Vida En El Valle Blogs: The Latin voice of the central valley.

Across the news and the Internet, people are putting together “Best Of” lists for 2009. Here’s a list that I’ve started – feel free to comment, or add on to it!

Favorite movies of 2009: (500) Days of Summer, Sin Nombre, The Hangover

Memorable Fresno events that I covered:
- The filming of the Fresno edition of ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’
- Graduations galore! (Everything from Michelle Obama’s speech at UC Merced, to the Hanford HS graduation that was evacuated)
- Water, water everywhere: The ‘March for Water’

Memorable media coverage of the San Joaquín Valley from outside the Valley:
- Sean Hannity’s and Jon Stewart’s takes on the “people vs. fish” debate
- Newsweek’s in-depth look at the Valley’s issues, including water and foreclosures

Foods that I tasted in the Valley for the first time:
- Paletas (a summer obsession)
- Vietnamese pho (my current obsession)
- Menudo (not yet an obsession, but I’m glad I tasted it)
- Figs, persimmons, dates, and many of the leafy greens that come in our T&D Willey CSA box

Uniquely Fresno things that have made my first year in Fresno enjoyable:
- The Evening Eclectic music program on Fresno State’s radio station, KFSR
- Indoor rock climbing at Yosemite Fitness in Clovis
- Sharing my CSA box, and knowing that I am supporting local agriculture

And be sure to read this week’s edition of Vida for more end-of-the-year stories, including my reflections on my first year on the job!