Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/10148
LIVEMAGS.NET MAY>>10 11 Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival: A Short-Distance Journey to Long-Ago Civilizations MAY 6-9, 2010 By>>Dalia van den Boogaard P icture yourself strolling through a green valley of another time and place, tanbur music guiding your footsteps until you chance upon an imposing palace glistening before you. You, hungry traveler, satisfy your appetite with a tasty spiced kebab washed down with a cool, smooth ayran before entering the minaret-crowned palace. Ah, to spend a day satiating all your senses by journeying through time and space to the vibrant civilizations of Anatolia… Ancient history, diverse culture, and mouth-watering delicacies abound at the ANATOLIAN CULTURES AND FOOD FESTIVAL, May 6 through May 9 at Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Hosted by Pacifica Institute, a non-profit organization promoting multi-cultural exchange, the second annual festival transports visitors of all ages to Anatolia across the ages. One big plus: travelers won't need an airplane or a time machine to get there. "We're bringing Turkey to Orange County," said Atilla Kahveci, vice president of Pacifica. "We hope this year's event will be as great as last year's. People will especially enjoy getting a bird's eye view of the festival from the helium balloon." Nearly 30,000 visitors attended the 2009 festival, drawn by its uncommon mix of exotic food, outstanding entertainment, and rich history. Tickets for this year's fest are available online at www. anatolianfestival.org. A bustling crossroads of past civilizations, Anatolia lies across a vast peninsula in present-day Turkey that is bordered by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas. Among ancient peoples that thrived there are the Hittites, the Greeks, and the Romans; thereafter, Anatolia played a vital role in the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Also known as Asia Minor, Anatolia was the site of the Trojan War, the home of philosophers and saints, and the location of two of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, some of mankind's oldest structures remain standing in Anatolia. Since the festival features replicas of historic structures, history buffs will want to check out this unique display. A good place to start is at the pathway through civilizations that have flourished in Anatolia. Visitors enter these exhibits through hand- sculpted arches symbolizing each of 14 civilizations, and guides donning authentic costumes breathe life into each period's history. Festival-goers next encounter the astounding architectural models, many life-sized and all built in Turkey. New this year is a 3-D reconstruction of the opulent Topkapi Palace in Istanbul and an arch featuring the solemn statues of Nemrut Mountain. They join last year's favorites from five of Anatolia's major cities: the Bosphorus, also in Istanbul; the ancient ruins of the seaside city of Antalya; the museum in Konya, dedicated to the Sufi poet Rumi; the oldest Armenian church, in Van; and the historic stone dwellings of Mardin. More pleasing to the taste buds than even to the eye is a replica of the Sultan Ahmet Fountain, offering traditional refreshments like fruit juices and ayran, a remarkably thirst-quenching yoghurt drink. Regarding food and drink, prepare for a feast. Street vendors sell simit (a type of bagel) and boza (fermented malt), while stands carry authentic dishes such as Turkish meatballs, dumplings, and doner (similar to gyros). Desserts are plentiful, many loaded with pistachios and hazelnuts. The stretchy ice cream is always a hit – it's not only scrumptious but also convenient and, frankly, miraculous. If your kids tend to jump up and down with an ice cream cone in their hands or even go so far as to hold it upside down just for kicks, have no fear. This stuff stays in the cone. The ice cream man lets this curious concoction perform acrobatics from a special stick, guaranteeing plenty of jubilant screams from everyone who, well, screams for ice cream. Children will also love the puppet theater, storytellers, face-painting, craft tables, and bouncy castles, while kids of all ages will enjoy arm wrestling with a world champion who offers a prize to any challenger who lasts more than five seconds. In total, 100 stands with authentic foods, wares, and crafts will occupy an area designed after the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Demonstrations by weavers, carvers, calligraphers, and miniature painters are not the only live displays, however. Among the most popular highlights of the fest are the regional music, dance, and theater performances. The Whirling Dervishes and the Ottoman Marching Band will return this year along with a line-up of other world-class performers who wow international audiences. No matter if you don't have Anatolian roots: the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival is for all who relish something refreshingly different, especially along the lines of Turkish delights. THE MAY TODO LIST Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival Tony Orlando in Concert Doheny Blues Festival The Lion King at OCPAC o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o o o o o