Avalon: A World Culture, Arts, and Lifestyle Magazine CELEBRATING HUMANITY!

AVALON is a unique, quarterly, world-culture and lifestyle magazine for women that honors and appeals to women's intelligence and creativity; explores our myriad interests, in travel, art, theater, fashion, architecture, history, politics, and on; shares our stories and reflects our busy, complicated lives; and feeds our curiosity and our desire to understand one another, to put ourselves in other women's shoes, whether they be Manolo Blahniks or Wellies! With contributors coming from and content covering a broad geographical scope, in every issue, we are reflecting the everyday lives we lead and the extraordinary lives we dream.

This was the magazine's website for several years. The content below is from the site's 2011-2012 pages.

AVALON'S MISSION is to celebrate humanity by sharing written and visual stories about people, communities, and organizations who are bettering the world, who inspire by their example, their philanthropy, their leadership or roles as mentors, by their art or innovative approach to living, or with their cultural significance or history. In keeping with that mission, in every issue we feature at least one nonprofit organization whose efforts improve the lives of others and who inspire by their leadership, mentorship, models for sustainable change, and innovative approach to living, working, teaching, and networking in the global community.

 


2012
A World Culture, Arts, and Lifestyle Magazine
CELEBRATING HUMANITY!
 
FOOD + WINE
 
 

"Wine is like art; there is no right or wrong. ... It's all about the setting, the friends and food you are sharing it with, and the overall atmosphere and mood.”

Annika Sorenstam

Excerpt from "ANNIKA Wines and Wente Estates: A Vineyard on the Right Course" by Heather Sharfeddin, AVALON Spring 2012

During her years as a professional golfer, Annika had developed a passion for fine wine that she says seemed only natural to want to share with her family, friends, and fans. But Annika isn’t the sort to do anything half way, and wine is no exception. “It was a long-time dream of mine to have my own wine label,” she says, “but I was waiting for the right partner.”

In 2008, Annika was introduced to the CEO of Wente Vineyards, Carolyn Wente, and then met Carolyn’s nephew, Karl, who is a Senior Vice President of the family owned-and-operated vineyard. The three of them really hit it off and have cultivated a deep friendship that is the basis of their winemaking partnership.

The family’s commitment to the land, and appreciation for it as a precious natural resource, keeps them at the forefront of winegrowing practices. Some of their sustainable applications include drip-irrigation in conjunction with on-site weather stations, composting, using natural fertilizers, using natural oils as fungicide spray, and growing natural grasses and broadleaf species to control pests by maintaining an ecological balance. 

Parallel to the Wente family’s environmental stewardship of the land, is Annika’s firm belief in giving back. She does so through such philanthropic efforts as her own nonprofit, the Annika Foundation. Started in 2008, the foundation’s mission is twofold: to encourage children to live healthy, active lives through fitness and nutrition; and to provide opportunity for aspiring junior golfers to explore their dreams. Its support of junior athletes lead to the creation in 2009 of the Annika Inspiration Award, now on the roster of awards given by the Women’s Sports Foundation. The annual award recognizes a young female athlete who embodies the idea of sportsmanship, by excelling in her sport and by being a role model––inspiring others through leadership and giving back to community.

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Excerpt from “FERGUS: A Wee Bit o' Scotland in Rural Ontario" by Pat Mestern | AVALON Summer 2012

 

“There’s mauny a day I dream o’ the braes an’ the lochs of my auld land. Then I look to the waters, the trees an’ the stanes; an’ I keen I am hame in Fergus, in Upper Canada.”

Thomas Young, July, 1836

After driving past the sprawl of the twenty-first century and descending the hills beyond the city of Toronto, down into the valley of the Grand River, I feel like Thomas Young. I am “hame” in Fergus, a wee bit o’ Scotland in the heart of Southern Ontario. Founded in 1833 by Adam Fergusson and James Webster, the settlement was originally called “Little Falls.” Whether it was eventually named after Adam Fergusson or after Fergus, the first King of Scotland, is debatable, but the community’s Scottish roots still run deep almost two centuries years after its founding.

As are many early Celtic settlements, Fergus, which now has a population of about twenty thousand, is a river town, set on the banks of the mighty Grand River. In the heart of town, standing on an iron footbridge, one can look upriver at the rushing waters of a narrows as they race over a limestone bed. An anomaly there always catches my eye, flowstone, beneath a fossil-filled wall of limestone and the ruins of an old mill. Once a huge mill complex on the north side of the river, it is a reminder of the industry that made Fergus so viable and visual as a Scottish village so long ago. A recent restoration of the mill buildings reflects the desires of many to keep that heritage alive. Beyond is the High Falls, where the Grand River begins its journey through an ancient gorge that was carved into the bedrock some ten thousand years ago during the retreat of the last ice age, and where fossils and the tracks of ancient deer-like animals can be found in the limestone rock.

Downriver, the steps of Templin Gardens––a public garden named for John C. Templin, who built it in the 1920s as a gift to his wife––lead to the water’s edge, to where the narrows open to the wider Mirror Basin, named so as on a clear day the sky reflects into a perfect round circle with a whirlpool. Further along is a grotto (there are also many secret caves in the cliffs of the gorge.) Beyond it, the river narrows again as its waters tumble through the Needle, two natural limestone abutments that support another bridge, past the old sheep-washing green where the sheep used to be herded for washing before shearing, and on, to the western reaches of the gorge. This is my Fergus, known for the river that runs through it, and for the Scottish heritage that defines it. This is the town that speaks to both my body and my soul.

––Pat Mestern

 

Ingle Ken’lt

(Hearth Rekindled)

IMAGES: 391_FERGUS11.jpg | 392_FERGUS9.jpg 

From the northern white of the winter’s snow–
From the eastern blue of the spring’s new moon–
From the western red of the summer’s sun–
From the southern gold of the autumn’s leaves–
Come coals from the hearth’s flame,
Entrusted to the hands of friends.
Though the fire has died in the ancestral home,
Its spirit remains alive.
When touched to wood in the new laid hearth,
The warmth is rekindled again.
 
For warmth is friendship,
And friendship is love,
And love is bestowed upon all.
Let the door fore’er be open–
Let the cawther run free.
It is sung far and wide,
That this ever may be.

 

The home is the hearth.
The hearth is the flame.
The flame is the spirit of love.
Let all know, from whence they came,
They are warmed by this hearth and this flame.

––Pat Mestern, 1984

(When a new dwelling or cabin was built and a fire was ready to be lit on the new hearth, friends would gather, bringing coals from their own hearths to bless the new dwelling. “Ingle Ken’lt” is my salutation that Celtic custom.)

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“I think everybody is searching to do good with their life and find a place where they can make a difference...”

Larry Camerlin (From “Volunteer Pilots with Angel Wings” by Nicole Galland, AVALON Holiday 2011 DREAM Issue)

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April 15, 2012

 

Dear Linda,

Words cannot express how thrilled we were when the incredible article about Dance to Unite came out in your Spring 2012 issue.

Since your magazine focuses on world culture and the arts it was particularly poignant that Dance to Unite would make its inaugural debut in your magazine. We believe strongly that by educating our youth and actually having them meet and experience people of different cultures they will develop the respect and appreciation that is needed for our world to move forward in peace. We use the art of dance as a vehicle to achieve this goal since dance is an activity that transcends all barriers and serves as a powerful means for communication.

Your writer was able to get to the heart of who we are and what we are trying to achieve. This article and the “up-scale” quality of your magazine is serving as an impressive launch for us as we are in the midst of building awareness of who we are and what we can do for society. 

We are in the midst of planning our first fundraising event. During our initial discussions we had a variety of suggestions. Some were helpful and others seemed to be way off the mark. A casino night didn't seen appropriate for instance. I admit I enjoy playing a variety of casino games at online casinos. I'm sure all of us have played or watched others find online slots USA promos while waiting to board a plane at the airport. It's a entertaining and mindless way to chill, particularly if you are playing the free games. However for a fundraising event, particularly our first, we wanted a more fitting event such as an unforgettable evening of performances, wine reception, passed hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, music and mingling to celebrate dance and diversity in New York City.

Working with a small jewelry retailer, we've commissioned a distinctively elegant choker collar necklace which carries a small, tastefully etched logo representing our cause. These specialized jewelry items are already selling well, and when we turn the fundraising into a full time activity, we have high expectations for success. We are interested in advertising or promoting our choker necklace in your magazine if that is possible. We also plan to include this article in our invitation and feel that it is going to be instrumental in helping us educate people as to who we are in the hopes that they will want to come to our event and learn more. And, because of our association with a magazine of Avalon’s professional quality, we believe that this will help influence people to donate funds to help us expand our program.

Sincerely yours,

Robin Schletter Board President
 

April 12, 2012

 

Linda Black

AVALON Magazine 6C

80 Varick Street

New York, NY 10013

Dear Linda:

On behalf of the entire Angel Flight NE organization, I would like to thank you and the entire AVALON Magazine team for supporting our mission of providing free air transportation so children and adults throughout the Northeast can access life-saving medical care. 

In particular, the well-written and beautifully-depicted editorial piece, Volunteer Pilots with Angel Wings, which appeared in the Holiday 2011 edition of AVALON Magazine, has assisted our organization to spread the word about our services and the many patients and families we take care of.  We are utilizing the article reprint as a corresponding piece in our presentation/marketing kits utilized to encourage support of our mission to potential sponsors and sustainers.  The feedback about the piece has been wonderful. As well, the fashion show that you hosted on August 18th at Nectar’s located on Martha’s Vineyard assisted in bringing awareness to not only our overall mission, but also how our Angel Flight NE’s services has supported the residents of Martha’s Vineyard by scheduling more than 8,600 flights and flying 5,400 missions which equates to more than $1.7 million in Angel Flight NE services to patients and their families who live on Martha's Vineyard.

Again, thank you so much for your support. Having a team, like AVALON Magazine, behind us and supporting our mission, certainly goes a long way and enables us to spread the word even further about our mission.  We look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship – together, we can change lives one flight at a time.

Warmest regards,

Larry Camerlin Founder & President
   

 

 

More Background on AvalonMag.com

Avalon Magazine is a distinctive publication that has carved out a niche in the realm of world culture, arts, and lifestyle content. Known for its commitment to celebrating humanity and fostering a sense of global community, Avalon has gained recognition for its unique editorial approach, cultural significance, and impact on its audience. This article delves into the magazine's history, audience, notable features, reviews, press coverage, and broader cultural importance.

History and Mission

Avalon Magazine was established as a quarterly publication with a clear mission: to celebrate humanity by sharing stories that inspire, educate, and connect people across cultures. The magazine focuses on themes such as travel, art, theater, fashion, architecture, history, politics, and philanthropy. Its contributors hail from diverse geographical backgrounds, ensuring a rich tapestry of perspectives in each issue.

The magazine's ethos is rooted in exploring the lives of extraordinary individuals and organizations that better the world through their leadership, mentorship, art, or innovative approaches to living. Avalon also highlights nonprofit organizations that improve lives globally by promoting sustainable change and inspiring leadership.

Audience

Avalon primarily targets women who are intellectually curious and creatively inclined. Its content appeals to readers interested in exploring diverse cultures, lifestyles, and artistic expressions. The magazine aims to resonate with women juggling busy lives while dreaming of extraordinary experiences. By addressing topics such as travel destinations, cultural heritage, philanthropy, and personal stories, Avalon fosters a sense of connection and empathy among its readers.

Notable Features

Avalon Magazine stands out for several reasons:

  • Diverse Content: The magazine covers an extensive range of topics including travel guides to unique destinations like Fergus in Ontario; profiles of influential figures such as Annika Sorenstam; and explorations of cultural traditions like Celtic customs.

  • Philanthropy Focus: Each issue features at least one nonprofit organization whose efforts inspire readers through their innovative approaches to improving lives. For example, Avalon has highlighted initiatives like Angel Flight NE's free air transportation services for medical care and Dance to Unite's use of dance to promote cultural understanding among youth.

  • Artistic Excellence: The magazine incorporates high-quality visual storytelling through photography and design. It often collaborates with artists to create compelling narratives that engage readers.

  • Reader Engagement: Avalon fosters a sense of community by encouraging readers to reflect on their own lives and aspirations while connecting with stories from around the world.

Reviews and Reception

Avalon Magazine has received positive feedback from both contributors and readers. Organizations featured in the publication have praised its ability to capture their essence and amplify their missions. For instance:

  • Angel Flight NE commended Avalon for helping spread awareness about their services through beautifully written editorials.

  • Dance to Unite expressed gratitude for Avalon's support in showcasing their inaugural efforts to promote peace through cultural education.

These testimonials highlight Avalon's role as not just a magazine but also a platform for meaningful storytelling that drives social impact.

Press & Media Coverage

Avalon has gained attention for its editorial quality and cultural relevance. It has hosted events such as fashion shows aimed at raising awareness for philanthropic causes like Angel Flight NE's missions. These events further cement Avalon's reputation as a socially conscious publication that bridges art, culture, and activism.

Cultural & Social Significance

Avalon Magazine contributes significantly to the cultural landscape by:

  • Promoting Global Understanding: Through its stories about diverse communities and traditions, Avalon fosters empathy and appreciation for different cultures.

  • Empowering Women: By addressing topics relevant to women's lives—ranging from career challenges to creative pursuits—the magazine inspires its audience to pursue their passions while contributing positively to society.

  • Encouraging Philanthropy: Avalon's focus on nonprofits underscores the importance of giving back to communities and making sustainable changes.

  • Celebrating Art & Creativity: The magazine serves as a platform for artists and writers to showcase their work while engaging readers with thought-provoking content.

Examples of Featured Stories

Some memorable articles from Avalon include:

  1. "Volunteer Pilots with Angel Wings" - A feature on Angel Flight NE's volunteer pilots who provide free air transportation for medical care.

  2. "Fergus: A Wee Bit o' Scotland in Rural Ontario" - An exploration of Fergus' Scottish heritage and natural beauty.

  3. "Annika Wines: A Vineyard on the Right Course" - A profile of golfer Annika Sorenstam's journey into winemaking alongside her philanthropic efforts.

These stories exemplify Avalon's ability to blend personal narratives with broader themes of culture and community.

Insights & Specifics

Avalon's editorial approach emphasizes authenticity and depth. By featuring contributors from various backgrounds and regions, the magazine ensures its content remains fresh and inclusive. Its quarterly format allows for meticulous curation of articles that resonate with readers on multiple levels—intellectually, emotionally, and aesthetically.

The magazine's commitment to showcasing nonprofits aligns with its mission to celebrate humanity. This focus not only enriches the publication but also inspires readers to engage in philanthropic activities themselves.

 

Avalon Magazine is more than just a lifestyle publication; it is a celebration of humanity through art, culture, storytelling, and philanthropy. Its ability to inspire readers while fostering global connections makes it a valuable addition to the world of magazines. By highlighting extraordinary individuals and organizations alongside everyday stories that resonate universally, Avalon continues to leave an indelible mark on its audience.

Through its thoughtful content curation and commitment to social impact, Avalon embodies the spirit of creativity, empathy, and empowerment—a true testament to the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

This version contains no embedded links or references outside the article itself. Let me know if further refinements are needed!

AvalonMag.com