Coachella Valley Independent November 2021

2 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

NOVEMBER 2021

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 Dennis Wodzisz Contributors Charles Drabkin, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Clay Jones, Matt Jones, Jocelyn Kane, Kay Kudukis, Matt King, Keith Knight, Cat Makino, Brett Newton, Greg Niemann, Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Theresa Sama, Andrew Smith, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month.

All content is ©2021 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher.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, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, CalMatters, the Desert AIDS Project, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed.

At some point in 2014, the Independent’s second full year of publication, I doubted that we’d make it into year three.

I remember driving to get the mail, hoping we would receive enough checks to keep going. We’d fallen behind in paying our printer, and we had to pre-pay for our next print run—but there wasn’t enough money in the checking account. I’d used up all of my personal savings and tapped out my 401(k), and was on the verge of filing for personal bankruptcy.

Thankfully, we received a couple of checks—just enough to pay the printer.

A business line of credit helped us get into year three, although we burned through all of that money rather quickly. In year four, the bank all of a sudden called that money due—and I began to wonder if the Independent would survive into year five.

But slowly, surely, things started to improve. More advertising came in. We became better at business, tightening our belts without sacrificing quality. The red lines on the bottom of the monthly profit-and-loss statements started, sometimes, turning black.

Our readership grew, and the journalism awards began coming in. We grew—slower than I would have liked, but it was growth nonetheless—and we kept going. As we entered year eight, 2020, we had a strong financial plan.

Of course, we all know what happened next. In March 2020, the Independent suddenly lost 80 percent of its advertising revenue.

While we temporarily cut our circulation back—it’s hard for people to pick up newspapers when everything’s closed and everyone’s more or less staying home, after all—we never skipped an issue or cut staff.

We asked our readers for help, and you stepped up, with hundreds of you becoming Supporters of the Independent. When that reader support was combined with help from Google and Facebook’s journalism funds, and various other grants, we made it into year nine. (However, we still need reader support; go to CVIndependent.com, and click the red “Support Us!” button for details. Thanks for the consideration!)

Meanwhile, we upgraded our website into one of the best news sites in the state, and the quality of our journalism continues to be recognized. In fact, the California News Publishers Association earlier this year named our arts and entertainment coverage as the best among all non-daily newspapers in the state during the annual California Journalism Awards.

I am not sure how we made it, to be honest, but you’re now holding in your hands our 100th print edition. It’s also our ninth annual Pride Issue.

Thanks to all of you, our readers. Whether you’ve been with us since we brought our website out of beta on Jan. 1, 2013, or you just discovered the Independent, I am elated that you’re with us.

Welcome to the November 2021 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent— and happy Pride!

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com

CVIndependent.com

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

NOVEMBER 2021

Eisenhower IS HERE

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NOVEMBER 2021

OPINION OPINION

THE XX FACTOR T

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

Meet Kellee McQuinn, a hip-hophooping writer, director, producer and DJ

BY KAY KUDUKIS

here is a giant computer monitor behind Kellee McQuinn’s head. Project files are lined up on her desk; her DJ equipment—speakers, a mixer and lights—are off to the side. The walls are filled with KidTribe show posters and some of her favorite photos. Also in the room: puppets, hula hoops and boxes full of future plans.

The room is alive with creativity—just like McQuinn.

Her mom was a dancer; her Dad was a cerebral type with a perfect nose. Her mom wanted that nose for her children, and that’s how Kellee McQuinn came into being.

Mom taught dance in their home studio in New Jersey. When she wasn’t teaching, Mom directed community-theater musicals. “I can only tell you how old I was by what show my mom York is a little too close to Jersey. McQuinn was doing,” McQuinn says. She had no idea worked as a nanny, and once as a booker for a there was any other kind of music beyond psychic, while going out on auditions. show tunes until the fifth-grade.

“I got some commercials. But for about 10 Apart from the nose, Dad didn’t have much years, I was the runner-up for everything. It of a presence in her story, with the exception was between me and Jessica Alba for the role of his high school graduation present: a twothat broke her, and Jennifer Garner for the week whitewater-rafting adventure on Utah’s role that broke her. It got to the point where Green and Yampa rivers. Our Jersey girl had never before been that far away from the stage, everything … was a fight between me and the girl who got it.” the mall or her Aqua Net. McQuinn was deeply unhappy. “I asked “I awakened,” she says. “It was the first time myself: What’s something that I have that I felt like a soul with eyes. Nature is very, autonomy over? How can I use all of my gifts very important to me—that’s my spirituality. and talents? Who needs my help, and what It’s how I rejuvenate.” makes me happy? And then I had this lightbulb That trip is also where she met a young man named Ben. They hit it off and spent those two moment: Dancing. Children.”

Finally, everything made sense. “I had this weeks together—and then it was over. Some feeling of extreme relief. I had no plan. I had 10 years later, she saw Good Will Hunting and no qualifications,” she says. realized Ben Affleck was the boy on her raft.

A friend called. “I told her, ‘I am not going Higher education started at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) before to go to the Lexus callback. I’m going to quit acting. I think I want to do something with she moved to Colorado State University. But …

“The acting bug was so deeply in me that I just dance and kids.’”

Her friend replied: “Well, this is crazy. I just felt like college was a waste of time,” she says. talked to a friend who has dance classes for She auditioned for the Burt Reynolds parks and rec all over Los Angeles. She just lost Institute for Film and Theatre in Florida, and her main teacher.” got accepted into the intense program. “We The next week, McQuinn was teaching 15 started with 20, graduated with 16,” she says. classes, and within the year, KidTribe was born.

While there, she earned her Equity card.

“It started as dance parties—these little Then it was off to Hollywood, because New

CVIndependent.com

Kellee McQuinn with some of her biggest KidTribe fans.

Saturday-night dance parties, where parents would drop their kids off, and kids would just dance,” McQuinn says. “It was really about, ‘You’re invited to the party.’”

That was important to McQuinn. As a kid, she couldn’t help but turn subjects like history and math into songs, skits and even little movies. But being different often meant being bullied. Some of McQuinn’s classmates were future Real Housewives of New Jersey. You do the math.

At KidTribe, she added what she calls “hiphop hooping” into the mix, and expanded the program into an international obesityprevention movement. In 2009, she was invited to the White House Easter Egg Roll. She received the same invite for eight consecutive years.

“I’ve hula hooped with 5 million children,” McQuinn tells me.

She’s developed, produced and implemented programs with NASA, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the Red Cross. She executiveproduced a PBS animated show, Mack and Moxy.

Palm Springs has been part of McQuinn’s life since the 1980s, when her grandfather purchased Tommy Dorsey’s old home. Her mother followed some years later, and in 2016, Mom survived a heart attack. McQuinn began splitting her time between Palm Springs and

Los Angeles, and noticed on her drive back to L.A. that her heart began to feel heavy right around Riverside.

“I moved to Palm Springs on a whim. I thought I would be writing my memoir, wearing a muumuu, and hanging out with my mother,” McQuinn says with a laugh. “I have not written a word of my memoir; I learned that muumuus are called kaftans; and my mom has to schedule with me weeks in advance.”

McQuinn still writes, directs and produces.

When well-known Palm Springs DJ Barry Martin, aka DJ Baz, decided to move to Spain, McQuinn took over for him as DJ modgirl.

That’s how I met her. At the time, I knew nothing else about her. I didn’t know that one of the awards on her desk is the Community Leadership Award from President Barack Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, nor did I know that the other is a Broken Glass Ceiling Award from the Palm Springs Women in Film.

I am so very humbled and grateful that this hip-hop-hooping, highly honored badass was the DJ at my birthday party—and McQuinn slayed it. I’m not surprised; that’s what badasses do.

For more information on Kellee McQuinn, visit djmodgirl.com, kidtribe.org or kelleemcquinn.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

NOVEMBER 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021

OPINION OPINION

HIKING WITH T I

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

The canyons around Desert Hot Springs offer amazing adventures

BY THERESA SAMA

f you’re reading this column, you probably love hiking the desert trails. But have you explored the desert canyons? If not, now is the perfect time.

The Coachella Valley and surrounding areas are filled with deep, beautiful canyons that offer endless adventures. For instance, I (with a hiking buddy, of course) can start hiking in the canyons near my house in Desert Hot Springs and explore all the way to Yucca Valley (about 13 miles) and on into Joshua Tree National Park. Or I can keep it shorter for a jaunt into the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, at about 5.5 miles one-way. The canyons have so much to offer; it’s much cooler in the canyons than in other areas, as you are surrounded by lots of shade. I always find it interesting to view the wildflowers and cacti growing from within the rocks; because There are several offshoots from the main the rocks hold moisture, there’s almost trail, including one that goes east and passes always some form of plant growth. Also, it by a giant rock horse. “Or is it a dragon?” is not uncommon to stumble upon old (and Detlefsen said. “So many discoveries to make, sometimes not-so-old) abandoned cars—finds and unending invitations to the imagination.” that can make your mind spin.

I asked Detlefsen to write, in her own words, One person who particularly enjoys hiking why she loves these canyons. the canyons of Desert Hot Springs is Susan “I suppose part of my fascination for these Detlefsen. She has been doing so for about trails is linked somewhat to an uncertainty, five years now, since her move to the desert perhaps even a sense of possible danger, as the from the Portland, Ore., area. We sometimes trails are less traveled, and far from residential hike together, and I asked Susan if she would areas,” she said. “One might see a coyote on the share some of her canyon adventures and trail, or a rattlesnake, or even a mountain lion. fascinations.

Luckily, I have seen only coyotes twice so far, “Hiking the canyon trails around Desert and no rattlers or mountain lions.

Hot Springs is my favorite activity,” she said.

“One of my most poignant hiking memories “There’s a ruggedness to the trails here that is from a hike with T on Easter of 2020, during is different from the manicured trails of Palm the pandemic. T had been telling me about Springs and other Coachella Valley locations.”

Detlefsen often hikes what is locally known a kind of slot canyon up in the hills behind her place. I think we ended up at a different as the Desert Hot Springs Loop Trail, off canyon from the one we were looking for that Yucca Drive, east of Verbena Drive. The trail day. It was a narrow slot canyon, with dugouts goes up to a wooden cross and a landing about shoulder high along one side of the that offers fabulous views of the San Jacinto canyon. They reminded me of troglodyte caves Mountains and surrounding areas. This trail that were dug into hills by hermits during also splits off into other trails. One, leading prehistoric times.” into Blind Canyon, is about a 4-mile loop She also paid me a compliment: “T is really to the north. Another, to the east, leads fun to hike with. And it always feels safe, into Swiss Canyon, locally known as Brice’s as she is very conscientious about the most Canyon—leaving many options to explore minute details regarding hikers’ safety: Be the foothills of the Little San Bernardino sure to stay on the trails; don’t disturb any Mountains. brush—a rattler could be hiding there; don’t sit At the start of the latter trail, there’s a small on a rock if it’s got hiding places for a rattler, wooden sign that says “Brice’s Canyon.” etc. She always asks if others have enough “It’s said that one man, Brice, singlewater to last the duration of the hike.” handedly built the series of trails,” Detlefsen The Desert Hot Springs canyon adventures said.

Continuing east on this trail will lead you on of Susan Detlefsen are only just beginning.

Perhaps I might be able to convince her to join a nice, cool canyon hike that’s about 2.5 miles me in checking out one of the newest Coachella out and back. If you’re adventurous enough, Valley trails—the Long Canyon Trail, starting you can scale the rock at the turnaround at the end of Long Canyon Road on the east point and continue even further, through a end of Desert Hot Springs. It’s a 12-mile hike narrow wash with tall rock walls that lead through the canyons to Joshua Tree National deep into the canyon. Eventually you will Park. An official grand opening was scheduled come to an open cave area—or, as Detlefsen for spring 2021, but it was pushed back to later describes it, “a rather spooky looking cave that this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. So far, until recently was adorned with candles and I’ve only been on three of the 12 miles. I’ll be religious iconography—a rosary.”

CVIndependent.com

Susan Detlefsen on the trail in the canyons south of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Theresa Sama

going back!

Although the weather is cooler now, and hiking in the canyons may offer some shade,

always remember to bring lots of water, sunscreen, snacks and, of course, a hiking buddy.

NOVEMBER 2021

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

CVIndependent.com

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NOVEMBER 2021

NEWS HEALTH CARE ON THE ROAD I

CSUSB’s Nursing Street Medicine program expands its efforts to help the Coachella Valley’s underserved residents

by kevin fitzgerald

n 2019, when Dr. Diane Vines helped create the California State University at San Bernardino’s Nursing Street Medicine program on the Palm Desert campus, she could not have foreseen the huge challenge looming on the horizon.

Fortunately, Dr. Vines and her teams—including students, volunteers and health professionals—were around to offer quality medical care to the homeless and other underserved populations as COVID-19 arrived.

“At the time (before the program started), I was teaching part-time community health nursing and psychiatric mental health nursing for Cal State University at San Bernardino,” Vines said they run the clinic with our supervision.” during a recent interview. “We were at a Vine’s résumé is beyond impressive. During faculty meeting, and one of the development President George H.W. Bush’s administration, officers came and asked if someone would be she was one of 14 people selected out of 1,200 willing to work with the UC Riverside School applicants to become a White House Fellow. of Medicine family clinic that was at Our Lady She also worked with then-first lady Barbara of Guadalupe in Palm Springs. (They wanted) Bush to co-found the National Adult Literacy someone to collaborate, because there was a donor who was interested in having us do that, Initiative. Today, she supervises all operations of the Nursing Street Medicine initiative here and they didn’t want to lose that opportunity. in the Coachella Valley.

But, nobody would do it.”

“On Fridays, we run a nurse clinic at Our “So, since I had worked with the homeless Lady of Guadalupe church in Palm Springs, before both in Portland (Ore.) and New York along with a free lunch program (run by) City, I said, ‘Of course I’ll do it.’ It was going to the Well in the Desert,” Vines said. “Halfway be just for a short term. But I’m still at it.” through each clinic, the Desert Regional The fact that she is still at it has proven Medical Center’s family-practice medical to be a big benefit for underserved valley residents join us, and they see anybody who communities during these pandemic days. For needs to be seen by a doctor, or needs a example, as the COVID-19 vaccines became prescription, etc. On Tuesday evenings, we still available, the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine go out with the Coachella Valley Volunteers in teams quickly got to work, administering Medicine, and on one Saturday per month, we vaccinations from one end of Coachella Valley work with the Shepherd of the Valley United to the other.

Methodist Church in Indio. They have a free “We’ve participated in COVID-19 breakfast program out by Highway 86 under vaccinations all over the place,” Vines said. an overpass out by Spotlight 29 in Coachella.

“We’ve given 950 COVID-19 vaccinations at We go out with them.” sites in Palm Springs, Indio, Thermal, Mecca, Each street medicine team maintains a Desert Hot Springs, Coachella and Cathedral consistent core of personnel.

City. Previously, we had done testing as well, “When it’s strictly a nurse clinic, either but right now, that’s not as important as the in Palm Springs or under the overpass in vaccinations. … Because we’re well known to Coachella,” Vines said, “it’s just four to five the farmworkers and unsheltered populations nursing students and one faculty member. and are trusted by them, we were able to get When we go with CVVIM on Tuesday evenings, more people (to accept the vaccine). It was all it’s a full team with a doctor, EMTs, social vulnerable populations.”

These ongoing efforts just received important workers and some student volunteers. Again in January, students will be at the Coachella financial support in the form of a $26,000 gift Valley Rescue Mission doing nurse clinics, from the Health to Hope Clinics. Vine said the and also at one of the Hope Through Housing money will be used for two things. locations, most likely the one for seniors, “One is to help fund two faculty positions— Cathedral Palms (in Cathedral City).” one in Palm Springs, and one working with the The contributions these street teams make Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine,” Vine are huge. Between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, said. “Their nurse practitioner, Rosa Lucas, is 2021, the program’s nurses saw 1,655 clients, on the grant, and she works with the students served 6,363 lunches, distributed 1,296 care who go out with the homeless outreach team packages, gave 446 flu shots and provided on Tuesday evenings. The other is for me wound care to 215 individuals, in addition to to supervise students in Palm Springs. Also, offering preventive medical services. we use (some of the funds) for the student “We do vital signs—blood pressure, nursing assistants who work with us. Basically, CVIndependent.com

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

Two CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine team members tend to a member of the Coachella Valley’s unsheltered population. Courtesy of CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine

pulse, respiration and oxygen saturation, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, because that’s a symptom of the disease, when your oxygen saturation drops,” Vines said. “Also, we do medication management and chronic-disease management, especially diabetes, hypertension and pulmonary issues. We do glucose testing, too, and we help (our patients) monitor their glucose levels and manage their diet. … We make a lot of referrals, and do a lot of education with the homeless as well.”

Earlier this year, the Desert Healthcare District approved the purchase of a $340,000 mobile medical clinic—and the Nursing Street Medicine program is one of six organizations given the opportunity to utilize the unit.

“We’re excited about that,” Vines aid. “These organizations have not easily been able to go to underserved communities due to a lack of facilities or basic infrastructure in areas such as mobile home parks, homeless encampments and agricultural fields. We’re hoping we’ll have it in January. The goal with this is to have a regular schedule.”

Vines said she’s optimistic about the future of the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine program.

“We are proposing to work with the (relatively new) Martha’s Village Access Center in Palm Springs starting as soon as possible,” Vines said.

However, Vines added that the program needs to continue to find as many funding sources as possible.

“We have expanded, and we’ve replicated the program on our San Bernardino campus,” Vines said. “… We’re hoping that the Desert Healthcare Foundation will fund us again.

Currently, we have the Health to Hope Clinics money, a grant from the university, the Desert Healthcare Foundation (funding), and Verizon gave us money as well. But after January, we need to locate another grant source. So, we’ll continue. Now, we’ve integrated our community health courses (at the university) into our medical outreach programs, and they use the street medicine concept to do nurse clinics. Now it has a life of its own, because it’s part of the curriculum.”

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9

NOVEMBER 2021

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for more information BENEFITING

SECRETS FOR HEALTHY AGING AND LOWERING CANCER RISK FACTORS

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

I

just a�ended a medical conference that included sessions by Dr. Jason Fung. He presented recent study results about cancer from his latest book, The Cancer Code. Here’s what I learned.

There are three major choices we all have to reduce our risk of developing cancers of all kinds by 50% or more. Everything else only reduces cancer risks in the 4-8% range.

Secret No. 1: Not smoking can reduce your risk of developing cancer by up to 50% Secret No. 2: Reducing your weight can also reduce your cancer risk by about 50%. Here are a few �ps: • Eat less o�en. Can you eat just two regular meals most days instead of three?

• A low-carb, higher-fat diet helps you lose weight and not feel hungry.

• Simple exercise is very helpful. Walking for just 20 minutes a�er ea�ng is very produc�ve for losing and maintaining lower weight.

• Vegetarian diets can be detrimental if you’re ea�ng readyto-eat processed foods, sweets and soy-based foods.

• Whole plant-based and whole food-based (adding fish and meats) diets are very produc�ve for weight management. This means shopping mostly in a market’s “race tracks” (the outer perimeter aisles) for fresh produce, dairy and meats. Leave most of the other aisles to those who don’t know what you now know.

Secret No. 3: Medical studies have shown that bio-iden�cal hormone-replacement therapy (BHRT) makes Secret No. 2 even more effec�ve and easier to maintain.

For example, one out of seven women who do nothing will get breast cancer. Women who accomplish Secrets Nos. 1 and 2 reduce their chances of ge�ng breast cancer to one in 14. Women who add BHRT reduce their risk to one in 35. Which group do you want to be in?

Next month, I’ll share the latest secrets about what’s new, and share my recommenda�ons of what to ignore, because “new” isn’t always be�er. Un�l then, keep the Secrets.

Our Revive Wellness Center loca�ons are in Palm Springs (760-325-4800) and Torrance (310-375-7599); www.revivecenter.com. Our Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center office is in Irvine (949-586-9904); www.medweightandlasers.com.

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

MEDIA PARTNER CVIndependent.com

10 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

NOVEMBER 2021

NEWS SURVEILLING THE VIRUS A

Indio’s Valley Sanitary District collected valuable data after it started testing wastewater for COVID-19—but it needs funding to continue

by kevin fitzgerald

ll around the world, poop is being tested for SARS-CoV-2.

As of this writing, 2,691 sites—in 57 countries and at 263 universities, according to the “CovidPoops19” Summary of Global Sars-CoV-2 Wastewater Monitoring Efforts by University of California-Merced researchers—are being tested for the virus that causes COVID19. But until May, the only site in the Coachella Valley where testing was done was in the city of Palm Springs.

Because of the high costs, as well as the limited number of facilities that can process test results, only a small fraction of the country’s wastewater agencies are currently doing this district needs help to continue testing. She testing—despite increasing evidence that estimates it will cost about $15,000 to pay for wastewater testing can act as a figurative testing through the end of the year. canary in a coal mine regarding impending Although the district manages wastewater increases in COVID-19 cases. for the residents of Indio, it is not a In Indio, the Valley Sanitary District, under department of the city, like the Palm Springs the direction of general manager Beverli Wastewater Treatment Plant is, and therefore Marshall, participated in a nationwide pilotreceives no operational funding from the testing program offered by Boston-based city of Indio. Instead, the Valley Sanitary Biobot Analytics, in partnership with the District is a California “special district.”

United States Centers for Disease Control and According to the California Special Districts Prevention, the Department of Health and Association website: “Special districts are Human Services and the National Institute of local governments created by the people of Health. The program launched back in May. a community to deliver specialized services “When the CDC, the NIH and the HHS essential to their health, safety, economy contracted with Biobot Analytics to be the and well-being. A community forms a special vendor … they sent word out to all the district, which are political subdivisions various agencies saying, ‘Hey … there’s this authorized through a state’s statutes, to great opportunity if you’re interested in provide specialized services the local city or participating,’” Marshall told the Independent county do not provide.” during a recent interview. “Of course, I sent Marshall pointed out that special districts that to staff and asked if we can take this were left out of the federal government’s on, because there’s additional work doing COVID-19 stimulus and spending packages. composite sampling. It’s not like (you’re) going “Cities, counties and schools all received out there and taking a little eyedropper and dedicated funds for COVID-19-related suctioning up some of the wastewater, then expenses, and to do all sorts of things … to saying, ‘OK, here you go.’” identify, track, trace and report COVID-19 Marshall told the Independent that the related issues. The only ones who were not district did sampling twice a week for an initial included in that were special districts,” she 12-week period. As chance would have it, the said. “… So the cities or counties or (other) testing period began in May, coinciding with entities that could do this (testing) were most the rise in local infection levels caused by the likely going to be the ones that got funding rapidly spreading Delta variant. related to COVID-19, and then they could use “It was interesting that (the Delta variant those funds to keep it going. … Imagine the arrived in earnest) right about that time, data we would have throughout the system, because, indeed, it showed that we were meaning all over the United States, if we had starting to see those spikes,” Marshall said. been given that funding.”

“Obviously, our testing shows just a little So … what can be done to get the Valley microcosm of our (geographical) area, but if Sanitary District the extra funding needed you looked at the data from Palm Springs, to continue the testing? Marshall said she’s you’d see that they were experiencing a similar reached out to the city of Indio, Riverside trend. So, I don’t know that it was necessarily County and the state in hopes of getting help. alarming, but I think it was definitely useful.”

“There are a couple of different funding The pilot program formally ended in August, routes the district could explore,” District 56 but the district had extra testing kits, so State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia told Marshall’s team kept sending in samples to the Independent via email. “I am supportive be tested, the results of which were added to and highly encourage the Valley Sanitary the pilot project’s database. However, those District to reach out to our office to share kits eventually ran out—and Marshall said her CVIndependent.com

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

Valley Sanitary District laboratory analyst Lorraine Shinnette processes a wastewater sample from the Indio treatment facility. Courtesy of the Valley Sanitary District

more details on the project so that we can help identify the best funding opportunities for them. We have established a successful track record of securing funding for local special districts and municipalities, and our office is readily available to help initiate contact with appropriate departments or agencies.”

Marshall said she recently switched over to GT Molecular for testing—the same viral testing firm that Palm Springs has been using for more than a year—because the cost is a little lower. She said she does not want to stop testing, because she does not want to lose valuable data.

“So we will continue to sample,” she said.

“Also, I’ve submitted requests to Riverside County for consideration of future funding out of the money that they receive from (federal COVID-19) recovery funds.”

In response to the Independent’s query about available funding, County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez wrote in an email: “We are reaching out to Valley Sanitary District to find out the specifics of the district’s funding request or requests. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors may have a discussion on the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds. …

The county supervisors a couple of weeks ago allocated $15 million in ARPA funds to support child-care centers.”

When the Independent spoke to Marshall back in February, well before the Valley Sanitary District joined the pilot testing program, she said: “We can test at a more macro level by using wastewater. So there is room for that discussion even beyond COVID19—but we (wastewater service providers) have to be at the table.”

Marshall said during our recent interview: “You know, we’re still not at the table. But I think that with this partnership, this pilot project, showing that there is this knowledge— this data source out there that (public officials) can tap into—I think it starts moving that conversation. I know there have been a couple of articles in peer-reviewed journals about wastewater surveillance and public health that have come out in the last six months or so.

They talk about what has been shown … and the fact is that it’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as the kind of information that wastewater can provide. … We’re not going to help hand out vaccines, or make health decisions—but if you’re looking for a data source, it’s there.”

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11

NOVEMBER 2021

DATE

EVENT

2021-2022 EVENTS

PRIDE EVENTS

Nov 1

George Zander Candlelight Vigil and March

Nov. 3-6

Light Up the Night with KGAY 106.5 & Alaska Airlnes

Nov 4-7

Sharing Our Desert’s LGBTQ+ History

Nov 5

Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat 2021

Nov 6

Art of Pride Festival Exhibition

Nov 6

Front Runners Pride 5K Run and Walk 2021

Nov 6-7

Palm Springs Pride Festival

Nov 6

Pride Golf Tournament

Nov 6

Skater Girlz Jam

Nov 7

Eight4Nine Champagne Brunch

Nov 7

Palm Springs Pride Parade

Nov 7

PS Drag Brunch Pride Edition

Nov 7

Skater Girlz After Parade Party

Nov 7

Trio Pride Parade Party

Nov 10

Michael Childers One Night Only

Nov 12

Palm Springs Equality Awards

Nov 19 - 20

Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival

Nov 19-21

McCormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction

Nov 20

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Nov 22

The Center’s Annual Wreath Auction

Dec 5

Desert Samaritans’ Men of the Desert Fashion Show

Jan 6-17

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Dec 7,8,10,11,12

Barry Manilow's A Christmas Gift of Love V

Dec 10-11

Desert Air

Jan 6-17

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Jan 16-23

Aspen Gay Ski Week 2022

Jan 27-30

Oasis Music Festival

Jan 29

Art Party, Palm Springs Art Musuem

Feb 12

Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards

Feb 17 - 27

Modernism Week 2022

Feb 18

Palm Springs Air Museum Gala

Feb 24-28

International Bear Convergence IBC 2022

CELEBRATING ALL THE COLORS IN THE RAINBOW

For the latest events, visit GayDesertGuide.LGBT CVIndependent.com

12 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

NOVEMBER 2021

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

CV HISTORY W

Lawrence Crossley was not only Palm Springs’ first Black resident; he was also a trusted Agua Caliente advocate

by greg niemann

hen Agua Caliente tribe members needed a friend and ally, they found one in Lawrence Crossley, a successful Palm Springs businessman who came to town in 1924—and quickly realized he was the only (and apparently the first) Black person to live there.

He would be the valley’s only African American until the late 1930s, when John Nobles and his wife, Miranda, acquired a ranch in the city of Indio. Their ranch eventually became a neighborhood with homes, apartments, churches and stores; the Nobles’ success helped fellow Black pioneers settle into the Indio area. In 1994, Indio’s Date Avenue was renamed John Nobles Avenue.

American families, and featured affordable For all of Nobles’ success, he arrived in the three-bedroom, two-bath homes in a variety Coachella Valley more than a decade after of floorplans. Crossley Road became the Crossley, who was remarkable in so many name of the main road in the part of town he ways. Undaunted by his minority status, and developed. following in the footsteps of mentor and In addition to being successful and employer Prescott T. Stevens, Crossley simply accomplished, Crossley also had a big heart. forged ahead—buying property, investing and He chose to spend much of his time with Agua attaining a stature where he was in a position Caliente tribe members. They took to him to help others. immediately, sensing the “kindred spirit” of Born on a Mississippi farm in 1899, Lawrence Crossley was raised in New Orleans, another non-white person, and recognizing the sheer sincerity and generosity of Crossley. where he played the trumpet in jazz bands.

During those decades, most Agua Caliente He came to California in 1924, going to work tribe members were living in Section 14, for Palm Springs entrepreneur P.T. Stevens the downtown Palm Springs land allotted as a chauffeur and handyman. After a month to them. However, they had not yet been in Palm Springs, he sent for his Creole wife, granted true ownership of any specific land, Martha, and their daughters, Margaret and nor had they been given any other benefits Yvonne. Martha became the Stevens’ maid awarded to them by the federal government. and cook.

They mostly lived in tents and shacks made Crossley eventually became Stevens’ rightof available materials: cardboard, pieces of hand man. Crossley invested in the El Mirador tin, irregular pieces of wood and branches.

Hotel, designed and built the El Mirador Golf Their only sources of revenue were the small Course, and took over the Whitewater Mutual fees charged for use of the hot springs at Water Company as manager. He invested the southeast corner of Section 14, and heavily in Palm Springs, and in the early 1930s fees for entrance into the Indian Canyons. acquired about five acres near Ramon Road Occasionally, some would find work for movie and Sunrise Way. He established the Eagle companies shooting Westerns and needing Canyon Trailer Village, and built a trailer park “Indians.” in Cathedral City called Tramview Village—a Crossley was genuinely touched by their full two decades before the tram was built. plight and, over the years, was taken into Crossley also owned a laundromat, a their confidence. Crossley spent time with the restaurant and the Crossley Courts, a 20-acre Native Americans, talking to them in their subdivision that’s now the site of part of homes, comforting them, helping them and Ramon Mobile Home and RV Park. The learning their rites and culture. subdivision was targeted primarily to African

results announced Nov. 22! Call 760-904-4208 for advertising info CVIndependent.com

Martha Crossley, who shared her husband’s zeal and compassion, was also highly regarded

by Agua Caliente members. She regularly participated in their rites and helped provide food and supplies to those most needy.

The “round house” was the special gathering place of the Agua Caliente tribal leadership, and Crossley was the only non-Native American invited in to discuss tribal matters, much to the awe of whites, who were barred from entering.

Chief Francisco Patencio, who was known as a strong medicine man, became one of Crossley’s closest friends. Crossley learned much from Chief Francisco and even reported witnessing a few unexplainable incidents of telepathy attributed to the chief. Once, in the middle of a conversation, Chief Francisco became still, stopped talking and got up, saying, “He needs me,” before running into a canyon an hour and a half away. There, they found and assisted an American Indian man who had fallen and broken his leg!

Chief Francisco also shared with Crossley the secret of “blood tea,” a bright red drink made from certain mountain plants. Wanting to share this particular product with others, Crossley formed a company and marketed it as Nature’s Desert Mystery Tea. His company also produced a facial clay.

By 1953, Crossley had determined that he wanted to do even more for the area’s American Indians. Around the same time, attorney Hilton H. McCabe was assigned by Gov. Earl Warren to be judge of the newly opened branch court in Indio. Once on the job, helping Palm Springs’ Native Americans became a dominant theme in McCabe’s life.

McCabe’s task, as he saw it, was to rescue these “millionaire-poor” American Indians from decades of denials, delays and inattention that left them in a substandard existence in Section 14. One of his first tasks was to find someone to serve as a liaison—and no one was better equipped than Lawrence Crossley.

With Crossley’s help, Judge McCabe began chipping away at bureaucracy and red tape, assuaging naysayers and special-interest groups. The 1876 treaty and the granting of Section 14 to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which had been signed

by President Ulysses Grant, was, at last, beginning to have meaning. Finally, the tribe was properly given the land, and each member was awarded property and cash from a fund.

New businesses were able to lease land from the Agua Caliente in Section 14, and the stateof-the-art Spa Hotel opened on the site of the

Lawrence Crossley. courtesy of the Palm Springs Historical Society

original hot springs. On hand at its opening in November 1962 were Eileen Miguel, head of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; Ulysses S. Grant IV, grandson of the president who signed the original treaty; and McCabe.

Lawrence Crossley had passed away the year before, but not before preparing and presenting a petition to Judge McCabe, signed by 41 Agua Caliente tribe members, thanking him for his tireless efforts that finally ended almost 100 years of inattention and inactivity regarding the tribal lands.

Both the Crossley daughters were well=liked in high school, and both married Los Angeles businessmen. Crossley left a legacy in Palm Springs of which they can be proud.

In 2020, following a Palm Springs Planning Commission recommendation, the City Council voted to rename Golf Club Drive and adjacent Crossley Road as Lawrence Crossley Road. The thoroughfare—named for a successful, sincere and generous valley pioneer—now connects Ramon Road to Highway 111 on the city’s east side.

Sources for this article include Golden Checkerboard by Ed Ainsworth (Desert Southwest, Inc., 1965); Palm Springs: First 100 Years by Mayor Frank M. Bogert (Palm Springs Heritage Associates, 1987); and Palm Springs Legends by Greg Niemann (Sunbelt Publications, 2006).

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13

NOVEMBER 2021

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

NOVEMBER ASTRONOMY

Venus, Saturn and Jupiter shine at

Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight dusk—and a late-night For November, 2021 lunar eclipse

N

By Robert Victor

takes place a week before Thanksgiving

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

N

November's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

ovember brings us three spectacular evening planets. Brilliant Venus is low in the southwest at dusk, while Jupiter and Saturn are well up in the southern sky, to the upper left of Venus. The three planets span an arc of 56 degrees on Nov. 1, shrinking to 35 degrees at Capella month’s end.

From Nov. 1 through Thanksgiving, if viewed each evening at the same stage of twilight, Venus gains 2 to 3 degrees in elevation, while its setting time improves from 2.5 to 2.9 hours after sunset.

Venus attains its highest position and longest visibility after sunset for this evening apparition, and gleams near peak brilliance from Thanksgiving through the first half of December.

Binoculars provide pleasing views for those who follow the motions of the planets against background stars. Enjoy Venus’ eastward Vega, Altair and Deneb is prominent and Aldebaran motion through Sagittarius, slowing from 1 passing west of overhead. Look for Fomalhaut, Arcturus degree to 0.6 degrees per day this month. Venus mouth of the Southern Fish, to the lower left treks unusually far south this month—farther of Jupiter. Watch for the Mother Goat star Deneb south than the sun ever does. It cuts through Capella rising in the far northeast. Before the Teapot in the first three weeks, passing close month’s end, Aldebaran, eye of Taurus and Vega to some of its stars on Nov. 6 (tip of the spout), Follower of the Pleiades, rises in evening E W 12 (top of the lid) and 19 (brightest star in the twilight in east-northeast. handle). Venus on Nov. 1 is nearly 41 degrees to Mornings: Mercury concludes a favorable the lower right of Saturn, and closes to within morning apparition in November’s second Altair 19 degrees at month’s end. week. Low in the east-southeast in morning Saturn creeps toward 4.1-magnitude Theta twilight on Nov. 2, bright Mercury (magnitude in Capricornus. It’s within 6 degrees to the -0.8) passes 4.1 degrees north of emerging Jupiter lower right on Nov. 18, and 5 degrees on Dec. Spica (magnitude +1.0). On Nov. 3, the 1 8 15 22 29 2, closing until they set only a quarter-degree moon is 2-3 degrees above Mercury and 5 1 8 15 22 29 Antares Saturn apart in twilight on Jan. 20, 2022. Jupiter is degrees north of Spica. On Nov. 10, soon22 29 15 1 Fomalhaut just more than 15 degrees to the upper left to-depart Mercury (magnitude -0.9) passes 8 Venus of Saturn on Nov. 1, and one degree farther within 1 degree north of faint emerging from it on the 30th. On Nov. 6, Jupiter is Mars (magnitude +1.6, one-tenth as bright). equidistant from 2.8-magnitude Delta in Binoculars may enable you to spot Mars.

Capricornus, or Deneb Algedi, tail of Sea-goat; Of stars visible in November’s dawns, Sirius, and 3.7-magnitude Gamma, 1.7 degrees from the “Dog Star,” descending in the southwest, each. These stars are about 1.7 degrees apart, so is the brightest. Ranking second in order of the arrangement of the planet and two stars is brightness is Arcturus, ascending in the eastS nearly an equilateral triangle on Nov. 6. Jupiter northeast to east. Ranking third is Capella, Evening mid-twilight occurs Stereographic Projection passes 1.5 degrees north of Delta on Nov. 16. descending in the northwest. Sirius and Capella The moon appears a bright p.m., the shadow will reach across when Sun is 9near below horizon.planet at Map byhalfway Robert D. Miller the Telescopic views: As Venus closes in on mark the southern and northern vertices of dawn on Nov. Spica nearby), moon. From dark sites, the number of stars Nov. 3 1:(Mercury, 40 minutes with after sunset.

15:Nov. 42 7" (Venus), " " 10 (Saturn) our home planet, its disk grows from 26” the huge winter hexagon. In clockwise order and at dusk on visible at 1:03 a.m. will be impressive for a full 30: 42 " and " many " (arcseconds) to 39” across this month, a 50 from Sirius, its stars are Procyon; Pollux and and 11 (Jupiter).

These other events moon night—far greater than the number seen percent increase in apparent size, while its Castor, 4.5 degrees apart; Capella; Aldebaran; are illustrated on the Abrams Planetarium Sky two hours earlier, before the eclipse started. illuminated portion decreases from 48 to 39 Rigel; and back to Sirius. Betelgeuse is inside Calendar. View a sample issue or subscribe for Thereafter, the moon gradually emerges, percent. the hexagon. $12 per year at www.abramsplanetarium.org/ halfway out of the umbra by 2:09 a.m., and Jupiter (of magnitude -2.4) features dark Pursuing the winter hex across the sky is skycalendar. completely out by 2:48 a.m. cloud belts parallel to its equator and four Leo, the Lion, with its brightest star, Regulus, The deep, nearly total eclipse of the moon During the two weeks following the eclipse, Galilean satellites orbiting in the planet’s very high in the southeast to south. On Nov. on the night of Nov. 18-19 is likely to be very the waning moon will pass Aldebaran, eye of equatorial plane. Since we view the Jovian 21-22, as Earth passes between the sun and the colorful! At deepest eclipse, at 1:03 a.m. on Taurus, on Nov. 20; the “Twin” stars Pollux and system nearly edge-on, the satellites appear in Pleiades, that star cluster is at opposition and Friday, Nov. 19, only a narrow sliver along Castor on Nov. 23 and 24; Regulus on Nov. 26 a nearly straight line. Saturn (magnitude +0.7) above the horizon all night. Spaceship Earth is the moon’s southern edge, 2.4 percent of the and 27; and Spica on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. now displays its rings tipped a generous 19 then heading directly toward Regulus. Speedy moon’s width, will receive direct sunlight. degrees from edge-on.

Mercury will be in superior conjunction, on the The lunar eclipse gets underway at 11:18 Robert C. Victor originated the Abrams In November at dusk, in the first week, you far side of sun, on Nov. 23. We’re catching up p.m. on Thursday evening, Nov. 18, as the Planetarium’s monthly Sky Calendar in October can still catch Arcturus very low in the westto Mars, but it’s the next planet outside Earth’s moon begins to enter the umbra, or dark central 1968, and still produces issues occasionally. northwest. More challenging is Antares, 16-20 orbit, so it’s moving along at a pretty respectable core of the Earth’s shadow. Since it’s near the Whether in the California desert, at the Grand degrees to the lower right of Venus Nov. 1-4. pace; we’ll have to wait more than a year—until middle of the night, the moon will be high Canyon of Arizona, or in Michigan, he enjoys being Binoculars will help. The Summer Triangle of December 7, 2022—before we overtake it. in the sky throughout the eclipse. By 11:57 outdoors, sharing the wonders of the night sky.

CVIndependent.com

14 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

LGBTQ+ archives can be found in large cities around the country, including Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, New York, Chicago, Houston, Boston, Milwaukee, Fort Lauderdale, Tucson and Phoenix.

You can now add the not-so-large city of Palm Springs to that list.

About a dozen Palm Springs residents have started establishing an historical archive of the LGBTQ+ community in the Coachella Valley. An inaugural exhibition of the “archivein-progress” is scheduled to open Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library in downtown Palm Springs, and will remain open during Greater Palm Springs Pride weekend. The display will contain both electronic and physical memorabilia that link to local and national personalities, places and events relevant to the area.

David Gray is a co-founder of the LGBTQ+ History and Archives of the Desert.

“In 2018, I attended a 40th anniversary dinner for the Desert Business Association (the valley’s LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce),” Gray told the Independent. “That got me thinking: ‘They’ve been around a while, and I wonder what their history is, and how did they begin?’ So I tried to talk to a few people about how they began, and it was all a little vague.”

Gray served as a Palm Springs Public CVIndependent.com

NOVEMBER 2021

Library trustee for about a decade. “So I was sort of familiar with what the library had. Also, during that period of time, the Welwood Murray Memorial Library downtown had been renovated, providing archival storage for the Palm Springs Historical Society, which until then had boxes and files in a small little house on the village green, but nothing that a museum or a real archive would (consider to be) appropriately stored.”

Gray said he asked the Historical Society whether it had a lot of archive materials regarding the LGBTQ+ community. The response was no—so he started talking to others about creating an LGBTQ+ archive.

“At the time, an archivist working at the Historical Society, a woman at the library and myself all thought this was something that we should do before we lost too many people who have lived here and helped make it the welcoming community it is today for LGBTQ+ people.”

Thus, the LGBTQ+ History and Archives of the Desert was born. Gray and the others started to build a timeline of important events—happenings both good and bad in the LGBTQ+ community—and planned to do an exhibition during Greater Palm Springs Pride in 2020. Of course, COVID-19 delayed things by a year. Meanwhile, the now-13 member founding committee continued to collect materials for the archive.

“Anything which has to do with LGBT history within the Coachella Valley is something that we would consider for the

collection,” Gray said. “That said, ‘Well, it’s documented in The Desert could be almost anything Sun that on July 8, 1991, you held your first from matchbook covers of organizing meeting here in the valley.’” former bars, restaurants As word gets out about the LGBTQ+ and inns, or magazines and History and Archives of the Desert, Gray said publications of some sort people are starting to come forward with that have been published important items for the collection. through the years and “We did get contacted by a gentleman who were geared toward the has the complete set of issues of a gay and LGBT community. Even lesbian newspaper, Mega-Scene, that was things like pictures and published here for more than 20 years,” Gray so forth—it’s pretty wide said. “He was involved in it, and we told him open. that we did want to take those and have them “We’re pretty new, so we don’t have a lot scanned. That will provide a great resource, of stuff yet. Our intent is really to make sure because you can see what the addresses of that we’re (not presenting) hearsay, but actual things were, when they were there, and what documentation. Everything that we have people were saying about them, etc. Megahas to have some Scene was published sort of reference.

by Bob Hoven, who It had to have has a star on our been published Walk of Stars and somewhere; it has was an important to have appeared person here in somewhere.”

Palm Springs. He’s The efforts been dead for quite of Gray and his a long time, and colleagues so most people today far have actually don’t know who helped some he was. Also, we’ve organizations been given a huge learn more watercolor portrait about their own of Hoven that hung history. He cited in Streetbar for the PFLAG Palm many, many years.

Springs chapter as Now, Streetbar an example. has given it to our “I reached archive, and we want out to them, it preserved forever.” because at our The inaugural exhibition, we’d exhibition will LGBTQ+ History and Archives like to recognize primarily consist of of the Desert co-founder that they’ll be two components: celebrating their First, there will 30th anniversary,” be display panels Gray said. “… They wrote back and said, ‘Thank spotlighting significant events, broken you for including us, and here’s our logo, but down by decade. Second, there will be actual we’re not sure that it’s our 30th anniversary. items, like issues of various publications and How do you know this?’ We wrote back and memorabilia.

“Anything which has to do with LGBT history within the Coachella Valley is something that we would consider for the collection. That could be almost anything from matchbook covers of former bars, restaurants and inns, or magazines and publications of some sort.”

—David Gray

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15

NOVEMBER 2021

“There will be a little bit about tourism— things like fliers, brochures or souvenirs from guest houses that operated here, but may be closed today,” Gray said. “A gentleman has loaned us about 70 matchbook covers, which will be displayed to indicate where (those establishments) were in Palm Springs.”

Gray said the archive is currently operating under the financial auspices of Greater Palm Springs Pride, with the Palm Springs Public Library and the Palm Springs Historical Society serving as operational partners. After the inaugural exhibition, the founding committee plans to get the LGBTQ+ History and Archives set up as an independent nonprofit organization; expand its collection of items; and build a website and app. The archive is also starting to plan future exhibits and collaborations with other organizations. Gray mentioned a possible partnership with the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

“That could be our (exhibition) for next year,” Gray said. “Already, we know that there

are almost 50 people on the Walk of Stars who are gay and lesbian. So we could have bios of all of them with their photos, and that could be the kickoff for the app. That’s one that should probably be easy to do.”

David Gray and the others started to build a timeline of important events—happenings both good and bad in the LGBTQ+ community— and planned to do an exhibition during Greater Palm Springs Pride in 2020. Of course, COVID-19 delayed things by a year.

MAKE THE EASY CHOICE

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The inaugural exhibition of the LGBTQ+ History and Archives of the Desert will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 4; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6; and noon to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs.

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ LGBTQPSHistory.

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Header Images (clockwise from top): A copy of a print advertisement for Streetbar, the oldest continually operating gay bar in Palm Springs Mega-Scene was an LGBT publication owned

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16 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

At the age of 9, Sierra Prescott fell in love with skateboarding—and when she talks

about skateboarding, there is a sense of freedom in her words.

“I played video games. I played sports,” said Prescott, whose talents include skater, photographer and event producer. “The combo of the cartoon Rocket Power (about extreme sports) and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (a video game) coming out, the X Games starting and Vans Triple Crown—there was something about the radical insanity that was in the video game to this camaraderie. These kids were having so much fun together, skating everywhere, doing anything they could on wheels every waking moment.”

Prescott is a co-producer of the Girlz Skate Jam, a Lesbo Expo Presents event that will take place on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Palm Springs Skatepark, as part of Greater Palm Springs Pride. The afternoon will kick off at 2:30 p.m. with a skateboard clinic for “girlz” of all ages.

At 5 p.m. is the big event, hosted by Prescott: For two hours, a who’s-who list of womenidentified LGBTQ+ skaters—including 2021 Olympian Alana Smith—will perform the latest tricks and participate in competitions.

Prescott conceded that skateboarding is a tough sport; she makes no bones about that.

“If you have an interest in skateboarding, the really awesome part about it, to me, is the character of skateboarders,” Prescott said. “We elect to get on a board and get on a piece of equipment—and fall and fall and fall, and fail and fail and fail and fail and fail and fail and fail, until we get one win. Then we crave the win; we need to get it again. I think it's just this big life lesson in a way, like, just keep trying, you know; you will get it eventually. Like with most things in life, if you like it enough, and you keep doing it enough, you know you're going to get better. It's all about time and how much you invest in it.”

Skater Eunice Chang. Sierra Prescott Although Patti McGee became the first Header Image: female professional skateboarder in the Skater Briel Weingartner. Sierra Prescott 1960s, girls weren’t really skating in the CVIndependent.com

NOVEMBER 2021

1990s, when she got into it, Prescott said. But gender bias wasn’t an issue.

“You didn't see ‘boy’ or ‘girl.’ You just saw ‘skateboarder,’” Prescott said.

Over the years, skater terms seamlessly slipped into our everyday lexicon, including words like rad, stoked and poser. Skater-influenced fashion followed, with brands like Supreme, Vans, Nike SB, Spitfire Wheels and Thrasher all marketing skater culture. Skate punk, also known as skatecore and skate rock, became a major subgenre in music.

Women’s skateboarding, and LGBTQ+ skateboarding in particular, had arguably its biggest moment in the spotlight during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Not only was skateboarding finally an Olympic sport, but skater Alana Smith came out as non-binary. They are the first openly nonbinary person to compete in the Olympics and proudly displayed “they/them” pronouns on their skateboard.

Despite the Olympics, the popularity of skateboarding is in decline. Skate magazine reports that since 2004, Google searches for “skateboarding” have declined 85 percent, and many parks are on the verge of shutting down. That’s why events like the Girlz Skate Jam are such a big deal.

“Our team is very excited to be back in action, because our last event was in 2019,” said Lesbo Expo Presents’ Louise Minnick. “We're following COVID regulations set by the county of Riverside, and we're very excited to have our community back together for a live Pride event.”

In the case that any parents of prospective girlz skaters are reading, take note: For beginners, Prescott said parents should get a “starter kit.”

“If you're at a skate shop, typically, what they do is they start with the board—and you look for graphics, because a lot of times, that's what gets a kid excited,” Prescott said. “They pick that (skateboard) up, and (the shop) will either be like, ‘That’s good,’ or, ‘This one's a little too big for you.’ And then they choose the trucks (hardware), based on the size of that, and then the wheels. Those have a very different feeling.”

A new board for beginners can cost about $120—and then there is the protection, about which Prescot is adamant. Glitz Skate Jam event co-producer Sierra Prescott. Sierra Prescott “Who cares what you look like?” she says, “It's awesome to be protected. Just put the helmet on; put the wrist guards on, and the elbow and knee pads.”

Prescott will be honored by Lesbo Expo Presents at an After-Parade Girlz Party, at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Alibi Palm Springs. The theme of the Lesbo Expo awards this year is “sporting women”—and Prescott is a most-worthy recipient. Not only is she a great representative for the sport; she’s a great representative for life.

“You can have whatever passion you want; just have passions,” she said. “Because whatever equates to how skating or photography makes me feel is what everyone else should feel with something. If it's skateboarding? Fantastic. If it's not, no worries. Find what you're passionate about—and don't stop doing it.”

The Girlz Skate Jam takes place on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Palm Springs Skatepark, 405 S. Pavilion Way, in Palm Springs. A free skateboard clinic starts at 2:30 p.m. The main event begins at 5 p.m.; tickets are $15 via Eventbrite for all ages; an afterparty will follow. The After Parade Girlz Party will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Alibi Palm Springs, 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets to the 21+ event are $15 via Eventbrite. For tickets or more information, visit www. facebook.com/pslexpopresents.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

NOVEMBER 2021

Music has long been used to fight for social justice —

to open eyes and minds as people fight for equality.

This is something that Jerry R. SoriaFoust knows well. He has a history of leading LGBTQ+ choruses, including the San Diego Men’s Chorus—and he was recently named the artistic director of the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, which is about to start its 23rd season with a performance at Greater Palm Springs Pride.

Soria-Foust, who was also formerly the music director of the Bay Area’s Opus Q, A Men's Vocal Ensemble, recently returned to California after a decade away.

“I always hoped to come back,” SoriaFoust said during a recent phone interview.

“Conducting, and particularly conducting in the gala-choruses network, has always been a passion of mine. Having served previously in a couple of other artistic-director positions, including in San Diego for five years, my hope was always to come back to this type of position.

“I've always been a very big fan of Palm Springs in general. I spent a lot of time here when I lived in Southern California, and have a lot of friends here, a lot of acquaintances. A lot of people who have retired from San Diego are now here, so it really, in a lot of ways, feels like coming home.”

Soria-Foust’s love for conducting stems from his career in education.

“I'm a teacher, first and foremost, so everything that I do, and have done in my life, is kind of based on the idea of teaching,” said Soria-Foust. “Being a conductor is a lot about artistry, and interpreting music, and making the music come alive onstage—but it really, and truly in community choruses like this, is about being a teacher. We have singers who are experienced and confident, and who have done dozens, or maybe even more, concerts before as a part of an ensemble like this. Then we have a lot of singers who have never sung before. My job as a conductor is not just to interpret the music and make sure that it comes alive on the stage, but I also am responsible for really making sure that every singer has a positive experience with the music, and understands and learns a lot about the music that they're singing, and why it's important.

“The same goes for the audience. One of my looking for opportunities to commission new missions is to make sure that the audience works—both arrangements and compositions leaves knowing more than when they came for the chorus—and add additional in—knowing about our music, about our misprofessional musicians to the performances, sion, and about our message of both artistry so the audience experiences an even more and social justice, which work hand in hand deep and satisfying experience musically,” through our music that we program.”

Soria-Foust said. “Also, we’ll possibly do some The hiring of Soria-Foust is just part of a touring and working outside of our zip code to series of changes the chorus is going through continue to do what we do best, and that is to as it—like all other performing-arts organizachange minds and touch hearts. tions—emerges from the pandemic.

“Ours really is on the cusp of being a “This is an exciting new chapter for the world-class organization, and that's what organization,” Soria-Foust said. “There is a we're focusing on for the future, both in terms new board that is highly focused on moving of numbers—we're singing over 90 for our the chorus in every way into the future—arupcoming concert, and I expect that'll keep tistically, organizationally, and just in terms going up—but also in terms of the quality of our role in Palm Springs as a leader in the of our productions, our fiscal soundness, arts and also a leader in the gay and lesbian and the expertise with which we approach community. This board is very committed to our marketing and development, and patron moving into the future. relationships.”

“My goal is to up the production game, in Soria-Foust also wants the chorus to terms of the performances that the audience contribute to a wider understanding of sees. I want to really explore ways we can the LGBT experience by “standing up and use our space even more creatively in the speaking out.”

Annenberg “We use music Theater (at the as a way to—and Palm Springs I hate to sound Art Museclichéd, but to um), which is build bridges of a beautiful, understanding,” world-class he said. “We performing-art live in Palm space. I want Springs, so we're to continue fortunate to live to teach the in a community singers to sing that is pretty healthfully integrated and and build their supportive, but technique there are still so that their communities I music comes know personally, through in even outside of where more moving we live, that still ways.” are struggling After their with young Jerry R. Soria-Foust, the new artistic director of the performance at people killing Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus.

Palm Springs themselves, and Pride, the discrimination chorus will launch into a season including two in the workplace. We've won a lot of victories, full programs, in December and April. And and we've been right there at the forefront. that’s just the start.

You see any rally for gay marriage, or “In a couple of years, we'll be going to adopting, or any other issue, and you're going the GALA Choruses international festival to see the gala chorus and that community (a gathering of LGBTQ+ choruses), which right there in the front, singing. … Choruses happens every four years, and I'm going to be like ours are doing that all over the country,

and really all over the world, including in Mexico and other places where you wouldn't expect that to be happening.

“I began singing with gala choruses when I was 19; I wasn't even out of the closet yet. We had singers back in the ’90s, in our community in Indianapolis, who wouldn't even have their name printed on a playbill, because they were afraid to be seen singing in a gay chorus. Now, obviously, that's changed a lot over the last 30 years, but there are still communities where we're struggling, where our voices really do need to be heard.”

This idea of building bridges relates to the chorus’ upcoming season.

“Our season has the theme of ‘Light,’ and this idea that it's our time to shine again,” Soria-Foust said. “We've been off the stage for a long time. This will be two years since we've done a holiday production, so we're bringing a concert that will shine. There was darkness, and in this time of COVID, and the arts organizations basically shut down, so our shining will start with our December concert, which is Sparkle Twinkle Jingle. We have great music from all sorts of Broadway sources; we have more-serious music by composers, and then everything in between, both traditional and nontraditional holiday music. We're also featuring a guest star, Michele McConnell, from Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. She's the longest-running Carlotta, that well-known diva from Phantom of the Opera, in Broadway history, and she'll be singing with us, and then also a few songs by herself. We're also singing in four languages, and that's going to be a treat for the audience, too.

“For April, our show is Razzle Dazzle Shine, and we're doing all Broadway and movie equality-themed music—music that speaks to the experience of oppressed people, and music that helps build bridges of understanding.

That includes music from The Muppet Show, Jersey Boys, Rocketman, and all kinds of other great material.”

The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus will perform at 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Effen Main Stage at Greater Palm Springs Pride, in downtown Palm Springs. Admission is free. For more information on Pride, visit apps.pspride.org.

For more information on the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, visit psgmc.com.

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NOVEMBER 2021

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 19

NOVEMBER 2021

ARTS & CULTURE

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ANYTHING BUT COMMON D

Palm Canyon Theatre brings Del Shores’ newest play, ‘This Side of Crazy,’ to the stage

By MATT KING

el Shores is used to being uncommon. The award-winning playwright, director and writer of productions including Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies is an openly gay man from the South, after all.

Palm Canyon Theatre is producing Shores’ newest play, This Side of Crazy, from Nov. 18-21.

“This is actually only the third production of the play—and I directed the first two,” Shores said during a recent phone interview. “It premiered in San Francisco at New Conservatory Theatre Center, and that was back in September of 2019. Immediately after we closed there, we went to Los Angeles and opened there at the Zephyr Theatre, and just barely escaped the The Palm Canyon Theatre knows Shores pandemic; the rumors and all the buzz about well, as the theater has produced his plays it were swirling our last couple of weeks multiple times. of the run. The play was supposed to open “Our theater has a nice relationship with in Dallas shortly after; we were starting the playwright Del Shores,” said Richard rehearsal on March 8, 2020, and you know Marlow, who is directing the production. what happened two weeks later. I’m excited “This Side of Crazy is more recent and more that it has some new life, because it will serious than Sordid, and has seen fewer always be my pandemic play.” productions. It is a tour-de-force for four Shores explained how he came up with the female actors of a certain age to tackle, plot of This Side of Crazy. and I was immediately drawn to its blend “Being a Southern Baptist preacher’s kid, of comedy and pathos, both rooted in true I’ve always been obsessed with gospel music, human behavior. and I became very obsessed with this gospel “We chose it because of the quality of the singer named Dottie Rambo, the most prolific writing and the way it touches your heart. songwriter in gospel music history,” Shores said. “She’s been recorded by everybody—Dolly That’s the ideal formula for a great evening of Parton, Whitney Houston—and has over 4,000 theater.”

Many theaters are producing shows with published songs. Shockingly, this country gospel singer loved Sordid Lives, and back in the smaller casts due to the pandemic. However, Marlow said a smaller cast can actually create day of MySpace, I got a message from Dottie a challenge for a director.

Rambo. She sent me all these gifts, (including) “I’m always looking to keep the stage a Dottie Rambo doll, but she didn’t realize that picture interesting, which is easier when I was also obsessed with her. there’s lots of people to dress the stage,” said “We were doing a national tour, and we Marlow. “Smaller scenes can become static were playing Nashville, and Dottie Rambo so easily, so I try to think cinematically when came. I was just like, ‘Whoa,’—but quickly, blocking actors, so the audience’s focus is I found out that she truly was the most always in the right place, and the scene is narcissistic Christian I think I’ve ever met, never visually boring. Since the audience and maybe deservedly so. She did write a point of view doesn’t change, it’s important song, ‘Build My Mansion (Next Door to that the spatial relationships between Jesus),’ and I was always like, ‘Do you really characters do. deserve that real estate?’

“The playwright does the hard work, “Around that time, a fan sent me this creating intriguing characters and great recording on YouTube of these three little dialogue, but if the audience misses key girls called the Peasall Sisters, and they were moments due to poor focus, even a great play like little superstars for Jesus. They were can fall flat. The director’s one big job is to a pastor’s kids, and they were the voices of make sure that the finest details get conveyed George Clooney’s daughters in O Brother, clearly. I’m always amazed and, frankly, Where Art Thou? My mind started going: dismayed at how often that’s missed.”

‘What if I took Dottie Rambo and made Not only is Marlow a director; he also her the stage mother for these three little works in scene design, though his design superstars for Jesus?’ My twisted mind work is always credited to his alter ego. took over, and one (sister) was in a mental “I’m very visually oriented and prefer to institution; one was an atheist lesbian; and design the sets for shows I direct,” Marlow the other one was living with their mother, said. “My ‘nom-de-scene’ for design has and there’s a big secret that created a very big always been Toby Griffin. I started designing rift of 19 years of not speaking.”

Del Shores. Caroline Shores

under that name over 30 years ago to give the impression that more people were involved in a small production. It’s funny how many people who enjoy a play I’ve directed don’t realize who Toby is. It’s become more than just a gag for me, because I take both disciplines very seriously and am able to keep them separate.

“Unfortunately, the local league refuses to acknowledge Toby Griffin, so I have design awards with my actual name engraved on them, and that seems wrong to me.”

Much like Marlow likes designing his own sets, Shores likes the uncommon practice of directing his own plays—which is why Palm Canyon Theatre’s production of This Side of Crazy is the first that’s not directed by Shores.

“It’s interesting, because I’ve been so fortunate to work in three different mediums—television, film and stage—and they’re all so different, because it’s very

accepted for a writer to direct his own film, but it’s not that accepted for a playwright to direct their own play,” Shores said. “There came a time when I just decided that I wanted to do things my way rather than the way people told me they should be done. I’ve been happy with the results of it.”

Still, Shores said he’s looking forward to seeing a production of This Side of Crazy that was put in someone else’s hands.

“I really love this play. I’m glad that they’re doing it down there, and I’m excited to see how it will be directed,” Shores said.

This Side of Crazy will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18; Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 20; and 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $29.50; student tickets are $15. For tickets or more information, call 760-323-5123, or visit palmcanyontheatre.net.

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The Artists Council looks to create connections with its first in-person exhibit since the pandemic, ‘NEXUS’

T

by cat makino

he work of more than 100 artists, painters, sculptors and photographers will be showcased at the Artist Council’s NEXUS exhibition and sale, on display through Sunday, Nov. 21.

NEXUS is no ordinary exhibit. It’s the Artists Council’s first in-person show since the pandemic arrived, and it serves as a christening, of sorts, of the group’s now-official permanent home, the Artists Center at the Galen (formerly the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert).

Three years after the Artists Council separated from the Palm Springs Art Museum, the nonprofit group has big plans for its permanent home—and foremost among those plans is an attempt to reach out to the diverse desert community.

“Artists who are in galleries and museums nature,” she said. “… These reflections draw have been lily white,” said Carlos Garcia, an upon themes associated with mythic images Artists Council board member. “The Artists of the priestess that embody divine female Council wants to bring in Latinos and reach power. In the ancient world, the priestess out to kids in the community. We even have officiated sacred rituals. Their spiritual a Cultural Justice Committee. … Our heart is authority came from their inner wisdom, there. We want to reach out to artists of color deeply grounded in the natural world.” and a diversity of cultures, and we hope to Ricardo Vela, an award-winning journalistbring in families and friends of young artists turned-artist, paints with acrylic and oil on by reaching out to schools and connecting our glass, canvas or any other surface. He said artists to students to be their mentors.” he works with an “emotional expressionistic David Hatcher, the Artists Council board style” by using rich colors and broad gestural chairman, summed up the approach thusly: brushstrokes.

“It’s artreach instead of outreach.”

“My art is abstract and expresses my inner NEXUS, the exhibit’s theme, means “a emotions and surroundings,” he said. connected group or series, as well as a central The Artists Council always welcomes point.” Digital artist Wallace Colvard is one new participants. Artists interested in of the 111 Artists Council members—from joining the group, which currently consists the Coachella Valley and beyond, all the way of 375 members, can learn more at www. to Canada and Europe—whose work will be artistscouncil.com/join. featured.

“I work mostly with simple geometry, but NEXUS will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 sometimes incorporate my photography,” p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, at the Artists Colvard said. “In the case of ‘Indian Summer,’ Center at the Galen, 72567 Highway 111, in it’s a textile print that I created in 2021 (that) Palm Desert. Admission is free (with a suggested is printed on German etching paper.” donation); the exhibit is also displayed online. For Colvard said a local printer who uses archival more information, call 760-565-6130, or visit inks guarantees the work will last 100 years. artistscouncil.com.

Bi-coastal artist Nancy Gesimondo—she has homes in Palm Springs and Queens, New York City—says her work presents a deep connection to nature. She creates photography-based assemblages, often including objects that have an aesthetic or symbolic meaning. For example, in Gesimondo’s work “Healing,” she uses real feathers, which represent a magical occurrence.

“I was influenced by pioneering feminist artists such as Anne Brigman and Judy Chicago, who also “Indian Summer” by Wallace Colvard. photograph themselves in

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22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

NOVEMBER 2021

FOOD & DRINK

ON COCKTAILS I

These three spookily named drinks all have storied histories—and are delicious, too!

BY kevin carlow

’ve been looking over my past columns, trying to organize them for future reference, and, oh golly, do the years fly! In doing so, I realized I’ve never done a proper “spookily named drink” piece before, even though I could’ve sworn I had.

Why now? Well, I got an invitation from the erudite esotericist “Reverend Erik” Arneson to do a live stream for his Arnemancy podcast. He asked me to come up with a short list of appropriate cocktails, and although I have written about two of them in the past, I figured this column would be a great place for everyone to get ready to follow along at home, or to plan their own hijinks, paced through the course of a day—with a garnish, but if you make as a pitcher or punch horror-movie pairing to boot! bowl, add some lemon wheels.

Let’s start with the (hopefully late) morning.

As for my movie recommendation: Put on I wrote about the “Corpse Reviver No. 1” last something campy like A Nightmare on Elm month, and as fine of an addition as it would Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge or Sleepaway Camp. make to your macabre masquerade, let’s start For the afternoon, it would be hard to beat with the very brunchable “Corpse Reviver No. the “El Diablo.” It’s a tequila Tiki classic, first 2” from The Savoy Cocktail Book instead. Keep in print in 1946 in Trader Vic’s Book of Food in mind that the inventor, Harry Craddock, and Drink. It’s also an easy recipe, but you can states that “four of these in swift succession gussy her up by substituting mezcal, infusing will unrevive the corpse again!” The Kina Lillet the tequila with hot chiles, and/or using ginger in the recipe would have been more bitter than beer instead of ginger ale.

Lillet Blanc that most people now use, so you 1 ounce tequila can use Kina L’Aero d’Or or Cocchi Americano 1/2 ounce of creme de cassis for a more classic flavor. I like a curaçao such Juice of half a lime as Pierre Ferrand or Grand Marnier instead of Collins glass, ice; top with ginger ale and the the triple sec for an evening variation. spent lime shell.

1 ounce of dry gin Here is a more-modern, craft take on the “El 1 ounce of triple sec (Craddock used Diablo”: Cointreau) 2 ounces of tequila 1 ounce of Kina Lillet (see above) 1/2 ounce of creme de cassis 1 ounce of lemon juice 3/4 of an ounce of fresh lime juice Shake; strain into a cocktail glass that has 1 teaspoon of simple syrup been lightly rinsed or spritzed with absinthe. No Shake with ice; dump into a Collins glass; top

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The Zombie at Bootlegger Tiki. Kevin Carlow

with ginger beer, and a cherry and lime flag.

This one calls for a movie with a cool, macho lead. It goes well with Evil Dead II or John Carpenter’s The Thing, but you could also go with The Exorcist and risk being a little “on the nose.”

All right, let’s end the night with a “bang”—a classic no-more-than-two-per-guest drink, the “Zombie.” If any of your guests are still standing, this one will take care of that in short order. It’s a Donn Beach drink, from the middle of the 20th century, and the actual specifications are lost to history. A lot of bars use the Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry interpretation: 1 ounce of overproof rum 1 1/2 ounces of Jamaican rum 1 1/2 ounces of “gold” Puerto Rican rum 3/4 of an ounce of fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce of falernum 1/2 ounce of “Donn’s Mix” 1 teaspoon of grenadine 1/4 teaspoon of absinthe 3 dashes of Angostura bitters Blend, or get some crushed ice and shake; pour into a Collins glass or another tall, skinny vessel; garnish with “slapped” mint, and a cherry and orange flag.

Yeah, that’s a lot, I know. There is a reason it’s called the “Zombie.” For the Jamaican rum, you could use something like Appleton, or Wray and Nephew for more alcohol per ounce (you maniac!), but I would go with blackstrap rum for a caramel-y flavor and dark color. The gold Puerto Rican rum could be Bacardi Gold, but there are better options out there; use the Appleton here, or a Central American rum.

For the over-proof rum; Lemon Hart is great if

you can find it, and O.F.T.D. from Plantation is good, too.

The tricky part, besides walking after two of these, is the Donn’s Mix. It’s lost to history, but most tiki bartenders I know use something like this: Take three cinnamon sticks, a cup of sugar and a cup of water; boil into a syrup and turn off the heat; use one part of this syrup to two parts fresh grapefruit juice.

As for the falernum, you can make your own, or use something spice-forward like Bitter Truth or another craft-spirit company’s offering. Here’s a falernum recipe, cobbled together from several I have seen over the years: 250 milliliters of Wray and Nephew rum A few dozen whole cloves Zest of a dozen small limes, or 8 large A small “hand” of ginger 1/4 to 1/2 of a whole nutmeg, grated Peel the ginger (use a spoon!), and chop into a small dice; add the rest of the ingredients. Let this infuse for at least 24 hours, then add 500 milliliters of 2-to-1 (sugar to water) simple syrup; let rest overnight, if possible. Tweak to your liking.

As for the movie … who cares at this point?

Road House? Mean Girls? If you’re still in the horror spirit, The Return of the Living Dead or Re-Animator will definitely get people’s attention! Just don’t blame me for what happens after you consume the Zombies. Even if the limit-two-per-customer was primarily a clever marketing gimmick, it’s also good advice!

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

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

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FOOD & DRINK

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CAESAR CERVISIA JASON DAVID HAIR STUDIO

I

By brett newton

LOVE YOUR HAIR

t’s autumn, the time of year when we all complain about holiday decorations going up earlier and earlier. It’s also a time of year that brings potentially wonderful things from the craft beer world.

One of them is obvious: pumpkin-related beers. When it comes to pumpkin spice, it is understandable to be cynical, thanks to numerous companies out there that just nakedly add that infamous mix of spices to products and call them “Pumpkin Spice (Insert Names Here).”

Country Club and Cook Street Some brewers do it, too—but some of them, at least, do it right. In other words, “pumpkin spice” Palm De sert doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be drinking liquified potpourri.

Take Great Divide’s Yeti imperial stout. For years, Great Divide has been making variants of the Yeti with ingredients like chocolate, espresso white760-340-5959 pepper as well, which might be from a and more. This year, I found tall individual Belgian yeast strain—which would make sense, cans of the Pumpkin Spice Yeti, which include www.jasondavidhairstudio.net given Spencer is an actual Trappist brewery in the aforementioned assorted spices—as well as Massachusetts. coffee, resulting in a rather tasty version of a The season, mercifully, is not all pumpkin not-so-new idea. spice. As I write this, “wet hop” beers are being I don’t see any new releases for it yet, released—and need to be consumed quickly. If but The Bruery for many years has released you’re unfamiliar: Some brewers have freshly a seasonal Belgian-style strong ale with picked hops rush-delivered, and then they tons of roasted yams, molasses and spices add them to the beer as soon as humanly called Autumn Maple. I swear by it as an possible. This imparts both familiar and new accompaniment to your Thanksgiving meal— flavors and aromas from the different hop or as a nightcap. varietals. Expect citrus and grass, as well as If you’re looking for something less strong, any other characteristics the particular hops check out Spencer Brewery’s The Monkster used generally contribute to a final product.

Mash, which is a great combination of spices I’ve been lucky to get hold of some brilliant and actual beer flavor. I detected a hint of versions by North Park Beer Co. in San

Yes, there are pumpkin spice craft brews—but other types of autumn-themed beers offer so much more

Diego and Green Cheek in Orange, thanks to friends, but I found Fremont Brewing’s Field to Ferment at the Palm Desert Total Wine and More. Fremont loves mixing up the hops used every year, and I look forward to everything the brewery releases that involves wet hops, including this year’s release with Simcoe and Centennial.

There’s also the trusty Celebration Fresh Hop IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing that has been released for decades—four decades, to be exact.

If you want a taste of old-school pine and citrus that’s balanced by a rich malt body, you can find Celebration locally without much effort.

Though it has officially come and gone, Oktoberfest sees yearly releases of some fantastic beers that will still be good in November and December. The classic versions from German breweries are a good place to start, and Spaten, Augustiner, Hofbräu and Paulaner are among the first companies that come to mind. It should be said here that there is some confusion surrounding the märzen and festbier styles; the former is a rich, amber lager with some distinct notes of browned bread, whereas the latter is paler, hoppier (even though it’s still malt-focused) and lighter

in alcohol. A festbier is designed for, well, festivities, and since these festivities include quite a bit of drinking, a lighter, less-malty beer makes sense.

Not all American breweries adhere to these guidelines, however. Sierra Nevada has a great Oktoberfest beer that is most definitely based off of a märzen, but with more of a caramel malt flavor. I’ve seen a number of Southern California breweries make exceptional versions of festbiers, including Modern Times, Green Cheek, Highland Park (who does one of my favorite American examples) and Enegren Brewing. It’s certainly worth a trip to go get some of these beers for the backyard barbecues we can have again, thanks to the merciful end of the summer. Enegren’s Oktoberfest can be found at Ranch Market in Thousand Palms. It’s also worth mentioning again that German styles are made for grilled meats, especially pork.

Before I leave you to revel in the autumnal deliciousness that seasonal beers can provide, I want to talk about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and some of the beers that have been inspired by Mexican flavors. Stone Brewing’s Xocoveza was the competitionwinning idea of a San Diego homebrewer, Chris Banker, made in collaboration with Cerveceria Insurgente out of Tijuana; Stone has released this beauty once a year since 2014. It’s an imperial milk stout designed to give the impression of a Mexican hot chocolate. With tons of cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, it’s easily my favorite Stone beer of the last decade. San Diego-based Thorn Brewing’s Spicy Maya takes a similar idea, but pulls the brakes on the strength while warming my heart—not just because of the cayenne and pasilla peppers, but also because they use a dry Irish stout as a base. Thorn did this in collaboration with Chuao Chocolatier from Carlsbad, and the result is glorious.

Xocoveza can be found in many area stores, including University Village Food Mart in Palm Desert, but I have only spotted the Spicy Maya at Total Wine.

Yes, there is a lot to choose from as far as seasonal beers go—and you don’t have to travel very far to enjoy them. Leave the people who bafflingly want pumpkin spice hard seltzer (oh, it exists!) to themselves and take in the season via amazing craft-beer creations.

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

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FOOD & DRINK

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VINE SOCIAL JASON DAVID

Supply-chain issues, wildfires and extreme weather are driving wine prices up and causing severe shortages

HAIR STUDIO

R

By KatieLOVE finn YOUR

HAIR

emember when I was rejoicing that even though we had to endure a pandemic, at least we had wine?

Well, I spoke too soon.

If you’ve turned on your television, you’ve heard about supply-chain issues. Every night on the Country Club and Cook Street national news, we are being told that this year, the shelves will be bare, and the Grinch may very Palm Dethe sert well steal Christmas. While parents everywhere are panicking about list of unattainable toys their children are asking Santa to bring them, there is an even more frightening scenario looming: 760-340-5959 a wine shortage. container ship; it goes on a little voyage; it This summer, we began to feel the impact of reaches a U.S. port; it’s unloaded, put on a our kind-of-post-COVID world. As restaurants www.jasondavidhairstudio.net truck and sent off to its new home. Now, that began to fully reopen and place orders to very same process is taking up to five months. restock their inventory, it put pressure With orders being placed on sites like on importers and distributors to fill their Amazon for everything from televisions to warehouses with more cases of wine for weekly toilet paper, there just isn’t room on the ship deliveries. Normally, this would be a non-issue. for wine. No room for wine?! It’s like the end of But life right now is anything but normal. the world, and everyone has lost their damn Despite booming sales for home mind. And if wine does make it onto a ship, consumption, much of the alcohol industry there aren’t enough workers at the port to was in a proverbial coma for a year and half. unload it. So, many container ships are just Overnight, 50 percent of the sales channels sitting out there in the ocean, waiting to be dried up, and as a result, a lot of wine and unloaded. So close, yet so far. liquor sales reps, truck drivers, warehouse Compound this “no room at the inn” employees and middle managers were problem with the fact that there is also a glassunemployed. Some import and distribution bottle shortage, a cardboard shortage, a timber companies went out of business entirely. shortage (important for not only barrels, but This left a lot of wines we know and love wooden boxes in which wine is packaged), and “homeless,” without a way to get back into a paper shortage for wine labels. the wholesale arena. Even when some of Mother nature has also been terribly these lost labels were picked up by another cruel. Fires raged along the West Coast in distributor, there was still no guarantee the 2020, all the way from California to British new ambassador for these wines would actually Columbia, during the most vulnerable time stock any inventory. for grapes on the vine. In the weeks leading As for wines that need to come across the up to harvest, grapes are in their final stage big, blue sea, they face a whole other set of of development—that critical time when problems. Bringing wines over from Europe, ripeness, flavor compounds and sugars are South America, Australia and New Zealand coming together. The fires devastated the takes about five weeks in normal times. The red grapes still hanging in the vineyards, and order is placed; the wine is loaded onto a many producers were forced to scrap their red

wine production for the year. The white wines produced this vintage were spared, but given that this will be the only source of revenue for some of these wineries, you can bet the price tags for chardonnays and sauvignon blancs are gonna go sky high.

Across the pond, countries including France and Italy experienced devastating spring frosts, during the other hyper-critical time in a grape’s life. This is when the grapes are in their fragile infancy and need ideal conditions to thrive.

In April, vineyard owners lit smudge pots and anti-frost candles to provide warmth to these delicate vines, all the way from Burgundy in France to Tuscany in Italy. These thousands of small fires could be seen from outer space. It’s estimated that the agricultural losses suffered in just these two countries will be more than 1 billion euros—and production will be down by 30 to 40 percent.

New Zealand also battled a harsh, cold growing season, causing sauvignon blanc production to be significantly down.

So what does all this mean? I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it means you can start feeling nostalgic for the “good old days” when that wine you loved only cost you $12. You can reminisce about the days when you could pop into the wine shop and buy any number of bottles of Napa cabernet, or Willamette Valley pinot noir. If you’re like me, you’re already shedding tears for our beloved Chablis, which was hit the hardest by frosts, with 90 percent of vineyards losing the battle this year.

It also means it’s a good idea to get your hands on the wine you love now—or you might be crying right along side your kids at Christmas. Remember, the Grinch stole the toys, the trees, and even the roast beast. Don’t let him have the Christmas wine, too.

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

Last year’s wildfires wreaked havoc on vineyards, ruining much of the 2020 red-grape harvest.

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Wilma and Frieda takes familiar food and gives it an upgrade

BY andrew smith

omfort food with a twist is the somewhat modest tagline at Wilma and Frieda. It’s comfort food twisted, dismantled, overhauled and reimagined.

Since opening her Palm Desert location in 2013, Kelly McFall has been racking up fans and awards for her creative, eye-catching breakfast and brunch offerings. She opened a second Palm Springs location in 2018, and even caught nationwide attention through Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

“I approach the menu two ways,” McFall said. “One is to take items that are familiar from Wilma and Frieda’s pastries have been such your childhood and give them an upgrade. a hit that her pastry chef, Todd Konkol, had The second is to take items from highto move outside the restaurant. end dinner houses and convert them into “He’s been with me from the beginning,” breakfast items.” said McFall, “At Palm Desert, he had to bake Those two approaches are evident across through the night, because there wasn’t room the menu, from decadently embellished in the daytime.” pop tarts to breakfast shrimp and grits. It’s Realizing that her kitchen couldn’t take on not unusual to see specials like prosciuttothe load of a second location, and wanting wrapped scallops benedict, seared gnocchi to maintain the same consistency, she and eggs, or filet and lobster benedict. They encouraged Konkol to start his own business. only use filet mignon at breakfast—even in As such, Konkol now continues to produce the the country fried steak. same proprietary recipes that he and McFall “I wanted to be the little sister to the highcreated in the restaurant—just offsite. end dinner house,” McFall said. “You may have “He’s so very, very talented. I eat better dinner plans someplace else, but tomorrow, at his house than I do anywhere in town,” you’ll be having breakfast at my place.”

McFall said, adding that Konkol has catered McFall’s inspiration came from her for Madonna, Ellen DeGeneres and the Prince childhood and her two Southern, food-loving of Brunei. grandmothers, Wilma and Frieda. They The English muffins and pop tarts are helped lead her to a lifelong career in the still produced on-premise, as is pretty much restaurant business. She was working as a everything else. director for Peet’s Coffee when she landed “Everything but the ketchup,” McFall said. in Southern California and relocated to the “We source most of our products locally. It’s Coachella Valley. really important to me to select the highest “The desert was always my fun vacation quality. We have local honey. Our preserves place,” she said, “I’d been filing away ideas for are made in-house. My coffee, from Koffi, is a Wilma and Frieda for the previous 10 years private blend I personally selected.” when I started to notice the demographics My own breakfast go-to is the short rib changing here. With the growth of events eggs benedict. like the tennis (tournament) and Coachella, I “Nobody was doing that when we first decided that this would be the time.” opened,” said McFall. Now common across When you first arrive at either of the two breakfast restaurants, Wilma’s version restaurants, you will inevitably pass by the display of homemade pastries. It’s an enticing is unparalleled. It’s a quality short rib, display of brownies, bars, cakes and cookies— homemade English muffin, and a signature lighter, fluffier hollandaise sauce. The latter is some mainstays, some unique one-offs. The pop tarts, in particular, have taken on a life of achieved through a process of egg separation that I won’t divulge here. their own.

Second on my list is the “griddled” meatloaf “It’s a treat everyone remembers from a and eggs. It’s a rustic, barbecue-style meatloaf box as a kid,” McFall said, “We thought: If we that’s browned on the grill prior to serving. took really good pastry and fresh preserves, “I started with my grandmother’s recipe,” how good would that be?”

McFall said. “It took me 19 attempts to get to With her homemade jams and a flaky, shortbread-butter crust, the answer is simple: the recipe we’re serving.” One of her secrets: She uses Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs Fantastic! They’re served warm, then topped for a more-buttery flavor. It’s not exactly with crème anglaise and fresh berries. The a secret, as the meatloaf is one of several Meyer lemon blueberry pop tart tops the recipes available on request. At breakfast, it’s sales, but McFall likes to get creative with served with eggs, while the lunch menu uses different flavors and seasonal offerings.

Wilma and Frieda’s signature griddled meatloaf and eggs. ANDREW SMITH

it as a melt, and the Palm Springs location has converted it into a dinner entrée.

Another dinner item that made its way onto the breakfast menu is the shrimp and grits. The shrimp are large prawns—larger than you’d expect on a breakfast plate.

“I want you to see the shrimp. I want you to taste it. I want you to know it’s good,” McFall said.

The grits explode cheesy flavor. “Some people are skeptical of grits, so I’ll offer them a sample. They’ll say ‘wow’ and ask if this is how grits are everywhere, and I’ll say: No, they’re not!”

Other house specialties include a biscuits and gravy loaded with chunky pieces of sausage and pecan-wood bacon; a chili verde pork and brie omelet; and a hearty bangers and onion rings benedict. That’s in addition to the forementioned filet mignon country fried steak, available in Palm Springs.

And then there’s the “Sweeter Side” of the menu. There, you’ll find crowd-pleasers like the churro waffle topped with crème anglaise, and a French toast made “bread pudding style” then topped with custard and blackberries.

While the breakfast and brunch items have been the impetus behind Wilma and Frieda’s

reputation, the menu includes lunch items like salads, sandwiches, melts and burgers.

Try the short rib melt or the chicken breast sandwich with crispy mustard bacon.

“That bacon is like a Scooby snack,” McFall said. “It’s baked with brown sugar, Japanese red chili peppers and mustard.”

The burgers are great, too. They use an elevated, rich short-rib-and-chuck blend, sourced from an award-winning New York butcher.

A dinner program was added at the Palm Springs location. It’s been a stop-and-start affair that just relaunched this October.

Highlights include the baby-back ribs, the short rib ravioli, and Whiskey River chicken, as well as dinner versions of established house favorites like the shrimp and grits.

Whether you’re visiting Wilma and Frieda early or late, bring your appetite. All dishes are hearty and fulfilling—and you’ll probably want to save room for those fresh-baked pastries and desserts. Thanks to the elaborate reimagination of the dishes and a specials board that’s always pushing new trends, it’s no wonder that this establishment has caught the eyes of a nationwide audience.

For more information, visit wilmafrieda.com.

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the

FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT This month’s menu: a sandwich with delicious local mushrooms, and a fat, yummy cookie

By Jimmy Boegle

Opens November 19!

Patio and indoor dining takeout 4 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday-SUNday 1775 E. Palm Canyon Drive (760) 778-6595 www.533vietfusion.com CVIndependent.com

WHAT The Canyon Creek pulled mushroom sandwich WHERE Larkspur Grill, 45400 Larkspur Lane, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $16.50 CONTACT 760-340-6069; www.larkspurgrill.com WHY It’s a delicious vegetarian take.

During the depths of the stay-at-home orders, the Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market offered salvation. It was a safe place where I could get out of the house, perhaps see some friends, and get fresh ingredients for yummy meals at home.

Whenever I arrived, I headed immediately to the Canyon Creek Mushrooms booth (www. canyoncreekmushrooms.com), for two reasons: First, I’d fallen in love with these fresh, fantastic, locally grown mushrooms.

I frequently used them with steaks, in soups, and on their own.

Second … Canyon Creek tended to sell out quickly, and few varieties were left by the time I, a late riser on Saturdays, got to the farmers’ market.

Therefore, I was delighted to see the words “Canyon Creek” on Larkspur Grill’s lunch menu during a recent visit. I was meeting my colleague Kevin to talk shop, and we decided it’d be nice to check out the restaurant that had taken over AC3 Restaurant + Bar’s former space at the Hotel Paseo. The mushrooms—specifically, king trumpet mushrooms, according to the server—were the star ingredient in the Canyon Creek pulled mushroom sandwich, joining barbecue sauce and curtido (Salvadoran-style) slaw. Being such a Canyon Creek fan, I had to order it.

How does this vegetarian take on a pulledpork sandwich compare to the original?

The texture was definitely different—the mushrooms are firmer than shredded pork, and they don’t absorb as much; as a result, the sandwich was a bit over-sauced. But beyond that minor quibble, this was every bit as tasty.

The mushrooms were savory and perfectly prepared—and I loved each and every bite.

Props to Larkspur Grill for taking great a local ingredient and making it shine. I’ll be back.

WHAT The Chocolate XTC cookie WHERE Cookie Plug, 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, No. F111, Cathedral City; also at 40100 Washington St., Bermuda Dunes HOW MUCH $4 alone; discounts when buying three or more cookies CONTACT 760-656-0005 (Cathedral City); 760-360-7748 (Bermuda Dunes); www. thecookieplug.com.

WHY It’s a damn good cookie.

After a pricey meal at a fancy Palm Desert restaurant one recent evening, the hubby and I declined the underwhelming offerings on the desert menu.

But that didn’t mean we weren’t in the mood for sweets, so we decided to try out a place I first heard about in this fine publication’s Restaurant News Bites column several months back: Cookie Plug. The SoCal chain, with about two dozen locations, recently came to the Coachella Valley, promising the “thickest and fattest cookies baked fresh daily.”

As we walked into the small Cathedral City location, the smell was amazing. A helpful employee walked us through things, explaining the various cookie types—including keto varieties—and various deals. Since this was a Friday, that meant a “fat sack,” aka a box of a dozen cookies, was discounted from $30 to $25. That was our choice.

We then started shouting out which cookies we wanted among the 15 or so offerings.

We got two OGs (chocolate chip), a Nutty OG (chocolate chip walnut), a Cookie Cookie Cream, a Purple Haze (like red velvet, but purple), a Firecracker (s’mores ingredients), a Snooperdoodle (snickerdoodle) and various other varieties.

Then we went home and ate cookies all weekend. This was not a good weekend for our diets—but it sure was enjoyable.

Among our favorites were the OG, the Firecracker and the Nutty OG (though it lost points due to the presence of a piece of shell). However, our consensus fave was the Chocolate XTC, a chocolate cookie containing three types of chocolate chips—semi-sweet, white and bittersweet.

So much chocolate. So much yum.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

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Restaurant NEWS BITES By charles drabkin CERTIFIED FARMERS’ MARKETS ADD MICRO-BUSINESS FOOD VENDORS The Certified Farmers’ Markets in La Quinta, Palm Desert and Palm Springs have added more hot-food vendors to the array of purveyors doing business each week.

These micro-business food companies—most of which got their start during the pandemic—are all operating out of approved kitchens, although they do not have brick-and-mortar storefronts.

For many of them, the markets represent the only venue, outside of catering and perhaps social media, where they sell their food. Some people may remember that Townie Bagels got a similar start before opening a brick-and-mortar shop on Sunny Dunes Road in Palm Springs.

Offerings will include tamales by Arriola’s Tortilleria (available in Palm Desert), barbecue ribs by Papa’s BBQ (Palm Springs), ceviche by Camacho’s Exquisite Catering (Palm Springs), breakfast burritos by Croux and Company (Palm Springs and Palm Desert), Vietnamese dumplings

by Straight and Marrow (Palm Desert), pizzas by Popping Off Pies (Palm Springs) and biscuit sandwiches by Biscuit and Counter (Palm Springs). Please note: Not all vendors are present each week, and schedules change.

Megan Goehring, the manager of all three markets, tells me she has plans to expand the offerings even more very soon. Learn more at www.certifiedfarmersmarkets.org.

IN BRIEF The Miramonte Resort and Spa, at 45000 Indian Wells Lane, in Indian Wells, has launched two new culinary concepts. Citrus and Palm highlights contemporary Mediterranean fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while The Tavern offers shareable dishes inspired by American favorites for happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. before transitioning into dinner. Peruse menus and learn more at www. miramonteresort.com. … Southern California mini-chain Porta Via—with locations in Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades and Calabasas—is opening location No. 4 in Palm Desert, at 73100 El Paseo, Suites 1 and 2. An opening date has not yet been announced, but the menus at the other locations include contemporary cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week; find more info at portaviarestaurants.com. … The Desert Cancer Foundation has announced that its annual Corks and Cuisine Wine Dinner and Auction will return to the Ironwood Country Club, at 73735 Irontree Drive, in Palm Desert, on Saturday, Nov. 20. The outdoor event will feature sips from wineries in Temecula, Paso Robles, Sonoma and beyond. Tickets are $295; go to corkscuisine.desertcancerfoundation. org, or call 760-773-6554. … Chad Gardner and Willie Rhine—the restaurateurs behind 1501 Uptown Gastropub (both), Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge (Rhine), Roly China Fusion (Gardner) and 533 Viet Fusion (Gardner)—have acquired the restaurant formally known as Bernie’s, located at 69830 Highway 111, in Rancho Mirage. In January 2022, the duo will reopen the restaurant as a “modern European” spot dubbed Willie’s. Based on their previous successes, Gardner and Rhine are likely to make this one an excellent addition to the valley. … Back from the dead: Wang’s in the Desert, at 424 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, announced on social media it was “rising from the ashes” and reopening on Thursday, Nov. 4—just in time for Greater Palm Springs Pride. The restaurant had been closed since March 2020, when COVID arrived. The Facebook page promises a new menu featuring some old favorites; watch www.facebook.com/wangsinthedesert for more. … 4 Saints at the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs (100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs) has announced a special Dinner Under the Stars event to celebrate its fourth anniversary. On Wednesday, Nov. 17, a $70, four-course al fresco experience will take place on the rooftop, featuring a prix fixe menu by executive chef Ysaac Ramirez. To make reservations, call 760-392-2020; learn more about the restaurant at www.4saintspalmsprings.com. … Remy Wines, an Oregon-based, LGBTQ+-owned winery with deep ties to the Coachella Valley, will hold a special pop-up tasting at Seaplane Shirts (1009 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs) from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27. In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that owner and winemaker Remy Drabkin is my sister. She produces complex Italian varietals grown in the Pacific Northwest, including lagrein, dolcetto, sangiovese, and barbera. Learn more at remywines.com. … Engin Onural—owner of The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge in Palm Desert, and Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey in Palm Springs—has opened a new craftcocktail space just around the corner from Sandfish. Tailor Shop, at 140 W. Via Lola, in Palm Springs, is creating quite a buzz; sign up for updates at www.tailorshopps.com. … Sadly, Massimo and Annie Orru, of Venezia Italian Restaurant, at 2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, have decided to sell the restaurant. Massimo tells me the new owner was also born and raised in Italy and will be reopening the restaurant in about a month under a new name. Hopefully the new owner makes the same great pizza!

Got a hot tip? Let me know: foodnews@cvindependent.com.

according to Yelp, Tripadvisor & OpenTable WE ARE ONE OF THE VERY BEST with 9,000 Sq feet keeping you safe is easy OPEN DAILY FROM 11AM - 3PM & 5PM - 9PM 849 N PALM CANYON DRIVE . PALM SPRINGS EIGHT4NINE.COM 760.325.8490 CVIndependent.com

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War celebrates five decades of shows by bringing genre-defying hits to Spotlight 29 the venue report: Ludacris, Macy gray, everclear, priscilla Presley—and much more!

Andy Cahan’s ‘The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of’ documents his storied music career The lucky 13: Learn a bit about two of the coachella valley's top bassists

www.cvindependent.com/music John Garcia and the Band of Gold performs at a previous Concert for Autism.

Autism. Laura Hunt Little

The Concert for Autism is back—with safety precautions and a new venue

33 CVIndependent.com

PERFORMING AND CARING

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MUSIC 8-TRACK FLASHBACK By matt king

H

aving hit records and being well-known don’t always go hand in hand.

You’ve almost certainly heard the infectious cowbell, bass line and horns from “Low Rider” at a sports game or on television. You’ve likely heard the campy sing-along of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” many times. But if you hadn’t read the subheadline on this story, would you have known these hits were made by the band War? War is belatedly celebrating its 50th of that information was not what you can get anniversary with a tour, including a stop at on Google, or Facebook, or Instagram, half-aSpotlight 29 on Saturday, Nov. 6. gram, or whatever.”

“Back in the day, a lot of people didn’t Jordan said he has a profound appreciation identify War with our songs,” said Lonnie for his audiences.

Jordan, a founding member of War and the lead “I always say: ‘What you need to do is play vocalist, during a recent phone interview. “They for the people, and when you play for the knew the songs, but they didn’t know the band. people, just remember they are your Rock and It’s crucial to me for people to come out and see Roll Hall of Fans, and they will mirror back at this billboard outside that says ‘War.’ They hear you whatever you give them. Be happy, because all the songs, and I let them know that these are this is what you love to do, and let them know our songs. This is what put us here, including it, and they’ll give it all back to you,’” Jordan them. … This is how we all came together as said. “I’m just really proud of my fans. They one. Our fans and us, we’re all one.” brought us here, and they could take us out.

Jordan said that when the band started They’re my plug. They keep the power going.” out, the members didn’t even know how to Turning 73 in November, Jordan sounds read music. “Our music is raw, and that’s how and moves like he’s 23. people identify us,” he said. “The guys back “I’m going ’til the wheels fall off,” Jordan in the day who recorded the records with me said. “The word ‘end’ is like the word ‘retired.’ work really raw. That’s why if you spell raw Take the ‘re’ off, and you get ‘tired.’ I don’t backwards, you get ‘War.’” want to go that route, because I love what I After 50 years of touring, Jordan said the do too much, and it’s about entertaining and thing that has changed the most has been “the making people happy. I feel like a minister, or faces.” a troubadour; it’s important for me to make “I can tell that those faces are grandchildren people happy through music, which is also or children of the parents who saw us back a healing power. Like James Brown, I’m not in the late ’60s, early ’70s,” Jordan said. “The gonna stop ’til I drop.” younger ones who are curious, they Google Jordan’s mention of Brown led to a deep and say, ‘Wow, I thought that was George conversation about Brown’s influence on War— Lopez’s song. I thought that was Cheech and and a story about how attending a James Brown Chong’s song. Now I know who War is. Let me show almost led to Jordan being arrested. tell my parents, who really didn’t know back “I grew up in Compton, and it just so in the day before we had the technology.’ … happened that James Brown came into town,” We didn’t have access to a lot of information Jordan said. “He was performing up in South back then, except for newspapers, and a lot Central L.A., which was also a good place to go,

War.

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War celebrates five decades of shows by bringing genredefying hits to Spotlight 29 because there were a lot of clubs that we called the ‘Chitlin’ Circuit.’ There was one really nice place that was called the 5-4 Ballroom, and James Brown performed there for a couple of nights. I begged my mother to go, but I was too young, and she wouldn’t let me go—so I snuck out of the house, and I went anyway. I didn’t want to come home. I didn’t want to face my mother, so I ended up sleeping in uptown Compton, Compton Boulevard, at a burger stand. I fell asleep and woke up in the morning and saw all these unmarked cars and guys with suits on, and people taking my fingerprints, because someone broke into the burger stand, and they thought it was me. They thought that I was stupid enough to break in and then fall asleep. My fingerprints were on nothing, but they could have just accused me.”

James Brown was the driving force that caused Jordan to want War to be different: “Because of James Brown, I felt I could be that.

“We brought our own sound to the table along with our engineer, Chris Huston, and producer, Jerry Goldstein, because they didn’t know what to do with us, either. Chris left everything dry, and we just recorded as-is, and that’s the way we just became raw—raw sound, raw music, raw lyrics, everything. I was influenced a lot by Latin music, pure jazz and gospel, because I came up in Compton playing in church. … How we came into being able to record our music was just to get creative: Don’t read; don’t write anything; just let it flow.”

An undefinable genre and an open-ended approach to music have been both a blessing and a curse for Lonnie Jordan and War. “Even though you could go into a music store, like Tower Records, and find us in so many different categories, we couldn’t win any awards—Grammys and all that—because they didn’t know where to categorize us,” Jordan said. “They didn’t know what genre we were, so they went with the bands whose genres they knew. That’s OK, though, because the other side is that it keeps us working all the time. At this age, it’s too late to start over. All we can do is just make good with what we have, and make people happy, because that’s all that’s important.

All they want to do is be happy, have fun and reminisce—have their flashback. To a lot of people, we’re definitely their 8-track flashback.”

War will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6, at Spotlight 29, 46200 Harrison Place, in Coachella.

Tickets are $40 to $85. For tickets or more information, call 760-775-5566, or visit www. spotlight29.com.

The Venue REPORT November 2021 By matt king

Café Tacvba

Happy November! There’s a lot of entertainment headed our way this month, so grab a jacket (thank goodness)—and stay safe.

Fantasy Springs has the music and comedy goods this month. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, The New York Times’ pick (at some point) as “hottest comic in America,” Sebastian Maniscalco, will perform. Remaining tickets range from $79 to $99. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, Eagles legend Don Felder will grace the Indio stage. Tickets range from $29 to $49.

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

Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is set to bring a variety of music to The Show in November. Kenny Loggins is performing a special “Kenny at the Movies” set at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6. Tickets range from $60 to $100 to hear Loggins play his hits from various movie soundtracks. Fresh off of F9, Ludacris brings his pop-rap hits to town at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20. Tickets range from $45 to $75. At 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 26, Latin rockers Café Tacvba are set to perform. Tickets range from $50 to $85. Singer and songwriter extraordinaire Neil Sedaka graces the stage at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27. Tickets are $55 to $75. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.

Cathedral City’s Agua Caliente is hosting Zowie Bowie at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24, to celebrate the location’s first anniversary.

You must be 21+ to attend, but you can catch the multi-genre experience for free; just make sure you reserve your tickets. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-1995; www. aguacalientecasinos.com/cc.

Need a jazz music or comedy fix? Agua Caliente in Palm Springs has you covered with its regular events series! Jazzville rolls on with some notable performers, like Matt continued on Page 36 CVIndependent.com

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PERFORMING AND CARING

The Concert for Autism is back—with safety precautions and a new venue

By matt king

T

he Concert for Autism has been a staple of both charity work and the Coachella Valley music scene for years.

The popular annual event raises money for the Desert Autism Foundation through donations, T-shirt sales, silent auctions and raffles, while featuring a wide variety of local music.

In the past, the event has featured acts including John Garcia, The Hellions and Throw the Goat, just to name a few. early this year, when we were first able to This year’s event will take place on two start having shows, and still wanted to be a different days: The “warm-up event” will take part of the benefit. That’s going to be outside place on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Coachella Valley as long as it doesn’t get really windy, as it Brewing Co., while the main event will occur sometimes does at CVB.” on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Big Rock Pub. (Full Heinz admitted that it was a difficult disclosure: I’ll be performing during the main decision to put on a live event right now. event.)

“Linda and I, you know, ultimately, it’s our “The last four years, we’ve done at the Tack decision, and we have to decide, like, is it worth Room, and they’ve been fantastic for us,” said it?” Heinz said. “The decision we came to was Josh Heinz, a local musician and a founder of that it looks like the (COVID-19) numbers are the Concert for Autism. “We would have stayed going down. We’re all vaccinated in the house at the Tack Room—except it’s kind of odd except for Jack. We’re going to wear masks coming off of COVID and trying to plan it all.” when we’re there, because we’re talking to Heinz said the busy schedules of the 15 hundreds of people during the benefit, and or so volunteers, many of whom are in the we’ll just ask everybody to be safe. We said, audiovisual industry, helped cause both the ‘Look, come Nov. 1, if all of a sudden, numbers move from the Tack Room and the event’s start trending in a different direction, there’s later-than-usual dates. always a possibility of saying: Thanks, but no.’

“Jeff Mazer and Greg Little have been doing That’s just the realism of doing something in sound for us for seven years, and they helped the COVID age. set up the system inside the Big Rock Pub, “I think this is almost like a transition and they were like, ‘Look, the infrastructure’s year. Hopefully the numbers will continue there; the sound and lights are already there. to go down, and more and more people get We’ll be playing inside, and they have heaters vaccinated, and by next year, we can go back already attached to the outside patio, so to the format we had, with two days at the we can do an acoustic stage outside, and Tack Room, and even more donations and all people aren’t going to get cold,’” Heinz said. that stuff.”

“We’re still in a pandemic, and I would have Heinz said pandemic uncertainty is one of preferred to have been fully outside, but the main reasons why “everything’s late this we’ll keep the doors open with air flowing year.” as much as we can. We can’t make anybody “I’m usually already really working on the show vax cards or negative tests unless the benefit as the summer rolls around,” Heinz state or county or city mandates that, but we said. “In June, I’m already starting to go out recommend people get vaccinated and wear and get sponsors, or get people to donate for masks. I’ll be wearing a mask pretty much the silent-auction raffle. I didn’t start any of all the time at the show, except for when I’m that until (September), and even now (when playing, because we’ve got an 8-year-old son we spoke), we’re almost four weeks from the here, and he can’t get vaccinated. I’m always show, and I don’t have any fliers printed or worried about being a carrier.”

T-shirts made. Fortunately, even people and While the Big Rock Pub is a completely new businesses that have had some tough times are venue for the event, Coachella Valley Brewing still stepping up. Xpress Graphics is still going Co. is returning after being part of the last to print stuff for us, and Impression Design in-person Concert for Autism, in 2019—the is still going to do T-shirts for us. It’s really first time the concert had two “coinciding awesome that those two businesses, along with events.” others, are able to and still want to support us, “Wesley (Gainey) from CVB came to me even though times have been crazy.” and was like, ‘Hey, I want to help support; While the fundraising aspects this year are can we do an Acoustic Sunday for your guys’ similar to previous Concerts for Autism, the benefit?’” Heinz said. “He came to me pretty 2021 edition will be done on a smaller scale—

Captain Ghost performs at a previous Concert for Autism. Laura Hunt Little

including only having a one-day main event, compared to the usual two.

“It’s a suggested donation at the door, and we’ll sell T-shirts, and all that money will go to the cause,” said Heinz. “We’ll have some raffle tables, but they’ll be smaller than previous years. At the Tack Room, we filled a really long table, but this year will be different. You can also bid on whatever silent auction items we have, and of course, if someone’s generous, they can throw money in our bucket. If people can’t attend, or they would prefer not to attend, they can always donate online. If there are any businesses that want to donate something, certainly contact us through the page.”

This year’s event will feature acts including The Ghost Notes, Krystofer Do, The Hellions and many others—as well as a special performance by children with autism.

“Linda teaches voice, piano and flute to a couple of higher-functioning kids on the spectrum,” Heinz said. “Every year, we’ve had one play each night, when we were doing it two nights. This year, we weren’t even going to ask the kids, because we didn’t want to put them in a bad position because of COVID, but two of her students were like, ‘Can I please play?’”

While the event usually includes some activities for kids, the aforementioned special performance will be the extent of children’s involvement this year.

“We did away with the kids’ events, because kids can’t (yet) get vaccinated,” said

Heinz. “We do not recommend bringing unvaccinated kids to the event. Certainly, we want people there, but by cutting out the activities and telling people that upfront, we’re trying to just nip that thing in the bud.

We’re coming from the perspective of parents with an 8-year-old who can’t get vaccinated.

He’s not coming, and he’s been to the benefit every year since he’s been alive.”

The same compassion that has always been the driving force behind the event is leading Josh and Linda Heinz to make sure the event is as safe as possible.

“Even going down to thinking about the auction tables—we’ve got to sanitize the pens, buy those big hand-sanitizer pumps, and do those types of things,” Heinz said. “We’re trying to be as safe as we can. Even when I go play, I try to be as safe as I can. Even Linda, she’s like, ‘You know what? I’m probably going to wear my mask onstage.’ I don’t have a problem at all with anybody wearing masks. I think it’s a good thing; it’s really about caring for others—until we get all this figured out.”

The Concert for Autism’s acoustic warm-up event will take place from noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14, at Coachella Valley Brewing Co., 30640 Gunther St., in Thousand Palms. A donation is requested. The main event will start at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, at Big Rock Pub, 79940 Westward Ho Drive, in Indio. A $10 donation is suggested. For more information, call 760-7024110, or visit concertforautism.com.

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NOTABLE BUT UNKNOWN A

By matt king

ndy Cahan’s book is called The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of—a title that at first seems somewhat ridiculous … but makes total sense when you get to know about Cahan and his career.

The keyboardist and Coachella Valley resident has, for more than 50 years, collaborated and had dealings with an incredible list of stars, musicians and bands, including the Beatles, the Turtles and many others that weren’t named after creatures. During a recent interview, he discussed the development of his love of music.

“I was making monster movies when I Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records,” was 13 and 14 years old, and I really loved Cahan said. “The artists on that label classical music,” Cahan said. “I would use ‘The were Graham Bond, Dr. John the Night Flying Dutchman: Overture,’ and ‘The Rite of Tripper and some others. I was invited to Spring’ and ‘New World Symphony’ for the go to a recording session at TTG Studios music for my monster movies. My sister came in Hollywood in September 1968. It was up to me and said, ‘You’ve got to watch The Ed Mitch Mitchell on drums, Jack Cassidy from Sullivan Show tonight; there’s a group called Jefferson Airplane on bass, Lowell George the Beatles.’ Of course, that changed my life from Little Feat on the flute, and Graham radically. I wanted to become a Beatle the Bond was on the Hammond B3. I was setting next day, so I started learning how to play the up my Baldwin electric harpsichord, and in drums, learning how to play the keyboards— walks Jimi Hendrix with two blondes—one and I taught myself a whole bunch of Beatles carrying his amp, and one carrying his songs just by listening to the records. guitar—and we jammed the blues in A for a “I started my own band called The couple hours. It was the most amazing thing Individuals, and we actually recorded in New ever. Here I was in the studio with all these York City at A&R studios with Roy Cicala, amazing icons, and I was 20 years old. It was a a famous engineer who started the Record great introduction.”

Plant, and recorded John Lennon, Paul Cahan’s credits and collaborations are wideMcCartney, Ringo and George Harrison.” ranging, but he was a semi-consistent part of A move from New York to Los Angeles The Turtles, from 1973 to 2019. offered Cahan “the major introduction to “I co-founded a band called Geronimo Black, celebrity musicians,” he said. featuring Jimmy Carl Black and Bunk Gardner “Two weeks after I moved to California, from the Mothers of Invention,” Cahan I worked in a record company called Pulsar said. “Through Jimmy, I got to meet Mark

Andy Cahan (right) with Ringo Starr.

CVIndependent.com

Andy Cahan’s ‘The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of’ documents his long and storied music career

Volman (Flo) and Howard Kaylan (Eddie), because Frank Zappa was rehearsing for the movie 200 Motels, and Jimmy played the part of Lonesome Cowboy Burt, and Mark and Howard were singing background vocals. Later on, I was doing some overdubs at Cherokee Studios in Topanga Canyon, and Little Richard was there, and Flo and Eddie were there. Flo and Eddie wanted to go on the road, but their keyboard player, Bruce Robb, was the engineer in the studio, so he couldn’t go. Mark Volman said, ‘Are you available to go on the road?’ And I said, ‘Sure.’ I started working with the Turtles in 1973, and I worked with them for 46 years, and recorded a whole bunch of albums and toured Australia and New Zealand and Europe.

It was an amazing career, because through Flo and Eddie, I met everybody I ever wanted to meet in the music world.”

Cahan refers to his experiences meeting and working with the members of The Beatles as highlights of a star-studded career.

“The Beatles were the reason I really decided to become a musician full time, and when I moved out to California in ‘68, I had a premonition: I was sitting on my harpsichord, and I was daydreaming that a Beatle was in my house, sitting next to me with his shoes off,” Cahan said. “… Then in 1991, Harry Nilsson brought Ringo Starr over to my living room to record some children’s stories. It was a very hot day, and we had to turn off the air conditioner, so Ringo took the shoes off, and he sat down right next to me to do the vocals on these recordings—so my premonition came true.

“I worked a lot with Harry, and I would visit Harry in the hospital after his first heart attack. He would tell me to go to the store and buy some chocolate, which was against the doctor’s orders, but I would sneak in some chocolate for him. We did some more recording, and then unfortunately, he had a second heart attack, and he passed away, which was very, very sad. George Harrison was at his funeral, and George Harrison and I walked to the gravesite while everybody else drove their cars. I said, ‘George, my name is Andy Cahan,’ and he said, ‘Oh, Harry spoke very highly of you.’ And that made my day. I couldn’t believe it.

“I met Paul McCartney at Universal Studios.

Paul did an interview with 40 radio stations at the Universal Amphitheatre, and I was with Flo and Eddie from the Turtles. They had their own radio show on K-Rock in New York after Howard Stern, and Paul was being asked

A young Andy Cahan.

questions, and Mark Volman raised his hand to ask a question. Paul recognized Mark and Howard; when The Turtles (released) “Happy Together” in 1967, they went to England, and they met the Beatles. Paul gets off the stage and walks up these bleachers to where we are sitting and shakes our hands, so that was when I met Paul.”

Cahan was able to assemble all these various tales from his long and storied career, because he saves everything.

“I’ve saved every calendar since 1960,” said Cahan. “Every photograph, every album, every tape, every sticker, every contract, every letter, every postcard—I saved it all. Finally, I said to myself, ‘Holy moly; I’ve got so much stuff here.’ I scanned it, and I assembled it. I used up my entire living room floor with all these manila folders with different categories of photos and contracts. It took me four years, but I literally built the book by speaking into my cell phone and talking about all of these photos and events. I got Jeff Tamarkin, world-famous editor of Goldmine magazine, to edit my book, and he did a fantastic job. It’s a 2 1/2-pound coffee-table picture book, with thousands of unseen photographs.

“I named the book The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of, because there are hundreds of celebrity musicians and actors that I worked with. I never became a millionaire, but I surely hung out with everybody.”

For more information on Andy Cahan and his book, visit allentertainment.net.

NOVEMBER 2021

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 35

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DOHC MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC: ‘ON THE MOVE … TO BRING HEALTHCARE TO YOU’

D

esert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) has been reaching out to provide its services further into the Coachella Valley and high desert communities with its Mobile Health Clinic. The self-contained clinic—equipped with its own generator to supply power when necessary—helps to serve patients in remote locations where there is often a short supply of primary care physicians. With better healthcare access, patients can avoid unnecessary—and sometimes costly—visits to the emergency room.

The DOHC Mobile Health Clinic: • Contains two HIPAA-compliant, air-conditioned examination/screening rooms and is wheelchair-accessible.

• Travels with clinical staff to provide BMI, diabetes, blood pressure and other health screenings for immediate results and to answer any questions.

• Provides other services, including blood draws, retinal eye exams and vaccines.

• Offers video visits to primary care physicians and DOHC Senior Wellness Clinics, as well as specialists when needed. It also offers video visits to partners such as local dialysis centers.

• Connects patients immediately to health records and education materials.

Bringing COVID and Seasonal Flu Vaccines Where They Are Needed

On its March 11, 2021, maiden voyage, the new Mobile Health Clinic offered COVID vaccines, along with check-ups for patients of Will Family Medicine in the eastern Coachella Valley. DOHC pharmacists gave vaccines;

enrolled patients with diabetes and/or elevated blood pressure and blood glucose in special programs; and provided blood pressure cuffs, glucometers and other necessary devices.

Since then, the Mobile Health Clinic has been to dozens of other locations, including a variety of health fairs at school districts, employer groups and senior centers. DOHC knows that as many as 10% of senior members are not accessing care within a calendar year, meaning that chronic conditions are not being identified and/or managed. Now, the Mobile Health Clinic allows DOHC to bring necessary treatment and annual senior wellness visits directly to members.

As flu season returned, as it does each year, DOHC once again set up drive-thru flu-vaccine clinics in Palm Springs, Bermuda Dunes, Indio and Yucca Valley. COVID and flu vaccines are always on board the Mobile Health Clinic for those who have not received them.

“Our virtual visits for telehealth consultations, as well as safe office visits, between patients and their DOHC care teams will continue,” said Dr. Teresa Hodgkins, PharmD and VP of Clinical Quality Initiatives. “But our Mobile Health Clinic has allowed us to restart our health fairs at community events in a new and exciting way.”

DOHC’s Mobile Health Clinic May Be Coming to a Location Near You Soon For scheduling inquiries, please contact Librado Perez, Mobile Health Clinic Programs and Logistics Lead, at 760-218-0908 or Lperez@mydohc.com.

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NOVEMBER 2021

The Venue REPORT continued from page 31

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Forbes and his Vintage Pop Orchestra on Nov. 4; the genre- and era-fusing Amanda Castro Band on Nov. 11; and an evening with Tropical Follies on Nov. 18. Shows take place every Thursday at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com.

Caliente Comedy is continuing every Friday at 7 p.m. Catch comics including Darren Carter on Nov. 5, Don Freisen on Nov. 12, Scout + Avery on Nov. 19, and Justin Rivera on Nov. 26. You must be 21 to attend; tickets start as low as $19.99 and can be found at www. eventspalmsprings.com/caliente-comedy.

Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.

Morongo is fleshing out the entertainment lineup in November. At 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Ballardo meld Spanish and French into a night of flamenco music. Tickets are $81.50. Grammy-winning R&B singer Macy Gray is set to perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $50. From “Blurred Lines” fame, Robin Thicke comes to Cabazon at 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13. Tickets range from $49 to $59. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www. morongocasinoresort.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s November schedule features some top-notch artists, as always.

Folk/pop singer/songwriter Brett Dennen is set to perform at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14.

Tickets range from $30 to $109. Everclear, a big ’90s band, will rock the desert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20. Tickets range from $35 to $185. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27, indie-rock staple Courtney Barnett arrives in Pioneertown. Tickets are $57. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

The Purple Room is bringing back a lot of favorites this month. Singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom is in town for a two-night stint, with shows at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $35 to $40. Missing Elvis? Catch the next-best thing with Elvis: Blue Suede Christmas, a tribute show by Scot Bruce, at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 26. Tickets are $30 to $35. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27, Jonathan Karrant performs an evening of American songbook tunes. Tickets range from $35 to $40. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com.

Toucan’s is back to hosting live entertainment beyond the usual drag-show schedule. Varla Jean Merman—the purported love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine—will spend two weekends in Palm Springs, performing her “Little Prick” shows.

They take place at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 4-13; tickets range from $30 to $40. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, award winning singer/songwriter Anne Steele is coming to town. Tickets are $25. Toucans Tiki Lounge and Cabaret, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-416-7584; www. reactionshows.com.

Oscar’s Palm Springs has found its way back into The Venue Report with a sneakygood schedule. At 8 p.m., Monday, Nov 1, Mariachi Arcoiris de los Angeles, “the first LGBTQ+ mariachi in the world,” will kick off Pride Week. Tickets are $20. Niki Haris brings an evening of jazz at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5.

Tickets are $45. An interesting evening with Priscilla Presley will go down at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 11. Tickets are $49.95 to $69.95. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27, start the holidays with Sherry Vine performing “A Holiday Cheer.” Tickets are $30. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscars-palm-springs. ticketleap.com.

Coachella Valley Brewing Co. gives local music a platform, per usual, throughout November. At 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7, catch an Acoustic Afternoon with Rod Van Buren and Adam Gainey. CVB celebrates its eighth anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 27, beginning at noon, featuring performances by Tim and Val, Nick Hales, Josh Heinz, Kelsey Manning, The Sieve and the Saddle, Crucial Culture and The After Lashes. Another Acoustic Afternoon is set for 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 28, featuring Miguel Arballo, Courtney Chambers and Wes Gainey. All shows are free! Coachella Valley Brewing Company, 30640 Gunther St., Thousand Palms; 760-343-5973.

Varla Jean Merman

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the

LUCKY 13 Get to better know two of the valley’s top bassists

by matt king What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

Lady Gaga’s older stuff. She puts on a good show; I am an official monster.

What’s your favorite music venue?

The House of Blues in Hollywood. I’ll never forget my bass rumbling that stage. I felt like a god.

NAME Spade Ferrer GROUP Ill Eagles MORE INFO Bass players are responsible for the hard-hitting, often-grooving, low end of many of the best songs. Spade Ferrer has spent time as that low end for many local bands, and is currently part of reggae-rebels the Ill Eagles, which is one of the groups performing at the Concert for Autism on Nov. 20. Learn more at www.facebook.com/ theilleaglesband.

What was the first concert you attended?

I think it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or an Ozzfest. Both concerts had plenty of stuff set on fire in the standing-room crowd where I was. Welcome to live music, baby.

What was the first album you owned?

Soundgarden, Badmotorfinger, on cassette. It had red lyrics on blue backing, so it was hard to read in the dark. I read them “with my good eye closed.”

What bands are you listening to right now?

Filter, Silversun Pickups, Royal Blood, and whatever is on (SiriusXM channel) Turbo XL. What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?

That country autotune-pop stuff is something else. It’s got more fans than me, though.

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

The Doors in their heyday would be awesome.

I would add: It has to be a show where Morrison did a Shaman dance.

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

“Just another day in the hate land baby,” “Thoughts and Prayers” by Filter.

What band or artist changed your life?

Soundgarden, hands down. I was exposed to a lot of music in my youth, from Van Halen to Ozzy, Latin/soul greats like Santana and War, and also all of those goofy hair bands. Then the “Rusty Cage” video changed it all. Finally, (there was) music that could rock like the legends Led Zeppelin, but they’re not wearing goofy outfits and makeup like the ’80s bands.

I felt like it was mine.

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

I’d ask Chris Cornell: “Why?” What song would you like played at your funeral?

I’ve got a running list going. Right now, “Mye” from Sparta, and “Fresh Tendrils” from Soundgarden are on that list.

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

Badmotorfinger.

started out with thrash-titans Instigator, and is now playing bass for glam-gladiators Fever Dog, whose new album Alpha Waves is slated for a Friday, Nov. 5, release. Learn more at www.facebook.com/feverdogrocks.

What was the first concert you attended?

A Sepultura and Destruction show at the Whisky in Hollywood. I was 13 or 14 at the time, and I went with my best-friend, Roby.

Up to that point, I had only listened to bands on albums, and seeing it in person finally was an amazing experience.

What was the first album you owned?

I think it was Slipknot’s debut album. I got it back when I was super-young, like in the third-grade or something. That’s most likely what started my obsession with heavy music.

What bands are you listening to right now?

I’m always listening to extreme metal, and lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Napalm Death and a few black metal bands like Abigor and Enslaved. I’ve also been listening to a lot of ’80s synthpop and new wave groups like the Human League recently.

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

I don’t understand the appeal of Kanye West.

I liked some of his old stuff earlier in the 2000s, but I really don’t get his current music and ideology.

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

If I had a time machine, I would go back in time to see AC/DC with Bon Scott. I greatly prefer their material with him, and to see him with Angus shredding onstage would be completely insane.

What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?

I really enjoy listening to ’60s surf rock.

A lot of people think it’s just horrible and annoying, but the twangy surf-guitar sound and cheesy lyrics always bring a smile to my face.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Turn it Down” by the Ill Eagles, or “F.T.W.” from Mother Tongue.

What’s your favorite music venue?

I really haven’t been to a lot of music venues that stuck out to me. I would have to say Dale’s Records, though, since I always have fun there. I’m not a big fan of really big venues. I like to be close to the audience and to the band if I’m watching.

NAME Jaxon Fischer GROUPS Instigator, Fever Dog MORE INFO It’s been fun to watch many of the valley’s teen musicians (my contemporaries, more or less) grow up and expand their musical talents. Jaxon Fischer

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

“It’s night again, night you beautiful, I please my hunger… on living humans!” Those lyrics from Mayhem’s “Freezing Moon” have always sounded super-brutal to me, and they always get stuck in my head.

What band or artist changed your life?

Metallica. When I listened to Master of Puppets for the first time when I was 10 years old, I instantly fell in love with the heavy thrash-metal guitar-riffing and speed. After I heard them, I dedicated a big part of my life to music.

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

I would ask Elvis Presley what he thinks about metal music and whether he likes it or not. I think it would be interesting to hear what one of the pioneers of rock ’n’ roll thinks about other genres that spawned from it.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

I would like everyone at my funeral to be Rick Rolled—like everyone gets an invitation saying I’m having a house party or something, and when they show up, they just see my casket with “Never Gonna Give You Up” playing in the place.

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

Leprosy, by Death. It has everything I would want in a metal record, and the songs are amazing. There’s not one song on that album that I don’t like, and the raw late ’80s deathmetal production sounds really cool.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

Everyone should listen to Fever Dog. I just joined, and the music the members have written so far has blown me away. Everyone should also check out more desert artists; a couple of my favorites are Sleazy Cortez and Facelift. Of course, y’all should check out Instigator, my thrash-metal band.

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CANNABIS IN THE CV

HORNY HIGHS C

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

Evidence shows that some cannabis products can improve sexual experiences

by jocelyn kane

annabis and sex … it’s certainly a catchy topic.

We have widespread knowledge on how alcohol and sex works (or doesn’t), thanks to 88 years of legal commerce. Cannabis, on the other hand, has only been legal without a medical card in California since 2017, and many people are new to it—so we are all still learning.

However, there is some new information that can assist us with our lessons.

In addition to writing this column, I have a weekly live show and podcast on Radio111 (www. radio111.com/the-buzz.html) centered on the cannabis industry and consumers. My guest on Oct. 12 discussed—you guessed it—sex and plays a role in regulating a range of functions cannabis. Joan Irvine is a doctor of clinical and processes, including sleep, appetite, mood hypnotherapy who uses hypnosis, behavior and reproduction. There are two types of modification, neuro-linguistic programming, endocannabinoid receptors: CB1 receptors are cognitive learning techniques, practical mostly found in the central nervous system, suggestions and now cannabis to help add while CB2 receptors are mostly found in the spice back into one’s sex life. During the peripheral nervous system, including immune interview, I learned that the body’s own cells. These receptors are located throughout natural systems can work with cannabis to your body. Endocannabinoids bind to the enhance pleasure—and therefore cause greater CB-1 or CB-2 receptors in order to signal that sexual satisfaction. the ECS needs to take action—and the result Though there is limited research on the depends on where the receptor is located, and subject, we do know that endocannabinoids to which endocannabinoid it’s binding. play a role in sexual function. We all have Cannabis also contains various a natural endocannabinoid system (ECS); cannabinoids. When ingested, they can impact endocannabinoids, also called endogenous the ECS, just like endocannabinoids can. cannabinoids, are molecules made by your A study published in Sexual Medicine located body that act as a cell-signaling system the cannabinoid receptors mapped to several that helps keep internal functions running brain areas involved in sexual function. Both smoothly. Experts are still trying to fully cannabinoids and endocannabinoids interact understand the ECS; what’s known is that it with hormones and neurotransmitters that

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mediate sexual behavior. The study said that 68.5 percent of people said sex while using cannabis was more pleasurable, while both male and female marijuana users had more sex compared to those who never used. “Marijuana use is independently associated with increased sexual frequency and does not appear to impair sexual function,” the study concluded.

Of course, before this study was published in 2019, people were already starting to link cannabis use with libido. Jeff Dillon founded Xblaze in 2018, which bills itself as the world’s first and only 420-friendly adult-film studio.

He’s been quoted as saying: “Most people can use cannabis to enhance their sexual experience.”

The cannabis industry has responded in the last few years with some products and strain recommendations for anyone wanting to give sex and cannabis a try. Irvine said she has used Foria products, including oils and suppositories, with both THC and CBD. She also uses a medicated, caffeinated tea, Kikido Sensuali-tea, a half-hour before the fun begins, because edibles often take more time to impact your mood, based on the time needed to move through a body’s digestive system.

“If you want almost immediate results, perhaps for a ‘quickie,’ fast-acting Purejuana cannabis powder in a beverage can do the trick,” Irvine said. “It helps you relax and focus

on the pleasure of sex. Plus, cannabis is better than alcohol, which can cause inflammation in various parts of our body, including our sex organs, while the cannabinoids and terpenes in THC/CBD reduce inflammation.”

An article published by HealthLine.com indicated that cannabis strains high in certain terpenes may be best for sexual experiences.

Limonene creates a sense of lightness and euphoria, producing a relaxed state and naturally relieving stress. In other words, it improves your mood to get “in the mood.”

Linalool is a close sibling to limonene, and is known for relaxing and relieving stress; it may provide a similar effect for improving one’s sex drive. Based on its calming effect, this might be the terpene of choice if you plan on spending some sexual time alone.

Of course, it’s best to exercise care when experimenting with cannabis and sex; use the “start low and go slow” method.

“Talking about the use of cannabis with a partner so you are both on the same page, or use it by yourself first when you are alone, so you know how your body and mind respond, and what you expect then you are with your lover,” Irvine said.

Buy your cannabis products from licensed and reputable retailers—and have fun!

Jocelyn Kane can be reached at jocelyn@ coachellavalleycan.org.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 39

NOVEMBER 2021

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Uncommon Bonds”—spy 31 Soothing ointment thrillers with something 32 The color of money missing. (if that money is a

By Matt Jones Brazilian 10 real note) 33 ___ Doubtfire (movie Across turned into an 1 Wheat byproduct upcoming Broadway 6 Australian boots musical) 10 Ensemble 36 Louis XVI, once 14 Burj Khalifa locale 37 Sunscreen letters 15 It comes before a fall? 40 South American 16 Italian volcano that mammal that looks has been erupting like a raccoon through most of 2021 42 Like some roof panels 17 Opinion that the 44 The physics of a ordinal suffix from 4 Spanish bear tying its onward is the worst of shoes? the group?

48 Figures on some 19 They may rehabilitate Valentine’s Day cards injured animals 49 Pantone selection 20 Turn into 50 Added color to white 21 Songs to Wear ___ To canvas shoes, maybe (early 2000s website 51 Lounges around with humorous music) 52 Formidable 22 Jason’s mythical 54 Leaning type (abbr.) vessel 55 Request for Garfield’s 25 Drive into hard canine pal to hurry up?

26 Highly decorated 59 Self-referential 27 Personal notification 60 Actor Steve of that nothing but Superstore dense, flavorful bread 61 Person from Malmo is available?

62 Maverick 30 A little off of Maverick

63 Plays like Diz 64 Garden creeper

Utah 29 Daith piercing locale 34 “Peanuts” expletive Down 35 Poker Hall of Famer 1 It ends in Chicago in Ungar Nov. 37 Kill it on the runway 2 “Wait, what?”

38 Treasure hunter’s step 3 Aladdin monkey 39 Mister Rogers 4 Some Comic-Con 40 “Try” singer Colbie attendees 41 Egyptian considered 5 Bona ___ to be history’s first 6 Hoo-ha architect 7 23 so far for Jay-Z, e.g. 43 “___ Road” (Lil Nas X 8 7 to 10, on the Beaufort song) Scale 44 One making citations 9 2011 World Series 45 Still awake winners, for short 46 They might not retain 10 Degas contemporary lint as well 11 Like many group 47 Give the appearance of renditions of “Happy 48 Reach new heights?

Birthday,” to music 52 Walt Kelly comic strip students?

53 Mike of Social 12 Condescending Distortion 13 Cup, in France 55 Apprehend 18 Beige-like shade 56 Breaking Bad org.

21 Qualifying clause 57 Despot Amin 22 Distant 58 Migratory swimmer 23 Capital on the Tiber 24 Graph paper pattern © 2021 Matt Jones 26 World capital where parts of Tenet were Find the answers in filmed the “About” section at 28 Pop music family from CVIndependent.com!

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