209 Magazine Issue #42

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 - ISSUE 42

HITTING THE SLOPES IN THE 209

THE PEOPLE’S

FRIDGE

LAST MINUTE

Gift Guide $4.95US

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TAKE 2021 FOR A SPIN!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Harrah’s Northern California

Must be 21 years of age or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. ©2020 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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For the holidays or any time, give the gift of California Almonds!

Over 50 Gourmet Flavors!

Stop in today and check out our great selection of tasty treats just for the holidays, including our new Candy Cane Cheesecake Almonds, and Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or Chocolate Toffee Almonds in Holiday Bags.

We also have gift baskets and so much more for everyone on your list and even those who are not!

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FEATURES No need to cancel your winter wonderland plans this season as ski resorts in the 209 are open and ready to welcome guests to the slopes. While this season will see changes, such as face covering requirements and social distancing on chairlifts and at dining options, 209 resorts have plans in place to make sure guests get the most out of their mountain sport plans.

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7TOC

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 – ISSUE 42

IN THE KNOW 12 14 16 18

DEPARTMENTS 16

36

Scene in the 209 Calendar of Events Saving their chapel The People’s Fridge

ARTS&CULTURE 20 23 30

Nate Nathan Warm & Cozy Fashion Amador Arts Show

20

FLAVORS 32 36 38

50

Elegant Bull Hey Bartender Winter recipes

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 46

Sierra Splendor

NAVIGATOR 50

Alaska adventure

FULL OF LIFE 56 58

Fitness and Beyond Tailored Aesthetics Medical Spa

58

PLACE CALLED HOME 62 64 66

Dream Home Winter bulbs Ripon Garden Show

38

MARKETPLACE 70 76

Last-minute gift guide Little Red Door

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 3:54:09 PM

Vol. 7 No. 42 ■ December/ January 2021 ■ $4.95

PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Sethaniel Clark Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Matt Johanson Angelina Martin Sabra Stafford Virginia Still Frankie Tovar

ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Rich Matheson Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

To advertise in 209 Magazine, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 • Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year

I don’t know about you but here at 209 Magazine, we are definitely ready to put an end to the year 2020. While the year was full of many challenges, the one bright spot was seeing how many businesses, organizations and communities banded together to overcome obstacles. It’s a testament to the spirit of those in the 209 that we are still going strong as we head into 2021.

As always, 209 Magazine has highlighted a few of those resilient businesses and organizations in this issue. There are heartwarming stories, like the those in the Crows Landing community who worked to save their small foothills chapel from wildfires and the partnership that created The People’s Fridge, a source of free fruits and vegetables for those living in Merced.

We are also highlighting area restaurants including Delhi’s Elegant Bull and My Mimosas in downtown Modesto.

While it may be more convenient to shop solely online this holiday season, there are great local shops that can make your last-minute gift buying easy while supporting the local economy. We hope you go out of your way to support local businesses. From gifts for someone with a sweet tooth to treasured finds for the holiday decor enthusiast, the 209 offers some of the best when it comes to finding the perfect present just in the nick of time.

Thank you for taking the time to read 209 Magazine. We welcome your comments, calendar events, and stories. We hope you will support the businesses and charities that have chosen to partner with us. We appreciate them and look forward to being the most relevant magazine in your home, a place called 209.

Hank Vander Veen Publisher hvanderveen@209magazine.com

121 S. Center St., 2nd Floor • Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: khacker@209magazine.com www.209magazine.com ©Copyright 2020. 209 Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Magazine is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Magazine management or owner. 209 Magazine assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.

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Notes

with FRANKIE TOVAR

#267 Hiking At Pinecrest Lake Located in the Stanislaus National Forest just east of the town of Strawberry off Highway 108 sits Pinecrest Lake, a 300-acre body of water that has long been a recreational destination for 209 locals. With three hiking trails to choose from of varying difficulty, Pinecrest Lake was the perfect place for Angelina and the 209 crew to continue their outdoor explorations of the area’s best hiking spots.

STUDIO209 is a weekly magazine-style video series filmed in the heart of the Central Valley. Join us every Thursday and enjoy a wide range of coverage from community events to personal profiles and more. ftovar@morrismultimedia.com

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Soundcheck209: Nate Nathan Tune in to Nate Nathan’s vibe on another installment of Soundcheck209. A unique and talented musician who is his own producer and equal parts vocalist, keyboardist and visualist. Enjoy Nate Nathan’s Studio209 performance of “Living a Lie” and then flip to Page 20 to read more about him.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day: Soaps By Hailey In honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Studio209 visited Hailey Kellstrom and her Soaps

by Hailey operation to see her process and find out what drove her to create a business when she was still just a teenager growing up in Turlock.

OTHER EPISODES TO WATCH 270: Vintage Faire Mall Holiday Tour 271: Ho Ho Ho Holiday Horse Camp 272: Tracy’s Christmas Light Show 273: On The Street Lodi: Best & Worst of 2020

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intheknow

Scene

in the

E

vents of any kind have been few and far between here in the 209, but the pleasant fall days and nights allowed 209 residents to gather for a couple celebrations all while staying safe and 209 Magazine was grateful to join in on the fun.

PINK PATIO NIGHT AT TRESETTI’S WORLD CAFFE For the last eight years Susan Powers of Modesto has been organizing and hosting an annual breast cancer fundraiser in Modesto. A cancer survivor herself and a nurse, Powers opted to move the fundraiser for Making Strides outdoors to keep guests safe. For more information about Making Strides visit cancer.org.

Michele Crook and Lisa Bolivar donned some pink attire and joined in the celebration for Pink Patio Night.

Rayleen and Joe Wagner came out to the fundraiser to support Susan Powers (center) and her mission to support those impacted by breast cancer.

Lisa Antigua, Jim Treece, Kathi Smallwood Freeman and Lori Boyarsky were enjoying the pleasant evening on the patio at Tresetti’s and helping support the fundraiser.

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Kathleen and John Mensonides came out to support their friend Susan Powers and the Making Strides goals.

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FARMS OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY PUMPKIN AND ZUCCHINI WEIGH-IN The Farms of Tuolumne County celebrated the harvest season by hosting an outdoor event at Indigeny Reserve in Sonora in early October. Farms of Tuolumne County strives to bring farmers, ranchers, community organizations and residents together for the support and growth of agriculture, agri-tourism, and preservation of open space in Tuolumne County.

For more information visit farmsoftuolumnecounty.org

Linda and Jesse King of Sonora grew the winning pumpkin, which came in at 396 pounds. The mother and son team have won previous weighins and said the key to their success is starting with the right seeds and feeding it a good diet of fish emulsion early on.

Olivia Shabaz of Turlock took to the pumpkin patch at the event to find her perfect pumpkin.

Steve and Eileen Smith were enjoying the good weather and some of Indigeny Reserve’s hard cider that was being served.

The growers were all happy to share their entries at the Farms of Tuolumne County event.

Grace Garcia of Copperopolis and Kylie Takata of Tracy were grateful for the chance to get together and take in the scenery at Indigeny Reserve.

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

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intheknow

DECEMBER

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE

The Ripon Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Christmas light parade with a twist. In this event the floats will stay stationary and the attendees will parade by.

The Christmas light parade will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 at Mistlin Sports Park at 1201 River Road.

This year's theme is Merry and Bright.

For more information call (209) 599-7519.

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PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Chemo Crew, a support group for patients and families, will hold their 7th annual pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at Big Valley Grace Church at 4040 Tully Road in Modesto. The breakfast will be a drive-thru event and will feature a menu of pancakes, eggs, sausage and a pastry. Tickets for the breakfast are $10 for adults in advance and $15 at the event; survivors and children under 10 years are $5 in advance and $7 at the event.

Tickets can be purchased at ChemoCrew.com/ Pancakes or by calling (209) 216-6271.

Chemo Crew also is holding an online auction that opened in November. Chemo Crew works to provide hope and help to cancer patients and their families by working closely with hospitals and other medical providers who specialize in cancer treatment.

Chemo Crew is made up from over 100 volunteers and staff - many of whom are cancer survivors - in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

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JANUARY

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DRIVE-THRU CRAB FEED

The Center for Human Services Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center is hosting a drive-thru crab feed and auction on Jan. 22 to help support the Center's programs. Tickets are $100 for a pick-up dinner for two; $500 for a pick-up dinner for four with extra benefits and sponsor options; $1,000 delivered dinner for six with extra benefits and sponsor options; and $1,500 delivered dinner for eight with max benefits and max sponsor options. Drive-thru pick-up location is at the FES Hall at190 N. Lee Ave. in Oakdale. Buy tickets online and learn more at bit.ly/oakdalecrabfeed21 or by calling (209) 526-1476.

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intheknow

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By SABRA STAFFORD

estled among the big rolling hills just outside Crows Landing is a little chapel that stands as a testament to one man's faith and a community's connection to tradition and history. And when a raging wildfire began a rapid approach towards the chapel, it was a community that banded together to save it from the flames.

The chapel — Ermida De Nossa Senhora Do Pilar — was completed in 1981 by Manuel Sousa, with the help of his brother-in-law Manuel Mendes Cardoso, on a small hill among the 6,000 acres of grazing land Sousa had purchased years after immigrating from Portugal.

The chapel was a replica of the church Sousa had attended in his village and was a religious link to the bloodless bullfights held at the property named Pico Dos Padres. But for Sousa and the Portuguese community in the area, the chapel meant so much more.

"All immigrants, as happy as they are to immigrate and start their lives in the United

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be done to stop it," Manuel Sousa said.

Reflecting on all the work his father had done to the property, from the chapel to the 25 miles of fencing he had put in, Manuel Sousa couldn't imagine the heartbreak if it was all lost to the flames.

"I came in here," Manuel said of the chapel, "and lit some candles and said a few words asking for some help."

He then got to work to try and save the land his father had nurtured and it wasn't long before help arrived. Family, friends and neighbors, without being asked, began arriving with tractors and shovels and undertook an effort to keep the flames at bay.

By day the tractors would scrape the land to create fire barriers and at night they would patrol the land with shovels looking for any embers and keeping a wary eye on the glow burning ever closer.

"It would move off in one direction and then the wind would shift and drive it back toward us," Manuel Sousa said. "The scariest part were these old trees that would be smoldering and then the limbs would break off and roll down a hill throwing embers everywhere."

Over six grueling days and nights this makeshift group kept their efforts going and finally on the seventh day they were rewarded when the winds died down and they were able to rest. in the end, not a single fence post was charred and the chapel stood untouched by the flames.

"It was a real eyeopener to see all these people that came out here to help," said Sousa-Correia. "It was really quite beautiful." â–

States, they want to have some tie to their homeland," said Liliana Sousa-Downs, Manuel Sousa's youngest daughter. "This was a way to have that tie to his homeland, having a chapel on the hill. It brought him and others closer to their culture."

"He was always a very spiritual man," said Maxine Sousa-Correia, Manuel Sousa's eldest daughter.

"This was his favorite place and he would come here every weekend."

Whether it was for the bloodless bullfights, special occasions like weddings, baptisms and masses, or just for a picnic on the hillside, the little chapel quickly became a gathering place for many people.

"As a kid, I took it for granted," said Sousa-Correia. "Now as an adult I run into people who tell me about coming out here with their families and how much it meant to them."

"A lot of the people would work their jobs during the week and then come out here on the weekend with their children and grandchildren and they were able to show them what their life was like in their homeland, at least some part of it," said SousaDowns.

After Manuel Sousa's passing a new generation has continued to gather at Pico Dos Padres, shepherded by his son, Manuel "Kool" Sousa.

"It's not just a ranch out here," Manuel Sousa said.

"It's a community."

Never did those words ring more truer than in August when Manuel Sousa was notified that the lightening fire that had ignited in Del Puerto Canyon was now headed in his direction.

"They didn't think there was anything that could

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intheknow

By KRISTINA HACKER

W

hile over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts are grown in California, many areas of the fertile Central Valley are considered “food deserts” — defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthful foods. One partnership in Merced is trying to bridge the fresh produce gap with a community refrigerator.

The People’s Fridge opened in downtown Merced in September, offering free fruits and vegetables to community members daily. A refrigerator was placed at the site of the 18th Street People’s Garden and anyone can open the fridge and pull out a variety of fresh fruits and veggies to take home.

The community refrigerator was the brainchild of Erin Meyer, a sustainable foods programs coordinator at UC Merced.

Meyer, a frequent patron of the Merced farmers market, would ask vendors for surplus produce to donate to a local food bank.

She expanded her food outreach in the community by hosting pop-up pantry events at the 18th Street Market, giving out food directly to those in need.

“The pop-ups going so successfully we were mulling over other ways to mitigate food insecurity,” said Meyer when she came up with a community refrigerator.

“It’s a novel concept for people that there’s free food in a random fridge outside,” she continued.

The refrigerator was donated and volunteers built a shed for it next to the garden. Businesses and community members donate the food, much of it locally grown.

Meyer said it’s also a good way to help others during the pandemic, when need is high and the ability to get involved is limited.

“The numbers of folks reaching out on Facebook and calling me about it has been increasing,” she said.

As part of her work at UC Merced, Meyer plans on conducting a research study on how people are using the community fridge and if they are food insecure, as well as who donates food and why.

The People’s Fridge is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 936 W. 18th St., Merced. For more information, visit the People’s Fridge on Facebook or Instagram. ■

Take the M1 or M2 to People’s Fridge Did you know the M1 and M2 stops right near the People’s Fridge? Just make sure to stop between Q & P St. on 18th St. People’s Fridge is a community fridge where youc an take free fruit and veggies or leave produce for others (in the Donation Drop-Off Station). Open daily, 9-5 pm at 936 W. 18th St. Please wear a mask and gloves. Bring a reusable bag. Tell your friends and family in need.

It’s a novel concept for people that there’s free food in a random fridge outside.

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

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arts&culture

Calaveras County’s Soul Searcher

By FRANKIE TOVAR

one of experimentation focused on internal expansion.

Before long the dichotomy between Nathan and the place he calls home melts away. In a land forged on the frontier, Nathan stands as a pioneer of his own making.

Shortly after being greeted by Nathan, we crowd into a modified washroom that serves as his home studio where more than seven albums worth of songs have been produced. The setup is simple: a MIDI keyboard, a condenser microphone and a laptop.

The sum of these parts, however, proves to be anything but.

Over the past decade, Nathan has shared the complexity of his art for crowds in places like Sacramento, Los Angeles, Reno

t first glance Nate Nathan seems like an enigma as he stands in front of his home in Angels Camp. With an afro, painted black nails and a forehead tattoo, the 32-year old carries the vibe of a big-city musician, yet here he is nestled amongst California’s historic foothills in a city of less than 6,000 people.

The juxtaposition remains upon listening to Nathan’s music and it soon becomes apparent that his avant-garde style is a wholly organic package that extends to all aspects of his craft.

From his lyrical themes and his visual presentation — both in person and on video — to his DIY production techniques, Nathan’s artistic foundation is

I’m a singer, I’m a piano player, but ultimately I’m a visual artist in the way where I’m just trying to paint pictures for people through sound.

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and even mainland China. On this day he performs for an audience of one, playing a stripped-down rendition of “Living a Lie” from his most recent project “Summer Chronicles”.

In this space Nathan seems at peace. His soft tone and reflective lyrics reverberate through the room, hanging heavy in their honesty. Prior to performing, Nathan spoke about the inspiration he gets from the likes of Judy Garland, Usher, Thelonious Monk and Enya, and as his performance progresses, pieces of each can be found in the fabric of the song.

Who is Nate Nathan?

“That’s a good question. I’m trying to figure that out right now…

I’m a singer, I’m a piano player, but ultimately I’m a visual artist in the way where I’m just trying to paint pictures for people through sound. And so that’s Nate Nathan in a nutshell.

When I saw you performing and I heard you were from Angel’s Camp it kind of seemed like a weird juxtaposition, because when I think of Angels Camp I don’t think of Soul or R&B. “My style and the style of music that I do, I do feel like it’s pretty unique to the area. There’s definitely a little bit of it spread throughout, because there’s a lot of different creatives, but it definitely has been a journey playing my genre and my style of Soul Experimental in this area.”

How would you describe your style of music and how did you develop that style?

“The best way I would describe my style of music is Pop, Experimental, Soul. And a lot of it has developed just because I like a lot of different genres.

I grew up playing Gospel music in church. I trained singing Classical, I’m a huge fan of Jazz, I used to rap before I sang. So it all kind of comes spinning together. And I think the development

of it has been playing it live, honestly.

Playing at a lot of the local venues and pushing the envelope a little more each time until I can fully express myself the way I want to at these local shows.”

When it comes to your music, what are some of the concepts or themes that you usually talk about or sing about? Are they similar themes across your songs or does it shift, evolve and morph depending on when you’re recording or what’s going on in your life at the time?

“There’s definitely a reoccurring theme…There’s different experiences that create different songs, but at the heart it’s kind of this spiritual line. I’m always trying to push people to think further, to think deeper about reality, ultimately. There’s a lot of behind the veil talk, there’s a lot of symbolism that I’ll even implement, but ultimately at the heart of it is really getting people to question the fabric of reality and reach for more.”

Do you work one album at a time with specific concepts or do you just create songs and group them together and release them?

“The process varies greatly per project. Right now for instance, I got half way through an album and I started another one. So there’s this kind of sharing of energy, taking one album’s energy and putting it into the next one, but generally I get to a point where I just hunker down and finish the album. And usually the incentive to finish the album to so I can get to the next album.”

What is the DIY lofi production style of production like?

“Honestly, it’s pretty crazy. It’s burning incense, it’s playing a movie in the background, maybe playing Betty Davis or some crime noire, and just really trying to channel and take

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myself outside of this reality in the best way I can, and after many years of doing this I kind of have key things that help me just shift into that place.

I find that when I’m actually almost in this state where it’s a bit of a dream kind of state, that’s when it just flows and I’m not worried about blocks or anything. Being in the DIY situation is perfect for that and it’s my favorite, honestly.”

What is your focus right now?

“My focus as an artist has honestly shifted a lot since the entire world has shifted. At one point I was really focusing on getting signed, and I’m not opposed to that, but right now I’m just really focused on getting my craft exactly to where I want it… My main goal is to get the visual production as high as my audio, so I’ve been focusing a lot on that and really just shaping the sound and making sure whoever is listening, be it one person, they’re getting the full scope of what the project is intended to be.” ■ Watch Nate Nathan’s full interview and performance of “Living a Lie” on Studio209 and look for his new album “The Castle of Doves”.

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 5:44:06 PM

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A Warm and Cozy

r e t n i W

By SABRA STAFFORD

W

ith temperatures falling, now is the time to turn to the sweaters, cardigans, jackets and coats that not only keep us warm and cozy during the chilly days, but also keep us looking fashionable.

"There is something special about warm and cozy style because not everything gives you that feeling and it's very important for women to wear clothes that gives them a sense of confidence and comfort that makes them feel on top of the world," said Vanessa Santana, the owner of Halo B, a clothing boutique in downtown Modesto.

Santana opened Halo B in November 2018 with an eye towards boosting every woman's confidence through fashion.

"I feel like my store's specialty provides trendy and classic styles that give women a sense of empowerment and a way for women to feel good about themselves," Santana said. "Not only are we a store but a place to create a welcoming atmosphere and committed to enhance every woman's radiant light and feel their best when styling their pieces." â–

THANKFUL back crossed sweater in teal.

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arts&culture

HARVEST WISHES sweater in beige.

SWEATER WEATHER cardigan in coffee.

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BLANKET SCARF in leopard print.

AUTUMN SKIES ribbed short-sleeve top in beige.

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arts&culture

NEVER GO AWAY waffle knit cardigan in chocolate brown.

GLORIOUS MORNING chenille sweater in sandstone.

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11/24/2020 5:31:08 PM

KEEP ME WARM jacket in glen check plaid.

IN THE WOODS coat in cream.

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arts&culture

FLY ME TO THE MOON black sweater.

Halo B is located at 1026 11th St. in Modesto. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. All clothes are available at www.halobshop.com. Follow the store on Instagram at @shop_halob.

COZY MORNING cardigan in cedar.

209MAGAZINE.COM

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11/24/2020 5:32:12 PM

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11/23/2020 9:51:08 AM

arts&culture

Amador Arts Show expands reach of

BLACK VOICES I

n recognition of the upcoming Black History Month in February and in an effort to expand the reach and impact of Black artists, the Amador County Arts Council is hosting “Roots: A Black Literary Art Show.”

Running online from Jan. 18, 2021 through Feb. 26, 2021, Roots will feature creations from artists using all forms of media, including visual art, recordings, videos, and/or original poems that honor, showcase, and uplift the works of Black artists, pioneers and other people of note.

“We are excited to have this opportunity again to highlight Black artists and voices and to celebrate the Black pioneers that helped shape the community,” said Meghan O’Keefe, the executive director at the Amador County Arts Council.

The event saw its first showing in early 2020 through the efforts of Deja Douglas, a 2020 graduate of Argonaut High School.

Douglas “inspired Roots art show when she said that she and her peers of color feel invisible in Amador County,” O’Keefe said.

“We want this show to make all voices in Amador County heard and welcome.”

We are excited to have this opportunity again to highlight Black artists and voices and to celebrate the Black pioneers that helped shape the community. ­—Meghan O’Keefe

The show is in part supported by the California Arts Council and the Poetry Out Loud grant. Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Some of the Roots show will be open mic poetry readings via a Zoom format.

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By SABRA STAFFORD

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A virtual opening reception is planned for Jan. 18.

The Amador County Arts council is accepting submissions for possible inclusion in the show through Jan. 11, 2021. For information about submissions or to view the exhibition when it opens, visit www.amadorarts.org/roots. ■

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 3:49:28 PM

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11/23/2020 9:55:50 AM

flavors

The Elegant Bull

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

By VIRGINIA STILL

209MAGAZINE.COM

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F

or foodies in the 209 looking for a unique menu, make time for a stop at The Elegant Bull Restaurant in Delhi. While for some, it may be a bit of a journey along Highway 99, but it is worth the trip.

Frank and Karen Machado opened the Elegant Bull in 1989 and although there have been many changes, the menu, quality and European and American-style cuisine has remained the same.

“Frank tells people don’t judge us by the outside, come see the little gem that is on the inside,” said Karen. “We have customers who have come back over three generations. Your customers are what make you happy. We have met some really special people.”

The fine dining dinner house may look unassuming, but don’t let the outside fool you as the large menu has a variety of offerings that are homemade family recipes and new inventions from the Machados that cannot be found anywhere else.

“We have Italian, Portuguese, a pork dish from Switzerland,” stated Karen. “We have a variety. Frank comes up with his own dishes and all the soups are made from scratch. I designed the garlic ranch dressing.”

The only thing on the menu that will change is the fresh fish. They are very selective of the items that are offered to their guests on their menu.

The wild caught offerings from the ocean have seasonal availability. A guest favorite is the ‘Extravaganza’

with lobster, gulf prawns, sea scallops sautéed together in herbed clam butter with white wine served with either pasta or rice. The large gulf prawns wrapped in bacon or grilled, Mussels North Beach, and Oysters on the Half Shell with the house garlic butter or Oysters Rockefeller are also popular items served up at the Elegant Bull.

The halibut is fresh from Alaska and used to make the fish and chips.

Something that may not be found on too many menus in the area is escargot in butter sauce or with mushroom caps or the ‘Frog Legs Classic’ deep fried with a special batter. All the entrees come with soup, salad, Portuguese beans, bread and butter and choice of potato.

Other customer favorites at the restaurant are the ribs, filet mignon, chicken Marsala, Portuguese sopas, and the rack of lamb. They have their own Machado brand linguica served with beans.

“We cut all our own meat which no other restaurants around here do,” noted Karen. “We cut it to any size you want. We cut all our own fish too.

We are the only restaurant around here that sells lobster and we sell the heck out of lobster.”

Since opening in 1989 they have seen some rough times over the years like Castle Air Force Base closing, the wall built on the highway and now with COVID-19. They have survived in a very challenging industry during challenging times and hope to outlast 

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We have customers who have come back over three generations.

Your customers are what make you happy. We have met some really special people.

— Karen Machado

IF YOU GO GETTING THERE THE ELEGANT BULL 9666 Stephens St Delhi, CA 95315 CONTACT 209 667-7742 www.elegantbull.net HOURS Tuesday – Saturday 4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sunday 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Closed Monday

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flavors

the COVID pandemic’s negative effects.

“When it first started, they shut us down and we started doing deliveries,” remarked Karen. “We had never done deliveries before. During those first couple of months our customers kept us alive. Then they started the outside dining and then partial inside. It has been rough over the years but we have survived.”

With the possibility of another closure looming this winter the Machados are hopeful that their regulars will continue to dine out even if it is deliveries or to go orders. They have a full bar and offer to go cocktails and wine.

The Machados have been in the restaurant industry for many years as they owned several restaurants in the Bay Area in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s and for the past 30 years they have been in Delhi. After retiring they wanted to move back to the 209 as Frank is from Hilmar and wanted to be close to his family. They spent some time in Canada and noticed every Portuguese restaurant there had something to do with a bull and Frank’s birthday is May 6 so his zodiac symbol is a bull, which led them to the name of the restaurant.

Karen added – with a smile and mischievous twinkle in her eye – that she was the elegant and Frank was the bull.

With advance notice, Executive Chef Dan expressed that they are able to accommodate people with food allergies and special food needs.

Reservations are recommended as this is the holiday season. They serve dinner Tuesday through Sunday and are closed on Mondays. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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With the possibility of another closure looming this winter the Machados are hopeful that their regulars will continue to dine out even if it is deliveries or to go orders.

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Your local news source.

Now locally-owned.

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PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

flavors

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 5:34:01 PM

MEGA

GOOD TIMES AT

MY MIMOSAS

By VIRGINIA STILL

P

lenty of people are ready for the year to be over with high hopes for what 2021 can bring and with December and January there are always reasons to celebrate. When you hear that “California Champagne” pop, see the bubbles poured over ice in the mega mimosa glass that has fresh strawberries at the bottom served with two colorful straws to share, you know it is time for My Mimosas in downtown Modesto.

Bartender Nikki Baca has been serving up drinks for about eight years and has worked at the night club Santo Cielo — which is also My Mimosas for about two years. The night club was the main business until owner Eduin Gallon had to get creative when COVID-19 hit. They have an outside patio and there is enough space to place tables at a safe distance. The staff has taken all necessary precautions due to the pandemic and adheres to all the safety guidelines implemented by the state and county health departments.

My Mimosas has only been open for a few months but their super and mega drinks have made quite the buzz in Modesto. The breakfast and brunch place offers a variety of food items to indulge in along with their tasty cocktails.

The chatter from the outside patio and the music booming from inside has a Vegas vibe and then add in a Super Margarita, Super Bloody Mary, Super Sangria, Mega Mimosa, or their most

extravagant drink, the Mega Cantarito, to take the fun to another level. The large fish bowl drinks that come in a variety of colors and flavors also include some candy surprises. The Lava Colada is not only pretty with a swirl of red and white but is a whole lot of yum filled with Malibu rum, pineapple juice, pina colada mix, with some strawberry puree.

“My customers and my loyal regulars that follow me and take care of me are why I love bartending,” said Baca. “I am a social person. I love people and the relationships and I like to drink.

They call me the shot queen because I can throw them back. If I am not behind the bar then I am on the other side of the bar.”

There are regular size cocktails available as well as beer and shots. They offer three sizes of Moscow and Mexican mules: personal, super and mega.

The giant drinks are made for people to share as they have the mega straws that go with them.

The tasty and refreshing Super Strawberry Mimosa is a best seller and is made with a bottle of “California Champagne” Standford Brut Governor’s Cuvee, strawberries, and a secret ingredient that Baca would not divulge.

Then, it is topped with orange slices and fresh strawberries giving it the perfect balance. The Mega Mimosas are two bottles of champagne and both have a variety of flavors to choose from including passion fruit, guava, pomegranate, watermelon, and prickly pear.

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Although you may have to stand up to drink it and use two hands to hold it, the experience is delightful and one to remember.

Their most extravagant drink is the Mega Cantarito, served in a giant clay mug that has a whole bottle of tequila, fresh oranges, grapefruit, wine, salt, tajin, secret ingredient and Squirt.

Baca recommends drinking that with a minimum of four people.

Although there may be some people skeptical of sharing drinks during these times, Baca expressed that people should share with people they know and that are healthy.

“The food is amazing too,” she said.

“With all the drinks you’ve got to have some food. We have huge drinks and good food.”

With the temperatures outside getting cooler and the holiday season in the air, My Mimosas will have some seasonal options for those looking for maybe a warm cinnamon drink, hot toddies or even some eggnog that is kicked up a notch. ■

IF YOU GO WHAT: My Mimosas WHERE: 917 J St., Modesto HOURS: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday INFO: Find them on Facebook at My Mimosas Modesto or Instagram @ mymimosasmodestoca

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

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flavors

H

oliday mornings are iconic for those moments spent together opening gifts, sharing stories and enjoying a

meal. Skip the cereal and frozen foods for a spread like these Orange Eggs Benedict with a homemade hollandaise sauce. â–

Orange Eggs Benedict Serves: 6 Ingredients: 2 egg yolks 1 orange, juice only 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted water 1 tablespoon white vinegar 8 eggs 1/2 cup butter, softened 6 French baguette slices, 3/4-inch thick each 6 thick slices ham 1/2 cup orange marmalade orange zest, for garnish

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Making orange hollandaise: In small bowl, blend egg yolks, orange juice and salt until combined. Gradually add melted butter into egg mixture while blending. Set aside.

Directions: In skillet, add water halfway up sides. Add vinegar.

Bring to simmer. Break eggs into water to poach.

Cook 3-4 minutes until whites are cooked through and yolks are still runny. Using slotted spoon, remove eggs and drain on paper towels.

Spread butter on one side of bread slices. Place bread in skillet and cook until golden brown. Add ham to same skillet and cook until browned on both sides.

To assemble: Spread bread slices with orange marmalade. Top each with one slice cooked ham and one poached egg. Pour hollandaise over eggs and garnish with orange zest.

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Sweet Potato Waffles with Whipped Cream and Berry Compote Serves: 4 large waffles Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs, separated 3/4 cup 2% milk 1 pouch Honest Earth Mashed Sweet Potatoes 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus additional for brushing on waffle iron, divided Berry Compote: 1 cup raspberries 1cup blackberries 1cup blueberries 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1dash lemon zest or juice whipped cream

Directions: Preheat waffle iron to medium heat.

In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

In separate bowl, blend egg yolks (reserve whites), milk, sweet potatoes and 2 tablespoons oil until smooth.

Add flour mixture to egg and milk mixture; blend until no clumps remain.

In separate bowl, whip reserved egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites gently into batter.

Using pastry brush, oil waffle iron then add batter and cook until waffle removes easily. Repeat with remaining batter.

To make berry compote: Wash raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Drain but do not dry. In small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm berries. Add sugar and lemon zest or juice.

Cook until berries have broken down and juice reaches low simmer.

Serve warm over waffles and top with whipped cream.

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

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flavors

Holiday Spirits to Sip On

Toast the season with festive twists on favorite drinks Winter White Margarita Serves: 6 Ingredients: Optional garnish: 12 ounces coconut milk granulated stevia, for rim 12 ounces silver tequila cranberries 1 tablespoon orange extract rosemary sprigs 2 1/2 cups ice 1 1/2 cans Zevia Lemon Lime with Bitters Directions: In blender, blend coconut milk, tequila, orange extract, ice and bitters until smooth.

Rim six glasses with granulated stevia.

Divide mixture among glasses and garnish each with cranberries and rosemary, if desired.

Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule Serves: Makes 1 mug, 1 serving Optional garnish: Ingredients: addition cranberries 1 cup cranberries rosemary, for garnish 1 3/4 cup water, divided lime slices, for garnish 2 ounces vodka cinnamon sticks 1-2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice 4 oz. Zevia Ginger Beer Mixer ice Directions: In saucepan, boil cranberries in 1/2 cup water until they burst.

Use fork to smash cranberries. Boil 3-4 minutes. Keep mixture moist by adding water 1/4 cup at a time.

Let mixture cool to room temperature.

In copper mug, combine vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and smashed cranberries over ice.

Garnish with additional cranberries, rosemary, lime slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/23/2020 9:51:12 AM

feature

Hitting the slopes in the 209

T

he recent pandemic may have put a damper on many seasonal activities, but there’s plenty of winter fun to be had on the slopes this season as 209 resorts are open and ready for business.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our guests back to Kirkwood for another incredible winter of skiing and riding. We plan to open up 100% of terrain for our guests as soon as weather and conditions allow.

Personally, I can’t wait to get my first turns of the season,” said Joanna McWilliams, communications manager for Vail Resorts, which includes Kirkwood, Heavenly and Northstar.

Kirkwood, along with other ski resorts across the country, have adapted to COVID-19 concerns with

By KRISTINA HACKER

an extensive plan aimed at keeping its guests safe, while enjoying the slopes.

Kirkwood’s plan includes a reservation system, face covering requirements, social distancing on chairlifts and gondolas, limited seating at dining areas, additional quick-serve food options and limited enrollment in group ski lessons.

“We are fortunate that our mountain is naturally spacious and that skiing and riding takes place outdoors…We have designed our winter operating plan to do what we feel matters most, help keep guests safe and provide access to great skiing and snowboarding this winter at Kirkwood,” said McWilliams.

Bear Valley Resort is adapting to COVID-19 by urging guests not to

gather in its chalet area.

“We’re encouraging our patrons to embrace a true outdoor experience, and to use their car as a home base rather than the chalet building,” said Laura Kiley, marketing director for Bear Valley Resort.

Bear Valley will also institute face covering requirements, enforce spacing between patrons and reduce indoor dining, but they do not pan to require pre-booking at this time.

Kiley and the team at Bear Valley are anticipating a busy 2020-21 winter season, despite the pandemic.

“We think most people are suffering from some cabin fever and we’ve heard from our community that they can’t wait to hit the slopes and enjoy that fresh mountain air,” she said.

We think most people are suffering from some cabin fever and we’ve heard from our community that they can’t wait to hit the slopes and enjoy that fresh mountain air. ­—Laura Kiley, marketing director for Bear Valley Resort

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 5:40:56 PM

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KIRKWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT

“We do anticipate an increase in demand for skiing this year. We expect pass holders will get amazing value from their passes this year.

Bear Valley has so much skiable acreage and the ability to move patrons up the mountain very efficiently, so we’re confident that we’ll continue to be able to provide that ‘off the beaten path’ vibe we’re known for, even with increased demand that COVID-19 is driving,” Kiley continued.

While winter sports enthusiasts are used to checking ahead for weather conditions before heading up the mountain, this season it’s also a good idea to check out all the COVID-19 requirements before making your way to your favorite 209 resort. ■

209 Ski Resorts KIRKWOOD Kirkwood, located south of South Lake Tahoe in the 209, is a true mountain escape. This remote resort features 2,000 feet of vertical drop and over 2,300 acres of terrain ranging from calm, groomed beginner runs to hair-raising cornices and cliffs.

Average snowfall at Kirkwood is 354 inches. The resort boasts 86 trails and 15 lifts. The longest trail is 2.5 miles. Base elevation is 7,800 feet and summit is 9,800 feet. The terrain is 12% beginner, 30% intermediate, 38% advances and 20% expert.

Those seeking adventure can check out the KIRKWOOD PEAKS: Covered Wagon (9,565 ft.) — Accessible from Chair 4 on the backside, Covered Wagon Peak kisses the boundary of Kirkwood and provides access to renowned backcountry terrain through a U.S. Forest Service gate.

Thimble Peak (9,805 ft.) — Kirkwood’s tallest peak and easily identifiable by the Cirque, Thimble Peak provides steep pitches and expert terrain.

The Sisters (9,400 ft.) — The Sisters pack a punch, providing

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a stretch of notorious chutes and cliff drops that make Kirkwood legendary. Be prepared to go big if you plan to scale this peak.

Glove Rock (9,360 ft.) — Perfect for any expert looking for a steep descent or speedy traverse to powder fields. Glove Rock provides lots of varied terrain and hiking options if you are up for the challenge.

Martin Point (9,249 ft.) — The farthest peak from the Village, but by far the most rewarding.

The terrain accessible from Martin Point is pure bliss.

For more information on Kirkwood, visit: www.kirkwood.com

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feature

BEAR VALLEY Bear Valley, located off Highway 4 in the Stanislaus Forest, is a High Sierra resort only three miles from Lake Alpine and 27 miles from Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Bear Valley has 10 lifts and more than 75 trails across 1,680 skiable acres and a 1,900-foot vertical drop. Twenty-five percent of Bear Valley’s trails are for beginners, 40% for intermediate and 35% are advanced or expert. Bear Valley doesn’t feature slopes, however, as the nearby Bear Valley Adventure Company offers acres of fully serviced cross-country ski trails in the area’s sizeable meadow.

Snowmobile rentals offer more vast access to backcountry areas as well as to cabins in town.

Most residences in the Village are accessed only by snowmobile in the winter, and once here, cars are an afterthought.

For more information about Bear Valley, visit: bearvalley.com

DODGE RIDGE Dodge Ridge, located near Pinecrest in Tuolumne County, is the closest ski resort to many Valley locations. The resort features 862 skiable acres and 1,600 ft. vertical drop.

Base elevation is 6,600 ft. and summit is 8,200 ft. There are 67 total runs with 12 lifts. Twenty percent of the trails are rated for beginners, 40% intermediate and 40% advanced.

Dodge Ridge is celebrating its 70th season this year. The resort was founded in 1950 by the Purdy family and has been owned by the Helm family since 1976. Throughout their decades of ownership, the Helm family has dedicated themselves to the continued growth of Dodge Ridge. The resort as it stands today is a direct result of their commitment to continual growth.

Dodge Ridge recommends purchasing all lift tickets, equipment rentals and lessons in advance online this season.

For more information about Dodge Ridge, visit: dodgeridge.com

209MAGAZINE.COM

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

11/24/2020 5:41:35 PM

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11/23/2020 9:51:13 AM

thegreatoutdoors

Map makeover

B

efore thousands of climbers ascended Mount Whitney every year, a group of Buffalo Soldiers reached the summit in 1903. The first African Americans to climb the mountain also built its first summit trail. Enthralled by the grand scenery, Captain Charles Young committed to “preserving these mountains just as they are.”

Under Young's command, Buffalo Soldiers protected Sequoia National Park's big trees, guarded against poachers and prevented illegal grazing. Sadly, the nation all but forgot them for a century. Yet the same park hon209MAGAZINE.COM

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ored Confederate General Robert Lee, naming a giant sequoia for a traitor who fought to keep such men in slavery.

This is no isolated problem. A California map reads like a badly-flawed history book, full of places named for 19th Century white men to the exclusion of nearly everyone else.

Lee isn’t the only white supremacist to win a geographic honor. Women and people of color are rare, women of color especially so.

Indian killers drastically outnumber Indians, and original indigenous names are nearly forgotten.

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11/24/2020 5:15:06 PM

Alabama Hills: Friends of the Inyo want to change the Alabama Hills’ name, which honors a Confederate battleship.

But here’s a piece of good news in a tough year. Following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd in May, a revived national civil rights movement has promoted a map makeover, with multiple geographic name changes approved or proposed in California alone.

Jeff Davis Peak near Lake Tahoe, which honored the Confederates’ president, in July officially became Da-ek Dow Go-et Mountain. The Washoe Tribe proposed the new name which the federal government approved.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has announced a name change after the ski area acknowledged the racism and sexism of the word “Squaw.”

The resort plans to announce a new name next year.

California State Parks is considering a new name for Negro Bar in Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, where African American miners prospected for gold in 1850.

Alabama Hills National Recreation Area, named by Confederate sympathizers for a rebel warship, will change names if the nonprofit Friends of the Inyo has its way. The Bureau of Land Management is considering the suggestion.

The name of Portagee Joe Campground in Lone Pine contains an anti-Portuguese slur, claims attorney Allen Berrey, who is pursuing a change.

Preceding 2020’s upheaval, Squaw Ridge in Mokelumne Wilderness was renamed Hungalelti Ridge as the Washoe suggested in 2018. After considering the racist writings of Joseph LeConte, Yosemite renamed LeConte Lodge as Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center in 2016.

And Santa Monica National Recreation Area renamed a peak as Ballard Mountain, honoring a Black pioneer and replacing an outrageously offensive slur on the map in 2010.

Outdoors enthusiasts should welcome these changes. We who often enjoy public lands know that the outdoor-loving public is much less diverse than our overall population. People of color visit national parks in low numbers; African Americans tally just one percent of Yosemite visitors, for example. Taking steps to make more feel welcome hurts no one. It’s simply the right thing to do.

However, the process raises some tricky questions. Traitors and slave owners get no defense from me, but what about John Muir? The Sierra Club recently renounced its founder for his racist writings disparaging Blacks and Native Americans. Yet the revered conservationist helped launch the environmental movement and the National Park Service. Should we retitle every trail, park, mountain and the many schools named for him?

Clearly the map needs more diversity, but what about the likes of James Beckwourth? A Sierra Nevada pass and mountain honor the biracial American from Virginia who survived slavery and moved west.

Yet he brags in his autobiography about killing Indians and striking his wife in the head with an axe.

In a world of flawed people, where do we draw the line?

I can’t answer that, but I’m certain we have far to go before going too far. So, I’m glad to see well-intentioned people trying to promote sensitivity, diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.

Charles Young would be happy too, I suspect. The first African American national park superintendent, Young wrote of a future in which “overworked and weary citizens of the country can find rest” in the outdoors. He and his Buffalo Soldiers helped make that vision a reality.

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A California map reads like a badly-flawed history book, full of places named for 19th Century white men to the exclusion of nearly everyone else.

A century later, Sequoia National Park named one of its magnificent trees for him. Last year, a Colonel Charles Young Memorial Highway followed. This year, the National Park Service removed references to slave-owning Robert Lee from trees in the mountains Young protected.

To that, this descendant of Civil War soldiers says, “Huzzah!”

— Matt Johanson authored the new guidebook, “Sierra Summits: A Guide to 50 Peak Experiences in California’s Range of Light.” ■

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T he Sierra Club honored its founder John Muir with this painting but renounced his racist writings this year.

S quaw Valley will soon get a new name that does not include a racist and sexist slur.

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Face Shields Gloves Gowns N95 Masks

Supported by

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By SETHANIEL CLARK

W

hen planning out your first trip to Alaska to go on a bucket list fishing expedition, you don’t expect to battle a worldwide pandemic in the process. We had planned the trip, bought our tickets and requested time off work well before the pandemic hit — but even after the novel virus came into existence, we were determined to rip some lips and spend a week in the last frontier.

Luckily for me, the process wasn’t too difficult and I was going with a resilient group of anglers: my best friend John, his brother Alex, Alex’s wife Karly and their mother Carol. We rented out an entire boat to ourselves through the O’fish’ial Charters of Alaska and planned out two full days of fishing through their website, www.bighalibut.com. The first day we planned was a halibut and salmon combo where we could catch up to two halibut and six salmon, and the second day was for trophy halibut and rockfish. We were obviously excited to go fishing both days, but it seemed like what we talked about most was the trophy halibut and how big our catches would be.

The largest halibut ever recorded weighed in at a staggering 459 pounds and was caught in Alaska.

We flew into Anchorage and after being cleared

by TSA and providing our proof of COVID-19 testing, it felt like we could all take a sigh of relief and start to enjoy our trip. Once we left Anchorage, we made our way south to the small ski

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resort town of Girdwood. We stayed in an Airbnb and got to soak in the lush Alaskan forests while being surrounded by the Chugach Mountain Range. There, we relaxed for the evening and enjoyed a few libations on the back deck while soaking in the local wildlife, which included being almost face to face with a fullgrown bull moose. Growing up near the Sierra Nevada and having the luxury of going to Yosemite anytime I wanted, I thought I had already witnessed the greatest mountain ranges and wildlife our nation has to offer, but Alaska really threw its hat into the ring.

Our second day in Alaska was spent driving the 186 miles from Girdwood to Homer, which is known as the halibut capital of the world. Once in Homer, we unpacked the truck and got all of our gear prepped for our first day of fishing the next morning. That evening was spent discussing our excitement of getting out on the water and meeting the captain. While eating dinner we made bets on who would catch the first fish and the biggest fish of the trip. After all the bets were placed, we were off to bed to get a good night’s rest for our full day of angling.

The morning of our first day of fishing, you could feel the excitement in the air. The group was giddy as we packed our lunch and put on our waterproof jackets. We drove down the Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile stretch of land that juts out into Kachemak Bay. Off of the spit is where all the different fishing charters have their businesses, and just down the road from them is the Homer Boat Harbor. We met up with our captain Corey and his deckhand Austin — who coincidentally was from Merced — then boarded the 34-foot, 10

passenger catamaran called a Katilak and made our way out of the harbor.

Once out of the harbor, we were boating through Kachemak Bay and heading to Cook Inlet, which was about a 45-minute boat ride. We couldn’t have wished for a better day out on the water; it was slightly overcast, but about 60 degrees and the water was glass. When we arrived at Cook Inlet, we were finally able to pick up our rods and begin fishing.

Since halibut would be the harder fish for us to catch, we started our morning dropping our deep sea rods down first. The halibut like to sit on the bottom of the ocean floor, so depending on our location we would drop our lines rigged with squid down 80 to 120 feet. It didn’t take long for the fish to start biting once we dropped in our lines.

Carol was the first of our group to catch a halibut. The excitement and joy she showed while reeling up that first catch motivated the whole boat. Like every fishing trip, you never know if or when you’ll catch something, but the moment you hook onto something it changes the whole atmosphere. Soon, everyone was pulling up halibut.

In Alaska, you're allowed a limit of two halibut a day. One halibut can be any size, but the second has to be under 28 inches. As we pulled in our catches, it was a guessing game of, “How many inches is this fish, and can I catch a bigger one?”

We wanted to reel in the biggest halibut we could, but we also didn’t want to throw a fish back and then take that chance of not being to reel another fish in. It was difficult hauling in these gorgeous fish and trying to determine whether or not we wanted to keep them, because we knew halibut can grow to monstrous 

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When we reeled in a 24-inch halibut, which in California would be considered a great catch, the captain and deckhand laughed them off as if they were guppies.

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sizes. When we reeled in a 24-inch halibut, which in California would be considered a great catch, the captain and deckhand laughed them off as if they were guppies.

After about an hour or two of catch and release, we had all reeled in two halibut each. I was able to bag two 20 to 28-inch halibut, and for them being my first halibut, I was ecstatic. When reeling them in at that size, they didn’t put up too much of a fight, though. It felt as if I was reeling up a heavy rainbow trout or good-sized largemouth bass.

Now that we had caught our limit on halibut for the day, we were ready to switch to salmon fishing. We changed over to a lighter rod and threw out a couple jigs into the water. Immediately, we started hitting some pink and silver salmon.

Captain Corey had put us right on top of a school and they were breaching top water trying to hit our jigs before they even had a chance to sink five feet down. It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had while fishing. Even our deckhand Austin explained to us that it was a pretty rare sight to see a giant school hit on the top water like that. We had a limit of six salmon each, and we were pulling them out left and right it seemed.

But, many of the salmon were your standard pinks and cohos or silvers.

What we really wanted is what they call “royalty” in Alaska: some king or Chinook salmon.

We switched our location and threw out the down riggers in hopes of hitting some bigger fish deeper down. Soon, our rods were bending like crazy and Corey had us on top of a school of Chinook. The amount of fight they had compared to the silvers and pinks was astonishing. Our boat couldn’t keep up with how many fish we were landing. It felt like a matter of minutes before our whole crew had caught their limit on salmon as well. With a boat full of fish and a happy crew, we made our way back to the Homer Spit.

That night we were all in good spirits as we dreamt about catching our limits and the trophy halibut we would be going for the next day. The next morning it seemed we were even more anxious to get out due to our success the previous morning. As we got ready to head out the second morning, our deckhand explained that since we were going for trophy halibut, we would have to venture out further to a location called the Barren Islands. It was about a two-and-a-half-hour boat ride and once we got into place, we were ready to drop our deep sea rods once more and begin our 209MAGAZINE.COM

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hunt for some monster halibut.

It didn’t take long until Carol caught onto the first halibut of the day for the second day in a row.

She brought in a decent sized halibut which was well over 28 inches. From that point on, every halibut caught was larger than the previous. Karly hooked onto the second halibut of the day which was slightly larger than Carol’s, and her catch was followed by John, who reeled in a nice 52-inch monster. The only two who hadn’t reeled one in yet were Alex and myself, and we felt left out while the rest of our group looked over their catch.

We patiently sat with our poles in the water when I felt a huge jolt in my hands and the pole took a major lunge. I heard everyone screaming “fish on” as I jumped awake and started to reel in my catch. Upon reeling in, I could feel right away that I had a giant on the end of my line. I could only reel in an inch or two at a time until the fish on the other end would send the line screaming out another 50 feet.

As I struggled to bring in my catch, Alex came alive next to me as his rod started to bend.

There we stood side-by-side, each of us breathing heavily to bring up our lines. Every turn of the handle felt like a workout. The end of the pole dug into my side and I used all of my strength to only gain an inch or two. As Alex and I fought, we had our whole crew cheering us on. I could hear John’s words of encouragement (“You got this bro, steady.”) and the captain’s instructions (“Okay Seth, easy, easy, just walk her back.”) as I brought the halibut closer and closer to the back of the boat.

I fought for a good 20 minutes before we could see any color rise to the surface of the water. Once we saw the fish’s color, I was bombarded with seemingly one hundred different instructions: “Walk her back slowly,” “Don’t let it breach the water,” “Keep the tip down,” “Reel, reel, reel!”

There was a flood of adrenaline that went through me and I felt like I was doing everything in my power just to keep the fish on the line.

When it got near the back of the boat, it was fighting so hard that the captain had to go to the cabin in the boat and get his .410 shotgun. Once the behemoth was next to the boat, a single slug to the middle of head and a few gaff hooks allowed them to haul the 55-inch, 95-pound monstrosity into the boat. The relief of seeing the halibut in the boat thrashing around and the shouts of joy from the whole crew made the struggle and workout  209MAGAZINE.COM

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well worth the trip.

Next to me, Alex’s 20-minute battle also ended in success with the catch of the trip: a whopping 61-inch, 115-pound halibut of his own. After we had a chance to calm down, we couldn’t believe the luck we had on the day — and we still had to go catch rockfish. As we switched out our tackle to catch some rock cod and ling cod, we reveled in our fresh trophy catches. I have been fishing my entire life in California, so the biggest fish I had caught up until that point was a 25-inch rainbow trout.

My one piece of advice for anyone planning a trip to go big game fishing in Alaska — or anywhere else — is to plan on how you’re going to process your fish and send it home. This was all of our first time going and we didn’t really know too much about this process. When you catch your fish, you’ll need someone to clean and process your fish to be eaten. If you're planning on traveling back home with it, you have two options: have the processors pack your fish up and give it back to you so you can fly home with it, or have them FedEx it straight to your home.

I was nervous about flying home with 85 pounds of dressed meat because we had a long trip back, so I paid $1,000 to get my fish delivered overnight. John took the risk and paid the $200 to fly home with his, and his fish was still perfectly frozen upon landing. In the future, I will be flying home with anything I catch and I advise anyone that doesn’t have over a 12hour trip home to do the same in order to save yourself a lot of money.

As we basked in our glory of catching our limits in halibut and rockfish, we all couldn’t help but fall in love with Alaska. It's easy to see why they call it the last frontier. During our five-day trip in Alaska we saw a moose, packs of orcas swimming next to our boat, puffins and countless bald eagles, along with some of the most beautiful mountain ranges and glaciers. On our way back to the Homer Spit we all talked about how we couldn’t wait to return to Alaska and do more sightseeing and fishing. If you ever catch yourself in Homer, make sure to stop off the Salty Dawg Saloon and grab yourself a drink to celebrate your catches. ■

As we basked in our glory of catching our limits in halibut and rockfish, we all couldn’t help but fall in love with Alaska.

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• Business Insurance • Workers Compensation • Employment Liability • Auto • Cyber Protection

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fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND drank the Kool-Aid, bit the bullet, joined the cult.

However you choose to see it or phrase it … “I did a thing,” as they say and purchased a Peloton bike.

Now not to be confused, I did not win the lottery and I did ponder this big idea/purchase for a good long month in midsummer. I mean after all, I’m a runner, cycling has never been my thing. When not on the road, I’m on my mat working out the tension in the muscles as well as the mind, practicing yoga.

So why (especially now) invest in such a thing? Not only did I not hit the lottery, I remain a single mom of two kids and yes, I still have cancer. Believe it or not each of these things were contributing factors to the investment.

Upon learning of my Stage 3 Breast Cancer in mid-April, I learned a number of things in my life would change over the coming months. Most of the information was around treatment plans, surgery plan and recovery time.

Running would need to be on the back burner, yet walking (daily) was heavily encouraged. My breast surgeon is a great advocate for adrenaline and endorphins and maintaining a strong body as much as possible.

I still recall breaking into tears at the thought of walking and not being able to pound pavement during a time when I needed the release most.

Months into my journey I’d pop out of bed on the good days and log three to five miles whenever possible. In time, I learned this was just as beneficial for my mental health as running, just different.

Yet I desperately missed the aspect of the personal challenge, as well as the feeling of belonging to a culture of like-minded nut jobs. And so the Peloton purchase debate began.

Before going further and for those interested, I think it’s important when debating this type of investment to know what suits you in the way of physical activity. Simply put, are you an extrovert or introvert when it comes to workouts.

Personally, I am exactly the opposite in workouts than I am in person. I’m not a gym girl. The crowd and in-person group atmosphere does not suit me. A yoga class would be the only exception, but that’s a completely different animal.

While I prefer to take in my activity in the great outdoors, nine years back my parents gifted me a treadmill and to date it has many miles logged on it. When my kids were young it was the ideal way to train, as well as release stress in the early morning or after they went to bed.

It’s worth a mention, said treadmill was also a valuable tool

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to help keep the scale from returning to my once 264-pound unhealthy self.

Knowing the amount of time I’ve spent on the “dreadmill” was helpful in the decision making. As my children have grown older, they each have taken an occasional fancy to logging a few miles here and there to prepare for certain activities (swim team or local fun run). Their participation also factored into the decision of should I or shouldn’t I. Journeying through summer, the idea of Distance Learning also lingered in my head. This, I felt, would be an amazing purchase the whole family could use. Little did I know, the App used by the bike, also includes other programs such as yoga classes, HIIT training and running tutorials. This was perfect!

Once I finally bit the bullet and hit purchase I became both excited and relieved. This (I told myself) would be a great investment for our family. It would also be a great way to keep my cardio up, which would be helpful once I returned to running. I was to run the Chicago Marathon this past October, which was tabled thanks to COVID and, well, cancer would have factored in as well. Now with a race date of 2022, marathon six is still well on the horizon and cancer or not, maintaining a certain level of fitness is critical.

Buyer remorse did set in, as the bikes became so popular delivery dates were pushed back. Recognizing my bike would be delivered two weeks prior to my surgery date I thought, what had I done? The timing was terrible. I would now be paying for something I wouldn’t be able to enjoy for at least four weeks post-surgery.

But an investment is an investment, as I like to see it. Just as the market can drop, it can also return. So as I recovered, my bike gave me more determination to walk each day to rebuild strength for when I could return to the saddle.

The lesson in all of this, the message I hope to bring to readers is to not be afraid to invest in yourself.

As we come out of the month of thankfulness, enter the month of giving and face a new year remember the value your life brings to the table. Look for what brings you joy and invest in that, to invest in yourself. It doesn’t have to be the trendy bike or a fancy Tesla, it could be anything which fills your cup.

If COVID has taught us anything, it has taught us the value of life, the return to basics and the beauty of living our best life – despite the challenges.

Cheers to a 2021 of fresh starts, lessons learned and wise investments. ■

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AT TAILORED AESTHETICS MEDICAL SPA

By VIRGINIA STILL

PHOTOS BY VIRGINA STILL/ 209 Magazine

T

he start of a new year has many people thinking about what the future holds and hopeful that 2021 will be a much better year than the often exasperating 2020. The ending of a year can lead to excitement for a new journey that may include new adventures, new experiences, a new exercise routine, new goals and perhaps a new look. Tailored Aesthetics Medical Spa has opened in downtown Escalon to bring people in the 209 a variety of services to enhance natural beauty for a new you.

The name for the medical spa was created by founder and registered nurse Kacie Avey, as it was important for people to know that their services are tailored for each person individually with a customized treatment plan. The services offered are focused on prevention and protection and include Botox, fillers, skin care and skin coaching.

“My style of injecting is very conservative,” said Avey. “I like patients to feel like the best versions of their selves and not augmented really. Yes, you want to have enhancements but I do like to enhance natural beauty.

My little motto I like to say is the best injectable is undetectable.”

Since she was young, Avey has been interested in skin with dreams to become a dermatolo-

gist. The dream changed a bit as she got older so she pursued a business degree to open her own medical spa someday to do aesthetics and help people with their skin. At the age of 18 she got her aesthetician license and began working at a medical spa in Southern California where she did chemical peels and microneedling while also assisting the doctors and nurses with injectables.

“I struggled so terribly with acne and sunburns,” noted Avey.

“I never felt that there was really any accessible information for that. I wish I had direction when I was younger. It (working at the med spa) was just really fun and it really intrigued me and working with the doctors and nurses allowed me to use prescription skin care on patients and a stronger level chemical peel.”

Avey decided to seek the medical side of the skin care industry so she moved back to the Modesto area to get her nursing degree. After attaining her degree in nursing, she worked in a hospital for a short time to gain fundamental nursing skills. Then she began working for a local plastic surgeon as an injector.

“I worked there for a while and I just fell in love with it and I just really loved the whole process for the patients,” explained Avey.

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I like patients to feel like the best versions of their selves… ­— Kacie Avey

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coaching. In our area we have so many people who battle acne uncontrolled and so many people who battle rosacea uncontrolled and they don’t know how to manage it. Both those things are manageable. A huge issue that patients struggle with in our population is melasma and hyperpigmentation. I love helping people change all those things because you can change it. So many people are afraid to go out bare faced or they feel selfconscious about it.”

After spending some time at a large med spa in Sacramento and commuting a few days a week her experience continued to grow. With the experience at different locations, Avey learned what she liked and what needed improvements. The stars aligned and she was able to open her very own med spa with Dr. Muazzum Aman as the medical director and co-owner. Dr. Aman is an emergency room physician as well.

“I am excited,” Avey said. “I think this is different. I feel like there was a need for this type of medical spa in this area.”

Opening a business anytime can be intimidating and it can be even more challenging during a pandemic. Tailored Aesthetics officially opened in August and unfortunately, they were unable to have a grand opening or public celebration of any kind. They follow all recommended guidelines using masks and sanitizing

thoroughly as time is allotted between patients to do so. The remodeled office was once a Pilates studio and has since transformed into a modern lavish space with exposed beams and barn doors.

“I think that the first week I opened it was so surreal I couldn’t believe the support that I had,” stated Avey. “I couldn’t believe the support and the interest that the people were showing in this area.

It was really great to feel like the community really embraced me and I am happy to offer something different here. With COVID you have to have grace because everything is going to be delayed. So, I knew that going into it.

Opening a business during COVID is crazy and I knew it wasn’t going to be a smooth ride.”

Clients have followed Avey who come from Turlock, Sonora, Sacramento and all the places in between. The services are available for men and women of all skin types by appointment only and a consultation is advised to answer questions, discuss risks, benefits and expectations. Avey explained that she has continued training and advanced education to be current with her technique and safety protocols.

“My job is to educate you and you make the decisions,” expressed Avey.

“I think a lot of times people are really nervous about the pain. I use a lot of comfort measures.

I don’t like to be in pain

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and I don’t like to see my patients in pain. I use very small insulin needles for most of the injections with Botox. With the filler I use topical numbing and there is a little bit of a numbing agent in the filler. I use a lot of relaxation techniques with the patients; that is why I book longer time slots. It really helps decrease their stress level and they feel more comfortable.”

There are a variety of products offered at the med spa with brands like Colorscience and ZO Skin Health. Working with all the different skin care lines throughout her career, Avey handpicked specific products that she is confident will work with the custom treatment plans for her patients.

“It (ZO) is an amazing inclusive line,” remarked Avey. “ZO skin health is by far my favorite, that is why I chose it. I only wanted to have one main skin care line because I don’t want patients to be confused. I felt that way as a consumer. I support those products with sunscreen.

It makes me laugh because my patients call me the sunscreen police. That is the number one antiaging product that I can give to you or anybody can give to you and not all sunscreens are created equal.”

For more information on Tailored Aesthetics Medical Spa, located at 1710 Main Street in Escalon, visit tailoredmedspa.com, email info@ tailoredmedspa.com or

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I think that the first week I opened it was so surreal I couldn’t believe the support that I had. ­— Kacie Avey

call 209-614-2360. You can also follow them on Facebook. People can book online, call or text as well. ■

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placecalledhome

By KRISTINA HACKER

A

PHOTOS BY MARK VERSCHELDEN

twater sweetpotato and almond farmers Cindy and David Souza built their dream home 25 years ago, but decided that after more than a couple of decades it was time for a makeover. That’s when Wendy Glaister Interiors stepped in with the help of Joe Smith of API Architects and Rui Esteves of REI Construction. One of the most glamorous areas of the house that was renovated is the master bathroom and closet space. ■

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BATHROOM Cindy Souza told HouzzTV that she wanted the bathroom to feel like a spa, and that’s exactly the vibe the space has, complete with chandelier.

The floors and shower bench are heated. All marble work is by All Surface Innovations.

The bathroom and closet areas feature custom leaded glass windows and doors.

DESIGNER Wendy Glaister Interiors won an American Society of Interior Designers ANDYZ Award for Best Bathroom Design 2020 for this Atwater project.

“It felt really good to win the award,” said Glaister. “I was really grateful to win it… but I won it because the team was so awesome.”

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By MARG JACKSON

BACKGROUND PHOTOS COURTESY OF BACKROAD BLOOMS

ust because the 209 is hitting its cold and rainy season, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be active outside.

One of the best ways to do that and get a return a little later on is planting spring bulbs. A bit of a misnomer, spring bulbs are what you plant in the winter, so they can flower in the spring.

Depth for planting will depend on the size of the bulb itself when it goes in the ground; a good guide is to plant the bulb two to three times as deep as it is tall.

Now is a great time to stop by your local nursery or farm store and look over the wide variety of bulbs available. You can start them indoors and then plant them outside. They will spend the 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Providing a carpet full of colors in the spring, ranunculus are a bulb easy to start inside, then plant outdoors as the winter season approaches. They will winter underground and then bloom when the weather warms up.

winter underground and then provide vibrant colors next spring.

Good drainage is key for the outdoor planting area, as too much water can cause the bulbs to rot. Commonly called hardy bulbs, examples of those that can be planted in the winter for springtime bloom include tulips, iris, daffodils, ranunculus and crocus, among others.

At Backroad Blooms Cut Flower Farm in Oakdale, the mother-daughter team of Lisa McPhee and Alyssa McPhee-Escobar has been busy getting their own bulbs ready for winter planting.

Their shop, adjacent to Oakdale Cheese and Specialties at 10040 Highway 120, is closed for the season but they continue to work,

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“It’s pretty fulfilling,” she added of working with flowers of all types at the business.

“Flowers usually bring joy to people; they can be used on so many different occasions and to cheer people up.”

The local businesswomen said when their shop was open during the season, they had a ‘self-serve’ flower stand that saw a lot of traffic; bouquets were prepared and many people would drive up, make their selection and payment, and move on. The contactless flower purchases worked well for both buyer and sellers.

Backroad Blooms has its shop open three days a week from March to October.

“The self-service stand, people either did Venmo or put money in the box,” explained Lisa. “We found during COVID that people really did want flowers, they would use them to brighten up people’s day, just leave them on the doorstep.”

The cut flower farm is on four acres to the south of Oakdale Cheese and Specialties and the mother-daughter duo rent a building on the cheese shop site for their business.

“Every season is a fresh start,” said Lisa. “You can always improve.”

“We can add a little, take away a little each season,” agreed Alyssa. “I enjoy working with all the new varieties you get to plant.”

Planting is done six months in advance so even though the shop isn’t currently open for business, they are now preparing for what they will be selling in 2021.

For more information, visit www.backroadbloomsfarm. com; go to their Facebook site: Backroad Blooms Flower Farm or on Instagram: backroadbloomsfarm. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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— Lisa McPhee, Backroad Blooms

Start bulbs indoors before planting them outside in the winter, use some rocks, a small jar or vase, and make it a fun family project.

PHOTOS BY MARG JACKSON/ 209 Magazine

planting the bulbs as they look forward to reopening in the spring.

“Now is the time to do it,” Lisa said of planting the bulbs, noting that daffodils are a favorite. “They’ll keep coming back every year and get bigger.”

“Tulips are another good one and most people plant them in early December,” Alyssa added.

California’s late planting season can run into January, depending on rainfall and temperatures, and Lisa and Alyssa agreed that getting bulbs ready for planting can be a fun family event.

Several bulbs can be started indoors in glass vases or even small jars, and by adding a few decorative rocks, it is an easy and fun project for kids.

“They literally start growing in the water,” Alyssa said.

“You can recycle a container you have at home, use an old Mason jar, an old spaghetti sauce jar,” noted Lisa. “Be resourceful.”

The bulbs can later be transplanted outside, and families – with a little patience – can then enjoy splashes of color around their yard come spring.

“I think this is so fun for a kid’s project, you just put it in a sunny window,” Lisa said of creating the decorative and functional temporary indoor home for the bulbs.

Alyssa likes amaryllis, favoring red and white in color, while tulips come in many colors.

Unlike daffodils, tulips are best planted new every fall/winter for the spring bloom. Dahlias and ranunculus are other favorites, with plenty of colors to choose from in both those varieties as well.

Lisa said there are many online tutorials and YouTube videos that offer some instruction and tips on planting bulbs.

Daughter Alyssa McPhee-Escobar, left, and mom Lisa McPhee are the owner-operators of Backroad Blooms Cut Flower Farm in Oakdale; they said now is the time to get out there and plant some bulbs – the winter season planting will pay big returns when bulbs flower in the spring.

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placecalledhome

Award-winning T

he Ripon Garden Club has selected three local gardens for their Garden of the Season Awards.

333 Vera Ave The Fredriks Garden at 333 Vera Avenue was designed by the owner when the couple bought the home seven years ago. As retirees loving to travel, it was important to have a yard that was consistently attractive and easy to maintain. Colorful flowers and plants that attract birds is also important.Â

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643 Palm Ave The Batty yard at 643 Palm Avenue was also designed by the owners, who have lived here 14 years. The magnolia tree is a transport from their previous home and shades a patio area surrounded by drought tolerant plants. The owners switched to drought tolerant plants during the drought years and love how the birds, bees and butterflies love their yard.

901 Spring Creek The Franscella Garden at 901 Spring Creek was designed by a Cal Poly student 34 years ago when the owners first moved in. Taking advantage of the old olive tree in the front yard, landscaping was done with a lot of grasses and color, making for an easy care yard.

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Community members are encouraged to drive or walk by and enjoy these award winning gardens. ■

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2021

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marketplace

By ANGELINA MARTIN

H

eading online to shop the websites of big box stores may be one’s first reaction when they think of last-minute Christmas shopping during a pandemic, but it’s still possible to safely support local businesses this winter with these 209 companies who are social media savvy. From gifts for someone with a sweet tooth to treasured finds for the holiday decor enthusiast, the 209 offers some of the best when it comes to finding the perfect present just in the nick of time. ■

Name of business: OneSixteen Bijou Boutique Location: 116 W. Main St., Turlock Instagram: @bijouturlock Last-minute gift: Two of OneSixteen Bijou’s best sellers are must-haves when it comes to personalized presents this year. For the fashionista in your life, the boutique’s Custom Leather Keychains ($15.99) or Initial Necklace ($35.99) are the perfect way to give the gift of accessorizing.

Name of business: The Local Collective Location: 11 S. Sacramento St., Lodi; www.localcollectivelodi.com Instagram: @localcollectivelodi Last-minute gift: While this shop is an ethereal blend of talented creators from throughout the state, the handcrafted earrings, bracelets and necklaces curated by Jennifer Pratt of Her Pretty Things stand out as the perfect gift for those in search of a unique gift. Pratt uses influences from the earth to create jewelry with crystals, macrame and more, and also offers custom stamped pieces for those in search of a personal touch. Jewelry is available in-store and on her website, www.herprettythings.shop.

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Name of business: A MALA Detox & Tea Lounge Location: 31 S. Washington St., Sonora Instagram: @amaladetox Last-minute gift: Amala means “pure and clean” in Sanskrit, and there are plenty of home goods, loose leaf teas, skincare and detox gifts to choose from at AMALA Detox & Tea Lounge in Sonora. If the person you’re buying a gift for has a kitchen that could use a few new tools, AMALA’s wood and marble serving utensils ($17.50), cutting board ($27) or salad tosser ($27) may be just the upgrade they need. Or, if it’s their cup of tea, you can buy a mid-century modern tea kettle ($50) just in time for the cold weather.

Name of business: Jessie Messy Company Location: Ripon Instagram: @soyjessiemessy Last-minute gift: A hand-crafted candle from Jessie Messy Company will help the recipient’s home smell delightful thanks to this company’s wide variety of scents. The “Let’s Stay Home” candle ($25) is the perfect combination of honey, cinnamon and sugar cookie and can make any room smell like home. These candles are made from 100% vegan soy wax and feature wooden wicks which emit a soothing crackle.

Name of business: Dulce Candies Location: Merced Instagram: @dulcecandies_ Last-minute gift: Those in search of something sweet need look no further than Dulce Candies, who offer holiday boxes that can be personalized with up to six different chile-covered or sweet candies.

Each box is $16 and comes with 18 ounces of candy.

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marketplace

Name of business: Grandma’s Treasures Location: Denair Instagram: @grandmastreasuresca Last-minute gift: There are plenty of treasures to find at this small-town shop amongst the home decor, tasty treats and upcycled furniture, but one of their most popular items makes for an adorable and unique gift that any home decorator will love. Grandma’s Treasures has every size imaginable of gnomes ($5 to $75) that are sure to bring holiday cheer, from gnome wine bottle toppers to big gnomes who can make any perch look like a comfortable seat.

Name of business: Poots Cactus Nursery Location: Ripon Instagram: @poots_cactus_ nursery Last-minute gift: What’s better than a brand-new plant to take care of during a pandemic that keeps you indoors? For those with a green thumb in their life, a Christmas Cactus from Poots ($10) is the perfect holiday gift. Also known as Schlumbergeras, these plants need water year-round and enjoy being indoors as long as they get enough sunlight.

Name of business: Spill the Tea Tumblers Location: Modesto Instagram: @spilltheteatumblers Last-minute gift: Everyone needs something to hold their drinks, so why not sip out of something that feels personal? Spill the Tea Tumblers has a wide variety of glitter drinkware and matte tumblers to choose from that can be personalized with a favorite logo, color, pattern or even a picture of a precious pup. Prices range from $20 to $40 depending on the size and shape of the drinkware.

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Name of business: Cen Cal Smoke BBQ Supplies Name of business: Jayme Lee’s Home Sweet Wreaths

Location: Modesto Instagram: @cencalsmokepellets

Location: Escalon

Last-minute gift: For the barbecue master in your life, Cen Cal Smoke is the perfect one-stop shop for gifts that are sure to make the process of cooking dinner look as good as it tastes. The shop has a large selection of rubs, sauces and accessories to choose from.

Instagram: @homesweetwreaths Last-minute gift: Nothing says home for the holidays like a customized wreath to greet you at the front door. And they’re not just for Christmas — Jayme Lee can handcraft a one-of-a-kind wreath for any holiday, occasion or season, making these products the perfect gift which can be used time and time again. Prices range from $90 to $150, and each wreath comes with a custom storage box.

Name of business: Honey Up Gloss Location: Stockton Instagram: @honeyupgloss Last-minute gift: Honey Up Gloss offers a vast range of cruelty-free beauty products, but as cold weather blasts through the 209 and causes dry skin, the Whipped Body Scrub ($7.99) is a perfect Christmas gift for any fan of self-care. This scrub removes dead skin cells by gently exfoliating and contains coconut oil to keep skin hydrated. For those who want to give their lashes or brows a boost, Honey Up Gloss also makes a special Eyelash and Eyebrow Serum ($5.99) made from four different oils which promote hair growth and stops breakage.

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marketplace

A

LITTLE RED DOOR

fter just under a year of providing the community with an affordable option when it comes to clothing, consignment boutique Little Red Door opened its own brick-and-mortar location in downtown Turlock.

Little Red Door opened last fall as just a small space inside of downtown shop Rustic Roots — a humble beginning that sisters and boutique owners Marissa Miranda and Isabella Cisneros now look back on fondly as they welcome customers to their new space on the corner of East Main and Thor.

The boutique aims to give discarded fashion a second chance through a selection of up-cycled clothing hand-picked by the duo. Miranda and Cisneros frequent thrift shops in search of quality fabrics and one-of-a-kind items seldom found in stores today, from vintage Levi’s jeans to handbags from the 60s.

The new space allows them to provide even more options for customers who have supported them from day one, the sisters said.

“We always had this idea in the back of our minds that in five years or so it would be so cool to find a great spot in downtown Turlock. Did we ever in a million years think we would get the location we have? Absolutely not,” Miranda said.

Little Red Door opened in October

inside of the former Geiger’s Fine Jewelry building and shares the space with Reliable Property Management’s second location.

“It’s equally surreal as it is terrifying,” Cisneros said with a laugh. “This is a dream come true to be able to work with family in a healthy way and also be successful.”

The larger space has also allowed the sisters to add a new section to the shop: “Wear it Again Sports,” which will offer lightly used sports clothing and equipment for children up to 13 years of age.

As a mother herself, Miranda said she saw a need in the community for such a section.

“It’s the idea of allowing every child the opportunity to play a sport without it costing so much money for the parents,” she said. “It can get expensive.”

While many these days go thrifting in order to resell the clothing for a profit, Little Red Door aims to provide fashion at prices similar to the stores where the items were found. In addition, 10 percent of the shop’s proceeds go toward local nonprofit Prem-maa, which was started by two Turlock Christian students to help stop human trafficking. The sisters also pointed out that finding some of their items at local thrift stores who also give back helps the community as well.

“We’re in this loop of economy where we are helping people and

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helping other businesses through their organization as well,” Cisneros said.

Even though the space is much larger than their former home, the women believe they can keep up with the demand for thrifting — something that has increased in popularity as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the economy. They anticipate the same support which got them this far to continue carrying Little Red Door for years to come.

“To be able to open a brick and mortar location in under a year...part of that success has been because of support from the community,” Cisneros said. “Turlock is a pretty small town, so word of mouth goes a long way.”

Little Red Door is located at 340 E. Main St., in Turlock. The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Customers can also shop on their website, www.littlereddoor.shop, or at the store’s Instagram page. ■

IT’S THE IDEA OF ALLOWING EVERY CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A SPORT WITHOUT IT COSTING SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE PARENTS

DECEMBER/NOVEMBER 2021

11/24/2020 4:50:31 PM

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DECEMBER/NOVEMBER 2021

11/24/2020 4:50:52 PM

marketplace

By ELIZABETH DEVINE

T

he era of the Internet changed many things.

One of them is the way businesses advertise their products and reach their target audiences.

What also changed is the interaction between businesses and customers and the way that

companies build a brand. Even the age-old advertising industry shifted to cater to these new trends and provide customers with more information, stronger connections with brands, and a more refined experience.

At Devine Solutions Group, we pride ourselves on embracing

many new-age marketing techniques and strategies that help our clients take advantage of shifts like these in their respective industries.

But what are the best ways to fuel growth and attract more clients in your industry or niche? â–

1

Design a Functional Website A website is the first step into your online venture towards attracting new clients. A functional website allows your business to be seen from anywhere around the world, on any device (mobile or desktop), and at any time (24/7). It is the best way to showcase your business and start generating leads.

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2

Start Blogging A blog is a dedicated page on your website for posts.

If you don’t have one for your business, you either don’t have the time to set it up and maintain it or you need some creative tips to get inspired.

However, blogging is more than just posting your ideas online – it is a way of communicating with your prospective customers. Blogging is an excellent example of how the power of words can connect with people and how it gives brands and individuals instant and immediate reach.

Note: Your website analytics can tell a great story about your site’s performance.

3

Understand SEO

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is an area of marketing that lets you gain control of the positions you rank for on Google and the keywords associated with them.

SEO can be intimidating but if done correctly with using white hat tactics you can easily leverage it. It’s important to note that SEO is a complex science and one needs a full understanding of how to successfully implement an SEO strategy.

4

Use Social Media A whopping (4.5 billion) number of people are on social media. This means only one thing – a potential opportunity for growth.

You can leverage platforms like Facebook and Instagram to grow your business, get more followers, or even put upsponsored posts to reach new audiences.

The best thing about social media is the ability to share your news and ideas with your target audience and get them involved with your products and services in every possible way.

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marketplace

5

Build Great Lead Magnets “What’s a lead magnet?”

Essentially, it is an offer that looks irresistible to your users. The right lead magnet presented to the right audience can indeed have explosive results. For instance, if you are a business in the call center industry, a lead magnet titled “10 Call Center Trends You Can’t Ignore” is a topic that your customers won't ignore. However, to get the PDF report, they will have to leave details like their email and phone number.

Once you get their details, the win-win is that they will get their report and read about the topic you created. Whether it's a report, e-book, checklist, video, or anything else, a lead magnet is a viable solution for lead generation. A great lead magnet will help you gather information from your audience and build your email list.

6

Use LinkedIn in the Right Way

• Do you have a video on your LinkedIn business profile?

• Are you publishing posts and articles?

• Or are you looking for skilled candidates?

If no is an answer to all of these questions, you have tremendous opportunity. LinkedIn has great potential, and you should explore it. You can reach a broad audience, especially when one of your posts goes viral.

7

Focus on Email Marketing Creative copywriting is best showcased through emails. You can get an extraordinary open rate, get replies from your prospects, or even sell products with promotional emails.

However, to be able to email your audience and present them with your new offers, you need to build a list of emails for your newsletter.

What happens if social media platforms go down/ offline? You don’t own your contacts there and this is why you want to focus on building your email list.

— Devine Solutions Group is a local resource for effective marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, an award-winning digital marketing agency headquartered in Tracy, CA. Connect with Beth by either calling 833-933-8463 or email her at beth@devinesolutionsgroup.com.

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