Coachella Valley Weekly - August 18 to August 24, 2016 Vol. 5 No. 22

News

Music

Movies

Dining

Community Events

STEVE YOUNG PHOTO GRA

PHY

COVER ART CONCEPT BY BOBBY TAFFOLLA

coachellavalleyweekly.com • August 18 to August 24, 2016 Vol. 5 No. 22

Perez Rd Art District Sergio Villegas pg 4

pg 6

Bhakti Fest 2016

pg 7

Rogue Ogre Chip Miller pg 9

pg 9

August 18 to August 24, 2016

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Coachella Valley Weekly

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

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

CONTENTS Noe G. Gutierrez.......................................3 Art Scene - Perez Road Art District..........4 Oasis Soccer Field Grand Opening..........5 Slim Man ...................................................6 Backstage Jazz - Sergio Villegas..............6 Bhakti Fest 2016.......................................7 Splash House.............................................8 51st Borrego Days Desert Festival..........8 Rogue Ogre...............................................9 Chip Miller.................................................9 Consider This- Urban Desert Cabaret....10 Art Scene - Terry Hastings......................11 Pet Place..................................................12 The Vino Voice ........................................13 Club Crawler Nightlife............................14 Screeners.................................................18 Book Review............................................19 Safety Tips...............................................19 La Qunita Honors Veteran's Day............20 Social Security........................................20 Haddon Libby.........................................21 Dale Gribow............................................21 Ask Jenny................................................22 Sports Scene...........................................22 Free Will Astrology.................................23 Mind, Body & Spirit ................................23 Ask The Doctor........................................24 Life & Career Coach ................................24

NOE GUTIERREZ: FROM ROCKER TO POTENTIAL POLITICIAN

N

oe Gutierrez is an incredible asset to the Coachella Valley. His ties run deep and hold strong as he actively pursues multiple paths to better the community in which he lives and those citizens within it. A proud father with the swollen heart of a humanitarian, Noe very humbly works to touch the lives of those surrounding him by thrusting those in need into the forefront of community news by multiple social and media means. Through his work as a journalist, a promoter, podcast host, and musician, Noe has made it his business to help others succeed around him.

For 24 years Noe Gutierrez has also worked as a Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health employee and is a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor with the State of California. His impressive resume of helping others to better themselves is prevalent across his broad interests, passion projects, and span of work history. His inspiring demeanor is infectious, creating a ripple of waves throughout the far reaches of this valley that Noe has made his home.

As his friends, family, and many souls he has touched throughout his life rally around him this election year, Noe Gutierrez steps onto an even greater platform to share his heart for his community with a run for Indio City Council. I was fortunate enough to speak with Noe about his community ties, his passion for music and successful career, why he has chosen to step into the political spotlight and what he hopes to gain from this newest endeavor.

MJ: First off I would like to acknowledge your work fundraising for the community.

You were very active in the fundraising efforts for young Desi who sadly eventually passed away from cancer. You even used your birthday celebration to host a very successful concert to create awareness and bring people together around this cause. Tell me about that.

NG: “I never got to meet Desi. I’ve always wanted my birthdays to be more than

about me. It was easy to decide to raise funds for Desi. Musicians from John Garcia to Dug Pinnick to Ozomatli donated items for auction. We had Machin’, Mikey Reyes Acoustic Movement, Giselle Woo & The Night Owls and 3rd Ear Experience perform. Her spirit carries on through all of us.”

MJ: You are fundraising again at your upcoming birthday party this week at The Hood. This time for Andrea Avoian who was just in a horrific accident. What was your motivation to do this and your connection with Andrea?

NG: “I didn’t hear about Andrea until Tracy (Dietlin) mentioned it and asked if we could do something for her. Tracy said that Linda (Lemke-Heinz) had called her and asked if I might want to do something at my party to help out. Once again, it was an easy call.

I’ve had conversations with Andrea in the past about music and her love for hard rock.

She has always supported all the bands and now it’s our time to support her. We will be accepting donations at our show at The Hood Bar & Pizza on Friday, 8/19.”

MJ: Speaking of these concerts, you have fronted several bands as lead singer and played many shows yourself in the valley here locally, working alongside many other talented musicians. What is it about singing

August 18 to August 24, 2016

BY MORGAN JAMES

PHOTO BY STEVE YOUNG

on stage and sharing your music with the Coachella Valley that keeps you doing it over the years?

NG: “Once I was able to be good enough to perform live I just kept yearning for the opportunity to improve. I found out early on that the key for me was to play with quality musicians. Everyone I’ve ever performed with has been world-class. I’ve been truly blessed.

From Wyte Gye to Aphrodisiac Jacket to Above the Aggregate to EL KYSS, it has been my honor.”

MJ: You not only perform on stage yourself, but have been extremely active in the promoting and managing of other musicians and bands. Tell me how you got started in this and do you see yourself continuing in this capacity?

NG: “Looking back, I started promoting back in high school. Many of my friends like John Garcia and Arthur Seay were in bands and I would make it my responsibility to get people to the shows. I started formally producing shows only a few years ago. I now work under the ‘Desert Music’ moniker. My mission is to work with all Coachella Valley and High Desert musicians in getting their music heard and performances witnessed.

Ultimately, I see a full-on management and recording company.”

MJ: Why is the promotion of other musicians so important to you?

NG: “Lifting up my friends is my passion.

One of my favorite things is to watch those I care about succeed. If I can help it gives me pride.”

MJ: You’re also a journalist for this very publication and have promoted music events and bands in that capacity. What got you started writing for Coachella Valley Weekly?

NG: “I started writing for Coachella Valley Weekly in 2013. I knew Tracy and Phil and just responded to one of their FB posts asking if anyone was interested in writing for them.

They took a chance and I instantly got the writing bug. I had just completed a master’s level writing course in order for me to be accepted into the MSW program. It all worked out. I still write for them as time permits.”

MJ: As much as you do for the music community here in the Coachella Valley, you have held an extremely valuable position with Riverside County, holding a very important job as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Indio. What inspired your work in this role?

NG: “I fell into addiction treatment through my work with the county. I gravitated towards people with criminal justice issues.

I’ve worked at the Larson Justice Center, in the east county jail and the Indio/Palm Springs parole units. A majority of those who have criminal justice issues have some sort of substance use problem.”

MJ: It seems your need to help others and serve the community has now led you into a run for public office. Tell me why are you running for Indio City Council?

NG: “I felt it was time to do more. I have continue to page 5

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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PEREZ ROAD ART DISTRICT

T

he Greater Palm Springs residents & visitors alike to the Desert, are now taking notice of an exciting & newly developing Art Destination: Perez Rd. Art District in Cathedral City, Ca. This enclave of cutting-edge galleries is attracting larger & larger crowds to the myriad Events, Performances, & Art that is being offered to the public. The Perez Rd. Art District is located on Perez Rd., between Cathedral Canyon Drive & Date Palm Drive. Like Soho & Tribeca in New York City many years ago, this area of industrial buildings was originally auto repair shops, frame shops, and commercial vendors. But now the newly emerging galleries are transforming the area as their need for large, raw space, high ceilings and affordability, with easy access became a necessity to open and relocate to Perez Rd.

Rebecca Fine Art Gallery: This upscale, avant-garde gallery showcases awardwinning paintings, sculptures, lithos, serigraphs, & photography. The gallery specializes in Contemporary & Modern Art, from Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Painting, Trancendentalism, to The New York School of Artists. This remarkable gallery is the passion of owner Rebecca Pikus. Together with the creative visionary Maris Kazaks, Director & Curator, they have created a unique gallery space, and a museum-quality exhibition featuring national & international artists: “Visually Speaking - Color & Light”, with Guest Curator Joe Novak. The exhibit runs through Dec. 31, 2016 & showcases 70 artists, including Robert Rauschenberg, Salvador Dali, Joe Novak, Donald Spencer, Mario Pikus, Robert Tahar, James Turrell, August Muth, Peter Busa & Nathan Slate Joseph.

Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery - This gallery is the crown jewel in the Colliding Worlds tiara. “I have focused on the arts my entire life. What began as Colliding Worlds TV has grown to include Colliding Worlds Radio, Colliding Worlds Tumblr and now the Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery”,

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BY REBECCA PIKUS

noted Owner Angela Valente Romeo. “My gallery’s focus is on works that are eclectic. I look for art that clearly shows the hand and heart of the artist. If they are controversial so much the better! I do believe we are all born artists and the Gallery proves my point!”

Simeon Den Gallery/Fine & Temple Arts - From the eclectic to the sublime, Den directs a non-traditional gallery and e-commerce enterprise that showcases his personal métier in the Contemporary and Temple Arts. The Simeon Den Gallery focus and art niche attends to the spiritual and transcendental Schools, the minimalist style, the Zen aesthetic, the figurative and whimsical influences, and the political and subversive “gay gaze” of LGBTQ expressions in art. The gallery also functions as a community-building effort by hosting and offering classes and workshops in the Temple Arts—yoga, tai ch’I, meditation groups, Feng Shui services, sound bath sessions, a writers circle, bereavement group, Zen brush painting, and various performance-based activities including Butoh Dance and live-improvisation music making.

Trenz Gallery is one of the newest galleries to open on Perez Rd. Co-owners Vern (Laverne) Chamness & Rogert Leighton relocated their gallery -- and their vision -- from Dallas, Texas to Cathedral City, Ca. The gallery has an eclectic mix of art ranging from paintings, ceramic work including sculptures, metal sculptures, glass work, and mixed media sculptures. Styles range from contemporary to realistic. Gallery coowner, Roger Leighton, is a major source of their art, but they also represent over 25 artists. The gallery also specializes in Interior Design projects & commissions.

The gallery also has a workshop & will be offering their facility to the public.

Gary Kott’s Creative Warehouse - Bring your imagination to Gary Kott’s Creative Warehouse, a workshop/showroom featuring paintings and sculptures that have been described as the new art of modernism. On one wall are found object guitars ranging from six-feet to eight-feet tall hanging across from a huge painting triptych dripped in reds, blues, and yellows.

On a series of display racks are found more object sculptures, neo-typewriters, a “vintage” pink Cadillac, a classic sailing ship nested in a not-so-classic Sparkletts bottle. In the next room is Gary Kott’s spacious workshop where visitors can see art in action, found object sculptures being shaped, resin coatings being smoothed, new paintings being dripped.

Cathedral City, through the vision & energy of Christopher Parman, Communications & Events Manager, has now begun projects promoting the Perez Rd. Art District. In the Fall, there are many artrelated Events planned, including a monthly Art Walk. In addition, Simeon Den & Alan Carvalho, who Co-Chair the Cathedral Public Arts Commission have worked tirelessly to put the Perez Rd. Art District on the map.

Other dedicated Cathedral City appointees, such as Valerie Schecter, Tim Parrot, & Sue Townsley are instrumental in building our new Art Destination. Here is a list of the galleries:

ART SCENE Arte Vita Gallery, 68845 Perez Road, Suite H27, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 808-3702 At Hom, 929 Home Center, 68929 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 7704447 Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery, 68895 Perez Rd, Suite I -13, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 832-9580 Colin Fisher Studios, 68929 Perez Rd, Ste M, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 324-7300 The Desert House, 68895 Perez Road Suites 1-4, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 832-6745 Gary Kott’s Creative Warehouse, 68805 Perez Road, Suite F-41 (702) 328-9000 Giles Studios, 37732 Palo Verde Drive, Cathedral City, California 92234 (760) 808-5530 Hedge, 68929 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 770-0090 Joannes Lucas, 68845 Perez Rd, Suite H28, Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 8083702 Nicole Barosi Gallery, 68703 Perez Road, Suite A15, Cathedral City, CA (760) 832-9285 Rebecca Fine Art Gallery, 68895 Perez Road, #7 & 8, Cathedral City, CA (760) 5345888 - Fineartvortex.com - Open Wed-Sat 11am-4pm & By Appt Simeon Den Gallery/Fine & Temple Arts, 68895 Perez Rd, #27, Cathedral City, Ca (310) 801-6538 - Open Wed-Sat 12:30pm-4pm & By Appt Spaces, 68929 Perez Road, Suite K, Cathedral City, CA (760) 770-5333 Studio One 11, 68929 Perez Road, Suite J, Cathedral City, CA (760) 770-1111 Trenz Gallery, 68845 Perez Road, Suite H-15, Cathedral City, CA (760) 202-8769

NOE GUTTIEREZ continued from page 3

worked for Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health (Riverside County) for over 24 years. I feel like I’ve served my community during that time and this seemed like the next ‘natural step.’”

“I also like new challenges and expanding my knowledge base. I feel I have a lot to bring to our city and council. I realize there’s a steep learning curve and I am willing to learn.

My strengths lie in my work ethic, integrity, ability to lead and facilitate and participate in collaborative efforts. I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in social work at Cal State University San Bernardino. I will be graduating in June 2017. Part of my degree will specialize in macro (community) practice.

This level of social work will allow me to help provide interventions on a large scale that will affect our entire community. I currently have my Bachelor’s degree in sociology through Chapman University, now Brandman University in Palm Desert.”

“My children, Ruben 13 and Sofia 9, are older now and I have their blessing.

My girlfriend, Emily Coy, and her son, Ayden, have been in my corner and are eternally supportive. They are all my biggest cheerleaders and my main inspirations.”

MJ: What’s your history with Indio and why is it important for you to run for office there?

NG: “I was born in 1971 in Lubbock, Texas.

My parents and I moved to Indio when I was 3 after my father, Steve Gutierrez, was offered a job to work at Mecca Vineyards Apartments, now Summer Field Apartments, through his brother and apartment manager David ‘Mingo’ Gutierrez.”

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“I’ve been an Indio resident for over 40 years. I attended all Indio schools and graduated from Indio High in 1989. I was immersed in the music program at Indio High. I played alto, tenor and baritone sax in the marching, concert and symphonic bands respectively. I then attended College of the Desert and completed my Associate’s degree.

I secured my county position through my mom, Mary Gutierrez, who was working as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at the community mental health center. She is now a charge nurse at JFK Memorial Hospital where she has worked since 1981. My mom instilled in me a sense of compassion and being empathetic towards others.”

“My dad passed away in 2014. He once asked me a question to consider on a daily basis, “What have you done for your fellow man/woman today?” That question has always stuck with me. He remains with me in all that I do and I speak to him frequently.

Part of my journey is continuing his and my mom’s legacy of helping and being of service to others.”

“My sister Valerie Gutierrez is office manager for Dr. Harry Lifschutz in Indio. My nephew, Stephen Gutierrez, is a 3rd year college student and hip hop artist known as ‘Stevieraps.’”

MJ: Please share with our readers your platform.

NG: “My platform includes maintaining public safety, supporting small business owners from inception to sustainment, quality of life, expanding existing parks while developing new ones, continuing to address homelessness, continue to improve human

services available to all residents, and reenergizing ALL of Indio.”

“I feel that the city council has done an excellent job in creating and maintaining progress within the city. It may be time for fresh eyes and a more unified vision.

Although Indio is considered one of the top music cities in the nation, I believe that we can do more to further elevate our music scene to rival music communities such as

GRAND OPENING OF THE OASIS SOCCER FIELD IN OASIS OPENS TO FIELD IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 8 SOCCER THE DELIGHT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS

August 18 to August 24, 2016

those in Seattle, Austin, New York and New Orleans.”

Indio is ‘the place to be’ and the ‘City of Festivals.’ I have a vision of reestablishing Indio as ‘The Hub of the Valley, the best place to work & play & live.’”

Contact Noe at: Noe.Indio.2016@gmail. com (760) 485-0948 Twitter @NoeIndio2016 Instagram.com/NoeIndio2016

EVENTS

D

esert Recreation District (DRD) is opening a new soccer field in the unincorporated community of Oasis and the public is invited to come celebrate. On Thursday, September 8, 2016, DRD will host a grand opening event beginning at 6 p.m. during which recognition to those whose hard work contributed to reaching this milestone will be acknowledged, refreshments will be served, and play will begin.

The soccer field is located at 88-775 Avenue 76 (between Pierce and Harrison streets) in Oasis. The former elementary school site was purchased by DRD from the Coachella Valley Unified School District to build a 15-acre community park. This is the first and only public park in the community

of Oasis. The soccer field is a temporary measure to provide immediate access to the number one requested activity in the Oasis community, soccer. Other amenities that will round out the future park will be planned by the community over the coming months.

People can sign up for the Community Design Team as well as register for the Fall season of the new East Valley Soccer League while at the grand opening.

Support from the community has been very strong, and as one resident of the area, Pastor Miguel Martinez stated last Fall, “we are thrilled”. Pastor Martinez went on to say that when communities do not have activities for the younger members, it is unhealthy for everyone as children are more likely to get into trouble, have medical

problems, and not feel safe, among other issues. Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), whose efforts to bring people together to strengthen families and improve communities, has also lent its support to DRD. The project will be completed in phases based on community input to determine the priority facilities to be included by the time the project is completed. DRD is still in the process of securing funding for the complete build-out of the project. The Desert Recreation Foundation, our 501(c)3 supporting charity, is actively seeking grants and private donations to aid in the completion of this project. Please call Kevin Kalman at (760)347-3484 if you would like to get involved to help raise funds or to make a tax deductible donation to this project.

For more information on Desert Recreation District programs and activities, check out the website at: MyRecreationDistrict.com or pick up a local Activities Guide at DRD Community Centers in Palm Desert, Thousand Palms, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta, Indio, Indio Hills, Coachella, Mecca, Thermal and North Shore or at DRD’s Administrative office in Indio.

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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BACKSTAGE JAZZ

SLIM MAN

THE GAMES WE PLAY

I

t’s been so hot here in Palm Springs that I had to put ice cubes in my water bed.

My dad lived on top of a mountain in the Catskills in New York. There was 3 feet of snow on the ground 3 months a year. It would get below zero. But you could bundle up and walk outside for an hour or so, and live to talk about it.

But when it’s 120 degrees, you could walk down the streets of Palm Springs naked with a 50-pound block of ice duct-taped to your head and within minutes you’d fry like a piece of chicken. Extra-crispy.

Even if you have a swimming pool, the water is so warm that you could cook spaghetti in it. Except the chlorine might make it taste funny.

When it gets really hot here, people stay indoors. And what do you do when you’re living like a shut-in? You blast the AC and watch TV. So I tuned into the Olympics.

My first thought? There are too many events. There are 41, according to the Summer Olympics website. A lot of those events have subcategories. Track has 24.

Gymnastics has 8. There’s gotta be a hundred events, if you add the sub-categories. That’s too much!

In the Winter Olympics, they only have about 15 events. And they combine some of them. The biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

They should combine events at the Summer Olympics, too. It would save time and make viewing a whole lot more fun.

Why not combine the pole vault and the 100-meter dash? This event could not only be entertaining, it could come in handy if they build a wall between the US and Mexico.

We could combine the discus throw and the shot-put. How, you may ask? Have them throw at each other. This would not only cut down on viewing time, it could be pretty exciting.

We could combine dressage—the horsedancing routines—with fencing. It could be like modern day jousting.

Why not combine volleyball and archery?

For instance, when a volleyball player tosses the ball way up in the air to serve it, the

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opposing team could try to shoot it down with an arrow. Sure, errant arrows might accidentally pierce a spectator in the neck, but ratings would soar.

A lot of the Olympic events make sense.

You can see where some of them would have been useful way back when, and how they evolved into a sport. Take track, for instance.

If a rhinoceros were chasing you through the Serengeti, it would be pretty useful to be able to run really fast, and that’s probably how the 100-meter dash got started. It would also probably help if you could leap into a tree, and that’s probably how the high-jump got started.

To be able to hurl a javelin real far could come in useful if you wanted to warn your husband to stay away from the neighboring caveman’s wife. Being able to row a boat real fast could come in handy if some vicious Vikings were chasing you down with flaming arrows.

You can see how some of these sports evolved into Olympic games.

But how did jumping on a trampoline become an Olympic event? It seems more like a kid’s backyard sport than an Olympic event. What’s next? The Olympic water slide? Horseshoes? Pin the tail on the donkey?

And how did the women’s hammerthrow become an Olympic event? My guess is, back in the old days, right after plumbing was invented, some poor guy forgot to put the toilet seat up (or is it down?) and got a ball pein hammer tossed at his cranium.

And an Olympic sport was born.

I’m not sure I’d like to be married to a woman who could throw a hammer with incredible speed and deadly accuracy.

But I have deep respect for any woman who can, for the record. I don’t want any angry ex-Olympians coming to a Slim Man show and screaming “Hammer time!” and then zinging a claw hammer at my frontal lobe.

Who loves ya?

Uncle Slimmy Slim Man is a singer, writer and Olympic trampolinist. He has a new cookbook, Slim Man Cooks, that’s available on his website: www.slimman.com

BY PATTE PURCELL

SERGIO VILLEGAS, FLAMENCO JAZZ GUITARIST

O

ne of the best parts of doing the Celebrity Jazz Jams is discovering the treasure trove of exceptional musicians we have in the desert. At the Latin Jazz jam we did in February an exceptionally talented flamenco guitarist that played with Joe Baldino caught my attention. His name is Sergio Villegas and he is from Santiago, Chile.

He plays ten instruments but his passion is for the guitar. Beginning at the age of 5 he started lessons on the accordion. At age 6 he went to the Conservatory of Music and began his studies in classical music. By the age of 15 he was a professional musician.

He moved to LA in 1980 and played with one of the pioneers of Latin from the Andes with a group called Sajama. He recorded 12 CDs with them.

His career has included a total of 50 CDs that he’s performed on worldwide. He was hired by Quincy Jones to play with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. He’s recorded with dozens of artists including Shakira, Baby Face, Los Fugitives, the famous Gypsy Kings and the #1 Clarinet player in the world Enrique Ceretti. He’s done movies, films for Disney, and TV shows including on air appearances in 5 of the ‘Sex and the City’ episodes.

He’s toured the world with different bands to Russia, South America and Europe.

In 2000, he moved to the desert where he met his wife Shirley, one of the famous Evaro family members. He brought his South American style that he has shared from New York to Miami Beach. They teamed up to do performances together with Shirley on vocals. They have been very successful in getting some of the top country club, festival and hotel gigs in the desert. Wednesdays and Thursdays they are at Bistro Sixty from 5-8, Fridays at PGA West from 5:30-8:30, Tuesday at Indian Wells Country Club from 4-7.

He’s also opening for Fitz’s Jazz Cafe at the Mc Callum again this year at the concert series. He will also be participating in the

River Concert series on Dec. 3 at 4 pm.

He’s been opening the Mc Callum series for several years and has opened for Kenny G, George Benson, and more. He’s also performed at the Broken Glass Award for Women in Film for the last 5 years. In addition he plays for private parties and events.

Last year he realized one of his personal goals when he recorded his first CD with his most requested songs and one of his originals as well.

He has his degree from the Conservatory of Music and in addition has a degree from La University in business administration and marketing. He takes the business side of music very seriously.

What an impressive resume! He does a lot of charity work and sometimes apologizes to his audience for having to charge them to hear him play. He says “music saved my life” and his goal is to make people happy.

He plays at the Indio Senior Center regularly and says its “priceless”. It brings him joy to know that millions of people around the world have his CDs. He says he ‘forgets everything’ when he plays. One of his biggest thrills was playing for a crowd of 900,000 people at an LA festival. His stint at Universal Studios introduced him to playing for a full day, which he loved.

When I asked him for a message for his fans, he said “Music is a dream come true, and the ability to make people happy is a gift.”

Sergio and Shirley will be guest artists at my new Celebrity Jam Fest, on Wednesday Oct. 5 from 6-9 at Woodhaven Country Club in Palm Desert. Tickets go on line soon.

Visit purplepass.com/celebrityjamfest or call 1-800-316-8559 To contact Sergio email him at sosvillegas@icloud.com or call him at 760397-7220.

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8TH ANNUAL BHAKTI FEST GATHERS THOUSANDS OF ALL AGES FOR A TRANSFORMATIONAL EVENT!

NEW HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A SOUND-BATH DOME, SACRED WOMEN’S TENT, MEN’S LODGE, AND EXPANDED FAMILY VILLAGE, ALONG WITH TOP KIRTAN STARS, SACRED MUSIC, MEANINGFUL WORKSHOPS AND PREMIERE YOGA TEACHERS, SEPTEMBER 7-12 IN JOSHUA TREE, CA

B

hakti Fest, the preeminent sacred music and yoga festival dedicated to bringing spiritual consciousness and earthly freedom to both the attendees, and the global recipients of this nonprofit festival’s charitable endeavors, will be returning to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center September 7-12.

A beloved annual event on the calendars of spiritual seekers, yogis, families, girlfriend squads, and others looking for an end of summer festival to commune with nature, each other and the divine, Bhakti Fest has expanded their offering beyond the top yoga teachers, Kirtan artists and workshop leaders, to include features such as a Family Village for parent and me yoga, kids music and more, as well as a Sound-bath Dome and Sound Healings under the stars, the latest trend in musical meditation. In addition to its always enlightening workshop program Bhakti Fest also hosts a Sacred Women’s Tent and a Men’s Lodge offering gender specific programming covering topics such as Tantra, empowerment, and redefining masculinity.

Known internationally for hosting a massive lineup of Kirtan musicians, master yoga instructors, and spiritual teachers, Bhakti Fest draws thousands of conscious explorers from the U.S. and around the world. Kirtan and reggae influenced singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, known for his hits “Brand New Day,” “The Lime Tree,” “Unity,” and others will headline the event. Other returning headliners include Grammy nominee Krishna Das; Jai Uttal, with his high energy reggae and ska-influenced Kirtan set; revolutionary hiphop artist MC YOGI; and long-time Madonna collaborator Donna De Lory.

Bhakti Fest offers nonstop conscious music and Kirtan/chanting on two stages, in a wide of variety of musical genres including blues, rock, pop, gospel, traditional, and hip-hop. This year’s musicians also include the Kirtaniyas, Dave Stringer, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band, Saul David Raye, David Newman, Govind Das & Radha, Gina Sala, Girish, Brenda McMorrow, Gandharvas Kirtan, Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe, Sri Kirtan, Fannah Fi Allah, Shantala and Pranja Vieira.

Several thousand participants will share sacred space with the world’s finest teachers of spiritual knowledge, yoga, and breathwork. The festival will feature twelve hours of daily yoga classes in four venues, facilitated by

incomparable teachers: Shiva Rea, Saul David Raye, Mark Whitwell, Kia Miller, Jennica Mills, Laura Plumb, Erica Burkhalter, Jaya Lakshmi & Ananda, Hemalayaa Behl, Mas Vidal, Janet Stone, and Kristin Olson, to name only a few.

All levels of students are welcome—beginner and advanced yogis alike are encouraged to join! There is something for everyone.

The Bhakti Fest workshops aim to enlighten all attendees with talks by as Radhanath Swami, a philanthropist and author of The Journey Home, who presents on his incredible spiritual journey; breathwork phenomenon, Michael Brian Baker whose students say his class “provides a life changing experience;” Manoj Chalam, a Murti scholar who uses humor and personal anecdotes in his lectures and workshops to illuminate Hindu mythology; and many more.

Presenters in the Sacred Women’s Tent include Dawn Cartwright, a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion; Monika Nataraj, the creatrix of the 200-hour Mystical Dance® and Shakti Spirit® women’s teacher trainings in Thailand who also co-leads the Mystical Yogini women’s teacher training in India; Joanne Ameya Cohen a Certified Women’s Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist, Plant Spirit Medicine Practitioner, Feminine Embodiment Mentor, Counselor, and Shamanic Practitioner, who is passionate about helping women to let go of past pains and hurts in order to reclaim their Wild Feminine; among others.

In the Men’s Lodge Zat Baraka will help men to step out of the confines of their societal conditionings and into the new masculine way of being; other men’s lodge speakers will be announced. As always the annual festival will deliver an exclusive interview with Bhakti Fest elder, and spiritual icon, Ram Dass, whose book Be Here Now helped bring Eastern philosophy to the West in the 1960s.

Bhakti Fest also offers a healing sanctuary with massage, bodywork, energy work, and other wellness enhancing modalities. In addition, Bhaktis will feast on a variety of raw, vegan, and vegetarian food and beverage options. There is an extensive marketplace with eco-friendly, sustainable vendors who offer yoga gear, clothing, devotional art, musical instruments, CDs, crafts, jewelry and more. Bhakti Fest’s own Bhakti Shoppe will

feature highly sought-after items from the bazaars of India.

Bhakti Fest is a vegetarian, family friendly, safe environment, free of alcohol and drugs.

Children 12 and under are allowed in for free and there is a specific Bhakti Family Village where children can take part in music, yoga and enlightened play.

The Joshua Tree Retreat Center offers the perfect setting for inner reflection and spiritual reconnection, with its natural high desert beauty. Accommodations onsite include new private apartments, beds in the men’s and women’s dorms, glamping, camping, and RV parking. There are also several hotels within a few miles of the retreat

August 18 to August 24, 2016

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center that offer discounts for attendees.

Info on lodging is available at west.bhaktifest. com/lodging.

With a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, more than 60 conscious workshops, and 100 artisan vendors, Bhakti Fest offers the most heartopening, consciousness-raising experience of any festival on the scene today. Attendees describe the festival as “being immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced, filled with music, yoga, dancing, love, light, and heart centered community.”

Tickets for Bhakti Fest West 2016 are available at west.bhaktifest.com. Bhakti Fest is a nonprofit 501c3 organization and accepts tax-deductible donations. The festival donates a percentage of its funds to charities and other nonprofit groups that provide food, education, and environmental beautification programs around the world.

These include Food for Life Vrindavan, Love Serve Remember Foundation, Ramana’s Garden, Seva Foundation, Share Your Care, and Woman’s Earth Alliance.

Bhakti Fest would not be possible without the support of these generous sponsors; I-CODA, Organic India, Health Ade Kombucha, Desert Essence, Coconut Bliss, Divinitree Yoga & Art Studio, Shakti Juice and White Swan Records. For more information please see bhaktifest.com.

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY KAITEY MARIE

PHOTOS BY JESSE FULTON

THAT’S A WRAP: SPLASH HOUSE CLOSES OUT BIGGEST SEASON TO DATE

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or the fourth year in a row, Splash House provided a dreamily cool ending to another hot summer here in the desert. The sold-out poolside music festival saw record numbers this year, with over 5,000 party-goers in attendance each day. The young festival created by Palm Springs native Tyler McLean has been praised by LA Weekly as “Southern California’s ultimate summer pool party.”

This August, Splash House welcomed impressive names in EDM including Gorgon City, Snakehips, Matt DiMona, SNBRN and more. Locals and out-of-towners alike traveled to Palm Springs sporting neon floaties and trendy suits, ready to sip on Mai Tais and get lost in deep tropical house for the weekend.

The festival kicked off on Friday night with indie-electronic artist Rüfüs du Sol headlining the After Hours party at Palm Springs Air Museum. The open-air dance floor provided the perfect atmosphere for some dancy electro-pop vibes. Tucked under starry desert skies, the After Hours crowd danced until 2am.

On Saturday morning, several Splash House goers made their way to yoga on the lawn at the Riviera, while others opted for a mimosa brunch to gear up for the day.

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Despite record temperatures, thousands flocked to the Riviera and the Saguaro to splash around in the pool to some of their favorite artists. Snakehips, who performed at Coachella in April this year, headlined at the Riviera while Splash House veterans Viceroy and Vanilla Ace both delivered stellar sets at the Saguaro.

The eclectic festival went out with a bang on Sunday night with popular London duo Gorgon City. As the UK chart-topping song “Ready for Your Love” pumped through the Riviera pool, music lovers at Splash House drank, danced, and celebrated the last hurrah of summer.

If you missed out on Splash House this year, don’t worry – the fun isn’t going anywhere. Palm Springs native and founder Tyler McLean has high hopes for the future of the festival. “[We] hope to continue to offer you more each and every year,” McClean commented, “We look forward to being back in 2017 for our fifth year of the festival.”

To stay connected with exclusive Splash House news including presale ticket release dates and line-ups, follow Splash House on Facebook and Instagram @SplashHouse.

Written By Kaitey Marie kkalisva@uci.edu

51ST ANNUAL BORREGO DAYS DESERT FESTIVAL

Theme: Resort To Nature Date: October 21-23, 2016 Time: Friday 5 - 9 PM | Saturday 10 AM 9 PM | Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM Location: Christmas Circle Community Park | Borrego Springs| 600 Christmas Circle Dr., Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Event includes: Parade, flyover, live entertainment on two stages, car show, art exhibits, kids zone, vendors, gourmet food trucks, festival food booths, beverage garden, and more.

Admission: Free Parking: abundance of free parking surrounding Christmas Circle and within walking distance of the Festival.

Festival website: BorregoDays.com Event information: Borrego Days Desert Festival has a long history of being “The” launch event for the new season in Southern California’s Desert Regions. Enticing locals to come together after a long hot summer and to welcome snowbirds back for the fabulous desert weather.

This year’s theme ‘Resort To Nature’ brings awareness and pay homage to the beauty of Borrego Springs and the surrounding 600,000 acre Anza- Borrego Desert State Park.

The FREE festival kicks off on Friday night with live entertainment at Christmas Circle featuring the country folk sounds of The Alice Wallace Band, followed by Whitney Shay and Robin Henkel offering blues, blues and more blues.

On Saturday morning festival goers will line the main street for the popular parade that starts with an emotionally filled flyover and the singing of our National Anthem. On cue the street clears and the parade begins.

Parade entrants include equestrians, marching bands, floats, clowns, dancers, and more. A full day of non-stop amusement and entertainment.

After the parade the action moves back to

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the middle town and the historic Christmas Circle for more live entertainment with Steven Ybarra - Izon Eden and more. Festival goers will enjoy a children’s fun zone and activities, artists, food vendors, beverage garden, outdoor shopping, collector automobiles, audience choice competitions and more.

On Sunday Borrego Days continues at Christmas Circle with live entertainment from Angel Miguel and Gabby de Millan, Mariachi Estrella and the Borrego Springs Elementary Hip-Hop Dance Team. Plus shopping, eating, and frolicking in the park filled with festival excitement.

A true family friendly event bringing visitors and locals together from near and far for three days of parties, excitement and great fun in Borrego Springs “California’s Secret Desert.”

For more information please call (760) 767-5555 or visit BorregoDays.com. The Borrego Days Desert Festival is a project of the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors’ Bureau (VisitBorrego.com), serving the needs of the community of Borrego Springs since 1950, and with the support of its 501(c)(3) public benefit fiscal sponsor the Borrego Festivals Foundation (BFF.NGO).

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

ROGUE OGRE

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ogue Ogre is a band with a lot of heart.

The trio plays live with a passion.

Although they are a fairly new band (just one year old), these guys have racked up their show count by playing with many other popular local bands at venues such as The Hood, Club 5, and Plan B. I spoke with Donny Browne (Lead Guitar), Xan “Abyss” Raymond (Vocals and Bass), and Patrick Toft (Drums and Percussion) to hear more about what this energetic band is up to and the direction they are headed.

MJ: How does Rogue Ogre write songs?

What inspires your music?

XR: “A lot of our process is just jamming and occasionally finding those great riffs or themes or rhythms or melodies and just vamping on those. Don and I also write riffs in our spare time, practice them with each other when we jam, and eventually bring Pat on to finalize it, which doesn’t just mean putting drums down, but also adding sections on, or modifying riffs so that they don’t get too repetitive. As for consistent themes, I’d say magic, sex, violence, drugs, exile and darkness, and humor; those all probably show up in our music as well as our lyrics. So do comic books and stuff like that though. I think our songs are just us being our everyday weird selves in musical form. Whatever drives us in life drives us in art, too.”

PT: “We do all have a share in the scaffolding of the songs, but mostly so far it’s been Xan that writes most of the starting riffs and lyrics, usually we flow from a 20-30 minute improv at the beginning of each practice that helps us warm up. Our genre is a whole different story because were all into similar music but differ in style. We love it because it brings originality into the mix and that’s where the psych-thrash songs we have now are born, some punk more than others but we know how to go chill real quick.

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We play because we love it.”

MJ: Share with our readers what it feels like to attend a Rogue Ogre show.

XR: “Oh, I know this one: our opening song is never the same song twice. Also, our opening songs might never get played again. Also our opening songs are usually jokes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a band make whole songs out of stupid jokes as often as we do. Also, in that way, you never fully know what to expect with our set. We like punk and thrash and all that good stuff we typically represent ourselves as a psychedelic band. Also, sometimes we jam with our audience. We do our best to keep things interesting and fresh.”

DB: “I’d like to believe that each of us have our own style and stage presence. When you look at most bands, a lot of them dress alike, act alike, have the same sort of personality, and what sets us apart is that we are just different from each other, yet alike in so many ways....like the A-Team! For those reading, you can expect our shows to be loud, trippy, and quite bluesy with a drop of an adrenaline rush. We’re loud, we’re high octane speed, and we can get rally into the low down dirty of rock as well, so expect a great time!”

MJ: Do you have a couple great or funny memories to share?

XR: “Honestly, there’s some incredible talent in this valley, I think some of the artists out here could become international, if discovered. But I

BY MORGAN JAMES

might be biased. Some of the best bands we’ve played with, in my opinion, are Atala, Fight Like a Girl, The Kathys, Scarlet Lady, Panzram, Kill the Radio and Spankshaft. It feels like I didn’t give enough bands props, but I’ve probably played with more bands I like than bands I don’t like.”

DB: “Well, our first gigs we have had starting out just over a year ago, we would go play at the open mic nights in Palm Springs. We were told not to play because we looked like a band that would play ‘too loud.’ I still remember the nervous look on some of them folks’ faces when I was walking in lugging this big Marshall half stack. My top two favorite shows to date are the two recent ones we had at Club 5 & The Hood.

The places were packed, so we turned way up and just rocked as hard as we could. Patrick laid out nasty and thunderous drum solos, Xan was grooving harder than ever, I was on the floor soloing feeling the power. It’s the best feeling when everyone is perfectly in sync together as if we’re are all in the same mind almost.”

MJ: Where can our readers find your music?

XR: “I know there are also clips of us live on YouTube and Facebook, but no music videos yet.

However, once we get decent recordings, we plan on making every one into a music video.

We are currently in the process of writing new songs, and have 3 in the cue, though we have a lot more than that on the way. We also are

AN EVENING WITH FILMMAKER/ARTIST/WRITER CHIP MILLER

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irector/WGA screenwriter/artist and songwriter, Chip Miller, will host a Q&A following preview screenings of numerous PBS Television Concert Specials he has directed and produced with legendary PBS Producer, Terrel Cass. These previews, to be held at the La Quinta Museum near Old Town La Quinta, will give a glimpse of upcoming museum screening events, which Miller will be hosting through the Fall.

Included are excerpts from PBS, Public Television, HBO, and VH-1 concert specials like, “Encanto Del Caribe,” an all-star show with Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Ana Isabelle, Bernie Williams (NY Yankee slugger turned guitar great), and an international Whos’ Who? from the Hispanic music community, all shot on an historic location in Puerto Rico; “Rhythm of the Dance” with The National Dance Academy of Ireland, shot on 48 locations throughout Ireland over a one year period; “Trini Lopez: Unplugged at Cal State” an impromptu taping of Trini Lopez giving a mini-concert and a Q&A; “Songcatchers: The Gathering” an all-star Native American special shot in Santa Fe and soon to

be airing on FNX, starring Grammy winners Mary Youngblood and Thirza DeFoe, along with the popular Jana Rashonee; a special advance sneak preview of “The Kingston Trio Celebration,” an all-star PBS TV special that premiered in June and has a big national encore in September/ October, starring Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles, Barry McGuire formerly of The New Christy Minstrels, Henry Diltz of The Modern folk Quartet (locals will know them from their featured role in the late 50’s movie, “Palm Springs Weekend”), Trini Lopez, The Limeliters, Josh Reynolds (son of The Trio’s late Nick Reynolds), and a rare appearance

by Trio founder Bob Shane; St. Patrick’s Day with The Young Irish Tenors and The National Dance Academy of Ireland, taped at Folsom University; and more. In addition, Miller will screen a dozen VH-1 and MTV Europe music videos that were shot on location in La Quinta and surrounding areas, from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree and the Salton Sea. Miller, having directed hundreds of music videos for major recording artists, produced and directed several independent movies,

August 18 to August 24, 2016

television pilots, a children’s series fort Disney Channel, and dozens of live television concert specials for major recording artists, and helmed numerous national commercials, will provide a personal commentary and behind-the-scenes stories about these and such other concert productions he directed and produced with Cass, like his PBS specials for The Texas Tenors, Diahann Carroll (taped at the Annenberg in Palm Springs), The Young Irish Tenors, and Brian Wilson, to name a few. He has worked closely

planning on making a serious demo recording sometime this fall, an actual serious release we can make videos and DIY packages with.

Then eventually we’ll record in a studio. As for touring, that’s definitely something we, as a trio, have always wanted to do, but I just lost my car, we’re all broke millennials and a road trip with all of our most prized possessions is just not in the cards right now. If anyone wants to help us out, we’ll probably take it, but we never really expected any doors to open up right away.”

MJ: What are your goals as a band and what is next for you?

DB: “Our goal is to keep up what we got going on and to stick together. We might be band mates but we’re family now. We want to hit the studio, go on tour, go places we’ve never been, and just express ourselves musically. We have upcoming shows at: 8/19 - Blythe, CA @ Patty’s Bar & Grill 9/1 - Thousand Palms, CA @ Plan B 9/15 - Thousand Palms, CA @ Plan B PT: “I’ll fly high if the wind takes me there.

Parasailing.”

MJ: Any other information that you would like to share?

XR: Info- I guess all I can say is we might be looking for a bassist or keyboardist. So, if anyone reading this plays keyboard like Ray Manzarek and wants to basically join a metal band, they should hit us up. Also, I’m not married to playing bass, so if someone wants to play some Rogue Ogre-style bass, they should also hit us up.”

PT: “I just care about this band and the people in it. We never fight. We always get along and we do things on the side. We’re friends and even if we weren’t together musically there’s no doubt in my mind that we would stay friends.”

Facebook.com/RogueOgre Soundcloud.com/RogueOgre

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with actors Liam Neeson, Nicolas Cage, Sissy Spacek, Jane Alexander, singer/actress Michelle Phillips, Howie Mandell, and many more, as well as was a Personal Manager for British actress Susan George, Simon MacCorkindale, and The Commodores. He has written biopic screenplays on The Mamas and The Papas, Morton Downey, Jr., and rockabilly legend, Gene Vincent. He is currently developing several feature film projects, ranging from “The Clairvoyant: The Edgar Cayce Story,” “Scotch and Soda: The Kingston Trio Story,” “The Innocent” (the story of hanged Irish murderer, Harry Gleeson, who recently became the first posthumous pardon in Irish history, 75 years later). Gleeson was Miller’s Grandmother’s brother. Miller is a partner at Desert C.A.M. Studios, a local film, video and audio production and post-production company.

Chip will be screening a different program each month. The Q&A and screenings are being held at the La Quinta Museum near Old Town La Quinta, with the first event on August 18, 2016 at 7 PM. Admission is free. Refreshments provided by the La Quinta Historical Society.

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

CONSIDER THIS

URBAN DESERT CABARET

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his month saw the release of German filmmaker Joerg Steineck’s “Lo-Sound Desert” documentary on DVD. This 10 year labor of love takes a sharp and sardonic look at the music scene that sprung up quite organically back in the ‘80s.

A quixotic tribe of kids, led by Mario Lalli, Zach Huskey, Herb Lineau and Sean Wheeler, had been weaned on skateboarding, Punk Rock and Black Sabbath. In a land of country clubs, ring-a-ding-ding music and golf slacks, they began playing their own primitive hybrid of Punk and Metal. Knowing local night clubs would never showcase their shambolic sounds, they took to the open desert armed with guitars and portable generators.

It’s the stuff that legends were made of, and has since achieved worldwide recognition for bands like Fatso Jetson, Dali’s Llama and Throw Rag. It was also an incubus for the superstar act, Queens Of The Stone Age. But it’s only half of the desert story. The other half is still being written up in the Hi-Desert.

Joshua Tree has been a safe haven and a spiritual touchstone for musicians for more than 50 years. Donovan and the late Gram Parsons embraced the barren landscape as a retreat. The pilgrimage of artists continued with John Lennon, Keith Richards, Eric Burdon and most famously, U2.

At the dawn of the ‘90s, more and more musicians weren’t just escaping to Joshua Tree as a getaway. They were actually pulling up stakes, ditching the urban sprawl of Los Angeles and moving here. alt.country stalwarts Victoria Williams and Mark Olson were pioneers, along with lesser-known (but no less important) lights like Fred Drake and Teddy Quinn.

Fred rented a ramshackle house and along with Teddy, opened Rancho de la Luna Recording studio, although he passed away in 2002, Teddy continues to carry Fred’s musical torch. He hosts and curates musical events, and he started an internet radio station, Radio Free Joshua Tree. He also writes, performs and records his own music with protean musicians like Thom Merrick, Jeff Boaz, Jennifer Irvine and Leslie Mariah Andrews.

These days, Joshua Tree feels like its own, self-contained musical universe. Maintaining the spirit of less verdant Laurel Canyon, the

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

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“SHADOW OF A GHOST” (URBANDESERTCABARET.COM)

small enclave is ripe with recording facilities like High Lonesome, Back Of The Moon and Red Barn Recorders. Live performances are plentiful in spaces like the Beatnik Lounge, Joshua Tree Saloon and of course, the venerable Pappy & Harriet’s. It’s a place where the DIY ethos of Punk collides with the Peace & Love credos established during the Hippie era. In short, people feel unafraid to let their freak flags fly.

Joe City Garcia is another transplant who abandoned the dense chaos of Los Angeles for the wide open spaces of Joshua Tree. A native of Northern New Mexico, he took to music at an early age. He’s tackled myriad musical genres, from Tex-Mex, Garage Rock, Psychedelia and Punk Rock.

Gravitating to L.A. as a young man, he fronted his own bands; The Crawlers as well as Joe City & The Nightcrawlers, the latter released a self-titled EP in 1982. Early on he connected with kindred spirit, Teddy Quinn, and the pair collaborated in the band Dream Army. By the end of the 20th century Joe had also sojourned to the High Desert.

Initially he worked with author/journalist/ poet Ruben Martinez. Together they cowrote and recorded music for a theatrical performance piece entitled “Border Ballad.”

They performed this and other pieces all across the country.

Around the same time Joe met his wife, abstract artist Joanna Fodczuk. He stepped away from the music scene for a bit, intent on re-charging his batteries. Of course, the pull to create was too strong and he began playing in pubs and coffee houses in Hollywood, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

Joe and Joanna began curating a monthly event they dubbed Urban Desert Cabaret, bringing together a surfeit of artists, musicians and poets. As he began accumulating a cache of songs, Joe decided to record under the moniker Urban Desert Cabaret.

His long-playing debut, Sometimes The Angels, arrived in 2015. Essentially a solo album it included contributions from HiDesert luminaries like Teddy Quinn, Faith and Tim Chinnock from Adobe Collective, Bobby Furgo, Lisa Mednick-Powell and Kip Powell, as well as legendary drummer Danny Frankel.

His creative spark fully ignited and Joe has returned with his sophomore effort, Shadow Of A Ghost.

The album kicks into gear with “Windy Voice.” Wheezy harmonica notes ebb and flow atop off-kilter rhythms and Spaghetti Western guitar. Joe’s vocals sandwich comfortably between Bob Dylan’s sandpaper-y rasp and Greg Brown’s wood-smoked blues. The super-meta lyrics address the mystery of songwriting, from the song’s perspective.

Tough childhood recollections are filtered through a lilting, Gypsy Jazz melody on “The Delta Bar.” Fluid violin runs and liquid arpeggios connect with percolating percussion. Looking through a “crack of time” the lyrics limn the casual heartbreak of a childhood spent around drunken habitues in the local dive bar.

“7-Up with a cherry on the rocks and chips could keep us smiling…They sent us to the

cigarette machine and said to make it snappy/ In the smoky room, the whiskey and the beer, I guess we all looked happy.”

Cryptic lyrics offer a Rorschach sketch of a troubled soul on “Wouldn’t You Agree.” “She’s got a way of acting you can’t really describe, when you thought she’d gone away, she’d just found a place to hide.” The melody is a SouthOf-The-Border charmer accented by a wash of harmonica and warm Wurlitzer tones.

Both “Queen Of Light” and “Vienna Vampire Waltz” add new colors and textures to Urban Desert Cabaret’s rich sonic palette.

The former simply shimmers. The lush melody is tethered to a galloping gait and jangly guitar licks. Here Joe spins a yarn that meets in the ether somewhere between mystery, mythology and apocrypha.

The latter is powered by courtly accordion fills and splashes of percussion in ¾ time. An enigmatic raconteur offers some hard won wisdom; “Decadence in good measure is lovely, even a vampire knows when to quit/It’s the passion and the grit, the art of the dance allow a lover like me to split.”

“Go Away” and “World On The Edge” both explore themes of mortality and loss. On the spare “Go...” violin and guitar intertwine, cocooning this brittle dance with death. The lyrics quietly resist the seductive charm of the afterlife; “Maybe some other time I can walk with you, but tonight under these stars on Vin Rose Avenue/Please walk on the other side of town, I think I’d rather stay. Go Away.”

After the shadow and light chiaroscuro of “Go Away,” “World On The Edge” is a vibrant burst of technicolor. Here propulsive rhythms collide with luminous organ notes and roiling guitar.

Cleverly name-checking the Clash and P.F.

Sloan by way of Barry McGuire, the verbose lyrics insinuate that the end is nigh; “Eve Of destruction she took a break, but now it’s all used up, behind the scenes she’s creeping along, she can never destroy enough/Politics, religion and the holy grail, the songs and stories and poems of revolution buried in the dust.” To paraphrase R.E.M., it may be the end of the world as we know it, but this song feels fine.

Other interesting songs include the Country-tinged Gospel Blues of title track and the piano-driven “Ain’t Got No Blues.”

The album closes with the stark and powerful “Flagman,” a dark song about finding light, anchored by a spitfire electric guitar that sparks and pinwheels through dense instrumentation.

On this not-so-solo effort Joe is ably assisted by returning MVPs like world famous pals, drummer Danny Frankel and violinist Bobby Furgo. New faces include guitarist (and local treasure) Gar Robertson and British singer-songwriter Kirsty McGee. Gar and Joe co-produced the album.

Travelling up Highway 62, it’s easy to see why so many artists, poets and musicians like Gram Parsons, Victoria Williams Teddy Quinn and of course Joe City Garcia continues to draw inspiration from this hardscrabble land.

Sustaining a life here requires passion and grit.

But the rewards are myriad.

Simply put, Shadow Of A Ghost delivers on the promise of Sometimes The Angels. Joe City Garcia (ne’ Urban Desert Cabaret) is here to stay, ushering in a new chapter of the Desert Rock story.

ART SCENE

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

August 18 to August 24, 2016

BY ANGELA ROMEO

TERRY HASTINGS AIRS HIS DIRTY LAUNDRY

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erry Hastings is not one to shy away from controversy – even if that controversy exits in the mind of another. His latest show Dirty Laundry opens August 12 at Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery.

“This particular body of work includes bodies, specifically male bodies,” said Terry. “For some the thought of a nude figure, let alone a male nude, is cause for alarm. Had the work featured female nudes I doubt many would have even blinked.”

Terry’s photographic work is movement captured, “I have worked on series using the elements earth, air, fire, and water as the starting point. Using the element as the subject I introduced a figure, a male nude to interact with the element. The nude figure captures the essence of the element: Pure, simple, classical compositions that are produced in a contemporary manner, with full awareness of the art. “ So why is Terry always a step from being banned on Facebook? “Our society has been conditioned to view all nudity as pornography.

Facebook has banned not just my work but even photos of the bronze statue, The Little Mermaid. The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the in Copenhagen, Denmark. Somehow that offended someone!”

“I fully expect Dirty Laundry will ruffle someone’s sensibilities. While a little controversy always makes for good press, it would be better if the dialogue of art vs. pornography were explored. The human figure is studied in almost every art academic program. Being able to capture the nude form is a rite of passage for most art students. We don’t blush at that but when that same figure is removed from the academic world into our everyday world, there is panic. It baffles me.”

Dirty Laundry features over 100 images shot by Terry in natural surroundings. “Again the figure complements the surroundings. A clothed figure would be a fashion shoot or magazine editorial. Neither was my intent.

My focus was the movement within the surroundings.”

“I understand that my work, particular the male nudes, will make a few uncomfortable.

Whether I will offend someone or not is not my concern. I am creating my art – my art, not art to ease the puritanical conscience of another. Be offended! That is ok. It would be better if a viewer entered that art world with an open mind. It is ok not to like a particular work. It is another to dismiss a work because of the nude.”

“Oftentimes, I do not get the opportunity to show explicit nudes. I have been able to show nudes as long as the ‘parts’ aren’t showing, or are covered up. I do not know too many people who are born with black modesty bars hiding these apparently offensive physical features. At the Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery, I’m encouraged to show exactly what I want to show. That is why nearly every photo on display has never been seen publicly. I’ve allowed myself to widen my viewpoint and not edit out certain photos because the butt is showing or anything else.”

The Supreme Court once held that the standard for deciding what constitutes pornography is material where the “dominant theme taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest”, and that the “average person, applying contemporary community standards” would disapprove of it. In 1964 Justice Potter said that “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description, and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so.

But I know it when I see it…” In 1973 the Supreme Court again took on the concept of pornography. The case set three criteria – the most important being that the work as a whole “must lack literary, artistic, political, or scientific values.”

Dirty Laundry is a collection of artwork that respects the classical concept of the nude but brings the male figure into the contemporary art world with respect and dignity.

For more on Terry Hastings visit www. mrterryhastings.com Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery (www. collididingworldsfineart.com) is located at 68895, #I-13, Cathedral City Ca.

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

PET PLACE

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BY JANET McAFEE

STEVE MILLER & PORTIA, A LABOR OF LOVE

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ust wondering, what would your husband or wife say if you called them up and told them you were moving into a motel with a very sick dog for a few weeks? My wife has been amazingly understanding through all of this, and that’s why I love her so much,” Steve Miller explains from his Redlands motel room.

Miller, one of the wonderful volunteers at the San Bernardino City Shelter, has spent the past two weeks sequestered at a motel with Portia, a very sick and contagious 3-year old Pit Bull Retriever mix pup he rescued from the shelter.

Miller, an ardent animal lover, had never been inside an animal shelter until four years ago when his cousin posted a Facebook photo of an abused pit bull named London. In spite of his horrific injuries that led to the amputation of London’s front legs, the dog proved to be loving and happy in his specially made wheelchair. Miller traveled to Crescent City for the abuser’s trial, meeting this incredible loving dog who forever changed his impression of the breed.

London also led Steve Miller down a new path that he would never have imagined.

Miller started volunteering at the city shelter, focusing on the pit bulls, getting “

them out of their kennels for exercise, walks, and play. He states, “I’d heard all the bad publicity about the breed, but after meeting London I wanted to find out for myself what they were like. I discovered that pit bulls crave human interaction more than any other breed I’ve come in contact with.”

Miller eventually started a small program to provide medical care to a few of the shelter’s dogs in need. A shelter employee approached Miller about helping a stray dog that came in appearing very sick. Portia was about to be euthanized when she was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia and tested positive for distemper.

The shelter is located in a low income area, at end of a dead end street, in a city that declared bankruptcy. While the staff struggles valiantly to help the animals, there is scant funding for veterinary care for the stray and discarded pets that stream endlessly into the shelter. Once Miller realized Portia’s kennel mate, Chevy, was exposed to her disease and scheduled for euthanasia, he arranged for The Barking Lot rescue in San Diego to save him.

Miller drove Portia to the Pet Care Center in West Los Angeles where they agreed to provide free medical care to this rescue dog.

Not only was Portia contagious and could not go to a foster home with animals, but she also requires special medical treatments every eight hours. Miller provides Albuterol vaporizer treatments three times a day, followed by cupping massages and tapping.

This procedure loosens the phlegm in Portia’s lungs. Portia is on three medications.

Portia is on the mend. Tonight she’s a happy dog, lying on the motel bed, watching

MEET MOJAVE This playful 7-week-old fellow promises feline fun, frolicking, & friendship.

Rescued by ForeverMeow, www.forevermeow.org (760) 355-6767.

MEET PRINCE & PRINCESS Double your fun and adopt this lovely 7-mo-old sibling pair!

Abandoned by owner, these regal pups deserve a second chance. Dog ID#A496658 & A496657 at the San Bernardino City Shelter, 333 Chandler Place, SB. Open 10-4:30 Tues-Sat. (909) 384-1304.

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television with her savior. Miller has his laptop, and networks more homeless animals that need rescuing when he’s not tending to Portia or talking with family by phone. There is a magical bond between a dog and his human rescuer, and these intelligent sensitive creatures repay you in ways you can never imagine.

Portia will soon be ready for a family of her own. This sweet natured, loving and grateful dog deserves a fantastic second chance home. Contact (951) 906-1874 for more information about adopting Portia.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of an animal shelter. To volunteer at the San Bernardino City Shelter, contact Cathy Nisbet at (951) 892-8028, or fill out an application at the shelter. Coachella Valley residents can contact volunteer coordinator, Priscilla Dewing, with the Coachella Valley Animal Campus at (760) 343-3644. You probably will not need to camp out in a motel with a dog, but the animals will benefit immensely by having you walk them and spend time with them. The joy of helping these beautiful animals prepare for their forever homes when you foster or volunteer, is your reward.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net

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THE VINO VOICE

BY RICK RIOZZA

WHAT’S UP WITH OLYMPIC WINE PICKS!!

W

hether we’re here in the desert, out on our annual wine country trip, or actually down live in “Rio Dej”, we are no doubt joining in on all of the fun and fanfare of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With the broadest of brushes, let’s have some summer fun and snoop out our favorite Olympic-themed wines to quaff & watch the finals.

Of course being vino lovers, we can absolutely pivot and cheer-on any bona fide beverage that fits the bill. Here, of course, there’s no is getting by the national drink of Brazil and the most ordered cocktail in town: the Caipirinha [KYE-peer-EEN-nya], a lime Mojito is a general sense. Sweet, tart and strong, the Caipirinha is mixed with the Brazilian spirit cachaça [cah-SHAS-sa] It’s a distilled spirit made from sugar cane, as opposed to Caribbean rum, which is made from molasses. Unaged, its taste is somewhere between rum and tequila; aged, it takes on a complex flavor than can vary from woodsy to vanilla-like to floral. Avuà Amburana—a cachaça aged in barrels made from amburana wood—adds a warm depth to the fruity Caipirinha.

Now what do we know about Brazilian wine. I remember back in the 80s, I went to a wine tasting party in Laguna Beach that was hosted by a master-craftsman who also owned a plot of land in the Sonoma hills growing pinot noir. Wishing to kind-of impress him, I brought an out-of-the-ordinary Brazilian Cab Sauv to the party.

If it were anyone else, I’m sure the guy would have thought that wine was found in some discount bin. But since I had just gone to Christie’s Auction House on behalf of a client to bid on the Thomas Jefferson 1789 Lafite (Forbes winning the bid at $165,000), apparently I had gained some wine gravitas, and my pick for the party was at least considered. Actually I had just purchased the Brazilian wine at Trader Joe’s for around $12—back then, a fairly pricey wine for the store.

The Cabernet Sauvignon was very good— velvety with dried fruit flavors and leather notes; a brickish-red wine that apparently aged quickly in the bottle. I think it went over well, but I’m sure some party people still thought I’d found it in some discount wine bin at Big Lots.

One could say that the Brazilian wine trade has been working undercover. It’s been Argentina and Chile who claim the limelight to some very delicious wine. But Brazil is South America’s third largest wine producer; however, they’re not big wine exporters, which is why we don’t see much of it anywhere. I haven’t seen a Brazilian wine on the shelves—even over at Trader Joe’s, in a long time.

But if you can find one, bringing a Brazilian wine to the party now is a very sexy move!

You know—the Brazilians, like the world, are all in on the game of wine. And they seem to drink most of the stuff they produce— which is a lot! The French company Moët & Chandon showed up in the early 1970s with most of Europe following, planting all of our favorite varietals. The trendiest wine region in Brazil right now is way south near the border to Uruguay.

For reds, look first to the Merlots. That grape ripens early and can be harvested before the Brazilian rains of March (Southern Hemisphere switches seasons). How cool is it when we’re sipping on a Brazilian Merlot while listening to the stylish and creative

August 18 to August 24, 2016

chord changes in the tune Águas de Março (the Rivers of March) by “Tom” Jobim.

Along with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Brazilian vintners are spending a good deal of time with the Tannat [tahNOT] grape. In neighboring Uruguay, Tannat seems to be the national craze and they are producing some tasty stuff.

Like the Malbec in Argentina, these grapes were brought over from the southwest of France. In the days of old, a Tannat/Malbec wine was known as “le vin noir”—“black wine”, due to its very dark color (which translates to a very nutritious/if not a “healthy” wine: Google it—physicians are recommending it to their heart patients).

I’m thinking that Brazil will also achieve great things with Tannat. Believe me—when that catches on, we’ll start to find more

Brazilian wine at our markets.

Just in case someone’s offering to pick up some Brazilian wine for your Olympicviewing party, some very good labels to ask for are Casa Valduga Leopoldina, both their Chardonnay and Merlot are excellent; the Vinacola Guaspari Syrah is stellar—expressive and highly aromatic with multiple layers of blueberry, mature blackberry, bacon, black pepper, smoke and graphite; and, Vinacola Salton, Intenso Brut, is a non-vintage sparkler that is fresh with pear, green apple, lush white jasmine, orange, and lemon zest. A fabulous fizz that’s vibrant with a refreshing finish—goes with everything you’re serving!

Italian wines have always been a popular import quaff at restaurants and cafés in and around Rio. Pizzato is a Brazilian wine producer with obvious Italian roots. Assuming we’ll locate a bottle, the Pizzato Concentus is a blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Tannat & 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It lets you know that Brazil can produce excellent reds: Deep, concentrated with red berry nose, Mocha, spices, cedar, and dried plum on the palate.

Very smooth but with nice tannins. Decant— it opens up to show real balance, suppleness and touch of caramel on a long, fresh finish.

Go for the gold with this Brazilian red that is superlative with steaks served in its own wine sauce.

Saúde! para os Jogos Olímpicos!

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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­­­THUR AUGUST 18 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co. 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Full Moon Party 7pm, Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Francesca Amari Jazz Trio 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm THE BLOCK; CC; 760-832-7767 Reggae Thursdays 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 Sting Variety Cabaret 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Barry Baughn and Bob Gross 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Punk Rock Night 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 Slim Man 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Rye Brothers 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Urban Desert Cabaret 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Hip Hop Show 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Anthony DiGerlando Show 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Denny Pezzin 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI AUGUST 19

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19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Dude Jones 9pm

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Dana Larson 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Desert Daze Presents: The Dead Ships w/ DJ sets by Homicide: Life on the Streets 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 The Gilmore & Bryan Show 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Fleet Easton 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke 9pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760775-5566 DJ Double A 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CLUB 5 BAR; IND; 760-625-1719 YBA 8pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Gina Carey 7pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm THE HARD ROCK; PS; 760-325-9676 Esjay & Friends w/ Voodoo Hustlers, Tony Marisco and Jann Brown and Lisa Lynn & Friends 8pm Lobby, Flashback Fridays in Bardot w/ DJ Paparazzi and Alf Alpha 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Noe’s 45th Birthday Bash w/ Blasting echo, Waxy, Mighty Jack and The Hellions 8pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Blue 62 8pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 Slim Man 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night

LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Hot Sauce 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm 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 Southbound & Co. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 TBA 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Moves Collective 8pm, Cactus Wine Experience and Wild West Burlesque 9pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 121 Band 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Barflys 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm 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 TBA 5:30pm

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WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 TBA 9pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Carey Blues Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 TBA 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LA RUE BISTRO; LQ; 760-296-3420 Slim Man 6pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325Bev & Bill 6:30pm 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 9pm afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 A Casual LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345Affair w/ Low Limit, Matthew David, P. Morris 2450 Hot Sauce 9pm & Jules 11am poolside, and 10pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; 999-1995 Bump Town 9pm IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm Cabaret Open Mic 7:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter Karaoke 8-1:15am 7:30pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm Dancing 9pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760BEATNIK LOUNGE; JT; TBA 9pm 327-4080 Blackwater 9pm THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 TBA 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775345-0222 TBA 6:30pm 5566 DJ 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey Diane Coffee and Waterstrider 8:30pm 6-10pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT Karaoke 7:30pm CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Wright 9-1am COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s CLUB 5 BAR; IND; 760-625-1719 TBA 9pm Rockstar Karaoke 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 PLAYOFF’S SPORTS BAR; DHS; 760-251Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm 2644 TBA 8pm DILLON’S BURGERS & BEER; DHS; 760RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 California 774-7131 TBA 8pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228- Celts 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 1199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm 7-10pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 ROCKYARD@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 ; 800-827-2946 Rok of Ages and Queen Nation (Queen Tribute) 7:30pm Jack Ruvio 6:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Brothers 8pm TBA 8:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm Blues 8-11pm THE HARD ROCK; PS; 760-325-9676 Pool SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Party w/ DJ Paparrazi and Ayla Simone MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Carmens 10am, DJ Paparazzi and Ayla Simone at 8-11pm Bardot 9pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Caxton w/ CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Jesse James and Ian Romer 9pm Furgo 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Bill Ramirez 6:30pm Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm

SAT AUGUST 20

August 18 to August 24, 2016

SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 TBA 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 TBA 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Dennis Michael 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm TRYST; PS; 760-832-6046 TBA 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 Chris Lomeli 8pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth noon-4pm and 6:3010:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SUN AUGUST 21 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 A Casual Affair w/ Low Limit, Matthew David, P. Morris & Jules 11am poolside, Slacker Sunday w/ Adam Salter 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Brunch w/ TBA 11:30am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm continue to page 20

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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Artwork by Bobby Taffolla

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

SCREENERS

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

No. 226

A BOY AND HIS DRAGON

fierce fire-breathing dragon that lives deep in the woods that are dismissed as fiction has been reported saying it was the upbeat tone that attracted him to signing on to the film. We live in dark and dangerous times and movies like this so filed with wonder are nice if all too brief antidotes to the hostility and violence the media so vividly reports happening in our world. This wonderful family film is exciting, sad and fun in just the right proportions.

NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: LAST DAYS IN THE DESERT

than an account of a ragged Holy Man’s search for meaning in the wilderness. On a deeper level, I think it’s about the humanity of God. McGregor delivers a stand-out performance that will be long remembered and not just when “Jesus movies” are discussed. The haunting, evocative score was composed by Daniel Bensi and Saunder Jurrians.

There are no extras on the disc and, surprisingly, this great looking title is not available on Blu-ray. DVD. Broadgreen Pictures.

11.22.63

NOW PLAYING: PETE’S DRAGON “But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea Disney has had great good luck mining it’s own archives to redo, reboot or upgrade its more familiar animated titles of the past. 1997’s rather bland, childish -- and not in a good way – “Pete’s Dragon” gets refurbished with a furry beast and a fine live action cast that includes Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Bentley and newcomer Oakes Fegley as Pete. The end result is a warm, satisfying family film that hits all the right notes.

Elliot the dragon has no scales but has instead a furry coat. He’s like a big bumbling plush toy lumbering around in the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest.

But thankfully, it all looks amazingly photorealistic and the shaggy-haired Elliot is not so much a monster as he is a big cuddly puppy.

The idea of a lonely kid befriending an alien

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being whether it’s “E.T” or bigfoot “Harry” (remember “Harry and the Hendersons”?) may not be original, but is nevertheless a perfect template for this emotional story that respects the intelligence of its audience young and old.

The audience I saw it with was packed with young kids and families. And from their reaction, they loved the movie. Genuine family films that can entertain ages 7 to 70 are probably the rarest of all films. Writerdirector David Lowery says when he came on board the project Disney made it clear they didn’t want a faithful remake of the original. What they did want was a movie about an orphan boy named Pete and a dragon. The end result is a surprisingly emotional film top-loaded with whimsical and fantastical elements and the result is pure magic. I was kind of surprised at the lack of jokes but it was refreshing at the same time. Most welcome was the uplifting and upbeat nature of the story. Redford, who plays old woodcarver Mr. Meacham who regales local kids with tall tales about a

Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia is the son of beloved Colombian author Gabriel García Marquez who wrote the landmark 1967 novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”

Garcia’s wonderful film is rich with the poetic and mystical tone no doubt inherited from his immensely gifted father.

The film follows Jesus as he wanders the wilderness so he can be tempted by the devil before beginning his earthly ministry.

Ewen McGregor plays Jesus as well as the tempting demon. During his desert sojourn, Jesus comes across a family troubled by “father and son” issues that resonate with the Him. The cosmic metaphors are profound and intellectually engaging on a surface level as well as theologically.

Although I doubt this unexpected film was intended as an overt “faith based” film meant for a conservative religious audience, I found it to be as secular as sacred. The movie triggered a lively discussion among those I saw it with. All agreed the film was visually stunning, but some were confused that this Jesus did not have all the answers the troubled family he encountered might have desired. Nor did He perform miracles when they might have been most welcome.

I was transfixed by this beautifully crafted film shot with a painterly eye by master cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (“The Revenant”) in the dramatically wrinkled, sun-bleached rugged terrain of Anzo-Boreggo Desert State Park. There’s a sublime visceral connection between the stark canvas of the story and the raw, minimalist lives lived on it. This singular film is a timeless tone poem that’s much more

I grew up in Dallas and went to Dealey Plaza the night after JFK was shot. I wellremember the blood red moon hanging over the skyline and the sound of weeping and the vast blankest of flowers and scribbled hand-written notes strewn on the infamous grassy knoll near the base of the Texas School Book Depository.

I was fascinated by Stephen King’s bestseller and the resulting nine-hour 8-part TV series.

Imagine having the power to change history.

You will be hurtled deep into the unpredictable darkness of the American dream. James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a high school teacher at a loss with his life, who wants to make a difference and do something meaningful. Encouraged by his ailing friend (Chris Cooper), Jake journeys back in time to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy. We travel into the world of 1960s Texas as Jake explores the multiple mysteries surrounding the alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. But Jake’s mission faces threats not only from Oswald, but from Sadie, a beautiful librarian he falls in love with, and from the Past itself -which doesn’t want to be changed. And if the past doesn’t want to be changed, it will push back – often violently. This rewarding and epic emotional thrill ride raises all kinds of questions about the arrow of time and the nature of reality. Warner Bros Home Ent. Blu-ray.

Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com

BOOK REVIEW

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

-----------------------------------------------------

“THE VEGETARIAN”

BY HAN KANG FICTION

----------------------------------------------------ome books read like dreams while others are about dreams.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Hogarth, 188 pages) is a nightmare and a reawakening.

The story begins with the narration of the protagonist, Yeong-hye’s husband, who does not understand his wife. Yet, he doesn’t mind because she cooks, cleans and is available for sex when he wants it. But one day his wife announces she has become a vegetarian and throws out all the animal products in the house. [Yeong-hye is not just a vegetarian, she is a vegan eating only vegetable products, no eggs, meat or fish.]

She’ll only say her decision was because of a dream she had.

Yeong-hye tells her husband that he can eat meat whenever he wants but only outside of their home. When he takes his wife to a work-related formal dinner, she briefly becomes the center of attention when the boss notices Yeong-hye is not eating much of the 20 course meal.

S

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

August 18 to August 24, 2016

BY HEIDI SIMMONS Her husband, embarrassed and at his wits-end with his wife, calls Yeong-hye’s parents and sister to do something about her eating habits. Yeong-hye has lost weight and she is not taking care of the house or doing her husband’s laundry anymore. Her family apologizes for their daughter and plan an intervention at her sister, In-hye’s house.

The intervention does not go well. Yeonghye’s father loses his temper, hits her and forces her mouth open to shove pork down her gullet. Yeong-hye spits it out and takes a paring knife and slices her wrist. Yeonghye’s brother-in-law grabs her and takes her to the hospital where her husband commits her to a sanitarium. Yeong-hye’s husband quickly divorces her.

After being released, Yeong-hye lives with In-hye and her brother-in-law. An artist, he is attracted to her skinny, androgynous form. She agrees to be part of his visualart video project and he paints flowers and vines over her naked body. Yeong-hye likes the body art and doesn’t wash it off. When he can’t find a male to paint as an artistic match for Yeong-hye, her bother-in-law fills in. Unfortunately, In-hye discovers the two after they have painted body sex.

Yeong-hye is committed again to the sanatarium; only this time it’s worse. She believes she is a tree and will not take any

nourishment but will only absorb the sun, air and water. In-hye, now divorced, tries to save her sister, but it may be too late.

Author Kang is South Korean and the story was translated by Deborah Smith. As far as I can tell, Smith does a beautiful job.

The story is fluid and often poetic. Of all the different narrators, the protagonist, Yeonghye, never tells her own story. Her husband, sister and brother-in-law tell it.

However, Yeong-hye’s dreams are scattered throughout the text and they are dark and violent images. Through the dreams, the reader is given insight to the possible reasons she won’t eat meat. But at one point in the story, Yeong-hye says that all the animals she ever ate are a growing tumor in her abdomen and that she thought if she stopped eating meat, the tumor would die.

The most redeeming character is

Yeong-hye’s sister In-hye who comes to an understanding about Yeong-hye’s condition: She’s not just anorexic, she’s crazy. With all the cultural shame and family humiliation, In-hye believes her sister’s struggle for independence and freedom has made her insane.

There is a dream-like quality to The Vegetarian. There is also a Kafkaesque feel in tone and attitude, but I did not find a lurking metaphor or obvious allegory within the pages. Perhaps it was lost in cultural translation.

At its heart, this is a sad tale about an abused woman who becomes a vegetarian, loses touch with reality and then suffers from anorexia nervosa. There is a valuable lesson In-hye learns from her sister’s tragic life. In-hye begins to experience her own independence and freedom. In-hye realizes she has only existed and now she must live.

This discovery may be what saves her sister as well. The ending is left up to the reader.

Author Kang lives in South Korea and is a participant in the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. Her talents show in this work.

The Vegetarian is skillfully executed and that makes this odd little story strangely engaging and meaningful.

SAFETY TIPS

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING DEFENSIVE, AND PROVIDE SOME SPACE!

F

irefighting resources can get stretched thin this time of year as multiple brush fires break out. It’s important that homeowners do their part to mitigate the threat of wildfire by creating defensible space around their homes.

First and foremost, dead, dry and woody vegetation must be removed. Plant material near structures should be regularly irrigated and well maintained, ornamentals, lowgrowing fire retardant shrubs, low-growing turf and succulent ground cover. Most guidelines will encourage the use of native plant materials especially in non-irrigated areas. Avoid planting in large clusters. It’s best to create small planter beds or islands.

Here are a few guidelines for creating a defensible space to help reduce the spread of wildfires. Again, be sure to check with your local and state authorities for specific regulations in your area. · Remove dead and overhanging branches. · Remove any branches within 10 feet of chimney vent. · Clean all dead leaves and needles from roof and gutters. · Install a roof that meets the fire resistance classification of Class C or better.

· Cover chimney outlet with a nonflammable screen of 1/4 inch or smaller mesh. Brand Guard Vents are a great alternative. · Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures, fences, and other combustible material. · Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris. · Keep lawn chairs, umbrellas, and other canvas furniture a safe distance from structures · Clear all vegetation and other combustible or flammable materials from beneath deck area. · Enclose underside of elevated decks with resistant materials. · Refrain from dumping lawn clippings in canyons. · Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood. · Make sure street names and house numbers are clearly visible. · Designate an emergency meeting place outside your neighborhood. · Immediately evacuate the area when ordered by police or fire personnel.

Contact your local Fire Department for additional information.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15

BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Robert O’Conner 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 & Friends 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm THE HARD ROCK; PS; 760-325-9676 Pool Party w/ DJ Paparazzi 10am INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PETE’S HIDEAWAY;PS; 760-322-6500 The Evaro Brothers 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Karaoke 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 The Myx 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 The Chris Gore Group Pro Jam 7pm VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 TBA 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 5:30pm

MON AUGUST 22 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Mood Deep House Lounge 6pm-2am INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Larry Capeloto 6pm 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 PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 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

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Barney McClure Jazz 6pm

TUE AUGUST 23 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Nichols 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 TBA 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ and Dancing 9pm-2am THE BLOCK; C.C.; 760-832-7767 Karaoke en Espanol 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760-833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6:15pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am

COMMUNITY

THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Jethro BoDidley 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Rose Mallett 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 Demetrious and Co. THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Douglas McDonald Duo 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Tequila Tuesdays 9pm VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 6pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 John Boliver Jazz 6pm

WED AUGUST 24 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Mount Baine 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Pro Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald Trio 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Beer Pong Contest 6pm-2am BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 Karaoke 7:30pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-7766533 Gina Carey 6pm

SOCIAL SECURITY

HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-345-6466 Open Mic w/ Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic hosted by Amy Angel 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger Lemieux 5pm 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; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes Jazz Trio 6:30pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760341-3560 The Hive Minds Acoustic Duo 6:30pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Mike Costley Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Chuck Alvarez 6:30pm

BY MARIA M. MIRANDA

LA QUINTA NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS SOCIAL SECURITY TURNS 81 FOR VETERAN’S DAY RECOGNITION EVENT L

T

he City of La Quinta is now accepting nominations for its annual Veteran’s Day Recognition Ceremony. La Quinta proudly acknowledges and honors its distinguished Veteran residents from all branches of serve in a ceremony open to the public. The tribute includes certificates from honorees, along with each Veteran’s name placed on the Veteran’s Acknowledgement Sculpture in the La Quinta Civic Center Campus Park.

The award ceremony will be held at the City Hall Courtyard on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016 at 9 a.m. with a fly over from the Palm Springs Air Museum, local singers, the La Quinta High School Band and recognition from dignitaries.

“Our Veteran’s Day Recognition Ceremony is a special event in La Quinta.

It’s an opportunity for the City Council and our citizens to recognize and thank those who are serving/have served our country.

We can celebrate our freedom together. I’m grateful for the honor to personally thank them for their service.” Says Mayor Linda Evans.

The City is accepting nominations until 5 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2016.

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Qualified candidates must have served our country in Active Duty, must submit a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork and meet the Residency Requirements. For more information on nominating a Veteran and the requirements please visit www.laquinta.org.

ook who’s over the hill! In August, we will be celebrating the 81st anniversary of Social Security. Although Social Security’s overall structure remains the same, it’s impossible to overlook the changes in the economy and advancements in technology that made it necessary to transform our programs into what they are today.

In 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, which gave birth to Social Security, (almost) as we know it today. The program was created primarily as a response to the growing rate of poverty within the elderly population. Here we are in the future, and Social Security has come a long way from 1940, when Ida May Fuller became the first person to receive a benefit check. In 2015 alone, almost 60 million people received Social Security benefits.

The number of beneficiaries is growing daily, and Social Security is developing ways to make conducting business with us easier and more secure. With several services available online, including my Social Security, you might never have to visit a field office. This is especially beneficial for the aging community or those living in remote areas, as traveling to field offices may be difficult.

Choosing when to retire is an important decision. At www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator you can get an estimate of your future benefit

amount. You can use “what if” scenarios to see how your benefit amounts will change with different retirement dates and future earnings estimates.

With 37 percent of the American workforce teleworking and almost 70 percent of Americans doing most of their shopping online, we have evolved into a society of convenience.

Not to be outdone, like a hip grandma, Social Security has adapted to the times. Below is a list of a few of the services currently available from the convenience of your computer.

Online you can: • Request a replacement Social Security or Medicare card • Apply for Social Security benefits • Get your Social Security Statement • Appeal a decision • Find out if you qualify for benefits • Estimate your future benefits • Get your SSI & Medicare verification letter Join us in wishing Social Security a Happy 81st birthday and utilize these online services by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Maria Miranda is Social Security District Manager in Palm Springs CA

HADDON LIBBY

UNBEWEAVABLE

W

ith the Olympics winding down this weekend, what have we learned about Brazil that we didn’t know before? Personally, I didn’t realize that Brazil was as dirty and corrupt as it is. Brazil is polluted too with the green color in their flag matching their water supplies. I also learned that couches and random body parts make great water hazards during crew practice.

While it seems safe to say that having the Olympics in Brazil was a bad idea, it is also safe to say this was not the first (or last) time that people have made bad decisions.

One of my favorite bad ideas is the Burger King Spa in Helsinki. Diners can actually strip down and eat a Whopper while getting a schvitz at this Burger King.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

This spa concept was recently awarded as a ‘best concept’ in Europe for their efforts at fitting with the local environment. Let’s hope that McDonald’s avoids the need to follow suit and offering naked Quarter Pounders with local variants on their special sauce.

Over in London, naked dining is the new craze. Bunyadi is a restaurant where diners disrobe and are served by a semi-nude staff.

The waiting list is 37,000 people long.

Not to be outdone, there is a Fellatio Cafe in Geneva, Switzerland. For about $55, you get a coffee and oral favors. Owner Bradley Chavet states that this is a quick service business fashioned after similar places in Thailand where visitors come and go within five to ten minutes.

In keeping our minds in the gutter, most of us who have travelled through the Midwest have visited a Kum & Go store. It’s like 7-11 but with a far worse name. Still, their name is not as bad as Tranny-Man Transmissions, Bill Buttram Photography, STD Contractors, Menlove Dental, Beaver Cleaners, Vaj’s Garage, Dykes Lumber or Anallabs.

While less evocative than some of these names, I never understood how someone could name a grocery store Ralph’s. With no

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW DA PAID TO PROSECUTE DRUNK DRIVERS?

I

often write about the large number of DUI arrests in the Riverside County area over holidays like the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. The holidays are when we do not always use good common sense while celebrating.

It looks like the number of DUI arrests in Palm Desert over this month’s Labor Day won’t be slowing down anytime soon. The California Office of Traffic Safety recently awarded a grant to the District Attorney’s office to assist the agency’s DUI Vertical Prosecution Unit. Its purpose was to go after impaired drivers in an effort to reduce the number of impaired road fatalities and injuries.

The grant focuses on the western county region and paid for a DA. The new DA handles misdemeanor<http://www. dalegribowlaw.com/palm-springs-criminaldefense-attorney/index.html> cases involving impaired driving, specifically from the criminal filing to the adjudication stage.

The agency was supposed to add three more deputy district attorneys to prosecute misdemeanor cases.

Some crimes are more politically charged than others and Drunk Driving leads the pack.

This makes plea bargaining and sentencing hearings difficult for a DUI attorney. Politics in DUI’s are a powerful campaign theme for DA’s and judges during the upcoming elections.

Nothing concerns Judges and DA’s during election time more than an adverse report of a DUI sentence that suggests the court and

DA were too lenient. This becomes even more serious with a DUI fatality.

Drivers DO NOT HAVE TO BE DRUNK but merely under the influence or impaired.

Depending on your weight and time of drinking this could mean 2 drinks. Standard DUI charges are typically classified as misdemeanors.

A DUI can be raised to the level of a felony if there is an elevated blood alcohol concentration, bodily injury, children in the vehicle or prior convictions. If a charge is upgraded to a felony, that can mean much more serious consequences for the driver.

A DUI accident creates 3 different matters with which a lawyer must deal. Yes 3, because there will first be an accident claim by the victim against the drunk driver. Next, we have to deal with the consequences of the DUI arrest....a DMV hearing and a court proceeding.

When arrested the DUI driver will have his California Driver’s License taken under the stop and snatch law and in its place the driver will receive a pink piece of paper that is a Temporary License good for 30 days. The arrested driver must request a DMV hearing within 10 days..........not 11. If not requested, the license will be suspended for 4-5 months.

If the lawyer requests a STAY the driver will get a temporary license that is good until the DMV rules on the drinking and driving.

The DUI lawyer must provide documentation to the DA and court to

August 18 to August 24, 2016

offense meant toward people named Ralph, I associated this word with vomiting - not a good idea for a place that sells things that you eat.

And Dick! While Dick’s Sporting Goods is a bad business name, it is not nearly as bad as Dick’s Cleaning and Carpet Services, Dick and Sons Flooring Coverings, Dick’s Pumping or Big Dick’s Inn. Sometimes it is not your fault that your businesses name becomes bad. We need look no further than Luxembourg where there is retail chain named Zika.

Not all bad names are bad. Sometimes a name can be so bad that it is good. Some poorly named hair salons include Curl Up & Dye, Unbeweavable and Hand Job Nails.

I wonder if the nail salon uses Kentucky Fried Chicken nail polish. I hear that this real

product is finger lickin good.

Any of us who have ever worked in or owned a restaurant know that it is a hard business. A bad name can make things even harder. Some of my favorite bad names include Fuk Mi Sushi, Fu King Chinese, The Golden Shower Restaurant, Cabbages & Condoms Thai, Dumass Tacos, Phat Phuc Noodle Bar, Herpes Pizza, Chewy Balls and my favorite - Cock Block Restaurant - which, not surprisingly, has an All You Can Eat Menu that I’m told leaves many unsatisfied.

If you are in Florida and need a copier, printer or some IT support, visit Boring Business Systems. They have been putting people to sleep since 1924.

When in the U.K., visit Threeway Express if you need the goods delivered promptly.

While traveling, try Barf Bed & Breakfast, Anu’s Lodge, Elephant Butte Inn, Hotel Kuntz or Hotel Ass. Fishing? The only place to visit is Master Bait & Tackle.

And where should you go when your journey is done? Visit Butcher Funeral Homes.

document the justification for a more lenient sentence... which rarely happens. The defense lawyer must offer conditions and terms that will protect the DA and Court from a possible repeat offense by the driver. These terms of a plea bargain probation may include residential treatment, alcohol monitoring, and ignition interlock devices. Hopefully these additional penalties will help justify, protect and buffer the potential backlash against the judge or DA. DALE GRIBOW - TOP LAWYER - Palm Springs Life DUI 2011-2017 AVVO Perfect 10.0 Peer Rating “Preeminent” Rating by Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory “Best Attorneys of America” Rue, (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys/State)

Legal Eagle “Best and Brightest Legal Minds” by Palm Springs Life- June 2016 Client Appreciation DUI Award/ Martindale Hubbell Client DUI Distinction Award- 2015 10 BEST ATTORNEYS for California for Client Satisfaction -DUI Law- Selected 2015.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI OR UBER......IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME.....SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow 760-837-7500 or dale@ dalegribowlaw.com.

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

ASK JENNY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY JENNY WALLIS

COLORS OF FENG SHUI

D

ear Jenny, I hear people talk about the decorations they put in their home and how they should arrange the interior to achieve good Feng Shui. But is it important to make sure that it is a certain color? What colors should and should not be avoided when it comes to Feng Shui?

Thanks, Diana ------------------------------------------------Diana, Thanks for the question. Actually, colors can set the tone, whether good or bad, in a living or working environment. Simple colors can improve the productivity and harmony between guests and employees.

They can also attract and inspire clients to spend time in an establishment which in turn can increase revenues. There are different colors that are appropriate for specific rooms and specific business. An example of this is the color yellow, it may enhance an art gallery, accounting firm, or even a bookstore. But it has a negative effect in a jewelry store. How is the color yellow thought of in jewelry stores? A yellow-hued pearl is viewed as too old and luster less, thus valueless.

On the other hand, a men and women’s clothing store can be enlivened with bright colors. Bright colors are usually looked upon as busy, active, definitely not stagnate.

Those are the feelings that you want in a clothing store. A place where people meet and are social and make decisions to buy!

The color white would be great in any police station, because their seeming incorruptible and pure is the look that is wanted. But bright accent colors should be avoided.

Every area in a home or business has a color that supports it. Just as every area has an element, there also is a color. There is no way to know what color is the perfect color for each room, until a Ba Gua map is applied. But there are some colors that have standard meanings as well as some colors to stay away from at all costs.

A few examples are: • Purple meaning wealth and prosperity, it is usually a great color to be applied almost anywhere.

• Red meaning hot, fire, passionate, that color should be used with more caution.

• Green meaning growth, moving forward, usually it’s a good color to go with.

• Pink meaning love and romance Here is a business by business list of colors appropriate to various enterprises.

• Film, television, or recording studio: white, pink, light green, gray, blue, or black • Shoe store: white, red, gray, brown, avoid black with white • Jewelry store: red, white, blue, avoid yellow • Executive’s office in creative fields: green, red, sky blue, multicolored • Delicatessen: light green, Sky blue, bright colors • Funeral parlor: all white, red, light blue • Investment firm: white, green, blue, yellow/beige • Wine store: pink, light green, light blue • Restaurant: green, blue, multicolored; avoid red in a seafood restaurant • Computer store: red, light green, multicolored • Lawyer’s office: white, beige, yellow, green, blue, gray, black • Doctor’s office: green, blue, purple, pink, white I hope that some of the information I have listed gives you some ideas and answers your questions. Thanks Diana - ❤Jenny Don’t forget to follow Jenny at www. askjennynow.com, find her on facebook or contact her at 760-505-0952

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com

22

SPORTS SCENE

BY FLINT WHEELER

MLB FLIPPING COIN FOR HALL OF FAME CRITERIA…

A

lex Rodriguez left baseball shunted quickly and quietly out the back door. Awkwardly the Yankees staged a pregame ceremony on Friday to honor the player they’d just shoved suddenly into forced retirement. There would be no fond national farewell, no rocking-chair tour, for the fourth-leading home run hitter of all time.

A-Rod and his complicated legacy return now to his Miami home with career numbers that should make him a shoo-in for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, except he is far likelier destined instead for the familiar fate of other sinners who used performanceenhancing drugs. The official greeters at the gates of this purgatory, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, await him.

Contrast Rodriguez’s sad exit from his sport with the ongoing love fest carrying Boston’s David Ortiz heroically into retirement, a Cooperstown welcome surely ahead for a smiling Big Papi, adored by all.

We convict you of PED use, of cheating, in various ways. By evidence real or circumstantial. By admission but also by implication, rumor or suspicion. The court of public opinion renders its final verdict, bangs a gavel and moves on.

Big Papi sneaked by. He’s beloved by fans AND the game.

Ortiz failed a drug test, too, in 2003, when Major League Baseball tested around 100 players to gauge the extent of its problem.

Results were supposed to be kept private. But in 2009 several names were leaked of those who’d tested positive for a banned substance, Ortiz among them. So, too: A-Rod and another prominent purgatory resident, Sammy Sosa.

Here’s a fun fact: Guess which of the 27 members of baseball’s 500-home run club hit the highest percentage of their career homers at age 27 or older? Three of the top four happen to be Bonds, Sosa and fellow Steroids Era pal Rafael Palmeiro — that company alone suggesting the category as a reasonable indicator of PEDs. Steroid speculation swirled around Mike Piazza for years but he’s the newest inductee to Cooperstown. Jeff Bagwell, also dogged by rumors, came very close to getting in and still might.

Yet Bonds, with 762 homers and seven league MVPs, and Clemens, with 354 wins and seven Cy Youngs, and A-Rod, with 696 homers, are persona non grata even though there is zero way to know how much PED use helped pad those numbers — and every reasonable indication they’d have had Hall-worthy careers even without pharmaceuticals.

So much gray area, yes — too much for these permanent, blanket bans. We can’t even say exactly when the Steroid Era began.

We seem comfortable retroactively convicting certain players, like Mark McGwire, of using PEDs that were not yet on the banned list

when he used them. We also seem to have no problem that many players back in the day used amphetamines and other stuff they couldn’t today. Interestingly we are easily dismissing Big Papi’s one positive test.

In other words, Cooperstown already has plenty of members who cut corners or used their era’s equivalent of PEDs. As well as a bunch of alcoholics, not to mention racist Ty Cobb, who used to sharpen his metal cleats and intentionally gouge opponent’s legs while sliding, and who once was suspended by baseball for roaring into the bleachers to beat up a heckling fan. (Footnote: The heckler, on account of an industrial accident, had no hands.)

“Us guys in baseball, we make mistakes,” as Rose put it recently.

In the case of the PED crowd, I’d ask my fellow Cooperstown voters to rethink the no votes on players the echelon of Bonds, Clemens and Rodriguez — whose greatness predated any implication of wrongdoing and whose careers assuredly would have been Hall-worthy no matter what.

Shame and scorn are their own punishment, and Rose, Bonds, Clemens and A-Rod have rightly endured their share. They will always bear a scarlet letter. They should be in Cooperstown anyway, along with all the other ne’er-do-wells and imperfect humans. Let their bronze plaques reflect the controversies, for all time. Rose’s should mention the gambling ban. The others’ should mention the PEDs involvement.

We see indications of a slow move toward that, a gradual thawing of their banishments.

Bonds was hired by the Marlins as a hitting instructor. Rose has been a TV analyst and recently was honored by the Reds.

A-Rod (unless the Marlins haul him out of retirement) will remain a Yankee as an adviser and spring instructor. Bonds and Clemens each saw a spike in his Hall of Fame support in 2016 voting, though both remain far from the 75 percent minimum for induction The newest test for this subtle move toward lenience, Rodriguez, twice admitted using banned substances and was suspended the entire 2014 season, itself a significant penalty.

After all, this isn’t heaven. It’s only Cooperstown. Calm down Baseball – We’re only human.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of August 18

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Can you imagine feeling at home in the world no matter where you are? If you eventually master this art, outer circumstances won’t distort your relationship with yourself. No matter how crazy or chaotic the people around you might be, you will remain rooted in your unshakable sense of purpose; you will respond to any given situation in ways that make you both calm and alert, amused and curious, compassionate for the suffering of others and determined to do what’s best for you. If you think these are goals worth seeking, you can make dramatic progress toward them in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As I tried to meditate on your horoscope, my next-door neighbor was wielding a weed-whacker to trim her lawn, and the voices in my head were shouting extra loud. So I decided to drive down to the marsh to get some high-quality silence. When I arrived at the trail head, I found an older man in ragged clothes leaning against the fence. Nearby was a grocery cart full of what I assumed were all his earthly belongings.

“Doing nothing is a very difficult art,” he croaked as I slipped by him, “because you’re never really sure when you are done.” I immediately recognized that his wisdom might be useful to you. You are, after all, in the last few days of your recharging process. It’s still a good idea for you to lie low and be extra calm and vegetate luxuriously. But when should you rise up and leap into action again? Here’s my guess: Get one more dose of intense stillness and silence.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): My readers have a range of approaches for working with the counsel I offer. Some study the horoscopes for both their sun signs and rising signs, then create do-it-yourself blends of the two. Others prefer to wait until the week is over before consulting what I’ve written.

They don’t want my oracles to influence their future behavior, but enjoy evaluating their recent past in light of my analysis. Then there are the folks who read all 12 of my horoscopes. They refuse to be hemmed in by just one forecast, and want to be free to explore multiple options. I encourage you to try experiments like these in the coming days. The moment is ripe to cultivate more of your own unique strategies for using and interpreting the information you absorb -- both from me and from everyone else you listen to.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Have you been drinking a lot of liquids? Are you spending extra time soaking in hot baths and swimming in bodies of water that rejuvenate you? Have you been opening your soul to raw truths that dissolve your fixations and to beauty that makes you cry and to love that moves you to sing? I hope you’re reverently attending to these fluidic needs. I hope you’re giving your deepest yearnings free play and your freshest emotions lots of room to unfold. Smart, well-lubricated intimacy is a luxurious necessity, my dear. Stay very, very wet.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In my opinion, you need to bask in the glorious fury of at least one brainstorm -- preferably multiple brainstorms over the course of the next two weeks. What can you do to ensure that happens? How might you generate a flood of new ideas about how to live your life and understand the nature of reality? Here are some suggestions: Read books about creativity. Hang around with original thinkers and sly provocateurs. Insert yourself into situations that will strip you of your boring certainties. And take this vow: “I hereby unleash the primal power of my liberated imagination.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When you were a child, did you play with imaginary friends? During your adolescence, did you nurture a fantasy relationship with a pretend boyfriend or girlfriend?

Since you reached adulthood, have you ever enjoyed consorting with muses or guardian angels or ancestral spirits? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you are in a good position to take full advantage of the subtle opportunities and cryptic invitations that are coming your way. Unexpected sources are poised to provide unlikely inspirations in unprecedented ways.

© Copyright 2016 Rob Brezsny

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When you were born, you already carried the seeds of gifts you would someday be able to provide -- specific influences or teachings or blessings that only you, of all the people who have ever lived, could offer the world. How are you doing in your quest to fulfill this potential? Here’s what I suspect: Your seeds have been ripening slowly and surely. But in the coming months, they could ripen at a more rapid pace. Whether they actually do or not may depend on your willingness to take on more responsibilities -- interesting responsibilities, to be sure -- but bigger than you’re used to.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I suspect that you will soon be culminating a labor of love you’ve been nurturing and refining for many moons. How should you celebrate? Maybe with some champagne and caviar? If you’d like to include bubbly in your revels, a good choice might be 2004 Belle Epoque Rose. Its floral aroma and crispy mouth-feel rouse a sense of jubilation as they synergize the flavors of blood orange, pomegranate, and strawberry. As for caviar: Consider the smooth, aromatic, and elegant roe of the albino beluga sturgeon from the unpolluted areas of the Caspian Sea near Iran. But before I finish this oracle, let me also add that a better way to honor your accomplishment might be to take the money you’d spend on champagne and caviar, and instead use it as seed money for your next big project.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Some species of weeds become even more robust and entrenched as they develop resistances to the pesticides that are designed to eradicate them. This is one example of how fighting a problem can make the problem worse -- especially if you attack too furiously or use the wrong weapons. I invite you to consider the possibility that this might be a useful metaphor for you to contemplate in the coming weeks. Your desire to solve a knotty dilemma or shed a bad influence is admirable. Just make sure you choose a strategy that actually works.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to compose an essay on at least one of the following themes: 1. “How I Fed and Fed My Demons Until They Gorged Themselves to Death.” 2. “How I Exploited My Nightmares in Ways That Made Me Smarter and Cuter.” 3. “How I Quietly and Heroically Transformed a Sticky Problem into a Sleek Opportunity.” 4. “How I Helped Myself

by Helping Other People.” For extra credit, Capricorn -- and to earn the right to trade an unholy duty for a holy one -- write about all four subjects.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I suspect that in the coming months you will be drawn to wandering through the frontiers and exploring the unknown.

Experimentation will come naturally. Places and situations you have previously considered to be offlimits may be downright comfortable. In fact, it’s possible that you will have to escape your safety zones in order to fully be yourself. Got all that? Now here’s the kicker. In the coming weeks, everything I just described will be especially apropos for your closest relationships. Are you interested in redefining and reconfiguring the ways that togetherness works for you?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you’re playing the card game known as bridge, you’re lucky if you are dealt a hand that has no cards of a particular suit.

This enables you, right from the beginning, to capture tricks using the trump suit. In other words, the lack of a certain resource gives you a distinct advantage.

Let’s apply this metaphor to your immediate future, Pisces. I’m guessing that you will benefit from what may seem to be an inadequacy or deficit. An absence will be a useful asset.

Homework: What’s the situation in your life where it’s hardest for you to be loving? Practice being a master of compassion there in the coming week.

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

August 18 to August 24, 2016

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

BY BRONWYN ISON

TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH

F

ear is generally what precludes us from taking a leap of faith. How often have you desired to make the jump and fear impeded your progress?

I would venture you have displayed trepidation when you’ve considered a new venture. I was once told, “When you are the most anxious in your life, it is then that you need to take a risk.” This is sound advice and nothing outlandishly clever but certainly to the point.

I’ve been inspired by books, devotionals, and quotes suggesting i.e. One should do something each day that encourages us to step out of our comfort zone. In the past year, I have conquered more of my personal and business fears than I may have done in my lifetime. Fortunately, I have accomplished more than I could have imagined simply by releasing my fears.

More than once my back has been up against a wall. I am sure you can relate to this feeling. A leap of faith may mean taking a chance on a new career path or that of new love interest. Naturally, all of the “what if’s” will appear. What if I fail?

What if he/she doesn’t like or love me in return? What if I’m wrong? Well, what if you don’t fail, he/she adores you, and you were absolutely right? Each of us has the tendency to think negatively. We should think positively. Positive thoughts equates

to successful outcomes.

While I am a believer of taking risks in life, I advocate being responsible and not partaking in recklessness. If your decisions involve others, you should share your thoughts and make the proper decisions together. Recently, I heard of a couple with a young child who decided to risk it all. The husband and wife both had corporate jobs and were exhausted from the hustle and bustle of city life. Responsibly, they had a good savings, which prepared them for their adventure. Both quit the nine to five grind and cashed in for a more relaxed lifestyle in a rural area back East. Fortunately, all of their previous work experience would likely enable them an opportunity to return to work if either of them needed to do so.

I loved hearing they chose to take the leap together and make the most of what their lives would have to offer.

It is challenging to pursue your dreams and goals, allow yourself to vulnerable and take chances. Each attempt at something new is and an opportunity for you to prosper in your life. There will be moments that we wish we had a more beneficial outcome.

Remember, the resultant attempt is part of the lesson. Be grateful for the experience.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. e-volveyoga.com 760.564.YOGA

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

ASK THE DOCTOR

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

BY DR PETER KADILE

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

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF ADVICE

Dr. Kadile, I always thought that taking a baby aspirin a day was good for my health, but I recently heard that isn’t true. What do you recommend?

- John, Indio John, aspirin originally came from willow bark and its key ingredient, salicylic acid, has been used for hundreds of years to treat pain, inflammation and fevers. It has also been known to be a “blood thinner”, thus it may prevent formation of blood clots which can cause a heart attack. Traditional thinking from the medical community used to recommend taking a baby aspirin a day to help protect against a heart attack or stroke, but the recommendations have changed.

The U.S Preventive Services Task Force, which formulates guidelines for preventive medicine, have made more specific recommendations on the use of aspirin for prevention of CVD (cardiovascular disease).

For adults younger than age 50 – No recommendation for the use of daily aspirin, there is insufficient evidence for benefit.

For adults between age 50-59 with risk factors of smoking, male sex, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes – daily low dose aspirin is recommended.

For adults between age 60-69 with risk factors – the decision to use daily aspirin is an individual one.

Adults aged 70 and older – no recommendation.

The above mentioned risk factors can be used to calculate a person’s cardiovascular disease risk (cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov) in ten years, which is helpful in determining the recommendations for aspirin. Don’t forget that aspirin has the potential to cause bleeding in your gastrointestinal tract, so don’t take it if you don’t have to.

So the bottom line is you should consider taking a baby aspirin a day if you are between the ages of 50-69 with risk factors.

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LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

GET OUT OF THE ZONE

A

s a career coach, I consider myself a change agent and teach others to embrace change. Taking internal stock over the past week I must fess up. I found myself falling into the Cobbler’s Children Syndrome. You remember the shoemaker who was so busy making shoes for the townspeople his own children went shoeless. Well, color me shoeless, but not clueless.

Okay, so part of the problem is I am busy helping others. The other half of the equation means I’ve allowed myself to sink into my comfort zone. It happens gradually and without warning. One day you just wake up and realize nothing is changing.

Living in that comfy routinized sector is so alluring. Everything is familiar with no threat of risk or challenge. In the zone you maintain a low stress level, relatively free of anxiety. Don’t be deceived, that is not a good thing. Even my dog recognizes the need for change. Sure, Zoli has his favorite napping favorite places, but he continues to find new and different areas of our home for an afternoon siesta.

Think of your comfort zone like visiting your parent’s home. You can rest there for awhile, but you cannot live there. If you ever tried returning to the nest, you know what I mean.

The reason parenting birds push their offspring

Dr. K, I’ve been diagnosed with “prediabetes”. My doctor told me to lose weight, avoid sweets and decrease my bread, rice and pasta intake. Are there any nutritional supplements I can take?

- George, Cathedral City George, in addition to the good advice your doctor gave, a good nutritional supplement that helps with control of blood sugars is actually a spice, cinnamon.

According to a study published in Diabetics Care, consuming up to 6 grams of cinnamon per day “reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.”

Add cinnamon to your diet.

S and G

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out of that cozy feathered shell is so they can fly.

Need to bust out of the nest? Commit to making changes. It’s okay to start small. One of the authors of “The 52 Weeks: How Two Women Got Unstuck, Got Inspired, and Got Going,” started by incorporating blueberries into her daily diet. From there she branched out into trying a new challenge every week and did everything from enrolling in a poker class to taking tango lessons.

Don’t overthink it. Just do it. Right now take the next ninety seconds to conjure up the change you will incorporate into your life this week. On a roll now? Excellent! Make a list of things that exist in your “someday I will” fantasy.

Next get your calendar out. Long ago I learned nothing happens unless it is planted firmly on your schedule. Crank up your excitement level by mapping it out.

Feeling fearful of change? That’s normal.

What if you don’t like skydiving? Fine, don’t continue jumping out of planes, but kudos to you for venturing out. You gave your brain a boost. Now put away your adult coloring book, strap on your dancing shoes and tap your way to a more exciting life.

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

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August 18 to August 24, 2016

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