Coachella Valley Weekly - March 22 to March 28, 2018 Vol. 7 No. 1

coachellavalleyweekly.com • March 22 to March 28, 2018 Vol. 7 No. 1

Rick Shelley

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CORE 10

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Courtney Chambers

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Alvin Taylor

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Citidank

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

CELEBRATE EASTER WEEKEND AT THE 16TH ANNUAL INDIAN WELLS ARTS FESTIVAL MARCH 31 - APRIL 1, 2018

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Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Domingo Winstead, Elizabeth Westley Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Noe Gutierrez, Avery Wood, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Steve Brown, Kristen Elaine, Olga Rodriguez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Laura Hunt Little, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Flint Wheeler, Denise Ortuno Neil, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Rebecca Pikus, Angela Romeo,Aaron Ramson, Elizabeth Scarcella, Jennifer Jank Photographers Robert Chance, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez, Laura Hunt Little Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

fter moving to Palm Desert from Northern California, Dina Budginas attended last year’s Indian Wells Arts Festival for the first time. The Lithuanianborn painter was so impressed that she applied for entry into this year’s event. The festival jury happily included her on this year’s roster of established and emerging artists brought together in one venue for three days.

Dina is but one of the local talents juried into the 16th Annual Indian Wells Arts Festival at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Running March 31-April 1, the festival showcases 200 artists from 28 countries around the world.

Attendees will discover a diverse collection of mediums — from painting, mixed media, sculpture, and photography to ceramics, textiles, and jewelry. Sixty of the artists juried into the show have had their work exhibited by and/or placed into the permanent collections of museums, including the renowned Smithsonian and Japan’s Kyoto Museum.

Evidencing the respected reputation it has built, Indian Wells Arts Festival last year marked sales totaling three-quarters of a million dollars.

Though she is a relatively new resident, Dina had her work featured last year in a public art exhibition in Palm Desert. And the quality of her abstract and figurative abstract

CONTENTS

“Amazon Necklace” feat. Brazillian Serpentine and Aqua Opal from the Andes of Peru, by 2018 IWAF Artist Victor Yurivilca of Cathedral City.

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Indian Wells Art Festival........................ 3 Rick Shelley at Pappy & Harriets........... 5 Breaking The 4th Wall - Review of "The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?"............ 6 Breaking The 4th Wall - Review of "Grease"............................................... 6 CORE 10 at The Date Shed..................... 7 Courtney Chambers............................... 8 Backstage Jazz - Alvin Taylor................ 9 Consider This - Nina Simone............... 10 Carrot Top at Spotlight 29................... 11 Pet Place................................................ 12 The Vino Voice ...................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife.................... 14-15 Good Grub - Castillas Panaderia......... 16 Screeners ............................................. 18 Book Review ....................................... 19 Safety Tips ............................................ 19 Haddon Libby....................................... 21 Dale Gribow.......................................... 21 Sports Scene......................................... 22 Brewtality ............................................. 22 Free Will Astrology............................... 23 Mind, Body & Spirit.............................. 23 Cannabis Corner.................................. 24 Life & Career Coach............................. 24 Cannabis Corner - Citidank................. 26 CA Community Careforce................... 26 Cannabis Dispensary Guide................ 27

March 22 to March 28, 2018

“Coming Forth” acrylic on canvas, by 2018 IWAF Artist Dina Budginas of Palm Desert.

paintings has been recognized elsewhere.

Indeed, even after she spent much of her life in the United States, Lithuanian galleries honored her with solo shows in the capital of Vilnius and in her hometown of Marijampole.

For those who enjoy watching the marriage of skill and creativity, Yucca Valley artists David and Christopher Falossi will carve a monumental block of limestone into a sculpture using a variety of chisels and files. The father/son duo also will bring finished sculptures of their individual work for patrons who want to purchase pieces.

David combines stone as “a link to the earth” and glass as symbolic of “the human spirit, life, and the miraculous” into works of 5 to 7 feet. Christopher’s oeuvre gravitates toward the representation of desert critters in 2- to 3-foot sculptures.

2018 IWAF Artist David Falossi stands among his stone and glass sculptures.

Working on a much smaller and lighter scale, Victor Yurivilca of Cathedral City sculpts wearable art: one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that showcase exotic stones and shells from around the world set into crafted sterling silver. His artistry in fabricating complex designs has earned him numerous “best of jewelry” and “best of show” awards. Born in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Victor became a world traveler before moving to the United States and transitioning from engineer to artist.

Hans Ladislaus divides his time between his studios in Palm Desert and Hawaii. In the archipelago, the public can see his work in the form of a mural on a rapid transit system station and in the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Hawaii State Art Museum, also continue to page 5

2018 IWAF Commemorative Print, “Midnight Bloom” an original Mixed Media painting on canvas, created by artist Carolyn Johnson, a resident of Laguna Niguel, CA.

Artist Demonstrations From Glassblowing to Pedal Loom Weaving; pictured here is glassblower Bruce Freund of Brea, CA, demonstrating onsite all three days of the festival.

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

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in Honolulu, purchased one of his sculptures that was part of a 2010 museum exhibition.

At the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Hans will exhibit contemporary abstract and figurative paintings, some featuring a metallic sheen in acrylic paint.

While artists are the festival’s “stars,” the setting plays more than a minor role. The beautiful garden grounds against a mountain backdrop set a relaxing environment for soaking in the desert’s fresh air and sunshine.

Festival founder and producer Dianne Funk keeps the annual event dynamic not only by attracting “new” artists each year, but also by adding complementary elements that create layers for a day- or weekendlong “experience” — perhaps an experience memorialized by the acquisition of work from an artist with whom one has engaged in conversation.

Attendees can celebrate Easter weekend by taking advantage of the festival’s Eggs + Champagne in the Garden brunch menu until noon on Saturday and Sunday under the shaded pavilion. The Oasis Bar and Champagne Circle return with cheery spirits

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and mimosas.

An attraction not typically found at an art festival, the Gourmet MarketPlace features artisan products such as epicurean oils and vinegars, sauces and preserves, bourbon and brandy barrel-aged maple syrups, and sea salts.

In addition to David and Christopher

Falossi’s on-site carving, demonstrations of glassblowing and ancient Zapotec loom weaving will enthrall attendees. Live music on the main stage provides entertainment for breaks from touring the abundant displays, while a Native American flute player and Coachella Valley Youth Ensemble Program trios and quartets add ambiance to the exhibition grounds.

March 22 to March 28, 2018 Free activities encourage children and adults alike to explore their boundless imaginations. Participatory options include pottery making with Old Town Artisan Studio and coloring an outlined print of the commemorative poster art commissioned from Laguna Niguel’s Carolyn Johnson with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation. A free kid’s palette knife painting class with 2013 Commemorative Poster Artist Dusty Kinman on Sunday at 2pm, limited to the first 10 children present for the class session. Additionally, students from Cathedral City High School’s Digital Arts Technology Academy will present an interactive photo op using solar power harnessed by Hot Purple Energy.

Presented by the City of Indian Wells, the Indian Wells Arts Festival runs March 30 - April 1 from 9am to 4pm all three days. Admission is $13 for adults and free for children younger than 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.indianwellsartsfestival.com and at the box office during the event. Free and valet parking are available. Indian Wells Tennis Garden is located at 78-200 Miles Avenue in Indian Wells.

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT RICK SHELLEY TO PERFORM AT PAPPY & HARRIET’S WITH THE DESERT DOGS, GABRIELLA EVARO AND ADOBE COLLECTIVE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 22 AT 8PM

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riginally from Walla Walla, Washington, Rick Shelley moved to California in 1986. He performed in the bands RagTag and Woodshed before taking a long hiatus from doing music. His good friend (and CV Weekly music writer) Eleni Austin asked Phil Lacombe (CV Weekly) to book Shelley at a show he was putting on at Schmidy’s Tavern back in 2014. Shelley had been writing songs, but hadn’t been performing publicly until that night where the bug once again bit him. His well-crafted songs and amazing vocals immediately garnered him fans. From that point Shelley has released two solid CDs, 1909 Miles in November of 2015 and Hope Wrapped in Razor Wire in March of 2017.

Both albums are chock full of potential chart topping songs that are infused with flavors of country, folk, rock and Americana.

Shelley’s vocals draw you in and wrap around you like a warm blanket.

Shelley took some time to answer a few questions about what he’s been up to.

CVW: Are you currently working on new material/ new album?

Shelley: “Yes, I am writing, and I have material for another record. That said, I am not sure when I’ll start to record. The 2 previous records were built track by track, little by little. We (Chris Unck and I) would start with single vocal and guitar and build the song up from there, adding bass, drums … etc. That approach was slower. Always fun, but slower. It also didn’t allow much room for other players to expand the song or provide contributing ideas. Chris brought in Damian Lester (Stand Up Bass), Tyler Saraca (Drums), Matt Pynn (Pedal Steel), and Bobby Furgo (Fiddle). All of those guys are brilliant players and poured into the record where they could. I couldn’t be more proud of how Hope Wrapped in Razor Wire turned out. Next time though we will probably take time playing through,

working arrangements before we hit ‘record.’”

CVW: What have you been up to musically since we last spoke?

Shelley: “I have mostly been playing. Going as many places as possible to play I have been up and down California a few times this past year touring on the record.”

CVW: Tell us about the show coming up at Pappy’s?

Shelley: “The Pappy’s show is a ‘High Lonesome Studios’ production. Chris Unck wanted to showcase bands and artists he’s involved with. This time around it’s The Adobe Collective, Gabriella Evaro and Myself with The Desert Dogs. I am a true fan of both the other artists playing. For me these are special shows.

I get to play with guys that recorded with me or that have done ‘Full Band’ shows with me.

The Desert Dogs are Chris Unck, Damian Lester and Caleb Winn.”

CVW: What are your favorite venues to play?

Shelley: “Venues where music and art is part of the core… That music is the or at least a key part of the venue’s culture. Some places

can’t decide… are they a sports bar or a music club? The ones that know usually have the best atmosphere and audiences.”

CVW: What has been the most important moment of your career so far?

Shelley: “I would say the most important moment was simply starting again in 2014.

Having Phil (Lacombe) book that first show at Schmidy’s in the fall that year was a big deal for me. There have been some very important moments since then…. But without that first one… nothing would have happened.”

CVW: How do you define success in the music business?

Shelley: “For me success is playing my own songs, and being my own person. Completing a record is an accomplishment and in a way something of a success. Lots of recordings never attain massive commercial success, but recording my own songs and playing what I love is success for me.”

CVW: Who are your influences?

Shelley: “Well that is a long list: Steve Earle, Led Zeppelin, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, etc. etc. Mostly I am influenced by my friends; what they are listening to, or reading. Those conversations make me ponder things or search out music to listen to. Three artists that

PHOTO BY CHRIS MILLER / IMAGINE IMAGERY

BY TRACY DIETLIN

really reignited my wanting to play are Travis Meadows, Tony Marsico, and Chris Unck.”

CVW: Who would you most like to work with that you have not?

Shelley: “That’s a funny question… one only need to dream. That’s a longer list!”

CVW: Who do you most respect in the music business?

Shelley: “I respect the side men and side women that really make music special. I couldn’t have made my records without great musicians lending their talent and skills to the process.

Also, I respect the music catalysts out there.

Promoters, sometimes artists themselves, that build events for fun or for social community causes. People like you and Phil, Josh Heinz, Lisa Lynn Morgan, Teddy Quinn, Barnett English.”

CVW: How do you feel the music in the desert has changed since you first started playing here years ago?

Shelley: “One difference, there are more places to play. Music is simply baked into the culture. There are great young bands and writers of all styles out here.”

CVW: Which song are you most proud to say you wrote?

Shelley: “’Dead Horse Hollow’ is one I think of as special. ‘Walking with Ghosts’ is another that I am proud of.”

CVW: Which song do you most enjoy performing?

Shelley: “Most night’s its ‘Highway 99 Bakersfield.’”

CVW: What are your future music goals?

Shelley: “My hope is to continue writing and recording. Music has been my adventure, and this year I plan to tour the east coast and some areas in the south.”

CVW: Anything else you want to share?

Shelley: “Just thank you! I feel pretty damn lucky…….”

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

BY DEE JAE COX

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PHOTOS BY GREG BRUNTON

A STAGE REVIEW OF ‘THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?’

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heatre is not always intended to play it safe or ease an audience into a false sense of security. It can be meant to challenge ideas and societal taboos. Poke holes in the norm and provoke thought and emotion. Theatre is a reflection of our culture, the good, the bad and the ugly. It can make us laugh, cry or feel a range of emotions in between the two extremes.

And one thing that good theatre should always do, is make us think.

Greek tragedies were known as goatsongs because the prize in Athenian play competitions was a live goat. This is the etymology of the word Tragedy. These dramatic contests were part of the worship to the God Dionysus, who was the god of wine, of ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy in ancient Greek religion.

So it is no surprise that Edward Albee’s Tony Award winning and Pulitzer nominated play, “The Goat, or who is Sylvia,” would take the audience to the root of genuine tragedy. The Goat, currently in production at Coachella Valley Repertory, is a repulsive story. The story is tragic and horrifying in all of the raw ways that humans can be repulsive. It reflects the ugliness of societal taboos, forcing the audience to watch an approaching accident without being able to turn away from the inevitable crash. I hated the story, but was forced to delve deeper into the meaning and underlying bloodiness of this family’s horror.

The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? tells the story of Martin Gray, sympathetically portrayed by Sean Smith, a 50 year old successful architect who is in the midst of a mid life crisis like few others have had. His abhorrent extramarital

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affair rips at the seams of his perfect life until there is nothing left but shattered remnants of what was lost. His wife Stevie, performed

by Sharon Sharth, had me grieving for her loss, until the end when this entire group of fatally flawed characters were left standing in the rubble of this goat song. Smith and Sharth shared a palpable chemistry, which made this story that much more difficult to witness. Their loss was painful to watch.

Joanne Gordon’s skilled direction was the silk thread that wove this tragedy into a comprehensive staging of a show that is not easy to view. I did not like The Goat, or who is Sylvia? I think few playwrights, other than the legendary Mr. Albee, could approach such darkness and win acclamations, but I believe that it is vital to explore every dirty crevice of humanity in our story telling on the stage. Not just the subjects that make us feel good, but the hidden foibles that make us human. Bravo to CV Rep for having the courage to venture over to the ugly side of town.

This is not a show for children, but it is a tale for all thinking adult theatre-goers.

The Goat, or Who is Sylvia, is in production at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre located at 69930 Hwy 111, Suite 116, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, through April 1, 2018.

For Information on upcoming shows: 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. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

A STAGE REVIEW OF ‘GREASE’

BY DEE JAE COX

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magination knows no bounds. When Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote their 1971 musical, “Grease,” it was probably difficult to project how successful their story about 1950’s ‘greasers’ was going to be. Greasers were the lower class teen subculture of the 1940’s and 50’s. They were not the type of kid parents of the era hoped for. The term ‘greasers’ was originally a derogatory term for the poor ethnic workers who populated cities across the country. Jacobs based these characters on kids he had gone to school with in inner city Chicago in the 1950’s. Its original production at a Chicago nightclub was raunchy and vulgar. It was cleaned up as it moved to offBroadway.

On the surface ‘Grease’ is a fun, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again, kind of romp through the teen years. Some fun rock & roll thrown in the background and everyone leaves the theatre smiling. But a closer look at this show reveals the social issues that have remained an integral part of teen life during all subsequent decades.

Good girl vs. bad-Girl. Nice boy vs. bad boy.

Peer pressure. Teen rebellion. Teen sexualexploration. Teen pregnancy. Gang violence.

Fitting in, Love, friendship and heartache.

Desert TheatreWorks presents the latest incarnation of this ageless story.

With an ensemble cast of talented actors, they seemed in perfect sync when moving through the steps of Heidi Hapner’s smooth choreography. Leather-jacket wearing Danny, (Adam Genesta) meets innocentsweet Sandy, (Phylicia Mason) over the summer and love ensues. But will love conquer all? When they come back to school and see each other face-to-face, Danny deals with the reality of peer pressure and being cool, while Sandy searches to find more of her voice as a strong woman vs. romantic

teen. This show has a wonderful cast of characters, but Rizzo has always been my favorite character and Alisha Bates did not disappoint in her raw and edgy portrayal of this iconic bad girl. Her rendition of “There are Worse Things I could do,” brought tears to more than a few eyes. Besides Bate’s performance, Darla Decker, (Frenchie) and Shafik Wahhab as Kenicke, were also standouts in this show.

The music from ‘Grease’ will get stuck in your head for days. The dialogue and characters will have you smiling long after you’ve left the theatre. And the story will probably make you more than a little reminiscent for your old high school friends. But if you dig a little deeper you’ll find that the inherent truth that these characters bring to the stage goes beyond the innocence that too often gets associated with a very complex time of life. “Grease is the Word.”

This show is recommended for family members of all ages and can be seen through March 25th, at The Indio Performing Arts Center, located at 45175 Fargo St, Indio, CA. For show and ticket info: dtworks.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. losangeleswomenstheatreproject.org

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

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n my opinion, musical genres are there to describe the music, not the people playing the music. The music of CORE 10 thwarts any attempt anyone can make to corner their sound. As people, you will find, through their music, they are exceptional human beings. Its members, Duncan Nisbet and Sean Lenhoff on vocals, Chris Dorame on bass, Joe Taback and Bobby Thomas on guitars, Ronnie King on keys and David Silveria on drums, will be descending upon the desert for a weekend of live music, industry insight and flat-out infiltration.

Coachella Valley Weekly huddled with the band during a recent rehearsal from their studio in Costa Mesa, California. Below is their appearance schedule: Friday, March 23, 2018 at The Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs at 8 p.m. is the FREE and ALL AGES ‘THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS’ featuring Ronnie King + Meet and Greet with David Silveria hosted by Esjay Jones.

Saturday, March 24, 2018 1 to 3 p.m. will be the record industry panel with David Silveria, original drummer and founding member of KORN and Ronnie King, industry professional writer, publisher, producer, touring musician with OFFSPRING, RANCID, TUPAC, PEPPER and SNOOP DOGG. The panel will be based around all things in the record industry; publishing, record deals, new technology and music licensing. David Silveria will be speaking about his rise to fame with the super group Korn. Ronnie King will be speaking about the entire music industry and the past industry module compared to the new industry standards. This is a great opportunity for those seeking a career in the music industry. There will also be a Q&A after the panel with a meet and greet along with autograph and memorabilia signing.

Please feel free to bring any memorabilia to have David or Ronnie sign. Location will be disclosed once tickets are purchased through Eventbrite.

Later on Saturday evening at The Date Shed: Live performances from CORE 10, ANNABELLE ASYLUM, DROP MOB, DECAPITATE THE KAUSE and DJ set by ROW LOW. Doors open at 8 p.m. Ages 16 and up.

General admission is $10. You can purchase

PHOTO BY CHRIS DORAME

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CORE 10 – INTROSPECTION

tickets online or at the Date Shed box office Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the night of the show.

PROGRESSION RONNIE: “It’s going great. There’s a lot going on. We have major management.

We’re making records with top tier producers Ulrich Wild (Anthrax, White Zombie, Deftones) and Alejandro Taranto (A.N.I.M.A.L.). I think it’s every musician’s dream to have such a high level of expertise around the band.”

SEAN: “We’re working with First Row Talent and Jason Tyler. They work with bands like Prong and Ministry. We’re focused on getting more songs completed and released.

Our new single, ‘Introspection,’ is gonna be our heaviest single thus far. It will be released in April.”

JOE: “We’re gonna take a break after this weekend and our next local show will be in Orange County in May. We’ll be working on getting some of our newer stuff tracked. We have some really cool things we’re talking about for the summer but nothing is set in stone yet.”

SEAN: “‘Introspection’ is a cross between punk, metal and prog rock.”

DUNCAN: “It’s looking within. It’s about self-help and realizing that if you’re not in the right place and you need to fix where you’re at or maybe you just realize where you are and you don’t fix it. In time you are looking within and seeing your state.”

JOE: “For me, with this new lineup in CORE 10, I’ve known Sean for a few years and then met Duncan later, now playing with David; I’ve been playing with Chris and Bobby for over ten years now. For me, no matter how much time we have left, I know I’m enjoying myself and I like the guys I’m

performing with and we’re making some pretty cool fucking music. As long as you’re enjoying yourself, a happy life is a good life.

There are people paying attention to us.”

DUNCAN: “If you’re happy and enjoying it, it’s never a waste of time. That’s how we have to look at it.”

BROTHERHOOD RONNIE: “Everybody’s professional. You don’t have a lot of the same temperament as you would with a start-up band. It’s an allstar band with David and I being together. It really sets the tone for a lot of professionalism and focus. I know the record industry is very interested in that combination. It’s been a couple of years. I’ve worked with Sean over the years on various side projects and when I understood David was coming into the band, it heightened my interest. I knew that he had not played in some years. I know how that is when you take time off, you’re like a caged lion and I knew David was gonna come out of the chute hot. He’s playing better than ever.

That’s one of my highlights is to be sitting on the stage with him playing music. He’s amazing!”

DIFFERENTIATION – THE CORE 10 SOUND RONNIE: “As a producer, I can give it to you analytically, David Silveria is a superstar.

He created a very unique drum approach early on in his life. To start with that being the foundation of the music, it’s like no other.

Whenever you can play with a musician with that kind of street credibility and a gift of creating something new, it’s once in a lifetime. He still does that. It’s not a dream it’s a reality that he is David Silveria, one of the inventors of Nu Metal. He walks into that room every day with the same attitude and the same focus. The band is better because of it.”

SEAN: “Duncan and I are really stepping

March 22 to March 28, 2018

BY NOE GUTIERREZ it up and using in-ear monitors. We’re just trying to adjust to wherever we play. You also try to have a good rapport with the sound guy.”

DUNCAN: “The sound guys know their gear at their place and know what’s best so we take care of them and they take care of us.”

SEAN: “Our sound has developed and grown. Everyone has their influences. Joe and Bobby on guitar and Dave’s drumming, obviously, have changed the scope of our sound. And Ronnie bringing in the keys adds this ethereal element to it. We’re still really heavy but now it’s refined. Sounscapy I would say. It’s been a great run so far and we’ve been writing together effortlessly.”

DUNCAN: “We’ve been a band a little over a year. With a lot of the new stuff we’re writing, everyone is getting their part in.”

SEAN: “David will tell you this, when the first single came out, he said, they’re gonna love us or hate us if we sound like Korn or they’re gonna love us or hate us if we don’t sound like Korn. We’re just being ourselves and doing what we do.”

DAVID: “This style of music that we’re playing, it actually took a little bit of time for me to get used to. In general, the tempos are all faster so I kind of had to figure out fills and grooves that work for the faster tempo. The Korn stuff was a much slower kind of groove and bouncing kind of tempo. This stuff varies from slower, in-between or faster. So I’ve kind of had to really take notice to the kind of stuff I play to make something bold and fit this type of music. I had to basically learn a new style.

I think everybody has brought ideas. We write everything as a band. Any song can come from every member, two members, etc. I don’t think any song has ever come from any less than two or three guys. Everybody comes in ready to work and contributes.

We all bounce ideas off of each other at all times. It’s spread out pretty evenly.”

BACKLASH RONNIE: “I have a great response to the detractors. I’m engaged in all kinds of music. I’m heavily involved in Hip-Hop and I’m working on the biggest reggae records around. I’m writing, recording and playing keyboards with STEEL PULSE. I’m writing and working with PEPPER. I just got done working this past weekend with TOMMOROWS BAD SEEDS and Lewis Richards (17TH Street Recording Studio). I don’t really fall into any pigeon-hole kind of idea. I’m ‘rangy’. I’m writing my David Foster record, I’m playing with the Seattle Symphony. Hip-Hop artists are loving CORE 10! I’ve got Ron Killings (R Truth of the WWE) loving it. Every HipHop artist I let listen to CORE 10 are out of their minds about it. I just had Luciano Jr. from Buenos Aires artist LOS FABULOSO CADILLACS put his rap on a CORE 10 SONG. He said it was the coolest stuff he’s done continue to page 8

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CORE 10 continued from page 7

in a long time. I think if you’re narrowing down to trolls and people who are following David’s career and such, it is what it is.

You’re dealing with 14 year old men at that point. You’re not dealing with my crowd who is the David Foster crowd, the big production and industry crowd. If you can come up with something unique, everybody loves it.

I believe CORE 10 is in that world.”

SEAN: “I have had my moments with the naysayers. It’s been a trial by fire. We create with no fear. Do what we do, everything else be damned and just kick ass!”

DUNCAN: “We take real criticism.”

TO THE KIDS DUNCAN: “Every time we ever went surfing or skating as kids we listened to music first. It would get me going. It made me inspired. That would be something I want the kids to take away from us.”

SEAN: “After the kids leave our shows I want them to say, “I CAN DO THAT!” We build you up and don’t break you down.

Pull yourself out of a bad place. Anything is possible.”

JOE: “We want the kids to come to the show and leave with inspiration. It was 15 years ago that I started and now I’m sitting in the studio playing with David Silveria from KORN. You can do anything you want with your life as long as you stick to it. “ Duncan: “The other thing we want the kids to do is leave the show wanting to go buy our song on iTunes, HA HA!” DESERT CONNECTIONS – THE DATE SHED & HARD ROCK HOTEL P.S.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com RONNIE: “I support ESJAY JONES always.

It’s gonna be fun to just hang out. It’s the start of festival month and I feel like we’re starting it off with CORE 10 shows at Hard Rock and the Date Shed. I love it! For me, I get to share a little with everyone. The Date Shed has its own following and mystique about it. I’m always excited to play there. I played there a few times before. I used to play there when it was Alex Haagen’s private little club and having amazing jam sessions.

The sound there is fantastic so we’ll do a lot of videotaping. The boys are gonna bring their guns and we’re gonna do some shooting.”

DAVID: “We’ll have more desert connections once Joe gets someone pregnant out there.”

RONNIE: “David and I will be doing an industry panel at the Hard Rock. We’ve opened it to the public. They can come and really get a bird’s eye first-hand view at success in the music business. They can talk to David personally about what it’s taken to be successful. You can find out what he did to achieve his first record contract, how it was when he renegotiated his contract, about the full experience and what do new artists need to understand. You’ll find out why he got to be successful. There’s a real method to it as well as in my own life. There’s a method to being successful in this business and I think it’s something valuable and I think the wisdom of both of us together is something people in general will love. It doesn’t matter what level of career you’re at. To sit and hear

LOCAL MUSICIAN PROFILE

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ourtney Chambers is one of the most talented and beloved singersongwriters in the Coachella Valley. She performs regularly at many venues here in town as well as out of town gigs and is a true working musician foregoing a ‘day job’ and has been able to support herself as a performing musician for quite some time. She has also put out several albums including: IMPERFECT LIKE ME (2001), HIGHER PLACES (2004), BIGGER AND BRIGHTER (2007), TALES OF THE AFTERMATH (2015), and COURTNEY CHAMBERS (LIVE) (2017).

She has been nominated for CV Music Awards over the last couple years and has shared the stage with Belinda Carlisle, one of her music idols. If you’ve heard Chambers sing then you know why everybody loves her. If you haven’t, then make it appoint to check her out. Chambers has both power and vulnerability in her vocals, which makes her performances riveting to say the least, not to mention she’s got mad guitar skills.

She took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

CVW: Are you currently working on new material/ new album?

Chambers: “Yes, I’m writing and just starting the recording process for a new studio record to be released in 2019, I’m collaborating with my longtime producer Sean Hoffman.”

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real stories with real people and success is a great opportunity.”

SEAN: “We’re stoked to be coming out.

We may even be tracking David’s drums at Rancho de la Luna. We’re gonna be doing three or four more singles soon. Duncan and I have worked with HARPER HUG at Thunder Underground Studios in the past. I saw JOHN GARCIA at the Date Shed not too long ago.

I know what the Date Shed means to the desert and the whole area. The environment is amazing for music out there. Playing the Date Shed is a very cool thing for us.”

DUNCAN: “We’re looking forward to the whole weekend. It should be interesting.”

SEAN: “It’s the perfect environment to shoot videos and band photos. We would

COURTNEY CHAMBERS

CVW: You are a true working musician meaning you don’t do a ‘day job’. How long have you been able to support yourself as a musician?

Chambers: “I was able to go full time as a musician right after I turned 30. It was a top goal for many years and was very satisfying to finally achieve that.”

CVW: When did you realize that this was it for you?

Chambers: “I’ve known music was for me since I was 5. I loved to sing and make up songs very early on and told my dad that I was supposed to do music when I grew up. I was blessed that he nurtured and encouraged that desire.”

CVW: Tell us about some of your recent shows that are standouts for you like the Belinda Carlisle show?

Chambers: “Oh yeah, performing with Belinda Carlisle is like coming full circle for me being she was such a huge influence on me growing up. We performed her new stuff and got to do some of the old Go-Go’s stuff as well as a couple of her early hit solo songs. I remember being in rehearsals singing and playing guitar with her and thinking to myself ‘I’m singing and playing songs I grew up on with one of my heroines, this is amazing!’ It was such a feeling of family with her and the band too which was so cool.

Another standout show was performing

at Desert Oasis back in October with Armando Flores and Rob Peterson backing me up. That was an amazing experience.”

CVW: You also perform in a Heart cover

love to utilize the area. I have so much love for the desert. I get up regardless, hung over or not, to see the sunrise when I’m at Chateau Relaxo. There’s nothing like a desert sunrise.”

DAVID: “This is my first time performing in the Coachella Valley.”

You have three opportunities to connect with CORE 10 this weekend, Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel P.S., Saturday afternoon for the industry panel and Saturday night at The Date Shed. Look out for the single, “Introspection” in April! core10theband.com dateshedmusic.com hrhpalmsprings.com

BY TRACY DIETLIN band. Tell us about the difference you feel doing that opposed to performing your original material?

Chambers: “I used to be in Dog N Butterfly and have subbed in Heart 2 Heart.

I love playing that music and was certainly a challenge for me to learn to play it. It has grown me as a guitarist and as a musician.

I guess the difference I feel between the two is that with my music, I’m not imitating someone else…you know, I’m Courtney Chambers, not Nancy Wilson.” (laughing) CVW: What is your songwriting process like?

Chambers: “When the muse comes, I follow. And it strikes at interesting times. (laughing) But generally, I start with a chord progression and sort of sing in tongues until my thoughts start to form. I haven’t cowritten songs very much, but recently have been collaborating with Lance Riebsomer, which has been pretty great.”

CVW: Which song are you most proud to say you wrote?

Chambers: “There are quite a few songs I feel very proud of and passionate about, but if I had to name just one, I would say “I’m Ready To Go Now” from my 3rd album BIGGER AND BRIGHTER. That song still reduces me to tears sometimes.”

CVW: Which song do you most enjoy performing?

Chambers: “Oh that’s a hard one. I love

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BACKSTAGE JAZZ

March 22 to March 28, 2018

BY PATTE PURCELL

ALVIN TAYLOR: A TRUE LIVING LEGEND

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playing “Wasting Time.” It’s just fun and melodic.”

CVW: What are your favorite venues to play?

Chambers: “Tack Room Tavern, The Hood, Spotlight 29, The Fonda Theatre.”

CVW: What has been the most important moment of your career so far?

Chambers: “The moment I realized I needed to stop waiting for someone to ‘discover me’ I had already discovered myself.”

CVW: How do you define success in the music business?

Chambers: “For myself, I feel being able to pay your bills and make a living doing your art is success. But then, there’s also the importance of evolving, challenging yourself and getting to your next level professionally and creatively.”

CVW: Who are your influences?

Chambers: “That is a LONG list! But at the core I would say Sarah McLachlan, Smashing Pumpkins, really, 90s music has been very influential in my music. Vocally I grew up on artists like Pat Benatar, Belinda Carlisle, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.”

CVW: What music/bands are you listening to right now?

Chambers: “Alessia Cara, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, Shawn Colvin, Billie Eilish.”

CVW: Who would you most like to work with that you have not?

Chambers: “Eevan Tre. BUT, we are already in talks about doing something together, so I’m excited about that.”

CVW: Who would you most like to open for?

Chambers: “Hmmmmmmm….that is tough. So many… Sheryl Crow comes to mind.”

CVW: Who do you most respect in the music business?

Chambers: “There are quite a few people that I have mad respect for in this business, I would have to say Esjay Jones is at the top of that list. She has such an amazing work ethic; I take a page out of her book often.

She has been quite an inspiration for me and watching her pushes me to be better.”

CVW: You perform out of town a lot.

How is performing here in the desert different from other places?

Chambers: “I definitely feel the support of the community here in the desert more so than anywhere I’ve performed.”

CVW: Do you prefer playing with your band over performing solo?

Chambers: “Totally prefer playing with my band. I love the comradery and hearing the music come to life in another way.”

CVW: Who are your current band members?

Chambers: “Armando Flores on Bass, Calvin Williams on Guitar and currently auditioning for a Drummer.”

CVW: What are your future music goals?

Chambers: “To work with and write for bigger artists and focus more on the songwriting aspect of my career. Continue playing and collaborating with great performers. I’ll continue to put out more records until the wheels fall off. I would love to tour Europe and the US as well. I am truly grateful for the opportunities afforded me, and like anything you aspire to be, it takes dedication, sacrifice and hard work.”

Courtney Chambers Show Schedule: 3/22 - The Hood - Palm Desert - 9pm 3/23 - The Craft - Rancho Mirage - 5-8pm 3/24 - La Quinta Brewery - Palm Desert 7-9pm 3/28 - Tack Room Tavern - Indio - 7pm 3/30 - Ironwood Country Club - Palm Desert - 6-9pm 4/3–4/11 - Nashville, TN 4/12 - Birba - Palm Springs 7-10pm 4/14 - Ironwood Country Club - Palm Desert - 5:30pm 4/18 - Plan B - Thousand Palms - Parkland Benefit - 10pm 4/21 - Festival Vibes Event at The Westfield Mall -Palm Desert - Noon-2pm 4/21 - Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs with Sunday Funeral❤ - 8pm 5/2 - Hotel Cafe - LA - playing with Gabe Lopez - 9pm 6/3 - Hollywood Casino - San Diego - with Jasmine Fields - 4-8pm 6/9 - Private Event with Jasmine Fields

just had the most amazing 2 hour interview that I’ve ever had with a born and raised Palm Springs resident who has reached the pinnacle of success. His name is Alvin Taylor and he is undoubtedly one of the top if not ‘The Top’ drummer in the world. He was recently recognized with his own star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Mayor Robert Moon and Bob Alexander (Walk of Stars) stated that in 27 years it was the largest crowd they had ever seen attend a Walk of Star event. Even though there were far bigger stars, Taylor still had the biggest crowd ever!

I was first introduced to Alvin at our Smooth Jazzfest by Producer Ronnie King another local icon. Little did I know just who this kind, humble man is. I’ve been planning to do a story on him for some time but after my interview all I can say is, one column is not enough.

Guess who ‘discovered’ him? When Alvin was 14 years old and a busboy at the Biltmore Hotel in Palm Springs there was a band called The Soul Patrol. Their drummer was a heavy drinker and Taylor volunteered to take his place after he got incapacitated.

Of course they didn’t expect much until he sat down. Once he started they were blown away. They asked him to rehearse with the band. One night (after bussing his tables) he sat in after the drummer became inebriated and guess who walked in? None other than the Rat Pack’s Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., along with Billy Preston and Little Richard. Little Richard walked up to him and said “I’m Little Richard and I’m the King of Rock and Roll and I want you to play in my band.” A few weeks later he was in Las Vegas opening for Elvis Presley with Billy Preston and Jimi Hendrix on guitar. Not only did he play the drums he also conducted the 18 piece orchestra for the band. Let this sink in....he was 14 years old! This is how he started his career!

Today he is a legendary drummer, Musical Director, and Producer with 78 gold records, 48 platinum records and 18 diamond records. He’s an overwhelming success. He still does many studio gigs, turning down more than he takes. He also has ATM Productions, which is an artist development company. They take talent and show them the ropes. As he explained getting one great song recorded and then putting it into the hands of the right people, like Clive Davis (Whitney Houston, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Barry Manilow, Sony Music) can be the ticket to the stars.

Taylor’s experience in the business and his plethora of contacts makes this opportunity a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Taylor’s states it like this “If I say I want to do something I do it. It’s going to happen.”

Here’s a list of a few of the artists that Alvin Taylor has performed and recorded with legendary artists including George Harrison,

Elton John, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Bob Welch, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Gil Scott Heron, Diana Ross, Barry White, Sly Stone, Leo Sayer, Bill Withers, Andre’ Crouch, Ike and Tina Turner, Ronnie Wood (guitarist with the Rolling Stones), and so many others.

The story of how he met and married his wife of 7 years is one of those classic ‘it’s going to happen’ moments. When Alvin was 8 years old he met Delia Ruiz and told her “you better marry me or I’m going to beat you up.” Of course that scared her and she ran. Over the years Alvin went to LA and made himself a star, she followed up on him through his sister. He attended and played for the PS Flashback, which is a group of former students who got together and guess who was there? She was! They reconnected and he moved back to Palm Springs to be with her after talking with her over a year. Isn’t that romantic? He told her “I’m going to do some incredible things,” and he has and continues to do so.

One of his goals is to make Palm Springs the entertainment capital of the world.

What an amazing guy! When I asked him what his favorite genre was he told me “I’m known for rock, but my love is jazz.”

There are so many incredible stories about his career that I am going to do another column next week including his stay with George Harrison in his castle outside of London where they recorded . These are the kind of stories that fascinate me because I love the ‘behind the scenes’ stories. What was it like living in his castle and recording the ‘33 & 1/3’ album? What was he like?

The stories are incredible.

Alvin Taylor will be performing with Keisha D at the Copa on May 11. To find out more about him visit his Facebook page at Alvin Taylor Music.

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

CONSIDER THIS

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BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“MOOD INDIGO: THE COMPLETE BETHLEHEM SINGLES” NINA SIMONE (BMG MUSIC)

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ext month, the late Nina Simone will be inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. That’s right, alongside the Cars, Dire Straits, Moody Blues, Bon Jovi and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Empress Of Song rounds out the class of 2018. It doesn’t quite fit, but throughout her career, she resisted being pigeon-holed. So in a weird way, it kind of makes sense.

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina in 1933, her prodigious musical talents were recognized almost immediately.

She played piano in church and her mother’s employers arranged piano lessons from Muriel Mazzanovich, a piano teacher who concentrated on Chopin, Schubert, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. She completed her musical schooling at Julliard In the early ‘50s.

When she was denied admittance to the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, she began to earn her keep playing piano in a club in Atlantic City. To ensure her devout mother never found out she was performing the “devil’s music,” she took the stage name Nina, (originally a nickname from a former beau), and Simone, from a French actress she admired named Simone Signoret.

After her first club date, the owner insisted that she sing as well as play piano.

Her sui generis style incorporated Jazz, Folk, Blues, Gospel, Boogie-Woogie and most prominently, Classical forms. She quickly made a name for herself playing clubs up and down the East Coast. In 1957 she signed with Bethlehem, a subsidiary of King Records. She clashed with label head Syd Nathan when she insisted on complete creative control. Luckily, she had her way and her instincts proved correct, her first single, “I Loves You, Porgy” landed in the Top 20. Her debut album, Little Girl Blue, arrived in late 1958.

For the next couple of decades Nina cycled through a plethora of record labels releasing an astonishing 43 albums. She remained suspicious of the record industry, making her money by staying out on the road, touring relentlessly. In 1961 she married Andrew Stroud and he became her manager. Not long after, the couple welcomed a daughter that they named Lisa.

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

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The business relationship was successful, but Stroud was physically and emotionally abusive. Still, they stayed together. Nina immersed herself in the Civil Rights movement, writing “Mississippi Goddam” as a response to Medgar Evers’ murder and the church bombing that killed four little girls in Birmingham, Alabama. She performed and spoke at the marches in Selma and Montgomery.

Nina was close with both Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. She was devastated when each leader was assassinated. Songs like “Backlash Blues” and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free” followed. She cowrote and recorded the song “Young, Gifted And Black” which was later a hit for Aretha Franklin.

She radically re-interpreted songs associated with Rock N’ Roll artists like the Animals, Bob Dylan, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the Beatles, the Bee Gees and the Broadway musical, “Hair.” But by 1970, she felt her outspoken commitment to social justice prompted the music industry to quietly boycott her music. She fled her marriage and pretty much abandoned her daughter, disappearing to Barbados and later settling on the West African coast in the Republic Of Liberia.

Her daughter joined her in Africa, but when Nina became physically abusive Lisa returned to the U.S. to live with her father. Much later they realized that Nina suffered from Manic Depression and a Bi-Polar disorder, but that went undiagnosed for much of her life. With the help of a sympathetic management team she relocated first to Switzerland and finally France. Her music experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late ‘80s when Chanel used her song “My Baby Just Cares For Me” in an ad campaign.

For the remainder of her life she toured consistently and recorded sporadically. She published an autobiography entitled “I Put A Spell On You” in 1992. She quietly battled breast cancer before dying in her sleep a couple of months after her 70th birthday.

Ironically, two days before her death, she was awarded an honorary Degree from the Curtis Institute. All these facts are presented in more poignant and elegant terms in the excellent 2015 documentary, “What Happened, Miss Simone?”

Despite the fact that there are approximately 250 different Nina Simone compilations, the BMG label has just added one more; Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles. The album collects and remasters the tracks she originally recorded 60 years ago, most of which appeared on her debut, Little Girl Blue.

The record opens with her first big hit, “Porgy (I Loves You Porgy),” from George and Ira Gershwin’s Folk-Opera, “Porgy And Bess.” Cascading piano notes wrap around the melody before upright bass and brushed percussion kick in. But it’s really just musical foreplay until Miss Simone sings. Her smoky

contralto is at once self-assured and diffident as she confesses her love and asks for protection. Even the clunky Black vernacular that Ira Gershwin probably assumed to be authentic Back in the ‘30s can’t get in the way of the depth of her singing, the quicksilver catch in her voice. Many people sang that song before, and quite a few have sung that song since, but Nina Simone owns that song.

No debate.

This album is the best of both worlds, featuring solo numbers as well as subtle Jazz trio performances. Nothing feels more intime than Nina behind the piano. Take “Little Girl Blue,” a Rodgers and Hart song originally introduced in the Broadway production, “Jumbo.” The stentorian piano introduction slyly quotes the 17th century carol “Good King Wenceslas” cedes the spotlight to Nina’s supple vocalese. She simply caresses each word as the sadness seeps through, hoping someone will “send a tender blue boy to cheer up little girl blue.”

Nina toggles between brittle apathy and wifely concern on “Don’t Smoke In Bed.” The standard, originally introduced by Peggy Lee in the ‘40s, is cocooned in empathetic piano notes. Slipping out like a thief in the night leaving only a note and a discarded wedding ring she escapes a sour arrangement. Making good on a promise; “I’m packing you in like I said.” Yet, she can’t resist dispensing a little Friendly advice; “Don’t smoke in bed.”

Although Nat King Cole had a hit with “For All We Know” just a few months before, Nina drastically recasts the song, stripping away NKC’s smooth and silky seduction. Instead, she adds an urgency that is equal parts dour and devotional. The piano blends beatific trills and peaking crescendos, that matches her nearly operatic vocals.

As emotionally naked and cathartic as the solo cuts are, the trio numbers offer something of a cosmic exhale. If the solo stuff feels cerebral, the trio tracks are pure id; accompanied by bassist Jimmy Bond (who was later part of the storied L.A. session players dubbed the Wrecking Crew) and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath, whose musical family included saxophonist Jimmy and doublebassist Percy.

Nina’s take on Ruth Ettig’s signature song, “Love Me Or Leave Me” simply swings. Her opening piano salvo briefly sketches out the melody until bass and drums jump in, kicking the song into gear. Her mien is playful even as

she basically tells a guy to sod off unless he can fully commit; “There’ll be no one unless that someone is you, I intend to be independently blue.” On the break her solo is intricate and economical, actually layering the melody with parts of a Bach Fugue.

She completely overhaul’s Duke Ellington’s muted classic “Mood Indigo,” transforming it into jumped up Blues. Bass and drums lock into a speedy shuffle rhythm as Nina’s hands fly over the keys. The rollicking arrangement completely belies sad-sack lyrics like “I’m just a poor fool that’s bluer than blue could be.”

Her devil-may-care solo sounds like the work of four hands, not two.

The action slows for the discordant Torch song “He Needs Me.” Drums and bass fade deep in the background as her plaintive vocals and soulful accompaniment take center stage.

Meanwhile, “Plain Gold Band” shares some exotic musical DNA with the song “Similau.”

The mood is hypnotic, enticing and slightly mysterious.

The balance of the record is made up of three electrifying instrumentals, two of the three, “Central Park Blues” and “African Mailman” are Nina Simone originals.

The former is a percolating oharmer that showcases Nina’s nonpareil piano finesse. The latter Opens with a series of classical notes before locking into a tart, Afro-Cuban groove.

Here she nearly attacks the keys, pounding one second, feinting and pivoting the next.

The closing tracks are her final singles for Bethlehem, “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” and “My Baby Just Cares for me.” On the former, she eschews the sing-along quality of the original upbeat hymn, first popularized in the 1920s. Slowing the tempo and underscoring the words gives the track a measure of much needed gravitas.

The latter became her signature song.

Although the Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn standard had been introduced by Eddie Cantor in 1930, Nina made it her own. Cantering piano notes crest over a clip-clop beat, which initially, seems overly simplified. But as the momentum increases, so does the velocity of her playing and the results are simply thrilling. More compelling is her playful vocal style, exuding a sanguine demeanor she rarely exhibited. It’s easy to see why it’s popped up in a plethora of films and television shows, it’s joie de vivre is infectious.

Nina Simone has inspired countless artists.

Her influence is especially felt by musicians who accompany themselves on piano. Elton John actually named a piano after her. Diana Krall and Norah Jones are obvious musical heirs. Her songs have been covered by an array of disparate talent like David Bowie, Van Morrison, Nick Cave and Jeff Buckley.

Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles offers a portrait of an artist just starting out, who seems remarkably at the height of her powers. History shows that it only got better. But this was the very beginning.

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AMERICA’S FAVORITE PROP COMEDIAN CARROT TOP

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COMEDY

March 22 to March 28, 2018

MAKING AN APPEARANCE IN THE ‘SPOTLIGHT SHOWROOM’ AT SPOTLIGHT 29 CASINO ON MARCH 24

ince his Star Search debut more than 25 years ago, the redheaded renegade has been a mainstay of the U.S. comedy scene, including a longstanding residency at the Luxor Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip (running through 2020). His unique brand of humor includes the use of more than 200 homemade props on stage any given night, and tackling everything from politics to current events to pop culture.

“I love creating props to whatever’s current – from a news headline to a song I heard on the radio,” said the 52-year-old funnyman.

A native of Rockledge Fla., Carrot Top made his first Tonight Show appearance in 1992,and has since been welcomed back more than 30 times, including Jay Leno’s farewell episode. He’s also appeared on hundreds of other TV shows, including Last Comic Standing, Criss Angel Mindfreak, CSI, Scrubs, Reno 911! and Glee; while starring in movies like Sharknado: The 4th Awakens, The Aristocrats and The Hangover.

Tickets are $45, $35 and $25 and are available at Spotlight29.com, by calling Star Tickets (800) 585-3737, and at the Spotlight 29 Box Office and Gift Shop. Doors open at 7pm. Shows start at 8pm.

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

PET PLACE

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PUPPIES BEHIND BARS

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ervice dogs are the eyes for those who cannot see, the leaders for people unable to walk, and the healers for those suffering from emotional illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For some service dogs, it all began behind bars....

Before Puppies Behind Bars began, an inmate named Tom spent most days watching television in his cell and pumping iron.

Tom spent over thirty years in prison on a conviction for second degree murder. Tom explained the difference the dogs made in his life, “In the prison system, you shut down your feelings. You gotta do that to survive, because it’s hard. But the dogs brought me back, you know, to the human side.” He had an incredible success rate of 6-0 with all his dogs successfully graduating, a success that gave him status within the prison and hope within himself.

Tom took on a dog that was failing in the program, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Tuesday, a dog that later became the subject of a best-selling book UNTIL TUESDAY. Tom began his relationship with Tuesday by simply laying down beside him for three hours without saying a word. He describes his first impression of Tuesday, “Tuesday has such sad eyes, especially when he’s wounded, that

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MEET WAYLON Waylon is the perfect pup for an active family with children. He loves to play games and go for long walks. Still a puppy at 9 months old. Rescued by www.lovingallanimals.org from the Desert Hot Springs Animal Center.

Call (760) 834-7000.

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at seven months old he probably looked like exactly what he was: a lost kid. When I think of him then, I see a perfect picture of longing, of innocence at the moment it discovers there is pain in the world.”

Tom looks back on those days, “The only way the prison system could win was to get me to hate, and being around the dogs and everything, the hate was totally out of the picture.” Today Tom owns a dog training business with his wife, providing a second chance for troubled dogs that others gave up on including many pit bulls. Inmates who participate in the Puppies Behind Bars program acquire job skills and exit prison to enter careers as vet technicians, kennel workers, and animal trainers.

Founded in 1997, this innovative program in New York initially trained dogs for people with physical disabilities. After 9/11, there was an increased demand for bomb sniffing

BY JANET McAFEE dogs. Later they began training dogs to assist veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD, acquired brain injuries, and physical conditions. The dogs spend 20 months with their inmate trainers, living with them in their cells. Here, it’s the dogs that get weekend furloughs in outside homes to gain exposure to things they don’t encounter in prison such as doorbells and elevators. The dogs learn an amazing 80 commands.

A similar program, Pups on Parole, began in Las Vegas when a rescue group called Heaven Can Wait Animal Society didn’t have enough foster homes for the dogs they rescued. The dogs are placed with specially chosen inmates in the female correctional facility. The abandoned and sometimes abused dogs needed a place to heal before going to adoptive homes in the community.

Inmates have all the time in the world, but for dogs on “death row” in shelters time is of the essence. Famed trainer Cesar Milan helped develop the training curriculum. One of the program coordinators wrote this poem about her experience: LITTLE ONE Little one…so full of fear No one’s gonna hurt you here.

Soon, you’ll see, how it feels to trust cuz, you’ve been rescued, just like us.

We promise that it’s not too late

because we all know that Heaven can wait.

Forget the broken road you’ve traveled on for, yesterday has come and gone.

That’s a lesson, we must all learn and now, little one…it is your turn.

Come with us, walk by our side hold your tail up high with pride.

And in the end, when we’re all through there’ll be a family just waiting for you.

Because, Little one… so full of fear no one’s gonna hurt you here.

Los Angeles County started a rescue dog training program in their jails in 2012.

California inmates have a recidivism rate of 67%. They come out of prison with few job skills after learning unsavory “tricks of the trade” from fellow offenders. Millions of California shelter dogs, whose only crime is not having a home, languish behind bars without hope. It costs California taxpayers an average of $47,000 per year to house an inmate. It costs California taxpayers an average of $426 to capture, house, and then euthanize a shelter animal. Who rescues who? After exposure to these wonderful canine creatures, confidence replaces fear, purpose replaces idleness, and hope for a better future replaces anger. jmcafee7@verizon.net

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THE VINO VOICE

BY RICK RIOZZA

SIP, TASTE & ENCOUNTER AT THE PALM DESERT FOOD & WINE FEST

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s this column is wont to do at this perfect time of year, we welcome the 8th annual presentation of the valley’s largest foodie weekend festival: Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home Palm Desert Food & Wine presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa. It takes place March 2325, 2018, at the Gardens on El Paseo.

This Palm Desert event is so large and celebrated that one can go on-line or find any publication nearby on the entire goings on including wine & food tastings from over 60 world class wineries and 40 local restaurants and eateries, along with a lineup of over 20 celebrity chef demonstrations.

And here you go—check out the calendar and the events till your heart’s content: palmdesertfoodandwine.com/experience.

So why don’t we just cut to the culinary chase and comment out loud on some of the booths and spots we’re especially looking forward to encountering. Apart from the other cookery activities, there are the two weekend days of Grand Tasting: So come early and stay late; and give it that old college try to stay thirsty & hungry throughout the three day event.

A couple of months ago, we did a column on cheese & wine pairings. The amount of likes received tells me that you may well wish to consider buying tickets ($50 per) to the experiential seminar “Cheese” with Laura Werlin, this Thursday, March 22 at 6pm, at the On The Mark Cheese Shop, 777 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.

Ms. Werlin will no doubt show & tell and the audience will learn about the key to pairing cheese with wine: determine the texture of the eight styles of cheese, which provides a window into its flavor; then work light wines with light cheeses and heavier wines with heavier cheeses.

All attendees to the seminar will also receive an autographed copy of Werlin’s All American Cheese and Wine book, wherein she states, “cheese will influence the flavor of wine, more than the other way around… and the best way to figure out what works

for you is to taste, taste, taste.” Well—I’m in on that!

There’s also another fun-sounding presentation: Gale Gand’s Vanilla 101 to be held on Thursday, March 22 at 6pm ($25 per) at the Savory Spice located in the heart of the shopping district on El Paseo, in Palm Desert. I like the Savory Spice store—I get my Ghost Peppers and Sichuan pepperberries there.

Serving complimentary samples, award-winning chef Gale Gand will explain everything you wish to know about the vanilla bean that’s grown from the only orchid that bears edible fruit. This includes how to incorporate vanilla in our cooking.

The only problem here is that attendance is extremely limited—so act!

Think of some of your favorite chefs in our valley and you’ll probably find them performing a cooking demonstration here at the event. On Saturday afternoon, March 24, in Tent 2, culinary personality Fabio Viviani, and thereafter, Andie Hubka, chef & owner of Cork & Fork and Heirloom Craft Kitchen, will be accomplishing their foodie feats; and, up next will be Bella Francisco, a 13-year-old eighth grade student at St. Theresa School in Palm Springs, who won Food Network’s Chopped Junior.

As to the Grand Tasting affair, one needs to work efficiently—or, play efficiently. For instance, like I do at trade tastings, I prefer starting things out with an awakening Champagne and sparklers. This perks the mind to calmly assess the wine and food layout. Meet me early and we can meander about with an itinerary that will include a bunch of wineries and their wines that we have covered in this column over the years.

It’s always great to check in with our wine friends for a quick chat to catch-up on things. Wine lovers always love hearing a little winery anecdote here and there.

Whenever we vino lovers have the opportunity to taste from the portfolio of an historic winery, we jump at the chance.

And this weekend we’re all in for a tasting at

March 22 to March 28, 2018

the Grgich Hills Estate. The lovely Jacquee Renna has been Grgich’s representative in these parts for a while now and hopefully we’ll be seeing her pouring here.

As you enthusiasts know, Mike Grgich, who is in his nineties, is wine royalty in the world and lives out here during the season.

It was his Chardonnay that won that famous 1976 Paris tasting where California beat out the French stuff. Also his Zinfandel,

Merlots, and Cabs continue to score off the charts. It’s all history in a glass! Stop by, say hi—and enjoy!

I’m quite happy to see Tom Gore Vineyards pouring here. You readers will remember our July 2015 column, Tom Gore: The Most Fortunate Grape Farmer, where we got to know Tom and his downhome sensibility providing grapes for many wineries and now making his own stuff. And we just wrote about his charitable interests in the Sonoma Strong movement helping those recovering from the fires. He’s got some newly released wines to taste!

Another charming wine representative to chummy up with is Heidi Daniels who represents the famed Duck Pond Cellars and Fries Family Wines. Her line up is always stellar stuff. I recently tried the latest Duck Pond Pinot Noir and it knocked my silly socks off. Indeed, I think we’ll cover her broad impressive portfolio in our column next week!

And of course we’ll be greeting Annie Arnold, owner of Organic Wine Exchange, as we taste through her stable of organic and biodynamic wineries on hand. See you all there!

Bonne Fête & Bon Appétit—Cheers!

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

THUR MARCH 22

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 Francesca Amari, Bill Marx and Doug MacDonald 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Bricktoyaface Presents: Pacific Breeze Tour w/ Vel the Wonder, Noa james, Endz, Cam Gnarly, 4th beats, Darehouse,Dxsko, Wavy Carl and More 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760200-1768 Kristy King 7-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 TBA 8-10pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Barry, Bob and Riz 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760-3656633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Courtney Chambers, Matt Claborn and Sunday Funeral 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm

JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 TBA 9pm LA QUINTA OLDTOWN TAPROOM; LQ; Lance Riebsomer and David Morales 8-11pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Neil Morrow 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Rick the Piano Man 6pm 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 The Adobe Collective, Rick Shelley and Gabriella Evaro 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 TBA 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 DJ Worden 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 SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Wayne Boyer 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Robert Salisbury 5-7pm, Steve Oliver 7:30-11pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Alex Santana 5-8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 DJ 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Linda Peterson 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI MARCH 23

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Fast Heart Mart 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Golden Boots 8pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Shelley Yoelin Group 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Friday Night Sour Hour w/ Pink Lemonade Drag Show 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Femme A and Lazy Eye 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Manuel the Band 8:30pm 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 CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm

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CLUB 5; IND; 760-625-1719 DJ 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PD; Angel and Buddy Greco Jr. 8:30pm 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 HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Acoustic Sessions w/ Ronnie King and Core 10 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Shape of Things 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke 7:30pm KILO’S CANTINA; TP; 760-835-1363 Tormenta en el Desierto – Spanish Rap Event 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Circle of Fifths 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Eevaan Tre 6:30pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm 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 Dude Jones 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Orlandos 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Pearl Charles and Korey Dane 9pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Right On Right On, The After Lashes, Captain Ghost and Hide Your Guns 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Scot Bruce: Elvis the Early Years 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Guttercandy 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7:30pm 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 Smooth Brothers 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

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SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Delgado Blue 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VENUS DE FIDO; PD; 760-834-7070 Michael D’Angelo 6-9pm, Carl Davis Dance Lesson 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet the Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley King Show 8pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Boys Night Out w/ DJ House Whores 7pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 5-7pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Whiskey Blues 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez, Todd Ashley and Lisa LaFaro Weselis 6:30-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Global Sessions w/ Darlene and Jasmine 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Sangre, Tower Guard and In the Name of the Dead 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Bob Allen 6pm KILO’S CANTINA; TP; 760-835-1363 Guerra De Nortenos 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; Courtney Chambers 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Circle of Fifths 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Fire and Ice 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Derek Jordan Gregg 6pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Bill 6:30pm 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Maddy and PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327Tottie Presents: Basic Tendencies 11am poolside, 4080 Hammer of the Ozz 9pm Ruby Force 8pm, Seven Davis Jr and DJ Shark PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-34510pm 0222 Meltdown 6:30pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, The Paul Chesne AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Band Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 The Seven/ PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Six Presents: Ocho Ojos, Higher Heights, DJ COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Skyhigh and Jakkz 9pm Karaoke 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Angela Teek: 7pm Love Sweet Love 8pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Funk’d RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 DJ Wardon 9pm Martinis 8:30pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775-5566 RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Andy Cahan 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers DJ 9pm 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S 6-10pm MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; 8-11pm PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Tuzzolino 5:30pm Brothers 8-11pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK 6-9pm CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760- 9pm 200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 9pm Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron Baker 6pm James 6pm DATE SHED; IND; Core 10, Annabelle Asylum, SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Drop Mob Decapitate the Kause and DJ Rowlow Music 10pm 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 TBA 6pm Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228Bonethumpers 9pm 1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Dennis Michael 6:30pm Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm Jack Ruvio 6pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 5391 DJ 10pm 8:30pm

SAT MARCH 24

March 22 to March 28, 2018

VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rose Mallett & Co. 5-7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono & The Real Deal 7:30-11pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Cinch 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 The Refills 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN MARCH 25

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Maddy and Tottie Presents: Basic Tendencies 11am poolside, Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Brunch w/ Trish Hatley and Barney McClure 11:30am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Fusion Latin Night w/ DJ LF and Friends 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Brian Denigan 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760200-1768 Lori Yeary 6-9pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm continue to page 20

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

GOOD GRUB

I

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

CASILLAS PANADERIA, AN INDIO SWEET SPOT

n traditional fashion, this Old Town Indio sweet spot offers classic Mexican as well as American style baked goods, all at Casillas Bakery.

Off Oasis Street in the Old Town part of Indio, sits Casillas Bakery/Panaderia.

The popular old school bakery has been providing sweet baked goodies to the surrounding area for almost thirty years.

It’s the kind of place that feels strangely comfy, although the décor is lacking…well, décor. But the simplicity of the place, is actually part of its allure. It’s an old school no frill bakery, but whatever they don’t have in the frill department, they make up easily in authentic and tasty baked treats, with a shiny reputation aided by their longevity.

Casillas Bakery member Alexa Hernandez walked me through the numerous items that they have to tame a sweet tooth. First off, when you enter the bakery there is a wall with medium sized glass doors, and inside there are racks with the goodies on them.

Patrons grab a tray with a pair of tongs to select what they would like to purchase, self-service style. There are racks upon racks of different items, some that look familiar, and some that might need a little bit of a description, especially if you are not familiar with pan dulces (sweet bread).

There are American standard pastries that they offer such as jelly rolls, a variety of cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls and donuts, as well as croissants, pretzels and rolls. But

16

it’s the pan dulces that seem to be a little more fun. They have names which include Chicken Legs (pan dulce shaped like a chicken leg) Borracho (a bone like shaped pan dulce), and Yo-Yo (jelly roll type cake, rolled in coconut), among others. Many of the pastries are playfully formed Concha’s, which is sweet bread with a sugary topping.

The sugary aspect of the goods at Casillas Bakery is one to make a special note about, as they are NOT overly sugary. It’s a refreshing part of the way that their baked

goods taste. They are light, in texture and in sugar content. The treats don’t leave you feeling as if you just downed a pound of sugar. A couple of items that I relished in on my visit was their bread pudding, their buttercream atop a slice of pan dulce and

BY DENISE ORTUNO the pineapple cake. The bread pudding kind of reminded me of the way my mom used to make it. It was dense, not overly sweet, and had a sort of crust to it, bringing me back to my mom’s kitchen. And because I’m a butter freak, I had to try their buttercream, which was fantastic spread over some light sweet bread. However, I must say that their pineapple cake is super delicious, with moist cake and real pineapple.

Casillas offers up specials as well, and even tamales during the winter months. Having a birthday party, wedding or any occasion that needs a cake? Casillas has you covered there too (can we say buttercream??).

Apart from their lip smacking goods, their prices are crazy affordable, with most items less than $1 (not the specialty cakes).

Casillas Bakery bakes their pastries and bread daily, starting at a mind boggling 3:30am every day. They are opened from 5am to 8pm Mon through Sat, and until 1pm on Sundays.

For authentic pan dulces and other sweet indulgences, Casillas Bakery has a traditional flare that will have you coming back for tasty treats again and again.

Casillas Bakery is located at 45-228 Oasis St, Indio 92201.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

March 22 to March 28, 2018

17

March 22 to March 28, 2018

SCREENERS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

No. 309

LEANER, MEANER, SMARTER

NOW PLAYING: TOMB RAIDER

Director Roar Uthaug’s fast-paced and gritty iteration of the popular video game and third installment of the big screen mystical action adventure franchise features a Lara Croft (Alicia Vikandr) that is a tougher, meaner and more relentless Lara than we’ve previously seen in her quest of find

her dad or at least what happened to him seven years earlier when he disappeared.

This engaging, pulpy B-movie –that’s a compliment -- delivers the promise of the poster. In the opening scene, Lara speeds through twisty East London as a financially strapped bike courier. She turns down an opportunity to take control of her dad’s global empire because it would mean he was actually gone and perhaps dead.

Lara defies his final written and videorecorded wishes and solves a series of puzzles that lead her to her dad’s last known destination, a fabled tomb in a mountain on a mythical island off the coast of Japan.

Armed with only her brilliant mind and trusty bow, she forces herself to the limit in an adventure that could impact the future of the world as we know it. This satisfying origin story literally shows Lara as a fierce and relentless tomb raider of an ancient

demonic queen whose body and cause of death may be weaponized by entities within the Croft organization.

Academy Award© winner Alicia Vikander is the best Lara Croft so far. She owns the beloved character as she moves with grace and power in all her action scenes.

It’s great to see charismatic costar Daniel Wu interacting with Vikander in a crucial sequence. See it on one of the big screens in the beautifully refurbished Mary Pickford D’Place Entertainment. Recommended.

DOWNSIZING

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: DON’T BOTHER TO KNOCK (1952)

Blonde, beautiful and delusional. In her first dramatic role, Marilyn Monroe costars with Richard Widmark as a demented baby sitter in a Manhattan hotel drawn to a visiting airline pilot (Widmark) she comes to believe is her dead fiancé. I loved this snappy and tight (75 minutes) little noirish thriller so beautifully photographed in glorious black-and-white by ace cinematographer Lucian Ballard (“The Wild Bunch”).

Directed by suspense master Roy Ward Baker, the film also features Anne Bancroft in her film debut as Widmark’s nightclub singer girlfriend. I loved the shifting perspective on Widmark’s initially menacing character. Nice bonus material on Monroe and Widmark. Only 3,000 units available.

Twilight Time. Blu-ray. Recommended.

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

This week I got a colorful multi-fold flyer in the mail from Tony Dale’s Leisureland Estates. It looked legit, with a phone number and about a dozen inviting photos touting “America’s #1 Microcommunity. It took me a few seconds to realize this faux brochure was a clever ploy to draw attention to the home video release of “DOWNSIZING.” Although Alexander Payne’s movie was pretty much a flop both financially and critically, there are two good reasons to see this oddity about getting small in order to live large. Those two reasons are the pairing of CV resident Udo Kier and Christoph Waltz as entrepreneurs who have seized opportunities to market elements of fullsize merch to the miniaturize humans. I hope these two accomplished and popular actors continue to team up in future films.

The 4K Ultra HD transfer is gorgeous, but the extras are minimal with a trip to the set of Leisurland and look at the production design and visual effect behind the miniaturized world Matt Damon and Kristin Wiig consider as a future habitat that will ease the stresses and pressures on their lives. The serious issues underlying the premise of this film are barely touched upon as are the multitude problems of reducing your body mass by 0.0364%!!! Paramount.

4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Combo Packs. robin@coachellavaleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

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“DAUGHTERS BETRAYED

BY THEIR MOTHERS"

BY HOLLI KENLEY NONFICTION

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W

e all have a mother. For some, a mother represents love and nurturing, while for others, it is a painful relationship. In Holli Kenley’s Daughters Betrayed by Their Mothers: Moving From Brokenness to Wellness (Loving Healing Press, 260 pages), women reveal how “bad” mothering shaped their reality.

Author Kenley explores the lives of seven women who had difficult and challenging relationships with their mothers. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a Master’s Degree in Psychology, Kenley diligently formed a safe way to structure a conversation about maternal betrayal, its lasting impact and the healing journey to recovery.

Kenley starts the book with her own betrayal experience using the method she devised through a series of questions. Referring to her book as “The Daughters Project,” Kenley realized that she first needed to explore the effects of her own mother’s betrayal on her life.

Sharing her journey from “Brokenness to Wellness,” Kenley wanted to honor herself, her voice and her truths. Talking about her mother, Kenley understood the narrative was her’s alone and not her mother’s.

As a child, “betrayal” was not how Kenley identified her relationship with her mother. It was a word that came later as she started the

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MOMMY DEAREST

healing process. As a young girl, she only knew that her life, mother and family were seriously different.

Kenley reveals a household filled with criticism where she was never “good enough,” felt belittled and berated regularly for insignificant things. There was alcoholism and anger issues that Kenly found confusing. Her parents were strict, but their rules were unjust and unreasonable. There was never enough money to pay bills, but always enough to buy booze.

As a child, Kenley felt responsible for making her mother angry and there was nothing, no matter how hard she tried, that could make her mom happy. Her mother was mean and cruel. Kenley felt unloved which created a lasting betrayal with feelings of low self-worth, insecurity and abandonment.

Each of the women profiled in Kenley’s book provides insight into their personal lives, their mother’s world, and the impact of “betrayal” growing up and as adults coming to terms with what it means to have a mother who betrays rather than loves and nurtures.

The women, including Kenley, all experienced some form or combination of physical, mental or emotional abuse. Nearly all the women in Kenley’s “Daughters Project” sought professional treatment either specifically regarding their mothers or indirectly while in marital counseling.

If, dear reader, you have any problems with your mom, Daughters Betrayed by Their Mothers is an intense, often painful, but valuable read.

Throughout the seven personal narratives,

March 22 to March 28, 2018

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

there are revealing and troubling examples of how potent and damaging mothers can be to their children creating lasting injury and permanent scars.

The book is powerful as it turns to how the women discovered their strength, resilience and freedom. Most have found peace, balance and understanding regarding their mothers. But, the women in the book also confess that their journey to wellness is a continuing process.

I was moved by how many of the women who experienced bad mothering and betrayal growing up, thought they were alone and believed they were the problem – a bad person, ugly, stupid, worthless, etc.

I was impressed by the level of success and drive many of the women had and have.

Amazingly, these women were able to embrace their potential, learn to trust and depend on themselves, and love fully. Some admit bad moms and necessity, made them self-reliant, independent or brave. Several women were inspired to help others by becoming therapists themselves.

I was saddened thinking about the generation of “bad mothers” who seemed to be

SAFETY TIPS NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND!

I

always liked to say I was Andy’s training captain, because as young boys we would set fires in my parents’ backyard and play “firefighter.” Andy was the smart one. I provided the training center (my parents’ backyard), which meant I was stuck with the evidence while Andy rode his bike home, another successful “training” session complete.

Though my dad wasn’t in the fire service, I swear he was a fire investigator in a past life. Andy and I always took pains to cover our tracks from the fires we set, but my dad managed to find the burn patterns, the point of origin and the Ohio blue tips used for ignition along with burned wood, debris and weeds.

I’d get the belt, and Andy, well, he was always “such a good boy.”

We joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department Explorers at an early age. We got hired pretty much right out of high school and began our fire service careers, never looking back.

Proud to be firefighters!

Unfortunately, all the training and years on the job can’t stop the risks associated with being a firefighter. In fact, it increases our risk of heart attacks, cancer, diseases and injuries.

Andy succumbed to colorectal cancer on Jan. 23, 2012, at just 52 years old. It was a tough battle; anyone who knew Andy knew he was tough, but not tough enough to win this fight.

And that brings me back to Andy. His death

women who lived unfulfilled personal lives.

Many of the “mothers” were young, entering into roles and relationships for which they were clearly unprepared. None seemed to have meaningful careers, mental health support, or loving partners. Unhappiness was a common denominator.

This is Kenly’s seventh book pertaining to recovery, mental health and parenting.

Reading Daughters Betrayed by Their Mothers is like sitting in on counseling sessions. As Kenley compassionately guides the participants through the tough and emotional questions, she thoughtfully interjects giving us a sense of the authenticity, relevance and depth of the betrayal.

Finally, Kenley presents an analysis of the entire “Daughters Project.” Besides the professional challenge, she comments that the process provided her with a deep personal source of growth. Kenley compiles the narratives, giving the reader perspective, insight, hope and healing.

Part of what makes this book so compelling is that Kenley, with professionalism, kindness, generosity and humility, participates in the project as a daughter betrayed, which generates a sisterhood of safety, understanding and support. The book contains the interview questions, along with an index and bibliography.

Kenley lovingly compares the betrayed daughters’ healing process to the opening of an oyster revealing a priceless pearl produced by an injured life.

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA was ruled a line-of-duty death, caused by jobrelated colorectal cancer. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States. Of cancers that kill both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second-leading killer.

Colorectal cancer affects people in all racial and ethnic groups. It’s most often found in people age 50 and older, but recent research suggests that risk may be shifting. A report published Feb. 28, 2017, found that someone born in 1990 would have twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer at the same age had they been born in 1950 (cnn.com/2017/02/28/health/coloncancer-rectal-cancer-risk-young-people-study/ index.html).

So, the risk appears to be increasing. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s a clarion call to take action: · If you’re over 50, get a regular colonoscopy or other screening test your doctor recommends. · No matter your age, watch for symptoms: blood in or on your stool, stomach pain or cramps that don’t go away and/or unexplained weight loss. · Maintain a healthy weight, or try to lose weight if you’re obese or overweight. · Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in animal fat.

March is the month dedicated to raising awareness about colorectal cancer. Perhaps you can share this with members in your family, work or organization to spread the word — and maybe save the life of someone like Andy.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15 FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Meh, Monday 9pm Jack Ruvio 6-9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Tuzzolino 5:30pm Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5-9pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5-9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:30-7:30pm, Mikael MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; Healy 8pm 760-325-2323 Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 T-Bone NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke Karaoke 8pm 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Sunday Band 7:30pm Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Open Mic 6pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Randy Seymon 8pm The Myx 6pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 The 3560 T.B.A. 6pm Refills 4-7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci Mike Costley’s Jazz Show 6:30-10pm Daniels and Reggie Vision 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 The Might Sweet Nothings 6:30pm Stanley King & Trio 6-9:30pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6-9pm Motown Mondays 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Cinch 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Scott Carter 6:30pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 John Carey and Friends 6:30pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bill and Bob Duo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Gilmore and Bryan 6:30pm Luminators 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm Marx 6:30pm

TUE MARCH 27

MON MARCH 26

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

Septic Tank & Grease Trap Pumping Sewer & Drain Cleaning Odor Control

760-404-6325

20

BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Strictly Vinyl w/ DJ Richie Rich and Friends 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Big Rock Big Blues Jam 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 7-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted

by Phillip Moore 9pm 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; 760-325-2794 Palm Springs Sound Company MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healy 8pm 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; 760-3274080 Acoustic Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night w/ Rock-A-Holics 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Randy Seymon 8pm

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Cinch 6-9pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John McCormick and Co. 6:30-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Alex Santana 5-8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Acoustic Sessions w/ Lance & David 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans and John Bolivar 6pm

WED MARCH 28

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Uncle Abe Presents: Heatstroke A Monthly DJ Night 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Lucid Wednesday w/ DJ Sugarfree 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Smooth Brothers 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Johnny Meza 7-10pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760343-5973 Live and Local w/ TBA 5:30-8pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Jack Ruvio 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DRAUGHTSMAN;PS; 760-507-1644 Derek Jordan Gregg 8pm

ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic hosted by Josh Heinz 8pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke 7:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 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 TBA 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6:30pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Local Artist Spolight 7pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Katheryn White 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Barbara Morrison Piano 4:30-6pm, Barry Minniefield 6:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Mikole Kaar 5-8pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Go Bold Jam 7:30pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 DJ 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Valerie Geason 6:30pm

HADDON LIBBY

L

ast week, I joined David Robinson of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership at UC-Riverside, Palm Desert Campus to speak on demographic trends in the Coachella Valley. This week’s article focuses on highlights from that presentation.

Where Do We Live?

In 1960, the population center for full-time residents was the Oasis Country Club in Palm Desert (at Hovley East between Eldorado and Washington). The center is defined as the place where half of the population lives on one side and half live on the other side.

Population growth trended west for twenty years before returning to the corner of Fred Waring and Washington Boulevard in 2010.

At present, the population center is the Bermuda Dunes Country Club (42nd and Adams) with the fastest growing areas being Indio, Coachella and Desert Hot Springs.

Additionally, the number of people living

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

STATE OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY - 2018

at home has grown since the Great Recession of ten years ago due to increased birth rates in the eastern Valley as well as more Millennials living at home later in life. A third factor is the increase in adult children living with aging parents.

What Do We Earn?

Before answering that, the median age of full-time residents in the Coachella Valley is 36 years and getting older. This increase follows a national trend caused by the retirement of baby boomers.

One-quarter of our households earn less than $25,000 annually while one-third earn less than $35,000 a year. At the other end of the income spectrum, one in eight households earn $150,000 or more. Most troubling is a trend where there are fewer middle income jobs between $50,000 and $100,000 with most of the job migration moving toward lower income positions.

When we look at wage growth in the Coachella Valley (wages that are already below state and county averages), we trail the state average by more than 50%. Wages in the Coachella Valley are growing at a 1.3% rate versus the United States (2.1%) and California (2.7%). To make matters worse, our cost of living is 34% higher than neighbors like Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

The lack of good-paying jobs outside of

government and healthcare is a key reason why college-educated young adults do not return home after obtaining their degrees.

This situation is getting worse as residents in their peak earning years (between 35 and 54 years-old) are increasingly leaving the desert.

How Educated Are We? The short answer is not very as our economy relies on more low wage jobs than comparable places. As a result, it should be no surprise that one-third of our residents have no more than a high school education while another 30% have no more than two years of higher education. Of the remaining population with college and graduate degrees, a disproportionate share is retired.

When you compare these results with the Scottsdale/Mesa area, we have 10% more people with low education levels and 10% less with at college and graduate degrees.

What Does This Mean?

Our economy will trail comparable locations so long as we fail to have a fulltime university with the classes, curriculum and professors needed to create a better educated workforce. Additionally, our internet speeds are 4 to 10 times slower than nearby Riverside and most coastal employment centers making it virtually impossible for technology-oriented businesses to locate here.

Call to Action Speak up if you want to affect positive change as your silence ensures the status quo. Tell your elected representatives at the City, County and State levels that they need to act…and then tell them again and again.

Without a better higher educational system and competitive internet speeds, full-time residents in the Coachella Valley will continue to have lower standards of living than most.

Haddon Libby is an economics geek as well as the founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management. For more information on their award-nominated services, please visit www.WinslowDrake. com.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

THE EASTER BUNNY PREDICTS ACCIDENTS AND DUI’S

C

oachella and Stagecoach attract many tourists resulting in more cars on the road. We don’t need the Easter Bunny to predict heavy partying resulting in more Accidents and DUI’s.

In my weekly legal show, Accidentally Yours, I warned: PEOPLE DON’T PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN. So read this missive to learn what to do if you are an accident victim.

Know your policy limits and keep proof in your glovebox. If the at fault driver doesn’t have coverage, or enough coverage, we make an uninsured motorist (UM) claim.

Remember all medical providers are concerned about payment. If you cannot find proof of insurance you use a credit card rather than a lawyer’s lien doctor.

Go to the ER to be sure you are ok and to document injuries. Write down all your symptoms so you won’t forget to tell the doctor everything. Thus there is less chance of the doctor not writing something down.

It is not just what the doctor heard but what they “thought they heard”.

Your lawyer helps you get medical care from a lien doctor you have not seen before.

This is important because current medical providers records document prior injuries, alcohol or drugs issues, psych referrals, SDT’s, abortions etc. Though these records may have nothing to do with the accident, many jurors will incorrectly think less of the

victim.

Social media should be taken down after an accident. The last thing you want is for the insurance company to find victim’s posts of tennis, golf or skiing while complaining of constant pain.

Because of the victim’s mistakes and challenges it is hard to maximize the value of an accident case, resulting in smaller settlements. Thus many lawyers reject these cases.

The most successful cases have the following in common, helping to establish liability and damages. Ideally a victim should take pictures and gather info at the scene.

Phones allow us to take pictures of damage to all parties and vehicles...and to get statements before they talk to the insurance company or lawyer and revise what happened.

Call the police even when there were no apparent injuries but don’t admit fault. The accident report provides information on all parties, witnesses and liability, proving who was at fault. If the police do not arrive you must get the above info yourself.

Remember Silence is Golden.

Don’t give statements to anyone as it is evidence and consider the following: 1. Get immediate medical attention ideally by going by ambulance to the Hospital or Urgent Care: 2. Don’t provide Medicare/MediCal

information until you talk with your lawyer: 3. Contact a LOCAL Lawyer and use his/ her doctor and body shop: 4. Purchase high auto liability and UM coverage: Many locals have no insurance or inadequate limits so we make an uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage claim.

5. Buy Medical Payments coverage: Irrespective of fault your medical bills can be paid under this section.

6. Follow your lawyers’ instructions and agree to go to trial when necessary.

Sometimes the attorney has to threaten, or go to trial, to get the true value of a case from the defense. Some clients refuse to go to trial because of skeletons in their closet: an abortion they did not tell their husband about; illegal drugs; a venereal disease; seeing a psych or notes of an affair.

7. Do not sign anything: The paper you sign could be a release...or just an authorization to obtain your medical records.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER.........THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR DUI AND CALLING ME. Questions/ ideas for future columns, contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500/ dale@ dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life (DUI/ ACCIDENTS) 2011-2018 “TOP LAWYER”-Inland Empire Magazine Nov, 2016

21

March 22 to March 28, 2018

SPORTS SCENE

W

ith two rounds of the NCAA men’s tournament in the books, it’s clear that there’s no overwhelming favorite to win the national title. No. 1 overall seed Virginia was gone less than 36 hours into the tourney, and defending champ North Carolina didn’t last a whole lot longer. Although most of the Cinderellas have cleared the dance floor (save for South region No. 11 seed LoyolaChicago), the next few weeks could belong to any of about a dozen teams.

Here’s what jumped out to us during the tournament’s first weekend-plus of action: This Sweet 16 Is Weird Glance at the seed numbers of the teams left standing, and you’ll notice an odd mix. Only two No.1 seeds survived the tournament’s first weekend — the fewest since 2004 — and as many teams seeded seventh or worse (six) advanced as teams seeded in the top three of their regions. The resulting Sweet 16 isn’t necessarily stocked with scrappy opening-weekend flukes, as many of the first-round giant killers — such as UMBC, Buffalo and Marshall — didn’t make it past their second opponent. As a result, plenty of other years had more double-digit seeds reach the tourney’s second week. In short, Underdogs are winning big!

Perhaps more surprising than the barrage of upsets that highlighted opening

BREWTALITY

G

ose: an oddly named beer that’s German in origin. I used to pronounce it “goes” until I started hanging out with people who are way snootier and more pretentious than I am, and they taught me that it’s pronounced “go-zuh”.

Which sounds way more German and therefore makes sense.

A gose is a sour wheat ale that’s got both coriander and salt in the recipe, creating a very bright, tangy, and refreshing beer. Like all good sours, it’s hardly bitter at all, cuz let’s face it, sour and bitter together is just a bad taste in your mouth.

I’ve been telling people for years that if they like the flavors of a Michelada, then they’d love the tangy, lightly salted, and delicately spiced flavors of a Gose.

Hefeweizen: Old world style, wheat beer.

Unlike American-style wheats, which are known for a clean and neutral yeast character, German Hefeweizen has pronounced clove (phenols) and banana (esters) flavors that come from the type of yeast used. Similar yeast characteristics are found in Belgian-style witbier, but they’re more subdued in German hefeweizen. Not nearly as popular now than it was in its 80’s and 90’s heyday, Samuel Adams, Gordon Biersch, and Pyramid all make good hefs that can be easily attained.

IPA: Highly ubiquitous and insanely popular, IPA’s are arguably the posterchild of the craft beer movement. Everybody knows what they are; highly (sometimes insanely) hopped pale ales that satisfy a craving for the

22

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‘MARCH MADNESS’ LIVING UP TO NAME weekend was the sheer magnitude of those unexpected wins. As No. 16 seed UMBC personified with its historic 20-point thrashing of No. 1 Virginia, these weren’t games in which the underdog squeaked by on a last-second shot; no, the favorites tended to be mercilessly crushed when they lost.

Including both the rounds of 64 and 32, games won by lower-seeded teams this year have come by an average of 10.6 points, only the second time in the 64-team era that the average upset at this stage of the tournament came by a margin of 10.5 points or more. The other was in 2000, when underdogs won their games by an average of 10.9 points per game — but that year’s first two rounds only saw 11 total upsets, by teams with an average seed number of 7.9.

This year’s tourney has featured 15 upsets by teams with an average seed of 10.1, which makes this collection of underdog landslides even more impressive.

Kentucky can cruise Kentucky has moved from “dark horse” clear cut favorite to reach the final 4, if simply because their path to the Final Four was shaping up to be a daunting one: First, a tough Davidson team in the round of 64; then, most likely, Arizona, Virginia and Cincinnati, all in a row. For all the Wildcats’ talent, that seemed like a tall order.

Then, Arizona lost. And Virginia. And now, Cincinnati. (Not to mention Tennessee, Miami and Texas, too.) Suddenly, Kentucky finds itself as the sole team seeded better than seventh in its region, with a relatively clear road ahead of them.

According to the Basketball Power Index system developed by ESPN’s Stats and Information Group, Kentucky’s toughest game along its path to the Final Four will end up being its opening-round matchup against Davidson — which is an astounding testament to the ease of the Wildcats’ path if they do wind up winning the South.

Of course, given the underwhelming

CRAFT BEER GLOSSARY II

flavor of hops. IPA’s are going to get their own article; there’s that much to write about them.

Lager: The most popular type of beer on the planet. Every popular and widely distributed beer you can think of is a lager.

Budweiser, Corona, Fosters, Heineken, Miller, Pacifico, Red Stripe, and Tecate are all lagers.

Lagers take longer to ferment and condition than ale’s do, but that extra time yields a much cleaner product than your standard ale.

Light and crisp with a subtle flavor, lager beer can run from the malty to the hoppy to bitter, although the hoppier versions rightly only exist because of craft brewers.

Lagers are the ultimate warm weather beer, best when consumed at the beach or after mowing the lawn.

Pale Ale: Golden to straw colored, and with more yeast character than a pale lager, pale ales have been around since the mid 1600’s. All beer in England was brown before that point; the wood fired kilns that dried the barley malt for brewing tended to darken and

smoke the barley, in turn darkening the beer to a nut-brown color.

Once maltsters realized that by burning coke (not that kind of coke Scarface, the kind that’s created from coal and that burns at lower temps than wood. It also didn’t create as much smoke. Go to rehab already) instead of wood they could retain a light color to their malt, breweries started making beer with this newer, lighter flavored malt, and the pale ale was born.

Each country has its own style of pale ale that reflects its cultures, tastes and trends. The English have an ordinary bitter, best bitter, and extra special bitter as their standard pale ales. As far as the American-style goes, this style of beer is pretty much a lower alcohol, less intensely hoppy version of an IPA. Much more substantial than a session IPA, balance is key with American pale ales, making it a perfectly utilitarian beer that can be drank anytime something more substantial than a lager is required.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale set the benchmark for the American pale, and everything from Ballast Point’s Grunion to Lagunita’s Born Yesterday owe their existence to its legacy.

Porter: So, by 1703, pale ale was hot, and brown ale was not. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gave a shit about brown ale anymore.

By the beginning of the 18th century, English brewers were starting to highly hop their pale ales, and they reworked their dusty old brown ale recipes to keep up with the newer emerging trends. The brown ale became

BY FLINT WHEELER performances by favorites in the tournament so far, there’s no telling if Kentucky will be able to take advantage of its big opportunity here, either. But no team can potentially benefit from the opening weekend’s shakeups as much as the Wildcats — and it’s not even close.

There’s still no tournament favorite.

For all the madness of the tournament’s first weekend, it’s still anybody’s guess which team will cut down the nets. Even Nova, as the nominal favorite, has but a 22 percent probability of winning the championship, according to the ESPN model. Only four teams have double-digit title chances right now, which is just one more than there were before the tourney began. And remember, last year’s champ, North Carolina, was only at 9 percent at this stage of the NCAAs. It’s only fitting that a season as wideopen as this one continues to be clouded with uncertainty about who the best team is — and whether it will even be the last one standing in two weeks. After a wild, weird first two rounds of the tourney, we can only hope for more of the same when play resumes Thursday.

BY AARON RAMSON stronger, darker, higher hopped, and longer aged. Dark beer was reborn, and beer drinking crowd of the 1800’s embraced it.

Named porter for the working-class gents who imbibed it, this is a beer with restrained roasty character and bitterness. There’s a chocolate-caramel-malty profile to a porter that is delicious when paired with roasted foods. Porters remain a popular style to this day, and are directly responsible for the birth of the stout.

Stout: It didn’t take long after creating the first popular porter that brewers thought, “but what if we went bigger? What if we made them even stronger, hoppier, more bitter, and more flavorful?” They set out to make a more assertive dark beer, and “the stout porter” was born.

Stouts are known for a roasted, coffeelike flavor, and in the case of Russian Imperial Stouts (So named because only the Tsar of mother Russia was deemed worthy to imbibe such a decadently rich stout), a complex assortment of chocolate, burnt coffee, licorice, and dried-fruit flavors that create a complex, bittersweet beer.

Milk stouts are another popular variation.

Brewed with lactose, this creates a beer that has sweet, creamed coffee flavors, and is excellent when served on nitro.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of March 22

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The “School of Hard Knocks” is an old-fashioned idiom referring to the unofficial and accidental course of study available via life’s tough experiences. The wisdom one gains through this alternate approach to education may be equal or even superior to the knowledge that comes from a formal university or training program.

I mention this, Aries, because in accordance with astrological omens, I want to confer upon you a diploma for your new advanced degree from the School of Hard Knocks. (P.S.: When PhD students get their degrees from Finland’s University of Helsinki, they are given top hats and swords as well as diplomas. I suggest you reward yourself with exotic props, too.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Europeans used to think that all swans were white. It was a reasonable certainty given the fact that all swans in Europe were that color. But in 1697, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh and his sailors made a pioneering foray to the southwestern coast of the land we now call Australia. As they sailed up a river the indigenous tribe called Derbarl Yerrigan, they spied black swans.

They were shocked. The anomalous creatures invalidated an assumption based on centuries of observations. Today, a “black swan” is a metaphor referring to an unexpected event that contravenes prevailing theories about the way the world works.

I suspect you’ll soon experience such an incongruity yourself. It might be a good thing! Especially if you welcome it instead of resisting it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Crayola is one of the world’s foremost crayon manufacturers. The geniuses in charge of naming its crayon colors are playful and imaginative. Among the company’s standard offerings, for example, are Pink Sherbet, Carnation Pink, Tickle Me Pink, Piggy Pink, Pink Flamingo, and Shocking Pink. Oddly, however, there is no color that’s simply called “Pink.” I find that a bit disturbing. As much as I love extravagant creativity and poetic whimsy, I think it’s also important to cherish and nurture the basics. In accordance with the astrological omens, that’s my advice for you in the coming weeks. Experiment with fanciful fun, but not at the expense of the fundamentals.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): According to Vice magazine, Russian scientist Anatoli Brouchkov is pleased with the experiment he tried. He injected himself with 3.5-million-year-old bacteria that his colleagues had dug out of the permafrost in Siberia.

The infusion of this ancient life form, he says, enhanced his energy and strengthened his immune system. I can’t vouch for the veracity of his claim, but I do know this: It’s an apt metaphor for possibilities you could take advantage of in the near future: drawing on an old resource to boost your power, for example, or calling on a well-preserved part of the past to supercharge the present.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Booze has played a crucial role in the development of civilization, says biomolecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern.

The process of creating this mind-altering staple was independently discovered by many different cultures, usually before they invented writing.

The buzz it provides has “fired our creativity and fostered the development of language, the arts, and religion.” On the downside, excessive consumption of alcohol has led to millions of bad decisions and has wrecked countless lives. Everything I just said is a preface to my main message, Leo: The coming weeks will be a favorable time to transform your habitual perspective, but only if you do so safely and constructively. Whether you choose to try intoxicants, wild adventures, exhilarating travel, or edgy experiments, know your limits.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The astrological omens suggest that the coming weeks will be favorable for making agreements, pondering mergers, and strengthening bonds. You’ll be wise to deepen at least one of your commitments. You’ll stir up interesting challenges if you consider the possibility of entering into more disciplined and dynamic unions with worthy partners. Do you trust your own

© Copyright 2018 Rob Brezsny

perceptions and insights to guide you toward everhealthier alliances? Do what you must to muster that trust.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you want people to know who you really are and savor you for your unique beauty, you must be honest with those people. You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. There’s a similar principle at work if you want to know who you really are and savor yourself for your unique beauty: You must be honest with yourself. You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to practice these high arts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your journey in the coming weeks may be as weird as an R-rated telenovela, but with more class. Outlandish, unpredictable, and even surreal events could occur, but in such a way as to uplift and educate your soul.

Labyrinthine plot twists will be medicinal as well as entertaining. As the drama gets curioser and curioser, my dear Scorpio, I expect you will learn how to capitalize on the odd opportunities it brings. In the end, you will be grateful for this ennobling respite from mundane reality!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence,” wrote philosopher Erich Fromm. I would add a corollary for your rigorous use during the last nine months of 2018: “Love is the only effective and practical way to graduate from your ragged, longrunning dilemmas and start gathering a new crop of fresh, rousing challenges.” By the way, Fromm said love is more than a warm and fuzzy feeling in our hearts. It’s a creative force that fuels our willpower and unlocks hidden resources.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): My goal here is to convince you to embark on an orgy of self-care -- to be as sweet and tender and nurturing to yourself as you dare to be. If that influences you to go too far in providing yourself with luxurious necessities, I’m OK with it. And if your solicitous efforts to focus on your own health and well-being make you appear a bit self-indulgent or narcissistic, I think it’s an acceptable price to pay. Here are more key themes for you in the coming weeks: basking in the glow of self-love; exulting in the perks of your sanctuary; honoring the vulnerabilities that make you interesting.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): One day, Beatles’ guitarist George Harrison decided to compose his next song’s lyrics “based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book.” He viewed this as a divinatory experiment, as a quest to incorporate the flow of coincidence into his creative process. The words he found in the first book were “gently weeps.” They became the seed for his tune “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Rolling Stone magazine ultimately named it one of “The Greatest Songs of All Time” and the tenth best Beatle song. In accordance with the astrological omens, I recommend you try some divinatory experiments of your own in the coming weeks. Use life’s fun little synchronicities to generate playful clues and unexpected guidance.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Millions of you Pisceans live in a fairy tale world. But I suspect that very few of you will be able to read this horoscope and remain completely ensconced in your fairy tale world. That’s because I have embedded subliminal codes in these words that will at least temporarily transform even the dreamiest among you into passionate pragmatists in service to your feistiest ideals. If you’ve read this far, you are already feeling more disciplined and organized. Soon you’ll be coming up with new schemes about how to actually materialize a favorite fairy tale in the form of real-life experiences.

Homework: Imagine a bedtime story you’d like to hear and the person you’d like to hear it from.

Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

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

March 22 to March 28, 2018

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

WHY MEDITATION?

BY BRONWYN ISON

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uieting the mind, resting your body, calming the breath and thinking of nothing sounds to most— near impossible. Prior to accepting and adopting a meditation practice of my own, I knew it would challenging.

Did you know more than 60,000 thoughts run through your head every single day? What busy minds we have. Are you always clear on what you’re thinking? It may be you don’t even know what you’re thinking about during given times throughout your day. Meditation draws us closer to clarity.

Each morning, I commence with quiet and alone time. No distractions. I read my devotional and this allows me to set the precedence for my day. I focus on all things positive. I create a positive flow of thoughts that will benefit my professional and personal day.

It comes without saying that meditation can help improve your lifestyle in a plethora of ways. It’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t a perfect way to meditate. It’s your personal time. However, the goal is to help you achieve the following: • Reduce stress • Improve your concentration • Encourage a healthy lifestyle

• Encourage and improve greater selfawareness • Increase your happiness • Meditation encourages self-acceptance • It slows aging • Meditation benefits the cardiovascular system and immune health Consistency of anything and one will reap the rewards. Even you feel as though you don’t know what you’re doing… it’s ok. Start with five minutes a day. Solitude and free from devices.

Find a slow and steady breath and relax.

Curious to learn more? Would you like to be guided through a meditation? Join Rebekah Emerson at Evolve Yoga, Friday, March 30, 10:30am-11:30am, $20 per person. Reserve your mat space at, www.e-volveyoga.com.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga and bronwynison.com (Online Yoga Classes ON DEMAND). 760-564-YOGA(9642)

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

CANNABIS CORNER

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BY RUTH HILL R.N.

WHAT’S THE SKINNY ON CANNABIS TESTING

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hat started out as a small friendly sun grown cannabis competition in Mendocino, CA is now elevated to an event rivaling our Coachella Valley Music Festivals. The Challis Cup and The Emerald Cup are two competitions of local organically farmed cannabis. Food vendors, educational speakers and music artists gather to watch growers compete for the purest medically grown cannabis flower.

These test competitions are fun, voluntary, and educational as the booming cannabis industry becomes legal in twenty-nine states and enters the food market. Three well known in California are; SC Labs (sclabs.com), Steep Hill Labs (steephill.com), Infinite Chemical Lab (infinitecal. com), and even an Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories (cacannabislabs.com).

The SC Lab website summarizes the 115 page CA Board of Cannabis Control (BCC) testing regulations. Basically, there are two categories: Regulatory Compliant and R&D testing. Each state has varying rules.

Regulatory compliance tests must be reported to individual states’ track and trace system and may be used to either validate or disqualify batches as eligible for market. The tests required by the states include testing cannabis flowers, concentrates, leaves, e-liquids/vape oils, crystallized isolates, as well as liquid and solid infused products such as coconut oils, tinctures and edibles. Regulatory compliance requires the lab to obtain the sampling.

CA and OR both require testing for cannabinoids, terpenoids, residual pesticides, residual solvents, and processing chemical, microbial impurities, homogeneity, and moisture content. Phase III testing in 2018 will also include mycotoxin, heavy metals, filth and foreign material, and water activity testing.

R&D tests are for internal use by producers, manufacturers, distributors, patients, etc. and are not reported to the state and are not associated with batches. R&D tests do not require the labs to perform the sampling; utilizes a smaller sample-size; and can be done on a single test basis whereas regulatory compliant testing can only be purchased as a panel of tests. (go to www.bcc.ca.gov/law_regs/bcc_prop_text_reg. pdf for the detail) Doug Dracup, the founder of The Chalice Cup, “believes the ‘chalice’ is the cup of all cups, the ultimate achievement. It stands out as that one thing that will actually be an accomplishment for someone who’s truly part of the industry.” SC Labs will again be the favored testing lab at the next Challis Cup to be held on July 13-15, 2018 at the San Bernardino Fair Grounds. Go to www. chalicecalifornia.com for info and tickets.

All three labs offer other services in addition to testing: education, business solutions for cannabis companies, customizable client profile page on their website, marketing materials with unique labels, strain cards, QR codes and watermarked analysis reports. Included can be budtender training and educational materials for patients, SC Labs has on its website the details of testing requirements by the State of CA. Under current Bureau of Cannabis Control Emergency Regulation Text (11/16/2017), the required

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testing will roll out in three phases starting with Phase I on January 1, 2018 and continuing with Phases II & III beginning in July 2018 and January 2019. Each batch of cannabis will need to be tested for cannabinoid levels, residual solvents and processing chemicals. Producers can avoid testing if the already have product from 2017 until the start of phase two in July 2018 as long as they are labeled as not tested.

Look for the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO 17025 sign of approval, for the testing lab you choose. ISO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the largest recognized leader in accrediting environmental, food, and now, cannabis laboratories. The State of California will be requiring ISO 17025 accreditation in the future.

Other than testing to make the cannabis food compliant what are the other important reasons we test cannabis? There are over a hundred cannabinoids, 300-400 terpenes, and two thousand strains as a result of the explosive cultivating and cross breeding in the last 10-20 years. Testing for these molecules is increasing the cost of medicinal cannabis however, in the long run the cannabis you ingest, smoke, vape or eat will be chosen for the unique cannabinoid, terpenoid or flavonoid genome markers more likely to treat your aliment.

Ruth Hill educates on medical cannabis hilruth@gmail.com

LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

WE NEED TO TALK

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hen I realized I was scheduled to see Jamila today, I began wondering if she did her homework. The last time we met she committed to having a rather sensitive conversation with her boss. It was a tricky situation that was not going to resolve itself. Jamila needed to confront, Maggie, her manager, about taking credit for her work.

Taking all the glory certainly isn’t fair and yet it is not uncommon in the corporate world for the boss to take an undeserved bow at the expense of a subordinate. Perhaps it can be overlooked once, maybe even twice, but in Jamila’s case it was looking like the new normal. A normal that was causing her selfworth to plummet.

What’s the magic formula for making Maggie offer up credit where it’s due? It’s certainly not an exact science. Engaging in this type of conversation and coming out a winner begins with diligent preparation.

Jamila needs to check her emotions at the door and muster up some tact and diplomacy.

She should begin by stating the problem without placing blame. It may even be okay to let Maggie save face if she claims it was done unintentionally, after all Jamila loves her job and doesn’t want to create any major waves.

Initiating tough discussions isn’t easy, but necessary. Whether you’re dealing with your boss, a coworker or the individual you hired

to remodel your kitchen, you deserve fair and equitable treatment. Addressing the situation puts the other party on notice and, if handled correctly, you reach a compatible resolution.

Need to have “the talk” with that certain person who is causing you angst? Here are some rules. Set up the meeting in an appropriate environment. Always converse face-to-face. Human components, like body language, are necessary to convey the complete message. Togetherness is also a requirement whether ending the meeting with a hand-shake, or a hug.

Next, be clear on your intent which is to develop a clear understanding of how to move forward and interact in the future.

Begin by being direct. State your case in a non-confrontational manner, keep your voice tone moderate, explain the situation, then relinquish the floor. Do some active listening and take in the other’s point of view.

Understand that conflict at work, or at home, is going to happen. There is an art to handling a tricky conversation. Work on your conflict resolution skills. It’s important to address critical issues. When you do, remember to think it through, use the right words and appropriate tone.

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

March 22 to March 28, 2018

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

CANNABIS CORNER

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itidank is the newest full medical and adult use dispensary located on 68444 Perez Road Suites H & I in Cathedral City. Owners Sahak Ghaghian and Ruben Harutyunyan boast approximately 2,500 square feet of retail space that has been open since October 2017. They will be celebrating their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Sat., March 24 beginning at 1pm The event is open to the public.

Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with Ghaghian to discuss his “high” hopes for Citidank.

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & STAFF - “First of all we’re open 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm We offer medicinal and recreational users high quality flowers for all budgets and price ranges. We have edibles, topical creams, tinctures, concentrates, baking products and all the essentials and accessories. It’s really a one-stop shop for cannabis consumption.

We offer Early Bird specials from 8am to 10am daily as well as Happy Hour specials 6pm to 9pm (10% off the entire store). For first time patients we offer 10% off your first visit.

We employ seven individuals. There is usually three staff on-site at any given time to assist our customers. Aside from the high quality products and hand selection the service our staff offers is always well informed and they take the time to really do their homework and educate themselves on the product. Whether it’s taking it upon themselves or asking me or my business partner Ruben since we’ve been

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CITIDANK - “FOR ALL YOUR DANKING NEEDS”

in the business for so long. Or we may go to a vendor to set up an educational opportunity where a representative can come out for two to three hours to educate our staff.”

KNOWLEDGE & QUALITY - “I’m from Los Angeles originally, born and raised. I’ve been in the desert for about three years now. I’ve been in the industry through retail and cultivation for almost 13 years now. I work directly with high-end boutique growers who come in with small batches. I don’t buy in bulk, I hand select all of our products. We are very selective with the flowers. I buy in small batches to ensure freshness. When we receive them they are fully cured, manicured and ready to hit the shelves. We don’t store cannabis in plastic.

Instead, we load them into glass jars and store them in a dark, cool place in the glass jar. That’s the proper way to store cannabis.

There’s a standard of quality and freshness that we offer. Everyone talks about L.A. being the Mecca of cannabis so we’re bringing a little taste of L.A. to the Coachella Valley.

As for our Topical products, we only work with people in the industry that have products that are tried and true. We always make sure that our staff that are behind the counter are a believer in the product that they’re selling.

Papa & Barkley, and Apothecanna are our big sellers. I truly believe these two will become household names in the next ten years.”

RESPONSE - “My partner Ruben has been attending City Council meetings and we’ve had a super welcoming and a lot of positive feedback. We’re just getting started here and are trying to make a name for ourselves. We’re trying to be the talk of the town when it comes to cannabis. The Coachella Valley thrives off of tourism so we’d like to be a destination for tourists as well as locals. We are very proud of our 5 Star rating on Weed Maps.”

CANNABIS & ART - Artist Daniel Militonian, aka “Dunkees,” has been drawing for over twenty years. Daniel started as a street artist on the boardwalk in Venice, CA and now has two art galleries and his brand is widespread across America, and available exclusively at Citidank, including apparel and his original artwork and print.”

GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING - “Our Grand Opening is Sat., March 24 from 1pm to 7pm. The ribbon cutting will be at 2pm.

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

Chef Danny will be serving complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages. We will have vendors like Organs Brands, Kushy Punch, Indus, Papa and Barkley, Care By Design, Bloom, VET-CBD and many more! The first 50 customers will receive a special gift. Goodies and gift bags will be handed out and many local dignitaries are expected to attend.”

THE FUTURE - “Once we launch our website we will be offering delivery service as well. We’d like to eventually expand to a 2nd and 3rd dispensary as well as several lounges.”

For more info about Citidank, contact them at (760) 615-5225 or info@citidank.net.

DAILY SPECIALS Mon - 10% Off Edibles & Drinks Tue - House Joints BOGO for 1cent Wed - 10% Off Vapes & Concentrates Thu - 10% Off Topicals Fri - ”We Got 5 on it” Sat - Pick Your Deal Sun - $5 Off (Min $35)

6TH ANNUAL FREE MEDICAL, COMMUNITY DENTAL & VISION CLINIC TO BE HELD AT THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 23-25 No I.D. Required, No Co-Pays, No Insurance Necessary; Wristbands Given Out Beginning 4pm Thur. March 22

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alifornia CareForce – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing free health, dental, and vision services to residents all over California – returns to the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio for its Coachella Valley Clinic March 23-25, 2018. Now in its 6th year, the clinic operates through a volunteer-based workface and is expected to provide care for an anticipated 500-800 people per day. No insurance is necessary, there are no co-pays, and no I.D. is required.

The clinic will have 90 dental stations, 10 medical exam rooms and 10 vision lanes. A vision lab will produce free prescription eyeglasses on site while patients wait. Dentistry will include cleanings, fillings and extractions. Medical doctors will provide services ranging from consultation and diagnosis to minor medical procedures. Nurses will staff triage areas and provide medical assistance. Clinic patients will be seen on a first-come-first serve basis, with no income test or eligibility requirement of any kind to receive treatment.

“Since we first brought this clinic to the Coachella Valley in 2013, we have provided muchneeded services to more than 10,000 patients, for a total value of health care services estimated at $4 million – all free to patients,” said Pamela Congdon, California CareForce President and Volunteer Coordinator. “These patients are so grateful that somebody cares about them, especially since they are receiving medical services they would not be able to receive elsewhere.”

Volunteers are still needed in the following categories: Oral Surgeons, Dentists, Hygienists,

Dental Assistants, Dental X-RAY Techs, Opticians, Ophthalmic Techs, Doctors, Acupuncturists, Chiropractors. In addition to in-state volunteers, out-of-state medical practitioners with valid, current, and active licenses are able to participate.

Register at CaliforniaCareForce.org.

Wristbands for next-day services will be distributed at 4pm on Thursday (March 22), Friday (March 23), and Saturday (March 24). One wristband per person in line is allowed, and one service per person per day. There may be limited first come, first serve spots available on clinic days (dependent on capacity). Those wishing to receive services at the clinic should bring any prescription medications they may be taking, appropriate clothing, food and water, and entertainment while they wait. All services are FREE; clinic participants need NO proof of insurance, employment, income, residency, immigration status or an ID to receive them.

Text “CAREFORCE” to 22828 to receive updates with important information.

Sponsors include Goldenvoice, The California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Patterson Dental, Hu-Friedy, Glidewell Dental Labs, The Auen Foundation, and the RAP Foundation.

In-kind sponsors include KUNA-TV Telemundo, La Poderosa 96.7 FM and SunLine Transit Agency.

For more info about CA CareForce, go to californiacareforce.org/patients/coachella.

CANNABIS CORNER

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

March 22 to March 28, 2018

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: LIST OF CV DISPENSARIES SELLING MEDICINAL AND ADULT USE MARIJUANA

CATHEDRAL CITY Iguana Collective - Medical & 21+ The OG Collective - Medical & 21+ No Wait Meds - Medical & 21+ Cathedral City Releaf Inc - Medical & 21+ Remedy, Inc - Medical & 21+ H.O.T.N. Club - Medical & 21+ West Coast Cannabis Club - Medical & 21+ Mother’s Earth Farmacy - Medical & 21+ Green Cross Pharma - Medical & 21+ Atomic Budz - Medical & 21+ Citidank - Medical & 21+ DESERT HOT SPRINGS Green Leaf Wellness - Medical & 21+ Brown Dog - Medical & 21+ SunGrow - Medical Use only Deseret’s Finest - Medical & 21+ Green Pearl - Medical & 21+

All About Bud - Medical Use, 21+ pending DHS Collective - Medical Use, 21+ pending IVTHC - Medical & 21+ PALM SPRINGS Organic Solutions of the Desert - Medical & 21+ CAPS - Medical only PSA Organica - Medical & 21+ Palm Springs Safe Access - Medical & 21+ Joy of Life Wellness Center - Medical Use, 21+ pending Desert Organic Solutions - Medical & 21+ THOUSAND PALMS CCI - Medical & 21+ Desert Cann Wellness Center - Medical & 21+ To find out more about your neighborhood dispensary check online.

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March 22 to March 28, 2018

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