April 2009 Issue | Download the Full Issue

The City of Escondido is busy accessorizing for Fashion Week Downtown 2009, which is scheduled to take place April 6 – 11 at the California Center for the Arts Escondido.
This is the second annual affair and is set to be every bit as good as last year and then some! The week-long event will feature fashion forums, runway shows, charity benefits, contests, entertainment and more. It headlines with an exciting launch party and ends with a red carpet grand finale that you won’t want to miss!
Festivities begin Friday, April 3 with a charity walk in stiletto heels to benefit ovarian cancer (Clearity Foundation), followed by a pet fashion show on Saturday, April 4 to benefit the Escondido Humane Society.
Perhaps the most popular events of Fashion Week are the runway shows. There is nothing like watching models strut their stuff on the catwalk showcasing the latest in designer flair.
This year’s shows feature world-renowned jean designer, David Kahn, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition swimsuit designer La Isla Couture.
In addition, LA Fashion Week and celebrity designer Lauren Elaine will debut her Siren Collection, and professional surf legend Jeff “Doc” Lausch will debut his Surf Prescription Beachwear line. Other noted designers and fashion brands include Olga Sánchez-Fuegorosa, Stacie May, Janice Jaraicie-Nelli, Sela Wear and Michael Stiska. Local boutiques will also be showcased. The runway shows begin Monday, April 6.
Each event will also have a celebrity host. Already confirmed for this year are Allie Bling Bling from Art Rocks Radio; surf legend Jeff "Doc" Lausch; fashion divas Alicia and Anisha Gwynn; Channel 8 news anchor Barbara Lee Edwards, and Angelo Damante of Mercedes Benz Escondido.
Tickets are currently on sale for the events and include general admission and VIP seats. In addition to the best views in the house, the VIP tickets also include early admission, reserved seats with your name on them, two drink tickets, appetizers from Downtown Restaurants, and a $5 voucher to use at any participating downtown restaurant until April 30, 2009.
They sell out fast so if you are interested, buy yours today!
Prices vary per event, but there are plenty of free events to check out. Many of Escondido’s downtown spas, restaurants, galleries and museums will be hosting receptions and activities throughout the week. See the website for details!
The Boulevard is a proud sponsor of Escondido Fashion Week Downtown. For more information on event dates, times and locations, visit www.fashionshowdowntown.com.
Photos by Alex Slattery Photography. www.alexslatteryphotography.com

Q & A with Escondido Downtown Business Association
(*Excerpts from Debra Rosen, CEO of Escondido’s DBA)
The Boulevard: This is the 2nd annual Escondido Fashion Week. Why fashion? Where did the idea for a Fashion Show come from?
DBA: It’s not just a fashion show, but rather a week of runway events featuring local, regional and nationally known designers. The idea came from Palm Desert. I had the opportunity to attend their shows for several years and thought we could do the same think in downtown Escondido.
The Boulevard: Tell us about the volunteers, sponsors, etc. who make this event possible.
DBA: With the economy as challenging as it is this year, it has been tough to get the financial support that we had last year. Without the continued and increased support of Angelo Damante and Mercedes Benz, there would not have been a Fashion Week this year. In addition, The City of Escondido and the California Center for the Arts Escondido stepped up and made it possible for us to put on an even better show than last year. There are also quite a few other sponsors that have worked with us to make this event a reality again.
*See www.fashionweekdowntown.com for additional sponsors.
The Boulevard: How do you see Fashion Week helping local designers, store owners, etc?
DBA: This event is good for the community because it brings so many new visitors to the downtown. It exposes all that we have to offer, and this year it will be even better as we are having the designer showcase in different boutiques and galleries on Girls Night Out. This will drive new visitors and traffic into the stores downtown and also into the spas.
The Boulevard: Tell us a little about the charities that are benefiting? How do you choose them? What percentage goes towards the charities, etc?
DBA: The two charities this year that will be tied in with Fashion Week are The Clearity Foundation and The Escondido Humane Society. We will be hosting a Stiletto Walk on Friday, April 3 with 100% of all entry fees being donated to The Clearity Foundation for patient services. With the Head to Toe Pet Fashion Show on Saturday, April 4, we will be donating 75% of all entry fees to the Escondido Humane Society.
The Boulevard: What's the main difference between this year and last year?
DBA: This year we have several well-known designers involved and many local ones. The diverse mix will offer something for everyone. This year we are also hosting the event at the California Center for the Arts Escondido, which takes the level up a notch. We have added a designer showcase to the “Girls Night Out” which is FREE to the general public and gives visitors a chance to see what the designers are showcasing. Also new for this year is the Stiletto Walk for Ovarian Cancer and the Head to Toe Pet Fashion Show.

Wildlife Art Show: Artists From Around the Country Revere the Diversity of Nature

The 16th annual “Reflections of Nature” National Wildlife Art Show and Sale will be held over the weekend of May 2–3.
From 1994 to 1996, the show was held at the historic Palomares House, now home to a Wildlife Sculpture Park.
The success of the show led founding artist Gamini Ratnavira, an accomplished wildlife artist, and a native of Sri Lanka, to support turning a drug store built in 1961 at the cornerstone of the Fallbrook village into an Art Center.
He founded the show in 1994 as a fund-raiser for the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, a nonprofit agency that acquires and maintains open space.
The 1997 show was the inaugural event at the newly established Art Center at Fallbrook, a nonprofit exhibition venue.
Over the years, the show continues to grow in popularity, with the first weekend in May widely recognized as ‘wildlife art time’ in Fallbrook.
The exhibit includes sculptures at the Village Square Park and two-dimensional works inside the Janice Griffiths Gallery at the Art Center of Fallbrook.
The 28 artists from all over the country celebrate the diversity of nature—working in a broad range of media and disciplines including plein air to portray the world’s wildlife and the landscapes that sustain them.
Many of the artists have been with the show since its beginning, however there are always new and exciting talents to enjoy.
As he has done every year since founding the show Ratnavira will show his work along with artists from across the United States and Canada.
The exhibit is considered to be one of the biggest wildlife art shows on the West Coast.
The show reflects Fallbrook’s agrarian roots.
“Fallbrook is known for its avocados,” says Ratnavira. “It also needs to be known for something else—its contribution to the arts.”
And, of course, Fallbrook IS known as a center for the arts. It has dozens of galleries, an art school and hundreds of resident artists.
“When I started the program, what I wanted to achieve was to create an art colony and make Fallbrook an art town,” says Ratnavira. He had seen wildlife art shows on the East Coast, but they seemed more interested in the hunting aspect. “My idea was to make it more of a conservation idea. I think we have achieved that. It’s one of the biggest wildlife art shows on the West Coast.”
A few of the artists whose works will be showcased at the exhibit include: Susan Labouri, who paints big cats, deer, giraffes and birds; Lee Kromschroeder—to-date collection of Lee Kromschroeder's, who paints big cats, wolves, bears, deer & elk, orcas & whales, birds of prey and song birds; Joe Garcia, a Julian artist who does watercolors, oils and prints of all types of wildlife and Giam Truong, a native Vietnamese artist who uses techniques described as “reminiscent of the spirit of the Oriental art.”
As has been the case every year, a portion of the proceeds from this year’s show also will be donated to Fallbrook Land Conservancy.
“Land preservation and wildlife are part of the fabric of our rural community,” said Mary Perhacs, executive director of the Fallbrook Art Center. “As a stopover on the natural migratory flyway for wild birds and part of the land bridge for the California mountain lion, what better place to view wildlife art.”
The work of the 28 artists will be displayed at two adjacent venues.
The Art Center's main 3,500-square-foot exhibition space “The Janice Griffiths Gallery,” will house the two-dimensional artists working in a variety of media that include oil, pastel, pen and ink, scratchboard, acrylic, watercolor and collage.
The woman the gallery is named after died in July, 2005 after a two-year battle with cancer.
In honor of his late wife, Janice, Harry Griffiths has been a major benefactor for the show for the past few years.
In October 2006, in memory of his wife he donated the largest, single unrestricted monetary gift from an individual in the Art Center’s 11-year history.
Perhacs, Director of Exhibitions called the gift, “… a magnificent gesture in memory of a wonderful supporter of the arts.”
Mrs. Griffiths was a vivacious woman who loved life and art. The home that she and Mr. Griffths shared reflected their mutual passion for wildlife art. Over the years they built up an extensive art collection.
She donated time and support to the San Diego Zoological Society, Quail Botanical Gardens, and Scripps Green Hospital. Her contributions were honored in 2006 when the County of San Diego designated Feb. 18, 2006 as “Janice Griffiths Day.”
At the walkway leading to their house—NOT the location of the Janice Griffiths Gallery and not open to the public—visitors are greeted by bronzes of life-size African bush bucks.
The living room displays a Robert Bateman painting of a lion chasing an impala. Other paintings show jaguars and birds by Ratnivara, who is also represented by his painting of a tiger and its cubs and three paintings of gorillas.
According to writer Dale Griffiths Stamos, “On practically every surface of the Griffiths home are sculptures, including a wart hog signed by African artist, Matlou, and an old bronze abstract of what looks like a cape buffalo, that goes back 300 to 400 years. Although animals from all over the globe are depicted in these works, it does not take long to realize that there is a predominant theme emerging: Africa.”
The other gallery that houses the wildlife art show is across from the Art Center in the Village Square. It is devoted to three-dimensional artists including sculptors, carvers, and jewelers, presenting their works in bronze, stone, steel, wood, and silver.
Cost of a weekend ticket to the 16th annual Wildlife Art Show is $5.
The Art Center is located at 103 South Main & Alvarado.
The show is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call (760) 728-1414 or go to: www.fallbrookartcenter.org

Avocado Festival: The Avocado Capital of the World Celebrates the Versatile Fruit

You wouldn’t think there would be so much fuss over a fruit that looks like a green pear with the skin of a alligator!
Well, if you take that attitude the folks of Fallbrook would beg to differ! For 16 years they have been showing that the avocado isn’t just another pretty face.
It’s not that the soft, nutty-flavored fruit has a self-esteem problem, but once a year it’s nice to remind your neighbors just how versatile this ubiquitous delicacy is!
They will do it again as they celebrate the annual Avocado Festival on Sunday April 19. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. centered on Main Street in Fallbrook.
If last year is any indication, about 70,000 people will attend the festival.
Those 70,000 visitors will visit 350 vendors that include 50 food booths: Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and other ethnic foods, Fallbrook’s celebrated guacamole, hot dogs and hamburgers, barbecue, shaved ice, avocado ice cream, and soft drinks.
Bob Leonard, longtime president of the Fallbrook Chamber, which sponsors the event, recalls that the first avocado festival occurred in the fall and was combined with a wine festival.
Problem was, that time of year there were no local avocados to be had.
They rectified that error for subsequent festivals.
“We like doing things well,” says Leonard. “We like organizing good events. And the experiences of my staff continues to be especially good for special events operation.”
Although each year most of the popular favorites return, for Leonard the fun part “is the twenty percent that you don’t know how it will turn out.”
Like the year that the Japanese Sushi chef volunteered to come to Fallbrook at his own expense and show how to use the avocado in such popular dishes as the California Roll. Chef Yujiro Masuda turned out to be a big hit, and he will be returning for a third year in a row to join other chefs doing culinary demonstrations all day in the Controltec parking lot at 330 S. Main.
Leonard notes that 38% of those who come to the festival are not from San Diego County. They come from states all over the U.S.
One couple told Leonard that they looked up the event on the Web site and thought it would be fun to make the cross the continent trip to get here!
There are other avocado festivals, to be sure, but given that Fallbrook is considered the Avocado Capital of the world, they are, at best, derivative.
And it is certainly a family friendly event par excellence. So much so that Leonard has been known to get rid of a band because the music was so good that too many people were sitting around drinking beer and listening to music and not enough were going around sampling the various avocado delights to be found among the dozens of vendors.
“Why come to Fallbrook on Avocado Day to drink beer?” asks Leonard.
Well, you could eat!
How about the Avocado Tamale, Guac Burgers, Hawaiian Nachos with wasabi guacamole, bacon wrapped hot dogs with avocado and, of course, the Holy Guac a Moly Farmers Market.
There are several new and exciting things going on at the festival this year—not the least of them is that the festival has expanded to include two streets.
New things to do this year include:
• The Avo Easy – avocado pitting made easy (Web site www.avoeasy.com)  will be introduced this year.
• The Pit Spit is back – Organizers are hoping to have a Celebrity “SPIT OFF”—details are pending.
• New merchandise from the festival’s vendors, including Fairy Gardens, Plumeria Plants, Hydroponic Gardening, Custom Flip Flops by Fallbrook residents and the all new Pet Hair Picker Upper.
• The Avocado Emporium will feature official festival T-shirt, avocado themed items from local artisans.
• Community Stage will feature dance acts from CAST Academy, Ballet Folklorico, Tammy’s Tossettes and a Hair & Fashion show coordinated by Bello Lei Salon. Other acts are pending.
• A restored 1953 Good Humor Ice Cream truck will be on display – purchase ice cream from the truck and have your photo taken too!
Other avo-related activities include the Avocado 500, a “model” car building event and race using avocados as vehicles.
There will also be a culinary contest for professionals and amateurs and a pie contest (we’re unsure whether this includes avocado pies!).
Other contests include: Best Guacamole and Most Creative Avocado Dish.
The Art of the Avocado, sponsored by George and Gayle Bamber of Holy Guacamoly, will return again this year. Artsts submit avocado themed artworks and win prizes.
Parking arrangements are being made close to the festival for paid parking. Otherwise parking is free and the shuttles are free.
The Avocado Festival has been invited to appear on San Diego Living (XETV6) Friday, April 17 and showcase celebrity chef Delos Eyer of La Caseta with his deep fried avocado and amateur chef Shane McSheehy with his avocado egg roll.
The TV show will also include a celebrity pit spit with the show’s hosts.
Sponsorships include: California Avocado Commission, SDG&E, Pardee Homes, Casino Pauma, Markstein Beverage, Teahpoo Clothing, Calavo, K-FROG and KyXy.
Sponsorships are still available.
Visit the Fallbrook Chamber’s Web site at www.fallbrookca.org for the latest information and to download contest forms and applications.

New, High Tech, Comfortable: It's Not Your Father's Hospital Room!

Most of us have been in a hospital—as a patient or to visit a loved one.
We think we know what a hospital room is like. It’s certainly not like a luxury hotel room.
Get ready for a paradigm shift in what hospital rooms will be in the not-too-distant future when Palomar West hospital opens.
Two towers (one is 11 stories and the other is nine) are rising in west Escondido, near the Auto Park. Called “the hospital of the future,” it will contain patient rooms that will be roomier, more homey and private and far more comfortable than anything you’ve ever seen before.
It incorporates current thought about hospitals.
“When we designed the building we looked at what everyone else was doing and took the best,” says Marcia Johnson, chief planning officer for Palomar Pomerado Health system.
When you visit the mock-up room the hospital district has erected in a nearby warehouse to show how such a room will look in practice, you are, at first, taken aback by the implied comfort. There’s even a couch with a fold out bed so a loved one can stay with a patient.
You’ll also be pleasantly surprised—if you are a patient—by its size: 320 square feet—hotel room size, and the fact that it’s designed for one patient.
Doesn’t that waste taxpayers’ money? Isn’t spending money on luxury rooms extravagant?
Not if you worry about preventing patients from catching diseases while they are in the hospital—a notoriously rampant problem in American hospitals.
“The biggest issue in most hospitals is infection control,” says Johnson. She means who is allowed access. “The best way to control that is with a private room.”
More equipment is needed today in a patient’s room—another reason for larger rooms.
They include life bed monitors—think Dr. McCoy’s sick bay in Star Trek—passive monitoring of pulse and respiration without being connected to the patients.
Wall-size screens will give patients control over their environment. Doctors will be able to visit “virtually,” via two-way video. They will be able to pipe in music and images and control lighting to mirror the circadian rhythm, creating a more restful mood. They will be able to control heat, lighting, even… room service!
Rooms will minimize patient falls on the way to the bathroom by making it more accessible with bars along the walls.
Once there the patient will find a facility that is almost as comfortable as a hotel bathroom.
They allow for the patient to be treated “in the room” rather than being moved around. Many tests will be conducted right there.
The less the patient is moved, the better—especially when it comes to picking up germs.
“Every time a patient is transported there is more chance for error,” says Johnson. “Many procedures can be brought right to the patient.
So-called “acuity-adaptable” rooms will deliver more intense care in less time. It is such a new concept that the state doesn’t yet license it. Palomar West could be the first in California.
“We have to provide for future technology twenty years from now,” says Johnson, who leads tours of mock-ups of patient rooms and nurses stations, operating rooms and other rooms so the public can see what will eventually result when the construction is finished in 2012.
Today operating rooms are from 400–500 sq. feet. The new ones will be 650-750 sq. feet. There’s so much more equipment that needs to be fit into the modern operating room.
Some rooms are designed to be modular—they can be adjusted by moving walls around.
“This hospital will be used for at least fifty years. We don’t know what will be needed then. We hope we have anticipated enough changes so it remains useful that long,” says Johnson.
When planning began for the hospital, the district assembled “champions teams,” of nurses, doctors, technicians—those who would actually be working with the facility. They were invited to give input to the architects.
Interesting results followed:
We are all familiar with “central nurses station” on each floor, from where nurses fan out to each room in the ward. That’s a thing of the past.
Centralization was once needed so all patient records could be at the same location. Now they reside on a central server accessable from any work station.
Working nurses provided input on how they spend their time. It is divided almost evenly between caring for patients, administration and resupplying.
Turns out that individual work stations, each with its own decentralized supplies and medications are more efficient, cutting wear and tear on nurses, who spend most of their time on their feet!
The existing hospital has 324 beds, including obstetrics, pediatrics and rehabilitation. Of these 200 are acute care beds.
Palomar West will have have 360 rooms—expandable to 600 beds.
If you want to take a “virtual tour” of Palomar West, you can do it by visiting http://virtualpalomarwest.org/

Rhythm & Vine: Cool Jazz and Top Vintages

If there ever was a marriage made in Hipsters Heaven it’s the first annual Rhythm & Vine, San Diego North’s Music and Wine Festival, which happens April 25, at Westfield North County Mall in Escondido.
The event will happen in the northeast corner just outside of Sears.
Proceeds from the benefit will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, the “Positive Place for Kids.”
Over 40 top wineries from up and down the California coast and including the Napa wine country, breweries, 30 restaurants and gourmet vendors will be represented.
Combine that with the tribute music of Diamond Is Forever, Crossroads and the Classic Jazz Trio which plays “old school” jazz and you have an event that will soothe the soul and satisfy the palate.
Shannon Frick, special events coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs told The Boulevard, “I’m very excited about the variety of the wineries and that the wineries outside of San Diego and Temecula are willing to come out and support a great cause.”
She added, “I think it’s good that we have a new event that’s different from others in the area. It’s great that our board and management team had a fresh new idea to get our club involved and attract people outside of the club interested and, hopefully, get them involved.
Although there have been wine tastings locally that had incidental music, Frick said this is the first one to truly incorporate the music and make it a major part of the event.
“We’re having two full stages and they will be the focal points of the event,” she said.
“I’m excited that we have a wide array of music. We are trying to attract people of all ages, from lovers of classic rock to lovers of classic jazz. We tried to get different genres of music and we will try to do that throughout the years.”
The event is produced in association with Fast Forward Event Productions, which produces the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - the largest festival of its kind on the West Coast.
In addition to the music there will be a silent auction and VIP exclusive tent.
Diamond Is Forever!
Diamond is Forever! is a Neil Diamond tribute show, that recreates the experience, the sound, style, and feel of the original Neil Diamond.
It stars David Sherry, of whom a local critic wrote: “Neil Diamond impressionist David Sherry performed with back-up group and opening act, The Violettes, and the crowd couldn't believe that it wasn't the man himself!.”
Crossroads
A five-piece classic rock band that delivers musical harmonies and versatile instrumentation that will remind you of The Eagles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beatles, and The Allman Brothers.
Crossroads has a unique classic rock sound combining strong vocal harmonies with acoustical and electric guitars.
Classic Jazz Trio
A retro jazz band experience, featuring the musical talents of Phil Marcus on the guitar, Dan Coulson on bass, and Rob Damwijk on the drums. Bringing back the sounds of classic “old school” jazz guitar, The Classic Jazz Trio will entertain with lively instrumental music to kick off the night at Rhythm & Vine.
Festival gates open at 6 p.m. for all attendees. Gates close at 9 p.m. for general admission ticket holders and stays open until 10 p.m. for VIP ticket holders.
General Admission Ticket: $75. VIP Admission Ticket: $125.
VIP Ticket includes: Access to the Main Event and to an exclusive VIP Club, which features premium beverages, lounge seating and tray-passed tastings.
All tastings and samplings are included in the price of the tickets.
For more information, and to buy tickets, visit http://rhythmandvine.org/

Bonsall Women's Club to Honor Mary Jane Poulter for Lifetime Achievement

Mary Jane Poulter has always tried to help others around her have a better life.
Whether her focus has been on her family, her friends, or her community, Poulter has gone the extra mile to make sure that the people around her have the best opportunity available.
Because of her dedication and service, the Bonsall Women’s Club is honoring Poulter with its Lifetime Achievement award.
“She has been such an inspiration in so many things,” says Pat Harvey of the Women’s Club. “She has been such a support to the women here and she’s always encouraging others to do their best. She always says, ‘You can do it, I can help.’”
Poulter joined the club in 1989 and immediately volunteered in a number of committees. As a new member, her first project was working with the Women’s Resource Center, which is still an active project with different chairmen having taken over.
For two years, Poulter was the Dean of Chairman before becoming the President of the Bonsall Woman’s Club in 1993. Two years later, she served as the Chairman of the Palomar District, running their Photography & Art Programs for 11 years. For 15 years she has been the Chairman of the BWC & Chamber Christmas Needy Program, for two years has been the co-chairman of the BWC Golf Tournament and for 15 years has served as the BWC representative to the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce.
Poulter has also volunteered in many different places in the community, from the Cub Scouts to 4-H, to helping kids learn how to use computers, Meals on Wheels, helping publish the BWC newsletter, and organizing special days within the community.
A recent project has been helping a handicapped girl develop her talent for painting.
“It’s been so special to see how Mary Jane has taken this girl under her wing,” Harvey says. “She’s been giving her private art lessons and even helped her get some pieces into an art festival, where she had one piece win best in show and two more take first in two different categories. She loves being able to share her talents like this.”
Poulter has also been awarded eight different times by the BWC and other institutions, including awards for Volunteer of the Year in 1995, Woman of the Year in 2005 by the California State Senate, Honorary Mayor of Bonsall and the Judge’s Special Award for training Boy Scouts in astronomy.
And family has always been a big part of Poulter’s life, as she still visits her 92-year-old mother regularly to help prepare meals for the week and spend time with her. When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, she took him to his chemotherapy sessions every week, and after he died, she designed a shirt for “Jockey Shirt Signing Day” at the Del Mar Race Track to benefit cancer research as a tribute to him.
“She’s such a special person,” Harvey says. “She’s just so happy to do all this volunteer work without ever asking for anything in return.”

It's The Music! An Orchestrated Opera Month

California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE) will be the place to watch in April when it plays host to the Ahn Trio on April 4 at 4 & 8 p.m. and when L.A.’s Opera a la Carte perform’s Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comic musical HMS Pinafore April 18 at 8 p.m.
The Ahn Trio, composed of three young sisters from South Korea, Angela, Lucia and Maria, are redefining what a chamber orchestra is and does.
Of course it remains three people playing a violin, cello and piano, but these young musicians love to dissolve “the barriers between art forms.”
Although most of what a chamber orchestra plays is, by definition, classical music, Angela Ahn notes that most of what they play was composed especially for them, by such artists as Kenji Bunch, Maurice Jarre, Nikolai Kapustin and Michael Nyman.
Nevertheless they made their first big splash in the early part of the decade with a recording that highlighted Ravel, which Audio Magazine described as “breathtaking,” while their second album featured Dvorak, Suk and Shostakovich.
In an interview with The Boulevard Angela Ahn stressed that their performances are a much more personal experience than just listening to a trio. “We talk to the audience,” she says. “We personalize everything.”
According to reviews the three young women combine “raw sex appeal” with rare virtuosity that is “aggressively talented and charismatic.”
If you can listen to a concert of these talented young ladies without your pulse speeding up, you may just be a statue not a music lover!
To find out more about the trio visit their Web site at www.ahntrio.com/
* * *
Richard Sheldon, director of Opera a la Carte, formed it 39 years ago and hasn’t looked back.
“The whole thing is my fault,” he says with a twinkle in his voice. “I started the company as soon as I came here from England.”
The opera is performed by a full company of professionals accompanied by a full orchestra. Gilbert and Sullivan is all that they do.
The company is returning to Southern California after a tour of Wisconsin and Missouri.
No point in asking Sheldon which of the canons is his favorite. “I enjoy doing them all. I enjoy whichever one I’m working on at the moment!”
But if you’re looking for some specific reasons why HMS Pinafore is so much fun, he will say, “It’s the music. [Arthur] Sullivan’s music is delightfully, sprightly and has a happy mood.”
But it’s also the lyrics! “[W.S.] Gilbert loved the sea and loved ships.”
The opera is a satire that contains brilliant, puckish humor that pokes fun at the establishment of the time in the character of Sir Joseph Porter, a First Lord of the Admiralty, i.e. commander of the fleet, who has never been to sea!
His character sings such lines as, “When the breezes blow / I generally go below.”
According to Sheldon, “It is thought that he was poking fun at a gentleman who started a chain of bookstores called W.H. Smith and Son, who was appointed First Lord and had never been to sea. The public nicknamed him “The Pinafore Admiral.”
The play also contains this well known musical quote:
“What, never?”
“No, never!”
“What, never?”
“Well, hardly ever!”
The opera premiered in London in 1878 and soon pirated and burlesque versions began appearing all over the U.S. by people who didn’t want to pay royalties to Gilbert and Sullivan.
Sheldon, besides directing the company, occasionally appears in performances. He has played Sir Joseph Porter, although not this time.
“I’m very dedicated to Gilbert and Sullivan,” says Sheldon. “Both were geniuses. Some of the lyrics are dated but so much more is apropos and Sullivan’s music, of course, is timeless!”
This is the company’s tenth time at CCAE.
“I love the San Diego area personally and the people at the center are wonderful and the hall is magnificent. It’s beautiful,” says Sheldon.
Find out more about Opera a la Carte and HMS Pinafore by visiting their Web site: www.operaalacarte.org/pinafore/
* * *
The Center ticket office is located at the southeastern corner of the Concert Hall off of Escondido Boulevard at 340 N. Escondido Blvd.
Call 800-988-4253 or Fax: (760) 737-0078.
Box office hours are Tuesday-Saturday: Noon– 6 p.m.
Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.
The ticket office is closed on Mondays.
Visit the center’s Web site at www.artcenter.org/

Fallbrook Film Festival: An Exciting Cultural Event

An exciting cultural event, the second annual Fallbrook Film Festival will take place April 23-26 at the historic Mission Theatre in downtown Fallbrook.
The festival has received entries from six of the seven continents. It will provide an opportunity for film lovers to view a wide array of unique cinema from around the world.
The festival helps to encourage and promote emerging independent filmmakers by providing venues to screen their work and workshops to foster their talents.
It will honor Fred Willard as the 2009 Career Achievement Award Winner. Willard’s career as a popular comedic actor for film and TV includes multiple appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and in Austin Powers, Best In Show and Pushing Daisies.
The festival also will include a series of workshops by industry professionals at Fallbrook School of the Arts, including Dick Ziker, the ultimate stuntman whose film career includes Scarface, Patriot Games, Thelma & Louise, Fast & Furious and Dreamgirls.
Another workshop will be presented by John Dwyer, a set director who worked on productions such as Star Trek, Alien and Terminator.
One of the programs will feature a free showing of Fallbrook’s own Aaron Lieber whose film The Pursuit is the first surf film shot using BluRay technology.
This globetrotting film lets viewers experience the adventures of world class surfers as they travel in search of the best waves.
“Hawaii has great waves,” says the 23-year old first time filmmaker, “but the more you travel the more you see and realize how many other great waves there are out there. There are different kinds of waves, depending on your location.
“I mean, Hawaii has great barrels, is warm, and just an easy place to get to and score good waves, but it can be crowded because it is so easy to get to.
“But places like South Africa, the Maldives, Indonesia, and Australia are all stacked with great beach breaks and point breaks. Really, there is a whole other world of waves out there and people have made it their jobs finding these waves,” says Lieber.
He adds, “I was just stoked to go to a few of these places and film with the guys I was working with. Hopefully, people will watch my film and be inspired to go surf— and more importantly—be inspired to just go and do!”
Shot like a documentary, the film is packed with high performance surfing and interviews with each of the surfers talking about “the pursuit” of their passion.
“It’s like all these guys are fighting to be the top dog but they have to make different decisions on how to do that.
The film also shows how much the sport of surfing has progressed.
It is filmed in California, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, France, Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Nicaragua and the Maldives.
“I love to surf,” says Lieber, “but I’m definitely better pointing a video camera." Using BluRay means that the film is shot in high definition. His main camera for that was the Canon XL-H1.
Filming surfers is challenging because a wave is a moving object. “A lot of it is standing on the beach for long hours and framing and making sure the lighting is the same. Trying to make things look good and making sure you get more performance based than cinematography-based,” says Lieber.
Bryan Caron’s My Necklace, Myself is a film of a completely different kind; a mid-level short dramatic film about a teenage girl who learns who she is and what she wants to be when she gets a magical necklace that allows her to be anything she wants to be.
The 41-minute film premiered last July at the Temeku Cinema in Temecula and has been entered previously in several film festivals.
In January the film won best screenplay at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival in in Florida, and in February was one of two finalists nominated for best short film at International Family Film Festival in Hollywood.
All of the actors used in the film are from San Diego County, and the main actors are from Fallbrook. Caron is from Fallbrook, and most of the film crew live in Fallbrook, according to the 31-year old Caron, who is currently working fulltime as a graphics designer who works on guidebooks for military bases.
“This is the first film that I had an actual budget for,” he says. “I did a couple of other shorts that didn’t have any money behind them at all.”
My Necklace, Myself is a Fallbrook Film Factory production. Caron also wrote most of the screenplay.
He says he doesn’t have a particular film style. “I don’t know if I mimic any other art or style but I do tend to think that if it followed a style or influence, it would be someone like Ron Howard,” he says.
The film’s style is “Very light and very basic but trying to get the image shown through different angles and options and trying to find ways to get a shot that—if it was a million dollar budget— it would be easy, but getting it shot with a limited budget is a little more challenging,” he says.
The fact that Caron’s film company is named Divine Trinity Films might imply that his movie has a religious theme, but the filmmaker says he is open to making all types of movies—except pornography—although “there are religious overtones to what I write.”
To see some images from Caron’s film visit his Web site at www.divinetrinityfilms.com/MyNecklace/Index.htm
The Fallbrook Film Festival is produced by Fallbrook Film Factory, a 501c3 non-profit corporation.
*Tickets are on sale at Mission Theater box office (760)731-CAST (2278):
Single Showing: $5 (would include multiple shorts or a feature length film or about 2hours of programming)
Day Pass: $20 (films only)
VIP Pass: $100 (all films, all workshops, all events plus Awards celebration at Art Center honoring Fred Willard).
For more information about the 2009 program visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com/

Trupiano's Italian Bistro: The Taste of Italy Fallbrook

You could make a trip to Trupiano’s Italian Bistro in Fallbrook just for the breadsticks! In fact, many people do!
They are that good—made with pizza dough and slathered with flavored butter (flavored with parsley, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and red pepper) made on the premises.
But that’s just a “taste” of the rapturous, tastebud bewitching flavors that you will encounter at this culinary find where owner Faro Trupiano preserves the recipes and continues the tradition of his mother, Mama Trupiano, a native of Sicily, who recently retired after 35 years in the restaurant business, and whose recipes are used in four family restaurants around the country.
“I pride myself on keeping up her recipes,” he says.
He also comes up with new recipes of his own from time to time.
His philosophy is to combine fresh ingredients with making each recipe to order. When you order an eggplant dish, that eggplant will be in its raw form. Nothing is premade. There are no warming trays.
Speaking of “taste,” the restaurant won the Taste of Fallbrook award in 2004 and 2007 as well as the People’s Choice award at the North County Food & Wine Festival in 2007.
The recipes are Sicilian with some Northern Italian influences.
One of the award-winning recipes is Farfalle Toscama, which is bowtie pasta, grilled chicken, asparagus and fresh mushrooms in a roasted garlic cream sauce.
Then there’s Crespelle di Mama, which is homemade crepes, stuffed with chicken, asparagus, spinach and ricotta cheese and covered with a gorgonzola and parmesan cheese sauce.
Another is Melanzine Alla Florentine, which is breaded eggplant rolled with ricotta cheese, spinach, mozzarella chesse and marinara sauce.
I had that dish and was impressed with the subtle flavors that were not overwhelmed by the seasoning.
“That’s one thing I learned from Mama,” he says. “She was able to make dishes using the food’s natural flavors. You don’t need to add a bunch of salt and garlic to makes the flavor of what you are serving.”
A customer favorite is Mama’s Trio, which consists of baked lasagna, beef ravioli and chicken parmesan.
Faro Trupiano maintains an intimate relationship with his customers, many of who are repeat customers. He is the one who greets them and serves them.
“The thing about Fallbrook is that once you earn your place the people are very loyal,” he says. “I like to interact with my customers. In a small town people like to see and be recognized by the owner—and to be served by him.”
They also like the fact that his food in consistent. It tastes the same each time they return.
“I get a lot of good feedback from people who tell me that they have been coming here for four years and it’s always good,” he says.
Part of the reason for that is that Trupiano never compromises on his ingredients, “no matter what is going on in the economy.”
The restaurant showcases local wines, especially wines from the Fallbrook Winery, as the house vintage.
A bachelor, Trupiano cooks for himself, and that’s often when he comes up with new taste adventures.
“That’s my opportunity to experiment and put flavors together. Recently a new dish was born from that process: Pollo Fantasia.
This consists of breaded chicken breast layered with mushrooms, spinach, smoked prosciutto, baked with mozzarella and finished with a vodka cream sauce.
I was able to sample another creation that he made for himself: tortellini stuffed with cheese, covered with a gongonzola cream sauce.
Marvelous!
And, of course, they also serve a variety of pizzas, ranging from the simple basic Margherita made with mozzarella, oregano, basil and sauce, to the Trupiano special, which has a wealth of toppings.
If you want to learn firsthand some of Faro Trupiano’s cooking methods, consider taking one of his monthly cooking classes. Each month his class explores a different country or region. The cost is $35 and you get a three-course meal out of the deal.
Last month the class looked at the cusine of the Mediterranean Alps. In April the theme will be: “Under a Tuscan Sun.”
Trupiano’s Italian Bistro is located at 945 S. Main St. in Fallbrook. It is open seven days a week, Sunday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
The restaurant does catering and weddings, large and small.
The restaurant has a drive through for to go menu pick-ups. Call them at 760-728-0200.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery: 40 Years in the Making

Since 1969, Callaway Vineyard & Winery has been a long-standing landmark in the Temecula Valley.
In fact, it was the very first Temecula winery to start making and selling wine to the public. Today, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Callaway remains one of the most successful vineyards in the valley.
The winery was actually a retirement venture for its founder, Ely Callaway, who started the winery after a successful bout as CEO of Burlington Coat Factory. But he didn’t stop there. Ever heard of Callaway Golf? Yep, after selling his winery in 1981, this entrepreneur went on to become a leader in the golf industry, too.
With so many successful businesses, it’s no wonder that Callaway Vineyard & Winery is such a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. It helps that the wines are amazing and its new owners, the Lin family, recently added a top-notch restaurant.
The location doesn’t hurt either. Heading east on Rancho California Road, Callaway is one of the first wineries on your left hand side when you enter wine country; it sits high amidst the valley’s beautiful hilltops.
One thing you’ll notice at Callaway is they do things big—from the big gift shop and barrel room to big, flavorful wines. An hour can easily slip by in the Tasting Room with its upbeat energy, diverse wines and steady buzz of people and conversation.
“Wine tasting is a reasonable way to entertain yourself,” said Stephanie Fitts, just one of the friendly and knowledgeable wine pourers at Callaway. “It’s good, simple fun where you can meet nice people and get away for a while.”
Callaway’s wine menu currently features a total of 26 wines in red, white, sparkling, rose and dessert varieties. Eight of these are new releases such as the 2008 Winemaker’s Reserve Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon. If you like sweet, jammy wines, this one is for you. It’s a complex blend of berries and cherries that demands to be accompanied by chocolate of some sort.
The 2004 Winemaker’s Reserve Meritage is an employee and patron favorite. It’s 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 100% delicious! It also pairs perfectly with any number of menu items at the winery’s restaurant: The Meritage at Callaway.
Not quite a year old, The Meritage features an exciting menu of tapas, soups, sandwiches and entrees. Executive Chef Michael Henry said he changes the menu every three months or so to keep things fresh, and creates dishes based on what pairs well with the wines.
“The wine comes first,” Henry explains. “It’s the flavors in the wine that help determine what I put on the menu.”
The brilliant wine pairings, efficient service and relaxing ambiance of this outdoor restaurant, in addition to the magnificent views, make for an unforgettable experience.
The food is unforgettable, too. Henry creates true Mediterranean dishes with organic and sustainably-produced meat, vegetables and fish platters. You’ll find everything from Smoked Beef Carpaccio to Lamb Meatball Parmesan submarine sandwiches.
The tossed arugula, pear, frisee & truffle vinaigrette with goat cheese flatbread is a good starter. Finish it off with a glass of crisp Viognier for maximum flavor enhancement and you’ll understand why the place has been busy since the first day it opened its doors.
Of course, you can’t forget dessert. I recommend the Black Forest Crème Brule with the 2008 Winemaker’s Reserve Late Harvest Chardonnay.
The Meritage at Callaway is open daily at 11 a.m. for lunch, and open Friday & Saturdays from 4–9 p.m. for dinner. They feature a happy hour on Fridays from 3–6 p.m. and will host an Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. You can call 951-587-8889 for reservations.
Of course, you don’t need to dine at Callaway to enjoy the wine, but you do need to visit to try and buy the wines. Callaway Vineyard & Winery wines are only available at the winery—not at any retail stores. You can stop by for tours and tastings daily from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Callaway Vineyard & Winery is located at 32720 Rancho California Road in Temecula. For more information call 1-800-472-2377 or go to www.callawaywinery.com/

My Dream Nine

My dream nine. I have had an opportunity to play some outstanding north San Diego county and Riverside county golf courses over the last year while writing golf articles for The Boulevard Magazine. So here it is, my “Dream Nine.”
Nine holes of golf that present local duffers with the challenges of risk and reward golf, and do it in the most spectacular of settings.
First up: Number 4, at Vista Valley Country Club. This 433-yard par 4 is the number one handicap hole, a slight dogleg left with an elevated tee box. There is very little room for error off of the tee or on your second shot. It’s tight all the way to the green. There is a seasonal creek on the right, plenty of trouble on the left, and the green is elevated. Avoid the right bunker, as it will present big problems. I loved playing this hole. I could punish myself all day long playing it. A great risk/ reward hole.
Number 7 at Pala Mesa, 143-yard par 3. This hole is not difficult if you find the green with your tee shot. Number 7 is at the height of the valley that Pala Mesa is carved into and offers some wonderful views. If you slice to the right you’ll be hitting your approach from the fast lane of Interstate 15. A wonderful golf hole with lots of mature trees around the green. It reminds me of something that you would see at Pebble Beach.
Number 4 on the Oaks course at Temecula Creek Inn. This is the signature hole on the course, a 387-yard par 4 that is a wonderful risk/reward hole. The real fun on this hole starts not with your tee shot, stay left in the fairway, but with your approach. You must decide if you want to gamble and drive over a ravine to miss both the bunker and trees front right. Depending upon where the cup is cut into the green that will dictate whether it’s worth the gamble or you should lie up. You could take a big score on this short par 4 if you’re not precise and paying attention to your club selection.
Hole number 9 at Lawrence Welk Resort, 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.
The 10th hole at the Links at Summerly. This hole is a 581-yard par 5 with a dogleg. The Irish burn crosses the fairway about 320 yards from the tee box so only the big bangers need to be concerned about it. There are few fairway bunkers on this hole but there is water on the left and behind the green. Go left or long and you’re all wet.
The 6th hole at Pechanga’s Journey. This hole is the most fun in So Cal golf. Make sure you head to the back tees for both the view and the thrill of your tee shot sailing off into the wild blue yonder. Number 6 is a par 4, 441 yard thriller. It’s long but downhill all the way.
It will take you about 250 yards to clear the terrain with your tee shot. Given the downhill run on this hole you might just be able to drive to the very front of the green and who knows maybe on it.
Number 15 at Pauma Valley Country Club. A par 4, 377 yard beauty of a golf hole. There are views of Palomar Mountain all the way up the well-bunkered fairway starting with your tee shot from an elevated tee box. If you avoid the fairway bunkers—nine of them—you are greeted with the challenges of a green with lots of personality.
Number 5 at Vista Valley Country Club, the Amen Corner hole, complete with an Augusta National look. A spectacular golf hole, a 352-yard par 4 that is deceptively difficult. A well-placed tee shot will let you chip over the creek in front of the green and onto this elevated green. This is a hole that you’d like to stop and have a picnic on—just gorgeous!
The number 4 hole at Pala Mesa, a 376-yard par 4. This hole is up hill all the way and will take all your strength to reach in two. A tight tree lined fairway adds to your challenges. The approach is better from the left side of the fairway. But guess what? There is a bunker on the left that you must avoid to have any hope of getting on the green in two. This is the number 3 handicap hole at Pala Mesa and plays like it.
Those are my “Dream 9.” Actually, I could do a second and third “dream 9” and come up with just as good a list. Some many exciting golf venues in north San Diego County and south Riverside county and so little time and space to list them.

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