Holidays at the Homestead

Spend your Holidays at the Homestead! The Kalamazoo Nature Center is hosting the season’s most wholesome holiday party at the DeLano Homestead. Built in 1858, this 150-year-old farmhouse is filled with holiday fun and traditions for the entire family.

Decorate trees, make gingerbread cookies and listen to acoustic holiday music in the homestead’s parlor. Enjoy demonstrations by spinners, weavers and blacksmiths. Venture outdoors to tour the 1830’s log cabin replica and imagine a Michigan winter in the wilderness. Weather permitting, horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available, followed by hot cider and refreshments for only $1.

Don’t miss Holidays at the Homestead on Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 14 from 1-4 p.m. The Delano Homestead is located at 555 West E Avenue. For more information, visit www.NatureCenter.org.

Ring in the New Year with the One One Run!

Ring in the New Year the healthy way with the John Daley Memorial One One Run. Held on New Year’s Day, this non-competitive event celebrates the New Year by emphasizing fun, community and support of Kalamazoo youth.

For the past 25 years, as many as 1,300 people have arrived to participate in the One One Run’s festivities of friendship, family, and fitness. Whether the New Year commitment is to personal health, community wellness or a wonderful youth organization, the One One Run is a positive way to begin 2009.

John Daley, long-time Borgess Medical Center Development Director and avid supporter of the Boys & Girls Club, was instrumental in the early years of the One One Run. After his passing, the event was renamed in his honor and proceeds were given to the Boys & Girls Club per his wishes. Last year, this event raised more than $25,000 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo.

The One One Run kicks off on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm at Spring Valley Park in Kalamazoo. Runners, walkers, families, sports teams, dogs, and strollers are all welcome! For more information, please contact Greta Faworski at 269-349-4485 x109 or gretaf@bgckzoo.org. To register online, visit www.active.com and search for One One Run.

"Thanks" "Giving"

I recently shared a small feast with my aunt, uncle and their two children. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes—a savory Sunday evening spread. Within one bite, my heaping plate of food was suddenly my only company. My family and conversation faded into the background as the flavors triggered a heartwarming nostalgia for traditional values.

My aunt offered me a second helping. Twice. As I snapped back to reality and thoughtfully considered whether I could eat more, I realized I was enjoying the best meal in…and I started to count. Weeks. Months. A year?! As a young professional, I have hardly taken the time to appreciate a simple meal. My work ethic deprived my palate as I multi-tasked my way through nearly every bite—I ate while driving, walking, typing, you name it.

This year, more than ever, I anticipate Thanksgiving. As every holiday becomes more commercialized, the simplicity of Thanksgiving has remained a reliable constant. In the face of economic turmoil, war and illness, it is important to recognize and celebrate our abundant blessings: friends and family.

I look forward to sharing a meal with my family instead of hastily eating on the run this Thanksgiving. However, I remember there are people in our community who are challenged daily to find even the hastiest meal. That’s why it is important to share our blessings and resources with those who are not as fortunate this holiday season.

To learn how you can donate food or volunteer for those in need, visit The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Ministry with Community, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes and the Kalamazoo Deacon’s Conference.

“Thanks” is easy. Consider “Giving” this Thanksgiving.

I've Got a Winery in Kalamazoo

The other day I was sitting at the tasting bar in Tempo Vino, a downtown Kalamazoo winery on E. Michigan, tasting through a flight of wines.  The Pinot Grigio was bright, fresh, and surprisingly aromatic.  The Amarone’s deep, rich color was matched by the blackberry, plum, and tobacco notes on the palate.  As a wine enthusiast, I was skeptical about tasting the fruit flavored Black Currant Merlot, but found it to be delicious, and with a balanced sweetness. 

 

However, it wasn’t until I began listening in on a conversation between a customer and the woman behind the bar that it hit me what really made these wines special.  “It’s for our friends in Wisconsin,” the customer, purchasing a wine bottle, explained.  “They moved away a number of years ago, and we wanted to send them something ‘Kalamazoo’.”  And how Kalamazoo it is.

 

The woman behind the bar is owner and proprietor Irene Kokkinos, a Kalamazoo area native who opened the winery in 2005.  At the time it was part of the Vintner’s Cellar Winery franchise, but she has recently bought it out, making it completely locally owned and operated.  Additionally, sole ownership gives her more freedom to find local sources for grapes.  Irene wants to give her Kalamazoo winery even more of a local touch.

 

Currently, the wines are made in-house with juice sourced from different regions in California, as well as northern Italy and the Chianti region. Winemaker Alex Mantakounis, a Western Michigan University grad, has compiled a handful of awards for their finished product, including an award in Winemaker Magazine for the Amarone I tasted.  

 

The winery is cozy and quaint, and they’ve put all of their fermenting vessels on display so you can watch the winemaking process happen.  Interestingly, not all of these vessels are making the wine that they sell over the bar.  Much of the wine produced is for special orders.  At Tempo Vino, one of the aspects that sets them apart from other Kalamazoo area wineries is that they allow people to make their own wine. Customers can come in, taste through a series of completed wine, then discuss what characteristics they want in their own wine.  Tempo Vino tailors each wine to the customers wishes, making it sweeter or dryer, lighter or heavier, or even adding oak aging, depending on the customer’s individual tastes.  Then, you can choose or design your own label.

 

Irene mentioned that people make their own wines for everything from holiday gifts to weddings or just personalized bottles to break out when friends are over.  Some of them even try making it on their own after a few batches, and Tempo Vino sells the wine-making kits to do so.  Irene is excited about the enthusiasm for wine in Kalamazoo right now, and her success, along with success of some of the wine themed restaurants that have opened up in town, is encouraging.

Tempo Vino is located at 260 E. Michigan in downtown Kalamazoo.  Call Irene during business hours at (269) 342-WINE or get more information at www.vintnerscellarwinery.com.

 

On that note, here is this week’s wine tip: get sparkling wine off of that pedestal.  The American trend is to only drink sparkling wine on celebrations or holidays, especially New Year’s.  Sparkling wine actually makes a wonderful aperitif and is a great way to get your taste buds ready at the start of any meal.  A glass of Prosecco, Cava, Champagne, or even just a California sparkling white will liven up your palate and enhance your ensuing meal.  Given this, and its fun effervescent nature, sparkling wine is a ‘must have’ starter anytime you have guests for dinner.  

 

Experience Wine in Kalamazoo

Winter is here, and with it comes more than just cold weather. With each season comes a mindset. Suddenly the refreshment that comes with a cold beer on a hot summer day is replaced by the coziness of nice glass of wine at the holiday table.  Yes, it is wine season, and Kalamazoo offers some great ways to experience it.

New to Kalamazoo is The Wine Loft at 161 E. Michigan.  This downtown wine bar has more than 30 different wines available by the glass.  Another wine focused restaurant is the Epic Bistro at 359 S. Burdick. For the casual wine consumer, wine can be a scary thing.  There is a certain mystique, and a touch of snobbery, that surrounds it.  Demystify it by trying a glass of something you have never had, or heard of, before.  Take note of what you like about it, and why?  Talk to the bartender or manager about the wines you like, and get some information about the wine, like where it’s from and what food it pairs with.  You might be surprised at what you find out about your taste in wine, and you may save yourself a little time the next time you’re picking up a bottle.

One of the most rewarding and fun ways to learn about wine is to buy it at wine focused bottle shops.  Introduce yourself to the proprietors and staff and ask them what they like.  They are in the business of helping you discover your palate.  Let them know what styles you’re familiar with, and why you like them.  They can take that information and suggest wines you may never have considered.  After drinking it, go back and let them know if you liked it, and why.  With this information, they can hone in even more on what you like.  This is how you discover your palate.  Ask for Saad over at Tiffany’s on West Main, or Sam and Jerre at Salut on Gull Road, or Brian at Bacchus on Oakland.

If you would like to develop your wine knowledge or your palette even more, Kalamazoo has some great wine tasting clubs and events for all levels of wine experience. 

The Tasters Guild has a chapter in Kalamazoo that brings together lovers of fine wine and food.  The Guild hosts food pairing events, wine judging competitions, and casual tastings.  For more information, check go to www.tastersguild.com or call locally at (269) 649-0616.

Food Dance and the Park Club offer regular wine tastings.  The next pairings at Food Dance include a Thanksgiving Wine Tasting on November 10^th, and an Italian Solstice Wine Tasting on December 17^th.  Go to www.fooddance.net for more information, or call locally at (269) 382-1888.

For those that would like to see the inner workings of how wine is transformed from grapes, the Kalamazoo area has some great wineries.  In fact, in the Orbitz Food & Wine Index, which tracks travel for food and wine related excursions, Kalamazoo was noted as one of the top 10 fastest growing wine regions in America. 

The St. Julian Winery, at 716 S. Kalamazoo St. in Paw Paw, offers regular winery tours, and a tasting room open seven days a week.  Touring the facility give you a real appreciation for the time and care that it takes to produce that bottle of wine sitting on your dinner table.

Tempo Vino Winery, at 260 E. Michigan downtown, offers a tasting bar for a sampling of their wines.  But what makes Tempo Vino really special is that they allow customers to create their own wine, and wine labels.  Work with the winemaker on a recipe that fits your tastes, and 6-8 weeks later you can enjoy the finished product of your creation.  Visit www.vintnerscellarwinery.com for details, or call locally at (269) 342-9463.

There are all kinds of ways to increase your wine knowledge and enhance your wine experience in Kalamazoo, regardless of your experience with it.  There is a saying in the wine world: “The more you know, the less you know.”  You could devote your life to the study of wine, and still learn something new everyday.  The important thing is that wine drinking should be fun, social, and enjoyably.  Kalamazoo has some great places to make your wine experience just that.

Here’s a winter wine tip for the coming holidays: the perfect wine pairing for turkey and ham is Riesling.  The slight sweetness in Riesling acts almost like a honey glaze when consumed just after a bite of succulent meat.  Additionally, while the sweetness masks it, the acidity levels in Rieslings can actually be quite high.  This acidity is what makes your mouth salivate, and enhances the flavor of the food you eat.

Spared From the Storm at KIA

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is honored to feature its newest exhibition, “Spared from the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art,” from November 8, 2008 until February 8, 2009.

This rare ticketed exhibit features nearly 100 priceless works from the New Orleans Museum of Art that were spared from Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftereffects. The KIA will host 17th through mid-20th century paintings and sculptures by Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Miró, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Auguste Rodin, John Singer Sargent and Giambattista Tiepolo.

The KIA will commemorate the exhibits opening with a free mini-concert of spirituals and French Christmas carols performed by the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Choir on Saturday, November 8 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for this family-friendly exhibit are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors and students and groups of 15 or more people; $5 for KIA members. For more information, call (269) 349-7775, or visit http://www.kiarts.org.

“Spared From the Storm” Exhibit Schedule:
November 8, 2008 -February 8, 2009
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.;
Sunday: noon-6 p.m.

2008 Jingle Bell Run/Walk

Celebrate the start of the holiday season by giving at the 2008 Jingle Bell Run/Walk. This annual event raises money and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation. Participants tie jingle bells to their shoes and may wear a festive holiday costume for the running or walking route. Conclude this great event by watching the 47th Annual Holiday Parade in Downtown Kalamazoo.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. on November 8th on Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Arcadia Campus, 202 N. Rose Street. Registration is $35. To learn more or to register, visit the Jingle Bell Run/Walk on-line.

Be there…with bells on!

Kalamazoo's 47th Annual Holiday Parade

Don’t miss the 47th Annual Kalamazoo Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 8th at 11 a.m. This popular parade kicks off an exciting day in Downtown Kalamazoo! Witness festive floats, three-story-tall helium balloons of your favorite holiday characters, jolly music from area high-school bands and a special visit from Old St. Nick.

The parade route begins on Lovell Street near Pfizer and continues west on Lovell to Park; north on Park to Michigan Ave.; east on Michigan Ave. to Pitcher; south on Pitcher, concluding on Lovell St.

Promise Week III: November 7-15

Don’t miss Promise Week III, the annual recognition and discussion of progress in making the Kalamazoo Promise a reality for many. Throughout the week of November 7 through 15, community members and leaders will highlight continuing efforts to build the Kalamazoo Promise, plans for future community building efforts and economic development potential, opportunities to revitalize the urban core, provide support for young people throughout the community and improve the quality of life in the Greater Kalamazoo area.

Promise Week III is supported by a broad coalition of interests who seek to engage the community in providing outstanding education and a path to success for all students, to revive the area and to create a “region of choice” for economic development. This year, Promise Week will address these important questions:

• What has happened since the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship program was announced three years ago?

• What does it mean to me, regardless of whether I am not among those who send their children to Kalamazoo Public Schools?

• How can I get involved in the “Promise of a Greater Kalamazoo,” an effort to build on the gift of the Kalamazoo Promise and stimulate the vitality of the region through education and quality-of-life initiatives?

Promise Week III is a continuation of the ongoing effort to build on the promise of a Greater Kalamazoo! Don’t miss any of the exciting events listed below. For more information, please visit: www.promiseweek.com or call the Special Events Line at (269) 345-1913.


Promise Week III: Leadership by Example
Events Calendar, November 7-15, 2008


Art Hop
Friday, November 7th, 2008
Downtown Kalmazoo | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm (times may vary)

This month's Art Hop features several exhibits with educational themes, including the work of Kalamazoo Public Schools students, alumni, and teachers at Kalamazoo Communities In Schools/Kalamazoo Promise (125 W. Exchange Place); K/Resa - Education for the Arts Teaching Artists Showcase at the Epic Center (359 S. Kalamazoo Mall), and performances by youth from the ACT OUT program at the City of Kalamazoo Youth Development Center (230 E. Crosstown Parkway). To download a map, visit the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.


Marketing Kalamazoo and its Promise
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Radisson Hotel - Kalamazoo | 7:30 am - 9:00 am

A panel discussion of how area business and organizations can leverage the Kalamazoo Promise to support their mission or goals. Will include speakers from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Michigan First, and Allen Edwin Home; Blaine Lam (moderator).


Arts Education and Community Success
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Organizations that are aligning their activities with the broader goals of the Kalamazoo Promise will be featured. Speakers include area arts students as well as representatives of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Theater, and Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers.


Business/Education Roundtable
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Radisson Hotel - Kalamazoo | 7:30 am - 9:00 am

A community conversation around what businesses are doing to connect with education. Will include speakers from Monroe-Brown internship program, Pfizer's Partners in Education, BASIC, Eaton Corp's Big Brothers Big Sisters in Business program, and small business rep. Ron Kitchens (moderator).


What the Promise Means to You
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick (at North Street) | 12:00 - 3:00 pm

Join members of the Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization and Ecumenical Senior Center in a celebration of Promise Week. The afternoon event will include youth entertainment, refreshments, networking, an open discussion of the Kalamazoo Promise, and display of the Kalamazoo Promise Traveling Exhibit. For more information, call 344-2330.


Meet Author/Illustrator Kadir Nelson
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Kalamazoo Public Library - Eastwood Branch | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Hear from this year's featured children's author about his stunning illustrated history, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Books for sale and signing. Refreshments served.


31st Annual Mary Caletto Rife Children's Literature Seminar
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kadir Nelson, author of picture books about Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. DuBois, Duke Ellington, Michael Jordan, and Henry Brown, the slave who literally mailed himself to freedom, is the featured author at this annual celebration of great books for children. Registration required; $35 fee includes lunch | students $5 without lunch, $15 with lunch. Call 553-7804 or register online, here.

Leadership Kalamazoo Breakfast features Celebrated Speaker

Leadership Kalamazoo will host a breakfast featuring Bill Strickland on Thursday, November 6, from 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

Bill Strickland is a nationally renowned speaker and social innovator. His captivating story involves personal and community transformation from poverty and defeat to strength and success. For more than 30 years, Strickland has inspired thousands through his powerful words, ideas, and the creation of a job training center and community arts program in his hometown. According to Strickland, “success is the point where your most authentic talents, passion, values, and experiences intersect with the chance to contribute to some greater good.” To learn more about Bill Strickland, visit http://www.bill-strickland.org/.

Tickets are $40 for the general public and $30 for Leadership Kalamazoo members. Click on the link to reserve your seat today!