Coachella Valley Weekly - May 11 to May 16, 2018 Vol. 7 No. 8

coachellavalleyweekly.com • May 10 to May 16, 2018 Vol. 7 No. 8

Laura Veirs

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John Kenneth Alexander

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Casuelas Cafe

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Lewis Black

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Shakti Fest

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Domingo Winstead, Kirby 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

CONTENTS

2018 Top Ten Women of the CV ............ 3 Dr. Shakira Jameson.............................. 3 Maily O'Neil............................................. 5 Denise DuBarry-Hay.............................. 6 Kate Spates............................................. 7 Giselle Woo............................................. 8 Andie Hubka........................................... 9 Lorie Loftis........................................... 10 Esjay Jones............................................ 11 Katie Stice............................................. 12 Kim Hardee........................................... 13 Consider This - Laura Veirs .................. 14 Art Scene- John Kenneth Alexander.. 15 Pet Place............................................... 16 The Vino Voice ...................................... 17 Club Crawler Nightlife ................... 18-19 Pampered Palate - Casuelas Cafe ....... 20 Screeners .............................................. 22 Book Review ........................................ 23 Safety Tips ............................................ 23 Comedy - Lewis Black .......................... 25 Breaking The 4th Wall.......................... 25 Real Estate........................................... 26 Haddon Libby....................................... 27 Dale Gribow.......................................... 27 Shakti Fest 2018.................................. 28 Travel Tips 4 U - Pioneertown............. 29 Cannabis Corner.................................. 29 Sports Scene........................................ 30 Brewtality............................................ 30 Free Will Astrology............................... 31 Mind, Body & Spirit.............................. 31 Ask The Doctor..................................... 32 Life & Career Coach.............................. 32

2018 TEN MOST INTERESTING & INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY

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here is still time to get tickets to the party and charity fundraising event for CV Weekly’s Top 10 Most Interesting & Influential Men & Women of 2018 On Thursday, May 24 we will throw a party to honor these amazing Men & Women with 3 charities benefitting from the event The event will be held at the new Hotel Zoso in Palm from 6-9pm. The cost is $20.00 cash at the door or to reserve tickets in advance with credit card call 760-501-6228. The majority of the proceeds from the door will be split between 2 charities: One of the 10 Men’s names will be drawn and one of the 10 Women’s names drawn at the end of the

night with their charity of choice written on their sealed cards.

We also have a friendly competition going. Whoever of the Top Men or Women brings the most people, their charity of choice will receive half of the proceeds from the raffle. So make sure to let us know when reserving tickets in advance or when you come through the door, who you are there to support.

A buffet dinner will be provided by CV Weekly from Hotel Zoso and is included in the $20.00 charge. There will be a no host bar to purchase adult beverages.

Raffle tickets will be $10.00 each or 3 for $20.00 with a fantastic array of prizes.

This will be a fun-filled evening benefiting charities while honoring

DR. SHAKIRA JAMESON: VETERINARIAN & OWNER OF PAWS AND CLAWS URGENT CARE

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hakira Jameson, DVM, is the owner of Paws and Claws Urgent Care and has known her whole life she wanted to be a veterinarian. She was so sure, in fact, that in thinking of her future, there was no Plan B. Becoming a vet was the only plan there was. Born in Spain but raised here in the Coachella Valley, she started out at College of the Desert. There she took classes while working for a mortgage company. She then made the move a little east once she was accepted into Colorado State University and completed her bachelor’s degree.

She then focused solely on school and her dream of becoming a veterinarian and soon received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Of being a vet, Dr. Jameson lists the most rewarding aspect of her career that she is able to help both pets and their owners. She draws inspiration from knowing she has the opportunity to do good. And do good, she does. Her patients’ owners give Dr. Jameson rave reviews, citing her kind and caring bedside manner. “Dr. Jameson makes me feel like my dog is her very favorite patient.

Whether he really is or not, I don’t care. She is so happy to see him and treats him as if he’s as special as I think he is as his owner,” says one happy client. This is one of so many rave reviews you’ll hear if you mention Dr. Jameson’s name or her clinic, Paws and Claws Urgent Care. Her passion for animals has earned her a well-deserved reputation as one of the most caring and talented vets in the Coachella Valley. Both pups and humans alike love Dr. Jameson.

As you might guess, Dr. Jameson has several pets herself. Currently single, she is the mother to three fur babies – two shih tzus, both 14-years old, and a Chihuahua who is 10 years-old. When she has some free time, she revives her mind, body, and spirit by taking the time to relax and veg out.

She is a self-described homebody who loves

May 10 to May 16, 2018

these fine Men & Women.

While there are many deserving men and women in the valley, with several of them actually being part of my CV Weekly team, I chose each of these Men & Women for specific individual reasons. I selected people that have contributed their time, money and passion to charities, that are at the pinnacle or perhaps precipice of their careers, whose talents are undeniable, those that are successful in their fields, are respected by others, and have a strong sense of community.

We look forward to you joining us.

The Top 10 Men’s issue will publish on Thursday, May 24 and here in this issue are the Top 10 Most Interesting & Influential Women of 2018.

BY TRICIA WITKOWER to hang out with her dogs and her family.

She also loves to cook when she wants to unwind. She loves suspense and mystery TV shows and movies and counts Criminal Minds and NCIS among her favorite shows.

John Grisham books get her going when she has time to read and she loves a good slow jam, as well as oldies, R&B, and Latin music.

When she’s able to get time away from the office, her favorite vacation spot is Riviera Maya, Mexico.

When asked how she keeps it together in today’s world, Dr. Jameson states she does this by remaining focused on the task at hand. Dr. Jameson cites her mother as the woman she respects the most. Asked to expand upon this, she answers, “My mother has overcome so much herself to give my brother and me a good life. We would not be the people we are today without her.” The animal-loving community in the Coachella Valley is sure grateful for her being the person she is today. Dr. Jameson has a mantra, “Everything happens for a reason, we just need to stop and listen.” continue to page 5

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DR. SHAKIRA JAMESON continued from page 3

Dr. Jameson is representing the worthy organization, Loving All Animals. This worthy organization states its mission is “to bring together local and national animal welfare organizations to work together for the benefit of animals.” Dr. Jameson believes

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

strongly in them and likes what they do for pets of all kinds in the community. In 2013 and 2014, Loving All Animals was voted Best Charity and Best Animal Charity in the Readers’ Choice Awards in The Desert Sun and CV Weekly, respectively.

MAILY O’NEIL: OWNER OF MAI SALON ON EL PASEO

t takes precision and knowledge to become a great hairstylist, traits that Maily O’Neil has perfected over her 25 years in the beauty business, making her one of the top stylists in the Coachella Valley.

O’Neil was born far away from her now nestled salon on El Paseo, in Vietnam. Raised in California, she attended Costa Mesa High School and then Orange Coast College, and received credentials from Sassoon Academy.

Although she first wanted to become a newscaster, when she came across hair dressing, she knew it was for her and the best way for her to express herself creatively.

Through her career, she has been able to travel the world and work with the best stylists in the industry. It is the traveling and sharing her craft with others that O’Neil has found most rewarding.

On her down time, and to relax, O’Neil enjoys the intense practice of Hot Yoga and listening to live music. Her favorite movie is the Oscar nominated film, The Color Purple, with Game of Thrones being her favorite TV show. For music, it’s Chris Cornell for male vocals and Led Zeppelin as her favorite band. And for a good read she prefers The Shack. When it’s time for a get-a-way, the Cayman Islands is where she and her family enjoy vacationing.

In her effort to help the community, O’ Neil gives her support to the local charity All Desert Wellness Center in Palm Desert. The non-profit organization helps those with mental health issues, focusing on children, adolescence, individuals, seniors, couples and families. They provide affordable counseling services based on a sliding scale, “As a non-profit it is important to help them out financially so they can succeed in their endeavors and provide help for those who seek it,” says O’ Neil.

When asked what woman she respects

She opened her salon on El Paseo in 2012, utilizing her 25 years of experience in the beauty industry. O’Neil finds inspiration everyday through her cliental, and making them feel good about themselves. Her zest for continued learning about new techniques keeps things fresh, “By educating myself, I keep myself going,” says O’ Neil. She gets new ideas from high end fashion magazines and the media, constantly challenging herself.

Her achievements in the beauty industry have been acknowledged by being a two time winner of the Regis Director Award, and a five time winner of the President’s Award, as well as the Sebastian What’s Next Award 2015/2016. She has also been an intricate part of El Paseo Fashion Week and Style Fashion Week.

O’ Neil shares her life with her husband of 25 years, her children Shawn and Asia and their puppy Missy.

BY DENISE ORTUNO the most, she chooses her daughter Asia, “She has accomplished so many great things in her 20 years of life,” says O’Neil. It is her family that keeps her going and together, as well as her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, providing her with a lot of love and support.

As for what she would like to be today if she wasn’t a hairstylist, she playfully says, “A trophy wife.” Something that people would be surprised to know about her would be that English is her third language.

O’Neil stands by her mantras “Knowledge is power” and “Live Free and always be kind.”

With talent and creativity, O’Neil has established herself as a highly desired stylist in the Coachella Valley. Highlighting the loveliness of each of her clients, making our desert even more beautiful.

Maily O’ Neil will be representing All Desert Wellness Center in Palm Desert as her intended charity at the Top Men’s & Women’s Fundraising Charity Event on May 24th at Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs.

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DENISE DUBARRY HAY, ACTRESS AND ENTREPRENEUR: OWNER OF BIKRAM YOGA PLUS AND WILDEST GREENS RESTAURANT

BY TRICIA WITKOWER

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orn at an Army hospital in Ft. Hood, Texas, where her father was stationed, Denise DuBarry’s childhood was not conventional – or boring.

After her father left the Army, he went on to receive his Master’s in Forestry and was subsequently recruited by the Standard Fruit & Steamship Company. To this end, the DuBarrys moved to Central America, where Denise spent eight years of her childhood in Honduras – on a banana plantation, no less – Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico. To this day, she is still fluent in Spanish. The family made frequent trips to Louisiana during that time, where her parents both hailed from. Spending some of her formative years outside of America, helped shape Denise’s world view, helping her to become more compassionate and culturally connected.

Her family later moved to California and settled in the San Fernando Valley, where Denise continued her schooling from middle school through high school graduation. She states of her spending her childhood partly in Central America and partly in Southern California, “I got the best of both those worlds.”

Shortly after graduation, Denise began acting at 19 and found many fulfilling roles, both in movies and television. Among her credits, she was a series regular in the show Black Sheep Squadron, and gueststarred in many popular television shows such as Charlie’s Angels, Love Boat, Chips, Days of Our Lives, to name a few. Denise wasn’t satisfied just to act; she wanted to learn more about the craft. In 1987, she took classes in film production and that same year produced several videos called, «Play the Piano Overnight». While looking for distribution for those videos, she discovered a new world – infomercials. The infomercial for “Play the Piano Overnight” was a success. During this time, she met her second husband, Bill Hay, (she and first husband Gary Lockwood, of Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey fame, split up

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in 1988) and together they built a global marketing company, Thane International, which they then sold in 1998.

Denise and Bill married 26 years ago and enjoy their blended family. Samantha, Denise’s daughter with Gary Lockwood, owns Bikram Yoga Kauai and is a Yoga Master and has followed in her parents’ footsteps, taking on acting roles throughout the years. Bill has two sons from his first

marriage, who have been a part of Denise’s life since they were babies. Adam runs their family’s organic farm in Kauai and Kyle is an industrial designer. Bill and Denise’s youngest, Whitney, has one year left at USC, studying for her degree in the Music Business. The darling of the family, though, is Pepper, their sweet toy poodle.

Denise is an entrepreneur whose business ventures reflect her passion for creating opportunities to help people get healthier and happier. Says Denise, “I love helping people grow to their full potential and I love learning new things.” And it shows.

Denise has started a company and produced several films, made many more infomercials - one for the Pilates Power Gym and the other for «The Perfect Dog» - opened the Bikram Yoga Plus studio, opened a healthy (and delicious) new Palm Desert restaurant, Wildest Greens, and plans to open another yoga studio in Palm Springs in October. Of her “The Perfect Dog” infomercial, Denise explains, “I hate that our shelters are full of dogs. I’m passionate about helping people learn how to train their dogs so we can start to eliminate bad behavior as a reason for getting rid of a dog.” She worked with professional dog trainer, Don Sullivan (known as the DogFather) and through this project, saved thousands of dogs and perhaps many children and adults from being hurt by their dogs. When asked what she would be doing if she’d chosen a totally different line of work, she imagines maybe she’d write books.

Denise draws inspiration to continue doing what she does every day from people who thank her for creating these places that have changed their lives, their health for the better. “I want to stay youthful, healthy, and flexible mentally and physically,” she says.

Denise practices transcendental meditation, yoga, and pilates to renew her mind, body and spirit. With family, work, personal time and everything else, Denise keeps it together by finding a good balance. She’s a

positive person who looks for the positive in other people and situations. A rule of thumb she tries to stick to is to not take things personally, focus on happiness and to just breathe.

Unsurprisingly, this restaurant owner likes to play in the kitchen and cook up new recipes. After the desert (of course), Kauai is her favorite place in the world. In her free time, of which she doesn’t have much, Denise likes to read self-help books and watch documentaries. Her favorite film is «Being There» partly because it›s a classic and partly because she was honored to act in the movie.

Denise has received many awards and accolades in the Coachella Valley, including the Palm Springs Athena Award, Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young), the Desert Diva Award from Palm Springs Women in Film & Television, American Pen Women, and Daughters of the American Revolution.

The woman Denise looks up to the most is her mother, citing her resilience and tough spirit. At nearly 80, Ms. DuBarry’s mother had a health scare last year with a bacterial infection in her heart, lost her husband after he developed Alzheimer›s, has lost most of her hearing, has had several mini strokes.

Through all that, she still smiles, cares deeply about people, and shows up at her chair yoga classes 3 times a week. Denise says of her mother, “She always welcomed our friends growing up. We›d tease her about letting any stray person or animal in the house. She loves people.” Perhaps the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as Denise’s love for helping animals illustrates.

Denise is representing Olive Crest, an organization that focuses on child abuse prevention and providing other services to at-risk youth. “They do amazing work in keeping families together and keeping kids safe. I was on their board for 8 years and am always happy to help them any way I can.”

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KATE SPATES: BUSINESS STRATEGIST - LOOKING EVER FORWARD

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lthough she was born in San Jose and spent her first twelve years in Pleasanton, Kate Spates is a Southern California girl through and through. She and her mother moved to Rancho Mirage in 1980 and have lived in the Coachella Valley ever since. A graduate of Palm Springs High School and subsequently College of the Desert and CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, Kate loves the community she is so deeply a part of.

After high school, Kate typically held two to three jobs to support her mother and herself. Taking on the role of breadwinner impeded the traditional college path for Kate, but she graduated proudly in 1997.

Soon after graduating, she became serious about a career in hospitality and worked for nine years at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. A year before her college graduation, she left Marriott to begin a start-up website development company and was a pioneer in that field, especially as a woman. She taught herself how to design and code and used networking opportunities and playing golf to win business. The company grew to 12 employees and expanded to a fullservice marketing and advertising agency.

In 2011, she sold the company and stayed on for a few years. Of this stretch of her career, Spates enjoyed employing women, especially moms who she could give flexible schedules so they could prioritize their families. She found that due to these policies, that her employees were extremely loyal and flexible when she needed them to work evening or weekend events. She has had the joy of watching them go on to have their own internet businesses and be involved in the community. This, she says, makes her feel proud to have had an influence on them and inspired them to take on the challenge.

Since 2014, she has been consulting on a variety of interesting projects. Most recently she ran for Rancho Mirage City Council in a valiant effort to infuse new energy and ideas into a city long run by the same incumbents, but was not successful in her bid for a seat.

Had she not left the hospitality industry, Kate says she would have enjoyed traveling and opening new hotels around the world, although ultimately, having a family and being involved in the community was more important to her. She has thought about writing and producing films and plans to eventually get involved with some projects.

Kate was was married for 23 years, and divorced in 2015. She has twin 15-year old daughters, Abby & Cassidy, whom she draws the inspiration from to do what she does every day. The twins were born prematurely and they, along with Spates herself, almost didn’t make it. They were given a grim diagnosis at birth, but have since shattered all of the limitations that were placed on them and continue to amaze their mother every day. To refresh her mind, body, and spirit, Kate likes to spend time with girlfriends, work out, practice

yoga, hike, dine out, and travel. Last year, she created and began volunteering to host a radio show on KCOD called Major Discovery. She explores the majors and certificate programs available at College of the Desert in a 30 minute interview with faculty, business leaders and students.

Never one to rest on her laurels, even Kate’s hobbies are ambitious. “I guess you could say that serving on boards and doing non-profit work are my hobbies,” Spates says. Currently, she is actively volunteering her time and leadership to the following organizations: President and CEO, AMP – Academy of Musical Performance, a youth music program for ages 10-18. (www.ampcv.org); 3 years Member of the Board of Directors – Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the CareerBuilder Challenge PGA Tournament (www. careerbuilderchallenge.com); 1 year Member of the Board of Directors – The Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament

for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.thewarburton.com); 8 years Community Relations and Development Consultant – California CareForce, a 3 day medical clinic held in Indio in the spring (www.californiacareforce.org); 1 year Member of the Advisory Council – The Girlfriend Factor (www.girlfriendfactor. org); 6 years Member of the Advisory Council – Digicom Learning Academy (www. digicomlearning.com); 1 year Member of the Advisory Council, and Past President – Women Leaders Forum (www.wlfdesert.org); 11 years Member of the Community Advisory Committee – Gulf-California Broadcast Company; 4 years To add to that, some awards and accolades she’s received are: Woman of Distinction - College of the Desert Foundation California Small Business of the Year; 64th District Influencer Award - The Girlfriend Factor Alumni Hall of Fame - College of the Desert Alumni Association When she does find the time to relax, she likes to go anywhere there are palm trees, beaches, sunsets, huge pools and lovely clear ocean water. Her tips for keeping it together and balancing family, work and personal life hinge on perspective. Says Spates, “I try not to react when things don’t always go my way. I take a breath, talk it

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BY TRICIA WITKOWER out, try to see the lesson and move on. I don’t spend a lot of time over-analyzing things. I trust my gut feelings and keep my cool.” Her mantra is, “Don’t be a victim.

Don’t blame anyone or any circumstance for the way you are. Own your life. Be honest.

Don’t look back, that’s not the direction you are going.”

Kate lists hard-working women who have been through struggles and pain and overcome extraordinary circumstances as the women she respects most. She says those are some of the strongest women she knows. She enjoys listening to powerful women who have had success in one way or another, whether in politics, show business, technology or being a supermom. She claims it would be impossible to mention one woman who she respects most, when there are so many who have influenced her throughout her life.

Ms. Spates is representing AMP Academy of Musical Performance, of which she is the co-founder. This fantastic organization is a contemporary music education program whose goal is to enrich the lives of young musicians living in the Coachella Valley by fostering productivity and social responsibility through creativity, communication and collaboration in the development and enhancement of musical performance and concert production skills through participation in a “rock band” style educational setting for young musicians age 10-18.

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BY NOE GUTIERREZ GISELLE WOO: MORE THAN ENOUGH! SINGER, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN AND KCOD STATION MANAGER

CONGRATULATIONS TO GISELLE WOO AND THE NIGHT OWLS FOR THEIR TACHEVAH 2018 VICTORY!

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hat a thrill to win Tachevah! I’m still in shock I think, but as soon as it wears off I’m scheduling studio time with the band,” Giselle shared.

Born in Palm Springs and raised in Cathedral City, Giselle Woo was reared to become the righteous woman and musician she is. “My upbringing was a very loving one. My parents have always encouraged me to be who I am; they are musicians themselves so I think they see themselves in me.” Her family has consistently stood beside her. “They have supported me throughout every stage in my life. They’ve seen me through my lowest and celebrate any little accomplishment I’ve made along the way. When I think of family values, all I can think of is one word; LOVE. They love unconditionally; my entire family is this way. We are a special kind of people.” Love was all she needed. Giselle is all heart.

Self-admittedly, Giselle has a long way to go to reach her potential. “I’m still working it out, but I know it involves love, fighting for equality and standing up for what is right. Oh, and playing lots of music!” Giselle lives by her mantra, “Never give up. It’s never too late. If you fall, keep getting up. Stick to whatever your passion is, don’t give up so quickly.” Despite her talent she remains self-conscious. “I’m kind of shy. I just put on a good show.” With all her success, her bashfulness will seemingly dissipate.

Along with being the preeminent vocalist in the Coachella Valley fronting Giselle Woo and the Night Owls, she is also Station Manager for KCOD and continues to attend courses at College of the Desert. Giselle shared, “I will continue to attend courses. My goal is to get my Associates Degree in music, though I am super

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intrigued with interpersonal communications.”

Whatever she chooses, Giselle will excel.

Giselle didn’t have any formal music education prior to her attending COD. Her mastery of music came from her parents. “My informal music education was Dad drawing a few chords in a notebook, that’s how I started. I began playing guitar for my church with my parents. That helped me gain confidence, at first I started off playing against the wall behind the choir, I was so young and scared. Slowly, but surely, I got closer and closer, until I was standing right next to my mom and dad, facing the entire congregation and singing harmonies on the microphone and being the only guitar playing the mass, with dad on bass and mom on mandolin. The beauty about that environment is that there is no judgment and no competition.

It wasn’t until later in my life that I decided to take a music course in college. COD was my first formal music education experience. I know that I will get to where I need to be.” There is no doubt she will get there with the support of her family.

Family is everything to Giselle. “My family is crazy! When we get together, we eat, dance, play games, and talk... a lot, and our family gettogethers last all day sometimes, it’s beautiful.

The Woos are my wild ones, Dad is the jokester of the family. Los Gutierrez’ are super fun as well; we watch sports and go on family vacations. My grandparents are the pillar of the family; they are strong in their faith and share that passion with us all. We pray, we cry and we support

each other. I’m super lucky. Thanks to my mom I hold mothers in the highest regard; being a hard worker, a mother, a wife, a nurse... I mean, have you seen a mom in action? They are the most incredible beings on Earth, both humans and in the animal kingdom. They are the strongest and the smartest; I have been surrounded by strong, hard working women my whole life. Shout out to all the mothers out there doing their best to give their children love and guidance.” Giselle has a close circle of confidantes she considers family.

Giselle’s friends are aware of her journey and, like her family, have stuck by her with encouragement through challenging times.

“Friends that I consider close have seen me at my lowest, and still manage to love the crap out of me. They are the ones I turn to when I’m feeling lost, insecure or depressed. I’m pretty dramatic sometimes, and very open with my emotions, sometimes too open, but they love me the same. It’s funny, all my best friends, I’ve had run-ins with, we’ve tested our boundaries, pushed through negativity and only love remains in the end. It’s a trip, but it just shows who’s down with you and who is not.” Through it all her music career has slowly moved towards a place of comfort for her.

Giselle is more gratified than ever with her path. “I feel good right now. It took me a lot of trial and error, mainly winning internal battles, to get to where I am today. My friends will tell me to give myself more credit, they see things in me sometimes that I have a hard time seeing, because I always want to do better, I always want to do more. I want to go far, but I know how I am and I seem to take my time. So, instead of putting a lot of pressure on myself, I’ve been taking it one day at a time; un dia a la vez.” Her ‘one day at a time’ approach has proven effective thus far. “Surprisingly with that mentality, I’ve gotten further than I ever have; things are just falling into place. I’d like to go somewhere where I am financially stable and doing something to give back to my loved ones and the community.”

The trajectory of Giselle’s music career has given her a new flight plan for wherever she would like to go. She conceded, “I had to admit to myself that I am, in fact, a great singer and musician, that music will always and forever be something that I will create. I had to give it the respect it deserves. I was finally ready to take myself seriously. All my life I’ve had a hard time with commitment, and was always avoiding responsibility. But this was one that I couldn’t keep ignoring, it wasn’t ‘just a hobby’ it is my life, and I shouldn›t let my gifts go to waste.

Also, becoming organized with rehearsals and actually ‘showing up’ made a huge difference.

I’ve been trying harder at keeping my word and being on time. I noticed that people looked up to me so I had to stop slacking off.” Giselle is considered a leader by many in the desert music scene.

She has accomplished great things through her efforts. Giselle shared, “Getting my song, ‘Coachella Gold’ on iTunes was huge. Having almost three hours of original music is another achievement. It’s rewarding to know that I’ve

come this far by playing my own music, having my own lyrics, progressions, etc.”

Giselle finds inspiration to continue to do what she does through her beliefs. “My faith in God is strong. My dearest friends and family hold me up when I can’t do it alone. They inspire me every day. Hard working people inspire me every day. ‘Creatives’ are the bravest people in my eyes. People that aren’t afraid of being themselves, that’s what inspires me; love and heartbreak, life and death and this desert.”

Giselle gives back to her community. “I volunteer at the Valley Missionary Program in Coachella. We work retreats as ‘Misioneras de Jesus’. I’m in the band with my mother and other amazing women. The fun thing is that I get to play the keys, guitar and bass. I love it! But the rewarding part is watching 60 women’s hearts transform in the span of four days; they are healing and are feeling love, some for the first time in their lives.” She also gives on a micro scale. “I also like to be alone. When I do massage therapy I get a lot of peace from that; moving in silence, helping someone heal emotionally and/ or physically.”

Giselle has experienced many different cultures in her travels. “I love Guadalajara, that’s where my dad’s sisters live. That’s where I’d go to every summer for the longest time. There is something so humbling about visiting Jalisco, people live simple and happy. I enjoy New York; the rush of the city is something that is exciting and inspiring. I’ve traveled to Manchester, Tennessee for Bonnaroo. It was an amazing experience. I like Hillcrest in San Diego, there is a cool vibe in the air, where no matter who you love you’re welcomed. But there is nothing like home.”

Giselle will be supporting an organization that serves the special needs of children and their families who are at-risk and underprivileged in the Coachella Valley. “I will be representing Variety - the Children’s Charity of the Desert, because my friend, Kimberleigh Funkey, serves as Vice President. She has spent a lot of time spreading the word about this charity and dedicating her love and life to these children,” Giselle explained. www.varietyofthedesert.org

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ANDIE HUBKA: CHEF/OWNER OF CORK & FORK, CRAFT HEIRLOOM KITCHEN AND COOKING WITH CLASS

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riginally from Los Angeles, specifically near the beach in Playa Del Rey, Andie Hubka spent most of her childhood visiting the Coachella Valley as her grandparents moved to Rancho Mirage when she was born. Because of this, she considers herself a local and has lived here full time since 2002 after she attended culinary school in Los Angeles, receiving both her culinary degree and a bachelor’s degree in culinary management through the Art Institute of Los Angeles.

Andie’s career path was always clear to her, as she started cooking at a very young age. She had a few cookbooks she used regularly, one of them being The Joy of Cooking. She would plan out and shop for recipes and then cook for her family.

When she went away to college, she would cook for her friends in her tiny apartment kitchen and subsequently became more interested in throwing dinner parties than in her schoolwork. After the first year, she dropped out of school and enrolled in culinary school, a move she considers the best decision she ever made.

During her 5 years of culinary schooling, she started to pick up catering jobs and worked at various restaurants as a server learning about the front of the house duties. She worked every job in the fine dining restaurant at her school, learning

about all aspects of running a restaurant.

By the time she graduated, she had come to realize she didn’t want to go to work for someone else. She and her husband, whom she met when she was only 14-years old, brought their catering business to the desert. The first job she landed was a

May 10 to May 16, 2018

BY TRICIA WITKOWER

funeral, which got her another gig, which kept growing and growing her business.

For the next few years, they catered here during the high season. Andie also took a job as a corporate trainer for a very well-known restaurant franchise to help pay the bills in the summer months, which introduced her to teaching adults, which she loved. She started offering in-home cooking classes to her clients, which was the seed that started her idea to open a cooking school. In 2008, Hubka opened Cooking with Class in La Quinta, which was the desert’s first recreational cooking school. 2008 was a particularly hard time to open any business, but they survived the economic crisis and developed a loyal following of students. Early on, on Wednesday nights they would open up the cooking school and serve a prix fixe 5-course dinner with wine pairings, calling it “Cork & Fork”. After the third year, word got around and they’d have to turn more people away than they could seat. In January 2013, they opened the official Cork & Fork in the space next door, offering sharable small plates and unique dishes that utilize local and organic produce.

During the past five years, they have grown the restaurant to become one of the top in the Coachella Valley, with a wonderful reputation they are very proud of. The cooking school has grown to incorporate award-winning wine dinners, private events, and catering. The Hubkas recently opened their second restaurant in Indio, Heirloom Craft Kitchen, which serves casual farm to table food, including a vegan and gluten-free menu with a great beer and wine list.

The most rewarding aspect of her career, Hubka says, is being able to give her time to some of her favorite local charity organizations, including the FIND Food Bank. “People love to eat and drink, and I have been able to turn that commodity into a way to raise money for them, which makes me very happy. I also really love teaching cooking classes, it’s so cool to get feedback from people all the time that they have increased their confidence in the kitchen after taking my classes.”

Hubka and her husband travel quite a bit and in their adventures they take bits and pieces of their dining experiences and bring them to their menus. She likes to stay on top of the culinary trends and incorporate them in their menus. She’s inspired by what chefs are doing these days and the return to using local, sustainable products and highlighting what’s in season.

Andie and her husband got married 12 years ago and have 2 daughters, Lily, 8, and Riley, 5. She names her children as the light of her life and loves to spend whatever free time she has with her family. She has a hard time finding a good balance, as she is a selfproclaimed workaholic. But her husband helps to keep her grounded and her kids

remind her what’s really important. Hiking is her favorite way to clear her head, and she considers herself lucky to have some of the best hiking in the world here in the valley eight months of the year. Besides hiking and travel, wine is her number one passion.

She is an avid student and collector of wine and loves to try new things and travel to wine regions and learn all about them. She lists Hawaii as her number one vacation spot, but also loves to visit Oregon wine country and Mammoth in the summertime.

Her mantra in life is “Choose joy.”

Interestingly, Andie was on the path to become an attorney before she decided to drop out of school and go to culinary school instead. To this day, she still thinks she would have been a great lawyer! She claims most people assume that she is very confident and tough, but, “I’m basically a bundle of nerves all the time. I am trying to embrace it and realize that anything worth doing should make you a little nervous.”

If you haven’t tried Andie’s cooking, her awards and accolades speak for themselves.

In 2010, she was name best chef in the valley by Palm Springs Life. Since 2013, she has won the following awards every year: Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, TripAdvisor Award of excellence, Yelp Diners’ Choice, and Opentable Award of Excellence.

Andie will be representing the FIND Food Bank, a great organization that has an incredible reach – for every $1 donated, they are able to provide 7 meals. Says Andie, “There are so many food insecure families and children here in our community. It’s a phenomenal organization and I am so proud to work with them to help feed kids in our community who aren’t as lucky as my kids are.”

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

LORIE LOFTIS: CEO AT VENUS DE FIDO

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orie Loftis is a testament to what a person can accomplish through their zeal for what they love, as is apparent by her glorious pet and people oasis, Venus de Fido.

Loftis was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Her family moved to the desert area in the mid 90’s, where her mother Lindi Biggi became linked to philanthropic work, devoting her passion to animal welfare organizations. Her mother founded Loving All Animals in 2008, Loftis would come down to the desert and help out at the organization, later moving to the area fulltime in 2011.

It has been an eclectic road of careers that have led Loftis to her current vocation, but also what makes her so well-rounded. Loftis coins herself as being a, ‘jack of all trades, and master of none,’ a usual response for highly creative and intelligent people. From entertainment, to hospitality, from retail to real estate, Loftis has experienced a great deal…all to her benefit, “Somehow most everything I have done has come into play to help me with this giant project, Venus de Fido,” she says.

With her love for animals as her fuel, and with the encouragement and support of her mother, the concept of Venus De Fido was born. “We felt that our community really needed a place like Venus,” said Loftis. It would also serve as a business that would help to support Loving All Animals as well.

They saw from their connection to animal lovers and animal non-profits throughout the valley that they needed a year round gathering place to play, have fun and feel good. A place that would have an indoor area that could be utilized in the summer months when temperatures soar up into the 100’s. As if to answer their call, an opportunity came about to take over and rejuvenate a former gym in the heart of Palm Desert. Their vision was clear, complete with a Spa, Salt Cave and Wellness Center with a Beauty Salon and Groomer for pets. The space would also include a Fitness Center, Squash Courts, 1600sq. ft.

Dance Floor, Indoor Park, a Café with Vegan

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options, and Boutique. All of it built into the 26,000 sq. ft. space. Through hard work, imagination and dedication, the project was completed and opened in July of 2016.

Venus de Fido is now entering its second year, and with almost 10,000 guests who have passed through their doors, they have doubled their sales from their first year.

The most rewarding part for Loftis is the testimonials that she gets from people that she has helped to feel better, stay vibrant and have a good time. And the aspect that inspires her to keep doing what she’s doing is, “Observing how people catch on to this new concept and love it, knowing that if more people new about it they would feel good too,” said Loftis.

Loftis’s achievements have been noted with accolades from the Desert Sun and CV Weekly for Best Animal Welfare Non-Profit (Loving All Animals), and a nomination for

BY DENISE ORTUNO Business Woman of the Year 2017-Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce.

Loftis is a mother of two, a son who lives in Oregon and a daughter who passed away a decade ago, inspiring Loftis’ mantra of “Carpe diem”. Her lovable pets include Buddha, of TV commercial fame, and Chica, her Indio rescue Chihuahua.

Although she jokingly says that she keeps her life together with duct tape and Gorilla glue, it is the people that she surrounds herself with that keep her going. Playing with her dogs as well as practicing guided meditations, Salt Cave sessions, stretch and movement classes, massages, facials and wellness workshops also help her to keep it all going. “I practice what I preach,” says Loftis.

Her hobbies include art, music and travel. Her favorite places to travel are the Caribbean, Kenya, Australia and Peru.

Entertainment favorites consist of TV shows such as Game of Thrones, the movie Avatar, listening to the band Beth Hart, and reading the Four Agreements.

When asked what people would be most surprised to know about her, she says, “That I have the ability to create the right model and find the right people to make Venus de Fido the success my mom and I thought it would be.….that or, I was raised by monkeys.” When it comes to Loftis’ tenacity, the former would not be a surprise at all…monkeys it is.

Through it all, there is one woman that has encouraged and inspired her, the person being her mother. Forever grateful for her trust and respect.

Loftis has created a place that would sound too dreamy to some, impossible to most. But through her desire to have a haven for pets and their owners to play, have fun and feel good, she has made it happen. And that’s nothing to bark at.

Lorie Loftis will be representing Loving All Animals as her intended charity at the Top Men’s & Women’s Fundraising Charity Event on May 24th at Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

ESJAY JONES: TOWERING PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, ENTREPRENEUR AND COLLABORATOR

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sjay Jones may have been born and raised in South Africa, but the level of devotion and passion she invests in the Coachella Valley equals that of anyone I’ve ever known. I am honored to have interviewed Esjay Jones, one of Coachella Valley Weekly’s Top 10 Most Interesting and Influential Women of 2018. You can catch Esjay at Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs every Friday night at Acoustic Sessions, a live music event brought to you by Esjay Jones Productions and BOSE Professional. Esjay brings musicians from around the world to perform in an intimate setting in the Hotel Zoso lobby. Esjay is truly the desert’s supreme emissary of music.

By all accounts, Esjay was destined for greatness with such an enlightened upbringing. “I was brought up on a farm just outside of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal. My mom was a schoolteacher and my father a civil engineer. We grew up playing music in the church.” Along with the practical procurement of music, she also engaged in formal music education. “I studied music theory and musicianship in South Africa through an American based on-line music school called Grove Music School – School without walls.” This early immersion in music and the nurturing from her family is apparent in Esjay today. It also explains her not so surprising love for opera.

Esjay’s mother was her greatest influence and instilled in her both empathy and the confidence that she could do whatever she wanted in life. “My mom is the strongest, most loving and supporting women you will ever meet. She will literally take off her shoes if she thinks you need them more than she does. I would not be where I am today if it was not for her complete belief and investment in me.” In addition, Esjay keeps only an ensemble of friends who are in harmony with her vision and pathway.

“My friends and inner circle, I keep that pretty tight, I don’t have a lot of free time, so I keep like-minded friends around me who bring positivity and growth into my

life.” Esjay has accomplished a great deal in the music business through her tenacity and stately standard of expectation.

The name ‘Esjay’ is widely known in the music industry. Esjay won’t tell you but she’s kind of a ‘big deal’. Esjay humbly asserts, “I love being in this business even though the entertainment and music industry is always a hustle. I continually set goals for my business career as well as my health and happiness– it’s human nature to want more than you have, but I’m very proud to be where I am and working alongside such prolific people on a daily basis.” The direction of her career is self-propelled.

When asked if there was one thing that changed the trajectory of her music career she was hesitant to choose one factor. “I don’t think I could name one. I guess taking the risk of moving to the USA was the catalyst.” A risk for her and a reward for the rest of us; Esjay’s odyssey that led her to the US included some unique shifts in direction.

“I studied business management through a

May 10 to May 16, 2018

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

course I won via a karaoke competition, (I know right?), which has been extremely helpful when applying to the business of music.” Esjay has also had some rewarding elements to her career. “I’ve too many wonderful moments to think of … My first official personalized Grammy Invitation, working with Alien Ant Farm and writing a song that featured Nile Rodgers and Brandy are just a few.”

The art of food has also captivated Esjay.

She cooks a lot and finds artful stimulation in the kitchen. Esjay explains, “Preparing food and meals is what motivates and inspires me – I always find new melodies and ideas while in the kitchen.” Esjay would likely be a chef if she wasn’t so involved in the music business. “I would probably have gone to culinary school.” No matter her chosen work, Esjay was bound and destined for glory.

Prior to the social media frenzy that has changed the landscape of the music industry, Esjay had seven #1 radio hits in South Africa. Esjay has worked with many prolific producers, songwriters and artists, including Krewella, Justin Tranter (Fall Out Boys “Centuries”) Trey Vittetoe, Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s) Brian Kennedy, Mike Elizondo, JR Rotem, Mitch Allan, Toby Gad, The Underdogs, Olivia Holt, Pia Toscano, Lorialla and many more. Despite her remarkable work and connections, she continues to remain grounded and mindful.

This awareness did not happen randomly.

Esjay’s partner is her beacon of support.

“I am lucky enough to have an incredible partner who is level-headed, confident, business savvy and completely brilliant – she is my lighthouse in this tumultuous ocean!”

When seeking further replenishment Esjay has found solace in the water. “I try to go surfing as much as possible. There is nothing like the ocean to fill my soul; my mantra is, ‘just keep swimming’. And of course there’s the foodie in her. “I’m basically obsessed with food and eating… if you know me, you know I am always carrying snacks with me

and can’t continue with my day until I know when my next meal is! Ha-ha!”

Esjay has also traveled the world in promoting artists and her brand.

Fortunately, her favorite locale is just south of our border. “I love Mexico! It’s hands down my favorite place to frequent. I love the people, the culture and the music culture is unreal!” It’s fair to say the people of Mexico love her too!

Esjay is held in high regard by local and global artists alike. She has her own admiration for strong women. “Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres and Shasta Sowards– they lead by example, are always well-spoken, beyond reproach, have empathy for others and strive to improve the world we live in.”

Esjay is also empowered by the art of others. Deftones are her favorite artist and their album White Pony is #1 in her immense library. Her cinematic preference is the sci-fi thriller The Cell with Jennifer Lopez and in keeping with the macabre she prefers the zombies of The Walking Dead on the small screen.

On Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs Esjay will be representing Palm Springs Animal Shelter. She shares why, “I am a big animal lover and I have seen first-hand the wonderful work and impact that Palm Springs Animal Shelter has had on the desert. The shelter is run by an excellent team who put their finances to real good and I would love to add to their support.” www.esjayjones.com slseventgroup.com www.psanimalshelter.org

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

KATIE STICE: CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE GREATER COACHELLA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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atie Slimko-Stice IOM, ACE, has always been dedicated to her community. Through her work with the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce and now as the Chief of Staff at the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, community has truly been her focus.

Stice arrived in the Coachella Valley via San Diego in 1993, just in time to finish out her high school years at Indio High, and took pride in being a Rajah! She quickly became involved in the desert community, which thwarted her thoughts of someday returning to San Diego. While attending College of the Desert, she realized her passion in working with children as she became involved with them at the YMCA. It would turn out to be the prelude to her path at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert.

It was there at CDMoD, where she could implement what she saw as a need for children’s services in the desert, “There was not much to do in the desert back then. I felt like families needed support and I absolutely loved doing it,” said Stice. She served as the Operational Director at the museum where she ran teen programs, camps, the hands-on museum gallery and worked on fundraising events with major donors. Her affinity for the museum is clear, as it remains one of her favorite places in the desert, and one that she holds dear to her heart.

It was through her volunteer work with

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the Palm Desert Chamber Golf Cart Parade, where she become interested in working for the chamber. After a couple of years of volunteering, Stice began working for them in 2007. Although during that time the economy had challenges, Stice saw it as an opportunity to rise above it and to make the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce the best that it could be and to provide businesses better value. The work of the chamber team paid off as they earned a 5 Star Accreditation two times over, and the executive staff

BY DENISE ORTUNO

became certified with their IOM (Institute for Organization Management) and ACE (Accredited Chamber Executive), which brought the Palm Desert Chamber into the top 1% of the chambers nationwide.

When the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce was formed in 2016, Stice left the Palm Desert Chamber to be part of the ground breaking organization, which incorporates the chambers from Cathedral City, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, as well as the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, “I was offered a position to again fill a need in our community and help build a regional chamber, it just makes good business sense to merge and connect all of our Members,” said Stice. The merged chamber combines resources, making them more efficient to serve the business community, bringing the valley together and disintegrating city and neighborhood lines. Her passion for the community shines through her work, as she puts forth her energy to help local businesses thrive.

Stice’s accolades include; Top 40 Under 40 (2010), IOM (Institute for Organizational Management), ACE (Accredited Chamber Executive), Leadership Coachella Valley, Western Association of Chamber Executives, Emerging Leaders Council Board Member, US Chamber IOM Program, and the Angel on Earth Award: Angel Light Academy Honoree.

In her personal life, Stice married John Stice in 2013, who is the Food and Beverage Manager at Bellatrix at the Classic Club in Palm Desert. Her husband along with their dog Gill Grissom, bring peace to the hustle and bustle of her daily life, “John supports all of my crazy ideas and numerous work events, he is the best thing to ever happen to me,” says Stice.

For entertainment, Stice’s favorite band is Pearl Jam, her movie choice is Mary Poppins and her top book pick is, The Power of Now. There are many women who have and continue to inspire Stice, which include her moms and sisters, Saundra Straight, Marla Markes Slimko, Julia Cavin, Betty Slimko, and Anne Ebert. She is blessed to have their love and support and grateful for how the have helped to mold her into the person that she is today. She is also grateful for her sister-in-law Sara Stice, who recently passed

away, noting that she was both the kindest and bravest person that she has ever met.

Barbara deBoom, IOM, ACE, who served as the President and CEO of the Palm Desert Chamber was Stice’s leader and continued mentor, “Her support and guidance is everything to me,” says Stice. She also gives thanks to Heidi McArthur, owner of Jadabugs Kids Boutique in La Quinta and Rancho Mirage and a member of GCVCC, “Heidi is always lifting up other women and families in the community,” said Stice.

McArthur also runs a Facebook Group called: Real Moms of the Coachella Valley.

And Cindy Burreson, of the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort and Spa, and a GCVCC Board member, is also a source of inspiration for Stice, “Cindy is one of the most positive people that I have ever met. She shares her light with her community and reflects the light of others as well,” says Stice.

It may seem that being in the public eye and touching the community the way that she does, that Stice would be the ultimate extrovert, but indeed that is not the case, and something that would surprise people about her, “If it weren’t for my job, I would not be in the public eye as much as I am. I am actually pretty awkward and am a total unintentional comedian,” admits Stice.

For Stice, living in daily gratitude is part of her being. As she has seen the darker side of life before moving to the Coachella Valley, when her and her mother and sister lived in a battered women’s shelter in San Diego as a result of an abusive step-father, “I am so grateful for the people at the shelter that helped us. I guess that is a reason why I always want to give back, because I was on the receiving end,” said Stice. She is grateful for everything, therefore she is always happy. As one of her favorite mantras states, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.”

Stice is a cherished member of our desert community, with her goal of bringing local businesses to the forefront and aiding in their success, as well as her passion for working for the betterment of children through the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. Her bright spirit continues to inspire us all. She will be representing Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert as her charity at the event because she believes that “children are our greatest natural resource. Let’s invest in their futures – you will never regret it.”

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

KIM HARDEE: A ONE WOMAN ARMY FOR ANIMALS

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he Fantasy Springs Casino large event center was a sight to behold on August 28-29, 2017, when hundreds of leashed dogs and crated cats received an array of amazing services.

Their humans lined up gratefully to receive vaccinations to keep them healthy, required rabies shots, microchipping, free collars and name tags, and of course spaying and neutering. Three spay and neuter mobile units sterilized over 200 animals. Kim Hardee was at the helm, orchestrating an array of volunteers and organizations.

Kim Hardee, Indio resident and animal advocate, is the driving force and director of C.A.N., the Coachella Animal Network.

This “one woman” army, backed up by a team of volunteers, works tirelessly fighting to reduce the suffering and euthanasia of dogs and cats. This “rescue warrior” fights for every animal to have health, happiness and a home.

Kim was distressed to see so many stray and sometimes injured animals running loose. Thousands of unwanted Coachella Animals battle hunger and disease. She witnessed litters of newborn kittens and puppies dumped in fields where some succumbed to a painful death. Kim rescued and tried to find homes for many of them. She realized that overpopulation is the leading cause of pet deaths, and she understood the way to ensure a NoKill Coachella Valley is mass spaying and neutering. The need for low cost services was greatest in our East Valley. Discovering that it could cost over $700 to spay a large size dog, Kim concluded that cost is the primary obstacle facing working families and fixed income seniors.

Kim remarked to a friend one day that she wished someone would do something to help. The friend responded, “Why don’t you do something”. That was all she needed to hear. Kim teamed up with Animal Action League’s mobile clinic and founded her own nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Kim explains, “We have all these unwanted animals, and everyone was just talking

about the need for more spaying and neutering. Our government can’t solve the problem alone. My heart breaks every time I see a stray animal, abandoned, and often emaciated. I feel the community needs to take responsibility for these helpless animals. We need more businesses and private citizens to join the fight and sponsor a clinic.”

Outspoken and direct, Kim does not back down when it comes to speaking up for those creatures who have no voice and for the humans who cherish them.

When county animal control officers went door-to-door issuing costly citations to dog owners, Kim brought public attention to this issue. She arranged for the pet owners bring their citations to her clinics in order to meet licensing and other requirements.

Kim grew up as the only girl in a family with 6 brothers. Her dad was a drill sergeant

May 10 to May 16, 2018

BY JANET McAFEE

in the Marine Corps. At an early age, she learned how to fight and not back down. She developed an attitude that obstacles could be overcome with disciplined perseverance.

After she made many presentations at their city council meetings, Kim eventually earned the respect and full support from the City of Indio.

Kim’s husband John Hardee is her partner in life, her partner in business, and he also shares her love for animals. John is always present, working behind the scenes, providing moral support and ensuring the many details in a massive spay and neuter clinic run smoothly.

Kim and John operate an AV Production Company, ICON Productions, working with many Coachella Valley charities including Act Up for MS, The Desert Aides Project, and the Find Food Bank to name just a few.

Some of their productions keep them busy beyond a 40-hour work week, but this high energy woman then volunteers countless more hours organizing C.A.N’s monthly clinics.

In April, Kim celebrated 21 years of sobriety. She is an alumni of the ABC Recovery Center in Indio, and met John while attending their program. Kim is dedicated to helping others achieve their goal of sobriety, and she serves on the organization’s board of directors. Many of C.A.N’s spay and neuter clinics take place at the ABC Recovery Center’s spacious facility, a location convenient for East Valley pet owners. Kim explains, “The ABC residents are the best volunteers. Working to improve the lives of animals often has an impact on people who sense their unconditional love and optimism can lead us humans to a better future.” For people overcoming challenges in their lives, dogs have a way of inspiring them to reach goals and excel in ways they never imagined.

Kim thoughtfully chose a name for her organization whose initials spell out the word CAN. She believes that Working together as a community, we all CAN solve the homelessness and suffering of our

animals. C.A.N has sterilized over 5,600 animals since 2013. That number means that tens of thousands of unwanted animals have not been abandoned in fields or in shelters. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services shelter in Thousand Palms reports that intakes are significantly down. Euthanasia is reduced, as the public becomes educated about the crisis.

It costs over $3000 to do a one day clinic that includes vaccinations. Kim raises the needed funds from businesses and animal lovers. The cost for everything is $50 to the pet owner. Kim provides services to pets belonging to homeless people, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Check out C.A.N.’s website at www. coachellaanimalnetwork.org, and call for reservations at (760) 848-4284. One day at a time, one dog at a time, one cat a time, one more family able to afford having their animal…..all thanks to one inspiring woman who does not take “No” for an answer.

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

CONSIDER THIS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

LOOKOUT” (RAVEN MARCHING BAND RECORDS) LAURA VEIRS “THE

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ack in the early ‘70s, a cigarette brand targeted toward women smokers, dreamed up a mansplain-y ad campaign that exclaimed “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!” thus equating the Women’s suffrage movement and Women’s Lib with a pastel packaged cigarette that refreshed the weaker sex during menses… or something.

During this same era, Rock N’ Roll was working through a protracted adolescence, grudgingly allowing women to enter its ranks.

Even so, girls, as they were condescendingly known, were held to a different standard. In the ‘60s, Joni Mitchell gave up her daughter for adoption so she could continue pursuing a career in music. Even in the ‘70s, Stevie Nicks made the conscious decision to forgo marriage and motherhood, channeling all her energies into creating and performing music.

These days, things have gotten a little better, although the same rigid double standard remains in place. Male musicians never get asked how they balance career and family, but female musicians are still made to feel guilty for wanting it all. Not surprisingly, multi-tasking women (really, are there any other kind), manage to maintain kids and marriage while still following their muse. In fact, Laura Veirs’ latest record, The Lookout, seems fully informed by her thoroughly domestic life as a wife with two sons.

Born in 1973, Laura grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Music was around when she was a child, but she kind of took it for granted. Enchanted by nature and science, her first career goal was trapeze artist. It was while she was attending Carlton College, the small liberal arts school in Minnesota, that she started taking music seriously and began playing guitar. Punk Rock was a gateway drug, and she managed to join an all-girl Punk band called Rair Kx. By day, she studied Chinese and Geology, at night she played dimly lit clubs and bars. By the time she finished school, her tastes were leaning toward older Country and Folk. Following a stint in China, she began writing lyrics and setting them to music.

By the late ‘90s she had relocated to Seattle, determined to pursue a career in

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

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music. She supported herself working as an ESL teacher and part-time gardener. Taking a page from Ani DiFranco’s D.I.Y. playbook, she self-released eponymous debut in 1999.

Spare and Folk-flavored, it just featured Laura and her guitar.

By her second record, 2001’s The Triumphs And Travails Of Orphan Mae, she had connected with producer Tucker Martine. He has worked on all her subsequent albums; Troubled By Fire, Carbon Glacier, Year Of Meteors, Saltbreakers, July Flame, Tumble Bee and Warp And Weft. While her sound blurred the lines between Country, Folk and Pop, lyrically she tackled a wide range of topics, referencing Geology, Science and Space as much as love and romantic relationships. Her conversational singing style was equal parts intimate and matter-offact. In 2007 she noted, “I like to be personal in my writing, but not overly confessional.”

Along the way, Laura and Tucker’s relationship veered from professional to romantic; the couple married and are raising two young sons, Tennessee and Oz, in Portland, Oregon. In 2016, she entered into a professional partnership with Neko Case and k.d. lang. Billing themselves as case/lang/ veirs they released a self-titled record that felt like a distaff Crosby, Stills & Nash and echoed Trio the historic 1987 collaboration between Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstadt and Emmylou Harris. Case, lang and Veirs’ harmonic convergence received rapturous reviews and landed at #33 on the Billboard charts.

Following a 20-city tour, the three chanteuses returned to their own solo pursuits. Laura, intrigued by the dichotomy of being a working musician and mother, began “Midnight Lightning,” a podcast that explored the balancing act of music and motherhood. She began interviewing other musicians like Rosanne Cash, Me’shell N’degeocello and Wrecking Crew legend Carol Kaye. In the midst of all that, she has written and recorded her 10th album, entitled The Lookout.

The opening cut, “Margaret Sands” is light at airy, with finger-picked acoustic guitar buttressed by prickly bottle-neck riffs. As her vocals flutter and sway in the breeze she offers a cryptic and concise encomium to Margaret and her “opalescent gaze.”

Laura steps out of her Folk-Rock comfort zone on several tracks. “Everybody Needs You” layers drone-y synths over inthe-pocket percussion and brittle guitar pyrotechnics. The song’s sleek curves recall the cosmopolitan Folkitude of late ‘80s singers like Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin.

Both “Heavy Petals” and “Seven Falls” blends Country flavored pedal steel with subtle Jazz shadings. On the former, shuddery piano notes are bolstered by a tick-rhythm and clarinet flourishes. Laura’s winsome vocals almost Camouflage serious lyrics that warn of a “tenderest rage that no one can see.”

The latter opens tentatively as whooshy synths encircle a slapdash rhythm, high lonesome pedal steel, plaintive piano and swoopy vocals. The lyrics pay homage to an idyllic, outdoorsy childhood; “Raised under rays of gold and under sapphire skies...”

The best songs here, “The Lookout,” “The Mountain” and “The Canyon,” unfold one after the other. Despite having deceptively simple, almost utilitarian titles, each one is something of an aural banquet. The title track weds a thumping “skip-to-my-lou” beat to splintery shards of guitar, a sawing string section and Laura’s double-tracked vocals. The lyrics sneakily pay homage to her soulmate, Tucker who is her “lookout on the ground, making music from the broken shit you found.” On the bridge she wonders “What if I had never stumbled into you? What if you had never stumbled into me/The world as we know it simply wouldn’t be, simply wouldn’t be.”

“The Meadow” opens quietly, diffident vocals lap over dissonant piano chords.

An achingly pure roundelay, Laura uses economical language to recall the uncluttered landscape of her youth; “No walls, no ads, no black balloons waving from a chain link fence.” As the piano notes become more painterly, serpentine strings slither through the arrangement, underscoring this admission; “and we knew it wouldn’t last, it was beautiful.”

“The Canyon” feels suitably hot and dusty.

Rustic acoustic guitar collides with expansive, somewhat scratchy electric riffs, big, fat baritone guitar fills and a chugging rhythm.

Noting the only certainty in life is death, Laura offers this trenchant couplet; “I’m here now but my time will come to be blowing through/I’m here now but my time will come to be blowing through the canyon.”

Other interesting tracks include “When It Grows Darkest,” an ominous plea for peace and civility. Then there’s the Schoolhouse Rock waltz of “Lightning Rod.” The jaunty “Watch Fire” features guest vocals from Sufjan Stevens. The album closes with “Zozoba” a hushed account of the annual pagan puppet burning that happens in New Mexico at the Fiestas de Santa Fe. 10 records in, Laura continues to combine lithe melodies, crisp arrangements and lyrics that shape-shift from eloquent to melancholy to playful. As mother, musician and wife, it feels as though she’s actually achieved her original ambition as Trapeze Artist. The Lookout finds her up on the high wire, striking a balance and hitting all her marks.

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JOHN KENNETH ALEXANDER ART SCENE AND THE BUSINESS OF ART

May 10 to May 16, 2018

S

ometimes people are just born knowing their path. There is no guessing; no trial and error. Such is the case with John Kenneth Alexander.

His story begins in Burlington Vermont and continues in Palm Springs. His art covers many genres including abstract, landscape and the figure. A true artist John does not limit his creativity and uses a variety of media from traditional oil on canvas to mixed media such as wax crayon, marker, plaster, found pigments and repurposed materials. He is also a gallery director, art consultant and art appraiser. And he has a social conscious. That gives his work a depth that cannot be captured without an artist’s soul, something people recognized in John at a very early age.

“As a child, I was a creative type and was most happy painting or drawing,” noted John. He began his academic study of art as a nontraditional student at the age of 26 at the Maine College of Art in Portland. He found himself drawn to painting and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in that field. But John excelled in other disciplines as well – he excels in sculpture, jewelry and color theory.

John has established himself in the fine arts community. Through his knowledge of the art, he has curated exhibitions. As an art consultant and art appraiser he has helped others understand the value of art – from its intrinsic value as well as its extrinsic value. But it is his artist soul that keeps shining.

“I became interested in abstract art. I created a body of work of colorful grid paintings and studies. These are directly related to my fixation on the refracting qualities of gemstones and crystals.” Refraction is a measure of how much light is slowed or bent as it passes through a material. The higher the refraction the greater the ‘bending power’ and the greater ability for the gem to re-route light back out to the observer rather than passing through the gem to the backside.

Many of his other abstract works are created in the art brut/naive/outsider art style. These styles are often defined as work that is created by one with little training or one with little contact to the “mainstream” art world. To others is work that embodies unconventional ideas. John’s work is hardly naïve and it’s created by a well-trained hand that thinks beyond the canvas. That can

be seen in his figural work currently on display at Colliding Worlds Fine art Gallery in Cathedral City. . His work is part of a continuing exhibit, As God Intended. The exhibition includes three artists and their interpretation of the nude in art.

John became fascinated with the presence of the figure more than its detail, conveying form and volume through gestural mark making with as little visual information as possible. He is obsessed with the torso as an object, a vessel. For him, figure drawing is not only an investigation of how the elements of anatomy connect, but also an exploration of the eroticism of those elements.

The figure continues to be central to John’s work as he continues to use his art to explore issues of sexuality, repression and social commentary.

The current show features 11 pieces, with no pieces larger than 12 in by 15 in framed.

“The sizes and framing are happenstance. I use a lot of well-considered repurposed materials and like to explore various media. These are the majority of my current figure work inventory,” said John. “I see myself as faithful to idea of art as an investigation of the materials first, whereas content and ideas are second.”

The beauty of the last statement is evident in the work John creates.

As God Intended is showing at Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery, 68895 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, with an artist reception from 5- 8 pm.

For more information on the work of John Kenneth Alexander, contact him at fineartappraisals@yahoo.com

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

PET PLACE

THE FLOWER POT KITTENS!

E

ric and Susie were mystified when their dogs began circling around a large 5-foot tall pot on their patio in a Palm Desert Country Club. The two Havanese pups barked at the pot, and got up on their hind legs in an effort to climb inside. The couple looked inside the container with a flashlight and saw a pair of eyes glowing back at them from the darkness within.

They looked further, and discovered there were four very tiny kittens inside. When they saw the placenta was also in the pot, they realized the tiny animals were newborns.

Towards the end of April, snowbirds Eric and Susie prepared to leave the Coachella Valley for their second home. These ardent animal lovers were running out of time to figure out a rescue plan for the family of cats living inside the pot.

They hosed down the pot with cold water and misted the inside. The weather was turning warmer, and they desperately called local rescue groups for assistance.

A neighbor told them about Mary Ewing at Loving All Animals. Mary organized a team of cat trappers who went out to the property. They developed a plan to catch the little kittens. Trap ready, they turned the pot on its side, but the little creatures did not come out. Finally, with permission of the owners, they broke the bottom of the pot and scooped up the tiny kittens. Left there much longer, the tiny animals would have perished from heatstroke. It is believed the

MEET ALLIE Allie’s foster mom says she is an absolute “Love Bug”. This pretty 9-moold Tortoise Shell/Calico girl was rescued by lovingallanimals.com.

Call (760) 834-7000.

MEET MISTY Happy Misty, 75 lbs of doggie love, does not let her “handicapped” feet prevent her joyful walk. This Great Dane/ Lab girl was rescued by californiapawsrescue.com.

Call (760) 656-3833.

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kittens were born inside the pot.

The beautiful kittens are now in a foster home and have been to the vet for a wellness check. There are two orange tabbies, a Tortoise shell Calico, and a tuxedo, a variety that could mean two different fathers. Two of the kittens are males, and two are females. To end the cycle of overpopulation, they will be spayed and neutered prior to adoption. It is estimated that mama cat is only 8 months old. An evaluation of mama indicates she has the potential to become socialized as a family pet. Therefore, she will be vetted and adopted in a family home.

Mary Ewing states, “It is remarkable what length some people will go to in order to save an animal. We can’t thank Eric and Susie enough for being such humanitarians. The cat trappers are also our animal heroes. These five dear creatures

BY JANET McAFEE will now be able to live their full lives thanks to Susie and Eric and of course the team of volunteer cat trappers.”

In a nation of “pet lovers” the overpopulation of cats results in tragic consequences for them.

Only 25% of the millions that end up in America’s public shelters make it out alive. Underage kittens and puppies (8 weeks old or younger) are routinely euthanized at public shelters throughout the country, unless a foster home can take them.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU FIND NEONATAL KITTENS? Don’t pick them up right away. Underage kittens have the best chance of surviving if kept with their mom, and she could be nearby. Watch and wait at a distance to see if she returns after

she hunts for food.

If you determine they are truly abandoned or in danger, bring them indoors and commit to caring for them or seek help from a rescue group.

You need to get information about proper bottle feeding, and act quickly as very young kittens need food every two to three hours.

If you find the mother cat and she’s friendly, bring the whole family indoors and keep them in a spare room or the bathroom. Contact a local rescue group for help.

If the mother cat is feral, leave the family outdoors, but provide water, food and shelter.

When the kittens start to run around on their own they can be caught and moved inside to socialize to people. The mother cat can be trapped, spayed, and returned to the same outdoor location by a Trap/Spay/Neuter/Return program.

A new program in the Coachella Valley provides trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, and microchipping for free roaming cats. This Community Cat Program, operated by Best Friends, can be contacted at their hotline number (760) 507-1228. These lovely kittens will be available for adoption in about 3 weeks. For information about adopting one or two of the “flower pot kittens” call Loving All Animals at (760) 834-7000, www.lovingallanimals.org.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net

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THE VINO VOICE

BY RICK RIOZZA

CHILLAXING WITH CHILLABLE WINES

A

rriving back home from Verona Italy last week, it appeared that I also brought back the wonderful weather I was enjoying abroad. Here in the desert, mild and temperate, it was about as good as it gets!

But while everyone is talking about the weather, the hundred degree temps are quickly ushering in. Not too long ago in this town, the beverage of choice for both both locals and visitors would be the chilled Martini, the gin and tonic, or a simple sudsin-the-sun ice-cold stein of beer.

I’m still on board with all those refreshers, but now that our valley is awash with vino awareness, please allow us to mention some wines that can chill with the best of them. And, if you choose well, you can keep sipping all through the day.

Conventional advice tells us, in the hot weather, there are some rules to keep in mind: For the whites, nothing too rich or oaky; and for reds, nothing too tannic; and as for the rosés—well, you know they’re always good to go. But definitely break out that ice bucket for them all: and indeed, a chilled-up red wine will suddenly go from flabby to focused and refreshing.

A Sauvignon Blanc is always on the lips of refreshing wine lovers: fresh, bracing, zesty, the white wine for our foodie crowd that yearns for healthy salads, seafood, cheese, crudités, chicken or any dish that we desire lively, light, and satisfying. That’s certainly the taste profile for the original white Loire and Bordeaux grape, Sauvignon Blanc.

Piercingly aromatic, extremely refreshing, and unlike most world class varietals, it is best drunk relatively young.

I’m always recommending the very popular Nobilo (NOB-il-loe) Sauv Blanc, ($9), from New Zealand. You can find it everywhere, it’s inexpensive and it’s delicious with all the aromas and “green flavor’ tastes of limes, grass, gooseberry, asparagus, and crisp green bell peppers— add sometimes some tropical fruit notes,

such as guavas, passion fruit and pineapple.

The Nobilo Icon, ($20), is the brand’s highend wine which shows-off in all al fresco settings—a classy white dinner wine!

In California, the Sauv Blanc has taken to our terrior like love and marriage. So many beautiful round fruit flavors that either complement, soften and/or tame the firm acidity of the grape. I’ve always enjoyed Honig Sauvignon Blanc, ($15), from Napa County. It’s the epitome of Cal Sauv Blanc: a perfect balance of citrus, floral, and Napa terroir.

For you pinot grigio fans, a wonderfully complex example of a California pinot grige is The 2013 Carducci Pinot Grigio, one of the best California grige I’ve tasted this year. It’s got your classic complex yet smooth flavors of citrus, pear, melon, mango, and herbs.

It comes from the Cold Creek vineyard in the Sonoma Carneros region. The wine is 100% Pinot Grigio and is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. It was bottled in January 2014. Refreshing, cleansing, invigorating, and tasty—it’s my spring fling this season at around $19 a bottle.

A little before I left to Italy, I had the nice opportunity to chat with Heidi Bridenhagen, who is only the third winemaker in the history of MacRostie Winery. She was a fun interview and we’ll cover her story and the winery’s portfolio in a few columns or so.

But I’ve always been a fan of the MacRostie line-up of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Many times I have recommended their 2015 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay,($23) to pair with the classic grilled sea bass dish, with olive oil, lemon wedge, and dill—it’s the match made in heaven! So why not recommend it again!

The wine begins with a beautifully fragrant nose of pineapple, mango and guava. On the palate, the tropical fruit elements mingle with lively citrus layers as well as hints of spice from aging in French oak. The finish is clean, refreshing and quickly invites another taste!

May 10 to May 16, 2018

For you wine nerds who wish to know how Heidi preserved the bright and delicate character of the fruit, all of the grapes went direct to press as whole clusters and were then gently pressed. After settling, 85% of the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation, 17% of which were new and to provide a very fresh and focused element to the final blend, 15% of the juice stayed in stainless steel tanks for a cool fermentation.

And, while we’re at it, a great rosé recommendation is the 2017 MacRostie Russian River Valley Rosé, ($23) Made from 100% Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, this gorgeous crisp and refreshing dry rosé is fun, lively and also reeks of class for your

pool and dinner parties.

I agree with Heidi’s tasting notes: A completely dry rosé, the only perception of sweetness is from this wine’s alluring strawberry and peach elements. In the glass, it has an inviting pale pink color that hints at its delicate aromas and flavors. The strawberry and peach notes are echoed on the palate, alongside hints of tangerine and watermelon, all of which are underscored by a beam of acidity that carries the wine to a long, soft finish.

And now, this brings us to a desired chillable red wine. Right off the top of my head, two wonderful reds to speak of would be the breathtaking Beaujolais [BOE-zhohLay] and the exciting Chinon [shee-NOHN].

These wines meet the ticket on nontannic wines. Beaujolais owns the floral aromas and the fruity notes of strawberries, raspberries, and cherries. Juicy, soft, and velvety it pairs with charcuterie, cheese, and all picnic and light dinner meals. Chinon is the French Loire grape that we know as Cabernet Franc. The French version is a light to medium bodied dry wine, with similar Beaujolais flavors but with more heft for those who crave a heartier cool red wine. Cheers!

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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THUR MAY 10

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Spins Presented by Vinyl Me, Please 8pm, Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm 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: Dessert R&B Night w/ Riotboooy and Dxsko 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; 760-200-1768 Kristy King 7-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 TBA 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; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; Michael Keeth 4-7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 TBA 9pm

LA QUINTA OLDTOWN TAPROOM; LQ; Giselle Woo On 8-11pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Brian Jones 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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 PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Brad Mercer Project 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Nathan and Jesse 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Van Vincent 8pm 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; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke 9pm 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 7:3011pm 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 MAY 11

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29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Micha Schellhaas 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Full House Band w/ Nena Anderson 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 Dreamspell Presents: Perception EDM Night w/ Sugarfree, Sethis, Zoned Out, Rhythm Selector and more 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Gand 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; 760-200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm

CLUB 5; IND; 760-625-1719 DJ 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Gina Carey 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Myx 8:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Pottymouth, DieSineGration and The CMF’s 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HOTEL ZOSO; PS; 760-325-9676 Esjay Jones Presents: Acoustic Sessions w/ Anthony Alexander 8pm 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 Mayhem 11 – The Hip Hop Assylum 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; Matt Claborn 7pm 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 The Fave 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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; 760345-0222 Gennine Francis 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Bonnie Kilroe – A Tribute to Patsy Cline 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Josh Fimbres’ Bday Party w/ Thr3 Strykes, Sonstormer, Cakes, The After Lashes, Bobby Taffolla and Chelsea Sugarbritches 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7pm 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; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Off Da Cuff 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 VENUE@VENUS; PD; 760-834-7070 Hotwyre and Buddy Greco Jr 6-9pm 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 Mona McKinney 7:30pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Lisa LaFaro Weselis, jb and Gene 6:30-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; Michael Keeth 4-10pm HOTEL ZOSO; PS; 760-325-9676 Esjay Jones Presents: Global Sessions w/ Los Valleros and Avenida 8pm 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 Dia De Las Madres 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm 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 The Fave 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 80’z All Stars 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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 THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-32729 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev 4080 The Buck and Bo Road Show 9pm & Bill 6:30pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca 345-0222 Agave Bluesmasters 6:30pm 11am poolside and 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Makeness 8pm 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 7:30pm Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Karaoke 9pm Bricktoyaface Presents: InColor w/ Eevaan Tre, PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Noa James, Dxsko and Skywalker Mike 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield Winehouse Experience w/ Mia Karter 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Drumhall w/ DJ 7pm set w/ Sonstormer 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Funk’d RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Andy Cahan 6pm Martini 8:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7758pm 5566 DJ 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn 6-10pm Blues 8-11pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Brothers 8-11pm Tuzzolino 5:30pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo Christian 6-9pm 9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 760-200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron Baker 6pm James 6pm DESERT FOX; PD; Angel and Buddy Greco Jr SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin 8:30pm Music 10pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm 3560 TBA 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Dude Jones 8:30pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Dennis Michael 6:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Jack Ruvio 6pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 8:30pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ 10pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rose Mallett & Co. 5-7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 CV Music & The Real Deal 7:30-11pm Showcase Finals w/ Kill the Radio, Manuel the Band, Sleazy Cortez, The CMF’s, Willdabeast WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6pm and Ormus 8pm

SAT MAY 12

May 10 to May 16, 2018

WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Petting Zoo 7:30pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Reaction 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN MAY 13

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Heide Lawson 11am poolside, DJ 10pm 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 BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Great White Unplugged 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; 760-200-1768 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 24

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

THEPAMPERED PALATE

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ith an expansive new patio, and spruced up bright and airy interior, Casuelas Café in Palm Desert is better than ever!

It’s always been a highly popular Mexican restaurant in Palm Desert. Noted for its cozy ambience, attentive service and excellent food, there is no wonder why they have been around for almost thirty years, part of the Delgado legacy of restaurants in the Coachella Valley owned by Joaquin and Sharon Delgado and Ray and Kathi Rodriquez. Last year, they temporarily closed their doors to renovate the space and make improvements from top to bottom, and re-opened seven months later this past March. The changes are stunning, from their expanded patio that took up the front parking lot, to the new outdoor bar, with convenient sliding glass door enclosures to accommodate guests in those pesky summer months. There are updates everywhere (love the new art work).

Sometimes, when a long standing restaurant makes modern changes, it doesn’t always match the style in which people have come to know and love about the restaurant.

But Casuelas Café got it right, and the fresh new style is well suited to its message.

One area of the restaurant that attracted my boyfriend and I was the outdoor patio. It has a vacation vibe, with a crispness about it as you gaze out to the patio with colorful umbrellas. The seating area in the outdoor bar has a handful of tables, and the quaint bar has just enough seating to maintain a sense of coziness.

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COOL NEW VIBE AT CASUELAS CAFÉ

We perched ourselves at one of the hightops, and settled in for what we had been craving. A dish that gets our buds going has always been their Chimichanga (deep fried burrito topped with red sauce, guacamole, sour cream and slivered almonds, served with awesome rice and beans). This thing is huge, and we always share it, as there is no way that one of us could eat the whole thing. Plus sharing it gives us some belly room to have an appetizer as well.

We started with the ceviche, topped with sliced avocado. The ceviche was a perfect starter, cold and light, it was refreshing and went well with our frosty beers. Then, our Chimichanga came cruising around the corner. Wow, it was like seeing an old friend… .a food friend that is. We actually took slices off of it, and did that about three times. Each bite packed familiar flavors, and with their phenomenal beans, well, we were happy campers to say the least.

The menu at Casuelas Café offers many other Mexican favorites such as a variety of Enchiladas, Burritos, Ensaladas, and house specialties including Carnitas (my fave),

Lobster Baja Style, Carne Asada, Chlie Verde, Fajitas and many more.

The Cantina at Casuelas Café has a wide array of margaritas to go with any of their delectable dishes, such as their Margarita Del Rey “Cadillac” (Cuervo 1800, Orange Liquor, served on the rocks). They offer Happy Hour daily from 3pm-5pm with $4.75 House Margaritas, $3.75 Beers, and House Wine for $4.75. Grab discounted food as well including Nachos and Quesadillas. Live music is offered nightly from 6:30pm to close. Casuelas Café is

BY DENISE ORTUNO

opened daily for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, with Breakfast starting at 10am.

Casuelas Café holds strong to their dedication to excellent service and food, and coupled with their great new look, they are better than ever. I’m excited to go back!

Casuelas Café is located at 73-703 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, 92260. 760-568-0011

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

21

May 10 to May 16, 2018

SCREENERS

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No. 316

WATER-LOGGED

NOW PLAYING: OVERBOARD

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS I KILL GIANTS

What’s one to say about the mediocre reboot of a three decades old mediocre romantic comedy? In a gender reversing twist, the new version focuses on Leo (Eugnio Derbez), a selfish, spoiled, playboy from Mexico’s richest family and Kate (Anna Faris), a working class single mom of three hired to clean Leonardo’s luxury yacht. Leo unjustly fires Kate, refuses to pay her, and then falls overboard when partying too hard. He wakes up on the Oregon coast

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with amnesia. Kate shows up at the hospital and, to get even, convinces Leo he is her husband and puts him to work - for the first time in his life.

At first miserable and inept, Leo slowly earns the respect of his new “family” and co-workers. Leo’s billionaire family is soon hot on their trail and there’s the looming possibility of his memory returning. The only question in this alleged comic drama is: will their new family last or will Leo finally put the clues together and leave them for good?

I love the always charming Anna Faris – but the notion of rebooting such questionable source material – fails to lift the very low bar set by the original. Caveat Emptor.

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: THE MAZE 3D (1953)

The always reliable Richard Carlson stars as Scotsman Gerald MacTeam who abruptly breaks off his engagement to pretty Kitty Murray (Veronica Hurst) after receiving word of his uncle’s death and inheriting a mysterious castle in the Scottish Highlands. Kitty refuses to accept the broken engagement and travels with her aunt to the remote castle. Upon their arrival and to their utter dismay, they see that Gerald has aged significantly and his behavior has radically changed as well. Soon a series of strange and mysterious events occur in both the castle and the intimidating hedge maze outside.

They invite a group of friends including a doctor to the castle hoping they can help Gerald with whatever malady ails him.

Directed by the great art director Cameron Menzies (“Invaders from Mars”), the movie’s got a great gothic look and feel echoing the de rigueur decaying mansions of past haunted house epics. The secret of the ancient lord of the manor is essentially Lovecraftian, but Dan Ullman’s screenplay is not finessed with convincing effects, which are even more noticeable in black and white 3D. The other problem is the pacing. Scenes bump into each other but there’s little inertia or momentum. And the few scenes that do work come to an end with little or no emotional or visceral payoff.

Teen Barbara (Madison Wolfe) is the only thing that stands between terrible giants and the destruction of her small town.

But as she boldly confronts her fears in increasingly dangerous ways, her new school counselor (Zoe Saldana) leads her to question everything she’s always believed to be true.

Anders Walter’s great looking and memorable coming-of-age movie, based on the critically acclaimed “Man of Action” graphic novel by Kelly and Ken Niimura blends magical realism with a poignant and satisfying drama. The novel, about a brave girl trying to save her dying mother, won many awards including IGN’s Best Indy Book of 2008, New York Magazine’s Top 10 Comics of 2009 and the Gold Award of the International Manga Awards. The New York Times said the movie is “subtle, sensitive and touching.”

The timeless, final words of the giant to our teen hero Barbara struck a nerve with me: “Little warrior, you fight with honor…

But I did not come for her [your mother], I came for you. All things that live in the world die. This is why you must find joy in the living, while the time is yours. And not fear the end.

To deny this is to deny life. Can you embrace it? You are stronger than you think.”

Cool bonus features include “The Making of I Kill Giants,” Anatomy of a scene, I kill Giants Graphic Novel: Chapter 1 and a Photo Gallery. RLJE Films. Blu-ray.

Comments? robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

T

he joy of reading often comes when our parents read to us as children.

The time together with a book was always special. Mother’s Day is a perfect opportunity to say thank you for instilling the love of reading by giving Mom a book. Here are some ideas for you.

FICTION: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (Morrow, 427 pages) This is a psychological thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she has witnessed a crime in a townhouse across from her. Self-medicated, depressed and afraid, she must confront her fears, face reality and question her sanity.

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (Riverhead Books, 463 pages) When a young woman meets her feminist idol, the older woman becomes her mentor and soon discovers a boyfriend is no longer the most important thing in life. The young woman begins to tap into her own ambitions

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BOOKS FOR MOM

and finds a new strength and ability she did not think was possible.

America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo (Viking, 416 pages) This is not an anti-American story, but just the opposite. This is a story of three generations of women in one family. The first generation of women gave up their homeland and family to move to America. It was not an easy start. These women struggle to balance the promise of the American dream and the unshakeable grip of history.

NONFICTION: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed (Vintage, 370 pages) From the bestselling author of Wild, Strayed puts together a collection of the best of “The Rumpus’ Dear Sugar” columns. It’s always good to hear Strayed’s good sense of humor along with her honesty, compassion and insight about the world and living life.

Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me by Maya

May 10 to May 16, 2018

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

Angelou (Random House, 32 pages) Renowned poet and a national treasure, the late great Angelou celebrates the first woman we ever know – our Mothers. With stories of courage, strength and wisdom, this is a book of appreciation and inspiration.

All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the Unknown forward by Neil Gaiman and edited by Catherine Burns (Crown Archetype, 327 pages) A collection of true stories told by wellknown and celebrated authors that include Meg Wolitzer, John Turturro, Hasan Minhaj and others celebrates life with passion and humor encouraging us all to be more open, vulnerable and alive.

MEMOIR: The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy (Random House, 225 pages) A bold and free spirited woman learns that even the strong and brave of heart can fall. After a personal crisis, Levy re-evaluates her life capturing a portrait of our time and

SAFETY TIPS

the shifting culture of change. Control is an illusion.

The Gospel of Trees by Apricot Irving (Simon & Schuster, 373 pages) A woman recalls her life as a child of missionaries who spent years in Haiti. The book begins here in the Coachella Valley on the family’s 80-acre date farm.

For some, Mother’s Day can be hard when the idea of “mother” means something other than being loved and nurtured. If you or someone you know struggles with a difficult mother-daughter relationship, I recommend Daughters Betrayed

by Their Mothers by Holli Kenley (Healing Press, 260 pages). This is a healing thoughtful book about finding your own truth.

I’m grateful that my Mom read to me as a child. It instilled in me an absolute love of story.

Happy Mother’s Day!

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

CAN WE HAVE SOME CLASS?

G

raduation season is here again.

You want to make sure you graduate ‘with’ your class!

Unfortunately, these happy occasions sometimes involve underage drinking which can result in tragedy,” reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. “It is therefore critical that parents keep the lines of communication open when it comes to talking to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving.”

Know who’s driving all evening. Are your kids or a friend driving, is there a designated driver, or will they be renting a limo? Make sure your teen has a way of contacting you and you can contact your teen; warn them of the dangers of talking or texting while driving.

Get the evening’s itinerary as well as a “

list of names and phone numbers of each person with your teen. Make sure your teen knows how to handle difficult situations; avoiding accepting a ride from a drunk driver, rejecting offers of alcohol or legal and illegal drugs, or not succumbing to pressure to engage in sexual activity. Insist that no changes be made to the evening itinerary unless you grant permission. Know who is supervising all events in which your teen is participating. Make sure your teen has money to cover alternative transportation costs (cab), if necessary.

And parents, the same lesson here goes for you. Set an example of responsibility and accountability to your children!

For additional graduation safety, talk to school administrators.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 19 FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Jack Ruvio 6-9pm Tuzzolino 5:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, 2794 Hot Rox Hot Rox, in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Mark Gregg 5-9pm Gregg 5-9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healy 8pm 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:30-7:30pm, NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Mikael Healy 8pm Karaoke 8pm-1:15am NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 T-Bone THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm Karaoke 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Open Mic 7pm 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Randy PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Seymon 8pm Sunday Band 7:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm 3560 T.B.A. 6pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 3560 The Myx 6pm Mike Costley’s Jazz Show 6:30-10pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Daniels and Reggie Vision 7pm The Mighty Sweet Nothings 6:30pm VENUE@VENUS; PD; 760-834-7070 Brunch w/ WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Joe Baldino Motown Mondays 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King & Trio 6-9:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music 6-9pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Cinch 6pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Jasmine Tommaso 6pm Martinez and Scott Carter 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 with Kiesha 9pm John Carey and Friends 6:30pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jessica Taylor 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 The Luminators 6pm Seven/Six Presents: Free Tuesday Show w/ Bassnurds, DJ Mick Mac, Reef Nasty, DJ Tanner AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill and Hector Cortez 9pm Marx 6:30pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Meh, Monday w/ DJ Jakkz 9pm 7pm

TUE MAY 15

MON MAY 14

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; 760-3252794 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; 760327-4080 Acoustic Open Mic 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 Karaoke 8-12

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

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

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760-404-6325

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 MAY 16

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 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; 760-343-5973 Live and Local w/ TBA 5:308pm 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; 760-3252794 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; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6:30pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Katheryn White 6:30pm VENUE@VENUS; PD; 760-834-7070 Wine Down Wednesdays w/ Joe Baldino 4-6pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Barry Minniefield 6:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Mikole Kaar 5-8pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 Cinch 6pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Kimberly Cofer 6pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Valerie Geason 6:30pm

COMEDY

W

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LEWIS BLACK: UNIQUELY FUNNY

hat should you not do with a comedian known for his angry rants? Well, a good start is don’t mix up the time of the interview and call an hour late. I woke up with a missed call from New York and a message from Lewis Black saying he thought our interview was at 7:35 am. In a panic, I called him back. He didn’t seem thrilled about the mix-up, but I told him I just couldn’t believe someone thought it was ok to make me talk on the phone at 7:35 in the damn morning. He laughed at this, agreed with me, and no rants were directed my way.

If you want your own chance to hear Lewis Black’s sometimes angry, always hilarious musings, catch him at Fantasy Springs on Friday, May 11.

CVW: What is it about humor and anger that come together for you?

LB: “It’s just that I’m funniest when I’m angry, irritated, or upset. Part of it is because of the persona I’ve created. A lot of people have that but keep it inside their head. It’s something I fell into, I was lucky. I was in the right place at the right time and eventually it caught on. I thought it would catch on faster actually, because Sam Kinison was really yelling. I’d been on the road doing stuff and when he hit, I thought, ‘They’d better find me.’ I realized that it takes a while to discover what the key is to what makes you uniquely funny. We all have it. Humor is a muscle you bring with you and exercise. Once you teach kids that weapon, you’re fucked.”

CVW: You played Anger in Inside Out – did this bring you a new wave of younger fans?

LB: “I wish. You can’t have a 9-year old rolling into the show. Parents will bring stuff for their kid to sign. I’ve got one or two pieces kids have done where they’ve drawn Anger, that’s cute.”

CVW: I’ve read a list of your comedic influences and I was wondering if you add to that and draw new influences or if that’s set in stone at this point.

LB: “It’s a lockbox. What irritates me is there are people I didn’t give proper credit to and I’ve never mentioned. Paul Krassner is one. He had a big influence on me with his magazine, The Realist. Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, the Marx Brothers – all people I’ve never credited as influences. Eventually I’ll sit down and write the total list.”

CVW: Do people come up to you and try to do their comedy bits to you?

LB: “Sometimes people tell me jokes and sometimes they’re actually pretty good.

Basically they always say someone in family is like you – my uncle, my father, my sister. A lot of times people will come up at a signing and ask me to tell them to go fuck themselves.

Or sign something, ‘Fuck you John.’ I never thought I would be telling someone to go fuck themselves. (Chuckles.)”

CVW: How do you manage to make both sides laugh with your political humor?

LB: “Now that there are three sides it’s

PALMSPRINGSTHEATRE.COM

F

amed Actress and Acting Teacher Stella Adler said, “the theatre is a spiritual and social x-ray of its time.” That statement could not hold more truth than it does right here in the desert. The List is long and extensive when it comes to impactful and insightful theatre and live stage performances in the Coachella Valley.

From film stars such as Greta Garbo, Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball to Jessica Chastain and Gal Gadot, Palm Springs has been the destination spot for those seeking relaxation and entertainment for many decades. So it’s no surprise that the desert hosts some of the best theatres in Southern California. If you’ve ever wondered what type of live stage performances you can find in the Coachella Valley, you will appreciate the long and rich theatre history that has been apart of the community practically since its founding.

The Plaza Theatre, located in downtown Palm Springs, was a showcase theatre that opened it’s doors in December 1936 with the premier of Camille, based on the 1848 novel and 1852 play titled La Dame Auz Camelias, by author/playwright, Alexandre Dumas. The film stared Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor. It was only the beginning of the world-class performers and entertainment that populated Palm Springs.

The Plaza Theatre went on to premier musicals such as My Fair Lady and Music Man, and has lent its stage to performers such as Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. Between 1991 and 2014, it was also the home of the celebrated music and dance review, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.

From 1936 until 1984 the Desert Circus was held every year, offering parades, games, circus

BY TRICIA WITKOWER

harder. The new side – the side of whatever this is they came up with. Certainly there’s a sense that these people in part have been screwed. It’s kinda like Republicans screwed you and Democrats screwed you and then you go pick a pony. So this is the first time in a while I’ve had blowback. Some people ask why I never talked about Obama or Hillary.

And I wonder, ‘Where were you over the last 15 years I was performing?’ The gig is whoever gets elected, I get to yell at. On occasion I get blowback from Trump fans. Just before the Gulf War ‘more than willing to go to war but

BY DEE JAE COX

acts and live stage performances. The Desert Circus, was a celebrity populated event that the desert hosted in its long history of theatre.

As a part of the celebration, Melba Bennett, (Palm Springs Historical Society Founder,) staged an annual show called the ‘Village Insanities.’

The Hi Desert Playhouse, in Joshua Tree, has been serving the cultural needs of the surrounding communities since 1964. Its main theatre was completed in 1980. Confirming that artists and their art can be found in all corners of the desert.

The Palm Springs Annenberg Theatre and Art Museum, named in honor of the philanthropic Annenberg Family, who made their home at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, opened in 1975.

Lenore Annenberg herself was involved in its beautifully crafted interior design and decoration.

The Annenberg plays host to a variety of National and International stage performances.

In 1966 Pearl McCallum, a member of one of Palm Springs founding families, bequeathed $250,000 for construction of a performing

May 10 to May 16, 2018

have to manipulate me better’ I’d go after Cheney. People would get upset.”

CVW: Do you ever get tired of talking about politics?

LB: “After this election I haven’t wanted to talk about politics. They ran two candidates no one liked. Both sides decided to nominate someone nobody really wanted and that kinda did me in. Some of the stuff Trump said, calling Mexicans rapists. It wasn’t funny. A wholesale spewing of nonsense was allowed and the media gave him a platform to do it.

They ran a guy who didn’t want to be president against someone who didn’t know how to get elected. She didn’t go to the states, she didn’t pick Bernie. Nobody stood up, there were no adults in the room. The Democrats said he was a bad man and that would help them win, especially when the party that nominated him didn’t seem to think he would win. Minimally, you elect a role model as president. What planet are you on, grabbing pussy and calling Mexicans rapists? Fuck you. So you can see what a happy person I am.”

See Lewis Black and his opener, Jeff Stilson, on Friday, May 11 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Purchase your tickets here at www.fantasyspringsresort.com to see him in the Coachella Valley stop on his “The Joke’s On Us” tour.

BREAKING THE4TH WALL

arts center. In 1988 The elegant 1,127 seat McCallum Theatre opened its doors. Among its many productions, it has served as the resident performance space for numerous Broadway shows on tour.

1997 was the year that the Layne family submitted a winning proposal to the city of Palm Springs and won the bid for repurposing the historic Francis S. Stevens school and created The Palm Canyon Theatre. Known for their productions of Broadway musicals and classic plays, the Palm Canyon Theatre continues to present class act performances to the Coachella Valley.

In 2008 the Coachella Valley Repertory, was founded as a professional Regional Theatre company, currently located at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage, the company will move to their new larger space in Cathedral City which will be known as the Carol Channing Playhouse: Home of the Coachella Valley Repertory.

In addition to the above-mentioned theatres, the past decade in the desert has proved to be

very fruitful in the number of theatre companies that have been created and are greatly contributing to the quality of performing arts in the Coachella Valley.

Dezart Performs, Desert Theatre Works, Desert Rose Playhouse, Coyote Stageworks, Desert Ensemble Theatre Company, The Green Room Theatre Company, Script2Stage2Screen, Indian Wells Theatre, The Improvables of the Desert and the Helen Galen Performing Arts Center, are all producing entities in the desert.

In support of the local theatre community in the Coachella Valley, Dee Jae Cox and Michele Weiss, founders of The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project, which has been producing shows and events in the desert, as well as Los Angeles since 2007, is proud to announce www. palmspringstheatre.com, an on line community service Go-To Guide for local desert theatres. The site is being launched May 15, 2018. (The Print version will be published in November.) www. palmspringstheatre.com is a new and inclusive website that will provide residents and visitors an easy way to locate listings and information on the Coachella Valley Theatres in one easy to view site.

Palm Springs has long been known as a destination spot for fun, sun and relaxation, however, with its history of performing arts, it is also the place to appreciate quality theatre.

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.

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

REAL ESTATE

W

ith summer fast approaching… wait a minute, who am I kidding? We have been enduring what the rest of the country would consider summertime temperatures here in the Coachella Valley since the end of March!

No doubt everyone who owns or is renting a home here with a pool has already spent plenty of time in and around it. So how’s that pool looking? Is the plaster stained and are the waterline tile caked with a white film that no longer just comes off with a little scrubbing? Is your cool decking not looking so cool and is the pool light about half full of water?

How about that pool equipment? After 30 years of hard use it was time for me to stop just maintaining my pool and time to completely renovate it. If it has been quite a while since you have really looked at the condition of your pool or your pool equipment, or if you are considering selling your home in the near future, then you might benefit from my experience.

I’ll share with you what I learned about pool renovations and how you can save yourself some time, grief and money right after we check the month of April home sales data for the Coachella Valley. We started off the first two months of 2018 continuing our trend of more pendings and solds each month, year over year, and on track to exceed last year’s totals which were the highest in the last 13 years! But then last month’s (March) data delivered us a shock with fewer sales than the year before disrupting this positive trend of over 4 years.

It may have been caused by our inventory shrinking and interest rates rising. Would this be the start of a new trend or could we possibly bounce back with even more pendings and sales in April? Let’s take a look at the April data and see how we did.

According to the Desert Area MLS as of 5/1/18 there were 1,199 pending transactions of residential properties here in the Coachella Valley in the month of April. That follows our seasonal pattern

REAL ESTATE

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POOL MAINTENANCE OR IS IT TIME FOR A RENOVATION being down slightly from the 1,255 pendings in the previous month (March) but much higher when compared to the same time last year when we had only 1,1,073 pending sales. In March there were 1,004 solds and we were up considerably in April with 1,109 solds. That is considerably more sales than last year’s home sales in April (2017) when we sold only 910 homes. Whew! It looks like the really strong pending and sales in April have reversed this year’s poor showing in March and set us back on the trend of a higher volume of pendings and sales for 2018 when compared to 2017. April’s sales figures were so good that our year to date solds for 2018 now stands at 3,675 compared to last year’s total of 3,538. Last year was the best year in terms of total sales and dollar volume since 2005 and was a great year for the Coachella Valley Real Estate market. It looks like we are back on track to have an even better year in 2018!

Our inventory of homes for sale went down again this month with 3,574 homes available on May 1, 2018 compared to 3,726 homes available on April 1, 2018. Last year at this time we had 4,206 homes available for sale. Inventory has been off by over 20% but so far that has not significantly affected our sales numbers. So far it has not become a factor this year but if the total number of homes available for sale in the Coachella Valley continues to shrink it may become a serious issue.

We’ll just have to keep a close watch the inventory of homes in the coming months.

Let’s start with your pool equipment. Are your pipes, pump and filter spurting enough water through leaks that it could be considered a water feature? Are your copper pipes more green than copper colored or are your white PVC pipes brown?

I have always been a “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it… and if it needs fixing, repair it rather than replace it” sort of guy (which means cheap!). It turns out this was not the best way to go. For about $1,000

to $1,500 you can get a brand new, state of the art pump, motor and filter system installed. And if you get a variable speed pump/motor it uses about 30% less energy and will actually save you money in the long run. So check out your pool equipment and if it is looking old and tired do not hesitate to replace the whole system.

I have a standard white plaster over gunite pool that was “sand” stained, either from the sand or because it was the color of sand, with a few chips and pops in the plaster and with waterline tile that required a small jack hammer to remove the calcium build up on it. The light hadn’t worked in 10 or so years and the pool skimmer was in only fair shape. Since the pool was built before the days of the auto-filler I used a hose on a regular basis to keep the pool full. I first looked at repair rather than completely replacing the plaster and tile. There are companies that will come out and clean your tile; chemically treat and/or bead blast it so it will look “like” new for about $500. In addition, an “acid bath” (sounds painful) can be done to the plaster that will also make it look “like” new for another $500, provided you have not already done an acid bath more than two times previously. These are excellent options and should be considered for newer pools, but alas my poor pool was beyond the simple face lift these treatments provide.

After receiving bids from several pool contractors I decided to go with new standard white plaster and new tile. Total cost was $4,700. But wait, there’s more. For another $850 I could get a new pool skimmer and another $850 on top of that I could get a new auto-fill and on top of that for $350 I could get a new pool light (and wiring since my light was half full of water). If interested, for another $1,800 I could have updated to the “pebble tech” pool surface and another $1,500 I could have switched from standard chlorine to a “Salt System” chlorinator… both great options which I did not add-

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

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Here are my 3 reasons why you should put this home on your House Hunt Wishlist!

The First reason why I think you will love my selection this week is sheer comfort. To own a spacious SQFT 2772 home that is actually a condo has its benefits. The HOA (home owners association) takes care of most of the maintenance for your private resort-like backyard so you don’t have to do a thing. Just relax with a book on your private patio after a morning swim, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy a cup of drink while you admire the gorgeous panoramic views of the mountain. If you look close enough you can even see the Palm Springs windmills from your patio! Isn’t that amazing?

Now if my first reason wasn’t enough, my second reason I am sure will entice you. I know you are a person who wants it all! You are infatuated with architecture, love modern features in your home (especially in the kitchen) but you also appreciate timeless elegance. Well in this wonderful William Krises midcenturymodern home you do not have to comprise, you

on. So for about $8,200 I now have what appears and for the most part is a new pool with new pool equipment that looks absolutely fantastic. Total time to complete the job was about two weeks.

As for the not so cool looking cool decking I only considered two options here; paint or replace. To restore and paint it was about $700 and to replace it was $1,500. On the advice (insistence) of my wife I chose to have it replaced and it too looks great!

Check out your pool equipment and take a closer look at your pool next time before you just jump in. Maybe it could use a little maintenance or perhaps a complete renovation. As always, if you are thinking about selling your home you may want to ask your trusted real estate advisor what they think you should do.

Join me each month this year as we keep a close eye on our Coachella Valley real estate market. If you have a real estate question or concerns please email me at the address below.

Bruce Cathcart is the Broker/Co-Owner of La Quinta Palms Realty, “Your Friendly Professionals” and can be reached by email at bycathcart@ laquintapalmsrealty.com or visit his website at www.laquintapalmsrealty.com.

BY ALEXANDRA MIKLOSOVA

M

y name is Alexandra Miklosova, and I have been in real estate here in the Coachella Valley for over 10 years.

Currently I am a Realtor and Creative Marketing Strategist for Lux Box Agency and I absolutely love what I do! I love our valley, I love real estate and I love social media! Out of the love and my passion I have created a collaborative online social media platform to connect homebuyers, home owners, investors and real estate professionals. Welcome to Palm Springs Open House!

Every other week, I am here to provide you with valuable real estate information, market update, current listings and open houses throughout our beautiful Coachella Valley in a very fun and interactive way. Every week I search the Palm Springs area real estate market for the best possible deals for my clients. I will share them with you along with 3 reasons why you should be curious about that property too!

Let’s dive in. Here is my pick for the “Home of The Week”!

This week I have selected 72255 El Paseo #1501 Sandpiper in Palm Desert Profile: Mid-Century Modern Condo by William Krisel 3 Br | 3 Bath. 2772 Sq. Ft. Listed at: $649,900

BY BRUCE CATHCART

will have it all! You will even have an extra bunkroom/studio to spare. The exceptional details of this fully furnished enchanting dream home will leave you speechless, and you will have a hard time to believe that it can be yours for only $649,900.

Finally my third reason why you should schedule your private tour with me today, has to be the fact that you simply won’t find a better location than this! Call me old fashioned, but located steps away from a world-class shopping center of El Paseo certainly qualifies as a prime location. No wonder that this home rents for top

dollar and it serves as a comfortable home even for the most discerning client from anywhere in the world.

Grab a cup of coffee and read my biweekly column here in CV Weekly or join the conversation on-line in our Facebook group + Instagram at @PalmSpringsOpenHouse Don’t forget I can show you this gorgeous home but also any home in the Desert not just this one! Feel free to give me a call with any real estate related question or request a FREE marketing strategy consultation and allow me to help you sell your home! Don’t forget I can show you #1051 Sandpiper or any other home here in the Desert!

Alexandra Miklosova 760.668.9784. CalBRE No: 0177415 Listing courtesy of Laurie Moulton at Lux Box Agency

HADDON LIBBY

T

he Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce Orion Awards which honors local businesses and individuals will take place on Thursday, May 24th at 6pm at the Doubletree Hotel in Cathedral City. Presented

by Jessup Auto Plaza, I am honored that the business I founded, Winslow Drake Investment Management, has been nominated as Small Business of the Year. Thank you!

All nominees needed to be active members of the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce which is part of the Greater Coachella Valley Chambers of Commerce.

Business of the Year was split into two categories - small businesses with no more than ten employees and large businesses with a greater number of employees.

For Small Business of the Year, joining Winslow Drake Investment Management in this category are Body Concierge, Capizzi’s Cheesecakes and First Call Security & Sound.

In the Large Business of the Year category, Esser Air Conditioning, Frazier Pest Control, Jessup Auto Plaza, Planet Fitness and Staybridge Suites were nominated.

Restaurant of the year nominees are A.J.’s on the Green, Bubba’s Bones & Brew, El Portal Ristorante, Pizzeria Bambino’s and Zobo & Meester’s. You may remember that Zobo & Meester’s was one of our local restaurants

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THE ORION AWARDS

featured on Guy Fieris’ “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” on the Food Network.

The Chamber also has an Innovator of the Year award. Winslow Drake was fortunate to be nominated in this category in 2016 and 2017.

What was our innovation? Full transparency on costs and fees and an approach that is customized to the specific needs of each person or business.

With that plug for my Small Business of the Year nominee out of the way, this year’s nominees for Innovator of the Year includes CV Repertory Theatre (which is moving into the old IMAX Theatre at the corner of Highway 111 and Cathedral Canyon Drive), solar company Free Volt; Hemp City/CBD Works and the addiction and rehab center iRecover.

Non-profit of the Year nominees are the California Jazz Foundation, Cathedral City Historical Society, the Salvation Army, United Cerebral Palsy and The Unforgettables Foundation. In the event that you are not familiar with The Unforgettables Foundation, the non-profit helps low income families give their children dignified burials while helping the families in dealing with the financial trauma that is typically associated with these situations.

As effective civil employees make it easier to do business in a given city, the Chamber likes to recognize the efforts of those in civil service. This category includes retiring Mayor Stan Henry, retiring City Council Member Shelley Kaplan, Fire Chief Paul Wilson, Police Chief Travis Walker and Economic Development officer, Leisa Lukes.

Woman of the Year nominees are Rhonda Carnevale of Nicolino’s Restaurant, Julie Frazier of Frazier’s Pest Control, Kathleen Jurasky of the Palm Springs Cemetery District, Kara Robinson of Team Art Terry & Kara and Windermere Real Estate and Community Activist Sue Townsley.

Man of the Year nominees are Sameer Bhatia of Planet Fitness, Alan Carvalho, Community Videographer, Larry Davis of Forest Lawn, Ted Hane of the Mary Pickford Theatre and Terry Nelson of Team Art Terry & Kara at Windermere Real Estate.

May 10 to May 16, 2018

In the final category, Volunteer of the Year nominees are Austin Beneteau, Thommy & Michael Kocan, Loretta Nelson, Valerie Schecter and Jim & Ralph Thompson-Cantua.

Worth noting, I serve as Treasurer of the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce. The Cathedral Chamber of Commerce joined the Greater Coachella Valley Chambers of Commerce last year meaning that local members had joined forces with those in La Quinta, Indio and Coachella as well as the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians in an effort to unite the voice of business in the Coachella Valley in dealings with Riverside County, Sacramento and Washington DC. If you wish to purchase tickets to the Orion Awards and dinner, please visit www.gcvcc.org and the Events Calendar or call 760.347.0676.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Partner of Winslow Drake Investment Management and can be reached at HLibby@ WinslowDrake.com. For more information, please visit www.WinslowDrake.com.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

WHAT YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT DUI’S

I

say What You Never Wanted To Know because no one wants to be arrested for a DUI and have to deal with jail, costs, stress, time wasted in court and classes etc. However to understand a DUI, understand you do not have to be drunk. The correct charge is a Driving Under The Influence (DUI). You merely have to be Under the Influence/Impaired, Buzzed from alcohol and or a drug. This is determined by the Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) Test or the Breath or Blood test at the station.

Driving Under the Influence has always been called a DEUCE. This is because the Vehicle Code violation has always ended in a 2 and thus drunk drivers are referred to as “deuced”. A DUI was first called a 502 requiring a .15 reading. Next it was a 23102 requiring a .10 reading.

Some juries returned not guilty verdicts thinking the driver was not DRUNK because they drove without getting into an accident. Defense lawyers argued to the jury that the driver complied and produced their driver’s license and insurance when asked and the driver did not fall down while exiting the car.

Today it’s a 23152 (a & b) thus allowing the DA to file the two counts. One is Driving under the Influence and the second count is Driving with a BA level of .08 or more. Many juries now split the baby and find the driver innocent of one count and guilty of the other. If there is a guilty verdict of either count it is a DUI with the same sentence.

In California you are under the influence if your ability to drive is impaired. Impairment takes place when your blood alcohol reading is .08 or higher with either the Breath or Blood test at the station. Thus if you are driving on a

California road with .08 or higher the burden of proof almost reverts back to you, to show that you weren’t under the influence and/or your blood alcohol was not .08.

There are two different entities after you with a DUI... DMV and Court. DMV is an administrative agency that does not follow the Rules of Evidence. The DMV Hearing Officer does not have any legal training and is both the presiding judge and the prosecutor. Thus s/he rules on their own objections.

For the DMV hearing the DMV Hearing Officer can proceed with just the one (1) page DS 367 Report. They do not have to provide us with a complete police report nor have an officer testify at the hearing. This is because the hearing is statutory and if you have a .08 you are presumed to be DUI. The hearing is conducted like a miniature trial, but without a jury and with somewhat different rules of evidence. The defenses tend to be more “technical” than in court with procedure and bureaucratic errors often the grounds for a “set-aside” of the suspension. Testimony can be produced by both sides, although the hearing officer usually only produces documents, such as police reports, lab reports and the officers sworn affidavit.

Because there is no 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination at the hearing, we usually choose not to have our client at the hearing. This is because the client could be called by the hearing officer as a witness and testimony will be taped and can be used by the DA in court.

After the DMV hearing the hearing officer will take the matter under submission and send

you a letter, at your driver’s license address, notifying you of their decision. They do not give us their decision over the phone.

In my opinion, the hearing officers do not have the nerve to tell us over the phone that you have lost and the reason for their Ruling. They have sent out, what looks like a form letter, by the time we have completed the DMV hearing.

It advises the driver they lost the hearing.

I too was trained to do this when I sat as a Judge Pro-Tem for traffic matters. It is easier to say you are taking it under submission and will notify the defendant of the verdict via mail. That avoids a conflict in the courtroom. Once again, something like 98% of DMV hearings are lost by California Drivers.

Historically DMV suspends your license for four months on a first offense DUI or 5 months if you ask for a restricted license. You can request a restricted license 30 days after the

DMV suspension. This restricted license allows the driver to drive to and from work and a DUI program.

Whatever you do, hire a local lawyer and do not attempt to handle a DUI yourself, or better yet...

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT, CALL A TAXI, UBER OR LYFT.........IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HAVING A DUI OR ACCIDENT AND CALLING ME. “Though I am sometimes referred to as a criminal DUI defense lawyer, I choose to not view my clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them and more importantly to treat them as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation.”

DALE GRIBOW

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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CELEBRATE THE DIVINE FEMININE IN ALL OF US!

BY BONNIE BURKERT

S

hakti Fest returns for its eighth season, this year on Mother’s Day weekend - May 10 - 14 at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, in Joshua Tree, CA. Organized by Bhakti Fest, a leader in conscious festival events, Shakti Fest is a unique springtime celebration of the divine feminine spirit, described in Eastern philosophy as the ‘dynamic force which moves the universe’. The festival features world famous yoga teachers, Kirtan music stars, wisdom workshops, sound baths, and a healing sanctuary.

“When we started Shakti Fest as our spring celebration eight years ago, we had no idea it would become such a beloved event,” noted Sridhar Silberfein, founder of Bhakti Fest. “It’s perfect divine timing that we are able to honor the spirit of the universal feminine to align with Mother’s Day each year.”

The Shakti Fest 2018 music lineup inspires attendees to sing, dance and open their hearts. This year’s line up once again includes the best Kirtan (a.k.a. chanting) artists on the conscious music scene; Jai Uttal, Donna De Lory, Larissa Stowe, Govind Das & Radha, MC Yogi, Girish, Jaya Lakshmi, Prajna Vieira & the Mukti Kirtan Ensemble, Gina Sala, Vaiyasaki Das, David Newman, Fannah Fi Allah, and many more.

The centuries-old practice of devotional chanting is considered to connect humans with themselves, the universe, and spirit.

The entire Kirtan line-up is available at shaktifest.bhaktifest.com/kirtan.

World-class yoga teachers are the heart of Shakti Fest, and spring in Joshua Tree is a beautiful time to practice indoors and out.

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With three yoga halls offering 45 classes over 3 days, there really is something for everyone! 2018 Shakti Fest teachers include; Shiva Rea, Mark Whitwell, Mas Vidal, Kia Miller, Georgina Meister, Cheryl Slader, Leeza Villagomez, Carmen Curtis, Hemalayaa Behl, Oleg Flow, Jennica Mills, Allison Prince and Katie Allen, Lisa Gniady, and local desert favorite Kristin Olson.

Anyone can find their inner Shakti through energy invoking sessions in a wide variety of yoga styles. View the full yoga lineup at shaktifest.bhaktifest.com/yoga. Those looking for an even deeper experience can join noted yoga leaders Saul David Raye and Shiva Rea who will lead very special pre and post event intensives on May 10 and 14.

Shakti Fest 2018 Workshops will cover a plethora of wellness and conscious topics including Ayurveda, spiritual nutrition, tantric energy, Vedic astrology, breathwork, Sanskrit, conscious relationships, women’s sexuality, bhakti art, and hoop dance, with internationally known speakers such as Michael Brian Baker, Mirabai Devi, Renee

Baribeau, Dawn Cartwright, Zoë Kors, Jeffrey Armstrong and Dharma Devi. For further workshop detail see shaktifest. bhaktifest.com/workshops.

The Shakti Fest “Sound Healing Experience” is not to be missed. Attendees can immerse themselves in the powerful healing energy of sound baths with noted practitioners of this popular sonic meditation including Eric Sedorovitz, Gabriel Logan Braun, Lynda Arnold, Shane Thunder, David West & Enrique Pedrosa, Michelle Berc, and more. For more information on the sound healing offerings please see shaktifest.bhaktifest.com/sounddome.

There is no place like the high desert to fully immerse yourself in a powerful conscious experience. The historic Joshua Tree Desert Retreat Center is the oldest and largest retreat center in the Western U.S., located on a sacred site replete with a walking labyrinth. This setting allows for peaceful inner reflection and uplifting spiritual renewal. Accommodation options include, retreat center spaces, glamping,

EVENTS

camping, and RV parking, all on site. There are also ten hotels within a few miles of the retreat center. The Shakti Fest Eco Artisan Village offers vegetarian and vegan food vendors, yoga clothing and gear, jewelry, art and unique collectibles. The organizers pride themselves on running a green event, offering free water and mindful recycling practices. For travel information please see shaktifest.bhaktifest.com/travel-info and shaktifest.bhaktifest.com/lodging.

Early bird festival passes and intensive tickets are now available for Shakti Fest 2018, with discounts offered to local residents, veterans, military, seniors and students. Tickets are available at: tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/ shakti-fest-2018.

TRAVEL TIPS 4 U

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PIONEERTOWN PIONEERTOWN, CALIFORNIA

BY LYNNE TUCKER

CANNABIS CORNER

BY RUTH HILL R.N.

AUTISM AND MEDICAL CANNABIS

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njoy a fun day visiting an Old West town built in 1946. Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors, including actors Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They dreamed of creating an Old West set that was actually a town worth visiting, with 1880s-style falsefront facades but interiors that had stuff for visitors to see and do too. Up went (from the outside) frontier stables, saloons, and jails; inside, they housed ice cream parlors, bowling alleys, and motels. More than 50 films and television shows were filmed here in the 1940s and ‘50s.

Pioneertown, California, is an unincorporated community in the Morongo Basin region of southern California’s Inland Empire May I suggest a stop at Route 62 Diner on Highway 62? Experience the best breakfast and lunch menu while enjoying the ambience of the diner. Open every day 6am - 2pm.

So grab your camera, put on your cowboy boots and get ready for a fun adventure.

Think Travel!

Lynne Tucker is a travel writer and photojournalist based in Palm Desert CA

May 10 to May 16, 2018

ast week the CDC published its tracking report on the incidence of autism in the US to be 1 in 59. There has been a tenfold increase over forty years. The cause of Autism is unknown. Autism spectrum disorder is a separate diagnostic category which includes autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. Characteristics include communication difficulties, social interaction problems, and repetitive and sometimes injurious behaviors.

Every child’s autism spectrum is unique, so what works for one child may have adverse effects in another. The most obvious signs of autism surface between ages 2 and 3, so groups like the Organization for Autism Research have been funding research efforts to help detect autism at earlier ages—as early diagnoses may improve the effect of treatment options.

Evidence-driven studies demonstrate the benefits of two early behavioral intervention methods: The Lovaas Model based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and The Early Start Denver Model. With early intervention, a sizable minority of children have been able to achieve normal educational and intellectual functioning by 7 years of age. Many ave been mainstreamed into regular classrooms and have advanced successfully through the school system without additional assistance. When these are unsuccessful what is left?

Medical treatment options include pharmaceuticals such as Ritalin, adderall, risperidone and Abilify. While there are 562 clinical studies (studies outside the lab on humans) involving cannabis listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. none involve epilepsy or autism.

David Sulzer, a neurobiologist from Columbia University, published in the August 2014 issue of The Journal Neuron a study that involved tissue from the brains of children and adolescents who had died from ages 2 to 20. About half had autism; the others did not. Something in the process goes awry, leaving an oversupply of synapses in at least some parts of the brain. The finding provides clues to how autism develops from childhood on and may help explain some symptoms like oversensitivity to noise or social experiences, as well as why many people with autism also have epileptic seizures.

According to the late Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Society of America

and former director of the Autism Research Institute, “the benefit/risk profile of medical marijuana seems fairly benign” when compared to Risperdal or what Dr. Rimland considers the least useful and most dangerous: psychotropic drugs. “.. the reports we are seeing from parents indicate that medical marijuana often works when no other treatments, drug or non-drug, have helped.”

Mieko Hester-Perez, founder of the Unconventional Foundation for Autism, advisory board member to Cannabis Science advocates for medical cannabis. Coming from a conservative family with deep roots in law enforcement, she’s an unlikely cannabis advocate. She is also the mother of Joey, the boy for which Aaron Justis of Buds and Roses Collective and master cultivator Kyle Kushman developed Joey’s Strain. Hester-Perez’s conversion came when Joey, who has autism, was later diagnosed with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a rare and aggressively degenerative muscular disorder. He was given six months to live, and in that time, would need to take a cocktail of FDA-approved medications with a severe degree of documented toxicity. At the time, he was already taking up to 13 different meds each day. Six years after that six-monthsterminal diagnosis, Joey is happy, sociable and thriving.

A 2013 study conducted by Dr. Dario Siniscalco found indications that certain compounds—namely the CB2 receptor—found in cannabis may be helpful in managing autism.

A study published in 2013 by Dr. Csaba Foldy at the Second University of Naples in association with Stanford University Medical School found that alterations in endocannabinoid signaling may contribute to autism. According to the Autism Research Institute, some of the symptoms that medical cannabis has improved include “anxiety, aggression, panic disorder, generalized rage, tantrums, property destruction, and self-injurious behavior.”

In summary is cannabis therapy worth the risk? What are the choices: using a pharmaceutical that is less scientifically studied or a plant that is scientifically proven to be non-harming? Often anecdotal evidence drives scientific studies. Hopefully these breakthroughs will not come too late for today’s children.

Questions contact hilruth@gmail.com

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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SPORTS SCENE PGA TOUR'S 5TH MAJOR BREAK DOWN...

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PC Sawgrass will play host to one of the most fascinating competitions in golf this week, as the Players Championship heads to Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida once again.

The tournament, known as the “fifth major” in golf due to its longstanding prestige, is one of the most iconic on the calendar, with Sawgrass often providing a stern test for the world’s best players.

Rory McIlroy is the favorite in the eyes of many, although Jason Day, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson are expected to provide stern competition.

Here are some tournament details, as well as a look at some of the favorites and sleepers at The Players.

Thursday, May 10 - Sunday, May 13 TPC Sawgrass, Florida Defending Champion: Kim Si-woo Selected Odds: Rory McIlroy - 12/1 Jason Day - 14/1 Justin Thomas - 14/1 Jordan Spieth - 16/1 Dustin Johnson - 16/1 Rickie Fowler - 20/1 Jon Rahm - 25/1 Justin Rose - 25/1 The PGA Tour confirmed some of the featured groups for this week on their website on Sunday. They were enough to

BREWTALITY

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ook, I get it. You throw some glitter in the keg, or you act like you made your beer out of fried chicken; maybe you even come up with a clever name first and then build a beer’s gimmick around that. It’s a way to get attention, I know. I know.

But just so we’re clear, it’s still ridiculous, and I still need to make fun of you for it.

Gimmicks in beer have existed since 1914, when green beer was created for the first time (as touched on in my article “This Is Why I Hate), and they’ve only gotten more and more over the top as time as gone by.

If you thought that fried chicken beer and beard beer were ridiculous, wait’ll you see the list I’ve got for you today.

Here’s four more of the most redic beers that mankind has come up with.

4) Moonshot 69 Caffeinated Beer - 4.5% ABV, New Century Brewing Co. Ah, the early 2000’s. A time when Four Loko, Tilt and Joose were killing the stimulant + booze game (as well as anybody cretin-ish enough to drink Four Loko till their heart exploded), Redline energy drinks were sending people to the ER with heart palpitations, and creating a craft beer whose gimmick was caffeine seemed to make total sense. As featured in the 2011 documentary “Beer Wars,” Moonshot 69 was created by a Ronda Kallman, a former co-founder of the Boston Brewing Company, after she saw a chance to exploit a niche in the caffeinated beverage market. The reason the niche existed was because no craft beer drinker

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get golf fans salivating.

In one, Thomas, McIlroy and Jordan Spieth will go off; three young players who, for all the major titles they›ve won, have been unable to finish top of the pile at The Players. Spieth, in particular, will need to improve around the course, having missed the cut for the last three years at this event.

McIlroy has been in decent form throughout 2018, although at the final day of the Masters, he let a great chance of victory slip away.

At the recent Wells Fargo Championship, a poor second round cost McIlroy a chance of victory; that competition was won by Day, who was the victor at The Players in 2016 and is naturally fancied to perform well again.

The other headline group sees more heavyweights in the form of Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. It will be the first time Woods and Mickelson have played together here in 17 years.

Fowler also has history at Sawgrass, winning this event in 2015 in dramatic style by beating Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kishner in a playoff. After finishing runner-up at the Masters, it›s clear he›s in fine form, too.

Sleepers The unpredictability of this event was demonstrated last year, as Kim produced an excellent display to win by three shots, becoming the youngest ever winner of the event at just 21.

Worth noting; He has already earned four top-10 finishes this year, too. Despite

BY FLINT WHEELER that, and his win 12 months ago, Kim remains a big outsider again at 100/1.

At 33/1, Paul Casey is an exciting option.

He tied for fifth at Wells Fargo and played some tremendous golf over the course of the weekend.

Earlier this year, the Englishman also produced a win at the Valspar Championship and an incredible final round at the Masters.

Nick Watney (100/1) is another worth considering, as he’s been enjoying a solid run of golf recently. He’s made the cut in all 11 of his last outings, and at Wells Fargo, there were signs his game is beginning to click into an effective gear, as he was an impressive third.

There are a couple of former champions who will be hoping to rediscover some form this week. Neither Adam Scott (66/1) nor Martin Kaymer (125/1) have been playing to their peak in 2018, although they have previously shown they can perform around this course, winning in 2004 and 2014, respectively. My money’s on Rory and for Tiger to make the cut, which should make for an interesting weekend. G’ Luck!

MORE OF THE MOST REDIC BEERS EVER

BY AARON RAMSON

wanted caffeine added to their fricken’ lager beer.

The beer was scorned and mocked upon release, and poor Ronda eventually had to give up the ghost when the FDA put a ban on alcoholic beverages that had caffeine added to them, effectively killing Four Loko, Tilt, Joose, and Moonshot 69.

EDIT: The Four Loko you see on gas station shelves in 2018 is not the same potent, liquid-crack that it used to be. It was reformulated to meet FDA standards and is now just nasty malt liquor without any of the liquid-speedball characteristics that made people want to drink it in the first place. RIP, Four Loko.

3) I Can’t Believe It’s Actually Butter – 10.5% ABV, New Image Brewing Sigh. I’m really trying hard not to go down a rabbit hole here. This beer is a pastry stout; those new breeds of stout that all contain cocoa nibs, cinnamon, coconut, and other flavors that make it not have to

actually taste like a beer. Now, some may feel like that entire trend is a gimmick, so New Image Brewing got all Inception on us and decided to go gimmick within a gimmick, and added butter flavored extracts to their pastry stout. The press release for this product states: “This will actually taste more like an authentic baked good than most pastry stouts you’ll have tried.”

Oh good! I was afraid it would taste like beer or something.

2) Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout – 7.5% ABV, Wyncoop Brewing Co. Oh Colorado, you do not disappoint. For the uninitiated, rocky mountain oysters are the name given to sliced and fried bull testicles, and Denver’s Wyncoop brewery proudly uses three balls-per-barrel in this stout recipe. Described as “a meaty foreignstyle stout, Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout is an assertive, viscous stout with deep flavors of chocolate, espresso, and nuts.”

The balls this brewery must have release

something like this! And the gall to use the term “nuts” to describe the flavor; oy vey what a cocky thing to write. Had enough of the puns yet? Me too. I’ll see myself out.

1) The End of History – 55% ABV, Brewdog You say Rogue made a beer inspired by donuts? That’s cute. You think bull-ball beer is cray-cray? Aww, aren’t you in for a surprise.

Scottish brewing company Brewdog does not mess around when it comes to gimmicks. Having previously created the words strongest beer twice with Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32% ABV) and Sink the Bismark! (41%), Brewdog outdid themselves and set a new record with the 55% ABV The End of History.

Not being satisfied with making a Belgian blonde ale that’s stronger than Wild Turkey 101 (50.5% ABV), they decided to completely give no fucks, and package each bottle of End of History in TAXIDERMIED ROADKILL. The animals used were stoats and squirrels, and it seriously creeps me out to see a stoat with a beer bottle rammed up its ass. Only 12 bottles were made, and those sold out almost instantly at upwards of $900 a bottle; making this the most extreme gimmick beer ever.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of May 10

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Torah is a primary sacred text of the Jewish religion. It consists of exactly 304,805 letters. When specially trained scribes make handwritten copies for ritual purposes, they must not make a single error in their transcription. The work may take as long as 18 months. Your attention to detail in the coming weeks doesn’t have to be quite so painstaking, Aries, but I hope you’ll make a strenuous effort to be as diligent as you can possibly be.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Born under the sign of Taurus, Edmund Wilson was a renowned twentieth-century author and critic who wrote more than 30 books. He also served as editor for Vanity Fair and The New Republic, and influenced the work of at least seven major American novelists.

When he was growing up, he spent most of his free time reading books: 16 hours a day during summer vacations. His parents, worried about his obsessive passion, bought him a baseball uniform, hoping to encourage him to diversify his interests. His response was to wear the uniform while reading books 16 hours a day. I trust you will be equally dedicated to your own holy cause or noble pursuit in the coming weeks, Taurus. You have cosmic clearance to be single-minded about doing what you love.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s possible you could pass for normal in the next three weeks; you might be able to fool a lot of people into thinking you’re an average, ordinary contributor to the dull routine.

But it will be far healthier for your relationship with yourself if you don’t do such a thing. It will also be a gift to your less daring associates, who in my opinion would benefit from having to engage with your creative agitation and fertile chaos. So my advice is to reveal yourself as an imperfect work-in-progress who’s experimenting with novel approaches to the game of life. Recognize your rough and raw features as potential building blocks for future achievements.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Paradise is scattered over the whole earth,” wrote the scientific poet Novalis, “and that is why it has become so unrecognizable.” Luckily for you, Cancerian, quite a few fragments of paradise are gathering in your vicinity. It’ll be like a big happy reunion of tiny miracles all coalescing to create a substantial dose of sublimity. Will you be ready to deal with this much radiance? Will you be receptive to so much relaxing freedom? I hope and pray you won’t make a cowardly retreat into the trendy cynicism that so many people mistake for intelligence. (Because in that case, paradise might remain invisible.) Here’s my judicious advice: Be insistent on pleasure! Be voracious for joy! Be focused on the quest for beautiful truths!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): These days, your friends and allies and loved ones want even more from you than they usually do. They crave more of your attention, more of your approval, more of your feedback. And that’s not all. Your friends and allies and loved ones also hope you will give more love to yourself. They will be excited and they will feel blessed if you express an even bigger, brighter version of your big, bright soul. They will draw inspiration from your efforts to push harder and stronger to fulfill your purpose here on Planet Earth.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): One of the advantages you get from reading my horoscopes is that I offer confidential information about the gods’ caprices and leanings. For example, I can tell you that Saturn -- also known as Father Time -- is now willing to allot you a more luxurious relationship with time than usual, on one condition: that you don’t squander the gift on trivial pursuits. So I encourage you to be discerning and disciplined about nourishing your soul’s craving for interesting freedom. If you demonstrate to Saturn how constructively you can use his blessing, he’ll be inclined to provide more dispensations in the future.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Vincent van Gogh’s painting The Starry Night hangs on a wall in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. He created it in 1889 while living in a French asylum. Around that same

© Copyright 2018 Rob Brezsny

time, 129 years ago, a sheepherder in Wyoming created a sourdough starter that is still fresh today.

A cook named Lucille Clarke Dumbrill regularly pulls this frothy mass of yeast out of her refrigerator and uses it to make pancakes. In the coming weeks, Libra, I’d love to see you be equally resourceful in drawing on an old resource. The past will have offerings that could benefit your future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Love everyone twice as much and twice as purely as you ever have before. Your mental health requires it! Your future dreams demand it! And please especially intensify your love for people you allegedly already love but sometimes don’t treat as well as you could because you take them for granted. Keep this Bible verse in mind, as well: “Don’t neglect to show kindness to strangers; for, in this way, some, without knowing it, have had angels as their guests.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): After meditating on your astrological aspects for an hour, I dozed off.

As I napped, I had a dream in which an androgynous angel came to me and said, “Please inform your Sagittarius readers that they should be callipygian in the next two weeks.” Taken back, my dreaming self said to the angel, “You mean ‘callipygian’ as in ‘having beautiful buttocks’?” “Yes, sir,” the angel replied. “Bootylicious. Bumtastic. Rumpalicious.”

I was puzzled. “You mean like in a metaphorical way?” I asked. “You mean Sagittarians should somehow cultivate the symbolic equivalent of having beautiful buttocks?” “Yes,” the angel said.

“Sagittarians should be elegantly well-grounded.

Flaunt their exquisite foundation. Get to the bottom of things with flair. Be sexy badasses as they focus on the basics.” “OK!” I said.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Now is a favorable time to discuss in elegant detail the semi-secret things that are rarely or never talked about. It’s also a perfect moment to bring deep feelings and brave tenderness into situations that have been suffering from half-truths and pretense. Be aggressively sensitive, my dear Capricorn. Take a bold stand in behalf of compassionate candor. And as you go about these holy tasks, be entertaining as well as profound. The cosmos has authorized you to be a winsome agent of change.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In his 1931 painting The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali shows three clocks that seem to be partially liquefied, as if in the process of melting. His biographer Meredith Etherington-Smith speculated that he was inspired to create this surrealistic scene when he saw a slab of warm Camembert cheese melting on a dinner table. I foresee the possibility of a comparable development in your life, Aquarius. Be alert for creative inspiration that strikes you in the midst of seemingly mundane circumstances.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “My whole life is messed up with people falling in love with me,” said Piscean poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. She spoke the truth. She inspired a lot of adoration, and it stirred up more chaos than she was capable of managing.

Luckily, you will have fewer problems with the attention coming your way, Pisces. I bet you’ll be skilled at gathering the benefits and you’ll be unflummoxed by the pitfalls. But you’ll still have to work hard at these tasks. Here’s some help. Tip #1: Stay in close touch with how you really feel about the people who express their interest in you. Tip #2: Don’t accept gifts with strings attached. Tip #3: Just because you’re honored or flattered that someone finds you attractive doesn’t mean you should unquestioningly blend your energies with them.

Homework: Do you allow your imagination to indulge in fantasies that are wasteful, damaging, or dumb? I dare you to stop it. Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

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

May 10 to May 16, 2018

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

PEACEFUL DECISIONS

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ave you ever thought about how many decisions you have to make each day? If you take a moment to ponder how many, it could take a bit of your time. We make numerous decisions daily. Some are small and others may be life altering and require more thought.

It’s possible you are making choices for other people. So not only do you keep track of what you are doing, you are also responsible for someone else. For instance, I have two daughters and they are not of age to make certain choices.

When I move forward, there have been times I’ve questioned whether or not it was the right direction. Because not only am I making a choice for them, I am teaching them a lesson along the way. It may be that you care for a parent, a spouse, or a friend who needs you and appreciates your help. Depending on your circumstance, it may be that you have to call the shots despite their stubbornness.

As of late, I’m faced with many choices, of which will be life altering. For the most part, all of what I am facing is exceptionally positive, but a choice needs to be made. Of course, we are hopeful we will make the “right” move. We’ve all been there when we’ve chosen to go left when we should have gone right (figuratively speaking).

Plus, there is always a reaction to your action. I’ve been on the side of the fence of poor choices and it isn’t glamorous. We all know, one poor choice can be problematic and can create lifelong issues.

This leads me to share with you, what a dear friend of mine shared with me many years ago. I’ve

BY BRONWYN ISON

adopted this way of living and it truly works. It’s not a perfect recipe to making the right choice but it’s quite close. My friend said to me, “Don’t ever make a decision unless you have a peace about it.” My heart, mind and soul, resonates with this way of living. Ever since I began to wait and have a peace, I have made very few poor choices.

With this being said, I have less troubles or drama in my life. I don’t care to listen to what other people or family members “think” I should do. However, everyone’s opinion does matter but I don’t allow it to convolute my mind. I take time to mediate on the “BIG” decisions I have facing me.

But, I do not make a wholehearted choice until I have an absolute peace overall.

I am less stressed, I feel more at peace, and I know I have the abilities to make wise choices without depending on others. You can do this too if you take the time to mediate first. Do nothing until you have peace.

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

ASK THE DOCTOR

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BY DR PETER KADILE

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439. DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. deserthousecalldoc.com.

WOMEN’S HEALTH SCREENING

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reast Cancer Screening Mammograms have been used to screen for any abnormal masses in the breast. The USPSTF recommends screening mammography every two years for women age 5074 years. Screening prior to age 50 is an individual one and consideration of abnormal physical findings and/or family history of breast cancer is important. The USPSTF states that there isn’t enough evidence for the benefit or harm for mammograms after the age of 75.

What is a Pap Smear?

A Pap smear is a gynecological procedure performed on a woman that screens for cervical cancer. During a pelvic exam on a woman, cells from her cervix are gently scraped away and examined for any abnormalities. The procedure is named after its inventor, Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou.

Why should women get a Pap Smear?

The primary causes of cervical cancer are due to certain types of the Human Papillovirus (HPV). HPV is sexually transmitted, so a sexually active woman is at risk for contracting HPV. A Pap Smear doesn’t detect HPV, but looks for cellular changes caused by the virus. By detecting abnormal cells early with a Pap Smear, treatment can start before it spreads and potentially turn into cancer. If a woman has never had any type of sexual intercourse, it is unlikely she wound have HPV. Who should get a Pap Smear?

Generally a woman who has been sexually active should start getting Pap Smears at age 21, and then every 3 years.

Women over 30 who have had three normal Pap tests in a row can have a Pap Smear every 5 years with an HPV test.

Women over the age of 65 with a history of normal Paps, might be able to stop.

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What if a Pap is abnormal?

An abnormal Pap does not mean a person has cervical cancer, it means there are abnormal cells on the cervix. Depending on the degree and type of abnormal cells, will dictate if further testing is required or more frequent Paps are needed.

LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

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hinking about redirecting your career, but don’t know where to begin?

It’s not uncommon to get a niggling feeling signaling you’re on the wrong path.

The question is, how do you discover your true purpose? My clients sometimes wrestle with that issue and tap into me for the answer. Truth be told, I have no magic ball forecasting an answer. Only you can determine what you want to be when you grow up, or launch an act two.

What I can offer my clients, and you dear reader, are some key questions to ponder as you search your soul for the answer. We can begin with what motivates you to work hard and be productive? Oh, not ready for that one yet? Then start by making a list of what you like to do and what you are good at. It stands to reason you will only be successful if you engage in an activity that delights you.

Next log some time doing research. If you wrote down you love the outdoors and appreciate nature, drill down on the subject. A quick google will reveal broad categories like: landscaping, marine biology, forestry, park ranger…well you get the picture.

Now, back to my initial question. Ponder that one and add to it, what keeps you moving toward the goal when you really want to quit?

What causes your resilience to kick in where

you’re beyond exhausted? People who love what they do are more than willing to burn the midnight oil to get the job done.

Occasionally a client tells me she is a creative, but feels forced to “get a real job,” instead of following a dream. If that sounds familiar, let me refer you to a couple of brothers from Boston, Bert and John Jacobs. The two loved designing and selling tee shirts and were about to give up when they hit on an intriguing logo and eventually formed the $100 million clothing empire, Life is Good.

A question the Jacob boys might have asked themselves is, what makes me feel good about being who I am and what fuels my inspiration?

These brothers, inspired by children, have also created Playmakers, the company’s non-profit arm. If you are inspired by making life better for others, you might investigate a career in the non-profit segment.

Get started on your research today. It may help to take a career aptitude test. Keep exploring, you will hit pay-dirt. Remember, only you hold the key to unearthing a successful and rewarding career. Happy mining for your future.

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

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May 10 to May 16, 2018

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May 10 to May 16, 2018