June 2008 Issue | Download the Full Issue

Have you ever flown high above a beautiful landscape in a brilliantly-colored hot air balloon?
Have you ever been awed by the balloon’s silence—how it glides across the sky? Have you ever wondered how the pilots steer the balloon?
Go to the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival for the answers to those questions, and for a day of exciting, uplifting adventures.
The 25th Annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 6-8 at the pristine Lake Skinner recreation area, a Riverside County Park in the Temecula Valley Wine Country.
A Southern California tradition since 1984, the festival draws crowds from all over the U.S.
They are entertained with music, song, and wine. One section has inflatable amusements and games for youngsters; another is devoted to food and premium wines; another to entertainment; the arts and crafts section offers items of every imaginable type.
And, of course, there are the rising balloons in a kaleidoscope of colors.
The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce started the festival in 1984. Walt Darren, a commercial airline pilot and avid balloonist, and Evelyn Harker, a veteran event organizer and fund-raiser, planned a small balloon festival involving wine tasting from the area’s six wineries (today there are over 20 award-winning wineries in Temecula).
More than 4,000 people visited Temecula (then a town of only 9,000 residents) and 35 balloons were launched. In 1991, the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival Association was formed and has made the festival one of the best in the country.
Whether you spend the weekend (campsites are available at Lake Skinner) or the day, you have an extensive choice of mini-festivals to enjoy.
The International Wine and Cheese Garden is one of the most popular. It features Temecula’s finest premium wines, including sparkling wines.
The wineries take pride in creating their outdoor tasting areas. One winery has a romantic fountain in front of its area, and another has a balloon with its logo. Food demonstrators and samplings include gourmet cheese, hors d'ouevres, and specially prepared foods that pair well with wine. You can also buy wine and beer by the glass.
Food vendors provide something for everyone’s taste buds: Mexican, Greek, Chinese, Italian, funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, barbecue, tri-tip, sausages, fries, kettlecorn, smoothies, shaved ice, coffee, soda, lemonade and ice cream. Or you can bring a picnic lunch from home (but no outside alcohol!)
Experience some of the best local food and wine in Wine Country Kitchen! Participate in the Food & Wine Pairing event—a four-course culinary experience, with each course prepared by a different chef and each offering a different, complimentary wine.
But the festival is also for kids! The Kids Faire is for children 14 and under. Activities include rides, inflatables, a rock climbing wall, petting zoo, and face painting.
Two stages offer entertainment: the Wine Stage and the Main Stage. This year’s lineup includes John Waite, Blake Shelton, Kenny Loggins, the Freestyle Motocross Show (a high-flying Super Moto "X" Rider stunt show) and Ambrosia. All are included in the price of admission to the festival.
Hundreds of crafters and artisans display and sell their work in the Arts and Crafts Market. Artists come from across the U.S. to participate.
The award-winning wines are great. The food is mouth-watering. The music is foot-stomping. The arts and crafts unique. The kids will have a ball. But without a doubt, the “festive” part of the festival is the balloons.
More than 50 hot air balloons launch between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m., returning by 8:30 a.m.
Pilots navigate by ascending and descending the balloons into different air currents, but they can’t “steer” the balloon and they often land miles from the launch site.
A balloon gives you a stunning, bird's-eye view of a large geographical area, not to mention a chance to do something out of the ordinary.
It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Last year flights on Saturday and Sunday were available for $200 per person for a one-hour ride which departed from the festival grounds. Flying high over the Temecula Valley and experiencing being motionless puts you in a dream-like state. You also can take a sample "tethered" ride where you soar 100 feet above the crowd.
But it gets better. After a sunny, beautiful day of wine tasting, food sampling, shopping, picnicking, and playing, it’s time to cool off and settle down.
As the sun sets, the crowd gathers at the Main and Wine Stages where a dozen or so balloonists perform in the most spectacular part of the festival, the Balloon Glow.
The pilots of the “actors” make their balloons dance to the music. The pilots ignite the burners creating flashes of light and one balloon ascends and descends slightly, then another and another, each flash to the beat of the music, each flash a giant firefly light!
Witness the dance of kaleidoscopic lights against a black velvet sky, sip wine, absorb the perfect Temecula climate, and take in picturesque Lake Skinner.
The festival draws huge crowds, so arrive early. Admission is: $18-22 for adults, $5 for children 7-12. Some special events are extra. For more information go to the festival’s Web site: www.tvbwf.com

A Little Fun Father's Day History

To add some fun to this history, the following are two stories of how Father’s Day came to be. You have the opportunity to guess which one is true!
First, in 1909, two brothers, Alfred T. and Alexander W. Rosenbloom, who owned a one product company that manufactured neckties in Hackensack, New Jersey, sat down in April of that year and were looking over a chart of their monthly revenue and trying to project sales for the next fiscal year for their small but burgeoning business.
They needed to have a very good May and June to close out their year. Since May had always been the slowest month for selling neckties, because—you guessed it—the only holiday in May was Mother’s Day, they concentrated on June.
As a matter of fact, Alfred and Alex hated Mother’s Day. They never got their mother a Mother’s Day card or flowers, because Mother’s Day, in their business, was bad for business.
They didn’t care that much about their father, who had abandoned them when they were quite young. However, being the young entrepreneurs that they were, they came up with the idea for an equivalent for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, so that they would have a ready market, in the otherwise slow month of June, for their neckties.
So my friends, Father’s Day was not conceived out of some sentimental feelings of honor for a father, but to promote the sale of Alfred and Alex’s product, neckties.
Story number two. Same year 1909. The idea of Father’s Day came from a grateful daughter wanting to honor her mother, who was actually her father.
Sonora Smart Dodd lived in Spokane, Washington and was listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at her church.
Her mother had died several years before, and her father was doing an exemplary job of raising her. She had the idea to honor her father on Mother’s Day morning while thinking about all the sacrifices and wonderful things that her mother would ordinarily do for her that now her father was doing for her.
So Father’s Day was born from the mind of a grateful daughter to honor her father.
So which one of these stories is either a wicked or sentimental figment of this writer’s imagination? You can find the answer as to how Father’s Day got started somewhere else in this magazine. No fair Googling.
To finish the history, in 1926, a National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York City. In 1956 a joint resolution of Congress recognized Father’s Day. In 1972, President Nixon made it permanent with a resolution to honor fathers on the 3rd Sunday of June.
Happy Father’s Day! *The second story is the correct one.

Bonsall's New Foundation

People who care about children and their education now have a way to put their money where their thoughts are: the Bonsall Education Foundation, whose purpose is to raise money to assist the Bonsall Union School District.
In fact, you may be able to help just by buying some fresh produce at a new farmers’ market that begins in June.
The Foundation is the brainchild of Daniel Costa, a professional fund-raiser who has worked for the Tri-City Hospital, as a fund-raiser for a political party and was a public relations consultant with Seimens AG.
According to the Foundation’s mission statement: “The nonprofit and independent Bonsall Education Foundation assists in the achievement and maintenance of a superior public education system within the Bonsall Union School District by receiving, investing, and allocating public, corporate, and foundation financial support to finance programs and projects designed to benefit the educational experience for all students of the district.”
It is separate from the district and receives no funds from it.
It benefits two elementary schools, the Norman Sullivan Middle School and the Vivian Banks Charter School.
Costa hatched the idea in February spurred by the budget crisis that Bonsall schools (like other California schools) face, but which has hit Bonsall especially hard because it receives $30 below the state average for annual per pupil spending in elementary districts.
He was also inspired because several family members have taught in Bonsall (his mother for 21 years) and Costa wants to follow suit when he gets his credential. Costa also attended school there for several years.
“I know all of the teachers,” he says. “It’s a great school district; great teachers, great families.”
His goal is to raise $250,000–$500,000 within the first year and apply it to what he calls “The Super Six”: Teaching Excellence, Visual and Performing Arts, Health and Wellness, Science Enrichment, Library and Media Services and Classroom Technology.
You can donate to the general fund or target one of the six.
How do they plan to raise these funds?
“By immersing ourselves in all aspects of the Bonsall community, by getting to know every business and family in the community, and helping them to become part of the great experience. The more I communicate the mission the more people want to be part of it,” says Costa.
He and his volunteer board also plan to seek donations from parents, corporate sponsors and from an annual fund-raiser.
“We are looking for big donors and little donors,” says Costa. “Traditionally the largest chunk will come from small donors, but the other forty percent will come from corporate donors. A broad mix is what we are looking for.”
They are talking with large corporate sponsors that do business within the district.
They are in for the longterm, with the plan to still be functioning in 25 years. Non-profit 501 (c) (3) status is pending.
Creating an endowment is key to such a goal.
“We hope to create it and grow it every year and use the investments as part of our annual growth and also conduct annual campaigns,” says Costa.
The Foundation is sponsoring a weekly Bonsall open air farmers’ market starting June 8 and running 9 a.m.–1 p.m. in the parking lot of the new Bonsall Elementary School, 31505 Old River Rd.
“We’re trying to make it as local and organic as possible, a community gathering spot that will enhance the community,” says Costa.
It will offer food and produce from local groves and gardens of this ag-based community.
The Foundation’s annual campaign, its Founder’s Circle, began May 12, when it began soliciting gifts and donations from throughout the area. It will continue through December.
The Founder’s Circle involves one-on-one solicitations, direct mail, corporate campaigns, teacher campaigns, online donations—all of the traditional methods of giving.
They are also in the early planning stages for a black tie event in early November.
They have a board of directors of five dynamic local citizens and want to expand the membership.
The Foundation meets nearly every week. Each meeting they welcome a few more people to join their grassroots effort.
“We are trying to structure it to where it is a very transparent organization that is as open to as many people as possible. We run our meetings like a town hall to keep it as open as possible to the community,” says Costa.
Check the Web site at www.bonsallschools.org for meeting times and dates.
Volunteering opportunities abound. The foundation needs volunteers for specific projects and people with grant-writing experience.
For more information write to the Bonsall Education Foundation at P.O. Box 1217, Bonsall CA 92003, call them at 760-331-3985 or email at dcosta@bonsallschools.org.

Personalize Your Own Paradise

If you can’t take a relaxing vacation this summer, why not turn your backyard into an exotic location where you can relax every single day of the year?
Be it a sanctuary away from your office, a pristine garden to help you unwind and refocus, or a tropical oasis to relax in, landscaping is an integral part of making your home—yours.
More than just looking pretty, proper landscaping can make your yard actually serve a purpose. It can capitalize on the natural stage of your property and possibly even save you money on irrigation costs.
In fact, due to Southern California’s noted water shortage, more and more homeowners are striving to conserve water and lower their water bill by using drought-resistant landscaping.
Nurseries such as Palm Valley Ranch in Fallbrook are adjusting to this new trend by expanding their drought-resistant plant inventory.
“About eighty percent of our nursery is currently drought resistant,” said Dani Osborn, Landscape Expert and Sales Associate. “We are really focused on that right now.”
Palm Valley Ranch is a local palm and plant provider that is open to the public. It’s a very down-to-earth business, so much so that company spokesperson and co-owner likes to be known simply as Patty.
“We like being a small, friendly, family-owned nursery that people are comfortable coming to,” Patty said. “I think our customers have genuinely good experiences with us because we go out of our way to help them and answer their questions.”
If you are planning to buy a palm tree, there are four key questions you MUST ask for successful planting and growth:
1. How big will it get?
The most important factor when buying a palm tree is how big the tree will be when it matures. A small palm could very well reach 50 feet or more as an adult! Not only can this throw off your landscaping design, but it could also interfere with power lines and hinder views.
2. What type of climate does it need?
Temperature is essential for a palm tree to flourish, so be sure to ask about growing conditions in your area. Most palms can’t tolerate freezing weather. Thankfully this is a rare and often unheard of problem in Southern California. However, there are some areas of California where the climate is too harsh for healthy palm growth.
3. How much sun does a specific type of palm need?
Sunlight has a big influence on palm trees because not all types are equally sun tolerant. Some prefer shade over strong exposure. For this reason, some palms grow better when planted closer to your house, whereas others need to be more out in the open. Your local nursery or tree expert can tell you the best placement for the palm you are looking to buy.
4. How much water does the palm need?
Although palm trees are often associated with desert conditions, they actually do require a steady source of water to grow. Again, your local nursery or tree expert can tell you exactly how much and how often.
Once a palm tree is planted, it is fairly easy to maintain. The most important thing is to keep the soil healthy.
According to Palm Valley Ranch’s Website (www.palmvalleyfarms.com), most common problems with palms are caused by a lack of nutrients or improper fertilization. Palm trees require a large variety of nutrients to survive. Because they thrive in sandy, well-drained soils, these nutrients tend to leach away quickly. That’s why there are palm-specific fertilizers that release their nutrients slowly to provide consistent, targeted feeding.
Aside from just palm trees, the amount of maintenance and upkeep for plants in general usually depends on soil and weather conditions where you live.
“There are major differences in soil just between Temecula and the coast,” Patty said. “We take the time to talk to our customers and determine which plants will best prosper in their environment. Our recommendations are based on their wants and what will feasibly work in their location.”
Don’t be discouraged if a certain plant won’t grow well in your yard. There may be a similar substitute plant that will work in your soil and location.
“The great thing about Southern California is that planting and landscaping can be done year round,” Osborn said. “And certain plants flower during different times of the year and in different conditions so anyone can have a creative and colorful landscape.”
Whether you’re an avid gardener or a novice looking to add décor to your yard, a tour of Palm Valley Ranch will be stimulating. Even Patty says their nursery is a hobby gone wild.
They have everything from Birds of Paradise, to orchids, to Dragon Trees, to pencil plants, and, of course, palm trees. Lots and lots of palm trees. They are actually well-known for growing two distinct palms, the Brahea Armata Clara (Mexican Blue Palm) and the Trachycarpus Fortuneii (Chinese Windmill Palm).
The Chinese Windmill Palm is one of the most popular palms because its fanlike leaves are aesthetically appealing.
This is the same type of palm you might see at a resort on a tropical vacation. Why not put one in your backyard and vacation all year long?

Local Weddings: Planning is the Key to a Beautiful Wedding

June always brings many weddings. Planning a celebration of your love to share with family and friends is going to be a “piece of cake,” or is it?
You will need to start looking at places to host your wedding soon after you become engaged as many facilities will book up at least a year in advance. And with so many qualified vendors in our area, you can plan your dream wedding close to home. Here is just a small sampling of places and businesses along the I-15 corridor that would be happy to help plan your special day:
Vista Valley Country Club—Surrounded by live oak trees and a running brook, you will find a picturesque park that will host your wedding ceremony. Give your guests a great surprise when they are escorted via golf cart past the oak trees, across the bridge and under the setting sun to the oasis where you and your partner will exchange vows. After the ceremony, you can dine on exquisite cuisine, including menu options from the famous Cal-A-Vie Spa, in their beautiful lodge-style dining room, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills through the floor to ceiling windows. For more information visit www.vistavalley.com or call Rob Taylor at 760-758-2800.
Pala Mesa Resort—Do you love to hear the church bells ring after a couple is married? Well, at Pala Mesa Resort YOU can ring the bell! This one-of-a-kind ceremony location offers a beautiful backdrop complete with green lawns, flowing waterfalls and a 700 pound Mission Bell that you and your new spouse will ring together proclaiming your joy. After the beautiful ceremony it’s just a short walk to their magnificent wedding pavilion where you can dance the night away. Visit www.palamesa.com.
Los Willows—Los Willows schedules just one perfect wedding at a time to ensure your privacy and provide the utmost quality of service. Their 3,400 square foot permanent tent is perfect for a reception of up to 250 guests. If you dream of leaving your reception to start your life as husband and wife in style, take advantage of their package, exit in an elegant vintage Rolls Royce. Visit www.loswillows.com.
Paradise Gardens—This beautiful tropical paradise located in San Luis Rey, is one of San Diego’s best kept secrets. Once you enter the gates to this lush setting you will be transported into a world with cascading waterfalls, a lakeside gazebo, outdoor band shell and a natural stone dance-floor. Visit www.paradisegardens.com.
Thornton Winery—Currently celebrating their 20th anniversary, this Temecula Valley winery combines old world style with new world charm. Choose from an array of romantic settings including the elegant Vineyard View Room, their charming Champagne Lounge or unique Production Area or al fresco on the Fountain Terrace, overlooking the beautiful Temecula Valley Vineyards. A full-service wedding location offering beautiful venues, professional staff, menu planning, catering expertise, beverage service, site coordination and referral service. Visit www.thorntonwine.com.
Ponte Family Estate—Creating unforgettable memories and pure romance is the speciality from the professionals at Ponte Family Estate. Offering two beautiful locations for your ceremony and a 4,800 square foot Vineyard Pavilion for parties of up to 280, this vineyard offers spectacular natural surroundings that will treat your family and guests to a truly memorable experience. Visit www.pontewinery.com.
The Humphreys Estate—A private estate nestled in the foothills of Temecula Valley on 20 acres, this one-of-a-kind facility offers wedding ceremonies in the gazebo or their beautifully decorated pool house. Visit www.thehumphreyestate.com.
Wilson Creek Winery—What better way to toast to a lifetime of happiness than with Wilson Creek’s award-winning Almond Champagne? Say your ‘I Do’s” at the winery itself. With over 6,000 square feet of lighted pavilion space, a wedding gazebo and elevated 24’x40’ band stage, this private well-known winery can offer you a day you can “cheers” to. Visit www.wilsoncreekwinery.com.
Falkner Winery—Escape into a world of elegance and experience a haven where memories begin. Perched above the beautiful Temecula Valley Wine Country, you will find a professional staff, custom designed packages, tranquil waterfalls and your choice of a location including saying “I Do” among the vines. Visit www.falknerwinery.com.
South Coast Winery—Offering everything from the wedding to the honeymoon in one of their Tuscan villas, South Coast Winery is a well-orchestrated facility. From their custom labeled wines to their spa amenities, this full-service wedding location in all-inclusive. Visit www.wineresort.com.
Once you find your location, you don’t have to travel far to find the perfect attire, florist, rental company, DJ or photographer. You can visit Patricia at Village Bridal Boutique. Her selection of wedding and event attire together with her knowledge makes this process fun and relaxing. Then you could call Abigail’s Flowers to begin designing your floral arrangements. Allie’s Party Rental is ready to help with any special needs for pre-wedding parties or the big day. There are lots of friendly places and business along the Boulevard ready to make your day extra special. Congratulations!

Hidden Treasure in Secluded Hidden Meadows

One of the treasures of secluded Hidden Meadows is located at 28548 Mountain Meadows Road, just about 3/4 mile past the four way stop sign.
With 2.6 usable acres, this home, located 100 yards off the main street and beyond the security gated, lengthy driveway gives the immediate feeling of peace, serenity and seclusion.
The sounds of a waterfall and of birds singing conjure up the relaxed and carefree days of a mountain resort vacation, where you can just unwind from a busy day at work. A tennis court and private outdoor spa on the property add to that feeling of refuge from a busy world.
This spacious, three bedroom, four bath, 3028 square foot home exudes lots of charm, making it ideal for entertaining friends and family.
A spacious master bedroom, high arches and beamed ceiling in a grand piano sized living room as well as a spacious grand entry are just some of the things that set this home apart It also has a detached garage with space for a workshop or anything else you may have in mind as well as RV parking.
The property is fully fenced and has great views of the surrounding areas. It is only minutes from Escondido, yet feels many miles away. It is truly a treasure hidden in the Meadows!
To see this treasure, please contact Ellen Molla at Coldwell Banker Prestige Properties in Hidden Meadows. Ellen, by the way, is the new owner of this office. She is originally from Virginia, and she certainly brought that southern charm and graciousness with her.
She and her husband moved to California not long after they married. In November of 2003, they moved to Hidden Meadows, and she became a licensed Realtor®. She joined the Coldwell Banker Prestige Property team in May of 2007 and officially became the new owner on April 16, 2008.
Ellen and her husband, Zaman, have two daughters, Hana and Linda. Ellen is so happy to be able to work and live in the wonderful Hidden Meadows community. She and her experienced team would be pleased to help your real estate dreams come true!
Coldwell Banker Prestige Properties is located at 10320 Meadow Glen Way East, Escondido, CA 92026. Their phone number is 760-749-4640, and their website is www.cbprestige.com.

Joe Camp Publishes The Soul of a Horse

Joe Camp, an area resident that many remember for his beloved Benji movies, has penned The Soul of a Horse for anyone who never owned a horse, but thinks they might want one, and for those who think they know everything they need to know.
Camp, who spent an enormous amount of time in the “mind” of a dog, makes that same journey with a horse.
“The book came out of frustration,” Camp said in a recent interview, who, with his wife, Kathleen, has owned horses for about three years.
One day, three years ago, Kathleen gave Joe a surprise trail ride. “We wound up with these horses and forming a very strong relationship with them and I realized that there was a whole lot that we didn’t know and that was God’s creation and not something that should be sitting in a stall,” he recalls.
He kept asking questions and finding answers that didn’t make sense to him.
“The first one that nailed me was the issue of shoes. I had always thought that horses came with shoes,” he said.
He found an article that claimed that the horse’s foot is supposed to flex, and that the unshod hoof provides blood and shock absorption.
“That got my attention. The more I dug what I ultimately discovered is that there is no difference between the genetic structure of the so-called domestic horse or a horse that was in the Ice Age,” says Camp.
He cites studies that show that every domestic horse population has the ability to revert to the wild at will.
“This is the way they should live. The way the wild horse lives is diametrically opposed to the way most of us keep horses and care for them,” he says.
The hoof is the most important thing to the horse because it is a prey animal. Horses don’t wait around to see if something is really a threat. If they see the movement of a “saber-toothed butterfly,” they are off and running.
Camp concluded that his horses shouldn’t have shoes.
“The object is not just shoes. You can’t just eliminate shoes. The object is to replicate that life in the wild,” says Camp.
“A horse in the wild moves 30-40 miles a day. That wears the feet down and Mother Nature replaces it. If you have a horse sitting in the stall, Mother Nature doesn’t know that. They need to be out 24-7 with other horses. They are a herd animal. When they are in a stall there is an enormous amount of stress that goes on.”
So, in addition to not wearing shoes, Camp’s horses don’t live in stalls.
“We pulled the shoes. We trim to replicate what the horse would do to itself by walking. They are out 24-7 on a rocky steep 1.5 acre, and their hay is put out in several different piles on the ground so that they are grazing.”
Another thing horse owners do wrong, says Camp, is hang the food at a height. “The structure of a horse is to eat off the ground.”
It took Camp two years to learn this—and eight months to write the book.
Not everyone agrees with these theories.
“There are people that believe that we have bred the wild horse out of the domestic horse and I’ve done an enormous amount of research on that question. That is physically impossible. It would take 4,000-5,000 years to make genetic structure to put it into domesticated form,” he says, noting that horses have been domesticated for 3,000 years.
Although it’s about horses, the book is intended for anybody.
“I’m a story teller. That’s what I’ve been most of my life. Telling stories of animals, although not horses. This fascinated me because of the journey. Everything was telling us that what we were doing with horses was wrong,” recalls Camp.
The book follows Camp’s relationship with his horse and his discovery that “domestic” horses are simply wild horses in captivity. To have a happy, healthy life they need to live as close to the wild horse model as possible.
Camp forced himself to “think like a horse.” “How good a philosophy that is for life, for dealing with your wife, friends, business? Take a walk in my hooves,” he says.
Although known as a director for his Benji films, which he began in 1973, Camp saw that as the natural first step to bring his writing to life.
“I made every movie from the position of someone in an audience. What will this do to the emotions? This book is written like that, in story-telling form, using the parallel allegory that follows a wild herd.”
Does he expect to have his findings challenged?
“I have done so much research and gone down so far into the genetics that there is nothing anyone can say,” he says.
Many farriers already agree with him, he says.
“Farriers are putting away the anvil and going to trimming. The farrier knows the horse and reorients himself a little bit and keeps on moving and suddenly his job becomes a little easier,” he says.
* * *
Soul of the Horse, published by Random House, the nation’s largest publisher, will have an initial printing of 50,000.

Thornton Winery Jazz Festival: Smooth Jazz & Smooth Wine

It was a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon at the Thornton Winery when I sat down to watch jazz great David Benoit, followed by the equally renowned cool jazz group Spyro Gyra.
Benoit, a gracious, suave performer established an easy rapport with the audience when, halfway through the concert, he asked if somebody could help him beat the sun that was beating down on him. Immediately someone proffered a straw sunhat and the talented Benoit donned it in good humor and played the rest of the set.
The audience was enthusiastic and full of fun and Benoit rewarded them with several encores which won him and his band a standing ovation.
Then, as the stage was being set for Spyro Gyra, he wandered around the winery, chatting with fans and signing autographs.
The high energy Spyro Gyra created just as much of a connection with the audience, which was content with the fine food that Thornton offers and, of course, the award-winning wines.
This is the 20th year that the Thornton Winery in Temecula has put on its Champagne Jazz Festival—a festival that is populated by the giants of cool jazz, including this year’s line-up that will play through October.
The Thornton Jazz Festival is a unique one in that it always presents two separate jazz artists or bands, each playing for a little more than an hour apiece. That creates quite a unique experience and does make the tickets an excellent value
The venue is intimate. There isn’t any part of the little outdoor amphitheater where you can’t hear the music loud and clear. But you do need to be wise in picking your seat because the sun can beat down brutally in the afternoon. But it’s not hard to find the perfect spot with the perfect shade with a little forethought.
The price per concert varies slightly with the artist, from around $50 to $90 per ticket.
The winery serves a good value dinner on the premises for about $17, or if you want to be treated special, a three-course Gourmet Supper package prepared by the award-winning Cafe Champagne staff is available for $125 for each performance. It includes reserved and shaded table seating on the patio, your meal, tax and gratuity. Call for details: (951) 699-3021.
Upcoming artists include Euge Groove & Jay Soto - Saturday, June 7 @ 7 p.m.; Jeffery Osborne & Eric Marienthal - Saturday, June 14 @ 7 p.m.; Boney James w/Special Guest - Sunday, June 22 @ 4 p.m.; Acoustic Alchemy & Hiroshima - Sunday, June 29 @ 4 p.m.; Mindi Abair & Special Guest - Saturday, July 12 @ 7 p.m.; Jesse Cook & Warren Hill - Saturday, July 19 @ 7 p.m.; Chris Botti w/Special Guest - Sunday, July 27 @ 5 p.m.; The Ripptingtons - Sunday, Aug. 3 @ 5 p.m.; David Sanborn w/Special Guest - Sunday, Aug. 10 @ 5p.m.; Dave Koz - Saturday, Aug. 16 @ 7 p.m. & Aug. 17 @ 5 p.m.; Bobby Caldwell - Sunday, Aug. 24 @ 5 p.m.; Ottmar Liebert - Sunday, Sept. 14 @ 4 p.m.; Norman Brown’s Summer Storm - Sunday, Sept. 21 @ 4 p.m.; Peter White - Saturday, Sept. 27 @ 7 p.m.; Wayman Tisdale & Special Guest - Saturday, Oct. 11 @ 7 p.m.
Tickets for the Thornton Winery are available by calling (951) 699-3021 or visit the Web site to purchase them at: www.jazzconcerts.com/thornton_winery_temecula.htm

Miss Fallbrook: Giving Her All

At first glance, Lynita Hernandez is your everyday, hard-working, 19-year-old Palomar College student. But after brief conversation, you know there is much more to this bright, outgoing individual.
Hernandez was recently crowned Miss Fallbrook at the annual pageant sponsored by Soroptimist International of Fallbrook. That was in March. Since then, her calendar has been filling in.
From parades, to business openings, to reading books to children, being an ambassador for Fallbrook is a natural role for this talented and warm-hearted young woman.
“I just love giving to my community,” Hernandez said. “There is a sense of reward that comes with doing community service, and I know there can be a lot of good in giving back and making a difference.”
Hernandez is definitely making a difference, and keeping busy. Her extracurriculars include tutoring, dance, church, cheer and more. In addition to her new duties as Miss Fallbrook, she plans to keep up with her regular class and social schedule.
“She is just an amazing girl,” said Liz Briel, Hernandez’s roommate, close friend and mentor. “She does it all, but education is definitely her number one priority.”
Hernandez is pursuing a career as a special needs teacher—something a mission trip to an African orphanage helped define for her.
“I always planned on being a teacher, but my trip helped me decide what kind of teacher to be,” Hernandez explained. “I saw how much these kids needed love, and how badly they wanted someone to simply sit and talk to them. That’s when I decided to work with special needs children.”
Briel relays that the minute Hernandez got home from her trip, something was different.
“When Lynita came home from Africa, she knew what she was supposed to do with her life,” Briel said. “I had no idea how much that trip would impact her. She fell in love with those kids.”
Hernandez said she’s always liked working with kids and helping young minds grow.
“Our kids are our future,” remarked Hernandez. “They don’t ask for much, yet some people don’t take time to give. As a teacher, I can give that much more.”
Giving is a central theme for the new Miss Fallbrook. She loves to give, and said she is honored to have the opportunity to give back to her community.
“Fallbrook has given so much to me. Getting to know this town and the people in it has touched my heart,” she said.
Getting to know other girls from the pageant also touched Hernandez’s heart, and she became fast friends with fellow royalty Chantal Ariosta, First Princess, and Melissa Lopez, Second Princess.
“All the girls in the pageant are so amazing,” Hernandez said. “Before they announced the winners, we were in a huddle and someone said ‘whoever gets it deserves it.’ I said we all deserve it and should break the crown into little chunks so each of us could have a piece.”
Several weeks later, Hernandez gave each of the participants a T-shirt and crown of their own—her way of giving everyone a piece of the title.
Not surprising coming from someone who loves to give.

Black & Blue: Las Vegas Caliber Steak House

The Black&Blue Steakhouse at Valley View Casino in Valley Center is a place that is not afraid to compare itself to competitors such as Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris.
Executive Chef Chip McCarty feels his restaurant is in the same league, and then some.
McCarty started his career at the Western Culinary Institute in the Pacific Northwest. While there he was sous chef at Jazz de Opus in Portland.
He eventually went to Las Vegas where he was executive chef of Mortoni’s at the Hard Rock Hotel and executive chef of A.J.’s Steakhouse, also at the Hard Rock.
In San Diego he was executive chef at Prime Ten in Del Mar and at Tommy V’s Steakhouse in La Costa.
McCarty’s philosophy is, “Use the freshest ingredients possible and make really great food. No shortcuts.”
The Black&Blue’s signature dish is the Surf and Turf.
We’re not talkin’ hamburger patty and fishsticks here.
This is a meal to savor and then tell God, “I’ve had the best. You can cash in my ticket now!”
The meal that I shared with a friend included the following:
Asparagus soup flavored with truffles and served with zucchini blossoms stuffed with goat cheese, served tempura style.
Scalloped foie gras poached in chardonnay served with a pear salad with endive topped with 25-year-old balsamic vinegar.
Next we dined on Oysters Rockefeller, made with Hama Hama oysters grown on the delta of the Hama Hama River in western Washington State.
They were poached in pernod and cooked on a bed of rock salt with anchovie paste stuffing touched by garlic and butter and topped with spinach.
Next came the avocado tower stuffed with Peekytoe Crab from Maine and topped with Russo Bruno tomato, a Belgian hybrid tomato with an almost black skin. The dressing is an Italian extra virgin olive oil infused with fines herbs (thyme, savory, marjoram, sage, basil and grated lemon peel) served with a syrup of balsamic vinegar.
The Black&Blue is a Las Vegas caliber steak house that does basic stuff with a sophisticated taste. It transports you to Las Vegas or New York. But the service and the friendliness is Valley View.
The Surf & Turf is the restaurant’s signature dish. If it were an actual signature, it would be John Hancock’s—big and bold.
It includes the whole Maine lobster, including head and tail. It is poached in butter at 140–160 degrees, which gives it an extremely tender flesh, and is why it is not served with drawn butter.
This method is called beurre monte. If you heat butter over 160 degrees it breaks into its different parts (milk fat, water, milk solids). A beurre monte keeps the butter from breaking down.
Accompanying it is a seared scallop and garlic mashed potatoes, and the fillet of prime beef, served in the Black&Blue manner, described by one food critic as “charred on the outside, and quiveringly rare on the inside.”
It is seared to lock in the juices and finished off on a broiler at 1000 degrees for six minutes.
It is served with salt and fresh ground pepper, and only that.
While we waited for the dessert, the manager rolled out the patented card game “Dining for Dollars,” where those who buy the Surf & Turf get to play the house for the price of the meal.
This game is tilted slightly in the patron’s favor. Your chances of shaving some of the $55 price off are better than the house beating you, although it happens. We played and cut $20 off the price of the meal.
Then we dove into the chocolate souffle, which you order ahead of time, because it takes 25 minutes to make.
You could call it “chocolate air,” because it is that light. The waiter breaks open the top of the souffle and pours cream flavored with hazelnut into the center.
You could also call it “essence of chocolate.”
We also sampled the creme brulee, topped with a sugar sculpture. Almost too beautiful to eat, but, hey, if the Mona Lisa was made of sugar, I’d eat it too.
Although the Surf & Turf is the signature dish, even more popular is the Illustrious Cowboy Steak. This 18 oz. bone-in rib chop is studded with course black pepper, cooked to perfection and served with fried onions and tricolor peppercorn sauce.
Don’t like steak? Try their prime rib of salmon steak—deboned salmon, with the center cut two and a half inches thick. It’s seared with a barbecue glaze.
Let’s dwell for a moment on Black&Blue’s fine temperature-controlled wine cellar, stocked with 58 of the finest wines, each served at its optimum temperature.
It’s a Las Vegas caliber wine room. You’ll find Opus 1, Robert Mondavi Reserve and other top wines that would cost you considerably more downtown.
Just outside the restaurant is the lounge, where you can order anything that’s on the restaurant menu, or relax with an appetizer before dinner. You can also kick back with a fine cigar, snifter of cognac, a single malt whiskey or high end vodka to top off the evening.
The Black&Blue Steakhouse and Lounge is located at Valley View Casino, 16300 Nyemii Pass Rd, Valley Center. For reservations call (760) 291-2130.

Stone Brewery: A Happy Accident

What do you do if you crave a certain flavor of beer? If you’re Steve Wagner and Greg Koch, you simply make it yourself!
Wagner and Koch are the co-founders of Escondido’s award-winning Stone Brewing Company. Since it began in 1996, Stone has exploded into a major player in the craft brewing industry.
According to Kathryn Bouscaren, tour guide, the success of Stone Brewing Co. was a happy accident.
“Steve and Greg had no intention it would get so big,” Bouscaren said. “They just wanted to make beers they liked. It just so happened that the public liked them, too.”
The duo’s bold approach to making beer is based strictly on their likes and dislikes. As fortune would have it, consumers agree with their tastes, and Stone Brewery has now grown into the 20th largest craft brewer in the United States.
Acute taste buds are just part of the science behind the company’s success. The rest basically boils down to hops.
There are the four main ingredients in beer: water, barley, yeast and hops. They all play a role in the final look and taste, but it’s the hops that gives beer its main flavor and aroma.
Stone Brewery is self-proclaimed “Hop Crazy,” so if you are a hoppy beer drinker (hoppy beer drinkers are happy beer drinkers), then a Stone beer might be your pint of brew. If you are a light beer drinker, be advised—Stone Brewery is not your place.
I recommend taking the 45-minute brewery tour to find out. At the end of the tour you get to sample four of their most popular beers, including the company’s flagship brew, Stone Pale Ale.
As with many of Stone’s beers, the pale ale has received numerous accolades, and for good reason. It’s a refreshing, every day drinkable type of beer. It’s visually appealing with a warm color that teeters somewhere between amber and copper. The blend of magnum and abtanum hops, accentuated with rich malt barley makes for a well-balanced aroma, and the resulting flavor is a very distinct, yet classic pale ale.
Most importantly, it always tastes the same, a goal that is much harder than you’d expect.
“Brewing beer is easy,” claims Bouscaren. “Brewing the same beer more than once is difficult.”
The other three beers from my tour sampling included Stone Smoked Porter, Stone India Pale Ale (IPA) and Stone Arrogant Bastard, all of which are available year round.
Mixing Chinook and Mt. Hood hops, the full-bodied Smoked Porter offers a smooth, chocolate and coffee-like flavor, which is exactly what you expect from such a rich mahogany-colored porter.
Stone defines its IPA as being highly hopped and high in alcohol. I’m not usually a fan of IPA beers, but this was good. It has a heavy hop bite with a subtle bitterness to it—very crisp and clean.
The Arrogant Bastard takes getting used, especially if you don’t like dark beer. The color alone scared me off, and it definitely demands strong taste buds. I’ll have to give this beer a second chance because I just know my taste buds are strong.
If you can’t make a trip to the brewery to try Stone’s world-famous beers, ask for it at your favorite pub. The company distributes all over Southern California and as far away as New York!
Not bad for two guys who first met when Wagner’s band used Koch’s music rehearsal studio in Los Angeles. Wagner, now President & Brewmaster, and Koch, now CEO, met again at a “Sensory Evaluation of Beer” course taught at UC Davis where they discovered a common love for beer and defining its taste. Their passion for business and beer ultimately led to the incorporation of the Stone Brewing Co.
Their first facility was a 7,000 square foot brewery in San Marcos. A decade later, the company had built its current gargoyle and stone-themed brewery and restaurant in Escondido. It’s basically an all-in-one bistro, bar, garden, brewery, bottling, storage, gift shop, distribution and event center – 56,000 square feet of pure character.
And they’ve already outgrown it.
Marketing Coordinator Chris Cochran said they will soon be adding another 60,000 square foot building on the south end of the current facility.
“It will mostly be for storage and distribution,” Cochran said.
Stone Brewing Co. is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tours are available daily. Call 760-471-4999 for details, or check out www.stonebrew.com for information on beers, awards, food, distributors, employees, classes, tours, events, history and more!

Lawrence Welk Golf is an Enjoyable Family Experience

Golf at Lawrence Welk conjures up all kinds of memories for me.
The first girlfriend I ever had had a grandmother who loved watching the Lawrence Welk Show on Saturday night at 6.
I would arrive at my girlfriend’s house, always on time as a gentleman should do, and sit and patiently watch at least the first 15 or 20 minutes of the ah-one, ah-two for my always tardy girlfriend. Needless to say the romance didn’t last.
However, playing a round of golf on the Fountains course at the Welk Resort always brings back fond memories for me.
This is truly an enjoyable family golfing experience where golfers of all ages, sizes, sexes, and skills can enjoy an afternoon or morning on the links without beating themselves or each other up.
As a matter of fact, you might call the Fountains course a course for the ages—all ages. Many times you will see Grandpa, no doubt a Lawrence Welk fan, dad, and grandson or granddaughter all out enjoying an afternoon together in a truly delightful setting.
Borrowing a famous line from President Nixon, let me make one thing crystal clear: You can play golf at Lawrence Welk without owning a time share at Welk’s or any other place in the universe.
And, you will not be asked to sit through a time-share presentation.
So now that that piece of business is taken care of, let’s talk about this charming, short, game-challenging course.
The Fountains course at Welk, “San Diego’s longest executive golf course”, measures just over 4,000 yards with no par 5’s. In fact, there are 10 par 3’s and two others that are par 3/4 if you are using the blue tees.
There is water on holes 1 and 9 (the signature fountain hole) and 10, 11, and 18 on the back nine.
The fairways and many of the greens are undulated and the greens are well-bunkered. This course will reward accurate club selections, precise tee shots, and golfers who can accurately read the small but undulating greens. This course has some slope—rent a cart.
Hole number 1—a 147 yard par 3—allows you no room for error if you have any interest in par or birdie. You must hit the green. There is lots of water left and the green is well-bunkered left front and rear. Go right and you deal with out-of-bounds and, worst case, a robust chip that could skip across the green back into the pond or into one of the green side bunkers.
Hole number 3, another par 3, 126 yards, is one of the easier holes on the course, but also, in this writer’s opinion, is one of the prettiest.
This hole plays slightly downhill so it’s shorter than its posted yardage. Choose the correct club, for most a wedge or short iron to avoid the front bunker. This is a good birdie hole if you find the green.
Hole number 9, a 337 yard par 4, is the Fountains’s signature hole. There is plenty of trouble off of the tee. Tee shots have to avoid the water right and the fairway bunker left. Long hitters will need to choose the correct club off of the tee so as to not run through the fairway and out of bounds.
This hole can bring water into play on both your tee shot and approach, be alert. A par is a good score on this hole.
On the back 9, hole 10 is the first of the par 3/4 holes. This hole has a sharp dogleg right. There is water on the hole that should not come into play. The green is small and well-bunkered. The smart way to play this hole is as a par 4, don’t torture yourself.
I also enjoyed number 14, what I called the palm tree hole for the surrounding landscape. It is a 180 yard, par 3 requiring you to be accurate off of the tee. This green has large green side bunkers left and behind, and out-of-bounds only 10 yards left off the green. Great golf hole, number 6 handicap, and lots of fun to play.
One of the very nice things about playing the Fountains is the cart path side yardage markers that are both accurate and convenient. Some courses I have played send you on a journey to find your distance and even then you wonder how accurate they are.
In addition, the Fountains will provide you with a wonderful pamphlet containing hole-by-hole descriptions and digital layouts. You can buy it at the clubhouse for $29.95. It also contains coupons for free golf, discounts on merchandise and dining at Welk Resort, and two-for-one coupons. Math was not my strong suit in school, but $500 in coupons for $29.95 seems like a pretty great deal.
Welk also has some “wunnerful” “Swing into Spring” specials, which include staying at the resort, dining and theatre. Check out their Web site at www.welkgolf.com
So grab the family, check on room availability, save a tank of gas driving to the desert, see a great Broadway-type show, swim, and have fun at one of the best family fun places in San Diego County, Welk Resort.
By the way they also have a shorter all par 3 course that’s great fun for the family.

The Boulevard Magazine
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