Take a Chair

by Christina McCarthy on Nov 10, 2011

“The thing about chairs is they’re always inviting you to sit awhile, to rest, or meditate, or even curl up and sleep. I think I’ve always had something of a love affair with chairs.”— LeAnne Ries

Yakima artist LeAnne Ries has a point.

Just sitting in a room — even an empty room — chairs call to us. The straight-backed dining chair tells us, “Sit, dinner is ready.” The over-stuffed armchair suggests, “Go get your book. I’ll wait for you to get back.” Even the hard wooden pews of a church remind us through their upright backs and hard seats, “Sit, but don’t get too comfortable. Pay attention.”

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Life at Folklife

by Christina McCarthy on May 6, 2011

A variety of performers travel from all over to entertain the crowds.

By Christina McCarthy

File Photos by Andy Sawyer

Quick! No thinking about it. Just say what comes to mind when someone says the words … FOLK MUSIC.

Is it acoustic guitars and harmonicas? Hippies and flower children? Voices with a quaint Southern twang?

If you said yes to any or all of these, that’s not surprising. Folk music’s roots lie in the songs that tell the tales of courage … the music of singer-songwriters, whose souls are just begging to be made into music that must be shared.

But folk music goes even deeper than that, touching on nearly ever other genre of music, as well as other areas of life. For evidence of that, one need go no further than Franklin Park, where the Yakima Folklife Festival has celebrated the wonder, joy and art of — well, all that is folksy, for most of the past 30-some years.

Grass Roots
Back in the early 1970s, when it all began, the event didn’t happen annually. There was just too much going on, and the dedicated volunteers couldn’t quite pull it off every summer. But since the 1980s, the Yakima Folklife Festival has been going (and growing) strong, and this year, from July 8-10, the event celebrates its 29th birthday.

Brian Felix is the current president of the Yakima Folklife Association, and one of the last founders still serving on the association. He’s quick to share what makes this Franklin Park event so special to the area.

“It’s the community,” he maintains, “and the community-driven nature of the organization that has kept the festival — as well as our Winter Concert Series — alive and well.”

The original group just wanted some “good, clean fun for families.” The first festival, held in 1974, “was free to the public and the musicians didn’t get paid,” he says. “People brought food to share, and made sure that everyone was fed. It was a good time, and a pretty good definition of a ‘community event.’”

Today

Felix says it’s that kind of thinking that has kept the festival alive over the years, and many of those original ideas still exist today. The Folklife Festival remains free to the community. Musicians still receive no artist fees (though they do get to sell CDs). Even the Folklife Association remains completely voluntary. “Our theory has been: do the best we can for the musicians, do the best we can for the audience, and everything else will pretty much fall into place. It’s been working now for almost 30 years.”

In other ways, though, the Folklife Festival has grown just as the community has, and it now offers experiences that are sure to please everyone, from music junkies to business people to the kids.

Music and dance now span five separate stages, each carefully designed with professional sound equipment that maximizes music potential, without bleeding sound into the other staging areas. Musicians come from across the U.S. and Canada. Everything from blue grass to salsa to high school rock bands perform, and on Friday and Saturday evenings, seven to 10 downtown Yakima venues are added, each offering free performances with changing performers every hour.

“Truly,” Felix explains, “you can sit at North Town Coffee(house) or Bob’s Keg ‘n Cork and hear five or six different acts for the price of a drink or two. There aren’t many other places around where you can do that. What we have here is really special.”

But That’s Not All!
Today’s Folklife Festival is more than just music. Each year, vendors come from far and near to sell their wares: cookies or ethnic foods, handmade jewelry or pottery are among the items for sale.

Hunger is not an issue at the event. If you’re craving something sweet, there’s baklava, candied apples and homemade scones. For those in need of something a little more savory, the Greek gyros are a hit and are made fresh on the spot. It’s easy to find a cool respite from the July heat, too — with iced espresso drinks, fresh-squeezed lemonade and root beer floats.

Once tummies are topped off, kids can try their hands at many of the activities designed just for the younger set. Ride the kiddie train around the park, cool off with the Yakima Fire Department’s giant water slide, or head inside the Yakima Valley Museum to hang out in the (air-conditioned) Children’s Underground for a spell.

Of particular interest is the Society for Creative Anachronism’s Medieval Faire demonstrations. Chain mail-clad “knights” duel with huge, heavy swords. The society also operates a real forge, where passers-by can watch in fascination as red-hot iron is slowly pounded into fighting weapons.

Though pushing 30, the Yakima Folklife Festival continues to shine as one of the region’s longest lasting, family-friendly events. It continues to improve with age. Whether you enjoy the music and festivities in Franklin Park, or take in the tunes downtown, you’ll want to make sure that you join the party.

Yakima Folklife Festival
July 8-10, 2011
Franklin Park and various downtown Yakima venues
yakimafolklife.org

Here’s just a sample of the live entertainment at this year’s festival:
Stroughmatt Creole Band
Reggie Garrett and the Snake Oil Peddlers
Bye Bye Chinook Band
Pat Moss Blues Band
Wild Coconuts
The Southern Blue Grass Band
The Rod Giles Band
Reggae Allstars
Tracy Spring
Aloha Hawaiian Band
The Irish Green Celtic Band
Locust Street Taxi
Brandan Wise
Dan Mahre on Inland Folk

…and a list of the downtown venues for 2011
Bob’s Keg n Cork
Kana Winery
Bill’s Place
Sports Center
North Town Coffeehouse
Russillo’s

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Cle Elum and Roslyn: Nostalgia and Adventure Await

by Christina McCarthy on May 6, 2011

By Christina McCarthy

Photos by Chad Bremerman

It’s getting to be that time of year, when the sunshine and blue skies make dreams of quick weekend getaways a real possibility. Whether you want to travel by Harley or SUV for a romantic couple’s weekend or a family adventure, you needn’t go far to get just what you need.

Kittitas County is probably best known for the community of Ellensburg, Central Washington University and boat-happy Vantage, but the upper county boasts other destinations that are ideal for a quick day trip or overnighter.

Cle Elum, South Cle Elum and their charming neighbor, Roslyn, sit nestled on the edge of the beautiful and vast Wenatchee National Forest at the base of the Cascade Mountains. Founded back in the late 1800s, Cle Elum’s coal miners and loggers of yesteryear are gone, but the rustic charm and rural lifestyle live on. While the towns are quaint and laid back, the surrounding area is wild and untamed, promising something for everyone.

With its close proximity to mountain forest and high-country lakes and streams, the area is a paradise for hiking, cycling, backpacking, fishing and camping this time of year. For an ideal starting point for a day hike or ride, visit Iron Horse State Park, a beautiful 1,600-acre park with more than 100 miles of trails. The main trail cuts right through South Cle Elum, and is well marked with signs indicating trail access.

Located between the Cle Elum River and Cooper River is Salmon la Sac Campground, a popular place for hikers and kayakers, as well as families looking for a great place to enjoy a picnic, camping or fishing. The campground is about 35 minutes by car from Cle Elum, but the beauty and tranquility of the area is worth the short drive (reservations for camping sites suggested). There is excellent lake fishing a few short miles away at Cle Elum Lake, Little Kachess Lake and Keechelus Lake, offering anglers a shot at hooking Kokanee and trout.

What to Do – Relaxing

Camping and fishing not your thing? Not to worry. Cle Elum and Roslyn are full of interesting shops to roam through and quaint museums to explore. Antiques, unique jewelry and fun tees can be found throughout the towns’ main streets, and everyone will want to get a souvenir moose in Roslyn. When you return home, you’ll have proof you were in Northern Exposure’s mythical town of Cicily, Alaska.

Being historic towns, catching a glimpse of times gone by is easy. The Carpenter House Museum in Cle Elum is a lovely, 1914 mansion that tells the story of one of the area’s first wealthy families. Today it houses a group of artists and is filled with beautiful art displays. The Roslyn Museum is another great find, and houses much of the memorabilia from the town’s coal-mining past, offering visitors a peek into its history.

Since we’re talking about relaxing, it wouldn’t be right not to mention Suncadia Resort, the area’s newest claim to fame. Boasting a world-class, 18-hole golf course, pool, full-service day spa, gourmet dining and luxurious lodging, Suncadia can provide a break from the daily grind for busy couples and harried families (and they’ll even let you bring Fido along!).

Must Sees

No matter how brief your visit, there are a couple stops in the little towns that you simply must experience. In Roslyn, it’s The Brick. Established in 1889, the folks at The Brick say it’s the oldest continuously operating saloon in Washington.  From the massive 100-year-old bar to the 30-foot brass spittoon to the motorcycles normally parked out front, The Brick is a destination in itself. And kids are allowed in daily until 9 p.m.

The Cle Elum Bakery is another stop. Plan to get there early, as the more popular items are often sold out by noon. Alyssa Rahr, 22, who’s worked at the bakery for three years, says that many of their customers are traveling regulars — those who often drive through Cle Elum and make a regular stop at the bakery to pick up some goodies for the trip.

If you can’t go too long without that caffeine fix, be sure to stop in to Cle Elum’s Pioneer Coffee Company. Even visitors from Seattle will tell you that its house-roasted beans and talented baristas are as good as anything found on the coffee-inundated west side (although they do have a café there too). The coffee shop is also a beautiful place to stop and relax during your adventures.

For carnivores, there are two meat shops to visit.  Glondo’s Sausage Company and Owens Meats — both in Cle Elum — provide residents and visitors with great beef jerky, sausages, smoked meats and steaks. Located just a few doors apart, Glondo’s and Owens are a meat lover’s paradise.

Time for Bed

Turning a day trip into an overnighter is not a problem. When making reservations, be sure to check out Iron Horse Inn Bed and Breakfast. The main hall of the inn offers an escape to an earlier time, with iron-framed antique beds, pastel-striped wallpapers and fluffy quilts. They even offer four one-of-a-kind “caboose car suites” made from real, renovated train cabooses. With private baths, TVs, microwaves and refrigerators, the caboose car suites are perfect for families, or those who want a little more privacy than the main house offers.

The Huckleberry House in Roslyn offers a quiet spot for respite and romance. The innkeepers are committed to being environmentally conscious and use sustainable practices. For visitors, that means lounging on organic cotton sheets, eating local, organically grown food (and fair-trade chocolate and sugar in their wonderful chocolate chip cookies), and — if you like — beginning each morning with yoga. Cozy and private, the Huckleberry House is described by many as a favorite “home away from home.”

The Brick

If you visit, be sure to ask for a tour of the basement jail cells — that’s right: jail cells.  Colette Wallace, who’s worked at The Brick for a year as a server and bartender, says that two replica cells were added to an original (used in the past for unruly patrons) for the filming of the 1979 Dick Van Dyke film A Runner Stumbles.

Cle Elum Bakery

Rohr says the Dutch Crunch Bread is the most popular item, but if you go, be sure to try their gooey and delicious Maple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls and the doughnuts.  The bakery’s original brick oven has never been cooled — and since the bakery was established in 1906, that’s saying something.

Glondo’s Sausage Factory

…packs a lot of product into its storefront: there are more than 60 cheeses available, and the special meats offered are amazing (don’t leave without some imported prosciutto).  Owned and run by jovial Charlie Glondo — who also happens to be Cle Elum’s mayor — the meat shop will mark its 25^th anniversary on the 4^th of July. Charlie’s entire family works at Glondo’s, which is probably why he says, “Everything we make is special.”

Mary Pittis, who owns the bed and breakfast with husband Doug, is part innkeeper and part historian.  Don’t miss out on her stories of how the Milwaukee Railroad Train Men’s Bunkhouse became a bed and breakfast.  “After 12 years,” she says, “you sorta’ pick up a couple of things.”

Roslyn Museum

The path of an old Northern Pacific Railway line is now the trail for a historical walk for visitors, complete with markers that identify “significant” sites.

Pioneer Coffee Company

JoAnna Madsen, whose husband, Christopher, started the coffee company in Fall City in 2001, says the Roslyn café is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in May. Make sure to take a gander at your coffee before the top goes on — the baristas create a design with foam that is delicious art.

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From Yakima to Peking to Paris

by Christina McCarthy on Nov 5, 2010

By Christina McCarthy

What would you do for a magnum of Mumm champagne?

In 1907, the champagne was the prize offered for an absurd, nearly impossible journey, when the editors of French newspaper Le Matin issued a challenge to the entire world: “Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Paris to Peking by automobile?”

At the time, cars had been around just 20 years or so. Manufacturers were still working out the glitches, and overall, vehicles were unreliable and temperamental. While many believed the crazy contraptions would never replace horses, there were those who believed that man and the mechanical beast would change the world.

Eleven men driving five cars rose to the occasion. The route was reversed to avoid torrential monsoon rains, and began in Peking (also known as Beijing), China, in May 1907. The course would take the contestants over mountain ranges and two major deserts. Camels hauled fuel, and often, roads were nonexistent.

Sixty-one days later, four of the five cars finished the race, providing ample evidence that indeed, when paired with an automobile, man could overcome substantial obstacles.

Though there have been other transcontinental expeditions, it wasn’t until 2005 that the original route was closely retraced, using rebuilt, original vintage cars. The drivers this time had the advantages of maps, GPS systems and other modern amenities, but the use of vintage cars, rutted and nonexistent roads, and typical uncooperative weather made the journey a difficult one. In a 2007 repeat event, 106 cars finished the nearly 9,000-mile route.

This year’s Peking to Paris Motor Challenge began Sept. 10 and ended Oct. 16. It followed a similar route as the original rally, covering 11 countries, including an eight-day stretch in the Gobi Desert. To help even the field, participants were classified according to the age of the cars, from “Pioneer” — pre-1921 vehicles — to “Organization Vehicles,” the classification given to modern-day Land Rovers, Ford Rangers and the like. Of the 165 teams entered, 11 came from the United States — including two teams from the Yakima Valley. Two other Valley residents have partnered with participants from foreign countries.

Team 33 Leslie Roy and Rand Elliot

For the past 2 1/2 years, Leslie Roy, president of Roy Farms, and Rand Elliott, a Yakima County commissioner, prepared for the adventure of a lifetime. Initially, Roy planned on being the third man on a local team led by Doug MacKennon. But when race officials eliminated the third-man option, Roy began talking about the race to Elliott, and soon the two had formed a team of their own.

The first challenge for Team 33 was finding a car. Using the Internet, they searched for a classy convertible and found one in Tyler, Texas. Though the car had been rebuilt, the owner knew it wouldn’t make the drive from Texas to Washington, so the 1935 Ford Phaeton was shipped to Yakima. Turned out it was a good thing that Roy, having worked on tractors all his life, was engine-savvy.

“We drove it off the trailer, about 100 yards, and it just quit,” he laughs. “So we had to start from scratch.”

The car was taken down to the bare bones, and aside from having the engine rebuilt professionally, Elliott and Roy — with some help from Bill Ross and Tony Neisz — did the work themselves.

It took two years for the car to be completely rebuilt and race-ready, featuring a flathead V8 and safety roll bar. They added a few other amenities, but purposefully left it pretty basic.

“Less to repair,” quips Elliott.

In spite of their work, a chipped gear in the transmission of the Ford turned up on day five of the event, and after several attempted repairs, No. 33 was retired from the lineup. Elliott and Roy, however, were not down for long. A guide led them to a “car bazaar,” featuring thousands of used autos. The two managed to find and purchase a 1991 Subaru Legacy, quickly numbering it “33B.” Within a few days, the “guys in the Subaru” — as they came to be called — had reunited with the rest of the participants.

Danny Day, who owns Sunfair Marketing, was intrigued the first time he heard about the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, but that intrigue quickly turned into a desire to participate. When he told his longtime friend and motorcycling buddy Bill Shields about it, Day found a partner who was up for the challenge. They dubbed their endeavor “Bill and Danny’s Great Adventure,” and since then, the two men and their families endured a whirlwind of preparation.

Shields, who owns Rainier Plastics, located a 1939 Dodge Business Coupe in a friend’s Selah pasture and bought it. Then, with the help of locals Bob Strode and Mitch Dehnhoff, the yearlong transformation began.

The car was dismantled and the chassis reinforced. Steering and brakes were upgraded, and the engine was replaced with a Chrysler block housing and custom-made internals. As a result, the car has double the original horsepower while still remaining faithful to the rules and spirit of the event.

Luxury upgrades were made as well, including bucket seats, a refrigerator/freezer, a sound/video system and new insulation and upholstery. The car was also equipped with two GPS systems and a rally computer. The beautiful light cream enamel paint done by The Trick Shop in Yakima made the old Dodge look as if it just rolled off the assembly line.

Shields was the driver, and Day took on the task of navigating.

“In this race, the driving is the easy part,” explained Day prior to the race. “There are pages of maps and GPS coordinates (that) must be continually updated to remain in compliance (and locatable) with race officials.”

Shields and Day wanted to tie their efforts to a worthwhile cause, and they chose Yakima’s Pegasus Project, a program providing therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities to those with special needs and disabilities. Both men are excited that 100 percent of the donations that friends and strangers have been making will benefit children and adults with special needs.

Two more of the more than 100 entrants also hail from Yakima. Doug MacKennon raced with an international partner in a 1939 Chevrolet Speedster, and Jim Kabrick drove 1939 Dodge D11 Deluxe with another international driver. All four cars from the Yakima Valley raced in the “Vintageant” classification, featuring cars originally produced between 1922 and 1941.

Past vs. Present

Though there are still many trials and tribulations to the endurance contest, many of the dangers inherent to the original journey have been overcome. In spite of specifications required of participant cars, allowable modifications mean greater comfort and safety, particularly things like roll bars, seat belts and climate control systems.

Navigation has come a long way, too. In the original rally, days-long portions of the route snaked through desolate desert and mountainous regions. To stay on course, drivers had to attempt to follow telegraph cables. And at some country borders, government officials were unwelcoming, forcing detours into further uncharted areas.

Today, along with GPS and highly detailed maps, a satellite system (Skytag) can just about pinpoint a car’s position at any time, and many of the cars have computers on board as well. The Endurance Rally Association, the group responsible for organizing the event, has managed to eliminate most of the government red tape, and just before the race began, eliminated a 12^th country, Kurgystan, due to civil unrest and the possibility of dangers there.

Fueling and dealing with mechanical issues are much different as well. Tanker trucks of fuel have replaced camels, and though just about all the drivers and navigators are well-versed in repairing their vehicles, support and parts from local mechanics are also allowed, meaning professional help for the participants, and new bragging rights for the local mechanics.

By the Oct. 16 conclusion of the race, all of the participants had collected trunkloads of memories … some of them no doubt similar to those of their predecessors. Roy and Elliott of Team 33 completed the route in the Subaru, 33B. Day and Shields, Team 70, finished 15^th in their class division and 23^rd overall, earning them a bronze medal.

But more valuable to these four than finishing or placing are the experiences they’ve had along the way. In spite of a few glitches with passports and border crossings, blowing gaskets and losing bearings, these lucky guys went on a grand adventure, one where people help one another in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie. For the foursome — as well as most every other participant — the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge was a true journey of a lifetime.

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Don’t Forget the Baklava: One roadtrip’s best-kept secret

by Christina McCarthy on May 7, 2010

[slideshow id=28]By Christina McCarthy

Photos by Patty Dirienzo

An hour from Yakima, tucked away under the trees just outside of Goldendale, is a land of milk and honey … and cinnamon and jam, and sweet Greek coffee. The St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery owns and operates this treasure, known to most as simply “the Greek Bakery.”

For the past seven years, the Greek Bakery has been a favorite stop for those who appreciate genuine Greek pastries and gyros. I’ve stopped there myself, but more out of curiosity rather than love of all things Greek and edible. However, my most recent visit — taken with the purpose of learning enough about the bakery to write a little article — has turned me into a fan of their sweet delights. I will be back.

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