THE HIDDEN VINE
DISCOVER THE HIDDEN GEMS OF TEMECULA’S WINE COUNTRY
Editor's Letter
It’s been a weird first quarter of the year, hasn’t it?
Looking around, everyone seems to be doing their best to thrive in a world full of uncertainty. But there’s been a steady pulse of pride that has not waned, not even for a moment. The City of Temecula is known for its growth and resiliency and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. So, while the rest of the world may be in a perpetual state of panic and chaos, Temeculans are thriving, pivoting, and holding strong.
It’s reminiscent of how Mother Nature works, isn’t it? After drought, intense heat, fires, and sudden cold fronts, the flowers still bloom in the Spring. The birds continue chirping. The trees continue to sprout their lush green leaves.
So, as Spring is in full bloom, I invite you to be too. Grow, bloom, and thrive in spite of your environment. Brace yourself during the drought, heat, and cold fronts and be ready to come to life and show the world what you’re truly capable of when it’s time.
Happy Spring!
~Porsché Mysticque Steele
Who we are
BRIAN LEMAR Founder & Publishing Director
ADRIENNE MARIE Executive Administrator
PORSCHÉ MYSTICQUE STEELE
Editor-in-Chief
EDUNJOBI OLUWASEUN Graphic Designer
MICHAEL ANGELO CHAVEZ Photography/Videography
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VIBE & THRIVE
its doors will host edition three, now slated for four hours of uninterrupted rhythm. Anthony, Isaiah, and DJ Dealy plan to rotate behind the decks, each weaving house, disco, and Afro-Latin beats that invite all people of all ages onto the asphalt dance floor.
Temecula may never rival the big lights of Hollywood Boulevard or the rooftop bars of San Diego, but it doesn’t need to. Both Anthony and Isaiah have proven that on a Saturday morning outside a coffee roaster, those with a great heart and an ear for music can carve a new pulse from thin air; one vinyl break, one vendor tent, one smiling crowd at a time. They call it Vibe & Thrive and thanks to them, Temecula Valley is starting to do exactly that.
For details on upcoming events follow @vibeandthriveparty, @djanthonyvincent, and @okzay_dj on Instagram. The next gathering lands at Intazza Coffee on May 10th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Watch the full interview here:
LOVE LETTER TO Temecula
Dear Temecula,
You were never part of my plan.
I once swore I’d never leave Orange County—especially not for a sleepy town with stop signs and dirt lots. But then I fell in love. And love brought me to you.
In 1997, I arrived with a full heart and a skeptical mind. But you surprised me. You weren’t just quieter… you were kinder. More connected. More real. The kind of place where the guy at the post office knows your name, and your doctor has your future father-in-law’s Christmas card on the wall.
You became the backdrop to everything: Friday night dates at Chili’s, strolls through Old Town when it all closed by six, dinners at Swing Inn with my husband’s dad. You gave us parks, neighborhoods, and traditions—watching the Christmas Parade, strolling through the Rod Run, and peaceful afternoons at the Rose Garden. You gave us community.
In your arms, we raised three children. We homeschooled, cheered at graduations, and huddled together with our Scouting family. You gave us a village—one we didn’t know we needed until we had it.
And while we grew, so did you. You added malls, traffic lights, wineries, and yes—more traffic. But somehow, even in your expansion, you never lost your heart. You stayed grounded. Familiar. Home.
Now, as empty nesters, we’re discovering new pieces of you: open-air concerts, sunsets over vineyards, dinners that linger past 6 PM. We’re not rushing anymore—we’re soaking it in. Rediscovering what’s always been here, waiting.
Temecula, you raised our children—but you also raised me. From a 24-year-old girl in love, to a woman with deep roots, purpose, and a calling to give back. You helped shape the person I am today.
Thank you—for your beauty, your warmth, your people. Thank you for showing me that a place can become more than just where you live… it can become who you are. Forever grateful,
COMMISSIONER KATHY SIZEMORE
Vice-Chair, City of Temecula Community Services Commission
Spotlight BRANDIE KEKOA
management. “Joy is profitable,” she told the camera, voice tinged with quiet conviction. “Customers can sense it the moment they walk through your door.”
The guide is only the first chapter of her education branch. Virtual curl-care workshops are launching this summer as well. Meanwhile, the apothecary is preparing something special. “If you like wine,” she teased, eyes flashing, “just follow me.”
Through every new venture runs a single golden filament: joy as both compass and currency. She returns to the lesson often, each time planting her feet flat, spine tall, as if anchoring the thought in the room. “We can grow together,” she said, “by sharing what we know, by choosing projects that let us breathe.”
Asked for something Temecula residents might not know about her, Brandie offered a hometown confession: she attended both middle and high school here, and her children later walked those same campus halls. “I love it here,” she said softly. “It’s a beautiful community when you find the right people. I’m excited to watch it flourish.”
Anyone who doubts the city’s brightness needs only step inside Be Kekoa on a sunny afternoon in Old Town.
Follow Brandie’s journey at @brandiekekoa and @bekekoa on Instagram.
Watch the full interview here:
Alex’s origin story pulsed at a different tempo. An honest marketer who founded Prime Media Consulting, he specialized in websites and Google placement, then multiplied his reach by launching a local networking group. Where Jason built physical ink and vinyl, Alex built digital search results and online buzz.
Their paths finally crossed last spring when Jason attended one of Alex’s networking meet-ups. The two discovered a shared frustration: families around Temecula, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore had few affordable places to bring kids for pure, unfiltered fun. Wineries and upscale attractions dotted the valley. Neighborhood carnivals did not. Within a week, their joint text thread lit up with plans. Four months later, Family Fun Fest debuted at the Lake Elsinore Outlet Mall with modest marketing, a handful of rides, and fifteen thousand guests.
Jason remembered counting ticket stubs that night, stunned by the turnout. Alex recalled something else: “Every vendor kept saying, ‘If you pulled this off in four months, imagine what you could do with more time and bigger rides.’” The spark for a regional carnival was struck.
Rebranding came first. Family Fun Fest sounded hometown, but the partners dreamed of a flagship event that would lure visitors from Menifee to Corona. They christened their upgraded vision Riverside County Carnival,
and instead of a 3-night extravaganza, this one would be a whole week of excitement and pandemonium. Then they phoned ride operators; serious firms trailing tractor-trailers of neon steel. Within weeks, contracts representing $10M of carnival machinery sat on Jason’s desk.
Next came the entertainment. Alex insisted on themes for each of the seven nights, giving locals a reason to return again and again. He rattled them off in the studio, eyes sparkling: a Swift-inspired opening with friendship bracelets and a Taylor tribute band; an ’80s-’90s-Today night handing out Tamagotchis; a college takeover with EDM and thunder-sticks; a Memorial Day salute crowned by a Marine Corps F-35 fly-over; a Mardi Gras evening with beads and a Selena tribute; a Halfway-to-Halloween candy-fest complete with a band in full horror regalia; and, to close, a country night showering guests in trucker hats.
Jason laughed, half in disbelief, half in pride. “I told him the fly-over was impossible,” he admitted. “He proved me wrong.”
Despite the spectacle, both men stressed that the carnival’s beating heart is charity. Admission (just $9 online for kids, $10 for adults) funnels half of every ticket straight to partner nonprofits. More than 20 organizations, from Habitat for Humanity to tiny youth-sports leagues, have unique ticket links; every scan pours
EVENTS IN MAY/JUNE Temecula
MOTHER’S DAY BUFFET BRUNCH AT VIENZA
May 16th @ 9 am
Vienza at Europa Village 41150 Via Europa, Temecula
LEADING LADIES COUNTRY CONCERT
May 16th @ 5:30 pm Wilson Creek Winery 35960 Rancho California Rd. Temecula
BUYER’S WORKSHOP
May 17th
10:30 am Sorensen Alliance Building 43521 Ridge Park Dr, Temecula
SUPER SKETCH! DRAW • LAUGH •VOTE
May 23rd 6 pm - 8 pm
Bigfoot Art Classes Bigfoot Graphics 26395 Jefferson Ave, Murrieta
VIENZA SOTTO LE STELLE - DINNER IN THE GARDEN
May 29th @ 6:30 pm Vienza at Europa Village 41150 Via Europa, Temecula
JUNETEENTH
June 19th @ 6:30pm Civic Center Quad 41000 Main St, Temecula
TEMECULA ART WALK
June 6th @ 5 - 8 pm
The Merc and The Lot on Main located at: 42051 Main St, Temecula
