Surprise, Surprise: And Ode to Walla Walla Springtime

By Staff Writer Michael Espinoza
Photo Credit Ryan Vandenburgh

Here it is, friends. Spring has finally sprung. This month, I will describe what you have to look forward to in the coming months: non-extra-hour alternative events, weather, people and places of spring.

First of all, has anyone noticed that it's been really rainy and really cloudy for about a month now? I did too. You've probably also had your co-workers explain to you that this is uncommon. Although we do get most of our precipitation in spring and fall, these solid blocks of stormy weather are indeed uncommon. According to the Chamber of Commerce, you can expect "spectacular springs," and this has always been my experience. You have probably already noticed daffodils blooming all over town, a sure sign that warm spring days are sure to follow. As the summer approaches, you can begin to expect long days, with last light dwindling after 9pm!

Arts

Symphony
Did you know that Walla Walla has the oldest symphony in the west? Closing its 104th season on April 19th, the Walla Walla Symphony performs "The Magic of Mozart" with guest vocalists at Cordiner Hall, located on the Whitman Campus. If you have never been to a symphony or you love a symphony or anywhere in between, tickets start at $47, fairly cheap for live orchestral music. A funny fact: The director, Yakof Bergman, used to direct the Colorado Springs Symphony when I had season tickets as a child. He seems to be following me, and I'm very happy for it.

Art Walk
The first Friday of every month starting in May is ArtWALK Walla Walla, a chance to tour 21 studios and galleries, located all in the downtown area (walking distance). Friday nights, from my experience, are a magical time to walk or bike around town in May and June. First Fridays give this a lot more truth. Experience the diverse range of local artistry already located around town and visit galleries you never knew were there (like the Museum of Unnatural History, located above Valley Vision on Main). All galleries are free and open to the public on First Fridays. Check out the info booth on Main for a walking map.

Taste Walla Walla
What happens when the local food scene takes over a whole block near First and Main for an eater's paradise? It's Taste Walla Walla, all day on April 9. Local restaurants and food vendors will all be there to offer samples of their faire. Some wine producers will also be there for attendees of age. If you haven't been able to visit some of the finer local restaurants, this is an opportunity to try a bite from all of them under one big tent for $45. Tickets are available at the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation or at their website.

Community Events

Farmer's Market
Yes, we have all been waiting for it, and it's back! Walla Walla Farmer's Market starts up the first weekend in May. Every Saturday and Sunday, visit the market between 9 and 1 for fresh, local produce, artisanal cheese, baked good, all types of foods, local crafts and more. This bounty proves that the Walla Walla Valley produces enough food in the summer to eat locally almost exclusively. My favorite stands include Stone's Throw Farms for fresh, raw organic juices, Cugini's for meatball sandwiches, the Soap Company and Alice Bagley's fresh flowers at West End Farms. (Special Hint: You can use EBT at the market for whole produce!).

Spring Release
The wineries open their doors the first full weekend in May. This is a great opportunity for everyone of age (out of service gear) to visit wineries. Local winemakers will be releasing new vintages in tasting rooms all over the valley. Though crowded, this is a fun time to check out famous Walla Walla wines for the first time. Expect to pay $5-10 for each tasting and take it easy! Spitting is an acceptable and condoned behavior in the wine tasting world. Helpful hint: if you want to go out for dinner this weekend, although I'd recommend eating at home instead, be prepared for long waits if you don't have a reservation; this is one of the two busiest weekends in the Valley.

Sweet Onion Festival
The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival takes place the weekend after AmeriGraduation, July 16 and 17, and is adjacent to the Farmer's Market on Main. It's possible that your family will be in town and this is a great event for families. Sweet onions abound, pickled, deep fried, candied, you name it! Last year I witnessed a man attempt and conquer a world record for peeling onions. The festival goes into the night, capped off with live music and a street dance.

Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

From Michael Espinoza


I had the great privilege of attending the MLK Day speaker at Whitman on Jan. 19. Cordiner hall was packed but I got a good seat. Dr. Gates spoke for just over an hour about his project with PBS, a fascinating investigation of geneology and genetics which uncover a complex story about race in America.

While I found the speach very engaging, I was worried towards the end that Dr. Gates was promoting some sort of genetic or even geneological determinism. Luckily, one of the questions from the audience regarded the issue. Dr. Gates was certain to point out that we are all a product of our environment and culture. Ancestry can enrich a narrative about family and bring us a deeper understanding of and connection to our shared experience.

What follows is the Whitman College press release from Jan. 21 by Ashley Coetzee:

Capping Whitman College’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. presented a lecture titled “Roots: Genealogy, Genetics and African American History” to a packed crowd in Cordiner Hall. Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University, is a prominent researcher of African and African American studies and genealogy. Along with a number of published books, Gates has written, produced and hosted an acclaimed PBS documentary series detailing the genealogy of famous African Americans, titled African American Lives.

But he also has a direct link to Whitman College. One of his former students from Harvard is Nadine Knight, a Whitman assistant professor of English. She introduced him, saying: “Few scholars in African American studies have done more to uncover and to revive the deep cultural and artistic links that unite African American culture with roots in Africa and beyond.” Knight shared a story from when she was a new graduate student at Harvard, nervous to meet with the famous Gates for the first time, not ever imagining that about 10 years later she would be at the Whitman lectern introducing her mentor.

Upon taking the stage, Gates said about his former student: “There is nothing like being a professor and having a student who turns out to be more brilliant that you are. And this is a school that is smart enough to hire her and keep her,” said Gates. During the lecture, Gates recounted the day he become interested in learning about his roots, when as a boy he first learned that his great-grandmother had been a slave. Since then he has “never lost that passion for genealogy.” That passion has followed him through the decades on his mission to find his own roots, a work in progress, and to help others discover their own genealogy.

His vision is to use genealogy as a way to interest inner-city youth in studying history and science, saying “our favorite subject is ourselves,” so getting kids involved in learning by starting with themselves offers great possibility. Gates lively and humorous speaking style gave listeners the feeling of “hearing a story from an old friend. I could have listened to him for hours,” said Whitman staff member Lynn Lunden, associate vice president for development. “I found it very impressive that so many local community members and Whitman people came out to hear him, and he seemed able to connect with all of us. The event gave me an additional sense of pride about Whitman College.”

“I would come here anytime you invite me. It is great to be here, it is just so beautiful, such a fantastically pretty place,” said Gates about Walla Walla. During his visit he also met with a group of Whitman students, drawn from different campus
disciplines for a more intimate discussion about his work.

The lecture was funded by the Whitman College Office of the President, Mabel Groseclose Endowed Lectures, the Whitman Events Board and the Intercultural Center.

The original article can be found here.