C’mon Get Happy

By Heather Caro

We love a girl who puts a little consideration into her martini.

That’s why, when reader Angela Wentz asked us for help finding the best outdoor happy hours in Yakima, we couldn’t turn her away. She had a serious list of criteria: great service was a must, an outdoor seating area, and, of course, good happy hour specials.  Said Angela, “Everyone knows that if you can get a discount it makes the fare that much better.”

We had our work cut out for us, but to make it easier, we enlisted Angela to help.  And many happy hours of research later, we developed a list of a few sunny spots we think are worthy of even more investigation.

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They’re Pretty and You Can Eat ‘Em Too

By Carol Barany

July and August are months of lush abundance in the Yakima Valley, when gardens explode not only with extraordinary produce, but with extravagant flowers. For centuries and across many cultures, flowers have provided not only a feast for the eyes, but for the palate as well. Many flowers are edible and can make a beautiful and delicious addition to recipes.

But before you head into the garden and pick a bunch of blooms to add to tonight’s dinner menu, it’s important that you know precisely what you are eating.

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Farmers Market Eats!

By Robin Salts Beckett

Photos by Sara Gettys

Yakima’s Farmers Market on Yakima Avenue and Third Street has long been known as the place to find fresh, local fruit and vegetables for dinners at home, but it also offers a delicious array of food that’s ready-to-eat; in fact, it’s a veritable outdoor food plaza, with dishes like pad thai, lumpia and even the decadent and ever-so-French pain au chocolat beckoning hungry shoppers to stop and stay awhile. Visitors can follow their nose, grab a bite and find a nice place to sit and taste the flavor of the market right there on Third Street.

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Cherry Recipes We Adore

Life is just a bowl of cherries…especially when you live in the Yakima Valley!  Don’t let the season pass you by without enjoying sweet (or savory) treats made from cherries straight from the tree.

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

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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Scavenger Hunt For Yakima’s Public Art

By Melissa S. Labberton

Photos by Cal Blethen

Whether it’s the Sphinx in Egypt or Michelangelo’s David in Florence, Italy, public art is a hallmark of a civilized society. Yakima has been the fortunate recipient of a number of public art installations that have added a dynamic artistic dimension to our city.

But do you know where they are?

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A Taste for Wine – and Adventure

A Taste for Wine – and Adventure

By Heather Caro

Interested in savoring local sage-steppe scenery with wineglass in hand? Intrepid wine lovers might enjoy a visit to TRY – Tasting Room Yakima in Naches.

From wildlife viewing and a picnic lunch to mountain biking and rock climbing, visitors here have much to choose from to satisfy a taste for adventure as well as fine wine. The sweetest treats from TRY – aside from vintages featured from Wilridge Winery, Naches Heights Vineyard, Harlequin Wine Cellars and Mountain Dome – are the many outdoor delights available on site.

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