friday

Do you sit in front of the TV, watching shows like “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” and think to yourself, “I could totally be on this show.” Well, now is your chance to test your reality show skills while supporting a very good cause.

When you think about folk music, the mind may evoke images of an elderly man with a long beard strumming a banjo or a flower-wreathed child of the sixties singing an acoustic version of “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The members of the Honey Whiskey Trio are blowing those misconceptions right out of the water.

Hot rods were at the center of the T-Bird’s universe (don’t tell the Pink Ladies) and, considering the annual Temecula Rod Run is one of the biggest and most anticipated events in Old Town each year, these bitchin’ Camaros are obviously a big part of life in the Inland Empire as well.

What pairs really well with wine? Cheese? Fruit? Well, yes, but also chocolate and Pechanga has brought this delectable culinary combination together for a whole weekend at Chocolate Decadence and the Pechanga Wine Festival this weekend.

It may not be Los Angeles or New York, but the City of Temecula offers its own unique cultural opportunities that rival even the largest metropolis. With theater groups, art galleries and concerts abound, the local Avocado Dance Theatre completes the last piece of the artistic puzzle.

Second only to the Beach Boys for the most Billboard Chart-topping albums and singles by an American band, Chicago has solidified their place in musical history; releasing 23 gold, 18 platinum and 8 multi-platinum albums and 21 top-ten hits including “Saturday in the Park,” “If You Leave Me Now,” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Will You Still Love Me,” and “Look Away.”

Brothers Kanan, Kyle and Kory Cox formed Kanan Road over fifteen years ago, as teenagers, in Palmdale. Together with Rick Rickards on bass and drummer Brandon Scott, Kanan Road has found success opening for such big names as The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, and Blue Oyster Cult, among others. They can be found headlining at venues all over Southern California, including locally at the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival and all over wine country.

Comedian Jeff Garcia is such a family man that he conducted our phone interview from his son’s baseball team party; not wanting to miss all the fun. Having concentrated on children’s entertainment, it seems as though many of Garcia’s career choices were geared towards those little athletes.

Based on Charles Addams’ one-panel comic strip about an usual family of frights, “The Addams Family” television show first premiered in 1964. Although it only ran for two seasons, the show, with its creepily catchy theme song and crazy cast of characters, has made an indelible mark on pop culture. The antics of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, and their wacky extended family have been reproduced, and imitated, on television and in film for decades. And now they have been put to music.

Comedian Johnny Sanchez is still one of the best; having a unique and comforting ability to make a personal connection with every member of his crowd. “I’m a storyteller-style stand up, so I create visuals and original characters throughout my act and what makes me unique is my ability to connect with the audience,” Sanchez said.