Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 904-4208 www.cvindependent.com
Editor/Publisher
Jimmy Boegle
staff writerS
Haleemon Anderson
Kevin Fitzgerald
coveR and feature design
Dennis Wodzisz
Contributors
Melissa Daniels, Charles Drabkin, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Terry Huber, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Clay Jones, Matt Jones, Matt King, Keith Knight, Cat Makino, Brett Newton, Greg Niemann, Dan Perkins, Theresa Sama, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor, Eleanor Whitney
The Independent is a proud member and/ or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, CalMatters, DAP Health, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, and the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert.
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Last month in this space, I talked about how much was at stake in the presidential election.
“We currently live in a country where, in many places, LGBTQ+ freedoms and womens’ bodily autonomy have been taken away or are being threatened,” I wrote. “One major presidential candidate has made it clear that she supports the LGBTQ+ community and a woman’s right to choose; the other has made it equally clear—with his words, his actions and the people with whom he surrounds himself—that he’s happy to take away abortion rights, demonize trans people, and elevate judges who want to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, including gay marriage.”
Well … we all know what happened. And many of us, myself included, are still coming to terms with how much turmoil many of us may face in the coming months and years.
On Page 8, you’ll find a piece by Haleemon Anderson that looks at some of the things Coachella Valley progressives are doing in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory. Haleemon asked Elle Kurpiewski, of the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, what she’s planning to do.
“What I’m saying—and many of us are saying the same thing: Everybody, take a breath,” Kurpiewski said. “You’re not going to solve this thing tomorrow morning. We have begun the discussion of: What do we do next? And the consensus has been, ‘It’s the holidays. Let’s take this time to kind of clear our heads, and then, in January, really come back and make some decisions.’”
In a sense, that’s what we’re doing here at the Independent. While mentions of the second Trump administration are dotted here and there throughout this issue beyond Page 8, our primary focus this month, as it is every December, is on the Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll—the winners and finalists you, our readers, picked as the valley’s best, along with a handful of our own staff selections thrown in.
This issue is meant to be a celebration of everything that makes the Coachella Valley such a special place—like our best and most popular bars and restaurants. Our talented and hard-working artists and performers. Our unparalleled nonprofit and philanthropy community. Our outdoor recreation and hiking gems. The people who work hard to make all of our lives better, in ways small and large.
This publication’s mission statement begins with: The Coachella Valley Independent is the valley’s source of independent news, arts coverage, commentary and culture. We believe in true, honest journalism: We want to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. We want to be a mirror for the entire Coachella Valley. We want to inform, enlighten and entertain.
In 2025, we’re going to be focusing on the “afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted” portion by explaining and contextualizing what happens in our community as a result of the Trump administrations action’s (and inactions). If the president-elect does a mere fraction of what he’s promised, we’ll have a lot of stuff— awful, heartbreaking stuff—to cover.
But this month, for the most part, we’re informing, enlightening and entertaining as we celebrate this place we call home.
Welcome to the December 2024 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent—our 11th annual Best of Coachella Valley issue.
—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com
HIKING WITH T
IThe La Quinta Cove area offers an abundance of trails and some of the area’s most beautiful views
n the Cove, the southernmost part of La Quinta, you will find 114 acres of open space at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
The Cove is filled with a variety of intertwined trails that range from flat and easy to strenuous, with breathtaking views and something for everyone. In fact, Cove trails have been listed among the best in the nation by Sunset Magazine
to get you started. You will see a sign saying Cove Trailhead. You can also continue past the large parking lot to a smaller lot off of Calle Tecate and begin your hike at the Cove Oasis Trailhead. All trails connect, so it’s really up to you to make your hike what you want it to be.
ASK US ABOUT OUR 0% FINANCING WE'RE #1 FOR A REASON
There are three main trails, all of which can be accessed from Avenida Bermudas/Calle Tecate. If you put “La Qunita Cove Oasis Trails” into your GPS system, you will be directed to a large gravel parking lot with a dog-friendly resting/walking area, nice restrooms, water access and a trail map beautifully landscaped date palm oasis with gazebos and picnic tables, benches, and a water fountain with fresh water for the fur babies. It’s a great place for a rest, to have a picnic, or to simply enjoy a bit of shade along with the surroundings of natural beauty.
see the sunset, and you may catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep and other wildlife. If so, please be respectful, and keep your distance. For a longer hike, you may continue to Lake Cahuilla; that’s just more than 6 miles out-andback with an elevation gain of around 900 feet; follow the Cove to Lake Trail signs. There is a fee to enter the park at the lake, but you can double back on the trail.
Two longer and more strenuous backcountry trails in the area are Bear Creek and Boo Hoff. These are tough, and dogs are not allowed. Don’t attempt these trails if you’re not in shape to do some serious climbing!
The La Quinta Cove Oasis Trail is an easy, 1.8-mile loop with an elevation gain of just 161 feet. It’s a social trail, perfect for families and their pets. A mostly flat gravel path goes along the top of the levee. Shortly after passing underneath the Cove Oasis Trail sign, look to the right, and you will find a
From here, several trails branch off into the wilderness area, where dogs are not allowed. For a moderate, 2.8-mile out-and-back with an elevation gain of 629 feet, you can take the Cove Trail to Quarry Overlook Trail. Once you reach the overlook, you will be rewarded with 360-degree scenic views. It’s a perfect place to
The Bear Creek Oasis Trail is a hard but spectacular 9-mile out-and-back with a max elevation gain of 2,300 feet; it could take about four to five hours or longer to complete. After the first flat and easy mile past the oasis picnic area, go through the Bear Creek wash— follow the nicely marked signs—to the Santa Rosa foothills (on the right). You’ll start the climb along the ridges and switchbacks that eventually lead you to a point of spectacular views where you can see Mount San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, across the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. From there, you can continue to the highest point and wind your way down into a gorgeous hidden fan palm oasis canyon.
The Boo Hoff Trail is to the left of the Bear Creek Trail. You will start this hike from the large parking lot at the Cove Trailhead and follow the well-marked Cove to Lake trail signs. It’s a strenuous 8.8-mile hike (or it can be almost 13 miles as a loop) with an elevation gain of more than 2,300 feet; it can take more than six hours to complete. This is a historic trail in the Santa Rosas that started as an Indigenous path and was enhanced and named later by the Desert Riders, an equestrian group that’s protected and enhanced trails in the Coachella Valley for more than 70 years. Much like the Bear Creek Trail, this trail takes you out of civilization and into majestic flora and fauna. You may catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep along this trail, and there will be spectacular views of the Salton Sea and the peaks of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. At about the halfway point before the lake, you can take the Guadalupe Trail and continue deeper into the Santa Rosa Wilderness, although I recommend against this, as this trail can be difficult to follow in places, and hiker rescues are not uncommon here. You can turn around here or stay on the Boo Hoff Trail as it heads east toward Lake Cahuilla, and end your hike there, if you have arranged for a shuttle. Alternately, loop back to La Quinta Cove via
the La Quinta Cove Lake Trail for a round-trip distance of nearly 13 miles.
Now is a fantastic time to hike the La Quinta Cove trails thanks to cooler temperatures. It can get very windy, and there’s little to no shade, so be prepared with all your hiking essentials. Bring extra water, as it is very easy to get off track with the maze of innerconnecting trails in this area. Start early to avoid the heat regardless of the time of year. The Cove area is one of the best places in the Coachella Valley for star-gazing and full moon hikes. Friends of the Desert Mountains usually hosts two hikes a month during the cooler months from November through March. They meet at the top of the Cove at the smaller parking lot at Avenida Bermudas and Calle Tecate. You’ll need to register for a free ticket to attend at least seven days prior, to keep group sizes less than 20 people. For more information and to find out specific dates, call 760-568-9918, or visit www.desertmountains. org/calendar.
Prepare for your hike by wearing layers of proper hiking gear and good hiking shoes, and have sun protection—at least a brimmed hat. Trekking poles are also great for the trails. Most importantly, make sure you bring plenty of water, at least a liter of water per person, per hour. The Cove area has so many intersecting and unmarked trails that it’s a good idea to download a pocket map to take with you. And always pack in, and pack out—leave no trace!
Coming back into the Cove Oasis, you’ll get a beautiful view of the La Quinta Cove, across the Coachella Valley to the north. Theresa Sama
OPINION KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
BY BONNIE GILGALLON
Jo Rosen is a powerhouse—someone who knows how to make lemonade out of lemons.
Rosen was born in Minnesota, the seventh of nine children. At the age of 17, she had two opportunities: She could go to Alaska, or she could go to California. She chose California—in part because she knew someone in the state. Unable to initially afford college, Rosen started a business in her 20s, because she wanted to be in charge of her own destiny. It was a bookkeeping company that evolved into a financial management business.
Rosen went to Santa Monica City College to sign up for accounting classes, but she was told she could not attend, because she lived three blocks out of the district. Undeterred, Rosen spent hours at home poring over the books she’d already purchased, and learned it all on her own.
Rosen took extension classes at Loma Linda University, and eventually achieved great success as a financial manager.
At the age of 35, she met her true love, Alan
attributed all her symptoms to old age. With Alan’s situation, it hit me: This must mean I need to check into this Parkinson’s thing.” Rosen had trouble finding good information.
Meet Jo Rosen, whose experiences with Parkinson’s led her to start organizations that have helped countless others
needed to know about quality of life for Alan, I would share it with the world. I did that work for 35 years, and I grew that entity from this little nothing into a very well-known national organization.”
After about 34 years with PRO, Rosen decided she wanted to hand off day-to-day management duties, to focus more on speaking engagements and to build a resource directory called the Wellness Village. Not long after, the board of directors decided to let her go.
“It was one of the more hurtful things I have ever gone through,” Rosen said. “My resignation became effective at the end of December last year. … I had worked extraordinarily hard all those years for virtually no money. I was really bullied.”
Because of her knowledge and experience, Rosen received a three-month contract from PRO to do speaking engagements and handle the support groups and new cases that came in.
“After three months, I asked the executive director if she was going to renew the contract,” Rosen said. “She said they can’t afford my services. This was despite the fact that I’d left them with $1.5 million in the bank!”
As painful as this all was, Rosen said she firmly believes that everything happens for a reason.
“I love what I do,” she said. “I love helping people, and I have amassed a tremendous amount of knowledge and resources in my 34 years with Parkinson’s Resource Organization.”
Rosen has started a new organization, the Neuro Wellness Foundation (neurowellnessmarketplace.org), whose mission is to improve the quality of life of those with Parkinson’s, autism, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s until cures are found. Her team members are located all over the United States, so they communicate via phone call or Zoom.
In addition to supplying resources on a virtual basis, the Neuro Wellness Foundation is starting a subscription-based marketplace. The businesses in the marketplace will pay to be there, but it’s essentially free to the consumer. Excess revenues will be given back to the communities. If there’s someone, for example, with Parkinson’s who cannot afford a service, the organization will try to negotiate with the provider to get the price down.
“We’ll try to guide them through their journey,” Rosen said. “This just warms my heart. My dream is that we can make their quality of life the best we can for whatever time they have left.”
Alan Rosen’s journey was helped by his great partnership with Jo. He was willing to look for
answers outside of Western medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. At first, Alan was not interested in exercise other than playing golf— but that changed when they found an adorable female personal trainer. Supplements and massage helped as well.
For 15 years, Alan was in good shape, but then the disease started progressing. His decline was quick in the last three years. Together, they made the decision that she was not going to be his caregiver, but his care manager; eventually, they had to bring in 24-7 care.
“I said to him, ‘As much as I love you, I do not want to change your diaper or bathe you, but I will manage the people who do,’” she said. “I teach that to caregivers. He passed away in 2007 at age 82. We had 18 magnificent years together. I would do it all over again.
“I would say that what I learned through this Parkinson’s journey is that there is support out there, but you have to look for it. Also, it’s not the end of the world. You can work through this.”
Rosen sums up her philosophy this way: “I think our purpose is to help others. The reward is how your heart feels at the end of the day.”
Bonnie Gilgallon also writes theater reviews for Independent and hosts a weekly radio show, The Desert Scene, on Mutual Broadcasting. Her website is www.bonnie-g.com.
Jo Rosen: “I would say that what I learned through this Parkinson’s journey is that there is support out there, but you have to look for it.”
“As
~Marty Massiello, CEO/President
Eisenhower Health is proud to be a community health system in every sense of the word. Not only do we serve our community, but we are actually owned by the community. That means we answer to you. So we carefully assess local health care needs, look ahead at trends and statistics, and plan services accordingly. We consider it our responsibility and our honor to care for the residents of the Coachella Valley. Over the last 20 years, Eisenhower Health has reinvested $1.2 billion to expand and enhance our continuum of care. Examples include:
• Establishing a network of Health Centers across the valley for primary and specialty care
• Investing in state-of-the-art technology in robotic surgery, imaging, and more
• Developing a Graduate Medical Education program to train expert physicians for the future
• Continually expanding services in key areas like cardiovascular, cancer, orthopedics, and behavioral health
When it comes to caring for the Coachella Valley, we’re all in. And we’re all yours.
READY TO RESIST?
by Haleemon Anderson
When David Weiner called the November meeting of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, he’d already made his decision.
This wouldn’t be the celebration many had anticipated. Reality was setting in, and Weiner had heard that many colleagues weren’t doing well. Some were angry and in shock; others were consumed with fear and anxiety. This first meeting since Donald Trump’s election would need to be a therapy session. But first, Weiner had an announcement.
“I’m stepping down,” he said.
Weiner had steered the group as president for three years. But now, there was an urgency in his
personal life that he couldn’t shake. His fiancée lives in South America, and as a Venezuelan national, “I don’t know when, if ever, he will be able to come to this country,” Weiner said.
He told the caucus he’s decided to opt out of local politics, at least in person. “I’m doing it for love,” he said, explaining his plan to reunite with his fiancée. “There is no place I’d rather live (than Palm Springs),” but with Trump threatening even more punitive immigration policies during a second term, Weiner said it was an easy decision.
He does tax accounting, so he can work remotely and stay involved with Stonewall and the state Democratic Party. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, they instituted hybrid meetings.
“This is one of the largest (in-person) gatherings we’ve had in a while,” he said. “I think people realize that we are the resistance.”
Dr. Jill Hingston, the director of behavioral health services at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, was asked to come and facilitate a discussion. “There’s no set agenda, just
a safe place to talk,” she said. “Being together and sharing stories—that’s community.” She cautioned the Stonewall members to resist the urge to isolate.
Members shared their fears and talked about what they were doing to cope with anxiety. For Elle Kurpiewski, changing her routine helped. She said she had two good cries, and then decided to catch up on non-political books and movies.
“Staying busy—but not in the same way,” she said.
Kurpiewski volunteers as development director at the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert. She told the Independent the organization is keeping its Cathedral City office open four days a week. They’ve had a few calls, and though they don’t offer counsel and comfort, they can listen, she said.
“What we’ve done is simply be available. (People) want to vent a little bit,” she said. “What I’m saying—and many of us are saying the same thing: Everybody, take a breath. You’re not going to solve this thing tomorrow morning. We have begun the discussion of: What do we do next? And the consensus has been, ‘It’s the holidays. Let’s take this time to kind of clear our heads, and then, in January, really come back and make some decisions.’”
Hingston told the group that the trans community is especially vulnerable now.
“They’re terrified,” she said.
The Center was already holding election-anxiety support groups before the election. She told the Independent: “I’ve heard a lot of projection into horrible things that could happen in the near future, especially with our transgender population. The day after the election, we held four post-election support groups, and then one that Thursday and Friday, and now we’re doing two a week.
“One of our strategic initiatives here at The Center is ending isolation and loneliness. I think all of us wanted to just stay in bed and pull the covers over our heads after the election. That’s OK for a day or two, but any more than that, it becomes dangerous and unhealthy. We’re just encouraging people to
Locals threatened by the president-elect’s policies cope, worry and make plans for the future
get out, find community and get involved in whatever way you feel like you have the capacity to do. Feeling like you’re doing something, I think, also helps, and not just sitting back and watching the horror—or future-tripping and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what might happen?’”
David “Jax” Kelly is the co-founder of Barbershop, a support group promoting health and wellness among Black men in the Coachella Valley. The group hasn’t formally discussed the election, but Kelly said he was disturbed by the misinformation and bigotry unleashed during the election cycle. He cited a series of racist messages targeted at Black college students.
“There are stories like that, that start circulating,” Kelly told the Independent. “One of the biggest concerns I have right now is the level of misinformation that’s out there. People, when they hear something, they just amplify it.”
The FBI initially investigated the messages before referring them to local authorities.
“There was so much misogyny, so much racism,” Kelly said. “So many bad things were all under the umbrella of that administration’s campaign; I think it’s going to be a challenge for people who didn’t vote for him to be confronted with people who are probably going to be wearing T-shirts saying, ‘He’s my president,’ or ‘Trump 2028,’ or, ‘Trump is dictator.’ When their guy is chosen, you know, they want to celebrate it. But is celebrating it the same thing as when I see somebody with a Confederate flag? I don’t know. Does that stir up the same feelings? You know, we’re all going to have to kind of deal with that on some level.”
A couple of online attendees of the Stonewall meeting expressed a desire to take action immediately. A man named Robert said, “I’m
looking for ways to fight back.” He said he’d like to join up with other people and do more than just make financial contributions.
Hingston left the meeting to return to the Center for a late-night support group. She told the Independent that fear among younger clients is palpable.
“The Trevor Project suicide hotline, which is geared toward young queer people, had a 700% increase in their calls the day after the election, because young people are freaking out,” she said.
Hingston hopes California’s progressive status will be a shield—at least for now.
“The feeling is that we’ll have (protections) for maybe a little longer than other states, but the fear is that there’s going to be some federal mandate,” she said. “(Supreme Court Justice) Clarence Thomas has said he wants to take away our (same-sex) right to marry. So, if the Supreme Court decides that, then federally, I don’t know what that means for us. So that’s the fear—that they’re just going to come in and basically take an ax to people’s rights. We don’t know how far the courts will let him go.”
Hingston said The Center working on various community-wide gatherings, including one that was held Monday, Nov. 25, at the Palm Springs Pavilion.
“We want to bring people together to heal and (ask) also: How do we move forward from here?” Hingston said. “In the post-election groups, almost every single person who has shown up is just thankful to have a place to be where they can talk, or just sit and listen and feel safe—because I don’t know about you, but out in the world, it feels unsafe again.”
Haleemon Anderson is a California Local News Fellow. She can be reached at handerson@ cvindependent.com.
David Weiner, right, discusses next steps with members of the Stonewall Democrats. Haleemon Anderson
Dr. Jill Hingston: “I think all of us wanted to just stay in bed and pull the covers over our heads after the election. That’s OK for a day or two, but any more than that, it becomes dangerous and unhealthy.” Haleemon Anderson
CIVIC SOLUTIONS
by Melissa Daniels
California has long been at the forefront of going green—and new laws going into effect in 2025 and beyond are poised to make even more progress.
Why does this matter? No matter how good we are at filling our recycling bins, we are a long way off from making sure all goods that can be recycled, are recycled. The Recycling Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, found in its latest annual survey that just 21% of recyclable material is captured. The majority of the remaining recyclables—about 76% of them—are thrown into the trash at the household level.
This makes it sound like we’re collectively a bunch of callous, careless consumers. But it’s
not that simple; sometimes, people don’t know what can or can’t go into the recycling bin. Other times, we have to bring items to specific places to be disposed of responsibly, and that’s an ask with which not everyone can comply. Items don’t always come with instructions that tell you how to dispose of them after their useful life, and the amount of packaging generated by our ever-growing online shopping habits might be easier to just throw away.
Nick Lapis is the director of advocacy Californians Against Waste, an organization founded in the 1970s that was an early advocate for the state’s bottle bill—you know, those 5 and 10 cent charges per container that are on your receipts.
“If you’ve heard of a recycling law in California, it’s probably one that came across through us,” Lapis said. “If you had to pay a fee when you purchased something, that’s probably our fault.”
The organization has recently advocated for policies that aim to curb plastic, responsibly recycle e-waste, and tackle that ever-growing collection of dead batteries we all have sitting in a drawer somewhere.
Here’s a rundown of some of the changes in the works.
No More Plastic Produce Bags
One major change CAW supported that will be effective at the start of 2025 is a ban on plastic produce bags—otherwise called “pre-checkout bags.” These are the bags on a roll near the produce section; they also might be used for meat or deli items.
Every time some sort of grocery-related bag ban gets into the news, some people wonder what to do about bagging up dog waste or lining their trash bins. Setting aside the fact that you can buy compostable bags for those purposes, people will still be offered bags. Lapis said they’ll just have to be made of paper, or compostable.
“Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have been doing this for a while, so other stores will need to align with what they’re doing,” Lapis said.
Another option already popular with some shoppers: bringing your own reusable mesh produce bags, or using beeswax wrap.
The change stems from Senate Bill 1046, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2022. Why does it matter? Because a plastic produce bag is a useful item for as long as it takes you to buy grocery groceries—but it can take as long as 20 years to break down.
E-Waste Expansion
Next year will see some progress on expanding California’s e-waste program per Assembly Bill 1215, passed in 2022. This is an expansion of the state’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act to include battery-embedded products, like cell phones or children’s toys that have batteries that can’t be removed at home.
“E-waste is a huge problem with waste streams,” Lapis said, especially when it comes to items that contain batteries. Sanitation workers can be injured if they accidentally encounter such products in the waste stream, and lurking batteries can start fires. A 2021 report from the Environmental Protection Agency linked lithium-ion batteries to at least 245 fires at 64 waste facilities between 2013 and 2020.
Currently, the EWRA covers TVs, computers, laptops, printers and other devices. The state’s Covered Electronic Waste program (CEW) is a fee that people pay at the point of purchase for one of those devices that goes into an account used to help cover e-waste recycling costs for waste haulers. Lapis said the expansion addresses something of a free-rider problem with the current system: When there’s an e-waste recycling event, for example, people bring all kinds of technology.
An estimated 52% of e-waste is currently recycled in the U.S., per the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Add in the potential hazards of irresponsible disposal and—as much as we don’t like government-mandated fees—it makes sense to put resources toward getting rid of such products. Next year will see CalRecycle establish regulations, with the fee kicking in by 2026.
More
changes are coming to California’s recycling laws, both next year and beyond
Loose Batteries
Changes are also in the works for how to get rid of household batteries—the kind of item that many people would probably like to recycle, but they just don’t know how to do so. If you’re like me, that means you have a coffee can or bag full of old, loose AAs and AAAs just waiting for the Saturday morning when you feel like driving to Burrtec.
“Even the people who know they’re not supposed to throw them away end up piling them in a drawer for the eventual trip that happens to the hazardous-waste facility,” Lapis said.
Per 2022’s Assembly Bill 2440, CalRecycle is currently working on regulations on how to get rid of loose batteries through what’s called an “extended producer responsibility” law. This will make manufacturers of single-use or rechargeable batteries responsible for making a convenient, free collection and recycling program. This is expected to include drop-off sites in every county, including some at major retailers that sell batteries.
Lance Klug, information officer for CalRecycle, told the Independent the agency is finalizing regulations to comply with the law. Once those regulations are released, businesses will submit their stewardship plans within 12 months, and then implement them within a year after that. This means stores likely won’t have loose-battery drop-offs ready for customers until 2026 or 2027.
Lapis said the organization has lobbied for this change for at least five years. It’s a critical fix, because not only can batteries in the waste
stream start fires; some battery components can be melted down and reused.
“Batteries take a lot of natural resources to produce, including heavy metals and critical minerals,” Lapis said. “To think we’re just wasting them? It’s pretty stupid.”
Old Clothes
California this year became the first state in the nation to adopt an extended producer responsibility program for textiles when the Legislature passed Senate Bill 707. This tackles the scourge of “fast fashion” and the ever-growing amount of fabric that ends up in landfills; CalRecycle says textiles make up about 3% of what’s in state landfills.
The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 has multiple facets, but essentially it makes companies that manufacture clothes or textiles to figure out a statewide plan for textile recycling. They’ll be charged with forming and funding a “producer responsibility organization.” That organization will weigh in on creating a statewide structure for textile recycling that includes drop-offs for used textiles statewide by 2030.
It’s difficult to realize that even when we vote for change, it can take years for those changes to get implemented. We’re already living through the effects of climate change and are surrounded with reminders of how our culture of consumerism is at odds with the health of planet.
But at least in California, we’re paying attention to the damage and trying to do something about it—before it’s too late.
The state passed a law setting the stage for a loose-battery recycling program—but it won’t be implemented for another year or two.
CV HISTORY
THow the Henderson brothers established the planned city of Palm
Desert
he city of Palm Desert has become a Coachella Valley hub over the past few decades. It’s home to the largest mall in the valley (The Shops at Palm Desert), art galleries, museums, upscale shopping on El Paseo, the McCallum Theatre, several college campuses, and the valley’s nationally regarded zoo, The Living Desert. by greg niemann
Incorporated on Nov. 26, 1973, the city of Palm Desert celebrated its golden anniversary last year with festivities at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The city has come a long way from the remote desert cove it once was. The area is the ancestral homeland of nowextinct Cahuilla tribes (the Las Palmas band and the San Cayetano band). Land developers purchased tribal land (including parts of present-day Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert) from the Montoya family and from Rancho San Cayetano during the 1850s. The location became known as the Old MacDonald Ranch, but was re-named Palm Village in the 1920s when date palms were planted by a few remaining Cahuilla farmers.
The large U.S. Army Desert Training Center set up by General George S. Patton helped jump-start the area. Patton established a motor pool and maintenance camp near what is now El Paseo Drive, and residential development commenced nearby. What would eventually be the city of Palm Desert was begun by Randall J. Henderson (18881970), publisher of Desert Magazine, who moved the magazine there from El Centro after World War II, building a modern Puebloinfluenced building (designed by legendary architect Harry J. Williams) near what is now El Paseo and Highway 111. While exploring the Coachella Valley, Randall and his business partner, J. Wilson McKenney noticed a desert cove protected by the Santa Rosa Mountains. They both agreed that the area would be a great new location for Desert Magazine. Plus, his brother, Clifford W. Henderson (18951984), had mentioned building a planned community somewhere in the desert and asked him to scout locations.
During the war, Randall and Cliff were both Army aviators serving in North Africa. Cliff contracted severe valley fever and was hospitalized when he returned to the United States. An Army doctor suggested he recover in a dry climate. Cliff was friends with the popular ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, who had a ranch between Indio and Palm Springs. Bergen suggested that he come and stay at his ranch; Cliff accepted and got introduced to the Coachella Valley. In a very short time, he regained his strength. By this time, Randall had established Desert Magazine in its new
location and recommended that Cliff build and develop that same area. Cliff took his brother’s advice and launched his vision of the planned community.
No stranger to leadership and realizing visions, Cliff, a 1917 University of Southern California graduate, had helped lead the development of Mines Field, the municipal airport that would become Los Angeles International Airport. In 1928, he became director of aviation, serving as the first manager of the Los Angeles airport system.
The former pilot was a natural organizer. Cliff not only led the team that developed today’s LAX, but he was instrumental in promoting the overall evolution of aviation. As an early organizer and managing director of the National Air Races (1928-1939), he advanced aviation technology and played a major role in introducing the public to air travel. Cliff was also active in Los Angeles real estate development. He and another brother, Phil Henderson, developed the iconic art deco Pan-Pacific Auditorium in L.A., among other significant projects.
In the Army Air Corps during World War II, Cliff rose to the rank of colonel and established himself by being involved in planning the Burma Hump air route. He also served as military governor of Dakar in North Africa.
In the desert, Cliff bought several parcels of land south of the Indio Highway (now Highway 111) and across the road from Palm Village, including the site of what had been a vehicle pool for General Patton’s Desert Training Center. He quietly amassed 1,622 acres, and in March 1945, Cliff Henderson formed the Palm Desert Corporation. Investors included his old friend Edgar Bergen, Leonard Firestone of Firestone Tires, and others.
They immediately began to build infrastructure, digging wells and laying out streets. They wanted everything about the project to be first class, and while Cliff had the vision, raised the money and made it all work, he had lots of help. Randall had found the site and moved Desert Magazine there to become the first commercial enterprise in Palm Desert, but he refrained from using his magazine for promotion, and did not spend
much time actively participating in the new city’s progress. Randall became widely known as “Mr. Desert” and later penned the book On Desert Trails
Cliff and Randall’s brother-in-law, Tommy Tomson, a noted landscape designer, helped establish Palm Desert by creating the overall site plan and street layout, as well as the landscape design for many of the businesses and residences. Also helping were two other brothers, Phil and Carl Henderson. Phil unfortunately died from heart problems in the late 1940s before seeing the project to fruition. Cliff had considered Phil not only a brother and business partner, but his best friend. Carl was the “born salesman” and did the legwork of selling the lots.
Over the next few decades, the area came into its own. One bellwether date was July 14, 1947, when the official United States Post Office opened there. In 1948, the Palm Desert Corporation began to develop real estate in the area. One of their early projects was the Shadow Mountain Club, which opened in 1948 and featured a huge figure-eight-shaped swimming pool designed by Tomson.
In 1951, the town officially changed its name to Palm Desert and absorbed nearby Palm Village. On Nov. 26, 1973, the community was incorporated, becoming the 17th city in Riverside County. According to newspaper coverage of the incorporation, the new city encompassed 8.5 square miles (now
26.96 miles) and had a population of 14,166 (now 53,000).
The brothers made civic donations to the city they established. Randall donated land for the first library, and Cliff donated land for the first church, school and fire station, helping to make a solid community out of once-barren desert.
The city regularly welcomes residents from all over the valley to its numerous venues, including College of the Desert (opened in 1958), campuses of California State University, San Bernardino (1986) and the University of California, Riverside (2005), the Living Desert Zoo (1970), The Shops at Palm Desert (previously Westfield Palm Desert, 1982), the McCallum Theatre (1988) and El Paseo (1990s).
In recognition of his contributions to Palm Desert, a bust of Cliff Henderson was dedicated in 1978. Sculpted by Henry McCann, the bust was placed in the center parkway of El Paseo.
Sources for this article include “History of Palm Desert and the Greater Palm Springs Area” at Palmdesert.com; “History: The Henderson Clan, Founders of Palm Desert” by Sid Burks, The Desert Sun, Sept. 29, 2017; Desert Editor: The Story of Randall Henderson and Palm Desert by J. Wilson McKenney (Wilmac Press, 1972); and On Desert Trails by Randall Henderson (Westernlore Press, 1961).
Cliff and Phil Henderson in 1947. Photo courtesy of the Cliff Henderson Special Collection, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives
DECEMBER ASTRONOMY
By Robert Victor
Winter begins with the solstice on Dec. 20-21, at 1:21 a.m., during our longest night. There are plenty of dark skies in December, and lots of planets to see, especially in the evening!
On Dec. 1, nearly 1 1/2 hours after sunset, around the end of twilight, brilliant Venus (magnitude -4.2) is low in the southwest; Saturn (magnitude +1.0) reaches its high point in the south; and Jupiter (magnitude -2.8) is low in the east-northeast. About 1 1/2 hours later, Venus sets while Orion and Gemini rise into view. Another 1 1/2 hours later, or 4 1/2 hours after sunset, look for Mars (magnitude -0.5) low in the east-northeast, Procyon low in the east, and Sirius (magnitude -1.5) low in the east-southeast. Note four brightest “stars” are now Venus, Jupiter, Sirius and Mars, but not all are visible simultaneously until about mid-December, when Sirius, rising four min-
utes earlier daily, rises before Venus sets.
On Dec. 11, Mars rises just before Venus sets. On what date will you first see the lineup of four planets—Venus-Saturn-Jupiter-Mars—simultaneously? By Dec. 20, Venus and Mars will be 5° above opposite horizons three hours after sunset. The lineup of Venus and all five outer planets —Venus-Saturn-Neptune-Uranus-Jupiter-Mars—then spans 169°. On Dec. 31, Venus (magnitude -4.4) and Mars (magnitude -1.2) will be 154° apart and 13° above opposite horizons about 2 1/2 hours after sunset.
Jupiter’s brightness changes little this month, as it reaches minimum distance from Earth and maximum brilliance at opposition, with all-night visibility on Dec. 7, when Earth passes between Jupiter and the sun. That same night, Mars begins retrograde just 2° northwest of the Beehive (use binoculars to see that cluster’s individual stars), and Neptune ends retrograde 0.65° east-northeast of the 5.5-magnitude star 20 in Pisces, end of the handle of a dipper-shaped asterism. Jupiter and Uranus retrograde all month, with Jupiter reducing its distance east-northeast of Aldebaran from 8.4° to 5.7° in December, while Uranus shifts only 1° during the month, ending 8° southwest of the Pleiades. Saturn appears at an unusually dim magnitude +1.0 in December, and will continue to fade because its rings are tipped from edgewise by only 5° on Dec. 5; and 4° on Jan. 7, 2025. It’s early spring in Mars’ northern hemisphere. The planet’s north polar region now appears very bright and large, as the North Polar Hood (cloud cover) clears and reveals the North Polar Cap of frozen water and carbon dioxide at the surface. You can also look for Mars’ dark surface feature, Syrtis Major, best seen when near the center of Mars’ tiny disk about 36 minutes later daily. From the Western U.S., look on Dec. 19 at 10:34 p.m.; Dec. 20 at 11:10 p.m.; Dec. 21 at 11:47 p.m.; Dec. 23 at 12:24 a.m.; Dec. 24 at 1 a.m., and so on until Jan. 2 at 6:26 a.m.
In the morning sky, Mercury emerges quickly after perihelion and inferior conjunction of Dec.
5-6. Can you spot it by Dec. 12? It brightens through magnitude +1.3 on Dec. 12, +0.9 on Dec. 13, 0.0 on Dec. 17, and -0.4 Dec. 22-31. Mercury-Mars-Jupiter span 171° Dec. 13-17. Mercury lingers 7° from fainter Antares Dec. 20-26 and reaches greatest elongation, 22° from the sun, on Dec. 25.
Follow the moon: On Dec. 2, in evening twilight half an hour after sunset, look for the 3 percent crescent moon very low in the southwest, 24° to the lower right of Venus. On the next evening, look within an hour after sunset to find the 8% crescent moon just 12° to Venus’ lower right. In a spectacular sight on Dec. 4, the 15% crescent moon with earthshine on its dark side passes within 3° south (to the lower left) of Venus. Through a telescope, Venus’ disk, 18” (arcseconds) across, shows its phase, two-thirds illuminated. On Dec. 5, the 23% crescent moon will appear 13° to Venus’ upper left.
On Dec. 7 and 8, the moon flips from a 44% crescent to a 55% gibbous, skipping from 10° west to 5° east of Saturn, and past first quarter phase, when the moon would be half full and 90° from the sun.
On the evenings of Dec. 13-15, the waxing gibbous moon coasts eastward through the constellation Taurus, passing the Pleiades cluster, Aldebaran and the Hyades cluster, Jupiter, and Beta and Zeta Tauri, the tips of the Bull’s very long horns. Bright moonlight interferes with the peak of the Geminid meteor shower on the night of Dec. 13-14. The moon is full on the night of Dec. 14, and during that evening, Jupiter appears midway between the moon and Aldebaran, 7° from each.
After it passes full, you can follow the moon by staying up later each night, or more conveniently, by switching your viewing time to mornings, perhaps one to 1 1/2 hours before sunrise. As the moon is about to set on the morning of Dec. 14, you’ll note bright Jupiter, 6° to the moon’s left. On the next morning, December’s northernmost moon will appear 12° above Jupiter. On the morning of Dec. 17, the 94% moon passes 2-3° south of Pollux, the
Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight
For December, 2024
This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.
The month brings the longest night of the year— and great views of planets
Evening mid-twilight occurs when the Sun is 9° below the horizon. Dec. 1: 43 minutes after sunset. 15: 44 " " " 31: 44 " " "
brighter of Gemini’s “twin” stars. (The other is Castor, 4.5° away.) On the morning of Dec. 18, the 88% moon appears just 2° east of Mars. On the morning of Dec. 20, spot the star Regulus, heart of Leo, 3° west of the 72° moon. On Dec. 24, Spica in Virgo is within 3° east (to the lower left) of the 35%, now crescent moon. On Dec. 27, find the 11% crescent moon low in the southeast, with Antares, heart of Scorpius, 12° to its lower left and 8° right of brighter Mercury. On Dec. 28, find Mercury 9° left of the 6% moon. The last chance to see the moon during this cycle of phases will be an old, 2 percent crescent rising in bright twilight on Dec. 29, about 9° to the lower right of Mercury.
After the new moon of Dec. 30 at 2:27 p.m., your next chance to spot the moon will be about half an hour after sunset on New Year’s Eve, a 2 percent young crescent, within 27 hours past new, and 34° to the lower right of Venus. Happy New Year!
These events, and other gatherings of the moon, planets and stars, are illustrated on the Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar. A sample December issue, with its accompanying evening star and constellation sky map, are available at CVIndependent.com. The Sky Calendar is also available by subscription for $12 per year from www.abramsplanetarium.org/skycalendar. The Astronomical Society of the Desert will host a star party on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center; and on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Sawmill Trailhead. For more information, including maps and directions to the two observing sites, visit astrorx.org.
Robert Victor originated the Abrams Planetarium monthly Sky Calendar in October 1968 and still helps produce an occasional issue. He enjoys being outdoors sharing the beauty of the night sky and other wonders of nature.
Stereographic Projection
Map by Robert D. Miller
Capella
Pollux
Castor
Fomalhaut
December's evening sky chart.
ROBERT D. MILLER
ARTS CULTURE AND
As I looked through the lists of winners and finalists in this year’s Best of Coachella Valley 2024-2025 readers’ poll, one word kept coming to mind. Community.
As we say farewell to 2024 and head into 2025—a year that very well could be, to make an understatement, chaotic—we’re going to all need community more than ever before.
In these pages, you’ll find hundreds of names of businesses, individuals, organizations and more, all of which are part of this amazing community. The next time you visit or interact with any of our winners and finalists, I recommend congratulating them—and thanking them for doing their part to make the Coachella Valley such a special place.
Thank you to our friends at KESQ News Channel 3, who again partnered with us on this Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll; be sure to tune in as the station features some of the winners in the coming weeks. Also, thank you to all of the advertisers who helped make this issue possible. I’d personally like to thank all of the Independent staffers and contributors who helped with this year’s issue—especially designer extraordinaire Dennis Wodzisz, whose talent is apparent in both our logo this year and the pages that follow.
Finally, I’d like to thank all of you, our readers, who voted in this year’s readers’ poll. We could not do this with out you—literally. Welcome to the Best of Coachella Valley 2024-2025. Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com
BEST LOCAL DJ
DJ Mod Girl
Runners-up:
2. DJ Galaxy
3. DJ Tina Turntables
4. DJ Eric Ornelas
5. DJ Zephyr
BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST
Ernesto Ramirez
Runners-up:
2. Snake Jagger
3. Marconi Calindas
4. Kim A. Tolman
5. Aaron Allen Marner
BEST LOCAL BAND
Giselle Woo and the Night Owls
Runners-up:
2. The Gand Band
3. Dreamboats
4. Desert Crows
5. Daytime Moon
BEST MOVIE THEATER
Mary Pickford Is D’Place
Runners-up:
2. Cinemark Century La Quinta and XD
3. Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center
4. Cinemark Century at the River and XD
5. Regal Rancho Mirage & IMAX
BEST OUTDOOR VENUE
Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
Runners-up:
2. Oscar’s Palm Springs
3. The Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs
4. Rancho Mirage Amphitheater
5. Palm Desert Civic Center Park
BEST PRODUCING THEATER COMPANY
CVRep
Runners-up:
2. Palm Canyon Theatre
3. Desert TheatreWorks
4. Revolution Stage Company
5. Desert Ensemble Theatre
6. Dezart Performs
BEST OPEN MIC
The Roost
Runners-up:
2. Oscar’s Palm Springs
3. The Hood Bar and Pizza
4. Neil’s Lounge
BEST MUSEUM
Palm Springs Art Museum
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Air Museum
3. TIE
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
5. Coachella Valley History Museum
BEST LOCAL ARTS GROUP/ORGANIZATION
Palm Springs Cultural Center
Runners-up:
2. Desert Art Center
3. Backstreet Art District
4. Old Town Artisans Studio
5. Artists Council
BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN (INDIVIDUAL)
Abi Carter
Runners-up:
2. Keisha D
3. Miguel Arballo
4. Gary Gand
5. Chase Huna
BEST ART GALLERY
The Shag Store
Runners-up:
2. Melissa Morgan Fine Art Gallery
3. Kee Gallery
4. MAD.KAT
5. Galleria Marconi
BEST INDOOR VENUE
Acrisure Arena
Runners-up:
2. McCallum Theatre
3. Palm Springs Art Museum
4. Palm Springs Cultural Center
5. The Show at Agua Caliente
6. Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente
Palm Springs
BEST PET SUPPLIES
Bones-N-Scones
Runners-up:
2. PetSmart
3. Petco
4. TIE
Cold Nose Warm Heart
Posh Pet Care
6. Tailwaggers
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
John Taylor, KGAY 106.5
Runners-up:
2. Patrick Evans, MeTV FM 103.1
3. Don Wardell, 107.3 Mod FM
4. Mike Mozingo, Mix 100.5
5. Bradley Ryan, Mix 100.5
BEST LOCAL SPECIALTY RETAIL SHOP
Destination PSP
Runners-up:
2. Just Fabulous
3. Crystal Fantasy
4. TIE
Gre Records and Coffee
Q Trading Company
6. Kat and Cody
BEST CAR WASH
Quick Quack Car Wash
Runners-up:
2. Desert Hand Car Wash
3. Elephant Car Wash
4. Palm Springs Car Wash
5. Harv’s Car Wash
BEST PLACE TO GAMBLE
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
Runners-up:
2. Aqua Caliente Palm Springs
3. Agua Caliente Cathedral City
4. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
5. Morongo Casino Resort and Spa
LIFE VALLEY IN THE
BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST/ ADVOCACY GROUP/CHARITY
Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Runners-up:
2. LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert
3. Palm Springs Pride
4. DAP Health
5. Well in the Desert
6. AAP Food Samaritans
BEST BANK
Chase
Runners-up:
2. Wells Fargo
3. Bank of America
4. PNC Bank
5. Pacific Premier Bank
BEST ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT
LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Red Dress/Dress Red
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Faux Fur Ball
3. Animal Samaritans Men of the Desert Fashion Show and Luncheon
4. DAP Health Steve Chase
Humanitarian Awards
5. McCallum Theatre Annual Gala
BEST GYM
In-Shape Cathedral City
Runners-up:
2. EOS Fitness Palm Springs
3. Steel Gym
4. Fit in 42 Cathedral City
5. EOS Fitness Palm Desert
BEST PLANT NURSERY
Moller’s Garden Center
Runners-up:
2. Moorten Botanical Garden
3. Lowe’s Home Improvement
4. Bob Williams Nursery
5. DesertStrawHouse Native Plant Nursery
BEST RADIO STATION
KGAY 106.5
Runners-up:
2. MIX 100.5
3. 103.1 MeTV FM
4. 107.3 Mod FM
5. Big 106 KLPM
BEST INDOOR FUN/ACTIVITY
Coachella Valley Firebirds Hockey
Runners-up:
2. Dave and Buster’s
3. Get Air Trampoline Park
4. Berger Foundation Iceplex
5. Art Major Studio
BEST RETAIL MUSIC STORE
Palm Springs Vinyl
Records and Collectibles
Runners-up:
2. Gré Coffee House and Art Gallery
3. Dale’s Records
4. Rocks and Records
BEST PET DAYCARE
The Village Pup
Runners-up:
2. Barkingham Pet Hotel
3. Doggie’s Day Out
4. Tailwaggers
BEST HOTEL POOL
Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Runners-up:
2. Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
3. Hyatt Regency Indian Wells
4. Margaritaville
5. The Saguaro
BEST MARIJUANA DISPENSARY
Off the Charts
Runners-up:
2. Four Twenty Bank Dispensary and Lounge
3. Reefer Madness Dispensary and Lounge
4. The Leaf El Paseo
5. Atomic Budz
BEST PRINT SHOP
Roadrunner Print and Ship
Runners-up:
2. Canyon Print and Signs
3. Silvercrest Advertising
4. DropBy Office
BEST CREDIT UNION
Altura Credit Union
Runners-up:
2. Sun Community Federal Credit Union
3. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY/ INDEPENDENT LIVING
Living Out Palm Springs
Runners-up:
2. Sun City Palm Desert
3. Four Seasons at Terra Lago
4. Revel Palm Desert
BEST YOGA
Urban Yoga
Runners-up:
2. Power Yoga Palm Springs
3. Gather Yoga + Wellness
BEST COMICS/GAMES SHOP
TIE
Desert Oasis Comics
Kat and Cody
Runners-up:
3. Comic Asylum
BEST SEX TOY SHOP
Skitzo Kitty
Runners-up:
2. Gear Leather and Fetish
3. Rough Trade Gear
4. Q Trading Company
5. Not So Innocent
BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Palm Springs Lanes
Runners-up:
2. Fantasy Lanes Bowling
3. Yucca Bowl
STAFF PICK
Flannery Exchange, at 750 N. Palm Canyon Drive in uptown Palm Springs, has a number of delightful stop-offs, from the satisfying concoctions of Cafe La Jefa to the quiet luxury of jewelry store Covet PS. But it’s the candy-colored and utterly hilarious collections at Beans Goods that gave me the most joy of any place I’ve visited in the valley this year.
Bean Goods sells dachshund-themed merch for people and pups, including apparel, housewares and—of course— chew toys. It celebrates the “wiener dog” in all its goofy glory, and bills itself as a place for “rad goods for doxie lovers.”
It’s an unexpected and hilarious store for visitors of all ages— particularly for those who aren’t too self-serious. The items on sale are emblazoned with cheeky turns of phrase (Weenies and Martinis), pop culture references (Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dachshund) and not-so-subtle innuendo (Swingin’ Wieners Golf Club). One of the most recent drops pays homage to pop-star Chappell Roan with The Pink Weenie Club. There’s also a nice range of goods that reference Palm Springs for travelers looking to commemorate their stay.
Beyond the singular style, Bean Goods is also really good at being a business. Items are hand-printed and made to order, so there’s no excess inventory floating around. There are frequently new collections dropping to keep the stock rotating, including seasonal themes (The Night Before Weenmas or Dach the Halls, for instance). And they give a portion of every purchase to dachshund-rescue organizations.
The brand has been around since 2011 as an e-commerce operation, and its brick and mortar spot in Flannery Exchange celebrated its first anniversary this November. We can only estimate how many visitors have been delighted by its presence since then, whether on two legs or four. Visit beangoods.com.
—Melissa Daniels
Abi Carter sets her sights on a big 2025—including a Stagecoach appearance
By Matt King
At the end of a year in which she became an American Idol, Indio native Abi Carter has been voted Best Local Musician by readers of Coachella Valley Independent
Through her journey of being crowned the latest champion of the singing competition, Carter has not forgotten about the desert—and the desert certainly hasn’t forgotten about her. From her pre-Hollywood send-off after her audition video went viral, to her Idol hometown visit complete with a parade and a performance, and then a headlining show at Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley has fully supported our local star.
During a recent Zoom interview, Carter said recognition from locals, like this Best of Coachella Valley nod, has meant more than other accolades.
“It’s probably the craziest achievement that I have gotten so far,” Carter said. “I had been a musician in the valley for so long, and I had been just entering local singing competitions, and I had been singing at the street fair, and it’s insane to me that now the people of the valley actually know me and know my name. Despite me having been there for so long, it’s gotten to the point where I finally reached them, and it gives me a lot of hope for my other goals, for trying to reach an even bigger audience. I never thought that I would even be able to reach my own valley, my own hometown, and now I have, and it just gives me that drive and that hope that I can do it on an even larger scale.”
Carter cut her teeth by performing at Palm Springs VillageFest while trying her hand at local singing competitions, such as the McCallum Theatre’s Open Call Talent Project. These opportunities helped Carter prepare for bigger stages.
“I don’t know if I would have had the guts to go on American Idol if I hadn’t spent so many years doing smaller shows,” Carter said. “When I was 5 years old, I tried out for my school’s talent show, and I didn’t get in. The next year, I tried again, and I did get in, and then from there, I decided to enter the Riverside County Date Festival’s vocal competition for the age group 8 to 12, or something like that. From there, I wanted to do Open Call, and that was really scary to me, because the peak of what I thought I could ever do is perform in front of the McCallum’s 1,100 seats. That is so much to be performing in front of, and it taught me how to handle stage fright, and how to just be yourself in front of a crowd and not freeze up. From there, I just started busking, and that taught me how to play the piano a lot better than I had ever known myself to be able to play, because I was doing it for four hours straight. It built me up to be something that I didn’t know I could be. It was so much practice, and it helped me to be able to do it on a larger scale.”
her debut album, ghosts in the backyard
“I’ve been worried about over-saturating the desert … so I’ve been trying to not overwhelm (locals), but it’s just such a special place in my heart,” Carter said. “Right now, I really do want to support my community, and Little Street Music Hall was the very first place I ever did any sort of a show where people showed up for me, and it just made sense to go back to it and do a little, intimate album-release party there, and have the people who supported me first come there.”
The album ghosts in the backyard showcases the jaw-dropping voice that captivated America, while introducing Carter’s intense songwriting talents. The album navigates heartbreak, yearning, hatred and more through moments of serenading piano (“The Lampost”), hazy electronic pop (“i wish i was a farmer”), wallowing acoustic sways (“die in the hills”) and a pulsating pop-folk mix (“ghosts in the backyard”).
I’m learning so many things, and I’m really excited for what’s coming forward. “ ”
In July, Carter played her biggest concert yet—a headlining performance at Acrisure Arena. The venue, filled with family, friends and fans both local and national, erupted in applause for Carter’s intense live band, multiple costume changes, powerhouse vocal deliveries and the debut of her original songs. For a while, Carter said in interviews that these events “don’t feel real,” but a few months removed from Idol and Acrisure, the singer said she’s learning more about being a working musician.
“Things are always still building, and I’m learning how to work—and work hard—in this sort of an industry, and how to be prepared for things like that,” Carter said. “I felt like I walked into Acrisure so unprepared. I had no clue how to do anything. I didn’t know how to put on a show … especially singing a bunch of my own songs, and now I’m working on the stage-presence aspect of everything. I feel like I just need to be told what to do, and then I’ll do it, but it’s hard for me to go out there and figure it out myself. I’m learning so many things, and I’m really excited for what’s coming forward.”
On Nov. 15, Carter performed at Little Street Music Hall to celebrate the release of
STAFF PICK
BEST TAKEOUT SUSHI
Hibachi2Go
If you’re a serious sushi fan like me, but you’re not fond of high price tags on your favorite nigiri or cut roll choice, try ordering some nicely prepared and extremely fresh seafood and fish from Hibachi2Go, at 77920 Country Club Drive, in Palm Desert.
“The very first song I wrote for this album was actually the title track, ‘ghosts in the backyard,’” Carter said. “I was on American Idol, and I was very new to the whole world of recording and songwriting in general. This one was my second writing session, and it just set the whole precedent for what I wanted to start writing as an artist, and who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to say, how I wanted to speak and sing. I’ve just been going to home studios and writing with these very down-to-earth, very talented artists and producers. I’ve been making friends, and I’ve been doing things I never thought I’d ever do in that sort of process. I wrote a good chunk of this album with this songwriter-producer duo, Michael Edwards and Holden Miller, and they are just so cool; they’re so fun, and I love them so much. They really helped set the vibe for this whole album.”
Abi Carter has her sights set on an even bigger 2025—including a performance at Stagecoach.
“I didn’t really think that it was going to happen, and then I felt like I really found out when they posted my name on the poster,” she said. “I was in an airport flying to New York at the time, and my mom called me crying. That’s a life that I never thought I’d be able to live. It’s always one that I wanted, but I never really thought that it was going to be a possibility.
“Growing up with these festivals going on, I wasn’t oblivious to them. The biggest thing that you could do as an artist, to me, was play at Coachella or Stagecoach, and to be able to do that is just overwhelming and incredible.”
The interior of the restaurant is small, but the takeout offerings are nicely presented, generous in serving size and great-tasting. If you’re not a sushi aficionado, there are extensive hibachi and appetizer options to enjoy as well. Learn more at hibachi-2go.com. Kevin Fitzgerald
FASHION STYLE AND
BEST FLORIST
My Little Flower Shop
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Florist
3. Rancho Mirage Florist
4. Blooming Events Florist
5. Palm Springs Flower Mart
BEST EYEGLASS/OPTICAL RETAILER
Costco
Runners-up:
2. Desert Vision Optometry
3. Milauskas Eye Institute
4. Oliver Peoples
5. Perspective Optometry
BEST DAY SPA (NON-RESORT/HOTEL)
The Spa at Séc-he
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon
3. Desert Zen Day Spa
4. Men’s Grooming Spot
5. A Touch Above the Rest
BEST ANTIQUES/COLLECTIBLES STORE
Misty’s Consignments
Runners-up:
2. Revivals
3. Antique Galleries of Palm Springs
4. Victoria’s Attic
5. Angel View
BEST FURNITURE STORE
PS HomeBoys
Runners-up:
2. H3K Home+Design
3. Misty’s Consignments
4. Mathis Bros.
5. Erik’s Furniture
STAFF PICK
BEST CLOTHING STORE (LOCALLY OWNED)
Trina Turk
Runners-up:
2. Frank Clothiers
3. Wil Stiles
4. Glossy
5. Blonde Clothing Boutique
BEST HAIR SALON
TIE
Brien O’Brien Salon
Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon
Runners-up:
3. Ulta Beauty
4. Tim Weber Salon
BEST SPA IN A RESORT/HOTEL
La Quinta Resort
Runners-up:
2. Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente
3. The Spa at Desert Springs at the JW Marriott Desert Springs
4. Miracle Springs Resort and Spa
5. Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa Oasis
BEST NAIL SALON
Lovely Nails
Runners-up:
2. River Nails & Spa
3. TIE
Men’s Grooming Spot
Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon
5. Nails World and Beauty Salon
BEST TATTOO PARLOR
Adornment Tattoo
Runners-up:
2. Desert Rose Tattoo
3. Iron Palm Tattoo
4. Strata Tattoo Lab
BEST RESALE/VINTAGE CLOTHING
Revivals
Runners-up:
2. Angel View
3. Iconic Atomic
4. Clothes Mentor
BEST DRAG SHOW
Creatures of the Night at Bart Lounge
If you’re as obsessed with drag as I am, you have to check out the Creatures of the Night alt-drag Show at Bart Lounge (67555 E Palm Canyon Drive, No. 124, in Cathedral City) on Wednesday nights. The show starts around 10:30 p.m., and let me tell you—it’s not your typical drag performance. This is some of the most creative, jaw-dropping drag you’ll see in the desert.
Picture this: AFAB queens bellydancing with live snakes. Diva Plavalaguna (from The Fifth Element) serenading the crowd with a violin while lip-syncing to Chinese opera. A full-on lizard person leading an aerobics class. You never know what to expect, but one thing’s for sure: It’s going to blow your mind.
The crowd tends to be younger and queerer than attendees of many shows in the Coachella Valley, probably because of the late start time. But trust me: This show is totally worth it—even if it means you’ll need an extra cup of coffee to get through Thursday. Learn more at www.instagram.com/ creaturesofthenightdrag.
Charles Drabkin
BEST JEWELER/JEWELRY STORE
El Paseo Jewelers
Runners-up:
2. Leeds and Son Fine Jewelers
3. Hephaestus Jewelry
4. Cartel Jewelers
BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS
BEST COCKTAIL MENU
Paul Bar/Food Runners-up: 2. TIE
Bootlegger Tiki
The Evening Citizen
4. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
5. Lulu California Bistro
6. Kaiser Grille
BEST BAR AMBIANCE
Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
Runners-up:
2. PS Air Bar
3. Paul Bar/Food
4. The Evening Citizen
5. Tailor Shop
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Streetbar
5. Lulu California Bistro
BEST WINE BAR
V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar Runners-up:
2. Zin American Bistro
3. Canopy Wine Lounge
4. La Fe Wine Bar
BEST WINE/LIQUOR STORE
Total Wine and More Runners-up:
2. Hyphen Wines
3. Perry’s Palm Springs
4. BevMo!
5. Bouschet
BEST NIGHTCLUB
Hunters Palm Springs
Runners-up:
2. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
3. Chill Bar
4. The Nest
5. LIT Bar & Lounge at Fantasy Springs
BEST DIVE BAR
Tool Shed
Runners-up:
2. Streetbar
3. The Hood Bar and Pizza
4. Hair of the Dog
5. Fireside Lounge
BEST SPORTS BAR
360 Sports at Agua Caliente
Runners-up:
2. Burgers and Beer
3. The Beer Hunter
4. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
5. Henry’s Bar and Grill
BEST BLOODY MARY
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
Runners-up:
2. Bongo Johnny’s
3 TIE
Spencer’s Restaurant
The Tropicale
5. Brunch 101
SPIRITS NIGHTLIFE AND STAFF
BEST LOCAL BREWERY
La Quinta Brewing Co.
Runners-up:
2. Coachella Valley Brewing Co.
3. Babe’s BBQ and Brewery
4. Las Palmas Brewing
5. Desert Beer Company
BEST BEER SELECTION
Yard House
Runners-up: 2. Blackbook
3. La Quinta Brewing Co. Taproom
4. Las Palmas Brewing
5. The Beer Hunter
BEST GAY/LESBIAN BAR/CLUB
The Roost
Runners-up:
2. Blackbook
3. Hunters Palm Springs
4. Tool Shed
5. Chill Bar
6. Streetbar
BEST MARGARITA
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners-up:
2. El Mirasol
3. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
4. Blue Coyote Grill
5. La Tablita
6. TQLAS
6. Lulu California Bistro
Paul Bar/Food
Runners-up:
2. The Evening Citizen
3. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
4. Tailor Shop
5. Lulu California Bistro
6. Kiki’s La Quinta
BEST MARTINI
Paul Bar/Food
Runners-up:
2. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
3. Bar Cecil
4. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
5. TIE
Bongo Johnny’s
Lulu California Bistro
BEST WHISKEY/BOURBON/ SCOTCH SELECTION
Blackbook
Runners-up:
2. Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey
3. O’Caine’s Irish Pub
4. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room
5. Lulu California Bistro
PICK
BEST DESERT-THEMED NEW SONG
“Desert Rat” by Beverly Bomber
More than a few musicians have used the Coachella Valley as subject matter for a song, but I don’t know of any who have done so with the same wit and garage pop-charm as Beverly Bomber. Beverly Bomber released “Desert Rat” earlier this year, and it’s a 3 1/2-minute banger about frontman Nick Spalding’s experience moving to the desert. Observational humor forms through pointed, short lyrical phrases. Spalding, during a podcast, said the song calls out “those dudes who are flying down the road, putting everyone’s life in danger, leaving their baby momma at home to go drink at a bar in downtown Palm Springs.”
The fuzz-filled guitar tones craft a washy, reverb-soaked musical bed, making this song feel like a mirage, as Spalding’s critical lyrics bring the fun instrumental to reality. It’s super-catchy, featuring blistering guitar solos that echo the chorus’ melody—and Spalding’s vocal delivery on the line, “I think it’s wack,” is superb. Get more info at www.instagram.com/ beverlybomber.
—Matt King
The Purple Room, once a Rat Pack favorite, today melds fine food, great entertainment, a world-class bourbon selection and more
By Matt King
More than 60 years ago, the Purple Room Supper Club opened its doors. It quickly became a favorite of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and enjoyed a rich history for decades before ultimately closing to the public.
In 2013, Michael Holmes bought the club after a renovation that honored the ’60s and the Rat Pack era. The Purple Room then ushered in a new era of top-notch Palm Springs entertainment and nightlife—and it’s therefore appropriate that Independent readers have selected the Purple Room as the winner in the Best Bar Ambiance category of the Best of the Coachella Valley readers’ poll.
BEST BAR AMBIANCE MICHAEL HOLMES’ PURPLE ROOM
During a recent interview with Holmes, he talked about making the jump from full-time performer to business owner more than a decade ago.
“I lived here (in Palm Springs), but I was also touring quite a bit, and the opportunity came up to take over the Purple Room the first year it opened,” Holmes said. “I was performing here, and I decided to take the leap, and link it into a little blast from the past.”
Holmes said the Purple Room was a perfect fit for his experience.
“I’m in the entertainment business, and I grew up in the restaurant business,” Holmes said. “At one time, I managed all the restaurants at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, so I had that background, so it just seemed like the reasonable marriage of the two.”
Stepping into the Purple Room is like stepping into a time capsule. The beautiful curtains and light fixtures, the setup of a supper club, the nostalgic photographs and the style
of performers all contribute to a vibe that honors the rich history of our desert.
“It’s a throwback to a nostalgic period, a romantic period, the heyday of Palm Springs,” Holmes said. “The club was built in 1960, and we brought it back similar to the style of what that was, with live entertainment every night. There aren’t a lot of places that do that anymore—not only here, but anywhere in the country.”
Every night at the Purple Room is an occasion, whether the performer is a touring weekend headliner, or a resident talent taking the stage on weeknights.
“The Purple Room is an experience,” Holmes said. “It’s not just dinner; it’s not just music; it’s not just a great ambience. It’s all three together. So when you come here, it’s an event, even if your event is called ‘Wednesday.’”
Attaching his name to the Purple Room didn’t mean Holmes had to stop performing;
you can catch him most Sundays as Judy Garland and a host of other characters in The Judy Show, and on Wednesdays celebrating jazz and the Rat Pack.
“(The Judy Show) is a tongue-in-cheek parody of The Judy Garland Show from 1963 to 1964, so I play Judy and all of her guests, including Betty Davis, Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Mae West, Tallulah Bankhead and Katharine Hepburn,” Holmes said. “They all pop in, and I do quick changes and come back as different characters, and it’s a lot of improv. There’s a base of the show that I’ve written, and then it’s just playing with the audience. The audience really makes the show. On Wednesdays, we do Rat Pack-era jazz, which is the Great American Songbook, with myself, Charles Herrera and Darci Daniels, and we’ve been great friends for many, many years. My rule here at the Purple Room is, if it isn’t fun, we’re not going to do it.”
Even though the vibes, nostalgia and performers often cater to older audiences, Holmes said younger crowds have been finding the Purple Room.
“It’s an interesting mix of people,” he said. “Some nights, it’s older; it just kind of depends on how it lands. There are nights where we have a lot of people under 40 and under 30.”
Holmes said the Purple Room’s fantastic food and badass bourbon collection keep guests coming back for more.
“Aaron Pond is my bar manager, and he’s worked here with me for 10 years, and he has curated one of the largest collections of rare bourbon in Southern California,” Holmes said. “We have well over 200 bourbons in our bar. Frank Sinatra drank bourbon, and that’s where that idea came from, but (Pond) is also a bourbon lover. We have bourbon tastings here often, with the business names and the makers. He’s spent years building this collection, and I think it’s a well-kept secret, in a way.
“Chef Luis Mondragon has been here since day one. He was a sous chef and has moved up to chef, and he’s created a menu that I think is very, very good, especially when you’re serving 120 people within an hour. Everything is custom-made to order, so he’s really developed that. Heather Gutierrez is our general manager, and she’s worked here for eight years; she’s been a server, a bartender, a manager and now the general manager. These people all know this particular business inside and out.”
The Palm Springs haunt rounds out nostalgia, food and drink with intimate performances from Broadway legends and cabaret stars.
“It’s a throwback to a nostalgic age, and entertainment is the focus,” Holmes said. “It’s just fun. It’s a joyful experience, and that’s the intent. The great thing about the Purple Room is you can see some of the biggest stars of our age in a very small, intimate setting, rather than a large arena or big, 800 seat theater, and I think that people—the performers and the audience—really enjoy that.”
at purpleroompalmsprings.com.
Michael Holmes’ Purple Room is located at 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, inside Club Trinidad. Learn more
On most Sundays, Michael Holmes plays Judy Garland and a host of other characters in The Judy Show
In 2013, Michael Holmes bought the club after a renovation that honored the ’60s and the Rat Pack era.
BEST LATE-NIGHT
RESTAURANT
Blackbook
Runners-up:
2. Yard House
3. Kitchen 86 + Bar
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. Denny’s
BEST KOREAN
TIE
BeeCh Please
Maru Korean BBQ and Grill
Runners-up:
3. Blazing King BBQ and Hot Pot
4. You Grill Korean BBQ
5. Kpop Foodz
BEST DELICATESSEN
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
Runners-up:
2. The Real Italian Deli
3. Manhattan in the Desert
4. J’s Deli
FOOD DRINK AND STAFF PICK
BEST STEAKS/STEAKHOUSE
The Steakhouse at Agua Caliente
Runners-up:
2. LG’s Prime Steakhouse
3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
4. Mr. Lyons Steakhouse
5. Mastro’s
BEST DATE SHAKE
Shields Date Garden
Runners-up:
2. Monster Shakes
3. Hadley Fruit Orchards
4. Windmill Market
5. Great Shakes
BEST THAI
Thai Smile Palm Springs
Runners-up:
2. Desert Thai Authentic Thai Cuisine
3. Pepper’s Thai
4. Thai Smile of Rancho Mirage on El Paseo
5. My Thai
6. Talay Thai
BEST POST-SHOW CATERING
Catering
At long last, Coachella Valley residents can regularly enjoy that post-concert staple from Los Angeles or San Diego: a badass hotdog.
Local musicians Nick Hales and Esther Sanchez turned their love of food into CoVal Catering, a food pop-up that can be seen almost every weekend at a local brewery, bar or backyard show. CoVal makes irresistible bacon-wrapped hot dogs with all the toppings you can think of, as well as mouth-watering elote cups. The duo recently upped their game to include fantastic chicken wings and chili on the menu. Oftentimes, the duo will take a break from their cooking duties to hop on stage and perform as Desert
BEST BUFFET
Emperor Buffet
Runners-up:
2. Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs
Resort Casino
3. Monsoon Indian Restaurant
4. Rockwood Grill at JW Marriott
Desert Springs Resort and Spa
5. The Marketplace by Fabio Viviani at Morongo
BEST PIZZA
Bill’s Pizza
Runners-up:
2. Giuseppe’s Pizzeria
3. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
4. Piero’s PizzaVino
5. Pizzeria Bambinos and Bar
6. Billy Q’s
BEST BURGER
Tony’s Burgers
Runners-up:
2. In-N-Out
3. Tyler’s Burgers
4. Bongo Johnny’s
5. Gastro Grind Burgers
6. Lulu California Bistro
BEST FRENCH
Si Bon
Runners-up:
2. Le Vallauris Restaurant
3. Pomme Frite
4. TIE
Cafe Des Beaux-Arts
French Corner Cafe
BEST BRUNCH
Spencer’s Restaurant
Runners-up:
2. Si Bon
3. Wilma and Frieda
4. Brunch 101
5. Bongo Johnny’s
6. Lulu California Bistro
BEST DESSERTS
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
Runners-up:
2. Billy Reed’s
3. Over the Rainbow Desserts
4. Carousel Bakery
5. Manhattan in the Desert
6. Lulu California Bistro
BEST SALSA
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners-up:
2. La Tablita
3. Blue Coyote Grill
4. Salsa’s Restaurant
5. Sancho’s
6. Rincon Norteno
BEST OUTDOOR SEATING
Spencer’s Restaurant
Runners-up:
2. The Tropicale
3. Copley’s on Palm Canyon
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. Bongo Johnny’s
6. Brunch 101
BEST ITALIAN
Trilussa Ristorante
Runners-up:
2. Castelli’s Ristorante
3. Giuseppe’s Pizzeria
4. Piero’s PizzaVino
5. Johnny Costa’s Ristorante
BEST DINER
Elmer’s Restaurant
Moons, firing through acoustic originals and covers. They can rock as amazingly as they cook— and whether it’s hot jams or hot dogs, everything from Hales and Sanchez is served with a smile. Learn more at www. instagram.com/coval_catering.
—Matt King
Runners-up:
2. Don and Sweet Sue’s
3. Keedy’s Fountain Grill
4. Bongo Johnny’s
5. Rick’s Restaurant
6. John’s Restaurant
BEST SANDWICH
The Sandwich Spot
Runners-up:
2. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
3. TKB Bakery and Deli
4. The Real Italian Deli
5. Manhattan in the Desert
6. Bongo Johnny’s
STAFF PICK PICK
BEST TACOS
Tacos El Viejon
Tacos, you say? They’re ubiquitous in the Coachella Valley—but the fare at Tacos El Viejon is a step above.
Tucked into a strip mall at 51697 Harrison St. in Coachella, the homestyle restaurant is a tasty find in a veritable taco town. Set your GPS, and resist distraction. (The area is lousy with tacos, I’m just saying.) Don’t pass on the crunchy ceviche tostada as an appetizer, or the sumptuous shrimp cocktail, both piled high with avocado. The menu includes chilaquiles, pozole, machaca and huaraches. And then there are the mouth-watering tacos—with 16 fillings including birria, shrimp, fish, tripa and lengua, pollo, pastor and more, all on house-made corn or flour tortillas.
Tacos El Viejon serves breakfast, starting at 8:30 a.m. on weekends and 10 a.m. on weekdays. You can have huevos almost any way you like. (I counted seven.) They’re open until 9 p.m. every night. Most patrons come for takeout, but if want to sit down, there are micheladas and chavelas to be had. A couple of big screens are always on, and there’s plenty of space. The staff is warm and helpful, making Tacos El Viejon a great place for a not-solate-night wind down. Find them on Facebook to get more information.
—Haleemon Anderson
BEST BURRITO
BEST CALIFORNIA CUISINE
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
Runners-up:
2. Spencer’s Restaurant
3. Lulu California Bistro
4. California Pizza Kitchen
5. Bongo Johnny’s
BEST BAGELS
Townie Bagels, Bakery and Café
Runners-up:
2. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
3. Panera Bread
4. J’s Deli
BEST MEXICAN El Mirasol
Runners-up:
2. Tac/Quila
3. Blue Coyote Grill
4. La Tablita
5. El Patio
6. Salsa’s Restaurant
BEST VIETNAMESE
Rooster and the Pig
Runners-up:
2. 533 Viet Fusion
3. Pho Vu
4. Fuzion Five
5. Pho of the Desert
Las Casuelas Original Runners-up:
2. La Tablita
3. Blue Coyote Grill
4. Casa Blanca
5. Bongo Johnny’s
BEST JUICE/JUICE BAR
TIE
Fresh Juice Bar
Jamba Juice
Runners-up:
3. Luscious Lorraine’s
4. Big Juice Bar
5. Bowl of Heaven
BEST CHINESE
JOY at Fantasy Springs
Runners-up:
2. Wang’s Chinese Cuisine (Cathedral City)
3. P.F. Chang’s
4. City Wok
5. China Wok
BEST BAKERY
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
Runners-up:
2. Aspen Mills
3. Peninsula Pastries Palm Springs
4. Carousel Bakery
5. Bread and Flours
STAFF PICK
BEST BREWERY VIBE
Las Palmas Brewing
Sam Gill and Rey Romero have managed to do something that is quite difficult: They started a brewery, and they did it the right way.
At Las Palmas Brewing (at 461 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs), you won’t find the murkiest of hazy IPAs or the most viscous, adjunct-laden imperial pastry stouts. You’ll find lighter beers like their grisette (traditionally a beer made for Belgian miners) or their saison, with hints of white pepper and bubble gum from the yeast. Yes, they’ll have an IPA on tap as well, and it’s also tasty, but that’s not why I make the trek to downtown Palm Springs. They have a strong following for not just their beer, but also the natural wine selection that is curated by co-owner Rey. They also often have interesting food pop-ups on their back patio. I had a cacio e pepe pizza there a couple of years ago that I still think about from time to time.
Do other breweries do similar things? Maybe. But the results vary, and as someone who actively seeks out craft-beer experiences throughout Southern California and beyond, not a single one does it with the consistent quality and charm of Las Palmas. Learn more at www.laspalmasbrewing.com.
Brett Newton
BEST CATERER
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
Runners-up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Lynn Hammond
4. Carousel Catering
BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT
Spencer’s Restaurant
Runners-up:
2. TIE
Bar Cecil
John Henry’s Cafe
4. Le Vallauris
5. Kaiser Grille
BEST LOCAL COFFEE ROASTER
Koffi
Runners-up:
2. Joshua Tree Coffee Company
3. Coachella Valley Coffee Company
4. IW Coffee and Chai Bar
BEST SEAFOOD
Fisherman’s Market and Grill
Runners-up:
2. Pacifica Seafood
3. Eddie V’s
4. Ruben and Ozzy’s
5. Oceana Palm Desert
BEST BREAKFAST
Elmer’s Restaurant
Runners-up:
2. Wilma and Frieda
3. Keedy’s Fountain Grill
4. Brunch 101
5. Rick’s Restaurant
6. Lulu California Bistro
BEST DOUGHNUTS/PASTRIES
Swiss Donut
Runners-up:
2. Krispy Kreme
3. Peninsula Pastries Palm Springs
4. Jensen’s
5. Vienna Donut and Ice Cream
BEST VEGGIE BURGER
Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
Runners-up:
2. Native Foods
3. Tony’s Burgers
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. Bongo Johnny’s
6. Gastro Grind Burgers
BEST GLUTEN-FREE DINING
Brunch 101
Runners-up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Wildest Restaurant and Bar
BEST CASUAL EATS
Billy Reed’s
Runners-up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Bongo Johnny’s
4. John’s Restaurant
5. Brunch 101
BEST BARBECUE
Babe’s BBQ and Brewery (closed; in the process of relocating)
Runners-up:
2. Bubba’s Bones and Brews
3. Uncle D’s Smokehouse BBQ and Grill
4. Jackalope Ranch
5. Meester Zebra
BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
Runners-up:
2. Native Foods
3. Lulu California Bistro
BEST LATIN AMERICAN
Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse
Runners-up:
2. Peruvian Fuego
3. Mi Cultura
4. Fernanda’s Salvadorian Food
5. BaBaLoo Lounge
BEST GREEK
Santorini Gyro
Runners-up:
2. Athena Gyro
3. Luna Grill
4. Koutouki Greek Estiatorio
5. John’s Restaurant
BEST SMOOTHIES
Monster Shakes
Runners-up:
2. Fresh Juice Bar
3. Jamba
4. Juice It Up!
5. Fruit Wonders
6. Big Juice Bar
BEST JAPANESE
Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
Runners-up:
2. Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey
3. Nobu
4. Joyce’s Sushi
5. Happy Sushi
BEST ORGANIC FOOD STORE
Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
Runners-up:
2. Whole Foods
3. Sprouts Farmers Market
4. Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Market
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Koffi
Runners-up:
2. Play Lounge
3. IW Coffee and Chai Bar
4. Cafe La Jefa
5. Gre Records and Coffee
BEST FROZEN YOGURT
Monster Shakes
Runners-up:
2. Beach House Yogurt
3. Yogurtland
4. Lizzy’s Premium Frozen Yogurt
5. Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt
BEST WINGS
Buffalo Wild Wings
Runners-up:
2. Blackbook
3. Bongo Johnny’s
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. The Beer Hunter
BEST INDIAN
Monsoon Indian Cuisine
Runners-up:
2. Its Taste of India
3. India Oven
BEST ICE CREAM/SHAKES
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Runners-up:
2. Monster Shakes
3. Lappert’s Ice Cream
4. Great Shakes
5. Perfect Pint
BEST FRENCH FRIES
McDonald’s
Runners-up:
2. Grill-A-Burger
3. Pomme Frite
4. Bongo Johnny’s
5. Brunch 101
BEST CUSTOM CAKES
Over the Rainbow
Runners-up:
2. Nothing Bundt Cakes
3. TIE
Jensen’s
Pastry Swan
5. Carousel Bakery
BEST SUSHI
Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
Runners-up:
2. Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey
3. Joyce’s Sushi
4. The Venue
5. Memo’s Sushi
6. Taka Shin
BEST FOOD TRUCK
TIE
TKB Food Truck
Taco Shop 760
Runners-up:
3. Five03 Pupusas
4. Papa Headz
STAFF PICK
BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP
Freddie’s Kitchen at the Cole
Near the northwestern edge of Palm Springs, at 2323 N. Palm Canyon Drive, sits a little restaurant inside a small hotel—and it’s serving up some of the best cuisine in the Coachella Valley.
Freddie’s Kitchen at the Cole offers “French California cuisine,” lovingly prepared by chef Frederic Pierrel, who, according to the restaurant’s website, “was born in the Alsace region of France and graduated with honors from Lycée Hôtelier et Culinairer in Gerardmer, France.” His menu is fairly small, but it includes some unexpected items—how often do you find elk on menus?—and they’re consistently delicious.
Thousands of Coachella Valley Independent readers and News Channel 3 viewers voted in this year’s Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll—and they selected the Purple Room as the winner of Best Bar Ambiance and finalist in four categories:
Tues-Wed-Thurs 4 - 6 PM
WEEKNIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
TUES-WED-THURS 6:30-9:30 PM
The one dish we I stop thinking about, however, is something you’ll find on numerous menus: French onion soup. But no other local version, at least that I’ve found, compares to Freddie’s version. A perfectly seasoned broth, with cooked-through onions retaining just a hint of firmness, is topped with gruyere cheese that’s a mixture of creamy and toasted-crispy. It’s so, so good. Get more information at freddieskitchenatthecole.com.
Jimmy Boegle
TUESDAYS
ROSE MALLETT
Jazz legend sings the music of Holiday, Vaughn, Ellington.
WEDNESDAYS
CHARLES HERRERA, DARCI
DANIELS & MICHAEL HOLMES
Swinging to the music of the Rat Pack Era
MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY:
THURSDAYS
SHARON SILLS
Sass, sex & songs – One of the desert’s most popular performers
1900 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA (Inside Club Trinidad Resort) purpleroompalmsprings.com | (760) 322-4422
Ernesto Ramirez incorporates his Mexican roots and Palm Springs inspiration into his vibrant paintings
By Haleemon Anderson
Ernesto Ramirez was on a Mediterranean cruise when he learned he was voted Best Visual Artist by Independent readers in the Best of Coachella Valley’s readers’ poll.
“I’m very lucky,” he said.
Ramirez said the Coachella Valley has embraced his work since he started painting in 2017.
“The arts community is great here,” Ramirez said. “They are very supportive, and that’s a good thing, because I’m kind of new in the art industry. I was working as an architect; that was my first passion. I always wanted to paint, but because I had to work, I never really had the time.
“You have to be passionate about art. Painting, this is a very tough industry. Nobody gets rich doing that, not that I know of. That was my second passion when I was a kid. Now it brings me a lot of joy to do it, and my community is very supportive about that.”
Ramirez works in acrylics and oils, incorporating aspects of Mexican culture and folklore. His series on luchadores takes a close-up look at the traditional professional wrestler. Primates, roosters, rams and fauna native to Mexico are rendered in intense color and repose. There are many of references to Mestizos and Dia de los Muertos.
“One of my influences, obviously, is Frida Kahlo,” Ramirez said. “I think you can tell a bit about that by looking at my work. I call myself a Mexican surrealist. I also put my memories from my childhood in my work— you know, memories about my grandma, my family, my little brother passing away, things like that. (I also incorporate) a lot of weird dreams that I have, because surrealism is just, you can paint whatever you want.”
His choice of brilliant colors and bold concepts reflects an upbringing just as colorful. Born in central Mexico, Ramirez spent his youth on the coast near Mazatlán, a town known for its beauty and cultural attractions. He returned to his birthplace of Guanajuato to get a degree in architecture and eventually found work in Tijuana, supervising housing-design projects.
As a child, Ramirez had aspirations of being an architect and an artist. He was devoted to his large extended family, yet he dreamed of traveling the world. He remained close to home, caring for his parents and grandmother—until they realized Ramirez might need a push.
“After I graduated, I moved back to Mazatlán to help my parents,” he said. “I worked there for a few years, designing houses, and then one day, my mom said to me, ‘I think it’s time for you to go, because we can manage. It’s time to go and live your life and continue with your profession. We will survive. We will manage. We want you here, but we don’t.’ She knew I wanted to travel the world.”
Ramirez headed to Los Angeles, where he spent time with his younger brother.
“My goal, (when) I came here, was to learn English, so I did that, and then I was trying to move more north, trying to go to Canada,” he said. “And that didn’t happen, because I met the love of my life in Los Angeles, and now I’m happily married with my husband. It changed the whole thing—like, ‘That’s it. I’m going to be here in the United States.’”
Ramirez and Patrick will celebrate their 20-year anniversary next year. They moved to Palm Springs in 2023, after many years as part-timers.
“We used to live in Long Beach. We had a
PROFESSIONALS VALLEY
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Dr. Steven Roffers
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Jim Cox
3. TIE
Dr. Jeffrey Gamble
Nazemi Musculoskeletal Center
5. Dr. Corina Morrison
BEST DOCTOR
Dr. Manpreet Dev
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Laura Rush
3. Dr. David Morris
4. Dr. Michael Jardula
BEST ATTORNEY
Walter Clark
Runners-up:
2. Christopher Heritage
3. Jeffrey Orr
4. Barbara Barrett
5. Lena Wade
BEST VETERINARIAN
Animal Samaritans
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Steve Carter, Carter Animal Hospital
3. Dr. Rachel Reedy, Ridgeline
Veterinary Clinic
4. Dr. James Clark
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Scott Histed
Runners-up:
2. Taylor Fenwick
3. Barbara Scott
4. Patrick Jordan
5. Jen Agnew
6. David Sidley
BEST AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR
TIE
Comfort Air
General Air Conditioning and Plumbing
Runners-up:
3. Timo’s Air Conditioning and Heating
4. Desert Air Conditioning
5. Elite Heating and Air
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
Contempo Lending
Runners-up:
2. Franklin Loan Center
3. loanDepot
4. TrustLink Mortgage
BEST COSMETIC SURGERY
Dr. Mark Sofonio
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Timothy Jochen
3. Dr. Maria Lombardo
4. Dr. Natalie Driessen
5. Dr. Diya Tantawi
BEST PLUMBER
Roto Rooter
Runners-up:
2. Valley Plumbing
3. General Air Conditioning and Plumbing
4. KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing &
Air Conditioning
5. DVS Plumbing
BEST PEST CONTROL COMPANY
Dewey Pest Control
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Pest Control
3. Rudy’s Termite and Pest Control
4. Newman Pest Control
5. Manuel’s Pest Control
BEST PUBLIC SERVANT
Rep. Raul Ruiz
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills
3. Palm Springs City Councilmember
Lisa Middleton
4. Palm Springs City Councilmember
Ron deHarte
5. Palm Desert City Councilmember
Jan Harnik
BEST EYE DOCTOR
Dr. Bart Ketover
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Keith Tokuhara
3. Dr. Kailee Watson
4. Dr. Vitaliy Zak
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Ted Guice
Runners-up:
2. Stephen Crouse
3. Jaime Jimenez
4. Jeremy Michur
BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP
Coachella Valley Volkswagen
Runners-up:
2. Toyota of the Desert
3. Jessup Auto Plaza
4. TIE
Palm Springs Subaru
Shottenkirk Desert Lexus
BEST AUTO REPAIR
Sergio’s Automotive
Runners-up:
2. Toyota of the Desert
3. Arcaro’s Auto Body
4. Singh’s Automotive Repair
BEST CARPET/FLOOR CLEANING SERVICE
Stanley Steemer
Runners-up:
2. TIE
Mario’s Tile Care
Pro Carpet Cleaning
4. Country Club Carpet Cleaners
5. Fiber-Seal
STAFF PICK
BEST GUITAR MAKEOVERS
World Famous Repairland
Jayce Levi, the mind behind World Famous Repairland, is truly a wizard. He takes guitars that have been blasted by decades of desert sand, dropped from huge heights, corroded, broken and virtually destroyed, and transforms them into axes that look and feel brand-new. His experience in the music industry, and what must be a little magic, have helped him become the go-to guy for getting gear fixed.
Levi’s repair skills, complete with his unique charm, deadpan humor and monotone voice, caused the shop to go viral this year. On Instagram, World Famous Repairland sits at more than 145,000 followers, with millions of views on his videos. Just recently, Levi started accepting mailin repairs, and has taken in busted guitars from all around the world. The same charm from his videos comes across in real life, and his shop in Indio (at 45250 Smurr St.), complete with fuzzy, colorful sights, has become a cool hangout spot to talk music—and to learn a thing or two from someone who is out to uplift musicians in the Coachella Valley. Find out more at www.repairland.co.
—Matt King
BEST DENTIST
Dr. Manpreet Dev (Tahquitz Dental Group)
Runners-up:
2. Dr. Scott Shepherd (Palm Springs Family and Cosmetic Dentistry)
3. Dr. Gerald Chang
4. Dr. Jeff Tom (Palm Springs Family and Cosmetic Dentistry)
5. Dr. Larry Martin (Vineyard Dental Office)
BEST FLOORING/CARPET COMPANY
Flooring Innovations
Runners-up:
2. Carpet Empire Plus
3. Distinctive Flooring
BEST SOLAR COMPANY
Hot Purple Energy
BEST LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY
Ace Hardware Palm Springs
Runners-up:
2. Lowe’s Home Improvement
3. The Home Depot
4. Builders Supply
Runners-up:
2. Renova Solar
3. Sunrun Solar
STAFF PICK
BEST THAI VEGETABLE PREPARATIONS
Sitting snugly in the little shopping center on the southwest corner of Highway 111 and Highway 74 in Palm Desert (but with the official address of 73030 El Paseo), Blue Orchid Thai Bistro is my go-to when I get a Thai food craving. I’ve been going for years and have yet to try anything that was less than stellar.
The true beauty of the food at Blue Orchid, however, is their vegetables: They are always fresh and perfectly cooked so that they’re still crunchy and/or juicy when they should be.
My recommendations are almost as numerous as the items on the entire menu, but if I had to make only a few, I’d go with the drunken noodles, prik king or any of the six delicious curries, The spicy eggplant is a slam dunk, too.
Blue Orchid saved me during the COVID-19 lockdowns with their well-run online ordering system. A word of caution is in order, though: Don’t go higher than a three on their one-to-five spice scale. That scale is exponential, and you will pay for your hubris.
—Brett Newton
BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Runners-up:
2. Indian Wells Golf Resort
3. Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs
4. Desert Princess Country Club
5. Indian Palms Country Club
BEST RECREATION AREA
Joshua Tree National Park
Runners-up:
2. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
3. Whitewater Preserve
4. Indian Canyons
5. Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park
BEST PARK
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners-up:
2. Ruth Hardy Park
3. Demuth Park
4. La Quinta Civic Center Campus
5. Panorama Park
BEST HIKE
Tahquitz Canyon Trail
Runners-up:
2. Bump and Grind Trail
3. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
4. Art Smith Trail
BEST SPORTING GOODS
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runners-up:
2. Big 5 Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
BEST PLACE FOR BICYCLING
Downtown Palm Springs Bike Loop
Runners-up:
2. CV Link
3. Palm Desert (general)
BEST OUTDOOR/CAMPING GEAR STORE REI
Runners-up:
2. Big 5 Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
BEST PUBLIC GARDEN
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners-up:
2. Sunnylands
3. Moorten Botanical Garden
4. Wellness Park
BEST BIKE SHOP
Bike Palm Springs Rentals
Runners-up:
2. Trek Bicycle Palm Desert
3. Trek Bicycle Palm Springs
4. Tri-A-Bike
BEST INDOOR ACTIVITY FOR KIDS CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF THE DESERT
It’s been a very good year for the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert—with the highlight coming back in May, when the museum buildings re-opened for the first time since the COVID-19 shutdowns arrived in March 2020.
But even before that, good things were happening for the popular family destination: On Feb. 28, the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce honored the venue with the “Heart of Rancho Mirage” award. Since the reopening, events have returned to the museum’s campus, including a recent Halloween party and, in November, the Holiday Arts and Crafts Show and Shopping Village, an inclusive community event featuring the talents of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Now, as the year winds down, Coachella Valley Independent readers have selected the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert as the Best Indoor Activity for Kids. The honor was received with excitement by the museum’s CEO, Cindy Burreson.
“My initial reaction is just so much gratefulness, particularly due to the fact that we just reopened at the end of May,” Burreson said. “So we’ve only been open for a few months, and I think this is really indicative of the community’s pent-up demand for us to reopen, and also, what a treasure this museum is to our community. We’re so grateful that the community would think that we are worthy of such a beautiful recognition.”
The long-awaited re-opening was made possible by more than $2 million of fundraising capital, bolstered by a line of credit from FirstBank.
After reopening after a four-year closure, the Children’s Discovery Museum works on bigger, better programs for kids and their adults
By Kevin Fitzgerald
and know the place we hold in this community, and how special it is for the families.”
Two of the three campus buildings are currently in regular use, after going through a “re-imagination” process during the closure.
Building 1, a space designed for children up to the age of 8, includes creative ways to “Imagine,” “Express,” “Move,” “Experiment,” “Explore” and “Dream,” with almost 40 new exhibits created by Hands On! Studios, which also created the museum’s original exhibits.
bought different foods so it wasn’t just pizza; now, we have foods from around the world so kids can learn about other cultures, and then we bought books that accompany those foods. We have books in Mandarin, Spanish and English that reflect different cultures, different holidays and different types of families and such.
“Then, the grocery store is now a farmers’ market. Before, it had soda and things that may not have been the healthiest choices for kids, so we’ve updated it to have fruits and vegetables and flowers, things of that nature. Now, it’s sort of representative of our agricultural history here in the valley as well. It’s just a role play … and with the grocery store, we have a cash register and shopping bags, and (children) can ‘buy’ their food, and another kid can ring them up. We have a pretend veterinary clinic where they can make sick animals well, and take X-rays and things like that. It’s all about pretend play.”
Burreson said a pediatrician speaks on a variety of topics to new parents twice a month. “She has a different topic every month. We try to bring some different things to our families, to engage with them and ask them, ‘What do you want to see? What, or who, do you want to be here? What would be helpful for you as a parent or a grandparent?’”
Burreson said more renovations—and additional fundraising activities—are planned.
“We have the third building, where we will be creating (spaces) for middle-school and high-school aged kids,” Burreson said. “That’s going to be a place where they can have resources for 3-D printing, or sewing and embroidery, life-skills classes, and all kinds of different things. We’re also going to be building what we’re calling the ‘Yoga Lawn,’ which is going to be a place for encouraging mental health and wellness for kids, for their grownups and for our staff. There, we’ll have things like yoga, journaling, meditation, sound baths, book clubs and things of that nature to encourage mental health with the littles, the bigs and our staff.”
All of these aforementioned activities and exhibit areas are part of the regular museum programming, accessible to any visitors who pay the admission fee. The museum also offers added value programs such as the “Little Chefs” or “Little Scientists” experiences, which require registration and an additional fee.
“Having reopened is amazing, because first of all, we were able to hire a brand-new staff,” Burreson said. “They’re really the magic behind all of this. They’re the secret sauce that makes it happen every day. But also, welcoming the community back has just been emotional. Every day, (we see) what we call ‘satisfied customers,’ which are the kids who are crying when they leave, because they don’t want to go. That’s such an amazing thing, and it’s wonderful to see the family interaction,
Building 2 offers additional fun and interactive opportunities for children and their grown-ups.
“We’re constantly evolving our second building, bringing things in and out of that space,” Burreson said. “… We’re still bringing in new building blocks and different experiences. The pizza place was one of our longstanding exhibits that was in the building that we just re-imagined, so we moved it over to Building 2, and we refreshed it a bit. We
“The program classes are longer in duration, and they are a parent and child activity, such as cooking new recipes, and they’re fourweek programs,” Burreson said.
The holiday season will bring the third annual “Jingle Bell Rock” event on Sunday, Dec. 8.
“It’s a free community event where we have photos with Santa, cookie decorating, arts and crafts, music and all kinds of fun things going on in the courtyard,” Burreson said. “The museum is closed that day, but it’s just
Credit: Jennifer Yount Photography
a big community event that has been really successful in the last couple of years while we’ve been closed. We really anticipate that, this year, it’s going to be gangbusters.”
On March 1, the museum will be the beneficiary of a concert by Jimmy’s Buffet, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, part of Palm Desert’s annual concert series at The Gardens on El Paseo.
“We do have a lot of fundraising events coming up,” Burreson said. “We are a nonprofit, so fundraising events are integral to making sure that we’re able to continue our programming and our events.
Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert's CEO, Cindy Burreson.
Credit: Christine Arnold Photography
“One thing that’s really important to us is to have varied programming, because we have a lot of members who come several times a week. We want to make sure that what we present to our visitors is something different every time they come in. … Whether that’s music, or arts and crafts, or story time, or special themed days or events, or different exhibits, we want to constantly be evolving so that we’re always interesting to our visitors.”
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert is located at 71701 Gerald Ford Drive, in Rancho Mirage. Learn more at cdmod.org.
STAFF PICK
BEST MINTY SWEET TREAT
The Mint Cacao Nib at Carmela Ice Cream
The Coachella Valley is home to lots of great ice cream joints, thanks to our 350-plus sunny days a year—and my current favorite sweet treat is the Mint Cacao Nib at Carmela Ice Cream, at 750 N. Palm Canyon Drive, inside the Flannery Exchange.
I know that mint can be a controversial ice cream flavor, but it doesn’t have to be. The mint here is light and refreshing—not overpowering or toothpaste-like. The cocoa nibs add a nice crunch and a deep, chocolaty, almost nutty flavor. If you’re not a fan of mint ice cream, don’t worry; Carmela has plenty of other flavors to choose from, like Pear Champagne, Candied Pecan and Rocky Road.
For me, the texture of ice cream is almost as important as the flavor, and Carmela’s is smooth, with no ice crystals and no gumminess. Since the flavors change with the seasons, there’s always something new to try, so you’re sure to find a flavor you love! Learn more at carmelaicecream.com.
Charles Drabkin
STAFF PICK FOR THE KIDS
BEST INDOOR ACTIVITY FOR KIDS
Children’s Discovery
Museum of the Desert Runners-up:
2. Zebra World
3. Get Air Trampoline Park
4. The Kids Clubhouse
BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE
Kohl’s
Runners-up:
2. JadaBug’s Kids Boutique
3. Carter’s
4. H&M
BEST RESTAURANT FOR KIDS
Dave and Buster’s
Runners-up:
2. Chuck E. Cheese’s
3. Shakey’s Pizza
4. El Mirasol
BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners-up:
2. Boomers!
3. Art Major Studio
4. Family YMCA of the Desert
BEST PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners-up:
2. Dave and Buster’s
3. Boomers!
4. Get Air Trampoline Park
BEST PLAYGROUND
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners-up:
2. Ruth Hardy Park
3. Zebra World
4. La Quinta Civic Center Park
BEST ALL-DAY MEXICAN BREAKFAST
El Rodeo Cafe
Let’s be honest: When you think of the cities in the desert with the best, most-authentic Mexican cuisine, I doubt the words “Palm Desert” come to mind—but perhaps they should, thanks to El Rodeo Café, at 44820 San Pablo Ave.
I’ve been going for more than a decade, and the quality has always been high. What makes this place really special, though, is that they do breakfast all day. Feeling like killer chilaquiles con huevos at 3 p.m.? El Rodeo has you covered. Same with their amazing breakfast burritos. (I recommend either the pollo asado or the breakfast sausage.) El Rodeo Café is also where I was introduced to tlacoyos, a traditional Mexican dish. I’d describe it, but no words will match the experience.
The restaurant recently expanded, adding more seating and a bar, but the important stuff is the same. Oh, and keep an eye out for the specials as well. When I see albondigas on the board, I’m a happy boy. Go and enjoy.
Brett Newton
For voting Walter Clark Legal Group the Best Attorney in the Coachella Valley in this year’s Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll.
DO-GOODER
SUCCESS VIA SPORT
By Kevin Fitzgerald
On Nov. 16, ACEing Autism staged its first tennis clinic in the Coachella Valley for individuals on the autism spectrum, at the Shadow Mountain Resort tennis courts in Palm Desert.
Tailored to children and young adults ages 5-25, the program offers both “affordable and impactful tennis programming to (those) with Autism Spectrum Disorder” and “will help participants develop tennis skills, improve fitness, and foster meaningful social connections in
a supportive and inclusive environment,” as per the nonprofit organization’s press release.
The program is structured as seven onehour clinics, all held on Saturday mornings.
The cost is $140 per participant; the nonprofit offers families who can’t afford the fee a scholarship, or helps them get assistance from other supportive entities. A spring session has been confirmed for Palm Desert this coming April, but registration has not yet begun.
Mylene Martin, the marketing and communications manager for the nonprofit, explained what a typical day of activities entails.
“ACEing Autism has developed a nine-step curriculum, and that starts with an introduction,” Martin told the Independent. “Then we do warmups, hand-eye coordination, racket skills, forehand (and) backhand volleys, and, depending on the time, some serves. We’ll always have games.”
Martin said the clinics are run with the help of volunteers, trained by ACEing Autism staff and supervised by a program director. “The really good part about the curriculum, and the way it was created, is that every drill or game can be adapted to each child or teenager (or young adult), so you can have kids doing the exact same drill, but differently. … It’s adapted to where they’re at. … Especially for kids on the autism spectrum, we really try to work on socialization. So even if they might need to do a drill in a way that’s a little bit easier, they still feel included.”
Given all of the various sports, why did the founders of ACEing Autism identify tennis as the sport for autistic individuals to embrace?
“A lot of families and kids with autism are looking for feeling included in something, but also going at their own pace and being able to work on the challenges they might have, so that’s definitely one of the reasons that tennis works well,” Martin said. “We’re able to provide activities with modifications, so we meet each participant at their entry point and where they are at. The main thing is having that inclusion, and that possibility of socializing with their own peers, while also being able to do the different drills and games at their own ability. You get to work on refining motor skills, focus and attention;
tennis promotes all those, and also promotes turn-taking, learning to listen and be able to speak at a certain time, and recognizing those social cues that sometimes kids with autism struggle with.”
Martin said participants usually make significant progress over the seven weeks.
“First of all, usually we see progress with their social skills … having kids form a bond, usually with their volunteers,” Martin said. “They learn to speak more, and do turn-taking. We can see a lot of improvements with them listening to the volunteer, or being able to interact more with their own peers. We also see improvements with motor skills. Some kids with autism struggle with strength in their hands or their wrists or some parts of their bodies. So some of the drills address that.”
Martin said participants often improve their attention span and their ability to focus.
“At the beginning, when one student first came, it was really hard for him to be able to do any of the drills and stay with the group,” Martin said. “It just got better and better. Later, I saw him in another program, and he was able to stay focused, and listen to the volunteers, and do the drills and have fun during the entire hour. That was a couple of years after he started with us. I remember his mom was like, ‘This is a totally different child!’
“There’s also confidence. Some kids just don’t feel they can do it. They lack the confidence to be with the other kids … so by breaking it down for them, and taking our time and having them lead the pace, it helps build confidence that they can do these things, and can play tennis like anybody else they might see at the park when they walk around. Obviously, fitness improves. … Some of the parents have told us that it helps their (child’s) sleep as well, because they get to release their energy and be active.”
Christy Sherley is the program director engaged to oversee the Palm Desert winter session. After three November clinics, the session continues on Dec. 7 and 14; and Jan. 4 and 11.
As the owner of the Marin County (CA) Tennis Camp, Sherley has been teaching tennis to young people for years in a variety of roles.
“I am most looking forward to meeting
Nationwide nonprofit ACEing Autism brings its tennis program for young people on the autism spectrum to Palm Desert
our participants and introducing them to the wonderful game of tennis,” Sherley told the Independent via email.
Martin said that it’s not only the participants who benefit from the program; the volunteers often do as well.
“I’ve heard so many testimonies from volunteers about what they gain,” Martin said. “They learn leadership skills, organizational skills, social and communication skills, patience and being able to adapt. You might have to do a drill 20 times; sometimes that’s what it takes. … A lot of our program directors are high school students, and so are many volunteers, and … we’ve heard amazing stories of volunteers who end up changing their major because of their experience with us. They go into a specific field because they’ve seen the impact that they’ve had”
During the majority of the year when there are no ACEing Autism in-person sessions, the organization offers their newly involved
tennis enthusiasts a way to stay engaged in the sport.
“We all wish we could do (in-person sessions) year-round; we really do,” Martin said. “But we have some online videos that they can do at home. We created them when the pandemic happened to try to keep everybody active. … Let’s say they go to a park. They can use those video drills to keep reinforcing the skills that they’ve learned during the session.”
Martin said she hopes ACEing Autism establishes a long-term relationship with the Coachella Valley’s autism community, and possibly expands into other valley cities.
“If we are able to find the right program director and a facility that allows us to come, we’re always open for expanding and giving more opportunities to this wonderful community to participate in tennis,” Martin said.
For more information, visit aceingautism.org/ programs/palm-desert-ca.
An ACEing Autism volunteer teaches a drill to a program participant during a previous Southern California clinic. Photo courtesy of ACEing Autism
FOOD & DRINK
CAESAR CERVISIA
By brett newton
Since the summer, I have been on a mission to lose weight.
A job I had for a couple of years got much less enjoyable toward the end, which took a toll; I was not being a very good boy in the diet department. As an obvious lover of craft beer, this presented a challenge—because beer has calories.
The last time I tried to cut calories, I did not have the benefit of the recent explosion in both quality and quantity in the nonalcoholic beer sector (to use that execrable marketing term). Of course, I could just go without beer … but now that we’ve got that ridiculous idea out of the way, let’s explore some N/A beers and the variety of styles that have emerged with the boom of
N/A beverages.
I’ll begin with a brewery whose beer I know and love, and in whom I had total confidence before I took my first sip: Fremont Brewing. They currently have some fresh hop regular beers available at Total Wine, but I went to the N/A section and grabbed a pack of their Dark and IPA offerings. Dark is reminiscent of an English porter, with chocolate, raisin, nuttiness, toasted malt and just the right amount of creaminess and carbonation to finish. The IPA is tropical and citrusy, and I was shocked at how much flavor was contained therein. We’re talking somewhere in the neighborhood of 65-70 calories per beer, and the flavor is undeniable. According to their site, they have an Orange Wit and a Hoppy Spritz hops water. I’d be ecstatic to try both of these. Next is a beer I chose simply because of what it promised, even before I noticed its brewer’s name: the Mocha Nitro Stout from
Grüvi. After finding an ocean of nonalcoholic pale lagers and IPAs on shelves, I’m seeking out anything that’s different, even if it has a name that makes me not want to buy it. (Seriously: Am I supposed to pronounce the “ü” properly? Is it possible to say the name with a straight face?) Thankfully, the beer itself looked like a nitro stout after a vigorous shake and pour. The nose had a little chocolate and roast, and the flavor followed suit. There’s no actual chocolate or coffee in this, but stouts often have these flavors just from the malts and unmalted roasted barley. There was also a distinct taste of malted barley—and by that, I mean what it tastes like to actually munch on a grain of it. This flavor is also present in other N/A beers, and I’m OK with it; it’s almost rustic. And for 80 calories, my shrinking stomach is happy. I will have to try their pale ale and juicy IPA at some point.
This is a good time to discuss the angle that
Nonalcoholic beer offerings are far better than ever— making it easier for craft-beer fans to cut calories
some purely nonalcoholic beverage companies take, and that’s one of fitness, activity and health. Grüvi exudes this vibe, as does Athletic Brewing. (Of course, it’s not always a congruous message; Grüvi’s webpage for the aforementioned stout recommends it for pairing with s’mores and cinnamon coffee cake.)
Speaking of Athletic Brewing, which is taking the N/A beer world by storm, I reviewed their Geralt’s Gold in my previous N/A beer column. They recently bought the gorgeous 107,000-square-foot brewery in San Diego’s Miramar neighborhood from Ballast Point Brewing to essentially double their volume of beer production. I’ve since tried a few more beers of theirs, and I have been very impressed. The Run Wild IPA is very tasty and more like a California IPA with light bitterness and lots of bright, hoppy flavor—in this case, citrus and pine. The Free Wave IPA is a hazy IPA in style, but it drinks more like a very citrusy West Coast IPA. If you know me, you know that’s a good thing in my book. I even tried their Oktoberfest recently and was really pleased; it hits all the notes you’d want (and it has that straw-like quality I mentioned before with the Grüvi stout). All of these are in the 65-70 calorie range, and Athletic’s beer portfolio is incredibly varied. I wish we got more of it here, but many places that have craft beer have Athletic, and I heartily recommend it if you’re teetotaling.
Best Day Brewing is yet another contender
in the ever-expanding nonalcoholic arena. In addition to an IPA, they have a kölsch; I was very interested to see how they tackled this hybrid ale, so I grabbed a pack. It looks like a kölsch and drinks like a Kölsch, outside of the lack of buzz; I am suitably impressed. Best Day’s selection isn’t as impressive as Athletic’s, but if you do something well, having fewer options is just fine. I’m looking forward to trying their IPA and pilsner.
I cannot adequately express how lifeless and sad widely available N/A beer was before the recent boom. Now that the technology and the desire to innovate have improved, good N/A beers are really very nice to have around. I may even have to go down to San Diego and visit Athletic. I would never have dreamed of visiting a nonalcoholic brewery even five years ago, but now it just makes sense. Considering that making an N/A beer actually takes more steps than it does to make a regular beer (again, see my last column on the subject for more on that), N/A brews are at least as much of an art as regular beers are, and I’m excited to see where it will be taken from here.
Just please: No nonalcoholic pastry stouts, OK?
Brett Newton is a certified cicerone (like a sommelier for beer) and homebrewer who has mostly lived in the Coachella Valley since 1988. He can be reached at caesarcervisia@gmail.com.
Athletic Brewing recently acquired a 107,000-square-foot brewery in San Diego’s Miramar neighborhood from Ballast Point Brewing to essentially double their volume of beer production. Athletic Brewing Facebook page
VINE SOCIAL
By Katie finn
Ah, the holidays in the desert. While the rest of the country is shoveling snow and fighting over the thermostat, we desert-dwellers are sipping wine while basking in 70-degree sunshine. We don’t need a roaring fire, but nothing gets us giddy like sparking up the outdoor fire pit on a perfectly lovely patio under some twinkling lights.
And no holiday season can properly commence without wine! Whether you’re hosting a festive feast or sneaking a glass in the closet to avoid awkward conversations with your uncle, the right bottle can make all the difference—so let’s talk about the perfect wines for your holiday
celebrations, because it might be the only thing more important than avoiding political discussions with relatives.
There’s something about sparkling wine that makes everything feel a little fancier. It could be the bubbles, or perhaps it’s the sound of the cork popping, which is basically the audio version of a confetti cannon. While Champagne is the gold standard, it can also land you in the 24-karat price range. Raventós i Blanc Cava is your go-to here. Think of Cava as Champagne’s fun, no-strings-attached Spanish cousin. The Raventós family, based in the Penedés region of Spain, has been crafting this exceptional bubbly for more than 400 years, and the result is a sparkling wine that’s as delicious as it is festive.
If you’re looking to seriously up your bubbly
game, and only Champagne will do, look no further than Gaston Chiquet. This is a family-owned, small-production Champagne house that makes some of the most delicious sparkling wines out there. Their brut “Tradition” is especially stunning, with layers of brioche, almond and soft citrus. Plus, it pairs with everything, from shrimp cocktail to charcuterie, or even just the joy of not dealing with snow.
While the bottles themselves make a great gift, you can gild the lily by adding a set of elegant crystal coupes. There’s something so chic and Gatsby-esque about sipping Champagne from a coupe, and I love the modern and sophisticated style of the faceted crystal coupes by Viski.
When you’re gathering around the table for everything from Caesar salad to roasted veggies, a white wine that’s crisp and light will work wonders. That’s where Sancerre comes in. Sancerre is a sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley in France, and it’s the kind of wine that exudes elegance without pretention. The key here is its beautiful acidity, which cuts through the richness of holiday fare with ease. Sancerre’s zesty, citrusy notes make it a great choice with seafood, salads or even a cheese platter that’s been devoured before the main course is even served. And since Sancerre is a crowd-pleaser, it’s a great hostess gift. It’s one of those wines that says, “I have good taste and know my wines,” even if you’re secretly Googling what “terroir” means. Gift this wine, and you’ll earn instant “wine expert” cred.
Now, let’s talk about reds. Sure, we don’t have those snowy nights that will make you crave a heavy cabernet, but the desert has a special kind of magic at night—those crisp and clear evenings when you can actually wear a sweater and sip red wine without breaking a sweat. One of my favorite holiday red wines is the Tribute to Grace grenache from Santa Barbara. This wine is bold in flavor yet smooth, with just the right amount of spice and bright red fruits; it pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted potatoes or even a good-oldfashioned desert barbecue. It’s fruity without
Some advice on great wines for holiday occasions of all sorts
being sweet, with notes of raspberry, dark cherry and a touch of cinnamon, making it a perfect match for that roasted lamb or spiced pork tenderloin you’re planning to serve.
When you hear “Super Tuscan,” your mind probably jumps to images of Italian vineyards, rolling hills and a wine bottle that costs more than your monthly rent. Enter the Supremus Rosso, a “baby Super Tuscan” that brings all of the richness and depth of its high-end cousins without the hefty price tag. This blend of sangiovese, cabernet and merlot is just the right amount of bold, with flavors of ripe blackberries, leather and a hint of peppery spice. The grapes hail from a few of the region’s finest vineyard sites in the areas of Maremma, Colline Pisane, Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Classico, and the vines for this wine are a minimum of 50 years old. Pair it with a hearty holiday pasta like lasagna or rigatoni Bolognese, or a traditional prime rib and mashed potato dinner.
Finally, for those of us who enjoy ending the
evening on a sweet note (and snuggling under a blanket with the dog), there’s port. This rich, fortified wine has a luscious sweetness and complexity that makes it perfect for sipping slowly after a long holiday meal. Ruby ports pair wonderfully with chocolate, while tawny ports are an ideal mate for nuts and cheese. (Brie, anyone?) I always have a bottle of Dow’s ruby port and the Grahams 20-year tawny on hand for those post-feast wind-down moments.
Whether you’re popping open a bottle of Cava, uncorking grenache or sipping on a bold Super Tuscan, the key is to enjoy the moment. After all, the best wine isn’t just about taste— it’s about creating memories, making toasts and sharing laughter with the ones who matter most. Cheers to that and a safe holiday season!
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.
of our clients experience significant mental health improvement after just 6 months of
FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT
We enjoy upscale Mexican in Palm Desert, and Brazilian meats in Palm Springs
By Jimmy Boegle
WHAT Pacific Mexican shrimp enchiladas WHERE Mole Ingenious Mexican Kitchen, 73130 El Paseo, Suite M, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $28 CONTACT 760-636-1269; molekitchen.com/palm-desert WHY The sauce.
When I saw Mole’s logo, I rolled my eyes. The tag line: “Ingenious Mexican Kitchen.”
Really? Ingenious? It was going to take one hell of a meal for Mole to back up that brag.
The good news is, for the most part, the meal was fantastic.
The second Mole location opened in the Shops on El Paseo in late 2022; the first is in Sedona, Ariz. The vibe is hip, urban, upscale Mexican. The cocktail menu is fun, with an emphasis on margaritas— and their old fashioned ($17), one of the “house specialties,” is worthy of an endorsement within an endorsement.
Many of the food offerings have some sort of unusual twist, such as the “Guaca-Crab ‘Jaracho’” ($22)— fresh guacamole topped with warm lump crab, mango and plantain chips.
Considering the restaurant’s name, I felt the need to order, well, mole, so I got the mole con pollo asado enchiladas ($26) as my main course. With Oaxaca dark mole, grilled chicken, sesame seeds, toasted nuts and raisins, it was quite tasty—but it was my husband’s selection that made the meal truly special.
The Pacific Mexican shrimp enchiladas ($28) featured nice-sized, perfectly cooked shrimp, marinated in adobo, but the star of the dish was the tomatillo sauce. While some tomatillo sauces can be overly acidic, this one was actually smooth, slightly smoky and packed with flavor; it served as the perfect complement to the shrimp. The addition of pepitas gave the dish a nice texture. Our only complaint was that when the two smallish enchiladas were finished, we were left wanting more.
Was our meal “ingenuous”? No—but it was delicious enough that we’re already making plans to go back.
WHAT The full rodizio dinner WHERE Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse, 450 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs HOW MUCH $69.95 for all you can eat CONTACT 760-409-7555; churrascobr.com/churrasco-palm-springs WHY Lots of meat!
The first Brazilian steakhouse I ever dined at was in Palm Desert. Almost two decades ago, I visited Picanha Churrascaria, located on El Paseo; the meal was splendid. Not only was there an all-you-can eat salad bar and buffet; men were bringing around a variety of freshly grilled meats on gigantic skewers. What’s not to like?
Picanha later moved to Cathedral City—to a location with less foot traffic and much less charm—and closed in 2013, leaving the Coachella Valley without a Brazilian steakhouse. Earlier this year, Churrasco Brazilian Steakhouse arrived to fill that void, following up a Reno, Nev., location with a second spot in the Palm Springs space previously occupied by Woody’s Palm House. The hubby and I decided to dine there on a recent Friday night. The bad news: Only four or five other tables were occupied at any given time during our visit, which leads me to believe the Churrasco folks really need to work on getting the word out, because—here’s the good news—the food was absolutely splendid.
The “fresh market table”—the salad bar/ buffet—had a wide variety of salads, cheeses and cold meats, as well as hot dishes and sides like chicken stroganoff, mushroom risotto, fresh salmon and more. (If you want to enjoy the buffet without the skewered meats for dinner, you can do so for $43.50.)
As for those meats on giant skewers: There are more than a dozen beef, lamb, chicken and pork cuts, ranging from filet mignon and top sirloin (the “Picanha,” the house specialty) to lamb chops, parmesan-coated pork loins, linguica and more.
Everything was yummy; the service was good; and even the cocktails were superb. Make sure you’re truly hungry before going to Churrasco—but definitely make sure you go.
Restaurant NEWS BITES
By charles drabkin
DECEMBER INCLUDES THE RETURN OF THE INTERNATIONAL TAMALE FEST, LOW DEZ FEST
The annual Indio International Tamale Festival is back for its 32nd year, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, at Miles Avenue Park, 82540 Miles Ave. Follow the famous Tamale Trail around the grounds to find traditional and creative new tamale flavors. In addition to tamales, there is live entertainment, Luchador wrestling and a free ice-skating rink! Free parking is available at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, with shuttle service to the park. Entrance to the festival is free, but tamales must be purchased directly from the vendors. Learn more at www.indiotamalefestival.com.
Palm Springs Bottle Shop is bringing Low Dez Fest back to Market Market, at 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. This second-year celebration of queer, BIPOC and women winemakers, brewers and nonalcoholic beverage makers also includes a kickoff party the evening before at the Drift Hotel, 284 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Ticket prices vary, with general-access admission to the main event on Saturday costing $60; the proceeds benefit the LGBTQ Community enter of the Desert—an especially important cause now. (Full disclosure: My sister’s winery, Remy Wines, will be pouring at the event, and I will be there helping her out.) Get tickets and learn more at www.lowdezfest.com.
IN BRIEF
Congratulations to Johannes, at 196 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, as the restaurant celebrates 25 years in the desert! With accolades from local, national and international media, Johannes is one of my favorite places to eat in the desert. Learn more at johannespalmsprings.com. … Bay Area-based Uji Time Dessert has opened a location at 73510 Highway 111, in Palm Desert. The shop serves soft-serve flavors like matcha, black sesame and chocolate. In addition to cones and cups, you can get your ice cream served in their specialty: taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped pastry. Taiyaki can also be served plain or filled with Nutella or red bean paste. This is a welcome addition to our food landscape. Get more info at www.ujitimedessert.com. … New owners have taken the helm at Bongo Johnny’s, which opened in 2006 on Arenas Road and moved to its current location at 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, in late 2018. Congrats to former owner Robb Wirt on whatever comes next! … Coachella Valley Brewing Co. has opened a location in downtown Palm Springs, at 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, on the second floor next to Broken Yolk Café. Unlike the original Thousand Palms space, this taphouse includes a full restaurant, with a pub menu including burgers, fried-chicken sandwiches, and vegetarian options. The beer menu is extensive, too; find out more at www.cvbco.com. … The holiday pop-up shop for See’s Candy has returned to the shopping center at 425 S. Sunrise Way, in Palm Springs, at the intersection of Ramon Road. Nothing says a lovely gift like a box of chocolates; sees.com. … The Palm Springs Surf Club, at 1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, in Palm Springs, has rebranded its restaurant as Navigator. It is led by Chef Michael Hung, whose local pedigree includes the Colony Club and SO.PA at L’Horizon, where he helped earn them a listing in the prestigious Michelin Guide. Signature dishes include whole-roasted trout, and ribeye with bone marrow gremolata; there are thoughtfully curated vegan options as well. Check out the full menu at palmspringssurfclub.com/restaurants. … If you’re a fan of pulled pork sandwiches, smoky sausage or pork belly burnt ends, you’re going to be excited about Big Earl’s Barbecue opening inside the Fireside Lounge, at 696 S. Oleander Road, in Palm Springs. Find details at bigearlsbbqps.com. … Now, some updates: A couple of months back, I told you about Saffron Restaurant and Lounge opening at 1107 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs; after a few delays that included an entirely new air conditioning system, they are finally open and serving Persian cuisine; see the full menu at saffronps.com. … Desert Moon is now open in the former home of Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill, at 350 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Desert Moon serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Check out the California fusion menu at desertmoonpalmsprings.com. … The Brown Bag in Palm Desert and Bouschet/PS Air Bar in Palm Springs are listed for sale. Good luck to everyone involved. Do you have a hot tip or news to share? Reach out: foodnews@cvindependent.com.
2 Restaurants Unlimited Flavors
Proudly Supporting and Serving Our Community
eight4nine.com
760-325-8490
williesrm.com
760-202-4499
MUSIC
HYPNOTIZINGLY-SWEET SOUNDS
By matt king
The Coachella Valley music scene became smoother and more soulful when The Divines entered our midst.
Crafting a soft-rock sound with beautiful melodies, dancehall vibes and indie-movie party feels, The Divines have captivated local audiences with hypnotizingly-sweet sounds. Jose Antonio Martinez (aka Toño), Jeronimo Castro, Angel Alvarez and Jacob Ramirez have pulled from their
respective musical backgrounds to each add to a delightfully diverse sound, resulting in the sad party vibes of “Swan Dive,” the romantically funky “Candy to My Ears” and the somber, vampire love tale “Rosie.”
During a recent in person interview, Jose Antonio Martinez, Castro and Alvarez explained how The Divines were born out of the ashes of their former band, Gateway. (Jacob Martinez was not available for the interview). After a few shows, the group truly became The Divines when adding Jacob Martinez, a keyboard player.
“We had a very indie sound when we just had guitar players, because that’s the basis of most indie bands nowadays,” Martinez said. “It changed a lot when we added Jacob. It adds a warmth, and it’s definitely calming in a way. It just fills up like a void, an emptiness. … We love it.”
The softer sounds of The Divines stem from the band’s adoration of oldies and smooth jams.
“Whenever I approach music and stuff, I always look back on what I like, because I listen to a lot of oldies,” Castro said. “My background of listening to music is a lot of R&B, jazz, old country music—just that kind of stuff, and I always try to bring a nice sound that people could remember back.”
Said Martinez: “That’s what our sound really is—a combination of a lot of our influences. With me, I have a huge background of listening
to a diverse amount of music, like R&B, soul and the Beatles with my dad growing up, but also Spanish rock.”
The band members said they were initially intimated by the desert’s large hardcore and metal music scenes.
“The only thing I thought was like, ‘I don’t know how we fit into this lineup of bands,’” Martinez said. “There was a show that we played with Gateway in (Desert Hot Springs) with three hardcore bands. It was just so random. It was two indie bands and one alternative band, and these hardcore, randomass bands, and it made no sense to us. When that happened again, when we formed The Divines, and we played at The Lab for the first time, it felt the same way—but people still liked us, and that was really comforting. We thought it was a problem, but then it was kinda not.”
The band now feels fully welcomed. The Divines have shared stages with similar, softer desert bands like Burgundy Blues, and intense, heavy bands like Destroy Nothing.
“Even though there are different scenes of different genres, they still come together, because we’re all kind of the same community anyways,” Martinez said. “The scenes blend a lot here, and it’s nice.”
Castro is a big fan of the desert’s mixed-bill shows, which unite diverse sounds.
“The way I see it is, if people are listening to Apple Music or Spotify, they don’t just have
The members of The Divines use their music-education backgrounds to craft charming jams
one genre specifically,” Castro said. “It’s nice to have a mix of things and just be open to all music, because music is music. If it’s good, it’s good. If it’s not, it’s not. It’s great to be exposed to all of it.”
The band members graduated from high school earlier this year, but while they were still in school, they got the word out to their classmates about the growing underground music scene.
“Last year, when the shows started popping off more, I brought a lot of my friends to the shows, and they started going to the shows more,” Martinez said. “I noticed a lot of people from my school started going even more. It all started happening after we played our first show at The Lab. That was really cool. My friends started going, and then it kind of sparked something within the high schools.”
All of the members of The Divines come from a music-education background.
“I started music in seventh-grade in middle school, playing trumpet, and all through high
school, I played brass instruments—baritone and tuba mainly,” Castro said. “I had a friend throw me into the jazz band, because he knew I played bass, so then I played bass for all four years, which is how I learned how to play good, in my opinion. I can sight read very well on bass; I can listen by ear to learn songs pretty well, and it just really got me playing every day—practice, practice, practice. … With tuba, it took me all over the country. I do drum corps, and this past summer, I was up in Sacramento with a group from there, the Sacramento Mandarins. I was there every day for three months playing on tuba, pushing myself to be the best.”
Castro said his experience touring the country motivated him to contribute as much as he can to The Divines.
“It gave me the mindset that there’s always something more to learn from music; there’s always more to listen to and more to experience,” Castro said. “That’s what’s always pushing me to become a better musician, and these guys push me to figure out new things, like when Toño comes up with a new song. He’s actually trying to push me, to push all of us, to make songs, because he’s the one who usually makes them.”
Martinez grew up in awe of his sister’s role as president of the choir club at Coachella Valley High School.
“I always loved singing when I was little, so that was my first instrument, and it was always my dream to join the choir when I got to high school, and I eventually did,” Martinez said. “During middle school was when I started playing instruments, and I was randomly put in beginning band percussion. I started on drums before anything, and at the same time, I was teaching myself piano and the guitar. Mr. (Gino) Martini from Cahuilla Desert Academy taught me my major chords and how to play them, and Jacob, our keyboard player, was the one who taught me the notes on the piano, and then I was able to translate that to the guitar eventually and figure that out myself.”
Each member of The Divines plays a crucial role in crafting their expressive works of musical art.
“People do say, ‘Your songs sound like they’re well thought of,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, they are,’” Martinez said. “It’s also because they come out naturally that way, with that knowledge … because we have that vocabulary of music, of theory, and that helps a lot.”
Learn more at www.instagram.com/the.divines.
Jeronimo Castro and Jose Antonio Martinez of The Divines. Ernest Nunez
MUSIC
GETTING POLITICAL
Desperate times call for heavy music.
By matt king
Town Troubles is no stranger to desperate times. The local rock group been a force in the Coachella Valley since 2010, consistently providing a rock edge despite big changes in the band, in the scene, and in the world. The band returned with new music (Love Overrides Beauty) last year after a nine-year gap, and they quickly followed up with an album featuring a
new lineup. Frontman/guitarist and founding member Bolin Jue is now joined by Mario Estrada on bass and Jeronimo Arellano Contreras on drums.
To Be Honest is a 10-track epic of monster riffs and major symbolism. Songs deal with topics such as toxic masculinity, the power of words, and the struggle with finding the truth, and use varied instrumental styles in a manner that is often heavy, frequently poppy and sometimes sweet. For the moment, the album will only be available at Town Troubles shows on cassette, starting with the band’s performance on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Coachella Valley Brewing Company in Thousand Palms.
During a recent phone interview with Jue, he talked about one the album’s major themes— the power of words. Track 4 on the tape is “Words,” and track 5 is “Caution: Words.”
“A lot of the themes throughout here deal with coming out of the last Trump administration, and going into the next one,” Jue said. “I find it kind of bizarre and comical, but also troubling, how there’s a disconnection between people’s words and actions. I guess a lie is one way of talking about that, but there are also other ways that it happens, like when people have a lack of awareness with identity, or manipulation. … This idea of cancel culture and finger-pointing and how the internet plays into people’s judgment of each other’s phrases and words plays into our behaviors. I think it’s all jumbled up, and that … seeps into our beliefs and, ultimately, our choices and our actions.”
The internet’s influence on people is a running thread throughout the album, with roots in the band’s previous album. Opening track “Experts” repeats the line, “Knowledge ain’t wisdom,” and the funny-but-true lyric: “The new expert has it all in its head.”
“This idea of words is like a jungle that we’re having to chop through,” Jue said. “If you’re not aware of that, if you’re not conscious of that, and you’re just kind of going through it, you can get eaten by a word tiger, and there are consequences to that. I didn’t think we would be here again, and here we are—and I think a lot of that has to do with simple things.”
“Glitchez” furthers the narrative, expressing the untrustworthiness of some news sources
via lines like: “Glitch in the headlines, glitch in the truth.”
“I’ll hear people say things, and they don’t really understand what those things mean,” Jue said. “Words can sort of be empty. For example, fear-mongering: ‘They’re eating the cats and eating the dogs.’ … Having a lack of ability to think critically about these things, I am baffled. How are we letting these words hit us over the head? … The country has had a history with that, like the way that history has been rewritten, the way things have been taught, the way that language itself was kept from slaves and groups of oppressed people as a way of holding power over them.”
Jue’s observations on this changing world went straight into his lyrics.
“Al these ridiculous things that certain presidential candidates are saying … it trickles down to people,” Jue said. “I hear them in the classroom; I hear them at bars; I hear them at shows; I hear them at family gatherings, and I just can’t help but put them in my pocket and use them for later.”
While To Be Honest features former member Bryan Garcia on some songs, the album is illustrative of a new era for Town Troubles.
“These songs, more than any of the other EPs that I’ve released, are more accurately representative of what I wanted Town Troubles to be, not just sonically, but lyrically,” Jue said. “I was always sort of held back by certain outside voices and inside voices. I was urged not to be political, and it’s probably why it’s a different lineup now. These songs, I’ve had in my pocket for a while, but I ended up having to mask certain ideas. … I’m definitely more doing what I wanted to do.”
Every copy of the To Be Honest cassette comes with a lyric zine, featuring the words to every song, as well as some graphics and text effects.
“In grad school, I read a book of poetry, and the author did this really interesting thing where he was putting frames over certain words,” Jue said. “He was using them very differently than I am, but I always really liked that idea, because poetry can be kind of limited sometimes. You’re just working with texts, so what else on a keyboard can you use to add meaning to your words? … So much of what
Town Troubles’ new on-cassette-only album addresses these turbulent times
I was talking about earlier was about manipulation, and this weird relationship that we have with words today. A lot of that has to do with the idea that our perception of reality is through a frame, these tiny little windows that we carry around with us.”
Amidst the liner notes explaining writing and recording locations for the album, the lyric zine includes the sentence, “All songs written in Beaumont, CA (fighting a white supremacist later seen crying outside a courthouse).”
“I think it was 2017, 2018,” Jue said. “I didn’t have a place to live; I was couch-surfing. I was sort of in a sort of dark place, and it was hard for me to just get by. My brother lived in Beaumont at the time, so I took the bus as close to Beaumont as I could, and it dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. It was Yucaipa or somewhere, and I saw this white supremacist. I already knew what was going to happen. I saw him walking down the street from very far away, and I knew exactly what was about go down. I usually attract these crazy people. … This guy came up to me, and I’m assuming he was intoxicated, and he lifted his shirt up to reveal all of his Nazi tattoos. Swings weren’t swung; we didn’t literally brawl it out, but there was a little stir-fuffle in the middle of
the night, and I got out of it unharmed.”
Seeing the same man later led Jue to another moment of reflection and lyric writing, resulting in the toxic masculinity ballad “Boys.”
“A week later, I was on that same bus, and this fellow was on the bus, and he was in front of me, but he was with his partner, and he was bawling,” Jue said. “I was eavesdropping about all this, and he was going to court for something or other, and he knew that the outcome was not going to be a good one. It was really strange, because the first time I saw this guy, he was trying to fight me—and this dude was huge. He was ripped and 6 feet tall or whatever, and the second time I saw him, he was in this very vulnerable, sort of opposite state. It definitely was a writing moment for sure, and I had conflicting feelings, because in the one moment, I wanted to laugh at him … but then in the other moment, I was like, ‘This guy’s life is so much shittier than mine.’ … I don’t want to keep talking about Trump, but I am angry at those figures, and I also kind of feel bad for them, because I don’t know what it’s like to have so much inner turmoil that the way that you carry yourself outwardly is so problematic.”
Learn more at instagram.com/towntroubles.
Town Troubles. Ernest Nunez
MUSIC
SKA NOW MORE THAN EVER
By matt king
ISave Ferris, performing
at Pappy & Harriet’s, embraces chaotic live shows as an escape from fear
f you’re in with the hip sounds of ska music, then you’re no stranger to Save Ferris. In the mid-’90s, Save Ferris emerged with a sound that encapsulates a good time. Punk sensibilities and instrumentation combine with a popping brass section to create up-tempo jams that make dancing (or skanking, a popular ska dance move) irresistible. Save Ferris ruled dance floors and clubs thanks to their cover of “Come on Eileen”—until disbanding in 2003. After
a decade, the band returned, with lead singer Monique Powell as the sole founding member.
Now 11 years into the band’s second incarnation, Powell is continuing to bring the exciting Save Ferris train around the world. The band has been a favorite of Pappy & Harriet’s audiences over the past few years, and the group is set to return to the Pioneertown Palace on Friday, Dec. 20.
During a recent phone interview with Monique Powell, she talked about her appreciation for Pappy & Harriet’s.
“I don’t know how it happened, but we play there; it sells out; and the audience is crazy and so happy to have us there,” Powell said. “We love playing for the audiences at that venue, and the venue always treats us well; they have a lot of respect for musicians, which is nice. At my age, and for as long as I’ve been doing this, I decided I’m not going to be playing venues anymore that don’t respect the art and that don’t respect the artist. Pappy and Harriet’s treats my musicians well—but aside from that, we just have a wacky good time.”
Powell added that she has a deep appreciation for the desert’s music scene.
“I’m very well aware of the kind of music I play, and I’m also very well aware of our type of audience, but I’m also a really big fan of desert rock and stuff like that,” she said. “I know people who have studios out there, and people who have made albums out there, and they’ve made amazing music out there. It has nothing to do with what I do, but that doesn’t mean
that we’re not really good friends, and we have amazing conversations about music regardless.
“I think the reason why people love Pappy’s is that it’s just so different from everything that they’re maybe accustomed to. We all really enjoy re-living a certain time and a certain era in music, and what that represents for us, particularly right now, is the term that we kind of coined in 2017: ‘Ska now more than ever.’”
Nostalgia is a big factor in the music world right now, with music festivals like When We Were Young celebrating the emo rock jams of the ’00s. The Vans Warped Tour, a home for the pop-punk mania of the late ’90s and early 2000s, is making a comeback.
“We played one of the first Warped Tours ever, and then came back in 2017 after not playing for a long time—and Warped Tour had turned into something completely different,” Powell said. “I would definitely love to see a Warped Tour reimagined to the original days in the ’90s, where it was a punk tour. That message is something that we really could use right now. … It’s time to start nurturing the anti-establishment subculture right now. I’m down for a chaos subculture.”
The members of Save Ferris pride themselves on embracing the chaos, absorbing the frightening world we live in, and crafting an exuberant, fun-filled escape through their live shows.
“People love our shows because every show is different and chaotic,” Powell said. “There’s this beauty in not knowing what’s going to happen. We just all sort of embrace it together,
us onstage with the audience. We’re all, like, Red Rover-ing it; we just all hold hands and close our eyes and go, ‘OK, here we go.’ From the first note to the last note, we’re just on this river-rafting ride, praying for the best.”
Powell said she needs live shows now, during this tumultuous time, more than ever.
“It’s like a drug for me now,” she said. “I need our audiences more, and they help guide me through the feelings of fear that I have for our future, as not just a country, but also a human race. I look at them, and I have this feeling for anywhere from 45 to 95 minutes that everything is going to be OK with humanity.”
Powell said she views Save Ferris shows as a safe space—for those who are respectful.
“I say things off the cuff that are controversial at times, and no, our shows are not for everybody, but I do try to create a safe space in which everybody can feel like it’s OK to make mistakes, and we can just laugh them off and be ourselves, and no one’s going to get judged—not too harshly, at least,” Powell said. “If you’re not too nice to each other, there will probably be a consequence, and my sense of humor definitely embraces those who like to heckle or make fun of others or us onstage. I really do like to point people out for doing that, and I have a great time doing it.”
Since coming back in 2013, the band has only released one EP and a few singles, the latest being “Lights Out in the Reptile House” in July. Powell expressed excitement over being able to release a slate of singles over the next year, rather than dropping an entire album at once.
“It allows me to express what each song is about,” she said. “With each single is not only a video, but it’s also an individualized piece of artwork for each side of the 7-inch … that represents the song. When you release an EP, there’s the overarching theme of the five songs that you’ve chosen to go on an EP, and then you get all that neat artwork and the story of those songs that goes into the booklet for the CD, like back in the day. … When you release the full-length, you get to release the front and back artwork that represents the overarching theme of where you were at when you wrote those 10 songs. I love that there are various stories to be told throughout the process.”
Save Ferris will perform at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Tickets are $39.50. For tickets and more information, visit pappyandharriets.com.
December 2024
By matt king
Kenny G
Happy December! Enjoy what the valley’s entertainment scene has to offer as we say goodbye to 2024.
The McCallum Theatre features a Christmas-heavy lineup of music and fun! At 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, the Annual Gala will take place, featuring a special, intimate performance from Josh Groban. Tickets start at $208, with proceeds going toward the McCallum’s many education programs. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, The Midtown Men bring their Broadway experience to the holidays, performing a set of holiday and rock hits. Tickets start at $53. At 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, Mariachi Herencia de México bring the Navidad vibes to town, mariachi-style. Tickets start at $33. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, The Irish Tenors will perform Irish music in a show that is both entertaining and educational! Tickets start at $78. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs has the goofs and the tunes. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, The Black Crowes will rock Indio four decades after forming. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, soprano superstar Sarah Brightman will host “A Christmas Symphony” featuring a choir, orchestra and fantastic vocal performances. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, game-show host, voice actor and funnyman Howie Mandel returns to the desert. Tickets start at $52.50.
Spotlight 29 is hosting two Christmas soirées. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, the face of the clarinet, Kenny G, heads to Coachella to blissfully play holiday hits. Tickets start at $43.95. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, late ’90s R&B outfit Dru Hill will add Christmas songs to their already impressive mix of soul, hip hop and gospel. Tickets start at $38.80. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino features drag and norteño. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, drag superstar Bianca Del Rio, the Season 6 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will fill an evening with irreverent humor and music. Tickets start at $46.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, Latin star Javier Rosas will showcase the beauty of Mexican norteño music. Tickets start at $57.25. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www. morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is hosting a boatload of music legends. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, Stephen Pearcy, of metal maniacs RATT and Quiet Riot, brings a high-energy set to the desert. Tickets start at $43.10. At 8
The Venue
p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, celebrate a great group of classic rockers with a performance by REO Speedwagon. Tickets start at $84.90. Elvis’ wife, Priscilla Presley, is headed to town for an interesting evening at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13. Tickets start at $28.14. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, ’70s/’80s funkers Kool and the Gang will bring the boogie to town. Tickets start at $53.94. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, KC and the Sunshine Band return yet again for another funky New Year’s Eve bash! Tickets start at $68.90. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Residencies at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs are rockin’ … around the Christmas tree. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays host the star-studded synagogue benefit Jews Do the Blues (Dec. 4), a holiday tribute to the Blues Brothers from The Gand Band (Dec. 11), and retro Christmas rock from The Dreamboats (Dec. 18). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85 to $28.52, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays include 1930s France vibes from Joie de Vivre Cabaret with Chloe Perrier and Mark Kopitzke (Dec. 5), classic Peanuts holiday tunes at The Duck Soup Trio’s Charlie Brown
Christmas (Dec. 12), jazz wizardry from The Azar Lawrence Experience (Dec. 19) and a night of holiday tunes and tributes dubbed A Klezmer Hanukkah Barry Sisters Tribute (Dec. 26). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings. com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www. sparesortcasino.com.
Here are a few highlights from a stacked December at Pappy & Harriet’s. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, indie-pop duo Mickey Darling will turn the Pioneertown Palace into a dance floor. Tickets are at $20. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, Electronic rockers BoomBox will bring badass beats and damngood grooves to the desert. Tickets are $25. At 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, electric female rock outfit Thunderpussy will ignite Pappy’s into a fiery ball of riffs. Tickets are $18. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, Americana band Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys share rootsy jams in the historic high desert. Tickets start at $20. Check out the website for a complete list of shows. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs mixes music and drag for a damn good time. At 7 p.m.,
Friday, Dec. 13, jazz musician and American Horror Story star Sandra Bernhard will grace Oscar’s for an intimate evening of story and song. Tickets start at $89.95. Enjoy some holiday charm from Broadway, jazz and cabaret performer Jack Donahue at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19. Tickets start at $35. At 6 and 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31, get dragged into 2025 at Palm Springs’ New Year’s Eve with drag stars Jackie Beat, Sherry Vine and Candis Cayne. Tickets are $159.95. Some Oscar’s shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room is ending the year with a bang! At 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 5-7, Purple Room favorite the Marvelous Marilyn Maye is back yet again! Tickets start at $85.87. Singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom is in town for a two-night stint at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20 and 21 don’t miss the Christmas delight of Broadway Barbara and her “Holiday Spectacular”! Tickets start at $50.85. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com.
MUSIC
LUCKY 13 the
Get to know better know two music legends visiting the valley in December
by matt king
NAME Dave Koz
MORE INFO Dave Koz is a longtime favorite at the McCallum Theatre. The Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist boasts 11 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, and you may have seen him performing on late night television, or even for presidents. Koz’s musical wizardry has taken him all over the world—yet he keeps coming back to Palm Desert. You can catch Koz on the 27th Annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour at the McCallum Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 22. For more information, visit mccallumtheatre.org.
What bands are you listening to right now?
I am crazy about Khruangbin, the guitar trio from Texas. I love the sound—so retro, and yet so musically forward, and mostly instrumental, which I love.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
I appreciate it, but rap is not a genre that I find myself listening to on my own. If I hear it out somewhere, or in a friend’s car, I will, of course, listen, and I can appreciate the precision and artistic expression of the art form.
acts have played there over the years. It’s been a HUGE honor to take the stage there myself many times. I still get SO nervous!
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Moon River” by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. If pressed to say what my favorite song is of all time, that would be it. So plaintive, so innocent, so beautiful!
What band or artist changed your life?
The jazz keyboardist Jeff Lorber. It was 1986, and I got a call from Jeff to audition for a new band he was putting together. I won the audition, and very soon after was traveling the world with Jeff. But what I didn’t expect was for him to nurture me as a solo artist, helping me write and produce my first demo (on cassette!) that would later wind up on the desk of veteran music exec Bruce Lundvall. By 1987, I was signed to Capitol Records, recording my first solo album. NONE of it would’ve happened without Jeff Lorber.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
What was the first album you owned? Jeffrey Osborne’s Stay With Me Tonight.
What bands are you listening to right now? I listen to mostly old school music, singing groups like Blue Magic, The Stylistics, and The O’Jays; and ’90s bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, blink-182, and Green Day as well.
What artist, genre, or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? That would probably be the mumble rap era. It just doesn’t hit my soul at all.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? I would love to see Phil Collins live, Marvin Gaye, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, and Michael Jackson, of course.
What was the first concert you attended?
Earth, Wind and Fire at the Forum in Los Angeles, where I grew up. Spandex, pyro, amazing sets and, of course, all that killer music. I was not only hooked musically, but seeing that show made me appreciate how much can go into a concert … these guys put on a SHOW. As an artist myself, that’s what I aim to do with every tour stop. Well, without the spandex.
What was the first album you owned?
Tower of Power, Back to Oakland. I wore that LP out. The tightness of the horn section and all of the amazing arrangements—it was the beginning of my absolute love for the horn bands that ended up shaping my musicality: Chicago; EW&F; Blood, Sweat and Tears, Kool and the Gang; the list goes on and on!
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Elvis Presley, or Frank Sinatra. I missed both when they were alive. It would’ve been so amazing to experience either of them in a live setting. I’ve heard tons of stories, though!
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Listening to the Great American Songbook, all the standards playlists. I love that music so much. All the songs are such amazing pieces of music, and are more than just notes on a page. These are melodies and lyrics written by some of the greatest songwriters of all time, and the songs simply hold up—all these years later!
What’s your favorite music venue?
Growing up in Los Angeles (Tarzana), my mom and dad took my brother, sister and me to the Hollywood Bowl to see many concerts. That venue is our “Carnegie Hall.” So many amazing
I’d ask it to Stevie Wonder, and the question would be about keeping relevant—how someone like him, being such a public figure and star, can keep pushing himself and his audience almost 60 years into his career. How does he remain SO authentically HIM? Is there a secret to it all?
What song would you like played at your funeral?
A song that I’ve played for several funerals myself: “Over the Rainbow.” It just seems to sum it all up!
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
I’m going to say Weekend in L.A. by George Benson. That it was captured LIVE makes it all the more meaningful.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin.
NAME Ricky Bell
GROUP Bell Biv DeVoe
MORE INFO Ricky Bell is one of the signature voices behind the iconic group New Edition. The teen pop sensations helped popularize the new jack swing genre, cementing their places in music history. Bell took the spotlight as the lead singer in the spin-off group Bell Biv DeVoe in 1990, and the success of the group helped solidify Bell’s place as a musical superstar. Catch Bell Biv DeVoe perform at Fantasy Springs on Saturday, Dec. 14. For more information, visit fantasyspringsresort.com.
What was the first concert you attended? The Jacksons’ Victory Tour in 1984.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Ever since I visited Nigeria a few years ago, I fell in love with Afrobeat music. I listen to it almost every day when I work out.
What’s your favorite music venue?
Madison Square Garden. We won a golden ticket for selling it out four times.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “It’s driving me outta my mind,” “Poison,” Bell Biv DeVoe.
What band or artist changed your life?
The Temptations and the Jackson 5. When I saw a local group perform those songs when I was a kid, I knew right away I wanted to sing.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
I would ask Donny Hathaway what vocal exercises he does to get such a perfect vocal tone.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
New Edition’s “One More Day.”
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Michael Jackson’s Thriller
What song should everyone listen to right now? Everyone should listen to the Bell Biv DeVoe Three Stripes album, because it’s one of our best, and the most slept-on album ever!
OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD
42. “___ Calm and Carry On”
Down
1. Out of trouble
Jones
43. Cuba libre garnish
44. Served as
45. 2015 Emily Blunt crime film
48. Two focuses of a Grateful Dead-themed vegan restaurant?
52. Company found at many airports
53. South Pacific Tony winner Pinza
54. Rubber duckie’s home
57. ___ Sark (scotch brand)
59. Group that reports on a single Greek island?
61. “Ignore that last comment”
62. “What’s Hecuba to him, ___ to Hecuba”: Hamlet
63. Because of the Times group Kings of ___
64. Cares for
65. General ___ chicken
66. Office furniture
2. Touch upon
3. Dark Angel actress Jessica
4. Arthur of The Golden Girls
5. Minuscule
6. Napoleon and Peron, for example
7. Rummage (through)
8. Ariz. setting all year long
9. Contacts
10. Go quietly (around)
11. Snowman accessory
12. “Stop kidding around!”
13. Avian homes
18. Napoleon Dynamite’s uncle
23. Trading card figure
24. Soft ball substance
25. “Mon ___!” (French cry)
26. ___ empty stomach
27. Go out with
28. Accident-preventing org.
29. Equipment
32. Fast jazz subgenre
33. “Aquarius” musical
34. Rogers once married to Tom Cruise
35. Cookie that partnered with Coca-Cola
37. Furniture retailer with a blue and yellow logo
