Coachella Valley Independent December 2016

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | DECEMBER 2016

VOL. 4 | NO. 12

INSIDE

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DECEMBER 2016

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3

DECEMBER 2016

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 Assistant Editor Brian Blueskye cover/Cover Story design Mark Duebner Design Contributors Gustavo Arellano, Alastair Bland, Nicole Borgenicht, Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Cory Courtney, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bill Frost, Bonnie Gilgallon, Bob Grimm, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Brane Jevric, Steve Kelly, Keith Knight, Erin Peters, Dan Perkins, Sean Planck, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Christine Soto, Robert Victor The Coachella Valley Independent print edition is published every month.

All content is ©2016 and may not be published or reprinted in any form without the written permission of the publisher.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 $1 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, Get Tested Coachella Valley, the Local Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed.

I wish I could use this space to discuss the results of the third annual Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll—and explain how we received an all-time-high number of votes, and gush about how proud I am that our list of winners and finalists represents all parts of the valley.

I wish I could use this space to discuss the inaugural Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week—and tell you all about how the week was an amazing success that featured amazing cocktails, lots of fun and thousands of dollars going to two amazing charities.

However, I feel compelled to instead discuss the president-elect of the United States.

Barring something freaky coming out of the proposed recounts and challenges, and despite the popular-vote results, it’s undeniable: Donald Trump won, fair and square. He deserves significant credit for confounding the experts and the establishment, and for tapping into and exploiting the serious concerns and pain being felt by many people across this great country.

However, that does not mean that his behavior during the campaign can or should be forgotten or forgiven.

Just like it’s undeniable that Trump won, fair and square, it’s also undeniable that he said and did some despicable things on his way to that win. He mocked the disabled. He demeaned women. He threatened the rights of LGBT individuals. He said things about Mexicans, Muslims and African Americans that were flat-out racist. He demonized the media. And by doing all of these awful things, he sent a message to racists, sexists and other haters across the country that it’s OK to feel and act that way.

As a small-business owner, I am petrified about what Trump could do to the economy.

As a caring human, I am fearful of what he, his surrogates and his fans could do to Muslims, women, refugees and anyone else who is not a straight white man. As a reporter and journalist, I am downright pissed about the crap he’s said about the media— specifically newspapers that have exposed his lies, his deception and his wrongdoing.

However, I am not just petrified, fearful and pissed off. I am also motivated.

Since we published our first articles online more than four years ago, the mission statement of the Coachella Valley Independent has included this statement: We believe in true, honest journalism: We want to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted.

We and the rest of the country’s alternative media are on alert. We realize that our work is more important than ever. We’re watching.

Welcome to the December 2016 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent.

—Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com

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DECEMBER 2016

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 5

DECEMBER 2016

OPINION OPINION

T

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

BY ANITA RUFUS

here are people you see often and think you know: the tennis pro at the club, the barber you see every couple of weeks, the market clerk who remembers your name, the co-worker you chat with at the coffee machine.

In my case, there’s the woman who engineers my radio show: I see her every Sunday. We share laughs and stories, and I sincerely appreciate everything she does to make my time on the air run smoothly.

I realized I didn’t know her at all the day she came in with her head shaved.

“Wow,” I said. “What a change!”

She wiped her hand over her newly hairless head. “Mischelle has cancer and is going to have chemo, and she’s worried about losing her hair. I wanted to show her how I’m right there with her.”

Marisol Valle is a board operator and on-air anniversary there every year!” personality at Alpha Media, but she is so much In addition to her job at the radio station, more. Born in Indio 37 years ago, Marisol is Marisol today works as a special education the oldest of two; she has a brother, David. assistant at Shadow Hills High School, tutoring However, her mother is the oldest of nine in math. daughters, so she has cousins and family every“I realize math is difficult for everyone,” she where around the Coachella Valley. says. “I understand math, but I never really “I could never get away with anything,” she liked it. I now know how important it is in every laughs. aspect of your life, and I try to pass that along to Marisol graduated from Palm Springs High all the students. You need to know math, even School in 1997. She went on to take classes at if it’s only so you can help your own kids with the California State University, San Bernardino, their homework. Besides, you never really know and then attended the Academy of Radio and when you’re going to need to use algebra: It’s Television Broadcasting. about problem-solving, and you want people to “I’d love to have my own talk show on the be critical thinkers in the world.” radio, specifically taking on subjects that affect Marisol would like to go back and complete women and the LGBT community,” she says. her undergraduate degree: “As I get closer to Was it difficult coming out to her parents?

40, I realize the best way to motivate my stu“My dad says he knew all along. My mom was dents to complete their education is by doing it angry at first, but that was because I hadn’t told myself. I like being a positive role model for the her. They’re fine with me. It’s just not an issue. kids, but I really need to do it for myself.”

I was always a tomboy, but I dated boys and Mischelle was diagnosed with cancer in May. found them attractive. I guess I would describe “She’s had five rounds of chemo so far,” says myself as bisexual rather than lesbian, but I just Marisol. “The sixth round will be the last, and so don’t like labels. far, the results are looking good. The main thing “In my 20s, I had a better idea of who I was, is that she’s still working (at a Palm Springs and when I met Mischelle, I knew she was animal shelter), and she has received so much someone special.” love and support and words of inspiration from At the time, Marisol was working at Desert everyone.”

Arc in their social recreation department, Have they thought about having a family of shepherding Arc participants to events like the their own?

Special Olympics. “I was moved to the behav“I like children … at least other people’s chilior-modification department as an instructor, dren,” Marisol says with a hearty laugh. “When doing vocational training, and subsequently we first got together, we talked about it, but it’s became supervisor of that area. It was there that a big responsibility. Maybe we’ll adopt. There I met Mischelle. She was one of my staff.” are so many kids out there who need a loving Marisol and Mischelle Avalos have now been family, and exposure to the diversity a nontraditogether for 10 years, the last three of them tional family can bring. Maybe we’ll decide to be married. “We were married under the Marilyn foster parents. It’s so important, the difference Monroe statue when it was in downtown Palm you can make being part of a child’s life.”

Springs,” she laughs. “Now that it’s coming back Currently living in Desert Hot Springs, to Palm Springs, we’ll be able to celebrate our Marisol and Mischelle are great examples of

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION

I thought I knew my radio-show engineer—until Marisol Valle showed up to work with a shaved head Marisol Valle and Mischelle Avalos.

people in your life whom you may not really know—but who are making an impact on the world while following their own path.

As Marisol says, “I’m looking forward to the next chapter on the journey.”

Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal,” and her radio show airs Sundays at noon on KNews Radio 94.3 FM. Email her at Anita@ LovableLiberal.com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com.

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DECEMBER 2016

OPINION OPINION

STEVE KELLY ON SPORTS

The Desert Blaze teams are popularizing hockey in the Coachella Valley

I

BY STEVE KELLY

t was a balmy 86 degrees when I decided to drop by the Desert Ice Castle in Cathedral City.

Built via a public-private partnership in 2011, the rink is at what was once the site of a Coca Cola-bottling plant. On this day, it was a beehive of activity as members of the Desert Blaze hockey program skated on the ice.

Overseeing the practice was Jeff Larson.

A 54-year-old native of Minnesota, Larson played collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota and was an acquaintance of Herb Brooks, a hockey legend who coached the U.S. men’s hockey team to the “Miracle on Ice” gold medal in the 1980 Olympics. He works with a cadre of coaches in the program.

“The owner of the rink approached me and asked if I could help start a hockey program five years ago. Having played since age 6, the game is in my blood, so I signed on,” Larson said. “We started out with some free and open tryouts. We didn’t even have enough equipment for the kids. The rink bought 30 sets of gear, and we got a grant from the National Hockey League Players’ Association for another 30.”

Of course, you can’t play ice hockey without knowing how to skate, and when the Desert Blaze teams began, many of the players had only seen hockey on television—and had never been on ice. Larson called in some favors, and some former Canadian and U.S. players helped get the program off the ground.

“We had about 40 kids raring to go,” said Larson. “We opened up the gate—and 40 kids fell right over. Fortunately, we had some good skating coaches around, and we righted the ship.”

Nowadays, most players have taken skating lessons before joining. The Desert Blaze pro-

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gram includes five teams, set up according to age groups, that travel. The players range in age from 6 to 17, including some female players at the younger levels.

Being a hockey mom or dad means a lot of driving: The Blaze teams play throughout Southern California.

“It takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice on the part of parents,” Larson said. “Parents travel many miles to support the Blaze on the road. It takes a special kind of parent to be a hockey mom or dad, and we are lucky to have them.”

While still somewhat exotic here in the desert, ice hockey is receiving increased support.

The Desert Blaze teams have received help, including coaching clinics, from the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. The two NHL teams and the minor-league Ontario Reign also try to schedule game outings for the teams. In fact, several Los Angeles Kings alumni are scheduled to compete in a fundraising golf tournament hosted by the Blaze on Friday, Dec. 2.

“There are quite a few ex-NHL players like Grant Fuhr and Jim Pappin who live in the desert. We reach out to them, and they stop by.

The kids really enjoy that,” Larson said.

The future looks bright for hockey in the desert. There are rumors that an NHL team may use the Desert Ice Castle as a one- or two-day practice facility in 2017. The St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames have stopped by Cathedral City, and at least two NHL team owners have homes here in the desert.

For more information on the Desert Blaze or the Dec. 2 fundraiser, call 760-578-9080, or visit www.desertblazehockey.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7

DECEMBER 2016

OPINION OPINION

JASON DAVID

ASK A MEXICAN!

HAIR STUDIO

LOVE YOUR HAIR

Why do Mexicans always break the rules?

BY GUSTAVO ARELLANO DEAR MEXICAN: We have Mexican teenagers in my apartment building who are chronic troublemakers. My question to you is: Why do Mexicans break the rules, refuse to be corrected and harass us senior citizens?

Why is it always the Mexicans who are the worst? Is it in their culture? Or are these just uneducated low-lifes? Their fathers are nowhere in sight.

The management here and the cops can hardly keep up with them—probably because they’re Mexicans, too.

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Frustrated DEAR GABACHO: You didn’t give me specifics, so I’m not sure if the young Mexicans in questions are merely playing in the hallway in violation of apartment rules, or making you pay a protection “tax.” I’m thinking the former, because Mexicans are taught to revere viejitos as if they were their own abuelitas, so they rarely disrespect the elderly.

Since you’re claiming Mexican cops and apartment managers are conspiring to protect the kids from punishment, I’m going to mark you down as a nasty old bigot, the kind who remembers when Mexicans were referred to as “wetbacks” and everyone laughed at Sy the Little Mexican. In the case you actually are a kind old soul, and a bunch of asshole kids are truly harassing you, call up an old Mexican grandma: Her chancla will have them scrambling faster than a gabacho running to the restroom after eating habanero salsa.

DEAR MEXICAN: Why do the women on Mexican television wear so much eye makeup?

Mascara Maven DEAR GABACHO: The same reason American women on television do— patriarchy.

DEAR MEXICAN: I was in a Mexican restaurant and saw a map of Mexico on the wall with all the states shown. I’d previously assumed that Chiapas and Yucatán were cultural regions, like Appalachia or the Pacific Northwest, not states in a republic. I never really liked or learned geography.

In public school, maps always showed North America with Canada and its territories, and the U.S. with all its states—

but Mexico as a unitary region. Wikipedia says that Mexico’s official name is United Mexican States (in English). Cartographers might say that Mexican state names won’t fit in available space, but they still draw Rhode Island on the map of the U.S. Showing Canadian territories makes Canada seem “like us,” while showing Mexico as a single region makes Mexico seem undeveloped, undergoverned and homogenous.

Other countries also have states or provinces that aren’t shown, like Brazil and China. Mexican states probably vary more than Canadian provinces do. Is the snow in Manitoba different than the snow in Ontario?

Why do you think that most maps made in the United States show U.S. states and Canadian territories, but not Mexican states?

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“F” in Geography Dear Gabacho: Because the U.S. and Canada are English-speaking neighbors, while Mexico ain’t.

Meanwhile, Mexican maps don’t offer the same courtesy to its Central American neighbors in showing each country’s departments (their version of states)— further proof to chapines, catrachos, ticos and guanacos alike that Mexicans are brown Hitlers.

Catch the Mexican every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com. Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net; be his fan on Facebook; follow him on Twitter @ gustavoarellano; or follow him on Instagram @ gustavo_arellano!

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9

DECEMBER 2016

NEWS HEROES IN CLASSROOMS

BY BRIAN BLUESKYE

T

he documentary The Bad Kids begins as a probation officer follows up on a young man named Joseph McGee. McGee tells the officer that his father is currently serving time in prison, and that he’s having problems showing up to school. Soon, his mother—sitting across from McGee and the officer—begins sobbing and says she’s done everything she can—including taking away his bedroom door so she can keep a better eye on him.

The probation officer asks McGee what he wants out of life. He’s then shown enrolling in Yucca Valley’s Black Rock High School—the subject of this powerful film by Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe.

During a recent phone interview, Black Rock’s principal, Vonda Viland, described the kids who come to Black Rock High School, an alternative school that’s part of the state’s Continuation Education program.

“Ninety percent of our students live below conceived notions of ‘bad kids’ went out the the poverty level,” Viland said. “They are the window.” students who will not be able to graduate at The film’s undeniable hero is Principal a traditional high school, and they are behind Viland. She’s shown waking up at 3 a.m., exeron credits for one reason or another. Often, cising and then going to the school to prepare it’s family issues, attendance issues, discipline for her day. After work each day, she takes a problems or they’re struggling with the work. short nap—and goes on a five-mile hike. You Any students who cannot graduate from a tramay wonder: How does she have time to sleep? ditional high school are the ones we take.”

“I asked her that question, and the answer Viland said the students, and not the learnwas, ‘Not much,’” Pepe said. “She’s one of those ing materials, come first at Black Rock. high-energy people who kind of thrives on “We really work hard with the child before being engaged in something at all times.” we get to the curriculum,” Viland said. “The Of course, working at Black Rock can take an curriculum is important, of course, but the emotional toll. child and their issues are more important.”

“I have a rule with my husband when I get The Bad Kids won a Special Jury Prize at the home of no talking to me for 20 minutes,” Sundance Film Festival. During a recent phone Viland said. “I’m so overwhelmed and emointerview, Pepe explained what interested him tional. Lou and Keith said that my job is triage, in Black Rock High School. going from one crisis to the next crisis to do “My partner, Keith Fulton, and I had been what I can to help. By the end of the day, the doing a number of short online documentateachers and I are emotionally and spiritually ries for different foundations about public drained.” education, and we knew the Mojave Desert The film tells the stories of some of the from our own trips out there from Los Angeles students—and given all of the tears and frusand thought, ‘We should do something out tration, it seems like everyone at Black Rock is here,’” Pepe said. “… We have a contact at the engaged in an uphill battle.

Morongo Unified School District who we would “I think you actually feel the opposite when call anytime we would get a commission to do you’re at Black Rock High School,” Pepe said. a project. She would take us around to differ“You meet Principal Viland, and you meet the ent schools in the Joshua Tree, Twentynine staff, and you actually have an incredible sense Palms and Yucca Valley area and introduce of hope. You see how much that staff works to us to different teachers, and we did a couple help kids deal with more than just school work. of different projects in that district. One of … You think, ‘Every kid here has a fighting the times, we were on a research trip and she chance.’ Then there would be days where you’re said, ‘I have this school I want to show you. It like, ‘Oh no, that problem—how can a 16- or doesn’t fit any of the criteria you were looking 17-year-old cope with that problem?’ Those for, but you have to see this place. It’s one of were the rough days. The teachers at Black the most special places in our district, and it’s Rock deal with that on a daily basis.” something we’re really proud of: This is the Viland told me that before she took my call, high school that’s for the kids on the verge of she was dealing with a student in her office. dropping out.’

“Earlier, I had a student who started out this “We were initially apprehensive about it morning so good and had a little bit of an emoat first. She drove us to Black Rock, and we tional uproar, and we had to talk it through. walked through the doors. Instantly, our preIt really is minute to minute,” she said. “The

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

‘The Bad Kids’ shows the amazing work being done at an alternative Yucca Valley high school

Black Rock High School Principal Vonda Viland

thing that’s amazing about these kids is that even while they’re resilient, life keeps throwing them road blocks, and they keep jumping over them and just need for us to be their cheerleaders to get over the next hurdle.”

There were moments when Pepe and Fulton had difficulty continuing to film. At one point, the filmmakers are at McGee’s home while his mother is fighting with her boyfriend. McGee and his younger sibling stay put in a bedroom—trying to just ride it out.

“My partner and I had a mantra that we would say to each other for our filming. It was: ‘Embrace the awkward,’” Pepe said. “That stuff is difficult, because you, as a human being, want to make a difference, but you, as a documentarian, are there as an observer and a witness. That stuff is rough, but it’s also real life.”

Viland said the relationships between her staff and the students don’t necessarily end when they graduate.

“We work really closely with the community college out here, Copper Mountain College,” Viland said. “The majority of our kids transfer out there, which is nice, because they can come back and get help with homework, or if something happens in their life, we help them.

As soon as they graduate, we don’t just send them on their way. We have about 10-15 percent who will go on to the military, and a small percentage who will enter the workforce. But mostly, we try to get them to go to the community college. We also have some that will get into cosmetology or go into the art institute.”

Viland said she’s inspired by some of her former students.

“I just got a text from a girl who just finished up her veterinary assistance program and was letting me know she graduated,” she said. “After the documentary (came out) and the trailer went up on Facebook, I’ve gotten all sorts of Facebook posts from kids saying, ‘Hey Ms. V, I want to let you know I’m principal at an elementary school,’ or, ‘Hey Ms. V, I wanted to let you know I’m head of a company.’ It’s been really rewarding.”

Pepe said he’s been thrilled by the response the documentary has received.

“People get very emotional about the movie, which Keith and I are very proud of,” Pepe said. “We intentionally made a film that’s not a talking-heads educational film, but an observational film that plays out dramatically.

I love it when I hear the sniffles at certain scenes, because I know people are connecting to the story and characters. The film usually has a really strong impact on people who are teachers—anybody who’s had a connection with young people and making better lives for themselves. We’ve also shown it to audiences of high school students, and those screenings are also really exciting. A lot of students see themselves in the characters in the film and are kind of overwhelmed, knowing they aren’t alone in the struggles they face in life.”

For more information, visit www.thebadkidsmovie.com.

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DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

BUSINESS BOGEYS

BY KEVIN FITZGERALD

The golf industry—vital to the local economy—is facing tough times, but one expert says there are reasons to remain encouraged photo by kevin fitzgerald

I

f you’re a casual golfer like me, you have undoubtedly seen signals that seem to portend an uncertain future for public golf courses, private golf clubs and golf retail outlets here in Coachella Valley.

When booking a tee time online, you may see more available slots—and cheaper rates—than there used to be. You may hear conversations about a certain club that’s eliminating all ladies’ golf events this season because of the dearth of female members. Then you hear about another club where revenue has fallen so low that the owners are poised to close it down and sell to real estate developers.

In La Quinta, the citizens and their City Council are struggling to create a viable community development to support the beautiful SilverRock golf course. Earlier this year, Lumpy’s, which had been serving the local golfing community for some 30 years, closed both its outlets in Rancho Mirage and La Quinta. revenue) is over $1 billion. So for a population Meanwhile, golf remains a vital part of as small as this, that’s fairly substantial.” our local economy. Organizations such as the A study using data collected in 2014 titled Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors “The Economic Impact of the Coachella Bureau and the Coachella Valley Economic Valley Golf Industry,” completed by Tourism Partnership point out frequently that the golf Economics, stated: “In 2014, the golf industry industry’s impact on the local economic balance generated the following total economic impacts sheet is sizable and therefore critical to our valin the Coachella Valley region: a) Nearly $1.1 ley’s economic stability. billion in total business sales; b) $413.3 million In an effort to find out what’s going on, in labor income; c) More than 14,000 jobs. the Independent recently sat down with Craig These regional economic impacts also generated Kessler, the director of governmental affairs for significant fiscal (tax) impacts at the local, state the Southern California Golf Association; he’s and federal levels. In 2014, the Coachella Valley the organization’s resident expert on all aspects golf industry directly and indirectly generated of the golf industry’s longtime presence in our approximately $83.3 million in local and state valley. We asked Kessler to evaluate the health taxes and $90.5 million in federal taxes.” of the golf industry in Coachella Valley.

Clearly, the game is integral to the area’s “The golf industry is enormous in this valeconomy. Can the local population continue to ley,” Kessler said. “This is the greatest concencount on it? tration of golf courses in the United States. The “I’ll say that we’re actually pleasantly direct economic impact (of golf on local annual surprised by the way our industry has withstood

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the recent challenges here in the valley— but also we’re watching it very carefully,” Kessler said. “Almost 27 percent of Southern California’s and about 14 percent of the whole state’s golf courses are right here in this desert.

For example, the city of Los Angeles, with 4 million people, has 35 golf courses within its city limits, while you have 121 here. So the role that golf plays in the local economy here is phenomenal. I think it was Sonny Bono who said, ‘No golf. No Palm Springs.’ While that may not be quite true, certainly if you take out golf and agriculture, you don’t have much to drive revenue here.”

Kessler admitted the golf industry has seen some rough times in the last decade or so—rough times that he said need to be put in historical context.

“From 1946 to 2004, the game grew every year,” he said. “That spanned wars in Korea and Vietnam, urban riots, gas lines (due to shortages), recessions, double-dip recessions, etc. Some of those years were better than others, but even in the worst economic years, golf never suffered any declines. It continued to grow for 60 years.

By 2004-2005, what I just described resulted in an industry ripe for an overdue correction— and that’s what hit the industry nationally, and here in California.”

Can the golf industry address the challenges it is facing?

“Over the last 10 years or so, the golf industry has learned that it can’t just sit and hope that (the players) will come,” Kessler said. “We have to become marketers, just like every other business in the United States. But I want to emphasize that when I read stories that talk about this game being passé, that it takes too long to play or is too difficult, and that people are no longer interested in it, I disagree. The facts that the base community of players has less money than they used to have, and the game has become more expensive than it used to be, are (the factors) driving the lack of participation. All the studies done about (consumer)

interest in the game … show that the numbers are through the roof.”

Due to California’s record-breaking drought, golf courses have been subjected to unprecedented environmental and conservation pressures.

“One of the encouraging things is that as a result of recent conservation efforts, you’re seeing golf courses reduce substantially the amount of turf they irrigate, and maintenance expenses in general,” Kessler said. “By lowering those costs, we can reduce the cost of the game and put ourselves more in line with the market we’re trying to appeal to.”

Where should stewards of the golf industry be focusing their attention to encourage golf’s growth, longevity—and benefit to our valley?

“There’s no doubt that the lack of millennial interest in the game of golf is the greatest problem,” Kessler said. “In my opinion, I think that lack of interest results mostly from economic and financial factors, and not cultural or social factors. Honestly, I think it’s an insult to this particular generation to assume that somehow they are uniquely suffering from short attention spans and don’t like pursuits that are difficult. What they do have is extreme debt levels due to student loans. But if we don’t get them involved at a younger age, then they won’t be retiring to places like the Coachella Valley.”

In recognition of what some observers might call the anachronistic tendencies of golf and its culture, Kessler concluded: “There is something venerable about the historical traditions of the game of golf, but they need to be updated for each generation. Its values are timeless, but the forms of those values aren’t necessarily so. Now the private clubs are starting to incorporate families—and another encouraging sign about the demographics of golf is that Latinos, who are now a (plurality) of this state’s population and include many successful business people, are attracted to golf as a family activity. Golf was that way once—and it needs to regain that focus.”

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A FLOWER PARADISE

Gubler’s Orchids has called the high desert home since 1975

T

BY BRANE JEVRIC

here is a tropical garden up in the most unlikely of places—the high desert—that grows orchids, by the thousands.

I discovered it by pure chance while on another assignment in Landers, located north of Yucca Valley about 55 miles from Palm Springs. As I drove on Belfield Boulevard, I saw dozens of cars in a busy parking lot next to a huge tent-like structure. I thought it might have been a celebrity wedding—but instead, it was the largest orchid nursery I’d ever seen.

I grabbed my camera and started taking photos of the gorgeous orchids—and didn’t stop until I went through tens of thousands of square feet of absolute botanical beauty owned

by Gubler Orchids company. It was a true photographers’ paradise.

Any horticultural expert will tell you that orchids are among most elegant, most expensive and most sought-out flowers. It’s a fact that Charles Darwin was doing research on orchids while also working on his Theory of Evolution.

The Gubler family has been gardening at their Landers orchid nursery since 1975.

According to Heidi Gubler Brodeur, there have been three generations of botanists in her family, starting with her grandfather, Heinrich Gubler, who owned a nursery near Zurich, Switzerland, back in 1918.

“My dad, Hans Gubler, arrived in the U.S. in 1949,” she said. “He lived the American dream.

In 1954, after having saved $300, he started his own business selling orchids out of a station wagon in Altadena, Calif.”

Later on, Hans Gubler named Cattleya orchid hybrids after each of his three children: Lc. Christopher Gubler, C. Karin Ann Gubler, and Pot. Heidi Gubler.

Over the years, Gubler Orchids grew into one

of the largest orchid growers in the nation. The crucial moment for the company’s expansion came with the move to the high desert, where the family built advanced solar greenhouses.

“We came here for clean air, pure water, sunshine and four growing seasons,” Gubler Brodeur said. “We ship our orchids throughout the world and everywhere nationwide, even to Alaska.”

Today, the company is led by Chris Gubler, who managed to double it in size and increase sales 10 times over since taking the reins.

But not everything has been rosy for the Gubler family in the high desert: They suffered a big blow during the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Landers on June 28, 1992.

“I was in shock. Everything our family had worked for had been ruined,” Chris Gubler said.

However, this horror story has a happy ending.

“It turns out that the earthquake was a rebirth for Gubler Orchids, as we made huge capital improvements to nursery,” he said.

Gubler Orchids also owns and operates another nursery nearby in Lucerne Valley, but it is closed to the public. Between the two nurseries, the Gublers own approximately 155,000 square feet of producing greenhouses.

The family also owns a couple of orchids that are beyond 60 years old!

The future of the company seems secure, with the fourth generation of Gublers stepping in: Chris’ daughter, Kelsey, just joined the company after graduating from Cal Poly.

You know you want it ... ... Your dream house.

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Gubler Orchids is located at 2200 Belfield Blvd. in Landers. Its showroom, growing grounds and greenhouses are open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 760-364-2282, or visit www.gublers.com. photo by brane jevric

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CRISIS COMING I

BY ALASTAIR BLAND

f President-elect Donald Trump actually believes all the warnings he issued during the election about the threats of immigration, he should be talking about ways to slow global warming as well.

Rising sea levels, caused by the melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice caps, will probably displace tens of millions of people in the decades ahead, and many may come to North America as refugees. Climate change will cause a suite of other problems for future generations to tackle—and it’s arguably the most pressing issue of our time.

A year ago, world leaders gathered in Paris to discuss strategies for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and scientists at every corner of the globe confirm that humans are facing a crisis. However, climate change is being basically ignored by American politicians and lawmakers. It was not discussed in depth at all during this past election cycle’s televised presidential debates—and when climate change does break the surface of public discussion, it polarizes Americans like almost no other political issue.

Some conservatives, including President-elect selected a well-known skeptic of climate change, Trump, still deny there’s even a problem.

Myron Ebell, to head his U.S. Environmental “We are in this bizarre political state in which Protection Agency transition team. most of the Republican Party still thinks it has Steve Valk, communications director for the to pretend that climate change is not real,” said Citizens’ Climate Lobby, says the results of the Jonathan F.P. Rose, a New York City developer election come as a discouraging setback in the and author of The Well-Tempered City, which campaign to slow emissions and global warming. explores in part how low-cost green develop“There’s no doubt that the steep hill we’ve ment can mitigate the impacts of rising global been climbing just became a sheer cliff,” he said. temperatures and changing weather patterns.

“But cliffs are scalable.”

Rose says progress cannot be made in drafting Valk says the American public must demand effective climate strategies until national leaders that Congress implement carbon pricing. He says agree there’s an issue. the government is not likely to face and attack “We have such strong scientific evidence,” he climate change unless voters force them to. said. “We can disagree on how we’re going to “The solution is going to have to come from solve the problems, but I would hope we could the people,” he said. “Our politicians have shown move toward an agreement on the basic facts.” that they’re just not ready to implement a soluThat such a serious planetwide crisis has tion on their own.” become a divide across the American political battlefield “is a tragedy” to Peter Kalmus, After Paris an earth scientist with the Jet Propulsion There is no question the Earth is warming rapidLaboratory at Caltech in Pasadena, who agreed ly, and already, this upward temperature trend is to be interviewed for this story on his own having impacts. behalf (in other words, not on behalf of NASA, It is disrupting agriculture. Glacial water JPL or Caltech). sources are vanishing. Storms and droughts are “CO2 molecules and infrared photons don’t becoming more severe. Altered winds and ocean give a crap about politics, whether you’re liberal currents are impacting marine ecosystems. So is or conservative, Republican or Democrat or anyocean acidification, another outcome of carbon thing else,” Kalmus said. dioxide emissions. The sea is rising and eventuSlowing climate change will be essential, since ally will swamp large coastal regions and islands. adapting to all its impacts may be impossible.

As many as 200 million people could be displaced Governments must strive for greater resource by 2050. efficiency, shift to renewable energy and tranWorld leaders and climate activists made sition from conventional to more sustainable groundbreaking progress toward slowing these agricultural practices. effects at the Paris climate conference. Leaders America’s leaders must also implement a from 195 countries drafted a plan of action to carbon-pricing system, climate activists say, that reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions and places a financial burden on fossil-fuel producers steer the planet off its predicted course of warmand reduces greenhouse-gas emissions. But there ing. The pact, which addresses energy, transpormay be little to zero hope that such a system will tation, industries and agriculture—and which be installed at the federal level as Trump preasks leaders to regularly upgrade their climate pares to move into the White House. Trump has policies—is intended to keep the planet from actually threatened to reverse any commitments warming by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit between the United States agreed to in Paris. Trump even pre-industrial years and the end of this century.

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Battling climate change in the Trump era won’t be easy—but it’s vital Scientists have forecasted that an average global increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit will have devastating consequences for humanity.

The United States pledged to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 26 percent from 2005 levels within a decade. China, Japan and nations of the European Union made similar promises.

More recently, almost 200 nations agreed to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, extremely potent but short-lived greenhouse gases emitted by refrigerators and air conditioners, and reduce the emissions from shipping and aviation.

But in the wake of such promising international progress—and as 2016 draws to a close as the third record warm year in a row—many climate activists are disconcerted both by United States leaders’ recent silence on the issue and by the outcome of the presidential election.

The 300 nationwide chapters of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby are calling on local governments and chambers of commerce across America to voice support for a revenue-neutral carbon fee. This carbon fee would impose a charge on producers of oil, natural gas and coal. As a direct result, all products and services that depend on or directly utilize those fossil fuels would cost more for consumers, who would be incentivized to buy less. Food shipped in from far away would cost more than locally grown alternatives. Gas for heating, electricity generated by oil and coal, and driving a car would become more expensive.

“Bicycling would become more attractive, and so would electric cars and home appliances that use less energy,” said Kalmus, an advocate of the revenue-neutral carbon fee.

In the carbon fee system, the revenue from fossil-fuel producers would be evenly distributed by the collecting agencies among the public, perhaps via a tax credit. Recycling the dividends back into society would make it a fair system, Valk explains, since poorer people, who tend to use less energy than wealthier people to begin with and are therefore less to blame for climate change, would come out ahead.

The system would also place a tariff on incoming goods from nations without a carbon fee. This would keep American industries from moving overseas and maybe even prompt other nations to set their own price on carbon.

But there’s a problem with the revenue-neutral carbon fee, according to other climate activists: It doesn’t support social programs that may be aimed at reducing society’s carbon footprint.

“It will put no money into programs that serve disadvantaged communities who, for example, might not be able to afford weatherizing their home and lowering their energy bill, or afford an electric vehicle or a solar panel,”

said Renata Brillinger, executive director of the California Climate and Agriculture Network.

“It doesn’t give anything to public schools for making the buildings more energy efficient, and it wouldn’t give any money to farmers’ incentive programs for soil building.”

Brillinger’s organization is advocating for farmers to adopt practices that actively draw carbon out of the atmosphere, like planting trees and maintaining ground cover to prevent erosion. Funding, she says, is needed to support such farmers, who may go through transitional periods of reduced yields and increased costs.

California’s cap-and-trade system sets up an ample revenue stream for this purpose that a revenue-neutral system does not, according to Brillinger.

But Valk says establishing a carbon pricing system must take into account the notorious reluctance of conservatives in Congress.

“You aren’t going to get a single Republican in Congress to support legislation unless it’s revenue-neutral,” he said. “Any policy is useless if you can’t pass it in Congress.”

Sequestering the Farm In Washington, D.C., the nation’s leaders continue tussling over popular issues like immigration, taxes, healthcare, abortion and guns.

Climate-change activists wish they would be thinking more about soil. That’s because stopping greenhouse gas emissions alone will not stop climate change. The carbon dioxide emitted through centuries of industrial activity will continue to drive warming unless it is removed from the air and put somewhere.

“There are only three places carbon can go,” Brillinger said. “It can go into the atmosphere, where we don’t want it; into the ocean, where we also don’t want it because it causes acidification; or into soil and woody plants, where we do want it. Carbon is the backbone of all forests and is a critical nutrient of soil.”

But most of the Earth’s soil carbon has been lost to the atmosphere, causing a spike in atmospheric carbon. In the 1700s, the Earth’s atmosphere contained less than 280 parts per million of carbon dioxide, according to scientists. Now, we are at more than 400 and counting. Climate experts generally agree that the atmospheric carbon level must be reduced to 350 or less if we are to keep at bay the most disastrous possible impacts of warming.

This is why farmers and the soil they work will be so important in mitigating climate change. By employing certain practices and abandoning other ones, farmers and ranchers can turn acreage into valuable carbon sinks—a

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NEWS

general agricultural approach often referred to as “carbon farming.”

Conventional agriculture practices tend to emit carbon dioxide. Regular tilling of the soil, for example, causes soil carbon to bond with oxygen and float away as carbon dioxide. Tilling also causes erosion, as do deforestation and overgrazing. With erosion, soil carbon enters waterways, creating carbonic acid—the direct culprit of ocean acidification. Researchers have estimated that unsustainable farming practices have caused as much as 80 percent of the world’s soil carbon to turn into carbon dioxide.

By carbon farming, those who produce the world’s food can simultaneously turn their land into precious carbon sinks. The basic tenets of carbon farming include growing trees as windbreaks and focusing on perennial crops, like fruit trees and certain specialty grain varieties, which demand less tilling and disturbance of the soil.

Eric Toensmeier, a senior fellow with the climate advocacy group Project Drawdown and the author of The Carbon Farming Solution, says many other countries are far ahead of the United States in both recognizing the importance of soil as a place to store carbon and funding programs that help conventional farmers shift toward carbon-farming practices. France, for instance, initiated a sophisticated program in 2011 that calls for increasing soil carbon worldwide by 0.4 percent every year. Healthy soil can contain 10 percent carbon or more, and France’s program has the potential over time to decelerate the increase in atmospheric carbon levels.

Toensmeier is optimistic about the progress in the United States, too. The Department of Agriculture funds programs that support environmentally friendly practices that protect watersheds or enhance wildlife habitat, largely through planting perennial grasses and trees.

“And it turns out a lot of the practices they’re paying farmers to do to protect water quality or slow erosion also happen to sequester carbon,” Toensmeier said.

National Politics and City Reform Climate-reform advocates still talk about Bernie Sanders’ fiery attack on fracking as a source of global warming in the May primary debate with Hillary Clinton.

“If we don’t get our act together, this planet could be 5 to 10 degrees warmer by the end of this century,” Sanders said then. “Cataclysmic problems for this planet.”

Sanders was not exaggerating. The Earth has already warmed by 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, and it’s getting hotter. Even with the advances made in Paris, the world remains on track to be 6.1 degrees Fahrenheit warmer by 2100 than it was in pre-industrial times, according to a United Nations emissions report released in early November. The authors of another paper published in January in the journal Nature predicted temperatures will rise as

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much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

In light of the scientific consensus, conservatives’ denial of climate change looks childish at best, and dangerous at worst. In low-lying Florida, so vulnerable to the rising sea, an unofficial policy from its Republican leadership has effectively muzzled state employees from even mentioning “climate change” and “global warming” in official reports and communications.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz suggested NASA focus its research less on climate change and more on space exploration, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Most frightening of all, perhaps, is the incoming American president’s stance on the matter: Trump said in a 2012 tweet that global warming is a Chinese hoax. In January 2014, during a brief spell of cold weather, he asked via Twitter, “Is our country still spending money on the GLOBAL WARMING HOAX?” While most of the rest of the world remains poised to advance emissions reductions goals, Trump is aiming in a different direction.

The Trump-Pence website vows to “unleash America’s $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil and natural gas reserves, plus hundreds of years in clean coal reserves.” His webpage concerning energy goals only mentions reducing emissions once, and it makes no mention of climate change or renewable energy.

While meaningful action at the federal level is probably years away, at the local level, progress is coming—even in communities led by Republicans, according to Rose. That, he says, is because local politicians face a level of accountability from which national leaders are shielded.

“At the city level, mayors have to deliver real results,” Rose said. “They have to protect their residents and make wise investments on behalf of their residents. The residents see what they’re doing and hold them accountable.”

Though Americans will soon have as president a man who is essentially advocating for climate change, Valk expects time—and warming—to shift voter perspectives.

“As more and more people are personally affected by climate change, like those recently flooded out in Louisiana and North Carolina, people of all political persuasions will see that acting on climate change is not a matter of partisan preferences, but a matter of survival,” he said.

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DECEMBER ASTRONOMY

Venus dominates the sky, while theStars fullinmoon puts a damper on Planets and Bright Evening Mid-Twilight Forthe December, Geminid2016 meteor shower This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

E

By Robert Victor

vening twilight: Venus rules! You won’t fail to notice this brilliant light in the southwest at dusk. Look for Mars to its upper left, and, for the first two or three weeks of December, Mercury to Venus’ lower right, provided you have an unobstructed view. The moon passes through this section of sky Nov. 30-Dec. 5.

The Summer Triangle of Vega, Altair, and Deneb is not far west of overhead in twilight in early December, and drifts westward as this month progresses. Blue-white Vega is next in brightness after Venus among objects visible in December’s evening twilight. Yellow Capella in the northeast is almost as bright. To Capella’s lower right, red-orange in color, is Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, the Bull, ascending in the east-northeast to east. Later in the month, Orion’s brightest stars, reddish Betelgeuse and bluish Rigel, rise almost months, as Venus draws closer to Earth and together not far from due east. In December becomes backlighted by the sun. at dusk, look for Fomalhaut, mouth of the Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, is occulted by the Southern Fish, crossing the southern sky about moon on evening of Monday, Dec. 12. Since the 25 degrees above the horizon. moon is almost full, a telescope is needed to Later in the evening, Orion is higher, and now observe the star’s disappearance and reappearthe “Dog stars,” Sirius and Procyon, following ance. From the Coachella Valley, the leading dark the Hunter across the sky, have risen into view. edge of the moon covers the star shortly after Notice that Orion’s belt points downward to 7:02 p.m., and the star reappears at the moon’s Sirius, the brightest star, and upward toward bright edge at 8:09 p.m.

Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster, and The full moon on Tuesday, Dec. 13, rises beyond to the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, star within a quarter-hour after sunset. The peak cluster. Both are spectacular fields for binoculars! of the Geminid meteor shower later that night Morning twilight: Now Orion and company will be greatly spoiled by moonlight; only the are descending in the western sky, with some brighter meteors will be seen. Meteors might stars already out of view. Jupiter is the domiappear anywhere in the sky. To check if a meteor nant “morning star” in the southeast to south, is a member of the Geminid shower, extend its with first-magnitude Spica in Virgo not far track backward beyond the point where you saw below. After Sirius departs in the southwest, the the meteor light up. The track should extend brightest actual star remaining is golden-orange back toward the radiant of the shower, near the Arcturus in the east. Vega, reincarnated in the star Castor in Gemini. Castor is very low in the northeast, and Capella, sinking in the northwest, northeast two hours after sunset, and nearly are almost as bright. Regulus, heart of Leo, the overhead shortly before 2 a.m.

Lion, is high in the southern sky, going west After passing full, the waning gibbous moon, as weeks pass. Before month’s end, watch for in the morning sky, passes the Twin stars Pollux Antares and Saturn emerging out of the sun’s and Castor in Gemini on Dec. 16; and Regulus, glare in the southeast. heart of Leo, on Dec. 18.

Moon and planets: Watch the waxing Winter begins on Dec. 21 at 2:44 a.m. On the crescent moon pass three planets Nov. 30-Dec. next morning, Dec. 22, the moon appears as a 5. The moon will appear to the upper right of thick crescent near Jupiter and Spica, and then Mercury on Nov. 30; above Mercury and to the several days later on Dec. 26 and 27 as a much lower right of Venus on Dec. 1; near Venus on thinner crescent near Antares and Saturn.

Dec. 2 and 3; and near Mars on Dec. 4 and 5.

On Tuesday, Dec. 27, as morning twilight Mercury stays 24 degrees to the lower right brightens, bright Jupiter is in the south-southof Venus Dec. 2-12, then falls away and fades. east, approaching its high point in the south.

Venus-Mars are 23 degrees apart on Dec. 2, narLook low in the southeast to east-southeast for rowing to 12 degrees on Dec. 31. the last easy old crescent moon, with Saturn 4 See Venus in daytime: On Tuesday, Dec. 6, degrees below. In late December, Jupiter and Venus follows the sun’s path. Place the sun just Saturn are 60 degrees apart. above an object such as a treetop or building On Wednesday, Dec. 28, the old moon is hard around midday or in the afternoon. Return to to see, but it’s worth trying for rare opposing the same observing location three hours and crescent moons on consecutive days: Dec. 28 at 12 minutes later, and Venus will appear in the dawn, and Dec. 29 at dusk. On Dec. 28, using same spot! On that date, telescopes show Venus binoculars 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise, try two-thirds full. Watch for big changes in coming for the crescent moon rising 9-10 degrees to CVIndependent.com

December's evening sky chart.

ROBERT D. MILLER

N

Pollux

Capella

Aldebaran Betelgeuse Deneb

Vega

E

W Altair

Rigel

Mars 29 22 15 8 1

22 8

29 Venus 15 1

Mercury 22 15 8

1

Fomalhaut

Evening mid-twilight the lower left of Saturn.

The occurs new moon occurs when is 9° below later that day, at Sun 10:53 p.m.

Athorizon. early dusk on Dec. 1: 43 minutes after sunset.

Thursday, Dec. 15: 29,44 about after sun" 20 " minutes " set, note Venus31: well Using 44up" in the " southwest. " binoculars, try for the young crescent moon within 39 degrees to the lower right of Venus.

To see the old moon on Dec. 28 and the young moon on Dec. 29, you’ll need very clear skies, unobstructed views, and binoculars or a telescope. Good luck!

On New Year’s Eve, you can conveniently find the most distant planet of our solar system. Get your telescope out at nightfall (about 90 minutes after sunset), and point it at Mars. Neptune, very faint at eighth magnitude, will appear very closely east of Mars, following the red planet through the telescopic field. As the evening progresses, Mars will appear to close in on the dim, more-distant planet.

Star parties: The Whitewater Preserve will be hosting a star party on Saturday, Dec. 10,

S

Stereographic Projection weather permitting, from dusk until 9 p.m.

Map bycall Robert D. Miller Reservations are requested; 760-325-7222.

The Astronomical Society of the Desert will host the next of our series of monthly star parties on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m.

They are held at the Visitor Center of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, on Highway 74, within 4 miles south of Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Check www.astrorx.org for listings of our high altitude parties at Sawmill Trailhead starting at dusk. The next one (at 4,000 feet—wear warm clothes!) will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3. Also, check the link to “Impromptu Star Parties,” which could be announced on short notice at any time.

Robert C. Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys providing skywatching opportunities for school children in and around Palm Springs.

DECEMBER 2016

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Presents

Awards Show and Celebration Wednesday, Dec. 7 Doors open at 5:30—Awards at 6:15 Awards followed by music from 2016-2017 Best Local Band Venus and the Traps At 2016-2017 Best Nightclub Copa Nightclub—244 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs Free! Come celebrate the Best of the Coachella Valley!

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17

DECEMBER 2016

LIFE IN THE VALLEY BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CENTER La Quinta Wellness Center Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Healing Center 3. Desert Hot Springs Health and Wellness Center

BEST FARMERS’ MARKET College of the Desert Street Fair Farmers’ Market Runners up: 2. Certified Farmers’ Market Old Town La Quinta 3. Certified Farmers’ Market Palm Springs 4. Palm Springs VillageFest 5. Certified Farmers’ Market Palm Desert

BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST/ ADVOCACY GROUP/CHARITY

ARTS BEST ART GALLERY Coachella Valley Art Scene Runners up: 2. CODA 3. Heather James 4. Melissa Morgan

BEST INDOOR VENUE McCallum Theatre Runners up: 2. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace 3. The Hood Bar and Pizza 4. Fantasy Springs Special Events Center 5. The Date Shed

BEST LOCAL ARTS GROUP/ ORGANIZATION Palm Springs Art Museum Runners up: 2. Coachella Valley Art Scene 3. McCallum Theatre 4. La Quinta Arts Foundation 5. Coachella Valley Repertory

BEST LOCAL BAND Venus and the Traps Runners up: 2. The Flusters 3. Brightener 4. The Myx 5. War Drum

Runners up: 2. Camelot Theatres 3 TIE Regal Palm Springs Stadium 9 Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 and IMAX 5. Century Theatres at the River

BEST LOCAL DJ

BEST MUSEUM

Alf Alpha Runners up: 2. DJ Day 3. Alex Harrington 4. DJ Pwee 5. Tommy Locust

Palm Springs Art Museum Runners up: 2. Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert 3. Coachella Valley History Museum 4. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum 5. La Quinta Museum

BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN (INDIVIDUAL)

BEST OUTDOOR VENUE

Jesika Von Rabbit Runners up: 2. Nico Flores 3. Keisha D 4. Kal David 5. EeVaan Tre

BEST LOCAL VISUAL ARTIST Sofia Enriquez Runners up: 2. Elena Bulatova 3. Ryan “Motel” Campbell 4. Marconi Calindas

BEST MOVIE THEATER Century La Quinta and XD

Empire Polo Club Runners up: 2. The Living Desert 3. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace 4. Fantasy Springs Rock Yard 5. Palm Desert Civic Center Park

BEST PRODUCING THEATER COMPANY Palm Canyon Theatre Runners up: 2. Coachella Valley Repertory 3. Desert Rose Playhouse 4. Coyote StageWorks 5. Dezart Performs

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Animal Shelter 3. Desert AIDS Project 4. LGBT Community Center of the Desert 5. Shelter From the Storm

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

BEST PUBLIC SERVANT Rep. Raul Ruiz Runners up: 2. La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans 3. Palm Springs Mayor Rob Moon 4. Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors

BEST YOGA Urban Yoga Runners up: 2. Bikram Yoga Palm Desert-El Paseo 3. TIE Evolve Yoga Yoga Central 5. Bikram Yoga University Village CVIndependent.com

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BEST RETAIL MUSIC/VIDEO STORE

STAFF PICK |

Best Tearjerker Dezart Performs’ Production of The Outgoing Tide I went to see the final performance of The Outgoing Tide — Dezart Performs’ 2015-2016 season-closing play — back in May with my friend Robert. Both Robert and I are … well, curmudgeonly, to put it kindly.

While we had high expectations due to the production’s rave reviews — about an older couple and their adult son coming to terms with the father’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease — we most certainly did not expect to be blubbering our eyes out at the end … and there we were, along with much of the rest of the audience at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club, sniffling and weeping. Judith Chapman, Scott Smith and most especially Michael Fairman (who played Gunner, the father) knocked it out of the figurative park, thanks in no small part due to the amazing direction by Michael Shaw. If you ever hear of this play being performed elsewhere, I highly recommend going to see it — but I’d be shocked if that show is as good as the one put onstage last spring by Dezart Performs. Jeez, I am tearing up just thinking about it. — Jimmy Boegle

BEST BOWLING

BEST ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT

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

Evening Under the Stars (AIDS Assistance Program) Runners up: 2. McCallum Theatre Annual Gala 3. Ramblin’ and Gamblin’ (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert) 4. Dinner in the Canyons (Agua Caliente Cultural Museum) 5. Center Stage (LGBT Community Center of the Desert)

BEST AUTO REPAIR Palms to Pines Automotive Runners up: 2. Desert Classic Cars 3. Desert Lexus 4. L&L Automotive 5. Singh’s Automotive Repair

BEST CAR WASH Elephant Car Wash/Rancho Super Car Wash Runners up: 2. La Quinta Car Wash 3. Indio Car Wash 4. Airport Quick Car Wash

BEST PLANT NURSERY The Living Desert’s Palo Verde Garden Center Runners up: 2. Moller’s Garden Center 3. Vintage Nursery 4. Bob Williams Nursery

BEST PET SUPPLIES Petco Runners up: 2. Bones ’n’ Scones 3. PetSmart 4. Miriam’s Poochella Grooming 5. Desert Feed Bag

BEST LOCAL TV NEWS PERSONALITY Ginger Jeffries, KMIR Channel 6 Runners up: 2. Patrick Evans, CBS Local 2 3. Karen Devine, KESQ News Channel 3 4. Bianca Rae, KESQ News Channel 3 5. Gino LaMont, KMIR Channel 6

BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION Mix 100.5 Runners up: 2. 93.7 KCLB 3. Jammin 99.5 FM 4. K-News 94.3 5. La Ponderosa 96.7 FM

Game Stop Runners up: 2. Desert Oasis 3. Interstellar Comic Books and Collectables

BEST HOTEL POOL Ace Hotel and Swim Club Runners up: 2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa 3. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 4. The Riviera 5. The Saguaro

BEST SEX TOY SHOP Skitzo Kitty Runners up: 2. Not So Innocent 3. Spencer’s Gifts 4. GayMart

BEST CLOTHING STORE (LOCALLY OWNED)

Augustine Casino Runners up: 2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa 3. Spa Resort Casino 4. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 5. Spotlight 29 KESQ News Channel 3 Runners up: 2. KMIR Channel 6 3. CBS Local 2

BEST COMICS/GAMES SHOP

FASHION AND STYLE

BEST PLACE TO GAMBLE

BEST LOCAL TV NEWS

Record Alley Runners up: 2. Best Buy 3. Barnes and Noble

Bobby G’s Runners up: 2. Wil Stiles 3. Glossy

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY Jimi “Fitz” Fitzgerald, CV 104.3 FM Runners up: 2. Bradley Ryan, Mix 100.5 3. Mozingo, Mix 100.5 4. Bill Feingold, K-News 94.3 5. Dan McGrath, Sunny 103.1 FM

BEST BOOKSTORE Barnes & Noble Runners up: 2. Rancho Mirage Public Library Booknook 3. Revivals 4. The Book Rack

BEST RESALE/VINTAGE CLOTHING Angel View Runners up: 2. Revivals 3. Gypsyland 4. Penny Lane Boutique 5. Plato’s Closet

BEST FURNITURE STORE Mathis Brothers Runners up: 2. Revivals 3. Ashley Furniture Homestore 4. Mor Furniture for Less

CVIndependent.com

20 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016

BEST LOCAL BAND

BEST ANTIQUES/ COLLECTABLES STORE

Independent readers vote for Venus and the Traps the year’s Best Local Band

TIE The Estate Sale Co Victoria’s Attic Runners up: 3. Misty’s Consignments 4. Classic Consignment

Massage Envy Runners up: 2. Desert Zen 3. Studio M Salon and Spa 4. Revive Wellness Center 5. Bliss Chakra Spa

BEST JEWELER/JEWELRY STORE

BEST FLORIST

East Valley, Represent!

By Brian Blueskye When I called to let the members of Venus and the Traps know that our readers had voted for them as the 2016-2017 Best Local Band, they were surprised, to say the least.

The East Valley-based band beat out War Drum, The Myx, Brightener and the reigning champ, The Flusters. I headed to Indio to speak with the band members: James Montenegro (bass), Perla Martinez (vocals, guitar), Eddy Lazcano (guitar) and Moy Sanchez (drums).

“I was in shock,” Montenegro said. “I was like, ‘Really?!’ … I was sure The Flusters or Brightener were going to get it.”

Venus and the Traps may be a little more mysterious than those other finalists. I’ve only seen the band play a couple of times—yet the sound is unforgettable.

“We started in October of 2014,” Montenegro said. “Perla had written some songs, and I knew she wanted to start a band after her previous band dissolved. I told her I would help her out with some songwriting and playing bass. Perla’s aunt’s kids are taught by Moy; he teaches drums at (Thermal’s) Westside Elementary. Perla’s aunt was like, ‘We know a drummer.’ So we hit up Moy and started jamming with him. We had a guitarist, but he wasn’t able to come through, because he lived a ways away, and Moy suggested we bring in Eddy.

“By January 2015, we did our first show at Club 5, and we had a full set by then of eight or nine songs. The driving force is Perla; she was writing the songs before we became a thing.”

Why do they think they earned so many votes? Sanchez guessed it’s because the band isn’t afraid to step out of the box.

“It’s not a generic style, and it’s unique to us,” Sanchez said. “We’re all different, and that’s our sound.”

Martinez said she’s sometimes surprised by audience members’ compliments after shows.

“Sometimes when we play shows, we see people just standing there, disinterested,” Martinez said.

“But then they come up to us afterward like, ‘I really liked your band!’ I didn’t expect to get that comment from them, given they stood there with a scowl on their face. It’s random people who we never would even think would like us. We had this metalhead guy tell us one night, ‘You guys ripped it! You threw it down!’ and was super excited. It was really cool.”

Montenegro mentioned one show when the band members realized they may be on to something.

“We’re not easy to identify, as far as our sound and style is concerned,” he said. “… We played a hip-hop show at Plan B one time, and we were the only rock band there, and everyone else was playing off tracks and rapping. We thought, ‘How did we get this show? We’re going to bomb.’ When we were done, there were people clapping and coming up to us saying, ‘You sound great! You guys are dope!’

I think a lot of artists will show their appreciation for the music; it doesn’t matter kind of music it is.”

Martinez told a strange story about how the band’s name came to be.

“I had a dream, and in my dream, I was standing at the shore of the ocean,” Martinez said. “There was this big-ass gash on my hand, and I was bleeding all over the water. All of a sudden, a penis appeared. A wave brought this penis, and it’s just floating around with all the blood and everything.

That was my dream, and that was it. I looked it up on Google. … The birth of Aphrodite and the thought of Venus went hand in hand. I was talking to a friend of mine, and he was like, ‘Venus flytraps,’ and I was like, ‘No, Venus and the Traps!’ We ended up just going with that. I am the only girl in the band, so it worked out that way. As far as traps (also a slang term for transgender people) go, people have come up to me saying, ‘No one is in drag in your band or transgender. So why do you call them that?’ In a way, we, as people, are kind of traps, and we always make different impressions on people.”

Lazcano discussed the band’s sound.

“I think I’m a writer in the moment,” Lazcano said. “I think I’ll suddenly be sitting there, and I’ll be like, ‘I need to play this.’ I’ll just stop whatever I’m doing. … Something in my mind is like, ‘Do this!’ and I’ll do it. I’m not someone who plans riffs or anything. Even when they show me riffs or whatever, I’ll be like, ‘OK, I kind of have an idea of what I want to do. … I’ll be at home or work, and it’s going to hit me.’ It does hit me eventually. It all gets pushed together like a nice cake of various flavors.”

Venus and the Traps have been recording and are nearly done with a six-track that should be released soon.

“These songs are the first ones we wanted to put out,” Martinez said. “One of my biggest things about making music is that I want documentation of it. These six songs are the first set, and we want to just put them out there.”

CVIndependent.com

BEST DAY SPA (NON-RESORT/HOTEL)

El Paseo Jewelers Runners up: 2. Leeds and Son 3. Hephaestus 4. Daniel’s Jewelers 5. Robann’s Jewelers

My Little Flower Shop Runners up: 2. Indio Florist 3. Rancho Mirage Florist 4. Palm Springs Florist 5. Lotus Garden Center

BEST HAIR SALON

BEST TATTOO PARLOR

J. Russell! The Salon Runners up: 2. Salon 119 and Spa 3. Dishwater Blonde Salon 4. Revive Salon and Spa 5. Read Brown

BEST SPA IN A RESORT/HOTEL Spa La Quinta (La Quinta Resort) Runners up: 2. The Spa at Desert Springs (JW Marriott) 3. Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente 4. Agua Serena Spa at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells 5. Well Spa at Miramonte

TIE Art and Ink Tattoo Studio The Tattoo Gallery Runners up: 3. Flagship Tattoo 4. Adornment Piercing and Private Tattoo 5. Strata Tattoo Lab

BEST EYEGLASS/ OPTICAL RETAILER Costco Runners up: 2. Desert Vision Optometry 3. Milauskas Eye Institute 4. Walmart 5. Old Town Optometry

STAFF PICK |

Best Tailor Pero Dzekov at Pero’s Tailor Shop For more than 45 years, Pero Dzekov has worked in a trade that does not forgive a mistake: He’s a tailor, a master craftsman whose clients include celebrities of a highest caliber, including Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow. Both singers have penned accolades to him on their photographs that hang in his Smoke Tree Village shop.

Dzekov, an immigrant from Macedonia, is fond of saying that his favorite clients were publisher Walter Annenberg and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich. On any given day, you’ll see familiar faces in his shop — former Mayor Ron Oden, perhaps, or Palm Springs City Manager David Ready — but Dzekov is most proud of the fact that many of his clients have been repeatedly coming back since the 1970s. — Brane Jevric

PHOTO: Brane Jevric

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 21

DECEMBER 2016

OUTSIDE! BEST URBAN LANDSCAPING El Paseo Runners up: 2. Sunnylands 3. Downtown Palm Springs

BEST PUBLIC GARDEN The Living Desert Runners up: 2. Palm Desert Civic Center Park 3. Sunnylands 4. El Paseo 5. Ruth Hardy Park

BEST PLACE FOR BICYCLING

BEST PARK Palm Desert Civic Center Park Runners up: 2. TIE Freedom Park (Palm Desert) Ruth Hardy Park 4. Rancho Las Flores (Coachella) 5. Demuth Park (Palm Springs)

BEST OUTDOOR/ CAMPING GEAR STORE Big 5 Sporting Goods Runners up: 2. Dick’s Sporting Goods 3. Yellow Mart Palm Desert Cyclery Runners up: 2. Palm Springs Cyclery 3. Tri-A-Bike 4. Joel’s Bicycle Shop

BEST RECREATION AREA

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

BEST HIKE Bump and Grind Runners up: 2. Indian Canyons 3. Tahquitz Canyon 4. Palm Springs Museum Trail 5. South Lykken Trail

ORGANIC JUICE

•

SMOOTHIES

•

BOWLS

•

JUICE CLEANSE

VOTED 10 BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY

Acai and pitaya bowls – grab-n-go and packed with all-natural ingredients, no sugar goodness.

BEST BIKE SHOP

La Quinta Runners up: 2. Palm Springs 3. Palm Desert 4. Highway 74 5. Frank Sinatra Drive

Joshua Tree Runners up: 2. Tahquitz Canyon 3. Whitewater Preserve 4. Lake Cahuilla 5. Coachella Valley Preserve

fast food CAN be healthy!

BEST SPORTING GOODS Raw, organic juices all made to order. Try our famous “BOMB” that everyone is talking about.

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE Desert Willow Golf Resort Runners up: 2. PGA West 3. Eagle Falls Golf Course at Fantasy Springs 4. The Golf Club at Terra Lago 5. The Lights at Indio Golf Course

STAFF PICK |

Best Local Album Bridger, Forces Against Us

Ingredients your body can recognize and utilize!

All Natural Ingredients • Healthy Fiber Naturally No Purée’s or Preservatives • Homemade Almond Milk No High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Many great bands in the Coachella Valley released fantastic albums over the last year, including Dali’s Llama and The Hellions. However, to my ear, there is one new album that stands out: Bridger’s Forces Against Us. Numerous local musicians took to social media to express their love for the album; however, making a great album wasn’t enough for the band: Bridger even made a hilarious music video for the Forces Against Us song “Death to Snowbirds,” There’s no doubt that Bridger is an awesome live band — and Forces Among Us proved that Bridger can turn in fantastic music in the studio, too.

— Brian Blueskye

PALM DESERT Corner of Hwy. 111 & Monterey

LA QUINTA Washington & Hwy 111

760.837.9777

760.777.4666

PALM SPRINGS Corner of Sunrise & Ramon

Now Taking Phone Orders

F re s h J ui c e Bar.co m

760.883.5888 CVIndependent.com

22 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016

STAFF PICK |

Best Ukulele Master John Robbins John Robbins is a well-known local musician — who plays a not-so-well-known instrument: He plays a mean ukulele. Robbins has opened many shows for local bands, and he recently took part in an acoustic showcase.

Robbins, who is visually impaired, also has many other talents, including being visual artist; in fact, he recently signed with an independent Web-based comic publisher. When you mention John’s name to local musicians or music fans, the first thing they say often say is, “The guy who plays an awesome ukulele?” He deserves all the recognition he can get.

— Brian Blueskye

FOR THE KIDS BEST PLAYGROUND Palm Desert Civic Center Park Runners up: 2. La Quinta Civic Center Park 3. Ruth Hardy Park 4. Rancho Mirage Community Park 5. Cathedral City Town Square

BEST PLACE TO BUY TOYS

Thank you, Coachella Valley Independent readers, for voting us the Best Producing Theater Company!

Toys “R” Us Runners up: 2. Mr. G’s for Kids 3. Target 4. Walmart 5. Big Lots

BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE Old Navy Runners up: 2. The Childrens Place 3. Tillys 4. Fallas 5. Revivals

3. Boomers 4. Chuck E. Cheese 5. Desert Ice Castle

BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY Chuck E. Cheese’s Runners up: 2. The Living Desert 3. Boomers 4. Lulu California Bistro 5. Desert Ice Castle

FOOD & RESTAURANTS BEST CASUAL EATS Café 54 at Augustine Casino Runners up: 2. In-n-Out Burger 3. Lulu California Bistro 4. Eureka!

5. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill

BEST RESTAURANT FOR KIDS

538 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs • 760-323-5123 PalmCanyonTheatre.org Celebrating our 20th Anniversary Season!

CVIndependent.com

Chuck E. Cheese’s Runners up: 2. Shakey’s Pizza 3. Red Robin 4. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill 5. Old Spaghetti Factory

BEST PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN The Living Desert Runners up: 2. Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert

BEST CATERER Lulu California Bistro Runners up: 2. Lavender Bistro 3. Jennifer’s Kitchen and Catering 4. Dash and a Handful 5. Cello’s Pantry

DECEMBER 2016 GDG 1 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG1

#ILoveGayPalmSprings Because…

Rick Manzano

By Nicholas Snow LGBT allies, the hunky Rick Manzano and his ever-glamorous wife, Dr. Suzanne Quardt, moved to the desert in 2006 to open a plastic surgery practice. They are both huge supporters of the community: she, one of three current co-chairs of Desert AIDS Project’s annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, and he, a contestant in the upcoming Dancing with the Desert Stars competition, also

December in the Desert Welcome to our first edition of GayDesertGuide.com in print!

We’ve partnered with the Coachella Valley Independent to create this special advertising section for those times when you’re ever away from your phone or laptop.

Decembers from my childhood in Michigan were full of holiday lights (the big ones before mini-lights) along with the smells of fresh-cut pine trees and grandpa’s Manhattans.

I’ve been in California for 11 years now, and I can say all that holiday magic can be found right here in the desert. As for the snow, well, we have that, too. Find all of the month’s happening at GayDesertGuide.com. For now, though, let’s take a tour of the valley and see what’s happening this month.

benefiting D.A.P. Before opening his other business, CreativeTake Medical, “a one-stop marketing agency for all areas of the healthcare industry,” Rick worked for one of the largest medical marketing firms for many years. He thrives on working with other medical professionals who share his passion and vision.

Rick explains, #ILoveGayPalmSprings because…• There is no traffic. After fighting traffic in L.A. for over 10 years, it’s nice to get where you want to go. • Unlike other cities here in the desert, there are a variety of restaurants to choose from in PS. • There is a nice bit of cultural feel in PS that you do not get anywhere else in the valley. • For the sense of community it offers. I have lived in many places in the US and it never ceases to amaze me how this community and its leaders come together for special causes.• It reminds me of being home in San Francisco—it’s a very open and liberal city but with a small-town feel.

Rick enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs, cooking, entertaining friends, and strength training.

Rick and Suzanne are expecting their 1st child this May 2017. Congratulations, and thanks for all the love!

Photo of the Month

The star atop the December tree is the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive Dec. 3. The promenade features floats and vehicles brightly lit, plus marching bands, Macy’s style balloons, and Santa and his reindeers. Celebrity Grand Marshall Supermodel Beverly Johnson leads the parade with her court of Community Grand Marshalls: homegrown boxer Timothy Bradley, Jr.; Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes; and local realtor and philanthropist Nelda Linsk.

December-ists can fall into a winter wonderland by visiting the snowcapped San Jacinto Mountains atop the Palm Springs Arial Tramway or go ice skating at The Rink at the The River in Rancho Mirage until Jan. 8.

Since December is the height of the season of giving, there are a host of food, clothing and toy drives throughout the valley. For example, Food Now holds its annual Chili Cook-Off against a backdrop of tropical birds at BG Bird Gardens in Palm Desert Dec. 3.

Desert AIDS Project hosts Dancing with the Desert Stars Dec. 17. Watch local notables ballroom dance their way to raise money for the nationally-known AIDS service organization.

Then it’s time to close out December and 2016 with the New Year’s Eve countdown to 2017. Palm Springs New Year’s Eve Countdown is hosted by the Spa Resort Casino. There’s a block party, food and drink, fireworks and live music. The “gay bars” of Palm Springs each have great parties planned and we’ll have all the details on our website.

It’s a December to remember right here in the Coachella Valley. And GayDesertGuide.com has all the details.

Our #ILoveGayPalmSprings Photo of the Month comes from our 30th annual Pride celebration where Lance Bass performed on behalf of The Trevor Project. Waiting patiently, Karina Baltazar-Durán got her photo snapped with Bass.

Karina is currently the advisor for the Rancho Mirage High School (RMHS) GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) for the 2016-2017 school year. The role of the GSA is to bring together LGBTQI students and their allies to encourage support while providing a safe, non-judgmental space to celebrate their pride. Together with support from the Safe School’s Desert Cities Organization, RMHS GSA takes part in LGBTQI friendly events, fundraisers, and meetings where students are able to bring awareness and education to themselves and our communities.

We at GayDesertGuide.com are happy to support the GSAs efforts and say thank you to Karina for her work in the community. She’ll receive a $50 restaurant gift card for submitting her photo. You can win December’s contest! Just post and tag a photo of yourself on Instragram or Twitter with #ILove GayPalmSprings and message us when you post it.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG DECEMBER 2016 2

DECEMBER 2016 VALLEY INDEPENDENT GDG2 \\ COACHELLA

Getting Around The Valley

By Brad Fuhr, publisher, GayDesertGuide.com There are a number of easy ways to get around the Palm Springs area, whether you’re heading downtown for some shopping, to the Renaissance Hotel for IBC (International Bear Convergence), or to the famed Purple Room for a drink and a show. Greater Palm Springs (not to mention the entire Coachella Valley) is pretty compact, so between shuttles, taxis, mobile app-based car services, public transportation, and bike rentals, you’ve got plenty of options for getting from A to B in PS.

Walk

Your Map & Guide to palM SprinGS

Attractions 31

Bike Palm Springs

30

The Steakhouse at the Spa Resort Casino

19

EOS Fitness

50

Appetito Deli

20

LGBT Community Center of the Desert

51

Bongo Johnny's Patio Bar & Grille

21

Camelot Theatres

53

Johannes Palm Springs

22

Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing Gym

54

LuLu California Bistro

Escape Room Palm Springs

55

Pinocchio in the Desert

24

McCormick's Exotic Car Showroom

56

Peabody’s Café

25

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

57

Hoo Doo Patio Restaurant & Bar

26

Palm Springs Air Museum

58

The Tropicale

If you’re a Fitbit enthusiast, grab a Palm Springs Official Visitors Guide and a bottle of water, slip on some comfortable shoes and hit the ground walking.

Downtown Palm Springs is easy to navigate, especially along Indian and Palm Canyon Drives, where you’ll find plenty of options for dining and shopping.

You’ll enjoy the scenery (the nature variety as well as the human one) so much more if you leave your vehicle behind and cruise the streets on foot. (Just don’t forget the water!)

Bike

23

During cooler months, the primarily flat layout of Palm Springs makes for good cycling — and many of the streets have designated bike lanes. There are a number of bicycle rental facilities around town, like Bike Palm Springs and Pedego Electric Bikes.

Drive

Dine

27

Architecture and Design Center

59

Trio Restaurant

28

Palm Springs Art Museum

60

Wang’s In the Desert

29

Palm Springs Convention Center

61

Jus Chillin Frozen Desserts

30

Spa Resort Casino

62

Copley’s Restaurant

18

Pedego Electric Bikes

63

Koffi North

BUZZ

64

Koffi South

The Palm Springs BUZZ is a free trolley operates Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Traveling in a loop along Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon (from near Toucans to Purple Room), BUZZ reaches one of its 30 stops every 15 minutes, providing a fast, easy, hassle-free way for visitors and locals to get around.

65

Manhattan in the Desert

66

Congo Room Restaurant & Lounge

If you want to explore other parts of the Coachella Valley, you’ll need some wheels. Palm Canyon Drive runs north and south through Palm Springs and will take you through the heart of the city’s bustling uptown and downtown areas.

Keep heading south, and you’ll find yourself on Highway 111, which goes east and west along the mountain side and will take you to Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and the other desert communities.

Nightlife (See our Happy Hour Finder online) 32

RetroRoom Lounge

33

Chill Bar/Scorpion Room

34

COPA Room

35

Hunters Nightclub

Mobile App-Based Car Services

36

Oscar's Cafe & Bar

Have an Uber or Lyft account? Both companies service the greater Palm Springs area and there are usually plenty of drivers nearby to come get you, especially during peak hours.

37

Purple Room Supper Club

38

SpurLine Video Bar

Public Transportation

39

Streetbar/Local Color Gallery

The SunLine bus system has an extensive network and can get you almost anywhere in the Coachella Valley via their 14 routes and one commuter link.

Going through downtown? Hop on the green line (No. 24). For routes, fares, and hours of operation, call 760-343-3456. Adults aged ride for $1.00, and transfers are only 25¢. Just be aware that the buses don’t run 24-7, so if you’re planning on staying out late, check the schedule to make sure you’ll get a return trip or plan a backup ride.

Shopping

40

Tool Shed

10

Destination PSP

41

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge

11

My Little Flower Shop

42

Score Bar

12

Bear Wear

14

Revivals & mode Furniture

15

Geras Toussant Gallery

16

Revive Salon & Day Spa

17

Antique Galleries of Palm Springs

Taxi There are several reliable cab companies operating in the Coachella Valley, such as American Cab (760-300-0000) and Yellow Cab(760-340-8294).

Regardless of how you get around Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley, you’re sure to appreciate the desert’s beauty and unique charm. Put GayDesertGuide. com on your mobile phone’s home screen just like an App, so you’re always just a click or two away from anything you need to know!

Symbol Keys Grocery Store Hospital / Urgent Care Pharmacy Post Office Tennis Visitor Center

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

67

Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill

68

Watercress Vietnamese Bistro

69

Reservior @ The Arrive Hotel

70

Simon Kitchen + Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel

71

Thai Smile

DECEMBER GDG 3 \\ 2016 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG3

Downtown Palm Springs

15 57

62

60

Indian Canyon Dr 27

54

N Palm Canyon Dr

Dinah Shore

61 36 32 10 56 55

67

14

16

56

Belardo Rd

Gene Autry Trail

Kirk Douglas Way

23 26

Mesquite Ave

24

Ramon

Arenas

35 39 51 71 70 31 53

Calle Encilia

12 42 33 38

Camino Parocela

58 34

Saturnino

14

30

Tahquitz Canyon

Amado

Andreas

El Segundo

19

El Cielo Rd

Farrell Dr Mesquite Ave

Cahuilla Rd

Ramon Rd

28

Arenas Rd

Belardo Rd

Via Soledad

66

La Verne Way

Ocotillo Ave

Belardo Rd

17

E Palm Canyon Dr

San Lorenzo Rd

Sunny Dunes

40 14

59 63 70 11

64 50

S Palm Canyon Dr Mesquite Ave

Calle Encilia

Camino Parocela

Saturnino Rd

Andreas Rd

Amado Rd

Alejo Rd

Tamarisk Rd

Tachevah Dr

Mel Ave

Vista Chino

El Segundo

37

m Tra

ay W

41

Indian Canyon Dr N Palm Canyon Dr 69 20 68

El Alameda

San Rafael Dr

E Via Escuela

Racquet Club Rd

29

65

Farrell Dr

S Sunrise Way

Grenfall Rd Warm Sands

Avenida Caballeros

22

Ramon Rd

N Sunrise Way

21

Baristo Rd

Tahquitz Canyon Way

Farrell Dr

25

Map courtesy of HunKa Concepts

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DECEMBER 2016 COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // GDG 4

DECEMBER 2016 GDG4 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

#ILoveGayPalmSprings @Destination PSP! Now available at DestinationPSP - new #ILoveGayPalmSprings merchandise. From t-shirts to coffee mugs, a credit card/cash holder for your mobile phone in every color of the rainbow and a unique wine tote (to keep the white wine cold and the red wine cool).

Visit DestinationPSP in downtown Palm Springs and shop for the holidays!

Upcoming Coachella Valley LGBT Events Dec. 1 World AIDS Day, Everyday Heroes Dec. 3 City of Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade Dec. 10 Temple Isaiah benefit concert with Linda Lavin Dec. 11, 14,18 California Desert Chorale “Starlight & Bells” Dec. 17-18

PSGMC ”Let’s Go To The Movies” Holiday Concert

Dec. 25 Christmas Dec. 25-Jan 1

Hanukkah

Dec. 31 New Years Eve Jan. 5-16 Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 21 The LGBT Center’s Winter Fundraiser Jan. 21 Cheyenne Jackson @ Annenberg Theatre Jan. 21 Tour de Palm Springs Jan. 28 Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo Feb. 9-13 International Bear Convergence

The Dock

Feb. 11 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Gala

Come hear PrEP Advocate Damon Jacobs, LMFT Wednesday, Dec. 28. 5PM–7PM Chill Bar, 217 E. Arenas Rd. One Free Drink Ticket, Hot & Cold Appetizers, Must be 21+

Feb, 16-19

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair

Feb, 16-26 Modernism Week, Palm Springs Mar. 6-19 BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament

Bongo Johnny’s

Mar. 11 LGBT Center’s Red Dress/Dress Red Party

214 E. Arenas Road, Palm Springs (760) 866-1905

Mar. 18 Fashion Week on El Paseo Mar. 24-26 Cathedral City’s LGBT Days

Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar & Grille is one of the best neighborhood restaurants in Palm Springs. Located in the middle of the Arenas area, Bongo Johnny’s is fun and relaxing with GREAT food.

The menu is fresh, but it’s not just about breakfast and lunch, we’ve got dinner too. Come dine with us inside, or out on the patio, and experience a mini vacation with crave-able food, signature cocktails, and stellar service.

Get Fresh!

Mar. 29-Apr. 2 The Dinah Apr. 14-16 Coachella Music Festival –Weekend #1 Apr. 21-23 Coachella Music Festival –Weekend #2 May 5-8 Jeffrey Sanker Presents White Party Palm Springs

For More Info & Events visit GayDesertGuide.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23

DECEMBER 2016

BEST BARBECUE

STAFF PICK |

Best Happy Hour Meal The Capricciosa Pizza at Piero’s PizzaVino There are many, many dining options in Palm Desert on or near El Paseo — but when I find myself hungry while running around the area, more often than not, I wind up in the bar area of Piero’s PizzaVino. Why? Well, every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Piero’s offers one of the area’s most amazing happy hour menus — including the unbelievably delicious capricciosa pizza. This amazing pie comes with tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and olives — and it’s always cooked to perfection in Piero’s brick oven. Not only does this personal-size pizza taste amazing and fill you up; it only costs $8.90. Add in a tasty glass of the house chianti for $5, and you can still get out of there with tax and a nice tip for less than $20.

What a deal.

— Jimmy Boegle

BEST DINER Keedy’s Fountain Grill Runners up: 2. Café 54 at the Augustine Casino 3. Elmer’s 4. John’s 5. Rick’s Restaurant

BEST ORGANIC FOOD STORE Trader Joe’s Runners up: 2. Sprouts Farmers Market 3. Whole Foods 4. Harvest Health Foods 5. Clark’s Nutrition

BEST DELICATESSEN Sherman’s Deli and Bakery Runners up: 2. TKB Bakery and Deli 3. Manhattan in the Desert 4. Real Italian Deli 5. Clementine Gourmet Marketplace

BEST CUSTOM CAKES TIE Over the Rainbow Sherman’s Deli and Bakery Runners up: 3. Pastry Swan Bakery 4. Manhattan in the Desert 5. Exquisite Desserts

BEST DESSERTS Sherman’s Deli and Bakery

Runners up: 2. French Corner Café 3. Pastry Swan Bakery 4. Over the Rainbow 5. Manhattan in the Desert

BEST ICE CREAM/SHAKES

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

BEST BURGER In-n-Out Burger Runners up: 2. Café 54 at Augustine Casino 3. Tyler’s Burgers 4. Eureka!

5. Smokin’ Burgers and Lounge

BEST VEGGIE BURGER Native Foods Café Runners up: 2. Eureka!

3. Palm Greens Café 4. Trio 5. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge

BEST SANDWICH Sherman’s Deli and Bakery

Runners up: 2. TKB Bakery and Deli 3. The Sandwich Spot 4. Manhattan in the Desert 5. Aspen Mills

BEST PIZZA Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill Runners up: 2. Bill’s Pizza 3. Giuseppe’s Pizza and Pasta 4. Piero’s PizzaVino 5. Blaze Pizza

BEST WINGS Buffalo Wild Wings Runners up: 2. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill 3. Wingstop 4. Neil’s Lounge 5. Billy Q’s

BEST BAGELS Townie Bagels Runners up: 2. Panera Bread 3. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery 4. Einstein Bros. Bagels 5. Manhattan in the Desert

Cold Stone Creamery Runners up: 2. Great Shakes 3. Ben and Jerry’s 4. Brandini Toffee 5. Creamistry

BEST DATE SHAKE Shields Date Garden Runners up: 2. Hadley’s 3. Great Shakes

BEST FROZEN YOGURT Yogurtland Runners up: 2. Beach House 3. Golden Spoon 4. Jus Chillin 5. Eddie’s Frozen Yogurt

BEST BAKERY French Corner Café Runners up: 2. Aspen Mills 3. Over the Rainbow 4. Pastry Swan Bakery 5. Peninsula Pastries CVIndependent.com

24 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

BEST SMOOTHIES Fresh Juice Bar Runners up: 2. Jamba Juice 3. Juice It Up 4. Beach House Yogurt

BEST BUFFET Café 54 at Augustine Casino Runners up: 2. Grand Palms Buffet at Agua Caliente 3. Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs 4. Oasis Buffet at Spa Resort Casino 5. Potrero Canyon Buffet at Morongo

BEST COFFEE SHOP FOR COFFEE Starbucks Runners up: 2. Koffi 3. IW Coffee 4. Vintage Coffee House 5. Ristretto

BEST COFFEE SHOP FOR HANGING OUT Koffi Runners up: 2. Starbucks 3. Old Town Coffee 4. IW Coffee 5. Ernst Coffee

BEST TEA Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Runners up: 2. Starbucks 3. Teavana 4. Koffi 5. Ristretto

BEST BREAKFAST Wilma and Frieda’s Café Runners up:

DECEMBER 2016

2. Elmer’s 3. Spencer’s Restaurant 4. Sunshine Cafe 5. John’s

BEST OF COACHELLA VALLEY LEGACY AWARD

BEST CALIFORNIA CUISINE

Palm Springs native DJ Day — aka Damien Beebe — has wowed audiences around the world

Lulu California Bistro Runners up: 2 La Quinta Cliffhouse 3. Zin American Bistro 4. Spencer’s Restaurant 5. Trio

By Brian Blueskye

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

Various local DJs and EDM artists have come and gone in recent years—and all the while, DJ Day has continuously been turning in fantastic performances both locally and around the world.

Palm Springs native DJ Day—aka Damien Beebe— is the winner of the first Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award.

During an interview in 2013, Beebe said that he grew up as a latchkey kid in Palm Springs, raised by a single mother. He learned how to DJ on a one-piece turntable from Kmart he got for Christmas one year. Locals who have watched DJ Day for years will tell you they remember that one-piece turntable setup, which he rigged so he could scratch while a boombox played a cassette in the background.

During a recent interview, Beebe explained what made him want to become a DJ. “Going back to like 1988 or 1989, hearing people like DJ Jazzy Jeff was a major influence on me,” Beebe said. “There was an album put out by the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff called He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, and it was a double album, and one whole side was dedicated to just the DJ. Before that, hearing the scratching on Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’—that was definitely the first time I really went, ‘Holy shit, what is that sound?’ It was totally foreign and unique. Hearing that made me get infatuated with the sound of scratching. From there, I tried to get anything I could with scratching in it so I could learn.”

Beebe said that one-piece turntable became the tool he used to learn all of his scratching techniques.

“I would come home from school and just listen and try to come as close as I could, trying to emulate,” he said. “I would scratch old Charlie Brown records or anything that I had, like my mom’s old records—any kind of phrase or any sound I could use. I would hold the tape and the phono button down like an on/off switch or a fader. It was all by ear.”

There was not much of a hip-hop scene in Palm Springs while Beebe was growing up, but he still managed to find local influences.

“There was Club Z, which was this crazy 18-and-over club,” he said. “They did have some dope DJs in there. There were people I have to give props to—people like Fonzo and Ellis—and there were different DJs out here who influenced me, for sure.”

Beebe talked about his first major public failure—and what he learned from it.

BEST FRENCH

BEST INDIAN

BEST SUSHI

La Brasserie Runners up: 2. Si Bon 3. Le Vallauris 4. Cuistot 5. Chez Pierre

Monsoon Indian Cuisine Runners up: 2. India Oven 3. Naan House

BEST JAPANESE

The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge Runners up: 2. Shogun Restaurant 3. Dragon Sushi 4. Edoko Sushi

BEST BRUNCH Pinocchio in the Desert Runners up: 2. Wilma and Frieda’s 3. Spencer’s Restaurant 4. Louise’s Pantry 5. The Tropicale

BEST CHINESE PF Chang’s Runners up: 2. City Wok 3. Wang’s in the Desert 4. JOY at Fantasy Springs 5. New Fortune

BEST GREEK

Kristin Olson’s 458 S. Palm Canyon Palm Springs 760.320.7702

www.UrbanYoga.org Bringing the Soul of Yoga to Palm Springs since 2001 CVIndependent.com

Local Boy Makes Good

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Runners up: 2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar 3. JOY at Fantasy Springs 4. Shabu Shabu Zen 5. Shogun Restaurant

BEST ITALIAN Mario’s Italian Cafe Runners up: 2. Ristorante Mamma Gina 3. Castelli’s 4. Trilussa 5. Livreri’s Palm Springs

BEST SEAFOOD Fisherman’s Market Runners up: 2. Café 54 at Augustine Casino 3. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant 4. Mitch’s on El Paseo 5. Spencer’s Restaurant

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

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25

DECEMBER 2016

“This is the thing that separates my era from today’s era: Back then, a lot of DJs would be at house parties. There was a guy named Renee who was a really dope DJ. The Filipino community out here also had a lot of good ones, too. I remember after a year or two of using my ghetto fucking turntable and tapedeck in my room, I never learned how to work turntables and a mixer. I went to a house party, because I felt confident enough, and I got up on the turntables—and it was like putting a monkey in a spaceship. I didn’t know what I was doing with the fader or anything like that. I completely fell apart, and it was totally terrible. I got booed in front of a fucking house party full of people outside. I still remember the moment, and someone came and pulled me off the turntables.

“I went to my friend’s house that night; (the friend had been at the party), too, and I remember seriously vowing I would come back and show everybody what the fuck is up. It’s those moments when you either fold and give up, or it makes you push harder and stronger by walking through that kind of fire.

“Now, with digital DJing, someone can just buy some shit and become a DJ overnight. Those kinds of lessons and trials to improve are lost.”

Beebe explained how he came across one instrument he often plays on his records.

“In 1999, there was a guy out here selling a Fender Rhodes piano for like $25, and now they go for way more than that,” he said. “One of the keys was broken, and it was a heavy antiquated electric keyboard. It was the sound that was in all of the records I had growing up, including Bob James’ ‘Take Me to the Mardi Gras,’ which is the basis of ‘Peter Piper’ by Run-DMC. I was excited to get that and just toyed around with it, learning by ear. I’ve gotten more serious with it during the last year, trying to actually learn it better.

“My dad played and learned by ear, so maybe there’s some kind of weird genetic shit going on. I just like to be student of all and master of none in terms of music.”

As a touring DJ, Beebe has seen it all. He talked about one time he was on tour with People Under the Stairs.

“I went on tour with them as a support act and to open the shows,” Beebe said. “The first show we did was in Santa Barbara—and someone stole my laptop off the stage the first night. They posed as photographers, got onstage and took anything they could grab, and my laptop bag ended up being one of those things. First night of the tour! Luckily, I had brought a bag of records with me—and that’s one of the benefits of having that foundation.

“I ended up getting it back. I tracked the guy who stole it down, and he was all apologetic and shit.

Life is fucking weird!”

DJ Day has traveled around the world, to places as far-flung as Russia, Brazil, Israel, China and Japan. He admits there are times when he finds himself at a loss for words.

“The first time I went to Russia, I went completely alone—no tour manager or anyone else,” he said. “I get to the gig, and the first meal I have in Russia is a chicken quesadilla. That set the tone of weird shit out of the gate. The gig is in this old bomb shelter, and it’s a nightclub. It’s all funk and soul, and all vinyl that this one other guy is doing. The crowd is singing this fucking obscure soul song. The entire room erupted singing this song called ‘Blind Alley’ by the Emotions, which is not even a song American people know. It was so weird to be in Russia, in a bomb shelter, and hearing people sing an obscure soul song. That was really cool to see.”

BEST STEAKHOUSE LG’s Prime Steakhouse Runners up: 2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar 4. TIE Morgan’s in the Desert Steakhouse at the Spa

BEST VIETNAMESE Pho Vu Runners up: 2. Pho 533 3. Rooster and the Pig 4. Watercress Vietnamese Bistro 5. Pho Na

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN Native Foods Café

STAFF PICK |

Best Place to Pig Out on Sugar-Free Desserts The Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs Gym workouts have minimal effects on me, and no diet seems to last … but at least I get some small bit of dietary help at the Fresh Grill Buffet at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino: It features an ample selection of delicious sugar-free desserts every day at lunch and dinner. At the giant dessert table (two levels tall, with a chocolate fountain and soft-serve ice cream to boot), an entire section is devoted to lower-calorie goodies. Gorgeous layer cakes, crumbly cookies, pies and even cheesecake are available — and since it’s a buffet, have as much as you like! However, consider yourself warned: The white sauce beside the cheesecake is loaded with sugar, and sometimes cobblers that are not sugar-free will elbow their way into this space. Whenever I meet the chefs, I thank them on behalf of my endangered waistline. For those born with a sweet tooth, here is our salvation. Just don’t look at the sugary competition on the rest of the table.

— Valerie-Jean (V.J.) Hume

BEST LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT Yard House Runners up: 2. Lulu California Bistro 3. Alicante 4. Smokin’ Burgers 5. Bongo Johnny’s

BEST MEXICAN

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

La Casita Runners up: 2. Fresh Agave 3. El Mirasol 4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill’ 5. Casa Mendoza

BEST UPSCALE CUISINE

BEST SALSA

Spencer’s Restaurant Runners up: 2. Wally’s Desert Turtle 3. Le Vallauris 4. Johannes 5. Jillian’s

Las Casuelas (Original) Runners up: 2. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 3. Las Casuelas Terraza 3. Las Casuelas Quinta 5. Felipe’s

BEST OUTDOOR SEATING

BEST BURRITO

Jackalope Ranch Runners up: 2. Spencer’s Restaurant 3. Las Casuelas Terraza 4. Lavender Bistro 5. The Tropicale

Taqueria Guerrero Runners up: 2. Castaneda’s Mexican Food 3. Chipotle 4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 5. Casa Mendoza

SPIRITS & NIGHTLIFE BEST BEER SELECTION Yard House Runners up: 2. Burgers and Beer 3. The Beer Hunter 4. Eureka!

5. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brew House

BEST LOCAL BREWERY Coachella Valley Brewing Co. Runners up: 2. La Quinta Brewing Co. 3. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brew House

BEST PLACE TO PLAY POOL/ BILLIARDS The Beer Hunter Runners up: 2. Neil’s Lounge 3. Hunters 4. Bart Lounge 5. Score the Game Bar

BEST COCKTAIL MENU Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar Runners up: 2. The Tropicale 3. Eureka!

4. Mitch’s on El Paseo 5. Trio CVIndependent.com

26 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

HANDS UP SECRETS

By Shonda Chase, RN Co-owner and aesthetic director of Revive Wellness Centers Palm Springs and the South Bay area of Los Angeles

Revive’s Secrets are dedicated to sharing how we can make improvements and protect our “age appearance.” This month, it’s all about our hands.

Aesthe�c experts, like cosme�c surgeons and advanced injec�on experts, always check to see if a pa�ent’s hand “age” matches his or her face “age.” Madonna, for example, looks amazing—but as you can see in the picture, her hands look much older than her face.

The good news is with the new dermal fillers on the market, we can turn the clock back up to 20 years on your hands. With my non-surgical hand technique, there’s no down�me and li�le chance of bruising. And the filler can last up to two years!

Put the backs of your hands next to your face in the mirror. If your hands look about the same “age” as your face, then you’re doing fine. If they look older, then make an appointment to “youngify” your hands.

The before and a�er photos show the natural results we can achieve in less than an hour. Now you don’t need to have your hands reveal your visual “age”; instead, you can have them look great.

Next month, I’ll share how some secrets about ge�ng your neck looking younger. Un�l then, keep the secrets.

Read the en�re ar�cle at www.revivecenter.com/blog.

Email your individual appearance and aging ques�ons to Ms. Chase at Shonda@revivecenter.com.

CVIndependent.com

DECEMBER 2016

STAFF PICK |

Best Guilty Pleasure Food The Atomic Tots at The Hood Bar and Pizza When I need comfort food and don’t give a rat’s behind about diet or calories … chances are you’ll find me devouring the atomic tots at The Hood Bar and Pizza. They’re definitely not good for you (I hope my primary care physician isn’t reading this), but that gooey cheese and the bits of bacon melted all over those little potato barrels create a piece of fat-intensive heaven.

I’m not the only one with these feelings for the atomic tots; many locals frequent The Hood Bar and Pizza just for these tasty treats. — Brian Blueskye

BEST GAY/LESBIAN BAR/CLUB

BEST NIGHTCLUB

Toucan’s Runners up: 2. Chill Bar 3. Hunters 4. The Tropicale 5. Spurline

Copa Runners up: 2. Zelda’s 3. Hunter’s 4. Bart Lounge 5. Chill Bar

BEST HAPPY HOUR

BEST SPORTS BAR

Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill Runners up: 2. Applebee’s 3. The Tropicale 4. La Quinta Cliffhouse 5. Mitch’s on El Paseo

The Beer Hunter Runners up: 2. Burgers and Beer 3. Buffalo Wild Wings 4. Alicante 5. Village Pub

BEST DIVE BAR

BEST WINE BAR

The Hood Bar and Pizza Runners up: 2. Neil’s Lounge 3. Hair of the Dog 4. Red Barn 5. Score

Zin American Bistro Runners up: 2. Sullivan’s Steakhouse 3. La Rue Wine Bar 4. Vue Grille and Bar 5. Dead or Alive

BEST MARGARITA

BEST WINE/LIQUOR STORE

Las Casuelas (Original) Runners up: 2. Fresh Agave 3. El Mirasol 4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill 5. Casa Mendoza

Total Wine and Spirits Runners up: 2. BevMo! 3. Costco 4. Trader Joe’s 5. Fame Lounge

BEST MARTINI

BEST BAR AMBIANCE

Sullivan’s Steakhouse Runners up: 2. Mitch’s on El Paseo 3. Mastro’s Steakhouse 4. The Tropicale 5. Trio

Eureka!

Runners up: 2. Chill Bar 3. The Tropicale 4. Matchbox 5. Workshop Kitchen+Bar

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 27

DECEMBER 2016

CVI SPOTLIGHT: DECEMBER 2016 Review: Desert Rose Brings David Sedaris’ ‘Santaland Diaries’ to Life

I

was hopeful as I settled into my seat at the Desert Rose Playhouse on opening night of The Santaland Diaries.

I wanted to like it—and indeed, I did.

However, I wish I’d liked it a little bit more.

David Sedaris first presented his essay about working as a Christmas elf at Macy’s on National Public Radio in 1992. The piece was adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello in 1996, and the one-man show debuted at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York in November that year.

The play, which runs not quite 90 minutes with no intermission, details Sedaris’ trials and tribulations as he first interviews for—and then lands—a position at Santaland as an assistant to the big man in red.

The elf-selection process has 30-something out-of-work actor David (played by Chris Clonts) on edge: “If you can’t even find work as an elf, that’s when you KNOW you’re a failure.” Luckily, he makes it through, and chooses “Crumpet” as his elf name.

Crumpet lets us in on the daily grind of elf training, and introduces us to some of his colorful co-workers—including the Santa who never breaks character, insisting that he really does live at the North Pole. We also learn that the really bitter elves include people like former ad executives who were hit by the recession and “never saw a velvet costume in their futures.”

Life as an elf is rarely glamorous. Duties include wiping up the vomit of nervous children and trying to explain to the little ones why Mr. Claus sometimes accidentally spits on them while promising to bring shiny new toys on Christmas morning.

Then there is the sea of humanity lined up for a chance to spend a few moments with Santa: “I could not tell where the retarded peo-

ple ended and the regular New Yorkers began.”

Crumpet laments that dealing with difficult parents is also part of an elf’s job description—including some parents who demand a Santa of a particular race. Then there was the time a mother asked for help getting her misbehaving son under control. All she wants is for Crumpet to echo her warning that if the boy does not shape up, Santa will bring him coal for Christmas. Alas, the elf goes a bit overboard, terrifying the child by telling him Santa will actually come to his house and steal everything.

Alone onstage for the entire play, Chris Clonts does an admirable job as David/ Crumpet. One-person shows are not easy; for starters, there are no other actors onstage to save you if you forget your lines. Clonts fell victim to this early on during the opening-night performance, and stage manager Steve Fisher had to prompt him from the sound booth.

First-night jitters aside, Clonts has some very nice moments, including a fabulous Billie Holiday-esque version of “Away in a Manger.”

Charisma, confidence and good pacing are vital when a single actor must carry an entire show, and I’d like to see Clonts ratchet up the latter two items just a bit. There were times when he seemed somewhat tentative—again, that may have been just a case of opening-night jitters. Though the brief blackouts between vignettes, accompanied by upbeat holiday music, were effective, a couple of them felt too long.

The festive set, designed by director Jim Strait, is superb. Santa’s “throne” is dead center. Large Christmas packages wrapped in shiny red and green abound; a reindeer and columns adorned with tinsel add the perfect finishing touches. The adorably tacky elf costume created by Robbie Wayne is terrific as

Chris Clonts in Desert Rose’s The Santaland Diaries.

well. Kudos go to Phil Murphy for his lighting, and Steve Fisher for both stage direction and sound.

Strait elicits a good performance from Clonts, but I think there’s some untapped potential there. A faster pace, a slightly stronger entrance and maybe even some ad-libbing or bantering with the audience here and there would enhance the evening.

Get yourself in the holiday spirit by going to see Desert Rose Playhouse’s production of The

Santaland Diaries. It’s fun, entertaining and sometimes touching.

The Santaland Diaries is performed at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m., Sunday, through Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Desert Rose Playhouse, 69620 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage. Tickets are $32 to $35. For tickets or more information, go to www.desertroseplayhouse.org or call 760-202-3000.

—Bonnie Gilgallon

CVIndependent.com

28 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016

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An established Atlanta art gallery heads West to open a second space on El Paseo

A

By nicole borgenicht

fter three years of visits from Georgia to the California desert, Atlanta gallery owner Thomas Deans decided he wanted to set up shop here.

He opened Thomas Deans Fine Art on El Paseo in September 2016.

“My partner and I fell in love with the desert,” he said. “My belief is more galleries create more buzz and interest. We met a lot of people here who are art-lovers; (with more galleries), there’s more to look at for every window-shopper.”

He added a quip: “Atlanta is a place to make money, and people come here to spend money!”

Speaking of money, Thomas Deans offers works at every price point, from miniature oils for as little as $95, to larger pieces starting at just below $1,000, to a variety of beautiful paintings and sculptures selling for up to $20,000.

Thomas Deans began his career as a music historian, and supervised educational publications at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Nonetheless, his love for the visual arts remained ever-present, since the age of 14, when he purchased his first piece as an art collector. While Deans grew up primarily in the Orlando area, his grandparents were from Canada, and because his father was a naval officer, the family traveled a lot and at one point lived in England. He discovered he enjoyed the art there.

“British art is underappreciated,” he said.

Deans joined with a business partner to open The Gallery Downstairs in 1985 in London; that gallery, which he had for a couple of years, specialized in 18th- and 19th-century British drawings. Thomas Deans would also co-establish a gallery in Tallahassee, Fla., called Thomas Deans and Co. In 1999, Dean opened Thomas Deans Fine Art in Atlanta. He included historical works and then turned toward modern, internationally known British masters such as Lucian Freud and Henry Moore. Deans later began showing works by contemporary American and European artists, as well as select photographers.

He decided to close the Tallahassee gallery in 2006 to focus on his efforts in Atlanta. “Atlanta was booming, and I couldn’t keep up with two different focuses at both galleries,” he said.

After falling in love with the Coachella Valley, Deans again has two galleries. At his El Paseo gallery, he shows works by a variety of artists including Stewart Nelson, a leading photographer. Nelson has an offbeat sensibility and uses

“Spree,” by Paul Tamanian, mixed media on aluminum, 78 by 46 inches.

camera angles that coalesce seamlessly with the technical side.

Two of the more intriguing contemporary artists at Thomas Deans Fine Art are Paul Tamanian and Scott Upton.

“Paul Tamanian is our most popular artist here,” Deans said. “He makes two- and three-dimensional abstract art and mid-century paintings with automotive paint. He preserves his mixed-media works with ultraviolet-filtering clear coat.”

The Tallahassee-based artist is an innovative ceramic sculptor working in aluminum.

Tamanian’s expressive sculpture is light, although thanks to his finesse and glazing skills, many works appear quite heavy.

Upton is an Atlanta-based color-field abstraction painter.

“Some of his paintings are more architectural,” Deans said, “and others are Turner-like landscapes with a horizon line.”

Upton’s paintings are created with inks and acrylics with gold- or silver-leaf underpaintings.

He wipes away and layers multiple surfaces with iridescent color, depicting nature’s adherence to time or timelessness. Upton’s laborious process-driven paintings display a gentle serenity seeping through layers of paint and canvas.

The selection at Thomas Deans Fine Art is an exciting addition to the prominent Palm Desert art scene.

Thomas Deans Fine Art, located at 73655 El Paseo, Suite E, is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily.

For more information, call 760-797-7424, or visit www.thomasdeansfineart.com.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29

DECEMBER 2016

Broadway’s Smash Hit

Vienna Boys Choir

Mamma Mia!

Mon, December 5, 7pm

Fri, December 2, 8pm Sat, December 3, 2pm & 8pm Sun, December 4, 2pm & 7pm

Presented through the generosity of Raymond James

Colors of Christmas Starring Oleta Adams, Melissa Manchester, Jon Secada and Ruben Studdard Fri, December 9, 8pm

Presented through the generosity of Harold and Maudella Green

jimi FITZ and Friends A CV Christmas Featuring Barry Minniefield, Brightener, Frank Di Salvo, Jimmy Palmer, John Carey, John Stanley King, Kaitlyn Farley, Kal David, Lauri Bono, Penny Unniversity, Ronnie King, Sergio Villegas, Steve Madaio, Will Donato Sat, December 10, 8pm

Christmas with The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary, Artistic Directors

Sun, December 11, 7pm

Tue, December 13, 7pm

Presented through the generosity of Philip & Ruth Elwell and Irene Weingarten & Michael Gregory

Los Angeles Ballet

The Nutcracker Presented through the generosity of Harold Matzner

Asleep At The Wheel Merry Texas Christmas Y’all!

Sun, December 18, 7pm

Presented through the generosity of R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard and BIGHORN Golf Club Charities

Order tickets by phone

760-340-ARTS (2787)

Annie Tue, January 10, 8pm Wed, January 11, 2pm & 8pm

Order online

mccallumtheatre.com

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

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DECEMBER 2016

ARTS & CULTURE

ACTIVE VIEWERS WANTED The artist behind a new El Paseo sculpture is inspired by movement

J

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By nicole borgenicht

ohn Neumann’s sculptures have been featured in solo exhibitions and group shows throughout the country for decades. His abstractions are thematically tied to movement, in series focusing on mythology, dance/ music—and even the universe.

Neumann is prolific; for his current Sol series, Neumann has produced 14 pieces since February—and will complete another three before the end of this year. In fact, one of those sculptures was just given a rather prominent temporary home: “Sol III” is an 8-foot, 9-inch sculpture selected by the city of Palm Desert for a two-year display in the El Paseo median between San Luis Rey Avenue and Larkspur Lane.

“Sol III” includes bright, cheerful red and blue linear bars holding a yellow sphere, offering a lyrical feeling through its Constructivist style. Considering some Constructivists seek to create works that have active viewers, the placement of “Sol III” on El Paseo is perfect.

“Constructivism is about negative space or the orchestration of positive to negative space,” Neumann says. “The Sol series is about the relationship of linear elements to a sphere. It is the movement of how one color works off another, with a sphere as the catalyst that sets them in motion.”

Other influences on Neumann’s sculpture include Surrealism, with its “auto-sense of thought/dream and creation,” he says, and “Abstract Expressionism, because it has a look of spontaneity, as if it just happened—even if it took a long time to create!”

Beginning with a thumbnail sketch, Neumann develops a design from which he creates a maquette—about 10 inches tall, maybe a little higher.

“Changes always occur from the sketch, since the space is different when it is realized three-dimensionally,” Neumann says.

An intermediate-scale sculpture is next— generally 3 to 4 feet tall, a standard gallery size.

The sculpture is made of steel and then painted with automotive paint or acrylic enamel paint. “Acrylic enamel paint is quicker-drying and tougher—I think more durable, and better for the environment!” Neumann says. Prices of works in the Sol series range from $1,500 up to about $25,000.

“My work has always been inspired by movement,” Neumann says. “Visual movement is the same; sometimes, the thought process and

“Sol III,” by John Neumann, was installed on El Paseo in November.

inspiration to capture something in motion is different.”

Earlier series were mainly inspired by dance and music, with sculpture titles like “Waltz,” “Flamingo,” “Slow Dancing,” “Swing” and “Jitterbug.” He also made one sculpture titled “Take the A Train.”

“Whether about mythology, dance or the universe,” says Neumann, “my biggest concern is capturing something in motion. The newer pieces (in the Sol series) are like drawing in space—very linear and not as massive as with others. With the cosmic story between negative and positive space, the work is open.”

In some of Newmann’s older pieces, the edges were closed, encompassing space; in the Sol series, the axis points seem to unleash playful bolts of energy with airy negative space.

John Neumann’s sculpture is on display at a La MOD in Palm Springs; Rondevoo Art + Design in Palm Desert; and Heath Gallery in Palm Springs. Neumann lives and works in Desert Hot Springs. He is available by appointment at 661-428-1125.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 31

DECEMBER 2016

FOOD & DRINK

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WELL RED I

A chat with Misty Carlson, beverage specialist at Whole Foods Palm Desert

By christine soto

t’s hard to tell what Misty Carlson is more passionate about: hiking, food or wine?

For the sake of this column, I’m going to go with wine, but in any case, it seems like Carlson has the joys of life figured out: working with wine, living in Palm Springs, hiking a lot, and cooking almost every night with her partner.

Like many of us, Carlson got into wine without knowing ahead of time she was, in fact, getting into wine. It started with an interest in pastries, which took her to Paris to pastry schools on her vacations. She went into advertising before embarking on a second career as a cheese monger.

She’s always loved food, from the time she was little—so when she got her current job at Whole Foods, it meant that she got to enjoy many of her passions at work every day. She now runs the

wine department.

Carlson is a farmer’s daughter from Iowa.

That background influences her perspective on wine: She loves the story, the journey from grape to glass. There are some people who want the same wine every night, and they want it to taste the same way. “I understand that, and being in the grocery business, of course, I have that available,” says Carlson, “but personally, that’s not what I’m interested in.”

As far as I am concerned, Carlson oversees the best selection of wine in the desert. One can get brand-name staples, yes, but one can also always find something unique and interesting—and delicious.

We sat down one evening at Dead or Alive and chatted as we sipped on some Abbazia di Novacella Kerner, “Stiftskellerei Neustift.”

What was your first wine love?

German riesling, in college. I went on a trip to Europe and visited friends there.

When did you first start getting into wine?

About 10 years ago, as a cheese monger back East. I did a lot of wine and cheese tastings when I worked at a specialty food store; that’s when the food/wine thing started to coalesce for me.

What are your favorite selections available at Whole Foods right now?

Saetti Lambrusco, Chanin pinot noir (I love his wines), Cruse Wine Co., dry-farmed wines from Tablas Creek, Stolpman syrah, La Clarine

What’s exciting about wine to you now?

Definitely small production “natural wines”— wines that are really clean and unmanipulated, wines that let the grapes tell a story. Using the word “terroir” seems to freak people out these days, but that is what I am looking for and hoping to find in a bottle. I also like knowing who makes my food and wine, and the stories that go along with that. Because of the large number of varietals available—many of which I am not as familiar with—I seem to be gravitating to Italian wines. But the Santa Maria/Lompoc area is a big favorite of mine. You can tell that when you go through our pinot noir section at Whole Foods.

Misty Carlson

Farms Jambalaia, Donkey and Goat, and Venica and Venica pinot bianco and pinot grigio.

Grower Champagnes and Pét-Nat. Your desert island wine?

I can’t stand to drink the same thing two days in a row. But if I must, I’d have to say Champagne, because I never, ever grow tired of it.

Otherwise, a nice, thirst-quenching rose.

Favorite food pairing?

This will probably gross you out, but pan-fried chicken gizzards or livers with a simple Beaujolais! Or lambrusco and charcuterie! Gruner veltliner and wiener schnitzel. Polenta with a fresh wild mushroom ragout and a lagrein. I love food, and so does my partner, so we do a lot of serious cooking at home. It’s our “entertainment.”

JASON DAVID Lisa TussingHAIR

STUDIO

LOVE YOUR HAIR ingCountry on any given night.

Vino Italiano by Club andAlso, Cook Street Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch.

Palm De sert What are you drinking now?

760-340-5959 Statti Gaglioppo. www.jasondavidhairstudio.net What do you love about the desert?

It’s so gorgeous … the mountains and cactus.

It’s easy to step out your door, or drive a couple of miles, and be surrounded by nature.

Your favorite places to go in the desert?

Bogert Trail to Murray Peak, Joshua Tree, Mecca and the Painted Canyon, and Whitewater Preserve. As far as food and entertainment, I like Cheeky’s, Tyler’s, Farm, Dead or Alive, Joey Palm Springs, Johannes, Bootlegger Tiki, and my must-have every day: Ernest Coffee.

Favorite wine book?

The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil. I keep it on the table so I can read about what I am drink-

Palm Springs native Christine Soto is a co-owner of Dead or Alive wine bar in Palm Springs. She can be reached at christine.soto@gmail.com.

Welcome to Johannes Restaurant.

Willkommen im Johannes Restaurant.

Experience Award-winning, Modern European Cuisine from Creative Chef Johannes Bacher Voted “Best Chefs America” Voted “Best Continental Restaurant” 2013, 2015 & 2016 Voted “Best Martini” 2016 by Palm Springs Life Readers

(760) 778-0017

Open for Dinner at 5 pm / Closed Mondays Private Dining • Available for Groups • Special Events Become a Fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/JohannesRestaurant

196 S. INDIAN CANYON DRIVE, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262

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32 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2016

FOOD & DRINK

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the

BEER GODDESS

S

By Erin Peters

omeone once said that “history flows forward on rivers of beer.” It’s true: Beer has played a significant role in shaping the human experience.

This brings us to Nov. 3, when stout-lovers across the world celebrated the delicious, dark beer during the Sixth Annual International Stout Day. Hundreds of craft breweries and pubs hosted Stout Day events—and I was fortunate enough to be invited to fly to the Emerald Isle for events at that most famous and historic of all breweries, Guinness.

Arthur Guinness started brewing ales in 1759 at the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. On Dec. 31, 1759, he signed a 9,000-year lease at 45 pounds per year—quite possibly the smartest investment in history.

I was thrilled that the good folks at Guinness officially celebrated International Stout Day. Created by yours truly in 2011, the day symbolizes everything that is good about this iconic beer style, and the collaborative community that enjoys it. After Guinness invited me to their brewery, I felt like Charlie in Willy Wonka at times.

There has been an experimental brewery at St. James’s Gate for more than 100 years, but it is newly open to the public: In November 2015, The Open Gate Brewery opened with the intent of allowing people to sample new beers by Guinness brewers, who are given free rein to experiment and explore new beers.

At Open Gate, these brewers oversee all Guinness beer innovation globally—which is a tremendous responsibility, since Guinness is sold in more than 150 countries around the world. The brew system is manual, so they are able to replicate any of the beers at any Guinness brewery. It’s the size of a typical craft brewery—just inside the massive Guinness walls. It’s the perfect place to taste the wider variety of Guinness’ drink portfolio.

Head brewer Peter Simpson gave me a

private tour before the celebration. These lucky brewers have everything a brewer could want—in order to brew just about anything they want. They have a mini-roaster, in order to experiment with different grains. Hearty English hops, like Northern Brewer, grow outside in the hops garden. And Guinness’ “Super Yeast” is used to brew all of the company’s styles of beer.

“Every new Guinness launch from now on will start in here—and will be on the tap here first,” Simpson said. “At the moment, we’re doing two new beers every month.”

The brewery made history again that very evening: On Stout Day, Guinness invited other breweries to the event. Ireland, like the United States, is experiencing its own craft-beer resurgence and revolution—and I was told this was the first time that brewers from Irish craft breweries were invited to enjoy pints together at an event held by Guinness, on Guinness property.

Joining Guinness at the Open Gate Brewery that evening were representatives of Kellys, 5 Lamps, Porterhouse Brewing Co., Dungarvan Brewing Co. and London’s 40ft Brewery.

Liam LaHart, the founder and brewer of

On International Stout Day, I was flown to Ireland to witness beer history in the making

Porterhouse, leaned into me after the event and whispered, “Erin, you realize this is unprecedented, right?”

I got goose bumps.

Each craft brewery brought two to four stouts beers each. Guinness offered a delicious list of varietals: Apple Stout at 6.2 percent alcohol by volume, Sea Salt and Burnt Sugar Stout at 6.3 percent ABV, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout at 7.5 percent ABV, Weisen Stout at 7.2 percent ABV, Antwerpen Export Stout at 8 percent ABV, Nitro Double Coffee Stout at 5.5 percent ABV, and Guinness Draught at 4.2 percent ABV. The eighth tap featured 40ft Brewery—the first-ever guest tap.

The brewers from 40ft had to board a ship and a train to bring their 40ft Deep stout over to Dublin for the event. It was a brilliant 5 percent ABV stout, with notes of coffee, dark chocolate and licorice. It’s hopped with Target (UK) and Bravo (U.S.), adding a touch of orange and spice to the aroma.

Guinness’ new Sea Salt and Burnt Sugar Stout was especially tasty. It offered a pleasing clash of flavors.

Simpson explained: “It’s very difficult to get the balance of salt and sugar right. The saltiness and the sweetness carry each other a lot better with the bitterness of a stout than they would in a lighter ale or beer. The Admiral hops give you a nice background bitterness with a slight green note. … You’re hit initially with a little bit of roast barley and sweetness from our burnt sugar, then leading into

subtle saltiness and ending with a pleasant bitterness.”

Porterhouse brought four stouts, including the only oyster stout brewed in Ireland.

Simpson was grinning from ear to ear as he showed me Guinness’ barrel-aging stouts: Antwerpen Export Stout and West Indies Porter, both in rye bourbon barrels.

“Best job in the world,” Simpson said. “And the best part is seeing people enjoy it.”

Simpson and the other Open Gate brewers recently brewed a Kettle Sour—the first time Guinness has ever brewed a Sour style.

The beer app Untappd awarded a Stout Day badge for anyone logging in a stout beer on Nov. 3. In the U.S., there were 377,718 total check-ins. In the Netherlands, Stout Day saw 16,539 check-ins, and in the United Kingdom, there were 16,582, numbers followed by Canada, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Germany, Australia and Finland.

The top-logged beers via Untappd were Guinness Draught, Stone Xocoveza (2016), Founders Breakfast Stout, and Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro. The top cities on Stout Day were Chicago, New York City, London, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, Denver and Austin.

International Stout Day brings stout-beer lovers around the world together and gives the variety of beer a day in the spotlight—which it so rightly deserves.

Start planning for next year at www.

StoutDay.com.

FREsh gRound . handcRaFtEd

73-399 El Paseo, #103 . Palm Desert, CA 92260 . (760) 346-4372 . Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 11am-5pm The Beer Goddess celebrates Stout Day at Guinness' Open Gate Brewery in Ireland.

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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 33

DECEMBER 2016

FOOD & DRINK

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ON COCKTAILS B

By kevin carlow

artending competitions … are they a test of ability, or just a sideshow full of tricks and gimmicks?

This is a question I have debated for years—and now that I reside in California, I see bartending competitions everywhere. This isn’t to say they don’t exist back in my former home, Boston, but during my bar “upbringing,” the competition came every night behind the stick: We were earnest (mostly) tradespeople—just a little wilder, perhaps—and competitions seemed alien to us. We were drink-slingers, masters of ceremonies, psychologists and peacekeepers, and we had the final word on all debates. Then something happened all over the world: Bartenders started caring more about knowing obscure recipes, using showy techniques and developing complex cocktails. We rediscovered the craft, and— for better or worse—everything changed.

So this is 2016, and bartending is a sport— get used to it. It can be a pretty fun sport, too.

I did my first bartending competition here in Palm Springs. The first round included a mystery basket (like on the TV show Chopped), and I got knocked out early. To rub salt in the wound, it was on my home field, Seymour’s, and I was the hyped “new guy in town.” That said, I had a great time and met some fantastic bartenders and enthusiasts, and I got to nerd out about drinks and techniques all night.

Fast-forward to October, when I was invited to compete in a competition at Village Pub hosted

by Templeton Rye Whiskey. This time, I did really well in the cocktail-creation round and moved on to the exhaustive final round against 11 other bartenders from all over the area. Five hours of events later, I finished fourth behind

The Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship contestants. KEVIN FITZGERALD

three of the best in the valley (David from Workshop; Chad from Bootlegger Tiki; and Patrick from Workshop). It was a blast hanging out with some great bartenders over (too many) shots of Jameson.

After all that, it was nice to just take it easy at the Coachella Valley Independent’s Craft Cocktail Championship on Thursday, Nov. 17, one of the highlights of the first Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week. I was excited to meet some bartenders outside of my usual circuit—and thrilled about visiting the Purple Palm at the Colony Palms, which had been on my list of places to visit for months. What a beautiful venue—exactly what I thought Palm Springs would be like before I ever came here.

While there, I tried the Cocktail Week special: The very busy bartender, Jeff, made me the Bangkok Sling (created by bartender Brandon), and with a name like that, I looked forward to

Bartending competitions are subjective, unfair—and a whole lot of fun

a combination of gin, liqueurs, citrus and soda.

I was right about the gin (TRU Gin) and citrus (lemon), but the rest of the ingredients were guava purée, Thai basil, pink peppercorn and Fruitlab Hops Organic Liqueur. I tend to avoid drinks with purées, because they can easily overwhelm a cocktail, and I generally don’t like the texture. However, this drink avoids that by bringing strong flavors to the party. The gin and hops hit first, while the guava lingers, and the basil finishes strong. I am a pepper junkie, so I wish I’d gotten more of that, but all together, it was an unexpected and tasty cocktail.

The competition itself involved five local bartenders, each using a randomly assigned sponsor spirit. Fernando González (Cuistot) led off with his “Carolus’ Cobbler.” This was a blend of Nolet’s Silver Dry Gin, homemade peach purée, cinnamon and aromatic bitters.

Two drinks with a purée in one night is a record for me, but this, too, was done well; Fernando put a lot of effort into the product and did his homework on the gin. Nolet’s has a fruitier and sweeter profile than a traditional London dry, with the addition of … guess what … peaches! I think a dash of something to temper the gin a bit (maraschino liqueur?) might have helped bring it all together, but he earned extra points for the homemade element, the research and the horse’s neck garnishes.

Kevin Helvie (Chill Bar and Scorpion Room) had the toughest spirit to work with, in my opinion. He mixed Crown Royal Vanilla, lemon, blueberry sour, tarragon and simple syrup into the “Royal Blue XL.” One of the judges put it best, saying it was “a good time in a glass.” It had the party-drink trinity of boozy, sweet and sour. It was also the favorite of many attendees. I was wondering the whole time what I would do with that spirit. Honey? Lemon?

Ginger? Egg white? Heck, port? Luckily, I was just observing this time.

Michael Phillips (Fix a Dessert House) prepared a drink called “Citrus Rose” using Ketel One Oranj, fresh orange juice, local honey, homemade rose water, orange flower, rose sugar, a lime wedge and an edible flower.

I wouldn’t advise drinking it near a hive of killer bees, but I thought the floral focus was an intriguing and unique choice. It could have been overwhelming, but I found it to be nicely balanced and tasty. I also enjoyed hearing his story about his passion for making drinks, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next time.

The audience favorite was Joey Tapia (New

York Company) and his “Mellow Melon.” Joey is relatively new to bartending, and he smartly kept it simple, with Captain Morgan White Rum, cantaloupe, fresh lime, muddled mint and sugar. The drink was light and tasty. From an aesthetic point of view, I might have finestrained the mint out, but the Mellow Melon is the kind of drink that pushes bar sales.

Simple can be good, too.

The champion was Sherman Chan (Trio), who came ready to rumble. Her spirit was Bulleit Bourbon, which some would say was the luckiest pull because of the wealth of bourbon cocktails from which to draw inspiration.

Luck only gets you so far, though, and she clearly knew her stuff. She made a chimera of a “Brown Derby” (bourbon, honey syrup and lemon) and a “Kentucky Mule” (bourbon, ginger, citrus), with Peychaud’s Bitters and rosemary “straight out of Trio’s parking lot!”

Sherman also brought “dragon balls”—round ice balls with herbs frozen into them. Word to the wise: Behind the bar, “the show” is almost as important as what you make. The drink itself, “Bulleit Proof,” was not just smoke and mirrors, though; it was extremely tasty. It’s debatable whether the “dragon balls” would be feasible for a busy bar program, but the drink itself would sell, for sure.

How much does a contest truly reflect one’s worth as an elite bartender? Winning can get you fame, money, magazine features, guest spots on reality shows and so on, so I understand why some people devote so much time and energy to competing. Frankly, it’s pretty much the only way to get noticed in our new culture of “Rock-Star Bartending” (unless you happen to work at a world-famous establishment), but that shouldn’t be what it’s all about. I guess it all comes down to staying grounded and having fun—taking it seriously, but not tying one’s worth to winning or losing.

My advice to bartenders: Give it your best if competing, and cheer your hardest if attending. Realize it’s not always fair, that it’s subjective, and that no contest will determine accurately how good a bartender is in one’s natural environment. As with any skill, you have to practice. I will be better the next time I compete, if and when I do, and so will all of these competitors.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I am off to practice flipping bottles and breathing fire.

Kevin Carlow is a bartender at Seymour’s/Mr. Lyons and can be reached at krcarlow@gmail.com.

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FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT We go to The Broken Yolk for breakfast, then Cuistot’s bar for a bite

By Jimmy Boegle

CVIndependent.com

WHAT The Stuffed French Toast WHERE The Broken Yolk Café, 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 78430 Highway 111, La Quinta HOW MUCH $11.95 CONTACT 760-318-9655 (Palm Springs); 760777-9655 (La Quinta); thebrokenyolkcafe.com WHY It’s sweet yet surprisingly nuanced.

I’m normally a savory-breakfast kind of guy.

Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE the sweet stuff, but when it comes to a choice between, say, bacon and … well, anything, bacon’s going to win.

However, things started to change a bit on a recent visit to the Broken Yolk Café, where I saw this description of the stuffed French toast: Two extra thick slices of batter-dipped egg bread stuffed with creamy mascarpone cheese and sliced bananas. Crowned with rich caramel sauce, more bananas and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Wow. This is a dish that seemingly offers far more nuance than most sweet breakfast fare, so I decided I had to try it.

(Yeah, I also got the addon of two eggs and two bacon strips for a downright affordable $2.75.

Because, y’know, bacon.)

While the plate of food that arrived could certainly send some individuals into an instant diabetic coma, it was indeed fantastic.

The bananas (lots of them!) mingled nicely with the caramel—a classic combination, after all—and the mascarpone added a lovely creaminess. The bread offered just enough resistance to keep everything together and create a pleasant mouth feel. However, I was definitely happy I ordered the add-on, too, as the saltiness from the bacon and the muted richness of the eggs countered the sweetness of the French toast before it became overwhelming.

After my meal, I left the Broken Yolk Café decidedly satisfied; my sweet tooth was pleased, while my desire for savory fare was quenched, too … even if I did feel the need to add an extra gym trip to my schedule to atone for all that breakfast goodness.

WHAT The Merguez lamb sausage WHERE Cuistot Restaurant, 72525 El Paseo, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $9.50 CONTACT 760-340-1000; cuistotrestaurant.com WHY It’s affordable and delicious.

A round of applause, please, for the bar menu.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone to a restaurant and eschewed the main dining room in favor of the bar—and as a result, presumably had a superior experience while saving a few bucks to boot.

My most recent amazing bar-menu experience came at Cuistot, the much-loved, longstanding French restaurant at the western end of El Paseo in Palm Desert.

The hubby and I had stopped in for the restaurant’s Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week drink, an amazing (and gorgeous) gin-based beverage called the Aviation, so we headed for Cuistot’s bar area—cleverly named BARcelona. We were a bit peckish, so we decided to also get a small bite from the BARcelona menu. Our choice: the Merguez lamb sausage.

The sausage wound up being so delicious that we had to talk ourselves out of getting a second order. The reddish meat was impeccably flavorful—slightly spicy and pleasantly earthy. My only quibble is that the menu said the dish came tzatziki; it would have added a delightful creaminess, but it was nowhere to be found. On the plus side: The arugula beneath the sausage, doused with lamb jus, was no mere garnish; it was also delicious. We devoured every bit of it.

Bonus: From 4 to 6 p.m. in the bar, Cuistot also offers a happy hour menu. From that menu, an endorsement within an endorsement must go to the homemade pate, which was an utter steal at $9.50.

It was an amazing experience: The food, the drink, the affordable prices, and the conversation with Fernando the bartender were all impeccable.

Another round of applause, please, for the bar menu!

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 35

DECEMBER 2016

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By Jimmy Boegle BEVMO! OPENS IN DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS—BUT I’M STILL GOING TO TOTAL WINE Fans of booze and spirits who reside in the western portion of the Coachella Valley got good news in November, when BevMo! opened at 333 S. Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs, in part of the building that formerly housed The Alley.

This is the second valley location for BevMo! The other is located at 79715 Highway 111, in La Quinta.

I reside in Palm Springs, within walking distance of the new BevMo!, and I was looking forward to no longer having to drive to the Total Wine and More at 72339 Highway 111 in Palm Desert when I needed to stock my personal bar.

Then I tried to get a bottle of my go-to bourbon at the Palm Springs BevMo!—and found it was about three bucks more expensive than it is at the lovely Palm Desert Total Wine.

Hmm. That made me wonder: Which of these two mega-booze chains have better prices? Might it still be financially prudent for those of us in Palm Springs and La Quinta (and beyond) to head to Total Wine?

I decided to do a little experiment. I checked the prices at each place of eight spirits and two wines that I happen to have at home: Maker’s Mark bourbon (750 milliliters); Evan Williams bourbon (750 ml); Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin (1.75 liters); Tanqueray gin (750 ml); Herradura reposado tequila (750 ml); Don Julio blanco tequila (750 ml); Fireball (don’t ask why I have it; 750 ml); Ketel One (750 ml); Bogle Vineyards merlot; and Toasted Head cabernet sauvignon.

The verdict? I’m still going to be making the drive to Palm Desert.

The tally (before taxes) for the nine items both BevMo! and Total Wine had—BevMo! does not stock the Toasted Head cabernet, according to the website—came to $179.39 at Total Wine, while it came to $204.91 at BevMo! That’s a substantial difference of $25.52, or more than 14 percent.

Total Wine’s prices are basically lower across the board: Eight of the nine items were between $1 and $5 cheaper at Total Wine. There was one tie: The Herradura reposado was $38.99 at both places.

Check the prices on your own favorite liquors at www.totalwine.com and www.bevmo.com.

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WHERE PALM SPRINGS EATS

707 North Palm Canyon www.TrioPalmSprings.com

CELLO’S BISTRO CLOSING; CELLO’S PANTRY, CATERING REMAIN OPEN Cello’s Bistro, a cute restaurant with yummy food at 35943 Date Palm Drive, in Cathedral City, is no more.

The owners announced the news in an email on Nov. 8.

“After seven seasons, we have decided to close the restaurant,” the email said. “This was not an easy decision, but every year when we are off during the summer, we ask ourselves the same question: ‘Do we want to open the restaurant this season?’ Unfortunately, the answer this year was no. We want to thank all of our lovely and gracious guests who were so supportive to us over the years.”

The owners will now focus on Cello’s bustling catering business, as well as serving grab-and-go meals at Cello’s Pantry, at 70225 Highway 111, in Rancho Mirage. Customers can get breakfast at Cello’s Pantry on the weekends, too.

For more information, call 760-328-4200, or visit www.cellospantry.com.

IN BRIEF Mark your calendars: Draughtsman, the “renderer of fine foods and craft beer” from the team behind the Arrive hotel, will mark its for-real grand opening on Monday, Dec. 5. The venue is located at 1501 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs; get more details draughtsmanpalmsprings.com. … The long-delayed and much-anticipated reopening of Bernie’s Lounge and Supper Club at 69830 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage is close enough that management held a job fair just before Thanksgiving. Keep your fingers crossed for an opening around Christmas. Ironically, it was on Christmas day in 2014 when a fire doomed Bernie’s at its old location at 292 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Watch for updates at www.facebook.com/Berniesfans. … More good news: Rocky’s New York Style Pizzeria and Restaurant, at 12856 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs, finally reopened in November. Some folks (myself included) feared Rocky’s was gone for good after a “summer closure” drifted well into the fall—especially since the building that houses Rocky’s was at one point gutted. Peruse the menu at www.rockyspizzadhs. com. … Rubio’s, a chain known for its fish tacos and other “coastal” fare, will open another valley location on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 73399 Highway 111 in Palm Desert. … Coming soon to the West Elm building in downtown Palm Springs: Blaze Pizza. The first valley location of the chain can be found in Palm Desert, just down from that new Rubio’s. … I was startled to see the building that houses beloved Palm Springs Italian restaurant Johnny Costa’s, at 440 S. Palm Canyon Drive, listed for lease on a commercial real estate website. Turns out Johnny Costa’s is slated to move sometime in the new year to 333 S. Palm Canyon Drive, the same building the aforementioned new BevMo! calls home. … Village Pub, at 266 S. Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs, is celebrating its 21st birthday with a new menu.

Find details at www.palmspringsvillagepub.com.

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Local band Tribesmen finally releases recorded music—in the form of a two-song EP the blueskye report: the vienna boys choir, penn and teller, and a whole lot more!

OFF!’s Keith Morris—returning to Pappy for a New Year’s Eve show—tells all in ‘My Damage’ the lucky 13: we talk to two local musicians with strong family pedigrees

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After almost six decades, Wayne Newton—coming to Morongo—still loves to perform

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MR. LAS VEGAS

PHOTO BY wayne kabik

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INSTRUMENTAL ‘ETHOS’

The Blueskye REPORT december 2016

By Brian Blueskye

Local band Tribesmen finally releases recorded music—in the form of a two-song EP

L

By Brian Blueskye

ocal music fans have been waiting for years for Tribesmen to release some recordings. Back in October, that finally happened—albeit in limited fashion.

The band’s new EP has just two songs: “Oceans Ocean” and “Ethos.”

The instrumental band from Coachella offers hints of psychedelia, ambient and rock in its sound. The band played at the first Tachevah Block Party in 2013 in downtown Palm Springs, and has developed a loyal following that shows up whenever and wherever the band plays.

During a recent interview at Tribesmen’s practice space in Coachella, drummer Freddy Jimenez said “Ethos” was the second or third song the band wrote—about three years ago.

“We wanted to save the rest, just in case we get hit up by a label or something. We’ve spent so much time writing and recording,” Jimenez said. “It takes forever to do all of that for us, because we have shit going on.”

Guitarist Wilber Pacheco explained why these two songs were released first.

“We’ve recorded all of the songs we have written so far,” Pacheco said. “These are the two songs that came out the best. In case we do get hit While the band includes three guitar-players, up by a label or something, we have time to it does not include a vocalist—a fact which has make adjustments to those songs we previously led some local musicians and music-writers to recorded.” criticize Tribesmen. However, all-instrumental Bassist Leslie Romero talked about the oribands are far from obscure, and those who say gins of “Oceans Ocean.”

Tribesmen needs a vocalist don’t understand “‘Oceans Ocean’ is kind of a mixture of an what the band does. old song that we stopped playing for a while,” “That whole thing doesn’t bother us anyRomero said. “We had new ideas for it, so when more. We’re so used to it by now. We’re over it,” we brought Christian (Leon) into the band, we guitarist Alec Corral said about the criticism. combined his style of playing into that song, Pacheco said he understands why people and we updated it.” question Tribesmen’s lack of a singer— Guitarist Leon said that when he first joined although he does not agree with those quesTribesmen more than a year ago, “Ethos” was tions. the first song for which he wrote parts. In fact, “We hear that, but it’s not from people who writing that song was deceptively easy. have made music their passion,” Pacheco said.

“For ‘Ethos,’ it really wasn’t hard,” Leon “It’s so common. … If you don’t have (a singer), said. “It came right off the bat. Everything just it’s going to raise questions like, ‘Why don’t popped. … At first, it was a challenge, but then they have a singer? Can’t they find one? Are it was like, ‘Yay! Everyone is cool with me now.’ they not good enough?’”

It then became really hard to write parts for the Some instrumental bands record albums other songs.” with tracks that transition into each other.

Tribesmen

Corral and other members of the band said they like that idea.

“We’ll get into that over time as we record in the studio,” Corral said. “Most of our songs are in the same key, so we can really do something with that.”

Tribesmen continues to improve and evolve, the members say. In fact, the band no longer plays some of its older material.

“There are a bunch of songs we have that we don’t play anymore, because we’ve grown out of them,” Pacheco said. “We matured a little bit, and we’ve outgrown them.”

The band members have struggled to properly record their own music. Thankfully, Jimenez spent time as an intern at Indio’s Music Proz and has recorded other bands, including as CIVX. That experience has proven to be helpful.

“We were just trying to do it in the garage here, and one of us would mess up and be like, ‘Oh man! Let’s do it again!’” Romero said. “We had to do that whole thing again, over and over. But Freddy found little techniques that they taught him where we didn’t have to scrap the whole thing and start from the beginning.

It made it a lot easier to record.”

What does the future have in store for Tribesmen? The members say they’re continuing to spread the word about the band, and they’re planning more shows—including a possible summer tour.

For more information on Tribesmen or the ‘Oceans Ocean’ EP, visit tribesmenmusic. bandcamp.com.

Vienna Boys Choir

During the month of December, there are more than enough events to keep you entertained— whether you’re in the Christmas spirit or not.

The McCallum Theatre has a great list of Christmas-themed events. At 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5, enjoy a special Christmas presentation from the Vienna Boys Choir. One of the best known boys’ choirs in the world, the group’s various incarnations perform about 300 concerts a year. Fun fact: The boys in the choir are around the ages of 10 to 14. Tickets are $37 to $77.

Locals will take the stage at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, in a show being assembled by Best of Coachella Valley radio personality Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald of CV 104.3 called “A CV Christmas.”

The show will feature Kal David and Lauri Bono, Ronnie King, Brightener, John Stanley King and others. Tickets are $27 to $67. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, Johnny Mathis will be bringing his 60th anniversary Christmas tour to the McCallum. You can’t go wrong with Johnny, especially when he’s singing Christmas tunes. Tickets are $67 to $137.

McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has some good stuff onstage in December. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, Celtic Woman will be performing a Christmas-themed show as part of the “Home for Christmas: The Symphony Tour.”

Celtic Woman has made a name for itself by performing Celtic music that’s mixed with folk and new-age sounds. The group’s Christmas repertoire is very popular and has added to Celtic Woman’s success. Tickets are $49 to $89. If you aren’t in the Christmas music mood … at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, there will be a performance by ARW (Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman). These three members of YES hadn’t performed together in 25 years, so this is one tour you’ll want to catch if you’re a rock music fan. Rick Wakeman made the Moog what it is today in rock music, and Trevor Rabin’s guitar-playing is legendary in prog rock. Tickets are $39 to $79. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, the Goo Goo Dolls will be returning to the Coachella Valley. I’ve mentioned how annoying it was hearing the song “Iris” over continued on next page

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and over during my junior and senior years of high school … and my high school even made the song part of my prom. Ugh! Tickets are $49 to $79. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 800-827-2946; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has a couple of events worth mentioning. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, Penn and Teller will be stopping by. Originally known for magic shows that included comedy, the duo stepped it up for a television show on Showtime called Bullshit!, which featured the duo taking on a variety of subjects, from Sept. 11 conspiracy theories to bottled water and beyond. Tickets are $45 to $65. Looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve? At 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, bring in 2017 with Huey Lewis and the News. Huey is a part of one of my more tortured childhood Christmas memories: I once asked for a Metallica album … and received his Sports album instead.

Boo, Huey! Boo! Tickets are $105 to $125. The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.

Spotlight 29 has a couple of intriguing December offerings. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, former Supertramp vocalist and songwriter Roger Hodgson will be performing. He wrote most of Supertramp’s most well-known hits, which have sold more than 60 million records— so this should be a pretty good show. Tickets are $45 to $65. At 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9; 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10; and 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11, Spotlight 29 will be hosting its Winter Gathering Pow Wow. This Native American custom includes dancing, singing, visiting and the renewing of old friendships. This event is free and family friendly. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www. spotlight29.com.

After an epic summer, Morongo Casino Resort Spa’s entertainment schedule has slowed down just a bit—but there are a couple of great December shows worth mentioning. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, Morongo will be opening the Drum Room, a new bar and lounge on the 26th floor of the hotel. The free grand opening will feature some great cocktails and appetizers in the venue, which has great leather seating and huge windows offering stunning views of the desert. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, there will be a performance by the Charlie Daniels Band. If you’ve never seen the Charlie Daniels Band, trust me: Mr. Daniels puts on one hell of a show, even though he’s 80 years old and has survived prostate cancer—with a pacemaker installed in his chest to boot. He was a highlight of Stagecoach in 2013. Given this is Christmas, you can expect some Christmas tunes mixed into his Southernrock set. Tickets are $25 to $35. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.

Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace has some events in December you shan’t miss. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, Hanni El Khatib will be

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returning to Pappy’s after a stunning sold-out show earlier this year. Hanni El Khatib denied being a blues man when I interviewed him last year, but blues and hard rock are definitely part of his sound. This show is a must-see. Tickets are $15 to $20. At 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 22, it’s locals’ night when The BrosQuitos and Yip Yops play Pappy and Harriet’s. This is a much-deserved gig for both local bands—groups with bright futures ahead of them. Admission is free. After the presents have been opened, and the holiday hangover has set in, get yourself to Pappy’s at 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 26, for the Evangenitals.

This is one of the best bands to see when you’re sad—because you’ll enjoy a lot of laughs at the no-holds-barred humor. Oh, and be sure to stay until the end when the band does its own personal rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Admission is blessedly free. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com.

The Purple Room has a fine December schedule. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, the Kinsey Sicks will be bringing a holiday show, “Oy Vey in a Manger!” to the Purple Room. The Kinsey Sicks is known as “America’s Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet” and is named after the Kinsey scale—with six meaning “exclusively homosexual.” Formed in 1993 in San Francisco, the group has earned a reputation as one of the LGBT community’s most entertaining and hilarious groups. Tickets are $30 to $45. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, the Martini Kings will be performing. Back in October, when I was at Pappy and Harriet’s for Paul McCartney’s show, I had the pleasure of meeting Anthony Marsico of the Martini Kings. He was once a sideman for Bob Dylan, and he told me some fascinating stories from those days. The Martini Kings have a sound that modernism fans will love—and the group should turn in a great Christmas show. Tickets are $25. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com.

The Hood Bar and Pizza has announced a December show you’ll want to mark down on your calendar. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, Dali’s Llama will be performing, along with other great bands such as Supersonic Dragon Wagon; an old group including Zach Huskey of Dali’s Llama, Hot Beat Pussy Fiend; and Sleazy Cortez. Admission is free! The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert; 760-6365220; www.facebook.com/thehoodbar.

The Date Shed has one event in December worth mentioning. At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, there will be a performance by Too Short. During the ’90s, when the whole East Coast-West Coast rap thing was going full-force, one man worked with both 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G.—and that was Too Short. While his lyrics are about pimping not being easy (Has it ever been easy?), and “bitch” is nothing but a word to him, he’s a legend of the genre. Tickets are $25. The Date Shed, 50725 Monroe Street, Indio; 760-775-6699; www.dateshedmusic.com.

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AWESOME AUTOBIOGRAPHY OFF!’s Keith Morris—returning to Pappy and Harriet’s for a New Year’s Eve show—tells all in ‘My Damage’

F

By Brian Blueskye

ormer Black Flag and Circle Jerks frontman Keith Morris has always had a lot of fascinating and often dark stories to tell—and now those stories have been put to paper, thanks to his new book, My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor.

Morris and his current band, OFF!, will be returning to the area for a long-sold-out New Year’s Eve show with Redd Kross and The Melvins at Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace.

During a recent phone interview, Morris said that writing the book with Jim Ruland was not easy.

“The difficult thing for me was just getting over the initial situation of having to work with an assigned writer,” Morris said. “We did 70 hours of interviews, and he had to transcribe all of it, sit and listen to everything, and take notes. When you read the book, there’s a certain flow to it, and it’s like listening to a punk-rock record. It moves really quickly, and I really appreciated that.”

There are a lot of rough stories in My Damage—related to Morris’ addiction issues, his departure from Black Flag, and the difficult relationship with his father. Surprisingly, Morris said none of it was hard to talk about. book mention Steven McDonald of Redd “Not at all,” he said. “One of the great things Kross—who also currently plays bass in OFF! about what happened with this process we with Morris. went through is I work steps: I’m a recovering “Steven, who is actually a good friend, and alcoholic and a cocaine addict. You go to meetI at one point we were at odds,” Morris said. ings … and there are all these different steps to “He listened to the audio version of the book take for this enlightenment—tapping into your while he was touring with The Melvins. Steven spirituality, and seeing the light. I consider it a has not complained about anything. Steven is bit of a self-cleansing and self-realization prolike a younger brother, because I’ve known him cess. With the book, I got to tell some stories I since he was 11 years old. He’s my bro; he’s my got to get off my chest, so it worked out really friend; and I love the guy. He can be a freak and well for me.” irritating at times, but that dude gets an A-plus Morris said he’s received complaints about in my world.” some of the stories in the book.

“I had some people reach out to me and say My Damage: The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor, they were really upset about what I had written by Keith Morris with Jim Ruland (Da Capo Press), about them in the book,” he said. “One of them 336 pages, $24.99. who I had a bit of a conversation with—if you consider a Facebook chat a conversation—I said, ‘Look, we’re still friends. What I said wasn’t damaging, and all I was doing was telling the truth. Why would I sugarcoat anything?’ All I was doing was telling a story.

“One other person accused me of being a liar.

That person can turn around and say things like, ‘My friend owns a bookstore, and she’s not going to carry your book, because you’re a punk-rock loser, and you’re a sexist.’ On that note, I might actually use that quote for the back of my second book to help sell it.”

Morris shared a story in the book about how he almost died in Norway from issues related to diabetes while he was there at the invitation of the band Turbonegro.

“I think that if the little old lady who came into my hotel room hadn’t come back when she did, it would have been the end,” Morris said. “I was completely dehydrated and gasping for air.

That was about all I was capable of doing.”

Interestingly, not-so-positive parts of the

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After almost six decades onstage, Wayne Newton—coming to Morongo— still loves to perform

By Brian Blueskye

ayne Newton has seen his fair share of controversy and financial problems over his nearly six-decade career. However, Mr. Las Vegas is still standing—and will be bringing his Vegas swagger to Morongo Casino Resort and Spa on Friday, Dec. 2.

During a recent phone interview, I asked him what makes him still love singing.

“I think it’s the fact I’ve done it my whole life,” Newton said. “When I was 4 years old, my parents took me to see a Grand Ole Opry roadshow that had come to Norfolk, Va., which is where I’m from originally. On the show was Hank Williams and many of the other greats of country music. We were way up in the nosebleed section, given my father was an auto mechanic, and we couldn’t afford better seats than that. I couldn’t even see the performers. I found myself looking around at the faces of the audience, and I saw the happiness that they were deriving from those performers and those written by Elvis that Newton bought through a songs. I turned to my mother and said, ‘That’s Sotheby’s auction. what I want to do!’ I wanted to bring that kind “That’s never been something that’s motivatof happiness to people myself. I think that’s ed me as much as doing songs that I love to sing, what’s always been my motivating force.” and songs that bring happiness to the people,” What about days when Wayne Newton feels he said about songwriting. “I am not one of under the weather? He said experience helps those performers who would be happy walking him pull through. out onstage and going, ‘And then I wrote, and “I think that from the work ethic that I had then I wrote, and then I wrote.’ I have always to develop at such a young age, singing in the wanted to do what people wanted to hear. I lounges in Vegas at the age of 15—six shows a wrote a song called ‘The Letter’ which went No. day, six days a week—I kept learning different 1 on the country chart, and that was fun, and instruments to provide me with some vocal I still get requests to do that song, but it’s such relief,” he said. “The one thing I learned is that’s a downer, because I wrote it after Elvis Presley when you earn your money—when you go died.” onstage, and you’re not feeling good. I’ve always Speaking of Elvis: Newton was not only a fan, had a rule with my musicians: Being sick is OK, but a close friend. but if you’re not in the hospital, you’d better “When I met him, he was so unassuming be onstage. There’s no question that it’s taxing and the first one to find humor in what people when you don’t feel well.” thought of him,” Newton said. “He never took Newton has been revered as a singer and entertainer, but he’s never been known for song- himself seriously in any way. We became really good friends and remained friends until the day writing and putting out original material—and he passed away. His father called me the night he’s OK with that. He mentioned a song that that he did pass and told me when I was workhe did about Elvis Presley, based on a letter ing at the Frontier in Vegas.”

There’s no doubt that Newton still loves Las Wayne Newton.

Vegas, even with all of the changes the city has wayne kabik gone through.

“I think it will continue to change. It certainly has changed in the years I’ve been here since I came here in 1959,” he said. “When I came here, it was Frank, Sammy, Dean and Elvis. I got put into the mix somewhere in there. Then as some years passed, and those people passed, there were fewer real stars who could fill the showrooms. The shows and the management of the hotels turned to a different idea. The first idea was the magicians; that went on for about 10 years. Then it went through the impressionist stage with Danny Gans, Rich Little and people

like that who were doing impressions of other performers. Now we’re going through the Cirque faze. But in the last four or five years, it has started to go back to a star policy again. …

Now we have Celine Dion, J-Lo, Britney Spears, Elton John and all of them doing two weeks and coming back a year later doing another two weeks. They’re doing permanent stays in the hotels they’re in. The star performer is coming back, and it’s full circle. It’ll probably last five to 10 years, and they’ll move on to something else.

“Thank God there’s always been room for me! The thing I love about Vegas is that there’s room for every kind of show. It doesn’t matter what it is. Where else could you go around the world and find that many shows and that many stars on one street on any given night? The sound systems are great; the showrooms are great; and the lighting is great.”

Regarding his problems in the business and

financial world, he offered some perspective.

“As I was coming up in the business and working as many nights as I worked, we had to depend on managers and business managers,” he said. “Those people took great advantage of the performers, including myself. There’s no one to blame but yourself in so many ways. On the other hand, when you are a performer who is recording, doing television and motion pictures, and performing in nightclubs, you don’t have the time to consider the true business end of it, and you have to turn it over to someone to trust—and finding people to trust when it comes to money is a very difficult thing to do.”

Wayne Newton will perform at 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2 at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, in Cabazon. Tickets are $55 to $65. For more information, call 800-252-4499, or visit www.morongocasinoresort.com.

The Center and Sandy Claus invite you and your canine companion to our Winter Social

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7TH 5:30pm - 7:00pm The

CENTER

@ Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

849 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262

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the

LUCKY 13

This month, we talk to two local musicians with strong family pedigrees

By Brian Blueskye Quanah Lienau

NAME Quanah Lienau GROUP Facelift MORE INFO Facelift is possibly the most brutal band in the Coachella Valley. Its hardcore punk sound has made Facelift a house-party favorite—and landed the band opening slots for The Adicts during both of the band’s recent shows at The Hood Bar and Pizza. Facelift’s guitarist, Quanah Lienau, is the son of local desert-rock icon Herb Lienau (Dead Issue, Decon, Half Astro, Herbert). For more information on Facelift, visit www.facebook.com/ 1000palmspunx.

What was the first concert you attended?

Post-birth, I would say Weezer at Coachella 2001, when I was 6 years old.

What was the first album you owned?

I can’t pinpoint it, but one of these three: Weezer, “The Blue Album”; The Prodigy, The Fat of the Land; or Aztlan Underground, Decolonize.

What bands are you listening to right now?

I’m a true soldier in the lifelong realm of punk: Rudimentary Peni, Parliament Funkadelic, Slipknot, Primus, Lagwagon, Sepultura, Guru of Gang Starr, Jurassic 5, Decon, Snoop Dogg, my homies from D-Town known as Slipping Into Darkness and some Hawkwind when there is time. Aztlan Underground, Facelift, Blockh3ad, Obituary, Coltrane and whatever plays on The Forbidden Zone radio show. Oh yeah, and mothafukkin Rich Kids on LSD, BITCH! A definite fun mix to get you through the work day.

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

This embarrassing new “mumble rap” or “trap” or whatever the fuck. No real flows; can’t hear a word they say; and if you don’t have a goal at being the best in what you do, don’t claim the title “Artist.” I get it! You get fucked up on codeine and try to fuck everyone’s girlfriend.

Leave me alone!

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

Either Rich Kids on LSD, Jimi Hendrix or Ramones in their prime.

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

I don’t know what that means, ha ha. The sig-

nature Facelift chops/mutes are always there.

Playing melody and harmony in one is dope.

What’s your favorite music venue?

Depends who or what we’re seeing. Heavy and epic—somewhere big like the Olympic Auditorium or The Mayan theater, both in L.A.—or some packed sardine punk show at the Observatory in Orange County. Any place with a fuckload of people with sick energy can be my favorite.

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

“Peace and quiet only makes me ill. I’m hardly able to stand while I’m standing fucking still.

There’s a silence in my head and its ringing really shrill, but if it breaks this fuckin’ boredom, it’s you I’ll fucking kill,” Dan Duran (of Facelift), “Hyper-Inactive.”

What band or artist changed your life?

I’d say the Rich Kids on LSD opened a new door to playing and thinking for myself. I’d never heard any dudes jam like that—such different approaches on instruments I thought I’d never think of before now are some of my favorite styles on drums, guitar and bass! Lyrics are in a different game on their own, leaving me in thoughts that help keep my mental strength along uncertain times in my life!

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

Varg Vikernes: “So before you killed Euronymous, was he a bitch all the time?”

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Leviathan’s “Merging with Sword, Onto Them” and Judas Priest’s “Dreamer Deceiver.”

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

Decon, Balls for Days BITCH! What song should everyone listen to right now?

Aztlan Underground, “Natural Enemy.”

NAME Larry Lalli GROUP Fatso Jetson MORE INFO Fatso Jetson is one of the most prominent bands in the Coachella Valley music scene. Fronted by Mario Lalli, one of the pillars of the local music world, Fatso Jetson just released a new album, Idle Hands. For more information, visit www.fatsojetson.com. Larry Lalli is the bassist of Fatso Jetson, as well as Mario’s cousin.

What was the first concert you attended?

Black Flag, 45 Grave, D.O.A., Descendents, Husker Du and UXB at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles in July 1982. I had seen some smaller club/garage/living-room gigs, but the

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Larry Lalli

Olympic show made a lasting impression on me.

What was the first album you owned?

The self-titled Boston album or Peter Frampton’s Frampton Comes Alive! I got them right about the same time. Then my older brothers turned me on to Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and KISS. What bands are you listening to right now?

As far as new music, I’m in a bit of a rut.

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

EDM and pop country.

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

That’s a tough question. Talking Heads, but if dead people count, Jimi Hendrix.

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

No guilt, only pleasure.

What’s your favorite music venue?

Pappy and Harriet’s.

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

“Sun sure did shine this year. Who’d you look like underneath?” from “Hey Garland I Dig Your Tweed Coat” by Captain Beefheart.

What band or artist changed your life?

Black Flag. Also, many of the ’80s SST bands: Minutemen, Saccharine Trust, Meat Puppets.

The music was amazing, but more than that, the ideas put forth in the songs were relatable.

The DIY aspect of the punk scene was inspiring, and Black Flag kind of wrote the book on that.

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

I would ask Bootsy Collins to tell a story about touring with James Brown’s band back in the day.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

“Sofa No. 2” by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

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

Double Nickels on the Dime, Minutemen.

What song should everyone listen to right now?

“Driftin’ Back” by Neil Young with Crazy Horse.

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 41

DECEMBER 2016

OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

“Go completely intolerant ad-free” in all parts of 43 “For Your ___ this puzzle Onlady” 44 Health facility Across 45 Cheese on crackers 1 Audio boosters 46 MGM Grandad Las 5 They say “Nowaday!”

Vegas, for one 10 Tropical getaway 48 Puget Sound traveler 14 Renegade (on) 50 Nickname of Hall of 15 Wayne’s World Fame pitcher Dennis sidekick 51 “Goad on ...”

16 Connery of “Dr. 52 ___ Lama Nado” 54 Bead on the same 17 Guilty pleasure that’s page difficult to accomplish? 56 Broad, in Spanish 19 Mountaintop 58 Shadow’s partner 20 “Heady, relax!”

60 Toad ___ (just right) 21 Munitions maker 61 Mornings in the 23 Roadsters world of bears?

26 Cedars-___ Hospital 66 Busted tirade sound, 28 Lang. of Cads Lewis perhaps 29 Gomez’s hairier 67 More sound cousin 68 Sadat practice 30 Garment fold 69 Word before “ran” or 32 Source of a meadow “known as” 34 Company behind a 70 Bright-colored fadish candy stamped with 71 Unlike vocal ranges “mad” for badasses 36 Orange sadpud 37 “___ made up, Down Scotty” 1 Padres #16, familiarly 38 Knotted snack 2 Nadine, as single-digit 40 Drink for the lactose numbers go

3 Spot on dice 4 Winter admix 5 Repads of sports figures, for short 6 Specialist assigned a marinade mission, maybe 7 Prefix with state or glycerides 8 “___ bead much worse ...”

9 Headman’s sister 10 Aoki of the PGA 11 Anonymous mud wallower?

12 Feel regret for 13 Ade, to Einstein 18 Rough file 22 Kid who eventually liked Life?

23 Lacking stiffness 24 Russia’s ___-Tass news service 25 Garb for milling about the neighborhood?

27 “___ a Man of Constant Sorrow” 31 Caustic chemicals 33 Foot in a meter 35 Eyelid annoyance 37 Wild swine 39 The Legend of ___

(Nintendo game) 40 Light white wine drink 41 Scalp parasites 42 Actress Palmer of Scream Queens 44 Cruisade locale 46 “What a radiot!”

47 Almost on the hour 48 Counterparts of faunae 49 Everybody, down South 53 Brooding feeling 55 Pictographic letter 57 Prefix with America or morph 59 Pound who was a master of the adverse 62 Bank statement abbr.

63 All Things Considered reporter Shapiro 64 Family Guy daughter 65 Geom. figure ©2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com) Find the answers in the “About” section of CVIndependent.com!

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DECEMBER 2016

CANNABIS IN THE CV

PENCE PROBLEMS

BY SEAN PLANCK It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

O

K, sure, there are one or two issues more important than cannabis legalization. Maybe three. And while the idea of making America great again seems horribly ironic to many right now, cannabis legalization scored unprecedented victories across the country this November.

On the medicinal front: A stunning 63.8 percent of North Dakota voters legalized medicinal use. The state has 90 days from the election to implement the law statewide.

However, Arkansas was the big surprise, as it became the first Bible Belt state to legalize cannabis for medicinal use. Arkansas’ governor, former Drug Enforcement Administration chief and outspoken cannabis opponent Asa Hutchinson, has indicated he will accept the will of the people and allow the law to go into effect without interference.

After failing in 2014 (even though a majority of voters said yes; a 60 percent supermajority was required), Florida voted overwhelmingly to legalize medicinal weed: 71 percent of voters were in favor, but much remains to be seen regarding how Gov. Rick Scott’s administration will implement the law.

As for recreational marijuana, Nevada was a big question mark heading into Election Day, but despite casino mogul Sheldon Adelson’s best efforts (he supplied 97 percent of the opposition funding), 54 percent of Silver State voters ended up in favor of legalization. Nevada was already ahead of the cannabis-tourism game by accepting medical recommendations from other states, and recreational use will surely be a further boon for the travel industry. The personal-use and possession components of the law go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. However, lighting up in public will still get you a $600 fine. Also: Don’t expect pot shops to start popping up on The Strip anytime soon. The state is not expecting to start taking license applications until the beginning of 2018.

Some 54 percent of Massachusetts voters thought legalizing was a good idea, too. Once the law goes into effect in December of this year, adults 21 and older can possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home, and 1 ounce in public.

Maine approved legalization in a real nail-biter of an election. The measure passed by just more than 2,600 votes—less than 1 percent. Opponents of the law have already CVIndependent.com

demanded a recount, and anti-pot crusader Gov. Paul LePage has indicated he may challenge the law.

Arizona’s failed Proposition 205 was the low point of the state elections; it was the only cannabis-related state initiative to fail, receiving just 48.5 percent of the vote.

Here in California, Proposition 64 passed by a comfortable margin—surprising no one. The home cultivation, possession and consumption components went into effect immediately.

What’s allowed: • Consumption of cannabis in private homes.

• Possession of up to an ounce of flower and up to 8 grams of concentrate.

• Growing up to six cannabis plants and keeping the harvested product in a private home. (Product harvested from your own grow is exempt from the one-ounce limit.)

• Giving up to an ounce of flower and up to eight grams of concentrate to another adult.

The first commercial-permit applications are expected around the beginning of 2018, with stores opening a couple of months later.

If the Washington and Colorado examples hold true, demand will skyrocket, while newly licensed commercial growers get up and running, resulting in a temporary shortage.

Prop 64 removes virtually all penalties for those 21 and older, and replaces criminal charges with drug education for those younger than 18. You can get busted for smoking in public, and you can still get fired for failing a drug test. In a weird loophole … if you’re 18-20 years old, you got screwed: Possession of more than an ounce can now mean 6 months in jail. If an adult shares cannabis with someone younger than 21, he or she could face six months behind bars and a $500 fine.

Something to think about the next time you’re passing a joint around at a concert …

California is the sixth-largest economy in

COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 43

DECEMBER 2016

CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS

It was a great Election Day for marijuana … well, except for that Trump thing Be careful passing that joint: Even now that recreational marijuana is (sort) of legal in California, it can’t be used in public—and sharing with someone younger than 21 is a big no-no.

the world, so Prop 64 passing is the brass ring for the legalization movement.

In Colorado, the push toward further legalization received a boost when Denver passed Initiative 300, which allows businesses to permit social consumption of cannabis on their premises. This opens the door to smoking weed in bars, cafes and other public spaces.

While the news regarding legalization was great on the state and local levels (outside of Arizona, that is), the national results were not quite as encouraging: With election of The Donald and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, don’t expect federal prohibition to end any time soon. While Trump himself has indicated he would defer to the states to set medicinal cannabis law, Vice

President-elect Mike Pence’s influence remains to be seen. Pence is a long-time proponent of the War on Drugs and believes in jail time for minimal possession. Pence’s role in leading Trump’s transition team indicates he will have an active role in the administration. This also means the DEA will be under no pressure to remove marijuana from Schedule 1 for at least the next four years—which will complicate cannabis-industry banking and deter major investment in the industry for the foreseeable future, due to a continued lack of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …

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DECEMBER 2016

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