Chef and Certified Sommelier Joseph LaVilla Assistant Academic Director Culinary Arts The Art Institute of Phoenix To try to pair a wine to all the flavors of the Thanksgiving table is nearly an impossible attempt. Not to say we can’t have good wine on ‘turkey day,’ but trying to find the perfect match for a light bodied meat, tangy cranberries, herbal stuffing and sweet candied yams is an exercise in futility. Instead, go for the wines that pair easily with any food and taste great at the same time. For the white wine drinkers in the bunch, Rieslings are the perfect food wine: Light, yet full flavored; tangy, yet still fruity. These wines will be the chameleon on the table, fitting in everywhere. Another option is a Gewurztraminer. Known for its floral, exotic aroma and spicy notes, it will blend well with all the flavors at the table. Red drinkers can stay with Thanksgiving as an American tradition and drink Zinfandel. A juicy, easy drinking Zin (not the pink stuff) has enough fruit and spice to fit into the feast. For those with a more international bent, get some Beaujolais Nouveau (just released the week before in most places). While not a complex wine, the candied fruit notes, and the low tannins help this wine fit in to the meal. Can’t decide between white or red, try a rosé. Look for a dry rosé from the south of France or Spain. These wines are meant to bridge the expanse of full flavored meals that are not overly heavy. Suggestions for cooking for small groups: Use a chicken instead of a turkey. You can still stuff and carve it. Individual birds – Cornish game hens – one for each guest. Keep the sides focused. There’s no need for 3 kinds of potato, 2 types of cranberry, etc… Desserts – individual tarts, plated, dessert style.

Earth Day is April 22nd, and it’s a great time to flex the conscience while also reviving your home with recycled furniture and household accessories. As an Interior Designer in the Pacific Northwest, I am always keeping my eye out for items that glimmer of possibility. Someone else’s trash can easily become your treasure! Whether looking for items for the home—or fun personal purchases--the following tips are some that I personally use. They help save money—and the Earth! A great place to look for products for the home is a back room at your local specialty tile store. For instance, in Portland, Oregon, Ann Sacks Tile has a back room that features beautiful handcrafted tiles at a fraction of the retail price. Diligent trolling will be required, however—the seconds are never quite the same. I occasionally scope out houses when I see people moving (discreetly, of course!). I go back later in the evening and see if they left anything on the curb—the bookcase that needed painting but was never quite finished, the chairs that don’t match. Retails stores that are closing often sell their fixtures. I bought a pair of wire Metro shelves that I use for storage and a great pair of Eastlake dining chairs from a store that was closing its doors. One great place to search for trash to treasure items is community or non-profit rummage sales. Many times, all of the proceeds from these sales will go toward a non-profit organization. I always feel a little better when I spend money at a benefit sale than a regular sale. My $30 mink coat was a steal, and I was able to help finance public art at the same time. What could be better? I also must confess: I’ve been known to dive into a few dumpsters. Look for the ones near furniture and sheet metal manufacturing facilities, as well as those near construction sites. Always wear thick-soled shoes and heavy gloves—you never know what hazards may be underneath those cedar 2 x 4’s. Dive at your own risk! The bottom line is that what has once been used can most often be salvaged and revived to fit your style and your home. You can turn old ottomans into side tables, old jars into light fixtures, large old garden pots into outdoor tables. Don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s easier on the wallet to do so with items that have already lived one life—and easier on the earth when you help them live two!

Tips for the Recent College Grad on How Not To Get Buried in Debt It seems like everybody’s doing it. Going into debt that is. Americans are so deep in debt that none other than Oprah Winfrey has made it a mission to force America on a “Debt Diet” with a series of shows featuring families that overspend to the brink of bankruptcy. For the recent graduate, going into debt is a clear and present danger. Out of school with their first real “grown-up” job and paycheck, new graduates are at high risk for overspending. According to Dr. Robert Berg, chair of Argosy University/Atlanta’s College of Business and Information Technology, the temptation begins the day after commencement – if not earlier. “Banks shower graduates with offers since their research shows that once people open an account, and are initially satisfied, they are reluctant to switch banks,” says Dr. Berg. “Students discover credit card financing early on, leading to the notion of looking in a wallet and knowing you have the power to charge more than you should. Graduates know that bankers have the money they need, and often the loans they have taken out to pay for their education. But, bankers and accountants aren’t responsible to pay back the loans – the graduate is.” So what can a recent grad do to stay on track and be a smart earner and saver? “Set up a budget,” says Anna Kelly, director of student financial services of The New England Institute of Art. “It’s simple, easy to do, and serves as a guidepost to help young people learn to pay off debt, not accumulate more debt, and squirrel away some savings too.” The budget, she says, should include everything from rent, transportation, food, utilities, school loan payments and credit card payments to entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. “Put some money away each month into savings,” says Kelly. “No matter how small the amount, you will be better prepared for emergencies.” Any big purchases you have to make, pay cash, says Kelly, to avoid credit card interest charges. There is plenty of simple software out there to help individuals set up a household budget. Amy Shaver, a loan coordinator for The Art Institute of Seattle, says that many students now try to pay down or pay off credit card debt before graduating so “they can focus on paying off school loans as soon as they begin to get a regular paycheck.” If a student does run into problems paying off a loan or credit card debt, Shaver recommends contacting the lender immediately to begin to work out a payment plan. This is a smart strategy says Larry Lipner, director of administrative and financial services at The Art Institute of Seattle. “Students should pay off credit card debt first as they incur the highest finance charges, and school loans, after as they tend to have much lower interest rates,” he says. “By paying off debts monthly without being late the student is actually establishing a good credit history with the credit bureaus which will serve him/her well in the future translating into a better credit score.” Debt has become such a looming issue for all Americans, not just recent graduates, that many schools are devoting whole courses to it. “The Art Institute of Seattle offers a freshman level course that includes consumer debt and how to handle it,” says Lipner. “It’s important because many students come to school without the basic knowledge of how to manage their personal finances.” For students who have problems with credit card debt, there are places to go for help. Amy Shaver recommends DebtAdvice.org. To sum up, Dr. Berg defines the clear choice that graduates should make: “The choice is to make more than you spend, or spend less than you make – a simple rule that is sometimes hard to follow.” ### About The Art Institutes

Redecorating your child’s room is more than a way to bring their space up to date. It can also be a great way for you to spend some time with your child, to see how their personal tastes have developed and to teach them some valuable lessons about negotiation as well. You may be surprised to know that the first step in the room redecorating process doesn’t begin with picking out a princess theme or figuring out the right shade of rocket blue. Knowing when your child is ready for the change can be more important than the decorating process itself. According to Dr. Steve O’Brien, assistant professor of child psychology for Argosy University/Tampa, knowing where your child is at in their development is the key. “When your child’s interests begin to expand to the world around them and become more personal, your child may be ready and excited for a new room.” Changes in television viewing from animated cartoons to “real” shows like those on Animal Planet and Nickelodeon, interest in different types of music and a move towards more mature toys are indicators as well. Remember that your child’s room is not your own. While your furniture, collections and possessions spread over the entire home, theirs are usually confined to one room. Their bedrooms are multifunctional spaces that need to meet a variety of needs. “The space needs to be a place where your child can sleep, store their things, socialize with friends, play and even study,” says LeAnn Baier, interior design instructor for The Art Institute of Las Vegas. According to O’Brien, “It should be both comfortable and comforting to them and designed in a way that is conducive to their development.” Weed through the contents of your child’s room and help them prioritize what they need in the space and what they don’t.” Identify what items should be in open storage where your child can access them easily, which ones can be placed in closets, which need to be convenient to access and which can be stored elsewhere or simply thrown away. The best way to maximize space in any bedroom, according to Baier, is with a closet system. According to Steven Mann, managing partner of Crowne Closets & Cabinetry in Las Vegas, “If you have a single shelf and pole in your closet, installing a closet system can increase hanging space by two thirds and give the customer needed shelving as well.” If you can’t afford a custom system, there are other options as well. Your local do-it-yourself warehouse can also help when it comes to closet systems and storage solutions, as can a little ingenuity. Go to the organization aisle of your favorite store, look at the various storage items there and find ways to use them in your child’s room. Baier uses canvas shoe holders that hang from a traditional closet pole to store games, puzzles and art materials for her daughter. Remember that children’s clothes are shorter so you can often fit a bookcase or toy organizer under them in the closet. Consider under-the-bed storage as well. Wall shelves and other off-the-floor storage can be a great way to allow children to display their collections in an organized fashion. Bookcases are another storage solution for kid items but can take up vital floor space in the room. The primary pieces in your child’s bedroom should be the furniture. “The best case scenario,” says Baier, “is that parents have planned ahead of time for the transition and avoided furniture and items that are age-specific.” Whether you have them already or will need to purchase them now, opt for classic pieces that will grow with your child. Walls should be handled in a similar manner. Baier encourages her clients to opt for strong architectural lines and neutral colors in a room. Bead board, moldings and other architectural elements can give a room the character you are looking for without overwhelming the space. When it comes to color, a light periwinkle is a great way to inject color into the room and appease your daughter’s demand for an all-purple space. “Kids generally don’t have a concept of color shades until they are 8 or 9,” says O’Brien. “Look at different shades of purple with them and come to an agreement on what shade of purple they can use for the walls, assuring them they can inject more vibrant shades in other places.” So where is the fun, the color and the Spongebob that your child wanted in their space? It’s in the accents. Bed linens, artwork, table lamps and even window coverings are less expensive ways to bring your child’s personality into the space and help their “cool” factor. Keep window shades and light control elements neutral but experiment with a fun valance. Bring your child’s favorite character or animal into the room in the bedding or as art accents on the walls. Most importantly, know that every good design has classic elements that will stand the test of time. Creating a good base for your growing child’s room allows you to make changes at every stage of their life and with reasonable or nominal cost. ### About The Art Institutes

PITTSBURGH (March 5, 2005) -- Fans of the PBS program “Antiques Roadshow” will know the moment well. The appraiser pauses before giving the value of a piece and then says, “If you hadn’t cleaned it . . . ” And you know the rest. So how can you determine if you’re reducing the value of your old chair or cabinet by cleaning it, or if cleaning the piece will not only improve its look, but prolong its life and usefulness? According to Jerry Van Slambrouck, interior design instructor at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco, before attempting to clean an antique or mid-century wood piece (including the ‘50s), seek a professional opinion to determine its value. A reputable antiques dealer is usually a good source. If you can’t transport the actual piece itself, Van Slambrouck recommends taking pictures of the front, back and sides, as well as close-ups of any details. “I have taken photos of pieces to shops that deal in a particular period for advice and they’re usually very happy to help and excited to see the piece,” says Van Slambrouck. If an antiques dealer or other expert is uncooperative or just makes an offer to purchase the piece, he suggests moving onto to another source, for example, a local ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) chapter or the ASID website at www.asid.org. Once you know the value of your piece, and you decide you want to take on restoration yourself, you’ll be happy to know that the products used to clean or strip old furniture have come a long way. Chris Natale, interior design instructor at The Art Institute of Phoenix explains that “Before you would need real protective gear like rubber gloves, a respirator and goggles, but today there are so many different products, many of which are water-based and generally easier and safer to use.” Start any furniture restoration by working in a well ventilated space, says Khoi Vo, an interior design instructor at The Art Institute of California – Orange County. Start by taking a small amount of paint thinner on a soft, clean rag and begin working on a hidden area of the piece to determine how the solution is affecting the wood. If it’s working well, says Vo, then continue to clean the rest of the piece. The paint thinner will clean any residues and dirt that have collected through the years. After it’s cleaned, “You’ll have a much better idea of what kind of repairs may need to be made,” she says. If you’re restoring an old painted piece, try a diluted solution of face soap on a soft cloth and then immediately dry it with another soft cloth. After cleaning, you may want to try and tackle wobbly legs or joints. A good wood glue can take care of many simple repairs. Once repairs have been made and the piece is cleaned to your satisfaction, Kim Morrison, interior design instructor at the Bradley Academy of Visual Arts in York, Pennsylvania, suggests playing with different finishes such as crackling, sponging, glazing or color washing, as a great way to give an old piece a whole new look. A local craft or paint store is a good place to start for information and supplies. She recently helped a friend design his new dental office. At a flea market, she found a “seen better days” bureau as she describes it, and used stenciling, sponging and crackling techniques to turn the piece into “a focal point in the waiting room that also serves as storage for children’s games, magazines and dental literature. “Think of old furniture as a canvas, a place where you can create ‘one-of-a-kind’ piece of art,” says Morrison. ### About The Art Institutes

So many of us find ourselves in the same decorating boat – a home filled with a few family heirlooms, flea market or tag sale finds, and maybe even one or two treasures from a successful dumpster dive. You love them all, but how do combine high and low design pieces to create a unified and polished look for your home? First says Marjorie Marcellus, an interior design instructor at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco, forget about the cost of a piece. “A successful interior is not determined by the cost of its components. For a space to work, it needs to have balance and harmony,” says Marcellus. Finishes and furnishings should relate to each other as part of an overall design scheme, but “that doesn’t mean they have to match, be of the same era, same price or quality,” she explains. For example, says Marcellus, “I placed an expensive slab of marble onto a salvage-yard industrial black metal stand and then added four black bargain stools from Pottery Barn.” The similar finishes of the materials made it work. The result? “A custom kitchen table for my client’s urban loft. Topped with a delicate antique vase, fresh wild flowers and colorful cloth napkins from IKEA, the outcome was unexpected and delightful,” says Marcellus. Suzanne Wilkins, an interior design instructor at The Art Institute of New York City, is another proponent of mixing both high and low design elements. A basic rule of thumb, says Wilkins, is to avoid having a less expensive item next to a more expensive similar item. “Too many similarities invite comparison, and may make the less expensive things look cheap,” she says. Instead, pair precious things with inexpensive finds by following two rules of thumb: keep it simple and clean lined, or keep it funky. According to Wilkins, simple clean lines naturally