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Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine, Food, Events on
Apr 18, 2011
 In the 1920's when Ernest Hemingway penned out his observations of the cafes, bars, and hotels of Paris in his memoirs of A Moveable Feast, he certainly didn't have Walla Walla in mind. However, since 2008, the second Saturday of April, Walla Walla has been bringing their own celebration of fine food, wine, art and even live music to downtown. Residents and visitors gather at Main Street in a very large and moveable white tent that spans from the First Avenue crosswalk to almost the Alder Street crosswalk.
The gigantic white tent begins to take shape Friday evening and by Saturday morning, it can pack up to 600 people and several food and wine purveyors. The excitement begins at the tent entrance when guests receive an etched wine glass commemorating the event, a souvenir plate to hold the "feast" from local food vendors and 10 tokens to be used towards food and wine. Once inside the tent, with chandeliers hanging from the top, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a street as you discover the smells and sights awaiting you for the afternoon. Every year, if you go away hungry, it is your own fault as the menu is always so varied and oh-so delicious. This year was no different as there was something for everyone: sushi, hand-carved baron of beef, traditional cassoulet, spinach salad, hazelnut cappelletti, vegetarian pad thai, green curry halibut, and pork tacos, to name a few. For those with a sweet tooth, that was covered as well, with a decadent selection of chocolate truffles, fruit tartlets, cupcakes and even the quirky, but mouth watering, bacon caramel popcorn and chocolate beef ribs.
Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine, Events on
Nov 30, 2010
 If you are a newbie to wine and want to know what barrel tasting all about - - no, it is not about licking the barrel to find out how it tastes. Barrel tasting is a special event where wine barrels are opened and the wine is sampled before the actual bottling of the wine takes place. Often the wines are still young, but barrel tasting allows wine enthusiasts the opportunity to taste and learn about future releases before buying. There are also tools and other terms that goes along with tasting from the barrels such as "thief" and "angel's share." No-no-no, a wine thief isn't a guy that sneaks into the winery and steals wine. A wine thief is a glass or a food-grade plastic tube,12 to 24 inches in length, and is used to siphon wine out of a barrel. Once the wine is removed by the thief, it is poured into another container such as a wine glass. The thief is used especially during barrel tasting events. So, you may be wondering about the "angel's share" and if angels hang out with the wine thieves (If this were the case, there sure would be a lot of wine being pilfered by thieves and angels). The "Angel's Share" is an old term for the portion (share) of wine or spirits that is lost due to evaporation while aging in the barrels. Over time, some of the wine can slowly seep through the grain of the barrel staves and evaporate into the open air. The annual estimated loss can be around 2% per barrel. This loss of evaporating wine alludes to the belief that guardian angels watch over the wine as it ages and if you have ever been in a wine cellar the belief is also that you can actually smell the fragrant "angels."
Posted by: Andrew Holt in Events, Art on
Aug 23, 2010
 Sitting midway up the grandstands, the open stage and the backdrop of trees and the Blue Mountains before me, a balmy day having turned into a comfortable night, I couldn't imagine being in a better place at that moment than the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheater readying to see the Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of "Much Ado About Nothing."
It was the final performance of Shakespeare Uncork'd, a young annual event in its third year. Many of the patrons had consumed gumbo, salad, a tasty dessert and a glass of wine in preparation for taking in the classic comedy. The Seattle Company decided that its adaptation of Shakespeare's romantic comedy would be set in the Louisiana Bayou. A rather sparse arrangement of a door sandwiched by two Victorian columns, two small white tents, a clothesline, several wicker chairs and a bench, sat in the center of the concrete stage. The production began with a burst of energy that it would maintain throughout. The opening scene started with much of the cast singing the old Mardi gras anthem "Iko Iko" accompanied by an accordion and guitar. Tonight's version of "Much Ado" stayed true to the plays original storyline, outside of references to the Bayou setting and modern interpretations of the old Bard's lines. The success of "Much Ado" always seems to hinge on the performances of the two players portraying Benedict and Beatrice - Benedict the fast quipping independent and garrulous right hand man of Prince Don Pedro, and Beatrice, the quick tongued, stubborn and ,also, independent thinking daughter of Leonardo.
Posted by: Becky St. Clair in Scenery, Events on
May 17, 2010
 When I was in college, I made a list of things I want to do before I die. There are simple things, such as stop by the large antiques and fruit stand on the freeway between Walla Walla and Yakima, or driving a tractor. Then there are things I’ve already done, such as visit London, or become a mother. And finally, there are the complicated things; things that may or may not present an opportunity between now and when I’m laid to rest. Things like riding in a hot air balloon.
The Walla Walla Balloon Stampede is one of those traditions that’s been around longer than I have. It’s an automatic mood-lifter to head to work and discover two dozen hot air balloons watching your commute from the clouds. As you get closer to them, the colours stand out: Bright blues, brilliant reds, stunning greens, cheerful yellows, royal purples and shimmering golds. I always wonder about the people in the baskets beneath those bewitching orbs drifting high above my head. How old are they? How many are in each one? Where are they from? What made them buy a balloon? Where did they learn to fly one? How do they know each other? When will they take me up?
Posted by: Andrew Holt in Events on
Jan 28, 2010
 Tonight, we are headed to the movies. But don't bring your popcorn and soda, for this movie holds no entertainment, although it is a star studded evening in Walla Walla. We are viewing "Cargo: Lost Innocence" - a gritty documentary on human trafficking, directed and produced by actor Michael Cory Davis. The movie presentation and the subsequent panel discussion on human bondage is backed by "Artists for Human Rights" an organization created by Hollywood film artist, Anne Archer. Archer, Davis along with human rights activist Donna Isham and Executive Director of "Artists for Human Rights," Michael Wisner are all in attendance. When asked why they would bring such a film to Walla Walla, a relatively isolated rural community, Davis, Archer and Wisner all respond with the same answer: the fight for human rights starts in your local communities. "Cargo" chronicles the story of two young women who were abducted from their homes, one from Bulgaria the other South America, and brought to the U.S. to be sex slaves in Texas. Davis does a nice job of interspersing sound bites from government officials, who are trying to fight the problem, with gut wrenching interviews with the victims and re-enacted scenes of some of the horrific stories they describe.
Posted by: Sam McLeod in Events, Downtown on
Dec 07, 2009
 If you missed it, the Walla Walla Veterans Day Parade was a classic-five fire trucks, one cement mixer, one cherry picker, one subcompact sporting a banner "Friends of Gays and Lesbians," lots of old guys on motorcycles, plenty of Model T's, and some proud veterans. The Touchet High School Marching Band led the parade. They played "Louie, Louie." I love this place.
Posted by: Andrew Holt in Music, Events on
Jul 13, 2009
 This evening we find ourselves driving down a country road south of Walla Walla, deep in vineyard country, on our way to the final Tasting Music Series concert of the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival. We make a right turn at Waters Winery, winding down the curving descent towards the beautiful wine estate that will host tonight's musical event. Minutes later, as I sit outside on the patio, cheese and cracker in one hand, a glass of viognier in the other, I gaze up at this towering structure comprised of honey colored pine that frames enormous panes of glass, the entering light providing a warm environment for the tasting room as people sip their wine and nibble on an assortment of crackers and cheese. From inside the tasting room, one can take in the wonderful view of the vineyards set against the background of the Blue Mountains.
The Chamber Music Festival is the creation of Seattle classical musician, Tim Christie. After visiting Walla Walla several years ago, Christie decided that the hamlet would be the perfect location for his longtime dream of developing a festival of solely Chamber Music and to do so, by immersing the community with formal concerts, music tasting events, such as the one we are attending tonight, children's concerts and open rehearsals. As Christie explains, the 12-day event is all about bringing Chamber Music to the public and making it more accessible.
Tonight's Music Tasting event is a perfect example.
Posted by: Becky St. Clair in Scenery, Events on
Jul 09, 2009
 A couple of years ago my husband and I decided to stay in Walla Walla for the Fourth of July. Having lived here for coming up on 8 years, we've done something different for Independence Day each year. We decided to stay home this time.
We got the word out and invited anyone we knew who was still in town to our house for a hot dog feed. Everyone brought something...your typical summer get-together with food. We had a plethora of chips and ice cream bars, but somehow...everything got eaten. We played a few games - mostly inside, in front of the air conditioner - and enjoyed a lot of laughs. About an hour before nightfall, our conversation turned to the main event of the day: Fireworks. Most had planned on going down to the fairgrounds to watch the show, but Husband and I decided to stay at the house. We wanted to do something different. As all the taillights disappeared around the corner, we hauled out our ladder and climbed onto the roof above the garage. Though it was only a one-story house, we still had a better view than from the ground. As the sky darkened, the night filled with the pops and sizzles and flashes of colour - some from independent groups doing their own thing, but most from Walla Walla's fantastic fireworks show. When it was over, we climbed back down to reality, put away the ladder, and headed inside with smiles on our faces.
 It's a feast for all the senses! It's a party in a tent!
2008 was the first year for Feast Walla Walla and as one of the 600 attendees, I am here to say - - it was great! And here we are again with Feast Walla Walla 2009 just around the corner, Saturday April 11 from 1-4 pm.
Feast Walla Walla is a celebration of Walla Walla's food, wine and art and it all happens in a tent located at historical downtown Walla Walla on First Avenue and Main Street. It's a wonderful opportunity for locals and tourists to experience what Walla Walla is known for - food, wine and art. Besides entrance with the ticket price, we were given 10 tokens to be used towards food and wine, an etched wine glass commemorating the event and a souvenir plate to hold our "feast."
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