Monday, June 29, 2009

Morning Memo from Juliet for Sunday, June 28, 2009

Good morning!



Help us grow - steal my code: Click here to find code to add to your website or blog. Just cut and paste the code in the box to the right of the logo. Spread the word!



Feeling tipsy? I want your pictures, ideas & info about what's going on in the Temecula Valley. Email me at editor@dailytemecula.com.



What a busy, fun weekend here in Temecula. The weather has been lovely and so much is going on. The Daily Temecula crew is busy running around town, meeting and greeting, and introducing ourselves to the community.



Delaney's opened in Old Town! Watch for the grand opening coming July 11. Meanwhile, stop in to say hi and tell 'em Daily Temecula sent you.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Part of what makes Delaney's special is the vendors. Owner Jordan Stone plans to frequently have vendors in-store to talk to customers and answer questions about their products.



Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Keith Thompson and Derek Van Gompel are friends and partners who created a specialty food business. They were at Delaney's on Friday offering samples of their scallion oil and cilantro almond pesto paired with fresh baguette rounds and talking about their company, DK Creations.



Old Town is going through amazing changes. This under-construction building on Front Street at Fifth keeps adding new tenants to its mix:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



I've been blanketing the town with Daily Temecula postcards. Spread the word!



Have a wonderful day here in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Morning Memo from Juliet for Sunday, June 28, 2009

Good morning!



Help us grow - steal my code: Click here to find code to add to your website or blog. Just cut and paste the code in the box to the right of the logo. Spread the word!



Feeling tipsy? I want your pictures, ideas & info about what's going on in the Temecula Valley. Email me at editor@dailytemecula.com.



What a busy, fun weekend here in Temecula. The weather has been lovely and so much is going on. The Daily Temecula crew is busy running around town, meeting and greeting, and introducing ourselves to the community.



Delaney's opened in Old Town! Watch for the grand opening coming July 11. Meanwhile, stop in to say hi and tell 'em Daily Temecula sent you.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Part of what makes Delaney's special is the vendors. Owner Jordan Stone plans to frequently have vendors in-store to talk to customers and answer questions about their products.



Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Keith Thompson and Derek Van Gompel are friends and partners who created a specialty food business. They were at Delaney's on Friday offering samples of their scallion oil and cilantro almond pesto paired with fresh baguette rounds and talking about their company, DK Creations.



Old Town is going through amazing changes. This under-construction building on Front Street at Fifth keeps adding new tenants to its mix:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



I've been blanketing the town with Daily Temecula postcards. Spread the word!



Have a wonderful day here in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Seen/Scene for Sunday, June 28, 2009

SEEN/SCENE



ROLLING INTO TOWN...the Temecula Trolley arrives TODAY! Check out the complete schedule and route map here. It runs seven days a week linking up Harveston, the Promenade Mall, and Old Town.



CHALKING IT UP...Head to Old Town today for the spectacle that is the Ralph Love Plein Air Festival. Entrants create works of art right before spectators' eyes. Bring the kids, then rent Mary Poppins for them.



CONFIRMED SHUTTERED...Yup, definitely. Local mommy favorite (for their kid-confining latching gate, shady area, and chessboard) Starbucks on Margarita Road near Chipotle (on the outer ring of the Promenade Mall) is closed. Where will we buy our Starbucks now? We only have eleventy seven others in town to choose from.





GET OUT THE VOTE!...Visitors to Parents Connect can vote once each day until July 15 in the national survey of Best Local Places. Cruise on over to their San Diego category and cast your daily vote for Old Town's own Temecula Children's Museum, whose name was offiically changed to Pennypickles. Everyone always calls it that so news of the name change was anti-climactic.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Seen/Scene for Friday, June 26, 2009

ROLLING INTO TOWN...the Temecula Trolley arrives Sunday, June 28! Check out the complete schedule and route map here. It runs seven days a week linking up Harveston, the Promenade Mall, and Old Town.

CHALKING IT UP...Head to Old Town this weekend for the spectacle that is the Ralph Love Plein Air Festival. Entrants create works of art right before spectators' eyes. Bring the kids, then rent Mary Poppins for them.

CONFIRMED SHUTTERED...Yup, definitely. Local mommy favorite (for their kid-confining latching gate, shady area, and chessboard) Starbucks on Margarita Road near Chipotle (on the outer ring of the Promenade Mall) is closed. Where will we buy our Starbucks now? We only have eleventy seven others in town to choose from.

LICENSE PLATES DECIPHERED...Last week I puzzled over MY (HEART) TICS (with license plate frame "Save a Pig; Go Mechanical") and a Tipster came to my rescue with the explanation that this person probably has a mechanical heart valve rather than a more-controversial more-controversial one from pig tissue. Makes sense. Thanks!

GET OUT THE VOTE!...Visitors to Parents Connect can vote once each day until July 15 in the national survey of Best Local Places. Cruise on over to their San Diego category and cast your daily vote for Old Town's own Temecula Children's Museum, whose name was offiically changed to Pennypickles. Everyone always calls it that so news of the name change was anti-climactic.

Morning Memo from Juliet for Friday, June 26, 2009

Good morning!

Help us grow - steal my code: Click here to find code to add to your website or blog. Just cut and paste the code in the box to the right of the logo. Spread the word!

Feeling tipsy? I want your pictures, ideas & info about what's going on in the Temecula Valley. Email me at editor@dailytemecula.com.

We've been busy. Here are some of the places and people the Daily Temecula team is scouting out for you:

* Bookshops! Sure, the mall has Barnes & Noble and Borders Express, but did you know we also have Paperback Shack (27515 Ynez Road, at Rancho California)? Murrieta's Kalmia Plaza has Murrieta Bookshop (41539 Kalmia) and now the Murrieta shopping center with White Lime and Fresh & Easy has Eclectic Books (39520 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, at Margarita.) Don't forget the Friends bookstores at our local public libraries. The granddaddy is the Friends Bookstore at the Grace Mellman Branch (41000 County Center Drive.)

* Yogurt! Wild Mango. Mangoz. Pinkberry. White Lime. Yogurt Pointe. Yogurt Island. FroGo. We flash back to the 80s with yogurt mania.

* Old Town's new faces! We will bring you some old favorites along with new discoveries. It's all fresh.

Keep reading and spread the word! Be on the lookout around town for the new Daily Temecula postcards. Want some? Email me and they're yours. Have a wonderful day here in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Juliet

Monday, June 22, 2009

Seen/Scene for Father's Day Weekend 2009

SHAPING UP...MOMS Club of Temecula-Central's Theresa Crews capturing 2nd place in Healthy Times Newspaper's fitness contest (her prizes include gift certificates to Arthur Murray, a day spa, Pilates studio, stylist Lori Dawn, and a membership at Simply Kneaded)

LICENSE PLATE SPOTTING...NO LITR (with license plate frame "Only Trash Litters") and this cryptic one: MY (HEART) TICS (with license plate frame "Save a Pig; Go Mechanical") - if you can explain this one, please email editor@dailytemecula.com

CONDUCTING...Local Suzuki violin instructor Sandiwa (Sandi) del Rosario leading a rehearsal at the Temecula Public Library. He is THE source for Suzuki locally. (951)694-4375.

POURING...Pechanga's first Microbrew Festival, featuring over 60 varieties, followed by an Elvis impersonator contest. The ads position Pechanga as a closer alternative to Vegas but with events like this we are clearly a destination in our own right.

CONTENDING...for a top spot in Parents Connect's national survey of Best Local Places -- Temecula Children's Museum (Pennypickles/Imagination Workshop.) VOTE! You can vote daily until July 15. (It's in the San Diego category and we're up against some heavy-hitters so go represent for Temecula!)

Morning Memo from Juliet Father's Day Weekend 2009

Steal my code! See the Daily Temecula logo at the bottom of this page? You can add it to your website or blog. Just cut and paste the code in the box to the right of the logo. Spread the word!

Daily Temecula postcards and tee shirts are coming soon. Email editor@dailytemecula.com and we can hook you up.

Even though you can't tell to look out the window, it IS summer, so be sure to check out Daily Temecula contributor Johanna Lack's article on fun (and inexpensive!) local activities to do with kids all summer long.

Here's what the Daily Temecula team is working on now:
* our visit to California Tea & Coffee Brewery
* meeting Charlie Pate of Wishes for Children
* an antioxidant skin scan with the Pharmanex Scanner
* riding the new Temecula trolley
* our newest columnist deciphers and interprets the local real estate market
* plus we visit Fitwize 4 Kids, Wild Mango, Great Harvest Bread Co, and more

Have a wonderful day in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Juliet

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Seen/Scene for Friday, June 19, 2009

SEEN/SCENE

On the beat in Old Town...Neighbors columnist Bethany Rogers and her friend Jen Matis of Colours Salon sampling some of the tastiest food from local merchants for an upcoming article.

Celebrating a relocation...Beautiful upscale & luxurious Anela Apothecary has moved to 41377 Margarita Road and they are hosting a party on June 26 from 5 to 9 p.m. Local jewelry designer Tina Steinberg will be on hand showcasing her work. Come have a glass of champagne and check out their skincare, makeup, and other goodies.

Spotted...turning into the Promenade Mall - Just Right Horse Dentistry (you know you live in Temecula when...) If you need a horse dentist give him a call at (951)514-9999.

Chatting us up at the fountain outside Starbucks, Wild Mango, and Spuntino's...the well-behaved and gregarious children of the owners of Wendi's Donuts, which gets raves from members of MOMS Club of Temecula-Central.

The fountain is a gathering place for shoppers of all ages. Linda and her mom Barbie were enjoying cookies from Great Harvest Bread Co. and watching the kids play. Everyone was excited that these cookies are an upcoming prize in the Temecula Public Library summer reading program.

Dining vegetarian-style...local realtor Rachel Lopez checked out Taste of India (27715 Jefferson, in the same shopping center with Sizzler, Miss Sue's Dance, Colours Salon, and CC & Co Costumes) and reports back that the meal was delicious. Taste of India has been in Temecula for almost fifteen years and they have a loyal following.

Morning Memo from Juliet for Friday, June 19, 2009

Good morning!

Who am I? Where am I? This blog post on Thanksgiving Feast will help!

June Gloom is finally lifting and summer has arrived here in Temecula. Kids are out riding bikes and scooters. Dogs and their owners are frolicking at the Redhawk Dog Park (check out www.temeculavalleydogparks.com for local dog park info & resources). Skateboarders are making Ollie Impossibles possible at the Temecula Skate Park (and the middle of my street.)

It's also that time of year when parents are wondering how to keep the kids entertained for the next two and a half months. Check out Daily Temecula contributor Johanna Lack's article on fun (and inexpensive!) local activities to do with kids all summer long.

Local photographer Freida Hall of Le Bella Terra Photography headed out to Wilson Creek Winery at daybreak (she pinpointed the exact moment of sunrise: 5:37 a.m.) to capture some shots for her handmade photo greeting cards. Waking before the sun may be an occasional occupational hazard of photography but Freida's not complaining. She loves being out in nature, especially here in Temecula.

I had an opportunity to visit my favorite dentist, Mau Nguyen of Meadows Dental Group, where I got a clean bill of dental health (whew!). The whole crew over there is really terrific plus they don't laugh when I show up with my security blanket.

The whole Daily Temecula team has been all over Temecula this week scouting out all the latest to entertain and inform you. Here are a few places we went this week:

* California Tea & Coffee Brewery
* Fitwize 4 Kids
* Wild Mango
* Temecula Berry Company
* Taste of India
* Wendi's Donuts

Have a wonderful day here in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Juliet

Friday, June 19, 2009

Seen/Scene for Monday, June 15, 2009

SCHEDULED for June 20: the perfect pre-Father's Day activity! Dads and kids can attend a workshop together at the Rose Haven Heritage Garden (30592 Jedediah Smith Road, 677-0028 for info.) The workshop is presented by the Temecula Valley Rose Society and it is all about planting pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Fun! If you haven't checked out that garden lately, head on over. It's really lovely.

* ONGOING: Some kids who have trouble picking up reading find their skills improve when they can practice in a relaxing environment. The Paws to Read program is available at the library on Pauba Road on Saturday mornings (call 693-8980 to schedule a time.) Kids make themselves comfortable and enhance their skills by reading to a non-judgmental friend: a licensed therapy dog.

* STEEPING: California Tea & Coffee Brewery (40315 Winchester, near Margarita) brews up to-order high-end gourmet teas and coffees daily. Customers are served by the Waldens, owners and pasionate tea enthusiasts (and frequent Twitter updaters on topics relating to tea, coffee, and Temecula - follow them on Twitter @CA_tea.

* RELOCATING IN OLD TOWN: Local mom-about-town Krista Gillett reports that longtime favorite Sweet Lumpy's BBQ is relocating to another location in Old Town and a Mediterranean restaurant will go into the former location. I saw that Sweet Lumpy's was empty last time I was driving through Old Town and I'm glad it's sticking around. Krista also reports that the new fruit market on Old Town Front Street is open and looks quaint. If anyone has checked it out, report back! Thanks for the tips, Tipster Krista!

* SIT...STAY...GOOD DOG! Local supermom & dog expert Andi Albright presents Good Dog Training Academy. (If Freshmen learn Sit, Stay, and Down, I cannot even imagine what a Nursery School class looks like! Andi is patient.)

* WALKIN' THE DOG: Diane Powers of Diane's Doggies offers dog (and other critters) sitting and walking in Temecula/Murrieta as well as neighboring areas. She comes to her clients' homes plus she offers boarding at her own acreage. Check out the pictures of her satisfied doggie friends on her site.

Morning Memo from Juliet for Monday, June 15, 2009

My school age daughter's summer vacation started Friday! We have lots & lots of fun activities planned for the next nine weeks, most of which will take place right here in our own backyard.

And why not? We are blessed with beautiful weather plus lots of fun things to do. Every time I walk through the entryway of the Wild Animal Park in Escondido (where we are members; we go to the Animal Park much more often than the Zoo simply because it's closer), I think, "People travel thousands of miles to vacation here!"

People come from Europe and Asia and all over North America to enjoy this fabulous playground we are lucky enough to call home.

Last summer our vacation flight home from Vancouver to San Diego was mostly filled with Canadian families with young kids heading south. Their excitement was palpable. The beach! The mountains! Our perfect weather! The Zoo! Wineries! (Yes, they know about our wineries, even if they say Teme-CU-la instead of Te-MEC-ula.)

Many of my friends are doing staycations this summer. I say: yippee! Hooray for the staycation! Revel in it. We have so much to do, see, and explore around here.

Have a wonderful day here in the beautiful Temecula Valley!

Juliet

Monday, June 15, 2009

Seen/Scene June 12, 2009

* SPOTTED popping into Kids Care Club - Betty, owner of CC & Company Costume Shop (I still like to call them C & C Costume Factory so I can sing "Sweat!" by C & C Music Factory while I shop) to promote their Saturday, June 20 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) charity event. Donate your clean used kids' costumes to Discovery Arts, a nonprofit which uses the costumes to help kids in the hospital. Bring in a costume & get a goodie bag featuring items from Chick-fil-A, Mulligan, and more (plus face painting, balloons, and more.

Vanity plates SPOTTED!
* outside perpetually-packed Yogurt Island on Temecula Parkway (79 South): QLTKRZY (could this be the owner of Temecula Quilt Co.?)
* cruising along Ynez in a gorgeous Jaguar - A(HEART)ESOME (she did look pretty darned awesome)
* speeding past March Air Reserve Base - this guy probably doesn't even live in Temecula, but I love his plate so much I had to relate it here - 2B23AGN

Morning Memo from Juliet Friday, June 12, 2009

Good morning!

Who am I? Where am I? This blog post on Thanksgiving Feast will help!

"So how does this Daily Temecula thing work, anyway?"

That's the question I keep hearing from people, especially small businesses in town who are surprised that I want to feature them here on Daily Temecula for free.

The businesses, nonprofits, and people you read about here on this website have not paid anything to appear.

All I ask in return is that they spread the word and let everyone in town know about Daily Temecula. Make us the little internet start-up that could.

Tell a friend. Follow Daily Temecula on Twitter and tell all your friends to do the same. Put a link to us up on your website, blog, Facebook or My Space page. Pass out our postcard-size business cards and wear our tee-shirts (coming soon!) Email us with your tips about goings-on around town.

(Someone tentatively told me yesterday: "There's a dead cat on Margarita near Avenida Barca. I didn't know if this is the kind of thing you want..." Yes! It's horrifying....and perfect. I learned that Animal Control does not Twitter. They should. In short, I want to know everything.)

Please frequent the businesses featured in these pages. It takes a lot of guts to live your passion 24/7 by starting up a small business. And by all means tell them you read about them on Daily Temecula.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Morning Memo from Juliet Thursday, June 11, 2009

I have been out & about scouting all the best and most interesting places in Temecula and I am back with lots of great info and recommendations for you.

Please check out Focus On...for features on:
* Lesa, Kue, Jean, Michele and the whole gang over at Sweat Cardio & Yoga, where they got me to dust off my yoga mat and bust out a few Downward Facing Dogs.
* Jordan Stone of soon-to-be-open Delaney's Artisan Foods Market - Temecula's seven day a week farmer's market, where I got a behind the scenes tour

Here's what I'm working on for features coming soon!
* Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Auxiliary - Temecula Unit
* Assistance League of Temecula Valley
* Wishes for Children
* Jacob's House
* Fitwize 4 Kids
* Great Harvest Bread Co.
* Old Town Spice Merchants
* Andi Albright's Good Dog Training Academy
* Rachel Lopez of Lighthouse Realty

A note about endorsements
There is never a charge of any kind to have your local business, nonprofit, or newsmaker featured here on Daily Temecula. The people you read about here did not pay to appear in these pages. I will always clearly disclose to Daily Temecula readers if I received anything not available to the general public in the process of writing about someone.

For instance....I showed up at Sweat Cardio with a crumpled (thrashed!) door flyer for a free class. It got wet but I dried it out - good as new. (Want a free trial class coupon of your own? Swing by Sweat Cardio and check out their postcard rack outside their front door. Flip it over. Voila!)

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Welcome to Daily Temecula

Daily Temecula is now live! Check us out today. If you know of a business, nonprofit/charity, or newsmaker who should be featured on Daily Temecula, or to be a Tipster, email editor@dailytemecula.com today.

We love pictures!