Coachella Valley Weekly - February 2 to February 8, 2017 Vol. 5 No. 46

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Community Events

coachellavalleyweekly.com • February 2, to February 8, 2017 Vol. 5 No. 46

RM Writers Fest

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Builders Expo

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Modernism

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Paul Rodgers

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Miramonte

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

CITY OF PALM DESERT GETS HOPPIN’ WITH THE SECOND ANNUAL SWING ‘N HOPS STREET PARTY ON EL PASEO

BY CHRIS CLEMENS

Coachella Valley Weekly

coachellavalleyweekly.com publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Morgan James Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Denise Ortuno Neil, Judith Salkin Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Janet McAfee, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Lola Rossi, Laura Hunt Little, Flint Wheeler, Jack St. Clair, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Janet Newcomb, Rebecca Pikus, Angela Romeo, Esther Sanchez, Jenny Wallis Photographers Robert Chance, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez, Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Scott Pam, George Duchannes Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS

Swing 'N Hops...................................... 3 Rancho Mirage Writers Fest................ 5 Builders Expo ...................................... 6 Art Scene - Vern Chamness................. 6 Modernism........................................... 7 Breaking the 4th Wall - Review of "Baby: The Musical"........................... 7 Black History Month Events................ 8 Boys & Girls Club.................................. 8 Paul Rodgers........................................ 9 Backstage Jazz .....................................9 Consider This - ................................... 10 Art Scene.............................................11 Pet Place............................................. 12 The Vino Voice ................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife....................... 14 Pampered Palate - Miramonte.......... 16 Screeners............................................ 18 Book Review....................................... 19 Safety Tips.......................................... 19 Haddon Libby.................................... 21 Dale Gribow....................................... 21 Sports Scene ...................................... 22 Comic Con Palm Springs ................... 22 Free Will Astrology............................ 23 Ask Jenny ........................................... 23 Health & Fitness................................. 24 Life & Career Coach ........................... 24 Cannabis Corner.................................24

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alm Desert kicks up its heels and swings into full gear again this February when the City presents the exciting second annual Swing N’ Hops Street Party – an outdoor extravaganza celebrating swing dance, craft beer, and live music in the heart of Palm Desert’s upscale shopping and dining district, El Paseo.

Happening from 1 to 5 pm on Saturday, February 4, on the street between San Pablo Avenue and Larkspur Lane, this free, four-hour street party transports guests to a time when swing was king and everybody danced.

With live music from the Jennifer Keith Quintet, everyone can boogie-woogie outdoors, while also enjoying a variety of microbrews in craft beer gardens and great gourmet food booths. Honoring the timeless marriage between jazz dance and live music, the swing party goers can get their groove on with free dance instruction at the event. From West Coast swing to the collection of vintage swing dances – such as Lindy Hop, Shag, Balboa, Jitterbug and the Charleston – those with their dancing shoes on will learn a variety of popular moves from the one and only Lupita Limon. There will also be a swing performance during

the event and attendees are encouraged to revive the glamour of the swing era by wearing fun fashion representative of the 1920’s through 1940’s!

A number of retail vendors and popup shops will be located along the avenue including era-specific hair stylings and simple make-up applications. Party-goers can purchase gourmet eats from one many tasty food booths lining the street. Craft beer connoisseurs can hop over to one of two “speakeasies” – beer gardens stocked with suds by local favorite, Coachella Valley Brewing Co., sponsored by Liquid Catering.

El Paseo Cruise Night will showcase classic autos from the swing era and beyond. With interactive art stations, crafts, and family fun, there’s something for everyone at Swing ‘N Hops.

Event Sponsors to date include Presenting Sponsor City of Palm Desert, El Paseo Cruise Night, The Gardens on El Paseo, Coachella Valley Brewing Co, Liquid Catering, FG Creative, Leeds and Son Jewelers, The Desert Sun, CV Weekly, Lamar, Alpha Media Group (Mix 100.5 & The Bull 98.5) Sunny 103, Coachella Valley Water District, and Burrtec.

Swing N’ Hops Street Party is a featured event of First Weekend, the city’s monthly art and culture program taking place every first weekend November through May. Other First Weekend events include Art Walk, El Paseo Cruise Night, Free Fridays at the Galen, and much more. For more information about Swing ‘N Hops Street Party or First Weekend please visit www. pdFirstWeekend.com.

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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RANCHO MIRAGE WRITERS FESTIVAL – BETTER AND BETTER!

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he definition of a festival is: “a period of celebration.” With all the wonderful festivals in the Coachella Valley -art, music, and film, the meaning is especially apropos to this year’s Rancho Mirage Writers Festival.

With a hunger and fervor, from early morning and into the night, the Fourth Annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival captured the spirit, energy and freedom of the written word, celebrating for 48 hours, the intelligent expression and exchange of great ideas.

Fifty authors, 20 notable moderators and 1,200 readers moved about the beautiful Rancho Mirage Library to hear scholars, experts and creative minds share their knowledge, passion and writing process to an audience eager to listen and learn.

“This is our best year and it’s electric!” said David Bryant, Library Director. “We have a revved up audience and great content!”

Bryant is also a member of the amazing RMWF Steering Committee. “We look at authors carefully before we extend an invitation,” said Bryant. “Our speakers are animated, brainy and terrific conversationalists.”

With a mix of authors in nonfiction, fiction, that included Edgar nominees, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award recipients, categories spanned from geo-politics to celebrities.

The Rancho Mirage Library was a constant buzz as five rooms simultaneously functioned as venues throughout the day. There were 76 events over the two days.

Evening programs were held at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort Grand Ballroom that included a lite supper on Saturday, and an ice cream social on Sunday.

Event programming was not only entertaining, but well organized. Scheduling was divided over Saturday and Sunday so Readers could see and hear speakers individually or in a discussion. If Readers missed an author the first day, it was easy to find that author in another event the next.

Bon vivant and RMWF Founder, Jamie Kabler, remains an enthusiastic contributor

and participant, but has long since retired his infamous whistle from the first year.

RMWF announced Galante Scholars, which provided talented CV students, along with their teachers, the opportunity to participate in venues and have private meeting with authors.

Bookseller Barnes and Noble returned with a thriving pop up bookstore. Box lunch was provided each day and Koffi ran a coffee bar to keep Readers alert.

Since its inception, the RMWF has tweaked and modified the Festival to better serve and accommodate those in attendance.

Compliments, complaints and suggestions are taken seriously and changes are implemented!

With a helpful and friendly RMWF staff of nearly 100, the Festival was well managed and functioned smoothly throughout the event.

Between talks, hundreds of people moved from venue to venue with relative ease and events began and concluded on time.

The authors were aided with time clocks, and had handlers escort them from events to the book-signing table.

A pleasant surprise and nice improvement was the new colorful, oversized, spiral-bound programs. Opening wide and flat, glossy pages included a quick glance overview with events titled for each hour throughout the day.

The 54-page program included a tribute and congratulations to CV resident Herman Wouk on his 101st birthday. Wouk addressed the Readers in a personal note. The program also served as a keepsake as some attendees had authors sign their “talk” or bio photo.

Maybe most importantly, organizers thoughtfully reconsidered and created more space, and added comfortable, high back -- even stylish -- padded chairs. No more sore bottoms!

Improvements from the year before were made in every venue and audiovisual technicians engineered presentations complete with stateof-the-art large screen television monitors.

New to the Fest was the Children’s Reading Room. It was remodeled with sound proof walls and glass enclosure to serve both the Festival and of course the kids who use the sunny space.

RMWF: FROM ALT FACTS TO ZIKA

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ancho Mirage has been called the playground of Presidents. As true as that is, it is also the city where scholars and authors come to talk about the Presidents.

The Fourth Annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival was filled with great panel discussions and presentations that included Presidential historians, government insiders and several Presidents’ heirs.

Here are some of the amazing participants in this year’s Fest.

Authors Susan Ford Bales, Theodore Roosevelt IV, Susan Eisenhower, and Clifton Truman Daniel spoke about the President in their lives providing fresh insight into, not only the complicated world of running a Nation, but also a family.

These heirs engaged with celebrated authors and biographers like H.B. Brands, Douglas Brinkley, Tim Weiner and Richard Reeves.

Attending authors discussed Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Harry S. Truman, Ulysses S. Grant and both Roosevelts.

Pulitzer Prize Photographer David Hume Kennerly shared his 50-years of experience

taking pictures around the world that included many Presidents.

Newly sworn President Trump was certainly on the minds of those in attendance and his name came up often throughout the Festival in nonfiction as well as in fiction conversations and Q&As. Programs mixed and matched science and religious experts, politicians, authors and moderators in compelling panels about the environment, China, world religion, the United States, the world in 20 years, four years and what’s at stake today.

Politicians attended as part of the program and as Readers.

The Honorable Barbara Boxer spoke in the morning on the first day. She was part of a panel Saturday evening that included Geoff Cowan, the Honorable Gray Davis, Evan Thomas, Brands, Reeves, Brinkley, and moderated by Van Gordon Sauter.

Honorable Richard Riordon, an avid book collector and reader was in attendance.

Author Tom Holland spoke about Islam and ancient Rome. Evan Osnos shared his experience and book about China and living in Beijing. Carl

Appropriately named the Disney Room, it seated 250 people.

The Annenberg Reading Room, the northeast section of the library, was once again the London room with 275 chairs. Only this year, the dais was against the interior wall making it easer to see the panels and television screens.

Named in honor of the valley’s celebrity author Ann Rice, a room of 100 seats provided another intimate setting. The library’s periodical space became the Didion room, which sat 180.

The Community or Steinbeck Room held 350 attendees and was mostly full to capacity for several enthusiastic discussions and provocative panels.

At times, the staff had to deal with disappointed Readers who could not get into the largest venue. To gain entrance, people needed to line up early, and there was no special treatment for latecomers – even for Angel donors who are the backbone of the Festival.

Most Readers had no qualms and chose to attend an alternative talk.

The Community Room lost some seating when it was recently modified. Changes were made, not just for the Festival, but also to accommodate badly needed audiovisual equipment.

Prior to the change, the AV equipment was behind the stage and often caused technical difficulties since tech personal could not see what was happening. With some clever engineering, the space also provides safe storage for the library’s grand piano.

A significant addition this year was the covering of the RMWF by C-SPAN (the government cable channel), which operates the popular “Book TV.” This is a notable validation for the Festival and an acknowledgement of its high-quality content.

“Book TV” features major book events across the country and provides interviews with mainly nonfiction authors. It broadcasts 24/7 on the weekends. C-SPAN is certainly fortunate to have RMWF on its roster.

The events held in the Steinbeck Room will be broadcast on “Book TV” the first weekend

Zimmer talked about the global dangers of Ebola and Zika, which have yet to be contained.

Lawrence Wright informed the audience about Scientology. Simon Winchester offered a colorful look at the history of the Pacific.

The Civil War, Vietnam, WWII and rumors of war, also filled venues. History is a RMWF favorite.

Health and wellness was a special feature this year.

Expert panels included Doctors David Agus, Valter Longo and Gary Small. They discussed longevity and the changing nature of quality healthcare.

CEO and President of Eisenhower Medical Center, Aubrey Serfling and Doc Agus asked the question, and tried to answer, Are our hospitals killing us?

Architect Mattish Hollwich, encouraged new building designs to create a quality social life, which is proving to add years of life. While authors Dennis Prager talked about happiness and Pico Iyer shared the art of stillness.

Transgender author Jennifer Finney Boylan provided insight into her world, and Linda Johnson Rice discussed her journey as an African American publisher.

Edward Hume discussed autonomous transportation and the bounty in garbage. And

February 2 to February 8, 2017

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

in February. All presentations were recorded during the Festival to show on Rancho Mirage’s channel 17.

Parking is not a problem at this Fest. It is valet only, and a young and energetic valet service moved cars swiftly -- no doubt running many miles each day. Where traffic was a problem last year, this year the Rancho Mirage Sheriff’s Department put out orange cones and monitored the signals.

Along with the list of amazing authors, there was a Who’s Who in the world of politics, power and entertainment. When it came to sharing the stage with bestselling authors, many of the moderators were as provocative and entertaining as the guest speakers.

Beyond the RMWF’s ability to adapt and improve, organizers continue to produce a high quality Festival by being smart, insightful and drawing on the clout of the community.

The caliber of the A-list writers and moderators reflect the tenacity, connections and significance of the great City of Rancho Mirage.

Yet, what’s truly best about the RMWF when all is said and done, is that those who put this event together every year have an unquenchable curiosity, genuine love and deep appreciation of and for books -- which they celebrate!

Shalom Auslander and Annabelle Gurwich told anecdotal stories about Jewish humor with moderator Miles Berger.

But it wouldn’t be Rancho Mirage without its celebrities.

Each morning there was “Breakfast with Craig Carlson” for those early birds on the patio beginning at 7:45.

Lucie Arnaz introduced Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini fame.

Powerbrokers and entertainment industry insiders chatted about why television is better than movies during a panel moderated by TV writer Todd Kessler.

And closing night is all about fun. This year Robert Wagner, author of I Loved Her in the Movies (with Scott Eyman), engaged in a lively conversation with George Schlatter about the famous and the beautiful women Wagner worked with.

To top off the evening, the charming and approachable Dave Barry lifted Readers spirits with his twisted observations and quirky humor.

This delightful conclusion to the fourth edition of the RMWF filled the room with silly laughs and a welcome dose of whimsy and wit!

For the RMWF fiction and poetry authors see the Book Review column.

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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BUILDERS EXPO AND ART FAIR TO FEATURE LIVE MUSIC, CRAFT BEER AND MORE

BY CRAIG MICHAELS

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ark your calendars! The first annual Priority Lighting Builders Expo and Art Fair is happening Wednesday Feb. 8, 2017 from 4-7p.m. at The Art Place in Palm Desert. This special event will kick off with a ribbon cutting

by The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce at 4p.m. and feature live entertainment, building and construction exhibits, an art fair, and beer and food vendors. The best part about it? It’s free and fun for the whole family.

Whether you’re looking to build your dream home, redesign an old space, or just searching for an entertaining Wednesday night, the Builders Expo is an event you won’t want to miss. The Art Place will be packed with exhibitors from the building and design industries as well as local artists. Exhibitor booths will showcase live demonstrations, hand out samples, and share tips and tricks on home décor, construction, design and more. Find out how you can reduce your electric bill from lighting exhibitors or how to switch to a sustainable garden by visiting Moon Valley Nursery. From building materials, to fine

art, flowers, fabrics, and high-end furniture, the Expo will feature everything necessary to design the perfect home or office.

“The response from the building and design community so far has been overwhelming,” said Jon Fitzhenry of Fitzwell Home. He added, “The Chamber of Commerce has been an immense support

in attracting top professionals in the desert to attend the Expo.” The Art Place proudly announced last week that over 20 exhibitors and vendors have signed up for Wednesday’s event.

In addition to exclusive shopping, the Expo will also host live music and entertainment from Mark Gregg of

THE JOURNEY TO ART – VERN CHAMNESS

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rtists take may forms but it is substance over form that is key.

Vern Chamness was born and raised in southern Illinois. His demeanor resembles that of gentleman, a breath of fresh air in a time when manners and respect are lost to vitriolic diatribes. But Vern’s work is far from gentille. His work takes on an edge that is surreal without the intense irrationality.

Vern received a degree in Architecture.

After graduating he worked as an architectural sales rep for major mid-west building materials wholesaler. Opportunity sent him to the multi-cultural area of New Orleans. The Louisiana experience ended and Vern found himself in Dallas, Texas.

In Dallas took on many projects including

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legendary local band Dude Jones and DJ Bob Scratch of Craig Michaels Productions.

While you’re walking through the Expo, you can grab a gourmet hotdog from Croomdogs or authentic Mexican tacos from Los Tios Tacos. La Quinta Brewing Co. will also be on site serving up ice-cold craft beers made locally. After an Indian Canyon IPA or two, bring your friends over to the photo booth hosted by Kaminsky Productions to pose with fun props and share your experience on social media.

Ultimately, the Priority Lighting Builders Expo and Art Fair will be a diverse mixer perfect for Coachella Valley residents and business owners alike interested in the building and design industries. Bring the family down and enjoy this incredible, free event Wednesday, February 8th from 4p.m. to 7pm. Guests who arrive at 4p.m. for the Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting will have the chance to win exclusive early-bird raffle prizes.

Written By: Craig Michaels Productions (760) 880-3848

BY ANGELA ROMEO

ART SCENE

discovering his own artistic expression.

For the next thirty years Vern took his architectural background into new directions when he joined Stone Panels, Inc. as the Specialty Products Manager. Vern works and continues to work with cutting edge and notable architects and high profile projects. Architecture is never static and often architecture is influenced by art and art by architecture. The relationship between the two is undeniable. Any art movement has a partner in the land of armature and infrastructure. How much was Vern influenced by architecture is seen in his ceramic work.

Vern’s interest in art starting with the purchase of his first home, an 1890’s Victorian. This home did not have the typical

stained glass windows found in other period homes so he learned to do stained glass.

He designed and executed many windows for his home. The interest in stained glass windows led to lamps and other art pieces containing glass. Years later an interest in pottery led to a pottery class where he began to hone his artistic talent in ceramics.

Vern’s ceramic work often depicts a figure, or part there of, balanced or balancing seeming unrelated objects. His knowledge of architecture has given him an edge in perfecting the delicate balance of dissimilar objects to create unique figures.

Each pieces stands alone. More over since

ceramics require the artist to surrender the piece to the kiln the firing process can add an unintended but welcome characteristic to the pieces. Vern’s work finds perfection by allowing the firing process to create the humanity of the work. Imperfect perfection is the art that Vern has captured.

Vern’s work has been widely collected and is currently available at, Trenz Gallery in Cathedral City. With his business partner, Roger Leighton, who is also an artist, the two have created a destination place for eclectic contemporary art.

For more info on Vern Chamness and Trenz Gallery visit trenzgallery.com.

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SAVE THE DATE!

February 2 to February 8, 2017

MODERNISM BREAKING THE4TH WALL

BY DEE JAE COX

PALM SPRINGS MODERNISTS OPENING ARTIST RECEPTION A STAGE REVIEW OF “BABY, THE MUSICAL” SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 FROM 5:30-8:30PM. MEET PALM SPRINGS MODERNISTS GLEN WEXLER, TERRY MASTERS AND CRAIG DEMAN.

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he Palm Springs Modernists opening Artist Reception will be held during Palm Springs Modernism Week 2017 on Saturday, February 18 from 5:308:30 pm at Desertpainter Studio Gallery, 370 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.

The public is invited to attend.

The Artist Reception marks the opening of the 2nd Annual Palm Springs Modernists Art Show from February 16 to March 12, 2017 at the Desertpainter Studio Gallery.

The Palm Springs Modernists Art Show showcases the work of three locally grown Palm Springs artists Glen Wexler, Terry Masters and Craig Deman.

A portion of art sales benefit the Palm Springs Cultural Center and United Way of The Desert.

Free parking is available directly across from Desertpainter Studio Gallery at the public lot on Palm Canyon Drive. In addition, there is ample parking at the nearby Amado Center, 333 North Palm Canyon Drive.

Enter at the corner of Amado and Belardo.

Guests attending the Artist Reception will enjoy a hosted bar with wine, beer and the famous Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

For additional information visit www. palmspringsmodernists.com.

The three featured artists are the founders of Palm Springs Modernists. Glen, Terry and Craig are all from Palm Springs and their collective art showcases how the modernist environment truly influenced their work and their lives. “The three of us grew up together and have deep roots in all that is Palm Springs. We are immersed in the modernist aesthetic and lifestyle from a young age, which of course informs our own

SHOUT

by Glen Wexler

individual art,”explains Wexler, son of Palm Springs architectural icon, Donald Wexler.

Glen, an internationally known photographer, is known for pushing the boundaries of the photographic medium to create fantastical scenes that look real.

His artwork is exhibited worldwide and has appeared on 300 album covers. He has created images for legendary musicians including Michael Jackson, Yes, Rush, Black Sabbath, Van Halen and ZZ Top. Wexler credits his father’s design influence for his architectural approach to constructing images.

Terry Masters continues to reside in Palm Springs. He is a prolific award-winning painter of the Coachella Valley. Terry, who paints in the tradition of the French Impressionists and early California painters, is a member of the California Art Club and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Of his many accomplishments, Terry’s greatest satisfaction came when his peers awarded him the “Artists Choice” award at Telluride.

Craig Deman creates photographs that focus on cultural artifacts defining American life since the middle of the 20th century.

Craig’s works have been exhibited at: Morris Museum of Art, Augusta Georgia; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, California; Palazzo della Provincia di Frosinone, Frosinone, Italy; Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, California; Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, California; Times Square in New York and the Artists Gallery, Santa Monica, California.

The Art Show is sponsored by SBEMP Attorneys of Palm Springs and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

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83 performances on Broadway and 7 Tony Award nominations should be enough to indicate that a stage play/ musical is pretty good. But this show went beyond expectation. “Baby, the musical,” with book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr, currently in production at the Coachella Valley Repertory in Rancho Mirage, once more shines a spot light on why CV Rep is a top notch theater. Baby, is funny, poignant, engaging and an all around example of theater at its best.

Baby, the musical, first ran on Broadway from 1983 to 1984. Updated versions were written in 2004 and 2010. Though not the classic song and dance musical, Baby, takes a more human and realistic approach on a subject that millions around the world face on a daily basis… having a baby. It’s the story of 3 couples, which find their lives focused on the life-changing event called parenthood.

Lizzie, beautifully performed by Melody Hollis, and her live in boyfriend, Danny, (Caleb Horst) are young college students just on the verge of discovering who they are and what direction their lives will take, when an unplanned pregnancy forces them to reevaluate all future plans. Pam, portrayed by the very talented Erica Hanrahan-Ball and her husband Nick, Perry Ojeda, whose singing voice I found to be wonderfully deep and resonating, have been plagued by ongoing fertility problems. These two actors have such wonderful chemistry and their characters manage to show that love and devotion can keep a marriage stable through the darkest of storms. Their heartfelt efforts brought a real sense of honestly to this show. The third couple, Arlene and Alan, portrayed by wonderful performers, Janna Cardia and Tom Andrew, is perhaps the most empathetic duo. Celebrating their Anniversary and their adjustment to an empty nest after all three of their daughters having grown and moved out, they find themselves faced with the most unexpected of circumstances, Arlene is pregnant at 43 and they come to realize that after all of these years of marriage their entire relationship had been based on their roles as parents.

A meeting of the 3 women in a doctor’s office and discuss their anticipated pregnancies and weigh out how it will impact their lives. Their joint performance of “I want it all,” perfectly captured the sentiment that many women face with wanting to be mothers and successful in their own right. While “Fatherhood Blues” had me smiling at the diverse ways the potential dads were depicting the changes that children brought to their lives.

This show is will definitely bring a smile and perhaps a tear. The joy and drama of the cycle of life makes for a very heartfelt night of entertainment. Given the profound impact of children on a couple’s life I wish that the script had explored just a bit deeper into the choice and conflict of having a child when it’s an unplanned event, rather than so quickly

Photos Courtesy of CV Rep

accepting the unexpected circumstance that they find themselves in. But this group of actors, as well as the talented ensemble cast, will keep you in your seat and looking forward to the next scene throughout the performance.

The presentation of the music by a group of very talented live musicians under the Musical Direction of Scott Storr, makes this production even more special. I Loved Ron Celona’s staging.

While setting each couple in their own ‘home’, his skill of mixing and matching settings without there ever being a feeling of redundancy, opened up this show to a feeling of being presented on a larger stage. Jimmy Cuomo’s Set Design and Moira Wilkie Whitaker’s lighting made this show an unequivocal success.

This musical is not intended for small children. But anyone over the age of 16 should really appreciate the wonderful music, the stellar performances and the humanness of this story.

“Baby,” is in production at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre located at 69930 Highway 111, Suite 116, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 through February 12th.

For Reservations: call 760-296-2966, or visit www.cvrep.org Dee Jae Cox is a playwright, director and producer. She is the Cofounder and Artistic Director for The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. californiawoman411.com.

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY EVENTS MONTH IN PALM SPRINGS

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ebruary is Black History Month in the City of Palm Springs and the entire community is invited to participate in a host of fun and educational events planned by the City’s Black History Month Committee.

Here is a list of FREE events coming up: • Black History Month Art Opening and Reception: “Intertwining the Fabric of Generations: The Quilt Work of Artist Faith Ringold, 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Way. Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Skype conversation with the artist at the museum.

• Black History Month Awards Gala, 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Hilton Palm Springs.

400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. • Inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Excellence in Art” Student Art Exhibit Runs through Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Palm Springs Public Library, 300 S. Sunrise Way. • Adult Basketball Tournament, Saturday, Feb. 11. James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 Tramview Road.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PALM SPRINGS ANNOUNCES ITS

• Performance by poet Douglas Kearney, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at the Palm Springs Art Museum • 30th Annual Black History Parade and Town Fair, parade is Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. along Palm Canyon Drive. Town Fair runs noon to 6 p.m. in Frances Stevens Park on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road.

For more information about events, visit www.PalmSpringsBlackHistory.org

COMMUNITY

2017 YOUTH OF THE YEAR: ENSURING GREAT FUTURES RECIPIENT

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oys & Girls Club of Palm Springs is pleased announce Palm Springs High School senior Gabriel Gustavson as its Youth of the Year.

The Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs’ premier way of recognizing one exceptional member for serving the Club and community, demonstrating academic success, exhibiting strong moral character and working toward future goals. To be eligible for this recognition, candidates must have been a member of the Club for two years, an affiliate of the Keystone Club and a senior in high school before submitting the application and delivering a speech to the four judges for evaluation.

“Gabe is definitely on the path to becoming someone great and it amazes me what he has accomplished, as well as the obstacles he has overcome,” said Board President Adam Gilbert, who is an alumni of Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs and also was Youth of the Year in 2003.

“I am so proud of the spectacular young adult he has become and it truly showcases how great futures start right here at our Club.”

Gustavson, born in Lima, Peru, has been attending the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs since he was 8 years old. He has been President of the Keystone leadership program, volunteered over 515 hours at the Club since 2015, and volunteers at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter as well. His motto in life is “Excuses are imaginary because there is always something you can do.” While he was accepted to multiple collages, he plans on attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study Aerospace Engineering.

Gustavson will receive a scholarship in the amount of $30,000 from the Bremer Foundation, who have generously provided this scholarship for three years. In addition, energy conservation

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firm Empower Efficiency generously donated several laptop computers that were distributed to the four candidates who applied for Youth of the Year.

Gustavson will be recognized at the Club’s annual gala on March 9, from 6 to 9 pm at the Hilton Palm Springs. All proceeds from this event go directly to Ensuring Great Futures Start Here.

In addition, Terry Tatum will be recognized for his dedication to the youth during his four years as President of Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs.

The gala also will honor the Rotary Palm Springs and the Ritz-Carlton Palm Springs as the Club’s “Community Angels.”

The event will be emceed by former Palm Springs Mayor Will Kleindienst and is sponsored

by Pacific Premier Bank and Merrill Lynch.

Tickets are $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, visit classy.org/palmsprings/events/boys-girls-club-palm-springsgala-ensuring-great-futures/e84343. For more info, call Andrea Madrigal at 760-327-1304 ext.

301 or visit www.bgcps.org.

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EVENTS PAUL RODGERS SLATED TO ROCK FANTASY SPRINGS SATURDAY, MARCH 25

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usicians and critics all over the world have dubbed Paul Rodgers “The Voice”. He led the bands Bad Company, Free, and The Firm all to international success in addition to creating a successful solo career. He is undeniably one of music’s most distinctive vocalists with some of rock’s greatest hits and he’s bringing his immense talents to The Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Saturday, March 25th.

Paul Rodgers first shot up the international radio charts and onto the music scene in 1970 with his rock anthem “All Right Now” with Free. At the time, Free and Led Zeppelin were the biggest grossing British acts. Free released four top five albums and were the leaders of the British blues rock invasion. Their unusual combination of blues, ballads and rock won them worldwide praise and an international following that continues today.

Following the success of Free, Paul Rodgers founded the supergroup Bad Company in 1973, writing and singing smash hits like Grammynominated “Feel Like Making Love,” “Can’t Get Enough” and “Shooting Star.” “Bad Company took off,” recalls Rodgers. “When we started our first U.S. tour, the album was number 99 on the charts. Two months later it hit number one.” Bad Company earned six multi- platinum albums and 10 from 6, the group’s greatest hits compilation, remains a top seller.

For his third act, Rodgers teamed up with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in 1984 to form

BACKSTAGE JAZZ

BY PATTE PURCELL

JAZZ AT THE MANSION – A 420 FRIENDLY PARTY

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the supergroup The Firm. Both Firm world tours were top grossing tours and their albums The Firm and Mean Business enjoyed international success producing the hits “Radioactive,” “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “All The King’s Horses.”

As a Grammy nominated solo artist, Paul Rodgers has worked with Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Charlie Watts and blues great Buddy Guy to name a few. He’s a tireless musician and entertainer and is looking forward to bringing it all to his fans in the Coachella Valley.

Tickets for the Paul Rodgers performance at 8pm on Saturday, March 25, 2017 are on sale now for $79, $59, and $49 at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, via telephone (800) 827-2946 or online at FantasySpringsResort.com.

February 2 to February 8, 2017

hat a buzz! Jazz at the Mansion delivered the first phenomenal 420 party of the year at a stunning contemporary mansion in Palm Springs. Presented by Atomic Budz/ NestEggg we hosted a beautifully diverse crowd of desert goers. The guests lounged, viewed, sipped and supped on tastings of Alien Tequila (Silver, Reposado, and Anejo), wine tastings by Doray Wiggins of Direct Cellars Wine Club, and delicious blood orange cocktails by Heritage and Crater Lake ginger vodka and hazelnut espresso vodka.

The appetizers, which were stunningly displayed, including mini sliders of pork belly that had the whole party talking, were provided by our sponsor The Shop Cafe.

Guests were limo shuttled from parking to the home and back by Palm Springs Limousine.

The biggest buzz of the party was the 420 aspect. Our sponsors delighted the guests with swag bags of gifts.

Atomic Budz/NestEggg gave away numerous items including full bottles of CBD oil. Compassionate Delivery known for their custom edibles gave away swag bags of delicious cookies, cupcakes and other 420 candies.

420 Kitchen gave away a collection of candies, cookies, and chocolates.

We also want to thank Coachella Valley Weekly for their continued sponsorship support.

PHOTOS BY MARCO NAJERA

The sunset soiree started at 4:20 with some beautiful Brazilian and Latin jazz guitar by the talented Alex Santana.

Hans Zermuehlen on grand piano with Greg Vail on sax, Andrew Ford on bass and Mark Gagliano on percussion, performed some smooth jazz tunes. Willy Bradley (special guest) on trumpet added a great dimension. Keisha D then took the mic and opened up with “Uptown Funk” which got the audience moving and dancing.

The party and the music flowed together from the decks overlooking Palm Canyon to the upstairs disco and dance floor. The crowd was stunning, well dressed and delighted with the music. There were plenty of new friendships struck and contacts made.

Kelly McDaniel, Cat Lyn Day, Kevin Miller and Ralph Dudley each added there special brand of vocals and some duets to the mix.

Ronnie King (Platinum producer and piano virtuoso) was a special surprise guest.

He performed some jazz fusion with the band and got a standing ovation.

The comments from the sponsors and guests have been overwhelmingly ecstatic.

So we’ve moved ahead and booked our next Jazz at the Mansion a 420 friendly party for Sunday Feb. 26, from 4:20 to 7:30 pm.

Details to follow. If you’d like to get on the list, text your email and name to 1-702-2196777.

Patte Purcell - Muze Muzic pattepurcell@yahoo.com 1-702-219-6777

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

CONSIDER THIS

SON OF THE VELVET RAT “

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here’s something about the soul of a song that you can’t control/It might want to kill you tonight it might want to be your friend, and if it’s a dream it might come true in the end.”

That’s Son Of the Velvet Rat, breaking down the mysterious art of songwriting on the track “Copper Hill” from their newest album, Dorado.

Georg Altziebler picked up the guitar at an early age. Growing up in Austria, he absorbed a plethora of music styles. Equally captivated by the dark chansons of Jaques Brel and George Brassens as he was energized by ‘60s Garage Rock and ‘70s Punk. Another major influence was Dead Moon. An Indie band from Portland, Oregon, that flew under the radar from 1987 until 2004. Their sound, a brooding combo-platter of Country and Punk.

Georg honed his chops in bands like Pure Laine and Bloom 05, it was around this time that he crossed paths with artist Heike Binder and the two connected and began a relationship. In 2003 he struck out on his own, musically speaking. Making records under the sobriquet Son Of the Velvet Rat, Georg hoped the name would be both memorable and mysterious, defying expectations.

Initially, he teamed with bassist Albtrecht Klinger and drummer Michael Willmann.

Despite having no formal musical training, Heike soon joined them on stage adding accordion and keys, as well as plaintive backing vocals.

Their debut, By My Side arrived in 2003, and for the next decade their output was prodigious. The albums came at a furious clip; Playground and Loss & Love in ’06 and ’07, Animals and Monkey Years in 2009 and ’10, Red Chamber Music and Fire Dancer in 2011 and 2013. In between those two, they slipped in Reaper, a collection of favorite cover songs.

Each effort was critically acclaimed, even artists they admired were singing their praises. Americana Folk-laureate Lucinda Williams caught a Velvet Rat set at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles and raved about their sound to anyone that would listen.

The same year Fire Dancer was released

WESTFIELD MALL 72840 Hwy 111 #171 Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-2017 www.recordalley.com

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“DORADO” (FLUFF & GRAVY RECORDS)

Georg and Heike decided to put down roots in America and settled in Joshua Tree.

Like Laurel Canyon in the ‘60s, the high desert town, set on the edge of a National Monument, offers inexpensive rent, as well as isolation and insulation from the crushing sprawl of Los Angeles.

Musicians have sequestered themselves there for half a century. Pioneers like Donovan, Gram Parsons and Eric Burdon were supplanted by Victoria Williams, Mark Olson, Teddy Quinn and Fred Drake. Like Bloomsbury at the turn of the 20th century, or Paris in the Roaring ‘20s, Joshua Tree has become a self-contained community, an enclave for artists and musicians. SOtVR quickly found a home. After a couple of years of touring and woodshedding, Georg and Heike have just released their eighth studio recording, Dorado.

The opening two tracks, “Carry On” and “Copper Hill” set the sepia-tinged tone.

Hushed and hesitant, “Carry…” is propelled by brushed, trap-kit percussion, yearning melodica and Georg’s rough-hewn vocals.

Churchy organ notes and poignant violin flourishes underscore this restless farewell.

Oblique lyrics allude to the end of an era; “Summer’s gone, without a reason, or maybe not, I just don’t know/Tell myself, Fall’s just a season, and not some strange kind of letting go.”

The aforementioned “Copper Hill,” is shrouded in New Orleans-style funeral crepe. A silvery harmonica coils around the meandering melody like smoke from a smoldering cigarette. Taking a cue from Smokey Robinson’s “Tears Of A Clown,” Georg understands the value of smiling in the face of adversity; “You may say I’m a coward, but I think of myself as a clown/ If I make people laugh, maybe they won’t let me down.” His logic is buttressed by woozy horns and stately piano.

There is a novelistic approach to Georg’s songwriting that recalls the cinematic language employed by authors like John Fante, Nathanael West and James M. Cain.

(What’s even more impressive is Georg sets

his stories to music, and, um, English is his second language). Both “Starlite Motel” and “Tiger Honey” unspool vivid yarns of intrigue and noir.

“Starlite…” hits the ground running, like an action packed B-Movie Thriller. High lonesome harmonica collides with Spaghetti Western guitar and a hell-for-leather backbeat. A few well-turned phrases, “Throw my gun in the dumpster and get out of here, I’m going to slip away, going to disappear,” set the scene. A Hi-Desert homicide forces the song’s protagonist to head to an L.A. hideout.

“Tiger Honey” opens with walking bass lines and sonorous church bells. Layers of piano and prickly pedal steel wash over the shuffling melody. The lyrics sketch a portrait of an archetypal femme-fatale; “She’ll hide in the blind spot of your memory, she’ll dance on the pages of the book you read.”

Three tracks concentrate on seduction and affairs of the heart. “Love’s The Devil’s Foe” employs a sweet and supple melody that’s anchored by a hypnotic guitar figure, wheezy Hammond B3 and a hiccupping rhythm. Love outsmarts evil, simply by co-existing. “Devil don’t you leave we don’t mind you around when we play Adam & Eve/Don’t want to offend you, but I know in the end we’re going to make you believe.”

The propulsive “Blood Red Shoes” features the always welcome backing vocals of HiDesert doyenne Victoria Williams. (Which begs the question when will be Victoria finish a new album, it’s been 15 years since her last effort). Sly and seductive, “…Shoes” blends shuddery guitars, a kick-drum beat plangent

piano and fluttery trombone fills. Vic nearly steals the show but Georg has the last word with this come-hither couplet: “I got nowhere to go if I can’t be where you are.”

Finally, on “Shadow Song” things get physical; “Skin to skin and bone to bone.” An ominous chord flickers under tinkling sleigh bells and a tick-tock beat. Ascending violin notes bend around flange-y, Psychedelic guitar and Gospel-tinged piano.

In an album full of wonderful songs, the two stand-out tracks are “Surfer Joe” and “Sweet Angela.” The former is a tribal chacha-cha that’s nearly irresistible. Electric guitar riffs are salted into a mix of acoustic arpeggios, rattlesnake-shake percussion and roiling bass lines. Peppery trombone fills gives the song a Crescent City patina, as lyrics offer a cryptic encomium to an enigmatic surfer-shaman.

On the latter, Georg’s tender croon is equal parts woodsmoke and honey, as he glimpses a lost love, or perhaps an old friend while watching a demonstration on the news.

“The remote is out of reach, I’m getting weary, my eyes are drifting from the screen/ But then I see a pretty face in the commotion, seems like every riot needs a queen.” Guitar and piano lock into a graceful pas de deux, accentuating this wistful tableau.

The album closes with a return trip to Los Angeles on “Franklin Avenue.” Namechecking the major L.A. artery that runs parallel with Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, this existential Blues is a bit of a pentimento, grafting new images on to existing scenes.

It offers a contemplative end to an amazing record.

Dorado was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Joe Henry, who has worked with Solomon Burke, Ani DiFranco, Bonnie Raitt, Loudon Wainwright, III, and Aimee Mann, just to name a few. (He’s also an amazing musician in his own right). Joe corralled L.A. stalwarts like drummer Jay Bellarose, bassist David Piltch, guitarist Adam Levy and Patrick Warren on Keys.

In turn, SOtVR recruited desert pals like guitarist Gar Robertson, Bob Furgo on violin, Scott Kisinger on trombone, Kelly Corbin on clarinet and saxophone, along with Miriam Bichler and Faith Chinnock adding backing vocals.

This record is Son of the Velvet Rat’s most assured effort to date. In the tradition of artists like Bob Dylan and the late Leonard Cohen, lyrics are gruff, dense and poetic.

There’s a jigsaw intricacy to the melodies that pivot between shadow and light. Deeper nuances and richer textures are revealed through repeated listening.

From the cobblestones of Vienna to the arid sonic landscapes of Mojave Desert, SOtVR’s music seems to soak up their surroundings. Dorado is truly the first great album of 2017.

ART SCENE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 2 to February 8, 2017

BY REBECCA PIKUS

“WHAT IS ABSTRACT ART?”

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bstract Art is a painting or sculpture that does not depict a person, place, or thing in the natural world -- it is non-representational and non-literal. It is a symbolic reality, as depicted in such mediums as ancient rock paintings, and textile & pottery designs. In abstract art the colors provoke strong emotions. Brushstrokes, texture, scale, musical references, symbolic reality leave only the essence of the piece. This genre of art uses a visual language of shape, form, color, and line to create a composition which exists with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. In many ways, abstract artists are true poets; they represent images that are not visually literal or figurative -- such as emotion, sound, and spiritual experience. Abstract artists include Kandinsky, Carra, Boccioni, Malevich, Pollock, & Rothko.

Rebecca Fine Art Gallery is featuring several of the finest living abstract artists in the current Exhibit “Masters of Abstract Art” -- Joe Novak, Mario Pikus, Robert Tahar, and Donald Spencer.

Joe Novak’s focus throughout his career has been the exploration of color and light through abstraction. He is the original creator of color field theory. He paints large monochromatic color field canvases with tonal gradations and soft edges that infuse them with a meditative quality & a sense of movement. The art critic Peter Frank has written of his work: “One step

beyond Rothko’s, Novak’s paintings gently force the eye to breathe color.” Joe Novak has exhibited in many galleries throughout the United States. In addition, his numerous museum collections include Berkeley Art Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Palm Springs Art Museum, & New Mexico Museum of Art. Mario Pikus, Argentine painter & sculptor, won his first art award at 8 yrs. old. At age 20, he traveled to New York to meet cubist sculptor Jacques Lipschitz, who became his mentor - he believed Mario to be an artistic genius and that he was the reincarnation of Chaim Soutine.

Pikus has won many awards including Best of Show at Palm Springs Art Museum’s ACE exhibit, and Palm Springs Annual Juried Show. In 20142016 his 2 magnificent horse sculptures were exhibited in the El Paseo Sculpture Gardens.

He has exhibited in NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs - as well as museum shows in Judah Magnes Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum, and Cabot Museum.

Robert Tahar, a French artist, is a painter and a world traveler. In France he was a music publisher & producer. He later traveled to Asia, India, the North Pole, Scandanavia, Argentina, Africa, Thailand, China, & Tibet. He is completely passionate about his art, and becomes mesmerized, and goes into a trancelike state, painting round the clock until a canvas

Robert Tahar - Shakti

is finished. The “wave” and the convergence of 2 points are the essence of each canvas. His art is “sublime” and he endeavors to bring beauty, harmony, and spirituality to the world through his art.

Donald Spencer, originally from Ohio, is an artist who merges classic painting and printmaking techniques to produce works of extraordinary depth, subtly, richness of color and striking luminosity. Early in his art career he was invited to study and paint at the Whitney Museum in NYC. He held a teaching position in the New York Fine Arts Program. He also built and operated numerous cultural Foundations.

His work has been described as ethereal, spiritual, and mesmerizing.

Also on exhibit is the latest magnificent sculpture by Robert Reeves - “Homage to Mapplethorpe” after his Lily series, and his

HEATHER JAMES FINE ART CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

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ecognized for showcasing museumgrade art and never-before-seen artworks, Heather James Fine Art is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The gallery offers a rare look into art history’s past and present featuring a wide breadth of genres including Impressionist, Modern, Post-War, Contemporary, American, Latin American, and Old Master art. This month they debut three exciting new exhibitions including an Andrew Wyeth Family exhibition of artwork by the many family members and descendants of N.C. Wyeth, spanning three generations; a Latin American Group Show featuring a multi-generational exhibition of artworks; and an Abstract Expressionist Group Show highlighting the women of Abstract Expressionism alongside their male counterparts.

The original gallery opened as Heather James Art & Antiquities, and transitioned to Heather James Fine Art in 2008, when they relocated to the now 8,000 square foot gallery at the corner of Portola Avenue and Highway 111 in Palm Desert. They uniquely showcase blue chip and cutting-edge contemporary art, while maintaining a respect for the integrity of antiquity and classical masterpieces.

While husband and wife owners, James Carona and Heather Sacre, had studied art and held art degrees, neither were working in the field when they decided to open the original 1,500 square foot antiquities gallery

on El Paseo. Sacre was an elementary school teacher and Carona was a former investment banker teaching Tae Kwon Do through his karate school. The two were well-versed travelers who had collected rare and exclusive artworks over the years from locations across the world that they brought to the space.

“We made a decision to do what we love and that included a collaboration of art, learning, teaching, history, art history, and traveling,” says Sacre. “The gallery was a way to incorporate all of those things into a lifestyle, and we have found it amazingly satisfying to impart what we know to clients, staff, and the greater community as a whole.”

“It has been an extremely rewarding venture to focus on our passion and to have developed deep friendships with some of

iconic sculpture “Bolero”. Reeves started out as an architect, then city planner, then fine artist.

His education includes a Fulbright Fellowship, a B.A. in Architectural Sciences, and a Masters of Architecture, “Masters of Abstract Art” Exhibit through March 31, 2017 - REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY, 68895 Perez Rd, #7, Cathedral City, Ca (760) 534-5888 - Rebeccafineart.net - Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sun. 11AM-4PM or by Appt.

“Artists Reception - Zoe Ann Fischer”, SAT. Feb. 4, 5-8PM - REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY Open Bar, Music, Great Art

Donald Spencer - Pow Wow

BY CHRIS CLEMENS

the collectors who have graciously provided rare and never-before-seen works for loan in our exhibitions,” added Carona. “In addition, it has been gratifying to have our local community members visit us to view distinguished exhibitions and masterpieces for purchase.”

Recognized for consistently curating extraordinary exhibitions, over the years the gallery has also featured the incredible artworks of Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Ai Weiwei, and Fernando Botero, among many others.

Notable artworks that have been sold through the gallery include paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, several Monet paintings, a masterpiece

by Henri Matisse (which achieved the highest price ever paid at auction), cubist Picasso

EVENTS

paintings, a Paul Cezanne still life, and a Frida Kahlo self-portrait.

With the couple’s passion and the success of the Palm Desert Gallery, they opened a second gallery in 2010 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The 4,000 square foot gallery has been a leader in bringing masterpieces by artists from a wide range of genres to the small town, traditionally known for Western art.

Heather James Fine Art is located at 45188 Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sunday.

For more information, please visit www. heatherjames.com, contact James Carona at jim@heatherjames.com, or call the gallery at 760-346-8926.

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY JANET McAFEE

SAVING THE CATS WITH TNR

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ou might see these lovely feline creatures sunning themselves in vacant fields or spot groups of them scurrying through restaurant parking lots. They might include mother cats with adorable kittens, wide eyed and frightened at the sight of humans. They are the feral cats, also known as “community cats” living without human custodians, but carving out a life bonded to their respective group.

While their lifespan is shorter than house cats, they live in colonies enjoying the great outdoors and the company of their fellow felines.

Some are abandoned pets, while others were born in the wild. One pair of breeding cats producing two or more litters a year can produce 420,000 offspring over a seven year span. The cat overpopulation problem carries a hefty price tag statewide in California with over $50 million tax dollars spent by animal control and shelters for cat related expenses.

Often unsocialized, these community cats are doomed to be euthanized if taken to a public shelter by animal control or citizens who ignorantly bring the there.

Without a foster home, underage puppies and kittens (under 8 weeks old) are routinely euthanized in public shelters. Shelters don’t have the staff to provide the 24-hour care

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they require. Unwanted felines crowd public shelters and 80% of them will not make it out alive.

TNR is the amazing program with a solution to the cat crisis. Standing for TRAP/ NEUTER/RETURN, it proposes a solution that is humane for the animals and saves tax dollar funding for animal control services.

A well-managed TNR program traps cats living in outdoor colonies or groups, neuters and spays them, and then returns them to their territory where caretakers provide them with food. While the cats are under anesthesia, their left ear is “tipped” to make it easy to identify them as “fixed”.

On the weekend of January 27, an amazing coalition of local organizations and individual cat lovers came together and conducted a massive TNR in Indio.

Coordinated by Mary Ewing of Loving All Animals, a group of dedicated women cat trappers worked alongside 25 Indio High School students to successfully capture, sterilize, vaccinate, and return 84 cats to their respective locations. SNIP parked their mobile spay and neuter vehicle on the campus, and the cats recovered in a nearby classroom. The SNIP vehicle reached full capacity when 50 captured cats were brought in. The Palm Springs Animal Shelter came to the rescue, sterilizing an additional 34 animals.

Mamie Powell, Agriculture teacher at the high school, was eager to have her students participate. The students are enrolled in the Animal Services career pathway.

Mrs. Powell describes the weekend, “The students checked in the traps the first night, distributing them to the trappers who went out into the community to trap. When they were returned with cats inside, the students set them up with food, water, and litter boxes. The students returned the next morning to transport the cats for scheduled appointments in the mobile spay unit. They got to watch the veterinary teams perform surgeries, a fantastic learning experience.”

Cat trapper Lauren Blachley reports, “It

was after dark when we went out to the neighborhoods where the cats congregate.

We trapped some who already had clipped ears, and they were let go. It’s inhumane to take these animals to the shelter where they will certainly be euthanized. A TNR program is the best way to solve this problem.” This dedicated network of women share a love for animals and are determined to make a difference for them.

HERE’S DOLLY She’s an absolute doll, 7 pounds of lively cuteness.

1-yr-old Dolly loves her humans, an alpha girl who does well with medium size dogs. Rescued by www.lovingallanimals.org, contact (760) 834-7000.

MEET PERRI This handsome 9-yr-old Himalayan blue point boy was rescued from the shelter by www.ForeverMeow.org.

To adopt this fabulous, loving feline call (760) 335-6767.

A Facebook page “TNR Coachella Valley” chronicles the activities of our local cat trappers. If you are interested in helping with TNR, contact Mary Ewing at Loving All Animals at (760) 834-7000. To donate funds for the TNR spay and neuter effort, go to www.lovingallanimals.org and designate “Whiskers & Purrs, TNR” as the reason for your donation.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THE VINO VOICE

February 2 to February 8, 2017

BY RICK RIOZZA

VERONA VINTNERS REVEL IN TRENDING WINES

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iao! Tutti! Greetings everyone!

Last time we covered with a broad brush, the red comforting wines of winter. And as fast as the wintertime season here in the desert treks, it may well behoove us to get our bellies full with some new and diverse red wines that are produced around the world.

Let me tell you right off, I simply love your exuberance to try and experience new and different wines, apart from the usual Cabs, Pinot Noirs and Merlots which we can always find in our wine bins.

Of course, for you lively wine enthusiasts, you probably know already what’s hot in the red wine world: the Italian “Ripasso” and “Appasimento” wines. And while we’re at it, let’s just lay out all of the related wine names and styles that revolve around this “trending” wine that all come from the area of Verona: Amarone Classico, Ripasso, Valpolicella Classico Superiore and Recioto della Valpolicella. Don’t get alarmed, this all simplifies by the end of the article.

Let’s get you comfortably situated so when you come across these terms at restaurants, wine stores, and in magazines, you’ll be ahead in the wine game.

For those who’ve never enjoyed an Amarone wine, a bit of heaven does indeed await you. Or, if you’ve not delighted in a bottle lately, hopefully treats are on the way. The full name of this Italian wine is: Amarone della Valpolicella; an Italian red wine that is dry, but enchantingly provides illusions of sweetness. The irony goes on by the fact that “amarone” [ah-mah-ROH-nay] translates to “(the) grand bitter”. So what is it? Sweet? Bitter? Fruity?—well, we’ll get to the fruity in a moment.

What adds to the romance in the production of this wine (apart from its vineyard home in Verona, where Romeo & Julietta traipsed passionate) is the unique style where the newly harvested grapes are laid upon straw mats in a wine cellar room and left alone well into the winter months in this semi-drying process known

as “apassimento”.

This withering gives the grapes a thickness where the natural sugars are concentrated providing complexity but not an enhanced sweetness (the concentrated sugars will turn to alcohol). This shoots the sensual nature of the juice to the stratosphere—flavors, aromas, texture.

And to boot, the wine is aged in casks for no less than six years, creating a stable longlasting structure and making it one of the longest-living wines in the world.

Okay—so that generally is how the world class wine Amarone is made: a stunning wine with aromas and flavors of bitter chocolate, cherries, coffee, dates, dried fruit & flowers, leather, licorice, plums, raisins, tobacco, spices & smoke. It’s a definite “bucket list wine” that every vino lover must taste, consider & contemplate, and hopefully appreciate & enjoy! Cheers to that!

Changing gears a bit, let’s discuss Valpolicella [VAHL-pohl-ee-CHEHL-ah].

This actually has always been a “mystery” wine for even those in the know. That’s because it’s an area (as I mentioned— around Verona), and, it is a blended red.

For you wine geeks, it’s made from grapes with thick skins: the Corvina grape up to 40 to 70 percent of the mix, with Rondinella 20 to 40 percent and Molinara 5 to 25 percent. Up to 15 percent of the blend can include Barbera, Sangiovese, or Negrara, while up to 5 percent can come from other red grapes! I guess one can see where the “furtiveness” plays in. But it’s the wide world of wine—and isn’t it fun!

For you vino lovers, Valpolicella can be a fresh lively light to medium-bodied wine with bright notes of red cherries, strawberries, floral, ripe red plums and light spices. And this wine is the quintessential example of a ruby colored red wine. Pour a glass and raise it to the light—looks like a bowl-full of rubies!

Definitely serve this at a jewelry store wine tasting; or more mundanely, simply

sip it while listening to that Kenny Rogers country rock tune: Ruby—Don’t Take Your Love to Town.

So having an almost port-like fabulous full-bodied wine, Amarone, and, the light and easy Valpolicella, the Veronese desired a wine to bridge these dynamically different wines.

Enter now our spiel on Ripasso. Even for those who deign dyslexic whenever a foreign word is close by, we can all figure out that ripasso means “passing through again”. And that’s the technique: fermented Valpolicella is passed through the semi-dried pressed grape skins from the Amarone production and fermented

again. This process can produce both a sweet wine: Recioto, and, a dry version, Ripasso. And when you see “Superiore” on the labels, it simply means a wine with a bit more aging and over 12% alcohol.

Ripasso-style wines offer a convenient and affordable alternative to Amarone.

Ripasso wines are rich, full-bodied and share some of the same aroma and flavor profiles as Amarone wines, just less so.

Tommasi family is certainly one of the most renowned ambassadors in the world of Amarone Classico, “Ripasso method” and the Appassimento technique of drying the grapes. I’ve always enjoyed the line-up and portfolio of wines from this producer. They have the utmost integrity in wine making historically since 1902, and their product is always impressive, elegant, and absolutely tasty!

Recently, wine critic James Suckling went absolutely ga-ga over the 2013 Tommasi, Ripasso Valpolicell (about $20).

“90 points!—a red with dried-berry, cedar, flower and almond aromas and flavors.

Medium body, lovely fruit and a flavorful finish. Drink now”.

We’ll drink to that!—Saluté

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THUR FEBRUARY 2

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Trio w/ Francesca Amari, Bill Marx and Doug MacDonald 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 Symara Stone 6:30pm THE CONGO ROOM; PS; 760-322-7353 Karaoke 7pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 The Bill Baker Show 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Barry Baughn and Bob Gross 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Punk Rock Night 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 TBA 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Rob Staley 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Courtney Chambers 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Professor Colombo 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Right On Right On, Upper Class Poverty and The After Lashes 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm STUFT PIZZA; PD; 760-777-9989 Acoustic Live w/ TBA 6pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Anthony DiGerlando Show 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Robert Salisbury 5-6pm, Carolyn Martinez Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Derek Jordan Gregg 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Linda Peterson Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

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FRI FEBRUARY 3

19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Kristine Wriding 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Emby Alexander 10pm, DJ Guilty Pleasures 11pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Gilmore Rizzo and Mark Kahny 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Friday Night Sour Hour w/ Pink Lemonade Drag Show 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Porsia Camille, RowLow, Annachristie, Human, Giselle Woo, Mike Lavish, DJ Amavida and DJ Sugarfree 9pm THE BEER HUNTER; LQ; 760-564-7442 212 Band 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Barflys 9pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke 9pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ Double A 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATHEDRAL CANYON GOLF CLUB;C.C.; 760-328-6571 Coachella Valley All Stars 6-9pm CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 7pm THE CONGO ROOM; PS; 760-322-7353 Guzman Jr. 7pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 The Bill Baker Show 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Gina Carey 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Myx 8:30pm THE HARD ROCK; PS; 760-325-9676 Esjay Jones Presents The Hard Rock Acoustic Sessions w/ Courtney Chambers, The Amin El Collective and Giselle Woo & The Night Owls 8pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo Party 8pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 The BB Road Show 8pm

LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 Slim Man 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Circle of Fifths 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MITCH’S ON EL PASEO; PD; 760-779-9200 Michael Keeth 12-3pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Roadrunners 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Walcotts 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Dina Martina “Of The Charts!” 8pm RANCHO LAS PALMAS; RM Hotwyre 5:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 The Deep Ones 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOLANO’S BISTRO; LQ; 760-771-6655 Michael Madden 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Lisa and The Gents 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TJ’S; PD; 760-345-6744 TBA 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet the Corwins 5:30pm, The John Stanley King Show 8pm

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 TBA 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:30THE HARD ROCK; PS; 760-325-9676 Esjay Stereoflux 9pm Jones Presents Global Lounge Sessions w/ 4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Scott Reynolds, Solo Flight Swing and David Hines 9-2am Dennis Michael 6:30pm Macias 8pm WANG’S IN THE DESERT; PS; 760-325-9264 TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 No Mouth Karaoke 8:30pm 328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm Brakes w/ Cricket 8pm, Irie Junctions and WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 TRYST; PS; 760-832-6046 TBA 10pm Mosaiq 9pm Michael Keeth 7-11pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm 5391 DJ Hektik 10pm Rob Martinez and Todd Ashley ft. Lisa LaFaro VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm Weselis 5-8:30pm Rose Mallett & Barney McClure 5pm, Kal David, INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Lauri Bono & The Real Deal 7:30pm 345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm Mallett 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar TBA 9pm Hines 9-2am KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 7pm Abie Perkins and Bert Vela 7pm LA QUINTA BREWERY;PD; 760-200-2597 WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev Robotic Humans 7pm TBA 7-11pm & Bill 6:30pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 TBA 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325Evans Jazz Brunch 10am-2pm, The Stanley ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Madame 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the Butler Band 6:30pm Gandhi and Liphemra 11am poolside, Comedy afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ Bigster 9pm w/ McQueen Adams 8pm, Highlife w/ DJ Day LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live 10pm Entertainment 5:30pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm Circle of Fifths 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm Garcia 6pm 999-1995 Pop Vinyl 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Sunset MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; Carter 7:30pm Sunsets w/ DJ Alex Pasternak 4pm 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ Sets AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111

by Rich Brandon, Cielohigh, Contraz and Albert NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke Jazz Brunch w/ Joel Baker 11am 8-1:15am Ramirez 9pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry BEATNIK LOUNGE; JT; TBA 9pm 7:30pm 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Hotwyre continue to page 22 PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3279pm 4080 Blackwater 9pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 7605566 DJ 9pm 345-0222 Off Da Cuff 6:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 6-10pm Surfer Blood and Prism Tats 9pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am Karaoke 7:30pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Tuzzolino 5:30pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 9pm Karaoke 9pm THE CONGO ROOM; PS; 760-322-7353 PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Dina Guzman Jr. 7pm Martina “Of The Charts!” 8pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 The RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Puro Or Bill Baker Show 6pm Presents: J Patron, Thr3 Strykes, Million & DATE SHED; IND; Mondo Generator, Throw the Albertini, Luthergates, DJ Amavida and DJ Ba5e Goat, Doors to Nowhere and Instigator 8pm Hundred 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm Keeth 7-10pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Blues 8-11pm Jack Ruvio 6pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 365-6633 Dana Larson & Friends 6-9pm 8-11pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK TBA 8:30pm CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929

SAT FEBRUARY 4

SUN FEBRUARY 5

15

February 2 to February 8, 2017

THE PAMPERED PALATE

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VALENTINE’S DAY AT MIRAMONTE

CULINARY OFFERINGS (THE GROVE ARTISAN KITCHEN, FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 760-341-7200)

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-Course Prix Fixe Menu at The Grove Artisan Kitchen. This mouthwatering 4-course menu starts with an aphrodisiac amuse-bouche and continues with artisan farm-to-fork dishes such as Lobster Bisque with Vanilla Foam, Arugula Parmesan Crusted Lamb, and an over-thetop Strawberry Macaroon all prepared by Executive Chef Paul Hancock . Starts at $45 p/ person.

7-Course Chef’s Table Dinner. This surprise and delight style dining experience features seven sinful courses all conceptualized and prepared by Executive Chef Paul Hancock, each one more exciting and surprising than the next. Those who want to arouse their palate can choose this option which incorporates ingredients that act as aphrodisiacs; such as caviar, truffle, saffron, and more-a perfect pairing on this day of love. Starts at $75 p/ person. Reservations must be made at least three days prior to February 14th with required credit card deposit.

Well Spa Offerings (Available MondayFriday during the month of February, contact The Well Spa to book 760.837.1652) Couple’s Massage: A sensory fullbody experience that targets the senses via therapeutic massage techniques.

Aphrodisiac aromas that target the sexes

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are incorporated throughout- blood orange notes get the guys going while scents of jasmin put ladies in the mood for love. Keep the mood going with a post-massage soak in the spa’s warm salt pool or eucalyptus steam room. 50 minutes for $330 or 80 minutes for $440 available.

Singles Paradise Ritual: A two-part treatment meant to celebrate self-love. An aphrodisiac scrub first softens and smoothes the whole body before the skillful touch of a massage therapist melts away stress with a 50 minute Swedish massage. 80 minutes $175.

Besties Ritual: Bests can give the gift of love with a spa ritual perfect for two. Start with a luxurious 50 minute facial followed by a swoon-worthy 50 minute Swedish massage paired with aphrodisiac aromas. Leave the spa feeling loved and refreshed with your partner in crime. 100 minutes for $200.

All treatments will include: Rose Water Mist with antioxidant properties that calm and promote wellbeing.

Zents Aphodisiac aromas

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

17

February 2 to February 8, 2017

SCREENERS

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

No. 250

FOUR FINE FOREIGN FLICKS TO FIND

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ot all these terrific films are playing locally, but keep an eye out for them at your neighborhood art theater and various streaming sites. Several of these titles were big hits art our just completed Palm Springs International Film Festival. If you missed them, keep looking. It’s worth the search and I promise you will not be disappointed.

TONI ERDMANN I predict this engaging, poignant and unsettling comedy drama from German filmmaker Maren Ade will win an Oscar© for best foreign language film.

Here’s the set-up. Following a short visit with his estranged daughter Ines (Sandra Hüller) and the death of the family dog, Winfried decides his daughter needs help. It goes badly.

Winfried (Peter Simonischek) is a retired schoolteacher who is long divorced from Ines’

mother. He is an inveterate practical joker and outsider. Ines, with whom he desperately wants to reconnect, is a tightly wound outsourcing consultant in Bucharest with high ambitions. Winfried feels badly when he realizes how miserable his daughter is.

So, to jolt his daughter out of her malaise, Winfried creates or rather morphs into a crazy character he calls Toni Erdmann and shows up at Ines’ office with a bad wig and fake teeth.

“Toni” tell the office workers ludicrous stories while pretending to be a “life coach” and “consultant.”

There’s tremendous tension as we wait for a showdown between an embarrassed Ines and her clownish dad. But what actually happens is something else entirely. Besides a sexually explicit moment, there’s an incongruous nude birthday party. “Is this a team bonding exercise ?” one naked corporate co-worker party guest awkwardly asks.

Joaquin makes a hole in the wall and stealthily pokes a camera through. That’s when he learns that a gang is tunneling into the bank vault on the same street. He also discovers that Berta is the main squeeze of sadistic gang leader Javi Galereto (Pablo Echarri), and she’s in on what’s going on down. At this point, Joaquin decides to take action to intercept the robbery and rescue Berta and her daughter. In an extended set piece that never lets up, the physically challenged Joaquin rises to the occasion and against impossible odds, saves the day.

THE ARDENNES The best moment for me was an unexpected music performance between father and daughter that was met with a wave of enthusiastic applause from complete strangers.

It’s quite touching to witness Ines, though not really a cold, introverted person, reconnect with her loving, not so crazy dad.

This sweet and charming movie will linger long in the memory. It’s much more than the story of the mending of an awkward fatherdaughter relationship. If there’s a theme here, it’s about how our driven corporate age can dehumanizes us and steal our souls when we lose our sense of humor. For me, this gem is among the best films of the year. Highest recommendation.

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

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Joaquin (Leonardo Sbaraglia) is a buffed out computer geek living alone in a big Buenos Aires house set amidst an overgrown garden.

Some time earlier, his wife and daughter were killed in an auto accident that left him a paralyzed from the waist down. Considering his reclusive emotional state, it’s surprising when he rents space to talky stripper Berta (Clara Lago) and her mute daughter Betty (Uma Salduende). Clearly he needs the money.

Much of Joaquin’s time is spent in his cellar tinkering with discarded computer parts. That’s when and where he overhears voices at weird hours coming through the wall. Disturbed by what he picks up with the aid of a stethoscope and audio surveillance circuits he assembles,

The movie starts after a brutal home invasion goes terribly awry. Dave, one of the two robbers, runs off with Sylvie his brother’s girlfriend, leaving his brother Kenneth behind to take the wrap. Four years later, Kenneth is released from prison. Life has changed for David and Sylvie. Dave’s life is back on track.

He and Sylvie are sober and planning a future together. He promises his mom to try and help Kenneth where and whenever possible, but quickly realizes the highly-strung Kenneth wants to win back his ex-girlfriend Sylvie. With all Dave’s efforts to make it right, everything goes wrong. Don’t miss this terrific little thriller. It delivers a knockout punch to the gut. robinesimmons@aol.com

BOOK REVIEW

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

FICTION AND RANCHO MIRAGE WRITERS FESTIVAL THE POETRY AUTHORS

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ut numbered by non-fiction authors, but nonetheless appreciated, RMWF fiction writers and poets brought color, humor, imagination and a hyper-reality to the weekend event.

At the same time Senator Barbara Boxer talked about her career, compassion and fearlessness in politics, the “Women in Fiction” panel discussed similar issues pertaining to the life of women writers.

Moderated by the colorful Patt Morrison the panel featured authors Geraldine Brooks – The Secret Chord; Karen Joy Fowler - We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves; and Lauren Groff – Fates and Furies. They discussed the differences in writing for male and female audiences, and the changing attitudes toward women authors and their characters.

Groff said that more women then men buy, read, and publish books today more than ever.

Author of City on Fire, Garth Risk Hallberg

said that he loves long books because he hates for a good story to end. His book is 944 pages! Hallberg shared that he was always an outsider in North Carolina and felt drawn to New York City. As a kid he noticed that everything he read came from New York.

After the 9/11 terror attacks, he saw New York in a vulnerable way and knew he had a story to tell. Overcome with fear that he was too young and inexperienced, he realized the fear was his call to get to work. The story takes place during the late 1970s.

Reed Farrel Coleman, author of Where it Hurts, told his personal story of being a poet and realizing, that with a wife and kids, he could never just be a poet and support his family. Going back to school at night he took a class called, “Writing the American Crime Novel” and boom! That was it! He knew what he wanted to do.

Coleman is known for his Moe Prager series and is now writing for the Robert B. Parker estate. Coleman writes the Jesse Stone series and is quick to say that he has not met Tom Selleck.

Colman revealed that the Parker estate and publisher allows him total freedom to write the stories like he wants. He says it helps that he has the same editor as the late Parker.

Witty and personable, Coleman thanked

his wife for sustaining and supporting him.

Mrs. Coleman sat in the front row. He said the best part of being a writer was that he got to be a “house dad.”

Author Carl Hiaasen was a smash as he told the giggling audience the crazy story of his latest book, Razor Girl. Hiassen and Dave Barry shared a stage the first day of the Festival. They discussed the joys and quirks of being odd Floridians.

Sunday, Hiaasen admitted that he likes pushing the literary boundaries -- and his characters -- over-the-top. He noted that one of his characters, a redneck, racist, reality TV star, came very close to the real life “Duck Dynasty” Patriarch. Hiaasen said his editor would have made him take out the character today because the crazy character too closely resembles the real guy.

Hiaasen is working on another children’s book and is not sure if the Andrew Yancy character will come back again. But, you could almost see the wheels turning in Hiaasen’s head as he said it.

Other fiction writers included author Hal Gershowitz who talked about his historical novel The Eden Legacy.

The Fateful Lightning, a novelization of the Civil War by Jeff Shaara was a popular event with history buffs, as was Robert Hick’s, pre Civil War story The Orphan Mother.

How great is it that the RMWF not only includes great fiction, but also showcases poets!

Matthew Dickman -- All-American Poem, and brother, Michael Dickman -- Green Migraine, are such different books of poetry you wouldn’t know they were identical twins. Yet, read in between the lines and you start to see the bigger picture of their lives growing up together.

Congratulations and kudos to the Fourth Annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival for having something for everybody and thank you for loving books of all kinds!

SAFETY TIPS

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

NEW ENGLAND OR ATLANTA? REGARDLESS, YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST!

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s you prepare for Super bowl festivities make sure to be a good sport and keep your ‘Safety’ front and center at all times says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Are you hosting the game in your Home Field? Be a good Quarterback and avoid a false start with unhealthy foods. Keep the ‘tight end’ looking just that ‘tight’ by adding healthy snacks to your menu instead of high fat foods, or go for that super bowl trophy by serving all healthy snacks. Let’s avoid that ‘Wide Receiver’ if possible.

Watch your ‘Safety’ as you prepare game day meals and snacks, follow food safety guidelines to prevent illness. If you’re barbequing make sure you have a fire extinguisher near and keep the grill away from combustibles.

Limit alcohol. None of us want a penalty for drinking and driving. Be a good Line Backer and take steps to make sure you and other guests avoid driving under the influence of alcohol. Be a good Center and designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins.

Never leave children unattended. Make sure your pets can handle the excitement before placing them in new or strange situations.

Don’t be the “Offensive Lineman” by being a poor sport or offending others.

People and their behavior have a tendency to change on Super Bowl Sunday. Don’t get tackled un-expectantly, keep the attitude in check and use common sense!

Have fun, be Safe and avoid any unnecessary roughage by being smart!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 17 BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Venus & WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Traps, The Kathy’s and Sunbaked 9pm Linda Peterson Jazz Brunch 10am-2pm, BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth Smooth Brothers 6pm 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi The Luminators 6pm 5:30pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio Bill Marx 6:30pm 60 3-6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Motown Mondays w/ DJ Addemup 9pm Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8pm 365-6633 Dana Larson &Friends 5-8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345- CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 5:30pm 6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 345-6466 Larry Capeloto 6pm Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Derek MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; Jordan Gregg 6-9pm 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Karaoke 8pm-1:15am 7pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry PAPPY & HARRIET›S; PT; 760-365-5956 7:30pm Open Mic 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND 4080 Sunday Night Jam Session w/ Jos Burrell COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry 7pm Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341Sunday Band 7:30pm 3560 T.B.A. 6pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Show 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm Mike Costley’s Showcase 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 The 3sum 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Chris Gore Group Pro Jam 7pm Trish Hatley and Barney McClure Jazz 6pm VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Dude Jones John Stanley King and Trio 6:30pm 9pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Scott Carter 6-8pm

MON FEBRUARY 6

TUE FEBRUARY 7

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Matt Adams of the Blank Tapes 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Linda Peterson 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm-2am BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke en Espanol 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 5:30pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 The Bill Baker Show 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6:15pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm

PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Rose Mallett 6:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Two Step Tuesdays w/ Cinch 6-10pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Douglas McDonald Duo 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Mike Costley Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Tequila Tuesdays 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Boliver Jazz 6pm

WED FEBRUARY 8

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Gregory Uhlmann 7pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Shelley Yoelin Group 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Smooth Brothers 7pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 CV Open Mic Competition Hosted By Morgan James 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm THE CONGO ROOM; PS; 760-322-7353 Jimmy Street 6pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Jack Ruvio 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 The Bill Baker Show 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533

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TBA 6pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Open Mic w/ Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic hosted by Amy Angel 6:30pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 Andy Cahan 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Live Entertainment 5:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Mikael Healey 8pm MITCH’S ON EL PASEO; PD; 760-779-9200 Michael Keeth 12-3pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes Jazz Trio 6:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6:30pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Acoustic Sessions 7pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-3271773 Mike Costley Band 6:30pm TJ’S; PD; 760-345-6744 Derek Jordan Gregg 9pm VICKY’S OF SANTE FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Barry Minniefield 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm

HADDON LIBBY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 2 to February 8, 2017

YEAR OF THE COCK

O

nly one week after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States, we say goodbye to the Year of the Monkey and ‘select’ Muslim immigrations to the United States and hello to the Year of the Cock.

Why am I mentioning the ‘select’ Muslim Ban and the Chinese New Year together? I notice similarities. For example, in that picture of Donald Trump in the column, he bears a striking resemblance to the gallinaceous bird.

Additionally, this is the Year of the Red Fire Cock and Trump has a firey orange-red glow to his hair and skin.

There are more similarities but I should first tell you why I am using the word ‘cock’ instead of ‘rooster’. As surprising as it might seem, after five years of writing this column I have never written about cocks…the closest that I have come is turkeys. I also prefer to use proper English and the word ‘rooster’ is most certainly a more xenophobic varietal of the bird’s name. Throughout history, cock has been the more common word to be used in describing this fowl around the world. It is only here in these younger and more juvenile United States that we snicker when someone says cock. We also call rubbers erasers which confuses school-aged Londoners when on holiday stateside.

It should be no surprise that a cock is polygamous. Like President Trump, cocks are territorial and need many hens to keep them

from becoming aggressive.

A cock is also known for its crowing. Some cocks crow all of the time while others are less vociferous. While most roosters have docile personalities, every now and then you run into an ornery cock.

Rude cocks can cause problems and should be separated from the rest of your flock. To avoid these anti-social behaviors, set-up social areas where the cocks can get to know each other. Otherwise, cocks take to cockfighting.

Cocks hold an important place in religion.

In Christianity, Pope Gregory thought that cocks were the “most suitable symbol of Christianity”. It was about this time that the Church began putting cocks on weathervanes over their houses of worship.

In Judism, the Talmud states that a person

is blessed if they are “given the wisdom of a cock”. The Talmud also states that if they had not been blessed by the cock, they would have had to learn from other animals like cats, ants and doves.

In Islam, the crow of a cock is supposed to mean that the bird has seen an angel. As such, followers of the faith should use this moment as a chance to pray.

Here in America, we have literally hundreds of types of cocks including the Iowa Blue, Rhode Island Red and California Gray.

In Europe, they have Long Crowers, English Games and Golden Beauties. In China, the foot of the Chinese Silkie is thought to have medicinal qualities.

Despite being called a cock and having a wattle right under its beak, a cock’s sex organs are internal and not visible to the naked eye.

Hens choose mates based on the size of their combs and wattles.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated for two weeks beginning on January 28th and marks year 4,714 on their calendar. Chinese astrologists expect that 2017 will represent a new dawn and awakening where prosperity and success are rewarded to those who work hard and have patience. Here is where I truly hope that the similarities continue with President Trump.

Haddon Libby is a Financial Advisor and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. He can be reached at 760.449.6349 or HLibby@WinslowDrake. com.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

FAQ’S: “HOW IS MY ACCIDENT CASE GOING AND HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?”

H

OW IS MY ACCIDENT CASE GOING?” This is often asked at the beginning of the case and before or while the victim is still treating. Upon signing a new accident case I give each new client my “OVERVIEW OF AN ACCIDENT CASE” that I wrote for several multipart legal columns. I explain that we initially make contact with the client’s insurance company and the defendant’s insurance company to share information. We then notify the doctor of our representation and monitor your treatment.

Of course we rely upon you to keep us updated on the status of your treatment.

After these and other initial steps there is usually little to be done until you have concluded your doctor’s treatment. Upon conclusion of your treatment we will then gather any remaining medical record and bills and be better able to evaluate and assess your claims. At that time, we can submit them to the adjuster and begin the process of advancing your claims to a successful conclusion. “

“HOW MUCH IS MY CASE WORTH?” or “HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK I MIGHT GET, JUST A ROUGH IDEA?” Many years ago the insurance company would just multiply the medical bills by 3 or 4 and offer that amount. Then they realized a bill of $5,000 for x-rays etc. is not worth as much as $5,000 of physical therapy. Today all insurance companies use a computer program called Colossus. It plugs in the injuries and bills and spits out an amount the adjuster can offer.

Because of this program it is more important than ever before to have a lawyer who focuses on accident cases to guide you and your medical providers.

An accident victim needs a doctor who specializes in Treating AND Writing a medical report. Though it does not seem right there is a difference between a doctor who says there is a 50% chance of a full recovery and saying a 50% chance the patient will not make a full recovery. For years I lectured annually to the International College of Surgeons at their annual seminar on How to Write a Medical/Legal Report.

A patient needs a doctor who does not say go home and soak in a hot bath and call in a month and to take aspirins if there is any pain. When you call in a month it takes another 2-3 weeks to get a doctor’s appointment. Thus after a few months there is very little in medical bills. Thus the insurance company argues that if the patient was really injured they would have treated on a regular basis.

When a client come into the office I explain a lawyer can no more tell you what your case is worth when s/he meets you, than a doctor can diagnose you without treatment and tests etc.

A lawyer will not even begin to evaluate your case until your treatment has concluded and we know not only what the total amount of the bills are but have the information as to what your med condition had been in the past and what it will be like in the future. Even then it is not a precise formula or process as we have to look at whether our client was partially at fault.

You are an individual and your injuries are as unique and as individual as are you.

We can only assure you that our office will obtain the maximum amount of settlement possible given the individual facts of your personal situation.

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow at 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life(Accidents) 2010-17 “TOP LAWYER”- Inland Empire Magazine Nov., 2016 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

21

February 2 to February 8, 2017

SPORTS SCENE

BY FLINT WHEELER

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

SUPER BOWL 50 PROPS: PICKING 3 WINNERS OFF THE BETTING BOARD

T

he thing that makes the Super Bowl so entertaining for sports bettors is also what makes it so profitable for sports

books.

Gamblers love proposition wagers because they provide hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to bet on the biggest game of the year.

Bookmakers love proposition wagers because many of them have a high hold percentage to increase the house’s advantage.

That’s not to say it’s a hopeless endeavor to try to profit on the props. You just have to know where to look.

After poring over the offerings at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, William Hill sports books and Station Casinos, (Currently over 400 prop bets offered) I’ve come up with 3 favorite prop bets spanning a variety of styles for Super Bowl 50. Let make some money, yes?

Super Bowl LI- First Score a Touchdown?

The betting odds that the first score of Super Bowl LI will be a touchdown have been set at -185, and the moneyline odds that the first scoring play will come on a field goal or safety have been set at +160.

The Patriots or the Falcons did not get to the Super Bowl by kicking field goals. They each boast an offense that can quickly move the ball down the field through the air, and they each have a ground game that has a proven ability to gain yards rushing the ball when necessary.

In my opinion it is going to take touchdowns to win this game, starting with the first score of the game.

The main reason I am going with the risk/ reward on the -185 moneyline in this prop is that both head coaches also know the importance of putting seven points on the board early in the game as opposed to three.

A quick touchdown gives the scoring team a huge mental edge in a very close matchup. If they have to settle for three points instead as the first score, that would actually swing the edge towards the opposing team’s defense.

Super Bowl LI- Highest Scoring Quarter?

The betting odds for this scoring prop begin at +450 for the first quarter, and they are set at

+160 for the second. Heading into the second half, the betting odds that the third quarter will have the highest total score are set at +450, and they come in at +175 for the fourth.

To be successful at picking props, you need to first have a good deal of confidence in how you see any game playing out. When it comes to this matchup, I see two heavyweights trying to feel one another out in the early rounds before they each start throwing some haymakers in the later rounds. Both of these teams have averaged well more than 30 points in each of their last several games, and I believe that they will need to match that kind of scoring total to come away with a win in this game. No matter what the current score is at any point of Super Bowl LI, neither team is going to stop trying to put points on the board until the final gun.

This kind of game scenario lends itself to a wild fourth quarter of scoring that will ultimately decide the actual outcome of Super Bowl LI. This is why I am going with the +175 odds in this prop that the fourth quarter will prove to be the highest-scoring one.

Super Bowl LI- Longest Touchdown?

This is an “over/under” game prop that has betting odds of -120 for over 50.5 yards for the longest touchdown and +100 for under 50.5 yards.

There is no doubt that New England quarterback Tom Brady is a future Hall of Famer and Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan would take a big step towards a possible trip to Canton when his playing days are over with a victory in this game. Both of these gunslingers lead a big-play offense that has the ability to score a touchdown from anywhere on the field. Both are also playing some of the best football of their career to the point that either Brady or Ryan would make an excellent choice as league MVP for their elevated play this season.

Given the fact that Brady and Ryan are the two starting quarterbacks in this game makes it rather easy to go with the over 50.5 yards as the top play in this prop since you are basically doubling your chances to win. G’Luck

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com

22

COMIC CON P.S.

BY THOMAS NOVAK

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP

A

nother Wednesday has come, and with it came another slew of new comic titles on the shelves for fans to dive into, all courtesy of their local Comic book shop! It’s a place that one would think by now should be held in a higher regard than it actually is. Let’s face it: Popular culture has made comic books “cool” to the point where these properties have inspired an onslaught of merchandise.

So the question remains: why aren’t more fans recognizing the importance of their local Comic Shop? While there is no absolute answer to that question, one can’t help to still ask...I mean these are the stores where “Geek Culture” was spawned and is still, despite the economy, thriving.

Now I realize comic shops are considered specialty stores, and no one needs their products in order to survive. However, these establishments are generally run by fans. Fans who most of the time just wanted to share their love of the product with other fans, while making a living at the same time.

Now why, in today’s digital age, should fans bother venturing out and checking out a comic shop in their area? Well, what do you have to lose? Yes, there’s the whole ‘going outside and socializing with people’ thing, but honestly: leave the house already.

No one really wants to be the person who willingly lives like “Watchmen” writer Alan Moore, and calls an actual cave home.

CCPS all new website is live!!!

Visit www.comicconpalmsprings.com And... Get Ready To Suit Up!

That’s just disturbing. Plus, digital comics don’t actually exist. Even though you paid to download something, you’ve just been tricked into paying for the right to view a copyrighted material whenever you want.

Your purchase just translates to a bunch of digital code, so why not buy the real thing?

Also, most folks don’t realize that comic shops don’t just sell comics and graphic novels. Most stores also carry board and card games like “Magic: The Gathering”, and all the other related merchandise fans actively look for! Besides, if you’re reading this, you’ve more than likely bought the t-shirts and other stuff, so why not go to the place where you can check out the books responsible for making Harley Quinn the fan favorite she is. On top of that, there’s always a bit of excitement in discovering books, no matter what websites like “Newsarma” or “Bleeding Cool” say. Yes, even in the comic world, there are sites that disguise themselves as “news sites” to push their ideals upon fans.

Lastly, most people forget about the economic impact and the benefit of supporting a comic shop. 97% of the time they’re a locally-owned business, and we all know that supporting a locally-owned business helps that business grow. So with all I’ve said, what are you waiting for?

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of February 2

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Once upon a time, Calvin of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip made this bold declaration: “Happiness isn’t good enough for me! I demand euphoria!” Given your current astrological aspects, Aries, I think you have every right to invoke that battle cry yourself. From what I can tell, there’s a party underway inside your head.

And I’m pretty sure it’s a healthy bash, not a decadent debacle. The bliss it stirs up will be authentic, not contrived. The release and relief it triggers won’t be trivial and transitory, but will generate at least one long-lasting breakthrough.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to ask for favors. I think you will be exceptionally adept at seeking out people who can actually help you. Furthermore, those from whom you request help will be more receptive than usual.

Finally, your timing is likely to be close to impeccable.

Here’s a tip to aid your efforts: A new study suggests that people are more inclined to be agreeable to your appeals if you address their right ears rather than their left ears. (More info: tinyurl.com/intherightear) GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Here are your five words of power for the next two weeks, Gemini. 1.

Unscramble. Invoke this verb with regal confidence as you banish chaos and restore order. 2. Purify. Be inspired to cleanse your motivations and clarify your intentions. 3. Reach. Act as if you have a mandate to stretch out, expand, and extend yourself to arrive in the right place. 4. Rollick. Chant this magic word as you activate your drive to be lively, carefree, and frolicsome. 5. Blithe. Don’t take anything too personally, too seriously, or too literally.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The 17th-century German alchemist Hennig Brand collected 1,500 gallons of urine from beer-drinkers, then cooked and re-cooked it till it achieved the “consistency of honey.” Why? He thought his experiment would eventually yield large quantities of gold. It didn’t, of course. But along the way, he accidentally produced a substance of great value: phosphorus. It was the first time anyone had created a pure form of it. So in a sense, Brand “discovered” it. Today phosphorus is widely used in fertilizers, water treatment, steel production, detergents, and food processing. I bring this to your attention, my fellow Cancerian, because I suspect you will soon have a metaphorically similar experience. Your attempt to create a beneficial new asset will not generate exactly what you wanted, but will nevertheless yield a useful result.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the documentary movie Catfish, the directors, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, present a metaphor drawn from the fishing industry.

They say that Asian suppliers used to put live codfish in tanks and send them to overseas markets. It was only upon arrival that the fish would be processed into food. But there was a problem: Because the cod were so sluggish during the long trips, their meat was mushy and tasteless. The solution? Add catfish to the tanks. That energized the cod and ultimately made them more flavorful. Moral of the story, according to Joost and Schulman: Like the cod, humans need catfish-like companions to stimulate them and keep them sharp. Do you have enough influences like that in your life, Leo? Now is a good time to make sure you do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The city of Boston allows an arts organization called Mass Poetry to stencil poems on sidewalks. The legal graffiti is done with a special paint that remains invisible until it gets wet. So if you’re a pedestrian trudging through the streets as it starts to rain, you may suddenly behold, emerging from the blank grey concrete, Langston Hughes’ poem “Still Here” or Fred Marchant’s “Pear Tree In Flower.” I foresee a metaphorically similar development in your life, Virgo: a pleasant and educational surprise arising unexpectedly out of the vacant blahs.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When he was in the rock band Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh took his time composing and recording new music. From 1978 to 1984, he and his collaborators averaged one album

© Copyright 2017 Rob Brezsny

per year. But when Mothersbaugh started writing soundtracks for the weekly TV show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, his process went into overdrive. He typically wrote an entire show’s worth of music each Wednesday and recorded it each Thursday. I suspect you have that level of creative verve right now, Libra.

Use it wisely! If you’re not an artist, channel it into the area of your life that most needs to be refreshed or reinvented.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Many vintage American songs remain available today because of the pioneering musicologist, John Lomax. In the first half of the 20th century, he traveled widely to track down and record obscure cowboy ballads, folk songs, and traditional African American tunes. “Home on the Range” was a prime example of his many discoveries. He learned that song, often referred to as “the anthem of the American West,” from a black saloonkeeper in Texas. I suggest we make Lomax a role model for you Scorpios during the coming weeks.

It’s an excellent time to preserve and protect the parts of your past that are worth taking with you into the future.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The mountain won’t come to you. It will not acquire the supernatural power to drag itself over to where you are, bend its craggy peak down to your level, and give you a free ride as it returns to its erect position. So what will you do? Moan and wail in frustration? Retreat into a knot of helpless indignation and sadness?

Please don’t. Instead, stop hoping for the mountain to do the impossible. Set off on a journey to the remote, majestic pinnacle with a fierce song in your determined heart. Pace yourself. Doggedly master the art of slow, incremental magic.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Who can run faster, a person or a horse? There’s evidence that under certain circumstances, a human can prevail.

In June of every year since 1980, the Man Versus Horse Marathon has taken place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells. The route of the race weaves 22 miles through marsh, bogs, and hills. On two occasions, a human has outpaced all the horses.

According to my astrological analysis, you Capricorns will have that level of animalistic power during the coming weeks. It may not take the form of foot speed, but it will be available as stamina, energy, vitality, and instinctual savvy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Who would have guessed that Aquarian Charles Darwin, the pioneering theorist of evolution, had a playful streak?

Once he placed a male flower’s pollen under a glass along with an unfertilized female flower to see if anything interesting would happen. “That’s a fool’s experiment,” he confessed to a colleague. “But I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them.” Now would be an excellent time for you to consider trying some fools’ experiments of your own, Aquarius. I bet at least one of them will turn out to be both fun and productive.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Shakespeare’s play MacBeth, three witches brew up a spell in a cauldron.

Among the ingredients they throw in there is the “eye of newt.” Many modern people assume this refers to the optical organ of a salamander, but it doesn’t. It’s actually an archaic term for “mustard seed.” When I told my Piscean friend John about this, he said, “Damn! Now I know why Jessica didn’t fall in love with me.” He was making a joke about how the love spell he’d tried hadn’t worked. Let’s use this as a teaching story, Pisces. Could it be that one of your efforts failed because it lacked some of the correct ingredients?

Did you perhaps have a misunderstanding about the elements you needed for a successful outcome? if so, correct your approach and try again.

Homework: Even if you don’t send it, write a letter to the person you admire most. Share it with me at Truthrooster@gmail.com.

---------------------------------------Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

ASK JENNY

February 2 to February 8, 2017

BY JENNY WALLIS

"I NEED TO MAKE SURE I AM FREE OF CLUTTER.. "

D

ear Jenny, I am recently divorced and am moving out on my own. It is the first time I have lived alone since college. I plan on getting rid of lots of old furniture and some old pieces of art that hold bad memories for me. People keep mentioning that I need to make sure I am free of clutter. Can you please expand on that for me? My new place is clean and will not have too much furniture, how else can I make sure that it is free of clutter?

- Thanks, Stella -------------------------------------------------Hi Stella, Congratulations on your future endeavor. So wonderful of you to write in and see exactly what clutter is, so you can make sure you don’t fall into ‘being trapped in your clutter!’

The reason that things are labeled as clutter is because the way your home looks reflects your personality. Simply put, if it is disorganized the way you run your life will be similar! Clutter can be anywhere, in your attic, bedroom, basement, really, in any corridor!

I will start with the easy way to clear clutter, whatever is categorized as junk, should be tossed out. What do you assess as junk? Well, that could be difficult so here are some great questions to ask yourself.

If it is broken and cannot be fixed You dislike it every time you look at it It was an unwanted present It’s out of style or just doesn’t fit You don’t like using it or the thoughts it brings when you do It does no good by being there, near you There are certain areas in your home that are known as energy traps and that is where clutter can gather. Listed below are some examples.

Clothes: when our closets and drawers are bulging with clothes, that’s when it can be an energy trap. Most of us only wear 20% of our clothes regularly.

Tops of closets: bedding, towels and boxes that may be towering on bureaus, can affect our sleep Under the bed: It is tempting to store things under the bed. But if you do, they will create an energy blockage. It left clear and open, so the energy can flow.

Bathroom counters: Make sure that you keep the cosmetics off of the counter tops.

Virtually empty lotion and perfume bottles should be thrown out. Only fresh products that you use regularly should be left out.

Ways to identify and clear clutter!

Clutter clearing is a powerful process that brings startling changes to your life.

In cluttered areas of your home, chi (energy) stagnates, and once this stale energy has accumulated, it will grow even more.

Avoiding a drastic clear-out can stem from a fear of the future.

Your home is supposed to mirror your inner self; mess and inactivity reflect something that is going on inside you!

Your chaos can make your feel lethargic and confused about what you want in life.

As soon as you begin getting rid of your junk hoard, you will feel spiritually and physically liberated, you will have opened the door to wonderful new opportunities.

NOTE: Don’t add crystals and other Feng Shui enhancements until you have tackled your clutter, because they just won’t work!

Thanks and keep it clean!

- ♥Nameste Jenny Don’t forget to follow Jenny on askjennynow.com. Contact her at (760) 505-0952

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

HEALTH&FITNESS

LIGHTEN UP – GET HAPPY!

W

e all have the choice between being happy or unhappy, and I’m pretty sure that you, like me, feel better when you’re happy. The revered philosopher Dale Carnegie said “It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”

Dale Breckenridge Carnegie (1888 – 1955) was an American writer and lecturer and the developer of famous courses in selfimprovement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. He was the author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” first published in 1936, a massive bestseller that remains popular today.

Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.

According to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, happiness has a positive effect in lowering cortisol levels, the stress hormone that is related to health conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases. Laughter, says emerging evidence, is indeed good medicine. A laugh relaxes your body and stimulates endorphins, promoting a feeling of well-being that helps us look at stressful or unhappy situations in a new light. “Laughter therapy” decreases chronic pain and symptoms of depression and improves quality of life and resilience in cancer survivors.

According to World Laughter Tour, Inc., the

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BY DOUG MORIN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORCV VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE INDIO, CA

brainchild of psychologist and self-proclaimed “Joyologist” Steve Wilson, Cheerman of The Bored, the creation of the tour was an idea that came to him during a 1998 lecture tour to India. In India, laughter clubs were referred to as ‘Hasya Yoga.” Struck by a noble impulse, Steve flew an Indian physician to the United States, whereupon he delivered a series of lectures and demonstrations. The reaction to a laughter exercise program was both startling and telling, growing instant curiosity and support from the media. His World Laughter Tour was officially launched in July of 1998 and it has been recognized as a significant global influence in the practical applications of laughter and humor for health and world peace.

We’ve all heard our parents, friends, and doctors say, “Get some exercise- it’s good for you.” But when does anyone tell you exactly how exercise can help you and how much of which kind you need? A recent Mayo Clinic article calls exercise “powerful medicine” with little to no adverse effect. They offer 6 reasons that exercise is effective: It improves blood flow to the brain and feeds the growth of new blood vessels and brain cells. It relieves stress, improves sleep, and lifts your spirit. It’s the world’s best skin treatment because the increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients that improve skin health. It helps slow down the aging of cells. It promotes and speeds up healing. And it makes you svelte.

LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

THE 3 R’S OF REJECTION

R

eading the urgent email from my client I experienced one of those queasy feelings in my stomach having nothing to do with extra spicy Thai food I’d eaten at lunch. It was more like the feeling you get when your BFF tells you she was dumped by her long-time love. Understanding the pain of rejection your body immediately goes into physical sympathy mode.

Monica, the client I’d been assisting with her job search, messaged me that she did not get the job. While out shopping for some new business apparel and expecting to receive a call with good news about an offer, Monica instead received the toneless standard email informing her of the company’s decision to select another candidate.

This rebuff was big. It was not the casual rejection when a company opts for someone more qualified. My client’s expertise was spot on. She was well matched by all standards and had even worked with one of the executives from afar at another company.

As I processed my client’s news about the lack of an offer, I immediately wanted to rush to her side offering positive thoughts about moving on, but I knew the timing was wrong.

She wasn’t ready to hear it, and I don’t do

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“everything happens for a reason,” coaching anyway. Emailing back I expressed deep regrets it did not work out and advised Monica to recognize her painful emotions. I promised to follow up in 24 hours.

In my book, 24 hours is a magical time period. It means between an action and more reaction, we sleep. If your mom taught you “things will look different in the morning,” she was right. Notice I did not write “better,” I wrote “different.” Monica’s rejection would still be painful after a night of slumber. No magic fairy dust was going to make it better. What we can count on after 24 hours is some softening of the brittle edges of disappointment. After a period of sleep we could better analyze the situation, which is exactly what we did.

Dealing with a heavy blow is always going to be painful. No number of positive platitudes will change the reality of a situation, but you CAN ride it out and bounce back. My “go to” rule on dealing with rejection can be summed up in these three r’s: Recognize the rejection and the pain, rest for a period, then begin to rebuild. It works every time.

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching and the author of the blog, www.lifeonthesunnyside.net

CANNABIS CORNER

TERPENES?

O

ne of the things that you will hear about once you start to study Marijuana is Terpenes or Terps.

Terpenes are a group of fragrant essential oils – secreted alongside cannabinoids like THC and CBD – that contribute to the complex aroma of cannabis. They are also generally responsible for many of the distinguishing characteristics of different strains, and this discovery has led to a sharp increase in interest among researchers, producers, and consumers alike.

Though cannabis contains up to 200 different Terpenes, there are about 10 primary Terpenes that occur in significant concentrations. I would like to introduce you to three of those primary and secondary Terpenes: Humulene, Caryophyllene, and Trans-nerolidol.

Humulene naturally occurs in clove, basil, hops, and cannabis sativa. It carries a subtle earthy, woody aroma with spicy herbal notes you might recognize in some of your favorite strains. Though cannabis is commonly associated with appetite simulation, humulene is actually known to suppress hunger. Humulene’s other potential effects include: Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-tumor, and Pharmacokinetic.

Some strains that are known to test high in humulene include White Widow, Girl Scout Cookies Headband, Pink Kush, Sour Diesel, and Skywalker OG. Caryophyllene (or β-Caryophyllene) is a spicy, peppery terpene found in many different edible plants. Spices like black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon, as well as herbs like oregano, basil, hops, and rosemary, are known to exhibit high concentrations of caryophyllene. Due to its affinity to the peripheral CB2 receptors, caryophyllene often appears in anti-inflammatory topicals and salves. Caryophyllene has the following potential medical benefits: Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic, Alcohol craving reduction, Anti-cancer, Anti-anxiety and Antidepressant.

Strains known to exhibit heightened levels of caryophyllene include OG Kush, Bubba Kush, Chemdawg, Rockstar, Skywalker OG,

BY BIG ED THE BUDTENDER

C.C. RELEAF’S LEAD BUDTENDER

and Sour Diesel, which are also shown to be high in this Terpene.

Trans-nerolidol is a secondary Terpene found in many strong aromatics like jasmine, tea tree, and lemongrass. As such, it delivers a subdued and nuanced floral aroma with notes of fruity citrus, apples, and rose. This Terpene is believed to produce sedating effects, and is being investigated for the following medical benefits: Inhibits growth of Leishmaniasis, Antiparasitic, Antifungal, Antimicrobial.

As its name suggests, Geraniol (also known as Lemonol) is most famous for its presence in geraniums, where it helps shape the blossoms’ distinctive, delicate scent. It is also found in a wide range of plants including tobacco and lemons, and interestingly, is produced by honey bees as a means of marking their hives and flowers. Geraniol is a monoterpene alcohol that boils at about 447˚F and frequently occurs in strains that also produce Linalool. Its floral, occasionally fruity aromas and flavors remind many of citronella candles or rose gardens, and occasionally of passionfruit or stone fruits such as peaches and plums. It is used frequently as a fruity flavoring agent and shows up in an array of bath and body products. Geraniol, like Valencene, is known to repel mosquitos.

Potential medical benefits attributed to geraniol include: Antioxidant, Anti-tumor, Neuroprotectant, Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-viral, Anti-spasmodic.

A few strains said to test high in Geraniol include Lavender, Amnesia Haze, and Great White Shark, Afghani, Headband, Island Sweet Skunk, OG Shark and Master Kush are currently testing highest in Geraniol.

Hopefully this sheds some light on how you view your Marijuana and can help you make a more informed decision when deciding how to properly medicate yourself.

There are many different kinds of terpenes that can help with many different problems and issues that are just now being researched by scientists. If you have any questions, just ask your budtender! Otherwise, come and see me at C.C. Releaf and ask for Big Ed the Budtender!

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

DANNY & SALTY: PLEASE ADOPT US TOGETHER!

The gray male cat is named Danny.

The white female cat is named Salty. Both are completely potty trained. She is very affectionate and loves to be pet and held.

He’s a bit more skittish but will let you pet him and I’ve picked him up several times. They are brother and sister and about 7 months old. They adore each other. They showed up in our yard as babies and we started

feeding them. They’ve been completely inside with us for 10 days now and haven’t tried to get back out and don’t meow or whine to go out. They’ve adjusted to indoor life very well. They are getting spayed and neutered and their shots next week. We are moving and cannot keep them. I want them to be adopted together. If interested please contact: editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com.

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February 2 to February 8, 2017

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