Style Magazine - January 2023
I’ll forever be a café connoisseur. From the coffee (of course!) to the décor, and the people to the pastries, I have incredibly specific standards. Walking in, I want the ambiance to be lively but not too loud; music is a must, as are ample outlets and infinite nooks and crannies to cozy up at. Bonus points if they make their own baked goods, have strong Wi-Fi (and even stronger coffee), and stay open late. I won’t disclose my favorites, but I will say they’re all mentioned in this month’s feature, “Cool Beans,” where contributor Sharon Penny writes about our region’s robust coffee culture. Read her roundup of the top spots and what makes each one buzzworthy—be it a primo patio, house-made syrups, or sustainably sourced beans— starting on page 62. In true new year’s fashion, we also have plenty of healthy living content—both physical and mental—this month. Turn to “Get Fit” on page 20 to learn about three elite athletes who live locally, including a skilled cyclist, an Ironman (who was told he’d never run again after a debilitating auto accident), and a young soccer star. Their words of well-being wisdom and stories of stamina are sure to inspire. Finally, in “Clear the Cutter” on page 56, area experts tell us their top tips for “living a life you love to come home to, knowing where all your stuff is, and lessening the load of what’s no longer serving you.” As someone who lives in a small space with small kiddos (who make big, BIG messes), I can honestly say that having an organized home does indeed create a calming, less chaotic environment; and, like coffee, makes everything better. Cheers! —Megan megan@stylemg.com
I’ll forever be a café connoisseur. From the coffee (of course!) to the décor, and the people to the pastries, I have incredibly specific standards. Walking in, I want the ambiance to be lively but not too loud; music is a must, as are ample outlets and infinite nooks and crannies to cozy up at. Bonus points if they make their own baked goods, have strong Wi-Fi (and even stronger coffee), and stay open late. I won’t disclose my favorites, but I will say they’re all mentioned in this month’s feature, “Cool Beans,” where contributor Sharon Penny writes about our region’s robust coffee culture. Read her roundup of the top spots and what makes each one buzzworthy—be it a primo patio, house-made syrups, or sustainably sourced beans— starting on page 62.
In true new year’s fashion, we also have plenty of healthy living content—both physical and mental—this month. Turn to “Get Fit” on page 20 to learn about three elite athletes who live locally, including a skilled cyclist, an Ironman (who was told he’d never run again after a debilitating auto accident), and a young soccer star. Their words of well-being wisdom and stories of stamina are sure to inspire.
Finally, in “Clear the Cutter” on page 56, area experts tell us their top tips for “living a life you love to come home to, knowing where all your stuff is, and lessening the load of what’s no longer serving you.” As someone who lives in a small space with small kiddos (who make big, BIG messes), I can honestly say that having an organized home does indeed create a calming, less chaotic environment; and, like coffee, makes everything better. Cheers!
—Megan
megan@stylemg.com
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| arts & culture |<br />
Pitch Perfect<br />
SPOTLIGHT ON<br />
MUSICIANS<br />
by HEATHER L. NELSON<br />
Our region is blessed with a plethora of<br />
multifaceted musicians who truly delight<br />
in bringing their passion for music to the<br />
community. Here are four noteworthy<br />
performers to watch.<br />
P<br />
icking up the violin for the first time<br />
in middle school, Fara Elizalde’s<br />
talent led her to perform in community<br />
orchestras throughout the Bay Area and<br />
Sacramento; eventually, she became one<br />
of the founding members of the Folsom<br />
Lake Symphony where “the players have<br />
fun and support one another while being<br />
Fara Elizalde<br />
INSTRUMENT: Violin<br />
challenged to rise to higher<br />
levels of musicianship.”<br />
What attracts you to the<br />
violin?<br />
The power that can<br />
emanate from this small<br />
piece of wood never ceases<br />
to amaze me. As they say in<br />
the Harry Potter series, “the<br />
wand chooses the wizard.”<br />
The violin is versatile—it<br />
reaches down to mellow,<br />
warm tones yet can also<br />
soar to much higher,<br />
clearer notes.<br />
What challenges have<br />
you faced?<br />
I knew music would<br />
always be an important<br />
part of my life, yet I<br />
chose a corporate career<br />
path. Finding a balance<br />
between my professional<br />
life and the time I'd like to<br />
devote to practicing can<br />
be challenging. At times,<br />
I must compromise the<br />
quality of my violin playing to keep up<br />
with work and family life.<br />
Any tips for beginning musicians?<br />
Don't worry so much about the elusive<br />
quest for perfection or how others will<br />
judge your abilities. Smile while you play,<br />
and practice, practice, practice!<br />
Francesca Anderson<br />
INSTRUMENT: Flute<br />
C<br />
onsidering accomplished<br />
flutist Francesca Anderson’s<br />
teachers in high school and college<br />
were major influences in her<br />
music, it’s fitting that she also<br />
enjoys teaching. “My students make<br />
me proud every year with their<br />
accomplishments; many of them<br />
have been accepted into local and<br />
state honor bands and the<br />
Sacramento Youth Symphony.”<br />
You learned to play the flute<br />
when you were nine years old.<br />
What do you love most about it?<br />
From classical symphonic groups<br />
and rock bands, to beat boxing and<br />
jazz, the flute can do it all! Making<br />
music with my colleagues is also<br />
[incredibly] rewarding.<br />
What has been a noteworthy<br />
performance?<br />
I feel blessed every time I can<br />
perform. When the audience loves<br />
a performance and reacts with<br />
loud applause and a standing<br />
ovation, it’s the best feeling. I<br />
hope everyone has a chance to<br />
experience the power and magic of<br />
a live musical performance.<br />
Any advice for aspiring flutists?<br />
Playing with peers is essential. Join<br />
your school band, local orchestra,<br />
a private youth symphony, or the<br />
Sacramento Flute Club.<br />
Fara Elizalde photo by Charlene Lane. Francesca Anderson photo by Taylor Gillespie ©stylemediagroup.<br />
24 stylemg.com | JANUARY <strong>2023</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
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