Old Town Temecula Civic Center Fountain

Our new civic center is really something to see. They did a great job. I love the fountains, especially this big, interesting one. The other day, my five year old and I had a "girls' lunch out" at Palumbo's Ristorante in Old Town (4th Street between Mercedes and Front.)

Half the fun of exploring Old Town is wandering somewhat at random....though when my kids are with me, our "random" path always seems to end up at either the Root Beer store or the old fashioned candy shop!

Daily Temecula in Inland Empire Family Magazine

It's on newsstands throughout the IE now. Pick up the May, 2011, issue of Inland Empire Family to read Debbie Lavdas' ("Debbie in the OC") cover article, "Digital Moms," featuring...me!

(I'm on page 42.)

You can also read online (click on the picture of the magazine in the upper right hand corner to read the entire current issue), or click the "Archives" tab to access all past issues.

Yelpin' in Temecula

Are you on Yelp yet?

If not, I highly suggest it. Yelp began as a community-generated site to share reviews of restaurants, but nowadays there are businesses of every stripe available so you can do your homework before you pull out your wallet.

I enjoy both reading and writing Yelp reviews. Feel free to follow me on Yelp and you'll get updates when I post new reviews.

Glen Ivy

It's been decades (literally) since I "took the waters" at Glen Ivy, and I can't believe all that I've been missing.

If you have never been, now's the time, since spring is perfect weather (warm, but not too hot) and their grounds look incredibly lush and colorful.

Did you know Glen Ivy has been around since 1860? Wow! They also have spa locations in Brea and Valencia, but since you're reading DAILY TEMECULA, we'll stay local.

You may want to check out my Yelp review, and also, here are a few of my tips for a day of Glen Ivy fun and relaxation:

* Bring a friend or three. This is definitely a social spa experience
* Bring flip flops. I made the mistake of wearing Ugg boots, so I didn't have anything easy to slip on for lunch and walking from area to area within the grounds
* Bring a hat or visor.
* Bring sunscreen!
* Towels are provided, but if you like a cushier beach size towel, bring your own.
* Definitely eat at the restaurant. They have a very large menu and everything is made fresh to order.
* Wear an old bathing suit because the red mud does stain. Leave jewelry at home because the sulfur will tarnish some metals. (Or you can be like me and LOSE your jewelry for several frantic moments! Though luckily my favorite heart-shaped pendant, which I wear 24/7/365, was saved by a wonderful honest soul and turned in to Lost and Found.)
* Don't feel the need to book a bunch of treatments, especially if you're on a budget. They do offer a full menu of services (massages, facials etc) but there is easily a day's worth of relaxation to be had from the myriad pools and Club Mud included with your entry admission.
* Check out regularly-updated specials, sign up for their email list and Facebook page for additional deals, and plan your visit for weekdays if you want to pay a lower entry cost. They also offer discounts for seniors and Corona residents. Oh, and it's FREE on your birthday:-)

Glen Ivy Hot Springs
25000 Glen Ivy Road
Corona, CA 92883
1-888-GLENIVY
www.glenivy.com

City Parks & Recreation Registration Fair

"Don't do what Donny Don't does."
-Bart Simpson

Don't be like me and FORGET to register your kids for super-competitive enrollment activities offered through the City of Temecula. You will be stuck in wait-list limbo.

The new summer/fall catalogue of activities should be coming out any day now (seriously! When? I keep checking my mailbox for it), and it will have online registration dates and times, but you can beat the crowds and up your odds of getting into the most popular programs by visiting the city's registration fair this SATURDAY, APRIL 30, at Temeku Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is a fun event for the whole family, with prizes, deejay, and giveaways, but the best part is beating the rush and hustling everyone into six months worth of rec classes.

TRIED AND TRUE:

* yoga -- if you do the Saturday morning classes, they are held outdoors. What an exhilarating way to start the day

* Little Learners preschool -- a WONDERFUL preschool program for your three or four year old. This was so popular they added a bunch of sessions but it still fills up every time.

* cooking classes with Celine Coussou -- she specializes in fresh, simple, and local. If she offers her farmer's market tour with cooking class (you cook what you bought that morning), do it! It is a not-miss.

* etiquette classes with Angela Sturdivant -- so much fun! They drink tea and learn how to keep their elbows off the table.

SWIMMING: the city's aquatics program has a separate enrollment process. A tip: on the last day of each session, the kids have fun at the end either with fountains (Chaparral High) or water slides (CRC.) If your kids are dead set on going down the slide, enroll them at CRC. But if you want CRC and don't get it, console them by knowing the fountains at Chaparral are probably the aquatic program's best kept secret. They seriously never turn these things on except for the last day of rec class session, so nobody even knows they're there.

Spring Dos in Temecula

All across the Temecula Valley there is so much to do now! Spring is THE hot time for galas, silent auctions, golf tournaments, and every type of fundraiser you could imagine.

If you have time, here are a few great events for worthy causes coming up in the next few weeks:

TEMECULA VALLEY FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION (TVFEE):

Check out Taste of Temecula Valley this Saturday, April 30, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The party continues with local faves Aunt Kizzy's Boys into the night. This is the inaugural year for this event, which will be held at the new Old Town Temecula Civic Center (if you haven't seen it yet, you must!) in Old Town.

SANTA ROSA PLATEAU FOUNDATION GARDEN TOUR:

Spring is an ideal time to check out the Santa Rosa Plateau, and the garden tour (also on Saturday, April 30) is a wonderful opportunity to be a welcome "looky-loo" into some beautiful gardens adjacent to the open space. Go to the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation's site for more information and to buy advance tickets.

TEMECULA VALLEY SLOW FOOD FIELD TO FORK AT LEONESSE CELLARS:

Mark your calendars: this very popular event for the entire family will be May 21! Go to Slow Food's site to buy presale tickets. Proceeds benefit the school gardens program in our Temecula Unified School District schools.

Temecul-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Mwah! That is me, giving YOU, my Temecula Valley peeps, a huge hug and kiss. I missed you guys.

Daily Temecula is back. Honestly I can't say it's "better, stronger, faster," since all I did was a few behind-the-scenes technical things so readers can actually find us, but hey, here we are...