April 2008 Issue | Download the Full Issue

Wow! Wine appreciation has reached a new high with the advent of Pala Mesa Resort’s effort to bring together true gourmet cuisine with fine boutique wineries. This is a wine “club” that you don’t experience very often.
Pala Mesa Resort's head culinary and restaurant team, along with the Resort's Membership Office created a fun, educational and delicious opportunity for diners to spend an enchanting evening at the Resort’s Hill Family Estate Wine Dinner which was held on March 19. The wine dinner event was a collaboration between Pala Mesa Golf Resort and the nationally acclaimed Hill Family Winery in Napa.
AquaTerra Restaurant General Manager, Dorothy Lopreore insists on finding the best wines from small non-commercial wineries. What she serves cannot be found at Bev Mo or other retail outlets. And why should you even bother? Part of the art of fine dining is the pairing of the wine with the dish being served and AquaTerra Restaurant knows how to do this.
At the wine dinner, I had the pleasure of sipping Hill Family Estate’s 2005 Pinot Noir when I tried the tomato and shrimp timbale. Enhanced with avocado and nestled on a float of Tobikko beurre blanc, it had the “pop” to kick off the evening. The interaction of the textures and the flavors in the food is the new twist that AquaTerra cuisine brings to the table.
The entrée was wild boar chops with a sweet potato puree. What I never knew is that wild meat has more oxygen in it, therefore the flavors are stronger. This dish was served perfectly with a Thai chili raspberry sauce. A puree of the fruit is blended with sugar to form a very thick mixture and then laced with something extra. Lemon? Cognac? Kirsch, maybe? I’m not certain but it was great!
I must stop and mention the 2003 Origin wine served with this course. This sweet red was light with a playful palate of berries and dark fruit. Ryan Hill, one of the owners of the Hill Family Estate, explained that it is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Each year their winemaker experiments with just the right combination of the four grapes, altering the percentage of each depending on the final flavor. 2003 was a good year. My thanks.
Chocolate? Did you say, chocolate? The dessert of poached pear with pastry cream was the perfect way to finish the meal. It was presented with a shield of chocolate, surrounded by a very clear chocolate sauce. Divine! A fresh pear dropped into a warm syrup of red wine, lemon juice and sugar is a great way to soften the pear for easy eating. I'm not sure if this is AquaTerra Pastry Chef's method but try it at home.
It's divine and you will love it!
Be sure to contact Member Services Manager, Marirose Ordillas via email at mordillas@palamesa.com for future events. It looks like there will be a wine appreciation club trip to Napa and October is the targeted month. Marirose also has membership information for the dining and wine club if you are interested in joining. She'll make certain that you receive a leather-bound wine journal, wine-opener and a 3 month complimentary subscription to Wine Spectator magazine. Marirose can also be reached at 760.731.6802.

Avocado Festival: It’s Easy Being Green!

It’s the celebration where the avocado is king! It’s probably the biggest block party in existence that celebrates the delicious, creamy, nutty fruit that is the national produce in these parts.
It’s the Fallbrook Avocado Festival! It will be held April 20, on Main Street in Fallbrook from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
The avo has been important to the region since the first trees were planted in 1912. The festival was created to coincide with the local harvest.
Over 70,000 people are expected at this annual tribute to the ubiquitous knobby green fruit.
There will be a culinary contest at 9 a.m. for professionals and amateurs.
There is also a pie contest, “best guacamole” contest and “most creative avocado dish” contest.
There will also be a culinary demonstration by a local sushi chef. The avocado is used quite a bit in sushi, especially in the California Roll.
Another popular feature is the “Art of the Avocado” Contest, sponsored by George & Gayle Bamber of Holy Guacamoly. Local artists will create avocado-themed works in any medium.
Prizes include $300 for first place; $200 for second and $100 for third. Winners will be displayed at The Lace Apron, 118 North Main Street.
Live entertainment will be provided by Blue Zone (classic rock ‘n roll and blues) and the Salt Creek Band (country, rock, and blues).
About 350 vendors include 50 food booths: Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and other ethnic foods, Fallbrook’s celebrated guacamole, hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, shaved ice, avocado ice cream, and soft drinks. There are also products from local artistans, including hand-blown glass, carved avocado wood, jewelry, and hand-painted crafts.
There will also be a Farmers Market and Exhibition Area with nursery section.
Activities for kids
“The Avo 500” is open to all elementary school age hot rod builders, who can show off their aerodynamic talents at two races, as long as they use the avocado as their “car.”
Free events occur in the El Toro/Bonita Parking Lot, 337 North Main St., starting at 11 a.m.
Race 1: Modified “Cars.” Bring your own avocado “racing car,” prepared at home. Create wheels and decorative elements on any avocado. The wheelbase cannot exceed 8 inches.
Race 2: Stock “Cars.” Build your car “on the spot” by stopping at the avocado racing pits and building your racer with standardized parts. Wheels and avocados are provided.
Best Dressed Avocado Contest —In the hands of an imaginative child, a bumpy avocado can become just about anything! Think Mr. Potato Head.
Bring decorated avocados to the El Toro/Bonita Parking Lot, 337 North Main Street, by 11:30 a.m. and register. Judging will start at 12:05 a.m.
Pictures for the Coloring Contest will be distributed at Fallbrook Elementary School before the festival. Students are encouraged to be creative and color the picture as they like.
Other Avocado Festival events include: Vintage Car Club Show, Gem & Mineral Museum, vintage aircraft display at the Fallbrook Airpark and dance performances.
Pick up entry forms to the various contests at the Chamber office on 233 E. Mission. Return forms with a $10 fee per contest before April 17.
Questions? Call 760 728-5845.

The Ruth Redmann Paws in the Park Dog Fair

It’s a heavenly day for dogs when the Fallbrook Healthcare Foundation holds its third annual Ruth Redmann Paws in the Park Dog Fair, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
The event occurs April 19, at Live Oak Park in Fallbrook. Registration and collection of fees begins at 9 a.m.
This tail-wagging event is a benefit for the healthcare foundation.
You can get registration forms by calling 760-723-7713. Forms are also available off the Web site: www.fallbrookhealthcarefoundation.org
Last year about 100 dogs and 300 people turned out for the event, which is a dog show, where you can register your pooch to compete for prettiest female dog, best little dog, or owner lookalike.
Other categories include: Cutest Puppy, Oldest-Looking Dog, Smallest Dog, Biggest Dog, Most Handsome (male), So Ugly You’re Cute, Shortest Tail, Longest Tail, Shortest Ears, Longest Ears, Fastest Tail Wag, Loudest Bark, and Best Trick. Prizes will be awarded in each category.
Each event costs $2 to enter.
Last year the Best in Show award went to a bulldog named Adorable.
Winners will be presented with their prizes by Miss Fallbrook (who will be chosen a few weeks before the event) and Fallbrook’s Honorary Mayor John Harris.
Other things that are sure to make you want to sit up and bark include vendor and information booths. You can also watch several different kinds of demonstrations that will be held during the day in the demonstration ring.
Although it’s all in fun, the purpose of the event is to raise money for the Foundation which provides services to local residents who need help with their health and aging challenges. The Fallbrook Healthcare Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, receives no public or government funding and is totally supported by donations, bequests and grants.
The following rules are in force during the Paws in the Park event:
• Dogs are the only type of animal friends allowed at the event.
• Dogs must be leashed at all times and kept under control, have current vaccinations (including rabies) and be sociable with other dogs and people.
• Participants are asked to come prepared to clean up after their dogs (pooper-scooper bags will be provided).
• Keep female dogs in heat at home.
• Bring your pet only if it is a sociable pooch and enjoys being around other dogs and people.

Bonsall Wants A High School

It’s a dream every small town has: to build a high school of its own. One where local parents can say how their students are schooled. Where they can root for the hometown team and attend the graduation and, as seniors pass in their caps and gowns, exclaim: all of them are ours!
Although it’s hard to tell when you leave Bonsall and enter Fallbrook, Bonsall’s residents are very aware of differences between the two communities.
After many years of sending their students to Fallbrook High School, some want their own high school.
But it’s complicated for an elementary district to become a K-12 district—a process called unification.
Since Bonsall is part of the Fallbrook High School District, both must be part of the process.
The effort started when three Bonsall women, Jennifer Leung, Darlene McCave and Sharon Bitting collected 3,000 signatures. Once 1,814 (25% of Bonsall’s registered voters) were verified the Registrar of Voters Office stopped counting.
The process switched to the San Diego County Office of Education, where, says Carole Parks of the office’s business advisory services, the unification study began.
It studied nine criteria and determined in December of 2007 that the proposal met seven.
Two issues working against unification are 1) that it would create significant costs for new facilities, duplicating facilities and leave empty seats at the existing high school and 2) the new district would start out with a low revenue limit.
“It’s difficult to be viable if state funding is low to start with,” says Parks.
Despite such caveats, the county board approved the proposal, sending it to the State Board of Education, whose staff will do a similar study.
The State Board can approve or disapprove. Disapproval ends the process.
“My sense is that the state pretty much approves or denies on how they feel,” says Parks. “They don’t normally follow staff or what local boards feel.”
It could take two years for the board to vote and then two years for a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review.
If the State Board supports the plan it will set the date for a unification election and determine who can vote. The county recommended including the entire Fallbrook district. Fallbrook voters outnumber Bonsall voters five to one.
The vote will probably fall in a primary year, possibly by 2012, or maybe 2014.
So if you live in Bonsall and have little kids, they may someday attend a Bonsall High School.
There has been no acrimony about the process, says Parks. “It has all been very civilized. The districts have to coexist now and there’s a lot of years before it gets done,” she says.
Jeff Felix, in year two as Bonsall Union School District superintendent, says, “Bonsall has always had an issue with its identity. That is very important to the community. A high school would create a greater sense of identity. Our elementary district does that to some extent. A high school would do it to a much greater extent.”
Bonsall’s Sullivan Middle School graduates 170-190 students annually. Multiplied by four you have a potential for a high school of 600-800 students. On the small side, but not uncommon.
The district is one of the few in the area without declining enrollment.
“In the next ten years I expect to see those numbers increase to one thousand students,” says Felix.
Could the 88-square-mile K-12 Bonsall district offer a curriculum comparable to Fallbrook’s?
“I think we could offer a very comparable curriculum and probably do it better,” says Felix. “But not right away.”
“A high school of three thousand can, through economy of scale offer much more. That’s just economics. Lacking would be things like woodshop, metal shop, all the sports. Those would be difficult with a small school. However a lot of research talks about smaller schools, and states like New York are turning to small academies to do a greater focus on academics and social relationships.”
Besides, the local perception is that the high school is so large children get lost in it and that students don’t get the help they need.
Another complaint is academics. “I have heard that,” says Felix, “but the data does not prove that. Fallbrook ranks quite high.”
Bill O’Connor, president of the Fallbrook High School Board, a Bonsall resident, says his board has taken no stand on the proposal.
“The main problem is financial. The financial impact will be tremendous on Bonsall to try to build a facility to duplicate Fallbrook High School,” he says.
He adds, “Obviously local control is important. It’s paramount if you can maintain and build a school. My hat’s off to you if you can do it and a majority of the people support it. But the problem would be the impact on the entire high school district.”
“We have estimates that between 20-25% of the population would be diverted to Bonsall. We’d lose a huge chunk of the ADA.”
“And I don’t know where the money would come from. With the downturn of the economy that will have tremendous impact on us all,” he says.
“Another problem is the existing bonds we are paying off,” he says.
His children attended both systems. He believes they got a good education.
“I was very happy with what happened in Bonsall and Fallbrook. Things I hear about how bad the high school is are overstated. Sometimes positive things are left out and we overlook the great things our kids our doing.”
He believes it’s important for parents and officials to meet regularly to address everyone’s concerns.
“It’s going to be years and years before Bonsall gets a new school. Maybe we can come up with solutions to benefit everyone in the district,” he says.

On Patrol For Pest, Weed & Fire Control

From ants to spiders to cockroaches, rodents and weeds, our homes are easily vulnerable to invasion.
Our first line of defense is usually purchasing a home pesticide. While this may be an efficient way to kill pests and weeds, depending on the scope of the problem, it may not always be effective.
“Home pesticides rarely eliminate major problems,” said Barry Likins, owner of Z Pest Control of Escondido. “Sprays only last a few days and aren’t always used properly. For example, with ants, you need to find the colony. This can be hard for someone who isn’t trained to look for it.”
According to Likins, ant colonies can be anywhere—in your attic, inside your walls, in your neighbor’s yard. They will travel more than 60 feet from their camp, trudging through grass and dirt, making it difficult to follow their trail.
No single chemical works for all pests.
“You have to know the habits of each insect to address the problem and know what spray to use,” said Likins, who has 25 years of experience. “Our main objective is to use the least amount of chemical possible.”
And that’s if they use any chemicals at all.
Traps are the preferred method of elimination for rodents. Why traps? Because poisoned bait has a downfall. Once the rodent is poisoned, there is no way to determine when and where it will die. If you don’t find the remains, it will begin to decay and create a foul smell. With traps, there is no gamble locating the rodent.
Secondary poisoning is another issue with bait. If your cat eats a poisoned mouse, it may also get sick and possibly die. That’s why companies like Chris’s Agricultural Pest Control of Fallbrook use fumigation, which eliminates any chance of secondary poisoning.
“Our focus is the outdoors and landscape,” said owner Chris Mizoguchi. “We fumigate for burrowing rodents because they cause erosion, spread disease and carry fleas.”
Homeowners in rural areas are also fighting rodents with barn owl boxes. This is a cheap, natural and environmentally friendly approach because it attracts the barn owls that prey on rodents.
“People feel good about it because they don't have to use pesticides or deal with trapped rats,” said Likins.
While it’s tempting to wait for pests to simply go away, it’s important to get rid of them. Rodents can carry disease and contaminate your food. Such disease can even mix with dust and become airborne. Ants are more of a nuisance than anything, but still get into your food. And although you may choose to live in harmony with spiders because they eat other insects, they still bite humans and some people are allergic to their poison.
Then there’s that other pesky problem—weeds.
Weeds are found everywhere. They are nature’s frontline troops to repair moved and damaged soil. We like to move soil; we hate weeds. So we eliminate them.
But there is a much more important reason for weed removal, especially in rural San Diego County. Weeds are extremely quick fuel for fire, and Southern California has big fires.
“The most important thing is to stay on top of it,” said Alice Colburn, owner of C&S Fire Prevention Maintenance of Valley Center. “It’s essential to maintain your yard. Keep weeds, sage and chaparral under control. Prune trees, clean up dead grass.”
She and her husband Danny started C&S Fire Prevention Maintenance more than four years ago, shortly after the Cedar Fire.
“We saw a need for the service,” Colburn said. “Most people know what to do, but sometimes don’t want to do it especially if it’s thick, heavy brush and steep terrain.”
Colburn adds that the best time for removal is late spring or early summer. After that it gets really hot, and the Santa Ana winds come in. When the fire marshal issues a red flag warning, it halts removal because the equipment could start a fire.
“Too often we get calls after fires when people are nervous and scared. The key is prevention and control at all times,” Colburn said.
Fire suppression starts with you. Whether you call a professional or not, it’s important to remove hazards before they lead to danger. Knowing what’s considered a possible hazard helps.
Mizoguchi says to keep your eyes out for dying trees. Bark beetles like spider mites and turpentine beetles suck the life out of trees, turning them into firewood.
“Look for sap coming out of the tree or the smell of turpentine,” Mizoguchi said. “If you notice any part of the tree dying, you should spray for pests to prevent new fire hazards.”
For more information on local weed and pest control, contact Z Pest Control, C&S Fire Prevention Maintenance or Chris’ Agricultural Pest Control.

The Dream of Ownership: Radley Corporation

Each member of the staff at The Radley Corporation knows that the construction of a house is not just a simple task of connecting lumber, concrete and metal into a building.
That's why, for more than 40 years, the company has helped people in Southern California realize the dream of owning a true home.
The family-owned construction company originally served the Los Angeles area from its office on Wilshire Boulevard, building more than 250 houses each year in the area, and has stayed in the family up to its current owner, Troy Halpern.
“We’ve been in Valley Center for about ten years now, and we've built approximately sixty homes,” says project manager Steve Reden. “Troy grew up in the industry, and he got involved with the company in 1984 when his stepdad was the owner. Now that Troy’s taken over, he’s stayed personally involved in the construction. He’s a licensed real estate agent, and he even does the accounting for all the projects.”
Last year the company built five houses on Pauma Heights Road in Valley Center. Radley Corp.’s latest project is the construction of the Silver Ranch Estates, a nine-lot subdivision on Stargazer Lane off of Fruitvale Road in Valley Center.
“We’ve already built four models, one of each floor plan,” Reden says. “That way, potential buyers can come in and either buy one of the models or pick their plot and their choice of floor plan.”
Now, along with the construction of new homes, Radley Corp. is also working in the field of fire restoration.
“We can help restore homes from fire damage, flooding, and garage fires, even from a total burn-down," Reden says. “Because we're a long-established, well-backed company, we can offer interim construction financing directly from the company so that we can begin the construction right away. We'll even do the brokering for a long-term loan.”
Part of what makes the company so successful is that each of the project managers has the experience to help their clients get the best results.
“I’ve been a licensed general contractor since 1978, and I’m also a real estate broker,” Reden says. "I've been with [Radley Corp.] for almost five years, since I sold Troy some property and he brought me in as a project manager.”
And now that the company is working in fire restoration, Reden’s personal experience helps him work with clients in the difficult aftermath of losing a home.
“I myself had my house burnt down, so I can relate,” he says. “There's so much fraudulent stuff out there that it can be tough to get through all the insurance and everything. But I’ve done a lot of work with Farmer’s, Allstate and other insurance companies, so I can help you get through the complicated process.”
For more information about Radley Corp., contact project manager Steve Reden by e-mail at RedenBuilding@aol.com or by phone at (760) 271-9345.

10 Places in North County to See Before You Die!: Borrego Springs Flowers Provide A Spring Bonanza

This the first of a series of articles entitled: Ten Places to Visit in San Diego County Before You Die. Although we have some of the other destinations picked, we are open to suggestions from our readers for the rest of them!
Contact the editor at editor@theboulevardonline.com or call 760-749-1112.
* * *
This spring, with all the early winter rains that have come to Southern California you can depend upon a wild flower bonanza in the area.
One of the most colorful places to view wild flowers is a short drive from north San Diego County, the Anza Borrego Desert.
The Anza Borrego Desert is actually a state park, the largest in the state of California. The park is 25 miles from east to west, and about 50 miles north to south, encompassing more than 600,000 acres.
It is surrounded on all sides by mountains that present an exciting terrain for hikers who wish to learn more about the geology of the area, view the plant and animal life of the desert, while enjoying spectacular desert valley views.
But starting in early March and continuing through early April the desert is flooded with flower gazers and this year there is an abundance of color to view.
Whether you choose to never leave your car and just drive through the area, stop for a picnic lunch, or get energetic and do a day hike in the dry warm desert air, there are many options to enjoy this floral display.
On the desert floor take your pick from Sand Verbenas, Phacelias, Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Chicory, and Filaree. Also you can find many plants in the Sunflower family, namely: Ghost Flower, Desert Star and Rock Daisies. In the higher elevations, Desert Apricot, Checker Fiddleneck, and Indian Paintbrush. Also, more toward April, the bright red flowers of the desert Ocotillo will bloom along with the brittlebush and other cactus flowers that bloom a little later in the season.
The best time to view wild flowers is immediately after a rain when the air is crisp and clean and full of the aromas of the desert.
One of the best places to view is in Henderson Canyon on the way to Coyote Canyon. From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, a great place to stop for lunch or a refreshing drink, drive east on S22 for two blocks to Di Giorgio Road, north to Henderson Canyon Road.
Either continue north 1.6 miles to the end of the pavement and follow the Jeep trail to Coyote Canyon (4WD recommended after 2.5 miles) or turn east on Henderson Canyon and follow it until you come to the wild flowers.
Remember, just look—the plants and cacti of the desert are protected so keep the shovel in the trunk.
You can take either Highway 76 or 78 to the Anza Borrego. I would recommend Highway 76. Pauma Valley is putting on quite a wild flower show of its own this month. The drive on either highway is a delightful late winter early spring excursion to the desert.
Enjoy and don’t forget to take your camera.

Valley View Casino Enters The Live Music Scene

Valley View Casino will enter into the San Diego live music scene in a big way when its new outdoor concerts debut on April 11.
The concerts will be held outside where valet parking is currently located.
According to Ric Militi, vice president of marketing for the casino, “The ball is rolling. We will start the concert series April 11, with Creedence Clearwater Revisited.”
This, unlike what you might initially suppose, is not a “tribute” band, it is rather the original Creedence band, but without John Fogerty, who is now touring on his own.
“This is the core of the band,” explains Militi.
Ticket sales have been very brisk since they began Friday, Feb. 29.
Valley View knows that it is entering a highly competitive market. Other casinos have concerts, so Valley View is pushing an aggressive advertising campaign.
“We’ve actually been very successful in our advertising and publicity campaign,” says Militi.
“We don’t like to do anything halfway. We’re going full out. We want it to be the most exciting concert venue and have the best acts.”
To accomplish this they partnered with AEG Live, the nation's second largest concert promotion and touring company.
“We felt they were the most high profile and powerful talent booking company in the country. When they became available locally we contacted them and in 48 hours had a deal with them,” says Militi.
AEG also books Humphreys on the Bay concerts and the San Diego Arena.
Militi likes upbeat, relevant acts. “I don’t want downbeat slow music. People come here for fun and excitement and translate that into the venue. I want it to be fun and exciting and full of energy.”
When he was studying the way other casinos do their concerts, Militi found out that many of them take up the best seats for their casino guests and that doesn’t leave any great seats for the general public to buy.
“We are not going to do that,” he says. “We implemented a strategy to disperse the tickets randomly. You can buy seats from the front to the back. I want people to want to come to our venue and to know that they can buy the best seats for their artists.”
They will, naturally, reserve some blocks for their loyal players, but they won’t flood the first few rows with them to the exception of the public.
He adds, “We’re going to do some fun stuff during the shows. We’re looking at having an area where we pick one seat and move those people up to a better area to sit in. And for every ticket that a person buys, at the end of the show, they can get $5 of free slot play at the casino.”
The concert will seat between 1,500 and 3,000 people, depending on the show. Seating will be on the same level but staggered, so everyone will be able to see the stage.
The stage and the lighting will stay up in between shows.
The seats will be very comfortable, Militi promises. “We’ve spent the last two months trying seats.
Don’t expect to see any children’s shows. Valley View will enforce the 21-year old rule that is in force for the entire facility.
“We are sticking to our social commitment that we don’t allow children into any part of the casino. That will make it a little more relaxing and comfortable for the adults,” he says.
Retooling of the valet parking lot to accommodate the new concert venue begins very soon.
That was always part of the plan. It was not an afterthought. In anticipation of that ultimate use, electrical conduit was laid when the casino was first being built.
“We were waiting for the right opportunity to enter the market, and it came with AEG,” says Militi.
The schedule of acts that will be playing is shown below, but Valley View is looking at bringing in some new acts that have never played in casinos before but which are very high profile acts.
Watch for them!
Creedence Clearwater Revisited–Friday, April 11
Duran Duran–Thursday, May 8 Just Added!
Trace Adkins—Thursday, May 15
Bonnie Raitt–Saturday, May 17
Chris Isaak—Tuesday, July 15
Styx–Thursday, July 17
The Temptations & The Four Tops–Sunday, Aug. 3
Gipsy Kings–Thursday, Aug. 14
Bill Cosby–Friday, Sept. 5
REO Speedwagon–Thursday, Oct. 2
Randy Travis–Wednesday, Oct. 15
More acts will be announced later.
Parking
Free valet parking and a free covered parking garage are available onsite.
Public Transportation
Valley View Casino has shuttle service from many points in San Diego. Visit their Web site at www.valleyviewcasino.com and click on SHUTTLE INFO near the upper right hand corner for further details.
Box Office
Call 1-866-VIEW-WIN (843-9946)
The box office is located inside Valley View Casino at the Players Club and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Valley View Casino accepts all major credits cards and cash.
Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.

Shidara

California Center for the Arts, Escondido will host Shidara, Sunday, April 6 at 7 p.m. This high energy traditional Japanese drum group has been wowing audiences for two decades.
We interviewed Megan Chao Smith, the only member of the group who speaks English.
Q: Can you give a little history about Shidara?
A: “Shidara started in 1989 because the founding artists loved the Japanese drum, the taiko. Shidara is committed to sharing the music and joy inspired by our forest home with audiences all over the world.
“In our village town, people have developed a practical wisdom born of a daily existence with nature. Many aspects of old Japan are still very much alive. These aspects are deep in the fabric of our life and performances.
“Most of the artists grew up in nearby towns. Some were raised in the big city of Nagoya. One member is from Kagoshima, but the furthest any member has come to study with Shidara is the U.S.! 
“Shidara has a uniquely strong female presence. Many of the lead performers are women, as is the artistic director and founder.
Q: How are taiko drums part of the Japanese culture?
A: “The Japanese word, “taiko” (TY-ko) means drum. The Japanese have used the drum for many reasons. An early practical use of the taiko was to determine the boundaries of the village. A village was as large as the booming sound the drum would carry. Taiko is used in various types of theater, and is one of the main instruments in Imperial Court ceremonies.
“Drums play an important part in Japanese religions. In the Shinto religion, everything, the mountains, fire, water, and animals contain a spirit.
In the Buddhist religion, taiko is the voice of the Buddha. It is a voice of wisdom, kindness, truth, and beauty.”
Q: What part do taiko drums play in village life?
A: “Long ago, the taiko were used for communication between villages, as well as sometimes to accompany the hard labors of fishing and farming. Nowadays it is common for towns to host giant taiko festivals.”
Q: Are different kinds of drums involved in your performances?
“Our stage is loaded with all kind of drums! We have massive drums weighing tons, measuring many feet at the head. Others are tied and tuned with colorful ropes, and light enough to sling across the shoulder. One is played with a giant club. Other drums are small and high-pitched.”
Q: How do people around the world react to your performances?
A: “We are lucky, because the beat of taiko just grabs you by the heart. You can’t help being moved deeply by these instruments. American audiences are some of the most fun to play for. Compared to sometimes modest and shy audiences in Japan, American audiences hold nothing back: jumping, whistling, screaming their appreciation.”

Fallbrook Film Festival: “The Art of Cinema from the Golden Age to Emerging Technologies”

The Fallbrook Film Factory presents its 1st annual Fallbrook Film Festival in a unique village that aspires to be the next Sundance in terms of location, the prominent artist community and surrounding entertainment options.
Several documentary, feature length, and short films will be showcased in four downtown Fallbrook locales during the three-day festival and workshop, April 25, 26 & 27. Visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com for details.
Judging from the number and caliber of films entered, the honorees who have agreed to be a part of this first festival and the quality of the seminar/workshops that will be offered, Fallbrook estimates that several thousand people interested in film and the filmmaking process will attend.
Screenings will take place at the historic Mission Theatre on Main Avenue in Fallbrook, and other venues. The festival is promoting specific movies that it is featuring including a skate board demonstration and presentation by one or two of the legendary skateboarders featured in D.O.P.E., a documentary on the rise and fall of skateboarding in the 1980s.
Skateboarding legends from San Diego County who led the movement (Jay Adams, Christian Hosoi, Dennis Martinez and Bruce Logan) are featured in this eye opening documentary.
Because of the festival’s proximity to Camp Pendleton, it will present a military selection of films with free admission to screenings for military personnel.
Highlighted will be the inspirational documentary Beyond the Call by Academy Award nominated director, Adrian Belie with appearances by the filmmakers.
They also have a series of student films including several from Fallbrook High School and other high schools and colleges in the vicinity.
Unlike other film festivals, this one won’t honor high-profile celebrities with career achievement awards. Instead, it will honor those who work hard behind the scenes to make and distribute films.
One of these is Adam McKay, the filmmaking partner of Will Ferrell, who started his career as a writer on Saturday Night Live, then went on to write (with Will Ferrell) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) which he also directed. In 2007, they launched the wildly successful user-submitted comedy video Web site, “Funny or Die.”
McKay will conduct a seminar and receive a Spotlight Award to recognize his contributions to film, television and the Internet. A Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to noted Cinematographer Tom Del Ruth.
Over 180 independent filmmakers from Austria, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and all over the U.S. submitted their films to be judged for the 2008 Fallbrook Film Festival before the February 29 deadline for entries.
The film categories are Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short and Animation. Awards will be given in the categories of Special Jury Award and Best Student Film.
Festival jurors may also award an unspecified number of honorable mentions at their discretion. Statuettes and other prizes will be presented to the winners during a special ceremony.
Tickets are available at the CAST Box Office beginning Wednesday, March 12. To buy tickets, call: (760) 731-CAST.
Pricing:
Single Screenings are priced at $10 each.
1-Day Festival Pass: $30 (One day of screenings). This pass becomes $45 if purchased at the door and not in advance.
3-Day Festival Pass: $75 (All screenings). This pass becomes $100 if purchased at the door and not in advance.
All Access Festival Pass: $150 (All screenings, special events & workshops).
The Fallbrook Film Festival is sponsored by the Fallbrook Film Factory, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit tax exempt organization.
The Fallbrook Film Festival evolved out of the Fallbrook Film Factory whose goal is to expose the art of filmmaking to all people; youngsters with a dream, retired professionals who want to “give back” to those who are just starting out on their paths by sharing their experience and talent and those who just love movies.
During the festival, the Factory will sponsor a variety of filmmaking workshops that will be conducted by industry professionals in fields of Acting, Writing, Directing, Set Decorating, Cinematography and Distribution, who will share their knowledge with aspiring filmmakers.
The workshops are designed for everyone from independent filmmakers to hobbyists and students. For more information about the Fallbrook Film Factory, visit their Web site: www.fallbrookfilmfactory.com.

“Wunnerful, Wunnerful” WELK RESORT’S CANYON GRILLE

The Canyon Grille at the Welk Resort is part of the vacation rental resort's neat package. Situated on the east side of Old Highway 395 just north of Escondido, the enclave is nestled into the side of our rugged California hills.
It has easy access on and off the freeway, and much to offer. Lawrence Welk was known to have called it his “little bit of heaven on earth.” Considering all the visitors it has hosted from all over the world, it appears that they must agree.
Many who enjoy the restaurant are owners or guests in the one and two bedroom villas, while others just drop by for a short stay. To work up an appetite the Fountains and Oaks golf courses offer genteel exercise, with 18 holes of golf on the longest executive golf course in San Diego County. Others have fun in the sun at the Boulder Springs Water Park and Club House.
To stir things up a bit, the resort proudly hosts exciting live theater performances at the Lawrence Welk Theatre.
Perhaps you are looking for that special something to wear to the theater. Then be sure to check out the Galleria, which offers accessories, jewelry and apparel, both casual and dressy. There’s also a wide selection of Welk music, stationary for that special thank you, and home décor and gift items available.
Golfing, walking, shopping, enjoying the water park or club house amenities all build an appetite, and that is easily satisfied at the Canyon Grille restaurant. Offering three outdoor patios and indoor dining, the Grille seats 288 patrons, with an indoor bar for dining or drinks; your choice.
For those of you who remember the older, Mr. W’s restaurant, famous for its Monday night chicken and dumplings, rest assured that the tradition that started around 1965 is still celebrated, yes, you got it, on Monday nights at the new Canyon Grille. And that’s not all they offer.
Remember the theater? The restaurant is pleased to offer packages for performances with a matinee or evening buffet, or the evening performance with an a la carte dinner. On the day we visited the Grille, 206 people enjoyed the buffet, followed by a lively rendition of the musical Oklahoma!
If you are a breakfast buff, be sure to check out the Saturday/Sunday breakfast buffet from 8-10:30 a.m. The food is cooked fresh onsite in the dining area and offers Eggs Benedict, omelets made fresh right to order, fresh fruits, Danish pastries, cereals, waffles and more. Get geared up for the day at this hearty buffet.
Perhaps you like to dine al fresco in the great outdoors. You’ll be comfortable on the patio rain or shine with overhead heaters to take off the chill. Or perhaps you want a special place for a birthday or wedding party. Small group events are welcomed (50-80 people) and can be coordinated to meet your special needs.
The lunch menu at the Grille is varied and offers something for everyone. Start with crab cakes, Tiger or Coconut Shrimp, hot wings or corn chowder. Consider Curry Chicken Salad, with spiced grilled chicken, baby greens, papaya and mango and large luscious walnuts.
If you are a tomato lover, be sure to try the Fusilli Pasta, which is served with marinated chicken breast, Kalamata olives, capers, virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and of course, large plump tomatoes.
If a sandwich is to your taste, try the Classic Club, which comes with turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce and tomatoes, served on toasted bread with a pickle side. Or perhaps a cool salad or hot prime rib sandwich is more to your liking. Oh, and don’t forget the buffet, the dessert menu, their signature cocktail, the Canyon Cooler, and a wide variety of beverages.
Dinner may entice you with rich filet mignon or poached salmon. So whether you are just stopping by on a day trip, enjoying a round of golf, meeting friends for a night at the theater, or taking a vacation in the Villas, remember the Canyon Grille is there for you.
For more information or to place a reservation for a party of seven or more call (760) 749-3253.

An Adventure Waiting For You: Fallbrook Winery

The 36-acre Fallbrook Winery is hidden away in the hills of Fallbrook in scenic green vales of vines.
The climate is for the most part moderate and consistent, giving rise to warm days and cool nights, an excellent mix for optimization of the grapes’ sugar and acid levels.
The Fallbrook Winery is the largest producing winery in case production in San Diego County, but is unusual in a sense as today’s wineries go, as the focus is on restaurant and commercial sales, rather than walk-in tourist traffic.
One of the reasons of course, is the out-of-the way location. (That is another story). However, for all you wine lovers out there, don’t be dismayed, the winery is available for a tour and to enjoy the tasting room by appointment.
When you first arrive at the winery you are pleasantly greeted by Brix and Lucca, the winery’s dogs who make you feel right at home.
Owned by Ira Gourvitz, the vineyards are currently all red with the exception of a section that is dedicated to the white Sauvignon Blanc. Winemaker Duncan Williams has been with them since 2001.
Look for their South Coast (Fallbrook/Temecula area) labels in Costco, local restaurants and smaller retailers in the general region. In particular, keep your eye out for their Estate wines, which will be coming on the market in the near future.
While cultivating their own grapes in order to produce an Estate wine (meaning that all the grapes were grown and made on the property), they also buy grapes from other regions such as Temecula, Santa Barbara, Monterey and Paso Robles.
The Fallbrook Winery has been the recipient of many awards for their wines. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 they won awards in the following wine competitions: the California State Fair, Critic’s Challenge International, San Diego International, Monterey International and the San Diego National Wine Competition.
Many enjoy some of their finest wines by belonging to the Wine Club, which includes special and new releases only available to members. Details about the Wine Club can be found on-line at the Web address listed below. You may also sign up for their newsletter to keep abreast of the newest and best of what is available and coming up in their wine world.
This brings us to the wine of choice for the day, which was the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 California wine. Made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the grapes hail from the Estate vineyard and the Napa Valley.
They are hand-picked in the cool of the morning and fermented slowly in order to produce a fruity, rich varietal character. Then they slumber for 16 months in 100% aged French and American oak barrels, in order to develop their mixed, deep flavor.
The result is a wine that is bold in presentation with a dark ruby color, which offers flavors of oak, black fruit and cassis. The flavor resides long upon the palate with a classy, complex, mellow flavor that is smooth, begging another taste, to discover more mysteries hidden in the subtle nuances and complexities of the fruit. The finish is fine and clean and beautiful.
In their quest to produce the highest quality wines from the South Coast, the Fallbrook Winery is well on its way to achieving its goal.
They continue to market their wines to southern California restaurants and retail accounts, making it easy for you to access their fine wines. You can make an appointment and take the mystery trip to Fallbrook, or you can sample their wares at the Urban Winery Tasting Room at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center in downtown San Diego and at the Westgate Hotel, which is proud to feature their wines.
For more information, contact the Fallbrook Winery at (760) 728-0156, or visit them on their Web site at www.fallbrookwinery.com to set your appointment for wine tasting. Be sure to take your cell phone, and plan to have a day-trip adventure, over hill and vale in the beautiful, rural wine country of Fallbrook.

San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course: Traditional...Challenging...Reasonable!

This time of the year the San Luis Rey valley and the rolling hills around Bonsall are just beautiful with a winter-rain enhanced velvet color of green.
If you’re searching for a great walk and a challenging round of golf at very reasonable rates at the same time, then the golf club at San Luis Rey Downs is just your kind of place.
And, did I say a nice walk?
While many of the area’s golf courses discourage or even prohibit walking the course, San Luis Rey Downs has a special weekday walking rate of $34, on a course that is very walkable, not one that you’ll need a stretcher to transport you back to the clubhouse after your round.
San Luis Rey Downs is a 6,750-yard championship layout that is cut into the San Luis Rey River Valley. The course was designed and built in 1964 and is a traditional layout featuring mature tree-lined fairways with few bunkers, three tee options: forward, the whites, and the blue championship tees.
There is plenty of water on the course with Moosa Creek or ponds coming into play on holes 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and ten of the holes have doglegs, some severe.
The course is relatively flat with few elevated tees and greens but is well-bunkered around the greens. A word of warning: the bunkers at San Luis Rey Downs are to be avoided! They are deep and will eat you alive. Some of them you could spend a weekend in.
The fairways, although tree lined are not particularly tight, and the landing areas off of the tees are fairly generous; you can hit away on this course.
Bonsall is in a very temperate part of the county. In the summer you don’t get the heat that you do in some of the inland valleys because of the gentle breezes that blow through the San Luis Rey Valley and its proximity to the coast. It’s just far enough inland that early tee times generally get sunshine and avoid the morning coastal layer. The perfect climate for your weekly walk.
The number 3 hole is a 401-yard par 4 from the blues, 386 yards from the whites. This hole is a slight dogleg left, it’s flat and water isn’t a factor. Keep your tee shot on the right hand side of the fairway for your best approach into a well-bunkered green, If you go too far left on your tee shot, you will bring a fairway tree into play on your approach.
The greens at San Luis Rey Downs are well-kept and true to a good putting stroke, but they are not terribly complex, not undulating and I didn’t see any that were tiered.
The number 4 hole, a 352-yard par 4, dogleg right, presents a challenge off of the tee because of a very narrow window between a cluster of trees to find the fairway. If you successfully find the fairway it’s a fairly generous landing area. But beware! This is one of the few holes on the course with a fairway bunker and it’s placed right in the knee of the dogleg and will eat over exuberant drives.
The green is again well-bunkered. Avoid the front right bunker at all cost, unless you like playing in the sand. This hole has a lot of character and is one of the most enjoyable on the course to play.
The back nine immediately presents a challenge of three terrific golf holes with lots of water on number 10, a 377 yard par 4, a challenging number 3, the 11th, and a long 522 yard par 5 from the championship tees.
If this course has a signature hole, number 10 would be it; it’s a terrific golf hole with Moosa Creek on the left, and a lake running the length of the right fairway all the way to the green. From the elevated tee box your tee shot is pretty intimidating.
Staying dry with your tee shot is the key on this hole. Stay left in the fairway for your best approach into the green, which has a bunker on the left front. This hole will play really difficult if the crew cutting the hole in the green places it front right. Hit for the center of the green and take your par and walk away with a smile on your face.
The only place to safely hit your tee shot on number 11 is on the green. Three deep bunkers surround the green and there’s water. It’s a beautiful par 3 hole.
Number 12 is a classic par 5. It’s long with a dogleg. It has a generous landing area so you can bring out the big club and hit away, but reaching this green in two is only possible for the long hitters. A long tee shot and a solid fairway wood most likely will still keep you short of the green. But take heart, there are no fairway bunkers and this is a hole that you should par.
If you’re looking for a traditional golf layout, San Luis Rey Downs is your kind of place. The rates are very reasonable. There has been some damage due to rains in January and February mostly on 7, 8, and 9 and they are lift, clean and play holes as of this review, which was written in early March. By the time April comes around depending upon the weather this should be alleviated.
You can reach San Luis Rey Downs at 760-758-9699.
Their Web site is www.SLRD.com.

The Boulevard Magazine
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688