Discover Walla Walla

Around each bend of the road, over each crest of a hill potentially lies a scene that begs to be painted, drawn, photographed or just enjoyed.  The country roads surrounding Walla Walla that extend into the Walla Walla Valley of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon hold so many visual treasures.  Vistas plead to be enjoyed.  Classic barns and farmsteads remind us of our rural roots.  The secret is to not to jump out of the car, snap a quick picture and jump back into the car.  The secret is to stop and take in the details, inhale the fresh air and soak up the ambiance.  Often, there are wild flowers at your feet and a careful scanning of the vista may reveal a deer, fox, coyote or colorful songbird.  Be still for a few minutes and you may hear the songbirds.   Also, harvest, cultivation or planting may be in process.  Outstanding agricultural practices in The Valley result in complex crop patterns.  Even at time of harvest, such as is pictured here, these patterns weave sweeping patterns across the landscape.  Take a box lunch and find a place to enjoy a respite from your busy pace.

This scene was captured about ten miles north east of Walla Walla.  To capture these patterns it is suggested you employ a digital camera with a wide angle lens.  This can be a simple point and shoot, or a complex professional camera.  I use both.  Also, for such scenes a polarizing filter is very useful to bring out the details in a dramatic sky and take the reflected glare off a tin roof.  This scene was captured with an 18 to 200 zoom lens set at the 18 setting.  The polarizing filter brought out the sky.  I used a medium f-stop of 16 in order to get good depth of field.  On a point and shoot camera use the scenic mode setting to gain the depth of field.  I tend to use a tri-pod, but good results can be had hand holding.

Jim Willis

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What does accomplished winemaker, Eric Dunham, love most about producing wine? "It's as simple as guy loving to get dirty," he chuckles. It's the physical labor and feeling the fresh breeze against his skin and the sun upon his back that fulfills Dunham. He also enjoys the artistry of making wine and from Dunham Cellar's first release in '95, folks think highly of his artistry.

While sampling wine at Dunham Cellars tasting room - a 5,500 sq. foot renovated airplane hangar, Eric might pull up a chair and join you while you're at it. "To me", he says, "Wine is the ultimate barrier breaker. If you love wine, there is so much to talk about. People get excited talking about wine. Wine has sort of this mystique."

When visiting Dunham Cellars, it's not difficult to feel right at home. "Wine is all about taking care of people," Dunham says. "When people come into our tasting room, it's all about taking care of them." And the spacious and tastefully decorated room doesn't hurt the cause.

Paintings from local and regional artists adorn the walls, a comfortable leather couch arrangement beckons while wood stained table tops resting on wine barrels and surrounded by bar stools, also, provide a terrific landing place to chat and relax. The tasting room's size and spaciousness affords Dunham Cellars to host many special events, such as Dunham Days where wine club members are treated to the delicious cooking of Chef Andrae Bopp, a new art release, library tasting and a "can't miss" brunch. Dunham Cellars also hosts numerous winemaker dinners and the hugely popular Harvest Luncheons.

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Blues ruled the roost last Wednesday at the Walla Walla Community College Performing Arts Center as a near sellout crowd was treated to two top blues performers. Headliner, Matt Schofield, voted Blues Guitarist of the Year by the British Blues Society, more than lived up to his billing dazzling the crowd with his mastery of the guitar and his soulful and powerful voice.

The night opened with Blues Hall of Famer Jimmy Lloyd Rea and his band The Switchmasters. If you love conventional blues, then Jimmy Lloyd is your man. A member of John Lee Hooker's band for many years, Lloyd Rea revved up the crowd with his rendition of Hooker's "Big Legs and Tight Skirts." Rea is a local favorite who swings through Walla Walla often, hailing from Baker City, OR which is just 2 hours down the road.

It's fair to say that probably many in the crowd, including this author, were not very familiar with Mr. Schofield. By the end of the night, we were devoted fans. Not only did Schofield and his trio shower us with a rainbow of incredible sounds, making us feel as if we had been fans all of our lives, but he mesmerized us with his absolute mastery of his guitar and the pure soulfulness with which he played.

Schofield, a thin man, with even a thinner face, curly gold locks touching his shoulders, wearing a black t-shirt under his blue denim long sleeves, doesn't remind you of B.B. or Albert King, to say the least. Yet, during the two-set performance, his ability to groove, rock and swing - all within the framework of the Blues - makes him special, indeed.

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The city of Walla Walla has a life of its own. I mean, aside from the tourists hunting for what they've heard are the "must-see" spots downtown, the drivers vying for a parking spot on Main Street, and college students cruising on their bikes between their favorite coffee shop and Earthlight Books, Walla Walla breathes and speaks of its own accord, and sometimes I have to remind myself just to listen.

The other day I took a walk down Main Street mid-afternoon, and the smells slipping out of the restaurants and shops whenever anyone entered or left intoxicated me.

Wine. Perfume. Fresh chocolate. Leather and air conditioning. Coffee.

At Land Title Plaza, where 2nd and Main form a T at the heart of the city center, the Walla Walla River sang and laughed as it skipped by underneath my feet. Unnoticed except by tourists, children, and geocachers, the river is mostly underground in the city. It does, however, show its playful face in a few places, including the open area at Land Title Plaza.

Then there are the people. Ah, yes...they are important, too. They are the lifeblood of the community we call "home."

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