Apr/May 2014
The Stirring of spring Local spingtime festivals P.16
A Weekend in coupeville P.8
Letter from our Director, Dr. Jason Lichtenberger
Frown Lines:
Now You Feel Them, Now You Don’t If we’re to explore with Dr. Eric Finzi the effect that Botox has on mood, we need to set aside the old adage, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Instead, we must entertain a serious new question: which came first, the expression or depression? Finzi’s forthcoming book, The Face of Emotion: How Botox Affects Our Mood and Relationships, makes the case that people with tense frown muscles are more likely to be depressed. The Maryland dermatologist suggests that if you’re unable to frown you will be less likely to experience depression. He goes a step farther and suggests we relax the frown muscles using the popular treatment Botox (Botulinum Toxin, type A), or one of the other available neurotoxins such as Dysport or Xeomin.
For years Botox has been used to reduce the stress-inducing effects of both cosmetic and medical ailments, freeing individuals to pursue wrinkle and pain-free lives. Concerned about that crease-prone triangle between your eyebrows? When injected into the forehead, the botulinum toxin inactivates the frown-producing corrugator and procerus muscles, resulting in smooth, worry-free skin. Suffer from chronic migraines? The FDA approved the use of Botox in July 2010 for occurrences of headaches persisting over fifteen days per month. Like in cases of cervical dystonia, neuropathic pain, lower back pain, spasticity, myofascial pain, and bladder pain, Botox isn’t thought to provide relief just by relaxing overactive muscles; instead, botulinum toxin has been shown to work as a neurotransmitter inhibitor, blocking
the release of a substance called acetylcholine, which sends signals to the brain telling the muscles to contract.
Dr. Paul Ekman, a pioneer in the study of emotion and its relation to facial expression, based his life’s work on finding the correlation between what we’re feeling internally and how that emotion registers on our face. Ekman, psychology professor at the University of California San Francisco Medical School, concludes that we actually pick up on other people’s emotions through their expressions, internalize that emotion and learn to physically mimic it ourselves. When speaking specifically about the pain of depression, the cycle is evident: the depressed party’s face expresses their inner torment and whether it’s another person or a mirror on the receiving end, expression recognition
occurs and the mimicking process perpetuates. Back and forth, depression exhibited by the muscles that control our saddest expression–the frown–is constantly passed from one face to the other. Ekman suggests this cycle can be inhibited: “Depression is a neural circuit and if you interrupt that circuit in any way, you lessen the impact.”
In favor of healthy human interaction, and without recommending that mirrors be avoided, the obvious place to begin an “outside-in” somatic therapy approach would be with the face itself. Finzi and Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School, executed a collaborative six-week study for the Journal of Psychiatric Research assigning 74 depressed patients with either Botox or saline injections directly in the frown-zone. Of these patients, 52 percent of the Botox recipients experienced relief from depression, compared to 15 percent of the saline placebo subjects. During the trial period, only half of the subjects that received Botox guessed correctly what agent they were being administered; however, knowing which treatment was received had no measurable effect on treatment response.
Darwin postulated that the control of facial expression causes a like effect on subjective emotions. William James evolved Darwin’s hypothesis, claiming that emotions were the result, not the cause, of various sensations: “We feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble, and not that we cry, strike, or tremble, because we are sorry, angry, or fearful, as the case may be.” Saying goodbye to frown lines may unsuspectingly be saving you the grief of depression. --The Face of Emotion: How Botox Affects Our Mood and Relationships by Eric Finzi, M.D. is set to be released in May 2014.--
In M. Axel Wollmer’s sixteen-week study at the University of Basel, Botox was administered above the eyes causing moderately depressed patients to frown less and feel notably better than those injected with the placebo. Michael Lewis of Cardiff University came at it from a different angle, testing this theory on non-depressed patients. Those that received Botox, even in their depression-free state, reported feeling better after treatment when compared to the saline control group—all thanks to a frown-free face. Finzi and Rosenthal agree, “frowning may affect the way people feel about themselves when they look in the mirror and the way others respond to them.” If we can inhibit the frowning expression, sever the circuitry, the happier face we share with the world may lead to “more positive social interaction,” they added. This idea joins Ekman’s conclusion that if you are projecting sadness in your expressions you are bound to experience a ripple. The brain continuously monitors facial expression and Finzi believes “that the mood responds accordingly.” This begs the question: how many cosmetic Botox patients are bypassing symptoms of depression, accidentally? Charles
Published by: Hecht Aesthetic Center Art Direction: fif thonsixth inc. Roman Komarov
Dr. Jason Lichtenberger
Director, Hecht Aesthetic Center Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Contributors : Jason Lichtenberger M.D. • Stacey Reynolds Cait Auer • Mar isa Papetti
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Breakfast Not Just a Morning Meal By Marisa Papetti
I was raised in Germany. For breakfast we would nosch on cut meats and cheeses with fresh brochen, a white bread roll with a hardend outside and soft center, and finish it all off with coffee. Yes, coffee, even at the wee age of 7. Every now and then we would partake in the delciousness of a softboiled egg and the use of delicious sour wheat bread toasted and dipped in the yummy yolk. Once I arrived in America, I found breakfast to be a whole new experience. There are so many dishes to select from; homemade granola, eggs bennidict, the classic bacon and eggs, a southern infulanced havous and eggs, a pile of fluffy pancakes or the quick egg sandwich. Even more dramtic of a change from Europe was the overwhellming love of Breakfast in the Pacific Northwest. Weekend Brunch is an event. Long lazy booze infusted time with friends making weekend brunch an event. Maybe it is due to the amount of college towns we have in this area or maybe we just love breakfast.
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I trypically find myself going back and forth with friends on where we should enjoy breakfast together. First on the list is Nelson’s Market. In a town that celebrates its neightboorhoods. Nelson’s is a friendly market etablished in 18__, with the added pleasure of a small diner. A favored meeting place for locals you will find large plates of peel on fried potatoes, a traditional lemon infused eggs benny and the ever popular “Weekend specials”, which can range from a spicy pork burrito to a sweeter banana rum stuffed french toast. Next on the list is Bayou On Bay. Weekend Brunch here is filled with Cajun crawfish I have a large wood table at home that seats eight. When friends come over and stay my favorite part is having breakfast with them. I always go big at breakfast. Brunch is an event at my house. Curry spiced yams. Velvety eggs bennidict. Crispy Apple Smoked bacon. Huge gooey Cinnamon Rolls. Since, I am unable to invite you all to my house I would like to share my recipes with you to try in your home.
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Cinnamon Rolls
Serves 6 Prep Time: 1.5 hours Bake Time: 30 min. • 1 package of yeast • 1 tsp of sugar
• 3/4 c of luke warm water (TIP: Use the inside portion of your wrist to test the warmth of the water just as you would a baby bottle) • 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cup of white flour
Filling:
• 2 cups brown sugar • 1 cups cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cinnamon • 2 tsp salt
• 1 stick of cubed butter
Frosting:
• 1 package of melted cream cheese • 2/3 cup. powdered sugar • 2 tsp vanilla
Curried Potatoes
Serves 4 Prep Time: 20 min. Cook Time: 30 min. • 2 large diced unpeeled yams
• 4 medium diced unpeeled yukon potatoes • 2 tbls of canola or olive oil • 1/2 Stick of butter
• 1 large diced yellow onion
• 3 tlbs of chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tlbs of chopped fresh rosemary • 2 tsp of curry powder • 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of turmeric
1. Mix yeast, water, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Let it rest for about 10 minutes until the yeast mixture bubbles.
2. Then add in the flour. Mix by hands. Kneed the dough for 10 minutes. Form a ball. Wipe the bowl and dough with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel and leave to raise in a warm space for an hour or until the dough has doubled in size. 3. While the dough is raising. In a medium bowl, mix in butter cubes, brown sugar, white sugar, salt and cinnamon. Mix by hand until crumbled.
4. Once your dough has risen. Roll out the dough to form a large rectangle. Spread half of the sugar and butter mixture evenly over dough. With the rectangle laid out in front of you horizontally, roll up the dough towards you, pinching the ends to insure the filling stays inside of the roll. 5. Spread remaining sugar and butter mixture into the bottom of the 13 x 9 glass baking dish. Using dental floss, cut off rounds of the rolls 3 inches thick. Set rolls into pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to raise until doubled.
6. Bake at 425 for 35 minutes
7. In a medium bowl mix melted cream cheese, powered sugar and vanilla. Pour over hot cinnamon rolls and serve.
1. In a medium saucepan place the diced yams and potatoes and cover with lightly salted water. Bring the water to a boil until you can run a folk through the yukon potatoes. The yams will cook much faster then the potatoes. Its okay. Once cooked through drain the potatoes and set aside. 2. In a large saucepan add oil, onion, and spices. Cook over medium low heat until translucent. Add potatoes spreading them out evenly giving them a good toss with the onion and oil mixtures. 3. The mix will have a little bit of a mashed potato feel. That's okay.
4. Cut up the butter into smaller cubes. Spread in evenly among the onion mixture. Lay the potato mixture evenly over the onion surface. Over medium low heat let the potatoes form a nice crust on the bottom about 15 to 20 minutes. I check them every five minutes or so and adjust the heat accordingly. Serve hot.
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Hollandaise for Eggs Benedict
Serves 4 - Prep Time: 20 min. Cook Time: 10 min. • 8 Egg Yokes (use room temperature eggs) • 3 tlbs of fresh squeezed lemon juice • 1 tsp of salt
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 tsp Cheyenne pepper • 2 cups of boiling water
• 2 tbls of room temperature water
1. Separate the eggs into a medium bowl, leaving just the yolks. Add salt and room temperature water. Stir to break the yolks.
2. I make my hollandaise a little different then everyone else. I don't go in for the double boiler. In a medium saucepan over very low heat, using a fork stuck into a stick of butter, swirl the butter around evenly in the pan until it is has melted. Once the butter has melted pull off the stove to cool.
HAPPY HOUR
M O N - T H U R S 2 : 3 0 - 5 8 : 3 0 - C LO S E F R I - S U N 8 : 3 0 - C LO S E
3. Once cooled stir melted butter and eggs together in the cooled pan. Turn on the heat to the lowest setting.
4. With a whisk in hand you will want to stir the egg mixture constantly. Add the lemon juice and the Cheyenne pepper. Again, using a fork stuck into a stick of butter, stir the egg mixture with the butter until it melts.
5. Add in boiling water to thin or thicken as needed. I then slowly stir and turn the heat up just a smidgen until the sauce thickens. About 2-3 minutes. Taste. 6. You may want to add a little more lemon or even a little tabasco sauce. Serve immediately.
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O F F E A C H P L AT E AT H A P P Y H O U R
TIP: If the sauce breaks or separates add a little more boiling water and give it a good whisk.
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A WEEKEND IN COUPEVILLE By: Cait Auer There is nothing more satisfying than a weekend getaway in a waterfront village. Abandoning all burdens and commitments, rolling the car windows down to breathe in fresh air, and exploring the underestimated luxuries of local havens are the best therapy. The historic town of Coupeville, WA (founded in 1852) provides an escape fit for those who long to immerse themselves in Victorian charm mixed with contemporary cuisine. Pack your bags with only the most comfortable of items, because Coupeville is perfect for those who love languid excursions, vintage finds, and delicious food. En route, take in the ethereal surroundings that the Pacific Northwest has to offer by driving down winding roads, through dense forests, and over the Deception Pass Bridge, built in 1935. Walk to the very center of the bridge and peer over the railing to appreciate the untouched nature of Deception Pass, 180 feet below. Swirling opaque green waters complement the slick rocks and looming evergreen trees, and the overwhelmingly rugged landscape is an overture to a trip that encourages visitors to enjoy a romantic place that highlights beauty in simplicity. Whidbey Island’s scenery is the type that cinematographers dream of recreating, as the road to Coupeville weaves through fields splotched with occasional cows and horses along the coast, and passes by pristine white chapels and red, blue, and gray Victorian houses. There are a variety of accommodations worth exploring in Coupeville, but Captain Whidbey Inn is a historic hotel that mustn’t be overlooked. The Captain Whidbey Inn, secluded in its own vast property of
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lush gardens and a lagoon, is a waterfront lodge located on the shore of Penn Cove. Built in 1907 from madrona logs harvested on the property, the inn is charmingly rustic with modern day utilities. Lounge on leather sofas in the reception room that is equipped with an antique piano and photographs. Warm your feet by the crackling fire in their handcrafted stone fireplace, or take a stroll on the wrap-around porch and venture down to their exclusive strip of rocky beach to search for the perfect seashell. Sip wine in a bar that any explorer would call a sanctuary, and grab a rare book from the well-stocked bookshelves upstairs. Soak in the outdoor hot tub while admiring the cove view. Nestle under heavy quilted blankets and listen to the salty sea air whisper against the window like a happy haunt. The hotel also offers cabin and lagoon room options, which provide more privacy for those who seek a quiet weekend. If you dream of innovative and succulent cuisine that features local, farm-fresh
ingredients, Coupeville’s many bakeries and restaurants will excite your taste buds. The small town takes pride in serving only the best seafood that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, specializing in Penn Cove mussels. Do you yearn for an ice-cold pint of beer at an iconic American tavern perched over the water? Imagine animal heads mounted on narrow walls, locals both grizzled and polished, and no-nonsense servers with a sense of humor; indeed, Toby’s Tavern is the epitome of a gritty sailor’s bar. You’ll fit in with the regulars as you chow down on buckets of freshly harvested steamed mussels, or bite down on juicy broiled hamburgers, accompanied with the colorful chatter of delightful patrons. Enjoy a game of pool after the sun sets over the water. Wine aficionados should make a point to visit Vail Wine Shop, owned by Larry and Patsy Vail. This intimate wine shop with a friendly atmosphere specializes in artisan Washington state wines, offering daily tastings of both whites and reds. Every Friday, Vail hosts a tasting event called “Flights and Bites,” teaming up with the head chef of Oystercatcher restaurant. Speaking of which, for an adventurous dining experience, cozy up at the Oystercatcher where new owners, Sara and Tyler Hansen, artfully craft savory dishes with organic ingredients. While the menu frequently changes, allowing the chefs to play with new culinary combinations, their flavors consistently give competing restaurants a run for their money. Customers rave about their crispy veal sweetbreads with caramelized Brus-
sels sprouts, capers, and stone ground mustard pan sauce. The olive oil poached halibut cheeks with creamed nettles, pickled radishes, apple, dill, and lemon is another dish to relish with a selection from their finetuned wine list. Another hotspot is Christopher’s on Whidbey, a playful restaurant that tempts hungry customers’ palates with aromatic seafood, meat, and vegetable plates. Their mussels are sinfully delicious, made with a hefty helping of garlic, white wine, cream sauce, and herbs, and their lunch option of a classic Reuben sandwich boasts of tangy house-made sauerkraut. In addition to their regular dinner menu, Christopher’s offers a fourcourse dinner for two that changes daily, such as grilled steelhead served over cheese ravioli in a creamy lobster sauce with asparagus and roasted red peppers. Walk down the town’s famed 500-foot wharf, built in 1905, on a foggy morning and ogle the bones of salt water mammals from the ceiling inside the red painted compound located at the end of the pier. The building houses Coupeville Coffee House, a café with addictive aromas. Their specialty is a Mexican Hot Chocolate, dense with dark cocoa and spiced with bittersweet cinnamon. Accompanying the hot chocolate with a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie brings back childhood memories, and is a fitting sugary treat
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to fuel you through a day of perusing local shops. Small, quaint shops painted in pastel colors line Front Street. Treasure hunters should check out the Elkhorn Trading Company, a kitschy antique store filled with mementos such as fine china, sterling silver jewelry pieces, wooden painted ducks, prints, vintage fishing gear, and decorative antlers. For a bit of humor, Far From Normal is an eclectic novelty store that is stuffed with anything and everything, from Beatles memorabilia to gag gifts and genuinely funny birthday cards. As spring unfolds, take advantage of Coupeville’s beautiful surroundings. Kayak the calm waters of Penn Cove, walk the trails of Fort Casey State Park, and visit the Admiralty Head Lighthouse. Observe wildlife like birds, harbor seals, and otters. Enjoy the thrill of paragliding, or fly a kite instead. One of the greatest aspects of this town is the welcoming spirit of its residents. There are many upcoming festivals and activities to enjoy in Coupeville, especially the annual Penn Cove Water Festival on May 10. Watch Native American canoe races—a tradition since 1930. Admire local artwork, and listen to tribal stories. Coupeville, WA is the foolproof getaway to soothe the taste buds, forget the anxieties of daily life, and to slip into the relaxing ways of the past. Go slow, and enjoy this experience.
More Information On Coupeville: http://www.cometocoupeville.com The Captain Whidbey Inn: http://www.captainwhidbey.com Toby’s Tavern: http://www.tobysuds.com Vail Wine Shop & Tasting Room: http://www.vailwineshop.com Oystercatcher Restaurant: http://www.oystercatcherwhidbey.com Christopher’s On Whidbey Restaurant: http://www.christophersonwhidbey.com/ Christophers_on_Whidbey/Home.html Elkhorn Trading Company: https://www.facebook.com/ElkhornTradingCompany?rf=161456117212320 Penn Cove Water Festival: http://www.penncovewaterfestival.com Admiralty Head Lighthouse: http://www.admiraltyhead.wsu.edu Fort Casey State Park: http://www.parks.wa.gov/505/Fort-Casey
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The Stirring of Spring Local Springtime Festivals by Stacy Reynolds
By a show of hands, who is ready for a little bit of sun? If it weren’t for my fingertips tapping away at this keyboard, you can bet I’d be wildly waving my hand, jumping up and down, squealing, “me! me! me!” Yes, I am ready to say goodbye to the cold sting of winter, and welcome the warm kiss of spring. I can feel the moment spring arrives. There’s always a particular day the sun looks different—no longer pushing through a filter of cold gray air. Everything begins to stir, including my hibernating sense of adventure which usually lies dormant during the long winter months. Luckily, we live in an area that wants to celebrate this time of year just as much as I do. 14
Festivals send my spring spirit into quite the frenzy. The colors are compliments of Hecht Aesthetic Center. Call today 360-738-FACE.
vibrant, the food is alfresco, and the general mood is near-bursting with the anticipation of summer. Spring festivals are the perfect way to shake off the chill of winter. Some of these local festivals you might know, while some are a little off the beaten path. If you are looking for the proper way to prepare for summer, then this guide will help you discover why you love springtime in the pacific northwest; just in case you needed a reminder.
World’s Largest Garage Sale! Anacortes, WA April 11th & 12th
The Evergreen State Spring: Festival Monroe, WA April 25th – 27th Though a little out of the way, this festival is well worth the excursion. There’s just something about an outdoor fair that really tickles my summer nostalgia: the sweet smell of kettle corn, the cacophony of live music tinged with laughter, the evening sparkle of carnival lights—the list creates a painting of summertime. The tradition is right around the corner, and the Evergreen State Spring Festival is the perfect primer for this classic summer tradition. Southeast of Marysville lies the little town of Monroe, a few miles ahead of Mount Index. While the festival holds all the promises of your standard fair—quilt shows and farm animals—
there are plenty other reasons to be excited about this particular event. Science exhibits from the Pacific Science Center will be on display and there’s the famous BBQ contest, to name a few. The cherry on top? Free admission. I can’t think of a better way to anticipate the coming summer months than a visit to this lovely spring celebration.
I’m thinking “swap meet” might be the more appropriate moniker based on the sheer scale of this event! I have a particular fondness for outdoor markets so you can imagine my excitement when I came across this event in Skagit County. Claiming to be the world’s largest garage sale, you’ll find items from hodge-podge trinkets to beautiful antiques filling up the Skagit County Fair Grounds. The event itself is practically a fair boasting food booths and pony rides making it a wonderful family outing. Now, being a California native, I know a good outdoor market when I see one. There’s little I love more than a good treasure hunt. Add an element of bartering, ponies and polish dogs and I’m happy as, well, a girl at an outdoor market! And by the looks of it, this market is the best you’ll find in our neck of the woods.
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The Tulip Festival: Skagit Valley/Mount Vernon, Wa April 1st – 31st I couldn’t very well omit the most famous of them all: tulips! The hub of spring festivities in the Northwest is indeed the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, bar none. People come from all over to tour the blossom-covered countryside of Mount Vernon. Acres upon acres of blooming tulips are a sight that instills such a strong sense of spring whimsy— there isn’t an outing more fitting to welcome the season then getting lost in a field of tulips.
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The event runs an entire month allowing plenty of time to make your way south for a visit. Driving through the tulip countryside is not the only attraction: Mount Vernon offers a variety of events scattered throughout the month of April. There’s the Anacortes Quilt walk, zip lining on the Kristoferson Farm, the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair—the list goes on! These events are diverse as they are numerous and continue throughout the height of spring.
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Dirty Dan’s Seafood Festival: Bellingham, WA – April 27th Okay, I think I’ve saved the best for last. Perhaps it’s because I’m a foodie; maybe it’s because it’s right in my hometown; or, perhaps it has something to do with my secret fondness for uphill piano racing—be it one, or all of these reasons, this event just might be one of the most eccentric and exciting festivals this spring, and it’s happening right in Fairhaven. The annual Seafood Festival is not the most inclusive name. Yes, there is seafood as the name implies, and lots of it (a few dollars will buy you a bowl in the Chuckanut Chowder Cookoff where locals choose the winner). There’s the Salmon toss, the cupcake eating contest—both adult and kid’s divisions—and
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a variety of food vendors serving up delicious local delights all day long. What’s that about piano racing? It’s true! As is the tradition in the ol’ west, the Uphill Piano Race showdown begins at high noon on the day of the festival. Throw in an 1800’s Dress Contest and some live music, and you’ve got yourself the perfect segue to summer fun. Does it get any better? Yes: free admission. The long lull of winter is approaching it’s final chapter. The freezing nights will soon be replaced by the soothing cool balm of spring, and the sun will become a familiar friend instead of a distant stranger. The summer will be upon us before we even have time to stop and smell the flowers, so be sure to do just that: find a moment or a day— take the whole weekend, if you can—to stop and experience the season of awakening that’s just beginning to stir.
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