Recently in Pauma Category

Rock fans will rejoice when Queensryche appears at Casino Pauma Friday, June 28.

The group gained fame in the '90s with hits like "Silent Lucidity," "Real World" and "Bridge."

The show will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group's 1988 album "Operation: Mindcrime." The record was a rock opera about a disillusioned drug addict who becomes an assassin.

The band has been performing the album and its sequel for years as a stage show with special guests, props, new lights and visuals.

Over the years the group has splintered and there are now to touring versions of Queensryche. The Pauma show will feature Queensryche with Geoff Tate.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are available through Ticketmaster for $25, $30, $40.

Here's the best of the weekend's headliners.

Friday, April 26:

Thunder From Down Under at 9 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out Location: Morongo

Update: Los Lonely Boys have canceled their April 28 show at Casino Pauma. Refunds are available at the point of purchase, with phone and internet orders automatically canceled and refunded.

Los Lonely Boys have canceled their Sunday, April 28 show at Casino Pauma.

Lead singer Henry Garza is still recovering from injuries he sustained when he fell off the stage at a performance at the Downey Civic Theater earlier this year.

Refunds are available at the point of purchase, with phone and internet orders canceled and refunded automatically.

The band is scheduled to return to the Inland area Saturday, Aug. 10 at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino with Los Lobos and Alejandro Escovedo.

There's plenty of entertainment at Inland casinos this weekend. Here's a few of the best of the weekend's headliners.

Thursday, April 11:

King of the Cage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $40, $75 Location: San Manuel

Friday, April 12:

Sheryl Crow and Easton Corbin at 7 p.m. Tickets: $25, $30, $40 Location: Pechanga

Brian Regan at 8 p.m. Tickets: $45, $55, $65 Location: Spotlight 29

Paul Rodriguez at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15, $20, $25 Location: Casino Pauma

Morris Day at 9 p.m. Tickets: $39 Location: Morongo

Kix Brooks, one half of legendary country duo Brooks and Dunn, will play the Pauma Pavillion at Casino Pauma Friday, Feb. 22.

Brooks and Dunn are the most successful duo in country music. They virtually owned the country duo of the year award at both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards, winning it at the CMAs every year from 1992 to 2006.

In 2010 the duo retired and moved on to solo work.

Brooks recently released his album "New to this Town," with the title track finding success on country radio.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Pauma show are $25, $30 and $45, and are available through Ticketmaster.

Casino Pauma is located at 777 Pauma Reservation Road in Pauma Valley.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys perform 8 p.m.Thursday July 12 in Casino Pauma.

Lewis (son of legendary comic Jerry Lewis) is responsible for such enduring 1960s hits as "This Diamond Ring"

Tickets are $20, available through Ticketmaster.

The casino is at 777 Pauma Reservation Road, Pauma Valley in northern San Diego County.

Starship starring Mickey Thomas, the band that brought you hits such as "We Built This City," "Sara" and "Nothing's Gonna Stops Us Now,"the love song from the beloved Andrew McCarthy film "Mannequin," is coming to Casino Pauma.

The show is set for April 19 at 8 p.m. and is $15 for Palm Club members and $25 for non-members. Palm Club tickets must be purchased at the casino. Regular tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

You have to be 18 or older for the show, which is in the outdoor covered Pauma Pavilion, so dress accordingly.

For more information, visit www.casinopauma.com.

Celebrate the birth of The King at Casino Pauma on Jan. 8 when George Thomas performs his tribute to Elvis Presley.

The show takes place at 7 p.m. at the Pauma Pavilion.

The tickets are free to Palm Club members, but you have to reserve tickets by Jan. 7 by calling 1-800-446-9436.

The tickets will be available for pickup at the Palm Club between noon and 4 p.m. on Jan. 8.

Remember to dress for the weather--the Pauma Pavilion is a covered outdoor venue.

Visit the Casino Pauma site for more information.

CASINO PAUMA

1-877-687-2862

NEARBY COURSES

ABOVE: Pauma Valley Country Club (Pauma Valley Drive, Pauma Valley, 760-742-1230)

Skyline Ranch Country Club (18218 Paradise Mountain Road, Valley Center, 760-749-3233)

Woods Valley Country Club (14616 Woods Valley Rd., Valley Center, 760-751-3007)

Among other things, Southland Indian casinos are known for their dining specials, and Casino Pauma in northern San Diego County has a couple of good ones.

The tiny casino rests in the hills a few miles above its more awe-inspiring neighbor, Pala Casino, a pleasant 40-minute drive out of Temecula.

Getting there is half the fun. The meandering country road (Highway 76, off Interstate 15) takes you past all sorts of sites tucked behind Palomar Mountain; grazing longhorn cattle, horse ranches and buffalo.

The road is pretty popular with bikers seeking a peaceful weekend retreat.

Most serious gamers heading south from the Inland region might prefer Pechanga or Pala for their getaway, but Casino Pauma offers a less noisy, toned-down gambling experience than those megaresorts.

And though the dining options are limited in comparison, the Pauma Bay Cafe's daily breakfast special and lunch buffet are delicious and cheap.

For $3.95, my breakfast included two eggs, hash browns, large slice of ham, a buttermilk biscuit and a drink.

The cafe's daily specials are omelet (Sunday), eggs Benedict (Monday), bacon and eggs (Tuesday), country breakfast (Wednesday), sausage and eggs (Thursday), chicken fried steak (Friday) and ham and eggs (Saturday).

For $2 more you can satisfy a sweet tooth with the French toast (four half-slices) and eggs breakfast, which includes three slices of crisp bacon.

The lunch buffet is $9 and changes daily, from a Mexican spread (Chicken Valdez, carnitas, Chile Colorado, rice and beans) on the day I was there to Italian favorites, fried chicken and build-your-own burgers.

The buffet is small compared with other casino buffets in the area -- six trays of hot food, salad bar, dessert bar and ice cream station -- but the price is right.

The cafe is in the back, past the poker tables. When you see the palapas, palm fans and Hawaiian-shirted wait staff, you're there. You can choose to dine in or outside on tables under the trees.

All review meals in The Guide are paid for by The Press-Enterprise.

Reach Joe Ardent at 951-368-9631 or jardent@pe.com

What: Pauma Bay Cafe

Where: 777 Pauma Reservation Road, Pauma Valley

Entrees: $3.95 breakfast special to $15.99 2-for-1 prime rib dinner

Drinks: soda, juice, milk

Hours: 8 a.m-9 p.m. Sunday-Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays. Noon-4 p.m. daily for lunch buffet

Information: 1-877-687-2862 or www.casinopauma.com

Although Ricky Nelson died more than 25 years ago, the music of the singer and actor lives on.

His twin sons Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, who found fame themselves in the group Nelson, perform a show called "Ricky Nelson Remembered," which comes to Casino Pauma in Pauma Valley on Dec. 15.

Nelson was famous for his role on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," in which he starred with his parents and brother David, as well as for songs such as "Poor Little Fool" and "Jello, Mary Lou."

Tickets are $15 for members of the Palm Club and $25 for non-members. The event will be at a covered outdoor venue so dress accordingly.

Call 877-687-2862 or visit www.casinopauma.com for more information.

Casino Pauma has a party planned for Sunday, June 26.

Fiestas Latinas will feature the Banda Vallarta Show as a headlining act with openers Banda Chokosa.

Tickets are $20 to the general public, but only $10 if you become a member of the Palm Club. You can pick up the tickets, plus fees, via Ticketmaster or at the Palm Club at Casino Pauma.

Guests must be 18 or older to attend.