JoAnn Hallum, Author at FresYes!

Four ways to celebrate the holidays with music

November 29, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

Holiday music is a great avenue of joy this time of year. As Buddy the Elf says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”

Christmas carols and songs are a delightful way to celebrate the season. If you’re not into caroling yourself, there’s plenty of local talent to do it for you (I personally can’t carry a tune so it’s a blessing to my neighbors if I skip it). Mark the month with a live concert (or two) and start a new holiday tradition! Here’s a list of musical events happening this month.

Fresno Community Concert Band’s Winter Magic

Photo via Fresno Community Concert Band

If you’re into modern classics and tunes from White Christmas, check out the Fresno Community Concert Band’s annual offering, “Winter Magic”, on Sunday, Dec. 2. There are two times to choose from, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. Active military, veterans, and their family are free for the 7 p.m. show (with ID). The concert will be conducted by Sandy Headrick and Bruce Weinberger, and features soprano Hanna York. Grab your tickets here.

Joyeux Noel by Soli Deo Gloria Women’s Chorale

Ready to dig deep into local talent? On Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at University Presbyterian Church, you can catch the sounds of Soli Deo Gloria Women’s Chorale. Soli Deo Gloria is a non-profit featuring a chorale of women who sing at the highest level of skill. This concert will feature songs written specifically for their group, “Christmas Visions,” composed by E.J. Hinojosa, as well as traditional Christmas carols. This group is conducted by Dr. Julie Carter and will feature Dr. Walter Saul as accompanist. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. You can purchase them online here in advance or plan on spending $20 at the door.

Holiday Concert from Fresno State Choirs and Music Department

Fa-la-la! On Sunday, Dec. 9, head to the Fresno State Concert Hall at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy the sounds of The Fresno State Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and the University Singers. The show will feature traditional holiday music and carols. Dr. Cari Earnheart is the Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Emily Mason is the Director of University Singers, and Dr. Shing-Ming Liao is the collaborative pianist. You can purchase tickets here. General admission is $12, senior tickets are $8, and students are $5 so it’s budget-friendly event!

Mozart + Mahler Concert by Youth Orchestras Fresno

Another impressive concert is taking place Sunday, Dec. 9, with The Mozart and Mahler Concert by Youth Orchestras of Fresno. It’s true, the songs aren’t specifically seasonal, but this concert is for such a great organization, I’m including it. (I’ve discussed the Youth Orchestras Fresno here if you need a re-cap.) The concert will take place at Shaghoian Concert Hall at 4 p.m. and features favorites such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, the Titan and Mozart’s Abduction form the Seraglio (and more!).This concert is a $10 donation, but anyone can attend if price is an issue. You can reserve seats in advance here. The Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Dr. Thomas Loewenheim and the Youth Chamber Orchestra is conducted by Adam Elmore.

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Do local concerts add to your Christmas cheer or are you just discovering the deep wells of talent in Fresno? Tell me what your favorite musical traditions are in the comments below!

ArtHop has a new logo for 2019! Meet the designer who created it

November 23, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

The art scene in Fresno is thriving, and ArtHop is the hub f0r creative fun. If you haven’t been to an ArtHop yet, it’s a must! You can find out how to get started by checking out my Beginner’s Guide here.

An epic event like ArtHop needs a great logo, and part of the fun is that the logo changes every year. The winning design is chosen by a local design competition.

The logo competition showcases the design talent in Fresno, which is pretty intense. This year’s winner, Peter-David Carrion from Carrion Design, has been a fixture on the local design and art scene for a while. It’s always fun to learn about the person behind the logo, so check out my interview with Carrion below!

Peter-David Carrion with his winning logo. (Photo courtesy of Peter-David Carrion)

FresYes: First of all, tell us a little about yourself!

Peter-David Carrion: My name is Peter-David Carrion. For almost 20 years, I’ve been a creative professional in the Central Valley. During that time, I’ve had a variety of positions in the world of design from illustrator, junior to senior designer, art director, creative director and, for the past 10 years, I’ve expanded my skill set to include commercial photographer and cinematographer.

I’ve had the pleasure to work for several amazing companies and local design firms where I was able to work with small family businesses to Fortune 500 and international companies. I just celebrated a year at my current position as Senior Designer at the historical Duncan Enterprises, where I’m a part of an amazing creative department developing new craft, creative, and inspiring products.

In 2015, I was awarded “Creative of the Year” by the Fresno Advertising Federation for all my industry work and over the course of my entire career, I’ve also been awarded over 100 American Advertising Awards.

In addition to my commercial work, I’m also an abstract painter and portrait photographer. I am currently assembling my new portraiture art show for exhibition in early 2019.

What is your background in design/art?

Ever since I could remember, I’ve loved art and being creative. I was lucky enough to have a family that supported that drive in me. I graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Fine Arts and Graphic Design. I actually took the first design programs offered at CSUF, so I was ecstatic to know that I could get a job at being creative.

For the longest time, I became so focused on my professional design work, I lost sight of my passion for my own self-expression. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Anna, where she really challenged me to do more art for myself, because she was right, that type of expression is so personal and something that can’t always be expressed in your professional work. So it’s all about finding that creative balance. In 2017, I did my first art show for ArtHop at CMAC and I got a lot of great feedback, so it’s really inspiring me to continue that work.

What made you decide to enter the logo contest?

A byproduct of this recent self-awareness of my artistic side, I realize the Fresno area’s own art community continues to flourish and that really intrigued me, as not only as a Fresno resident but also as an inspiring artist. I really wanted to be a part of that growth. I’ve known of all the great work the Fresno Arts Council does for that community, so I started to follow them online and I saw the contest. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I figured even if I didn’t expect to win, it was a fun creative exercise for me.

What inspired your design?

Honestly, the Fresno Arts Council ArtHop Logo Contest was pretty open-ended with requirements on the logo, just some copy requirements, so for a designer, that much freedom can be awesome or intimidating. Graphic Design is problem-solving, so when you don’t have a clear problem, that abundance of answers can be overwhelming.

For me, I immediately jumped into the project with total excitement for the opportunity to develop a logo that was fresh and modern for FAC’s ArtHop, and was versatile, so something that would look amazing as a window sticker and be just as impactful online or on social media. In regard to visual inspiration, I just made sure to design a logo that would complement the new evolving downtown area.

How does it feel to win?

I’m very honored to have won. Like I said, I wasn’t expecting to win, so I do sincerely thank the Fresno Arts Council and its board members for selecting my logo. I know this is a small contribution to the larger artistic community Fresno has, and I will continue to contribute however I can. Fresno is my home, I grew up here all my life, so something like this, a way to give back to your community, a way to give back to the art community as well, is a good day in my book.

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For more information about Peter-David Carrion’s design and art work, you can check out his website here or watch this CMAC interview on his art. To keep track of Fresno Arts Council events and news, follow them on Facebook here.

Discover the music of the Youth Orchestras of Fresno

November 2, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

This year I discovered a Valley treasure that’s nearly 70 years old. The Youth Orchestras of Fresno has been around in one form or another since 1950, but somehow I had missed it until my son auditioned in August.

Fast forward to today, and this non-profit program is one of my favorite things about our city. Not only is it an affordable way to give kids performance experience, it’s challenging and fun. There are several orchestras in the organization, including Youth Chamber Orchestra for younger kids and the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Ages for these orchestras range from kindergarten to college, so there truly is something for everyone.

Rehearsal photo from Youth Orchestras of Fresno via Facebook

Kids learn from professional musicians

Kids from all over the valley come to this program. The Music Director is Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, a cellist and professor at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Loewenheim can be seen at weekly practices encouraging kids as they make their way through Mozart.

Auditions are held once a year, but if you have an interested musician they are welcome to sit in on a Sunday rehearsal at the Fresno State band room. If they like the experience, they can audition for admission, but not seating, which is decided in August. If you know someone who might be excited about joining, click here for more information and updates.

The beauty of the Youth Orchestras is that kids interact with professional musicians. It’s a mentorship you can’t really put a price tag on. And since it’s a non-profit organization, membership is relatively inexpensive. This means the program hosts fundraising events throughout the year, including one tonight, Nov. 2 (click here to find out more and grab last-minute tickets).

The first performance of the year will be Dec. 9 at Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall. It’s Mozart + Mahler from 4 to 6 p.m. Adam Elmore will conduct the Youth Chamber Orchestra and Dr. Loewenheim conducts the Youth Symphony and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. There’s a voluntary contribution of $10.

If you haven’t experienced a performance by the Youth Orchestras of Fresno, you will be blown away. It’s almost unbelievable how good these kids are, and honestly, just the fact they can read the sheet music, let alone play it, is impressive.

So mark your calendar for a great cause and head to a Youth Orchestras performance. You can find the entire season’s schedule here. I wish I had known about this program sooner!

Have you been to a concert? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

Dollar Fridays at The Discovery Center are loads of fun

October 18, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

On the first Friday of every month, the Discovery Center in Fresno has $1 admission. Is it worth it? Heck yes. I checked it out this month, and it was a blast. Not only do you get into the center for a dollar, there’s a plethora of activities your kids can participate in.

This month, there was a great horned owl visiting from Fresno Wildlife. There was a cool presentation on owls and lots of photo ops. However, to be honest, the owl looked annoyed. I don’t blame him—I also glare at people in the mornings.

There was also a bearded dragon making the rounds. Later in the day, a free science experiment took place. My kids are ages 3-11 and they all enjoyed making Flubber (glorified slime, will we ever escape it? Slime is the craft scourge of 2018).

Annoyed (?) owl

I found out a few minutes after the science experiment that a blacksmith was in the building (figuratively, he was actually outside because, you know, fire). I peeled my kids away from the center’s interactive displays and headed to see the fun.

Once we arrived, there was so much more though. The blacksmith was in the process of making a dinner bell and he was willing to have kids help him! Safety goggles were required, as were closed-toe shoes. The kids were thrilled. I had actually only planned a two-hour window for our activities at the center, but because of the blacksmith we stayed way past my planned exit time. The kids were fascinated, and loved ringing the finished bell.

We finished our visit with a walk through the Deutsch Cactus Gardens.

If you’re looking for a frugal and entertaining way to spend the day, head to the Discovery Center. The next Dollar Friday is on Nov. 2. No matter when you go, it’s a great place to visit, and you really never know what creatures and activities you’ll run into.

Have you checked out the Discovery Center lately? You can keep up with special events happening at the center by following them on Facebook here.

Enjoy these 5 fall activities for the whole family!

October 11, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

It’s time! Grab a cup of PSL and hug a pumpkin—fall fun is in the air. For those who want to squeeze every last drop of seasonal fun out of October, I’ve compiled this handy list of five fall activities you can do with loved ones of all ages.

1. Gibson Farm Market’s Fall Festival

This one checks all the boxes: it’s free, its full of pumpkins, and there’s wine tasting. What more could you want?

How about a campus-grown pumpkin patch and free samples of treats from Fresno State’s finest. Head to Gibson Farm Market on Chestnut to try tasty morsels from Fresno State Creamery, Meat Sciences, Orchard, Vegetable, Horticulture, and Food Processing units. There’s also a kid zone with face painting and crafts. You can visit the campus farm animals and even hang out with everyone’s favorite mascot, Victor E. Bulldog, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

This event takes place Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wine tasting by the Fresno State Winery will take place from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Follow this event on Facebook here.

2. 1st Annual Scarecrow Garden

Photo: Clovis Botanical Garden Facebook page

This not-so-scary event will be on display from Oct. 17-Nov. 20. Head to the Clovis Botanical Garden on Clovis Ave. next to Dry Creek Park to check out an array of stuffed statues. The scarecrows are all local creations from businesses, families, and organizations around town. If you go on Saturday, Oct. 20, to see the fun, you’ll also get to hit up the garden’s Annual Fall Plant Sale and Fair. For more information, check out the Botanical Garden website here.

3. Harvest Fest & Chili Cook Off

On Oct. 20, you can head to Woodward Park for some chili and to support a good cause. Advance tickets to the Harvest Fest and Chili Cook-off are available on the event Facebook page here. General admission is $10 and includes five tasting tickets and a people’s choice ballot.

This event benefits Avila’s Cancer Fund, a local nonprofit that offers financial assistance to cancer patients when they are undergoing treatment. Not only will you be helping people with your chili consumption, there will be a beer garden, food vendors, raffles, and pop-up vendors. Chili sampling starts at 1 p.m. and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. The kids zone opens at 11 a.m. Since kids under two are free and the kids zone games are free with a paid entrance fee, this is a great way to entertain small children, support cancer patients, and eat chili. It’s not often you can do all three at once, so take advantage!

4. Check out a Fest

There are so many festivals to choose from at this time of year. Fall Fest at Fig Garden Village is happening this Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will have live music, Halloween crafts, and a fall photo booth.

The 4th Annual Boofest is a festive way to collect candy and connect with the community. On Friday, Oct. 26, Sierra Vista Mall turns into a titanic trick-or-treating event with carnival games, bounce houses, reptiles, face painting, and emergency vehicles (the event is sponsored by the Clovis Police Department). It’s free and fun, and you can find out more about it here.

The two-day event Clovisfest 2018 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, and as usual it will kick off with hot air balloons! See them take off between 6:45 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. both days at the Clovis rodeo grounds. After you watch the balloons, experience a free, family-friendly outdoor festival that spans up and down Pollasky Ave. in Old Town Clovis.

5. ZooBoo 2018

Happening on Oct. 19, 20, 26, and 27 from 5 to 8 p.m., ZooBoo is a Fresno tradition. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo transforms into a Halloween haunt with kid-friendly music at Dracula’s Disco, carnival games, and a hay maze. Kids can wear their favorite non-scary costumes while they trick-or-treat throughout the zoo. Grab your tickets here while you still can—this event sells out!

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As per usual I didn’t even cover all the possibilities. If you have a favorite fall activity that’s fun for the whole family, let me know!

Enjoy island vibes at the 5th annual Aloha in the Park

October 4, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

Fresno in October might not make you immediately think of tropical islands and refreshing ocean waves. But, this Saturday, you can forget fall for a second and enjoy a taste of all things Polynesian at the 5th Annual Aloha in the Park!

photo by Maricela Velasquez

Free event for the whole family

Aloha in the Park is hosted by Hālau Hula I Ka Lā, Fresno’s hula school. It’s a free event for the whole family, with music and entertainment as well as food. You can wave goodbye to summer with some shaved ice from Leilani while enjoying performances from Usos (Samoan dance) and Hula Ohana of Fresno. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a Kino Hana Stretch, which is basically cardio hula. I honestly can’t think of a better way to exercise.

photo by Maricela Velasquez

Bread and Butter will be there to dole out Filipino breads and cakes, and food trucks like Nay Nay’s Filipino Flavors and Bowlzeye will have delicious dining options.

Vendors include tattoo artists like Island Ink Tattoo, as well as goods like Honuvibe sandals. Basically you can find pretty much anything, especially if it’s Polynesian themed, so bring your Christmas shopping list (yeah, I said it!).

You’ll want to stay to the end of the event because there will be Siva Afi/fire knife which is a Polynesian fire dance. Central Valley sunsets are beautiful, but if you add fire, you have an even more winning combination.

How to attend Aloha in the Park

To attend Aloha in the Park, head to Dry Creek Park on the northeast corner of Nees and Clovis. You can bring a blanket or lawn chair (or both) and enjoy island vibes in October. The event runs from 10 a.m. to sunset.

If you find yourself enjoying the art of hula, you can check out future offerings from the Polynesian Club of Fresno (No Te Here O Te Hiroa) or try out lessons at the Hālau Hula I Ka Lā hula school. Click here for more information.

5 ways to eat a pumpkin in Fresno

September 28, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year. The time when pumpkins are everywhere and everything gets a little bit oranger. Like it or not (and you must like it if you clicked on this post), pumpkin-flavored food and beverages are an annual fall tradition.

Thus, I’ve compiled a list of ways to enjoy the gorgeous gourd that takes over our food and beverages every September. Have you tried all five of these ways to eat a pumpkin in Fresno?

1. Pumpkin in your coffee!

Get your annual PSL fix at Yellow Mug Coffee at Champlain and Perrin. Not only will you be supporting a local business, you can also get an adorable cup (see below). Everyone knows cute cups make coffee taste better. You can keep up with Yellow Mug on Facebook here.

Buy a small PSL get it in a cute cup when you visit Yellow Mug Coffee [photo: Yellow Mug Coffee]

2. Pumpkin in your ice cream!

What better way to celebrate fall when it’s still hot outside than a pumpkin pie-flavored ice cream cone from the Fresno State Gibson Market? New to the ice cream counter, this treat is a limited edition flavor that not only tastes like pumpkin pie, but has chunks of pumpkin pie crust in it! You can also purchase actual pumpkins at the market, so it’s kind of like a one-stop shop for all things seasonal squash. See what else is new at the Gibson Market by following them on Facebook here.

Bulldogs love ice cream. [photo by MaryAnn Mayfield]

3. Pumpkin in your seeds!

Honestly, pumpkin seeds are my favorite. They’re nice and crunchy and delicious with a sprinkling of salt. Grab some seeds from the Sierra Nut House Wine Bar and Bistro, and while you’re there try to stay away from chocolate almonds (impossible). Be sure to check out our article on the delicious meal offerings here as well. Hint: there’s more than just nuts!

Pumpkin seeds and yummy meals are at Sierra Nut House [photo: Natali Carrera]

4. Pumpkin in a donut!

It’s always a great idea to stop at Donut Fantasy on Marks and West. They have gorgeous donuts and yummy flavors, and they often sell out because everyone loves a well-crafted donut. Since it’s fall, and since donuts are amazing, you should add a pumpkin cheesecake donut to your fall bucket list. This pumpkin-infused donut is topped with cream cheese icing and a white chocolate drizzle. You can find more seasonal donut offerings by following Donut Fantasy on Facebook here.

5. An actual pumpkin!

Pumpkins are often part of delicious treats, but it’s not often you see a whole pumpkin presented at a nice dinner. Campagnia in north Fresno is offering a wild mushroom-stuffed baby pumpkin with pepper cream sauce. Garnished with pumpkin seeds and pomegranates, this seasonal dish is obviously very popular. You can make reservations to see why it’s a favorite here.

[photo: Campagnia]

Is this list complete? Hardly. I haven’t even addressed cupcakes. If you have a favorite way to eat a pumpkin in Fresno, let me know in the comments. Meanwhile, lets celebrate the fall season by eating a lot of gourds.

Looking for a great art experience? Vernissage Gallery and Studio is open for business near Fresno High

September 20, 2018 by JoAnn Hallum Leave a Comment

If you haven’t checked out the local art scene lately, you’re missing out on a lot. Fresno keeps turning out amazing art, cool vibes, and great community.

Typically, people head downtown for ArtHop (read more about that in my Beginner’s Guide here), but now Fresno’s galleries and studios have spread all over town, including the Fresno High area, which is now home to the Vernissage Gallery and Studio.

Vernissage glows with excitement

I was able to check out this new gallery last week during a reception for artist Stephanie J. Ryan, and I had a blast. There was a sense of community, and people were chatting and enjoying great art (it’s also quite near Ampersand so I may have walked over there for some honeycomb ice cream after the reception).

Vernissage is bright and easy to find—it’s diagonal from Fresno High. Founded by award-winning French artist Ma Ly, the building is divided in half. On one side is a smorgasbord of local talent, from Bobby Von Martin to Ma Ly and more. There’s a studio tucked into the corner that will feature monthly art classes taught by local experts. The other side of the building features a new artist each month.

This month, the featured artist is Stephanie J. Ryan, who’s a contemporary artist and a professor of Art and Drawing at Fresno State. Her work is layered (both literally and figuratively), with mixed media and innovative techniques. It’s definitely worth checking out before the show ends. You can read more about Stephanie (and her art) on her website here.

The south gallery where featured artists show monthly

Stephanie J. Ryan at the artist’s reception for On Hysteria

Art classes and workshops offered

If seeing studio artists’ work inspires you, Vernissage is a place where you can get started on your own artistic education. There are adult workshops every month. You can take a class on mono print techniques, beginning sculpture, encaustic (a technique using molten beeswax and resin), abstract, and even painting with pens and markers. Each workshop is taught by a local expert and fees vary. You can find out more here.

Learning is fun and creative at Vernissage

In addition to the monthly workshops, Ma Ly Atelier offers ongoing drawing and painting classes for adults and children. The class sizes are small and last about four weeks. You can sign up by email at vernissagefresno@gmail.com.

Vernissage contact info and hours

Vernissage is definitely worth the visit, and you won’t run out of things to look at. Because it’s got such a variety of art and is easy to find, it’s a great place to start your Fresno art adventures.

Location: 2024 N. Van Ness Blvd.

Business hours:

Monday 1-8 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

First Thursday of every month for ArtHop: 5-8 p.m.

Phone: (559) 554-8551
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