GREEKS BRING FOOD, MUSIC, LIFE TO FESTIVAL.Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer With the smell of roasting meat wafting through the air and notes of Greek music Greek music, the music of the ancient and modern inhabitants of Greece. Ancient Greek Music The music of ancient Greece was inseparable from poetry and dancing. It was entirely monodic, there being no harmony as the term is commonly understood. echoing through the crowd, thousands gathered Saturday for the opening of the Valley 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. . The free event at 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. is scheduled to continue from 1 to 9 p.m. today and Monday. It is expected to draw 50,000 revelers by its close, many who come year after year to enjoy food, music and dance, as well as to see old friends. ``We look forward to this festival every year,'' said Sonia Siekertzian, a Granada Hills resident who, with her Greek-Armenian husband, has not missed the event in its 31 years. Put together by more than 300 church parishioners, the all-volunteer effort yields tons of souvlaki Noun 1. souvlaki - made of lamb souvlakia kabob, kebab, shish kebab - cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables - a Greek shish kebab - and oodles of other Greek delicacies. Parishioners began baking some of the 14 varieties of desserts - including baklava and kourambiethes (a shortbread) - in January to ensure the festival had the 48,000 pastries needed for the spread. And rivaling Krispy Kremes are loukoumathes, a kind of Greek doughnut hole, served warm. But there's plenty of other food for those without a sweet tooth, including tiropita (cheese pie), moussaka mous·sa·ka n. A Greek dish consisting of layers of ground lamb or beef and sliced eggplant topped with a cheese sauce and baked. [Serbo-Croatian, from Turkish mussakka (a casserole with eggplant, meat and potatoes meat and potatoes pl.n. Informal (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The fundamental parts or part; the basis. Noun 1. ), spanakopita spa·na·ko·pi·ta n. A Greek spinach pie made with layers of phyllo and a filling of seasoned spinach, onions and scallions, feta, and sometimes eggs. (spinach and cheese pie) and dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice). ``This is the way that we give back to the community,'' said Peter McCarty, a 47-year-old Northridge volunteer who could be found under a white tent Saturday cooking up loucanico, a sausage flavored with orange peels. Married to a Greek and himself Irish, McCarty said only the music rivals the food. Holding his 5-year-old daughter piggyback piggyback 1. A broker trading in his or her personal account after trading in the same security for a customer. The broker may believe the customer has access to privileged information that will cause the transaction to be profitable. 2. style, Toma Popescui stood beneath a tree, watching traditional Greek folk dance. ``Seeing somebody's culture is something amazing,'' said the 28- year-old. ``And the food is unbelievable.'' Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO: The 31st Valley Greek Festival, from 1 to 9 p.m. today through Monday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge. For more information, (818) 886-4040 or www.valleygreekfestival.com. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box Photo: (1) Works of art tempt visitors to the Valley Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Northridge on Saturday. (2) George Markos performs with his band, Ellas, at the festival. (3) Steve Greanias flips souvlaki at the barbecue, one of the many Greek foods available at the festival, which ends Monday. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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