All Posts by Justin Bevins

No big events in Canyon Lake this weekend but there are some huge events around So Cal like the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival just down the road at Lake Skinner. Here’s our guide to what’s happening in and around Canyon Lake this weekend.

Canyon Lake

Art At The Lake by the Canyon Lake Art Association | 11:00 am – 4 pm Sunday

This annual Art Show will feature many local artists at the Holiday Bay Room of The Lodge.  Various types of art will be on display and available for purchase and there will also be a fundraising sale.  Admission is free.

San Diego

Wings Over Gillespie Air Show | Saturday, Sunday

It’s Air Show season and this is one not to be missed!  Expect to see, bombers, fighters, stunts, wingwalking, and a variety of on the ground and in air entertainment.  The Northrup flying wing will also be making a special appearance.  Tickets are available online or at the gates.  Free parking too!

Temecula

Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival | Friday, Saturday, Sunday

It’s finally here – one of the biggest annual events in Southern California.  This 3 day event features on stage live entertainment, hot air balloon rides, dozens of wineries, and more delicious food than you can eat in 3 days.  Musical headliners include Scotty McCreery, The All-American Rejects and Berlin.   Motocross superstar Jimmy Fitzpatrick will be performing freestyle jump shows with other members of the Metal Mulisha on Sunday at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.  Make sure you stay for the evening “Balloon Glow” on Friday and Saturday night and bring your camera.

Dana Point

Dana Point Harbor Boat Show | Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Expect to see some big power and sail boats at the 13th annual Dana Point Harbor Boat Show.  With more than 50 boats in the water you can spend all day dreaming about life on the sea as you hop from one luxury yacht to the next.  If you make it down Friday, you can get in for $1 admission, get a $1 hot dog, $1 soda, and $1 beer.  There will also be marine vendors, so if you’re looking for new upholstery or a big shiny anchor for your Canyon Lake boat, then this is a good place to see it all.

Memorial Day weekend usually marks the beginning of the summer BBQ season and it’s no different here in Canyon Lake.  It’s been a busy weekend with the Annual Canyon Lake Fiesta Day parade and activities the last few days.  Boaters are out in force and it definitely feels like summer.  If you plan to get together with family and friends to fire up the barbie, here’s a few surefire recipe suggestions that will impress even the gourmet critics at the table.

Burgers

Ahhh, the traditional hamburger.  Nothing says holiday BBQ like a hamburger, but this year why not dress up the old burger with more than ketchup and mustard.  Try one of these Top 10 Burger Recipes from Taste of Home.  Their top ten includes Taco Burgers, Paul Bunyan Burgers, Terrific Teriyaki Burgers and good ol’ BBQ Bacon Burgers.  There is sure to be something to please everyone at the table with this comprehensive list of top burgers.

Steak

Looking for something a little fancier.  How about this Grilled Garlic Citrus Flank Steak recipe with marinade from the folks over at Spark Recipes?  This hearty and healthy steak recipe is great because flank steak is a lean, affordable and flavorful cut of beef  It’s a little tough sometimes though, so marinating is a great option to get good flavor and a more tender texture.  Make your marinade in the morning following the recipe and by afternoon, you’ll have the perfect steak.

Chicken

How about the Ultimate Barbecued Chicken Recipe?  It’s a big claim, but one that the folks over at Food Network stand behind.  This one takes a little more time and a few more ingredients and the cooking is done in the oven instead of the grill, but if you want unbelievably good BBQ chicken, it’s what you gotta do.

Portobello Mushroom Burger

Want a little less meat but all the flavor?  How about picking up some beautiful big Portobello mushrooms at the store and grillin’ them up for a more vegetarian option?  The folks over at DadCooksDinner.com offer up their best Portobello Mushroom Burger with Grilled Onions for your approval.   Portobellos are known to be high in antioxidants and vitamin D and they make delicious and filling burgers.  Follow the instructions carefully on this one because the trick with Portobellos is to cook them just right.

Shrimp Pesto Pizza

This has become one of our favorites every summer and we actually cook it on the gas grill.  It’s easy and fast and filling.

JB’s BBQ Shrimp Pesto Pizza

• 1 Boboli Ready Made Pizza Crust
• 16 oz. Pesto sauce or Sun Dried Tomato Pesto (usually found in the deli or dairy section)
• 1 lb. pre cooked shrimp – I like to buy raw and throw them on the grill with some Old Bay Seasoning to get them partially cooked and then stick them on the pizza
• 1 cup of cheese of your choice – mozzarella is good but so is Mexican cheese blend, parmesan works too
• 1/2 thin sliced onion
• Handful of cilantro

Spread the sauce, and throw on all the ingredients.  Here’s the trick,: get the BBQ as hot as possible like a pizza oven.  On a gas grill, 400+ degrees is optimal.  Just throw the pizza on the grilling rack or a pizza stone if you use one.  It only takes about 5-10 minutes to cook at this temperature.  If you put it directly on the rack, just make sure to keep the flame low and to turn it often so you don’t burn your crust.  Serve and enjoy!

So after you pay tribute this Memorial Day or come back from a day of fun on the lake, give one of these great recipes a try.  Happy Memorial Day!

The big event is finally here!  The 40th Annual Canyon Lake Fiesta Day is this weekend and this year’s event is sure the be the best ever.  As in year’s past, you can expect a great community parade along with food and other vendors, ski and wakeboard show on the Main Lake, salsa contest, kids fun zone and a petting zoo.  This year will also debut what is hopefully an annual cardboard boat race.

Most of the activities take place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at or near The Lodge.  Here’s a rundown on the activities of the day and a few tips to help you stay safe and sane among the chaos.

Parking

There’s no parking starting at midnight Friday until 10:30 am Saturday on Canyon Club, Lighthouse, Yellow Feather, Mayflower, Spray, Smugglers, and on Canyon Lake Dr. between Sloop and Canyon Club.  There will be frequent shuttle busses from the East Gate, Sierra Park, and Blue Bird Hall from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Canyon Lake Dr. will be closed to all vehicles from Sparkle to Steelhead from 8:30 to 10:30 for the parade.  If you have a golf cart, use it.  It is the best way to get around on Fiesta Day.

Events – Outside

• 9:00 am – Fiesta Day Parade
• 10:00 am – Prayer, Presentation of Colors, & National Anthem
• 10:15 am – Veterans, Sponsor Announcements, Dignitaries
• 10:30 am – Ed Strong Tribute
• 11:00 am – The Groove Factory Band
• 11:30 am – Latin Folkloric Dancers
• 11:45 am – Zumba Demo
• 12:00 pm – The Groove Factory Band
• 12:00 pm – Cardboard Boat Race
• 1:00 pm – Ski / Wakeboard Show
• 1:00 pm – The Groove Factory Band
• 1:30 pm – BBX Fitness Demo
• 2:00 pm – The Groove Factory Band

Events – Inside

• 11:00 am – Dynamite Dave
• 11:50 am – Hollywood Dance Studio
• 12:10 pm – Canyon Lake Cotillion
• 12:30 pm – Diana’s Dance Company
• 12:50 pm – Just Dance It Dance Studio
• 1:10 pm – Icon Dance Studio
• 2:00 pm – Homemade Salsa Contest

Weather and Outdoor Tips

• Bring the sunscreen or some sun protection – weather is forecasted to be sunny and 80 degrees.
• Wear your walking shoes – parking will be limited during the day so you may need to trek to get to the lodge.
• If you plan to watch the parade from Canyon Club, you may want to bring lawn chairs and arrive early for the best spot on the parade route.
• Bring a camera – there is lots to see and do!
• Have fun!

* Photos attributed to Mark Sardella and AxsDeny via Flickr

Fiesta Day in Canyon Lake is only a few days away but it’s not too late to be the captain of your destiny in the 1st annual Canyon Lake Cardboard Boat Race.  This is your handy guide on how to build the most seaworthy craft that not only wins the race, but hopefully gets you back to shore dry.

First, a little history on cardboard boat racing.  Cardboard boat racing goes all the way back to the ’60’s and it’s believed that it started as a college project at Southern Illinois University.  Since then, it’s become a staple at events all over the world particularly in lake communities like Canyon Lake.  It’s a serious deal in some areas like Heber Springs, AR where the World Championship Cardboard Boat Races are hosted each year for the last 24 years.  Here’s a great video from the 2012 Lake Sacajawea Annual Cardboard Boat Race that will help get you thinking about what’s possible when building your corrugated cardboard yacht.

This year’s boat race, being held in conjunction with Fiesta Day, is the first event of it’s kind in our community.  The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association is putting on the event and offering prizes for “1st Place Finish”, “Judges Choice”, “Most Dramatic Sinking”, and “The Un-prettiest Boat”.  Here are the most important rules of the competition:

1. Boats can only be constructed of corrugated cardboard and duct tape.
2. Boat must remain afloat with everyone inside for the full race to qualify for 1st place.
3. Human propulsion only using only arms hands, or paddles.
4. Coast Card Approved Personal Flotation Device required for all participants.
5. All boat materials and debris must be removed by participants at the close of the event.

If you haven’t come up with any ideas about boat design yet or you’re unsure about how to construct your boat, there are some great online tutorials and downloadable plans for cardboard boats.  But really how hard can it be?  Just lay out your cardboard and go crazy with man’s greatest invention – duct tape.

If you seriously want to crush the competition, then might consider going to boat building school online.  The City of Arlington actually has an online video of a two hour boat building class they offer to all their annual regatta participants (some people take this stuff too seriously).

Here’s a few simple tips to help with the boat construction and with getting across the finish line.

• First, before you start building, seal all the edges of your cardboard with a strip of duct tape and reinforce all the cardboard seams.
• Use double cardboard on the boat bottom for added strength and support and even consider building cross braces across the bottom for strength.
• Cover every inch of your boat with duct tape inside and out.

Now for the obvious…

• Try not to get water in the boat.
• Paddle as fast as you can.
• Wear swim trunks.

There’s still time to pick up a race application at the POA.  Boat drop off and registration is Saturday morning at 6:00 am at Sunset Beach and the race starts at 12:30.  Contact the POA  Activities Department at 951-244-6841 x. 610 for more information.

One more thing… don’t forget boat length limit is 21′ in Canyon Lake so don’t get too carried away with your yacht or you may get pulled over by the Marine Patrol.  😉

*images from Casey Lessard on Flickr and Heber Springs Area Chamber

Summer is getting closer and the fun events just keep coming.  Here’s what’s going on in and around Canyon Lake this weekend.

Canyon Lake

“Nunsense” by the Canyon Lake Community Theatre | 7:30 pm Friday & Saturday & 3:00 pm Sunday

An entertaining evening at The Lodge with the Canyon Lake Community theatre. This is one the Theatre Group has done before and it’s always a great show.  Cost is $15 for VIP seating and $12 for general seating.  Seniors and student tickets are discounted at $10.  Contact the POA for tickets.

Canyon Lake Choraleers Spring Concert | 3:00 pm Saturday

A variety of music will be performed at The Holiday Room of The Lodge.  Tickets are $7.50 at the door.

Lake Elsinore

Duran Duran Tribute Concert | 6:00 pm Saturday Night

An outdoor musical tribute to 80’s hair band Duran Duran at The Links at Summerly.  Tribute band Rio will kick off a live concert at 6:00 pm.  Food and beer available at the event.

Temecula

Western Days & Chili Cook-off | 11:00 am – 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday

Revisit the Wild Wild West this weekend in Old Town Temecula.  You can see gunfights from cowboys in full costume along with western exhibits, trick ropers, and lots of country/western music.  Chili cook-off is Sunday.

Dana Point

Doheny Blues Festival | Saturday & Sunday

This annual event dating back to 1998 will feature top artists Ben Harper, Jimmie Vaughan, and George Thorogood among others.  Get there early for the “Blues Breakfast” experience.  Tickets still available.

*Featured image courtesy of Old Town Temecula Western Days

Canyon Lake is definitely a pet loving community and it’s likely either you or someone you know might want to find that perfect pet.  As it turns out, that perfect pet is probably looking for you.

With an influx of pets coming into the shelters as a result of today’s economy; now is the best time to adopt a pet who is hoping for a loving owner to come rescue them from the dog pound… which incidentally is just down the road in Lake Elsinore!

There are many benefits to adopting from a shelter.  The one that tops the list is; a lot of times you can find a dog that has already gone through ALL the housebreaking, walking on a leash, and you just might find a dog that already knows a ton of tricks!

Think of it as getting a pet-to-go!

Serving the Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar & Menifee communities is the Animal Friends of the Valleys Organization (also known as LEAF ~ Lake Elsinore Animal Friends).  LEAF is located within the walls of the Southwest Communities Animal Center, 33751 Mission Trail, Wildomar, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with extended hours till 7 p.m. on Wednesday. It is closed Sunday.

Besides being the largest center in the area to house displaced animals, the  beautiful 32,000 square foot facility also offers Animal Services & Licensing and Spaying & Neutering.  Not to mention, they have their very own Humane Educator ~ Farren Mahone.  In Farren’s own words, “The Humane Education Program has been developed to help foster attitudes of respect, compassion and kindness toward animals. It is in building compassionate experiences and attitudes that leads young people to compassionate actions.”

Animal Friends of the Valleys has been helping people in the area attain their wish of adding a pet to their family for years.  The wide selection of available animals that are up for adoption range from big to small, young to old, athletic & calm cats, dogs, and other animals.  Adoption fees include a microchip (lifetime membership in Home Again), DA2PPV-C and Bordetella vaccinations, collar, AFV ID Tag and a free Vet Check.  Actual fees depend on whether you are adopting a dog, cat, and age of the pet.  If you’re interested in checking out Animal Friends of the Valleys’ website, click here.  If you’d like to make a visit to the center to take a look at the available pets for adoption, here again is the address and additional details.

33751 Mission Trail in Wildomar   *  Hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am to 4 pm (Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm)  *  Phone: 951-674-0618

Don’t forget to check out the adoptable pets that are not housed at the facility, but are being taken care of at foster homes.  Click here to see them.  You might find your forever pet amongst the Foster Page.

Good luck in your pet adoption journey!

It’s Mother’s Day so get Mom out of the house for some fun and a special treat – maybe a Baseball Game,  Sunday Brunch or Wine Tasting.  Here’s what’s happening in and around Canyon Lake this weekend.

Canyon Lake

Mother’s Day Brunch at The Lodge | 10:00 am & 2:00 pm Sunday

Treat Mom to a special brunch at The Lodge with 2 seating times.  Cost is $25.95 for adults, $13.95 for kids.  Kids under 7 eat free with an adult.  Call the POA for reservations at 951-244-6841, ext. 771.

Lake Elsinore

Star Wars Night at Storm Stadium | Game starts at 6:05 pm

The storm take on the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  Tickets available online or at the stadium ticket window.  Be prepared for some out of this world fun.

Riverside

Honoring Your Mother – Mission Inn | Package Deals all Month Long

In celebration of Mother’s Day, The Inn is pleased to offer this very special package throughout the month of May.  Accommodations, champagne, resort gift card, and valet parking.

Temecula

Happy Mother’s Day Ballet | 2:00 – 4:00 pm & 5:00 – 7:00 pm Sunday

Presented by the Fine Arts Ballet theatre, this special event pays tribute to Mom’s of all ages. Old Town Temecula Community Theater

San Diego

Gator by the Bay Music Festival | Friday – Sunday

A family oriented 3 day festival with Cajun, Zydeco, and Blues performers along with Louisiana cuisine and culture.  In addition to music, there will dancing, demonstrations, kid’s events and more.

Los Angeles

Tom Jones at The Troubadour | 8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday

The one and only Tom Jones performing in a great venue for two notes.  LA Weekly says “The pipes are in great condition and he always carries a breathtakingly tight band”.  Take Mom to see this amazing performer, but don’t hold us responsible for how she behaves when Tom gets up on stage.

When I built my house in Canyon Lake, one of my biggest frustrations was running to the home improvement warehouse to get that one little thing – a bolt, an electrical nut, sprinkler head, etc.  I would trudge down to Lake Elsinore or Murrieta (sometimes several times a day) and unhappily search the aisles, stand in line and then drive back home killing an hour in the process.

It was a happy day for me when Joe’s Hardware opened up just outside the main gate in the Canyon Hills Shopping Center.  Lose a screw… no problem, go to Joe’s.  Need a key made… no problem, go to Joe’s.  Busted sprinkler head… no problem, go to Joe’s.

What I like about Joe’s (besides the fact that it’s close) is that it’s small so it’s easy to find stuff and there are always employees walking around the store offering to help you find what you’re looking for.  It’s like an old fashioned hardware store with hometown service.  And they really have a great selection of products like:

• Hardware
• Rope / Chain
• Paint
• Cleaning Supplies
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Tools and Accessories (Bosch, Makita, DeWalt)
• Lumber
• Garden Supplies and Pest Control
• Door Locks and Hardware
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• And over 50,000 other products

I’m always surprised at how many things I find there.  They even cut house and car keys and repair screens and can custom order all kinds of items.  And I’ve found on several occasions that their prices are the same or better than the big stores.

For instance I went in this morning for some packing tape and PVC sprinkler parts.  I walked in and right away one of the employees approaches me and asks “what can I help you find?”.  Five minutes later, I have what I came for and I’m on my way home.

So the next time the garbage disposal breaks or you need a light bulb, save yourself some time and support a local business – check out Joe’s Hardware.  Store hours are Mon-Sat 8am-7pm and Sundays 9am-5pm.  Want to call ahead and see if they have it in stock?  Call them at 951-244-4563 – they actually answer their phone and will track down what you need.

If you’re in Fallbrook, check out their original store that’s been serving that area since 2005.

It seems that summer is here and the temperatures are getting hot and that usually means some great outdoor activities in Canyon Lake.  Here’s a rundown of what’s going on this weekend in and around the community as well as few events in other parts of Southern California.

Canyon Lake

Ski Show on the Lake | 5:00 pm Saturday

Ron Stack celebrates his 50th birthday with his friends on the main lake performing stunts for spectators.  Best vantage point is probably the Sunset Beach, Holiday Harbor or the Swimming Pool at the lodge.  The main lake will be closed to boat traffic during the ski exhibition.

Play Day for Special Needs Kids | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Saturday

The Jr. Womens Club is sponsoring a play day for special needs kids at City Hall with games, DJ entertainment, food and more.

Garage Sales

According to The Friday Flyer, there are 6 garage sales on Friday, 7 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday this weekend.  There is a special garage sale at 22088 Mustang Ct. to raise money for resident Logan Gallagher’s quest to be on the U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team

Temecula

Wine and Music Festival | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday

This all day event at Vail Lake Resort features world renowned jazz artists, 10 different wineries and multiple food vendors.  Tickets are still available and proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest County.

San Diego

Fiesta Old Town Cinco De Mayo | Friday – Sunday

A 3 day fiesta with lots of food, entertainment and festivities in Old Town San Diego

Los Angeles

The Big Photo Show | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday

This massive event for photography enthusiasts will feature new products, technology, and instructional clinics to sharpen your skills