Page 5 - September 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

You Like Us! You Really Like Us!
First of all, thank you for all the calls and e-mails to loyal San Diego and Orange County readers—and new readers in L.A. County and the Inland Empire. We are very happy you like our renamed newspaper! This is our second issue as the Southern
California Gaming GuideTM, and judging from the response we received, we know you like the Southern California casino coverage and gaming news.
sidebar to see what’s playing at a casino near you. You won’t believe some of the line-ups.
We rarely miss bringing you a fascinating (we hope) history lesson with our Native American Hosts feature, but this month our resident history buff is on holiday and will return with more tribal history next month.
Video Poker players out there seem very happy to be able to read expert Bob Dancer’s monthly column here in the Southern California Gaming Guide—and we continue to learn from him. See his column on page 6.
As summer begins to fade, we are preparing to attend the gaming industry’s “big show” in mid- September, the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
We receive a lot of phone calls and letters here at the Gaming Guide. Some tell us how much they like the newspaper (those are nice), some suggest new features and columns (we love those), and some tell us what they don’t like (naturally very few—and believe it or not—we actually
like those, too!).
road and is dazed and amazed, and back in Southern California recovering. Look for the Unknown Gamer’s musings and tips in next month’s issue.
This month’s feature story is all about the unique blend of entertainment Southern California casinos have created for gamers. And “...Southern California casino the marvelous and beautiful
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
In the last six weeks we’ve
had a signi cant number of
requests for the return of the
Unknown Gamer. We can’t
believe you actually liked what
the Unknown Gamer had to
say. The Unknown Gamer will be back next month so you’ll be able to read the ramblings of a self-styled expert casino traveler. Beneath all the pomposity, the Unknown Gamer knows gaming and casinos. Absent the past two issues, the Unknown Gamer has been researching casino and gaming favorites far a eld from Southern California—in the casinos of America. The Unknown Gamer has played and eaten his/her way through over 25 casinos in two months on the
entertainment...runs the gamut casino entertainment venues.
from super star performers to As we researched this piece, Next month we’ll tell you all about the show and
martial art displays and rodeos the picture of Southern California casino entertain-
the new slots and games coming to California—and all the news we can garner in our beginning of autumn October issue—all on slots.
Look for the Southern California Gaming Guide in 7-Elevens, Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons, Blockbuster
Videos, hotels, motels, bottle shops, ethnic grocer- ies, tourist centers and car rental agencies all over Southern California including San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angles Coun- ties and the San Fernando Valley.
Stay cool and have fun at the casinos! And keep those cards and letters, phone calls and e-mails coming!
and even a Karaoke Superbowl!” ment came into focus as a rare bird, not catering to
any one entertainment taste, but running the gamut from super star performers to martial arts displays and rodeos and even a Karaoke Superbowl! While it’s easy to compare Southern California casinos to Las Vegas, California casinos are taking the best of Vegas-style entertainment and giving it a Southern California spin. Casino entertainment is evolving here, and we’ll be cer- tain to see many changes as customers voice what they want to see. Check out our entertainment feature and
Three Southern California Tribes
Host Powwows This September
“Powwow” is the Algonquin Indian word for “ceremony,” but the word holds a different meaning according to each Native American tribe. Experience Native American culture at three powwows this month in Southern California.
In San Diego County, visit the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation’s Traditional Gathering and 13th Annual Powwow on September 6 - 8 at the Sycuan Reservation in El Cajon. There will be Bird Dance and drum/singing contests, bird singing, Peon games, and Gourd dancing. Music, crafts and authentic Native American food will be featured during the three-day event. Admission and parking are free to the public. The Sycuan Powwow begins Friday, September 6 from 7 p.m. to
11 p.m. The celebration continues Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to midnight. For more information call (619) 445-7776.
In Riverside County, the Soboba Band of Luiseño Mission
Indians will hold their 2002 Powwow from September 20-22.
A drum contest boasts prizes ranging from $3,000 for 4th Place
to $6,000 for 1st Place (with a Northern and a Southern winner
in each place, for a total of 8 winners), and the rst 8 drums to
register will receive $200 each (all winners must show tribal
ID). In addition to the drum and dance contests, the powwow
will feature Gourd dances, bird singing, and Peon games. Admis-
sion is free to the public, and free camping and free swimming are
also available. For more information call (909) 654-2765 or (909) 908- 9298.
And on September 27-29 the Morongo Band of Mission Indians is holding its 12th Annual Powwow, Thunder and Lightning. The powwow has an Indian market every day and includes Gourd dancing, a drum contest, Owl dance and Snake and Buffalo dancing, a Bird contest and women’s and men’s dancing. The powwow
will take place on the Morongo Reservation. Call the Casino Morongo box of ce at 1-800-252-4499 for more information.
Soboba Tribe San Jacinto School
Football Programs
Six San Jacinto schools received unexpected support for their football programs thanks to the Soboba Band of Mission Indians. The Soboba Tribal Council donated $10,000 to each school. Schools receiving the funds include San Jacinto, Hemet, West Valley High Schools, Noli and Hamilton Schools, and Mt. San
Jacinto College. The donations were to defray the high costs of running a football program. While the money is intended to directly bene t student athletes, school of cials said the donations will have other advantages as well. As football programs are costly to run, the donations alleviate the need of the coaches and students to
spend substantial time engaged in fund raising.
Kumeyaay Highway Honors
San Diego History
A bill to name Interstate-8, from Nimitz Boulevard in Mission Bay to Green eld Drive in El Cajon, the Kumeyaay Highway became law in June. State Assembly member Juan Vargas (D-Chula Vista) authored the bill, which was co-sponsored by
Christine Kehoe and Howard Wayne and Charlene Zettel.
“It is important for us to respect and honor the culture and ancestors of the
Kumeyaay,” noted Vargas. The Kumeyaay Highway which reaches the ocean, honors the history of tribes and their place in San Diego County. The Kumeyaay were the indigenous people of San Diego. There are twelve Kumeyaay Bands: The Viejas, La Posta, Manzanita, Cuyapaipe, Campo, Barona, Inaja-Cosmit,
September 2002 Page 5
Gaming Guide Editorial
Tribes in the News