the perception of what’s cool, and giving “nerdy choir kids” a new kind of confidence to be themselves. Mario Jose, a competitor from the second season of The Sing-Off and a personal friend of the group, tours with Pentatonix as the band’s assistant.

When asked what he has seen that makes the group so special, he didn’t hesitate to say, “They’re extremely humble, real. Cliché as it 20

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PICTURED: Left to Right, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi and Kevin Olusola.

sounds, it’s so accurate when you say they’re a family.”

Call Pentatonix, then, a humble family, and that was on display when Avi introduced the song “Peaceful War,” his original composition. He described it as “a song about giving. This town,” he continued, “has given so much to me. I wouldn’t be here without the people in this room.” Judging from the reaction of the crowd, no one in the audience doubted he meant it. The group’s ability to relate to their fans, has also allowed them to influence the genre of a cappella and make it more widely popular.

Megan Salazar, a Golden West High School senior who calls herself a “pretty big fan” – a “pentaholic” if you will – said that since discovering Pentatonix she doesn’t look at music in the same way. She even created a station on Pandora based on the band and has learned about other a cappella bands. And Megan is just one example of a fan who has been introduced to a cappella through Pentatonix.

Pentatonix only just released their first album, and they are currently in the first month of a yearlong tour. The group is just getting started, just beginning to give back, even if it’s only in the form of a really great show. But as anybody who loves music knows, the power of a voice to inspire is tremendous, especially when that voice represents the voice of others. And for these self-professed choir nerds, they seem to be singing on behalf of a larger audience.

Visalia was fortunate enough to host one of Pentatonix’s first performances of this tour. It’s impossible to predict what kind of success they will achieve, or where they will end up, but hopefully for Visalia, Pentatonix will end up coming home again – at least for one more great show.

L LITERARY ARTS

T

ake an undercover narcotics team, mix in some astrology and let it stew in

the Valley fog or bake in the sun and what do you get? Most likely it will be a Sunny Frazier mystery.

To Frazier, who lives in Lemoore, the Central Valley setting of her stories is as important as any other element.

“I always make the landscape and the weather another character in the book,” she said. “In the first book, we talk about the heat of the summer and how crimes are committed because of heat and the lack of water. In the second book, I talk about the fog. A lot of things happen because of the fog. And it also sets the feeling of the novel.”

While a word she uses to describe the Valley may more likely be “cranky” than “beautiful” or “charming,” she loves seeing the fields of alfalfa growing all around her.

“I lived in Fresno for 25 years but coming back to live in Lemoore, I saw everything with new eyes. I love living in a small town. I missed it when I was away. And so, this feeds me. I write about everything I see around me.

The diversity of cultures in the Valley is another key to its richness as subject matter. In Lemoore, she said, the dominant influence is Portuguese, but every little town has its own identity, which even Valley residents often miss out on.

“Most people never go to the next town,” she said. “In Fresno County, I’ve known people who never went to Sanger or Selma.”

She makes use of the rich story resources the Valley provides. This also gives her stories a boost in local popularity because people love to read about their home towns. Even though she changes the names, she said, it is obvious what she is writing about.

“I’m very adamant about this,” she said. “I set all my stories and books in this Valley. I was encouraged to push beyond this Valley, but I don’t think we get enough attention.”

She still finds that after all the years of writers who have come from and written about the Valley, people in Los Angeles and San Francisco look down their noses at this area.

“We’re not respected as writers and that’s a shame,” she said. “We take up a good portion of California and they don’t seem to have any interest. If it’s not written in Los Angeles or San Francisco, it’s not worth reading. And

Sunny Fra Text by Diane Slocum

Captures the Valley in Crime

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that hurts. So I make a case for it. I make a case that we have much more interesting crimes down here.”

Frazier first came to live in Lemoore when she was 10.

Always an avid reader, she imagined she could write her own books. In eighth grade, she wrote fractured fairy tales updated to the sixties with situations like Cinderella doing the Watusi in a mini-skirt. Classmates were passing the stories around the room and the teacher confiscated them.

“I was so embarrassed,” she said. “But he was laughing in the back of the room at his desk. He told me to stay after class. He said, ‘Do you know how good a writer you are?’

And I didn’t.”

After working as a telephone operator in Los Angeles and serving in the Navy, she returned to the Valley to attend Fresno State on the GI bill. She majored in journalism and worked on both college papers and as a photojournalist at The Fresno Guide.

For 11 years she worked as a confidential secretary for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department narcotics team. In her office – a double-wide trailer in a nectarine orchard – she wrote search warrants and answered the hotline. With access to a lot of information, she could pull cases together to find criminals.

“The FBI used me to find one of the most wanted,” she said. “I was really good at ferreting out information. And I use that now when I do research. I can find anybody.”

Maybe even more than that, her years with undercover narcotics gave her incredible plots for her books.

“I don’t know that I would have been a mystery writer without that experience,” she said. “And in reverse, as a mystery writer I’m given a lot more credit because I have had that experience.”

Astrology is another key ingredient in her novels. She first studied it at 19 soon after she left home.

“I saw a book in an old book store,” she said. “As soon as I picked it up, I felt I could do this. It felt very familiar.”

At first, she was afraid to use astrology in her books because she felt it would detract from being taken seriously as a writer. It turned out to be the reverse.

Frazier started out writing short stories that won her numerous awards. Among them were “Dia de los Muertos,”

which took third place (as one of 19,000 entries) in a Writer’s Digest contest and “True Confections,” a 500word flash fiction story that won her $300 in multiple contests. Two friends, JoAnne Lucas and Cora Ramos, joined her in publishing an anthology called Valley Fever: Where Murder Is Contagious. Other anthologies that include her stories are Never Safe, Gone Coastal and Seven

by Seven.

Her debut novel, Fools Rush In, is based on the first case she worked with her narcotics team. The detective on the case wanted her to help trap the drug dealer they were after by doing a horoscope on him. Frazier didn’t think that was a good idea in real life, but it made a great story for her character, Christy Bristol.

“She does the horoscope and her life is ultimately in danger,” Frazier said.

Her second novel, Where Angels Fear, came from a call Frazier received from a snitch about a sex club operating on Clovis Avenue. This immediately turned into a plot for a book. She wanted to go talk to the people at the club, but her captain said she would get fired if she did. So, she didn’t go – but, of course, her character does, with consequences more dire than the threat of losing her job.

Frazier’s third novel, A Snitch in Time, will publish soon.

It takes place in the foothills above Orange Cove where Christy Bristol is working backwards using astrological profiles to try to match the profile to a possible murderer.

In addition to writing her own novels and stories, Frazier is an acquisitions editor at Oak Tree Press, where her books are published.

“I take all the queries. We went from publishing 12 titles a year when I started to 40 (in 2012). And I added two new imprints. We added a western imprint and a paranormal imprint. I love this side of the publishing industry.

But even that has to take a backseat to one of the first things that happened to her as a writer.

“The first story I ever wrote also won several contests,” she said. “It was called ‘A Tale of Two Sittings.’ It was set in the tower district in Fresno. Sue Grafton asked for my autograph. That was probably the highlight of my life.”

azier Novels

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H HOME TOUR

THE BOYD HOME:

Modern Aesthetic MEETS A PRESERVE FOR THE PAST Text by Jordan Venema | Photos by Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

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PICTURED: The living room, like all other rooms in the Boyd home, by a careful choice of color and decor, seamlessly blends into the next, resulting in a pervasive atmosphere throughout the entire house.

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he first thing that greets a visitor to the Boyd residence is a brick-and-wood arbor that looks like a Japanese Torii gate. And even though the arbor’s similarity to a Torii gate is probably an architectural coincidence, the accident is significant. The arbor’s design is like a symbol for Michael and Mimi Boyd’s personal sense of style. The arbor, with its two brick supports and wooden crossbeam, is a modern take on a traditional design that, by its simplicity, suggests openness and flow. And “flow” is the word that Michael and Mimi most frequently used to describe their home. Each room, by a careful choice of color and decor, seamlessly blends into the next, resulting in a pervasive atmosphere throughout the entire house. The atmosphere is professionally created and aesthetically pleasing, but for Mimi and Michael it’s just what’s comfortable.

And what’s comfortable to the Boyds is being surrounded by the collectibles and heirlooms that make up memories. “The collections that are singular to us,” explained Mimi. From the seashells that adorn the glass shelf right when you enter their home to the handmade glass perfume bottles that are spread throughout the home like colored Easter eggs, every individual piece has its place and meaning.

“The memories we’ve created are everywhere,” as Mimi put it, but not recklessly and certainly not without design. “Our living

space is very neat and organized,” she added. Both Michael and Mimi admit they like to keep a clean house, but their kind of cleanliness has led to a home that looks deceptively unoccupied.

There’s no clutter, and there are almost no appliances out. “We like art work out, not kitchen stuff,” said Michael. And there are really no movable things, things you’d have a reason to pick up and put down in another room. This prevents clutter, but it doesn’t prevent them from being comfortable.

The Boyds don’t mind that their granddaughters run throughout the house counting the perfume bottles (they’ve counted about 75), and they haven’t a problem with their three-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, Marlo, jumping on the couches. The Boyds’ desire for a clean, simple home doesn’t reflect an inability to relax; it’s a reflection that Michael and Mimi are aware exactly of the kind of things that help them to relax.

Mimi and Michael have been married almost 36 years, and they have one of those rare talents between married couples that is commonly called “agreeing with each other” – at least when it comes to design. Mimi said “10 out of 10 times” their tastes would synchronize while deciding how to remodel and decorate their home. And since their last child moved out about 20 years ago, they’ve had many opportunities to apply their tastes to the renovation of their home.

ABOVE: The kitchen of the Boyd home contains no appliances or any movable objects. Each piece of art is in its rightful place and kitchen appliances hidden away.

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TOP AND CENTER: The 850-square-foot loft or the “second life” in the Boyd home holds a collection of antiques and heirlooms both personal and related to their hobbies and professions.

BOTTOM: Mimi Boyd’s collection of glass perfume bottles can be found throughout the home, all 75 that have been accounted for.

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“Every square inch has been transformed, every doorknob, every hinge,” said Mimi, though the work has happened in stages. The loft bathroom is the only original space untouched.

They’ve paid attention to the little details, like the art deco stained glass placed in the front door’s sidelights. The same glass was also used for the sidelights of the entryway into the master bedroom and also for the pantry door – just one example of how the Boyds have created a quiet continuity throughout the house.

Their style, which they describe as a traditional floor plan with a “contemporary bend,” can be seen in every room: the streamlined furniture, the hard lines, the squares and sharp angles, the earth-tones, the black and copper metallic borders, the Asian symbols and artwork, and the glasswork that gives the otherwise simply decorated rooms an explosion of color.

But the flow comes from keeping continuity of style among each room in the home. The color scheme found in the master bedroom is also found in the other rooms throughout the house. For example, they’ve married the bedspread and throw pillows’ fabrics on the valances above several windows, which results in a simplistic continuity of patterns and colors. No individual item in the bedroom draws attention to itself, but instead lends itself to the atmosphere of the room; and in turn, each room lends itself to the atmosphere of the home, which is like a finished product. A guest in this home would never mistake the forest for the trees.

However the continuity of the home also has its juxtaposition, that blend of contemporary and traditional style, the dark versus colorful, the sharp angles of the furniture versus the curve of hand-blown glass. Their home employs the yin and yang of interior design: the dark eastern vases, heavy as boulders, and the hand-blown glasswork, light and slender like a flame. The kitchen has a tall, freeform mixed-metal kimono piece, and the bedroom a heavy metal Korean sculpture; above their bed is a kind of two-dimensional triptych, reminiscent of traditional Japanese prints. But never far from the oriental artwork are pieces of glasswork, smooth and colored like seashells or the petals of a flower.

The Boyds bought their first piece of hand-blown glass about 29 years ago from a store in Cambria. Their collection has multiplied, now including handmade perfume bottles, many of which they’ve received as gifts from friends, gifts that have traveled from places as far as Egypt, Morocco and China.

The glass, which Mimi said offers “an infinite opportunity for creativity and variation in shape and color,” is like an inconstant constant in the home. Amidst the streamlined, oriental simplicity of their home, the glasswork fills the home with color, character and life.

There is another collection singular to the Boyds. Call it their second life or their second comfort; it’s certainly a second story. Or as Mimi put it: “There’s another world upstairs.”

The collection of antiques began with an 1850s church pew, and has grown to include heirlooms both personal and related to their hobbies and professions. Their 850-square-foot loft couldn’t be a more perfect antithesis to their livable space since it is full of usable and practical things.

The loft resembles a typical home, albeit one that is a periodic hodgepodge: the vintage sewing machine, baby carriage, the wide-brimmed hats, a rocking chair from the 1800s, medical instruments, books, a camera and cabinets full of – well, to put it one way – stuff. The whole loft has

HOME TOUR H

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H HOME TOUR

the appearance of a place in use, or a place full of things that were used in some other life. Michael, who recently retired from his private medical practice as a podiatrist, has amassed a collection of “quack” medicines, podiatric supplies, and medical implements and items – none of which he professionally used, of course. Another display case is full of items related to Michael’s other passion, classic automobiles.

Adjacent to the garage is Michael’s shop, which he keeps as neat as an operating room. Between the hum of florescent lights, the hospital drapes laid across the floor to prevent grease and oil stains, and the raised, tarp-covered ’52 Studebaker that Michael is currently refurbishing, the shop has the feel of a scientist’s lab.

But the brightly colored vintage automotive signs and photos that decorate the wall tell a different story. Michael has owned over 25 classic and special interest cars and has restored many, including a ’14 Maxwell, a ’24 Franklin, ’38 Chevy Hotrod, and a ’65 customized Ford Falcon Ranchero.

Michael doesn’t just love to collect antiques; he also loves to bring them back to life, and not just by renovating automobiles to a drivable condition. Michael and Mimi have enjoyed numerous Horseless Carriage Club driving tours. The only prerequisite?

Drive an automobile made before 1916 … oh, and dress in the period fashion. “Yeah,” said Michael, “it was kind of a hoot.”

In the loft there is also what amounts to a kind of family

shrine. Laid methodically across a table and kindergarten desk are grammar books, a 1933 diary of Mimi’s mother, her father’s wallet – preserved as though he had only used it yesterday – Mimi’s baby shoes, Michael’s mother’s perfume bottles and parents’ diplomas. It’s more than just “a lot of nice memories,” explained Mimi. It’s “beautiful and somewhat circular to pass by or touch something that was important or meant a lot to a person you loved.” This loft, which is also Mimi’s office, is where she comes to sit and ponder, where she finds a special tranquility.

The loft is perhaps where the real memories exist in the home, it’s where she’ll read a note written by her mother to her father, or where she’ll let her grandchildren use an antique typewriter to write a letter to their daddy.

The opportunity to share memories with her grandchildren, especially involving the written word, is important to Mimi who is an educator by profession and currently the owner of an early literacy business, Mimi’s Motifs. She is also involved with the grassroots group Read For Life, a nonprofit whose goal is to put a book in every home in Tulare County. Obviously, her efforts to work with children and literacy begin in her own home, with her own family.

“Our home is a reflection of our personalities and represents who we are,” said Michael, and not just a home filled with stuff.

Still Michael jokes that when he and Mimi “croak,” he ABOVE: No individual item in the bedroom draws attention to itself, but instead lends itself to the atmosphere of the room in the Boyd home.

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HOME TOUR H

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H HOME TOUR

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HOME TOUR H

expects his family to sell all that junk – the glass art, the antiques – at the soonest estate sale. But that wouldn’t bother him, because it’s not about what it means to others, but about what it means to them and the comfort that it gives the Boyds to embrace the collections that represent their tastes and memories.

Still, it’s unlikely anybody would just sell off what Michael facetiously dismissed as junk. If anything, those granddaughters – who have spent time running throughout the house counting

Mimi’s perfume bottles or playing among the antiques and typing letters to their daddy on an outdated typewriter – now have just as many memories attached to the collections as do Mimi and Michael. And that is due to the way Mimi and Michael have preserved and shared their heirlooms and heritage.

In the meantime, that legacy is always upstairs, always being added to, and waiting for more letters to be written, more memories to be preserved.

PICTURED: The atmosphere of the Boyd home is both professionally created and aesthetically pleasing, but for Mimi and Michael it’s just what’s comfortable.

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C CULINARY

Simp MEETS GOURMET Recipes by Ryan Lucas, Bravo Farms | Photos By Taylor Vaughn

W

hen our palates begin moving on from the comfort food of winter, and our taste buds demand the freshness associated with the upcoming spring weather and bountiful produce, what could be more pleasing than a combination of lemon, basil, grilled vegetables and salmon? Top it off with a blackberry-merlot reduction and you’ve got a dish full of flavor and light on calories for those of us still sticking to our resolutions. Still, the best feature of this menu is the simplicity of the ingredients, leaving no excuse not to try one of these culinary creations out at home.

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plicity L I F E S T Y L E | F E B R UA R Y 2 013

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Lemon Basil Risotto Ingredients ¼ white onion 2 cloves garlic 4 C chicken stock Zest of 1 lemon 1 T butter

¼ C white wine 1 C Arborio or calrose rice Juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp. white pepper ¼ C basil, chopped

Directions Mince onion and garlic. Heat chicken stock on low heat. Zest lemon, set aside. Sauté onion and garlic in butter on medium-high heat until translucent.

Deglaze pan with white wine. Add rice immediately and stir until wine is absorbed. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add chicken stock until rice is covered.

Simmer rice and constantly stir, adding stock as rice absorbs liquid. Continue to cook rice in this manner for 20-30 minuets, until rice is tender. Add lemon zest, juice, pepper and basil. Remove from heat.

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CULINARY C

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C CULINARY

Blackberry-Merlot Reduction Ingredients 6 oz. blackberries 1 shallot minced Zest of 1 orange Juice of 1 orange 1 bottle merlot 1/2 C sugar

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Directions Add blackberries, shallots, orange zest and juice to a pot on low heat. Cook for a few minuets, until blackberries lighten in color. Add merlot.

Cook on medium heat. Reduce wine by half, stirring constantly. Add sugar. Cook until dissolved. Remove from heat. Blend sauce in blender or food processor and strain through fine metal strainer or cheesecloth.

CULINARY C

Pan-Seared Salmon

Grilled Vegetable Succotash

Ingredients Fresh salmon filets Butter Salt and pepper

Ingredients 1 carrot 2 ears of corn 1 green zucinni 1 yellow squash 2 red bell peppers 1 red onion, sliced Âź in. thick Butter Salt and pepper

Directions Season the salmon with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sear the salmon in amount of butter that pleases you, about 3 minutes on each side.

Directions Grill all vegetables on char-broiler.

Once vegetables are charred, remove from grill and let cool.

Dice vegetables into small squares and toss with butter and salt and pepper to taste.

LIFEST YLE | FEBRUARY 2013

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T TRAVEL

Bordeaux – A Perfect Blend Text by Cheryl Levitan

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Text by Marsha Roberts

B

efore visiting any new place, I tend to create images in my mind of it will be like. When that place was Bordeaux, France, the picture was a bit mixed. I expected Old World charm and beautiful chateaux surrounded by vineyards. That’s the good. But my mind also conjured up images of haughty wine connoisseurs explaining the complexities of taste using the names of things you wouldn’t want in your mouth – like lead, mold or dirt.

Don’t get me wrong; I like wine, a lot. And I have the greatest respect for someone who is extremely knowledgeable about any subject. It’s just that for those of us who have immature palates, describing wine in slightly more basic terms (like “good” or “bad”), listening to this for too long can be pretty boring, even if you have

a glass of wine in your hand. Then there’s the bread. So good, but all those carbs … and the cheese – I’m lactose intolerant. Suffice it to say, my expectations weren’t real high that Bordeaux was going to be one of my favorite places.

Bordeaux is a lopsided doughnut-shaped region in southwestern France, 93 miles in diameter. It’s the world’s major wine industry capital, producing about 960 million bottles annually. The same name also is given to the city that sits in the hole of the doughnut.

The city isn’t large – less than 250,000 people – but the area around it is huge and looks exactly as I had expected. Vineyards as far as the eye could see (288,990 acres of them) with chateaux placed randomly, 10,000 of which produce wine.

The surprise was the city itself. Sitting along a wide river, L I F E S T Y L E | F E B R UA R Y 2 013

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Photo by Cheryl Levitan

the Garonne, the city is separated into a right and left bank.

Bordeaux’s old nickname used to be “Sleeping Beauty,” in reference to the centuries of black soot deposited on the buildings. It was a majestic city far past its prime. But with the increase in worldwide wine consumption, more and more countries geared up their own wine-making, and Bordeaux tourism industry suffered. In response, the city launched a huge renewal and beautification process. And the result is this mix of fabulous architecture with friendly pedestrian conveniences that really shouldn’t work visually, but they do.

Imagine an enormous 18th-century stone building topped with a slate roof – the grandeur of Versailles but not quite as overdone. Now place a huge but shallow pool of water in front of it that acts to mirror the building. Beautiful, right? But then add thousands of jets shooting water in random patterns to the delight of adults and children. Oh, and throw in a futuristic bullet-shaped train running in front of the whole thing. It sounds a little Disney-esque but it’s strangely tasteful and … well, beautiful. Wide pedestrian walkways and platial squares are everywhere. And since most of the buildings were built during the city’s heyday in the 1700s, they all complement

each other. They’re spotless and in perfect repair as if new, but they’re not.

In fact, at least half the city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bordeaux also sports more than 20 fresh food markets, open-air and covered, reaching into every city district. And that great French food, pastry, and crème glacée (gelato) are in abundance, but so is almost any other international food you can imagine.

Although the city is not large, it’s a bit spread out. The best way to tour it is to break it into “must-see” sections. The first of those is the Triangle d’Or or Golden Triangle. The heart of this area is comprised of three tree-lined boulevards which form a triangular shape. This is the high-rent district where shops may not list a price – and if you need to ask, you probably can’t afford it.

Just like the rest of the city, it has many ground level shops, bars and restaurants with three to five stories of homes and apartments above. This area is home to the Grand Theatre; with its jewel-like blue and gold auditorium, it is a venue for fine opera. The Esplande des Quinconces is found here as well, which is the largest (almost 30 acres) and also the ABOVE: It looking like a postcard is a photo of Chateau Pichon Baron de Longueville is considered one of the finest wineries in the world. The windows are shuttered to keep out the summer heat. Note the water “mirror” placed in front.

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Photos by Cheryl Levitan

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TIPS WHEN VISITING

emptiest squares or plazas in all of Europe. Smack in the middle is a 140-foot-tall column surrounded by a fountain that, in contrast to the square, is stuffed with bronze art.

Every manner of person, cupid, animal, fish, maybe even a kitchen sink have been arranged in a delirious pattern, leaving very little room for water.

The next area is the Garrone River waterfront itself. This is where Bordeaux’s renewal is most evident. The derelict warehouses and merchants’ homes have been reclaimed and transformed into lovely shops, trendy restaurants and bars – there’s even an area of outlets. It may very well be the finest riverscape in Europe with its lines of arched buildings, slate roofs, gardens and wide pedestrian walkways. This is the site of the Place de la Bourse, the Versailles-like building and water feature described before. When floodlit at night it is compelling.

The area’s merchant mansions line narrow streets and house more bars and restaurants on the ground level than you could visit in a year. And if shopping is your desire, the Rue SainteCatherine is the place to go, especially if the high prices in the Golden Triangle caused a lock to be put on your wallet. For pedestrians only, it’s one-and-a-half miles long.

If you are up for a museum, the best is located here, the Musee d’Aquitaine. It covers the history of the region and admission is free. Finally just to the south, the Basilica of St Michael’s 374-foot spire sits high above it all, making it the tallest building in Bordeaux. Climb up to the top and take in the sweeping panoramas of the River Garrone. The best of the many Sunday morning flea markets is held in its surrounding square.

What would a trip be to Bordeaux without a wine tour?

Every hotel can book bus and bike tours of the wineries.

Even the tourist office runs vineyard excursions that explore a different appellation (wine district) each day. We visited the Medoc appellation where the most famous and finest wineries – Latour, Margaux, Mouton-Rothschild, and Lafite Rothschild – have produced wine since the 12th century. The beautiful chateaux and wine shops alone are reason to visit.

As much as the bizarre complexities of flavors everyone else seemed to recognize during tasting had me questioning if I actually possessed taste buds, the descriptions of the winemaking process caused my eyes to completely glaze over.

Unfortunately, they lost me shortly after they explained how they pick the grapes. And as if I needed any more mentalability humbling, it was here that I found I couldn’t even understand the labels. The wine the rest of the world explains the variety or blend of grapes in the bottle. From that, for the most part, you can get an idea if you’ll like it. They don’t do that in France.

Don’t get me wrong, the labels are really quite beautiful.

But after looking at it, all that is discernable is the year it was made and the place where the grapes were grown. From that, you can be fooled into thinking you know the variety of grape by region. But since many towns share the name of a wine district, even though they aren’t actually located there, it’s a complete guessing game.

Winter can be chilly, spring is beautiful and uncrowded, summer can be a bit hot, and many wineries close in October during the harvest.

Visiting all the wine districts takes about four days, and many wineries open only by appointment. But there are wine bars all over the city, two being extremely innovative: L’Autre Petite Bois is filled with artificial trees and feels like a forest, while Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery has ultramodern vending machines. Buy a tasting card, go to a machine, pick from eight different wines, put your glass under the spout, and a push of the button delivers a top vintage at the perfect temperature.

Bordeaux’s only five-star luxury hotel located in city center is the Regent Grand; rooms start at $275/night. Nice hotels and B&B’s can be found for $175-185/night.

Book at www.bordeaux-tourisme.com.

Excellent restaurants are not expensive. You can actually eat decently for $20. It’s much cheaper to eat well at lunch and have simpler fare in the evening. Don’t call the waiter “garcon” (the French word for “boy”). Call him “monsieur” or her “madame” (older) or “mademoiselle” (younger … probably always the better bet).

Go to www.travel.nytimes.com for great interactive maps and guides.

The tram system is excellent transportation.

Tickets can be bought for varying lengths of time very inexpensively. Be careful of the tracks; they’re everywhere. The trains are very quiet and no gates or fences separate pedestrians from them.

Bordeaux is a common cruise stop. But only smaller ships can navigate the river and basically parallel park at the dock next to the center of the city. The rest dock at Le Verdon, an ugly container port with no services located 62 miles away on narrow roads.

TOP: Smaller cruise ships are able to dock at the waterfront of Bordeaux right by the city center giving their passengers perfect access to the city. This Regent Voyager is a ship we have cruised on many times but it was surprise when it came into port while we were visiting Bordeaux.

MIDDLE: This is one of the many chateaux randomly dotting the Bordeaux countryside. Note the use of stone, slate roofs, and numerous thin chimneys typical of the region.

BOTTOM: Dean in front of buildings typical of the Bordeaux riverfront. Note the wide pedestrian walkways and gardens with benches. A tram, constantly running through the city, can be seen to the left.

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S SPIRITS

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LIFEST YLE | FEBRUARY 2013

SPIRITS S

BROWN ALES Text by Kenneth Hildenbrand | Photo by Taylor Vaughn

T

he holidays are behind us and the leaves all stripped from the trees. The days are short and mild with the nights giving way to frigid temperatures – a perfect time to explore the world of brown beers. This month we take a look at English-style brown ales. The precise definition of English Brown Ale would depend on where you are in England, but the common description would lend itself to medium-bodied, reddish-brown, and malt-forward beer with an occasional nutty character, a gentle dark fruitiness and low bitterness.

Brown ale can be traced back to the English brewers of the early 1700s.

Brewing had existed in England for several centuries, but the output was mostly for home or local consumption. That all changed with the invention of the drum roaster in 1817 by Daniel Wheeler. It was after this that black patent malt was produced for the first time and was rapidly adopted by the brewers of porters and stouts. A distinction was made between beers brewed with this new black malt and those without as being a black beer or a brown beer. The alcohol of brown ales is moderate, usually fivev percent ABV or lower (Newcastle Brown Ale is just 4.70 percent). Today, brown ales are mostly associated with northern England, specifically the towns of Tadcaster and Newcastle (interestingly the bottling of Heineken’s Newcastle Brown Ale moved to Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, in 2007).

English-style brown ales have become very popular with US consumers.

Brewers stateside have taken notice of the demand and offer their twist on the brown ales and having done so, continue to watch their sales increase to a new high. And no doubt, for the same reason as they took hold in England, they offer great drinkability. Don’t let the dark color fool you – they are smooth and clean, and can be enjoyed with almost any meal or with a good friend.

Fortunately, we have an award-winning brown ale produced here in America. Rogue Ales is located in Newport, Oregon. Their brown ale, Hazelnut Brown Nectar, won three major awards last year: World Beer Championships (Gold), Australian International Beer Awards (Bronze), Mondiale de la Biere (Gold), and many more in the past.

This finely crafted ale pours a clear brown with medium lasting tan head. The aroma and taste of sweet hazelnut, a hint of caramel malt, and nice chocolaty under tones with mild bitterness encapsulates this beer. On the palate is a nice balance of sweetness with a bit of creamy and smooth mouth feel, with moderate carbonation. The finish is a nice sweet hazelnut flavor with a bit of chocolate malt. Overall, Hazelnut Brown Nectar provides a nicely balanced, flavorful and enjoyable brew. Go search out a brown ale at your local watering hole and share one with a friend.

Remember: Enjoy a craft beer that is made in small batches and drink for quality not quantity. Cheers!

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N NEXT GEN

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LIFEST YLE | FEBRUARY 2013

NEXT GEN N

JESSICA CAVALE

When a Calling Becomes a Career Text by Carole Firstman | Photo by Forrest Cavale, Third Element Studios

I

t’s difficult to imagine Jessica Cavale sitting still. When Lifestyle Magazine caught up with the young Director of Development for the Visalia Rescue Mission, she was just returning from an out-of-town conference, responding to media related emails, and planning a fundraising event for the upcoming month. “There’s always something to do,” she said, “more on my to-do list than I’ll ever get done.”

Jessica’s career in public relations began with her passion for people. “I have always I wanted to work in the nonprofit world,” she said. Having grown up in the small town of Maurice, Iowa, Jessica graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center Iowa in 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Public Relations, and a minor in Human Resources.

It was her connection to people that brought her across the country from Iowa to Visalia. “I initially came to visit some friends over a long weekend,” she said. She instantly fell in love with the town, the region and the residents. When she first moved to Visalia after college, she investigated the many nonprofits in and around the city. “I was new to the area, though, and you really have to know the community in order to be successful in nonprofits.”

Upon moving to Visalia, she first worked at Centex Homes doing studio design and marketing. A few years later, in 2008, she felt the need to be a part of something bigger, something where she could focus on helping people in need. She found herself looking for both a career change as well as a community volunteer opportunity. To her surprise, these two goals merged.

First, she signed up to volunteer at Rescued Treasures, a thrift store run by VRM. But one thing quickly led to another. “I signed up to volunteer. But I never did volunteer – I was hired instead,” she said. “It’s a story of providence.”

Fast forward five years, and you’ll find this young woman immersed in the details of a job she loves for an organization she believes in. The Visalia Rescue Mission (VRM) serves the local community by providing programs, shelters and meals to homeless men, women and children. In addition to extensive services that range from addiction recovery to job readiness to long term mentoring, VRM’s overnight shelter sleeps on average 130 people each night and serves three meals a day.

As Director of Development, Jessica’s duties delve into every aspect of the organization. “It is my job to ensure that the community is aware of what we do and what is happening on our properties. Getting the word out includes a website, social media, public relations, marketing and fundraising events,” she said. She often talks to service and business groups regarding the Mission’s work, gives on-site tours, and constantly reaches out to potential donors and sponsors.

Describing what a typical workday is like for her, Jessica said

that while each day is vastly different in terms of the tasks she tackles, the spiritual devotion she and her colleagues share is a consistent component of her daily routine. “Every day we begin at 8 a.m. with devotions – this includes our warehouse staff, administration staff and leadership staff.”

And then – she’s busy, busy, busy. Jessica keeps current of each department’s programming, status and needs during weekly leadership meetings. Much of her office time consists of constant communications – either connecting to donors, publicizing events, developing marketing materials, writing thank you letters, posting on social media sites, scheduling presentations, writing newsletters, or setting up coffee meetings to speak with potential business partners. “I try to limit each day to the top three to five things that really need to get accomplished. Otherwise my to-do list seems daunting and may become overwhelming.”

Has Jessica’s career affected her life? “How can it not?” she responded. For her, the lesson has been about how to achieve balance so that her job doesn’t take over her entire life. “When you see one story of a graduate whose life has been changed, their family restored – it just becomes a part of who you are. It becomes a passion.”

Even when she’s not on the clock, this passionate young woman constantly communicates to folks about what her organization does. “My husband has trouble getting me to stop talking about the Mission,” she said with a chuckle. “Homelessness, addiction – these things affect every one of us in our community and in our families. Yes, the Mission has changed me, and in the most positive of ways: my focus, my passions, my connection to the community. The Mission is a part of me, and thus a part of everyone who is close to me. My friends and family joke about how they always hear about ‘the Mission’ or how they can ‘donate this or that to the Mission’.”

What’s next for this inspiring young woman? She and her husband (the newlyweds got hitched last June) are getting ready to be homeowners “and then hopefully get a puppy,” she said.

They are planning a trip to Thailand (with Full Sail Ministries) and Vietnam (to visit a relative) this coming year.

In the meantime, she’s thankful to have a career borne of a genuine desire to connect to the community. “I believe it was God’s perfect timing that led me to the Mission in 2008. I have always loved people and been passionate about helping others.

Every day I am astonished by the truly life-change miracles that stem from our programs at the Mission. What a blessing to be able to come to work every day and be a part of something bigger than yourself, to be a part of an amazing team of people who are not in ‘it’ for themselves, not climbing a corporate ladder – but rather, working hard to accomplish one goal: to change the lives of the lost and broken in our community.”

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P PERFORMANCES Text By Marsha Peltzer

MASTER WORKS SERIES MUSICAL STORIES March 2, 2013, 7:30p | Visalia Fox Theatre

T

ulare County Symphony goers have learned to expect a surprise – or two – when Music Director Bruce Kiesling takes the podium. We were certainly not disappointed at the January concert. Right before the encore Kiesling announced that the orchestra would be playing Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at the March 2 concert – a program change from the original season brochure.

As it happens, May 29, 1913, was the premier of The Rite of Spring Lindsay Deutsch and Kiesling felt it would be most appropriate for the Tulare County Symphony to celebrate this important 100-year anniversary. Khachaturian’s Spartacus Suite No. 2, originally programmed, will be played at a later date.

Great Stories are the concert theme with inspiration from Ibsen’s Peer Gynt and of course The Rite of Spring. Also on the program is Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, with guest violinist Lindsay Deutsch.

GRIEG’S PEER GYNT. Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) wrote his five-act allegorical drama Peer Gynt in 1867 while living in Italy. It tells the story of the downfall and subsequent redemption of a Norwegian peasant anti-hero. It wasn’t originally intended for stage performance. However, in 1874, Ibsen changed his mind and wrote to his friend and compatriot Edvard Grieg to ask if he would compose the music for a production of the play. Flattered to have received the invitation, Grieg agreed at once. Much as he admired the drama as a literary work, Grieg found composing for it a difficult task. Although it progressed slowly he eventually saw that “he was the right man for a work of such witchery and so permeated with the Norwegian spirit.” Second to Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Peer Gynt Suite No. l is the composer’s most popular work, while Morning and In The Hall of the Mountain King are among the most loved of all short orchestral compositions.

STRAVINSKY’S THE RITE OF SPRING. It was May 29, 1913 – hardly a typical premier – the opening night of The Rite of Spring, the new ballet by Igor Stravinsky. Having recently composed the scores for the successful productions of The Firebird and Petrouchka for the Russian ballet in Paris, the reception was surprising. Stunned by the exotic rhythms and strange harmonies, the audience laughed aloud and booed, suspecting they were the victims of some sort of joke. The raucous behavior continued throughout the performance and the composer had to sneak out through a window escaping into the riotous crowd pouring from the theater out onto the streets of Paris.

The plot of the ballet was simple enough. As Stravinsky described it, “I saw in my imagination a solemn pagan rite: sage elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death.” Divided 50

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into two distinct parts, the work contains two tableaus. The first is “The Adoration of the Earth” and the second, “The Sacrifice.”

But the music was very different than any heard before. In Kiesling’s words, “It was enormously dissonant with complex rhythmic patterns constantly shifting against repeating diatonic motives, the score is at times nearly incomprehensible and approaches cacophony. An ultimate expression of musical primitivism, the music harkens back to the earliest period of human history when rituals, ceremonies and elaborate dances were staged in vain attempts to appease the gods and control natural phenomena. Its influence is so great over twentieth century music that some have suggested that almost all composers since have been inspired by it to a greater or lesser degree. Tremendously challenging for musicians of all levels, the piece has been reserved for the best orchestras and conductors. However, as rhythmic skills and technical levels have improved for student musicians, The Rite of Spring has been heard more often in recent years.”

GERSHWIN’S RHAPSODY IN BLUE. Violinist Lindsay Deutsch joins the TCSO for a special presentation of Rhapsody in Blue arranged for violin solo and orchestra. Ms. Deutsch is known to be the only violinist to play this specially arranged version of George Gershwin’s very popular work. Composed in 1924, the piece combines elements of classical music with jazz influenced effects and established Gershwin as a serious composer and has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works.

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as having “the technical equipment and temperament for a big career,” American violinist Lindsay Deutsch brings a fresh perspective to classical performances. Taking the listening experience to the next level, she plays with a passion and energy that has thrilled audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada. At age 26, critics find that she demonstrates “fine maturity even during the most physical and demanding passages” (San Francisco Classical Voice) and “has a stage presence and style far beyond her years and a charisma that enthralled her audience” (LCF Outlook – La Canada, CA).

Don’t forget to come by 6:45 p.m. for Bruce Kiesling’s colorful concert preview.

SAILING FOR OUR SYMPHONY. The Tulare County Symphony Association is proud to announce a unique adventure that will serve as a significant fundraiser for our 2012–13 season and beyond. May 4, after the season’s masterworks concerts conclude, we will embark upon a cruise of the California coast on the glorious Sapphire Princess. The trip will include round-trip luxury motor coach service from Visalia, complimentary baggage handling, light meals prepared by the Vintage Press, champagne and other beverages, and advance boarding passes. For more information including the itinerary, please call the Symphony Office, 732-8600.

Fore information the upcoming concert, contact the Symphony Office: 732-8600.

PERFORMANCES P your central valley family resource

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F FASHION

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FASHION F

Freezing

THE WINTER UNIFORM Text by Sharon Mosley

The Statement Coats. Whether it’s a cotton trench trimmed with fur or a quilted satin wrap, outerwear is making a big statement this year. And let’s face it, with just this one piece, you can really make a fashion statement. All you need is a simple pair of trousers and a turtleneck to layer underneath. What could be easier?

The Bright Pants. This is a great way to brighten up your winter wardrobe ... and you can’t have enough of these. Plus, there are plenty of color palettes out there to satisfy even the most “colorphobic” of any of us – just pick a darker shade to update your other neutral basics. Perhaps a deep crimson or purple?

The Vests. When a coat may be too much, one of the most versatile pieces you can wear is a vest, a great investment option for day and night dressing. Whether it’s a quilted puffer vest for casual occasions or a faux fur sweater vest for dressier days, this addition will instantly give you more options for layering. It’s a great transition piece for winter-into-spring, too.

The Long Skirts. Although the pencil skirt got rave reviews last fall, the longer skirt was a refreshing change. The new crop of skirts is a little fuller, allowing lots of legroom and the perfect match-up for boots. And they also keep you warm.

The Leggings. Stock up on these now. Come spring, you won’t want to cover up those legs for a long time. So now is the time to take advantage of these stretchy “pants” and relax a bit before you take on the short shorts. There are so many versions (and colors) of leggings out there that you can easily pick and choose which ones work for you.

The Tunics. Of course, with all the skinny pants out there, you need to take some cover. And these longer tops are the best way to cover your “assets,” if you know what I mean. But don’t think big and baggy. There are lots of tunic tops that go way beyond the old poncho effect. Think draping, embellishment and luxury fabrics.

The Big Sweaters. Warm up with these chunky knits that look like they might be bound for the ski slopes. And what a better way to cozy up those cold winter days and nights? The newest ways to wear the thick sweaters? Pair them with chiffon skirts and tights or wear them with wide trousers and anoraks.

The Form-Fitting Dress. You may not want to bare your arms in a sheath dress this winter, but there are plenty of ways to “dress” up your wardrobe. The new day dresses have higher necks and – yes, sleeves. And in a season of award shows, this is a great time to scout out your next party dress.

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C CHAMBER

IN THE COMMUNITY

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1. Kathleen Remillard, Delta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Debbie Gullord ServiceMaster by Benevento at the Details ribbon cutting.

2. HP Sears Account Executive, Wendy Rivera, and Chamber Ambassador, Norma Garcia (Connie Conway’s office) pose for a photo at the HP Sears ribbon cutting.

3. Along with others, Chamber Ambassador Norma Garcia and CEO of Visalia Medical Clinic, Rick Strid, discuss the benefits of Visalia Medical Clinic’s QuickCare 2 at the QuickCare 2 ribbon cutting.

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The mission of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce is to preserve, model and advance business vitality and prosperity for our members and the community.

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CHAMBER C

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C CHAMBER

IN THE COMMUNITY

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1. Officer Guinn and Sergeant Inglehart talk about the first Inaugural Policeman’s Ball in February at the January Mixer.

2. Tricia Kirksey, Tricia Kirksey Real Estate and Chamber Board Director Valerie Agahi, Exeter Family Dentistry, enjoying their time at the mixer.

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3. Julie Sutton, Miss Exeter 2010, making coffee drinks for mixer attendees.

Our mission is to promote, support, and enable Exeter to prosper.

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4. Owner Ben Weldon, Tosha MacFarlane, Ashley Wilson, Erika Ibarra, Kayla Davis and Carissa Judson. State Farm staff during their one-year anniversary celebration.

5. Gene Lytle, Epic Printing, enjoying Ben Weldon, State Farm Insurance Agency anniversary.

CHAMBER C

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h happenings

Jekyll & Hyde This musical, presented by the College of the Sequoia’s theatre department, will be a powerful performance you don’t want to miss. Tickets $24, $20 for students and seniors.

When: March 15, 16, 21-23; 7:30p; March 17 & 24; 2p Where: COS Theatre, 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: 730-3907 or www.costheatre.org

Theater & Performances New Clothes for the Emperor

Presented by The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company, this event will be fun for all ages.

When: Feb. 8-10, 15-17, 22 and 23 Where: The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre, 307 East Main Street, Visalia Contact: 739-4600 or www.enchantedplauyhouse.org

FEB 23

Anjelah Johnson

Come out for a night of laughter as former NFL cheerleader and now famous comedian Anjelah Johnson leaves you with a night to remember.

When: Feb. 23; 6:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

Lindsay Guitar Group

Presented by the Lindsay Art Association, the Lindsay Guitar Group “Honor Concert” will be a fun event for everyone. The Lindsay Guitar Group wins awards at the State level and will be performing to their best abilities for this event. Refreshments will be available.

When: Feb. 23; 7p Where: Lindsay Museum and Gallery, 165 N. Gale Hill, Lindsay Contact: 303-3943

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FEB 24

MAR 2

The Calidore Quartet

Presented by Music at the Main, this event will be mesmerizing. Having competed and dominated in National and International competitions, this group of performers is one of the top young chamber music ensembles in North America.

When: Feb. 24, 3p Where: Main Street Theatre, 307 East Main Street, Visalia Contact: 635-1761

Musical Stories

Presented by the Tulare County Symphony, this masterworks concert with violinist Lindsay Deutsch, will consist of two great stories, with inspiration from the legend of Spartacus and Ibsen’s Peer Gynt.

When: Mar. 2; 7-9p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.tcsymphony.org

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10th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this fun event sponsored by Center for Integrated Medicine, Asian Cultural Society and a grant from Visalia Community Arts.

Program will include a lion dance, holiday foods, Chinese calligraphy, a treasure hunt, tea tasting, martial arts and more. Tickets $5.

When: Feb. 23; 11a – 4p Where: Recreation Park, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia Contact: 713-4365

MAR 6

Dan Mazur

Be amazed as legendary traveler, Dan Mazur, tells fascinating stories about tragedy and triumph on Everest and K2. Also hear the rugged truth about remore mountains, cultures and the environments of Pakistan, Tibet, India, Nepal and Central Asian Republics. Presented by Sport Chalet, tickets are $10.

When: Mar. 6; 7p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Presented by the Visalia Players, this famous and shocking black comedy will exhibit a fine sense of classic timing and gripping buildup.

This performance features an over-the-top emotional climax that will leave the audience wanting more.

When: Mar. 8 – Mar. 24 Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: www.visaliaplayers.org

MAR 10 MAR 16

The Rock and Worship Roadshow

Join Spirit 88.9 and 100.1 for this family event.

Artists will include MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Kutless and more. No tickets required, $10 at the door.

When: Mar. 10; 7p Where: Save Mart Center, 2650 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno Contact: www.spirit889.com

The Legendary Ben E. King

This legendary American soul singer most known as the singer and co-composer of “Stand by Me” will put on a performance you sure don’t want to miss. Tickets are $29-$59.

When: Mar. 16; 7:30p Where: Visalia Fox Theatre, 308 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: www.foxvisalia.org

Art Exhibits Sofa Art XVIII

For the eighteenth consecutive year, Sofa Art continues their tradition, with this years theme: The Sofa Art Time Machine: A Trip Through Art History. Come and see what part of history has inspired local artists.

When: Feb. 6 – Mar. 1 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905

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A Night of … Wine, Cheese and Chocolate!

This annual event will showcase specialty California wines, an assortment of cheeses and a variety of chocolates.

Each guest will receive a commemorative Tulare Historical Museum wine glass. Tickets $30.

When: Feb. 23; 6:30p-9p Where: Tulare Historical Museum, 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare Contact: 686-2074 or www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org

Deanna Saldana Artist Reception

Get up close and personal at this exhibit that will feature Deanna Saldana’s amazing original works of art from the last 14 years.

Appetizers and refreshments will be provided.

When: Feb. 15 – Feb. 27; 5:30p Where: Sue Sa’s Clubhouse and Deli, 699 W. Center St., Visalia Contact: 972-4546

MAR 2

Bridging Form & Function

This event will focus on exploring the boundaries of arts and crafts.

When: Mar. 6-Mar. 29 Where: Arts Visalia, 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 739-0905 or www.artsvisalia.org

Diversions & Excursions

FEB 22

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Planetarium Public Show

This event, open to the public, will feature the public showing of “L+Kaluoka/Hina: The Enchanted Reef.”

When: Feb. 22; 7p Where: Pena Planetarium, 2500 W. Burrel, Visalia Contact: 737-6334

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MAR 3

First Saturday

Food, fun and fabulous art. Every first Saturday of the month, the artists, restaurants and merchants of Three Rivers open their doors and invite you to join in a town-wide celebration. You can pick up a map and schedule at Anne Lang’s Emporium or the Historical Museum – the flier shows all participating venues, art to see, locations and times for special events.

When: Mar. 2; 10a-5p Where: Anne Lang’s Emporium, 41651 Sierra Dr. (CA 198), Three Rivers Contact: Nadi Spencer, 561-4373 or www.1stSaturdayTR.com

5th Annual John Magao Memorial Motorcycle Ride

This rain or shine motorcycle ride will be a day to remember. Cruz around and raise money for the John Paul Magao Memorial Scholarship Foundation, a non profit organization and a public charity. Tickets are $25 and include a t-shirt, lunch and five raffle tickets.

When: Mar. 3; registration 8:30a, ride 10a Where: Plaza Park; Visalia; Area 1 next to tennis courts) Contact: 734-1953 or 972-2388

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MAR 3

A Walk Through Flower Fields

This unique opportunity to hike through the uneven terrain at the Lewis Hill Preserve is only open to the public once a year. Don’t miss out on this fun event for the whole family.

Make sure you bring your walking shoes as well as water, snacks, sunscreen and warm clothing. A donation of $15 is requested for this guided walk. Located just north of Porterville. From Highway 190 in Porterville, exit at Plano, one-and-a-half miles east of Highway 65. Drive north four miles to the crest of the first hill. Lewis Hill is on the west side of the road.

When: Mar. 3; 1-4p Where: Lewis Hill Preserve (North of Porterville) Contact: 738-0211 ext. 105

MAR 23

End of the Trail Half Marathon

Come out and run, walk or cheer and support local participants for this annual half marathon. This course is a New York City Marathon qualifier and participants will receive a finisher’s medal, a race shirt and a hot breakfast. Registration is open until March 22 so it’s not too late to sign up!

When: Mar. 23, 6:30a Where: Mooney Grove Park, Visalia Contact: www.visaliarunners.org

Visalia Farmer’s 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. The market also accepts EBT and WIC. When: Saturdays, 8-11:30a Where: Sears parking lot at Mooney and Caldwell, Visalia Contact: 967-6722 or www.visaliafarmersmarket.com

An evening of cocktails, live & silent auction, dinner and comedy.y.y COMIC & MAGICIAN:

Andy Gross April 6, 2013, 5:30pm Heritage Complex, Tulare

www.bgcsequoias.org/comix or Call 592-4074

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Kaweah Delta’s 50th Anniversary Gala This semi-formal gala will start the night off with a no-host bar social hour, followed by a delicious dinner prepared by The Vintage Press. To top it all off, the night will end with music and dancing.

Tickets are $50.

When: Mar. 23; 6 – 11:30p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 624-2242

Charitable Events

MAR 23

MAR 9

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Soroptimist Spring Fling

This international volunteer service organization for women is interested in improving the lives and women and girls throughout the community. Tickets for this event are $30 and will consist of a fashion show sponsored by Chelsea Street Boutique, a luncheon and a basket drawing.

When: Feb. 23, 10:30a – 2p Where: Visalia Convention Center, 303 East Acequia Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-4000 or www.sivisalia.org

Wine to the Nines

This 9th annual event, presented by the Visalia Elks Lodge will benefit an Elks children’s charity and C.A.S.A. of Tulare County. The night will consist of a gourmet food and wine tasting, a silent auction and the harmonious tunes of Frank Sinatra. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Visalia Elks Lodge.

When: Mar. 9, 6p Where: Visalia Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main St., Visalia Contact: 734-6762

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Writers & Readers

MAR 2

Book Sale

Come and find your favorite book or pick up a couple of new ones at this monthly event.

Proceeds from this book sale will benefit the Friends of the Tulare Public Library, a non-profit organization.

When: Mar. 2, 9a Where: Tulare City Public Library.

475 N. M St., Tulare Contact: 685-4500 or www.tularepubliclibrary.org Tulare County Library First Tuesday Book Club (March 5, 6:30p) Socrates Café (March 12, 6:30p) Mystery Readers (March 20, 6:30p) Where: Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia Contact: 713-2700 or www.tularecountylibrary.org