Coachella Valley Independent January 2020

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | JANUARY 2020

VOL. 8 | NO. 1

AT

RISK THe state auditor shines a light on California cities’ financial shortcomings--and some Coachella Valley cities are in trouble

by kevin fitzgerald

page 13

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February 13-23, 2020 Event Highlights Modernism Week Opening Night Party

Modernism Week Showcase Home Tour

Space Modyssey 2020

February 14-17, 20-23

Thursday, February 13

Various Times | $40

7-11 p.m. | $175 | Palm Springs Air Museum

The Gillman Residence is described as one of Herbert Burns’ “more lavish homes.” This Late Modernestyle 1948 home in Little Tuscany has been expertly restored.

Celebrate Modernism Week’s 15th year with a space-age extravaganza featuring legendary David Bowie tribute performer, David Brighton’s “Space Oddity.” Dance the night away and enjoy an open bar and catering

by Lulu. Presented by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

Modernism Week Featured Homes Tours from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. • $30 each tour

Guggenheim House February 14-16

Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours

This 1967 architectural gem was renovated and features interior design by Grace Home Furnishings.

February 14-23

Various Times | $95 Departs from CAMP | 575 N. Palm Canyon Dr.

Divine DuBois February 15-17

Modernism Week’s signature tour! The Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour provides guests with an overview of Palm Springs’ most significant midcentury architectural treasures.

Tour Christopher Kennedy’s latest spectacular renovation of a 1972 home in iconic Canyon Estates.

Miles Bates “Wave” House February 21-23

Vintage Trailer Show

This restored home is the first Palm Desert Landmark to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

February 22-23

Opens at 10 a.m. | $25 • Free 12 and under 1555 S. Palm Canyon Dr. Channel your inner wanderlust and see more than 60 vintage travel trailers and RVs. This well-curated show is one of the most celebrated and exciting events of the second weekend.

Mesa Modern February 21-23

Explore an extraordinary new masterpiece with a global perspective on art, architecture, and interior and landscape design.

modernismweek.com Major

Grand

Civic Presenting

Premier

Platinum

2020 sponsors as of December 18, 2019 | Space Modyssey: Courtesy of David Brighton. Guggenheim: Photo by Grace Home Furnishings. Dubois: Rendering courtesy Christopher Kennedy. “Wave” House: U.C. Santa Barbara (Walter S. White papers, Architecture and Design Collection; UCSB). Mesa Modern: Renderings courtesy of Michelle Boudreau Design. Other photos by David A. Lee.

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

Editor/Publisher Jimmy Boegle staff writer Kevin Fitzgerald coveR and feature design Beth Allen Contributors Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Andrea Gomez, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Matt Jones, Matt King, Keith Knight, Andy Lara, Carlynne McDonnell, Brett Newton, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Laurel Rosenhall, Anita Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor, Philip Wayne The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month. All content is ©2019-2020 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The Independent is available free of charge throughout the Coachella Valley, limited to one copy per reader.

Additional copies may be purchased for $5 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by the Independent’s authorized distributors.

The Independent is a proud member and/or supporter of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, CalMatters, Get Tested Coachella Valley, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed.

A few notes as we kick off Volume 8 here at the Independent: • Am I the only one having a hard time grasping the fact that it’s 2020? When I first saw Beth Allen’s design for this issue’s cover, and I saw the date “January 2020,” I just stopped and stared at it for a while.

Yeah, I know I’ll get used to it soon enough. But for now, it really seems weird.

• This issue includes pieces by two new-to-the-Independent scribes: On Page 6, you’ll find Carlynne McDonnell’s inaugural pets column, and on Page 16, you’ll find Andrea Gomez’s first piece for us—an interview with the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s new artistic director, Coachella Valley native Liliana Rodriguez. Welcome, Carlynne and Andrea!

If you want to join them in the pages of the Independent, email me. We’re still looking for people to write (paid!) pieces focused on marijuana, hiking/the outdoors, event previews, and more.

• Our signature event, Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week, is back for its fourth year! The week starts Friday, Jan. 31, and goes through Saturday, Feb. 8. During those nine days, bars and restaurants valley-wide will highlight special craft cocktails—and give a portion of the proceeds from the sales of those cocktails to our beneficiaries, the Desert AIDS Project and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert.

The highlight of the week is the Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship, taking place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Moxie Palm Springs.

Up to 10 of the valley’s best bartenders will battle for the coveted Audience Choice Award and the Craft Cocktail Championship—and, yes, attendees get to taste all of the competing cocktails! Presale tickets, through Jan. 10, are $35; they’ll be $40 after that, and $45 at the door if we don’t sell out (and we probably will).

Pick up next month’s issue for our special Cocktail Week program—and head to PSCraftCocktails.com!

• Finally, I’d like to kick off 2020 by offering my sincere appreciation to everyone who has supported the Independent—readers, advertisers and members of our Supporters program—as we enter our eighth full year.

This is not a great time for most newspapers, as you know. In fact, one of my favorite alternative publications, the OC Weekly, was shuttered by its (lazy, non-innovative) owners just before Thanksgiving.

That same week, we were putting the finishing touches on our December issue— which, revenue-wise, was our best ever.

Do we still need to do better here at the Independent, in terms of bringing in revenue?

Yes, we do; I am dying to add more writers/ reporters so we can better tell the valley’s stories—and we have some things in the works that will hopefully help us do just that. (And I’d like, one day, to be able to pay myself a living wage … but that’s a discussion for another time.) Watch this space for details in the upcoming months … and again, thank you for your support. Please, please keep it up.

Welcome to the January 2020—yep, still seems weird—print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent. Drop me a line at the email address below with questions or comments.

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

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OPINION PETS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

SWEET SENIORS T

Want to adopt a pet? Consider an older animal. Have an older animal? Please don’t give it up.

BY CARLYNNE MCDONNELL

he Coachella Valley is a pet-lovers’ paradise.

We love our animals. We dress them up. We sleep with them. Some of us take our pets out shopping, dining or hiking. We share photos of and stories about our pets, and believe that they are our soulmates. Almost everyone has a funny animal story to share. Almost everyone has a story of loss with which we can commiserate.

But sometimes, that love doesn’t go far enough. Just take a look at any of the lost-and-found pages for our valley communities, and you’ll see that the number of lost and escaped animals is astonishing. And sometimes, love doesn’t mean forever: Animal-rescue organizations and animal shelters know that it’s become far too common for people to abandon older pets. heartbreaking for the animal, who believes it is Janeen Hudson Bahr is the founder and part of your pack. To them, being discarded is president of S.O.A.R.—Society’s Outkasts heartbreaking and life-threatening.

Animal Rescue, a Coachella Valley animalSenior cats and dogs at shelters without rescue organization that works on the issue rescue efforts are barely seen, and rarely heard of senior-animal abandonment. Bahr said the survival rate for senior animals is low. After all, about—and when their hold period is up, they’re often euthanized. Even worse, when an when a person becomes an animal companion, animal has been surrendered by its owner, the a relationship develops based on trust and euthanasia clock starts ticking immediately. love. Over time, the trust and love deepen— Also, many animals are abandoned at shelters and so does the animal’s dependence on us by owners as “strays” so owners can avoid for safety, care, food and shelter. It becomes a paying relinquishment fees. Those animals deep and meaningful relationship—and when have to wait a period of time before they can a human abandons that relationship, it is

CVIndependent.com

be adopted or rescued—and for older animals, that wait period can be debilitating or even deadly.

In the Coachella Valley, animals are lucky to have Michelle Bergeron, the rescue supervisor for Animal Samaritans, who works with the county’s Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. She works hard to coordinate rescues and save animals’ lives. She said seniorrescue groups are few and far between, and adoption offers for seniors are limited. Even though rescue groups post senior animals’ pictures and needs on Facebook, and there are many comments on each post, the rate of rescue and adoption is low.

I founded Barkee LaRoux’s House of Love Animal Sanctuary, a senior rescue and hospice in the Coachella Valley. We see many of these abandoned former beloveds. They are heartbroken. They are depressed. They are confused. Regardless of the condition in which they used to live, they are now without their family and without their pack—without understanding why.

I have asked shelters in Southern California about the reasons people give when relinquishing an animal. The most common reason is that the animals have costly medical issues. Another frequent reason is a need for an animal to be euthanized, combined with the owner’s inability to pay, and a belief that the shelter will do what is best for the animal— which is not always the case. Some people have had to say goodbye to a pet when going into assisted living or hospice care, and family

members and friends either will not or cannot take in the pet. And then there are people who have simply become tired of their old animals.

Some of these old animals are picked up loose on the street; even though there are known owners, those owners never come to claim them.

It does take a village to help abandoned animals—and it takes people with deep hearts and incredible fortitudes to adopt an animal closer to the end of their lives. Yes, losing an animal we love can be soul-shattering—but what an amazing gift of love it can be for a person to hold an older animal close and speak lovingly to them as they leave this world.

If you have a pet, be a forever friend—a forever companion. Keep your beloved animals through to the end of their lives. Recognize the value of your senior animal. Don’t be quick to break their heart and abandon them. Find a solution for their medical problems. Reach out for help if you need it.

And if you are thinking of adopting, consider a senior pet. They need that forever love—but be patient. They may be heartbroken after being left behind, but in spite of that heartbreak, their ability to forgive is extraordinary and educational. You will change their life—and the depth of their love and gratitude will change you forever.

Carlynne McDonnell is the founder and CEO of Barkee LaRoux’s House of Love Animal Sanctuary, a senior animal sanctuary and hospice in the Coachella Valley. She has been rescuing animals since she was 4 years old.

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JANUARY 2020

OPINION OPINION

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS C

BY ANITA RUFUS

onventional wisdom says that it takes at least four years to assess whether a startup business is viable, and seven to 10 years to make a business the success you had in mind when you began.

By those standards, Jenny and Oscar Babb have beaten the odds. The Babbs own four restaurants, three in the Coachella Valley, with the oldest being more than eight years old—and doing well.

Oscar Babb, 41, was born in Barcelona and describes himself as a “culinarian” (otherwise known as a chef) who cooked his way around the world—including working with Starwood Hotels in various countries—after leaving his native Spain in 2004. He cooked in the United States, originally in Seattle and then San Diego, before coming to the Coachella Valley six years ago.

“My dad was very hard-working,” she says, “The Coachella Valley is the complete opposite “and a real leader of the family. He is stoic, even of Barcelona,” says Oscar. “It has a special charm shy, and very ethical. His message was, ‘Do the of its own, which is the greatest reason people right thing.’ have been coming here to vacation and retire for “My mom was the bubbly free-spirit. I got so long.” that from her. Her message to me, way back Oscar has a sister, and he describes their while I was in high school, was, ‘Don’t let people mother as “a lovely woman and a fantastic get your goat.’ I’ve taken that to heart.” therapist, hard-working, with a thirst for Jenny earned a degree in business and life and accomplishment.” He says his father marketing from San Diego State University, loves discipline and order in his life (“He liked while waiting tables to help support herself. everything where it was supposed to go!”), but “After school, I worked for a while at my his passion is cars. Oscar recalls that after his aunt’s travel company doing sales management,” father’s business career, he dedicated himself to she says, “and then moved to The Broken Yolk, auto classics, like his ’65 Dodge convertible. where I was managing by the time I left.”

“He would even polish the key!” Oscar says.

Now married for seven years, Oscar and Jenny, 34, first remembers coming to the Jenny met in 2008 while both were working desert in 1985. “I’ve always loved the Coachella at a Broken Yolk location in San Diego. After Valley culture,” she says.

The eldest of three, she was born and raised in helping other locations of the breakfast/lunch San Diego. Her parents have been married for 36 restaurant open, they decided they wanted to open some restaurants of their own: The Babbs years, and her father is also a native San Diegan. agreed to take on Riverside County, to which The Broken Yolk wanted to expand. They opened their first franchise in Temecula. They later opened a Broken Yolk in La Quinta in 2014, and the Palm Springs location in 2016.

The downtown Palm Springs location, at 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive, includes an upstairs bar/ restaurant space that has seen various owner/ operators come and go. When the Babbs decided to open The Broken Yolk on the lower level of that location, they decided to open Moxie Palm Springs on the upper level.

“I always wanted to open a bar named to honor our beloved dog,” laughs Jenny, “and I think the name fits well with the Palm Springs spirit. We wanted the space to tell us what it wanted to be, and we came up with a neighborhood bar that reflects Palm Springs culture. We have bar food, are known for our craft cocktails, and have a very diverse offering of live entertainment every Thursday through Saturday, including acoustics, jazz, rock and Top 40 cover bands. We sometimes have a DJ—and it can get loud.

“Two Prides ago, our manager was talking about what we could do that would be different Oscar and Jennifer Babb.

Meet Oscar and Jenny Babb, two busy local entrepreneurs with a passion for community

for the community—not just having rainbow flags. We threw a ‘Flamingo Party’ with lots of pink flamingos everywhere and a massive drag show. It was such a great party! Then Ross Mathews, from RuPaul’s Drag Race, heard about it, and some RuPaul ‘girls’ appeared that night.

We now have a drag show every Sunday, along with a Bubbly Brunch.”

Oscar jumps in: “As a couple, we’ve always been around other people, making friends and experiencing new things and styles. The idea was to have everybody from every culture welcome—American, Mexican, LGBTQ. We’ve had an Irish fiddler, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo.”

The Babbs expect to have children someday, but for now, they’re focusing on their business and their two English mastiffs. They describe themselves as huge animal lovers, and have bird-feeders all around their house. They love to hike with their dogs, and have already conquered Mount Whitney and Mount Everest (to the base-camp area). Amazingly enough, they also love going to new restaurants.

Jenny and Oscar Babb are having the time of their lives. They’re busy, successful and still expanding their horizons into new business ventures—like a partnership in a brewery in Mexico City.

“I really do enjoy the work,” says Jenny. “I’m a people-pleaser. I hate conflict, and that’s where Oscar comes in; he’ll confront things I don’t want to. Also, my friendships are important.

We spend so much time together, it’s good to have some separate time. Sure, we want to (eventually) slow down. It would be nice to be able to go to bed early once in a while. We bit off so much so fast.”

Then both Oscar and Jenny agree: “But it’s our community and our friends—this is what we do,” Jenny says. And they’re doing it well.

Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal.” Her show That’s Life airs weekdays on iHubradio, while The Lovable Liberal airs from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays. Email her at Anita@ LovableLiberal.com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday.

Opens January 24!

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NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

PRELIMINARY PRESERVATION O

by Kevin Fitzgerald

n the sun-dappled winter morning of Dec. 12, Jane Garrison—the founder and president of the nonprofit Save Oswit Canyon, Inc.—was joined by a large group of supporters at the mouth of Oswit Canyon to announce that their dream of raising $1 million in just 5 1/2 months had indeed come true.

The funds were needed to fulfill the group’s negotiated contribution to buy the Oswit Canyon development property. Over four years of engaged activism, the group’s goal has been to keep Oswit Canyon, on the southern portion of Palm Springs, as a pristine retreat—by stopping the profit-driven housing development that had threatened the dream.

During a recent phone interview, Garrison said that even though her group’s goal had been reached, supporters should not become complacent. story is in the media, and everyone’s going to “It’s a big hurdle (we’ve cleared), but send donations,’” Garrison said. “And when we’re not there yet,” she said. “I think that’s we weren’t getting the amount of money the important thing that people need to that we needed to meet the deadline of Dec. understand: It’s not a done deal. We are not 31, we went the traditional route, like most the owners of the property yet, but we’ve fundraising efforts do—and we started doing actually (cleared) a huge hurdle.” mailings. Those also did not bring in what we So what happens now? needed. “(Our nonprofit is) going to be opening an “Then I realized that people really needed escrow (account) with the developer in the to hear what we had to gain and what we next month or so,” Garrison said. “But the had to lose with this canyon. In talking with process is pretty long over the next couple of people, I realized that if I had some time to months. Right now, the appraisal has been explain (what was at stake), and if I had time completed. These three steps are the biggest: to explain about the efforts that have been put the certifying of the appraisal by the (state) in over almost four years, and how close we Department of General Services; the approval were, I knew they would understand. So that’s by the California Wildlife Conservation Board why we launched our house parties. We did 14 for their grant; and the approval by the house parties in five weeks, as well as about a Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy of dozen speaking engagements at various clubs their grant. Also, we’re getting money from and organizations—and that’s how we raised the federal government through the U.S. Fish much of the $1 million in five weeks, which and Wildlife Service. Most of the grant money is astonishing. But that’s how important this we’re getting is because of the endangered issue was to the community. species that live on that property.”

“It’s really exciting that the canyon is not Those endangered species have become being saved by one or two wealthy individuals. persuasive allies in the fight.

It actually is truly a community effort.”

“You have the peninsular desert bighorn In a best-case scenario—if the various grantsheep, and you have the Casey’s June beetle,” approving boards work quickly—the land Garrison said. “We know that the bighorn buyback will close sometime between March sheep live (in Oswit Canyon), but we’re not and July. Who will own the title? sure yet if the Casey’s June beetles are there.

“Save Oswit Canyon, Inc., is now a 501(c) The property has never been adequately (3) nonprofit land trust,” Garrison said, “and surveyed. So, we are receiving the grants we have also been accepted as a member of the because of the bighorn sheep.”

Land Trust Alliance.”

More than 1,000 unique donors have The Land Trust Alliance is a national contributed, in amounts from $10 to conservation organization representing more $153,000. Garrison said that while some of than 1,700 land trusts across the United those donations came from addresses outside States. of the area, the bulk came from locals.

“So since we’re set up like that, we are Finding the right approach to generate the kind of enthusiasm that would motivate people hoping to be the organization that holds the title and becomes the steward of that land, to send money proved to be a formidable because we feel no one would protect that challenge, Garrison said. land like we would,” Garrison said. “The city “Back in July, when we did the press (of Palm Springs) has expressed an interest in conference, also at the entrance to Oswit holding the title as well. But we are working Canyon, announcing that the developer was with the city in hopes that they’ll agree to let willing to sell, we thought, ‘Oh, now our CVIndependent.com

Save Oswit Canyon has reached its $1 million goal—but more money and work is needed

Jane Garrison announced that Save Oswit Canyon had met its $1 million goal at a Dec. 12 press conference. COURTESY OF SAVE OSWIT CANYON

us hold the title.”

During this anxious period of time, the Save Oswit Canyon leaders have a legitimate need to keep the donations flowing.

“When we take title, we will have property taxes,” Garrison said. “Eventually, we will become exempt from property taxes, because we are a nonprofit land trust, but that exemption will take 18 months—so we would have over $100,000 in property taxes. We’ll have liability insurance (costs), and a mounting legal bill, because we’ve been fighting for four years.

“Also, we will have the cost of maintenance and a cleanup. Unfortunately, over the years, people have dumped a couch and various trash.

Also, we want to create some (informational materials). We don’t want visual clutter, but we do want like a big, beautiful boulder that has a plaque on it explaining how this canyon was saved by the people of Palm Springs. We will need trail signage and such. But the biggest thing is that we need a buffer. If any of these grants fall short, we won’t be able to delay the closing process. We’re going to need to have that money in the bank to fill any gaps.”

If you are interested in making a taxdeductible donation to Save Oswit Canyon, Inc., visit www.saveoswitcanyon.org. Also, Save Oswit Canyon accepts donations of stock.

“That’s a really great way for someone to contribute,” Garrison said. “Here’s something I learned: If someone has a stock, and they have a capital gain this year, if they donate that stock to a nonprofit, they don’t have to pay the capital gains (tax). So, stock donations have been very popular for us, which is great.”

As Save Oswit Canyon stands on the brink of realizing its goal, Garrison said she sees a more valuable and exciting byproduct of the campaign.

“I feel that this canyon has brought the community together like no other movement ever has in Palm Springs,” she said. “We are going to continue to protect the environment and protect open space. It’s amazing how many people care now about the environment, and they also see that they can make a difference.

That is a big issue.

“So many times, especially now in our country, people feel so helpless. But this is proof that you actually can make a difference.”

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JANUARY 2020

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

A GOP DEFECTION

Coachella Valley Assemblyman Chad Mayes becomes an independent

L

by laurel rosenhall, calmatters

ocal Assemblyman Chad Mayes, a former California Republican leader, has left the party—the latest GOP defection in what’s become a trend among Trump-era moderates.

Mayes re-registered without party preference, becoming the second California lawmaker to leave the Republican Party within a year. Assemblyman Brian Maienschein became a Democrat in January 2019, and California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye left the GOP late in 2018.

Their departures reflect the clash of two diverging forces: President Donald Trump is pulling the Republican Party to the right as California voters are increasingly moving to the left. Less than 24 percent of California embracing a moderate vision for the GOP. He voters are registered Republicans. A greater urged fellow Republicans to drop opposition share, like Mayes now, are registered as to social policies such as gay marriage and political independents. Democrats hold abortion, and instead focus on environmental every statewide office and historically huge stewardship and poverty alleviation. He took majorities in the Legislature. With Mayes’ his caucus to tour a homeless shelter and switch, Republicans now hold just 23 percent worked with Democrats to pass landmark of legislative seats. legislation combating climate change. But “It’s frustrating to watch Republicans he also angered Republicans with that defend whatever it is the president does. It’s cooperation, and was forced to resign his also frustrating to watch Democrats attack leadership post in 2017. virtually everything the president does, As the Republican party veers right and instead of thinking, ‘Is this a good policy founders in California, Mayes has been or not a good policy?’” said Mayes, of Yucca working with Arnold Schwarzenegger to build Valley. His District 42 includes much of the up an organization for moderate Republicans Coachella Valley. called New Way California. Mayes said he “At some point, you go, ‘It doesn’t make a wasn’t sure how leaving the party will impact lot of sense for me to keep banging my head New Way. The group will meet to discuss against the wall.’” its direction, he said, which could mean no As Assembly Republican leader, Mayes longer focusing on Republicans. tried to make the minority relevant by It’s not unheard of for California legislators to switch parties, but two leaving the same party in the same year appears to be unprecedented, said legislative historian Alex Vassar.

However, Mayes leaves the GOP in tandem with voters in his desert district. When he was first elected in 2014, 41 percent of voters there were Republicans—a 7-point advantage over Democrats. Today, the parties are neck in neck, each holding a 35 percent share of registered voters.

Republicans will likely field a candidate to run against Mayes next year, the Riverside County Republican Party Chair told The Desert Sun. And state party leaders seemed determined to exact revenge after endorsing Mayes’ re-election just a few weeks ago.

“Chad has let the Republican Party down, just as he let down the voters of California,” the state party’s board of directors said in a statement. “We are confident that a Republican will win that seat in November.”

Assemblyman Chad Mayes speaks in opposition to a statewide rent-control bill subsequently signed

by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

“I feel totally pampered (I got a haircut, beard trim, hair color, manicure and pedicure, and facial). Everyone is great at what they do and they are sincerely nice people. It is as if I just came from a mini vacation and I look better and younger! What is not to like?

Great value for the money!”

—Says Dana

We’re more than just a barber shop … In addition to haircuts, we offer classic straight-razor shaves, hot towel treatments, hot stone neck and shoulder massages, facials and scalp massages, MAN-icures and pedicures, complete with shiatsu massage chairs and heated foot baths, waxing services from head to toe, hair coloring, including beards, grey blending and highlights. We’re a one-stop grooming shop created for men … by men!

750 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs • (760) 904-0434 www.eighteeneight.com/palm-springs-ca Located in Kaptur Plaza next to Koffi CVIndependent.com

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JANUARY 2020

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

HAUNTED OR HOGWASH? T

by philip wayne

he figure of a mysterious woman, cloaked in a white gown, seems to glide across the pathways of a local resort. A mysterious tall man with a hat has been seen wandering those same halls.

Who are they? What do they want? Or are the people who say they’ve seen these figures just … mistaken?

Enter the Palm Springs Paranormal Investigation Team, or PALS for short.

We first met this group six years ago, and decided it was time to check in again. Donnie Thompson is the lead investigator—an experienced ghost hunter and documentarian. Katy V., a local medium and intuitive, claims experience in energy work and auras. Gloria R. is a local medium and psychic, and a practitioner of the spiritual arts. Greg G. is a Riverside-based audio/visual student services. and technical aficionado.

“I have worked at this resort for a long time The members of the team talked about some and have seen, from a distance, what looks to recent fascinating experiences, in a variety of be people walking and vanishing into walls,” she places—from a suburban home in Cathedral said. “I have heard voices/whispers, seen orbs, City that houses an alleged “angry shamanic and heard people in the (hot tub); and upon spirit,” to a Coachella cemetery that’s home to taking a closer look; they’re gone. I have seen the spirit of a hitchhiker who frequents the television screens go absolutely ‘white snow’ adjacent street, thumbing his way to nowhere.

“Places hold energy,” Katy said. “It is not often during the 3 a.m. hour.”

Do any of the happenings seem threatening? what we see, but more of what we feel.”

“Not to my knowledge. Most of the experiences Added Gloria: “What we do is not to scare are very brief, and some of them are just people … but to put minds at ease. Perhaps rumors.” there are things we can rule out—and things we Another staffer said he’d seen some strange cannot explain so easily.” things, too.

However, Donnie is quick to point out that “I have seen lights flicker in empty rooms, whatever has been happening at that Cathedral doors shut on their own, and we have had City house is … different. several reports of excessive ‘typewriter noise’ in “It was bad energy. Now, could the owners and around a particular suite,” he said. “Security of the house be imagining things or pulling our has said that their emergency line rings on the leg? Sure,” he said. “But regardless, if something swing shift at 3:10 a.m. periodically; however, occurs within reason, we want to see it through, no one is on the line.” perhaps so that the family can sleep at night.”

With that, the group invited me for a followloria and Katy began by wandering the up visit to the place we looked into six years courtyard area, illuminated only by the ago: The La Quinta Resort. Opened in 1926 and string of lights against the waterfall. They a longtime getaway for the famous and nonwhispered to themselves, often calling out famous alike, the La Quinta Resort is one of as if to speak to anyone who would listen. the Coachella Valley’s oldest and most-refined Donnie, armed with an EVP (electronic voice landmarks … so who could blame a spirit or phenomenon) box, and Greg, with a simple two for wanting to stick around? When last 35-millimeter camera, stayed a slight distance we visited, we experienced a few blurs on a away from Gloria and Katy to capture any photo and the feeling of multiple energies, as movement. conveyed by the psychic. Greg and Katy weren’t Gloria held a cross on her chest, and sighed with us on that visit six years ago; Donnie and heavily. “Let us know you are here. Did you Gloria were. pass here?”

Others have had more dramatic experiences After some discussion, wandering and at the resort. On the record are various stories requests for pictures, I asked them what they of mysterious disembodied voices calling were seeing. out to guests and staff members—and an “A figure of a man. Tall, wearing a hat,” said account of the spirit of a woman who mingled Katy. with guests in their villa until 4 a.m. Then I asked if he’s threatened by our presence or there’s the YouTube video of an unexplained poses a threat. phenomenon—which looks like the ghostly “No, quite the contrary. He’s quite happy figure of a man walking a pathway. here,” she said.

On our recent visit, we met in the parking Gloria explained that there are a few souls lot adjacent to the beautiful ballroom. I then surrounding the area that wander at night. A interviewed our contact, who works in guest

G

CVIndependent.com

The Palm Springs Paranormal Investigation Team makes another visit to one of the area’s legendary alleged spirit hideaways

“lovely woman in white” with a “small dog” passes the outer edge.

“There is much activity near the fountain courtyard. It’s as if many people in this life are called here from their past life. … This could be why people resonate with this place so well. The tranquility of these surroundings calls to them,” Gloria said.

Later, we sat collectively to review the footage on the camera. Nothing seemed to be amiss or out of place. Donnie also reviewed the EVP spikes, which seemed to have picked up “activity” in the courtyard.

“It’s stronger, or spiking nearest the corridors,” he said.

W

e continue to La Casa, where we captured some odd images last time—be it due to poor photography or something else.

Greta Garbo was perhaps the most celebrated resident of La Casa—and in this area, staff and guests have seen a beautiful lady, wearing a white flowing gown, walking a dog.

We enter the courtyard. The lights inside La Casa are dim, but offer enough light to look inside. The interior is neither ominous nor eerie; it’s welcoming and subdued.

“I smell lavender. French lavender,” Gloria said.

I ask Gloria and Katy if they sense a presence.

They do.

“I sense the woman is someone who is very private, and takes refuge in this place, but is very joyful. The woman is very glamorous; she’d put today’s celebrities to shame,” Gloria said with a laugh.

Added Katy: “There is nothing negative.

Some are lost, and some are just permanent residents here.”

Said Gloria: “The woman walking her dog: She is peaceful, free. This is a place she loved most.”

I asked them to describe what they see when they sense a presence.

“It’s sometimes forms, or shapes, not shadows,” Katy said. “It’s almost as if we are interacting as we would with any guest who was, say, walking by. We acknowledge respectfully and move on, as to not disturb them.”

Donnie and Greg explored the courtyard with the EVP, which has jumped every so often, but not significantly. Greg shot a few photos with his phone, with flash both on and off, and intended to compare them with some daytime pictures he shot on an earlier scouting visit.

After a while, Gloria and Katy both said it was time to move on. I asked if something or someone was telling them to leave.

The interior of La Casa at La Quinta Resort, which was once a hideaway for Greta Garbo. Courtesy of the Palm Springs Paranormal Investigation Team

“Yes, but it’s a polite sort of tone,” Gloria said, with Katy adding a knowing glance from Katy.

T

he spa, when we last visited, was home to an entity who likes to frequent the bell tower above.

“Again, a place of peace, tranquility, is very appealing to this entity,” Gloria said.

“The overall vibe of relaxation, the sanctuary courtyard, the large cooling fountain, the smells of eucalyptus … he’s not disturbed, but watches over this part of the property.

“You see, someone loved this place. It was his place of respite. He’s not a danger; he’s more of a caretaker.”

When asked if this was the same energy as last time, Gloria said it seemed to be.

Katy agreed that the entity seemed content.

“He’s very happy here. He’s very protective, almost loving. He is happy this place exists.”

I asked if he could see us.

“Yes, he acknowledges us. He’s not posing a threat. He’s glad we stopped by,” said Gloria.

I wondered what he looked like.

“A tall gentleman, with very kind features,” Gloria said. “He was part of the hotel’s inception. I think he might be someone who was instrumental to the property prior to its being built.”

With no activity from the EVP, after taking a few photos of the bell tower, we continued on our way.

For information on the Palm Springs Paranormal Investigative Team, email Donnie.i.thompson@ aol.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

JANUARY 2020

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

JANUARY ASTRONOMY

Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn Planets and Bright Evening playStars hideinand seekMid-Twilight behind For January, 2020 theis sun month This sky chart drawn this for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

V

N

By Robert Victor

enus climbs higher above the setting sun week by week, and late in January sets more than three hours after sunset. Mercury, after passing the far side of the sun on Jan. 10, emerges into the west-southwest evening twilight sky to the lower right of Venus by the last week of month.

Mars, very slowly brightening, appears in the southeast morning sky. Jupiter emerges into the southeast morning sky to the lower left of Mars by mid-January, followed by Saturn in early February.

On evenings in January 2020, Venus climbs ever higher in a dark sky. As Venus advances 1.2 degrees per day through the zodiac compared to the sun’s 1.0 degrees, watch it pass background stars in Capricornus and Aquarius on Jan. 6-8, left of Venus. That day, find the moon about Jan. 21-24, and Jan. 27. Mercury emerges to 30 degrees up in the southwest shortly before the lower right of Venus in the last week of the sunset, and try to spot Venus in the daytime, by month (30 degrees on Jan. 23, to 26 degrees looking 6 degrees to the upper right of the lunar on Jan. 31), and will climb highest in evening crescent. Use a telescope for a closeup of Venus, twilight around Feb. 10, when it will be 24 which displays a tiny gibbous disk 15 arcseconds degrees from Venus.

(1/240 of a degree) across, and 75 percent In second week of January, the “Twin” stars illuminated. In the coming months, Venus will Castor and Pollux in Gemini are at opposition be ever more fascinating to watch as it comes to the sun and are visible all night: Low in around to the near side of its orbit; looms ever the east-northeast at dusk, high in the south larger in apparent size; and becomes backlighted in middle of the night, and low in the westby the sun. By late in March, as Venus stands northwest at dawn. high in the western sky, 46 degrees from the The moon in the morning sky: On Dec. 27, sun, it will be half illuminated, and by late in Jupiter was in conjunction on the far side of April, Venus will reach greatest brilliance, while the sun, and by mid-January, it will emerge into appearing as a crescent, about one-quarter full. the southeast morning sky, to the lower left of The year begins with Mars as our only Mars and Antares. The waning moon appears morning planet. On Jan. 1, we find Mars at in January’s morning sky, passing near Regulus magnitude +1.6 in the southeast, about 12 on Jan. 13, Spica on Jan. 17, and Mars and degrees to the upper right of brighter firstAntares on Jan. 20; it appears to the upper right magnitude Antares (whose name, from Greek, of Jupiter on Jan. 22. ant + Ares, means rival of or opponent to Mars).

After the new moon on Jan. 24, the moon The two red objects appear no more than 10 returns to the evening sky. On Jan. 25, just a degrees apart Jan. 5-30, and no more than 5 half-hour after sunset, you’ll need very clear degrees Jan. 16-20. They’re closest, within 4.8 skies to see the young, very thin crescent moon, degrees, as Mars passes north of the star on about 1 percent full and just 3 or 4 degrees up Jan. 18. Enjoy them in the same field of view in the west-southwest. Can you spot Mercury of binoculars for several mornings! Watch for within 3 degrees to the moon’s lower right?

Jupiter emerging to the lower left of Mars in Binoculars will give the best view of the delicate mid-January, and Saturn to the lower left of crescent moon with Mercury in the same field.

Jupiter by early February. Antares wins its Mercury will have just emerged from its Jan. ongoing brightness contest with Mars for now, 10 superior conjunction on the far side of the but during March, Mars begins to outshine the sun, and now starts its best evening appearance star, and there’ll be a rare compact gathering of of the year. It will get easier to see, as Mercury all three bright outer planets late that month. gets higher and sets later each evening until the Earth closes in on the red planet until early second week of February. On Jan. 27 and 28 October, so watch it brighten until then, to at dusk, Venus appears 6 or 7 degrees from the magnitude -2.6, outshining Jupiter! lunar crescent.

How often does Mars pass Antares in our After Jan. 25, the waxing moon climbs higher sky? If we were located at the sun, the answer nightly. On Jan. 26, the 5 percent crescent would be every 687 days, or about every 22.6 appears 13 degrees to the upper left of Mercury months, the sidereal period of revolution of and 16 degrees to the lower right of Venus.

Mars around the sun. But as seen from our On Monday, Jan. 27, at dusk, the 9 percent moving Earth, conjunctions of Mars-Antares do crescent moon appears 6 degrees to the lower not occur at equal intervals. After Jan. 18, 2020,

January's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

Pollux Castor

Vega

Capella

Deneb Procyon

E

Betelgeuse

W

Aldebaran Altair

Rigel 29 Venus 22 15 8 1

Sirius

Mercury 29 Saturn 1

Fomalhaut

Evening mid-twilight occurs

O the morning sky on the next willwhen occur Sunlow is 9in below horizon.

Jan.when 1: 44 minutes afterpass sunset.

Dec. 27, 2021, Mars will 4.5 degrees 15: 42 " " " north of the star.

31: 41 " " " Saturn will be in conjunction with the sun on Jan. 13 and will follow Jupiter into the morning sky by early February. Then all three bright outer planets will be visible in morning sky, in a gathering that will become ever more compact until Mars passes the two giant planets late in March 2020.

Check the website of the Astronomical Society of the Desert at www.astrorx.org for dates and times of our evening star parties.

Our primary, more-accessible location is at the Visitor Center of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (on Highway 74, within 4 miles south of Highway 111 in Palm Desert). Our next session there will be on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Sawmill Trailhead, our high-altitude site (elevation 4,000 feet), will have a star party

S

Stereographic Projection

starting at dusk on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Map by Robert D. Miller Remember to check the Impromptu Star Parties link on the Astronomical Society’s webpage. I’ll be offering sky watches in Palm Springs at the pedestrian bridge over Tahquitz Creek at North Riverside Drive and Camino Real, and at other locations.

On Friday, Jan. 24, I will present a preview of sky events in 2020, including the year’s rare and beautiful planetary gatherings. The event will be at the Portola Community Center, 45480 Portola Ave., in Palm Desert. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments, and the talk begins at 7 p.m.

Wishing you an abundance of clear skies in 2020!

Robert C. Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. Now retired, he often collaborates with John S. French on the Sky Calendar, and enjoys providing sky watching opportunities for a variety of groups.

CVIndependent.com

12 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

THE FOURTH ANNUAL JAN. 31-FEB. 8, 2020

Join us as bars and restaurants across the Coachella Valley offer special craft cocktails at a discount throughout the week—and donate a portion of the proceeds to two amazing charities.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, up to 10 of the valley’s top bartenders will battle to be crowned the Craft Cocktail Champion at Moxie Palm Springs. Admission includes tastes of all drinks and bites of food. Tickets are just $35 presale through Jan. 10; $40 after; $45 at the door (if tickets remain).

For tickets or more information, call 760-904-4208, or visit PSCraftCocktails.com

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

JANUARY 2020

AT

RISK

by kevin fitzgerald THE

California State Auditor’s Office recently launched a new tool, available to anyone with an internet connection: an online dashboard that aggregates, compares and ranks the financial stability of more than 470 California cities, based on detailed and publicly available information.

“For the first time, Californians will be able to go online and see a fiscal-health ranking for more than 470 cities based across the state,” State Auditor Elaine Howle proclaimed in a news release announcing the launch. “This new transparent interface for the public, state and local policymakers, and other interested parties, is intended to identify cities that could be facing significant fiscal challenges.”

The most compelling feature of this new dashboard is the interactive map of California.

To uncover relevant financial details, any user can run their cursor over the geographic area correlating to any one of the 470 cities whose financial data is included. When the cursor hovers over a given city, a box opens to show the name of the city and its rankings in the 11 different indicator categories: overall risk, liquidity, debt burden, general-fund reserves, revenue trends, pension obligations, pension funding, pension costs, future pension costs, OPEB (other post-employment benefits) obligations and OPEB funding. It quickly reveals information that, until now, was difficult to obtain.

The data, however, is a little outdated: The city evaluations and rankings are based on 2016-2017 fiscal-year numbers, the mostrecent complete data set available for all the cities represented.

“We are in the process of getting the 201718 information, so we’ll be able to provide that information on our dashboard as well,” said Margarita Fernandez, chief of public affairs for the California State Auditor. “The (dashboard) tool is now established, so we’ll be able to put up the information for 2017-18 as soon as it comes in. Eventually, you’ll be able to look at it yourself and see trending information like, ‘Here’s how they were doing in 2016-17, and now here they are in 201718, etc.,’ and whether things are improving,

or they’re not improving.”

Despite Fernandez’s attempt to explain the older data, some city representatives see this as a serious defect in the state auditor’s effort at transparency.

“These numbers are two to three years old, and I think that our financial state today reflects that,” said Brooke Beare, the city of Indio’s director of communications and marketing, during a recent phone call.

The nine Coachella Valley cities are, in the category of overall risk, ranked as follows: • Palm Springs: No. 46 (moderate risk level) • Cathedral City: No. 105 (moderate) • Indio: No. 118 (moderate) • Coachella: No. 121 (moderate) • Desert Hot Springs: No. 308 (low) • La Quinta: No. 434 (low) • Palm Desert: No. 444 (low) • Rancho Mirage: No. 454 (low) • Indian Wells: No. 466 (low) The good news is that none of the nine Coachella Valley cities were ranked in the “high risk” category. The bad news is the three worst-ranked—Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Indio—all were rated as “high risk” in four of the 11 indicator categories studied by the state auditor. It was on this basis that the Independent reached out to representatives of each of those three cities.

Only Indio representatives—Beare, and Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Rob Rockwell—responded. A city of Palm Springs finance executive did reply to an email requesting a phone interview, and asked that the Independent deliver its questions via email.

The Independent complied, but received no response to those questions.

Indio’s finance director, applauded the state auditor’s dashboard.

“I think the reporting itself is good, and I appreciate it. I think it’s useful,” he said.

“I don’t think it necessarily tells the whole financial story, but I think there are bits and pieces that will allow organizations or municipalities like Indio to go back and do some double-checking on some things, which is exactly what we did in Indio.”

rockwell,

THe state auditor shines a light on California cities’ financial shortcomings--and some Coachella Valley cities are in trouble

He discussed various actions taken in the last two years by the Indio City Council. “Two of the four areas where Indio was considered ‘high-risk’ were pension funding set-aside, and OPEB (other post-employment benefits) set-aside,” Rockwell said. “In regards to the pension funding, just this year, the Indio City Council committed $1 million to setting up a pension trust … and that money is set aside and can only be used for pension obligations. So the issue of us not having money set aside has already been addressed.

“In regard to that OPEB funding set-aside, in February of 2014, the city created another … trust that in this case is basically for retiree medical costs. We’ve been committing money to that on an annual basis, and (as of Sept. 30), it totaled $1.77 million. So, the City Council recognizes the need—but it’s not been a superhigh priority, in the sense that the City Council has been focused on capital infrastructure improvements in the city of Indio.” the pensionfunding liabilities currently shown on Indio’s balance sheet, the $1 million currently in the pension-funding trust wouldn’t make much of a dent. Rockwell told the Independent that the point of setting up the trust wasn’t to offset the entire debt amount.

“To think that we’re going to put $50plus million aside (to cover the amount of unfunded liabilities)—that’s a striking number,” he said. “Really, the purpose of this trust is to set up some money so that, if a recession occurs, instead of having to make

given

cuts to services to pay our pension costs, we can reach into this trust and pay our annual pension costs for a year, or maybe two, maybe three, maybe five, and not have to reduce services (to residents) in years where our revenues might be short due to economic impacts.”

Mounting pension obligations are a concern for all of our valley cities.

It was a major topic of discussion in this past November’s Palm Springs City Council elections.

“I think that most California cities, including those here in the valley, are having a tough time dealing with these increasing pension costs,” Rockwell said. “I don’t think it’s a surprise that a lot of cities are even having to face some service reductions to fund their pension obligations. I think obviously that the return on investments that were originally expected did not come through.

"THE

obligation is real, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Cities are just having to adjust, and there are various mechanisms to do that. A lot of cities have changed their retirement formulas. Clearly, the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (which took effect in 2013; it includes compensation limits and establishes minimum contributions by employees) has changed pension funding.

I have to say that for the city of Indio, the number of employees that we’ve hired under PEPRA is occurring at a faster rate than we expected. I don’t know how much that’s going to help the unfunded liability, but I can definitely say that there’s a change taking place.”

To view the State Auditor’s Local Government High-Risk Dashboard, visit www.auditor.ca.gov/ bsa/cities_risk_index.

CVIndependent.com

14 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

An Evening With

Jack Jones

Derina Harvey Band

Fri, January 10, 8pm

Tue, January 14, 8pm

Presented through the generosity of Elise Pasetta

The Piano Guys Fri, January 17, 8pm Sat, January 18, 2pm & 8pm

The Peking Acrobats Sun, January 19, 3pm

Presented through the generosity of Jan. 17 - Dan & Brooke Koehler Jan. 18, 8pm - Harold Matzner

An Intimate Evening with David Foster

Renée Taylor

Hit Man Tour

My Life on a Diet

Fri, January 24, 8pm Sat, January 25, 3pm & 8pm

Sun, January 26, 3pm & 7pm

Presented through the generosity of Jan. 24 - Paul & Carol Hill and Friends Jan. 25, 8pm - Edeltraud M. McCarthy

Jan. 26, 7pm - Presented through the generosity of Sally St. John

Jimmy Buffet’s

Hershey Felder’s Great American Songbook Sing-Along Tue, January 28, 8pm Wed, January 29, 2pm & 8pm Presented through the generosity of Jan. 28 - Barbara Arnstein Jan. 29, 8pm - Dan & Brooke Koehler

Order tickets by phone

760-340-2787

Escape to Margaritaville Thu, January 30, 8pm Fri, January 31, 2pm & 8pm Sat, February 1, 2pm & 8pm Sun, February 2, 2pm Presented through the generosity of Jan. 30 - Steve & Darlene Beneto Jan. 31, 8pm - Frank & Mary Ann Xavier Feb. 1, 8pm - Barbara Arnstein & Ken Rosemeyer, Jo Ann & Alan Horwitz and Linda & Manny Rider

Order online

mccallumtheatre.com

73000 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT • BOX OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9:00am-5:00pm CVIndependent.com

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

JANUARY 2020

CVI SPOTLIGHT: JANUARY 2020 J

Art at the Polo Grounds: The Southwest Arts Festival Returns

anuary marks the start of the “high season” of activity at the world-famous Empire Polo Club—and before the huge music events arrive in April, the grounds will host the 34th edition of the Southwest Arts Festival, and its sumptuous display of works created by roughly 250 talented artists, from Thursday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 26.

Josh Bonner is the president and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC), the host organization of this valley tradition. He explained how artists get selected to participate.

“Artists from across the country will put in their applications to be at the show,” Bonner said. “As part of that process, they submit multiple pictures of their artwork. Also, they will submit a photo of the display they use at shows, so we can see what it would look like if they were at our art show. That all goes before our panel of judges. … Primarily, the jury pool is made up of artists, because we want (applicants) to be judged by their peers.”

The number of applications is much larger than the allotted number of spots, in part because the Southwest Arts Festival is viewed as an artist-friendly show.

“Art shows operate in two different ways,” Bonner said.

“One way is (organizers) charge a very large upfront fee, like $700-$800, for the artist to come out. Then (the artists) keep all of their sales. We charge a much lower upfront fee of $350, and then they pay a small percentage commission on their sales. We do it that way, because, in our opinion, it helps the artist. If the artist comes out and has a great show, then he or she has a great show. But if they come out and they don’t have a great show for some reason, at least they’re not out that huge upfront investment.”

A lot of selling indeed goes on—Bonner said last year’s sales exceeded $1 million—and those sales do a lot of good for local nonprofits.

“The GCVCC is an interesting organization, because we are not like other chambers,” Bonner said. “We’re sort of an umbrella chamber. The GCVCC puts the festival on, but underneath us, you have the chambers of commerce from Indio, Coachella and La Quinta (among other cities), and the Desert Advertising Federation, which is an association of marketing professionals. All of those nonprofit entities benefit from the show.

A photo of a previous Southwest Arts Festival.

“In addition, we’ll also designate two or three other local nonprofits who will benefit from a portion of the proceeds.

In the past, we’ve had proceeds that benefited the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and ABC Recovery Center.”

Bonner said the 12,000 to 15,000 festival-goers can enjoy a variety of experiences.

“One thing we realized is that when you come to an art show with some 250 artists, it takes time for you to get through all those artists. People are normally on the grounds for a few hours; they don’t just show up for five minutes,” Bonner said.

“So, because of that, we work with the Empire Polo Club, and every year, they help out with food and beverage. They bring in different culinary experiences. … There are several different restaurants there that people can choose from to eat lunch, or a snack, while they’re at the event. There are bars with drinks available throughout the venue as well.

“We have interactive art displays. We’ll have an area where kids can paint, and sometimes, we’ll have (hands-on experiences with) glass-blowing or metalwork. Or we’ll have live canvas painting going on, so that people can see the artistic process taking place. On top of all of that, we have live music as well. At every point during each day, we’ll have some type of live performance music going on.”

Bonner said attendees will get exposed to a lot of art with

which they’re unfamiliar.

“I get asked a lot: ‘Hey, do you have famous artists?’”

Bonner said with a laugh. “My answer is always, ‘No.’ But I think that’s also the allure of art festivals and to the people who like to go to them: They get to discover new art, unique art. It’s not the Picassos who everyone knows about, but these are really talented local artists from around the country who come to show their wares, and you get to see things you’ve never seen before. That, to me, is the allure of the Southwest Art Festival.

“We have a local artist, Richard Curtner, who operates out of Cathedral City. He does these wonderful collages where he takes like different newspaper (clippings), and he’ll manipulate them to form this beautiful picture. … It is fine art, and these are extremely talented artists, but the beauty and allure of it is that these are artists that you probably have never heard of before.”

The Southwest Arts Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 23-26, at the Empire Polo Club, 81800 51st Ave., in Indio.

Tickets, which are good for all four days, are $15; or $13 for seniors. For tickets or more information, search for the event on Eventbrite.

—Kevin Fitzgerald

Show this ad, and get one free Moxie Palm Springs appetizer!

Show this ad; buy one Broken Yolk entree, and get the second free!

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16 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

ARTS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MOVIES

MOVIE MADNESS

A chat with the PS International Film Festival’s artistic director, Coachella Valley native Liliana Rodriguez

E

By andrea gomez

very January, the desert gets a dose of Hollywood-awards-season glamour with the Palm Springs International Film Festival. This will be its 31st year, and the event is larger than ever, boasting estimated audiences of more than 135,000 and attracting cinephiles from all over the globe.

This year, screenings begin on Friday, Jan. 3, and go through Monday, Jan. 13—and the 2020 version of the festival will have a little more of a local flair.

The reason: The festival’s first-year artistic director, Liliana Rodriguez, is a Coachella Valley native, and she’s making sure the festival’s local roots remain interwoven into its DNA. “Recently, I’ve been focusing on injecting more of a local feel into the festival with more films in Local Spotlight, as well the new local jury,” she said.

The Local Spotlight film program has expanded this year to feature three films: The 11th Green, House of Cardin and Iconicity.

All three films have a distinct style and offer unique perspectives from hometown filmmakers, bringing the relationship between community and festival closer together.

“Locals love the festival and look forward to it every year,” Rodriguez said. “Being a Coachella Valley native myself, it only makes sense to make it something that (locals) can be a part of as well as take pride in.”

The Annenberg Theater, the Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, Palm Springs High School, the Regal Cinemas Palm Springs, the Palm Canyon Theatre and Mary Pickford Is D’Place will host more than 500 screenings of more than 180 films, across every genre, during the festival run.

“I work really closely with our six programmers, who travel the world to find movies for our audience,” Rodriguez said.

“There is a lot of discussion about what movies we felt would make a great fit. It is another beast having to schedule all the films.

Programming for a film festival is very intense, but always rewarding when you see it all come together.”

One of Rodriguez’s favorite PSIFF programs this year is the Gay!la program. “We’re showing Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which I often think about out of the blue, even if I saw it first months ago,” she said. “After that, we have Gay Chorus Deep South, a really powerful documentary.”

With more than 180 films in the festival, CVIndependent.com

A scene from Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Rodriguez said it is hard to select just a few must-watch films. “Some personal favorites are Pain and Glory from the great Pedro Almodóvar; First Love for genre fans; and Song Without a Name for something that will stick with you for a long time after you leave the theater.”

Rodriguez said that while the festival features a lot of glitz and glamour, it also has a lot of events that are meant to please true film-lovers—including some events that are free and open to the public.

“Here at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, there’s an emphasis on making sure that all attendees leave with something memorable,” she said.

One particularly interesting free event is “Shortlisted: Best International Feature Film Panel,” taking place at the Annenberg Theater at 4:45 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6. The event will feature a discussion with directors whose films are on the Oscar shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film.

For first-time festival goers, Rodriguez recommends checking out the festival’s website, as well as the social-media picks each day—or they can take a different approach, and just pick something spontaneously.

“Some of my favorite stories are from people who tell me they went into a movie totally blind and loved it!” she said.

“It starts with the movies for me, so I really hope people will find something they really connect with. There are so many films from all over the world. Bringing those films to our festival-goers and having them experience the stories they bring has always been the goal.”

The Palm Springs International Film Festival takes place from Friday, Jan. 3, through Monday, Jan. 13, at various venues. Tickets to individual films are $13; six-pack tickets are $69. For tickets or more information, visit www.psfilmfest.org/ film-festival-2020.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

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INNOVATIONS TO SLOW AGING— AND STAYING SAFE IN 2020

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

W

e all age every day. Happily, there are so many developments in aesthe�c medicine that no one person can keep up with it all—including me. That’s why great providers are always a�ending trainings and aesthe�c-medical conferences.

I’ve listed some terrific newer treatments (Tx’s) that are turning back the “clock.” Most “stop the hands” from �cking forward with my pa�ents. In order to list as many new innova�ons as possible, I’ve only provided a par�al summary of their benefits. You can go to our website to learn more, or contact us at our email listed below.

Secret No. 1: Avogen Medical. It’s a suppository capsule that accomplishes women’s rejuvena�on, and increases comfort and moisturiza�on.

Secret No. 2: Cutera’s Juliet Erbium Laser. Painless Tx’s greatly improve women’s rejuvena�on, including mild urinary stress and incon�nence (really). Tx’s can also improve skin health, texture and fine lines.

Secret No. 3: Secret RF. Micro-needling with radio-frequency energy Tx’s are safe for any skin type, and on any part of the body, to improve acne scars, texture and fine lines, and to �ghten skin and help skin glow.

Secret No. 4: TruSculpt ID. Non-invasive, 15-minute—with no down�me—Tx’s safely and permanently reduce fat for any area, including areas previously impossible to treat without SmartLipo. The new areas include ankles, inner thighs, above knees and arms.

Secret No. 5: Alas�n Topicals. Alas�n has products that increase the results of laser Tx’s and skin metabolism—something we all need if we’re older than 30.

And now some secrets to help keep you safe and prevent adverse results: Safety Secret No. 1, for tear troughs: Never let a provider inject you with Juvederm in your tear troughs. Juvederm can cause unwanted excess swelling and may cause �ndling (a blue discolora�on) below your eyes that rarely goes away.

Safety Secret No. 2, for CO2 frac�onal skin rejuvena�on: CO2 lasers can cause hypo-pigmenta�on on darker skin types (IV-VI). This can leave grids of variable colored spots. Consider Secret RF as a be�er alterna�ve.

Next month, I’ll share more secrets that safely produce magical results for your appearance, happiness and confidence. Un�l then, keep the secrets.

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

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18 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

ARTS

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MIZELL TAKES OFF W

By jimmy boegle

es Winter started his new job as the executive director of the Mizell Senior Center last March—but before he officially began, he got a taste of what he was getting himself into at the 2019 Stars Among Us gala.

“It was my first exposure to Mizell. It was my introduction to the community. My eyes were spinning in opposite directions at that point,” Winter said with a laugh. “I really didn’t know much about what was going on … so I’m really gala—now I them well, but at that point, I looking at this year as my first year.” didn’t have a clue who they were—and they This year’s gala will take place on Saturday, represented just about every niche you can Feb. 1, at the Palm Springs Air Museum. We imagine throughout the Coachella Valley. That recently spoke with Winter about his first year was incredibly impressive to me. Another was on the job, Mizell’s future—and, of course, the sense of philanthropy that folks here in the what people can expect at this year’s Stars valley seem to have. There has been so much Among Us. support, not just for Mizell, but for all of the social-service organizations that exist here in It’s fascinating that your first exposure the valley. to Mizell was at Stars Among Us last year. What impressions did the gala leave How have your first with you?

10 months gone at Mizell?

There were a couple of things. One was Well, it’s been a whirlwind—but it’s been the breadth of support that Mizell has in pretty wonderful. I have a very supportive the community. There were folks at that board of directors, and they are, each one

Wes Winter, the Mizell Senior Center’s executive director, talks about the annual Stars Among Us gala

in their own way, very plugged into the community. So they’ve been just a wonderful asset. … Then we have so many people who come in the door here at Mizell. We receive somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 visits a year—and those folks who come in that door are not the slightest bit shy about coming into my office and introducing themselves. So that’s been really helpful.

Let’s talk about Stars Among Us. What can attendees expect this year?

Well, I can’t tell you what it is, but we’re rolling out a new initiative that is sort of reframing the community’s look at Mizell. I’m profoundly excited, and we’re going to talk a little bit about that at the event. We won’t spend a lot of time talking from the stage, but we will put it out there, and I think folks are going to be pleasantly surprised. So that’s exciting.

Then we have two awardees that we’re recognizing. One is BIGHORN Cares; we’ll be recognizing all of the philanthropic work that they do here in the valley. They are just amazing. They not only help Mizell out; they help the whole community of organizations.

We’ll also be honoring Tim Jochen and Lee Erwin, from Contour Dermatology. They’ve been wonderful to Mizell, but they also are so plugged into all of the community-service organizations that are here.

Tell me about the fun part of the gala.

We’re going to have a pretty incredible dance band there called The Zippers. There’s going to be an auction. This year, we’re not having a silent auction, because we really wanted to put that energy into the live auction. Those, for me, are always fun. People really seem to enjoy getting into it and bringing the money in. For the program, like I said, we’re going to keep people talking onstage to a minimum, because I know people’s eyes start to glaze over if you talk too much. I think it’s going to be really interesting to folks when we roll out our new initiative.

You’re sure you can’t tell me just a little bit more about it? Give me a hint, maybe?

Well, our theme for the evening is “Take Off With Mizell.” We’re holding the event once again at the Air Museum. This year, we’re moving it to the new hangar, which we haven’t been in before, so that’ll be interesting in and of itself. With the theme, we wanted to really play both on the idea of being at the Air

CVIndependent.com

A photo from the 2019 Stars Among Us. LANI GARFIELD

Museum, and this idea of our new initiative, and how we’re moving into the new decade, and what’s going to look new and different.

Tell me about how important Stars Among Us is, in terms of the fundraising aspect, and also the attention that it brings to Mizell.

The dollars we’ll be bringing in that evening, from sponsorships and ticket sales and auctions, all of that goes to help us with our Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels is funded (by the government) at the 80 percent level, so we need to raise that additional 20 percent to make the program whole. Because of that program, working with the County of Riverside Office on Aging, we’re able to ensure that a little over 200,000 meals are served to valley residents in an average fiscal year.

Every one of those meals is made in Mizell’s kitchen, correct?

Every one of them … and (our kitchen) is absolutely tiny. One of the things that we’re looking at doing, hopefully sooner rather than later, is remodeling that kitchen to make it a little more state-of-the-art, more energyefficient, and better for the folks who actually produce the meals that come out of the kitchen. We’ve actually received a significant gift from a donor who is also a participant here in Mizell activities. We’re going to be looking for other funds to match with that gift so we can redo that whole kitchen.

The 15th Annual Stars Among Us Gala will take place at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Palm Springs Air Museum, 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $350. For tickets or more information, call 760-323-5689, or visit mizell.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

JANUARY 2020

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

JANUARY 2020

FOOD & DRINK

ON COCKTAILS T

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As 2020 begins, let’s examine 2019’s most-Googled drink—the Pornstar Martini

BY kevin carlow

he most-searched cocktail in 2019 was the Pornstar Martini, according to Google.

Take that in for a second. I mean, it is the internet, so I guess that is fitting, but I hope people were actually searching for the cocktail, and there isn’t some new glasswarerelated fetish out there … Rule 34 and all.

This revelation was a bit synchronistic, as just a week or so before I learned this, I tried the Pornstar Martini for the first time in Las Vegas, which seemed like an appropriate place for such a venture. Mind you, I have been behind the stick for a long, long time, and I have never made one, or had a guest ask me for one. Ever. So I am guessing there must be some part of popular culture that is outside of my sphere of attention bringing this drink a boost in recent popularity. But seriously: How does a drink have that much hype without my being blasted with orders for it? Either way, it’s a fun drink, and it’s considered a modern classic, so that’s good enough for a spotlight, in my opinion!

The nice thing about “modern classics” is you don’t need to search very far to get the history. This drink was invented in 2002, or 2005, or … well, scratch that. OK, at least it’s easy to get the correct recipe … wait … never mind. What we do know is that it was invented by Douglas Ankrah, a London bartender, for the opening menu of his bar, Townhouse. It was named originally after a South African club he hung out at while writing his cocktail book, but he later renamed it the Pornstar Martini. He has claimed in multiple interviews that he isn’t a fan of porn, necessarily, but wanted a fun and provocative name for his cocktail. (This is the era of bartending that gave us martinis that aren’t martinis; middle-aged ladies out on the town still ask, “What kind of martinis do you have?” But I digress.) The reason I don’t get requests for this drink is probably that it never really got out of the United Kingdom, where it is still a top-seller, and that very few craft bars carry passion fruit in any form, aside from tiki bars—and this ain’t tiki. Feel free to order one at your local tiki bar, but only if you want them to show you the door.

If you can get past the puerile name, and (for me) the fact that it is vodka-based, I must say: The Pornstar Martini is pretty delicious. The ingredients must include vodka, passion fruit and vanilla; some recipes call for lime, while others call for lemon.

The other necessary component is sparkling wine, preferably Champagne, although some recipes call for prosecco. Now, how you work in these flavors is kind of up to you; you can use passion-fruit liqueur, passion-fruit puree, or both. Some recipes call for vanilla vodka and passion-fruit liqueur, and while that might work for a bachelorette party, I want

nothing to do with it. Instead, first, let’s make a vanilla syrup: 1 cup of white sugar 1 cup of water A couple of vanilla beans (or vanilla extract) Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring. Turn off the heat; add the vanilla beans, scraped (or 2 teaspoons of extract, to taste), and stir. Allow mixture to cool; strain through a fine strainer (if using beans); and keep in a jar in the refrigerator. This is great for many uses, especially coffee!

As for the puree, I recommend getting a quality frozen one, as the shelf-stable ones in the plastic bottles aren’t as punchy and taste a little artificial. If you have access to fresh passion fruit, scoop the insides into a blender with a little water—and there you go. Reserve a few of the fruit, as the traditional garnish is half a fruit served seed-side-up floating in the drink.

OK, so going off an article in Punch, (punchdrink.com/recipes/pornstar-martini), here is what seems to be Ankrah’s actual recipe, in case you want to give it a whirl: 1 1/2 ounces of vanilla vodka 1/2 ounce of passion-fruit liqueur 2 ounces of passion-fruit puree 2 barspoons of vanilla sugar (vanilla beans and white sugar in a blender instead of a syrup) Shake with ice; strain into a coupe; and top with half of a passion fruit. Serve with 2 ounces of Champagne on the side.

I am assuming he is using a shelf-stable passion-fruit puree for this; that much fresh passion fruit would be a lip-puckerer, to say the least. Considering he works for the big liquor companies these days and markets his own “ready to drink” version, that would make sense; also, in the early days of the drink, that would be easiest to find. I am sure this recipe is good, and who am I to know better than the inventor? (He apparently isn’t

The Pornstar Martini at Cleaver in Las Vegas. KEVIN CARLOW

happy about the citrus element later added by other bartenders.) Still, I thought I would try to replicate the version I tried at Cleaver in Las Vegas.

Being that I was in Las Vegas, my memory is a bit hazy, so rather than try to get the actual recipe they use (state secrets and all), I will go off my memory and general drinkmaking experience: 1 1/2 ounces of vodka 3/4 of an ounce of vanilla syrup 1/2 ounce of lemon juice 3/4 of an ounce of fresh passion fruit puree, to taste (it’s tart!)

Shake; serve up in a coupe; and top with passion fruit if available. Serve with the “sidecar” of Champagne.

I definitely recommend the Champagne on the side; it’s easier for toasting that way, since the big chunk of fruit will splash the drink over the sides of your glass (and I say that from experience). Feel free to serve a little spoon for people to eat the tart fruit, as I did.

Whether you make the original or the more-recent style, enjoy celebrating the fact that it’s 2020 with the scandalous cocktail everyone is apparently Googling—and feel free to tell your mom it’s a Maverick Cocktail, or a Passion Star, two early names for it that are a little more “family friendly.” She doesn’t need to know that the Maverick Club was a seedy strip bar in South Africa. That can be your little secret.

Kevin Carlow is a bartender at Truss and Twine, and can be reached at CrypticCocktails@gmail.com.

CVIndependent.com

22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

FOOD & DRINK

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VINE SOCIAL

JASON DAVID

It’s a new year—so consider some wines that may be new to you

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By Katie finn

LOVE YOUR HAIR

s we start a new year, I’ve been reflecting on my time here in the desert since moving back from Napa a few years ago. The one thing that I have realized is how much I underestimated the wine savvy—or better yet, the sense of exploration—of the wine consumers here.

When I first started buying wine for a retail space, my overall goal was to bring in wines that were more esoteric, more global, more natural—and more fun! I wanted to start steering away from the mass produced “grocery store” wines toward ones that were created by small producers—farmers Country Club and Cook Street and winemakers with deep roots, but perhaps shallow pockets.

One at time, I brought in a quirky Palm Deasert label, and then another, and then an unheard-of varietal—hoping that maybe a hipster out of Los Angeles would stumble in and buy some, or Elisabetta Foradori, who is considered by many 760-340-5959 maybe someone would trust me enough to to be one of the greatest winemakers in Italy, take a recommendation for a wine out of left took on the task of saving this grape from www.jasondavidhairstudio.net field. At the very least, I knew these wines were obscurity, and her bottlings are nothing short of incredible—and if all else failed, I could always glorious. It’s an intensely juicy wine, with loads buy the case and drink the wine myself! of blackberry and raspberry flavors, followed by But then something started to happen … a subtle sweet smokiness. people started coming in and asking for these On the other end of the intensity spectrum wines. Customers began talking to me about is a deliciously light-bodied red called Schiava. things like skin-contact whites and carbonic This delicious pinot noir-like grape also hails maceration. I would hear guests at tastings from the Alto Adige region and is as silky and applaud the low-alcohol content in the wines feminine as it gets. Beautiful notes of rose that were being poured—and tell me they petals, freshly picked strawberries and a touch specifically came in to taste the Ribolla Gialla I of lemon zest are the hallmark flavors of this was pouring. little grape.

What?! Who are you people? Where have you From Southern Italy, seek out a wine made been? from the Aglianico grape. Made primarily in Every day, I am surprised and excited by Campania and Basilicata, these brooding reds what people are gravitating toward—and so, definitely fall into the savory category. If you’re in the spirit of new beginnings, for all my wine a fan of rustic wines with layers of flavors (think adventurers out there, here are some of my old-vine zinfandels), you’ll be delighted by the favorite “must-try” wines for 2020. notes of leather, figs, white pepper, nutmeg and Italy is one of the most-daunting wine boysenberries. countries to tackle, but it’s also one of the most In France, there’s a little-known region rewarding. Each region has its own pasta and called Jura that has garnered the attention cheese to which it lays claim, and the same of high-profile sommeliers and wine lovers can be said for wine varietals—many of which alike. Located on the eastern border between historically almost never made it out of the Burgundy and Switzerland, this is a cool-climate country, and instead were consumed entirely region producing some pretty esoteric and by its local audience. From the Trentino-Alto geeky wine. For years, this small appellation Adige region in the far north, look for the was known mainly for a sherry-like wine called deeply colored and richly textured Teroldego.

Vin Jaune, or “yellow wine,” which I wouldn’t

necessarily recommend. However, the region is now becoming known for a delightful red wine made with a grape called Trousseau that is worth seeking out. Trousseau creates a pale, light-bodied wine that’s surprisingly powerful.

It’s so intensely flavored, in fact, that there are sommeliers in three-star Michelin restaurants pairing this seemingly delicate wine with prime cuts of steak! Trousseau might be the most obscure wine suggested here, but if you keep a lookout, finding one might be easier than you think. In fact, there are even a handful of California producers who have sought out domestic plantings of this esoteric grape and are producing some stellar incarnations of both Trousseau Noir and its cousin, Trousseau Gris. A few California names to look for are Jolie-Laide, and Arnot-Roberts. Domaine des Ronces and Michel Gahier are prime examples from Jura.

If you continue to travel south in Europe, this wine adventure will take you into Spain.

Right now, there is no greater wine-producing country that offers up as much bang for your buck. Sure, we all know about Tempranillo and Garnacha, and even Cariñena isn’t as obscure as it once was … but have you ever had a Mencía? Hailing from the small western regions of Ribera Sacra and Bierzo, this dark and herbaceous red was once thought to be related to cabernet Franc. Although we now know that’s not the case, this aromatic wine is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves earthy and spicy reds. My personal favorites are the Mencías crafted by Raul Perez under the “Ultreia” label; his protege, Pedro Rodriguez, is creating stunning examples called Guimaro.

The perfumy and citrusy Spanish Albariño has long been my go-to for a crowd-pleasing white alternative to sauvignon blanc. But if you’re ready to venture into uncharted territory, there’s a grape called Hondarrabi Zuri from the Basque region that makes the most refreshing

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and slightly spritzy white called Txakolina.

I cannot think of a better patio wine for our desert climate. It’s a bounty of fresh citrus like key limes, Meyer lemons and Clementine tangerines, all backed by a subtle fragrance of white jasmine and the tiniest presence of bubbles.

Lastly, leave it to Paul Hobbs to bring a project from Armenia to the forefront of our budding wine culture. Areni, which is a grape native to Armenia and the Republic of Georgia, is possibly the oldest varietal on Earth—not surprising, given that this region is the birthplace of viticulture. In 2011, archaeologists discovered artifacts from a winery dating back at least 6,100 years. Hobbs has now partnered with the Yacoubian family from this small Armenian village to revitalize this ancient grape. I recently found out that there are a handful of country clubs (country clubs!) in the Coachella Valley that currently have the Yacoubian-Hobbs Areni on their wine lists. Who would have thought?

So here’s to a new year full of exploration, curiosity—and a community of wine lovers who continue to surprise and inspire me.

Katie Finn is a certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine with more than 15 years in the wine industry. She can be reached at katiefinnwine@gmail.com. award-winning

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CAESAR CERVISIA M

A list of gifts the beer-lovers in your life will enjoy

By brett newton

y regular readers (yes, some people tell me they are regular readers, without any prompting on my part—and yes, one of them is my mother; hi, Mom!) know I try to shy away from clichés in my column.

However, I’ve been feeling the Christmas spirit, and I want to help those who are not as deep into craft beer find legitimately great gifts for the zythophile in their lives … so it’s time for a cliché: The Gift List. (Yes, I know this is the January issue, and Christmas is in the past … but it was the holiday season when I wrote this. So use this as a Belated Holiday Gift List, or a Birthday Gift List, or whatever.)

I will limit this list to things I have never not seen one start a conversation at experienced, either by myself or through the taproom when they are brought in to be friends, so I don’t lead anyone too far astray: filled. For about $150-$200, you can seriously • The Cap Zappa Beer Cap Launcher: I impress the beer-lover in your life. first saw this being used on a YouTube channel • The Rare Beer Club: I wish I could say that and immediately knew I needed to have one. It my experience with this club comes through was surprisingly hard to track down a couple my own subscription, but alas, this is a little too of years ago when I got mine, but now you can expensive for my budget. A friend of mine has a find many different kinds of fun, cap-shooting wife who was loving enough to get this for him, openers. My friend’s wife gave me a pistoland I’ve benefited from rummaging through the shaped version, which is now being employed at built-up collection of bottles from the club. My my taproom. They are simple, but they bring a verdict? It’s fantastic. Some of the beers are true disproportionate amount of joy for the money. rarities that I will probably never get my hands • Growlerwerks Carbonated Growlers: on again—some because they are incredibly hard A growler, for the uninitiated, is a to-go to acquire, and others because they were onecontainer for beer on tap. I have a love/hate offs, never to be brewed again. Like the Biere De relationship with growlers—and by “love/ Goord from Michigan’s Jolly Pumpkin Artisan hate,” I primarily mean “hate.” They’re not a Ales; it’s a saison-style ale with kale, pumpkin, great medium for beer—but they are a great pumpkin seeds, green tea and peppercorns. way for a brewery taproom to make money.

Does that sound weird? Yes. Did it taste good?

Even assuming the growlers are properly Hell yes—and I’ve never had another beer like cleaned and carbon-dioxide-purged before it. The best part is that, if you loved one of the being filled with beer, that beer really should beers you were sent that month (and that’s two, be consumed the same day you open the four or six bottles of each, depending on the growler. What if you just wanted a pint? Well, subscription level) and absolutely need more, Growlerwerks provides the solution with the you can buy more. This is just the tip of the use of a replaceable carbon dioxide cartridge iceberg for customization, too. You can replace housed under the cap, with a dial above it to upcoming beers with ones you loved in the past, regulate the pressure. The upshot of all this: if available, or add more of any beer to the next You’ll have a 64- or 128-ounce miniature shipment. As I write this, I’m pondering what I keg sitting in your fridge with a spigot at need to cut out of my life financially in order to the bottom. Plus, they look really sharp. I’ve accommodate one of these memberships. Beer is

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• Brewery memberships: Some breweries offer yearly memberships that include discounts, exclusives and beer allocations.

The terms obviously vary from brewery to brewery, but the gist is that you sign up; pay the requisite fee; and reap the benefits. There are breweries that offer little more than special glassware for you to use while at the taproom, plus a discount. Others offer first cracks at the latest beer releases, discounts, member parties and more. The Bruery in Orange County is the first brewery I can remember doing this, more than a decade ago, and now that brewery offers many tiers of membership that can be paid for in myriad ways. The Bruery went through a lot of growing pains while ironing out flaws in the membership models—and other breweries have learned by example when it comes to making their clubs.

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But let me repeat myself: Not all brewery memberships are created equal. I’ve even seen breweries sell memberships to people before opening their doors. This is as pure of an example of caveat emptor as you are going to find, and I wish you luck and success if you decide to do this. My recommendation is to partake in the clubs of established breweries; if possible, speak with current members of the club to gauge worthiness.

Let’s hope that Santa brought me that Rare Beer Club membership rather than the coal I probably deserved.

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

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FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT Emotional yet comforting breakfasts are on this month’s menu

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By Jimmy Boegle WHAT The giant cinnamon roll WHERE Rick’s Restaurant, 1973 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs HOW MUCH $5.99 CONTACT 760-416-0090; ricksrestaurant.biz WHY It’s sweet comfort.

Sometimes, you just need comfort food.

It had been a rough couple of days for my friend. His father was recovering from emergency surgery at Desert Regional Medical Center, and my friend wanted to meet somewhere not too far from the hospital for breakfast and a nice chat. I was having a stressful workday, and I was more than happy to take a break and oblige.

I knew exactly where to go: Rick’s Restaurant.

It’s long been one of my favorite places to go for a nice, chill breakfast or lunch. It’s not fancy; instead, it’s comfortable and appealing, with friendly service and a menu full of Americana (plus some Cuban favorites as well).

This wasn’t a meal where calorie counts and carb intakes were concerns; we just wanted good, filling, comfort food. We both ordered the chicken-fried steak and eggs … and, of course, we had to split one of Rick’s fresh, house-made cinnamon rolls.

The chicken-fried steak was good. The cinnamon roll was out of this world. It was everything a classic, fresh cinnamon roll should be: sugary, warm and oh-so-pillowy.

It was the perfect starter to pick at and enjoy while chatting—with occasional pauses to say “Yum!” or “Wow” in reference to the cinnamon roll.

The breakfast at Rick’s didn’t solve any problems; afterward, my friend needed to go back to the hospital to spend time with and advocate on behalf of his father.

I had to go back to the pile of work and annoyances I faced. But for that hour or so … life, genuinely, was good—thanks to a great friendship, a welcoming and unpretentious atmosphere, and the type of delicious, downhome food that only fantastic places like Rick’s Restaurant can offer.

WHAT The machaca con verduras WHERE Asadero Los Corrales, 425 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs; also locations in La Quinta and Coachella HOW MUCH $13.80 CONTACT 760-992-5107 WHY It brought up delicious memories.

Food can be an intimate, emotional thing. We experience food with all five of our senses, and many of life’s important moments are focused around, or at least include, meals. As a result, we’ve all had the experience of taking a bite of food and being flooded with memories— sometimes good, sometimes bad—of an event or time from our past.

This happened to me during a recent breakfast at Asadero Los Corrales, which opened in Palm Springs not long ago inside the old Maxcy’s Grill space in the Ralph’s shopping center at Sunrise Drive and Ramon Road.

I ordered the machaca con verudas—dried, shredded beef with sautéed tomatoes, onions and peppers.

The plate came; I placed the meat inside a fresh corn tortilla; I took a bite—and memories of Tucson, Ariz., came rushing forth.

I spent 10 years of my life in Tucson, and one of my favorite dishes in that city is the carne seca at El Charro Café, a restaurant which has been in business since 1922. The dish has some degree of fame, both because of its unique preparation—it is shredded beef, dried in the sun on El Charro’s roof, as it has been for close to a century now—and because it’s quite delicious.

Well, the machaca con verduras at Asadero Los Corrales looks, feels, smells and tastes a lot like El Charro’s famous carne seca. (Four of the five senses ain’t bad!) While I can’t say that Los Corrales’ machaca is as good as El Charro’s carne seca, I can say that it was fantastic.

The machaca con verudas may not lead to an emotional experience for you like it did for me—but it will make your taste buds very happy.

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Restaurant NEWS BITES

By Jimmy Boegle NEW TO EL PASEO: CHEF ERIC WADLUND’S WILDEST RESTAURANT + BAR Wildest Restaurant + Bar, the latest project from chef Eric Wadlund, was slated to celebrate its grand opening on Dec. 26 at 72990 El Paseo, No. 3, in the space that used to house the late Denise DuBarry Hay’s Wildest Greens.

An announcement, posted on Nov. 30 at the Wildest Restaurant + Bar website, compared the effort to the restaurants of the great Joel Robuchon, who passed away in 2018. (The announcement didn’t quite spell Robuchon’s name right, but, hey, mistakes happen.)

“Following in the footsteps of French ‘Chef of the Century’ and restaurateur Joel Rubichon (sic), who believed healthy food was the future of fine dining, one of the most celebrated chefs in the desert, Eric Wadlund, with his partners Bill Hay and Charissa Farley, are introducing the first restaurant in the valley committed to continuing this vision,” the announcement said. “Old World style fine dining upon which Robuchon built his legacy and trained the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Eric Ripert with caviar and truffle-studded cuisine is facing the difficult challenge of taste versus health: adapt or die.”

Wildest’s Facebook page includes photos of some downright-delicious-looking dishes, including turmeric-glazed roasted cauliflower, water melon “ahi” poke, and pan-roasted wild white bass.

“Wildest’s dynamic food originates in wild-caught fish, (and) local pasture-raised and grass-fed poultry and beef, as well as plant-based meals that promise to be flavorful options to those who choose to eat meat-free,” the website explains. “There are zero hormones and steroids in their proteins, as the restaurant strives to be cruelty-free and supports local organic, biodynamic and sustainable farms. Provisions not made in house will be sourced from the coolest epicureans.”

Given the restaurant’s pedigree, we’re looking forward to checking it out. We’re also happy to see the tribute to Denise DuBarry Hay in the name, as well as her husband’s involvement.

For more information, call 760-636-0441; head to WildestRestaurant.com; or visit www. facebook.com/wildestrestaurant.

COMING ON JAN. 18: THE PALM SPRINGS PINOT NOIR FESTIVAL It seems like every other month or so, there’s a new wine festival popping up in the Coachella Valley … and this is a very good thing.

The latest: The Palm Springs Pinot Noir Festival, which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Ritz-Carlton (which is in Rancho Mirage, not Palm Springs, but whatever). It’s a project of David Fraschetti, who for two years has put on the Rancho Mirage Wine and Food Festival (which will return for year No. 3 on Feb. 28 and 29—yep, it’s a leap year!), and for many years has produced the VinDiego Wine and Food Festival.

Of course, at this new fest, pinot noir is the star. On Friday, Jan. 17, the Ritz-Carlton will host two seminars—“Exploring the Neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley” and “Anderson Valley Pinot Noir: Under the Radar and a Cut Above.” Those cost $55 each, or $90 for both. As for the main event, the “A Passion 4 Pinot” festival: Doors open at 2:30 p.m. for general admission, and tickets are $95; if you want to get in at 1:30, you can pay $125. The festivities go until 5 p.m.

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, is located at 68900 Frank Sinatra Drive. For tickets and more information, visit palmspringspinotfest.com.

IN BRIEF Congrats to La Perlita Mexican Food, at 901 Crossley Road, in Palm Springs, on the restaurant’s expansion! The good folks there are expanding into the space next door; watch the restaurant’s Facebook page for updates. … New to La Quinta: RD RNNR Libations, Pints and Plates (you can pronounce that “roadrunner”), at 78075 Main St. What is RD RNNR? It’s “a craft American restaurant using local farm-to-table ingredients, (offering) refreshing craft cocktails and a wellbalanced selection of hops and rotating craft taps, all set in a casual and hip vibe right in the heart of Old Town La Quinta,” so says the website. As if that’s not cool enough, the restaurant also features the work of local artists! RD RNNR is open for lunch and dinner daily; visit roadrunnerlq. com for more info, including the menu and a look at those aforementioned artists. … New to Cathedral City: Barrel District Pizza, Bar and Kitchen, at 35939 Date Palm Drive, in Cathedral City. The menu includes tasty-sounding starters (like house-made hummus), salads, tacos, a handful of entrées and, of course, intriguing pizza choices. To check out the menu and learn more, visit barreldistrictpizza.com.

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Michael Murphy’s Bart Lounge approaches its fifth anniversary Ted Z and the Wranglers bring the feel-good vibes to Pappy’s Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers offer the power of the blues the lucky 13: Meet a bassist and an eccentric frontman

The Venue REPORT january 2020 By matt king

www.cvindependent.com/music

33 Derina Harvey Band

The Piano Guys bring viralvideo success to the McCallum Theatre

PREPARATION PRAYERS AND POPULARITY

January is bringing a brand-new festival to the land of festivals!

4xFAR, presented by Land Rover, is a brand-new music, food and adventure festival coming to Empire Grand Oasis in Thermal on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18 and 19. It will feature music with headliners Anderson .Paak and Mark Ronson, as well as a plethora of adventure activities, such as mountain biking, climbing, fly fishing and off-roading! General-admission tickets are $95 for one day, or $185 for both; head to www.4xfar.com to get ’em.

The illustrious McCallum Theatre is featuring wonderful events throughout January. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, doubletrouble actor and singer Jack Jones will grace the McCallum stage. He has more than 50 years of jazz and pop performances under his belt, so it’s no wonder The New York Times said that “he is arguably the most technically accomplished male pop singer.” Tickets are $40 to $90. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, put on your green duds, and head to the McCallum to enjoy the Derina Harvey Band.

This Celtic-rock group is described in press materials as being like “a rockier version of Canada’s Great Big Sea, if fronted by Adele.”

Whoa! Tickets are $25 to $55. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.

Fantasy Springs is hosting a plethora of big acts to start off the New Year. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, George Thorogood and the Destroyers will bring 45 years of hard rock to Indio. While the weather may be freezing you to the bone, come and get “Bad to the Bone” with bona fide rock legends.

Tickets are $39 to $59. If you’ve been missing the classic sounds of the Motown era, you’re in for a real treat on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m., as both The Temptations and The Four Tops are returning to town. Both groups’ hits have been tugging on your heart strings for more than five decades. Tickets continued on Page 36 CVIndependent.com

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MUSIC

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FOR THE COOL KIDS M

By andy lara

ichael Murphy could have perhaps been a comedian, if he’d wanted to be: He’s a great conversationalist who likes to make people laugh. In his words, he lives “to make you happy.”

This spirit extends to his approach to operating Bart Lounge, his Cathedral City bar and nightclub, which Independent readers have made a frequent finalist in the Best Nightclub and Best Bar Ambiance categories of the Best of Being limited by technology is not Coachella Valley readers’ poll. something to which Murphy, an Upland Before opening Bart with an assist from native, is accustomed. He majored in his father, Kelly, Murphy spent a couple of innovation at The Arts Institute, and he years working at clubs in Las Vegas, aspiring has the right kind of attitude to succeed in to “do his own thing.” He wanted to do the nightlife scene: Repeatedly during our something decidedly un-Las Vegas like, where conversation, he said things like, “Let’s go!” “the cover is $100, and a vodka-cran costs or “Just do it!” It is this attitude that allowed $20,” Murphy said. him to leave the Vegas clubs and move to the Instead, he took inspiration from clubs he desert to launch Bart. would go to in Riverside, Redlands and Los “It was kicking around in my brain for a Angeles. “My favorite spots were hip, chill couple of years to do my own thing,” he said. spots like Good Times at Davey Wayne’s, “Sometimes you’ve just got to put your money EightyTwo and Boardners. In California, bars where your mouth is. I was 27. I told myself, tend to be more elegant and subdued, and ‘You don’t have kids; you might as well just that’s what I wanted to go for. Before opening do it,’ instead of living with regret about it.

Bart, I asked myself, ‘What am I into? What I finally moved to the desert, and moved in do I like?’” with my mom like a loser, and focused all my Murphy aspired to create something attention on starting Bart.” for himself and for others like him, hip Murphy said getting the word out about 20-30-somethings. Murphy opened the bar in events is a challenge—a common complaint his late 20s—he’s 33 now—and intended to these days among event and party organizers create a place he would enjoy. in the desert. When Bart first opened, getting “I went to college to study art. I know the word out that the bar was open was also a about art, and I know about drinking, but challenge. Bart occupies a space that has seen I’m also a younger guy, so I know about video many bars come and go—it was previously games,” he said. “Everything that I enjoy, I Level 2, Elevation and Sidewinders—and brought out here. I intended for Bart to be it took effort to draw a crowd and create a a place where people like myself—cool, hip scene in the newly repurposed venue. One people—can go alone if they wanted to, and way in which Murphy built his brand is by not be bored. You could walk around and look connecting to local performers. at art or play video games.”

“I’ve heard of pay-to-play venues, and Additionally, the bar features pool tables, a we’re the opposite of that,” Murphy said. photo booth and outdoor patio.

“We’re really about creating an environment Over the years, the venue has exhibited for people to perform and showcase their art by locals including Sofia Enriquez and art among young, hip, cool people like Adam Enrique Rodriguez, in addition to themselves. And we’ll pay you to play.” larger names like Alex Pardee and Sweet Almost five years in, Murphy said that Toof. Murphy also displays some of his working at Bart is literally a dream come true. own art at Bart—he describes it as having “I meet cool, interesting people every day,” he a “Tim Burton/Nicktoons/Dr. Seuss kinda said. “It’s so awesome to be among creative, vibe”—and he’s also an avid art collector: Bart like-minded people every day. I’m living my features some of Murphy’s own Tim Burton dream. It’s pretty cool, right?” works, which Murphy has been collecting for As Bart approaches its fifth birthday—it years. Murphy considers art an integral part opened in May 2015—Murphy hopes to plan of Bart; after all, the name is a portmanteau something special for the anniversary. He said of bar and art. he hopes Bart is remembered as “one of the first “I originally wanted a neon sign to say hipper, younger bars to come to the desert.”

‘BART’ with the ‘B’ and ‘T’ alternating on and I asked him if he’s yet checked out The off, but I guess you can’t have that,” he said.

Alibi, another hip bar that recently opened, in

Michael Murphy’s Bart Lounge approaches its fifth anniversary of mixing art, performance and a young vibe

downtown Palm Springs. He said he hadn’t.

“I actually have severe anxiety, ha, and I don’t leave my apartment unless it’s to go to work. I like to sit at home and stare at the wall. Know what I mean?”

For Murphy, some of the more memorable events the venue has hosted include performances from the local cumbia band Ocho Ojos, the rapper Speak! (Mexico City), and the Emo Nite tour. Murphy said that every weekend, there is something interesting and new at Bart. As for regular programming, the bar hosts goth nights twice a month, in addition to Latin nights on Sundays, video-

game competitions on Thursdays, and 2-for-1 on Mondays. For New Year’s Eve, Murphy has a huge party planned, with three DJs and a cash balloon drop.

Looking ahead, Murphy said plans for expansion are always appealing. “I’ve always got my eyes open. But you know, the universe gives it to you whenever it’s ready. You just put the line out, and wait ’til it answers.”

Bart Lounge, at 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, No. F-124, in Cathedral City, is open daily from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, call 760799-8800, or visit www.bartlounge.com.

Michael Murphy poses for a pic inside Bart Lounge’s photo booth.

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PREPARATION, PRAYERS AND POPULARITY

I

By matt king

magine this: You’re at a concert. It’s finally time for the curtains to roll back, and you see … four middle-age dudes, with a piano and a cello?

Yep. Before you can turn away, you’re hit with the piano melody of one of your favorite songs. One man is playing the piano while the other guys are making drum beats on the sides, or even pulling the strings of the piano, to create all the parts of that song.

The Piano Guys are doing what they do accidents,” Schmidt said during a recent phone best—and you just can’t help but be amazed. interview. “God brought us together. I really See them for yourself on Friday and Saturday, don’t know how else to explain it. Paul was Jan. 17 and 18, when they perform three doing his piano store, and had an interest shows at the McCallum Theatre. in videography. I was doing a solo piano Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul act and had eight albums of my own piano Anderson and Al van der Beek are four Utah compositions, with a small following. Steve dads who—with a little charm, luck and what was doing music, and Al had his own recording they call blessings from God—have been studio that he was producing stuff in. winning the hearts of audiences as The Piano “Steve played a song with me at a gig one Guys since 2010. Their unique approach day, which turned into more songs, and to creating music—performing covers of collaborations in the studio. Then we gave modern hits in a classical style—as well as him a microphone—which was one of the their astonishing filming locations, including greatest decisions that I ever made: He’s the Great Wall of China and the Christ the got a world-class sense of humor, seriously Redeemer statue, have made them virala comic genius, and that added this sort of video sensations, resulting in more than 6.6 Smothers Brothers element to our show million YouTube subscribers and close to 2 that was really cool and unforeseen. I would billion views. act like a goofball at my shows before, but “It’s kind of serendipity, one of those happy when he joined, we were just put on a whole

The Piano Guys.

new level, and audiences love it. My favorite thing is when someone in the audience yells something random, and he’ll turn it into something so hilarious in a flash.”

Schmidt and I discussed the mysterious ways in which musical inspiration occurs.

“I think the music chooses us,” Schmidt said. “We’ve tried to work on stuff that makes (logical) sense, but you just don’t feel it. You know within an hour that something will never work. I’ve heard it compared to sculpting, where sculptors just have to look at the marble and can tell if it will be worth it to go in that direction or not. Concepts are rarely introduced; they just kind of hit you, and you know it’s worth it just by how it feels.”

The Piano Guys’ distinct creative process helps make them unique. You probably never knew you needed to hear “Let It Go” from Frozen in the style of classical music—yet you adore it once you hear it.

“When I was a teenager, I had a brother—12 years older than me—who was always trying to find music to show me,” said Schmidt. “It didn’t matter the genre— classical, Janis Joplin or choral music. But one day, he showed me this new album from

The Piano Guys bring viral-video success to the McCallum Theatre a group called Mannheim Steamroller. It wasn’t their Christmas covers; it was their early originals. They mixed classical and rock ’n’ roll, and that captivated me, because growing up, my German immigrant parents would always be playing classical music. I was immersed in classical music at home, and when I was with my friends, I’d listen to the radio—so this Mannheim Steamroller group brought both those worlds together in such a cool way. When I started writing my own original music, it was in that style. I tried to rock-ify and modernize my classical piano training. Steve, our cellist, had the same sensibility, so we sprinkle classical all over our originals and even our covers. … People are intrigued when you mash up two appealing elements into one work.”

If The Piano Guys’ music wasn’t intriguing enough, each of their videos also features a beautiful backdrop. The guys have gone everywhere from various wonders of the world to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

“Paul really has a great mind for this project,” Schmidt said. “… He has a piano store, friends with helicopters and a great can-do attitude. My favorite place to film was the Iguazu Falls in Brazil. … Pretty much everywhere you look, you’ll see waterfalls and green. It was such an amazing place to make music. Another great place was the Lincoln Memorial. It’s one of those moments when I’m glad my parents made me practice.”

The Piano Guys first found success on YouTube—but weren’t sure their songs would translate in a live, theater setting. But they’ve been taking chances their whole career, and going out on tour was just another leap of faith.

“The thing that blows me away is that booking managers will tell us that we’ve been the greatest show they’ve ever seen,” Schmidt said. “It always fills me with wonder. Steve and I will walk out onstage and think, ‘Do these people realize this is a piano and cello concert?’ I really don’t understand it; it’s not a likely scenario. We’re not shredders by any means, but we just pray that we can put on a show where people can feel the love of God— and somehow, it just works.”

The Piano Guys will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17; and 2 and 8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 18, at the McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, in Palm Desert. Tickets are $65 to $125. For tickets or more information, call 760340-2787 or visit www.mccallumtheatre.com.

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THE JOY OF COUNTRY ROCK C

By matt king

ountry rock has an undeniable feel-good vibe. When you encounter it in the right situation—driving home from a long trip as the sun is setting, or simply sitting on your porch and watching life go by—it can help one appreciate the little things in life.

This brings us to Ted Z and the Wranglers. I’ve been stomping along to their brand of “outlaw country-charged rock”—and the Americana lyrics, backed by acoustic rhythms and the occasional minimalistic-yet-oh-so-great and the history of the Wranglers. guitar solos, have made me an instant fan.

“When I was a kid, my mom and dad used Check out their Jam in the Van performance to spin a lot of cool stuff at the house,” Zakka of “Rambler” to see exactly what I mean—or said. “I grew up listening to Elvis and The see the group in person on Friday, Jan. 24, at Beatles. It just all started as a child, listening Pappy and Harriet’s. to these iconic musicians that I still really love The Wranglers are Collin Mclean on bass; today.”

Jackson Leverone playing lead/slide guitar It’s easy to hear some of these influences and providing background vocals; and Jordan in his songs. Take “Ball and Chain” for Lipp on drums, with Ted Z being the leader, example, as Zakka’s screaming and stuttering on acoustic guitar and vocals. I got to talk to vocal lines rival Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel” Ted Z, aka Ted Zakka, about his upbringing phrasing, while the instruments provide a

Ted Z and the Wranglers.

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Ted Z and the Wranglers bring the feel-good vibes to Pappy and Harriet’s

dance-y sound in a style that reminds of early Beatles tracks like “I Saw Her Standing There.”

Zakka talked about how his love for music turned into a love for playing music.

“I picked up a guitar at 16, and started playing in bands,” Zakka said. “When I first started, I was figuring out a lot of punk-rock stuff, just things that were easy to play. I actually started off playing bass for those first few bands. Then I transferred over to the acoustic guitar, and started writing songs about 12 years ago.”

Another distinguishing thing about the group is just how gosh-darn cool the name is.

“The Wranglers have come and gone since the group was started,” Zakka said. “Jackson is the one who’s been around the longest, but none of the guys in the band now were in the

original lineup. The name kind of started as a joke. I wasn’t sure what to call anything, and I thought that ‘Ted Z and the Wranglers’ was kind of funny, and kind of cool. And it stuck!”

The Wranglers have been releasing music now for nearly seven years.

“The first thing we ever put out was called My Blood’s Still Red, in 2013,” he said. “After that, we did an EP called Afraid of Dying, then we did Ghost Train in 2015, but that’s the first thing we have on Spotify. We have the older two on sites like ReverbNation and BandCamp.”

Listening to Ted Z and the Wranglers improve with each album—becoming more confident and popular—is a wonderful experience. The most recent album is Southland, released last October.

“The new one is awesome,” Zakka said about Southland. “It turned out spectacular, and sounds really clean and big. We recorded this one in our home studio in Costa Mesa, rather than going back to Texas where we recorded Ghost Train. It came out the way we wanted it to; we self-produced it and made our own decisions on the sound. We had a lot more fun on this record.”

Some of the Wranglers’ best online videos were recorded during Jam in the Van performances. Jam in the Van is pretty selfexplanatory: It’s an entity that invites bands to come and, well, jam in a van. Jam in the Van records high-quality video and audio, and releases it on YouTube to more than 312,000 subscribers.

“That was really fun. It was so cool to play live and have it be recorded so well,” Zakka said. “They do a pretty good job of capturing the realness of the songs. I had been wanting to do that for so long, and it was cool to finally make it happen.”

Ted Z and the Wranglers’ venture into Pioneertown is one of only a handful of shows the band currently has scheduled—but that shall soon change.

“We’re doing some work as a unit, and trying to tighten up and get three hours of original stuff to go out and tour,” he said. “…

And then I’m gonna start booking us more and more!”

Ted Z and the Wranglers will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24, at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Admission is free. For more information, call 760-365-5956, or visit pappyandharriets.com.

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ROCKABILLY BLISS I

By matt king

s there anything as cool as that good ol’ rockabilly sound? The old greats really knew what they were doing … but we haven’t heard much of that classic sound recently.

Then again, maybe we just haven’t been looking in the right places: If you’ve got the no-blues blues, check out Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers. Debut record Stuck in a Daydream covers all the bases of blues essentials. “Take a Walk with Me” kicks off the record with a rockabilly jam that wouldn’t sound out of attention. When I turned 13, though, I got my place on a Johnny Cash record, while the title first electric guitar, and things took off from track is a soft, somber, slow-burning blues there.” song that’ll rip your heart out with a tale about Another of Hanmer’s inspirations is Bob a lack of confidence. Hanmer’s voice is perfect Dylan. You can hear this love for him on her for these different scenarios; it sounds so “Mama’s in the Spirit World Now.” meaningful on the slower tracks—and playful, “I wrote my first song when I was 17. It’s yet sinister, on the faster ones. called ‘Song to Bob,’ and it was a play off of The group will perform at Pappy and Bob Dylan’s song to Woody Guthrie,” Hanmer Harriet’s on Thursday, Jan. 23. said. “After that, I didn’t write songs for a “My love for music started when I was couple of years; I just didn’t have the selfa kid,” Hanmer said during a recent phone confidence to do it. I met my friend Claudia interview. “My mom and dad were always Miles, who is my manager now, and she got playing music around the house. My dad me back into writing, and helped me figure listened to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and out how to approach it—to just sit down and the Grateful Dead; my mom was more into write whatever comes out. Once I tried that, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.”

I wrote a song called ‘Little Song,’ which is on I could hear bits of these inspirations my first EP.” sprinkled throughout the album, with a Hanmer went on to play and write more, little Etta on “Outlaw Blues,” and a little steadily increasing her musicianship skills Paul McCartney on “Dead Happy.” Hanmer and confidence, before the inception of her explained how she started to be more of a current band. music-maker, and not just a listener.

“In high school, I didn’t really want to sing,” “My dad always had this guitar lying Hanmer said. “I mostly considered myself around the house,” said Hanmer, “a Lyle a guitar player. But then I realized: I really Dove, which was a copy of a Gibson Dove. He didn’t have anyone who could sing, so I had would play around just for fun on it, and I to start doing it myself. For a few years, I started to get interested in it. He showed me was just playing at home, but after I turned some basic chords—C, F, G. Then he got me 21, I started going to open mics around San lessons, but I was only 9 years old at the time, Francisco, where I lived at the time. I played so I ended up not being able to hold enough mostly covers and a few originals, until I

Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers offer the power of the blues to Pioneertown

moved to L.A. and met my band.”

The move to Los Angeles shifted Hanmer’s dream into high gear.

“I was a little wary about moving to L.A., because everyone in Northern California has this negative stigma about Los Angeles; I think they’re just jealous of the sun,” Hanmer said. “My manager convinced me to move to L.A., so I did, and met John Bird, my keyboard player, and Keith Palmer, my drummer, through a friend of my dad. I met our bass player, Alex U’Ren, at a bar three years ago, and he’s been playing with us for a year. I was kind of nervous to ask them to play with me at first, because they’re older and more experienced, but they were more than happy to play with me.”

As for the name, Hanmer explained that an unintentional bit of plagiarizing proved fateful.

“When I first moved here, I was trying to figure out what a cool band name would be,” Hanmer said. “After brainstorming a few

names, I came up with the Midnight Tokers.

I thought it was a great name and that I was so clever, but when I presented it to the guys, they said, ‘Like the Steve Miller Band?’ and I realized I subconsciously stole that. But it really fits the vibe of the band, so we’ve stuck with it.”

Blues music has always been popular in some circles, because everyone has experienced pain—and sometimes, it helps to just sing about it.

“The blues is a very authentic and genuine genre,” Hanmer said. “You’re just laying out life and the struggles that everyone goes through, and putting it to beautiful music.

That’s really what I love about it.”

Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers will perform at 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan 23, at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Admission is free. For more information, call 760-365-5956, or visit pappyandharriets.com.

Molly Hanmer and the Midnight Tokers.

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The Venue REPORT continued from page 29 are $39 to $69. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24, the legendary Tony Bennett will bring his “I Left My Heart” Tour to the Fantasy Springs stage.

He’s been performing for nearly 70 years, with more than 50 million records sold; come witness one of music’s living icons while you still can. Tickets are $49 to $109. If you don’t want to bother paying for heat in your own home, come out at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, when 98° promises to set the stage on fire. If the ’90s is what you’re longing for, both music-wise and temperature-wise, this show is for you. Tickets are $39 to $69.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www. fantasyspringsresort.com.

Spotlight 29 is showcasing a few festive events in January. At 8 p.m., Saturday,

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Jan. 11, Mexican singer-songwriter Pancho Barraza will return to Coachella. Do you really need more of an excuse to go dance?

Tickets are $65 to $85. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, Spotlight 29 is featuring a very unique event titled ¿Y Si Me Caso? This “musical wedding” promises to be as musical as it is dramatic, as one man decides which woman he should marry. Tickets are $25 to $65. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www. spotlight29.com.

Agua Caliente intends to turn the heat up on those cold winter nights. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, the one-and-only D-Odouble G is coming to town. That’s right, Snoop Dogg, with openers O.T. Genasis and Warren G, is bringing that West Coast gangsta

joshua black wilkins

Justin Townes Earle

rap to Rancho Mirage, and you’d be a fool to miss out. Tickets are $85 to $115. If R&B is more your speed, then on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m., make sure you catch Boyz II Men. Since the ’90s, the boyz have been putting audiences in their feelings with emotional ballads and sweet harmonies, so be there!

Tickets are $65 to $85. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, the Long Island Medium herself, Theresa Caputo, will return to The Show.

This night will include Caputo’s stories about her experiences as a medium, and will feature interactions with some of the audience members. Tickets are $75 to $120. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.

At Morongo, you can catch a few fun performances this month. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, enjoy Baby Bash performing for Jimmy Reyes’ Birthday Bash. Come get your 2000s rap fix and celebrate a birthday at the same time! Tickets are $10. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24, Hollywood Medium Tyler Henry brings “An Evening of Hope, Healing and Closure” to Cabazon. This is a brandnew live show, that, of course, includes an audience Q&A and readings. Tickets are $69. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www. morongocasinoresort.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s is the home of more than a few rockin’ shows this month. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, Pappy’s will host the Americana-folk of Justin Townes Earle.

The son of Steve Earle, who was named after the legendary Townes Van Zandt, has more than lived up to his impressive musical pedigree. Jonny Two Bags opens, and tickets are $25. At 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, indie surf-rock group Surf Curse will jam the night away. This is one of my favorite bands right now, offering an extremely dance-y and catchy vibe across songs that are sure to make any one with ears wanna jump around. Tickets are $16 to $18. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-

5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

Toucan’s has some appealing LGBT-slanted events on the January docket. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, country-music man Ty Herndon returns to Palm Springs for a night of country hits from his late ’90s heyday, with newer songs as well. Tickets are $30 to $40. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, Jai Rodriguez kicks off his 2020 cabaret tour with “Tales of an Aging Twink.” He’s appeared on Broadway in Rent, and was part of the original Queer Eye cast, so it’s safe to say this night will be one to remember.

Tickets are $25. And on Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m., drag queens Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine will bring their comedy show “Best Frenemies” to Toucan’s. Tickets are $25. Toucans Tiki Lounge and Cabaret, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-4167584; www.reactionshows.com.

The Purple Room promises to entertain with a packed January schedule. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, catch two-time 2018 Grammy nominee Clint Holmes sing both hits and originals with his jazz vocal stylings.

Tickets are $60 to $65. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, Amanda McBroom will return to the Purple Room—this time performing songs from noir films! Tickets are $35 to $40. And on Friday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m., witness the Black Market Trust combine jazzy hits with Django Reinhardt-style guitar-playing into one magnificent show. Tickets are $35 to $40.

Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.

If you’ve been itching to support local talent, get thee to The Date Shed at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, to catch local rappers Provoked Poetry, Willdabeast, Thoughts Contained and DJ ODC for Provoked Poetry’s album release. Tickets are $10. And on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m., you can see three of the valley’s best young rock groups: Pescaterritory, Israel’s Arcade and Instigator, at Pescafest. Tickets are $10. The Date Shed, 50725 Monroe St., Indio; 760-7756699; www.facebook.com/dateshed.

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the

LUCKY 13

Meet a bassist who is never bored while performing, and the eccentric frontman of a newish band By matt king What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

I get it all. Just because I don’t like it, that doesn’t mean I don’t get it. If it makes you feel something, then that’s all that matters. I listen to plenty that others don’t like. That doesn’t make what I’m into good or bad. It just makes it my thing. Same for anyone else’s interests.

So what’s not to get?

orlando welsh

NAME Dan Dillinger GROUPS The Sweat Act, Black Water Gospel MORE INFO There’s a reason you don’t often see the “bored-bassist” look on the faces of our valley’s musicians—and that reason is the leadership of Dan Dillinger, who has been moving, jumping and kicking all over Coachella Valley stages and beyond for more than a decade now. He performs with punk-rockers The Sweat Act (facebook.com/TheSweatAct) and the more-alternative collective Black Water Gospel (facebook.com/BlackWaterGospel).

What was the first concert you attended?

I went to the Orange Show in San Bernardino to see Good Riddance, Dead Kennedys and Strung Out. I’ve still got the stub. I’ll never forget the bruises. So much fun.

What was the first album you owned?

When I was 4 years old, my baby sitter gave me a Young MC tape and a Kris Kross tape. I loved those tapes, ha ha. But the first albums I bought (together) with my own money were Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Green Day’s Dookie when I was in the fifth-grade.

What bands are you listening to right now?

In the car, I’ve had Bracket’s Requiem on repeat for about three weeks, but my go-to just about any other time has been both the “Angsty Pants” playlist I put together compiling all the skate-punk bands I’ve been into for the past 20-ish years; and the “Behind BARS” playlist, compiling a handful of hip-hop tracks I can’t get enough of. There’s too much radness to choose just one thing at a time.

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

I’d take a kick to the junk to see The Dillinger Escape Plan just one more time. That’s probably one of the most satisfying bands I’ve ever seen.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

No music is a guilty pleasure.

What’s your favorite music venue?

Hard choice. The El Rey and The Wiltern have been a couple of my tops, but … I’m less concerned with the venue and more interested in who I’m going to see.

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

“Sometimes a knife right through your heart is exactly what you need. Sometimes the things that you’re ashamed of make you who you’re supposed to be,” “Tapestry,” Protest the Hero.

What band or artist changed your life?

Everything I love has molded my life. I am the music I love.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

Whatever song makes you feel the best you can, right now. Listen to it loud and proud.

Scream it. Get on that vibe.

NAME Austin Lawrence GROUP Saints and Rebels MORE INFO The band Saints and Rebels has gone from occasional cover-song performances at The Hood Bar and Pizza’s open-mic night to frequent gigs around the valley—all within a matter of months. At the helm of the group is Austin Lawrence, an eccentric frontman and bass-player who knows how to give a great performance. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/saintsandrebelsofficial.

What was the first concert you attended?

Lynyrd Skynyrd, when I was 7. I hated it.

What was the first album you owned?

A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco; and Move Along by The All American Rejects.

What bands are you listening to right now?

Mom Jeans, Remo Drive, McCafferty, I Hate Sex, and Joyce Manor.

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

Anything on the radio.

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

Grant McDonald.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I don’t have guilty pleasures, because I love what I love … but I guess “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.

What band or artist changed your life?

Streetlight Manifesto, because they told me that they “guarantee I’ll wake in a better place in a better time.”

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

To every ska band: Can I play trombone for you?

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“All Star” by Smash Mouth.

What’s your favorite music venue?

The House of Blues in Anaheim.

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

Talon of the Hawk by The Front Bottoms.

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

“Trash hangs with trash, and I’m the worst of the worst,” from “Trailer Trash,” McCafferty.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Ram Ranch” by Grant McDonald. Do it. You won’t. (Warning: explicit lyrics.)

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

Gene Simmons: “What’s it like knowing you’ve had sex with pretty much everyone’s moms?”

Ha ha ha. No, seriously, I have no idea.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Dynamite Hack, “Laughter.” Because, damn, I had fun. Smile for me.

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

A Wilhelm Scream, Ruiner.

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OPINION SAVAGE LOVE

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CHEATER! CHEATER!

BY DAN SAVAGE

I

’m a mid-20s cis straight man. After my girlfriend and I finished college, she moved overseas to start her job. We’ve broken up twice and gotten back together twice.

We are interested in opening up our relationship, but I have reservations. She wants the freedom to throw herself into her new world without the constraint of having to shut down non-platonic sparks. Also: My girlfriend has brought up marriage several times. While she admits she doesn’t have a good track record with monogamy, she insists marriage will change that.

Another concern: The last time she was in an open relationship, she cheated on her then-boyfriend with me. “No exes” was one of their rules, and I was her ex at the time. (I didn’t know she was with someone else.)

Another wrinkle: When I confided in her recently that I had developed romantic feelings for another person, she asked me to choose between her and them, so I aborted this burgeoning connection. That felt unfair, seeing as she wants her freedom. She is also bisexual and wants to have experiences with women. I would be fine with her hooking up with women, but it makes me sick to my stomach to think about her with other men. She would be willing to put her desire for experiences with other women to the side in order to be with me, she says, once we are married.

I would love to hear your thoughts on these things: (1) Whether we should open our relationship.

(2) My male/female hookup distinction. (3) How to move forward if your partner is unsure whether they are built for monogamy, but nonetheless wants to settle down in a married, monogamous relationship.

Onto Processing Entirely New Situation

1. Don’t open it. End it. It’s time to put this dumb, messy, past-its-expiration-date shitshow of a relationship behind you. Would knowing your girlfriend is already fucking other people help you do that? Because your girlfriend is almost certainly fucking other people. Already.

Because when someone with a shitty track record where monogamy and nonmonogamy are concerned asks their partner for an open relationship while at the same time demanding their partner “abort” any potential “nonplatonic” friendships they might have … yeah, that motherfucker is already fucking other people. They just don’t want to give their partner the same freedom.

2. It seems like a silly distinction to me, OPENS—one that comes from a place of insecurity. (And a “no other dick” rule would make most gay open relationships impossible.)

But sometimes, working with your partner’s

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My girlfriend wants an open relationship—with lots of rules—before a monogamous marriage

insecurities—accepting them, not fighting them—is the key to a successful open relationship. And since many bisexuals in monogamous opposite-sex relationships often ask to open the relationship, because they want to act on their same-sex attractions (or, indeed, have their first same-sex encounter), keeping outside sex same-sex—at least at first—isn’t an entirely unreasonable request. But this is irrelevant in your case, since your girlfriend is already fucking anyone she wants.

3. Your soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend is hilarious.

People who are bad at monogamy don’t get better at it once they’re married. If anything, people who were good at monogamy tend to get worse at it the longer they’re married. If your soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend isn’t bullshitting, if she isn’t bringing up marriage and monogamy to complicate and extend your conversations about opening up this doomed relationship, then she’s deluded. And if your girlfriend cheats because she gets off on risk, danger or deception, getting married—which would obviously make cheating riskier and more dangerous—could make cheating more appealing to her, not less.

I’m a bisexual man married to the most beautiful trans woman. I can’t keep my hands off her. But why can’t I fuck her anally like we both want? I can’t seem to push past the gates, which sends a signal to my brain that I’m doing something wrong, which makes me Mr. Softee. Every other thing we do in bed is smooth as silk. Help!

Limp Isn’t My Preference I’d have to see video to guess at what might be wrong—not an ask, LIMP; don’t send video— but it never hurts to use more lube, engage in more anal foreplay, and sometimes do butt stuff without even attempting anal intercourse. And when you do go for it, maybe instead of you trying to fuck her/push past the gates, LIMP, you could lie still and let her take charge. In other words: Don’t fuck her with your dick; let her fuck herself with your dick.

I’m a 20-something bi man in a loving relationship of three years with a straight woman. Last year, we opened up our relationship. At the beginning, we set some ground rules. One of her rules was that I could get together only with women, no men. It bothered me at the time, but it was the only way she would be OK opening up, so I didn’t press her on it.

Fast-forward to a couple days ago, when I brought it up again. She eventually admitted she’s afraid I will leave her for a man, and that’s why the idea of me being with other men makes her uncomfortable.

She knows these are stereotypes, but she says she can’t get over it.

I ended that night angry and hurt. Now I don’t know what to do. To be honest, if we weren’t in an open relationship, I wouldn’t be bothered by the fact that I can’t be sexual with men. But now that I know she is not OK with me doing so because of these bi stereotypes, it drives me nuts. How can I get her to understand my bisexuality is not a threat?

Bye-Bye Bisexuality?

“BBB obviously isn’t going to leave his girlfriend for the first man he sleeps with,” said Zachary Zane, a “bisexual influencer” and a sex writer for Men’s Health. “All bisexual men are not secretly gay. But this is a lie—a vicious stereotype—that BBB’s girlfriend has heard countless times.

So even though she knows this logically, she still can’t shake that concern. Fear often isn’t rational, and it can override logic. She’s simply insecure.”

And while accommodating a partner’s irrational insecurity is sometimes the price we have to pay to make an open relationship work, accommodating your partner’s insecurity—one so clearly rooted in biphobia—isn’t going to be sustainable over time. You’re already angry and hurt, BBB, and you’re going to get more upset with every dick you have to pass up.

“The key to helping BBB’s girlfriend understand that his bisexuality isn’t a threat is for him to reassure her often that he’s not going to leave her for a man,” said Zane, “and to tell her and show her how much he loves her. He might also ask if there’s a way she’d feel more comfortable allowing him to be sexual with a man. Maybe they have a threesome. Maybe she prefers that it be someone she knows, or someone she doesn’t know. There’s a lot to discuss.”

But eventually, for your own sanity, you’re going to need to insist that your girlfriend get over her biphobia. She can’t just throw up her hands and say, “I can’t help it!”

“Perhaps I’m giving BBB’s girlfriend too much credit, but it sounds to me like she’ll come around in time,” said Zane. “And while BBB is angry—and validly so—the anger shouldn’t be placed on his girlfriend. It should be placed on a society that has ingrained in her the belief that bisexuality isn’t valid, and that bi men will always leave their wives/girlfriends for another man if given the opportunity.”

Read Savage Love every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com; mail@savagelove.net; @ fakedansavage on Twitter; humpfilmfest.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 39

JANUARY 2020

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Alphabet Run”—the quick part of the song.

By Matt Jones

off?”

36 Phrase you won’t hear from me or other solvers?

Across 39 Winding 1 Tres ___ cake 41 Den-izens?

7 Dangerous reptiles 42 Planned Airbnb 11 Indicted Giuliani event in 2020 associate Parnas 43 Throw in 14 Breathe out 46 A Dream Within a 15 Monument Valley Dream writer state 47 Charlie’s Angels 16 Windows file director, 2000 extension 50 “That ___ funny” 17 100% correct 52 Island with Pearl 18 It may be an Harbor acquired taste 54 Country singer 20 Comment about a McCann loud blockbuster 55 Like the most lenient after thinking it was a newspaper ever?

Chaplin movie?

59 Word before band or 22 “___ Tu” (1974 hit papers song) 60 2001 A.L. MVP Suzuki 23 Shoe bottom 61 Pint at a pub 24 Nailed It! host Nicole 62 Service rank 26 Mountain suffix 63 Home-___ (local 27 Permit athlete) 29 “Beefy” Trogdor 64 “That’s it” feature 65 Steering wheel 31 Academic URL ender adjunct 32 Fake device 66 Finely decorated 34 “Where did ___ leave

Down 1 Apartment renter 2 Become invalid 3 Irascibility 4 Has no love for 5 Tesla CEO Musk 6 Airmailed 7 Pub quiz round format, maybe 8 A Streetcar Named Desire shout 9 Four-time Masters champion 10 It’s between the knee and the ankle 11 2020, for one 12 Goes beyond 13 “Oy ___!”

19 Summer cookout leftover 21 Aperture setting on a camera 25 9-to-5 grind 27 Threepenny Opera star Lotte 28 Baudolino author Umberto 30 Creator of Piglet and Pooh 32 Driver’s license agcy.

33 The King and I star Brynner

35 ___ Miserables 36 Hematite and pyrite 37 Close, as a jacket 38 Exhibit site 39 10% of MXX 40 High-end 44 Two-ended tile 45 De Niro’s wife in Meet the Parents 47 Smallest possible quantities 48 Bordeaux red wine 49 Aplenty 51 American Chopper network 53 Hulkamania figure 54 Mean Girls actress Lindsay 56 “Trouble’s in store” 57 “Mambo King” Puente 58 “Happy Birthday” writer 59 Indy 500 month © 2019 Matt Jones Find the answers in the “About” section of CVIndependent.com!

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40 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 2020

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