Coachella Valley Independent December 2020

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | DECEMBER 2020

VOL. 8 | NO. 12

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DECEMBER 2020

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

DECEMBER 2020

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 904-4208 www.cvindependent.com

Editor/Publisher Jimmy Boegle staff writer Kevin Fitzgerald coveR and feature design Beth Allen Contributors Kevin Allman, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, ValerieJean (VJ) Hume, Matt Jones, Matt King, Keith Knight, Brett Newton, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rufus, Theresa Sama, Andrew Smith, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor, Madeline Zuckerman The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month.

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As we approach the end of 2020, I am feeling a mixture of emotions. There’s fear and anxiety, with some hope sprinkled in—along with a whole lot of gratitude.

On a personal level, this year got off on the wrong foot back in January, when the hubby suffered a serious knee injury as he slipped on a wet San Francisco sidewalk after buying groceries. A couple weeks later—the day after his knee surgery—I fell at our Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week Championship and dislocated my right elbow.

We were both in physical therapy when the pandemic arrived and shut everything down.

I’ll never forget the feeling—a sickening fear small-business owners all around the world were experiencing—as I watched our April print edition turn from a packed 40-page special Music Issue into a moneylosing 24-page paper … with a bedraggled roll of toilet paper on the cover. (Hey, it’s important to have a sense of humor even in the darkest of times, right?)

However, the Independent never suspended our print edition—like a lot of other publications understandably did— because our readers kept finding ways to pick it up, even though many of our normal distribution locations were closed.

Meanwhile, we started a well-received series of stories on how the pandemic was affecting us here in the Coachella Valley, and launched our Daily Digest, a melding of commentary and links to reliable news stories that’s both posted at CVIndependent.com and emailed to more than 4,000 people.

With advertising revenues collapsing, we also asked for help—and our readers responded in a big way, with dozens of people each month becoming Supporters of the Independent, sending us between $10 and $500 to help us keep going. That—combined with support from businesses that continued advertising despite the economic downturn, as well as financial support from the Google News Initiative, the Facebook Journalism Project and Riverside County—meant the Independent has thus far been able to avoid significant cutbacks. Instead, we’ve been able to focus on doing quality journalism, while also making improvements to what we do— including a brand-new website that’s slated to launch in mid-December.

That amazing support is why, as the end of 2020 approaches, I am filled with gratitude. I don’t know what these last days of 2020 and the start of 2021 will bring—nobody knows, really—but the continued support from you, our amazing readers, is why there’s hope sprinkled in with that fear and anxiety.

Welcome to the December 2020 print edition—our special Best of Coachella Valley issue. As always, thanks for reading, and please contact me at the email address below if you have questions or feedback.

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com CVIndependent.com

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DECEMBER 2020

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS I

BY ANITA RUFUS

first met Terre York in 1996 when she drove her van, fully outfitted as a mobile chiropractic “office,” into my driveway.

“There was an idea floating around at that time for mobile chiropractic services,” York says.

“One of my patients had become a truck driver, and I realized we had truck stops all around our area, and drivers could use the services. But truck-stop legal counsel said they were concerned it would be seen as a prostitution service. I said, ‘If I were a 6-foot-tall guy, would you still think that?’”

York was born in Wisconsin 72 years ago, the eldest of four, before her family moved west; she was raised in Canoga Park, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. “My mom had come from studying biology. “I met a woman who was northern Minnesota and was part Ojibwa (the doing cellulite massage for movie stars,” York Native American tribe with the fifth-largest recalls, “who decided she wanted to study population in the United States). As a child, she opera. I worked with her (also doing massage) had been called a ‘dirty little Indian,’ and she for six months, and she gave me her entire wasn’t allowed to go to the same school with clientele—names like Jane Fonda, Goldie the other kids. She attended junior college, and Hawn, Raquel Welch and Britt Ekland. I had met my dad and got married. She was a stay-atmy hands on some of the most gorgeous home mom all the years we were growing up. people in the world!”

“My mom was always very political, At 28, York entered chiropractic school; four particularly regarding anything related to years later, she’d completed her degree and segregation or civil rights. She said, ‘People are training. just people.’ She also always said, ‘Whatever “I thought … the medical community would you want to do, you can do it.’” adopt us,” York says about the chiropractic York’s father was, in her words, “the quiet profession. “Sadly, even now, that isn’t one. He was an aerospace engineer who happening. When I first started practicing, we worked on the stealth bomber. My dad could could send patients to a hospital if they needed fix anything and build anything. He handmade traction, or for things like MRI tests. It went my first stroller, and it looked like something the opposite way: It’s very restrictive based from outer space! I learned how to build and on insurance companies, big pharma and the fix things from him. I was definitely not a American Medical Association. I had always princess—I was his sidekick. worked with doctors in Los Angeles, but when “My dad stayed healthy up until he was 97, I came to the Coachella Valley, it was very and my mom made it to 89. I come from good difficult.” genes.”

York has done a lot of work with sports York began working after school when she injuries, including working onsite at Indian was 16, in the office of her medical doctor.

Wells Tennis Garden. Her philosophy explains “I did intake of patients, and later went to why her patients keep coming back. medical-assistant school and worked in several “Originally,” she says, “the founders used medical offices,” she says. just a bench and hands. Today, they’re known York attended Santa Monica College,

CVIndependent.com

Meet Terre York, a chiropractor who does all she can to help her patients heal

Terre York (right) with her wife, Alisa.

as ‘straights.’ In the 1920s and 1930s, a lot of experimentation began with electrical mechanisms, hydrotherapy and mineral baths.

In chiropractics, they’re known as ‘mixers,’ who use X-ray, physical therapy, ultrasound, lasers and tissue healing. I was trained in those methods and comfortable with it all based on my previous experience.

“My attitude is that the body is designed to take care of itself, with a kind of innate intelligence. If you keep the body in alignment, it’s then free to carry out its purpose. What I do is not just reduce pain. My goal is to see patients improve and do better, with a sense of physical wellness, and using fewer drugs.

They don’t have to take opiates. I’m not antimedicine but believe in both sides of the equation. Anything I can do to make someone feel better and heal is good. My job is to keep people at their lowest state of discomfort.”

During the pandemic, York is keeping shorter office hours, because she needs to help her two children, ages 10 and 13, with online learning. York and her partner, Alisa, have now been married for four years.

“She wanted children,” says York, “and I really hadn’t thought about it. We started with an infant foster child who soon went back to her mother, and then another infant who also returned to the birth mother. It was so hard handing them off; we couldn’t keep doing that.

The social worker finally said, ‘I’ve got two kids available. Would you like to meet them?’ We fell in love. We adopted them in 2014.”

York says she at first didn’t know for sure that she was gay, although she remembers having attachments to some of her female teachers and friends.

“When the other girls were doing hair at sleepovers, I wanted to play baseball and

football with the boys,” she says. “My mom later said that when I was about 5, I told her that when I grew up, I wanted to be a boy! I finally knew at about 25—I had a crush that was reciprocated, and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s what it’s all about.’ My mom said she was wondering when I’d figure it out, and my dad was OK with it. It was just not a problem; my whole family was just so normal about it.”

York was raised Catholic, but began questioning portions of her faith around age 16.

“I saw the pope and the trappings of the church as kind of frivolous,” she says.

“After all, Jesus wore a robe and sandals.

I started breaking away from the church, and now I consider myself a spiritual being.

I was ordained as a minister of the Church of Religious Science, and even performed a marriage for some friends from the U.K.” Ask Terre York what her biggest mistake in life has been, and she quickly says it was not going to medical school. “I would have made a very good surgeon,” she says.

But when I ask her about her best decision, she immediately responds: “Going to chiropractic school.”

One of these days, Terre York says, she will make it to see the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall of China, even though she doesn’t like long flights. But for now, she is content guiding her children through the pandemic and helping her clients live better, healthier lives.

No matter what, Terre York will continue to be her own person.

Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal.” Her show The Lovable Liberal airs on IHubRadio. Email her at Anita@LovableLiberal. com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

DECEMBER 2020

OPINION OPINION

HIKING WITH T D

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

My name is Theresa, and I’m your new hiking/outdoors columnist

BY THERESA SAMA

o you like the great outdoors? Perhaps you’re a health fanatic, or adventurous—or maybe you just like to take long walks to clear your mind and rejuvenate yourself. Or, if you’re like me, it’s all of the above.

Hi, and welcome to Hiking With T! I was born and raised in a small Midwestern farm town in Indiana, with hundreds of acres of forests and fields to roam—so hiking and the great outdoors go hand in hand for me.

While growing up, I spent countless hours running and playing outside, cutting trails through overgrowth in wooded areas and fields, riding dirt bikes, climbing around on rock ridges and jumping through creeks. on the trails wearing these types of shoes Fast forward to my adult years, when and carrying only an 8-ounce bottle of water. opportunity led me to a major cross-country Please tell me that wasn’t you. move to Los Angeles, where I worked for Always remember trail etiquette: Pack in; the Department of Molecular and Medical pack out; and yield the right of way to uphill Pharmacology at the David Geffen School hikers. Horses always have the right of way— of Medicine at UCLA. For 12 years, I helped yes, horses are out on some of the trails, too. handle the department’s administrative I once encountered a horse and rider on the needs, working closely with the computerAraby/Garstin Trail. It was one of the scariest support team, managing server files and moments of my life: I was running down trail departmental websites. I spent my free time while the horse and rider were ascending— playing softball, training for marathons and but I was unaware of their presence until I hiking/running trails. approached a turn and was suddenly face After that, I moved here to the desert, to face with a horse and rider. We were all where I serve as the administrative manager equally spooked. for a small nonprofit, HARC, Inc. I have been Let’s talk about one of the best places to exploring, hiking and running the desert hike around the Palm Springs area. The Palm trails for 10-plus years now—and I enjoy Springs Aerial Tramway has finally reopened— every moment. It’s my release, my sanity, my be sure to buy your tickets in advance—and saving grace. the trails at the top are seemingly endless, In the coming months, I will introduce offering more than 50 miles of hiking within you to some of the most-amazing, off-theMount San Jacinto State Park. Upon exiting beaten-path trails and adventures right here the Mountain Station to Long Valley, you will in the Coachella Valley, as well as trails in find a vast array of trails, starting with a short surrounding areas that will provide a great and easy 3/4-mile loop hike around Long hiking experience packed with fun and Valley, called the Discovery Nature Trail, which adventure. I hope that you will follow along provides a great introduction to the park’s and enjoy the journey as much as I do. plants and animals.

So … since we’re now in peak hiking For a slightly longer loop of 1 1/2 miles, season, let’s start off with some basics there is the Desert View Trail. It’s a bit more everyone should know to get back on the difficult, but it offers scenic overlooks and trails safely. First: Remember, we’re still in the midst of a raging pandemic, so you should forest views—with some of the best stopping spots for a perfect picnic. Then there is a 2 always make sure you add a face mask and 1/2 mile trail that will take you to Round hand sanitizer to your hiking essentials.

Valley with just a few short climbs.

No matter the temperature, you need to be Aside from the 5 1/2 mile trek up to well-hydrated. If you had a couple of drinks San Jacinto Peak—which is absolutely the night before your hike, you’ll already be breathtaking, with views of the Salton Sea dehydrated when you get on the trail the next and beyond, going as far as Catalina Island morning—and dehydration can be dangerous on a clear day—the 3 1/2 mile hike to the anytime, especially during hot days. Always Wellman Divide junction is perhaps my bring more water than you think you should favorite Mount San Jacinto State Park hike, need—at least a half to one liter of water per offering incredible views and another great hour, depending on the temperature and the picnic stop. On a clear day, you can easily difficulty level of the hike. see the Pacific Ocean from here. From this Be sure to wear good shoes that are meant junction, you can either continue up San for trails—not your street Vans or penny Jacinto Peak, or descend to the town of loafers. Believe it or not, I have seen people

Idyllwild, with both routes being equally strenuous (and day-use permits are required).

Although water is available at the ranger station in Long Valley, you will want to bring plenty of water along with food, a warm jacket and gloves.

While the trails have reopened, campsites remain closed until further notice, due to COVID-19. For more information, visit pstramway.com/hiking and www.parks.ca.gov.

Always be smart, safe and considerate. See ya on the trails!

WE NEED YOU. YOU NEED US. All of our content is offered for free—and it always will be. We don’t have pay walls, and we don’t sell subscriptions. However, we're asking you to become a member of our Supporters of the Independent program. Membership gives readers like you a chance to contribute directly to the Independent and our mission: being the valley’s honest, ethical source of independent news, arts coverage, commentary and culture.

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DECEMBER 2020

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

A BROKEN HEART, LITERALLY N

BY VALERIE-JEAN (V.J.) HUME

early everyone knows someone who has died this year, whether from COVID-19 or other causes. This has been a year of death for this planet, and if you have lost someone close, you have cause to grieve—and you should know about the hidden, dangerous heart condition called broken heart syndrome.

This is not about the loss of your loved one; it’s about you as a survivor. Grieving sits near the top of the list of taboo subjects due to the level of social discomfort involved. To be brutally honest, most people don’t want to hear about other people’s grief, despite mouthed words of comfort and offers of help. And that’s their right—they don’t have to share your feelings, memories, explanations. They also don’t really know what to do or say. For some strange reason, illustrate the blood coursing through the heart, in our society, the stoic people are most making the problem crystal clear. applauded, and those who deliver three-hanky How do we know if we have it? There are monologues make others squirm. tests available, such as nuclear stress tests, I have been both kinds of mourners. Some treadmill tests and echocardiograms, the 31 years ago, my 51-year-old fiancé, Peter, suffered a massive fatal heart attack one beautiful September morning in La Quinta.

Although I had studied CPR, I couldn’t bring him back—and I wept unceasingly for months and months. Then, this May, my 92-year-old husband of 16 years, Ted, peacefully passed in his sleep. This time, I shut down, grimly determined to feel nothing and show nothing, while I focused on the business of settling his estate.

So … broken heart syndrome. Isn’t that just something poets and songwriters invented to explain post-trauma depression? No, it’s not.

Think: How many stories have you heard about people who, after losing their partner, die themselves within months or even weeks?

Enter Dr. Peter Gregor. The Rancho Miragebased cardiologist is a product of the rigorous training in Canadian medical universities and hospitals. He explained to me what actually goes on inside the bodies of us survivors.

“It is complicated, and has to do with platelets in the blood that form as a result of the adrenaline,” Dr. Gregor says. “This disturbs the heart rhythm, resulting in what we call atrial flutters. Blood comes into the heart, and then not enough of it gets pumped back out.”

In my case, my heart was pumping out only 30 percent of that blood, instead of at least 70 percent, which was causing my problems. So it is a physical malfunction: The broken heart is real.

“It was first identified in Japan, where it is called ‘takotsubo,’” Dr. Gregor says. “They saw it so often in the widows of the fishermen, whose husbands might sail off into bad weather one morning and never be seen again. Takotsubo translates as ‘octopus trap,’ because of the shape in the heart where the problems occur.”

A born teacher, Dr. Gregor holds up a laptop to show me an animated simulation to CVIndependent.com

results of which are hard to argue with. In my case, I was initially diagnosed by alert medicos at an urgent care where I went for an unrelated and minor complaint. I thought I felt just fine—but a mere stethoscope revealed my heart rate was 145, which made everyone spring into action.

So why the concern? If untreated, broken heart syndrome can result in a stroke or a heart attack.

Not what we want. What we DO want is this: The condition can be treated with medications and behavior modifications; I had to buy a blood-pressure monitor to record my blood pressure and heart rate every day. I dislike prescription meds because of the side

After my husband died, my cardiologist diagnosed me with broken heart syndrome effects, but all I have to do is remind myself of that possibility of a stroke—and I suddenly turn into a very obedient patient who gladly takes her five meds every day, writing down each dose and time. I’m also on a low-salt diet (What about those tortilla chips?) and keep exercise mild (I have to give up jogging?

Yikes!). I also have to avoid stressing the heart with heavy lifting or carrying weighty objects—which, for me, meant the abrupt end to performing with my harp.

Cardiologists like Dr. Gregor aren’t the only professionals who can help; there are therapists trained to help you through, now often via Zoom or Lifesize. There are grief groups who meet with a facilitator, usually once a week (though you can join as many as you want), filled with people who are going through exactly what you are experiencing.

They do not cost anything, and because your fellow participants understand and identify, they can offer practical recovery suggestions.

(Possibly the best one I received was this: Instead of lying in bed and looking over at that vacant pillow and that big, empty space beside you, move over and sleep on that side of the bed. It changes your perspective completely.)

Mary, a local facilitator for one such group, says: “Grief is nothing but a part of love.

There is no cure for grief … but we learn to appreciate what we have now, not dwell on what we have lost.”

Whether you are someone who easily shares about your emotions, or you are all jammed up and being a stone, it’s a priceless relief to meet people who are experiencing your same feelings. Your friends and family love you, but unless they are also going through the grieving process, they can’t really help you, and it could be very stressful for them to try.

Here’s some good news: Broken heart syndrome can be temporary. Depending—like so many other things—on what you put into it, you can recover in a year or so. So … take your meds. Make your physical health your new hobby. Join and stick with a grief group. Don’t lift heavy harps. Journal or write poetry about your feelings. (The Rancho Mirage Library hosts an extraordinary Poets’ Group.) Plan that celebration of life or a memorial for whenever groups can safely meet in person once again, or figure out how to do it online. (If you manage to pull off a virtual funeral or memorial service, let me know.) And don’t ever forget about that stroke or heart attack waiting in the wings to get you. You may have been helpless to save your partner, but you can save yourself.

So, live.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

DECEMBER 2020

We’re Expecting!

Oh Baby, Our Maternity Center Is Due This Winter.

Eisenhower Health is growing a welcome addition: a new obstetrics service line. Construction is almost complete on the 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Maternity Center, to be housed in the Eisenhower Walter and Leonore Annenberg Pavilion on our Rancho Mirage campus. Set to open by early 2021, it will include: ~ 14 labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum (LDRP) rooms ~ 8 private bed, newborn intensive care unit (NICU) ~ 2 operating rooms ~ 4 obstetrical emergency rooms ~ 7 postpartum rooms We’ve recruited fantastic physicians, nurses, and staff who specialize in obstetrics, lactation and newborn care. We couldn’t be more excited to launch our new addition — in true Eisenhower style, we’re sure it will exceed expecations! We look forward to helping our community’s expectant parents bring new life to the Coachella Valley.

Are you expecting? Online registration will be accepted in late 2020 for births in the new year.

Learn more and sign up for updates at EisenhowerHealth.org/babies.

Rancho Mirage

EisenhowerHealth.org/babies CVIndependent.com

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DECEMBER 2020

NEWS WAVE OF THE FUTURE? T

Proponents of the Thermal Beach Club say the luxury project will benefit the entire eastern Coachella Valley—but not all residents are convinced

by kevin fitzgerald

he surf is about to be up in the Coachella Valley.

The Thermal Beach Club is a private residential/vacation community being developed on the privately held Kohl Ranch land, just north of the Salton Sea. The developers hope its beaches and waves are open by 2023 to members—people who can either pay $1 million or more for one of the 326 homes, or $175,000 annually for a non-resident club membership.

Not surprisingly, some current residents of the Thermal and Oasis communities are dismayed by that prospect—and the marketing push being employed by their new neighbor has exacerbated their misgivings. That marketing promises an opulent lifestyle characterized as: “Adventure living. clean drinking water. I understand that we need Wrapped in luxury.” Artist renderings and a promotional video reveal a 20-acre pool that will housing opportunities, and we need infrastructure as well as more community centers and feature a continuous stream of waves in excess parks. We’ve had a few listening sessions to have of six feet each. those discussions, and obviously, we’re going “Our communities have remained undefendto have more of them. COVID-19 put a stop to ed for generations,” said a representative of the that process. But, at the same time, when I think grassroots east valley activist organization No about all of this, the county is in a very limited Se Vende who requested anonymity. “It wasn’t position to make those type of (infrastructure) just during my parents’ or my grandparents’ investments, especially now because of COVID. time. This is a longstanding issue of not priorSo, unfortunately, we have to rely on developitizing our needs, and not engaging with the ment from the private sector to ensure that we (challenges) we go through on day-to-day basis. are able to provide the amenities, and frankly, Obviously, this Thermal Beach Club project viewed our community as an afterthought. And, the basic necessities, that our people deserve. …

My colleagues on the Riverside County Board of obviously, with such a high membership fee, Supervisors were amazed by what the developer the people of Thermal, especially (many) who was willing to do (for surrounding communities), are undocumented and part of the farmworker aside from the usual costs of paying for permits community, will never be able to access this.” and development impact fees. They’re demonBut proponents of the project—including strating that the Kohl family members want to six of the seven members of the Thermal-Oasis be good neighbors.”

Community Council, as well as all five members Those benefits include a commitment to of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors— install water and sewer pipelines and hookups view the buildout, in a disadvantaged region of to connect with existing Coachella Valley Water Coachella Valley, as an opportunity that could District infrastructure in the area; a commujumpstart improvement in the area. nity benefit fund into which the Kohl family, “Honestly, it’s a gut-wrenching scenario that through the developers, will pay $2,300 per takes place time and time again when we’re unit, for a maximum of $750,000; a written talking about land use,” said Riverside County “good faith” commitment to engage in a diaDistrict 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Mind logue with the Board of Supervisors to identify you, when we talk about the disadvantaged land that can be utilized for affordable houscommunities of the east end (of Coachella Valing, with access to the new water and sewer ley), this particular issue had folks in support infrastructure; a promise to hire local workers as well as against. On the ‘against’ side were the for 200 to 400 permanent jobs created by the younger activists, while the support came more from individuals who are a bit older and want to project; a promise to procure materials and equipment locally; a promise to work with Dessee development. And it’s interesting, because ert Mirage High School to enable student access if you look at the Thermal-Oasis Community to the TBC facilities to learn how to surf; and Council, there was a … vote in support of the county property-tax revenue that could eventuproject, and we’re talking about individuals who ally total $8.7 million annually. grew up on the east end and, quite frankly, indiOther opponents to the TBC development viduals who also own polanco (mobile home) questioned whether there is enough water availparks, who see the importance of bringing in able to support the development. But according infrastructure. The challenge is how to do that to Katie Evans, communications and conserwith limited resources. vation director at the Coachella Valley Water “So, I do look at this through the lens of social District, that is not an issue. justice, like those individuals who are against “The Coachella Valley Water District is not a this project, but I see how we get there from a land-use agency, and doesn’t have the authority different standpoint. I understand that we need CVIndependent.com

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

An artists’ rendition of the Thermal Beach Club.

to approve or deny any type of development,” Evans said. “Instead, our role is to evaluate the water-supply assessment and then provide the information to the land agency about our findings. Whenever a development comes in, they are required to evaluate the amount of water they are going to be using through formulas, and (by studying) past demand, building practices and plumbing codes, and provide that information to CVWD. … We analyzed (the information from Thermal Beach Club), and we do have the water supply to meet that demand.”

Thermal-Oasis Community Council member Matthew Melkesian voted in favor of the project. He said he has a background in low-income housing development—he is currently installing 40 manufactured homes in the eastern valley for the Riverside County Housing Authority—and Melkesian was impressed by the flexibility and generosity of the Kohl Ranch representatives.

“Any time you are able to have a wealthy developer foot the bill on behalf of the community, we are going to welcome that with open arms,” Melkesian said. “The amount of offsite improvements that they have committed to doing is really such an asset and incredible for the community. It’s one of those things that, unfortunately, people and residents take for granted, or they do not know the difficulty involved in the process of developing anything.

That’s why I was one of the more-vocal advocates, because I have been a part of infrastructure and low-income housing projects.”

Did Melkesian believe that the young advocates who spoke out against the development were heard by the community council? “We appreciate the community’s involvement,” he said. “I’d like to see more members of the community continue their political advocacy and take it a step further: Don’t just get involved in one development or one case that became emblematic of many of our society’s problems.

We need to have our community speaking out

about what the community needs consistently.

It can’t just stop at this project. That’s the only way that lawmakers are going to make changes. … We need people to really speak up and say that we need low-income housing.”

Perez said a broader perspective is required to evaluate the community-changing potential of a development such as the Thermal Beach Club.

“We need mixed land use,” Perez said. “We need mixed income levels. We need mixed housing. We need diversity. Even the economists who are part of the UC Riverside economic forecasts have mentioned that: Moving forward, we can deal with society’s ills by being inclusionary of all these concepts. Quite honestly, I can say, having grown up on the east end of our valley, there’s a reason why it’s impoverished. There’s a reason why all of the development has been on the west end. … I’ve got to think about the fact that there were decisions made back in the day in which the east end was not included.”

Perez said he would ensure that the highly touted public benefits—some of which are described in rather vague terms in the current agreement—are fully realized.

“We made sure we got an agreement that within six months, we’ll start working on the specific plan, and that is going to provide us the opportunity to think about the acreage for affordable housing. Ultimately, what that means is re-writing the specific plan that was written 20 years ago. The developers agreed to that. Six months from now, if that doesn’t happen, that project, potentially, will not move forward. The same thing with the $750,000 community benefit fund. There will be checks and balances at the Board of Supervisors.

“Believe me, this was not easy. I’ve pondered it for over a year, and obviously, we want to make sure that we improve the conditions back home. I want to make sure I follow through on that. I think the east end deserves everything that the west end has. Why not?”

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

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SPORTS FOR ALL A

The goal of new nonprofit Palms to Pines Parasports is to bring athletics to Riverside County residents with a physical disability

by kevin fitzgerald

ccording to estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2014-2018 American Community Survey, there were 269,737 people with disabilities residing in Riverside County in 2018—representing 11.4 percent of the county’s total population.

More recently, the 2019 HARC Coachella Valley Community Health Survey reported that 74,389 people, or 21.8 percent of local adults, are limited in some way in their daily activities because of a physical, mental or emotional problem.

These Riverside County residents are the focus of the newly launched Palms to Pines Parasports (PPP) nonprofit organization. Driven by the indefatigable determination of board On the PPP website, the organization’s president and co-founder Michael Rosenkaspirations are spelled out: “Our purpose is to rantz, PPP announced its arrival with launch create a more-inclusive society by providing events in late October—one in Palm Desert, competitive and recreational opportunities for and the other in the city of Riverside. people with physical disabilities while instilling PPP’s goal is to serve the needs of adaptive a lifelong passion for wellness, helping athathletes—physically disabled individuals who letes realize their full potential. We envision participate in organized athletics. a world in which adaptive athletes have the “The idea is that we use sports as an entry same opportunities to lead as full a life as their point to leading a full life,” Rosenkrantz able-bodied peers. … We go to extraordinary explained during a recent interview. “So we lengths to identify potential and current athwant to create a lot of sports opportunities letes, (and) to meet them where they are in to get people with physical disabilities more their life journey. This means engaging with active, both physically and emotionally.” athletes and their families on the playing field, For several months, Rosenkrantz has in rehab facilities, hospitals, their homes and/ labored to recruit members to PPP’s fledgling or any other location that is comfortable.” board of directors and an advisory board. His Karina Melgar is the founder and director efforts have resulted in the establishment of a of the recently launched LEAPS Services, as 14-member board of directors that includes an well as a PPP board member. With more than array of local volunteers with relevant expera decade of experience working in the field of tise and skill sets.

“You know, due to COVID-19, there’s a num- special education, she was an early champion of Rosenkrantz’s vision. ber of (board members) I’ve never met yet,” “Mike and I began a conversation, because Rosenkrantz said. “We had a group of people PPP is focusing on (supporting individuals who I knew already, due to our work with peowith) physical disability, (while) I have so many ple who have disabilities. But we want to do more and provide more sporting opportunities, young adults that have these cognitive intellectual disabilities,” Melgar said during an interwith the real focus on the adaptive athletes. view. “Mike and I thought it would be great We want to create a more-welcoming environto bring both organizations together, because ment. Basically, through networking—talking to this person who says, ‘Talk to that person’— it can be a unique learning experience where (these two approaches) could help one another. it’s just grown. Everything is pointing in a posSince the individuals with cognitive intellectual itive direction.” disability are physically able, we can team them Most importantly, his early outreach efforts have succeeded in two invaluable relationships. up in pairs to work together in doing any of the physical activities (that PPP offers). Right “We already have partnerships with the city now, we’d like to empower the individuals with of Riverside Department of Parks and Recrephysical disabilities to help increase the comation, and an incredible one with the Desert munication (skills) of those individuals with Recreation District (here in Coachella Valley),” cognitive intellectual disability. Also, improving said Rosenkrantz, who previously worked at socialization can help individuals with cognithe Desert Ability Center. “Desert Rec has an adaptive-activities section with 14 sport wheel- tive intellectual disability to grow.”

It is this multi-pronged approach to improvchairs that we can use. We bring expertise in ing the lives of people with disabilities that terms of (conducting) various adaptive sports, makes PPP’s strategy distinctive. and the Desert Recreation District has all the “I was fortunate to be a part of the very infrastructure. The same is true with Riverside. first meetings where we started brainstorming We won’t have to go and look for gyms, when what these programs could look like,” Melgar they’re open. Right now, we’re able to use tensaid. “It was very exciting to see these endless nis courts or outdoor basketball courts.”

Palms to Pines Parasports’ adaptive-cycling participants gather for the organization’s debut cycling event.

opportunities coming to fruition. We don’t have something like this in our valley, so it’s great that PPP will make so much possible.”

Rosenkrantz and his team recently launched—and are actively recruiting participants for—an impressive list of weekly adaptive-sports activities, including wheelchair tennis and basketball, archery, cycling and boccia. Also being offered, especially during this pandemic time, are a selection of virtual quality-of-life engagement opportunities.

“We’ll be running outdoor activities where we social-distance and wear masks,” Rosenkrantz said. “People just can’t wait to come out.

But we’ve got to be aware of what’s happening (with COVID-19), so we just started doing a Zoom-Facebook Live (broadcast) every Friday morning at 9 a.m. to let people know about all the activities that are going on in the next week. So if someone wants to do something in person, they can, or if they’re more comfortable doing things online, there’s art stuff and baking stuff. There are support groups, fitness and gymnastics. We’re doing a ton of stuff, and there are a lot of people who can benefit from all of it.”

While the PPP board members and instructors are volunteering their services at this

stage, substantial funding will be needed to finance the extensive goals of this ambitious entity.

“The funding piece is an issue for every organization right now,” Rosenkrantz said. “…

We do have a GoFundMe campaign running.

People can make donations to that. Also, I’m working with Desert Rec and the city of Riverside to apply for grants through them in helping to run programs for them. It’s going to come together.

“There’s so much need. In doing our business plan, we did a competitive analysis, and in Riverside County—including the city of Riverside, where there are absolutely no adaptive sports—there’s this gigantic need that we’re hoping to fill. I’m really pleased to see all of this collaboration with all these groups coming together and understanding that it’s really all about the people that we’re serving. Yes, we want our organizations to be successful, but it’s more about getting people active.”

For more information, visit www.palmstopinesparasports.org or www.facebook.com/palmstopinesparasports. To contribute to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/ palms-to-pines-parasports.

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12 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

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UNSUNG HEROES H

by madeline zuckerman

orses are magic. Riders know that a horse and a human together can become another, greater, being.

Chase Berke is truly a magician. After being a volunteer with the organization for more than 25 years, Chase is currently the vice president and COO of the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy in Palm Desert. She also serves as the program director and lead instructor—and she is an expert at harnessing both the magic of the horses and the energy of some 140 other volunteers to change the lives of special-needs children and adults.

“We don’t put people on a horse to teach them to ride,” Berke says. “This program helps these individuals in so many facets of their lives— Buddy Berke, with his business, which was their mental, physical and emotional needs. Due then celebrating its 25th year in Los Angeles. to their many disabilities, these individuals will Buddy and Chase’s friendship blossomed never be cured, but there are so many worthafter two years—and they got married. Chase while benefits to our program. For example, became the vice president and successfully ran we have experienced at Pegasus people who are the business for another 25 years. confined to wheelchairs. When they get on our The Berkes lived in Los Angeles during the horses, they feel exhilarated—almost as if they workweek before traveling every weekend to are walking for the first time.” their “true home” in the desert. They were Berke was born and raised in the Philadelinvolved with several worthwhile charities in phia area, and moved to the Los Angeles area L.A., but Chase realized they would one day be in 1980 when she was in her mid-20s. She living full-time in the Coachella Valley, so she worked in modeling and management for a began looking for ways to give back to the comwhile, and then decided to help out a friend, munity here.

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding’s Chase Berke helps special-needs people via the magic of horses

Chase was always around special-needs children and adults while growing up, and she says she always felt like helping them was a “calling.”

Francis Allen, a lifelong friend of the Berkes, was responsible in 1995 for introducing Chase to the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy and to its amazing founder, Lori Sarner.

“As we turned onto the street that leads to Pegasus, known as Chase School Road, I knew this was going to be the right fit for me,” Chase says. “I have always loved charity work and giving service to people.

“At Pegasus, we do ‘heart’ work. The clients that come here are truly pure love, and I feel the clients give us more than we give them—and we give them everything. So you can imagine the joy we feel as volunteers.”

Lori Sarner had made Pegasus into one of the most unique charities within the Coachella Valley. One key reason why it is so successful: All donations to Pegasus go directly into its programs and classes—not toward administrative overhead. Berke was so impressed with Pegasus that she jumped right in, initially volunteering every weekend as a “side walker,” working in the arena with the horses and special-needs riders.

Maddy Maloney rides a horse at the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy.

CVIndependent.com

After about a year of volunteering, Sarner took Berke under her wing.

“Harvey, Lori’s husband, told me that Lori had never picked anyone to train to take over Pegasus, in the event she decided to step down or if something were to happen to her,” Berke says. “I was so honored when he said that—realizing that Lori had complete faith in me!”

Berke oversees the different equine-assisted therapies given to the riders. She is also in charge of the 140-plus volunteers, overseeing the volunteer coordinator and stable manager.

As the lead instructor, Berke is usually in the arena working with the horses, volunteers and riders during the half-hour classes, each of which has from four to seven riders. The organization’s first priority is to make sure everyone is safe at all times. When someone is put on a Pegasus horse, they are accompanied by two side walkers and a horse leader. The side walkers walk on each side of the horse, and help the rider with exercises.

“Some of the benefits of our program include the strengthening of muscles, strengthening of hand-and-eye coordination, and strengthening speech,” Berke says. “Our horses work all the riders’ muscles in the body, which might mean helping the muscles that are in distress, as well as keeping up the muscles that are good and strong. Our program is advantageous to these riders’ digestive systems, as well as to their balance. A lot of these special-needs children do not have good balance, and many of them cannot sit up on their own. The miracle of the Pegasus program is seeing these riders start to sit up on their own after a few months!”

Pegasus is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, and provides buses for special-needs children coming to and from schools throughout the Coachella Valley.

“Pegasus does not charge any money for people to be in our program,” Berke says. “We survive on grants and donations, and right now, we are not getting any grants or having any fundraising events, so Pegasus desperately needs donations to take care of the horses and the clients’ needs. We definitely need operating funds to stay open, and we always need more volunteers. These volunteers can be as young as 16 years of age, all the way up to people in their 80s.”

For more information on the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy, contact Kayla Pressman, the executive director, at 760-772-3057 or kayla@ pegasusridingacademy.org. Madeline Zuckerman is the owner and president of M. Zuckerman Marketing and Public Relations.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

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Jupiter overtakes Saturn less than a handful times in a lifespan— Planets and Bright Stars inofEvening Mid-Twilight For December, 2020 and that’s happening this month

DECEMBER ASTRONOMY I

This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

By Robert Victor

n December, Jupiter and Saturn appear strikingly close to each other, low in the southwestern sky at dusk. Jupiter’s crawl past Saturn, occurring at intervals of about 20 years, is the least-frequent pairing of naked-eye planets. After their very close pairing—just 0.1 degree apart on Dec. 21—their next conjunction will occur in 2040, with the next after that in 2060. However, on both of those occasions, the planets will get no closer than 1.1 degree apart.

In other words: We are about to witness their closest pairing since 1623! The youngsters among us can wait until 2080 to see the two giant planets as closely paired again.

The sky frequently offers up pairings of the moon with the five planets whose brightness and motions have attracted attention since ancient times; pairings and groupings of planets; and pairings of the moon and planets with Piscium on Dec. 4; within 6 degrees north the five stars of first magnitude within the of the gibbous moon on Dec. 23; 4.5 degrees well-known belt of zodiac constellations. south of 3.6-magnitude Eta Piscium on Evening planets: As mentioned above, Dec. 31; 2.5 degrees north of 4.3-magnitude Jupiter and Saturn form a striking, close pair Omicron Piscium on Jan. 1; and 1.6 degrees in the southwestern sky at dusk, within 2.2 north of 5.7-magnitude Uranus on Jan. 20. degrees on Dec. 1, closing to just more than Stars: The Summer Triangle of Vega, 6 arcminutes (0.1 degrees) apart on Monday, Altair and Deneb is well up in the western Dec. 21, and reopening to nearly 1.2 degrees sky at dusk, getting lower as the month apart on Dec. 31. From Dec. 12-29, the two progresses. Capella is ascending in the giant planets appear within a degree, easily northeast, while Fomalhaut goes from south fitting together within a low-power telescope to south-southwest. Aldebaran, at opposifield. Higher magnifications can show closer tion on Dec. 1, begins the month low in the views of Jupiter’s cloud belts, the system of east-northeast, ascending into the east, makfour Galilean satellites, and Saturn’s rings, 21 ing way for the rising of Orion’s Betelgeuse degrees from edge-on—all within one field! and Rigel (with his three-star belt between The pairing of Jupiter and Saturn in Caprithem) in the east. About two hours after cornus on Dec. 21 is their closest since their Orion’s rising, follow his belt down to the conjunction in Cancer in 1623. Jupiter-Sateast-southeastern horizon, and watch for the urn pairings occur at intervals of about 20 rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. years, moving more than two-thirds of the Morning planets: Venus, rising 2.2 to 1.5 way eastward (or nearly one-third of the way hours before sunrise, shines at magnitude -4 westward) around the zodiac on each succesin the east-southeast to southeast in twilight. sive occasion. At their next two pairings—in Going east 1 1/4 degrees daily, Venus passes Virgo, on the morning of Oct. 31, 2040, and 1.4 degrees north of 2.8-magnitude Alpha in Taurus, within 5 degrees south of the Librae on Dec. 3; within 0.2 degrees north of Pleiades on the evening of April 7, 2060— 2.6-magnitude Beta Scorpii on Dec. 18; and they’ll appear 1.1 degrees apart. This month, 5.6 degrees north of first-magnitude AntarJupiter, at magnitude -2.0, is the brightest es on Dec. 23. Mercury, 17 degrees to the evening “star,” following the sun over the lower left of Venus on Dec. 1, quickly drops west-southwestern horizon by 3.3 hours on into brighter twilight. Superior conjunction— Dec. 1; by 2.3 hours on Dec. 21; and 1.7 hours when Mercury and the Earth are on opposite on Dec. 31. Saturn, at magnitude +0.6, is sides of the sun—occurs Dec. 19. about one-tenth as bright.

Stars: Of winter’s bright stars in the westMars is high in the southeast sky at dusk. ern morning sky, only the arch of Procyon, Fading from magnitude -1.1 to -0.2 this Pollux, Castor and Capella remains visible month as the Earth pulls away, the red planet by month’s end. Regulus is high in the ranks next in brightness after Jupiter among southwest, to the upper left of the arch. Arcearly evening’s “stars.” It claims first place turus is high in the east, with Spica in the when Jupiter sets, but then drops back to sec- southeast to south-southeast, and Vega in the ond when Sirius appears in the east-southnortheast. Deneb appears to the lower left of east. All month, Mars is going 10 degrees east Vega. Antares emerges in the southeast late against the faint constellation Pisces; binocuin month. lars will help you enjoy these passages: Mars Planets near the moon: On Saturday, Dec. is 1 degree south of 4.3-magnitude Epsilon 12, at dawn, don’t miss the 6 percent old,

December's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

N

Castor

Capella

Pollux

Aldebaran

Betelgeuse

Deneb

Vega

E

W Rigel

1

Mars 8 15 22 29

Altair

Saturn 15 8 1 8 15 1 Jupiter

Fomalhaut

Evening mid-twilight occurs when Sun is 9O below horizon.

Dec. 1: 43 minutes after sunset. waning crescent moon, 3 degrees to the upper 15: 44 " " " right of Venus.31: On 44Dec. " 16 " at "dusk, catch a

2.4-day-old, 7 percent young waxing crescent moon within 5 degrees of and below Jupiter and Saturn. In this event, just five days before the planets’ Dec. 21 closest pairing, Jupiter and Saturn will appear one moon diameter— or just over one-half degree—apart! On Dec. 23 at dusk, catch the nine-day-old, 69 percent waxing gibbous moon within six degrees south of Mars.

To check for the post-pandemic resumption of star parties hosted by the Astronomical Society of the Desert, visit the club’s website at www.astrorx.org. Rancho Mirage Library’s Observatory is currently closed as well, although the library is open for checking out books during limited hours; visit www.

S

Jupiter 22 29 29 22 Saturn

Stereographic Projection Map by Robert D. Miller

ranchomiragelibrary.org/observatory.html for updates.

I originated the Abrams Planetarium’s monthly Sky Calendar in October 1968, and still produce issues occasionally. For subscription information and a sample, visit www. abramsplanetarium.org/skycalendar.

Wishing you clear skies!

Robert Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys providing informal sky watching opportunities for folks in and around Palm Springs. Robert D. Miller did graduate work in planetarium science and later astronomy and computer science at Michigan State University and remains active in research and public outreach in astronomy.

CVIndependent.com

14 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

ARTS BEST ART GALLERY

TIE CODA Gallery Shag

Runners up: 3. AutoErotica/ Michael Weems Collection 4. Heather James Fine Art 5. Melissa Morgan Gallery

BEST INDOOR VENUE

Palm Springs Art Museum Runners up: 2. McCallum Theatre 3. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace 4. Purple Room 5. The Hood Bar and Pizza 6. The Show at Agua Caliente

BEST OUTDOOR VENUE

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens We here at the Independent debated postponing our annual Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll this year.

Why? Well, COVID-19 has rocked the Coachella Valley—and a fair number of the businesses and organizations that are often winners and finalists in the Best of Coachella Valley are either closed or severely limited due to the pandemic. To put it mildly: It’s been a tough year.

There’s also a financial aspect. To be frank, this issue is normally a money-maker— something that helps fund our operations during the leaner times of the year. This year, we predicted—correctly—that we’d see a marked decrease in revenue for this Best of Coachella Valley issue, and wondered whether it was worth doing, given the amount of time, energy and money we put into it.

However, the more we thought about things, the more it became apparent: Postponing the Best of Coachella Valley poll would be a terrible idea—as there’s never been a more important time to shine a light on the valley’s best businesses, individuals and organizations, precisely because so many of us are struggling right now.

We also feel an obligation to present the Best of Coachella Valley as an antidote, of sorts, to the other publications’ “Best Of” polls—which sometimes have, well, odd results. For our Best of Coachella Valley poll, we ask each reader to vote only once per round, because our goal is to come up with a slate of truly excellent finalists and winners. The other polls have no such prohibition, because the goal of those polls is not to get a great slate of finalists and winners—the goal is for the publications to get as much web traffic as possible from readers visiting their websites over and over again to vote.

To the many, many readers out there who voted this year: Thank you. And to the winners and finalists whose names appear in the following pages: Congratulations, and thank you helping make the Coachella Valley such an amazing place to live.

Welcome, everyone, to the Best of Coachella Valley 2020-2021.

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com CVIndependent.com

Runners up: 2. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace 3. Empire Polo Club 4. Fantasy Springs Rock Yard 5. Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre

BEST LOCAL ARTS GROUP/ ORGANIZATION

Palm Springs Art Museum

Runners up: 2. McCallum Theatre 3. Palm Springs Public Arts Commission 4. CREATE Center for the Arts 5. Old Town Artisan Studios

BEST LOCAL BAND

The Gand Band

Runners up: 2. Giselle Woo and the Night Owls 3. Desert Winds Freedom Band 4. The Flusters 5. Avenida Music

BEST LOCAL DJ

DJ Galaxy

Runners up: 2. DJ Baz/Barry Martin 3. Femme A 4. DJ Zephyr 5. Guy Worden

BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN (INDIVIDUAL)

Keisha D

Runners up: 2. Jesika von Rabbit 3. Giselle Woo 4. Chris Lomeli 5. Kal David

BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST

Shag

Runners up: 2. Phillip K. Smith III 3. Tysen Knight 4. Adam Enrique Rodriguez 5. Zach Fleming-Boyles

BEST LOCAL MOVIE THEATER

Mary Pickford Is D’Place Runners up: 2. Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center 3. Century La Quinta and XD 4. Century at The River and XD 5. Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 and IMAX 6. Tristone Palm Desert 10 Cinemas

BEST MUSEUM

Palm Springs Art Museum Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Air Museum 3. Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert 4. Cabot’s Pueblo Museum 5. Coachella Valley History Museum

BEST PRODUCING THEATER COMPANY

Palm Canyon Theatre

Runners up: 2. CVRep 3. Desert Rose Playhouse 4. Coyote Stageworks 5. Desert Ensemble Theatre Company 6. Dezart Performs

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

DECEMBER 2020

LIFE IN THE VALLEY BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST/ ADVOCACY GROUP/CHARITY

Palm Springs Animal Shelter Runners up: 2. Desert AIDS Project 3. LGBT Community Center of the Desert 4. FIND Food Bank 5. Well in the Desert 6. AAP-Food Samaritans

BEST GYM

World Gym

Runners up: 2. EOS Fitness 3. In-Shape 4. Planet Fitness 5. 24 Hour Fitness

BEST YOGA

Urban Yoga

Runners up: 2. Bikram Yoga Plus 3. Power Yoga Palm Springs 4. Desert Yoga Therapy 5. Hot Yoga Plus Palm Springs

BEST BOWLING ALLEY

Palm Springs Lanes

Runners up: 2. Fantasy Lanes Bowling 3. Canyon Lanes at Morongo

THE #1 CHOICE COMFORT AIR

BEST SEX TOY SHOP

Skitzo Kitty

Runners up: 2. Not So Innocent 3. Gear Leather and Fetish 4. Bear Wear 5. Q Trading Company

WE'RE #1 FOR A REASON

BEST AUTO REPAIR

Exotic Car Service

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Runners up: 2. Sergio’s Automotive 3. Kennard’s Automotive 4. Starrs Auto Repair 5. Cam Stone’s Automotive

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BEST CAR WASH

TIE Elephant Car Wash Quick Quack Car Wash Runners up: 3. Airport Quick Car Wash 4. Desert 100 Percent Hand Car Wash 5. La Quinta Car Wash

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL AND ADVENTURE PARK

4xFAR “Way back” in January, the inaugural 4xFAR Music and Adventure Festival came to Empire Grand Oasis. The announcement of the event took me by surprise, as the melding of music and adventure was a new concept—and the setting, in Thermal, seemed a bit odd.

But when I went to the festival, which was presented by Land Rover, it all Guillermo Prieto/Irockphotos.net made sense. The two-day event offered something for everyone, as music acts like Anderson .Paak and Mark Ronson shared the venue with an ax-throwing area and test drives of the 2020 Land Rover. While we never got to see what Coachella 2020 would have been like, it’s safe to say this festival was out to compete.

The future of 4xFAR is unknown, so music lovers and thrill seekers alike must keep their fingers crossed for a second coming of this unique fest.

—Matt King

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16 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST PLANT NURSERY

THANK YOU COACHELLA VALLEY

ERPS Wishes to Thank the Community and our Loyal Players for Voting us Best Indoor Activity for the 3rd Year in a Row. The Most Fun You’ll Have With Your Clothes Mask On! (760)779-8888

2500 N Palm Canyon Dr https://EscapePS.com

THANK YOU for voting us Best Marijuana Dispensary!

Moller’s Garden Center

KGAY 106.5

Runners up: 2. Moorten Botanical Garden 3. Desert Hot Springs Florist and Nursery 4. California Desert Nursery 5. Bob Williams Nursery

Runners up: 2. 107.3 Mod FM 3. 106.9 The Eagle 4. Mix 100.5 5. 93.7 KCLB

BEST PET SUPPLIES

Patrick Evans, CV 104.3

Runners up: 2. PetSmart 3. Petco 4. EarthWise Pet 5. PoshPetCare

Runners up: 2. John Taylor, I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast 3. Bradley Ryan, Mix 100.5 4. Jimi “Fitz” Fitzgerald, CV 104.3 5. TK, 93.7 KCLB

BEST ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT

BEST RETAIL MUSIC STORE

Faux Fur Ball (Palm Springs Animal Center) Runners up: 2. Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards (Desert AIDS Project) 3. Desert AIDS Walk 4. Evening Under the Stars (AAP-Food Samaritans) 5. Concert for Autism 6. McCallum Theatre Annual Gala

BEST PLACE TO GAMBLE

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage

BEST LOCAL TV NEWS

KESQ News Channel 3 Local family owned and operated License #C10-0000192 142 West Oasis Road, Palm Springs 760-318-1420

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BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

Bones-N-Scones

Runners up: 2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Palm Springs 3. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 4. Augustine Casino 5. Morongo Casino Resort

JOY OF LIFE WELLNESS CENTER

BEST RADIO STATION

Runner up: 2. NBC Palm Springs (KMIR Channel 6)

BEST LOCAL TV NEWS PERSONALITY

Palm Springs Vinyl Records and Collectibles Runners up: 2. Record Alley 3. Guitar Center

BEST COMICS/GAMES SHOP

Desert Oasis Comics

Runners up: 2. Interstellar Comic Books 3. Comic Asylum

BEST HOTEL POOL

Ace Hotel and Swim Club Runners up: 2. Kimpton Rowan 3. The Saguaro Palm Springs 4. Renaissance Esmerelda Resort and Spa 5. Renaissance Palm Springs

BEST INDOOR FUN/ACTIVITY

Escape Room Palm Springs Runners up: 2. Fantasy Lanes Bowling 3. Get Air Trampoline Park 4. Escape Games at The River

MARIJUANA Patrick Evans, KESQ News Channel 3 BEST DISPENSARY Runners up: 2. Bryan Gallo, formerly of NBC Palm Springs (KMIR Channel 6) 3. Karen Devine, KESQ News Channel 3 4. Gino LaMont, NBC Palm Springs (KMIR Channel 6) 5. Thalia Hayden, NBC Palm Springs (KMIR Channel 6)

Joy of Life Wellness Center Runners up: 2. PSA Organica 3. West Coast Cannabis Club 4. The Lighthouse 5. The Leaf El Paseo

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

DECEMBER 2020

BEST BANG FOR YOUR YEN

Misaki Sushi and Grill Tucked away in the back of the large strip mall at the southeast corner of Washington Street and Highway 111 in La Quinta sits Misaki Sushi and Grill. In pre-COVID times, the small, bustling eatery was packed with sushi and sashimi fans devouring some of the valley’s best fresh fish, served up in generous slices, at reasonable prices.

But if you’re looking for something beyond reasonable prices, Misaki’s house combo meal is a fantastic deal. For as little as $16, you get to choose one item from a group that includes beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, mixed tempura, gyoza and shumai; and one item from a second group, which includes a California roll, a spicy tuna roll, four pieces of nigiri sushi or six pieces of sashimi. (Some of these items come with an additional charge.) If you increase your expenditure by $3, can select a second item from that first group.

The phone-order and curbside pickup service—so important these days—offered by the Misaki staff is convenient and efficient. For people who want to dine at the restaurant, outdoor seating is available on the patio.

We should also note that the portions are rather large. More than once, the threeitem dinner combo option provided enough leftovers for a meal the next day.

—Kevin Fitzgerald

VALLEY PROFESSIONALS BEST DOCTOR

Dr. Laura Rush

Runners up: 2. Dr. Michael Jardula 3. Dr. Amanda Curnock 4. Dr. Tulika Singh 5. Dr. David Morris

BEST EYE DOCTOR

Milauskas Eye Institute Runners up: 2. Dr. Gregory McMahill (Costco) 3. Dr. David Esquibel (Desert Vision Optometry) 4. Dr. Keith Tokuhara (Desert Vision Center) 5. Dr. Gregory McFarland (Desert Eyecare Center)

BEST DENTIST/ ORTHODONTIST

Dr. Scott Shepherd (Palm Springs Family and Cosmetic Dentistry) Runners up: 2. D r. Bruce Baumann (Palm Desert Smiles) 3. D r. Carolyn Izu (Desert Dental Excellence) 4. Lake Dental Palm Springs 5. Hospitality Dental and Orthodontics

BEST PLASTIC SURGEON

Dr. Mark Sofonio

Runners up: 2. TIE Dr. Scott Aaronson Dr. Suzanne Quardt 4. Dr. Bruce Chisholm 5. Dr. Maria Lombardo

CVIndependent.com

18 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST PLACE TO FIND CONSIGNMENT TREASURES

Misty’s Consignments We’ve heard some horror stories about shady furniture-consignment stores in the Coachella Valley—but our experiences with Misty’s Consignments, occupying a rambling warehouse space on Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, have always been fantastic, on both the consignment and buying sides.

Whether we were dealing with Misty herself or a member of her staff, everyone has been helpful and pleasant. Misty has a reputation of being a bit picky about accepting consignments, but for good reason: Everything we’ve ever consigned there has sold in less time than we imagined.

Of all the furniture-consignment shops we’ve visited in these parts, Misty’s has the largest share of items for sale that make us say, “That’s interesting.” In other words: You don’t have to dig too hard to find the treasures at Misty’s.

—Jeffrey Clarkson

BEST ATTORNEY

Walker Clark

Shann Carr

Runners up: 2. Christopher Heritage 3. Eric Rudolph 4. Renell Burch 5. Thurman Arnold

Runners up: 2. Barbara Carpenter 3. Scott Histed 4. Paul Zapala 5. Gary Pisula

BEST AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE

BEST PUBLIC SERVANT

Comfort Air

Voted Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group/Charity and Best Annual Charity Event

Your support makes all this love possible!

Runners up: 2. General Air Conditioning 3. Timo’s Air Conditioning and Heating 4. Blair Heating and Air 5. Hyde’s Air Conditioning

Runners up: 2. Jaime Jimenez 3. Derek Falk 4. Jay Nixon 5. Michael Butler

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

TIE Dr. Gina Davis Dr. Stephanie Nazemi

psanimalshelter.org CVIndependent.com

Rep. Raul Ruiz

Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors 3. Palm Springs Councilmember Lisa Middleton 4. Sheriff Chad Bianco 5. La Quinta Councilmember Steve Sanchez

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Ted Guice

THANK YOU!

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Runners up: 3. Dr. Jim Cox 4. Dr. Naota Hashimoto 5. Dr. Terre York

FASHION AND STYLE BEST CLOTHING STORE (LOCALLY OWNED)

Trina Turk

Runners up: 2. Wil Stiles 3. R&R Men’s Wear 4. Kimbals 5. Riga Designs

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

DECEMBER 2020

BEST RESALE/ VINTAGE CLOTHING

Revivals

Runners up: 2. Angel View 3. The Frippery 4. Plato’s Closet 5. Iconic Atomic

BEST FURNITURE STORE

Revivals

Runners up: 2. H3K Home 3. West Elm 4. Mathis Brothers 5. Erik’s Furniture

BEST ANTIQUES/ COLLECTABLES STORE

Antique Galleries of Palm Springs Runners up: 2. Misty’s Consignments 3. The Estate Sale Co. 4. Sunny Dunes Antique Mall 5. Consign Design

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Leeds and Son Fine Jewelers Runners up: 2. Tiffany and Co. 3. El Paseo Jewelers 4. Hephaestus Jewelry 5. The Fine Jewelry Bar

BEST HAIR SALON

TIE Brien O’Brien Salon J. Russell! The Salon

Runners up: 3. Dishwater Blonde Salon 4. Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon 5. Jake Turner Salon

Thank you Coachella Valley ... for your confidence in me and your support!

I love my work and you are the reason why!

TedGuice.com • 831-236-6656 • Ted@TedGuice.com

BEST SPA IN A RESORT/HOTEL

Palm Springs Yacht Club at the Parker Palm Springs Runners up: 2. Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente 3. Spa at the Ritz-Carlton 4. A gua Serena Spa at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells 5. Omni Rancho Las Palmas

BEST WEIRD AL TRIBUTE

Finder’s Thrift and Vinyl/ Spatula City Records Finder’s Thrift and Vinyl is an absolute gem of a store that I discovered pre-pandemic. At the La Quinta spot, I was able to find everything from favorite albums for cheap to vintage Star Wars gear.

When the shutdown came, I—among others—worried how the independent store would fare.

Thankfully, owner Matt Lehman knew exactly what to do: He quickly transformed his large record selection into an online shop titled Spatula City Records. The same deals and finds from the store were made available online, complete with fast service and shipping right to one’s door.

The online shop’s name is an homage to Lehman’s hero, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and his film UHF. Check out the Spatula City Instagram, @spatulacityrecords, to see a photoshoot done in the store that features Yankovic records displayed on every shelf—and photo even got reposted by Weird Al himself.

—Matt King

The Valley’s Best Wine Bar 600 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA VWineLounge.com • 760-668-9665 V is open for outdoor dining, so call to reserve your table today!

CVIndependent.com

20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST LOCAL BAND

Whatever the Music Calls For The Gand Band looks forward to playing the songs of the 1960s for local audiences again one day soon

BY MATT KING The Gand Band has been a frequent performer in the Coachella Valley for years—during which the band has often kept the party going all night long.

The group, known for its unique and talented takes on 1960s cover songs, has been selected by Independent readers as this year’s Best Local Band. I recently spoke with Gary and Joan Gand via Zoom about the honor.

“I think it is so exciting,” Joan said. “I mean, it has been many years since we have been playing, and we see these contests come and go by, and we always kind of felt like maybe someday, we’ll be in one of these things. It is really welcome to get something like this to happen this year, especially since it is such a tough year for live music and for our band.”

Added Gary: “Yeah, it is really a thrill, because we have been at it for a really long time—you can tell,” he said, motioning to his long, white beard. “You know, we are not in it to win contests, but to make audiences happy. It is great when they respond to that.”

Joan said the band is a quartet—more or less.

“Gary plays the guitar, and I play keyboards, but a few years ago, I started playing bass on my keyboard as a way to keep the band smaller and to be in control,” Joan said. “We jam quite a bit, and when you are jamming, the bass player is very important, as they kind of lead where the song is going to go. We have two drummers that we work with. We actually have probably about six great drummers that have played with the Gand Band that we still stay in touch with … but it depends on who is available, who is on tour. Larry Mitchell is our main drummer; he plays with Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats, and when he is not on the road, he plays with us. We have various singers that appear with us, but our main singer is Dion Khan, and he is just a fantastic guy, a fantastic frontman. … Whatever the music calls for, whatever the show calls for, we’ll bring in people.”

The band is originally from Chicago, and the Gands made their mark in the Coachella Valley by bringing in some of that Chicago sound.

“When we first started playing in Palm Springs, the music scene was essentially made up of crooners—basically, singers accompanied by piano players doing a lot of Sinatra, Rat Pack stuff,” Gary said. “We thought that there was not enough R&B and Chicago blues around here. We are kids of the ’60s, so the music that we love is the music of the ’60s.”

Added Joan: “We were a blues band in Chicago for many, many years. We started coming out to Palm Springs for winters, and we thought it might be fun to see what the blues scene was like, so we showed up at a jam at one of the now-defunct clubs. It was a great place called The Blue Guitar. We sat in, and we had a great reception, and the music community was very welcoming. … We started playing a little bit at parties, and then we put a band together and started playing at venues. As we played, we discovered people loved blues, but they also loved having a little different music mixed in—some soul and Motown music, and some ’60s pop tunes, like Dusty Springfield. We just started expanding our horizons, and the audiences in Palm Springs loved that, so we just kept going.”

Gary sums up the band’s range thusly: “It was sort of like setting your iPod on 1961 to 1969. It was that whole gamut. So we could go anywhere from early Stax Records artists like Booker T. and the M.G.’s, to later ’60s with The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Cream. We really run the gamut from the Newport Jazz Festival to Woodstock.”

Incorporating their funky style into the scene wasn’t always easy.

“We were always told to turn it down,” said Joan. “We ran into that several times. We changed venues because of that. If they didn’t like it, we moved on.”

Added Gary: “Our basic formula was, if you can’t hear it, you can’t dance to it—and if you can’t dance to it, then you shouldn’t be coming to see us, because we want to see you on the dance floor. We don’t want to see you sitting in your seats talking to each other or trying to hook up. We are not background music.”

The band played every Thursday for several years at Oscar’s in downtown Palm Springs.

“On that patio, we could do anything,” Joan said. “During street fair night, we would get fantastic audiences every week of both locals and visitors. We ended up seeing people come back CVIndependent.com

One iteration of the Gand Band features Dion Khan on vocals, Sal Frisaura on drums, Joan Gand on keyboards and Gary Gand on guitar.

year after year, because they would book their vacation in Palm Springs every year and see the Gand Band as part of their vacation.”

The Gands said Oscar’s plays an important role in an upcoming project.

“We recently put on a concert which we filmed with Trini Lopez, who had some big folk-rock hits in the early 1960s,” Gary said. “He turned out to be our next-door neighbor.”

Added Joan: “He lived two houses down from us, and he was in his late 70s when we first met him. He was quite the star in the ’60s, and he still could sing great, so we had him do little guest spots with us.”

Said Gary: “Whenever we would get together with Trini, he would tell us these great stories about how Frank Sinatra signed him to his record label. Sinatra had his own record label called Reprise, and Trini was the first rock act on Reprise, because it used to be all Sinatra’s Rat Pack friends. … Whenever we would get together, he would tell us all the stories about all the famous people that used to come see him—Steve McQueen, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, all of the big stars from the early ’60s.

The Gands wanted to give Lopez the respect they felt he deserved.

“After telling us all these stories for so many years, and singing a few songs with us here and there, we teamed up with some local documentary filmmakers in Palm Springs,” Joan said; the film will be titled My Name Is Lopez. “They recently did a movie called House of Cardin that played in Palm Springs and was very popular. We asked them to create a documentary about Trini Lopez’s life and his experiences, and film a live concert at Oscars. We did this in 2019, and the film is now in post-production. It has taken a while, but it is going to be fantastic. We have both vintage footage and a concert that we all did together.

“He unfortunately passed away from COVID in August. That was really sad, so the film is even more important to us. We’re so glad we were able to capture his excitement on film, even when he was 83.”

Before the shutdown, the Gand Band regularly performed at theme nights at PS Underground.

“They do a really unique thing where they do a multi-course gourmet dinner, coordinated with music to a theme,” Joan said. “We were able to write our own shows to do there. We would come in and say, ‘We want to do a 1960s variety show kind of thing called The Beat, and these are the kinds of songs we would like to do, and these are the kinds of performers we would like to have.’

They would coordinate the food and have some 1960s recipes, and they also have great light projection, so we were able to project a lot of cool graphics on the wall behind us.”

While other bands have experimented with live-streamed shows, the Gands said they plan on holding off until performances can be held in person.

“We just really like playing for people, and when you are sitting in your room playing to a television camera and there is no interaction, that really doesn’t turn us on,” Gary said. “We are really there for the audience and the live performance and the interaction with the people— applauding at the end, and the whole thing.”

For more information, visit www.thegandband.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

DECEMBER 2020

BEST DAY SPA (NON-RESORT/HOTEL)

Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon Runners up: 2. Massage Envy 3. Studio M Salon and Spa 4. La Quinta Medspa 5. Bliss Chakra Spa

BEST FLORIST

My Little Flower Shop Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Florist 3. Jensen’s Foods 4. Rancho Mirage Florist 5. Vaso Bello Celebrations

BEST TATTOO PARLOR

Cactus Tattoo Parlor

Runners up: 2. Anarchy and Ink Tattoo 3. Adornment Piercing and Private Tattoo 4. Heatstroke Tattoo 5. Strata Tattoo Lab

BEST EYEGLASS/ OPTICAL RETAILER

Desert Vision Center

OUTSIDE! BEST PUBLIC GARDEN

Sunnylands

Runners up: 2. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 3. Moorten Botanical Garden 4. Wellness Park at Ruth Hardy Park 5. F aye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert

BEST PLACE FOR BICYCLING

CV Link

Runners up: 2. Tahquitz Creek Loop 3. La Quinta Cove 4. Joshua Tree

BEST RECREATION AREA

Joshua Tree National Park

Runners up: 2. Indian Canyons 3. Whitewater Preserve 4. Mount San Jacinto State Park 5. Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area

Runners up: 2. Ooh La La De Paris Eyewear 3. America’s Best 4. Panache Optical Gallery 5. CV Optometry

BEST LOCAL-RELEASE PROMO

Throw the Goat Throw the Goat is one of the hardest-working bands in our valley—and the restrictions of COVID-19 seemed like only a minor setback to the group.

Throw the Goat adapted to a new Keleigh Black reality when it came to promoting new album Capitol Hell. The band couldn’t perform shows or tour to promote the album— so the band created an online campaign called Vote Goat 2020. The Goat-bros filmed tons of behind-the-scenes content and issued it to fans who pre-ordered the album, along with posters, T-shirts, and stickers.

It’s safe to say that the members of Throw the Goat are ready for anything the world throws at them—because they’ve proven that nothing will stop them from getting their voices and music heard.

—Matt King CVIndependent.com

22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST LOCAL CHARITY/ BEST ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT

The Purrs and the Barks Have It The Palm Springs Animal Shelter works to make sure local pets and their humans get through the pandemic

BY KEVIN FITZGERALD The original Palm Springs Animal Shelter was built in 1961—and it was, according to the nonprofit organization’s website, “woefully inadequate in meeting the needs of the current animal population of Palm Springs.”

But that would eventually change. As the website says: “In 2009, the city of Palm Springs allocated $5 million in a capital improvement bond, and the process of designing a shelter that would stand as a model for Southern California began.” In November 2012, the Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter assumed operations of it from the city.

Eight years later, the readers of the Independent have again selected the Palm Springs Animal Shelter as the Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group/Charity, and the shelter’s major fundraising event—the Faux Fur Ball—as the Best Annual Charity Event.

“You know, I think one of the reasons that people might have voted for us this year is because of how we’ve been able to operate during this incredibly challenging time,” said Tamara Hedges, president of the PSAS board of directors. “It’s a credit to our executive director, Gabrielle Amster, her team and our volunteers that we’ve been able to continue to serve our community, and that we’ve been able to continue to do adoptions in a safe, controlled manner.

We’ve even been able to do our vaccine clinics, which are important, because they provide a low-cost option to make sure that folks can get the care they need (for their pets) during this time. So although it’s not been business as usual—far from it—we’ve still been able to be here for the pets and people in our community.”

In 2019, the shelter’s team accepted 687 pets that were surrendered voluntarily by their owners; 1,553 stray animals; and 178 pets that were returned by adopters. Through the end of October 2020, the shelter has taken in 537 pets surrendered by owners; 1,130 strays; and 168 adopter returns. While the pet in-take numbers are pretty much on a par with last year’s totals, Amster said pet adoptions have been on the rise so far this year.

“It’s like a 12 to 20 increase,” Amster said. “It’s about 20 percent for dog adoptions and 12 percent for cats.”

A few months ago, television outlets were reporting that some pet-adoption facilities had literally run out of animals suitable for adoption.

“We never ran out,” Amster said. “But we definitely worked to keep up with the demand. There have been times in the past where the demand was not enough for our (adoptable pet) population, but that did not happen during the pandemic. We definitely have had a lot of demand.”

Hedges said it’s good that the demand for adoptable pets is high.

“It’s been steady, and we’ve been able to do a lot of really positive match-making, and I think that has been so great for people who are looking for companionship during this time,” Hedges said, adding with a laugh: “I know my pets are saving me. Even though I live with my husband, he’s on my last nerve at this point, but the animals are always smiling.”

Joking aside, Hedges and Amster said they’re aware that the pandemic and the economic downturn have taken a physical and mental toll on both pets and their owners.

“We have to be really aware of the struggles that many in our community are experiencing because of COVID,” Hedges said, “whether it’s financial, or a short-term illness. Gabrielle and the team have really worked hard in the pet-retention arena. I think it’s an important part of our story that we are continuing to provide people with resources. Sometimes it’s as basic as providing them with pet food. Or, it could be advice we provide about care that’s needed by their pet. Or, it could involve behavioral issues.”

Added Amster: “Some of what we’re dealing with is the result of troubles that the humans have leading their lives, and that trickles down to the pet. People have been displaced, or they’ve lost their job and don’t have the resources they need to provide care for their pets.

That’s the sort of situation that we’re really trying to support. We don’t want to separate people from their pets, and we don’t want people to bring us their pets—that they love and want to have by their side—simply because they can’t afford to care for them. We want to make sure that people have access to low-cost vaccines, and spay-and-neuter services, and pet food. We CVIndependent.com

Two starving dogs are treated by a member of the shelter’s medical team.

want them to have access to behavioral help in case they’ve had to move to a smaller house, or move in with family members—their animal may need training help so that they can stay together in the new environment. Those are the sorts of things that we’re really focusing on.”

The shelter runs a pet food bank of its own, and partners with several local human-food providers (including the Mizell Senior Center Meals on Wheels program, the Desert AIDS Project and AAP-Food Samaritans) for distribution.

“On our website, we actually have an application for those who need pet-food help,” Amster said. “You don’t have to qualify for the program, but you do have to fill out the application, and then we reach out to each individual pet owner to provide them with the food their pet needs.”

Since the pandemic forced the cancellation of the Faux Fur Ball—it was scheduled for March 28—the shelter’s brain trust has been working to come up with an alternative strategy to raise much-needed funds.

“Rather than trying to do a virtual ball, we’re planning a new event,” Hedges said. “It’s called Palm Springs Animal Shelter Film Festival Presents: Love at the Drive-in. It is going to happen on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, and it will be at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The entertainment focus will the Bow Wow Film Festival, which is a curated, national touring film festival focused on the dog-and-person bond we all share—but there will be a cat film or two thrown in there, because many of us love both cats and dogs. We’re going to make it an old-fashioned, ’50s type of drive-in experience, with delicious box-meals from Lulu (California Bistro), who’ll be catering, and it’s going to be a blast. The program will be on a big stage with a movie screen behind, and the attendees will be able to view the films from their cars, as well as a short program we’re presenting. So, it’s all outside in cars and super safe.”

Sponsors will be signed up in January, and guest tickets will go on sale shortly thereafter.

Some of the money raised will hopefully be dedicated to a new program that provides funds to pet owners confronted with high veterinarian bills.

“We’re trying to (create a program that can offer aid) when pet owners come to us, and they’re surrendering a pet because they cannot afford to help the pet with whatever medical needs it has,” Amster said. “They think that’s the only option they have, the only way their pet is going to get help. We really don’t want to see that happen. We hope that if an animal has a broken leg, or if it has a tumor that’s not life-threatening, rather than having us take that pet in, fixing its issues and then adopting it out to a complete stranger, we want to provide the care for that pet and return it to its owner. We realize that veterinary care is financially out of reach for a lot of pet owners, and it’s something we feel somewhat responsible for.”

Hedges promised that the Best Annual Charity Event will return as well.

“We’ll still bring back the Faux Fur Ball next fall or in 2022,” Hedges said, “but this (new event) will be its own thing, and it will be a lot of fun. We’ll do some fundraising, friendbuilding and celebrating, because despite all that is hanging over our daily lives, there’s still a lot of love and joy. We see it every day at our shelter.”

For more information, visit psanimalshelter.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

DECEMBER 2020

BEST HIKE

Indian Canyons Runners up: 2. Bump and Grind Trail 3. Cross Trail Loop 4. Museum Trail 5. Art Smith Trail

BEST PARK

Ruth Hardy Park Runners up: 2. Palm Desert Civic Center Park 3. Whitewater Park (Rancho Mirage Community Park) 4. La Quinta Civic Center Park 5. Panorama Park

BEST OUTDOOR/ CAMPING GEAR STORE

Big 5 Sporting Goods

Runners up: 2. Running Wild 3. Dick’s Sporting Goods 4. Yellow Mart

BEST BIKE SHOP

Palm Springs/Palm Desert Cyclery Runners up: 2. Bike Palm Springs 3. Joel’s Bicycle Shop 4. Tri-A-Bike 5. BikeMan

BEST SPORTING GOODS

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Runners up: 2. Big 5 Sporting Goods 3. Pete Carlson’s Golf and Tennis 4. Yellow Mart

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

Desert Willow Golf Resort Runners up: 2. Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort 3. Indian Wells Golf Resort 4. Classic Club Golf 5. Desert Dunes Golf

FOR THE KIDS BEST PLAYGROUND

Ruth Hardy Park

Runners up: 2. Palm Desert Civic Center Park 3. Demuth Park 4. La Quinta Civic Center Park 5. Ironwood Park

The Best Margarita in the Coachella Valley

BEST PLACE TO BUY TOYS

Target

Runners up: 2.The Lumpy Bunny 3. TIE JadaBug’s Kids Boutique Walmart

BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE

TIE JadaBug’s Kids Boutique Target Runners up: 3. The Lumpy Bunny 4. The Children’s Place 5. Carter’s

BEST RESTAURANT FOR KIDS

Chuck E. Cheese’s

Runners up: 2. Red Robin 3. Old Spaghetti Factory 4. Jackalope Ranch

BEST PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN

The world-famous Wild Coyote Margarita is made from a secret family recipe. The amazing blend of flavors will make you howl!

Explore our expansive and lush outdoor patios—the perfect place for the happiest of safe gatherings.

Our exquisite menu features specialties such as pollo cilantro, seafood enchiladas, chipotle ribs, ceviche, mole and so much more! For the holidays, order our tamale packs, custom made for you!

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Runners up: 2. C hildren’s Discovery Museum of the Desert 3. Boomers 4. Escape Room Palm Springs 5. Get Air Trampoline Park

BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Runners up: 2. Chuck E. Cheese’s 3. Boomers 4. Get Air Trampoline Park 5. Shakey’s Pizza

445 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 760-327-1196 • www.bluecoyotegrill.com Outdoor dining • To-Go • Delivery via Grubhub and Uber Eats CVIndependent.com

24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

FOOD AND RESTAURANTS BEST CASUAL EATS

Bongo Johnny’s

Runners up: 2. Trio Restaurant 3. Lulu California Bistro 4. Eureka!

5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

BEST CATERER

Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge Runners up: 2. Lulu California Bistro 3. Lynn Hammond Catering 4. Carousel Catering 5. Fusion Flair

BEST DINER

Sherman’s Deli and Bakery Runners up: 2. Rick’s Restaurant 3. Keedy’s Fountain Grill 4. John’s Restaurant 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

BEST ORGANIC FOOD STORE

Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Market Runners up: 2. Nature’s Health Food and Café 3. Whole Foods 4. Luscious Lorraine’s 5. Sprouts Farmers Market

BEST DELICATESSEN

Sherman’s Deli and Bakery Runners up: 2. Manhattan in the Desert 3. The Real Italian Deli 4. On the Mark 5. TKB Deli and Bakery

BEST EL PASEO RESTAURANT (NON-PRETENTIOUS CATEGORY)

The Fix Restaurant The El Paseo shopping district can feel a little pretentious—but it always feels comfortable at The Fix Restaurant, which is self-billed as “a modern California bistro.”

The new owner has done a great job of remodeling The Fix, which was previously a bakery-focused endeavor. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are light, bright, airy and modern. The menu selection is small yet extensive enough that most everyone can find something they’d want. One of my favorite menu items is the turkey cranberry melt sandwich—on multigrain bread, with copious amounts of turkey and cranberry cream cheese. The accompanying sweet potato fries are delicious.

However, what really blew me away is the service: On one visit, I felt like I was at a fancier restaurant when I got back to the table from the bathroom, and my cloth napkin had been neatly refolded on the table. The Fix is well-staffed, and everyone is friendly and professional. You can tell the hard-working owner, often behind the bar, has a lot of pride in his business.

Getting your fix at The Fix is not cheap, but it’s not too expensive, either—and it’s certainly well worth the money.

—Jeffrey Clarkson

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25

DECEMBER 2020

BEST BURGER

BEST NEW LOCAL ALBUM

Instigator, Necessary Evil As the members of Instigator grow older, their sound only gets better.

What started as a high school band has now morphed into one of the highlights of our music scene. The thrash-metal stylings of Instigator shine bright on their second LP, Necessary Evil—and the sound is matched only by the greats of the genre.

While the band was only able to perform live a handful of times everything GREG GENDRON closed, those shows proved that the explosiveness displayed on the record comes through just as powerfully in a live setting.

Hopefully one day soon, fans will be able to witness Instigator perform Necessary Evil live in its entirety.

—Matt King

BEST CUSTOM CAKES

BEST FROZEN YOGURT

Over the Rainbow

Jus Chillin’

2. TIE Nothing Bundt Cakes Sherman’s Deli and Bakery 4. Pastry Swan Bakery 5. Exquisite Desserts

Runners up: 2. Tutti Frutti 3. Beach House 4. TIE Yogurt Island Yogurtland

BEST DESSERTS

Sherman’s Deli and Bakery Runners up: 2. Over the Rainbow 3. Pastry Swan Bakery 4. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

BEST ICE CREAM/SHAKES

Kreem

Runners up: 2. Great Shakes 3. Ben and Jerry’s 4. Lappert’s Ice Cream 5. Ice Cream and Shop(pe) at Arrive

BEST DATE SHAKE

Shields Date Garden Runners up: 2. Hadley’s 3. Great Shakes 4. Windmill Market 5. Palm Greens Café

Café 54 at Augustine Casino

Runners up: 2. Tony’s Burgers 3. Eureka!

4. Grill-A-Burger 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

Runners up: 2. Three Palms Buffet at Agua Caliente 3. Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs 4. Emperor Buffet 5. Potrero Canyon Buffet at Morongo

BEST VEGGIE BURGER

BEST LOCAL COFFEE ROASTER

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen

Runners up: 2. Native Foods Café 3. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge 4. MidMod Café 5. Palm Greens Café

BEST SANDWICH

The Real Italian Deli Runners up: 2. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery 3. The Sandwich Spot 4. TKB Deli and Bakery 5. On the Mark

BEST PIZZA

Bill’s Pizza

Runners up: 2. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill 3. The Hood Bar and Pizza 4. Piero’s PizzaVino 5. Norma’s Italian Kitchen 6. Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta

BEST WINGS

BEST BAKERY

Smoke Tree BBQ

Runners up: 2. Aspen Mills 3. Townie Bagels, Bakery and Café 4. French Corner Café 5. Carousel Bakery

Runners up: 2. Wingstop 3. Café 54 at Augustine Casino 4. TIE Billy Q’s The Village Palm Springs

BEST BARBECUE

BEST BAGELS

Peninsula Pastries

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace Runners up: 2. Smoke Tree BBQ 3. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse 4. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit 5. Jackalope Ranch 6. CV BBQ

BEST BUFFET

Tyler’s Burgers

Townie Bagels, Bakery and Café Runners up: 2. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery 3. Manhattan in the Desert 4. Panera Bread

BEST SMOOTHIES

Fresh Juice Bar

Runners up: 2. Jamba 3. Palm Greens Café 4. Nature’s Health Food and Café 5. Fruit Wonders

Koffi

Runners up: 2. Joshua Tree Coffee Company 3. Coachella Valley Coffee Company

BEST COFFEE SHOP

Koffi

Runners up: 2. Ernest Coffee 3. IW Coffee 4. 4 Paws Coffee Co. 5. Just Java

BEST CALIFORNIA CUISINE

Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge Runners up: 2. Spencer’s Restaurant 3. Lulu California Bistro 4. Trio Restaurant 5. Acqua California Bistro

BEST BREAKFAST

Wilma and Frieda’s Runners up: 2. Cheeky’s 3. Sunshine Café 4. Louise’s Pantry 5. Bongo Johnny’s

BEST BRUNCH

Jake’s Palm Springs Runners up: 2. Wilma and Frieda’s 3. The Tropicale 4. Trio Restaurant 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

BEST CHINESE

Roly China Fusion Runners up: 2. City Wok 3. PF Chang’s 4. JOY at Fantasy Springs 5. New Fortune Asian Cuisine

CVIndependent.com

26 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN

Positively Talented Despite a year of illness and isolation, ‘Keisha D’ Mimms keeps on performing—and giving

BY MATT KING At a show I watched fairly recently (back when live music shows were still a thing), I witnessed a display of flashiness and soul unlike anything I had ever seen. The singer had immaculate pitch—and she created one of the most unique and pleasurable concert experiences I’ve ever experienced.

I got to meet the artist after the show, and her name was Keisha D—this year’s choice, by readers of the Independent, as the Best Local Musician.

I spoke to “Keisha D” Mimms over the phone recently— and had the pleasure of telling her about her win.

“Oh my goodness. That was worth waking up and taking a shower for!” Mimms said. “We’ve had COVID going on, and most people know I’ve been quite ill. Just to be thought of, and not forgotten, after trying to give something to them that they would enjoy—that just means a lot.”

Throughout her career, Mimms said she’s always strived to make her performances positive.

“I started singing at 13, and all I ever wanted to do was perform,” Mimms said. “I’ve been so blessed, because I’ve been able to do it since I was a kid, and travel and give back to communities. I did missionary work where I was a featured vocalist in different spots. It started out with singing ministry, and then I got into the classics and some pop music. It was always a positive spin.”

Keisha D has now been performing in the Coachella Valley for more than two decades.

“I didn’t come here to start a music career,” Mimms said. “I came here to slow down. I had always done real estate; my parents always told me to have a backup. I did commercial real estate with my family’s business. When I came out here, I ran a brokerage firm. I got started singing again through volunteering for a dance-team program. They would do musicals, and I would help with the musicals, and sing. The mothers would always ask if I was a professional, or why I wasn’t singing out here. The next thing you know, one of the mothers told me to do the McCallum Theatre’s Open Call. I didn’t even know what that was, so I looked it up. I got my entry in at 4:45—and it was a 5 o’clock cutoff time. I stood there in the office filling out forms and making sure I got in. I ended up winning for best vocals. That’s what really got me started here, singing those nights and having people go, ’Who’s that girl?’ Once I won, people started calling, and the McCallum asked for my permission to give my phone number out.

“After that, I hit the ground running. I was saying, ‘Sure I can sing for this; sure I can sing for that.’ The mayor of Palm Springs would ask me to sing at an event. I’ve even sung for his own wedding anniversary. I just started booking for all types of functions. Then I started working at a school, mentoring for music, theater and dance.”

Keisha D has kept performing despite struggles with serious illnesses.

“I’m under doctors’ care,” Mimms said. “It’s complicated, because there are so many things going on at once. I have pancreatic issues, and now I’m really suffering terribly with autoimmune disease, and it’s debilitating. I thought fighting with pancreatic cancer was brutal, but this has become outrageous. I’m still plugging away, though! They’re keeping me as comfortable as possible, and hopefully I’ll be able to do what I have to do until it’s time.

“I really need all the positives, because I live in pain every day. It’s a bit devastating. I look at footage from last year, and I’m onstage going back and forth, dancing, singing and laughing.

Today, I wouldn’t be able to do that. It’s difficult, but I’m positive that I still can do what I can do. I’m doing some virtual concerts, where now I just sit with my band. It’s a little more calm— not as much gyrating.”

The pandemic has not stopped Mimms from using her music as a positive force: Recent CVIndependent.com

virtual concerts have benefited other musicians.

“When I’m asked, I’ll do things at Frankie’s (Old World Italian Bakery and Café),” she said. “They are doing this thing called Project Bread, where they help musicians who don’t have income and are struggling. Some of us other musicians are going in and performing, and people are donating gift cards and money. Any musician can go over there and ask for $50 for groceries, or whatever they need. I’ve been doing shows for that cause. I’ll be performing there again Dec. 18.”

Her Keisha D Scholarship Fund, via the Foundation for the Palm Springs Unified School District, benefits “under-served minority students who are interested in pursuing their education in music and performing arts.”

“When I became sick, I realized I may not be singing or performing that much, so I wanted to leave something that would be ongoing forever,” Mimms said. “That’s when I created the Keisha D Scholarship Fund, when I realized that a lot of these kids in school don’t have the opportunity to get everything they need for college.

“It’s through the Palm Springs Unified School District. Every year, seniors can apply for the music scholarship and are allotted a certain amount of money, as long as they are going to a four-year university and have an acceptance letter. Anybody can go there (to www. psusdfoundation.net/donate) and donate any time they want. We always need to keep funds in there. My first recipient was Oliver Trinidad; he’s a horn player, and he went to Biola University. I wanted to be able to put something out there that will make a difference for young people.”

Keisha D expressed sadness about the way in which artists have been treated during the pandemic.

“It has been really difficult,” Mimms said. “Never in my lifetime would I think I’d see something like this, where we are not allowed to sing out in public—then to be told that musicians, on the totem pole of essential, are last. There are a lot of ways to do this thing safely, and keep us on the mark, especially if you’re doing things outside. I wish they would let us at least set up some Plexiglass and give the musicians an opportunity to get back out there.

Then again, I understand, and my doctor just told me I can’t even go out, because it’s that bad right now.

“It’s really funny, because I laugh at some of the artists who said that they couldn’t perform without an (in-person) audience in front of them. They must not be real performers then. It’s like television: How many times have you watched a live concert on TV and had a great time, because you got to see the artist you love performing? If you have the resources to do a virtual show, then get out there and reinvent yourself! There were over 3,000 views at my livestream show at Frankie’s, and I had many people say how great it was to see me, or how happy I made them. That’s what it’s about.”

Both fans and people unfamiliar with Keisha D can look forward to experiencing her talents on an upcoming live album.

“We’ve taken all the different venues I’ve sung at, cleaned up the music, and put it into a CD,” Mimms said. “Part of the proceeds will go to the Kiesha D Scholarship Fund, and another part will go to all of the musicians who participated in it. It was supposed to come out in October, but that didn’t happen, so now we’re shooting for January.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/keishad.sings or www.heartsofsoul.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 27

DECEMBER 2020

BEST GREEK

BEST PANDEMIC PASTIME

El Toro Flicks The year 2020 and the accompanying entertainment closures have revived many underutilized and older forms of media—including the drive-in movie theater.

Drive-in theaters have popped up around the Coachella Valley; after all, social distancing comes easy when you don’t have to leave your car. El Toro Flicks in Palm Desert has become a favorite of many drive-in-goers, both because of the venue and the movie selection—the theater is located at top of the art-covered Westfield Palm Desert parking garage, and the selection of movies ranges from old classics to newer gems.

It will be interesting to see whether the drive-in theater revival continues when regular movie theaters reopen for good. I, personally, hope it does: The format has advantages for introverts and germaphobes alike.

BEST ITALIAN

Evzin Mediterranean Cuisine

Il Corso

Runners up: 2. Nina’s Greek Cuisine 3. Santorini Gyro 4. Athena Gyro 5. Koutouki Greek Estiatorio

Runners up: 2. Ristorante Mamma Gina 3. Castelli’s Palm Desert 4. Mario’s Italian Cafe 5. Il Giardino

BEST FRENCH

Le Vallauris Restaurant Runners up: 2. Pomme Frite 3. L’Atelier Café 4. Cuistot Restaurant 5. Chez Pierre’s Bistro

BEST INDIAN

Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey Runners up: 2. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse 3. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar 4. Shabu Shabu Zen 5. Joyce’s Sushi

Monsoon Indian Cuisine Runners up: 2. India Oven 3. Its Taste of India

BEST JAPANESE

BEST KOREAN

Sam’s Korean BBQ and Teriyaki Grill Runners up: 2. Umami Seoul 3. JOY at Fantasy Springs 4. Maru Korean BBQ and Grill 5. K-Tofu House

—Matt King

J. Scott Shepherd, D.M.D.

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28 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

BEST STEAKS/STEAKHOUSE

LG’s Prime Steakhouse

Runners up: 2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3. The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente 4. Kaiser Grille 5. Morton’s The Steakhouse

BEST THEATRICAL TEAR-JERKER

Dezart Performs’ ‘Daniel’s Husband’ Independent theater critic Bonnie Gilgallon started off her review of the Dezart Performs production of Daniel’s Husband back in January with this: “Any professional critic worth his or her salt strives to be fair, tactful, entertaining and, most of all, honest.

DAVID A. LEE To regularly gush or fawn over productions would cause us to lose our credibility. But every now and then, a play comes along that leaves us no choice but to gush.”

I saw Daniel’s Husband myself—and Bonnie’s assessment is perfect.

The show starred local-theater icons David Youse and Michael Shaw as Mitch and Daniel, a couple that has been together for seven years—but the two have never married, despite the fact that same-sex marriage is currently legal in all 50 states.

The audience learns that Daniel badly wants to be married—but Mitch doesn’t care at all for the institution of marriage.

Of course, something happens in the play—flawlessly directed by Darin Anthony— that turns Mitch and Daniel’s lives upside down, shining a light on the importance of legalized marriage.

The performances by Youse and Shaw were amazing—Youse’s Mitch had a moment of grief and anger that constituted the most powerful scene I’ve ever seen on a local stage—and both Chuck Yates and Hanz Enyeart are fantastic in supporting roles, as is Deborah Harmon as Daniel’s mother.

Daniel’s Husband was performed on the Pearl McManus Theater stage only 11 months ago, but an unimaginable amount of turmoil has taken place in the United States since then. The pandemic has reminded everyone how vital it is for LGBTQ individuals to be able to make medical decisions on behalf of incapacitated partners—and the addition of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has made the nationwide existence of marriage equality seem rather tenuous. In other words, the messages in Michael McKeever’s script are rather prescient.

Kudos to Dezart Performs for bringing this powerful play to the Coachella Valley— and for leaving audience-goers gushing.

—Jimmy Boegle

BEST THAI

Thai Smile Palm Springs Runners up: 2. Pepper’s Thai Cuisine 3. Le Basil 4. My Thai 5. Blue Orchid

BEST VIETNAMESE

533 Viet Fusion

Runners up: 2. Rooster and the Pig 3. Pho Vu 4. JOY at Fantasy Springs 5. Fuzion Five

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen

Runners up: 2. Native Foods Café 3. Palm Greens Café 4. Nature’s Health Food and Café 5. Luscious Lorraine’s

BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT

Spencer’s Restaurant

Runners up: 2. Copley’s on Palm Canyon 3. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge 4. Le Vallauris Restaurant 5. Jillian’s

BEST OUTDOOR SEATING

Spencer’s Restaurant BEST SUSHI

BEST SEAFOOD

Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey

Fisherman’s Market and Grill

Runners up: 2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar 3. Dragon Sushi 4. Kiyosaku Restaurant 5. Joyce’s Sushi

Runners up: 2. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant 3. R uben and Ozzy’s Oyster Bar and Grill 4. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood Restaurant 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino

Runners up: 2. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge 3. Jackalope Ranch 4. The Tropicale 5. State Fare Bar + Kitchen at the Ritz-Carlton

BEST LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT

Paul Bar/Food

Runners up: 2. Blackbook 3. The Tropicale 4. Revel Public House 5. Café 54 at Augustine Casino CVIndependent.com

BEST MEXICAN

TIE El Mirasol Las Casuelas Terraza Runners up: 3. La Tablita 4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 5. Rincon Norteño

BEST SALSA

El Mirasol

Runners up: 2. Las Casuelas Terraza 3. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 4. Rincon Norteño 5. Armando’s Dakota Bar and Grill

BEST BURRITO

El Mirasol

Runners up: 2. El Ranchito Taco Shop 3. Las Casuelas Terraza 4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 5. Los Pepes Mexican Grill and Bar

SPIRITS AND NIGHTLIFE BEST BEER SELECTION

Yard House

Runners up: 2. Revel Public House 3. Eureka!

4. The Beer Hunter 5. Burgers and Beer

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

La Quinta Brewing Co.

Runners up: 2. Coachella Valley Brewing Co. 3. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse 4. Las Palmas Brewing 5. Desert Beer Company

BEST PLACE TO PLAY POOL/ BILLIARDS

The Hood Bar and Pizza Runners up: 2. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace 3. The Beer Hunter 4. AMP Sports Lounge 5. Neil’s Lounge

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

DECEMBER 2020

BEST COCKTAIL MENU

BEST HAPPY HOUR

BEST MARTINI

BEST WINE BAR

Seymour’s

Blackbook

Paul Bar/Food

V Wine Lounge

Runners up: 2. The Tropicale 3. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge 4. Trio Restaurant 5. Mr. Lyons Steak House

Runners up: 2. The Tropicale 3. Trio Restaurant 4. La Quinta Cliffhouse 5. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill

Runners up: 2. Melvyn’s Restaurant 3. The Tropicale 4. Spencer’s Restaurant 5. Lulu California Bistro 6. Zin American Bistro

Runners up: 2. Zin American Bistro 3. Dead or Alive 4. La Fe Wine Bar 5. Counter Reformation

BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS

BEST DIVE BAR

Paul Bar/Food

The Hood Bar and Pizza

Runners up: 2. Bootlegger Tiki 3. Seymour’s 4. Truss and Twine 5. Del Rey at the Villa Royale

Runners up: 2. Tool Shed 3. Fireside Lounge 4. Neil’s Lounge 5. Club 5

BEST GAY/LESBIAN BAR/CLUB

BEST MARGARITA

Hunters Palm Springs

Blue Coyote Grill

Runners up: 2. Blackbook 3. Chill Bar Palm Springs 4. Streetbar 5. The Roost

Runners up: 2. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill 3. El Mirasol 4. Las Casuelas Terraza 5. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 6. La Tablita

BEST NIGHTCLUB

Purple Room

Runners up: 2. TIE Chill Bar Palm Springs Hunters Palm Springs 4. The Nest 5. Copa Palm Springs

BEST SPORTS BAR

Big Rock Pub

Runners up: 2. The Beer Hunter 3. The Village Palm Springs 4. AMP Sports Lounge 5. Revel Public House

BEST WINE/ LIQUOR STORE

Total Wine and More Runners up: 2. BevMo! 3. On the Mark 4. Bouschet 5. Desert Wine Shop on 111

BEST BAR AMBIANCE

The Tropicale

Runners up: 2. Paul Bar/Food 3. Stacy’s Palm Springs 4. Counter Reformation 5. Del Rey at Villa Royale

THANK YOU! We love cooking for you!

XO, Chef Tanya and the CTK Family

• Deli and Marketplace • Products also at Tower Markets • Stay Tuned for Palm Desert location announcement!

Deli and Marketplace 706 S Eugene Road Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-832-9007 www.cheftanyaskitchen.com

eat plants look good in your pants™

cheftanyaskitchen CVIndependent.com

30 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

#1 for What’s Happening In Greater Palm Springs

ARE YOU WORTH IT?

By Shonda Chase, FNP Nurse Practitioner, Co-owner, Artistic Director and Advanced Aesethetic Injector at Revive Wellness Centers in Palm Springs and Torrance, and Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center in Irvine

I

recently had a pa�ent. She came into the room with her mask on.

She had beau�ful “25-year-old” eyes. I checked her chart—and was surprised to see she was in her mid-40s. Then she took her mask off—and in two seconds, she went from looking 25 to looking like she was in her late 40s.

I had another pa�ent in her early 30s; I had done her lips, but she had not started taking care of her upper face—so the rest of her face looked older than her lips and mouth.

I see this every day: Some of my pa�ents are taking care of one to three issues while neglec�ng other aging areas. What are you taking care of—and what are you le�ng age faster than you feel? Here’s a checklist to do your own self-evalua�on: Upper Face Mid Face Lower Face Eyes Earlobes Mouth and/or Lips

Find Us/Follow Us!

@ILoveGayPS

CVIndependent.com

@GayDesertGuide #ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity

Jowels Neck Décolleté Arms Hands Skin Tone/Melasma

Crepe-y Skin Abs and Body Unwanted hair Sexuality/Libido Emo�onal Happiness Well Being

I know that’s quite a list. Each area ages at a different rate for each person. As you take a second look at the list, ask yourself this ques�on: “Am I worth taking care of all of me?” If the answer is “Yes,” then here’s the answer to the ques�on I hear from some of my aesthe�c pa�ents every day: “How much is it going to cost?”

That answer is: “It depends on when you begin.” For most women here are real-world secret es�mates from when you begin: 20s = $5/day 30s = $7/day 40s = $10/day 50s = $12/day 60s+ = $15/day Can this be true? Yes! The earlier you begin, the sooner you fix those costs for the rest of your life. I have a pa�ent in her early 40s who has been with me for 15 years. She s�ll gets carded regularly.

Her cost to stay looking barely 21 is s�ll only about $5 per day.

You can call any of our offices for your free consulta�on if you want to know why now is a good �me to improve your appearance. Our Revive Wellness Center in Palm Springs can be reached at 760-3254800, or at www.revivecenter.com.

Next month, I’ll share with you the secret drugs that help improve our sexuality, libido, emo�onal happiness and well-being.

Un�l then, keep the secrets.

You can email your individual ques�ons to Shonda Chase FNP, or Allan Y. Wu MD, Revive’s cosme�c surgeon, at shonda@revivecenter.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 31

DECEMBER 2020

ARTS & CULTURE CONNECTION THROUGH CRAFT A

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

The MAEX Academy, an artsfocused nonprofit, commissions a painting with a message of unity

By matt king

rt adds color to our life. Imagine how dark and gloomy the world would be without music, movies, paintings, books and other forms of artistic expression.

The MAEX Academy is doing its part to ensure that our world doesn’t turn gray. The nonprofit organization—whose mission “is to advocate for the artistic enrichment of the youth and community” via workshops, panels and public art—recently commissioned an art piece that showcases the power of the arts.

According to a press release, the goal of “Unite”—a 5-by-3-foot aerosol paint on board and canvas painted by Rick Rodriguez—is “to commemorate the current state of affairs and remind us of about the political connotations of the word the common practice of coming together as a ‘unity.’ We started pitching around a couple community and supporting one another as we of words, and I suggested ‘unite.’ It felt a little move forward as one. The message implores more unassociated, and that was really the idea us to UNITE in a state of mutual sympathy or behind the concept—to create a piece to get empathy for our neighbors that have faced the people together during this pandemic.” most adversity in this trying time.”

Adney originally had bigger ideas for the The press release continues: “The Old project.

English-style typography is mostly associated “I sent out an email survey to local people, with Latin American street subculture and and was thinking of having a quote that talked Chicano artist movements representing the about social justice and equality,” said Adney. “I artist’s American heritage. These colors were got feedback from 31 people with suggestions, chosen for their given meanings: the red, to but then I realized a quote would be too long represent passion and love; the yellow, to for a sign, so we decided to just have one word. represent optimism and enlightenment; and We didn’t want to be political or create any the orange, to represent happiness, encourageanimosity; we just wanted to create a sense ment and creativity. These are all ideals that of community and positivity, and get beyond we can share together as a collective and are to the stress of things. We sent out more surveys remind us of what it truly means to be part of looking for one word. a community.”

“That’s how it evolved. It was with a lot I spoke to two people related to the project, of local input, which was nice, because it got Rowland Gomez and Carol Adney. people thinking about the whole concept. I “It was my idea from the start,” said Adney. wanted a local involvement. We have a large “I was anxious and distressed by COVID, Hispanic community in the Coachella Valley, and when the murders (that launched this and I wanted that community to be involved. summer’s Black Lives Matter protests) hapAmy Lawrence from the city of Palm Desert pened, I became more distressed. I wanted recommended I talk to Pete Salcido at the Flat to think of something I could do about what Black shop. Pete helped me find an artist, Rick was going on. A long time ago, when I was an Rodriguez.” artist-in-residence in Indianapolis, I headed a Gomez said the piece was originally slated program to have artists paint actual billboard to be a mural at the Westfield Palm Desert, but paper, which was then mounted on billat the last minute, mall management changed boards around the city. There were about 40 its mind. paintings that went up around the city. That “I thought to myself, ‘What’s another way came to mind, and most of my life has been to share public art? Rather than a mural on involved in art, so that’s really my language. a wall, what if we used an alternative? SomeI thought we should do something where we thing we can display on a wall instead?’ So could make a piece of art that talks about eventually, it became a canvas.” social justice and respect.”

The work has a temporary home at Flat Gomez, the founder of MAEX Academy, said Black, which is located at the Westfield Palm he got involved in the project a little later.

Desert.

“The concept was created by Carol and a “I wanted to find a place to put this in the couple of her colleagues in the art community, community so people would get the concept,” as well as Pete Salcido (a street artist who runs Flat Black Art Supplies),” Gomez said. “Initially, Adney said. “We want have it at temporary locations, in as many places as we can get it. I this project was going to be a mural, and it was talked to a billboard company, and possibly in going to be called ‘Unity.’ Pete reached out to me, and then I got involved. We started talking June and July, it would be mounted on a bill-

“Unite” by Rick Rodriguez.

board here locally. Someone from a TV station was interested, and we might persuade them to come and cover the next place we have it installed.”

Said Gomez: “The goal of this public piece is that it’s a call to action. It’s with the MAEX Academy. Everyone that’s involved in the organization is highly creative. The concept of this piece is to create a space to unite amongst artists. … The goal is to share this concept of unity, and to hang it and display it publicly.”

The MAEX Academy is also working on a series of free workshops for all forms of art.

“This first workshop will be a virtual poetry workshop,” said Gomez. “The goal is to shoot it right after Thanksgiving, and it will be instructed by Michael Cuevas, who works for the Palm Springs Unified School District. There are a lot of different styles and mediums of art, so the workshops themselves will be an introduction to art. … We did a pop-locking (dance) workshop for last year’s edition of the STREET music and arts festival at the Westfield mall, so that’s another medium we’ll be exploring.”

The pandemic is forcing these workshops to be virtual for now. Gomez said he welcomes this use of technology.

“With incorporating technology, you gear toward people who are in the educational system now, like these young individuals,” said Gomez. “It’s also young professionals, like college students, as well as your average, everyday working individual in their 20s and 30s.”

Gomez said he believes arts can even be therapy, of sorts, leading to better mental

health.

“I started working for the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley in 2010, and at the Indio Teen Center in 2009. I was in a recording-studio environment for both of those places. It was very interesting to see the types of students that would come in. … I could tell that working through these processes were very therapeutic and uplifting. I’ve had exchanges with different students I’ve worked with in the past, and they let me know how being in the recording studio created a space for them to grow and expand. You don’t have to become a professional at this form of expression, but there are definitely parallels that you can apply and find to build other values, morals and skill sets in your own life.

“Mental health isn’t age-related, so something like that is really to create the means for even adults to express themselves, and to explore something that they had interest in, but never had resources. The goal is to create the resource, and allow people to tap into things.”

As for “Unite” piece, the organization is actively looking for new places to host it.

“We’re hoping to gain some community support. We’ve been in contact with the city of Palm Desert to see if we can find a wall,” said Gomez. “We’re still looking to the community to gain support to actually transfer this canvas piece onto a wall.”

For more information, visit www.maexacademy.org.

CVIndependent.com

32 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

ARTS & CULTURE

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/ARTS-AND-CULTURE

DISCOVERING THE DRAINS T

By matthew O'Brien

he hundreds of people living in the flood channels of Las Vegas have provided one of the more fascinating and enduring international stories of the past two decades. This underground community has received plenty of news coverage and dramatic portrayals by the entertainment industry, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds and the Jason Bourne franchise.

What has gained less attention is how dozens of tunnel-dwellers have clawed their way out of the drains to create full lives.

Dark Days, Bright Nights, the follow-up to the best-selling Beneath the Neon, shares the harrowing North Las Vegas. stories of Sin City’s most marginalized people, Along with the Las Vegas Valley, which grew from bottoming out in homelessness to mendfrom a population of 750,000 in 1990 to more ing relationships with family and adjusting to than 2 million people, the flood system is conjobs, housing and sobriety. These redemption stantly expanding. The intricate web spans from stories cast light on a rarely seen side of Las mountain range to mountain range, like the Vegas and offer a portrait of homelessness lines on a palm, and currently consists of eighty and recovery in America. They are the happy, detention basins and 600 miles of channel, non-Hollywood endings to the infamous tunnel roughly half of which are underground. tale, documented through stark photographs Despite these figures—and the crucial role and unflinchingly honest personal accounts. the drains play in the city’s functionality—the Below is an excerpted chapter from Dark flood channels are not a prominent feature of Days, Bright Nights, titled “Discovering the Vegas’ landscape or lore. They lie low, in offDrains Part 1.” the-beaten-path places, blocked off by walls and chain-link fences or camouflaged by the beige o understand the landscape of the Las desert floor.

Vegas Valley, as I explained in my book Which begs the question, “How did you disBeneath the Neon, simply look at the palm of cover the storm drains?” your hand. The mounds on the perimeter of the palm are the mountain ranges surrounding Szmauz, 24, a rock musician from the the valley. The concave interior is the basin mountains of New Hampshire, had a viofloor. The lines are flood channels, the more lent and unforgettable introduction to the prominent ones primary washes that widen and deepen over time. Like a palm, the valley is drains: I was giving this other homeless guy hot dogs I’d found in a dumpster near Tropicana enclosed except for a shallow groove in a botand McLeod, and out of the corner of my eye tom corner. The Las Vegas Wash, which marks I see this big guy come over, and he decks me. the basin’s lowest elevation, drains through The hot dogs go flying. I was stunned. It took this groove into Lake Mead. me a second to realize I just got hit in the face.

Located in the heart of the Mojave—the He starts wailing on me and I fight back. I’m driest desert in North America—Las Vegas is not a small guy, so he took off. lethally hot and arid. Its average high temperaI had this meat cleaver on me, and I’m chasture in June, July and August is 102 degrees ing him down the street with it. The drug dealFahrenheit. The average yearly rainfall is only 4 ers that lived in the shitty apartments nearby inches, most of which falls during the so-called knew me. I was a loyal customer of theirs. They monsoon season, when Vegas is susceptible to were like, “Dude, what’s up?” flash floods. The asphalt, concrete and hardpan I said, “Get that guy!” desert soil absorb little water. The slopes of the We’re all chasing him, and he dipped through basin carry it onto streets and into natural flood a hole in a fence and went down into a wash and channels, toward the Las Vegas Wash, at speeds into a tunnel. We all stopped. We’re like, We’re exceeding 25 mph. not going in there!

In 1985, after a series of floods crippled Las And that’s how I discovered the tunnels.

Vegas, the state Legislature created the Clark County Regional Flood Control District. The Barry, 48, a sex offender from Howell, goal was to reduce flooding by building a netMich., came to Las Vegas after an 18-year work of channels. It was Southern Nevada’s incarceration: In prison I’d seen that show first coordinated attempt to control flooding, Modern Marvels on the History Channel, and which had only been done piecemeal by various they talked about the flood channels, so when I entities, including Clark County, Las Vegas and

T

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An excerpt from Matthew O’Brien’s ‘Dark Days, Bright Nights’

got to Vegas, I just walked around town looking for ’em. Down past the “Welcome” sign, I found one and figured I’d check it out.

It was dark, scary. I was wondering who I’d meet. Any decent people or just rats, spiders and trash. I had a flashlight on me. I always carry one.

That’s when I ran into Kregg. He’d lived down there a while and they called him “The Mayor.”

He had a wall of plastic up, and I knocked on it and talked to him for a couple minutes. Told him my name, where I was from, what I was in prison for, and his response was, “There’s room farther down to make a camp, but don’t tell no one what you were in prison for.”

Manny, 47, a member of the Tlingit Indian Tribe in Alaska, lived in the tunnels for 10 years: I knew about the ones by the Rio. Me and a girlfriend had stayed in them when we were young. I didn’t mind it, because I was with her, and we had one foot in and one out. We were just kids having fun.

But in 2001, I got into a fight. This dude was looking at me, and I was looking at him, then he started talking shit. I was a young man, and he was an older guy, and I beat him down. I thought that was it. I went to get a drink in Mermaids casino, and I come out, and I feel someone crack me from the side with a beer bottle.

I stumbled down to Bonneville Avenue. My tank top was soaked with blood. That’s as far as I got before I passed out.

When I woke up in the hospital the doctor said, “There’s a chance you’re going to lose sight in that eye.”

“What are the chances?”

“Ninety-nine percent.”

I ended up getting several stitches, and I lost sight in my left eye.

When I was released, I went to a buddy’s house, but I didn’t want to be a burden, and I didn’t feel like hustling wearing an eye patch.

That’s when I went back into the drains.

Half Pint, 58, from western Nebraska, got her street name because of her diminutive stature: My first night on the streets, I slept behind a dumpster at 7-Eleven, then I walked and ended up at Desert Breeze Park. I was so fucked up on pills. I woke up at the park tied to a bench, half naked. I had no idea what happened.

I kept walking, and somebody told me I could go down into this culvert, an open flood plain by the Orleans casino. There were three

Shaggy, 29, was a heroin addict in the tunnels from 2011 to 2014. Steve Fanell

big tunnels, and I went in the middle one and was immediately met by all sorts of spiders and weird smells. It was really dark, and my eyes had to adjust. I passed out.

When I woke, there were other people there.

“Hey, you all right? What are you doing here?”

One of the guys said, “You can’t stay here and puke all over our stuff. Get outta here!”

I started crying and he had a moment of sympathy. He said, “You don’t look like you belong here.”

“I don’t.” I gave him a sob story, and he offered me a crack pipe.

Shaggy, 29, was a heroin addict in the tunnels from 2011 to 2014. His mom, One Shoe Sue, also lived in the drains: I was going back and forth by bus between Summerlin and Henderson. It’d take about three hours. I’d panhandle and make 100 bucks, and I kept my backpack and sleeping bag on me, and I’d crash wherever I landed.

Eventually a few guys from the tunnels saw me panhandling near Eastern Avenue and the 215. They actually challenged me. They tried to get me to move from my spot. They said my time was up, but I wouldn’t leave.

Later that day. they sought me out and said, “Hey, man. You got heart. You should come down with us where you’re safe and out of the way.”

Excerpted from Dark Days, Bright Nights: Surviving the Las Vegas Storm Drains, by Matthew O’Brien. Published by Central Recovery Press.

Copyright 2020 by Matthew O’Brien. All rights reserved.

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DECEMBER 2020

MOVIES & TV

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NOW SHOWING AT HOME Y

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and ‘On the Rocks’ are two of the year’s best streaming experiences

By Bob Grimm

es, the pandemic has been awful for cinema. A lot of big movies have been pushed off into Whatever Land as far as their release dates—and here in most of California, indoor theaters are closed again due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

But even before this all started, there was a significant push for smaller, artier films to find their way to streaming services, rather than going all-in on a theatrical release. That trend has continued over the last year, with Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney+ either streaming films exclusively, or streaming them along with limited theatrical releases.

The latest example of this is On the Rocks, which enjoyed a limited theatrical release before quickly making its way to Apple TV+.

The film has Bill Murray and writer/director Sofia Coppola joining forces again—which raises expectations, because their Lost in nya Taylor-Joy is as powerful as rocket Translation is one of the more beautiful films fuel in The Queen’s Gambit, an incredibly to come out of Hollywood in the last 30 years. good Netflix miniseries—essentially a In On the Rocks, Murray plays Felix, the rich 400-minute movie that makes chess the father of Laura (Rashida Jones); Laura is a coolest thing on the planet.

New Yorker and author with writer’s block and Joy plays Beth Harmon, a young orphan a busy, almost-never-home husband, Dean in the 1950s and ’60s (well-played by Isla (the ever-reliable Marlon Wayans, in a nice Johnston before Beth grows up) who takes to dramatic turn). playing chess with the janitor at her school The film is nicely written and luscious(Bill Camp … man, I just love Bill Camp). The looking, two common traits for Sofia Coppola diversion turns into an obsession—one that films. It also has that Murray spark; he’s an leads Beth to world chess championships. actor who really shines with Coppola at the Chess films have been compelling—but never quite like this. Each of Gambit’s seven episodes mixes masterful drama—Beth has her share of issues, including drug and drinking problems—with the stellar staging of chess matches. The movie will make you want to run to your nearest store (or Amazon) to get yourself a chess set.

The miniseries—besides being a powerful showcase for Joy and the game—stands as a helm. Felix and Laura suspect that Dean could wonderful testament to sportsmanship. Much be having an affair, which he disguises as work trips and meetings. The father and daughter go of the greatness comes from watching how Beth’s opponents react to their losses. It’s on a mission of discovery—in more ways than genuinely heartwarming. As for supporting one. This allows Murray to access the moreperformances, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and devilish side of his acting persona, in both Harry Melling are big-time standouts. funny and scary ways.

It’s a shame that this project’s status as a TV Coppola’s plot twists get a little silly at show deprives Joy of a chance for an Oscar— times, but Murray and Jones are excellent because this is unquestionably one of the year’s together—and what they put onscreen best performances. She’ll be in the running for will have you easily forgiving occasional an Emmy for sure. conventionalities. There are two particular The Queen’s Gambit is now streaming on moments of reckoning in this movie that are Netflix. expertly handled on both sides of the camera.

Yes, there are still great new movies being couple of years ago, an actor/writer/ released during these crazy times—and On the director named Jim Cummings blew Rocks is certainly one of them.

On the Rocks is now streaming on Apple TV+ me away with his Thunder Road, one of the

A

A

best films of 2018. In it, Cummings played a troubled cop whose life goes to shit after the death of his mother.

Now comes The Wolf of Snow Hollow, a solid follow-up that doesn’t quite rise to the heights of Thunder Road—but it does show that Cummings has some good ideas left to share onscreen.

The film (which he again writes, directs and stars in) takes on the horror genre from one of its more inconsistent angles: the werewolf movie. There are not a lot of great werewolf movies out there, so this one finishes in the top half of the Werewolf Movie Genre List quite easily.

Cummings plays a sheriff dealing with deteriorating relationships, a dying father (the great Robert Forster, in one of his final roles) and substance abuse. And, oh yeah, he’s dealing with an apparent werewolf killing young women in his jurisdiction.

The film is effectively scary, brutally honest and darkly funny, with Cummings delivering another memorably bonkers performance.

Forster steals his scenes; hats off to Cummings for giving him a final role worthy of his greatness.

The wolf itself is a decent creation for lowbudget fare, and Cummings gets credit for making this more than just a horror film. It’s got a lot of depth and heart—traits that are not common in your average werewolf movie.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow is now available via online sources including iTunes and Amazon.com.

G

iven the year we are all having, it’s a fantastic time to watch a movie in which a deranged reporter from Kazakhstan offers up his young daughter as a gift to Mike Pence while wearing a Trump costume.

Why? It’s a shitshow that encapsulates the madness we continue to endure deep into 2020.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is a fine continuation of the madness Sacha Baron Cohen unleashed on the world with his original film 14 years ago. (That’s right … 14 YEARS

AGO. Can you believe it?) This time out, instead of driving an ice cream truck with a big hairy guy and a bear, Borat is trekking across the country with his 15-year-old daughter (a very funny Maria Bakalova) in tow.

This, of course, presents an entirely different dynamic. Borat doesn’t know his “not a son” well, and he has difficulty treating her with respect—like allowing her to live outside of a cage, for example. Somehow, Cohen and director Jason Woliner manage to make their antics not only hilarious, but awkwardly heartwarming. Shit, this might just be the feelgood movie of the year.

As in the first film, Borat exposes the ugly, racist underbelly of America. While the previous film’s big moment was a staged (and hilarious) sequence with Pamela Anderson, the sequel’s big moments are unrehearsed and unbelievably pulled off.

The previously mentioned encounter with Pence is just a warmup for the big kahuna—and that would be Rudy Giuliani seemingly thinking he is going to get sexy time with Borat’s daughter during a hotel-room interview. (Note to all public figures: NEVER ACCEPT A HOTEL ROOM AS A SETTING FOR AN INTERVIEW!) Giuliani is gross, touchy-feely and patronizing during the fake interview with Bakalova—and then he walks straight into the hotel bedroom. His excuse for touching his thang in her presence—to be clear, the actress is in her 20s and never states her make-believe age—is that he was tucking in his shirt.

When did touching your dick become synonymous with tucking in your shirt? Rudy’s a lawyer; maybe he knows more about it.

Maybe there’s some statute or writ or whatever somewhere that declares dick-touching as essential to tucking in one’s shirt on film.

All of the film’s setups work to varying degrees of success, and Cohen has delivered his best work since Borat’s first film venture.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

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DECEMBER 2020

FOOD & DRINK

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VINE SOCIAL JASON DAVID HAIR STUDIO

D

By KatieLOVE finn YOUR

HAIR

eath. Famine. War. Pestilence. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are a macabre thought indeed, but the stories from our history that tell of grim times are some of the most captivating.

Wine is no different. One of my favorite aspects of wine education involves the untold stories Country Club and Cook Street about the grapes, the regions and the people who are behind our favorite bottles of wine—and Palm De sert those stories, quite often, are rather grim.

I was recently asked to host an educational the Mediterranean lies the sunny and warm 760-340-5959 wine-tasting featuring the unknown regions shores of Algeria. Vacation, anyone? So the of France—the places beyond Burgundy, Borcolonists—with a small military to protect www.jasondavidhairstudio.net deaux and Champagne. I love exploring this the borders—made Algeria their home. They region with people, because the wines and stosettled in with vine-cuttings and winemaking ries are so surprising. However, even I didn’t ambition. Just because you’re in Africa doesn’t know just how surprising the entire story was. mean you go without your wine.

While doing my homework, I came across an Then, in the 1860s, tragedy struck France: article titled “The French Wine Riots of 1907.”

That little louse named phylloxera started to The what? After 20 years as a sommelier, I’d voraciously and indiscriminately feast on the never heard of the French wine riots of 1907? roots of grapevines—to the point that French I needed to know more. I soon discovered wine production was in ruin. Families watched that in 1930, Algeria was the largest producer generations-old vineyards die right before their of wine in the world. Algeria. I didn’t know eyes. With little hope of recovery and no end in Algeria produced wine commercially, let alone sight, they were faced with imminent poverty.

Algeria was once a wine powerhouse. In 1960, But wait! They’re making wine in Algeria!

Algeria was still the fourth-largest exporter of It’s estimated that there was a mass exodus wine in the world. Mind. Blown. into Algeria in the late 1800s of some 50,000 You may be saying, “This is all great, Katie, families. Whoa. These ex-pats brought what but what does this have to do with the undisvine cuttings they could, along with their covered regions of France?” expertise, and Algeria soon became a thriving Everything. wine empire.

After a decade-long battle in the midHowever, many winemakers remained in 1800s, France colonized Algeria. Right across France—devout Frenchmen, men and women

Barrels of Algerian wine in the port of Oran. Wikimedia Commons

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A look back at the time when the world’s largest producer of wine was … Algeria? who would never leave mother country. Determined to revive their heritage and livelihood, they began to replant. Slowly and surely, they would nurse their vineyards back to health and regain their position as the No. 1 wine-producing region in the world.

Meanwhile, back in Algeria, the warm weather, the mild Mediterranean climate and the long growing season were creating wines with the kind of depth, concentration and power of which French wines were never capable. Marry that with the fact that they were so cheap that they’d make Two-Buck Chuck look spendy, plus they were technically French (or so the label said)—and the market was falling all over itself to get its hands on this “new” French wine! The French government decided to indeed promote these Algerian wines as French so as not to lose their place in the export market to Italy or Spain.

Back in France, the devout Frenchmen who stayed, replanted and started over had re-created vineyards were healthy and producing quality fruit that, in turn, was making damn good wine … that they couldn’t sell. They couldn’t compete pricewise with their French counterparts in Algeria—and by 1900, Algeria was producing 130 million gallons of wine annually.

But here comes the straw that broke the camel’s back: The French governor general to Algeria partnered with a British businessman in 1905 to sell 1.3 million gallons of wine to London

wine merchants, with the advertisement declaring that this was French wine, because Algeria was an integral part of France. Oops.

Farmers with torches and pitchforks stormed the streets. How could their government do this to them? How could they hang them out to dry? No, sir—these were men who would not take it anymore. They demanded that the government implement laws that clearly state where these wine came from.

Under duress, the government agreed.

Over the next seven years, boundaries would be determined and clearly identified on the wine label, creating what is known as the AOC system (appellation d’origin controlee).

It’s probably the single most important part of French wine law—created as a result of the uprising by underrepresented French countrymen who previously had no voice.

Unfortunately for the French, just as TwoBuck Chuck is still a staple in some people’s homes, the allure of cheap and palatable wine was just too good. In 1930, Algeria was producing 500 million gallons of wine a year. Some 30 years later, that number was closer to 300 million, with 280 million of that being exported.

That made Algeria the fourth-largest exporter in the world, after France, Italy and Spain.

It took a while, but this great boom eventually ended with an epic bust. A few more crippling French wine laws were passed; a couple of world wars did damage; and the final blow came when France gave Algeria its independence. Buh-bye.

A mass exodus—this time from Algeria back to France—left the African country without enough people to care for the vines or make the wine. Politicians and government agents make lousy winemakers, and the country became predominantly run by Muslims, which means wine is a no-no. Just as quickly as it arrived, the wine business in Algeria all but vanished—and just like that, France regained its crown.

My question is: How is a story like this so unknown? How are we not sharing these epic tales at the dinner table while sipping a wine from the very place where parts of this story happened? This is how we connect with wine as something greater than just a beverage.

Someone get a Hollywood producer on the phone—I’ve got a blockbuster.

Katie Finn is a certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine with two decades in the wine industry. She can be reached at katiefinnwine@ gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2020

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DECEMBER 2020

FOOD & DRINK

ON COCKTAILS N

BY kevin carlow

ot leaving the house much? I can’t say I blame you.

We have tourists flooding the Coachella Valley from the most plague-ridden regions.

People are still wearing chin diapers instead of masks—and throwing them off the second they sit at a restaurant table, like mortarboards at graduation. Despite the best efforts of service-industry professionals to keep everyone as safe as possible, it’s still a little scary out there.

But never fear—your favorite snarky cocktail columnist is ready with his Buying Guide for Cocktail Lovers. You, or that special someone, will be able to at least feel professional at home, even if you currently first think “furniture” when you hear the word “shaker.”

Let’s start with some books. As I have often Oh, and it’s also pretty awesome. A lot of bar said in columns past: Back in the dark ages, I managers changed their programs when this spent a lot of time between busy hours at the came out, and you could probably bullshit bar with my nose in cocktail books, trying to your way into a bar job if you study it. I’d hire make up for a lack of “experience” and a “baryou. I haven’t read the authors’ follow up, tending persona” with knowledge. Sadly, I was Cocktail Codex, but if you’re shopping for me, reading the wrong books. Here are the right it looks promising. ones—and some gear, too.

Meehan’s Bartender Manual, by Jim Meehan: If you’re coming for my job, this is the one to History Books read next, because it’s more of a bar manager’s Imbibe!, by David Wondrich: If you read this book. It gets a little heavy on the philosophy, column often, you know this is Sacred Scripwith experts waxing poetic about the beverage ture for anyone serious about cocktails. Go industry (cringe), but it’s sexier, and the recipes out, and buy it already. If you already own it, are better than those in his previous book, The pick up a copy of Punch, the follow-up. It’s not PDT Cocktail Book (which is still a good book!). quite as game-changing, but totally worthIf you want insight into the industry and pracwhile and next-level for making large format tical knowledge, this book is pretty hard to cocktails … someday, when we can all gather beat—aside from a certain monthly column, together again. of course.

The Gentleman’s Companion/Travels with Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and Jigger, Beaker and Glass, by Charles H. Baker: the Cult of Tiki, by Martin Cate and Rebecca There are two editions of this book; I have the Cate: There are a lot of tiki books out there, latter, rather than the facsimile of the original and one could argue that there are some with 1939 book. Either way, you can’t lose. This is better recipes, but this one is a nice omnibus. not exactly a cocktail-recipe book, and it’s not Your favorite tiki-phile probably already owns exactly a travel book—but it’s perfect for lovit, but it’s perfect for the tiki-curious and ers of either. Someone described Baker as the rum-dabblers like me. first blogger, and while that sounds dismissive, if taken in the best light, it’s pretty apt. It’s Books for the Nerds history preserved in amber.

Liquid Intelligence, by Dave Arnold: This James A Proper Drink, by Robert Simonson: Want Beard Award-winning book is gorgeous and to be that person who name-drops cocktail will hold its own next to your fancy NOMA legends at the bar? Please don’t … but read cookbook. No old-school bartending here: this book anyway. It’s a fun ride through the This is slick, scientific wizardry. If the person modern cocktail renaissance, from TGI Frion your list already owns a sous-vide and an days in New York (yes, really), to the United iSi, or at least knows what those are, this is Kingdom and back. It has a nice little list of their book. the author’s favorite modern classics, so it The Drunken Botanist, by Amy Stewart: This also functions as a bit of a recipe book. Speak- one is a great reference book. It’s full of inforing of … mation on herbs and ideas for herbally based cocktails. I often reach for it when I feel uninRecipe Books, Etc. spired. It’s also a great gift for the Instagram Death and Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails, by witch on your list, as it doubles as an herbalism David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald and Alex Day: text—and it’s pretty stylish.

I put this one as the No. 2 book in all cateProof, by Adam Rogers: Rogers puts his scigories, behind Imbibe!, because it will look ence-writing experience to use in a deep dive much more impressive than most on a coffee on what ethanol is, why it does what it does, table—or unwrapped on a holiday morning. and the ways in which we use it.

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Here’s our snarky scribe’s list of possible presents for the drink-lover in your life The Gear Shaker: The first and only piece of bar equipment you need. With a little skill, you can eyeball your pour, and you can stir and strain a martini with a pint glass and a tablespoon, but you can’t shake a drink without a tin. Don’t just buy a pre-boxed set from you-know-who.

Instead, go to a specialty site like Cocktail Kingdom (not sponsored), and invest in a workman-like Japanese two-part shaker or two from Koriko. Skip the three part shakers unless you really love Japanese bartending.

Jigger: I also lean Japanese here, with the tall and precise cones that accurately measure 2, 1 1/2, 1, 3/4 and 1/2 ounces. It’s really all you need for most drinks. The smaller one has its uses, too, especially if you’re making tiki drinks. The Leopolds (bell-shaped) look cool, and if you’re just buying one jigger, they have a 1/4 ounce size built in. I like them a lot; get a nice brass one if you go this route. You can practice rolling one between your fingers if you’d like.

Strainer: Just get a Hawthorne. If you want to do a speakeasy party at your house someday, then get a fancy julep strainer, too, along with a crystal cocktail pitcher, and some suspenders,

and a mustache.

Bar spoon: Learn to use a proper bar spoon.

It takes practice, but, man, does it look cool when you finally “get it.” It’s all in the wrist. A measuring teaspoon is handy, too.

Pitcher: Don’t spend a lot on these, unless you want to for the aesthetic. I like cheap Pyrex chemistry beakers with measurements on them, because I use them for making recipes, too. A bit of warning: They will tip easily if you don’t fill them with enough ice … but you know to use lots of ice by now, right? If you have all of the gear I have mentioned so far, for less than $60 probably, you have what I use for 90 percent of my professional work.

Ice molds: Silicone trays are my favorite; they’re indestructible and cheap, so don’t bother with the molds. If you want round ice, get big squares; pour in boiling water; carefully place the mold into the freezer for clearer ice; and go onto YouTube to learn ice-carving. It’s fun—and dangerous!

There you go … shopping done! Stay safe out there.

Kevin Carlow can be reached at CrypticCocktails@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 2020

FOOD & DRINK

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CAESAR CERVISIA I

BY brett newton

have been writing this column for more than three years now—and I know that because I have a nearly useless habit of numbering each column as I write it. OK, it was an entirely useless habit—until this month.

This is my 40th column. (My editor has a slightly different count, but I stand by my math.)

While I usually refrain from celebrating numbered things, the number 40 pertains to beer in a very real way: This is the notorious number of ounces in large bottles of malt liquor, something that has somehow become a cultural icon—a “meme,” before the term was created in 1976 by Richard Dawkins, almost as an afterthought at the end of his influential book The Selfish Gene (though it meant something different in his ture. While its original intended audience had original definition). been people serving party-goers, it became What is malt liquor? If you’ve tried it, you something you sipped straight out of the botknow it resembles beers brewed by the large tle, almost as a rite of passage. And it resembreweries around the world that make pale bled many cultural rites of passage throughout lagers. Well, malt liquor is simply beer made history in that it was a painful undertaking. with a much-larger amount of adjuncts such This is normally the point at which I would as corn, rice or dextrose, plus the addition of talk about the notes of the product—the certain enzymes in order to create a strong, package, the aroma, the taste. You will have to inexpensive-to-produce alcoholic beverage. Its forgive me for not doing so here. I remember creation in the late 1930s was in response to a friend and I each surreptitiously drinking a post-Prohibition drinkers with a tight budget 40 of Olde English 800 Malt Liquor when I was who craved beer with more oomph.

16 or 17. I also remember vomiting in the side Years later, in the ’60s, the 40-ounce bottle yard a couple of hours later. I have had a few seems to have made its debut. Beer was often 12-ounce bottles of Mickey’s “Big Mouth” since sold in quarts (32 ounces) and even half-gallon then and found it to be similarly regrettable.

(64 ounces) sizes for the purpose of serving I last drank a 40 more than 15 years ago, at parties—but as weird as 40 ounces sounds at a strange motel in Van Nuys one night. (I as a package, it’s simply a 25 percent increase was staying there due to a malfunctioning from the quart. It was meant to allow the pursewer pipe in front of my rental … I’d rather chaser to save money while serving “friends” not talk about it.) Steel Reserve had come at a soirée (presumably “friends” the purchaser along with slicker packaging and an 8 percent disliked). It was often sold based on its resemalcohol-by-volume malt liquor—and the liquor blance to champagne. This was in reaction to store next to the hotel was clearly not new the lower beer consumption in the U.S. at the to the malt-liquor game. I had never seen a time, and malt liquor was meant to compete 40-ounce bottle of the stuff before (nor have with wine and cocktails.

I since), but the neighboring rooms were That marketing ultimately failed—and emanating smells of illicit drugs, and I was a it was eventually discovered that inner-city relatively poor musician, so I decided I needed minorities were often the actual consumers. something cheap and nasty. Not my finest This shifted the marketing and set malt liquor moment, but it got me through the night. down the cultural path by which we know it I suspect this is the key to the success that today. Fast forward to the ’80s, where we find malt liquor has achieved in the adult-beverage actor Billy Dee Williams, fresh off of his role industry. in The Empire Strikes Back as the smoothest None of what has been said here so far space pirate in the galaxy, becoming the face of addresses the cynical nature of the marketing Colt 45’s product with the dubious tagline, “It of malt liquor—and its repercussions. Well, works every time.” As he chimed in the original I’m not going near that; who needs a white 1984 commercial: “Rule No. 1: Never run out dude in the beer industry pontificating on of Colt 45. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No 1.” racial issues? I know I don’t. However, I will This marketing stroke worked—but it point you toward a write-up on the history of eventually led to ad men getting carried away, malt liquor titled “A Story Without Heroes: and by the 1990s, we saw rapper Ice Cube The Cautionary Tale of Malt Liquor” by a doing a commercial for St. Ides malt liquor writer named Kihm Winship, if you want to and saying these words: “Get your girl in the dive all the way into the subject. The article is mood quicker, make your jimmy thicker, with a more-in-depth summary of malt liquor than St. Ides malt liquor.”

I could ever fit in one column (or that I would The “40” had found a home in hip-hop culever have enough patience to research for

A look at the long and not-sostoried history of malt liquor

myself), and it is extremely well-sourced. A little bit of what you read above was certainly pulled from it.

Malt liquor is definitely still out there, despite declining sales and lawsuits in recent years. Breweries simply can’t give up making the stuff. It sits in every fridge in every convenience store that is allowed to carry it, and most of us pass by it without giving it a single thought. Still, it remains a part of American culture, for better or for worse, kept alive by hip-hop-culture-worshiping suburban kids who—like kids in generations before—want to find a way to get drunk cheaply. Some of the latest versions of these drinks are energy-drink hybrids, meant to create some sort of super

hangover juice. (See the infamous Four Loko; a whole column could be written on the popularization of these types of drinks and the mayhem its drinkers caused before manufacturers were forced to remove the caffeine.)

Whether in original form, a new form, or a yet-to-be-invented form, malt liquor is here to stay—and will likely be around for a long, long time.

Brett Newton is a certified cicerone (like a sommelier for beer) and homebrewer who has mostly lived in the Coachella Valley since 1988. He currently works at the Coachella Valley Brewing Co. taproom in Thousand Palms. He can be reached at caesarcervisia@gmail.com.

Austin Calhoon via Wikimedia.org

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FOOD & DRINK

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CULTURE AND CUISINE H

BY andrew smith

ave a cup of coffee. Relax, and enjoy the sculpture garden, suggests Art Vasquez as he opens his arms toward the spacious patio.

It’s the beautiful home of Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar, located on the lower level of the Palm Springs Art Museum. For most restaurants, outdoor dining has become necessary, if not ideal—but it’s always been an intrinsic element of Persimmon.

“I’ve always considered this my main dining room,” says Vasquez as he gestures toward the courtyard. The tables are spread out around two large fountains, interspersed around a collection of sculptures and the neatly curated landscape. With ambient jazz playing in the background, Persimmon’s patio offers an featuring products including Spanish chorizo, immersive, cultural experience, set below soppressata, prosciutto, Maytag blue cheese, ground in seclusion from the bustle of the Humboldt Fog goat cheese, Parmigiano-Regoutside world. You could forget you’re in giano and aged gouda, garnished with accouPalm Springs—well, except for the overhead trements like European olives, dried and fresh sunshine, towering palm trees and mountain fruit, figs, caper berries and watermelon radbackdrop. ishes. Every board is its own unique creation.

Vasquez assumed ownership of Persimmon “It’s like painting a picture,” Vasquez says. in the spring of 2019. A successful local valley “I love doing it.” restaurateur—he spent years operating Babe’s Vasquez admits to kicking his heels quite Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse—he saw Persima bit during the lockdown. Persimmon got mon as something of a passion project. hit a little earlier than everyone else, as the “Prior to taking over here, my wife and museum was one of the first notable closures I would make three or four trips a year to in California. A couple of months of “qualithe California Central Coast, exploring the ty family time” soon became the “sleepless restaurants, the wineries and the breweries,” nights” of summer. When Persimmon finally Vasquez says. “This is my way of bringing a reopened in late October with the cooler piece of that back here so I don’t have to miss weather, Vasquez set about various internal it so much.” renovations and also invested in new equipHe researched restaurants located at ment. Most notably, you’ll see the addition some of the country’s larger museums. The of an outdoor pizza oven. Actually, you might result: Persimmon is an eclectic lunch spot smell it first, as the soft aromas of hard red (it currently closes at 6 p.m.) that’s part wine oak waft subtly across the patio—and convebar, part coffee shop and part French bisniently to the sidewalk above. tro. Pre-pandemic, you could get a sense of “Red oak is indigenous to the Central that from the vibrant Parisian décor inside.

Coast,” Vasquez says, “It’s a high temperature, Mid-pandemic, we’re out in the courtyard, slow-burning wood. I get a lot of compliments and the vibe is almost entirely wine country, about the aroma and the flavor it imparts on with the addition of museum artwork. the pizza.”

That wine-country concept is evident in Not only have the pizzas been an instant the Mediterranean-themed menu, which hit; they’ve also been a recent vice, Vasquez offers a vibrant potpourri of fresh, local, artisays as he jokingly pats his “COVID belly.” san flavor. Vasquez frequents local farmers’ Vasquez makes the sauce from scratch with markets, bringing in hand-selected heirloom authentic Italian San Marzano tomatoes, tomatoes, basil, romaine lettuce, arugula and fresh basil, garlic and oregano. Most of the citrus. He’s also an advocate of small and toppings are sliced to order. local, with offerings including fare from CV Such personal selection extends to the bar, Microgreens, Fulvio’s Italian Sausage (owned which features an array of craft beers, Caliby TV-meteorologist Patrick Evans), local fornia and international wines, wine cocktails dates and local honey. and Madeira. Beer is my first passion, and I That dedication to freshness is woven have always been impressed by Persimmon’s into dishes like the panini margherita and array of craft beer—even more so with the the heirloom tomato salad, as well as housenew addition of a six-tap draft system. It’s made signatures like the pesto, hummus and likely the only place in the valley you’ll find tapenade. The spicy pozole rojo is a can’tbeers like Lost Abbey Lost and Found and miss chicken soup, topped with avocado, WestBrew Mosaic Surfer on tap. radishes and cabbage. The charcuterie and “I drove down to San Diego and picked cheese boards come in a variety of options, that one up myself,” Vasquez says about the

Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar reopens with a new pizza oven and a renewed focus on freshness

Mosaic Surfer.

Standouts among the California and Belgian bottle selections include Monk’s Café Flemish Sour and The Bruery 12 Drummers Drumming.

There’s also plenty of diversity on the wine menu, including a variety of California and international wines. Sparkling wines are popular, with ample choices including Italian prosecco, French crémant and brut rosé, as well as a tantalizing orange-infused wine from Wiens in Temecula.

“I’m trying to have fun and keep things interesting,” Vasquez says. “I try to offer something different while keeping it approachable and well-priced.”

The museum has yet to reopen, and given the recent COVID-19 spike, it’s unclear when it will; after all, the only thing certain in 2020 is the uncertainty. That fact has reduced foot traffic around the bistro, although Persimmon does draw in a good number of locals and hikers from the adjacent trails.

In the meantime, consider Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar one of Palm Springs’ best little secrets. It’s a secluded escape from the bustle and noise of Palm Canyon Drive—and a perfect spot for socializing or reflective sipping amidst culturally enlightened surroundings.

For more information, visit www.persimmonbistro.com.

The patio at Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar. Austin Calhoon via Wikimedia.org

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The band Allies—formerly known as Sunday Funeral— releases a music video for new single “Swing, Swing, Bata-bing” The lucky 13: Meet the frontman of Ormus the lucky 13: Meet the drummer for The CMFs

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MUSIC

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MULTIMEDIA MAVENS F

By matt king

ans of the band Allies—formerly known as Sunday Funeral—know two things. One: Allies’ brand of music adds a rocking, sharp edge to themes teleported from the 1920s. (Hmm. Which pandemic are they in?) Two: The band’s productivity is unparalleled, as the members have managed to create numerous music videos, along with other forms of visual media, outside of their recordings.

The band’s website and YouTube page feature reality and timed this other song in Beat Saber to our song. We played fruit baseball in an the band’s songs, videos and more. The newest empty baseball lot one day.” content is a music video for new single “Swing, Added Ledesma: “We also got Tommy Chong Swing, Bata-bing.” I spoke to the three-piece— to do a cameo in it.”

Justin Ledesma, Andrea Taboada and Alex GerAdded Gerber: “It was just an endeavor. ber—over the phone about their new song.

There are all sorts of activities we did that “Alex is our new drummer, as of over a year we caught on tape, and we kind of went from ago,” said Ledesma. “His catchphrase is ‘Swing, there. Justin’s the editing wizard behind it all.”

Swing, Bata-bing.’”

The members of Allies are already looking Gerber confirmed he used to say that all the toward their next music-video project. time. “Maybe annoyingly so. Justin said, ‘Hey! “We’re really excited about the next video That’s a song.’” that’s coming out,” Ledesma said. “The one we Added Ledesma: “I thought ‘Swing’ fit in just made is more fun and has a party atmowith the whole thing we do, and it just kind sphere. The one we’re going to do next is going of went from there. The video had a fun party to be film-noir style, and it’s going to have a atmosphere.” storyline. It’ll be a murder/mystery set postFun party atmosphere, indeed. The music World War II. It’s called ‘Love Me Then Die.’” video features various moments of the band It’s obvious that the members of Allies have members having fun, performing and goofing been hard at work during the pandemic—and around. haven’t let the doom distract them.

“There are 100 or so hours of footage boiled “We’ve got all sorts of stuff we’re working on down into three minutes,” said Gerber. “We since all our energy got redirected,” Ledesma did a whole lot in it. There’s a whole section said. “We’ve got all sorts of new songs and in virtual reality, where I put Justin in virtual

Allies.

The band Allies—formerly known as Sunday Funeral—releases a music video for new single “Swing, Swing, Bata-bing”

music videos coming out this year and next year. We have a full album recorded!”

Ledesma said he also enjoys doing video reviews of old rock ’n’ roll movies … and making cartoons.

“We made The Elliot Family Farms cartoons five years ago,” Ledesma said. “It was very-time consuming. It took six months to make five episodes, but it was very fun.”

Another video series the group recently started is called California Homegrown. It features the band, as well as another featured act, performing virtually.

“My stepdad, who recently died, used to be a DJ, and he had an event called the Colorado Homegrown,” Ledesma said. “I got his voice and pieced it together like he’s the opening act. We invite bands, maybe a comedian eventually, and have a little variety show. We livecast it, and then I put it together as a full video and release it on my YouTube and Facebook.”

While the band has been busy, the members said they all yearn for the return of in-person gigs.

“Hopefully, if and when COVID lets up, then we’ll be able to start gigging again,” Gerber said. “We still rehearse every week and stay in shape just in case things open again.”

The band reminisced about one live-show moment in particular, which can be seen in the music video for “Battle Cry”: A woman, upset

with the group, turned their power off.

“We really miss playing the Palm Springs (VillageFest),” said Ledesma. “She got mad and unplugged us. She wanted us to be quiet, and I said, ’Is that the consensus?’ She yelled back: ‘I’M THE CONSENSUS!’” Added Taboada: “She was a restaurant owner, and she was saying that customers thought we were too loud.”

But it isn’t all about controversy for the members of Allies.

“The last time we played at VillageFest, some guy came in from a restaurant and gave us a big tip,” Gerber said. “He was from Canada and really enjoyed our set.”

Added Ledesma: “You never know who’s going to come up and try to talk in your mic.

It’s really day-dependent.”

I was fortunate enough to share a bill with Allies on one of the last nights of live music in the Coachella Valley this year.

“That night, the 14th of March at Coachella Valley Brewing, was awesome,” said Gerber. “…

It was literally overnight that we went from playing live and getting booked to nothing.”

That gig was also a comeback show for the group, as they had just changed their name from Sunday Funeral to Allies.

“When we played venues, they didn’t want to put our name on their marquee,” Taboada said. “I don’t know what they were afraid of.”

Added Ledesma: “Our name sounded like we were some black-metal band, and it was a little heavier when we first started. It really never fit us.”

However, choosing a new name proved to be a surprisingly daunting task.

“It was cool to change it, and I reluctantly did,” Ledesma said. “When I made the choice to, we had so many names, but they were all taken.”

Added Gerber: “We went back and forth on it for six weeks. We were throwing out silly names. We went to Applebee’s and laughed for two hours.”

Added Taboada: “Alex came up with Allied Victory, and it just kind of turned into Allies.”

The members pledged that they are ready for whatever comes next.

“After the rebrand, we were fixin’ to book everywhere,” said Gerber. “Then, of course, the pandemic hit. We’re ready to get booked; we’re ready to gig. Whenever someone wants it, we’re always ready to play.”

For more information, visit www.alliesmusic.com or www.youtube.com/MsBillysunday.

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MUSIC

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NEW ROCK, OLD VIBES F

Pescaterritory melds music from various decades on the band’s self-titled debut album

By Matt king

olks lucky enough to have enjoyed a live Pescaterritory show understand how tenacious the band’s sound is—and folks who haven’t been as lucky are now able to experience all that the young band has to offer via a brand-new self-titled LP. Pescaterritory includes vocalist Aiden Schaeffer, drummer Nick Willman, bassist Gavin Lopez and guitarist Jason Zembo. Pescaterritory, which was released on Oct. 31, is a nine-track, 41-minute explosion of ’70s-style rock with a different in that sense. We decided that they modern edge. Tracks like “King Street,” “Runwere all good songs.” ning Away” and “Rise” show how the group’s The album’s finale is a treat—a 10-mintight rhythms, harmonies and spotlight guiute epic during which the band maneuvers tar bridge rock music from various decades. through Pink Floyd-esque grooves and breakI recently spoke to the band members over downs.

Zoom about recording the debut album at the “‘The War’ was written at Aiden’s house,” newly established Sondy Studios, operated by Zembo said. “The first lyric of the song is: Jake and Luke Sonderman.

‘As I was walking down the road.’ When we “Jake had a little bit of experience before wrote it, all four of us were walking around working with us,” Willman said. “It was really Aiden’s neighborhood. I brought an acoustic great. Jake has been a longtime friend of guitar, and we started jamming on it—like ours. I used to be in a band with him.” some Jethro Tull, folky stuff. We were joking Added Zembo: “It was a very comfortable around with it, but we thought it sounded environment. He also pitched in a lot of ideas pretty dope. We sat down in Aiden’s room and towards the songs.” wrote a lot of the parts there.”

The band started recording the album in Schaeffer added: “We took a few of the riffs June. we already had, changed them around a little, “We did six songs and had a 36-minute and made a song.” album,” Zembo said. “We thought that didn’t Zembo said: “There’s a section in that song feel as complete as we wanted it to be for our that’s split up by thunder and helicopter very first album. We took a break in July and sounds. The instrumental part that follows decided to record three more songs in August. was written separate from ‘The War,’ but it We’ve been getting it mixed and mastered was in the same key, so we thought it would since then.” sound good in addition to the song. It was While seven of the songs had not been kind of like a bunch of puzzle pieces we stuck released before, “King Street” and “Better Off together.”

Dead” were released as singles in 2019—but The track fades out at the end. the versions on Pescaterritory are brand-new “There was a section where Gavin had to takes. play triplets on his bass, but he didn’t know “We took a look at everything we had and how to play triplets at the time,” Zembo said. laid it all out with Jake,” Schaeffer said. “He “The song originally had a happier ending, mentioned that he had some things he wantwith words written ed to do with those songs. He had ideas and out, but we cut that out.” contributed with the way we recorded things.

While the album is full of solid rock ’n’ roll, He had a lot of great input.” you can also hear the teenage band having Added Zembo: “He added some distortion their fair share of goofs. on Aiden’s vocals, which was a very nice touch.

“This is good trivia,” said Zembo. “In the For ‘Better Off Dead,’ we did less electric clean beginning of ‘The War,’ you can hear some guitar, and more acoustic. We wanted to do the water-drop sounds. That was Nick taking a songs again, because they’re good songs, but piss—with some reverb on it.” just change them up a little bit.”

The members of Pescaterritory are setting The album includes both brand-new songs their sights on promotion—which is rather and songs the band has performed before. different in 2020.

“We played a lot of them live,” Zembo said.

“All we can do really is go on Instagram “A track like ‘Running Away’—Nick and Aiden and Facebook and post as much as we can,” wrote that before Pescaterritory was even said Willman. “We’re going to be working on a thing. Then there’s a track like ‘I’m Fine,’ a music video pretty soon for whichever song which Aiden and I finished during the recordgets the most popular.” ing process of the album. All of the songs are Said Zembo, with a laugh: “If it’s ‘The War,’ CVIndependent.com

Pescaterritory.

we’re gonna have a 10-minute music video.

We’re gonna call in Michael Bay and have a bunch of explosions.”

Joking aside, the music on Pescaterritory is getting some serious attention. Barry Tomes of the US10 Radio Show in Birmingham, England, debuted the band’s first two singles, and he’s continuing to give the band’s songs airplay.

“We have Barry Tomes in England who’s been playing our music, and stations in Australia and Spain have both picked up our album and will be playing it,” Zembo said.

On a domestic level, the “Pescaboyz” are hoping that their album will bring them the attention they’ve been missing out on due to the lack of live performances.

“It’s been hard gaining followers and new fans during this time,” Lopez said. “When we’re playing shows, it’ll be a lot easier.”

Added Willman: “We really want a comeback show at The Date Shed,” Willman said.

“Pescafest 2 in 2021! Fingers crossed.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/ pescaterritory.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 45

DECEMBER 2020

MUSIC

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC

the

LUCKY 13 Meet the frontman of Ormus, and the drummer for The CMFs by matt king 1976) or Led Zeppelin before John Bonham’s passing.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

It’d probably be “WAP.” Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B are good artists on their own; the collab is fire, though.

NAME Martin Posada GROUP Ormus MORE INFO Performing musicians must be able to electrify a crowd. Some bands struggle with this; others make it look easy. The latter is the case for local band Ormus, as the group’s headbanging metal tunes are performed with galvanizing energy every time the members take the stage. At the helm is Martin Posada, whose screams and death howls always electrify. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/ormusband.

What was the first concert you attended?

System of a Down at the Cricket Wireless (Amphitheatre) in San Diego, 2011. It was nuts! People were starting fires in the middle of a concrete stadium, and smoking crack.

What was the first album you owned?

A Night at the Opera by Queen, back when Walkmans were still a thing.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Top three local bands: Koka, Face Facts and Fever Dog. Otherwise: Jinjer, Charles Mingus and Possessed.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

“Trap” music with that triplet, aka “Migos,” flow. Personally, it sounds a little too superficial for me to really be able to get into, even as a background-listening thing. That, and reggaeton. No hate on those who do (love it), but it can’t be me.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

I would have loved to see Black Sabbath (pre-

What’s your favorite music venue?

The Glass House in Pomona, because of how many bands I’ve seen there, the travel ease, parking and sick nighttime atmosphere.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“Live with your judgement / This life is forever / Cursed to mold mistakes / This life is forever,” from “The Truest Love,” by Kublai Khan.

What band or artist changed your life?

As much as I talk about them, it would have to be System of a Down, because my sister got me into them at the age of 9, which set the tone for the rest of my music taste and music-playing.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

I’d probably ask John Coltrane what was going through his head when he was writing “Giant Steps,” with that chord progression where he absolutely just took off while he was soloing, compared to T. Flanagan’s choppy keys solo.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Funerals are overrated; I would prefer to be cremated and planted into a tree. I never thought about a funeral song. I don’t know; as long as it isn’t something that’s gonna keep everyone sad. Celebrate my life; don’t mourn my death.

NAME Jasyn Smith GROUP The CMFs MORE INFO The CMFs—one of the bands that I am in—is one of the hardest rock bands in the valley. I may be biased, but I felt that way as a fan of the group before I joined. The band’s hard-hitting, classic-rock-inspired songs have been stuck in my head since the first time I saw the group perform. Our debut single “Birds” is available to stream everywhere. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/TheCMFs. Jasyn Smith is our drummer.

Trillion Lee Drummond

What was the first concert you attended?

A showcase at the Whisky a Go Go for my cousin’s band, The Fallen. My cousin Eddie taught me a lot of what I know about the drums today.

What’s your favorite music venue?

Anywhere in Idyllwild. I’ve always loved the town and the surrounding areas. The people are some of the coolest I’ve met.

What was the first album you owned?

System of a Down’s Toxicity and Slipknot’s Vol. 3. I’ve always admired Slipknot’s use of percussion and electronics—and who’s not fascinated with a bunch of masked maniacs running around, jamming out onstage? Toxicity is still one of my favorite albums to this day.

What bands are you listening to right now?

I’ve found myself listening to a lot of Ray Charles, Mac Miller, Dystopia and Kid Cudi.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

I never quite understood why punk bands write songs that are a minute long or less.

Don’t get me wrong—I have a 5-second favorite or two myself—but unless it’s for shock factor or a gag, it’s something in punk music I’ve never really cared for.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

Hands down, The Doors. I love their musicianship and chemistry. Being able to pop off on an entirely improvised rendition of a song at the drop of a hat and take it anywhere they want has always left me amazed.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

My favorite has got to be shamelessly and

obnoxiously singing along to Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” or any Usher song with my sister whenever it plays.

What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?

“Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do.”

What band or artist changed your life?

Black Sabbath changed my life the most.

From the second I heard the opening notes to “Wheels of Confusion,” I knew that this band was for me.

You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?

The musician: GG Allin. The question: “Why ... just, why?”

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“Planet Caravan” by Black Sabbath would be a good one, unless there’s an open bar (and there’d better be), in which case I want “Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers” by ZZ Top on that loudspeaker!

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Metallica’s Ride the Lightning. From the fast ferocity of “Fight Fire With Fire” to the eerie mysticism of “The Call of Ktulu,” there’s not one dull moment on the entire album.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Birds” by The CMFs!

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Houses of the Holy, by Led Zeppelin.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Coping Methods” by Mind Eraser. It’s short, aggressive and fast.

CVIndependent.com

46 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2020

OPINION SAVAGE LOVE

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

THIS SENIOR WANTS SEX

BY DAN SAVAGE I’m a nearly-80 straight male, with an undiminished libido. I have no problem with it, just a persistent curiosity—like, why now? And why so various? And is it common among us old geezers? Male and female?

I’m more sex-obsessed than ever before, including adolescence. Until my 60s, tits were my sexual focus, and other body parts were strictly subsidiary, whether I was looking, fantasizing, masturbating or fucking. Now butts, bellies, assholes, cunts, legs, arms and shoulders are equal turn-ons.

Well, I do have one problem: Women aren’t interested in me “that way” anymore. The secret smiles in public are no longer complimentary or inviting or challenging. They’re just fond, polite smiles for a nice-looking old man.

What explains the sudden surge in libido The availability of porn plays a big part in my experienced by some seniors? obsessions. It primes the pump visually, mentally “There’s a freedom to sex in our older years,” and physically, by showing more body parts and said Price. “We may still get those ‘at your age’ what can be done with them. The lack of a steady restrictive, shaming messages, but we’re happisex partner may also explain my obsession—but I est and most fulfilled when we ignore them. So was sometimes without a sex partner when I was I would advise GERIATRIC to enjoy his charged younger, and I wasn’t similarly obsessed. So is this libido and not to worry about whether it’s a the usual pattern? ‘usual pattern.’ Who cares? It’s your pattern. You do you!”

Geezer Energy Rocks Id And Titillates Retired IsoAnd Price says there are women who’d be lated Chap down to do you, too.

“As he sees it, his problem is that the women “I don’t have statistics for GERIATRIC, but I he desires ‘aren’t interested,’” said Price. “As I can tell him that wherever his libido falls on the see it, his problem is that he’s not actively seek‘none’ to ‘yowza’ scale, he’s normal,” said Joan ing out women who are.”

Price, author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Your days of picking up women on the street Loud about Senior Sex. “While it’s true that most may be behind you, GERIATRIC, but they’re seniors see their libidos decrease or at least melsupposed to be behind us all. Instead of making low, I hear from people like GERIATRIC all the women feel unsafe when they’re out in public time—older folks who feel exuberantly sexy.” by assuming a smile is a signal of interest, Price

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I’m almost 80, and my libido is stronger than ever; is this normal?

suggests looking for connections online.

“GERIATRIC needs to polish his seduction skills and get on the dating sites,” said Price. “He needs to show a potential bedmate what he has to offer—and I don’t mean a dick pic. He needs to woo a woman with his words—at least to begin with—and, most importantly, he needs to show interest in who she is as a full person, not just the body parts that turn him on.”

But don’t get on dating sites if your bullshit detectors were removed with your gallbladder.

If someone seems too good to be true—if someone seems too young and too hot to be interested in a guy your age—they’re almost certainly a scammer. And if a flirtatious exchange becomes a sob story that becomes a money beg, hit the block button. I’m a firm believer in intergenerational romance, GERIATRIC, but for safety’s sake, you should stay in your generational lane.

That means getting on OurTime and/or SilverSingles instead of Tinder and/or Plenty of Fish.

“Libidinous older women are out there, I can assure him,” said Price. But you’ll have to do the work, GERIATRIC, “since most will want to feel safe and appreciated as well as desired before they invite him into their beds.”

Finally, GERIATRIC, seeing as the horny old man has been a cliché for as long as men have existed, I don’t think you should blame online porn for your predicament. Some people’s libidos ramp up as they age, like Price said, and it sounds like you’re one of those people. Maybe instead of seeing porn as the cause of all your problems, GERIATRIC, you could see porn as your friend. Solo sex can be good sex.

Follow Joan Price on Twitter @Joan Price.

Her website: www.joanprice.com.

Pre-COVID, I was in the whirlpool at a hotel spa when an elderly gentleman asked if I wanted a foot massage. There’s only one reason a guy offers another guy a foot massage: He was gay and into feet. I’m straight and not into feet, but I said, “You can rub my feet—but just my feet, no higher.” My wife insists this means I had a “gay encounter.” I say it was gay for the other guy but not for me. What say you?

Fighting Over Our Terms Not all encounters with gays count as “gay encounters,” FOOT, but seeing as this was clearly an erotic experience for the elderly guy, and you knew it—you weren’t being secretly perved on—I’m going to side with your wife. Even if you didn’t get off on it, even if you were just enjoying the massage, you knew the other guy was getting off on it.

I’m a 45-year-old woman in a monogamous relationship with a 48-year-old man. One thing that keeps playing over and over in my mind is something he said three months into our relationship.

He spent the night for the first time at my place.

We were laying in my bed the next morning, just talking and enjoying each other’s company, when his phone beeped. He read a text and then said, “That was my friend Susan. I can’t wait for you to meet her. I think you’re really gonna like her—oh, and she sucked my dick 25 years ago at a rest stop in New Jersey.” It turns out “Susan” is his best friend. I had not met her yet, and this was the first thing I knew about her. When I asked why he told me this, his response was that he was half-asleep.

He wasn’t. When I pressed further, he told me it was something that happened a long time ago and that they laugh about it now—but then told me it was none of my business!

I agree! It’s none of my business! So why did he feel the need to tell me? Then he told me Susan can never know I know, because she would feel humiliated. But that’s exactly how I feel!

I’ve hung out with him and Susan three times. I have asked if we can get together again, as a group, so I would feel less insecure about the times they get together without me, but there’s always some excuse for why it’s not possible.

Boyfriend’s Long-Ago Blowjob Your boyfriend was either playing head games— meaning he was fucking with you on purpose— or he lacked the emotional intelligence and/or impulse control to realize why sharing something like that, at a moment like that, was a bad idea. If he’s the kind of guy who enjoys tormenting the women he dates, BLAB, he would’ve done similar or worse things by now. (And a woman he dated a quarter-century ago probably wouldn’t be on speaking terms with him, much less one of his closest friends.) Assuming he hasn’t done similar or worse, perhaps he deserves the benefit of the doubt here: He said something stupid and thoughtless; he couldn’t come up with a good explanation for why he said it; and he doesn’t like to be reminded of it.

As for Susan … he’s known her for 25 years. If he wanted to be with her, he’d be with her. And he may be reluctant to get together as a group because he worries that you might bring it up.

If he’s given you no other reason to suspect he might be cheating on you, cram this ancient blowjob down the memory hole.

Read Savage Love every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com; www.savagelovecast.com; mail@savagelove.net; @FakeDanSavage on Twitter.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 47

DECEMBER 2020

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Leg Work”—keep on counting!

By Matt Jones

43 “Here are the words on the label ...”

44 State with a threeword capital Across 45 Abbr. in a job posting 1 1990s Disney show with 46 Charlie of Hot Shots! characters from The 48 Singer with the Jungle Book EPs BLQ Velvet and 9 Clear music holder PRINCESS 15 Prozac maker 52 Transformers actor 16 Enter, as data LaBeouf 17 They have two legs 54 Abbr. on marked-down each clothes 19 Icon used in Twitch 55 They have eight legs chat to express feelings each 20 Uganda’s Idi 61 Like a difficult battle 21 Being, Roman-style 62 Comedian Sarah who 22 Tiny Alice dramatist once wrote: “Hard Edward work beats talent 25 Active chemical in when talent doesn’t cannabis work hard” 28 Parklife group 63 Game of Thrones 29 The heavens, for actress Williams Olympians 64 Followed 32 They have four legs each Down 37 Broadcast studio sign 1 Tiny laugh 38 Key to get out?

2 Class reunion attendees 39 Cover once more?

3 Cars for execs 40 They have six legs each 4 Make happy

5 Mathematical ratio 6 Middle East gp.

7 French 101 pronoun 8 “All the news that’s fit to print” initials 9 Sevastopol resident 10 Metric prefix for “tenth” 11 “Call Me Irresponsible” lyricist Sammy 12 City southwest of Tulsa 13 Sample of wine 14 Methyl ending 18 Actress Issa 22 Olympic flame lighter in Atlanta 23 Winter Games vehicles 24 Rudely abrupt 25 “Is ___ fact?”

26 Poet Gil Scott-___ 27 Advanced very slowly 28 Daft, in Derby 30 You are here 31 Van Gogh’s brother 32 “Holy moly!”

33 Maternally related 34 ___ profundo (lowest vocal range) 35 Morning TV host Kelly 36 Like some angles

41 Tiny ear bone 42 American Gods actor McShane 47 It might go over your head 48 Shimerman of Deep Space Nine 49 Streisand’s Funny Girl role 50 Levy again 51 Bond, for example 52 Downhill runners 53 Hindu festival of colors 54 Maui, for one 55 Rum ___ Tugger (Cats cat) 56 Bitter brew, briefly 57 Athens X 58 One-hit wonder band behind “How Bizarre” 59 “When the Rain Begins to Fall” singer Zadora 60 Einstein’s birth city © 2020 Matt Jones Find the answers in the “About” section of CVIndependent.com!

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