Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine on
Jun 01, 2009
One of my favorite places to visit in Walla Walla, is not too far from my house. In fact, it's the deck off of my living room. It's a quiet place where I can sit on one of two rocking chairs I purchased during a visit in Tennessee. These oak chairs, with woven seats and backs, were handcrafted by a Tennessee family that's been making rocking chairs for 150 years. Between the two chairs is an old Hungarian oak wine barrel. On the head of the barrel, I have placed a large round glass table top. It makes a very appropriate table for my evening glass of wine and my morning cup of coffee. One of the best features is below the deck. The deck is framed with an assortment of rose bushes. This time of the year, the fragrance from the roses waft up to the deck and it makes for a relaxing get-away from phones and computers.
Gertrude Stein said, "A rose is a rose is a rose." But when I think of my rose garden, I can't help from also thinking about rosés - - the wonderful summer sip that fills a glass in pastel shades of pink, light red, peach or even lavender. Rosés, rosados, or rosatos are fragrant and delicate wines made for the red wine lover who wants a taste of the red grape, but looking for the light crispness of a white wine - - making it a perfect summer sipper.
Posted by: Andrew Holt in Music, Culture, Art on
May 25, 2009
The flourishing Wine Industry of the Walla Walla Valley is shining brightly on the national and international stage at present . . . and well it should.
But much more established and flourishing just as well is the vibrant and diversified Performing Arts Community of this same valley. Even when the area's identity was one of solely agriculture and related industries, the community possessed a unique passion for the arts, the performing arts in particular.
Local theatre has always been a mainstay along with the longest running symphony orchestra west of the Mississippi - yes, L.A. Philharmonic fans, eat your hearts out! Music, be it blues, jazz, symphonic, barbershop quartet, folk or progressive, cutting edge rock can be found around every corner.
Thus, as a lover of the performing arts and a connoisseur of the Walla Walla Valley's rare fare, I relish the opportunity in the months to come to share with you the different experiences a performing arts fan can have in this wonderful valley that not only runs rich with wine but also arts and culture.
Posted by: Becky St. Clair in Music, Culture on
May 18, 2009
Photo courtesy of and copyright Walla Walla University |
It's 7:45 p.m. I climb out of the car, pull my light sweater tighter around me, and head for the back door of the University Church. It's a little chilly for April, but I don't mind; I'll be warm enough soon. Climbing the steps to the back entrance to the sanctuary platform, I find myself surrounded by a swirling mix of black and white, and the sound of dozens of instruments - cellos, trumpets, flutes, violas, and others - running through last-minute warm-ups.
At 8:00 exactly, the lights flash twice in the sanctuary. The rumble of the audience fades. Then the room goes pitch black.
A spotlight illuminates a sole individual standing at center stage. It's the chair of the Music Department at Walla Walla University (WWU). She gives a welcome, the lights come up, the groups tune, and the room goes dark again. Within seconds a spotlight appears in the middle of the audience, on a small platform built specifically for this concert. A saxophone and harpsichord duo serenades everyone in the room.
Posted by: Sam McLeod in Wildlife on
May 11, 2009
BIG, our four-month-old Great Pyrenees puppy, is exhausted from pulling another all-nighter in his year-long course on "Being the Perfect Guard Dog." Sam, our five-year-old Pyrenees, is BIG's teacher.
BIG is trying hard to measure up, but easily loses focus. Most anything is a distraction-a hen pheasant flying down the fencerow, a turkey wandering the riverbank, a vole escaping into its hole. Distraction is what BIG does best.
Right at dusk, Sam starts his nightly watch, wandering the perimeter of our outpost while I sit here on the porch in the fading light. BIG falls in behind Sam, biting at his tail.
A bobcat appears at the edge of the woods. Sam notices but doesn't bark. Bobcats aren't much of a threat. But BIG barks like our lives depend on it.
Sam looks down at BIG and shakes his head.
It brings me a few goose bumps, when sitting in my car at the stop light heading north on the corner of First and Main, thinking that just a few weeks ago I was standing in the middle of the same street under a large tent with chandeliers above me. And even better I was holding a glass of Walla Walla wine and noshing on a crepe. Okay, so that wasn't a dream. It was a feast - - a big party in a tent!
It was the second annual Feast Walla Walla located in the beautiful and historical downtown Walla Walla. Inside the large tent, bringing tourists and locals together, there was an assortment of talented winemakers, chefs and artists showing their best and allowing us a taste or two - - or three... Proceeds from this fabulous event went the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation to continue their work.
This is the kind of event that makes me happy. It adds to my faith that the survival of downtown Walla Walla will continue to flourish.
