Coachella Valley Weekly - June 19 to June 25, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 13 by CV Weekly

News Community NEWS MUSIC Music ART EVENTSMovies MOVIES DININGDining SPORTS HEALTH &BEAUTY BUSINESSEvents COMMUNITY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • June 19 to June 25, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 13

WINNERS at the CV Music Awards "BEST NEW BAND" Palm Springs ShortFest

pg 6

Ornament

pg 13

Peter Mikulak

pg 15

Sullivan’s

pg 20

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Bridger- CV Music Awards “Best New Band”

June 19 to June 25, 2014

By tracy dietlin

Coachella Valley Weekly

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com info@coachellavalleyweekly.com

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Raymond Bill, Lisa Morgan Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Judith Sulkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons, Writers/Contributors: Lisa Morgan , Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Lola Rossi, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Heidi Simmons, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Amanda Dorta, Eleni P. Austin, Curtis Hendricks, Noe Gutierrez, Jill Coleman, Jennifer Tan, Sunny Simon, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Patte Purcell, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, John Paul Valdez, Laura Hunt Little, Scott Pam, Rebecca Pikus, Richard Noble, Karen Creasy, Trooper Ramsey, Monica Morones, Shawn Mafia Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents

Bridger.............................................. 3 ShortFest Jury................................6 ShortFest Forums..........................7 ShortFest Spotlight.......................8 Comedy - George Lopez................9 Babe’s Brewhouse..........................9 Sports Scene................................10 Sports - NBA / Archery.................10 LMS - Ornament...........................13 Consider This................................14 Art - Peter Mikulak........................15 Pet Place........................................16 The Vino Voice..............................17 Club Crawler Nightlife.................18 Pamp.Palate - Sullivan’s..............20 Screeners......................................22 Book Review.................................23 Community - Giraffes ..................25 It’s Your Nickel..............................26 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........27 Dale Gribow.................................27 Safety Tips....................................28 ShareKitchen................................28 Splash House................................28 Best Pools in the Valley...............29 Hard Rock Spa..............................30 Hard Rock Fusion Sundays..........30 Free Will Astrology......................31 Mind, Body & Spirit.....................31 Life & Career Coach......................32 Ask The Doctor.............................32 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................34

very now and again a band comes along that has so much passion, energy and drive that you know they are destined for greatness. That is the case with Bridger. Only together for about one year, they have taken the desert by storm by packing the house at every show they have played. Their raw energy is infectious and they are a band you must see live. It’s always fun to watch someone watch them for the first time…with their jaws dropped, especially when they see Katie Cathcart tearing up the skins. Nobody would dare say she’s “a good drummer for a girl”, well maybe when she was 10, but she recently won Best Drummer at the CV Music Awards. She was in a tight category as the other four nominees are all amazing in their own right. But for those that had never witnessed her high energy, balls to the wall performance, let’s just say they walked away convinced of her amazing talent. Katie’s brother, Jim Cathcart, was nominated for Best Frontman, and while the trophy went to Nick Flores, the audience could see why he was nominated during his performance, with his vocal prowess and guitar playing he held the crowd’s attention. Also on guitar is Jacob Miller who interacts perfectly with bass player Dan Wheat like they are the dynamic duo of punk rock. Wheat won a trophy that night for Best Bass Player and claims it’s for all three of the bands he performs in (see below). Then they won the trophy for Best New Band and that sealed the deal. From their performance that night at the CVMAs and

their awards won, they have a whole new legion of fans following them and even a management company interested in them. This Saturday they will be performing at The Hood doing a GoPro show, which means the band and several audience members will be wearing cameras that will record the evenings shenanigans for the band to use as promotional video material. For Bridger it’s all about performing for their fans and having a great time, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t seasoned musicians and music biz savvy. Katie and Jim have performed together since junior high in their previous band Jekkel, which lasted about 15 years, while Miller at only 24, has been performing for 10 years in different bands and 7 of it in bars where he would have to leave right after he performed. Then there’s Wheat who was born with a bass in his hand. Jim worked in music at Lionsgate for a while and now works for the music company Elias. Katie interned at both Vagrant Records and Interscope for a stint and recently received her Master’s Degree and is a teacher. Miller works in the meat department at Costco and Wheat is currently washing windows and playing in 3 bands. The fearless four took time out of their schedules to answer a few questions for CVW. CVW: How long has Bridger been together now? KT: We started talking about jamming together at last year’s CVMAs. To me, this year’s award show marks the anniversary of

this brainchild. J CVW: How many songs do you have and when will you have a CD available? KT: We have over ten originals I believe and we are working on recording the second half as we speak. We put out the first half as an EP and are producing the others as a second. We’ve talked about wanting to combine the two into a final full-length album. Jim: I love what we’ve written so far & know we have more in the works and would love to record it all with even better hands on it. One thing I’d like to do for fun is to also make a scrappy version of it all, live, steel airplane hangar/garage style. Rollins always plays a hundred rare versions of band’s records that he finds on discogs during his Sunday night KCRW show (89.3 in the d) & that kind of stuff always appeals to me. CVW: Who will be producing it? KT: Right now we are doing everything independently. Our hopes are to spark interest in someone who can help get us to the next level of production. We would love for our recorded sound to be able to reflect the energy of our live show. CVW: Who writes the lyrics? KT: Jim’s the poet, Dan’s the angst, and continue to page 5

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com continued from page 3

we all get to add our little touches. However, what’s really cool though is that whenever someone says, “hey, I want this one” we let them go for it. I’m really lucky to be in such a creative group. The boys are also very welcoming to ideas and contributions. Jim: We share duties collectively as a band. When I put lyrics together it comes from the mood of what we’re playing at the time, with its punk/rock nature it tends to gravitate a lot toward a “FTW, we’re on fire, you did me wrong so go to hell” kind of attitude. There are also stories of losing your mind, revenge, and overcoming the mundane. CVW: How would you best describe your brand of music? KT: I’m not good with labels... I like being from the desert. I like drawing from my punk and classic rock roots. I think that we end up somewhere in rock. Jim: Heat driven rock/punk from the California desert. CVW: Jim how did it feel to be nominated for frontman with the band being so new? Jim: It felt great. I have tremendous respect for all of the frontmen in the valley. We all know what it’s like being in that position in a band and are connected by a mutual respect for each other. CVW: Katie…how did it feel to win for Best Drummer up against so many amazing drummers that you’ve known for years? KT: An honor, hands down, an honor. I was so overwhelmed I don’t even remember what I said. Everyone who was nominated is a beast and I know several others worthy of having been nominated. Also, I feel extremely appreciative. It’s been a journey and the recognition of this award, this year, inspires me and pushes me. I want to earn this award in every next show. Thank you everyone! CVW: Tell us what it meant to win for Best New Band? Jim: To me winning Best New Band means we’re doing something right by playing what we want, having a fun and energetic live experience, & pushing towards being better. It’s a beginning to be proud of & an honor to be recognized. Dan: For me, it was a complete surprise. It was just last year at the CV Award Show that I walked up to KT and said ‘We need

to play music together’. An accomplishment like this in less than a full 12 months is amazing. Jacob: It was a huge honor especially for being such a new band and having such little public exposure up to that point. CVW: What was it like performing at the CVMA’s? Jim: I kept turning to fellow desert musicians saying, “I love this, it’s a concert with all of us”. Music = family. Performing was a bit of a mad scramble & I had to play chase the mic a couple of times (always a joy) but playing in front of people as BRIDGER sets us on fire. KT: Jim nailed it: Exciting, thrilling, and an honor. Jacob: Epic!! It was the best stage set up with the lighting and sound being so phenomenal. It was like when The Who or the Eagles performed at the Tennis Gardens. CVW: Dan…how do you balance playing in 3 bands? (Bridger, Remnants of Man, Boycott Radio) Dan: It can be rough at times. Scheduling can get a bit hectic, but I can normally keep balance. There’s been a couple overlaps and jumbles, but when you love what you do, you make it work. My musical tastes come in a VERY WIDE variety. Taking part in groups of different genres helps feed that need. And having so many amazing friends that are just as amazing musicians is like sticking Paula Dean in a cake factory…. I gotta have a piece. CVW: Jacob you play in another band as well correct? Jacob: It’s Klonus with Dave Fleming. I’ve been playing with him for about 7 years. CVW: Tell us about how doing the Go Pro show came about? KT: I can’t quite recall how it happened but I know that we keep talking about how we want to be able to capture our live show to share. Instead of putting all of our resources into one or two cameras we want to do something different. We can get good quality footage all over the stage and in the audience with a bunch of GoPros. More importantly we want to have the crowd be a part of us. If we aren’t giving out presents, we want to buy a few drinks. This show

allows us to have everyone we love be a part of our history and hopefully in this video. Let’s party! CVW: Is there a certain song you want to capture for a video or just the whole live show experience? KT: Shows tend to have a life of their own. I’m excited to see what we get from the cameras and audience! Dan: ‘You asshole’ or ‘Real Deal’. I mean, all of our songs excite me. But those were the beginning. Those were the fire under what we are now. And I love them. Jacob: The concept is the entire night’s experience. We are looking to have about 10 GoPros running at once all over the bar. CVW: What has been the most pivotal moment or experience in your career so far? KT: This show. I hope everyone can make it. Jim: I think we’ve yet to reach it. Jacob: I would say winning the CVMAs Best New band of the year. It was a great way to celebrate being together as a band for about a year now. CVW: I know there is talk about Bridger signing a deal with VM Management. Can you share a little about that and what that means for you as a band? Jim: We’re starting to work with Val a bit (she’s rad) and looking to book some shows. I appreciate her & Tarver’s energy, looking forward to the upcoming year. KT: It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds… CVW: Where do you see yourselves in 2 years? KT: Playing drums for y’all. Jim: Runnin’ down a dream. Jacob: Hopefully out on tour and on top of the Billboard charts. CVW: What local band do you have the most respect for? KT: Each and every one of them. WE make the desert music scene. Jim: There are a lot I have huge respect for; Rebel Noise has always been nothing but awesome to us & I’d rather work and play with genuine people then some asshole with a chip on his shoulder. I respect Josh Heinz & Giorg Tierez for their endless drive & passion, Nick Flores’ energy is boundless, Thre3 Strykes are killer dudes. Just met the Yip Yops & they seem like a class act. I’m also a personal fan of Waxy & Parosella.

June 19 to June 25, 2014 Dan: That’s too hard of a question. But one of my favorite bands to pair Bridger with is Rebel Noise. Those cats can rock! CVW: What current bands are you listening to? KT: Led Zeppelin, they’re always current right? Jim: FEAR, all the time. In a completely different vein; The Sight Below, Tycho, and Mac Demarco because I like his deranged clown attitude. Dan: Golliwog, The Other, Belvedere, Billy Talent, and Mute have been cycling through my stereo for the last month or so. Those, among plenty more, I can’t get enough of. Jacob: A lot of Modern Country. Anything by Brad Paisley. I’m a huge fan of his guitar playing and songwriting. I mean I grew up on Black Sabbath, ACDC and Aerosmith but I will always be a metal head at heart. CVW: What else would you like readers to know about Bridger? KT: We want you to come to our show. Jim: It’s best live. Will travel. Dan: Look out. We have no plans of leaving Jacob: Come to the show and have a drink with me. Bridger performs this Saturday, June 21 at the Hood Bar 74360 Highway 111 in Palm Desert, CA, Show starts at 9:00pm. 21 & over. FREE show. Also on the bill: Kill the Radio and Barbarians facebook.com/thebandBRIDGER

June 19 to June 25, 2014

film

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by heidi simmons

Someone Has To Be The Judge: The Job of the Palm Springs ShortFest Jury

ho do you have to be to have an opinion on a film, right? It is one of the great pleasures about movies – anyone can critique a film and share his or her insights with others. It is how movies become a part of our shared culture. The ShortFest opened Tuesday, June 17 and continues through Monday, June 23. Festival attendees are particularly astute filmgoers and over the seven days, they will have something interesting and intelligent to say about the films they view. And, part of the ShortFest fun, is that the audience gets to select four different ShortFest “Audience Awards.” The Palm Springs International Short Film Festival & Film Market is not only the largest in North America, but also among the most significant in the world! So, with 320 films from over 50 countries, someone has to be the judge. “In this Festival, Jury awards are particularly important,” said Darryl Macdonald, Palm Springs International Film Festival Executive Director. “The Jury Award winners in four categories are eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.” Over the nearly two decades of the ShortFest, 97 films have received Academy Award nominations. The Jury is responsible for selecting the “Best of the Festival Award,” “Best Live Action Short,” (both the ‘Over 15 Minutes’ and ‘15 Minutes and Under’ categories) and “Best Animated Short.” But the Jury’s job doesn’t stop there. They must make decisions in 18 categories, selecting 23 films for winning positions. “The films that win Jury Awards share a total of $115,000 in cash and production prizes,” said Macdonald. Every winner receives the PSISF Crystal award. So, it is imperative to have a credible Jury

to uphold the quality and standards of the film festival, and the Palm Springs ShortFest engages industry professional to determine awards. “Our jury is entrusted with a vital job-a job they take very seriously and execute with a deep commitment for the films and Filmmakers,” said Festival Director Kathleen McInnis. “It takes hours of deliberations. Every year, the jury conversation is impassioned, intense--and fueled by a true love of the work (plus more than a little chocolate!). I’m always in awe when I see the strength of the jury’s commitment to their process.” This year, Jury members include Steven Gaydos, Nigel Daly, and Katie Holly. These industry professionals both love film and intimately understand the process of filmmaking. Steven Gaydos is Vice President and Executive Editor of the show biz publication staple, Variety. He is instrumental in keeping the film industry informed and current regarding every aspect of the film business by providing essential content for those in the entertainment industry. Gaydos’s responsibilities include overseeing all editorial features, Variety events, creative partnerships, custom publishing and various other film industry related projects. Besides being involved with hundreds of show biz reports, Gaydos created and directed the “10 to Watch” series, which highlights new talent early in their careers. Other programs Gaydos directs are “Hollywood’s New Leaders” and “Dealmakers.” He is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the European Film Academy. Gaydos is also the author of “The Variety Guide to Film Festivals” and “Cannes: 50 Years of Sun, Sex and Celluloid.” “Short films help us all find the voices that will be contributing to the sustenance and advancement of long-form cinema in the future,” said Gaydos. “I judge each film on its own terms; that is, it can be anything from a found-footage horror riff, to a “Jackass” comedic piece, to a piece of austere poetic “art” cinema.” When Gaydos watches a film

he asks, “How did it work to achieve the goals it set out for itself?” Gaydos said that the real secret of his involvement in the ShortFest is: “Palm Springs has a global reputation as one of the most important short film festivals on the planet. So the level of curation and the quality level of the submissions are really quite extraordinary.” He added that he expects to encounter fresh genius filmmakers and that so far Palm Springs Short Film Fest has never disappointed! Juror Nigel Daly originally trained as an actor at London’s Court Theatre before leaving to co-found The Laboratory Arts Collective. The Laboratory is about “Creating original experiences for the curious mind.” The organization is an international Arts collective, specializing in global culture and storytelling through theater, film, publishing and events. “Palm Springs is a wonderful place,” said Daly. “It has its own unique pace and has been the home of some of the greatest artists from the early days of Chaplin to now. Unique is a word that fits Palm Spring and its people.” In 2005, Daly made the short film “Cat Burglar,” which was represented by the British Council at the Cannes Film Festival. A 35millimeter surreal film, “Cat Burglar” showed in the Palm Springs ShortFest in 2006. “Short films force the filmmaker to be smart, to tell the story elegantly and above all to be clear with the idea, the message, the dream,” said Daly. “It is a challenge and those films that do it well are little master pieces.” Daly has acted in and produced both short and feature length films. He is the Chairman of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles (BAFTA LA) and is the Vice President of Business Affairs for the industry trade periodical Screen International, which posts film news, reviews and reports on awards and festivals from around the world. “I look out for originality,” said Daly. “After viewing the films it’s always tough, but those that speak to me, that are strong, and leave me thinking are usually the ones I am most passionate about.” Coming to the ShortFest from Dublin, Ireland, is Juror Katie Holly who co-owns and is Managing Director of Blinder Films. She has produced both short and feature length films that have received several European award

nominations. Holly is a graduate of the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) program. A worldwide network of partners, EAVE provides professional training opportunities and brings producers from different regions of the world together with the aim of facilitating co-production relationships. The EAVE program “encourages the exchange of knowledge and skills which will strengthen independent production across the world.” Holly is a member of the Irish Film Board. Of course, Jury members must view all the films and with so much to see they begin prior to the start of the fest. At some point during the ShortFest, Gaydos, Daly and Holly get together and make their important decisions. “Apart from the official Oscar© consideration status and cash and production prize awards, all winners of Jury and Audience Awards at ShortFest gain enhanced consideration for distribution deals and festival programming worldwide,” said Macdonald. “It definitely adds to their opportunities in other arenas such as distribution, marketing and programming if they win an award.” Festival Director Kathleen McInnis and her team choose the “Programmers Choice Award,” which is the Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker. And the “Cinema Without Boarders Award” is chosen by a five-person jury picked by bridgingtherborders.com. To qualify for the ShortFest, films must have been made since January 1 of the previous year, and because PSISF is an AMPAS – Oscar© qualifying festival, the rules state that short films are defined as 40 minutes or less. So during this ShortFest, check out the award categories and be your own judge. And while you are at it, view and vote for your favorite online short film as well. Jurors not only create a credible festival, but also inform viewers of worthy films that might have been otherwise overlooked. Jurors give festival attendees perspective on the winning films. There is a reason Palm Springs International Shortfest is considered one of the top five events of its kind in the world; from the Film Society to the attending film buffs, everyone loves and has an opinion about movies.

film

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

by heidi simmons

ShortFest Forums A

mong the pleasures of the Palm Springs ShortFest is not just the treasury of terrific films, but also the abundance of tremendous talent. With so many filmmakers from all over the world, and so close to Hollywood, the ShortFest is a great opportunity to meet important people and learn something about the filmmaking process and business. As part of the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival & Film Market, June 17 through June 23, there are forums, lectures, master-classes and roundtable discussions. This year there are nine events scheduled at the Renaissance Hotel’s Mojave Learning Center, 888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Film Society – the nonprofit organization behind both the international film festivals and ShortFest -- have made it their mission to inspire, empower and encourage all emerging filmmakers from around the globe by offering events designed to bring the working industry together with filmmakers for first-hand experience, conversation and networking. “The ShortFest Forums have grown into an extraordinary gathering of industry professionals, all ready to meet and mentor our new class of emerging filmmakers,” said Festival Director Kathleen McInnis. “We are so excited to bring together so many people at ShortFest, which every year generates new relationships and projects” Starting Thursday, June 19 at 11:00 AM there is a discussion on Reality Television – Reality as Entertainment. Five producers from top reality TV will talk about “the good, the bad and the ugly truth” in unscripted, reality programming. Also Thursday, at 1:00 PM The Casting Chat. Here three members of the Casting Society of America will talk about the latest trends and obstacles in the casting process. At 3:00 PM, Thursday a Master Class: Lecture With Ted Hope. An independent film

guru and CEO of Fandor – a subscription indie film outlet that has hundreds of film festival favorites, foreign films, documentaries and international movies – will speak about his vision in the ever-changing digital world of content distribution. Friday, June 20 at 11:00 AM Strategic Publicity & Marketing Designed For Emerging Filmmakers. Five experts in publicity share the best ways to make the most of the film festival circuit. The 1:00 PM program is Master Class: Music in Film with Allison Anders and Tiffany Anders. This mother-daughter duo talk about the creative and practical aspects of using music in film. At 3:00 PM the program is MythBusters: Notes And Practical Advice From The (Film Festival) Front. Seasoned festival filmmakers will share their experience on the film festival circuit. Saturday, June 21 begins at 11:00 AM with Meet The Programmers. Here’s a chance to get inside secrets, tips and advice for submitting films to festivals. Programmers from the Tribeca, Sundance, Telluride, Toronto and other Film Festivals will be talking about what it takes to be part of a great film festival. At 1:00 PM the program is The Players – Part I: The Business. Here agents, mangers, press and producers talk about the current and future state of the filmmaking business. The 3:00 PM program concludes the ShortFest Forum event with The Players – Part II: The Art. In this discussion a panel of tastemakers, gatekeepers and content creators examine the health of the film industry, creative television and the art of world cinema. “We have so many returning industry guests to help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary,” said Director of Industry Relations Christina Sasse. “Our distinguished industry guests come back each year because the ShortFest Forums are as inspiring for them as they are for

our filmmakers. They love coming to our “summer camp for filmmakers” and some of them really enjoy making it into a boot camp!” Exclusively for filmmakers, Roundtable events are Saturday and Sunday. This opportunity puts together two to four working industry professionals with up to 10 filmmakers at a time. Each session is 45 minutes. Sign ups can be done in advance online at the Filmmakers Blog or the day of the session. Who will be at the table is a mystery until everyone is seated. A clever way to network with the pros, the Roundtable is certain to build relationships with emerging filmmakers and develop the essential collaborative spirit necessary in

the industry. All the Forums and Roundtable events are made up of working industry professionals with major credits. These great events celebrate the filmmaker and enhance the experience for all those in attendance. It is an important part of the overall experience that makes the Palm Springs ShortFest one of the best festivals in the world. Panel only tickets are available to the public for $11 each; Master Class tickets are $12. All ShortFest Forum programs are presented free to accredited filmmakers participating in ShortFest and its concurrent Short Film Market. Tickets can be purchased by calling (760) 322-2930 or visiting www. psfilmfest.org.

June 19 to June 25, 2014

sports scene

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Julie Buehler

Stars Might Win Marketing Contracts, But Teams Win The Rings

eBron James is the 3rd highest paid athlete on earth, according to the Forbes. In fact, you’ll find his teammates Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade on the same Forbes list, ranked 57th and 23rd respectively. But do you know who you won’t find? A San Antonio Spurs player. Peyton Manning raked in the dough this past year, he ranks 26th among top paid athletes, as does Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons (10th), Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions (18th) and many other NFL players from a variety of teams. But one team without a single player on the list? The Seattle Seahawks. The fact is the sports industry is a marketing business and therefore, athletes that can be the “Face of the Franchise” are paid a premium to represent that franchise. But the whole purpose of playing sports is to win a championship, and with this latest list of highest paid athletes, the ones watching their bank accounts surge happen to be the ones watching their opposition win rings. Coincident? I think not. The Broncos and Heat are just two examples of major sports franchises that chose to import their talent and pay the high costs associated with that. Granted, the Heat won 2 NBA titles before losing their latest attempt and played in 4 straight NBA Finals, they’ve hardly been a failed experiment; and the Broncos went to back-to-back AFC title games and found their way back to the Super Bowl after a 15-year drought with their pricy quarterback. But both franchises, led by star players drafted by other franchises had enough star power to get out of their conferences, but once they faced a true team, one that had as many brick-and-mortar type of players as stars, they found themselves badly outmatched.

It was like watching a Ford F-150 run over a Ferrari. Because teams built to win “now” with those high-priced egos and suffocating pressure tend to burn hot and run out of gas faster than teams built slowing through great drafting, developmental coaching and proper team building. Fans don’t want to hear that, they want their team spending money and hoping the bloated budget brings a parade at the end of the season. Most coaches don’t want to admit they can’t control the intangibles that make sports unpredictable. Ask any coach in the NBA or NFL and they’d tell you having talent like LeBron James and Peyton Manning is a dream come true. But reality is, when one guy is driving that Ferrari and he’s not at his best, there’s no way to soften the collision that’s inevitable. Yet, when one night Kawhi Leonard is the star and the next night Paddy Mills and Danny Green erupt unexpectedly or Doug Baldwin bursts open for a big play after Marshawn Lynch goes on a dramatic run, stopping the force of a whole team is much tougher than slowing the pace of one man. And that’s why when I see the likes of Colin Kaepernick getting a $126 million dollar deal, I cringe. Yes, reports indicate the deal is team friendly, but anytime, 1 man gets the lion share of budget, that means fewer players, in a salary-capped sport, can get paid to do their job at the highest level. I always say, high-priced player means low-priced depth and in today’s sports, the great advantage any team can have at any level is depth. It’s how UCONN won a men’s NCAA title, how the Los Angeles Kings pulled off an improbable and exhilarating Stanley Cup victory. Taking care of the team first and the stars second. Money can’t buy happiness, or championships, but it can land you on a Forbes list. So there’s that. Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station. She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners. Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.

sports

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Flint Wheeler

Founder of Silex Strategies L.L.C. providing sales and consulting in Insurance, Retirement, Real Estate and Taxes through New York Life and NY Life Securities. PGA Class A Member and T.P.I. Certified Golf Trainer. Host of “The Tilted Sports Radio Show” and “The Odds on Favorite Podcast” on Team 1010 KXPS. Contact at 760-409-4612 www.flintwheeler.com

LeBron Loses In Finals!!

ow that I have your attention, let’s give some respect to the champs whose surprisingly quiet Championship run places this year’s Spurs among the best teams in NBA history! Armed with one of the deepest rosters in history and rare team chemistry, the Spurs set a new standard for what professional basketball could and should be. Championships are so hard to win that any team wouldn’t willingly limit their options. Few know this better than the Spurs, who have won championships with defense, teamwork and a rare collection of stars and role-players all doing whatever it takes in any particular game to ensure victory. And then came their latest triumph, won by a collection of smart, skilled players whose teamwork elevated the game to an art form. No one said more clearly then Miami star LeBron James after the Spurs completed the most lopsided rout in Finals history on Sunday, crushing the Heat in five games by an average margin of 14 points. “That’s how team basketball should be played,” he said. “It’s selfless. Guys move, cut, pass. You’ve got a shot, you take it, but it’s all for the team and it’s never about the individual. That’s their brand of basketball, and that’s how team basketball should be played.” The Spurs completed the regular season as the first team in NBA history without a single player averaging at least 30 minutes. They were the first team to enter the postseason with nine players averaging at least eight points since Boston in the mid1960s. And despite the lack of star power, the Spurs had the eighth-highest scoring margin in postseason history at 9.3 points per game. The seven teams ahead of them are all historically revered, including the 198586 Celtics (10.3); the 1995-96 Bulls (10.6) and the 1986-87 Lakers (11.4). Twelve of the Spurs’ last 13 playoff victories over those opponents came by at least 15 points, an NBA record for a single postseason. Eight players averaged at least 7.3 points in the playoffs, with Kawhi Leonard — their sixth-leading scorer per 100 possessions during the regular season — becoming the youngest player since Magic Johnson to win Finals MVP. “We’re a true team, and everybody contributes,” Parker said. “Everybody did their job. We did it together, and that was the whole key this season.” It stood in stark contrast to the Heat, whose star-powered approach collapsed spectacularly in their fourth straight Finals

appearance. As their run suggests, it’s still a viable model. But with James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade sucking up nearly the entire salary cap, the Heat had mere crumbs to flesh out the rest of their roster. That didn’t prevent them from winning two straight championships. But it finally caught up to them against the Spurs, who had seven of the top nine players in the series as measured by Player Efficiency Rating. “They picked us apart,” Chris Bosh said. “They made us question what we were doing. They played faster, they played stronger, they played together, and they played like they wanted it more. They dominated us.” More impressive than their statistical dominance was the sheer beauty with which these Spurs played; a collective elegance rarely seen on NBA courts. The Heat — whose coach, Erik Spoelstra, described the Spurs’ performance as “exquisite” — certainly had no chance. Witness their 21-point defeat in Game 3, in which the Spurs had 21 possessions with at least five passes compared to their one. For the series, the Spurs passed the ball nearly 500 more times in five games, a basketball symphony that mesmerized even its participants. “Sometimes I felt like saying, ‘Wow, this is sweet. It was really fun to play like this. I think we played at a really high level. We shared the ball maybe as never before,’ said Spurs Shooting Guard Manu Ginobli. He continued by saying, “Seeing how involved and how important everybody that was part of the team felt made it even more special. So, again, I’m really proud of this championship. I’m at a real high right now. I feel so happy and lucky to be on this team.” “I’ve never been more proud of a team, nor have I ever gotten as much satisfaction from a season in all the years I’ve been coaching,” Coach Popovich said per ESPN. com’s Marc Stein. We can only hope the rest of the NBA takes note. Not everyone has the veteran experience and the depth of the Spurs. But teams can still aspire to their standard. For James is right — this is indeed the way basketball should be played.

June 19 to June 25, 2014

Coachella Valley Archers Win sports State Archery Championship Dalton Styve and Cheyenne Bradley of Robin Hood Archery Club earn their first state title

alton Styve, 13, resident of Cathedral City, and Cheyenne Bradley, 13, resident of Palm Desert, won first place at the California State Outdoor Archery Championships held at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, California June 14 and 15 in the Cub Compound Men and Cub Compound Women division, respectively. Connor Wilhelm, 13, resident of Desert Hot Springs, earned a third place medal in the Cub Compound Men division. All three archers are members of the Robin Hood Archery Club based in Indio, CA. Dalton stayed ahead of all the archers in his division throughout the entire two-day tournament. Earning a total FITA, 4-distance score, of 1275 out of 1440 possible; outscoring his second place opponent by 39 points. Connor, attending his very first tournament, held on to his third placing the entire tournament ending with a total score of 1204. Cheyenne participated in her first long distance event finished with a strong

1132 solidifying her first place ending in the cub women division. This is the first time a local youth archery team has brought home three state placements. Six young archers from the Coachella Valley attended along with 260 archers from all over California in this annual event to test their archery skills in the compound bow and Olympic recurve bow division. Two-hundred of these participants were archers between the ages of 6 to 18; an example of the explosion of interest in the sport of archery in recent years.a Coachella Valley residents interested in exploring this sport are welcome visit Robin Hood Archery for beginner’s group lessons on Saturdays, attend the bi-weekly youth archery classes or request a one-on-one session with an instructor at their indoor facilities in Indio. For more information, contact Josahan Jaime, head coach at Robin Hood Archery at 760-347-8828 or email at robinhoodarchery@ aol.com

California Woman 411 with your host Dee Jae Cox

‘Talking to women who lead and inspire’ Saturday’s from 10 – 11 a.m. KPTR 1450 AM Palm Springs, CA California

CA-WMN-411 www.CaliforniaWoman411.com

Produced by The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project:

www.lawtp.org www.californiawoman411.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

Ornament

June 19 to June 25, 2014

by Lisa Morgan

Since 1999, Not Your Typical Desert Music Scene Decor

ifteen years to a rock band is like 150 in human years. Much like a family/ marriage, it takes work and dedication to keep it together. Ornament, not void of its bumps and bruises, is one such band that has managed to do just that. Our desert music history is rich with bands and musicians the caliber of which are contained in Ornament, that have gone on to find international notoriety and commercial success. Those cards have yet to fall for this band, but personally and selfishly speaking, I am happy that we have this tenured, finely tuned, original creative force all to ourselves...for now. It was at an open mic back in 1999 when Will Coon walked into the obscure bar on Indian Avenue in Palm Springs and sang a couple of U2 covers. “Josh Kjierstad (guitar), Greg Cabral (bass/vocals) and John Pierson (drums) were already playing together in a studio in Palm Springs. Josh asked me to come by the studio and jam with them,” shared Ornament’s lead singer. “It was immediate. From that point on, we started playing and writing together. Mario Lalli booked us for our first gig at a sports bar in Cathedral City.” The newly formed unit soon began meeting everyone in the local music scene, but developed a close relationship with highly respected guitarist and sound engineer, Mike Riley (Parosella). “Mike’s a great engineer and audio guy. He recorded our first album in his studio, the Green Room, in Palm Springs. It was our 6 song, EP, Pools of Grace. We sold and promoted it ourselves and it did OK. We started playing all over the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Los Angeles. We even went as far as Boise, Idaho. Like most bands, when we weren’t booked, we just kept rehearsing and playing.” Bassist, Greg Cabral tells the story of the band’s origins similarly, but details his connection to drummer, John Pierson. “He and I started hanging out in the early days; we’d get together and just jam to everything. We have a lot of ESP when it comes to producing the rhythm section together. I can throw anything at him, and he’ll pick it up.” Cabral also brings a lot to the plate creatively for Ornament. He laughed when he shared, “Whenever I say, ‘I got an idea’, it’s basically signaling the reconstruction of a song.” Cabral distinctively adds a bit of a jazz-goth fusion that has morphed into what has become known as the Ornament sound. “When we started putting songs together,

it was coming together pretty well, and we were really getting a grove that was missing. But there was one specific song that I really dreaded doing. It was ‘There is Time’. I dreaded it because it was such a march and that just wasn’t my thing. Finally, the day came we had to work on it. Then an idea just hit me. I looked at John and told him, ‘Play the song, but follow my lead; I want you to swing and jazz it out a bit, and we’re going to change the time signature.’ It started coming together and turned out to be one of the most powerful songs on our first CD. Will is an extraordinary guitar player, singer and songwriter. Sometimes Will asks me why everything I add to a song has to be so sad. I tell him, ‘What do I have to be happy about?’” While Cabral is actually a very happy person, it’s this darker, melancholy attribute that helps to make the work of Ornament well rounded and unique. 2005 tested the band’s ability to adapt to change when the talented Kjierstad left to pursue other projects. Mark Engel was the answer. Engel was a friend and fan of Ornament’s music. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, he had been brought to the desert in 2001 to record a project with Mario Lalli and Alfredo Hernandez: Orquesta Del Desierto (Orchestra of the Desert) www.facebook. com/pages/Orquesta-del-Desierto. “I was only going to stay for three months and, well, now it’s home.” This was a happy accident for Ornament. “When Josh left and Mark stepped in, he gave us a cool classic rock vibe that molded into an ethereal expansive guitar sound,” shared Coon. Bassist, Greg Cabral added, “It was really remarkable to find Mark, a full on fan in our circle of friends. He would come to every show. When he came on board, he was a big breath of fresh air. He is such a

great guitarist; a guitar virtuoso. Everything I put to him he got right away, and things began to really jam along. Will just started pulling out the paper and writing down ideas.” When these four musicians began to gel, Cabral shared, “It was the Ornament sound, with a very different style and groove. Today, we have a really good solid blend of players.” Regardless of the personnel change in 2005, all five troubadours remain connected and close. “If any one of the members, current or past, was in a situation, we would all reach out immediately,” says Cabral passionately. “There is such a euphoria between us today. It’s all about the music.” Ornament represents some extremely dynamic music. No single Ornament song sounds alike. Their music transitions athletically from melodic ballads to strong rock anthems to the very spacial, psychedelic sounds Ornament has mastered and crafted into a literal experience. Throw in the occasional pedal steele and Coon’s Americana roots, you can even venture to say there is an Uncle Tupelo/Wilco-esque element gently peppered into the mix. Meanwhile, the lyrical aspect of the music, chiseled and delivered with dynamic, melodic and tonal perfection by Coon, never fail to penetrate. In approximately 30 days, Ornament will be releasing their second album, a nine song epitaph to their dedication to authenticity and musical craftsmanship. The album, ELECTROFEELIC, recorded at Thunder Underground in Palm Springs with Harper Hug (the same studio desert rock legends, John Garcia, Mario Lalli and Gary Arce have frequented) will be available, and a CD release party is destined to follow. The band will be working with CD Baby on the release as soon as they work out an art issue on the

cover. The original cover, created by artist extraordinaire, Tanner McGuire, a uniquely beautiful rendering of a fully nude female, is apparently deemed “inappropriate” by some distributors within CD Baby’s network. Asking an artist to alter their creation, is like asking a songwriter to surrender a song to commercial editing and potential over production. Never the less, McGuire found the perfect way to maintain his artistic integrity while complying with distribution needs by wrapping Christmas lights around the “offensive” parts of the figure. The original art will be available in limited editions of the CD. Coon is also co-owner of M Designs Global, a successful high-end furniture and cabinetry business in Yucca Valley and shares his perspective on how the years have developed their music. “I’m now 42,” shared Ornament’s front man easily. “Greg is like...100, and has more energy than of all of us. We still dream every single week about the 85,000 people we’re going to play for one day. We just finished this album, and we’re already working on new stuff. Ornament can play anywhere because there’s an element of our music everyone can relate to. We’ve been criticized a bit with comments like, ‘What’s up with the love songs?’ I’ve reached a plateau at this point in my life. I have my shit together. I’ve been able to build a studio that provides a great creative space for us to work in. We love to do this, and we’re in a position to play together, be creative, and show it to people at a really good level.” This Friday, June 20th, Ornament will be performing at Schmidy’s Tavern’s Acoustic Sessions, hosted by Rob Lawrence. The acoustic versions of their songs are guaranteed to provide a powerful musical experience for all in attendance. Drummer, John Pierson, will be noticeably absent for this event. But the very temporary vacancy will be filled by the phenomenal drummer and percussionist, Chad Patrick, who may soon be seen on Shark Tank as the creator of the Drum Wallet. Schmidy’s Tavern is located next to Men’s Wharehouse at the corner of Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive. The next opportunity you’ll have to see them full-Monte, if you will, is Thursday night, July 17th at the Joshua Tree Saloon. The Saloon is located at 61835 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree. As soon as the new album release is ready to be celebrated, you can count on CV Weekly to keep you informed and connected. You can follow Ornament and the musicians mentioned here at these links: Ornament: facebook.com/ornamentband Mark Engel: reverbnation.com/markengel Greg Cabral’s other project: facebook.com/blared.thesurface Will Coon’s M Design Global: mdesignglobal.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

RIVAL SONS

ired of people pissing and moaning that real Rock & Roll is dead? A quick way to shut them up is by putting a Rival Sons record on the turntable and cranking the volume. Long Beach musicians Scott Holiday (guitar), Michael Miley (drums) and Robin Everhart (bass) each cycled through a series of bands before forming Black Summer Crush with exOleander vocalist, Thomas Flowers. Although they toured relentlessly, the band never really connected. They amicably parted ways with Flowers and began searching for a new vocalist. Jay Buchanan had been kicking around the Long Beach music scene for a few years as a solo singer-songwriter and frontman for his band Buchanan. Initially skeptical about fronting a Rock band,Jay was persuaded to give it a go and the results were electric. As Rival Sons, the band quickly added Jay’s vocals to tracks they had already recorded. Before The Fire was self-released in June 2009. The band hit the road. The following year they recorded and self-released a six-song EP, attracting the attention of Earache Records. Based out of Nottingham, England, Earache Records has been home to Death Metal and Grindcore bands like Carcass, Fudge Tunnel, Morbid Angel and Deicide since the mid-80s. Independently owned by Digby Pearson, the label offered them complete artistic freedom. Rival Sons became the first straight-ahead Rock band signed to Earache. Rival Sons had hooked up with producer Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson), for their Before The Fire, record, so they retreated to Cobb’s Nashville studio, writing and recording their Earache debut in an astonishing 20 days. Pressure & Time was a Rock & Roll epiphany. The memorable melodies were taut and economical, powered by Buchanan’s authoritative vocals, and Holiday’s fleet fretwork, along with Miley and Everhart’s tandem time-keeping. The album’s innovative, mind-melding cover art was courtesy Storm Thorgerson. Probably best known for his Dark Side Of The Moon cover, Thorgerson and his company,

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

“Great Western Valkyrie” (Earache Records)

Hipgnosis, created iconic album artwork for Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel and Led Zeppelin. (Just to name a few). Pressure & Time was released in the summer of 2011. Returning to the road, the band took Europe by storm, opening for Rock & Roll giants like AC/DC, Alice Cooper and Kiss. The following Spring, in the midst of an extended European tour, the band returned to Dave Cobb’s Nashville studio. Once again, they wrote and recorded an entire album in less than 20 days. Head Down arrived in September, 2012. (In America it came out in March, 2013). Sprawling and expansive, the album cemented Rival Sons’ standing as the new Golden Gods of Rock. Even Jimmy Page proclaimed them his favorite new band. Rival Sons were becoming seasoned road dogs. They continued to conquer Europe and were also beginning to attract a passionate fan base in America, when Robin Everhart quit the band in the summer of 2013. It was an amicable departure. Everhart had simply tired of the road. Luckily, bassist Dave Beste stepped in for Everhart. Already a friend, Beste is known primarily for his work with Rocco DeLuca and the Burden. He officially joined the band as they headed into Dave Cobb’s studio to record their fourth long-player, Great Western Valkyrie. The album kicks into gear with “Electric Man.” Buzzy guitar notes and a pounding back beat anchor the action. Buchanan leaps into the fray, his yowl equal parts war-cry and yodel. His manner is wanton and seductive as he promises to take us to an erotic “promised land.”

Consider This

Coupling and conscious uncoupling are the themes played out on three killer tracks,“Secret,” “Play The Fool” and “Good Luck.” Glam-tastic guitar riffs and a locomotive rhythm propel the roadhouse blues of “Secret.” Buchanan is the carnal conquistador as he engineers an al fresco assignation…“Wait till the cover of night, where no one else can see/ Wait in the bushes for me.” Just as the melody gathers speed, Holiday unspools a corrosive solo as the rhythm powers down. Buchanan’s salacious seduction is underscored by Holiday’s stinging riffs. A walloping backbeat drives “Play The Fool.” Here, the tables are turned, Buchanan is the cuckold confronting infidelity…“Now I’m a man and a man’s got his pride, the way the boys talk it’s all over school/I got inside you and you took me for a ride, you were the machine and I was the tool.” The instrumental break is positively thrilling. Time signatures suddenly accelerate, Miley locks into a triple-time attack as Beste supplies supple bass lines, all in support of Holiday’s supersonic power chords. By “Good Luck” the bloom is definitely off the rose. Pin-wheeling guitar riffs spark and stutter on this fuzzy Flamenco. Buchanan’s stentorian vocal style is a clear homage to British Invasion Blues God, Eric Burdon. His mien is caustic and dismissive…“If you’re so unhappy baby, I’m sorry I wasted your time/ It’s going to hurt now, but later you won’t even cross my mind.” Jay Buchanan has always been a trenchant lyricist. Whether he’s pining for a stripper on “Sleepwalker,” offering a sweet benediction to his son on “Face Of Light” or sharing his grief on “Jordan.” He’s a storyteller, as well as a Dionysian rocker and that’s a potent combination. With “Good Times,” Rich And The Poor” and “Where I’ve Been,” he steps up his game with pointed commentary on topics that resonate right now. “Good Times” is a soulful carpe diem. Beste’s bass threads through the melody followed by Holiday’s reverb drenched riffs and Miley’s subtle percussion. With a few deft phrases, Buchanan manages to touch on the current climate of violence… ”There was a boy with a bomb in his jacket that didn’t explode, so everybody made it home and to bed that night.” Asserting “good things can happen, bad things can happen too,” so seize the day and

count your blessings. “Rich And The Poor” is a sharp treatise on economic disparity and sexual politics. Roiling rhythms connect with Holiday’s fractured licks. “The Rich and the poor, that’s how people get paid…” sometimes our bodies provide our only form of currency. Buchanan’s keening, operatic wail underscores the inequity. Cloaked in a beatific, minor key waltz, “Where I’ve Been”paints a vivid portrait of a couple haunted by their past. She sold her body to feed an addiction, he is a soldier burdened by regret, recrimination and survivor’s guilt. Both wonder, “How can you love me, when you know where I’ve been.” The instrumentation is aching and subdued, matching the tentative emotions until Holiday unleashes a soaring, cathartic solo. Other standout tracks include “Open My Eyes” and “Belle Starr.” The former is pure heaviosity. Michael Miley pounds his kit like a man possessed, Holiday’s riff-age pivots between searing electric runs and sugary acoustic fills while Buchanan searches for spiritual fulfillment and struggles for meaning. The latter offers a pocket history of the infamous female outlaw, “the great western Valkyrie” cut down in her prime. Here the melody shifts from marauding psychedelia on the verse to lilting and lyrical quietude on the chorus. Great Western Valkyrie closes with “Destination On Course.” Brooding and incendiary, it is a showcase for Scott Holiday, Guitar Whisperer. The song’s lyrics, also by Holiday, detail a Homeric odyssey through uncharted territory. Anchored by a rumbling rhythm and jittery bass lines, Buchanan’s impassioned vocals glide over Holiday’s stunning pyrotechnics, a tour de force finish to a triumphant album. Aside from Dave Cobb, the band received able assistance on keys from Ikey Owens and Mike Webb. Contributing Hammond B3 and piano colors are equal parts spiritual, spooky and sanguine. Great Western Valkyrie is dense and intricate. Rival Sons take a giant leap forward with each new album. Their crackling chemistry is rare and wonderful, mindful of seminal bands like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Rival Sons are on the cover of the latest issue of CLASSIC ROCK. The headline reads “The future of Rock N’Roll belongs to them.” The future is now.

art

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

By rebecca pikus

Peter Mikulak

eter Mikulak is an extraordinary Artist who went from a thriving Contracting business, to going belly-up & losing everything in the market crash, to becoming homeless, to reinventing himself through Digital Art, Drawing, Street Art, & Paintings -to arrive now as a beloved Palm Springs artist and an international Star in the Art World! What could be a better Rise-from-the-Ashes Phoenix story! His work is riveting, erotic, in-your-face, confrontational, intellectual, diverse & beautiful -- all at the same time -- & his colors & imagery are amazing. Peter is originally from Bristol, Connecticut. He said of himself that he actually has always been an artist, and that the first person to take an interest in his talent was his Uncle Mark. At the age of 4, his uncle started to encourage him to use his talent by giving him small art assignments -- he would come back around the house every few days to see how he did. Peter was always excited to show him the results and to win his approval. Peter started doing murals as early as 13 years old, & his first mural was dedicated to a childhood friend who was killed by a drunk driver in a hit and run accident. That was the first time that Peter made the news and the

front page of his local newspaper. Around that same time his father started taking him & his sisters on road trips to New York City. It was there that he saw chalk drawings all over the city…”street art” as he later learned continue to page 25

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Janet McAfee

he majestic dog runs along the mountain trail, pacing himself in synchrony with his slightly older companion dog. The pads of their feet are silent on the damp earth. The crackle of fall leaves the only sound. The dog spots a raccoon in a tree, startled by a strange creature he’d never seen before. He glances at Elmo looking for a cue about what to do next. Their human runs just a few paces behind, and they look to her for direction. Mahto stands for “Bear” in Lakota Sioux, the name given by his foster dad. A handsome German Shepherd with perhaps a bit of Akita, this young dog is a sweet loving animal whose demeanor is more that of a teddy bear. Mahto came within hours of being another statistic at the high kill San Bernardino City animal shelter, a rustic building at the end of a dismal dead-end street. Sadly, 85% of the cats and dogs entering there are euthanized. Social media is revolutionizing how we find a spouse, a job, a house, and even a pet. Facebook connects “friends” who share information and promote their causes. There are almost 800 million Facebook users worldwide, averaging 130 friends each, and about half of them log

Chi Boy Take one look at this sweet 3-yr-old boy and head up to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus to adopt him. This fabulous Chihuahua mix is dog ID#A1114265. Shelter located at 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. (760) 343-3644.

Kittens! Kittens!!

Adorable rescue cats and kittens, including this sweet fellow, at adoption event Wednesdays in June, 10am to 12:00 noon at Loving All Animals, 73550 Alessandro, Palm Desert. Call (760) 834-7000 for more information.

by Rick Riozza

The Wine Steward of Rancho Mirage

Facebook Saves Mahto!

on daily. The photos and stories of homeless animals go out electronically to increase adoptions. Magen Arquette, volunteer at the San Bernardino shelter, advocates for her favorite breed, the German Shepherds. Foster parents Vanessa and Curtis saw Magen’s posting on Facebook. They fell in love with the dog’s expression and the beautiful face with a distinctive ring of freckles around his nose. They emailed Loving All Animals about sponsoring

him. I wrote a comment to the growing chain of Facebook posts asking someone in San Bernardino to evaluate the dog’s temperament and approximate age. A Facebook “friend” soon reported back, “He’s a sweetheart, gets along with other dogs, about 2 years old.” Time is of the essence in rescue, and I notified the staff we were coming to pull him. Curtis joined Lynne and I on the trip down the 10 freeway. The dry desert landscape gave way to the greener hills of Banning, and then we entered the bleak sprawl of San Bernardino littered with fast food restaurants and empty commercial buildings. Would the dog be healthy? Was he really friendly to humans? Would he still be there? Lynne and Curtis escorted the grateful dog out of his kennel before I could complete the paperwork. With the gait and confidence of a show dog, Mahto pranced into the parking lot and leaped eagerly into our waiting vehicle. To those who think going into a public shelter would be too sad, I would counter there’s nothing like the feeling of jubilation when you escort an animal out the door and sense its incredible relief at being freed. Our happy trip home was filled with conversation about this new dog. Mahto thrived in his foster home, and after a brief skirmish with his foster sister Sapa, became an integral part of the foster family, acknowledging Curtis as both savior and pack leader. The eager to please dog was house trained and following basic commands within a day. I posted Mahto on both Loving All Animals page and my own Facebook page. My friend Kathy Barnes “Shared” the posting and for some unknown reason I checked her page and saw the comment from Cathleen CoombsStephens, a former co-worker, expressing her interest in getting a second dog. I was pleased to see a picture of their shepherd Elmo sitting on the living room couch. Elmo Stephens even had his own Facebook page! I immediately sent a Facebook message to Kathleen, and two days

later she arrived for a “meet and greet” with her 2 boys and dog Elmo in tow. A kiss goodbye to his beloved foster dad, and Mahto was off. Our goodbye tears were soothed by knowing Mahto was going to a wonderful home. Mahto was both rescued and adopted through Facebook. Cathleen kept us updated on Facebook, “Can you imagine the joy I am experiencing watching Mahto and Elmo play? Mahto is also regularly getting in the kiddy pool. Today was a good day....Right now my son Declan is sitting on Mahto and he’s not even moving!” Mahto now leads a charmed life, living on a 3/4 acre mountain property with a loving family. Cathleen reports, “He is highly affectionate. The minute I sit down, Mahto forces his head under my hand for a pet. He learns really fast, and looks to Elmo for guidance. There is a definite camaraderie between the two dogs, and Mahto matches Elmo’s calmness in the house. The boys, Miles and Declan, are so excited to have him because he plays catch and chase. It’s also good for Elmo who didn’t use to be as playful, but now when we bring out Mahto’s toys he doesn’t want to miss out. There’s a new puppy energy in Elmo now. We made the best decision to adopt this dog.” Mahto is currently preparing to take part in Race for the Rescues at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Check out Loving All Animals’ Facebook page to see more adoptable animals. To help a dog get a home, click on “Share” rather than “Like”. Guess who else now his own Facebook page? Send Mahto Stephens a Facebook friend request to see his latest adventures. How can you help more animals like Mahto get a home? Like the new Facebook page that features our local adoptable shelter animals, “Coachella Valley Animal Campus Adoptable Dogs and Cats”, and SHARE their postings. This shelter is located at 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, and can be contacted at (760) 343-3644. Go up and find your new best furfriend! jmcafee7@verizon.neet

June 19 to June 25, 2014

ust when you think you’ve done pretty much everything in the wine biz from fermenting to drinking, buying to selling, from auctions to futures, from wine evaluator to wine judge, there’s always a niche we haven’t played with yet. Since coming out to live in the desert a few years ago and starting up my wine writing gig (I now write for four publications—from this local weekly column to the national publication “The Tasting Panel” magazine), I’ve really had a good time getting to know the local wine purveyors in town. Characters they are, and some were a little challenging to warm up to. I really enjoy the company of Dan Sullivan, owner of Dan’s Wine Shop in Palm Desert on Hwy 111. He’s been out here a long time and really knows the pulse of the wine business. I first met him at trade tastings and he was pretty laconic and a little tough to get to know—and granted, Dan hadn’t heard of a full-time wine writer in town. But I did the right thing and covered his wine shop and I continually go to him for our annual holiday wine picks. Costa Nichols and his wife Zola, owners of the venerable Palm Springs Desert Wine & Spirits—which is now combined with the Go Deli Market, are a very likeable couple and welcomed me into their circle immediately. I report their wine picks as well. Now nestled between Palm Springs and Palm Desert is the tony community & city of Rancho Mirage. Known as “the playground of the Presidents”—indeed, didn’t Obama’s entourage just drive by?—this town is full of country clubs, million dollar acres and home to a lot of high-end restaurants and stores. But do they have a wine shop to call their own? Pavilions Market of Rancho Mirage is pretty well known as one of the community’s best supermarkets. Along with their famed deli, there is the butcher shoppe, the florist, the pharmacy, fresh seafood department, Starbucks—and for you wine aficionados, are you aware of their wine section that carries over a thousand labels? Yep—and adding to the appeal, the vino section is ensconced by the chilled corner of cold beer and the refrigerated dairy department. So besides a full selection of Champagne, whites, rosés, reds, and

vintage wines, what else would you wish for as your go-to all around wine shop? Well—how about a wine steward, who’s amenable, very friendly, and who is there to answer any wine questions you may have, and should you wish, is capable to offer suggestions as to what wine will be a welcoming choice for your up-coming meal or party plans. Well, add yet another character on the wine scene. And this guy I’ve known all my life. C’est Moi! It’s me! Apparently my wine acumen and writings were on the radar with Pavilions so they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse—and I get to run the wine shop with all the benefits and no burdens. On the horizon we’ll see more tastings, food & wine pairings, and some winery specials. So how about that! On the corner of the Boulevards, Gerald Ford & Bob Hope, we’ll be knocking out many fun, notable and tasty wines. Everyone who comes by is amazed at our selection and quite often not only do we discuss the wines they’re searching, we keep the wine chat going about some wines they hadn’t considered; some venture out to try a bottle, some will think about it. So, my invite is to all of you readers to come by and say hi and let’s talk about some vino! And this is a great chance now to give me your wine opinions after reading through mine for the last few years—agree or dis-agree, I look forward to meeting you all. Apart from my hirsute appearance, I know you’ll love the entire Pavilions staff that—just like that!—I get to associate with. And not to worry—I’m still your somm-

about-town, bopping through a plethora of wine venues, events, eateries, and all things vino—and writing home about it. Add Pavilions of Rancho Mirage as my other wine home in town. Most of you already know, from my previous articles and recommendations, of the frequent wine sale that goes on with the Pavilions/Vons supermarkets: 30% off and an additional 10% when picking up 6 or more wine & spirits bottles. It’s the time

to stock up—I see a lot of loyal customers and vacationers doing just that. Needless to say, I’ve a new habit of grabbing a six-pack every time I leave the store. Cheers to that! Located within the wine section is the special five cabinet wine refrigerator unit that showcases and holds over 50 cases of vintage wine and Champagne. I’m still looking over and studying all the various wines being housed. It’s a fun time for me to continue to expand my wine knowledge with all of these wonderful wine selections. For instance, there is the 2010 Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon with that age-old vintage looking black & white wine label that touts award-winning emblems from Paris 1900 and St. Louis 1904. I want a poster of that mimimalist wine label! Well, the family is still making great wine. The wine is Napa Classic: ‘aromas are rich with fruit, complemented by ripe and jammy black fruits (berry, cherry, plum) along with sultana and dried fig. And notice a hint of dried savory herbs, black tea, coconut, clove and allspice. Powerful but balanced, a nice long finish. Come by while it’s still on sale for around $35. See ya soon! Cheers!

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Club Crawler Nightlife THUR JUNE 19 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rojer & Bobby 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Paul Elia 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 7pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Rob Martinez & Todd Ashley 8:30pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Flirt” Hosted by Bella Da Ball Music from Disco to the 40’s,80’s and Funk 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Locals Night w/

FRI JUNE 20

340 N PALM CANYON DR. PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262

Scan the QR Code to get the Club Crawler Nightlife on your Mobile Device via the Smartphone Phone Book!

Spit-Take, Plastic and Active Kissers 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOHNNY ROCKETS; RM; 760-674-3120 Live Entertainment 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Highway Starr 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 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 PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Defibulators 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 8pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am TERRA LAGO GOLF CLUB; IND; 760-775-2000 The Carmens 6pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Carolyn Martinez & The Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Casey 5:30pm, Slim Man Solo Show 7-10pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Bill Saitta & Friends 7pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Beach Party 9pm

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bob Garcia Band 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Telepathic Octopus Weekend All Day AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Nash 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 DJ Journee 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 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 CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm

CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Afroman w/ Thr3 Strykes and DJ Charlie Luthergates 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Comedy Night 8pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Jump Off” DJ Colourvision 9pm Lobby, DJ Shasta & MC Esjay 11pm Lobby Splash House 4-8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Robotic Humans, Brain Vat and Wooden Nomad 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Common Ground 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Reel Band 9pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm 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 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Scott Carter 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Carolyn Sills Combo 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Tony Grandberry 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm, Jade & Gino Sidebar Patio 7pm, Michael Keeth Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Sweet Brush Starlite Lounge 10pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 Stacked ( Pat Mahon, Carrie Wilson and Lisa Lynn Morgan ) 6:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Acoustic Sessions w/ Ornament, Giorg Tierez ( Burning Bettie ), John Robbins, and Rob Lawrence 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Reaction 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@Night

10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755-5391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Slim Man Solo Show 5:30pm, John McCormick & The Mac Band w/ DJ Randy Johnson 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Dawson’s Gang 5:30pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT JUNE 21 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Telepathic Octopus Weekend All Day AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 T.B.A. 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Live Music 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Music 6-10pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775-5566 DJ PWee BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Live Music 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 CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 Long Duk Dong 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Refills 8:45pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 The Bonethumpers 8pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Solid” Guest DJs, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby Splash House 11-8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Bridger’s Go Pro Show w/ special guests Barbarian and Kill the Radio 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250

T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Common Ground 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Reel Band 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm 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 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Sara Petite 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 In the Name of the Dead, Dali’s Llama, Atala, Elektric Lucie and What the Funk 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Kal David & The Real Deal 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 DJ Shasta, Bikini Bar noon, Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 6pm, Summer Solstice Party w/ Zulluu 8pm, Wyatt Lowe & The Ottomatics Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Courgzz Rocks and Motley Inc. ( Tribute to Motley Crue ) 7:30pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 Stacked ( Pat Mahon, Carrie Wilson and Lisa Lynn Morgan ) 6:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Beer Goddess’ 6 Pack 6th Anniversary 7pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T.B.A. 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Machin’ at Tilted@Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Jeff 5:30pm, Slim Man 9:30pm

June 19 to June 25, 2014

WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Walt Young 6pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Abie Perkins 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Band 7pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ 9pm

SUN JUNE 22 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Mor noon poolside, Slacker Sunday w/ Dirty Dave 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ Kid Wonder 11am poolside

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!! • 14 flat screen televisions • NTN Trivia and poker with QB1

While you are here you can try one of our ten tap beer selections from a frosty cold glass or choose one of our 30 tequilas or vodkas to make your favorite cocktail.

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

OPEN MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 4PM - 2AM SUNDAY 6PM - 2AM

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

continue to page 24

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Pampered Palate

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

By Raymond Bill

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

hether I am going for cocktails during their, “Social Hour” or for a dinner date in the dining room, Sullivan’s is the place to be. There is a reason why this restaurant can stay busy all summer and that is their combination of amazing food and genuine hospitality. Sullivan’s Steakhouse has recently made some changes to their menu and I had to see for myself just how this hot spot was going to get any hotter! We arrived on time for our reservation and were greeted by a charming, smiling staff. Though I often enjoy a cocktail at the

bar before being seated, we would enjoy a couple specialty martinis at our table before dinner. The, “Knock out” is a favorite of mine that I seem to order each time I visit. This signature concoction is made with fresh pineapple infused vodka and it is quite easy to have a few before they hit you! Our server, Karli was attentive without being overbearing. We were given just enough time to enjoy our beverage before she allowed us to place our order. Perhaps a summer promotion, Sullivan’s is offering a $39 Prix Fixe multi-course meal they have called, “The Sure Thing”

that offers a choice of appetizer, soup or salad, and entrée. Seeing that this option was quite tempting, my date was quick to decide. She began with the Cheesesteak Eggrolls with a sweet and spicy chili sauce while I enjoyed the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The eggrolls were crisp and full of steak and melted cheese… YUM! The crab cake was hands down, the best crab cake in the desert (and I have done quite a bit of research on this one)! With virtually no fillers, this crab cake was full of sweet crab meat! For our second course, my date received their wedge salad while I had a cup of the shrimp and lobster bisque. While the wedge was nothing new or spectacular, the bisque was addicting! I could taste the sherry and there were chunks of shrimp and lobster throughout the cup. I could eat that every day! For our main course, my lovely guest was presented with a six ounce Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes while I had selected the eight ounce Filet Duxelle, A generous Filet Mignon stuffed with mushrooms and topped with a savory, chunky mushroom sauce. I opted to add on a lobster tail as I often do when visiting a Steakhouse and it was almost as large as the steak! The steaks were cooked perfectly and the lobster was truly a work of art. Too often, lobster is over cooked and rubbery but Sullivan’s got it just right! Our entrées were accompanied by two selected side dishes. We shared some thin green beans and the macaroni and cheese, both served piping hot in a mini cast iron skillet. The macaroni and cheese

was absolutely irresistible! I will never visit Sullivan’s Steakhouse without ordering a side of this deliciousness! We paired our meal with a glass of wine from their list of wines by the glass and my Bella Glos “Meiomi” Pinot Noir was a superb selection and a great value at $13 a glass. I would love to share with you their sweet dessert selections but as you could imagine, there was simply no room on this visit for even one bite! Had there been enough room, I would have certainly ordered the blondie topped with butter pecan ice cream! Perhaps next time we’ll have that first and check it off the list immediately. Sullivan’s offers a new Social Hour menu, live music and great summer specials. It is truly the best time to see what’s new at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. Located at the Gardens on El Paseo, Sullivan’s recommends reservations. Call 760-341-3560 or visit www.sullivanssteakhouse.com for more information.

A PIZZERIA THAT’S SO MUCH MORE JOIN OUR 10th ANNUAL

SUMMER KIDS NIGHT OUT Every Wednesday Starting June 18th at 6 pm

Not only are we “one of the top pizza joints in the US”, as named by Zagat, we also have an amazing variety of cast-iron dishes, salads, house-made gelato, and a beautiful assortment of wines and craft beers. Do yourself a favor and try pizza for the very first time.

CALL OR CLICK FOR RESERVATIONS:

760.341.4222 or www.michaelspizzeria.com

Located at The River at Rancho Mirage

*Free Margherita Pizza with the purchase of any pizza. Limit one per person, per visit. Must present ad at time of sale. Dine-in only. Expires 8.31.14

CVW

FREE Soft Drinks, Balloons, Prizes, Fun & Entertainment.

BRING IN THIS AD FOR

Where Bob Hope Drive meets HWY 111, next to Starbucks 71-800 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

ADVENTURE ABOVE THE CLOUDS!

Screeners No.117

Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

By Heidi Simmons

A Feel For The Sentence

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

As gorgeous as any animated film yet, DreamWorks Animation’s epic and thrilling 3-D adventure sequel is a joy to behold. It soars, swoops and finally resonates on an authentic emotional level that connects, enhances and enlarges the original 2010 film’s best elements. It is a rarity: a sequel that betters its predecessor without repeating the story. The surprisingly complex, richly dense screenplay adds scope, detail and nuance to what has already been established. Wonderful and numerous action set pieces are eye-popping in the best way. And yes,

the 3D experience is worth the extra bucks. The spectacular canvas features thousands of dragons in fierce aerial combat reminded me of biplane dog-fight footage from vintage war documentaries. But this film not only teases the eye, it tickles the mind with allegorical references about good and evil, war and peace. Adroitly woven into the fabric of the story are sub-themes of power, broken kingdoms (and families) as well as the intense bond humans and animals can have. But mainly, this film is about stepping out into the real and greater world and discovering its dangers and opportunities for taking personal responsibility for the greater good. Although this film takes place a few years after the events in the prequel, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone experience that smoothly moves into the next chapter in the life of the young Viking Hiccup who captured the dragon Toothless to prove his worthiness and manhood to the tribe. Now, a greater far more dangerous world beckons beyond bluff side Burke. Once again Dean DeBlois directs. The excellent voice cast features Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson and Jonah Hill. Recommended. Now playing. NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Silly, opulent, elegant, zany, breathtaking, off-beat, impeccably elaborate, Wes Anderson’s stylish screwball comedy, based on the stories of Stefan Zweigt, taps into

strong emotional pools that go beyond the ornate visuals. The labyrinthine story takes place between the wars (I and II) when circumstances on the Continent were undergoing extreme changes. The relationship at the center of the movie is between Gustave H, a legendary concierge and Zero Moustafa, the lowly lobby boy who becomes his best, most trusted friend. The engine of the plot is powered by the theft and recovery of a rare and valuable Renaissance painting and the battle over a gargantuan family fortune. Clever extras reflect the tone of the film. Recommended. 20th Century Fox. Blu-ray.

THE BAMBOO SAUCER The soul of classic 1950s sci-fi B movies is alive and well in this low budget 1968 film that takes the notion of a crashed UFO into the realm of late 60s international conflict. A serious tone underlies the talky story of three teams – American, Russian and Chinese – racing to the site of the downed alien craft somewhere in what I assume is Tibet. (I base that on the Alabama Hills location in what looks like left over sets for GUNGA DIN or the original LOST HORIZONS). Dan Duryea, in his last role, plays the nononsense, blunt, leader of the American team. Lois Nettleton is a Russian scientist. She makes the most of her campy, accented

role. The producer was Jerry Fairbanks of “Crusader Rabbit” fame. TV veteran Frank Telford co-wrote and directed. Olive Films. Blu-ray. THE ESCAPE ARTIST

Part of the superb PBS/BBC “Mystery Masterpiece” series, this taught legal (UK style) thriller will hold you in it’s strong grip until the end. David Tennant stars as Will Burton, a winning barrister who has never lost a case and known for getting clients out of impossibly tight legal corners, thus his nick-name The Escape Artist. But when Burton gets accused serial killer Liam Foyle (Tony Kebbell) acquitted and set free on a technicality, it’s only a matter of time before Foyle kills again and this time it’s personal. Now Burton must repress his primal instincts as a courtroom rival (Sophie Okonedo) defends Foyle for the murder of [WARNING: Possible Spoiler Alert] Burton’s wife! What was once a benign intellectual exercise for Burton is now a visceral reality. The 180-minute three-part story has elegant composition and nourish, atmospheric lighting. The subtle direction by Brian Welsh from an original, intelligent and twisty screenplay by David Wolstencraft makes this one to watch. Recommended. Original UK Edition. PBS/BBC. Blu-ray. robinesimmons@aol.com

he author of White Oleander and Paint it Black recently lectured in Rancho Mirage to graduate students of the UCR Palm Desert Low Residency Creative Writing program. Her topic? “The Art of the Sentence.” This may seem obvious and too simple for grad students, but Fitch is a dynamic teacher. She enlightened the students on the joys of writing an interesting string of words. “It is not enough to tell a good story,” Fitch said. “You have to write gloriously.” And Fitch does write gloriously. Her book White Oleander was an Oprah Book Club selection in 2000. It is a story about a young girl, who after her mother murders an exlover and is imprisoned, must survive the treacherous world of multiple foster homes.

It is a coming of age story narrated by the girl as she is shaped and transformed by the lives of those with whom she lives. The girl and her mother awkwardly try to come to terms with their own precarious relationship. Paint it Black was released in 2007. Different from White Oleander in style, her sophomore novel tells the story of another teenage girl struggling to make a life for herself after her boyfriend kills himself. Both stories are set in Los Angeles, Fitch’s birthplace and hometown. Before Fitch was published, she worked as a typesetter and a waitress. “It took ten years of sending stories out weekly and getting back tons and tons of rejection letters,” said Fitch. “It was a weekly tidal wave of rejection before I got published.”

One rejection letter from a publisher got her attention. He said, “Good enough story, but what is unique about your sentences?” It took Fitch six weeks to figure out what he meant and what an interesting sentence was all about. “I realized that there was more to good writing than just writing good characters, drama and sweeping landscape,” said Fitch. “I wrote the story, but not the sentence. I wrote way too fast. I finally understood there was an art to writing a sentence. I was a bad writer before I became a good writer.” A history major in college, Fitch worked with a poet to improve her skill as a writer. “Poets win it with one word up against another,” said Fitch. “The first thing she taught me was that a cliché is anything you have heard before, ever!” “As writers, we owe it to the reader to create something fresh every time,” said Fitch. “The challenge is to create new language.” Fitch says the more a writer reads the more aware writers become of clichés. “Language must be clear so the reader can ‘see’ it. A new picture must be created. A sentence must be custom made.” Pointing out that the English language is noun based, Fitch said that English speakers don’t use action words -- verbs -- well. She said English has four times more nouns than any other language on earth. English speakers, she said, even turn nouns into verbs. Fitch said the average person – educated or not – uses the same 20 verbs whether describing a run in their stockings or their mother’s death. Fitch says the first thing to do is to check your verbs and stop using the same ones over and over. “Verbs are the only part of speech that can move in your writing,” she said. “The verb is the active part of the sentence. It does the heavy lifting. Nouns can’t do anything. If your work is static, look at your verbs and use the most specific action word.” “Good words have shape. They have corners,” Fitch said. “You want language with textures and pieces.” She suggests reading out loud before writing. “It helps me become a better writer. I read poetry out loud for ten minutes. It tunes my ear. You have to address the sound and feel of the words.”

“Alliteration (the repetition of consonant sounds in words) and assonance (the repetition of vowel sounds) are import when writing,” said Fitch. “The repetition makes for interesting shapes in your mouth. I think these are good things in prose to get more sound, music in your writing. It’s what good language feels like.” Fitch talked about reader’s wanting to hurry to see what happens in a good story and at the same time wanting to linger, to enjoy the beauty of the sentences. “The reader has a double mind,” she said. “It sets up tension in the reader that is the best of all possible reading experience when they both are present.” “The thing readers crave is specificity and variety,” Fitch said. “They want to see an author who can control the length and grammar of his or her sentences. Then the reader begins to trust the writer. A writer needs to have the ability to control long and short sentences. It is about word choice and structure of the sentences. That’s what creates style.” Teaching is something Fitch clearly enjoys. She is certain she is a good teacher because she herself had to learn how to become a good writer. “If I was born knowing how to write well, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you,” she said. It is fantastic to know that someone with so many rejection letters can learn to write well enough to have an Oprah Book Club best seller. Besides her two novels, Fitch’s short stories have been published in anthologies and journals that include Los Angeles Noir, Vogue and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Fitch is currently finishing her third novel, which is set during the Russian revolution. You can pick up writing tips as well as read her rants, meditations and short-short stories on her blog www.janetfitchwrites.wordpress. com

June 19 to June 25, 2014 continued from page 19 INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band w/ Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOHNNY ROCKETS; RM; 760-674-3120 Pocket Yellow 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm THE NEW YORK COMPANY RESTAURANT; PS; 760-778-7789 Lili Rose 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Memorial Weekend Sunday Funday w/ Whiskey & Knives, 13 Scars and Subourbon Outlaw 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Judy Show 5:30pm, Judy After Dark 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Will Donato’s Art of Sax Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Smooth Brothers TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Jazz Time Band 2-5pm, John Stanley King 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 11am, The Carmens 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Michael Keeth & Martin Barrera 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Supa James & The Bigster Annual B-day Bash 10pm

MON JUNE 23 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bonny Jean 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Rad noon poolside CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Shake” Classic Rock Night 7pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ron Kalina’s World Class Jazz Trio 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, lounge, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Hot as Hell Pool Party w/ Tribe-O 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 T.B.A. 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 8-11pm

WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm

TUE JUNE 24 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Paul & Jo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Karr’s Jazz Quartet 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Vinyl Sessions 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 John Stanley King 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6-9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dana Larson 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45 PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327-

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

(760) 340-2840

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

www.triabike.com

Open Daily 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 12 - 5pm 44841 San Pablo (West Side of Street), Palm Desert, CA 92260

760-404-6325

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com 4080 Eclectic Tuesdays. Singer/songwriter night. All acts welcome. Hosted by JB, Sign up 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The David Ring Trio 6:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Open Mic 8pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rodeo Drive’s Happy Hour Cabaret 4pm, Michael Dees & Trio 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Live entertainment VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Einstein 5:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley 6pm

WED JUNE 25 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Dan Horn 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Carr AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 T.B.A. 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Rose Mallet 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HAMILTON’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL; LQ; 760698-8303 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8:30-12:30am HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Shine” Karaoke 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm

INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Michael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am Singles Night !!! THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm NYPD; PS; 760-778-6973 Live DJ 9pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Michael Holmes Trio 6:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Open Mic w/ Esjay Jones, Sidebar 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Straight Ahead Jazz TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted Kilt’s Open Mic Competition hosted by Morgan James 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 7-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Brian Nova Trio Jazz 6pm

continued from page 15

it was called -- and it would become his new passion. The artist’s name was Keith Haring, and he became the first artist that profoundly influenced his career. In high school Peter was always trying to get cans of spray paint so he could create art. He would pick up jean jackets from second hand stores and paint graffiti on the back and sell them for a few dollars. Thankfully, his high school art teacher, Ms. Bloomer, saw the potential in him and continued to nurture his raw talent. She had Peter enter an art show in his sophomore year & he won 3rd place. It was the first time he was recognized with an award from his peers. Then -- his family moved all the way cross-country -- to Palm Springs, Ca. in his junior year of high school, & so he missed out on a four year scholarship opportunity, Although Peter did not have a formal education & is self-taught in art, it hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his dream as an artist. In his 20’s he continued to create art in his spare time, but Mikulak concentrated his time & efforts into having a family and building a General Contracting company. He completed new construction and rehabilitated distressed and foreclosed properties for over 10 years in the Connecticut area. When the real estate market bottomed out, he decided to pursue his art career full-time. “I thought if I’m going to struggle, I’m going to struggle doing something that I love. I woke up one morning and traded in my power tools for paint brushes and passionately started pursuing my art career. I donated all my

belonging to the Salvation Army, packed a suitcase, and got on a bus and moved back to Palm Springs to become a professional artist.” With no instruction manual to guide him, he quickly ran out of money and found himself homeless -- living in the middle of the desert in an abandoned camper “dead center of a windmill field”. It was there Peter started to use “re-purpose” materials in his art. He nailed sheets of wallpaper and canvas that he would find behind buildings or in a dumpster to the side of a camper. This was how he created his first body of work that he later had the opportunity to show professionally, He started re-purposing all kinds of things-used pocketbooks, children’s rain boots that he could pick up for 50 cents at the second hand store, furniture or anything laying on the side of the road that had character that he could paint. Peter even used the door from an old washing machine as a canvas, and sold it at an art gallery! Four years ago, Peter Mikulak had his first meeting with a gallery owner, Alan Long from Renegade Gallery in Palm Springs. He invited Peter to come in and show his work. Peter hitchhiked to the gallery with 10 framed paintings strapped to his back. By the end of the meeting Alan shook Peter’s hand, made him a resident artist in the gallery and introduced him to his new art family! It was there that Peter had his first successful professional show. Becoming a resident artist at Renegade was his real start as a professional artist, but his income was sporadic. An opportunity was about to

Community

present itself to Peter, but at the time he didn’t realize that some good intentions on his part were about to help open another door. While talking with one of his neighbors, he realized they had had nothing to eat for Thanksgiving, and Peter wanted to help them out. He was walking by the Forever Marilyn statue one day and thought: “I’ll do a portrait of Marilyn and sell it to get them a little money for a proper Thanksgiving dinner”. That was the experience that turned out to be an opportunity which led to a year-long career for Peter -- selling over 700 Marilyn Monroe portraits at the statue’s site in Palm Springs. He sold Marilyn’s portraits all over town and to visitors far and wide. People would come over to introduce themselves to him -- he was now famous! While among us here in Palm Springs, Peter had the opportunity to sell his art through Ryan Campbell’s Scrap Gallery, then later through Renegade Gallery. He sells his artwork both in Galleries and accepts Commissions. David Gray, General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel, Palm Springs, commissioned Peter to create 3 Marilyn Monroe pieces for the hotel’s Lobby. He was further commissioned to paint 5 art pieces per room, for 3 Conference Rooms, of Sinatra’s Rat Pack! Additionally, Mikulak earned the opportunity to create a series of 4 pieces for The NestEggg Financial Group’s 3 locations: Palm Springs, Palm Desert, & Maui! Peter Mikulak is currently back on the East Coast creating a new style of work with mixed media -- including spray paint

June 19 to June 25, 2014

drawings, paint brush Photography and digital enhancements. He has started his latest body of work using these techniques in a series entitled “The Goddess” and Peter says: “it’s on FIRE!! Peter Mikulak’s permanent Exhibition of his art can be seen at Renegade Gallery, 1345 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, Ca 92262 (760) 832-2030, www.therenegadeartgallery. com. Peter can be contacted through The Renegade Gallery, or at his Email address: prmikulak21@gmail.com. Peter Mikulak is on Facebook, YouTube, and Pixoto. Also fineartamerica.com/profiles/peter-mikulak. html and Bluecanvas.com/mikulak

By Denise Ortuno Neil

CELEBRATE THE LONGEST DAY AND THE LONGEST NECKS AT THE LIVING DESERT World Giraffe Day To Be Held June 21st

he Living Desert invites you to spend the longest day of the year celebrating the longest-necked animal for World Giraffe Day on Saturday, June 21st from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. This year marks the inaugural World Giraffe Day founded by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) with the goal of celebrating these majestic animals as well as increasing awareness and supporting conservation efforts for all giraffes worldwide. The vision of the GCF is that of “a sustainable future where all giraffe populations and (sub)species are protected and secure in the wild.” The Living Desert is one of many zoos and organizations throughout the world participating in this

special day and what it represents. “The Living Desert welcomes all occasions to champion a worthy cause like World Giraffe Day,” said Allen Monroe, President/CEO of The Living Desert. “The concept aligns precisely with our own mission statement of preservation, education and appreciation.” The first 100 guests will receive a 12”x 18” giraffe conservation poster to commemorate the designated day. Zoo guests can also watch and participate in feeding the giraffes at 9 a.m., listen and learn more from the giraffe keeper on the giraffe platform at 11 a.m., and participate in numerous activities in Village WaTuTu including giraffe art and education. Celebrating World Giraffe Day at The Living Desert will help inform the public about the decline of the species in Africa, that their numbers are well below those of elephants, the threat humans pose to giraffes in the wild, and to encourage action by donating to zoo-sponsored giraffe conservation projects and programs. The Living Desert is open daily from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with last admission at 1 p.m. General admission is $17.25 Adults; $15.75 Senior and Military; $8.75 Children

3-12; Children under 3 free. About The Living Desert: The Living Desert is an AZA-accredited zoo and gardens that is dedicated to conservation and education. It is a familyfriendly place to explore nature and create meaningful experiences for guests that

are remembered for a lifetime. For more information: (760) 346-5694 or visit www. LivingDesert.org. The Living Desert is located at: 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260.

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Full Service Feline Only Veterinary Clinic

Community

Dr. Rebecca Diaz is a cat-loving veterinary professional, dedicated to keeping your cats and kittens happy and healthy with top-quality care in a stress-free environment.

Feline Veterinary Service

Every aspect of our clinic is designed with the special needs of cats in mind. From the quiet serene waiting room to the relaxing exam rooms and cat-friendly cages for hospitalized patients, our goal is to promote a peaceful, stress-free environment for your cats.

Services include: • Vaccinations • General Surgery • Dentistry

67870 Vista Chino Cathedral City, CA 92234

www.catcitycat.com

it’s your nickel

Beer Safety Adds ValueSnob

his column has dedicated itself to pocketbook issues, and largely to the explanation of how movements in the economy affect our monthly or daily budgets at home where we really live. I came away from an afternoon with a police officer on duty with a new sense of the extraordinary value added to our homes and community by those who serve and protect others. I had always thought that before I write a column about the police that I should probably see how they work in real life instead of taking my experience from TV or the internet, and Friday I was finally granted a ride along with Officer Gonzales. He started out the shift with five or six different radio calls of varying gravity and distance and had to decide how best to serve the community without delay of any kind. Choose. Go. Unfortunately, no one wrote him a nicely written script about what would happen next, and we proceeded through the next four hours in a constant state of alertness and calm professionalism in a very fast, unpredictably dangerous, immediately changing city. He continuously ran into situations that were extremely volatile and remained focused and centered and calm and cool,

de-escalating the entire situation into the least likely to hurt anyone around him at all times. At one point, we had to go to the county jail with some persons who had warrants and he was able to spot every person on an entire floor without handcuffs on in a room of 40 people moving about. That’s observant beyond most people’s capacity for certain. They work as a team and try to meet one another on the more dangerous calls, but often simply don’t have the manpower. In the big cities we see two officers in a car, not here. Canine services? Nope. SWAT teams have to be contracted out. I heard gravel crunching underfoot just behind me as they sought out a person with a warrant at one house. Scary stuff. You’ll appreciate a professional there I can assure you. Running into burglarized homes without knowing who might be inside is an experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen live. It’s very unsettling. A neighbor was contacted and the house was secured before we left. A stolen car was used in a crime, but the car had been auctioned off from its last owner allowing the officer to inform the last owner that the issue had disappeared in his regard anyhow. This built trust in the neighborhood as the officer was able to ask about the car without antagonizing the

By john Paul Valdez former owner in any way. It’s amazing By totrooper Ramsey watch people skills at work, combined with savvy use of inside information. In a domestic dispute, a child was play car. Sad. The police are there to help. Today, when I read that two officers had seriously hurt, and this is very difficult to even hear, heart breaking. Our officers are just been shot in Las Vegas at point blank there. I left the evening during only one range while they ate lunch, I felt sick. We third of one shift as an experience and I was must remember that these individuals serve overwhelmed and quite exhausted. Scared and protect others in a job with no script, even. I also felt humbled about certain and a job that may have them not coming views we can harbor from having had some home after that 12 hour shift. Our specific completely unimportant experience in the police officers know our city like no other. much larger scheme of things. Let’s be How much is that worth, city council? We’ll careful not to judge. At one point the officer know soon. Questions and comments to: was trying to help a small child cross a street and the child ran away abandoning his little JohnPaulValdez@gmail.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

Beyond Futebol

760-325-3400

• Digital Radiology • Laboratory Services • New Kitten Care

Haddon Libby:It’s alllocal

he World Cup is once again upon us. Its host country, Brazil, is the odds on favorite to win the Cup at 3:1 with Argentina a close second at 4:1 and the United States a distant hope at 200:1. With Brazil taking center stage for the next month, let’s take a look beyond its soccer matches and bikini-clad residents. The World Cup caused the government to spend $4 billion on soccer stadiums alone with infrastructure improvements estimated at slightly more than $6 billion. These massive expenditures have been a source of consternation amongst many in Brazil as the country has the 17th worst poverty level in the world with nearly one in four Brazilians living in poverty. For comparison, three in ten Americans live in poverty, an equally appalling number when you consider our wealth.

Dr. Rebecca Diaz

• Routine Care • Geriatic Care • Spay/Neuter

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Brazilian government justifies World Cup spending by pointing out that the country needed massive infrastructure improvements. The country’s fast rise to economic prosperity has created the fastest growing middle class in the world. Additionally, the 3.4 million World Cup visitors are anticipated to spend $3,800 each or $13 billion, billions more than monies spent. Worth noting, Brazil has the world’s eighth largest economy and sixth largest working population at 107 million. For comparison, the U.S. has the largest economy and third largest working population at 155 million. When looking at Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person, Brazil generates $12,100

per person versus the U.S. that generates $52,800. Despite this low GDP level, Brazil has the fourth highest plastic surgery rate per capita in the world, behind South Korea, the nearly bankrupt Greece and Italy (U.S. sixth and rising quickly). Decisions made nearly forty years ago under Brazil’s former military dictatorship are a large part of the reason for the fast rise in the economic standing of Brazil and its people over the last fifteen years. Back in the seventies, Brazil relied on imported oil for 80% of its energy production. Leadership mandated and set in motion a strategy for energy independence. As such, they began offshore oil drilling while developing biofuels like ethanol. Today, virtually all cars in Brazil are ‘flex fuel’ meaning that their cars can operate on gas, a gas-ethanol blend or ethanol only. This combination has helped fuel energy independence that has resulted in more monies being kept in their country and invested in their people instead of being

exported to oil producing countries. While we are not happy with the deforestation of their rain forest, the growth in food crop production has helped to make their country a net food exporter with the United States and China being their two largest trading partners. For example, Brazil along with Colombia produces 40% of all coffee in the world. While the recent drought in Brazil hurt exports, an accompanying 50% increase in the price of coffee mitigated its impact on their economy. While coffee bean prices have increased this year to a wholesale price of $1.53 a pound, this is still more than $1.00 per pound less than 2011 and on par with prices since 2009. Remember this when coffee sellers in the United States make their case for increased prices. Assuming 30 cups of coffee per pound, the wholesale price of a cup of coffee is still about 5 cents. At $3.00/ lb, the cost of a cup of coffee is only a dime while a retail price like $7.50/lb works out to 25 cents per cup. All of this has been accomplished in Brazil without government deficits and despite corruption that steals 2% or $24 billion of the nation’s $2.4 trillion GDP.

Suspension you can get a restricted license to drive to and from work and classes. Contact me for the ABC’s of a DUI which I would be happy to send to you. If you are Arrested-DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE OTHER THAN YOUR LAWYER as Law enforcement officers and prosecutors are not your friends no matter how much they tell you they are. Remember they are just trying to make a case to support the arrest. DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR: SHUT UP & CALL A LAWYER! If you are involved in an accident use your cell phone to take picture of the cars and parties. You can use your phone to record the names, address, emails and phone number of all parties and wits….as well as recording their admissions. IF you are injured you should go to the hospital or ER. Prepare a summary of your injuries starting with the top of your head going down to the bottom of your toes and list what is hurting you then call a lawyer. The bottom line is DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI………IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HIRING ME!

Dale Gribow has been “Rated” TOP LAWYER by Palm Springs Life Magazine from 2011-2014 and in June 2014 he was again listed as a TOP LAWYER. He has a Superb AVVO Legal Rating by his fellow attorneys. Dale Gribow has been Man of the Year 7 times including the City of Palm Desert and the City of Hope and Dale Gribow Day has been declared 4 times. He is the only attorney appointed in December 2013 to the Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Public Safety Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Committee addressing Drunk Driving. This group consists of the police chiefs from every city and the mayor of each city as well as the Sheriff of Riverside County and the head of the CHP and Border Patrol. In addition Gribow is the only attorney asked to be part of the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Health Matters Committee addressing Drunk Driving. Gribow is also one of the founders of Shutdown Drunk Driving formed upon the death of his client who was killed by a drunk driver while jogging recently. If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at his NEW number 760 837-7500 and or his new email: dale@dalegribowlaw.com

Dale Gribow On The Law BE SAFE DRIVING DURING JULY 4TH 2014 ceLEBRATIONS!

he 4TH OF July is around the corner. It is a holiday where our neighbors do not always use good common sense while celebrating the birth of our nation. We all attend BBQ’S AND parties and eat and drink with impunity. We do not plan ahead and think of how much we have had to drink and instinctively get behind the wheel and drive home. We honestly believe the beers or margaritas we consumed did not affect us until we get stopped or get in an accident. So

drive extra carefully during that weekend. I use to open my LEGAL Radio Show with “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan”. So plan ahead today so that you plan for a designated driver or use the services of one of the limo or driver for hire services if you are not going to take a taxi. When there is an accident with a DUI the police and DA often takes months to investigate the case BEFORE filing a DUI charge. Unfortunately the DA does not always send the driver a notice that the case has been filed. Thus many people assume there was no filing and they have a VALID CDL. If one gets cited/arrested for a DUI your license is taken from you and a pink piece of paper is given to you explaining your license is valid for 30 days and then suspended for 4-5 months. You must contact DMV and request a hearing in San Bernardino or Palm Spring and a STAY … within 10. Without the STAY after 30 days you are driving on a suspended license for which you could be arrested and sentenced to 10 days in jail. In California they do not have to send the arrestee Notice of the Suspension of their driver’s license. After an adverse DMV FINDING from a DUI Hearing OR after a 1st time COURT CONVICTION the DMV in Sacramento will suspend your California Driver’s License for 4-5 months. However after the 30 day

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

safety tips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Make a Splash For Pool Safety!

“

arents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened - pool, spa, or any other body of water - one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child’s life slid by silently, without warning, and can never be brought back says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. For every child less than 15 years old who dies from drowning in a pool, another 10 receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.” Use layers of barrier protection between the child and water to warn and impede. These include: Alarms on doors and windows leading to the water, installed about five feet above ground level so that a child cannot reach them. A non-climbable, five-foot fence that separates the pool/

spa from the residence should be installed. Openings should be no more than four inches wide so children cannot squeeze through the spaces. Gates should open outward. Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, opening outward away from the pool. Pool safety covers (power operated are the safest and easiest to use). Assign an adult “water watcher” to supervise the pool/spa area or any other body of water, especially during social gatherings. Never leave a child alone near a pool/spa, bathtub, toilet, water filled bucket, pond or any standing body of water in which a child’s nose and mouth may be submersed. Don’t allow children to play in the pool/spa area.. Never allow young children to be left alone in and around the pool for a moment. Never keep toys around or in a pool. All adults, children and Baby-sitters should learn and practice CPR. Keep a telephone outside the pool area. Post the 9-1-1 emergency number on the telephone. More safety information: It’s important to make safety a priority to protect children and others in and around the water reminds Chief DiGiovanna. You should contact your local Fire Department or Red Cross to obtain more safety information. You can also visit: www.poolsafety.com or https://dds.ca.gov/ Drowning/Index.cfm Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

ShareKitchen

ShareKitchen is shaking up the summer with Pop-Ups and celebrating the culinary arts with artsOasis!

The nationally renowned creators of PS Underground will be hosting one of their signature Pop-Up Sunday brunches. Entitled ‘BLUE’, this event is their spin on the Blue Plate Specials of the 1950s and 1960s. Cost is $59 per person plus tax and tip. Reservations Required - www.psunderground.com ShareKitchen is proud to host CVEP’s artsOasis launch of “CLUB 111”. On Wednesday, June 25th this catered launch party costs $111 and includes your “CLUB 111” membership which gives you discounts on a variety of events at many of the Coachella Valley’s finest art and entertainment venues as well as a series of exclusive gatherings of Club 111 members. For more information, please call 760.340.1575 or email david@ CVEP.com. POP-UP ALERT - One Night Only - On Friday, June 27th Chef Reese Murakami of Kobe Steakhouse will be crafting a special affair entitled Akamai Ohana. Held at ShareKitchen, dinner features some of the best produce of Southern California sourced

from Chino Farms in Rancho Santa Fe. Diners will be treated to fresh pulled mozzarella, beautifully cooked duck breasts and Columbia River salmon skillfully prepared by Chef Reese and his team of culinary artists. Seatings will be at 5:15pm and 8pm. Cost is $75.00 per person plus tax and tip. Contact Chef Reese directly at akamaicali@gmail.com with all questions and reservation requests. Mark your calendar! PS Underground is taking reservations for “LIGHT, An AvantGarde Dining Experience”. Sold out for July 11th and 12th, some seats remain for their July 17th and 18th dinners. Cost is $159 per person plus tax and tip. Dinner is held at 6:30pm with diners informed of the location of your culinary adventure by email at midnight the evening before your one-ofa-kind experience. Reservations Required www.psunderground.com

events

Article & Photos by Laura Hunt Little

Plunge into Splash House

plash House, the three-day, three venue Palm Springs “pool + music festival” equaled a not-to-be missed scene in Palm Springs last weekend. Nearly 50 DJ’s performed for thousands of dancing, costumed and/or bikini-clad fans with pool floats and stylish sunglasses. The pool party sprawled across Palm Springs at the Hard Rock Hotel, The Saguaro and the newly opened Hacienda Beach Club. All three venues featured poolside stages with pumping sound. Shuttles cranking dance music added to the festivities by carrying guests safely from pool to pool. Musical artists performing this year at Splash House included: AC Slater, Amtrac, Anna Lunoe, Bag Raiders, Bixel Boys, Claude Van Stroke, Giraffage, Jason Bentley, Justin Jay, Kaytranada, Kygo, Lemaitre, Les Sins, Little Boots, MANIK, MNDR, Neon Indian, Penguin Prison, Plastic Plates, Posso, Purity Ring, RAC, Sango, Sweater Beats, Toro y Moi, Treasure Fingers, and Tycho. The Saguaro and its 70’s-style swimming pool hosted some of the funkiest acts in the weekend line-up playing deep house and nu disco. The New York based duo, MNDR, headlined on Saturday. The Hard Rock Hotel featured deep house and indie dance acts. Notably, Moby headlined at the venue on Saturday night with a two hour DJ set. Even with hundreds of fans, the setting for this popular live artist felt intimate with fans able to approach the stage and see his performance up close and personal. The Hacienda Beach Club opened its doors for the first time specifically for Splash House. The venue, sponsored by LED/Goldenvoice, showcased deep and techy beats with a touch of future bass and instrumental hip hop.

The debut of Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club extends “Palm Springs chic” further south on Palm Canyon. Stylish and upscale, this one-of-a-kind establishment is a food, drink, entertainment and swimming venue. The modern design of the pool and cabanas are blended beautifully with the Spanishstyle architecture of the restaurant and “Mexican Noire” interior. Hacienda Beach Club was designed by the award-winning architect Chris Pardo. Wood work and custom fixtures including salvaged wood outdoor loungers, were created by Calvin Dahlstrom, of Dahlstrom Designs. The Splash House pool party and music extravaganza, in partnership with world famous music promoters Goldenvoice and LED, proves that the Palm Springs “season” doesn’t end with the departure of the snowbirds. Rather, the desert scene is experiencing a revival with a generation of millennials coming to appreciate all that the greater Palm Springs area has to offer.

Community

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Got Pool?

here’s nothing quite like the refreshing feeling of jumping into azure water, immersing your body in absolute coolness, and revealing yourself to the now temperate air that was once scorching as you pop up from the depths of the pool. It’s what summer is all about in the Coachella Valley. With the absence of a natural water source to relish in, locals and visitor’s rely on the man-made kind. But if you don’t have a pool of your own to save you from the summer heat, don’t sweat it, there are plenty of places to pool it this summer. It goes hand in hand, summer=hot=needs to cool down=let’s go to the pool! But what if you don’t have one just sitting in your backyard waiting for you to jump in at any time? Well, there are plenty of us who are pool-ess, but it doesn’t mean we have to take it. Thankfully, there is a plethora of pools in the desert to enjoy. Now I don’t mean the vacant house down the street, I mean the multitude of resorts that allow the public to use their pools for a nominal fee…and sometimes for FREE! It’s quite fun actually, these day passes let you use the pool, and in some cases other amenities, and gives you the feeling of being on vacation. It’s better than being at home in some ways too, because you can have someone bring you refreshing beverages while you soak up the sun…and most provide towels, so you don’t have to launder your own later. It’s the little things that count. Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs seem to have the most options for day pool use. In choosing your day pool experience, you will have to determine your price range and level of pool comfort you’re looking for as desert pool passes range in price and swankiness. The Ace Hotel & Swim Club is an obvious choice for day pooling as they say it right on their name, they land in mid-range of swank. For only $30 per person they offer full pool, sauna, steam room and gym use from noon to 6pm. The swim club has a cool midcentury spring break vibe and tends to pull a younger crowd. Visitors can enjoy the pool by day, and then chill out in the Amigo Room for a well-deserved after pool libation (www. acehotel.com/palmsprings).

The newly opened Hard Rock Hotel in downtown Palm Springs has open arms for anyone desiring to use their pools this summer. They are in the rock-n-roll range of swank and offer free…yes I said FREE use during the week from 8am to 8pm. They tend to have pool parties on the weekends which usually command a charge. The pools at the Hard Rock are stream lined and offer pool service with drinks and food for purchase… and they even provide towels for FREE… loving the Hard Rock(www.hrhpalmsprings. com)!! If you’re looking for a secluded place to enjoy a pool day, consider The Viceroy Palm Springs. This historical hotel once was the Estrella Inn and boasts beautiful gardens set in a ritzy mid-century modern style…definitely high swank. The hotel charges interested day poolers $30 per person to use their pool, steam rooms, Jacuzzi and lockers from 9am-6pm excluding weekends. It is a serene setting with hip style, perfect for a bit of poolside romance (www.viceroyhotelandresorts.com/en/ palmsprings).

North on Indian Canyon sits the grand Riviera Palm Springs. The hotel originally opened in 1958 and has been a gem in the Palm Springs resort crown ever since. Vastly remodeled years back, the resort is stunning in every way and has an amazing pool area which hosts many major high profile events during the year. But despite their high swank rank, they invite the public to use their iconic

pool for free…yes I said FREE, from 8am to 11pm Monday through Thursday, towels included. Poolers can lounge poolside and sip fancy pants drinks and channel the Palm Springs from the past…or just enjoy the present (www.psriviera.com). For those who wish to experience hot mineral springs, just head up to Desert Hot Springs and enjoy one of their many day pool opportunities. The city actually has the swankiest day pools in the valley, Two Bunch Palms. Al Capone’s old haunt will charge day poolers a whopping $70 per person to use their facilities from 9am to 6pm. The rate includes use of their pools, grottos, classes, robes and of course towels. They strive to keep a quiet environment for their guests which most of the time include many celebrities. This day pool excursion would be best suited

for those looking to relax and who don’t mind not speaking over a whisper (www. twobunchpalms.com). One place that voice levels have no limits is the Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel. This place is just plain fun, and although it’s swank rank is at the shallow end…who care’s, it’s a pool for goodness sake! The hotel has been soaking guests in hot mineral waters since 1963, and has yet to dry up. They charge a modest fee of $5 to $7 depending on the day of the week (it’s only $3 on Tuesdays) and is opened from 8am to 10pm. Poolers may utilize all 8 pools until their fingers prune up. Although there are no pool servers, the bar is in drip dry distance and the drinks are priced as modestly as the entrance fee. There is a fee for the towels…only a $1, unless you stay at the hotel, in which case they are free. The great thing at this property is that you can rent a room for just the day…from 9am to 4pm poolers can take a nap in doors between swims. The hotel also offers a wide range of spa services at great prices (www.dhsspa. com). So if you’re huffing and puffing about the fact that you’re pool-ess this summer, just remember that you have options. There’s a whole lot of water just waiting to cool you off out there. Just slip on your suit and dive in! For more Desert Hot Springs Day Spas visit www.deserthotsprings.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

HARD ROCK HOTEL PALM SPRINGS ANNOUNCES NEW SPA “DAY”

YOU CAN LEAVE THE WEEKENDS TO EVERYONE ELSE: BUT MONDAYS ARE MINE!

he Rock Spa at Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs is giving locals and mid-week travelers a great reason to love Mondays with its new “Mondays are Mine” summer spa program, which offers 20% off every 50-minute (or longer) treatment along with a variety of relaxing spa “perks.” The Mondays are Mine program is offered every Monday between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Accompanying the 20% discount on 50-minute and longer treatments, the Rock Spa will also offer a complimentary shot of Detox Tea, plus demonstrations with its signature Amala skin care line, and a special spa gift. The program goes through

Health &Fitness

September 30, 2014. “Weekends here at Hard Rock are tremendously busy with our popular poolside DJs and events,” said Hector Moreno, Vice President and General Manager at Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs. “We created the Mondays are Mine program to give our locals and other guests a chance to come in, relax, and enjoy the perks of Mondays at the Rock Spa.” The new Monday spa events also give guests a chance to try Rhythm and Motion, the world’s first fully immersive music-centric spa menu utilizing amplified vibrations, pressures and patterns, as the

Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs is a musicinspired resort offering 163 luxury guest rooms, a buzzing pool and entertainment scene with DJs playing every weekend, plus excellent dining and events in the heart of the newly resurgent Downtown Palm Springs. The hotel offers a long list of amenities including the groundbreaking, interactive “Sound Of Your Stay®,” where guests can rock out with hands-on music experiences. Other music-inspired amenities include a VIP Rock Star Suite, the Rock Spa®, a Body Rock® workout facility, and the world-famous Rock Shop® featuring Hard Rock’s iconic, collectible merchandise.

foundation of its treatments at a discounted price. This groundbreaking experience takes guests on a rhythmic massage journey - bass vibrations ripple through the massage table as treble beats come from above, sending pulses through the body and leaving guests feeling energized and invigorated. These reinvented Rock Spa® treatments, now offered at Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs, transcend current spa rituals and inspire spa-goers to ‘Live Hard, Purify Harder.’ For more information on the Mondays are Mine program, or to schedule a girls’ day out, bachelor/ette party, or simply make reservations, please call the Rock Spa directly at 760-969-6665.

HARD ROCK HOTEL PALM SPRINGS LAUNCHES FUSION: THE SUNDAY POOL PARTY

ard Rock Hotel Palm Springs will launch FUSION / The Sunday Pool Party on June 22 with a special appearance by Sky Blu of the wildly popular dance/pop duo LMFAO. FUSION is Southern California’s newest pool party, offering a sizzling blend of music

and fun beneath the trademark sunny skies of downtown Palm Springs. Vice President & General Manager Hector Moreno explains the idea behind FUSION, “The concept behind FUSION is to unite music lovers and party goers from the local area, Southern California, and beyond, by offering great music, drink specials, and a pool scene that is all Hard Rock.” FUSION will run every Sunday from 11am to 4pm, beginning June 22nd. The initial launch of FUSION will feature a performance by Sky Blu, a member of the hot Los Angeles-based duo LMFAO, whose “Party Rock Anthem” has blown up pop charts around the world. Sky Blu will be performing his track “Go On Girl.” DJs performing that day include ODM, Kid Jay, and more. Daybeds, Cabanas, Bottle Service, and VIP Pool Front Suites can be arranged by calling Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs: 800-280-2971 JUNE 22 FUSION / The Sunday Pool Party @ Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs 11:00am to 4:00pm 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs $20 Cover at the Door Must be at least 21 years old

events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Week of June 19

ARIES (March 21-April 19): If you were alive 150 years ago and needed to get a tooth extracted, you might have called on a barber or blacksmith or wigmaker to do the job. (Dentistry didn’t become a formal occupation until the latter part of the 19th century.) Today you wouldn’t dream of seeking anyone but a specialist to attend to the health of your mouth. But I’m wondering if you are being less particular about certain other matters concerning your welfare. Have you been seeking financial advice from your massage therapist? Spiritual counsel from your car repair person? Nutritional guidance from a fast-food addict? I suggest you avoid such behavior. It’s time to ask for specific help from those who can actually provide it. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “My music is best understood by children and animals,” said composer Igor Stravinsky. A similar statement could be made about you Tauruses in the coming weeks: You will be best understood by children and animals -- and by all others who have a capacity for dynamic innocence and a buoyant curiosity rooted in emotional intelligence. In fact, those are the types I advise you to surround yourself with. For now, it’s best to avoid sophisticates who overthink everything and knowit-all cynics whose default mode is criticism. Take control of what influences you absorb. You need to be in the presence of those who help activate your vitality and enthusiasm. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Nikhedonia” is an obscure English word that refers to the pleasure that comes from anticipating success or good fortune. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in this emotion as long as it doesn’t interfere with you actually doing the work that will lead to success or good fortune. But the problem is, nikhedonia makes some people lazy. Having experienced the thrill of imagining their victory, they find it hard to buckle down and slog through the gritty details necessary to manifest their victory. Don’t be like that. Enjoy your nikhedonia, then go and complete the accomplishment that will bring a second, even stronger wave of gratification. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts has a collection of Japanese art that is never on display. It consists of 6,600 wood-block prints created by artists of the ukiyo-e school, also known as “pictures of the floating world.” Some are over 300 years old. They are tucked away in drawers and hidden from the light, ensuring that their vibrant colors won’t fade. So they are wellpreserved but rarely seen by anyone. Is there anything about you that resembles these pictures of the floating world, Cancerian? Do you keep parts of you secret, protecting them from what might happen if you show them to the world? It may be time to revise that policy. (Thanks to Molly Oldfield’s The Secret Museum for the info referred to here.) LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the next two weeks, I hope you don’t fall prey to the craze that has been sweeping Japan. Over 40,000 people have bought books that feature the photos of hamuketsu, or hamster bottoms. Even if you do manage to avoid being consumed by that particular madness, I’m afraid you might get caught up in trifles and distractions that are equally irrelevant to your longterm dreams. Here’s what I suggest: To counteract any tendency you might have to neglect what’s truly important, vow to focus intensely on what’s truly important. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Writing at FastCompany.com, Himanshu Saxena suggests that businesses create a new position: Chief Paradox Officer, or CPXO. This person would be responsible for making good use of the conflicts and contradictions that normally arise, treating them as opportunities for growth rather than as distractions. From my astrological perspective, you Virgos are currently prime candidates to serve in this capacity. You will continue to have special powers to do this type of work for months to come. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with

the astrological omens, you are hereby granted a brief, one-time-only license to commit the Seven Deadly Sins. You heard me correctly, Libra. As long as you don’t go to extremes, feel free to express healthy amounts of pride, greed, laziness, gluttony, anger, envy, and lust. At least for now, there will be relatively little hell to pay for these indulgences. Just one caveat: If I were you, I wouldn’t invest a lot of energy in anger and envy. Technically, they are permitted, but they aren’t really much fun. On the other hand, greed, gluttony, and lust could be quite pleasurable, especially if you don’t take yourself too seriously. Pride and laziness may also be enjoyable in moderate, artful amounts. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio novelist Kurt Vonnegut rebelled against literary traditions. His stories were often hybrids of science fiction and autobiography. Free-form philosophizing blended with satirical moral commentary. He could be cynical yet playful, and he told a lot of jokes. “I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over,” he testified. “Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.” He’s your role model for the next four weeks, Scorpio. Your challenge will be to wander as far as you can into the frontier without getting hopelessly lost. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Make a name for the dark parts of you,” writes Lisa Marie Basile in her poem “Paz.” I think that’s good advice for you, Sagittarius. The imminent future will be an excellent time to fully acknowledge the shadowy aspects of your nature. More than that, it will be a perfect moment to converse with them, get to know them better, and identify their redeeming features. I suspect you will find that just because they are dark doesn’t mean they are bad or shameful. If you approach them with love and tenderness, they may even reveal their secret genius. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Pet mice that are kept in cages need to move more than their enclosed space allows, so their owners often provide them with exercise wheels. If the rodents want to exert their natural instinct to run around, they’ve got to do it on this device. But here’s a curious twist: a team of Dutch researchers has discovered that wild mice also enjoy using exercise wheels. The creatures have all the room to roam they need, but when they come upon the wheels in the middle of the forest, they hop on and go for prolonged spins. I suggest you avoid behavior like that, Capricorn. Sometime soon you will find yourself rambling through more spacious places. When that happens, don’t act like you do when your freedom is more limited. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s transition time. We will soon see how skilled you are at following through. The innovations you have launched in recent weeks need to be fleshed out. The creativity you unleashed must get the full backing of your practical action. You will be asked to make good on the promises you made or even implied. I want to urge you not to get your feelings hurt if some pruning and editing are required. In fact, I suggest you relish the opportunity to translate fuzzy ideals into tidy structures. Practicing the art of ingenious limitation will make everything better. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s always important for you to shield yourself against our culture’s superficial and sexist ideas about sex. It’s always important for you to cultivate your own unique and soulful understandings about sex. But right now this is even more crucial than usual. You are headed into a phase when you will have the potential to clarify and deepen your relationship with eros. In ways you have not previously imagined, you can learn to harness your libido to serve both your spiritual aspirations and your quest for greater intimacy. Homework: Compose an exciting prayer in which you ask for something you’re not “supposed” to. FreeWillAstrology.comRob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

Mind, body & Spirit

UNIQUELY YOU

by Bronwyn Ison

f I had to choose a period of time or age in my life to revisit, my teen years would not be my first choice. My teen years were not unfriendly to me. I simply would not care to endure the pressures our teen girls have today. Yoga for teen girls is growing in popularity. Why? Studies indicate teenage girls who practice yoga are recognizing and understanding greater body awareness. This connection also uplifts self-esteem. As a yoga professional I wish more than anything yoga would have been available to my girlfriends and me as a teenager. Studies indicate more than 90% of teen girls want to change at least one aspect of their appearance, most of them choosing their body weight. Nearly 25% would consider plastic surgery to fix perceived flaws, and 13% admit to having an eating disorder. As a mother of two young girls (who will eventually be teenagers) these statistics are frightening and startling. As a parent the statistics alone may motivate you to seek a yoga class for your teen girl. Wellness professionals have an opportunity to help teenage girls develop healthier body image and improve confidence. “Teen girls who practice yoga also develop a greater mind-body connection,” says Elissa Gitts, MD, an adolescent-medicine specialist at a Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The connection not only improves body image but also promotes better posture and alleviates stress. Girls play sports for exercise and team camaraderie. Naturally this is still encouraged and exceptionally healthy for your teenage girl, practicing yoga is different. With sports such as soccer, basketball or softball, teens get an adrenaline rush from cheering crowds. But, with yoga, it is not the crowd cheering that makes you feel good. You, alone, are responsible for feeling good about yourself. Occasionally the constant competition can be draining as well as produce anxiety. Yoga brings you relief. Aside from yoga being mentally helpful to teen girls it is also improving and assisting with maintaining flexibility. Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist, Kevin Walter, MD says, “During adolescence, there is growth spurts. The bones tend to grow fast, and the muscles

stay tighter. This makes it difficult to maintain flexibility in adolescence. The emphasis that yoga places on flexibility can really help with that problem.” Yoga in tandem with your choice of sport can also improve your game on the field. Teenage girls are experiencing extraordinary physical changes. They are also trying to cope with hormonal fluctuations. Young girls can feel disembodied. They feel pressure to have the perfect body and face. Yoga can help a yoga girl feel strength physically and mentally. Once a young girl experiences this feeling it helps to decrease their self-consciousness and feel better about how they feel in their own skin. Young girls have a tendency to be very stressed. Yoga helps to decrease stress through breath-work and physical movement. The breathing taught in yoga can help a young girl cope with a stressful moment. Perhaps the breath work can be applied when taking a test. Allowing the central nervous system to relax hence resulting in better tests results. The breath work can also be helpful with chronic illnesses such as asthma or diabetes. Now your teen girl has an opportunity to improve her overall well-being. Uniquely You: A Tween/Teen Girls yoga workshop is being offered at Evolve Yoga. Week One: June 23- July 2 ~ Monday, Wednesday & Friday (1:30pm-3:30pm) & Week Two: July 7 - July 16 ~ Monday Wednesday & Friday (1:30pm3:30pm) Five Sessions, $125.00 per student Pre-regisration or $135.00 Same Day, Drop-in $27.00 per class. Ages (11-16) Please visit www.e-volveyoga.com for more information or Bronwyn@e-volveyoga.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

Bless Me Father For I’m a Dad

s I was completing my last coaching session of the week, I cheerfully wished my client a Happy Father’s Day. Unknowingly I had figuratively stepped on a land mine. After a long and lengthily sign he scoffed telling me his dream day included a juicy steak and a nap in hammock situated somewhere in a breezy leafy green. Ivan then explained due to the dynamics of a modern blended family, the special day America sets aside to honor dads would find him shuttling around town from one clan gathering to another. He feared the menu of the day would consist of hot dogs, overtired and cranky children and a significant amount of windshield time. Described like that, it sounded like penance. I did a mental eye roll. He was a hard working guy and certainly deserved a long lounge in the hammock and a prime porterhouse. My job, however, was not to offer condolences but to use this as an opportunity for a coaching moment. Based on Ivan’s tone I knew he would approach the undesirable plans with a “grin and bear it” attitude. Certainly, the act of enduring an event by faking good humor is one approach to get him through the day. A more positive method of dealing with any unwanted situation is to put some sincere effort into

reframing it. Knowing Ivan is a family man who truly loves his wife and kids gave me something to work with. I suggested that car rides can be fun if some simple planning went into it. Involving the children in a road trip game, planning silly joke or singing contests laced with mandatory short bouts of quiet time as the children mentally prepared for the next challenge or resorted to downtime with their kiddy electronics could make the excursion enjoyable. Ivan and his wife might entertain the troops regaling stories of their youth. Kids might find it fascinating to learn before the birth of the Leapfrog Leappad, MP3 players and radio controlled robots their parents entertained themselves with a Rubik cubes, hula hoops or a game of dodge ball. My client began to get the idea and started to warm up to the subject. A small smile lingered on his face as he reflected on his coveted Matchbox car collection. He added some of his own ideas to make the car ride fun. I still wanted to see him get that steak so I recommended getting a sitter and planning a date night with his wife during the week. As my dear old dad would have proclaimed, now we were cooking with gas. Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Ask The Doctor

June 19 to June 25, 2014

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. www.deserthousecalldoc.com.

Your Burning Questions Answered

answered a few questions regarding skin protection from the sun in my last article. On a related note, I would like to mention heat related injuries that I frequently encounter in my practice, especially during the summer. Second Degree Burns This type of burn causes significant skin damage and forms blisters. I have treated several cases of second degree burns to the feet in my practice. This injury commonly occurs when a person is walking barefoot outside on the grass and then will walk onto the hot pavement. Another common scenario is when a person is barefoot in the house and just “stepped out to get the mail”. Hot asphalt or pavement can reach temperatures of up to 140 degrees and can instantly burn the skin in just a few seconds. Severe burns of the skin require medical attention, so do not take any chances and protect your feet! Wear shoes, slippers, flip flops, etc…. I have also seen contact burns on the hands from car door handles and outside door handles on a store. You have to constantly be aware that our desert sun during the summer not only raises the outside temperature but also heats many outdoor surfaces we commonly come in contact with. I usually recommend carrying a small towel or handkerchief with you to open metal door handles, or else use a piece of your clothing. Hydration I have mentioned the importance of adequate hydration in previous articles. Poor fluid intake, especially in the summer heat, increases one’s chance of dehydration. A person can be dehydrated without feeling thirsty, so it is important to drink water throughout the day and especially if outdoors. A good gauge to assess hydration status is the color of your urine; the clearer

your urine the better, dark urine is a sign of poor hydration status. Coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages don’t count as good fluid intake because they actually cause dehydration. Heat Cramps/Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke Poor hydration habits along with prolonged exposure to heat and humidity can cause different types of heat related illness. For all these illnesses, treatment should include a cool place, rest and proper hydration with water or sports drinks. Heat Cramps are the mildest form of heat injury and present as very painful and severe muscle cramps and spasms. Stretch cramped muscles slowly. Heat Exhaustion is more severe and can include nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, pale and moist skin and fever. One should remove excess clothing and place cool clothes on the skin. If the symptoms don’t resolve, then medical attention with IV hydration may be needed or else the condition can progress to heat stroke. Heat Stroke is the most severe form of heat illness. It has the symptoms of heat cramps and heat exhaustion but includes neurological signs and symptoms of confusion or agitation and possibly seizures or coma. The skin in heat stroke is warm and dry. Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency and requires immediate medical attention. All of these conditions are preventable. Do not take our desert environment for granted.

Receive The Celebrity Secret Of Permanent Cosmetic Make-Up Once Thought To Be Only For The Rich And Famous Now Affordalbe To Women Of All Ages!!

eyebrows eyeliner lipliner Receive 10% full lip color beauty marks off with camouflage areola pigmentation

this ad

760.341.6606 Call Now For A Complimentary consultation

72-880 Fred Waring Dr. A3, Palm Desert, CA 92260

therandbstudios.com/Blo-Dry-Bar facebook.com/BloDryBar

BLO-IT, TOSS IT, WORK IT!

Blow Outs $

Shampoo + Style in 30 minutes

Call

760-346-8622 72650 Fred Waring Dr, Ste 105 Palm Desert CA 92260

June 19 to June 25, 2014

Comics

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

June 19 to June 25, 2014

VISIT US AT CVWaterCounts.com Whether you have transformed your yard, or your business has cut water use, we want you to apply for our conservation contest!

THANKS to OUR

BUSINESS WATER SAVERS

Mission Lakes Country Club

Enter our next contest at: cvwatercounts.org/contest Contest Categories: • Commercial Water Saver

• Most Beautiful Yard

• Hospitality Water Saver

Let’s work together to help protect the valley’s most precious resource.

June 19 to June 25, 2014