Coachella Valley Weekly - August 7 to August 13, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 20

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

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • August 7 to August 13, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 20

JOSHUA TREE RETREAT CENTER AUGUST 8 - 11 WITNESS THE PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER

Best Of 2014 Winners

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Splash House

pg 9

212 Band

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Ornament CD Release

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

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The Truth Is Out There…in Joshua Tree

Coachella Valley Weekly

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

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Raymond Bill, Lisa Morgan, Alaina Majiros 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, Sunny Simon, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Patte Purcell, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, John Paul Valdez, Laura Hunt Little, Rebecca Pikus, Scott Pam, 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

Contact In The Desert...................... 3 Best Of 2014..................................... 4 Best Charities Of 2014 .................... 6 Events - Summer Chillout................ 8 Events - Splash House...................... 9 Tilted Kilt Open Mic Week 7............ 9 LMS - 212......................................... 10 LMS - Ornament Album Release... 10 LMS - Andy T - Nick Nixon Band.... 11 Consider This - Chrissie Hynde...... 12 Art - Godawful................................ 13 Pet Place.......................................... 14 The Vino Voice................................ 15 Club Crawler Nightlife................... 16 Pampered Palate............................ 18 Screeners........................................ 20 Book Review................................... 21 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local........... 23 Dale Gribow.................................... 23 Safety Tips....................................... 24 ShareKitchen.................................. 24 Travel - Corona Del Mar................. 25 Real Estate...................................... 25 Sports Scene................................... 26 Health & Fitness............................. 26 Free Will Astrology......................... 27 Mind, Body & Spirit........................ 28 Life & Career Coach........................ 29 Beauty............................................. 29 Comics - Weiss Cracks.................... 30

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

By rich henrich

“I live the American Dream but it isn’t reality. There is another truth and that’s what I’m seeking.” -Michael Zelina, Las Vegas Realtor and Contact attendee

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his weekend, the Jesus Trees will have arms outstretched to welcome the truth seekers flocking to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center for the second annual Contact in the Desert, a weekend of exploration into extraterrestrial life, ancient aliens, human origins, crop circles, UFO sightings, contact experiences and the need for full government disclosure. The event will be hosted by Coast to Coast AM’s own George Noory and Ancient Alien’s host on The History Channel, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos.

With 13 million listeners, George Noory is definitely attracting a growing audience of people seeking answers to the unexplained and in particular those seeking answers to why our government refuses to disclose the truth about E.T.’s and UFO’s in America.

“We’re really committed to a serious, academic look at both ancient and modern aspects of intelligent extraterrestrial life,” says co-producer of Contact in the Desert, Victoria Jennings.

Recent polls suggest a growing trend toward the belief of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Fox, National Geographic and Huffington Post have all reported on the growing number of Americans who believe in aliens and UFO’s. Nearly half the country believes UFO’s

could be a sign of extraterrestrial visitation, according to the HuffPost poll. Event coproducer, Paul Andrews says, “Lots of people have had experiences. They have seen things they can’t explain. Law Enforcement, people from the intelligence community, pilots, military personnel and common people. The French, Brazilian and Russian governments have all released information on UFO’s and E.T.’s yet the U.S. has not? Why? What’s really going on here?” Andrews speculates that the recovery of craft, such as the Roswell incident, lead to a discovery of exotic technology that feeds into American industry.

Author (UFOs for the 21st Century Mind) and UFO researcher, Richard Dolan, one of the lecturers at Contact, will address some reasons for the silence from authorities. One theory is that the E.T.’s made a deal with the Eisenhower Administration giving permission to have underground bases. Former New Hampshire Legislator, Henry W. McElroy Jr. announced in 2010 via YouTube video that Eisenhower was briefed on the presence of E.T.’s on Earth. Laura Eisenhower, greatgranddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower, is on a profound mission to reveal our true origins connected with Magdalene’ and Gaia-Sophia’ energies of love and wisdom and works to liberate us from the Military Industrial Complex, the Archonic systems and false power structures. She will also hold a lecture and a workshop during the event and discuss ET and government treaties as well as how to liberate ourselves from the artificial matrix and mind-control.

Is it all a conspiracy or is it just an inconvenient truth?

Buzz Aldrin, U.S. astronaut and second man to walk the moon, recently came out with a statement confirming UFO sightings during their Apollo 11 mission. Evidently, while on the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong switched to the medical channel and spoke

with the chief medical officer saying “they’re here, they parked on the side of the crater, they’re watching us,” according to a recent SyFy show “Aliens on the Moon.” Event producer, Paul Andrews hints toward one of the important lectures that will take place during the conference by retired Col. Robert Salas, USAF, will discuss his UFO incident while stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana in 1967. “He’ll detail an event he witnessed with a craft coming in and shutting down all the missile silos on base,” says Andrews.

“We anticipate about a 70% return from last year’s attendees. They’ll be returning to the retreat center for another great experience,” proclaims Jennings. Michael Zelina, a real estate professional from Las Vegas, Nevada, who served for six years in the Marine Corps Reserves, looks forward to returning for a second year. “I first heard about Contact on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (a host of this year’s event). I wanted to be part of the first conference, the first gathering. I’d never been to anything like this before. I believe there is a real awakening unfolding. People want to know about alternative energy, zero-point energy and the truth about ancient aliens.” Mr. Zelina said he has always been interested in aliens, “conspiracies” and alternative histories but was afraid of ridicule from friends, family and co-workers so never really vocalized his thoughts. Coming to Contact in the Desert not only allowed him to explore a diverse range of knowledge but also to engage with continue to page 9

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

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CV Weekly’s Best of 2014. And the Winners are:

August 7 to August 13, 2014

Best of 2014

(All winners are listed first in their category, bolded and underlined. Congratulations!)

Best Bar: Schmidy’s Tavern (Tie) The Hood (Tie) BAR Desert Fox Clinic Best Dive Bar: Neil’s Lounge Red Barn Fireside 19th Hole Plan B Live Best Sports Bar: Tilted Kilt Burgers & Beer Beerhunter 19th Hole Hamilton’s Best Lounge: 3rd Corner Bistro Sullivan’s Amigo Room The Nest Melvyn’s Best Gay Bar: Toucan’s Streetbar Azul Hunter’s Dig’s Best Dance Club: Zelda’s The Nest Tilted Kilt Copa Costa’s Best Radio DJ: Bradley Ryan Valerie Kattz Johnny Toot Bill Feingold Casey Dolan Best Talk Radio Personality: Bill Feingold Best Radio Station: 100.5 93.7 99.5 106.9 106.1

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Photos By Laura Hunt Little

Best TV Personality: Bianca Rae Patrick Evans Ginger Jeffries Karen Devine Pattie Daly Caruso

Best Movie Theater: Cinemas Palm d’ Or Camelot The River Pickford Rancho 16

Martha’s Village Safehouse of the Desert S.O.S. C.A.S.A. Boys & Girls Club Concert for Autism

Best Live Theater: McCallum Theater Annenberg Theater Palm Canyon Theater Indio Performing Arts Center (IPAC ) Desert Rose Playhouse

Best Pet Charity: Loving All Animals Animal Samaritans Save A Pet Guide Dogs of the Desert Bandits Pet Rescue

Best Photographer: Chris Miller (Tie) Ethan Kaminsky (Tie) Lani Garfield Robert Laster Laura Hunt Little Best Artist: Keith Blum Snake Jagger Shawn Savage Natalia Astankina Ron Cameron Best Art Gallery: Heather James Melissa Morgan Creare Venus Hohman Best Art Event: La Quinta Arts Festival Indian Wells Art Festival Southwest Arts Festival Palm Springs Fine Art Fair Art Under the Umbrellas Best Event: Coachella Music & Arts Festival Fashion Week Stagecoach Palm Springs International Film Fest (PSIFF ) BNP Paribas Palm Springs Pride Modernism BB’s Halloween Party RWB Festival Festival of Lights Best Charity: Desert AIDS Project Desert ARC Street Life Project Christopher’s Clubhouse Shelter from the Storm FIND Food Bank Well in the Desert

Best Casino: Fantasy Springs Spotlight 29 Spa Casino Agua Caliente Augustine Best Hotel: Riviera Miramonte Hard Rock Ace Marriott Desert Springs Best Tattoo Shop: Tg Tat Adornment Bloodline Flagship Strata Tattoo Lab Best Consignment Store: Resale Therapy Misty’s Revivals Collector’s Corner Re-Deaux Best Boutique: Tarah Jade Resale Therapy Blonde Trina Turk Nature’s Rx Best Spa: The Well @ Miramonte Spaterre @ Riviera The Spa at Mission Hills @ The Westin Marriott Desert Springs Spa LQ @ La Quinta Resort Best Yoga Studio: Evolve Yoga Bikram Yoga Palm Desert Path Pilates Go With the Flow Urban Yoga Center

Best Hair Salon: J. Russell The Salon Nikki A’s Salon Dennis Ogas Salon Just Blow Drys Mai Salon Debut Best Flower Shop: My Little Flower Shop Country Club Florist Rancho Mirage Florist The Flower Company Indio Florist Best Pet Store: Cold Nose Warm Heart Bones N Scones Ambrosia Pet Deli Pet Oasis Cosmopawlitan Best Golf Store: Lumpy’s Pete Carlson’s Lady Golf PGA Superstore Roger Dunn Golf Shop Best Public Golf Course: Desert Willow Eagle Falls Escena Silver Rock IW Club Best Brew House: Coachella Valley Brewing Co (CVB) Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse La Quinta Brewing Company Best Wine Store: La Quinta Wine Shop Dan’s Wine Shop Tulip Hill 3rd Corner Bistro The Wine Bar at Old Town Best Happy Hour: Acqua Pazza Mama Gina’s Piero’s Pizza Vino Sullivan’s Mitch’s on El Paseo Best Martini: Sullivan’s Mastro’s Lulu California Bistro Pacifica Flemings

Best Margarita: Fresh Agave Armando’s Blue Coyote Las Casuelas Don Diego’s Best Seafood Restaurant: Pacifica Mitch’s on El Paseo Fisherman’s Market Oceans Crab Pot Best Steak Restaurant: Mastro’s Sullivan’s Ruth’s Chris Flemings Chop House Best Thai Restaurant: Thai Smile Le Basil Legacy Thai Blue Orchid Chada Thai Cuisine Best Japanese/Sushi Restaurant: Kobe The Venue Sushi Bar & Sake Lounge Mikado Okura Sam’s Sushi Best Chinese Restaurant: Wang’s in the Desert Canton Bistro Emperor Buffet Soul of China China Bistro Best French Restaurant: Café De Beaux Art La Brasserie Cuistot La Paon Pomme Frite Best Mexican Restaurant: Las Casuelas Terraza El Mexicali Café 2 Fresh Agave El Gallito Armando’s Best Italian Restaurant: Giuseppe’s Mama Gina’s Castelli’s Mario’s Ciro’s

Best Continental Restaurant: Lulu California Bistro Johannes Spencer’s Copley’s Shame on the Moon Best Pizza: Stuft Pizza Michael’s Pizzeria Bill’s Pizza Piero’s Pizza Vino Pizzeria Villagio Best BBQ: Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse Jackalope Ranch Tootie’s Cowboy Way Big Mama’s Soul Food Best Burger: Eureka Burgers & Beer Tyler’s Grind BRGR Bar Smokin’ Burgers Best Family Restaurant: Stuft Pizza Richie’s Diner Eureka Burgers & Beer Soul of Mexico Best Hotel Restaurant: Bluember @ Rancho Las Palmas Artisan Grove Kitchen @ Miramonte Pinzimini @ Westin Mission Hills Rockwood @ Marriott Citron @ Viceroy Best Romantic Restaurant: Lavender Bistro La Vallauris Spencer’s Pinzimini Jillian’s Best New Restaurant: Il Corso Pho Vu Figue Eureka Vue We are proud of ALL of our nominees. A Special Thanks to you and all of you who voted!

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

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CV Weekly’s Best of 2014 Awards Dinner a success in more ways than one

by tracy dietlin

Photos By Laura Hunt Little

Best of 2014

desert aids project - “best charity”

Selected as among the best AIDS service organizations nationally, Desert AIDS Project is proud to be chosen “Best Charity” at CV Weekly’s Best of 2014 Awards

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ast Thursday, July 31, CV Weekly announced the winners of our Best of 2014 in 52 categories during our awards dinner. The event took place at Emerald Desert RV Resort with the evening starting off with cocktails and then a delicious dinner generously sponsored by LULU/Acqua Pazza.

Caroldean Ross and Craig Michaels were the hostess and host of the evening.

After all the other categories were announced the awards were given out for “Best Charity” with the winner being Desert Aids Project with Barbara Keller there to accept and “Best Animal Charity” went to Loving All Animals with Lindi Biggi accepting.

Both charities will be receiving a check for $500.00 this week from CV Weekly with money raised from ticket sales and the raffle.

CV Weekly also decided to honor 2 other charities; SafeHouse of the Desert and The Street Life Project. Accepting for SafeHouse was Birgit Phillips who spoke about stopping Human Trafficking and helping teenagers in need. Christian Jelmberg who runs Street Life Project was also awarded “Humanitarian of the Year” for his tireless efforts to get the homeless of the streets.

Dick Shalhoub, owner of 15 CV McDonald’s was awarded “Philanthropist of the Year” for his selfless charity work and always wanting to fly under the radar with his good deeds. Shalhoub was busy taking on another McDonald’s and regretted not being able to attend but sent his Marketing Manager, Janet Newcomb to accept on his behalf.

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Also awarded a “Philanthropist of the Year” award was Suresh Shah who recently started the PGA DUI program with one million dollars of his own money to offer free rides home from bars and restaurants in the attempt to keep people from driving drunk. His generosity showed even more when he offered to give $500.00 to SafeHouse of the Desert and $500.00 to The Street Life Project on behalf of CV Weekly.

Keller, Biggi, Phillips, Jelmberg, Newcomb and Shah, all gave poignant speeches about the charities they represent with their passion and dedication shining through. For me, as Publisher of CV Weekly, this is what this event was all about and what CV Weekly is about on a weekly basis. I was proud and honored to be able to help raise $2000.00 for four charities along with raising awareness about what they stand for. Below you will find a short Mission Statement and info about those four charities.

You may not have money to donate but perhaps you can give of your time.

Look for in-depth profiles on Shalhoub, Shah and Jelmberg in CV Weekly’s September 11 issue, where we will feature the Top 25 Most Interesting and Influential Men in the CV.

n article in the April 2014 issue of A&U Magazine, dedicated to those who are HIV-affected, called Desert AIDS Project “an oasis in Palm Springs.” The writer remarked on how the 30-year-old agency “has grown into an impressive facility dedicated to addressing the holistic needs of its community, which has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate twice the national average.”

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer was similarly impressed when she visited the D.A.P. campus later that month, on April 23, to recognize the 25-year community partnership between D.A.P. and the City of Palm Springs, through the city government’s local administration of funds made available by the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Boxer, who was one of the very first U.S. politicians to secure funding for HIV/AIDS treatment in the early 1980s, toured the agency and learned more about D.A.P.’s array of medical and dental care, as well as behavioral health and essential “wraparound” services.

The senator also saw in-house facilities that include a lab for blood work, a pharmacy whose staff specializes in HIV medication therapies, and the Client Community Center. This community center at D.A.P. is a welcoming space, designed to combat HIV stigma and isolation through skills-forliving and back-to-work training, and other educational and social activities. All these programs and services are seamlessly tied together – all under one roof – by case managers for the more than 2,200 clients of D.A.P. As one of its housing options, the Desert AIDS Project campus even includes an 81-unit apartment complex for lowincome clients.

David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project, responded to Boxer’s many questions and also told her about what has been happening through the Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center – a million dollar gift in 2012 by its namesake – which enables regular screenings for some kinds of cancers often associated with HIV. Senator Boxer also heard about some of D.A.P.’s other near-horizon plans to open a full STD clinic, undertake clinical trials and research, and more.

Little wonder that, several months earlier, in August 2013, About.com – a top 40 U.S. website attracting more than 86 million users monthly – included Desert AIDS Project in its list of “Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities. Desert AIDS Project was selected as one of only a small handful of HIV/ AIDS charities that met a set of standards, including: · spending at least 75% of their cash budget on bona fide programs,

· raising $100 from every $15 spent fundraising, and · operating with complete financial transparency.

The “Top 20” list was assembled for About.com by Dennis Sifris, MD and James Myre. Dr. Sifris is an HIV specialist and Chief Medical Officer of LifeSense Disease Management, an HIV-managed care company based in South Africa, while Mr. Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. About.com’s peer-reviewed Health Channel includes over 1,000 topics curated by researchers, physicians, medical writers, and healthcare professionals. It was the recipient of the 2013 Web Health Award, honoring the best digital health resources in the U.S. On August 22, 2013 – the day Desert AIDS Project began its 30th year of service – CEO David Brinkman said “While we are immensely proud to be recognized in this way, we know that it really does take a global village, with each community in each country fighting the continuing spread of HIV while caring and advocating for those who are already infected. The spirit of those volunteer warriors who started D.A.P. back in 1984 lives on today and we shall continue to honor their commitment every day we serve the community.”

To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.

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Loving All Animals -“Best Pet Charity”

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he founder and President of Loving All Animals, Lindi Biggi, had been involved with the Valley’s animal rescue organizations for many years. She was dismayed by the competition for resources among the various groups, and believed that if everyone worked together, more companion animals would get out of shelters alive and become valued family members in loving homes. Loving All Animals, Inc. was formed as a 501(C)(3) organization in December 2008 to be a catalyst for cooperative efforts that put limited resources to better use. Loving All Animals’ mission is to bring together local and national animal welfare and related organizations to collaborate for the greater benefit of animals.

We advocate for and organize collaborative activities to aid companion animals, including exotic pet birds in need. One priority is finding homes for homeless animals, reducing their suffering, and lowering the high euthanasia rate throughout the Coachella Valley. We actively support spay/neuter procedures and micro-chipping.

Loving All Animals has undertaken major initiatives to benefit a number of public and private animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the region. Our annual two-day Super Pet Adoption Festival, for example, helped 38 area shelters find permanent homes for 233 pets last year. This created space for another 233 pets in their facilities, saving a total of 466 lives.

Since 2008, our annual Adoption Festivals have resulted in a total of 1080 pet adoptions.

The sixth annual Super Pet Adoption Festival is scheduled for November 15-16, 2014 at Rancho Mirage Community Park in Rancho Mirage, CA. Our Mobile Mutts program is another major initiative that not only saves the lives of pets but also enriches the lives of the people involved in this effort. The program operates throughout the year to rescue pets (mostly dogs) from high-kill shelters and the streets and match them with appropriate adopters. The shelters,

sanctuaries, and rescue groups in our area are eager collaborators in the Mobile Mutts Program, since we find good homes for the pets in their care at no cost to them. They can use their limited resources to save more animals.

We also have a variety of other community partners for this work, including: medical staff and facilities to spay/neuter and provide needed procedures and medications prior to adoption; local retailers and pet boutiques as public venues to showcase rescued animals to potential adopters; and local senior centers that help find foster homes for pets waiting for adoption. We even partner with one city, bringing adoptable dogs to the city council meetings to encourage more adoptions.

Since the Mobile Mutts Program began in late 2010, through 2013, we have found homes for 343 pets through both Loving All Animals and community partnership adoptions.

Adoptions have increased each year, from just 6 in 2010, to 99 in 2011, 107 in 2012, and 131 in 2013. We are on track to again increase the number of adoptions in 2014, anticipating that we will receive funding for core needs such as medical costs and other foster care expenses.

If you are interested in becoming a foster, a volunteer or wanting to give a donation, please call 760-834-7000, email info@ lovingallanimals.org or check out our website at www.lovingallanimals.org

SafeHouse of the Desert - Charity Recognition

Helping Teens In Crisis In The Inland Empire

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ur Emergency Shelter program provides immediate help to youth and families experiencing crisis situations. When families come to us, they’re usually at their wit’s end—parents are frustrated and children don’t know where to turn. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for teens and their families who need help negotiating the often challenging road from childhood to independent adult life.

SafeHouse of the Desert is well equipped to handle runaway, homeless and other youth in crisis. Teens who don’t know where else to go are always welcome at our shelters—all they have to do is show up.

Parents who are interested in early intervention are encouraged to call us to set up a screening for their child. At the screening, they meet with a Marriage and Family Therapist who tells them more about what they can expect to receive from our holistic approach and listens to the struggles they’re having.

Finally, a sense of relief…of hope.

After being admitted to our program, the teen participates in a structured, 21-day program that gives them and their families hope that things CAN get better—trust CAN be rebuilt, lines of communication CAN be reopened. They see a therapist on a daily basis, participate in group therapy with other clients and receive the daily structure and support they need to make a start at resolving the family conflicts they’re having.

We involve parents every step of the way. They attend weekly family counseling sessions and are encouraged to participate in parenting classes both while their child is in the program and after they graduate.

We’re here for families in crisis, every hour of every day.

SafeHouse of the Desert 72710 East Lynn St, Thousand Palms, CA (888) 343-4660 To donate, you can visit our website: Safehouseofthedesert.com

August 7 to August 13, 2014

Street life project - Charity Recognition

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ur Culture The StreetLifeProject is a culture built on a foundation of love; a kind of love that transforms people and unites communities for one cause. That’s to go after the broken that are normally disregarded by society, and love them back to life.

Our Mission Our mission is to provide hope to the hopeless, and inspire life change. We want the homeless to know that they are loved and have value. That no matter what hardship they are going through, life can get better. We want to be the support system they can count on through this difficult time by providing the help they will need to transform their lives. A life filled with hope & guided by faith.

Our Impact - Transforming this valley Just to give you an idea of our impact, from July 1st to July 15th we have helped fifteen people get off the streets. Out of the fifteen five were children, three were young teens, and one was a drug dealer. We usually average six to twelve every month but our numbers are increasing as we expand our outreaches to more areas around the valley. The StreetLifeProject is making our cities safer and more desirable to those considering relocating here.

Outreach - Food, Prayer, and Life Coaching We bless 300+ homeless with a hot meal and water every week. We travel from camp to camp and go to places rarely ever seen by the general public. As we get more financial support, and food sponsors, we will continue to expand our reach. Isaiah 58:10 “feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day.

Counseling - Inspiring change We get to know the homeless on a very personal level allowing us the ability to inspire change through genuine friendships. We evaluate ways to assist them in their transition into working society by customizing a plan that is specific to their needs. Our goal at StreetLifeProject is not just sustainability; it’s providing them the tools and assistance they need to make a permanent life transformation.

Rehab Placement - Getting clean We direct the homeless with addictions to the rehab centers that will fit their immediate needs. We give instruction on acquiring placement and follow the process through detox and drug/alcohol counseling. Our goal is to have a plan of action upon there completion of the program, and smooth transition into transitional housing.

Transitional Housing - A safe place It’s important that the homeless have a safe environment while they look for a job, so we assist in finding them a shelter. We network with emergency shelters and track the availability to open beds for immediate placement. We also know of existing life skill programs that some shelters provide that may be a benefit to those we are helping.

Clothing - For job interviews and those in the streets We provide clothing and supplies to people that are going through the StreetLifeProject program. We also take clothing, blankets, and supplies out to the homeless camps.

Toiletries & Supplies - Making life easier We provide essential supplies to make life a little easier on the streets. It could be a tarp to

protect them from the harsh weather. Trash bags so they can keep their living environment clean.

Also items for hygiene, like a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, combs, toilet paper, shavers etc. We want to provide them with these items so they can feel good about themselves. It’s so important that they feel self- worth so they can see themselves taking the next step.

Haircuts and Eye Glasses - Getting cleaned up Looking clean cut is so important for their confidence and job scouting. We have networked with hair stylists that donate their services. We also know of programs for acquiring glasses for the homeless as well, and assist them in this process.

Resume Building and Job Scouting Inspiring change It’s impeditive the homeless get a job so they can become self-sufficient. We interview them and assist in putting together a professional resume. Then we work on interview skills making sure they can respond to common interview questions. We then get them suited up and drive them to locations around the valley to drop off resumes. So far we have had a 100% placement with some acquiring two jobs.

Permanent Housing Placement - Almost there After someone has landed a job and has collected enough paychecks to cover housing expenses, we help find them a permanent residence. For some it’s an apartment and others it may be a room for rent. Once we find a place our team gets together and furnishes it with bed, sofas, tv’s, toiletries, etc. We want them to feel special, and make it a joyous day of celebrating the first day of no longer being homeless.

Church - Bringing the homeless to Church Every week we travel to the homeless camps to pick up around fifty homeless for church. So many people want to experience Sunday service and it’s amazing the impact faith has on their life transformation. We have seen first-hand how God can heal people from the inside out.

Website - Follow success stories at StreetLifeProject.com Be inspired by life changing stories of people going through the StreetLifeProject program.

Christian Jelmberg - StreetLifeProject 760.702.4944

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similar like-minded professionals. “I thought there would be a lot of crack pots but was surprised to meet so many successful and intelligent people who shared my thoughts.

Going back for the second year completes my circle and now that I have had a year to research so much on my own, I have more questions. I want a better understanding. The first time was a smack in the face!”

Event co-producer, Paul Andrews says he was originally inspired by his dad’s interest in UFO’s and discovered through a conversation with his aunt that the interest has a long history in their family, going back several generations. Like conference speaker Dr. Steven Greer, MD, founder of the Disclosure Project, The Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CSETI) and The Orion Project, Mr. Andrews hopes the gathering of like minds will lead to open discussions about the need for full disclosure from our government about their knowledge and involvement with E.T.’s. “Interactions have been going on for a 1,000 plus years.

I’d like to know how they’ve been interacting with us? How have they been involved with our evolution- socially and politically? There are unexplainable ruins and 8,000 year old tablets that have been found to prove the history of E.T.’s on Earth. I want to know who we are,” says the passionate organizer.

When asked how long he believes it will be before the government either discloses the information or is forced to by public outcry, he has mixed feelings. “It’s going to take time to condition the public, to prepare the public.”

This year, Contact in the Desert will focus on Joshua Tree as historical site for UFO conventions and phenomenon. Local historian and tour guide, Barbara Harris will present the legend of Giant Rock and George Van Tassel, who held the first Interplanetary Spacecraft Convention in 1947. Once considered a sacred space by Native Americans, the granite rock stands 7 stories high, weighs around 25,000 tons and covers over 5,800 sq. ft. Giant Rock was made famous in the 1950’s by George Van Tassel and his “spacecraft” conventions that drew thousands of people to the remote site in the desert. The rock may be responsible for a magnetic vortex that spans several miles in radius. Ms. Harris will lead a guided expedition to Giant Rock starting on Thursday at 7:00 pm.

Michael Tellinger, a returning lecturer and real-life Indiana Jones, has made groundbreaking discoveries on ancient vanished

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Summer Chillout

events

Party Under the Perseid Meteor Shower and Supermoon

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he Joshua Tree Summer Chillout party has been an August tradition since 2011. This year the chillout will be held at Desert Sky Studios owned by host, and internationally known guitarist, and producer Clive Wright. Mr. Wright will perform with various guests throughout the evening. Other musical acts include Big Black, Dino Arcon, and a special narration, earth blessing, and prayer for peace performed by the performance artist Amy Angel. Desert Sky Studios will also be featuring a belly dance performance

by Ruby Doe from Ghana, and other guest performers. The event will coincide

civilizations at the southern tip of South Africa.

His analytical scientific approach will force us to rethink our origins and rewrite our history books. Mr. Tellinger will host a workshop on Monday August 11, 2014 on “Ancient Advanced Technology” along with two lectures. One will be on “Lost Civilizations” and the other “Ubuntu: A Blueprint for Human Prosperity.” Tellinger has become an international authority on the origins of humankind and the vanished civilizations of southern Africa. His recent discoveries show that the Sumerians and even the Egyptians inherited all their knowledge from an earlier civilization that lived in the southern tip of Africa more than 200,000 years ago…mining gold.

With so much activity across the globe and several countries already disclosing the knowledge they have about UFO’s and E.T.’s presence on Earth, some wonder how much longer it will be before we all know the truth to the mystery and conspiracy that has existed for thousands of years. According to news site examiner.com, the Vatican has been holding conferences on astrobiology where scientists convene to discuss the detection and implications of extraterrestrial life. A major voice for the Vatican and Director of the Vatican Observatory, the Jesuit priest Father Jose Gabriel Funes has stated that the existence of intelligent extraterrestrials poses no problems to Catholic theology and said “the extraterrestrial is my brother.”

The Examiner reports in their July 23, 2014 article “Vatican Preparing Statement on Extraterrestrial Life,“ that Pope Francis is about to give an Urbi et Orbi Latin for “to the city (of Rome) and the world” – about First Contact with extraterrestrial life. According to Rosana Ubanell from Voxxi News, details have yet to be officially announced.

For more information on Contact in the Desert and for a complete line-up of lectures, workshops and events, go to www. contactinthedesert.com. You will also find full biographies of each of the speakers with further information on their work. The truth is still out there- go find it.

with the full Supermoon and the annual Perseid meteor showers. This aspect of the evening will be chronicled by Tom O’key and the excellent Southern California Desert Video Astronomers along with their trademark technological presentation.

Deep space and moon imagery will be projected on side screens, for more info on this group check out scdva.org. For more information call 760-366-9513. hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided, B.Y.O.B. a donation of $10 is requested to cover costs and entertainment.

events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by kaitey marie

Splash House Makes Big Waves in the Desert

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hip new multi-venue music festival is making waves in the desert, and surprisingly, a young Palm Springs native is the mastermind behind it all. Tyler McLean, 23-year-old alumni of Palm Springs High School, was having a conversation with his sister Kelly one day about the resurgence of downtown Palm Springs when the idea of Splash House was born. The two agreed that the influx of young “millennials” to the Coachella Valley for Spring Break and music events like Coachella and Stagecoach is something the desert community should embrace. Palm Springs has become an increasingly popular vacation destination for twenty-somethings, but as Tyler points out, the Empire Polo Club in Indio has been the only music festival venue utilized for decades. What about a concert in the heart of Palm Springs? With the recent revamping of downtown Palm Springs with popular hotel remodels like the Ace, the Saguaro, and the addition of the Hard Rock Hotel, Tyler and Kelly saw an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. “Pools are one of our few social outlets here in the desert,” Tyler remarks, “Why not bring the music festival concept to the pool?”

The siblings envisioned creating a poolside multi-venue music festival that would become a quintessential summer concert series in Palm Springs. Being young and in college, Tyler and Kelly faced several hurdles in their initial stages of creating the festival. Many residents and venues thought the idea might be some giant “frat party” that would add additional noise and traffic to the otherwise serene desert atmosphere. However, as Tyler explains, Splash House is actually a “fresh, low-key and forward-looking festival created by locals, for locals.” Instead of invading the desert, creating surplus infrastructure and attracting rowdy teens, Splash House utilizes already existing single venues within a mile radius of each other and caters to a cultured and mature 21+ crowd. The poolside stages are connected via non-stop transit shuttles (included in the price of admission) that eliminate excess traffic and efficiently allow festival goers to get from venue to venue.

Splash House debuted last year and was an instant success, with over 1,000 music lovers dancing around Palm Springs one pool party at a time. Luckily, a representative from Goldenvoice (producer of big-ticket music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach) had secretly been one of those music lovers in attendance and loved everything about the experience. After contacting the McLean’s, Goldenvoice is now a full partner in the production of Splash House. At its current stages, Splash House is mainly Electronic Dance Music (EDM) oriented, but the festival founders reveal that they are “very open” to all music genres and will continue to diversify the line-up in the future.

Since last year, the eclectic poolside festival has featured past Coachella artists including XXYYXX, Giraffage and Anna Lunoe. Splash House has been praised by the LA Times and Vice for being “a unique weekender that [has the potential to grow] into something iconic.”

This August 8-10, Splash House will welcome impressive live musical acts like Flume, A-Track and Cut Copy across the scenic pools of the Hard Rock Hotel, The Saguaro and the Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club. Tickets are currently available at splashhouse.com, and include admission to each venue as well as after parties. So bring your shades, your floaties and get ready to dance, Splash House is a trendy event you won’t want to miss this summer. kkalisva@uci.edu Photos by Laura Hunt Little

August 7 to August 13, 2014

Tilted Kilt Open Mic Week 7 Winners

events

W

eek 7 brought with it a great time for the now regulars of the Tilted Kilt Open Mic Competition!

Seasoned Open Mic-ers found a comfortable, friendly atmosphere and in turn, tore up the stage! Audience giveaways such as new movie release t-shirts and hats from the Mary Pickford theater riled up the crowd for voting time. At nights end Pharm Tecs brought a very tight performance and the rowdiest fans to take home 1st place and a Musicians Outlet Gift Card! Pharm Tecs, consisting of hip hop artists Rezident and Scoonz who are actual Pharmacy Technicians by day, will now compete in the finals for a shot at the grand prizes of $500 of music gear from Musicians Outlet, a studio demo recording from S.I.R. Entertainment Services and a 3 day trip to Las Vegas from Crater Lake Vodka! 2nd place was awarded to Charity Dumpit who brought a sweet soulful song to the stage and took home a Fascia Stretch Therapy Session at AcQPoint Acupuncture and Wellness Clinic from CV Weekly. Another talented singer, Ariss Durazo, broke out a country cover song, won 3rd place and was awarded a Swedish Massage from EstheticX.Obesssion Massage & Wax Bar. What talented musicians and singers we have perform for us each week! THANK YOU for sharing your passion for music: Johnny Elsewhere, Jim Holiday, Freddy Live!, Qeu,

Mike Sick-boy, Marco Thoma and special thanks to Nash for making a special guest appearance! Look for coverage of this week’s event in Coachella Valley Weekly.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors: S.I.R. Entertainment Services, Musicians Outlet, EstheticX.Obsession Massage & Wax Bar, Wet & Wild Palm Springs, Mary Pickford Theater, Crater Lake Vodka and CV Weekly. Also, each week, Renee Vargas of Vargas Arts is filming for a possible reality television series and has DVDs of all of the performances!

Remember, the competition is ALL AGES and runs EVERY WEDNESDAY. YOU may compete EVERY week! Sign in at 7pm. The audience votes by applause so BRING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY and FANS!!! See you there.

For questions or information about sign-up, please contact your competition host, Morgan James at OpenMicContact@gmail.com

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

by Lisa Morgan

Local Music Spotlight

by Lisa Morgan

212 in 2014: Rocking a Rock Yard Near You Ornament’s ELECTROFEELIC: Nothing Short of Stellar Fantasy Springs Rock Yard, Friday, August 8th 7:30 PM FREE!

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o the envy of the many talented bands in and around the Coachella Valley, the classic rock cover band, 212, has scored one of the most enviable stages of the summer. A result of tenacious persistence and the talent to back it up, 212 will be opening for the Tom Petty tribute band, You Got Lucky, on the Rock Yard stage at Fantasy Springs in Indio this Friday night starting at 7:30 pm.

It would seem that the boys of 212 are the one’s who got lucky (if you want to call a year and a half of hard work “lucky”). Since I last wrote about the boys of 212 back in May of 2013, they made it through significant personnel changes with flying colors, becoming an even stronger presence in our music scene. More recently, the rocking four piece has grown into a five piece with the addition of new member, keyboardist, Mark Wilson. Wilson, who has been playing “since dirt”, as he puts it, hails from the Temecula music scene where he’s performed for the last several years. I asked him how he came across our desert’s popular rockers from such a distance. “FarmersOnly.com,” he quipped, proving he was a perfect fit for this band of brothers who take their music, but not themselves, seriously.

On a more serious note, Wilson shared, “I’ve been classically trained since the age of 5. I have since done a lot of studio work and played with several bands, including tributes, rock and heavy metal. I’d been wanting to be part of the thriving music scene out here for a while, and the day after my band dispersed, I got in contact with these guys on Band Mix. It just all came together.” I asked him how he felt about his new music cohorts. He immediately answered, “The drummer’s an asshole and the bassist is a Prima Donna,” as the laughter of his new band mates filled the room. As it turns out, drummer Leonard Colvin, is not an asshole, but he is a task master, developing and implementing arrangements that allow 212 to add their own unique flavor to the classics everybody knows and loves. “A lot of cover bands think it has to be exactly like the recorded version,” Wilson explained. “In my opinion, you want to make these songs your own. Honestly, if I want to hear a song just like it plays on the radio, I’m going to listen to the radio. We don’t want to be a jukebox. Some bands are great to hear, and no fun to watch.

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That’s not us.” (Note: There was no rebuttal for the comments regarding bass player, Jimmy Thomas being a Prima Donna. One will have to go see them to find out whether it is fact or fun.)

The guys of 212 made it clear how big a part Wilson and his keyboard would play in gigs to come. “The addition of keys to our band is not merely for accent. We’ve been working really hard over the last couple of months to make them an intricate part of our sound. New songs have been added to our arsenal from The Cars, Stevie Wonder, INXS, Ides of March, Tom Jones, Randy Newman and more.” The future will also reveal a solid depth of writing skill as they venture into producing and adding originals to their playlist. With all five musicians, seasoned and talented, this should prove to be an extremely valuable and intriguing development.

Wilson joins Michael “The Voice” Labrecque, the dynamic and versatile lead singer and front man; Leonard Colvin II 35 year veteran of drums; Bass man, Jimmy Thomas who got his start in music in the third grade with brass wind instruments; and Chuck Baum; you’ve heard of the guy behind the guy? Well, Chuck’s THE guy. Baum has been playing guitar since age 11 and eventually landed the lead guitarist spot for the Suzanne Oliver Band, and has played with the likes of Jeff Beck, Paul Stanley, and Lita Ford.

In May of 2013, when they were a new four piece, having just brought in Labrecque on lead vocals, Baum shared his hopes for the band. “I’m hoping that this band will take us back into playing casinos and larger venues.”

It would seem that there aren’t too many goals that Chuck Baum has set that he hasn’t achieved. With this fantastic five, they are well on their way. You are sure to agree as you watch them set the stage on fire this Friday night.

Follow 212 on Facebook at www.facebook. com/TwoTwelveBand or at 212rocks.com Find out more about new member Mark Wilson at www.markdavidwilson.net For more information on the Rock Yard and entertainment at Fantasy Springs, go to www. fantasyspringsresort.com or call them at (760) 820-4201. Fantasy Springs is located in Indio off of the 10 Freeway at Golf Center Parkway.

Record Release Party @ Schmidy’s Tavern, Palm Desert, Friday, August 8th @ 9 PM

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was car jacked. Driving through the extreme desert landscape of Joshua Tree and 29 Palms, the CD I had just popped into the player grabbed a hold of me hard and unrelentingly. Instantly I was engulfed in what was the perfect soundtrack to a movie that I was driving through. As I hung onto every lyric I could, the haunting guitar chorus, the rock rhythms, indigenous at their core, and the soaring vocals gently jolted me into an entirely different head space and I welcomed it wholeheartedly. The hot, midday, desert landscape around me offered the perfect setting for this sonic possession. The CD responsible for this? ELECTROFEELIC, a perfectly named title for the experience this 9 song EP delivers, written and produced by four individually talented and collectively powerful musicians who call themselves Ornament.

Ornament is Will Coon on vocals and guitar, Mark Engel on lead guitar, Greg Cabral on bass and John Pierson III (aka Trey) on drums. Ornament will be celebrating their second album release at Schmidy’s Tavern in Palm Desert this Friday night. In my opinion, there is much to celebrate. The music these four have created has the legs to take them to international stages and audiences. That being said, I’d highly recommend you enjoy this band while they are still somewhat local.

The nine song epitaph to their dedication to authenticity and musical craftsmanship was 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). A special edition CD, that includes album artwork by artist extraordinaire, Tanner McGuire, will be available for $5 to all in attendance at Friday’s release party.

Coon, lead singer and front man and coowner of M Designs Global, previously shared the aspirations of the band with CV Weekly: “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.” It is this writer’s humble opinion, that they are worthy of seeing that dream fulfilled.

The first song on the album, Smokescreen, bears an essence of post grunge era, Days of the New’s Red Album, with its tribalesqué, indiginous rhythm showing off the fellowship between bass and drums that has been built over the last two decades. Add to that Mark Engel’s haunting, open, quivering guitar chorus that sings its own wordless song perfectly framing but not overwhelming the soaring vocals of Will Coon and you too will find yourself into a complete listening, feeling, electric experience of music. Coon’s voice could be described as a unique blend of Collective Soul’s Ed Roland and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. It beautifully and soulfully engages you in the story of a woman in the throws of addiction. Song 2, “Apple Eye”, further exploits the intuitive communication between drummer and bassist that stands out second only to the lyrics. Track number 4, “Magical Land”, is a sonic standout due to the incredibly tasteful addition of a female vocal recommended by studio owner, Harper Hug. “Pools of Grace”, swells beautifully from start to finish - Coon, masterful with the vocals atop what crescendos into serious ass-kicking rock rhythms. Cut number 7, is, to me, a showcase of Coons storytelling ability as he slips into character, forcing the listener to see through the eyes of gunslinger and outlaw, Josey Whales. Enhanced by the bands’ penchant for dynamics, it is dark, bitter, hard, brave, and nothing short of stellar.

It is refreshing to see each instrument take its turn to shine, not for the sake of spotlighting the player, but for the sake of a well-crafted song. It is clear, that while every song is vocally and lyrically centered and framed, every player, vocalist included, are bent on good musicianship and the development of stirring music with each and every submission.

Ornament will play songs from ELECTROFEELIC Friday night at Schmidy’s Tavern following the roots rocking music of Hubcap Stealers. This is a free show, but seating is limited, so be sure to get there early.

Schmidy’s Tavern is located on the corner of Highway 111 and Fred Waring, next to Men’s Wharehouse.

You can follow Ornament at www. facebook.com/ornamentband

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

August 7 to August 13, 2014

by noe gutierrez

The Andy T - Nick Nixon Band

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recently had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band perform during lunchtime at Record Alley in the Westfield Shopping Center in Palm Desert on a sweltering week day. It was surreal to walk into a record store I had entered hundreds of times before and witness the blues fill the room. The quintet consisted of vocalist Nixon, drummer Jim Klingler, bassist Sam Persons, guitarist Andy T and keyboardist Larry Van Loon. Nixon raves about his blues brothers. “It’s a really wonderful band and they’re good to travel with. We have a lot of fun together.” I can share with you that being an eyewitness to

the live music elicited emotion that caused me to pause and take in the sometimes misconceived music genre known as the blues. Nixon’s voice involuntarily extracts your feelings.

James “Nick” Nixon is the quintessential Nashville born and raised bluesman who was thankfully prompted out of retirement by his counterpart Andy “T” Talamantez, to reinvigorate a Memphis Soul, Texas Blues and New Orleans Rhythm & Blues movement just a few years ago. Nixon has always wanted to sing and was influenced early on by gospel music sung in church.

“My mother took us to church every Sunday.

I used to sit around in church and watch all these people sing and play the tambourine and I knew then that’s what I wanted to do.”

He was part of the Jefferson Street blues scene of the ‘60s. Nixon has been trained to sing opera also. “I did learn a lot of voice control (singing opera) that I still use now.

The clarity of opera is something that I still use, too, but I just put a bit more gravel, a little more dirt with it when I’m singing the blues.”

He is also a skillful guitarist but gladly relinquishes those duties to Andy T for this project. “I really wanted to spend most of

my time (in the studio) putting an emphasis on my vocal work … which looks like it’s getting better with age.”

Nixon’s musical past is inundated with rubbing shoulders with Music City greats.

He has also congregated with the likes of guitarist Jimi Hendrix and bass guitarist Billy Cox of Band of Gypsies and Jimi Hendrix Experience. He is in his 70s now and after hearing him belt out the blues it is unmistakable that his voice only improves with time.

Nixon has been the recipient of the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award from The Blues Foundation. It is the highest award given in the field of blues education.

Nixon taught guitar to children for over 35 years.

Andy T. was born and raised in Southern California. He is influenced by legendary guitarists T-Bone Walker and BB King. He later relocated to Nashville where he met Nixon. Nixon recalls, “I was having a blues jam at the time and I wasn’t that hard to contact. Andy had heard about me and ran into my cousin – the Queen of Nashville Blues – Marion James, and she told him he needed to come see me, so he found me and said, ‘Man, we need to get together.’ So we put this group together and got a bunch of players together that are really good and just took off from there.” In 2013 they

released their debut Drink Drank Drunk which solidified their collaboration as more than a ‘one-off’ endeavor. On June 17, 2014, they released their subsequent album Livin’ It Up on Delta Groove Music.

Livin’ It Up was recorded by Texas blues guitarist/producer Anson Funderburgh. The album includes ten original songs and three covers by T-Bone Walker, Alvin Robinson and Delbert McClinton. Highlights are “Love At First Sight” seminal ballad that’s laden with sweet-sounding piano, “Baby Right Now” an up-tempo tune with plenty of saxophone and “Oh Baby” another song with a faster pulse and multiple horns that speaks of lost love. There is a pride in the blues that emits from this album; a pride that explains the ever-increasingly popularity of blues music.

Nixon gloriously states, “I’m always proud when I say I’m from Nashville.”

In reminiscing of my time at Record Alley I envision The Andy T – Nick Nixon Band returning to the Coachella Valley and performing at the 3rd Annual Rhythm Wine & Brews Experience on Saturday March 1, 2015 held at the Empire Polo Grounds.

Look for them on Facbook and visit their website www.andytband.com.

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

CHRISSIE HYNDE

“Stockholm”

(Will Travel Records/Caroline International)

C

hrissie Hynde has packed a lot of living into 62 years.

She was a student at Kent State University in Ohio when the historic shoot-out took place in 1970. She was in seminal figure at the birth of the British Punk scene. She has been making records for 35 years, and she is finally releasing her solo debut.

Chrissie Hynde was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She never had much use for school and became obsessed with Rock & Roll before puberty hit. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, and Iggy Pop seemed infinitely cooler than local boys, so Hynde eschewed the usual teen rituals like dating and proms. She also became a vegetarian at age 17.

Hynde attended the Art School at Kent State for three years, and began a nascent career in music. Her first band included future Devo visionary, Mark Mothersbaugh. An avowed anglophile, she saved her money in order to move to London, England.

By 1973 Hynde had accrued enough dough get to London. Her art school background landed her a job with an architecture firm where she worked for several months. After meeting infamous rock journalist, Nick Kent, (they became a couple), she began working for New Musical Express, London’s leading music weekly.

Hynde’s first stint at NME was short-lived.

She worked briefly at SEX, the notorious clothing boutique owned by (future Sex Pistols manager) Malcolm McLaren and designer Vivienne Westwood. She spent a couple of years ping-ponging between England, France and the U.S. She almost convinced Sid Vicious to marry her so she could stay in the country legally.

Intent on pursuing music as a career, she placed an ad in Melody Maker looking for likeminded musicians. She briefly collaborated with guys who later skyrocketed to fame; Jon Moss from Culture Club, Tony James of Generation X and Mick Jones from the Clash.

Finally, in 1978, Hynde recorded a demo and hired a manager. She hooked up with bassist, Pete Farndon, guitarist James Honeyman-Scott

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

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Consider This

and drummer Martin Chambers. They settled on the name Pretenders, partly inspired by the Platters’ hit “The Great Pretender.”

Musician/producer Nick Lowe was behind the boards on their first single, “Stop Your Sobbing” b/w “The Wait” which was an immediate hit. Their self-titled debut arrived in December, 1979 and was a critical and commercial success on both sides of the pond.

The Pretenders’ sound was a revelation.

Spiky and melodic, it walked a fine line between Punk, British Invasion and New Wave.

Hynde flipped the script for women in Rock & Roll.

She wasn’t a shambolic Blues belter, like Janis, she wasn’t a punk-poet androgyne like Patti Smith nor was she a gypsy nymph swathed in patchouli and crushed velvet, (hello Stevie). Hynde swaggered like Jagger in her (faux) leather pants. She radiated charisma, not unlike Jim Morrison. But she wasn’t afraid to appear tender and vulnerable.

The Pretenders released an EP in the spring of 1981 and a full-length follow-up, Pretenders II that August. Despite the swift success, drug issues plagued them. Pete Farndon’s heroin

abuse was so excessive he was fired from the band in June 1982. Two days later James Honeyman-Scott died of heart failure as a result of cocaine intolerance. (A year later, as Farndon was collaborating with ex-Clash drummer, Topper Headon, he was found dead from an overdose, in his bath tub).

Hynde and Chambers soldiered on, recruiting guitarist Robbie McIntosh and bassist Malcolm Foster. Their third album, Learning To Crawl, was released in the Spring of 1984. It was definitely a triumph over tragedy.

By 1986, drummer Martin Chambers left the fold, and Hynde was the only original Pretender. Starting with the fourth album, Get Close, the line-up was basically Hynde and a rotating cast of musicians. That continued through the albums Packed! in 1990 and Last Of The Independents in 1994.

The Pretenders released three more studio albums, Viva El Amour, in 1999, Loose Screw in 2002 and Break Up The Concrete in 2008.

Martin Chambers drifted in and out, playing on some recordings but mostly touring with the band. By now it was basically the Chrissie Hynde Experience.

The Pretenders went on permanent hiatus after Break Up The Concrete and Hynde began collaborating with Welsh singer/songwriter JP Jones and his ragged compatriots, the Fairground Boys. She hinted that the partnership was more than professional. Their alliance yielded one album, under the unwieldy moniker of JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys.

Fidelity! was loose and playful: a nice antidote to the tightly wound Pretenders catalog.

Now, Chrissie Hynde has finally recorded a proper solo album. As the title suggests, Stockholm was recorded in Sweden. Produced

by Bjorn Yttling, (of the whiste-y Indie-Pop trio Peter, Bjorn & John), who also co-wrote most of the songs.

The album opens with the Spector-ian grandeur of “You Or No One.” The arrangement is a sideways homage to Phil Spector’s signature Wall Of Sound. Roiling tympani, rippling fingersnaps and Hynde’s multi-tracked vocals, frame lyrics that are a naked plea for unconditional love.

The mood of this album is mellow and (ahem), somewhat mature. But Chrissie Hynde has always been a walking contradiction. The woman who taunted “I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for,” on the song “Precious,” also gracefully paraphrased Oscar Wilde on “Message Of Love,”(“We are all of us in the gutter, some of us are looking at the stars”).

Three songs, “Like In The Movies,” “You’re The One,” and “In A Miracle,” balance cynicism and optimism. On the sleek and propulsive “…Movies,” Hynde bluntly warns that real life romance rarely has a Hollywood ending.

“Happy ending, a Hollywood storyline, good pretending/But don’t fuck with this heart of mine.”

“You’re The One” is more hopeful.

Anchored by a hiccup-y stop-start rhythm and

art

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

August 7 to August 13, 2014

By monica morones

James Martin AKA Godawful

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whistle-y synths, Hynde seems almost giddy and girly with love… “An ordinary cynic is all I ever was /But look at me, I’m laughing like a child and all because you’re the one.”

Hynde reclaims her wary and cautious nature on the stately ballad, “In A Miracle.”

Propelled by sinewy guitar riffs, fluid bass lines and low-key synths, she equates love with the evanescence of sand castles.

The best tracks here are equal parts tough and tender. On the cowbell-riffic “Dark Sunglasses,” Hynde is biting and sarcastic.

Her taunting vocals ride roughshod over galloping guitars and a loping rhythm. Here she lambastes a pal’s blatant hypocrisy. “You’re reverting back to type never mind you lost your nerve/A kind of glamour you can lend yourself, like dark sunglasses.”

“Down The Wrong Way” features Neil Young’s astringent guitar licks and a ragged rhythm. The lyrics are a study in cryptic selfflagelation, “I’ve become what I criticized, the porn queen in my deck of lies.”

The guitars on “A Plan Too Far” pivot between Spaghetti Western grandeur and scabrous, splintery riffs. Over a rock-steady riddim, Hynde’s mien is arch and dismissive toward a philandering ex-lover, finally getting his comeuppance… “You’re as consistent as a weather vane cock, and still pretending you can beat the clock/Hey the slope gets slippier, the women get lippier, Oh no, you can’t come back to me.”

Other interesting tracks include “Tourniquet (Cynthia Ann)” and “Sweet Nuthin’.” The former is wiry treatise on sexual obsession.

The jangly melody on the latter belies Hynde’s cavalier tone…”I don’t need a lie, to see your other side/You can save it for your solo album.”

The album closes with the sweet and tender “Adding The Blue.” Once again, Hynde sheds the tough Rocker Chick façade, giving us a glimpse of her softer side.

Chrissie Hynde is ageless. Her appearance remains unchanged since 1980. More importantly, her warm contralto seems untouched by time. A strong argument for a vegetarian lifestyle.

Way back when, on the song “Brass In Pocket,” Hynde foretold the future. “There’s nobody else here, no one like me/I’m special, so special I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me.” Stockholm, assures our continued focus.

liens, Sacred Geometry, and good versus evil are just a few of the many subjects discussed in my interview with artist James Martin aka “Godawful.” With such incredible attention to detail and a provocative name, Godawful provides a visual experience through his sculptures and mixed media that leaves the viewer intrigued. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with James, take some photos and discuss art, music, and life.

MM: You go by the name Godawful. Is that your art name or your music name? What does it mean/represent?

JM: Both. It basically comes down to that balance in the universe: light vs dark, good vs evil.

It’s such an ironic term for something you like. I still find it amusing when people say it.

MM: How old are you and where are you from?

JM: I am 35 in earth years in the making. I moved here from Sacramento with my mom when I was 9. I have been in the desert about 25 years, and currently live in Palm Springs.

MM: How do you describe your art?

JM: I try to incorporate anything that inspires me. I have done acrylic work, graffiti, murals, letters, paper mache, but lately I have been more in to assemblage and sculptures. I am heavily influenced by what the god Rammellzee calls gothic-futurism, kind of alphabet manipulation into shapes and forms battling against all things standard in the universe, while also incorporating nature and sustainability through the use of found objects and items discarded by society. I try to present a balance, the light and the dark, one can’t exist without the other. Godawful.

MM: How long have you been making art?

JM: I have been taking it seriously for the last 12 years or so, but have been drawing and building things since a youngin, probably my biggest influence was my mom. She was always painting cartoon characters or doodling around the house. I always wanted to create stuff in all forms.

MM: Where have you shown your art?

JM: I have been lucky enough to show at: The Red Arrow gallery in Joshua Tree, Minna Gallery in San Francisco, the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, Venus Art Gallery in Palm Desert, The Coachella Music and Arts Festival, and at independent art shows all across the Coachella Valley including various tattoo shops and house parties. Most recently at the Coachella Valley Art Scene’s gallery in Cathedral City and countless public spaces throughout California on a more mischievous format.

MM: How would you describe your medium?

JM: I know it sounds cliche but I try to work in all mediums and always quote Jean-Michel Basquiat, “When people ask me what my medium is, I like to say Extra Large.”

MM: You use a lot of found objects in your sculptures. Where do you find them? What is the process?

JM: I collect a lot of things, I’m a borderline hoarder. People give me things, some stuff I just have for years sitting around. It’s strange because when I’m working on a project it starts building itself like in that movie “Batteries Not Included.” Things just start falling into place although sometimes it takes longer than I imagine due to brain time translation. Usually I will build things based off one item or an idea. I build it in my head and go to town on trying to get as close to that as possible. I have been lucky enough to develop a process involving dreams, frequency vibration, and psychometry.

MM: You use wood, glass, metal, and many other materials. How did you become so crafty?

JM: Through the use of marijuana, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, sacred geometry, and a strong network of close friends who are all suckers for knowledge. I obtained my degree in handling throw away treasures and painting through a desert filter pre-internet that forced me to be myself and find my own style, allowing me to use all elements to become an art alchemist. The isolation of the desert helps as well. Your imagination can run around like a dog with rabies, plus my hands were blessed by alien beings before my birth so that helps as well.

MM: Are you self-taught or did you go to art school?

JM: I didn’t go to art school but I can’t say I’m selftaught. My crew has educated me tremendously in the ways of the Jedi. Growing up here, it’s easy to get lost but I have managed to stay on a good path and am lucky enough to call some of the illest artists not just in the desert, but in California, my friends and crew members.

MM: How do you feel about the art scene in the Coachella Valley?

JM: I feel like there is the young scene vs the old scene happening. While it is evolving, this place is still tourist driven and a majority of the older generation don’t want to see the up and coming local artist community’s awesomeness.

There’s so much talent but galleries are not open to it. They want to play it safe with their abstracts and southwest, Marilyn Monroe rat pack era, midcentury, and contemporary landscapes. I see the change happening with new legal murals, and a few galleries being open to more of the street art aesthetic: Venus in Palm Desert, The Coachella Valley Art Scene, 446 and M Modern, but that is just a handful compared to all of the possibilities. But if there is one thing I have learned growing up in the desert is patience. All things work out just the way they are supposed to. It may take a little while, but it always happens.

MM: What do you have in the works for the rest of the year?

JM: I’m working on some shows, releasing a small line of toys, and have some more shirts on the way. Just trying to stay consistent working whether it be music, art, or telepathic abilities. I want to better my techniques to fit this day and age.

You can follow James Martin and see more of his work on instagram @thegodawful

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

PET PLACE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Janet McAfee

Lady’s Amazing 30 Mile Journey

A

sweet senior black Labrador who walked 30 miles to the home of her former owner, only to be turned away, is now living in style after a private airplane transported her to a Florida mansion. Lady had several strikes against her as she languished at the Chautauqua County shelter in Sedan, Kansas. Her owner passed away in 2012 without a plan for a new home. She was a senior dog, and older dogs have a harder time finding homes.

She was black, and black dogs have a more difficult time getting noticed and adopted.

Luck seemed to be on Lady’s side when she was finally adopted by a young family.

However, things changed two years later when they felt she did not do well with their small puppy, and Lady was returned to the shelter.

This summer, Lady was adopted by a second family in Independence, Kansas.

But Lady couldn’t stop thinking about her previous family. She escaped from the home in Independence, and undertook a ‘Homeward Bound’ journey traveling 30 miles back to the first young family with

the puppy. Suffering from arthritis, no one knows how she physically made the trip, let alone navigated the highways and back roads. Sadly, neither family now wanted the dog and Lady ended up at the shelter for the third time.

The story about Lady’s 30 mile journey went viral on Facebook with over 7,000 shares. The loyalty and perseverance of this dog touched the hearts of animal lovers around the country. Imagine how the loving memories in her heart inspired the dog to keep going. A local television station came out to film Lady and her plight. Shelter worker, Kelsey Lloyd, reported to KCTV, “She’s a super dog, very gentle and calm. If I had to pick out a dog, this would be the dog I would take.”

Lady’s plight caught the attention of Helen Rosburg, Wrigley gum heiress, who recently lost a senior black lab. An ardent animal lover, Rosburg uses a portion of her inheritance to help abandoned animals.

She built a 120-acre farm in Odessa, Florida which houses over 300 rescue animals (www.onthewingsofangels.com). A staff of

S

CHINESE CRESTED

sweetheart sheltie

luke & linda

This unique and special little fellow went to the shelter when his owner died. Come meet 12-yrold “young” Hawk at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms.

Dog ID#1126605.

Call (760) 343-3644.

There are 3 of us rescued puppies! Two sisters and a brother, Chihuahua/Doxie pups, 3 mo old, and lots of playful fun! Adopt 2 together (or 3!)

Call Loving All Animals at (760) 834-7000.

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by Rick Riozza

Ole! Sangria Ole!

15 people care for them, including a dog trainer. Many of the animals are adopted out from the sanctuary. Last week Rosburg sent her private plane to Kansas to retrieve Lady, and the grateful dog wagged her tail as she boarded and enjoyed the view from the air, instinctively trusting that better days were ahead Helen Rosburg (AKA Helen Rich) posted a photo on Facebook of her with Lady and commented, “Everyone, please stop worrying. This precious girl is coming to live with me. My assistant is flying to pick her up. I’m currently out of town, but my arms will be around her on Saturday. She will never be scared or lonely again.” Lady now leads a pampered life living inside Rosburg’s 10,000 square foot home with several other rescued dogs and cats.

We love happy endings that involve a dog, and this story has a Cinderella ending for Lady. Many other wonderful middle aged and senior dogs wait at shelters with love in their hearts and dreams of a second chance home. A senior dog may be the best choice if you are seeking a calm animal and one that is most likely house trained. With so many dogs living to the ripe age of 17 or 18 years, you will have many wonderful years ahead when you adopt a 10-yr-old pup.

Fabulous playful pair of kittens, Luke & Linda, wait for you at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, 4575 Mesquite, Palm Springs.

Many other cats and kittens.

Call (760) 416-5719.

The Coachella Valley Animal Campus at 72-050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms, our local Riverside county shelter, has fabulous animals of all ages. ‘Dog Days of Summer’ special adoption rate is only $40.

View their adoptable dogs and cats at www. rcdas.org, or call (760) 343-3644. Need help navigating the shelter system or selecting that new best friend? Contact me at Loving All Animals (760) 834-7000.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net

August 7 to August 13, 2014

ince we’re all dying out here in the heat, I thought all of us old wine guards (those of us who have been drinking wine forever but hate the idea of mixing in stuff—as in a wine cocktail) would relent and join the new young wine lovers among us and simply enjoy a chilled refreshing wine punch.

Actually, the Spanish and Portuguese— with all the hot weather of their own, have been enjoying a fruity wine punch for ages.

And giving it the great nickname of “that bloody drink” or as the world knows it in Spanish: Sangria—simply adds to the fun.

No doubt what I’m writing about is not a news alert. Indeed! Sangria is caliente in the U.S. “We think bottled sangria is the next big thing in wine”, says Peter Deutsch CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits Co. (Yellow Tail, Georges Duboeuf, Josh Cellars, & more).

Wine Spectator magazine has reported, “The four leading bottled sangria brands grew 43 percent in the U.S. from 2010 to 2013. Yellow Tail Sangria expects to sell more than 200 percent more cases just this year. Gallo’s “Madria” sangria brand grew from 305,500 cases in 2010 to over 470,000 cases last year.”

I think everyone has seen the nation’s number one brand, Cruz Garcia Real Sangria, on the shelves with its colorful label and its iconic triangular shaped bottle. But prior to writing this article, I’ve never bought or even tried a bottle, being a little skeptical about a traditional “fresh fruit wine” being sold all bottled-up.

I mean—sangria is a wine punch you make with your left over dry red (or white) wine with slices of oranges, lemons, peaches, and maybe pineapple, limes, apples and berries along with some brandy and/or orange liqueur that’s all put into a pitcher and chilled in the fridge overnight. And just before serving, a little spritz is added (sparkling or tonic water, 7-up, or even ginger ale) along with ice. So one wonders, how can that concoction be bottled so successfully?

Apparently, they’re doing it very well, as indicated by the increase in sales of bottled sangria. So who’s responsible for this increase? Wine economists are saying “it’s the 21 to 35 age group, who view sangria as purely a party drink and they’re buying it by the boatload. Even older age groups are looking to drink wine and not get drunk, so they, too, are trying sangria because there is a “healthy” aspect to the red wine, fruit, and lower alcohol levels.”

So let’s get this straight: Are young people buying up boatloads of this bottled sangria because taking the time to make it is crashing in on their party time? Maybe. And older people are buying bottled sangria because

they are looking to get healthier but not that healthy to get off the couch to actually to make it. Maybe.

As mentioned, the premiere brand of bottled sangria is Garcia Cruz Real Sangria, the #1 import sangria from Spain for over a decade. The wine is made from the Garnacha and Tempranillo grape varieties. These are grown in the regions of Valencia, Alicante, Rioja and La Mancha throughout Spain. The latter region in the province of Ciudad Real is where it gets its name. This is site of the famous windmills from the literary work of “Don Quixote” and the musical “Man of La Mancha.”

I just went to Real Sangria’s website and it’s very colorful and full of Spanish folk guitar music—the hearing of which, always provokes me to hunger for Spanish tapas or the #3 Mexican combo plate. But I’m going to want a shot of Tequila and a cold Mexican beer with my tacos and enchiladas: I’m not looking for a sweet wine punch. Although, if we’re at an afternoon fiesta, I can see enjoying the punch with the meal—but the recommendation here would be to put extra spirits in the sangria, such as brandy, tequila, vodka, rum, or orange liqueur to give the libation complexity for a better pairing with spicy food.

Now the 2nd most popular bottled sangria raging through our country is Eppa

Superfruta Sangria. It’s a very “modern” sangria that is Certified Organic both as to grapes and fruit that include pomegranate, blueberry, blood orange, and açaí juices. This one, my entire family tried and everyone’s comment was “Hey—not bad” (and it does have those puckering tannins—which is a good thing). We did add lemon wedges and I added a dash Sicilian orange liqueur to

my glass. Again, “not bad”, but if you were to blindfold someone telling them they’re trying out an elixir—they’d probably agree.

Personally, I think there is no substitute for the real thing—dry red wine and mixed fruits.

The bottled stuff is simply too “polished”. All the effort to get the “fresh” fruit flavors into the wine, tastes—well, “mechanized”, if you will. Sangria is a “rustic” punch and should taste and feel that way. Of course, that’s my 2 cents. As always the case with wine consumption: If you like it, drink it!

Bottled sangria ranges from $5.99 for Yellow Tail, $7.99 for Skinnygirl, $8.99 for Real Sangria, and $10.99 for the organic Eppa.

If you’re making the punch yourself, the beauty of this drink is that there is no exact recipe. There is not a standard wine for sangria. However, if you’d like to make one in tune with Spanish tradition, use the reasonably priced Garnacha (Grenache) or find another medium-bodied red wine. For white sangria, pick a zesty and/or aromatic white wine such as Torrontés, Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Gris. And you can use nearly any kind of fruit to garnish sangria.

Salute!

15

August 7 to August 13, 2014

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Club Crawler Nightlife

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!

THUR AUGUST 7 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 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 John Bolivar 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 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; 760-9920002 Courtney Chambers 5pm 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 The Hood Presents “Battle of the Bands” 8pm

KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Brian Jones 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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 Nathan Rivera & Jessie Andra Smith 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Closed RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3278311 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; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am TERRA LAGO GOLF CLUB; IND; 760-7752000 The Carmens 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Sharon Sills & Barney McClure 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Beach Party Thursdays 9pm

FRI AUGUST 8

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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 The Full House ft. Nena Anderson 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Noches Azul Latin Night 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 DJs 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; 760775-5566 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 CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm

DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Jump Off” DJ Colourvision 9pm Lobby, THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Burning Bettie, Subourbon Outlaw and Gypsy Rose 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 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 LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ 9pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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; 760327-4080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 T.B.A. 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Courtney Barnett & Crystal Skulls 9pm 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; 760-327-1161ext.230 Closed RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3278311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm, Michael Keeth & Martin Barrera Sidebar Lounge 10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 212 Band and You Got Lucky ( Tribute to Tom Petty ) 7:30pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 Voices Carry ( 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 Ornament CD Release Show w/ The Hubcap Stealers 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T.B.A. 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Kyd Icarus 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Slim Man Solo Show 5:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 T.B.A. 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Closed WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT AUGUST 9 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 Fleetmac Wood noon poolside, Stronghold Reggae 10pm 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 Chix Mix-LAW 7pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 DJs 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; 760-7755566 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 CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 T.B.A. 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Alyce Bowie 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Solid” Guest DJs, 11am poolside, 9pm

Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Caxton, Electric Blankets and Upper Class Poverty 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 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 LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 T.B.A. 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 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; 760327-4080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 T.B.A. 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Rachel Dean & Bart Davenport 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Rap Competition 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext230 Closed RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3278311 Chiki Pool Party w/ DJ Sweet Brush noon poolside, Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 6pm, Michael Keeth & Martin Barrera Sidebar Lounge 10pm ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; Hollywood Blonde and Generation Idol ( Tribute to Billy Idol ) 7:30pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 Voices Carry ( 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 Slipping Into Darkness Album Release Party w/ Facelift and CIVX 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm

August 7 to August 13, 2014

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 “Hot Summer Nights” 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Bonethumpers 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm 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 WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Walt Young 6pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Closed WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Band 7pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

continue to page 24

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

17

The CV’s Best Restaurants of 2014

F

or this week’s Pampered Palate we have chosen snippets of restaurant reviews from CV Weekly’s Best of 2014 winners. Please visit us online at www.coachellavalleyweekly.com and click on Pampered Palate at the top of the page or go to Archives to read their full reviews.

Congratulations!

Las Casuelas Terraza- “Best Mexican Restaurant” by Ray Bill (May 29, 2014) Whether you are looking for a great place for margaritas, live music with friends or a romantic dinner for two, Las Casuelas Terraza is a place for locals and tourists alike. I would recommend trying this restaurant again, or for the first time and if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone to try some new things, you may discover what makes this restaurant a piece of Palm Springs’ history. Located downtown on South Palm Canyon, north of Baristo, Las Casuelas is open seven days per week

18

offering lunch and dinner and breakfast on weekends. Learn more about this restaurant and the Delgado family at www.lascasuelas. com

Giuseppe’s- “Best Italian Restaurant” by Ray Bill (May 15, 2014) A few close friends have been raving about Giuseppe’s for a couple years now and I was very skeptical that one could find authentic Chicago Style pizza here in the desert. I considered this a challenge. My date and I would arrive at prime time to find a full restaurant, with the aromas of garlic and herbs in the air. I was in heaven. We were seated inside to admire the framed pictures of scenic Chicago hanging on the walls. We were promptly greeted by our server and offered a beverage. Giuseppe’s offers a full bar with specialty cocktails, like the delicious Moscow Mule I enjoyed, as well as a very reasonably priced wine list.

We took our time with our drinks before

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sharing a few appetizers.

Giuseppe’s is the sister property of Bar and the new Smoketree Supper Club (which I will be visiting very soon) as they share the same owner. Giuseppe’s is located in the Smoketree shopping center at Palm Canyon and Sunrise. Open for lunch and dinner, this will be your new favorite spot for true Chicago style Italian favorites! Check out their menu at www.giuseppesps.com.

atmosphere, Lulu’s is one of the premier restaurants in Palm Springs. Our thanks to General Manager Willie Rhine for having us dine in his fine establishment. If you are on the East side of the valley, you can visit their sister restaurant, Acqua Pazza in Rancho Mirage.

200 South Palm Canyon, Palm Springs * Reservations: 760-327-5858

Kobe- “Best Japanese Restaurant” by Ray Bill (March 27, 2014) When dining out in the desert, I am always looking for the total experience.

Of course food quality, presentation and service are all important, but more and more I am lacking an entertainment factor to complete the whole dining experience.

That is why I gravitate toward places like Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. For 25 years, Kobe has set the bar for Japanese cuisine in the Coachella Valley. My recent visit to Kobe provided much more than dinner.

The Staff was truly wonderful and welcoming. I can see why tourists return year after year and why locals celebrate special occasions here at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. Kobe is a family friendly restaurant and is great for children of all ages.

There is also an incredible and affordable early bird menu and Happy Hour is offered twice per day. In addition to the main dining area that features teppanyaki, there is also a sushi bar. I will definitely be returning to enjoy some more sushi and sake! With so much going on, I recommend visiting their website at www.koberanchomirage.com.

Il Corso- “Best New Restaurant” by David Wayne (March 13, 2014) Whenever there is a new restaurant in the Coachella Valley, people come running. I suggest you do just that, and run to Il Corso.

Located in the heart of El Paseo across from the Gardens, it is a beauty to behold.

My wife and I were greeted by Claudio, who gracefully runs the restaurant. He took charge of our dining experience, and made us feel as if we had been coming there for years. We asked him what he recommended from his menu, and he suggested that he just bring us his best. We were on board, however, we did not expect the show we were about to enjoy.

Besides the prime location, Il Corso has an awesome atmosphere, and the service was impeccable.

Open seven days a week, I recommend that you don’t miss out on one of the finest new restaurants that the Coachella Valley has seen in years!

Fine dining: 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm Bar: 4:30 pm – 1:30 am Call for a reservation: 760-341-6700 Complimentary Valet Parking The following are some of the other winning restaurants that CV Weekly has reviewed. Listed next to them are the publication dates for you to read the full article in our Pampered Palate archives online at www.coachellavalleyweekly.com.

“Best Pizza” “Best Family Restaurant” – Stuft Pizza (July 18, 2012 & Feb. 20, 2013) “Best Hotel Restaurant” – bluEmber in Rancho Las Palmas (May 8, 2013) “Best BBQ Restaurant”- Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse (Sept. 26, 2013) “Best Romantic Restaurant”- Lavendar Bistro (April 2, 2012) “Best Seafood Restaurant”- Pacifica (July 3, 2013) “Best Steakhouse”- Mastro’s (April 3, 2013) “Best Burger”- Eureka (Jan. 22, 2014) “Best Martini”- Sullivan’s (May 9, 2012 & June 5, 2013) “Best Margarita”- Fresh Agave (July 30, 2014) “Best Happy Hour”- Acqua Pazza (March 26, 2014

LULU American Bistro- “Best Continental Restaurant” by David Wayne (Feb. 5, 2014) When people find out that I write restaurant reviews, they ask me to recommend the best restaurant in the valley. After I finish laughing I say, I could tell them where to go every night of the week for a month and not hit a bad restaurant.

One of them I am adding to that list is Lulu California Bistro. Location, location, location, in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, on one of the most busy corners of the “main drag”, Arenas and South Palm Canyon.

With a friendly staff that provides great service, a great location, and a soothing fun

August 7 to August 13, 2014

A PIZZERIA THAT’S SO MUCH MORE 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

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

*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

The Pampered Palate

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BRING IN THIS AD FOR

August 7 to August 13, 2014

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

OUTLAWS AND SPEED FREAKS

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

As of this writing, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is just opening around the world.

The first showings are sold out, theaters are packed and word of mouth, both in person and via social media, is incredibly strong.

The source story is a lesser-known comic book from decades ago about space outlaws. The heroes and villains are not widely known. If you ask random passersby who Drax is, I doubt anyone would know. The one thing this big, loud, funny, eye-popping epic has going for it is Marvel.

There was huge, global audience satisfaction with Marvel’s previous film adaptations, especially THE AVENGERS. It made a billion bucks. Literally. The solid expectation that is propelling massive audiences to

shell out for this one (including extra $ for the 3-D experience) is that the magic of Marvel will strike again, this time with a cluster of funny, fighting, bigger than life comic creations including the tough talking genetically designed replicant Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper).

Clearly, the really big news is that audiences have such pre-sold faith in the Marvel brand, that even with unknown second-tier characters, they will flock in droves in the hope of experiencing a crazy quilt of extremely well crafted insane action involving glib, self-referencing characters.

And when that satisfaction is exceeded upon delivery, box-office records are broken and the path is cleared for more non-derivative, original movies! Anyway, that’s the hope.

And that hope alone is great news for movie lovers.

I’m not sure I can compress the plot into a few sentences. Maybe it doesn’t even matter. Here goes: Human Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) has stolen a strange orb thing and is the subject of a cosmic bounty hunt. Ronan is the villain who I think wants to rule the universe. He really, really wants and needs the orb to fulfill his plans. Rather desperate, the irreverent Quill forms a kind of alliance with team of misfits. There’s Rocket the heavily

Screeners No.124

armed raccoon, Groot (a sweet voiced Vin Diesel) the bark skinned humanoid tree with a very limited vocabulary, the mysterious and deadly green assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and the single-minded vengeance driven Drax the Destroyer. Will Quill be able to save the galaxy as the final showdown looms? That’s the big question the movie poses. But far bigger news is the Marvel brand has revealed itself to be a built-in draw. Marvel’s the real cinematic super hero with a big flashing green dollar sign on its chest. Now playing.

GET ON UP

NEED FOR SPEED

Chadwick Boseman ignites the screen with his electrifying performance pieces as the gravelly voiced Godfather of Soul. But the movie itself is a sometimes disjointed, non-linear pastiche that is less than the sum of its often-confusing parts. A great music track utilizes James Brown’s recordings as he rises from abject poverty to global fame -- his gigantic ego intact. Boseman’s Oscar© nomination is a done deal. Now playing.

NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: OCULUS

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a new franchise. The story is about siblings who a decade earlier experienced the horrifically brutal murder of their parents.

One of the sibs, Tim, was convicted of the killing. Now in his 20s and just released from prison, his sister Kylie is determined to prove Tim’s innocence and locates an antique mirror that was “witness” to the killing –and, uh-oh, other deaths. Well, as you might suspect, in short order ordinary reality merges with nightmares that are absurdly unnerving. And of course hovering over everything is the fear that their terrible dreams are not dreams at all and the killing is about to begin again. Nice extras include deleted scenes and a fascinating commentary from writer/director Mike Flanagan. 20th Century Fox. Blu-ray.

By far the best of the sub-genre horror movies about haunted, supernatural mirrors, OCULUS is an intense, psychological fear fest that relies on nearly unbearable trepidation as opposed to mere bloodletting. I am betting this is the start of

I had a craving for even more speed in this loud adaptation of the eponymous video game. Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) is a mechanic who is forced into an impossible race to save his garage. I like Aaron Paul (BREAKING BAD) and enjoyed chatting with him when he was at a Cinemas Palme d’Or for a special screening a while back. I think he’s on the road to big screen stardom (look for him as Joshua in Ridley Scott’s EXODUS movie).

The cross-country race is a boring, derivative and rather silly plot. Revenge becomes redemption. Yawn. The cardboard characters are predictable. Even so, I like car culture flicks and any excuse to watch muscle cars race gets my attention. And yes, the movie does capture the feeling of the video game but as if it were injected into a more real world. Just know that in the end, this movie is a minor and modest diversion. I suppose the movie does what it set out to do. Just don’t expect the minimalist existential DNA of something like Monte Hellman’s 1971 TWO-LANE BLACKTOP. Disney. Blu-ray.

robinesimmons@aol.com

Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

August 7 to August 13, 2014

By Heidi Simmons

A Kid’s Case Study of Divorce

I

t’s been said that if you are a child of divorce, then your marriage has a fiftyfifty chance of survival. Whatever the statistics, divorce can have lasting effects on all involved. In Mona Simpson’s Casebook, (Knopf, 336 pages) a boy discovers that more than adult relationships are impacted by the end of a marriage.

The story is narrated by Miles and begins when he is ten years old. He adores his mother. In his eyes, she is beautiful and smart. But like all good liberal-minded moms, she wants to control his activities by dictating what he can and cannot do.

So, to get a heads-up on her plans for his life, Miles spies on his mother. In his first encounter, he sneaks under his parent’s bed to hear her conversation on the phone with her best friend.

As his mom and her friend discuss appropriate television for kids, Miles also gets to hear what happened on the last episode of “Survivor” – a TV program all Miles’ friends watch and talk about at school. But that conversation soon ends when his father joins his mother on the bed. Their talk becomes inappropriate for a child and the conversation quickly changes to a discussion about separation. Miles, even with a limited understanding of adult

Casebook

By Mona Simpson Fiction situations, begins to realize things are not what they seem and his mother and father are going to divorce.

Miles is oblivious to his family’s wealth and stature in the community. His mother is a mathematician teaching at UCLA and his father is an attorney working at a Hollywood studio. The family lives in a big house just blocks away from Santa Monica beach.

They have a housekeeper who comes daily.

Miles and his twin sisters attend an elite private school.

Wanting more information, Miles with the help of his best friend Hector, rig an old rotary phone so they can listen in on his mother’s calls undetected. Eavesdropping on a call, Miles learns both his mother and father have other people in their lives. The divorce is amicable.

But as time goes by, Miles’ world rapidly changes. He and his sisters meet their parent’s new “friends.” His father lives with Holland, a woman from his office and his mother is dating Eli, who lives back east, or so he says. Miles continues to spy on his mother. Concerned only about his life, he goes through her dresser and email for clues about what will happen next.

The family dynamic rapidly declines as they can no longer afford their Santa Monica home and housekeeper. Miles sees his own father less and less and starts to respect and love his mother’s boyfriend Eli as a new father figure. Eli befriends Miles and makes wonderful promises about their future all together. Miles listens in as Eli tell his mom not to worry about money because he will provide for the family. In fact, he says he looks forward to having a teenage stepson and twin daughters. But as the years pass, Eli’s promises never come to fruition. Miles and Hector start to investigate Eli with the help of a private eye. They slowly uncover Eli’s lies. He is a complete and total fraud.

Faced with the crushing news, Miles feels responsible to inform his mother about Eli. He does anonymously and she is devastated. For the next several years she is depressed and on the brink of suicide.

Miles hears her say she would do it if not for the kids.

In the course of his spying, Miles realizes his mother is not perfect and sometimes life is overwhelming even for adults. Everyone

in his family is affected by the evolving relationships. Miles grades plummet, his twin sisters grow distant from each other, the family rituals disintegrate and their happiness together disappears.

Miles and Hector document their experience and create a graphic novel called “Two Sleuths” which becomes a big comic book seller. At 19, Miles finally gains control of his own life and stops spying on his mother.

Casebook is more than just a coming of age story. It is a story of a family’s survival after the brutal effects of marital affairs and divorce. Miles grows up learning some harsh and crushing lessons about love, relationships and life. He is damaged. Even though a child tells the story, this is not a Young Adult novel.

Author Simpson cleverly uses Miles as an unreliable narrator. Through his naiveté and misunderstandings, the reader gets the child’s point of view of the effects of divorce on kids. Over the course of nine years, Miles provides an inside look at his family’s demise, individually and as a whole.

Although Miles may not fully grasp the unraveling world around him, the reader gets the bigger picture.

Miles’ mother suffers the most. It is her story more than Miles’. In fact, it is a case study of the pathology and vulnerability of a woman as she tries to rebuild her family, restore her love life and renew her happiness.

Simpson does a good job capturing the maturing voice of Miles and the twins. It is often said that children are resilient and fare better than adults in divorce. Casebook provides another perspective, everyone is greatly effected and no one survives unscathed.

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August 7 to August 13, 2014 continued from page 19

SUN AUGUST 10

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Timothy Jenkins noon poolside, Full Moon Party 7pm, Slacker Sunday w/ DJ Patrick Melcher 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; 888-999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm 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 HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ Kid Wonder 11am poolside JOHNNY ROCKETS; RM; 760-674-3120 Pocket Yellow 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night 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-

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327-4080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Closed RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Darryl Williams Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Smooth Brothers TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-3479985 VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Rodney 11am, The Carmens 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 6pm

MON AUGUST 11 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bonny Jean 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Shake” Classic Rock Night 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Hot as Hell Pool Party 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-

341-3560 T.B.A. 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Tony Grandberry 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Barney McClure 6:30pm

TUE AUGUST 12 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 CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Jesse Sweitzer 5pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760-833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dana Larson 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

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

760-404-6325

(760) 340-2840 www.triabike.com

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

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THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45 PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327-4080 Eclectic Tuesdays. Singer/ songwriter night. All acts welcome. Hosted

by JB, Sign up 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Closed RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Open Mic 8pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Demetrious and Co. VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Live entertainment VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Bolivar 6pm

WED AUGUST 13 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 ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Jesse Sweitzer 5pm HAMILTON’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL; LQ; 760-698-8303 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8:3012:30am HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Shine” Karaoke 7pm

THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox 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 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; 760-2881199 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 Closed RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Open Mic w/ Esjay Jones, Sidebar 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Straight Ahead Jazz TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted Kilt’s Open Mic Competition hosted by Morgan James 8pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 T.B.A. 7-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Brian Nova Trio 6pm

Haddon Libby:It’s alllocal

August 7 to August 13, 2014

TOP SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES

F

orbes recently completed a survey ranking 650 of the best colleges and universities in the country for 2014.

The ranking considered a mix of factors that go into a student’s success while learning as well as their post-educational success at their chosen career path.

Topping the list was Williams College, located in Williamstown, MA. Williams has a student population of 2,124 and student to faculty ratio of 7. Annual cost is $61,850.

Impressively, 96% of all students stay for all four years of their undergraduate degrees.

The top school in California and #2 on the list was Stanford University. They rank as the top research university in the United States. Stanford also has the fourth largest endowment of all universities at $18.7 billion.

In general, twenty-two schools control 50% of the country’s $447 billion of endowments. Harvard, which is 7th in this year’s ranking, has the largest endowment at $32.3 billion followed by Yale (6th ranked) at $20.8 billion and the University of Texas system at $20.5 billion (highest ranked school being UT-Austin at 76th).

Only 8% of all Princeton students (ranked 4th) had to take out loans last year.

Yale came in second at 9%.

Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania ranked 3rd on this year’s list, with 20% of their undergraduates going on to receive doctorates (Ph.D).

The highest rated free school was the U.S. Military Academy located in West Point, NY. Ranked 9th, only 9% of all admissions applications are accepted.

Some other California schools in the Forbes ranking included Pomona College at 8th, Cal Institute of Technology at 21st, UCBerkeley at 37th, UCLA 44th, Harvey Mudd 52nd, Scripps 69th, USC 78th, Occidental 80th, Santa Clara 86th, Pepperdine 112th, UC-Davis 113th, UC-Santa Barbara 116th, Redlands 123rd, UC-San Diego 126th, UC-Irvine 144th, Cal Poly 157th, Loyola 183rd, USF 214th, UC-Santa Cruz 218th, St. Mary’s 219th, USD 223rd, SDSU 262nd, UCRiverside 263rd, Cal State Pomona 273rd, Whittier 277nd, Cal Lutheran 281st, Mills 291st, Chapman 321st, CSU-Fullerton 338th and CSU-San Bernardino at 409th.

Worth noting, community colleges like College of the Desert were not included in the ranking. One California school was amongst the four schools excluded from this year’s rankings due to the falsification of data used in last year’s rankings - ClaremontMcKenna. Other less than honest schools

were Bucknell, Emory and Iona.

As for the survey’s methodology in determining which schools were the best, student evaluations of teachers and professors represents 10% of the score.

Retention rates or the percentage of students who do not transfer to another school or drop out accounts for 15% of the score.

Success by school alumni represents nearly one-third of the overall score.

Compensation by graduates represents 10% of the score with the other 22.5% being a composite of lists and awards that represent success in the career of a school’s alum.

Student financial health after graduation represents 25% of the ranking. As such, the rankings consider the average student debt load, default rates on student debt and percentage of students taking loans.

The theory behind this component of the

scoring system is that student’s with low to no debt are more successful than those with debt. I personally believe that low to no debt more likely a sign that the student comes from a family of affluence - another factor in success.

Lastly, academic success as measure by awards represents 10% of the score while graduation rates account for 7.5% of the ranking.

A full list of the 650 schools in this survey along with more detailed information on each school can be found at forbes.com.

Dale Gribow On The Law

IF THE IRS CALLS CONSIDER HANGING UP!

O

n August 3, 2014, The Desert Sun wrote about SCAMS and specifically discussed the IRS scam. Ironically I received such a call last week that made my fraud antenna immediately go up. The caller’s accent was very thick and he was not easily understood. I would think the IRS would employ those who would speak clearly as IRS matters are highly sensitive. I questioned the caller as I was suspicious and the caller replied, “Just hang up!” Being an attorney, I persisted to finally be told, “Hang up $#%&* @#(^#$ or you will be sorry.” Wow! Please be mindful that there are many SCAMS going on every minute of the day.

Following are only some of the attention getters, if you will, that I have encountered. · A caller may claim to be a preferred enforcement officer acting on behalf of the IRS, or say they are with the Palm Springs Police or Riverside County Sheriff. Sometimes even the caller ID confirms same. Note that he IRS does not call you, they send letters. If this happens to you call the IRS 800 829 1040 or forward their emails to phishing@IRS.gov. · People may claim to be a City official or with the Sheriff’s Department claiming such things as you missed Jury Duty and ask for money orders to correct same. They may request you to call back with the information

on the back of the suggested money order you are requested to purchase, or ask you for a prepaid debit card. Don’t do it! · Sometimes the caller may even threaten you with Arrest, Deportation or the Suspension of your Business License or Driver’s License. Hang up! · They may also claim you won the lottery and they need your bank account information to wire you money. Too good to be true! · Other SCAMS in the greater Palm Springs neighborhood involve Rental Properties. Be wary of listings on Craigslist for rentals by owner or vacation rental by owner listings, as there have been many such scams recently. A red flag is when no phone number or email address is listed. In addition prospective renters may be asked to send money for a home rental during an event such as The Coachella Music Festival, and the home may not exist; may already rented to someone else or is not for rent. Do your due diligence! · When looking for a rental or to rent your home look carefully at the spelling and language in the AD as they are often prepared by people from outside of the USA. You may want to check Google Maps to be sure the address exists. Also, be wary if the renter asks for money up front or asks for $40 to run a background check. Do your due diligence!

· Sometimes the scammer moves into the home and then complains that everything is not working and refuses to pay any rent.

The renter then extorts money from the homeowner for the poorly maintained home and asks for $25-50,000 to vacate and not file a law suit. Do your due diligence! · Not only are there home scams, but there also Loan Scams as reported by KMIR in March. An example of a Loan Scam is where a person receives a call saying it is understood that the person being called is looking for a loan, and ‘voila’ they have been pre-approved for an installment loan. The caller may ask for your bank routing info to send the money to you. Then in order to secure the loan the borrower may be asked to purchase items such as gift cards in an amount that will be reimbursed when the loan takes place. Fraud alert!

These are only some of the SCAMS that are out there, and believe me I have been witness to and have been scammed myself once or twice. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is!

Report FRAUD and potential ID thefts by contacting: Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Hotline 877 ID Theft: onsumer.gov/idtheft Social Security hotline 800-269-0271: ssa. gov/oig To contact credit bureaus: Equifax: 800-525-6285: equifax.com Experian: 888-397-3742: experian.com Transunion: 800-680-7289: transunion. com Keep the above numbers in a safe place just in case! Remember the bottom line is that everything is not always as it seems so be careful and check before giving out any private information.

Dale Gribow has been “Rated” TOP LAWYER by Palm Springs Life Magazine from 2011-2014 and 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.

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

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

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safety tips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August is National Immunization Awareness Month!

N

oro virus, Measles, influenza, what’s next? The next worse thing is the 405 fwy and we can’t stop that spread! None the less, vaccine preventable diseases have not gone away.

Viruses and bacteria that cause illness and death still exist and can be passed on to those who are not properly vaccinated reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. In addition we have more foreigners and immigrants coming to the United States and that also brings various viruses and diseases from other countries. The Center for Disease Control recognizes August as National Immunization month.

Infants and the elderly are at greater risk for serious infections and complications, but vaccine-preventable diseases can strike anyone. Approximately 50,000 adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases in the US. Make sure your children are up-todate on vaccines before sending them back to school. School-age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines. Shots may hurt a little, but the diseases they can prevent are a lot worse

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

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says Chief DiGiovanna.

It’s important to remember handwashing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine - it involves five simple and effective steps (think Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) so you can stay healthy. Regular hand-washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

For additional information visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

ShareKitchen

What exactly is Crowdfunding?

Lets explore...

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rowdfunding is the practice of raising money for a business, venture or need through the Internet. What happens is that the initiator finds a moderating organization through which individual investors review the initiator’s business, idea or need and decide whether or not to fund that idea. Last year, more than $5 billion was invested through this approach.

There are three types of crowdfunding approaches. The most common is the reward-based approach. This is where the initiator offers the investor something in return for their investment.

As an example, Bonnie Barkley of Cello’s is opening Cello’s Pantry in Rancho Mirage in the next few months. She is looking to raise $32,000 by August 16th via Kickstarter.

Anyone who contributes at the $10 level will get a cup of coffee at Cello’s Pantry.

If someone contributes $2,500, they get a catered party for up to thirty people as well as other benefits. At different levels of investment support along the way, the investor receives something of value. If Barkeley is unable to raise $32,000 by

August 16th, any money committed by an investor will be returned by Kickstarter.

The second type of crowdfunding is equity-based. This is where the initiator sells a share of the business to the investors.

This type of investment has typically been for accredited investors only (people who earn more than $200,000 a year). In 2012, Obama and Congress passed the JOBS Act that is supposed to open up this type of investment opportunity to all of us. As yet, the final rules on this type of investment have yet to be finalized. One local company, FreshFetch Pet Foods, is currently looking to raise money in this manner via EquityNet. The third type of crowdfunding approach is credit-based. This is where the initiator agrees to repay a loan. The leading site for this type of investment is Lending Club.

travel

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Desert Heat Escape: Corona Del Mar

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ust south of Orange County’s most prestigious city of Newport Beach, sits the picturesque town of Corona Del Mar dear to my heart. It comfortably stretches along the Pacific Coast Hwy with royal confidence and over the bluffs of the ocean that graciously furnish world class views. With exceptional dining, shopping and beaches, Corona Del Mar is a perfect way to indulge one’s self, while escaping the desert summer heat.

Named Corona Del Mar, Spanish for Crown of the Sea , the area was built by developer George Hart, who in 1904 purchased the over 700 acres from the well land endowed Irvine Ranch, in order to create a summer resort, with quaint summer cottages. The problem, or maybe not so much of problem now, is that summer vacationers decided to stay…indefinitely. At the time, vacationers could only get to the seaside village by boat via the peninsula, or through a rough dirt road. But in 1926, the development of the Pacific Coast Highway made travel to Corona Del Mar much more accessible and pleasant.

The beach part of Corona Del Mar is an obvious draw, and at one time was a top surfing spot until the extensions of the jetty’s adjacent to the beach changed all of that, relinquishing its hot surf spot status to what became the ever popular “Wedge” across the way at the tip of the Newport Peninsula (Balboa). There are two popular beaches in Corona Del Mar, there is the large state beach and a smaller more intimate one proportionality named, Little Corona Del Mar. As a child growing up in Orange County, my family and I would frequent the beaches of Corona Del Mar with consistent glee. It was fun to traverse the rocks that separate the big beach from the little one. The difference between the two beaches is that the little one is perfect for kids as the water is calm and waves easy to navigate through without being tossed around. It is where I learned how to swim…it is a vibrantly clear and fond memory. The big beach, or as I called when I was little, the big kids beach, was a scene straight out of a “Gidget” movie, just with modern bathing suits….that’s how I saw it back then anyway. In actuality, it is a mixture of beach goers, all there to soak up the rays and all that makes Corona Del Mar beaches so stunning.

The beaches are surrounded by bluffs and rock formations. The grassy intimate parks atop the beaches make for perfect places to reflect and take in the generous views.

On the same street as the parks, it is hard not to notice the AMZAZING (worth all caps) mansion like homes that line Ocean Blvd. You

Real Estate

July

August 7 to August 13, 2014

By Bruce cathcart

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can easily make a day of oohing and aweing at these breathtaking houses. They range from every style…Modern, to Mediterranean, to Cape Cod…to even something that looked like it was right out of the Hobbit movie, but for a really ultra-wealthy Hobbit, it is crazy cool, and if you go there’s no way you can miss it. But if you’re looking to check out house’s that might be a little more manageable and don’t require such a large staff to maintain it, then just drive down one of the side streets such as Narcissus, where you will find the most adorable cottages, something I’m sure Mr. Hart had in mind from the start.

Down the same street, at the corner before you turn onto Pacific Coast Hwy, there is the cutest See’s Candy in Orange County. The store has been in that location for almost 60 years, and was a place where my family would stop for a chocolate or two, after beach time was over.

It will make your visit that much sweeter (too much??).

As you travel further south down the Hwy there is another place you must stop by to complete the Corona Del Mar experience, it is the Five Crowns Restaurant (www.lawrysonline. com/five-crowns). The building was built in 1935, and has darling storybook English style, complete with the red phone booth out front. It was once a residence and eventually in 1965, became the restaurant it is known for today. It is the go to place for Prime Rib in all of Newport Beach.

There is no doubt that Corona Del Mar is one of the most cozy, yet affluent towns along the Southern California Coastline. And for me, it holds vivid childhood memories…I can still taste my mother’s chicken sandwiches that she’d pack for our beach excursions, slightly warm with just the right amount of crunch from the sand blown onto them by the sea breeze. With all that Corona Del Mar has to offer, it is certain that you will make your own cherished memories, and of course have some time in a cooler climate and have a fantastic desert summer heat escape.

For more information about Corona Del Mar visit www.cdmchamber.com

uly is behind us and that means we are half way through the summer! Is it just me or has this been the icky sticky summer so far? What happened to “yeah it’s hot, but it’s a dry heat?” High humidity and a slow real estate market can be depressing.

But this is what we have come to expect for this time of the year so we should not be surprised by this and this month’s numbers continue to support the downward trend in sales activity for the Coachella Valley.

Last month (June) according to the Desert Area MLS (as of 8/01/14) there were 698 pendings of residential properties in the Coachella Valley. There were 667 pendings in July representing a more stable level of sales activity even if it remains at a slow pace. Last month there were 764 solds and this month (as we predicted) there were only 704 solds representing an 8% drop in closings. When compared to last year we closed 786 homes in July representing a year over year decrease of approximately 11% in home sales.

Overall inventory available to buyers this month was down significantly again (approximately 6%) from 3,360 properties available for sale at the beginning of July to just 3,161 properties available for sale at the end of July. This isn’t crystal ball stuff here; these are real numbers that continue to support the trend of less sales activity, fewer closings and lower inventory. With only 667 opened escrows in July we can be pretty sure that the August report will show less than 704 solds next month continuing the declining trend! This is the new norm, at least for now, and there is nothing that I can see on the horizon to alter this course through the end of the year.

What about prices? Prices seem to vary based upon what is now popularly called “hyper-local” markets. That means that in some neighborhoods sale prices are up while in other neighborhoods they are down.

Taken altogether they appear stable, but individually clearly some markets are doing better than others. There is a great example of this and what has happened in one high end market with this week’s Top Sale.

The big rumor last month was that President Obama and his family were buying the old Joseph Wambaugh estate in Rancho Mirage. Local realtors said yes, the White House officials said no, TMZ said no, White House interior designer Michael Smith said no (too close to the mountains and not enough natural light?), Democrats said I hope so and Republicans said I hope not…

Well the sale did close on 7/30 and it is now old news. But it was our top sale in July at $3,500,000.00. This is a spectacular estate home with 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms in 8,232 square feet located on a hilltop above Thunderbird Heights on 3.29 acres. Looking at the history of this home tells quite a story.

It was purchased by the seller in 2001 for

$4,900,000.00. It was listed for sale in 2008 for $9,500,000.00 and reduced in 2010 to $8,000,000.00 and reduced in 2013 to $7,000,000.00, then $6,000,000.00 then $5,000,000.00 and then to the current list price of $4,250,000.00 where it finally sold for $3,500,000.00! To review, it was purchased in 2001 for $4,900.000.00 and 13 years later it sold last month for $3,500,000.00. Not exactly a good investment but a pretty strong indication of what is going on in the Rancho Mirage luxury home market. Knowing this, does anyone think that the Bob and Dolores Hope mansion stands a chance of selling at their current asking price of $34,000,000.00?

And we have a new winner for the lowest priced home sale which sold last month. It was a lovely little fixer located in the hills above Desert Hot Springs, built in 1958 with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath in approximately 864 square feet on a one half acre lot for only $8,000.00! I am guessing “needs work” might have been an understatement on this one.

Real Estate Tip of the month: Buyers take advantage of these hot ugly days by staying diligent in your search for a new home. Do your shopping early in the morning with your trusted real estate agent while most other buyers stay indoors and wait for cooler weather to do their shopping. Sellers make sure your home is cool and inviting and don’t hesitate to offer thirsty shoppers an iced cold bottle of water.

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

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

sports scene

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By julie buehler

Health&Fitness

by Personal Trainer Karen Creasey

A bucket list is a list of things you want to The Oh-So Glamorous Life In Sports Media… accomplish in your lifetime.

AsJaylynn ToldBuehler

By Anis Intern… or some the bucket list is filled with starts with a long and difficult open water the 14-year-old niece better because the Angles beat the Detroit

of Julie Buehler. She spent the past 4 weeks interning with Julie, attending MLB games, doing NFL research, learning the ins-and-outs of sports media television and radio… here are her observations. learned a whole lot being here in Palm Springs, California for 4 amazing weeks.

I learned a lot about how to interview people correctly, how to be productive, how to plan out your day before it even starts, and always making sure you look presentable.

One thing I learned when Julie had to wake up at around 4:00 am is that, she always makes sure she looks awake, being positive, and having a good presentation, so she is ready to perform for KMIR in the morning.

Even though this can be tiring she chugs right through it. I have gone a couple mornings, and I am always so tired.

I think, “How can Julie do this every morning?” But it is what she likes to do so it is easy to wake up early and get ready for that day.

After the morning is done with KMIR she is setting up for her radio show. Getting the show rundown done, reading, and preparing her lunch. I learned how to prioritize well because you have so much stuff going on through the day and you never want to forget anything. So she would think ahead and know what was happening that day, and get everything she needed for that day. So I basically watched how she did things the first week I was in Palm Springs.

The second week is when I really started to do intern things. One thing she had me do was write a to-do list of things she needed to get, and I needed to remind her what things from the list she needed to do. So through out that week I really started to know what I needed to do to be an intern.

The following week I got to go to my very first MLB game. I went to a LA Angels game.

It was a really cool experience. It was even

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Tigers. I really got in to the game, I guess you could say I am an LA Angles fan now. I mean who wouldn’t be? Mike Trout is such a stud.

So it was a great night for my first MLB game.

Later that week I got to do some NFL stats for her radio show. She taught me how to look at stats. To me it was actually pretty fun to me. I was already in love with football, so looking at the stat book and seeing my favorite team, The New Orleans Saints, have pretty good rankings and seeing my boy, Drew Brees, has the best stats in the NFC for 2013, made it even more fun for me. So I had fun doing stats, helping her plan her to-do list, assisting her at events, and meetings.

Couple things that surprised me about the media is how much time you are required to give. Julie starts her day at 3 am sometimes and doesn’t get home till 7 pm. Plus, even after she gets home, she still has to do homework for the next day. So being in the media you have to give a lot of time to get things done.

I have taken a lot away from this trip that will stay with me forever. I hope I can come back next summer and learn more and have more experiences with the media. Over all it was a great trip and I am great full I got a chance to come down and learn things that will be valuable in everyday life and in the future.

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 can also be seen every morning between 6-7am on KMIR sharing the coolest stories in sports. 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 “Buehler’s Day Off” on Ustream and KMIR.com for her sports reports.

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extravagance like, visiting a far off place, flying in a hot air balloon, or bungee jumping in New Zealand. But for most of us the desires we harbor are less extravagant. They are things like, lose some weight, research our genealogy, or learn to swim.

The unfortunate reality of most bucket list endeavors is they are frequently written and pursued when the end of life is looming near.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Every day you wake up, you are gifted with a new opportunity. Every day is a fresh start.

So here is my challenge to you. This year, join me in participating in a uniquely original Triathlon.

October 12, 2014.

The YMCA of the Desert and the city of Palm Desert have partnered to bring the first annual Reverse Mini Triathlon to the valley. It is not the traditional triathlon that

swim, followed by a bike ride that feels like the Tour De France, and concluded with a run that just about does you in. This event promises to be more fun than that. It is perfect if you have never participated in such a goal before or if you want a new challenge with a twist. This event is backwards. It is reversed and it is mini, shorter than the average tri.

It will start with a 5K run, continue with a 10 mile bike ride, and finish with a 300 meter swim in the Palm Desert Aquatic Center swimming pool. Doesn’t that sound like a fun challenge? If participating in the entire event is more than you want to tackle how about doing just the 5K as a run or a walk or the 1K color run in Civic Center Park. Families and friends can do it together. There is something for everyone!

I hope you will write it down. Put it on your bucket list. Commit to the challenge.

It will be fun. I’m sure of it! To sign up go to www.ybefitpdchallenge.org. If you and your friends want help training for this next fun reverse mini -triathlon endeavor call me, Karen, at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center 760-565-7467 I’m here to help!

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Week of August 7

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t just be smart and articulate, Aries. Dare to be wildly wise and prone to unruly observations. Don’t merely be kind and well-behaved. Explore the mysteries of healing through benevolent mischief. Don’t buy into the alltoo-serious trances. Break up the monotony with your unpredictable play and funny curiosity. Don’t simply go along with the stories everyone seems to believe in as if they were the Truth and the Way. Question every assumption; rebel against every foregone conclusion; propose amusing plot twists that send the narratives off on interesting tangents.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Breve orazione penetra is an old Italian idiom. Its literal translation is “short prayers pierce” or “concise prayers penetrate.” You can extrapolate from that to come up with the meaning that “God listens best to brief prayers.” In the coming week, I invite you to apply this idea whenever you ask for anything, whether you are seeking the favors of the Divine Wow or the help of human beings. Know exactly what you want, and express it with no-nonsense succinctness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Every February, you go through a phase when it’s easier to see the big picture of your life. If you take advantage of this invitation, your experience is like being on a mountaintop and gazing into the vastness. Every August, on the other hand, you are more likely to see the details you have been missing. Transformations that have been too small and subtle to notice may become visible to you. If you capitalize on this opportunity, the experience is like peering through a microscope. Here’s a third variation, Gemini: Around the full moons of both February and August, you may be able to alternately peer into the microscope and simulate the view from a mountaintop. I think that’s about to happen.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You wouldn’t sip dirty water from a golden chalice. Am I right? Nor would you swig delicious poison from a fine crystal wine glass or ten-year-old vinegar from a queen’s goblet.

I’m sure you will agree that you’d much rather drink a magical elixir from a paper cup, or a rejuvenating tonic from a chipped coffee mug, or tasty medicine out of a kids’ plastic soup bowl you bought at the thrift store. Don’t you dare lie to yourself about what’s best for you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Every 12 years, the planet Jupiter spends about a year cruising through the sign of Leo. It’s there with you now, and will be with you through early August, 2015. What can you expect? EXPANSION! That’s great, right? Yes and no. You might love to have some parts of your life expand; others, not so much. So I suggest you write down your intentions. Say something like this: “I want Jupiter to help me expand my faith in myself, my power to do what I love, and my ability to draw on the resources and allies I need. Meanwhile, I will prune my desires for things I don’t really need and cut back on my involvement with things that don’t inspire me. I don’t want those to expand.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): TV comedian Stephen Colbert confesses that his safeword is “pumpkin patch.” Does that mean he participates in actual BDSM rituals? Is it the codeword he utters when he doesn’t want the intensity to rise any further, when he doesn’t want his next boundary crossed?

I don’t know. Perhaps he’s simply joking or speaking metaphorically. Whether or not you engage in literal BDSM, Virgo, there’s an aspect of your life right now that has metaphorical resemblances to it. And I suggest that you do the equivalent of using your safeword very soon. Nothing more can be gained from remaining embroiled in your predicament. Even if the ordeal has been interesting or educational up until now, it won’t be for much longer. Escape your bondage.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you’re planning to hurl a thunderbolt, make sure you are all warmed up and at full strength before you actually unleash it.

It would be sad if you flung a half-assed thunderbolt that looked like a few fireflies and sounded like a cooing dove. And please don’t interpret my wiseguy tone here as a sign that I’m just kidding around.

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

No, Libra. This is serious stuff. Life is offering you opportunities to make a major impression, and I want you to be as big and forceful and wild as you need to be. Don’t tamp down your energy out of fear of hurting people’s feelings. Access your inner sky god or sky goddess, and have too much fun expressing your raw power.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In your dreams you may travel to Stockholm, Sweden to accept the Nobel Prize or to Hollywood to pick up your Oscar.

There’s a decent chance that in your sleepy-time adventures you will finally score with the hot babe who rejected you back in high school, or return to the scene of your biggest mistake and do things right this time. I wouldn’t be surprised if in one dream you find yourself riding in a gold chariot during a parade held in your honor. I’m afraid, however, that you will have to settle for less hoopla and glamour in your waking life. You will merely be doing a fantastic job at tasks you usually perform competently. You will be well-appreciated, well-treated, and wellrewarded. That’s not so bad, right?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Lake Superior State University issues a “Unicorn Questing Privilege” to those people who are interested in hunting for unicorns. Are you one of them? I wouldn’t be surprised if you felt an urge like that in the coming weeks. Unusual yearnings will be welling up in you. Exotic fantasies may replace your habitual daydreams. Certain possibilities you have considered to be unthinkable or unattainable may begin to seem feasible. Questions you have been too timid to ask could become crucial for you to entertain. (You can get your Unicorn Questing License here: http://tinyurl.com/unicornlicense.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your ethical code may soon be tested. What will you do if you see a chance to get away with a minor sin or petty crime that no one will ever find out about? What if you are tempted to lie or cheat or deceive in ways that advance your good intentions and only hurt other people a little bit or not at all? I’m not here to tell you what to do, but rather to suggest that you be honest with yourself about what’s really at stake.

Even if you escape punishment for a lapse, you might nevertheless inflict a wound on your integrity that would taint your relationship with your own creativity. Contemplate the pleasures of purity and righteousness, and use them to enhance your power.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “The thorn arms the roses,” says an old Latin motto. The astrological omens suggest you’ll be wise to muse on that advice in the coming weeks. How should you interpret it? I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions, of course, but here are a few hints. It may be that beauty needs protection, or at least buffering.

It’s possible that you can’t simply depend on your sincerity and good intentions, but also need to infuse some ferocity into your efforts. In order for soft, fragile, lovely things to do what they do best, they may require the assistance of tough, strong, hearty allies.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you go to an American doctor to be treated for an ailment, odds are that he or she will interrupt you no more than 14 seconds into your description of what’s wrong. But you must not tolerate this kind of disrespect in the coming days, Pisces -- not from doctors, not from anyone. You simply must request or, if necessary, demand the receptivity you deserve. If and when it’s given, I urge you to speak your truth in its entirety.

Express what has been hidden and suppressed. And this is very important: Take responsibility for your own role in any problems you discuss.

Homework: Tell what techniques you’ve discovered about feeding honey to crocodiles.

Truthrooster@gmail.com Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

August 7 to August 13, 2014

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

NATURE’S MEDICINE

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ature’s medicine is truly at our fingertips. Did you know essential oils garner a plethora of benefits for you physically and mentally? Did you also know incorporating essential oils into your lifestyle can enhance your mood and help aid with a variety of physical aliments and challenges? An abundance of oils are available and serve multiple purposes to help you feel better, naturally.

So, what are essential oils? Essential oils date back to Egyptian hieroglyphic and Chinese manuscripts from thousands of years ago. The oils are volatile liquids that are distilled from plants. There is a very specific process in which these oils are cared for and then made available for use. Research shows, low pressure and low temperatures assist to maintain the purity, fragrance and therapeutic value of the oils.

As you begin your journey with essential oils it is important to use only certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils. Anything less may produce harmful results and could be toxic. There is no substitute, only pure oils.

There are multiple benefits to using certified pure, therapeutic essential oils.

The oils extracted from the plants can regenerate, oxygenate and strengthen the immune system. Because the molecular size of the oils is so small, when applied topically, can affect every cell of your body within 20 minutes. If you apply to your feet, you can receive an immediate response and benefit. Essential oils are helping to feed your starving cells. Disease can occur when are cells are depleted. Oxygen to our cells is a common major deficiency. Providing needed oxygen, essential oils work to stimulate the immune system.

According to the textbook, Essential Oils, (pure essential oils) are powerful antioxidants. They are also known to be antibacterial, anticancer antifungal, antiinfectious, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiviral and used as an antiseptic. Also, according to research, because essential

oils contain sesquiterpenes, they have the ability to pass the blood-brain barrier, allowing the oils to be effective in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

There are also several oils to aid with ADD and Autism. There are hundreds of oils that include several Shortly after researching and using the essential oils, I recognized nature’s medicine is in the palm of my hands. Then I began incorporating the oils into the yoga classes I instruct. My students now are able to enjoy the benefits as well. I began applying the oils to my children’s daily regime as well as using a diffuser in my home. I realized I was sharing something special.

Evolve Yoga in La Quinta offers monthly workshops incorporating certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils. Each workshop is designed to specificity and will leave you feeling rejuvenated yet relaxed. It is an experience you will not want to miss.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. For more information visit: www.evolveyoga.com or (760) 564-YOGA (9642) Contact Bronwyn at Bronwyn@e-volveyoga. com for more information about essential oils.

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August 7 to August 13, 2014

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

beauty

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

August 7 to August 13, 2014

by dr maria lombardo

Dr. Maria Lombardo, Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery is located in Rancho Mirage.

She specializes in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures including (but not limited to) facial, body and breast surgery, Botox, Latisse, and hCG diet program.

For a consultation or more information, visit www.lombardocosmeticsurgery.com or call 760-610-8990. Dr. Lombardo will be writing a bi-weekly column for CV Weekly.

Sometimes You Just Need to Say Uncle FREE BOTOX for your BFF!

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just returned from a girlfriend’s getaway weekend. It was an extremely enjoyable time spent shopping, sightseeing and swapping life experiences. We often lingered over lattes or evening cocktails catching up on the latest news involving careers, families and mutual friends. Over the years the four of us developed a deep bond and mutual respect. As our friendships run deep, it is common during time spent together to share dreams, reveal fears and solicit opinions and honest feedback.

One afternoon Carol related a recent life lesson. Her husband, a motorcycle enthusiast, encouraged her to share his passion and surprised her by having a new Harley-Davidson delivered to their home in New Hampshire. Within days Carol had her first riding lesson and became licensed to operate a motorcycle.

My friend Carol is a gutsy woman who loves life and outdoor activities. She is an expert skier, a certified scuba diver and an avid hiker. Carol adores her husband Jay and loves spending time with him. The problem arose when she discovered their joint motorcycling outings were far from what she expected. After enduring each ride on a white knuckle basis, she felt physically ill from

stress. Carol is no cream puff. As a positive thinker she envisioned her fear and anxiety would diminish. However, after each outing the angst only increased. Eventually she was forced to make a tough decision. The sport was not for her, and this meant quitting.

Her story holds a much overlooked life lesson. Many of us are so focused on being winners. Repeatedly we use mantras like “failure is not an option,” to pump ourselves up. In my coaching practice I encourage clients to face and conquer their fears. But Carol’s motorcycle story stopped me in my tracks. It made me realize sometimes the prize is just not worth the effort. It does not make us any less of a winner when emulating Carol’s actions. Sometimes the wisest course of action is to call out uncle and hang up our helmet.

The moral of the story is we do not have to climb every mountain put in front of us. There are times when the prudent thing to do is go around it, or turn back and take a different path. One final thought when opting out of a challenge, do not label it defeat. Move on, and do so with dignity.

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

is it Too good to be true?

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here’s no such thing as a free lunch” is popular phrase that reminds us to be wary when being offered something for free… there is very often “a catch” or some “fine print” in the deal that makes it not as free as originally advertised.

In this case… free = free! Allergan, the makers of the well-known and well-loved Botox, are REALLY offering a free Botox treatment for your friend!

Now, there are some restrictions on who can participate in this amazing offer.

For example, you and your friend need to be a member of the Brilliant Distinctions Rewards program – but this is one rewards program that actually benefits you by giving cash discounts for future treatments and various online shopping venues. Another

restriction is the friend you refer for the free Botox treatment can’t have had Botox within the last 12 months.

In a nutshell: You pay for your Botox treatment and refer a friend for Botox – That friend gets a FREE Botox treatment and you get additional Brilliant Distinctions points (in other words: discounts for more Botox) or awesome, free SkinMedica skin care products! It’s a win/win for everyone!

If you have a friend who has never tried Botox or hasn’t done it for over a year and you want to refer them in for a free treatment (and be the BEST BFF EVER!) call for more information and to schedule your appointment!

Of course this unbelievable offer will not last very long so don’t miss out and call today! 760-610-8990

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