EXOTIC EXPERIENCE; FESTIVAL OFFERS TASTE OF GREECE.Byline: Kathryn Combs Daily News Staff Writer Dermot O'Reilly is about as Irish as you get, but the Northridge dad was swaying and dancing Saturday like Zorba the Greek - that is as much as he could safely with a 1-year-old daughter on his shoulders. Listening to a Greek band, watching a ring of dancers and joining in just a little was a chance for the Dublin native to connect with another culture. ``It's just the L.A. experience,'' he said in a thick brogue. ``It's good to take advantage of it, to try the food and the music.'' O'Reilly, 40, was among the thousands of people who flocked to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church stood across Liberty Street from the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, USA. It was completely destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks when the South Tower collapsed. to do as the Greeks do at the 26th annual San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Greek Festival A Greek festival or Greek Fest is an annual celebration of Greek culture presented by many ethnic Greek-American communities and organization in the United States and Canada, particularly Greek Orthodox churches. . ``It's a nice friendly atmosphere, (and) for those who aren't exposed to it, to get in touch with the culture is important,'' O'Reilly said. Organized and sponsored by church volunteers, the festival will span Memorial Day weekend and will feature everything from Greek food and music to traditional dancing and crafts. But what matters most to Mike Stambolis, co-chairman of the festival, is that those who come experience the hospitality he says Greeks are so well known for. ``This is what it's all about,'' he said. ``It's like visiting a real Greek festival.'' Judging from the reaction of people like Jan Johnston Jan Johnston (born February 21, 1965 in Salford, Lancashire, England) is a female singer. In the early 1990s she was signed to Columbia Records as part of the pop duo JJ which gained some recognition touring the UK. of Vancouver, Canada, the organizers have succeeded in getting the message across. ``It's like everyone's friends, and it's nice to see them all take part together,'' Johnston said. Each year, hundreds of volunteers begin preparing for the festival months in advance. In fact, much of the baking begins in February. More than 15 different pastries were prepared, including baklava, a sweet favorite made from fine layers of phyllo phyl·lo also fi·lo n. A pastry dough layered in very thin sheets that become flaky when baked, used especially in Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. dough filled with walnuts and almonds covered with a light lemon-flavored syrup. ``It's labor intensive Labor Intensive A process or industry that requires large amounts of human effort to produce goods. Notes: A good example is the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, etc), they are considered to be very people-oriented. See also: Capital Intensive, Trading Dollars , but it's a labor of love,'' Stambolis said. As many as 60,000 people are expected to attend the event this weekend. All money raised will go to various outreach programs in the community. Among the highlights of the festival are the dance troupes, including the Golden Greeks, who performed authentic folk dances folk dance, primitive, tribal, or ethnic form of the dance, sometimes the survival of some ancient ceremony or festival. The term is used also to include characteristic national dances, country dances, and figure dances in costume to folk tunes. of northern Thrace. Elizabeth Vasiliou, 17, of Burbank, was once a member of one of the church's dance troupes. She said she enjoys pretty much everything about the festival. ``I love the food, the dancing - and the guys,'' she confessed. The San Fernando Valley Greek Festival will continue today and Monday, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is at 9501 Balboa Blvd. CAPTION(S): 2 photos PHOTO (1) Youths from the Kleftopoula Dance Group perform traditional Greek dances Greek dance is a very old tradition, being referred to by ancient authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian.[1] There are many different styles and interpratations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas. Saturday at the San Fernando Valley Greek Festival. (2) Tom Hace feeds his 11-month-old son, Joseph, a loukoumathes at the event. Michael Owen
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