As a former 605 Magazine intern, and with advertising agency experience under her belt, 605 is excited to welcome back graphic designer Yany Avelar as a multimedia designer. Get a look at what this crafty California native is all about, and see what she’s doing when she’s not meeting the next print deadline or busy at a photo shoot.
Queen City Bakery is one of my favorite places to stop before work, after work, and on the weekend. I love their Strawberry Jammers, along with a Dirty Chai. Plus, they have a great space to work or unwind in.
One of my favorite places to grab a quick sugar fix is Half Baked [1]. In my professional experience, their Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake is 10/10. Plus, they have South Dakota State University ice cream. Need I say more?
I’m a huge crafter/maker, so if I have a weekend with no plans, you can probably find me at Jam Art & Supplies [2] sifting through their supplies and planning my next project. My fiancé, Ethan, “loves” my never-ending collection of drawing pads, paints, and odds and ends that I “might need some day.”
We are currently in the process of moving out of our 100-year-old home and into a downtown loft, so I’ve been having a lot of fun picking wall colors and new décor for our new place. I really love unique and vintage items, so one of my favorite places to peruse is Urban Archeology [3]. They have a great collection from furniture to wall art, and it’s nice to have something special in your home.
I’m addicted to Mexican food, so if I’m in the mood for a quick bite, my favorite place to hit up is Tortilleria Hernandez on Fairfax Avenue. It’s a small little shop, but their Carne Asada Tacos are amazing!
One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend or day out is by visiting the Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion [4]. The exhibits are usually rotated every few months, and it’s great that their exhibits showcase a range of regional, national, and international artists.
As a designer, I try to keep educated by reading up on design and art books and sifting through books for layout, typographic, or visual inspiration. Anytime I’m feeling a little uninspired or just need a break, I love stopping by Zandbroz Variety to check out their books.
Whenever my friends and I are up for a drink, we usually manage to make our way over to Remedy Brewing Company or Carpenter Bar for a drink or five. You can’t really go wrong with either. Both have great atmospheres and selections.
Being a part of the 605 team has been really fun. One of my favorite things thus far has been our haunted tour of the Orpheum Theater [5] (October 2018 issue). But, it’s also been really fun getting to learn more about South Dakota and the local people and businesses that make up our state. I’m excited to keep exploring!
I’m one of those girls that gets obsessed with everything fall: the cooler weather, leaves, pumpkins, etc. I try to make at least one annual trip to Country Apple Orchard [6] to pick some apples and pick up pumpkins. It’s just a fun way to spend a day outdoors.
RANDOM FACTS:
I changed my degree three times before I finally landed on graphic design.
I’ve heard enough Yanny/Laurel jokes to supplement me for the rest of my life.
If you look up my name on urbandictionary. com there’s a semi-accurate definition of me.
English is my second language, and I didn’t learn it until I was 7 years old.
I can barely boil water, but I’m trying to work on my cooking skills. Feel free to send your best recipes my way!
