Coachella Valley Weekly - December 25 to December 31, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 40

News

Music

Movies

Dining

Community Events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 25 to December 31, 2014 Vol. 3 No. 40

An Exclusive Evening with

Frank Sinatra Jr

New Year’s Eve Events

pg 5

Benefit Show Roundup

pg 7

Lootenant

pg 9

Battle Of the Bands

pg 11

December 25 to December 31, 2014

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Coachella Valley Weekly

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

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Alaina Majiros, Raymond Bill, Jorge Gutierrez, Edward L. Prichard III Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Lisa Morgan, Judith Sulkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons, Kira Golden, Rich Henrich Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Sunny Simon, Karen Creasy, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, Laura Hunt Little, Rebecca Pikus, Monica Morones Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Scott Pam, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery, La Maniaca Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Ring in the New Year at Riviera Palm Springs with Frank Sinatra Jr.

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n iconic playground of the past, characterized today by its Old Hollywood glamour with a fresh, contemporary twist, the Riviera Palm Springs will evoke a magical evening of entertainment, dancing and culinary delights, including a four-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef John Roberts and New Year’s party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.

Doors will open at 7:30pm and prior to Frank Sinatra Jr.’s performance at 10:45pm, which will continue through midnight, the hotel will amuse guests with the Riviera Palm Spring’s pianist Martin Ross.

A favorite destination of Rat Pack icons, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as stars such as Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Sonny and Cher

December 25 to December 31, 2014

and Elizabeth Taylor, the Riviera continues to attract Tinsel-town’s elite with its rich history and famed parties.

Tickets start at only $289 per person, which includes the four-course dinner, entertainment, Frank Sinatra Jr.’s performance, and a champagne toast at midnight.

For more information about the Riviera’s New Year’s Eve celebration, and to purchase tickets, please contact: 760.778.6617 or email hwalker@psriviera.com.

In addition to individual ticket sales, a hotel package is also available. This NYE’s package includes one night of accommodations, two tickets to the big event, 25% off spa treatments and a $50 daily resort credit, for $1100.

Contents Frank Sinatra Jr Riviera............................3 New Year’s Eve Events..............................5 Don’t Be Clueless in the CV.....................6 Benefit Show Roundup............................7 The PS Local - Local Hospitality..............8 Make-A-Wish Palm Springs.....................8 LMS - Lootenant.......................................9 Tilted Kilt Open Mic Finals.....................10 Red Hot Battle Of the Bands.................11 Consider This - Robert Plant..................12 Pet Place..................................................14 The Vino Voice........................................15 Club Crawler Nightlife...........................16 Screeners................................................20 Book Review...........................................21 Safety Tips...............................................24 ShareKitchen..........................................24 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local...................25 Dale Gribow............................................25 Sports Scene...........................................26 Sports......................................................26 Free Will Astrology.................................27 Mind, Body & Spirit................................27 Life & Career Coach................................28 Beauty.....................................................28

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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New Year’s Eve in the Coachella Valley

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B’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party is back for its 31st year, and, as we have come to expect, he and Hard Rock Hotel are pulling out all the stops. Last year’s event sold out with 3000 in attendance, so it is suggested to get your tickets as soon as possible.

Famous for his parties, this will definitely be the party everyone is talking about. The “mega party” will be spread throughout the hotel, incorporating the elaborate Grand Ball room and outdoor pool side area. There will be three floors and six rooms of entertainment, with heart pumping music from several DJs, including DJ RAY, James Gonzales, C3ASARE, /JF//Discord, Anwaar Himself, Aaron Cortes, Tommy O’Connor, Courtland Mariett, Nate Campbell and more.

Food will be available at the hotel outlets, and there will be plenty of bars to accommodate everyone’s beverage needs as quickly as possible.

The event will explode in celebration at midnight with balloon drops and video screens lighting up throughout, while everyone puts their provided party favors to optimum use. The party starts at 8:30 pm and goes until 2:00 am for all adults, 21 and over. Tickets are available in advance for $25 and can be purchased at www.partywithBB.com or can be purchased at the door the day of.

BB must have been born to bring people together, starting his career as a leader in social gatherings back in the 80’s when he and a few others founded BB O Brien’s Sports Bar. The night spot was a constant in desert nightlife.

After its closure, Ingle began throwing special holiday/event parties earning him the Master of Events and the Godfather of Parties title that he has today. Why are BB’s parties always such a success? In a previous interview with CV Weekly, the desert’s own, “Master of Ceremonies” shared what he feels makes them work: “I’ve had a passion for gathering people together in celebration since I was a young boy. After 30 years of parties, I have a following of all ages, from 21 to 75. Many of our original party goers’ children now attend. So, I make sure to play all types of music in different rooms to keep everyone happy and having a good time. But what makes me feel like all the hard work is worth it is when someone comes up to me and says ‘BB thank you so much.

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have met my soul mate. We met at your party and now we’re married and have kids’. That’s very rewarding and it’s happened close to a hundred times over the years.”

For all of the loyal party goers that attend BB’s events it doesn’t really matter where it is or what it’s for, they will be there. If you haven’t had the experience of attending one of these memorable bashes, then maybe you should start with this New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. While masks are optional, it’s always more fun to wear

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one, and BB will be giving a prize for Best Female Mask and Best Male Mask. A good time is sure to be had by all in attendance.

As always with BB’s parties, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Pet Rescue Center.

Tickets available at the door 8 pm Advanced tickets on line: partywithBB.com For more info call BB at (760) 880-1059 Special Party Room Rates: (760) 325-9676 or www.hrhpalmsprings.com Transportation provided by www. desertlimoservice.com If you are ringing in the New Year in the beautiful Coachella Valley, here are a few other great places to enjoy fantastic food, entertainment and celebration.

Renaissance, Palm Springs: New Year’s Salsa Party, hosted by Salsa Dancing in the Desert and People Who Dance Adults $28, Children 3-17 $14, Upscale partywear or formal.

Tickets can be purchased at www. peoplewhodance.net Located at 888 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs (760) 322-6000 Riviera, Palm Springs: New Year’s Eve with Frank Sinatra Jr. with a spectacular 8 piece band. The beautiful Riviera hopes to evoke a magical evening of entertainment, dancing and culinary delights, including a four course dinner prepared by Executive Chef John Roberts and New Year’s party favors and a Champagne Toast at midnight.

Doors will open at 7:30pm and prior to Frank Sinatra Jr.’s performance at 10:45pm, which will continue through midnight, the hotel will amuse guests with the Riviera Palm Spring’s favorite pianist and song man, Martin Ross. Call 760-7786617 for reservations and special package rates.

BAR: BAR is revisiting the prohibition era with a classic Hollywood, New Year’s Eve - think Marlene Dietrich or Marion Davies. Guests are encouraged to come dressed the part as there will be prizes for festive ensembles. DJ Abe will be playing an eclectic mix of exotica and classic noir sounds. $10 Cover includes appetizers and a midnight champagne toast ($5 w/o food) For those who miss the appetizers but are still hungry, attendees can order from the menu from 5pm til closing with $3 slices of pizza on special.

Located at 340 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs (760) 537-7337 Eureka!: NO COVER CHARGE. The New Year’s Eve celebration at Eureka! starts with an exclusive Beer and Champagne Edition of Steal The Glass. Live music by Patrick Mahon and Marty Lloyd will begin at 6 p.m.

Bubblies from Piper Sonoma will “pop” and La Quinta Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter will be poured as the featured STG hops.

On Wednesday, December 31, guests ordering a Piper Sonoma sparkling wine will receive a complimentary champagne flute and guests ordering La Quinta Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter will keep a branded pint glass from the local brewery.

On New Year’s Day, after a long night of partying, guests are invited to recover at Eureka!

December 25 to December 31, 2014

by Lisa Morgan

while enjoying hair of the dog beverage specials, handcrafted $5 Bloody Marys and $5 Mimosas all day long. Either cocktail choice accompanied by an All Day Breakfast Burrito is the cure to any hangover. Music will be provided from 6:30pm to 9:30pm by Lisa Lynn Morgan and Patrick Mahon.

Saguaro Hotel, Palm Springs: A DJ will be spinning tunes in their El Jefe restaurant and lounge.

RSVPs are currently being taken for their tasting menu offered at their Tinto Restaurant.

There will be 5pm, 6pm, 8pm and 9pm seatings that include a champagne toast.

Located at 1800 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs (760) 323-1711 Agua Caliente: Local band, Machin. (featured at Coachella Music and Arts Festival and CV Music Award winners), will be performing live and FREE TO THE PUBLIC in The Lounge @ 8pm Located at 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage (866) 923-7244 Cathedral Canyon Golf Club: Live band, Whiskey Tango, and DJ Big John Miller will entertain at Kix Country Radio’s New Year’s Eve, Country Countdown. They’ll be celebrating in two time zones, eastern and pacific standard. Doors open at 6pm for dinner: $30-$35 includes buffet dinner, served with all the trimmings. Tickets can be purchased at www. eventbrite.com Open to the public, FREE of charge after 9:30 pm (standing only).

Ace Hotel and Swim Club, Palm Springs: Live music provided by Fool’s Gold, Deep Valley and Crystal Skulls along with Moon Block Party DJs will entertain you, starting at 8pm.

Ticket prices range from $25-$30 and can be purchased through Ticketfly. They are located at 702 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs (760) 3259900 Palm Canyon Road House: Doors open at 8pm, entertainment from live band, Lucky Tongue, starts at 9pm. FREE TO THE PUBLIC. Champagne at midnight and breakfast buffet at 12:30 am.

Schmidy’s Tavern: Achin’ for Bacon New Year’s Celebration presented by Sourdough Records.

They’ll be serving a whole roasted pig (while supplies last). Live bands: San Pedro El Cortez, Slipping Into Darkness, FACELIFT, Bluesome Gruesome and Project Mayhem.

events

$10 Cover and free raffle ticket to win a trip to Cancun, Mexico.

Vue Grille and Bar: Celebrate from 5pm to 12am for $75 per person (tax and gratuity additional). The event provides a four course menu, complimentary champagne toast, 50% off select bottles of wine, live entertainment and dancing. For reservations, call (760) 834-3800 The Purple Room, Palm Springs: Offering 3 seatings for a 3 course dinner and show.

5:30 with the Michael Holmes Trio $65 7:30 with the Gand Band $95 9:30 With the Gand Band and unlimited wine and bubbles $125 For reservations and questions call (760) 3224422 The Purple Room is located at 190 East Palm Canyon Road, Palm Springs Agua Caliente Spa and Casino: Local band, MACHIN (featured at Coachella Music and Arts Festival and CV Music Award winners), will be performing live and FREE TO THE PUBLIC in The Lounge @ 8pm The Hood Bar and Pizza: No cover, but some of the best pizza and bacon and cheese covered tater tots in the valley. Entertainment: All Night Shoes and Synthetixx DJing Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club: Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club Celebrates New Year’s Eve with “Le Grand Fete” with Paul Nicholls and Justin David. After the extremely successful series of Palm Springs Pride Pool Parties, Paul Nicholls and Justin David will returned to Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club for a very special New Year’s Eve Celebration “Le Grande Fete”.

When the doors open at 8:00pm partygoers will be served tray passed hors d’oeuvres and the entertainment begins with sounds by DJ Blacklow and Aaron Elvis all night. Stripper Circus, the popular LGBTQ event which rakes in West Hollywood, San Diego, Las Vegas and now Palm Springs continues their carnival theme with lots of strong men on display and maybe even a bearded lady. True to its name “Le Grand Fete” will be a feast for the eyes transforming Stripper Circus in to Le Cirque Noir. At midnight they will feature the famous Gay Star New Year’s Countdown. $20 entry includes tray passed hors d’oeuvres served from 8pm to 10pm.

For VIP Table reservations contact nicole@ haciendacantina.com.

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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Don’t Be

CLUELESS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

Merry Christmas! We love tradition.

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specially during the Holidays when you can go off-trend and pull everything you’ve loved and enjoyed for years, some since childhood, and others for decades perhaps, around you like a warm blanket, like friendly memories.

Everything is ready to celebrate: the perfect tree (Found! A miracle!) surrounded with carefully, or not, wrapped gifts, silly and sentimental ornaments and décor that only brighten the halls at this time. Now, likewise favored foods that scent the house are setting taste buds vibrating and then there is Aunt Ethel in the Christmas-themed knitted sweater. (Even uglier than last year. Where does she find them?). Tradition is like the reliable train traveling on time-worn tracks season to season, holiday to holiday, family you’ve known and loved despite quirky behavior and relationships that might be explained through the years as two steps back, four steps forward, with a few tripups in between. And now we are facing a new year, resolutions, or not, a continuance of the season of fun, fundraising and frivolity in our desert. We’ve culled from the calendar for the best in January, 2015.

Heads-up! Read on.

Saturday, January 10, 8:00 PM. Rejoice, Re-live, Re-celebrate Hollywood’s glory days and nights with “Palm Springs Legends II,” as top tribute artists bring the fabulous, funny, forever iconic stars to life on the stage of The McCallum Theatre.

Back by popular demand, and stamping of well-shod feet, these are the real stars in our sandy firmament, not ever to be forgotten, why? Because they actually lived in the Coachella Valley among us ordinary mortals, picked out the best tomatoes at the grocery store, sent their kids to public schools and paid the bills for the AC just as

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we do! The line-up includes Dean Martin, Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, Sonny and Cher, Red Skelton, Betty (Annie Get Your Gun”) Hutton, Elvis (“the pelvis”) Presley and Bob Hope. It’s a trip into a laff-riot of musical and more memories by a terrific cast of talented entertainers who have performed nationally, as well as all over the world.

Tickets are priced at $75, $65, $55 and $25 and are available at the Theatre’s web site at www.mccallumtheatre.com, or by calling the McCallum Theatre box office at (760) 340-ARTS. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Sunday, January 11, 3:00 PM. Hush!

Don’t say a word, just hustle by to hear Bill Marx, jazz pianist, Juilliard grad, author, multi-film score composer and entertainer par-excellence who has entertained the local fab-fawning throngs here-abouts and there-abouts for years with discourses and digressions about the Marx Brothers, as well as stories-about one in particular, his father, Harpo Marx and the two albums they recorded in talented togetherness.

Appearing with him---the son of the father, will be entertainer Tracy Moss, who is one of the hottest (coolest?) jazz harpists you’ll ever hear stringing along with Bill on a musical journey, which, of course is the definition of jazz. You never know what will happen... The concert is presented by The Steinway Society of Riverside County at So Cal Piano, 74111 Highway 111, Palm Desert.

Per person, $25. Reservations, call 760-7729694. This concert has creds. Don’t miss it.

Friday, January 2, through Monday, January 12: The Palm Springs International Film Festival and Awards Gala rolls out on the Red Carpet. Last year the festival screened 192 films from 60 countries.

Be first to see a majority of the films submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards, as well as a large number of

by Diane Marlin-Dirkx

American independent and international features and documentaries marking their world, North American or U.S. premieres.

The annual star-studded black tie Awards Gala on Saturday, January 3, 2015 will be at the Palm Springs Convention Center to honor individuals in the film industry with awards for acting, directing, achievement in film scoring and lifetime achievement.

Last year’s honorees included: Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Steve McQueen, Thomas Newman, Lupita Nyong’o, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, U2 - Bono and The Edge and the cast of American Hustle. Bring your autograph books to the event’s meet and greet on the Red Carpet! During the 12-dayFestival, fifteen screens throughout Palm Springs will operate from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. “Selma”, the drama about the historical voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery soon to celebrate its 50th year anniversary, is the official Opening Night screening unspooling on Friday, January 2 at 6:30 pm. The Closing Night screening will take place on Sunday, January 11th, and the Best of the Festival will screen all day on Monday, January 12th.

Presented by the Palm Springs International Film Society, the PSIFF is one of the largest film festivals in North America. The Festival also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and the annual black-tie gala award presentation. If you’re a film buff, you won’t want to miss it! For additional information, call the festival headquarters at (760) 322-2930 or visit the website at www.psfilmfest.org.

Tuesday, January 13, 7 PM. The City of Rancho Mirage presents The Peking Acrobats for a one-time performance at The McCallum Theatre. Since their debut in 1986, the troupe of China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists, and gymnasts, accompanied by musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments, have performed their 2,000 year-old acrobatics around the globe. Tickets are priced at $45, $35, $25 and $20. Tickets for residents of Rancho Mirage are priced at $40, $30, $20 and $15. Tickets are available online at www.mccallumtheatre.com, or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Friday, January 16, 6:00 PM Champagne Reception, 7:00 Performance. Dance for Life Palm Springs is a showcase of spectacular performances by renowned dance companies, all joining forces to help those in need. Since 1992, Dance for Life has raised more than four million dollars for Chicago’s HIV/AIDS community. Now in its fourth year in Palm Springs, this highly anticipated event will celebrate the art of dance to benefit AIDS Assistance Program.

Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs Tickets are $95 for performance only. VIP Reception on Thursday, January 15, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The Evening before the Performance Reception ticket is $200 per person, and includes the performance.

Location to be announced. For more information visit www.aidsassistance.org or call 760-325-8481.

Friday, January 16, 8:00 PM. The voice heard on high is 14 Year-Old Teen-Angel Jackie Evancho returns to the McCallum for triumphant performance during the holiday season. Her first performance on TV’s “America’s Got Talent” left audiences and judges astonished that such a beautiful soprano voice could be produced by a 10 year old girl. Her success then and now four years later has come as much from her natural musical gift, as her poise, charm, causing Columbia Records to sign her up quickly. Since, she has stunned world-wide audiences in live performances, recordings, her acting—Robert Redford is a working colleague and fan, and Billboard Magazine named Jackie to their list of movers and shakers under the age of 2 1 in both 2011 and 2012. This performance is presented through the generosity of JoAnn McGrath.

Tickets are priced at $125, $95,$75 and $ 55 and are available at the Theatre’s website www.mccallumtheatre.com, or by calling the box office at 760-340-ARTS. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

“Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event!

Thanks!

a great night at the date shed benefits all

By tracy Dietlin

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s Owner and Publisher of CV Weekly I am proud to announce that our benefit at The Date Shed this past Saturday night raised a total of $2910.00 between the door and raffle. After hard cost expenses and paying staff we have a net amount of $2112.00 to divide between our 2 charities: FIND Food Bank and Street Life Project. We consider this to be a big success.

CV Weekly also donated an additional $5900.00 of advertising in our paper and an additional $1000.00 out of pocket for other types of advertising that did not come out of the money collected, but was covered completely by CV Weekly as our personal donation towards promoting the event.

I am most excited at all of the publicity and awareness that we were able to raise about these two charities, which will continue to help them in the future.

“HUNGER is a community problem and organizations like CV Weekly are demonstrating there are ways for all of us to work together to solve a community-wide reality like hunger. We deeply appreciate the time and commitment the CV Weekly team has put forward in keeping this issue front-and-center during the holiday season and throughout the year,” said Lisa Houston, president and CEO of FIND Food Bank.

“People don’t always want to talk about hunger – it can be a very uncomfortable subject for a community to own and understand how to fight back, to make a difference, so that one in five of our neighbors ISN’T facing hunger on a regular basis. Organizations like CV Weekly help keep HUNGER in the community-wide conversation that is necessary for this fight to be won,” said Houston.

One of the highlights of the evening, aside from the music, was when Christian Jelmberg of Street Life Project brought several people on stage with him to talk about how his organization got them off the streets. It was very emotional and let the audience know exactly why we support this charity throughout the year.

I would like to thank Alex Haagen IV, owner of The Date Shed, for donating the venue so that we could give the door money to the charities. Kristen Reinhagen Ortiz, Manager of the Date Shed & Senior Talent Buyer at Empire

December 25 to December 31, 2014

events

Photos By Chris Miller

Music Ventures , also deserves a big shout out for facilitating the partnership between Haagen and CV Weekly and for keeping things running smoothly throughout the evening.

I also want to thank all of the bands who came out and gave freely of their time and talent and put on an amazing show: Alfredo Hernandez (DJ Habanero), Burning Bettie, The Hellions, Blasting Echo, Waxy, War Drum, House of Broken Promises, Nick Oliveri’s Uncontrollable and John Garcia. What a kickass lineup.

I must thank my CV Weekly team and Date Shed staff for their hard work: Ming Bob, Robert Chance, Alaina Majiros, Denise Neil, Lisa Morgan, Edward Prichard III, Janet Newcomb, Linda Elizabeth, Noe Gutierrez, John Delaire and Phil Lacombe. It takes a village and I am very proud of the music village we have here in the Coachella Valley.

Then there are all of our sponsors who we so appreciate donating prizes for the 3 raffle

packages: Musician’s Outlet, Robin Hood Archery, Tg Tat, Debut Salon, Record Alley, Caroldean’s Resale Therapy, TKB Bakery, Cork & Fork, Hard Rock Hotel PS, DOS Salon, Eureka Burgers, CV Brewery, Skitzo Kitty, Blo Dry Bar, LQ Wine Shop, Richie’s Diner, Wolfgang Puck’s and La Quinta Cliffhouse and Jackalope Ranch in Indio for sponsoring the food for the VIP Lounge.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the bands and the charities. CV Weekly wishes everyone the Happiest of Holidays!

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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the palm springs Local

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Thanks to the Retail & Hospitality Workers

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ou’re out there in the thick of it, with the other countless shoppers purchasing a variety of goods for the holidays, dining at restaurants (because you’re just too spent to cook), and even traveling out of town to see loved ones. In all of this, it is easy to possibly overlook the numerous workers who make the holiday hustle and bustle happen. Unfortunately they can sometimes be the ones to absorb your long hard shopping days stress…but you must remember, that it is not their fault….and to be patient. It is their holiday season too.

For those of you have who have never worked in the retail or hospitality industries, it might be difficult to understand the essence of what this article is trying to convey. But for those who have, or do work in the industry, you know exactly what I’m talking about…and this is for you.

The Coachella Valley has been a hospitality hot spot since the early 1900’s, way back when Nellie Coffman had her Desert Inn and even before that when Wellwood Murray had The Palm Springs

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Hotel. This is a hospitality area…period.

It is what we are known for around the world, that’s why we have something called a “Season”, something that most urban places don’t have. We are unique, and it is the workers who toil day in and day out who have helped make us that way, and of course the loyal visitors and residents who without their patronage, our desert would quite different indeed.

I personally have worked in the desert restaurant arena in the past…it being the reason my parents moved us from Orange County all of those years ago, to open one of their own. I grew up in it, and growing up in it meant working in it too, nights, weekends and yes, holidays.

Most customers were extra generous during the holiday season…appreciating the work that we did. I am grateful for the experience of understanding what it meant to work in the hospitality industry in the Coachella Valley. It is almost like a special club that you get to belong to. A behind the scenes, scene. It is a club that would benefit everyone to join, at least once in their life.

The perspective of most people would change if they did.

So during this last bit of the 2014 holiday season, take a minute to slow down and appreciate those who keep the wheels of retail and hospitality moving. It would mean a great deal to them I’m sure….and make everyone’s holiday season a happy one.

MAKE-A-WISH OPENS PALM SPRINGS OFFICE

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ake-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire recently announced the opening of its third office, located in Palm Springs. The chapter is headquartered in Irvine with an additional satellite office in Riverside.

The office space was generously donated by HÔM Sotheby’s and will be staffed by Deborah Weiss, Director of the Coachella Valley.

“We are thrilled to bring Make-A-Wish to Palm Springs to enhance our reach in the desert communities,” said Weiss. “I look forward to cultivating new relationships with individuals, corporations and others who are passionate about helping grant wishes to children with lifethreatening medical conditions.”

Located at 111 S. Palm Canyon Dr, the space gives the organization an opportunity to grow and expand to help reach its goal of granting 347 wishes this year.

“We have been serving children of the Coachella Valley for more than 30 years, but this office gives us the opportunity to have a much more personal relationship with our wish kids as well as our volunteers and contributors,” said Stephanie McCormick, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Orange County and Inland Empire.

Community Make-A-Wish began in 1983 when the chapter granted 14-year-old Tamra Smith’s wish to see the blue waters of the Caribbean. Since then, the chapter has granted more than 5,000 wishes to children living in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The organization will be hosting a welcome reception on Thursday, January 15 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club in Palm Springs. Contact Deborah Weiss for more info at dweiss@wishocie.org or 760-668-2713.

For more information about Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire visit www. ocie.wish.org.

About Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 62 chapters in the United States and its territories.

With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish every 38 minutes and has granted more than 250,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about Make-AWish Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit ocie.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

Like Facebook.com/MakeAWishOCIE or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MakeAWishOCIE.

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Local Music Spotlight

Article and Photos By monica morones

Lootenant A

nthony Germaine Walker also known as Lootenant, has an intriguing story of fame and struggle at an early age and the reality of what it’s like to be a young artist in a cut throat business. The 29 year old rapper caught my ear at a local Hip Hop show with his confident demeanor and his ability to sing. Lootenant’s performance and talent had me asking who and where is this artist from.

MM: You are originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, when did you move to the Coachella Valley?

L: I was relocated to the Coachella Valley while I was visiting, recording my first mixtape in Los Angeles. During my visit, Hurricane Katrina took out my entire community while I watched it happen on T.V. My cousin/manager at the time lived in Indio, so I stayed with him.

Once I went back home to Biloxi and realized there was nothing left, I knew I needed to find a new home. It wasn’t my intention to leave my hood this way, but the hood wasn’t the same after the storm. So instead of sitting around waiting for the next move, I decided to stay in California and pursue my dreams. In a way, I felt that it was meant to be for me to have the chance to escape the aftermath and represent for my hometown at the same time.

MM: Who did you listen to growing up?

L: Growing up I listened to Scarface, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, UGK, Lil Flip, Master P, R. Kelly, Keith Sweat, New Edition, Missy Elliot, Da Brat, Mystikal and the list goes on...

I pretty much loved anything that was hip hop and R&B from the late 80’s and on.

MM: How and when did you get into music?

L: When I was growing up, I was always in church. I was in the church choir, Drill Team, and Praise Team so I always had a thing for singing. When I was 12, I joined the school band and learned to play the drums. I’ve always had a thing for music, but when I got a hold of hip-hop, I felt like it told my story.

Coming up in the hood, I was around a lot of violence and poverty. I felt like hip-hop was going to be my way out. I started writing at

December 25 to December 31, 2014

age 13 and recorded my first song at the age of 16. Being so young, I couldn’t perform live at any nightclubs or hotspots, so I took my lyrics to the streets by battling other artists. I met my future manager/cousin at a family reunion in 2002. He informed me that he had a lot of industry connections and that he’d like to fly me out to Cali, and that with my talent I could be one of the next best artists in the game.

On my graduation day, my manager had me perform my first big show with Snoop Dogg in Mobile, Alabama. That summer, I flew out to Cali to record my first single with Lil Flip called “We Ready” and came home and started to receive the respect I had been hustling for.

The rest is history...

MM: At the age of 19, you signed your first record deal with Lil Flip and worked with some heavy hitters. What was it like being so young and already a signed artist?

L: It seemed like one huge dream to me. I linked up with Lil Flip at Rosarito Beach when I opened up for him, and he remembered me from our song we had together. After doing more shows and meetings with Flip, he let my management know that he’d like to consider taking me under his wing and signing me to a one album deal with his label “Clover Geez”.

He liked the fact that I was very young and ambitious. I was a hungry kid with nothing to lose, so without a thought I agreed to the deal and took off! I soaked up game from some

of the greatest artists in the rap industry.

Besides my history with Flip, along the way I found myself making hits with Bone ThugsN-Harmony, Gudda Gudda, Bun-B, Kurupt, & Devin Tha Dude. All this took place before I turned 21. So as a young dude straight out of high school, this was like a movie! Some nights I’d go from hanging with Flip and Young Buck at a G-Unit party in Vegas and flying out to Omaha, Nebraska to open up for Ludacris and Ciara. I was doing big things at a young age. I felt like a kid that graduated from high school and went straight into the NBA! I was truly blessed.

MM: In 2007 you dropped your first album Second in Charge and toured the country until 2009 when you got dropped from the label due to issues with Lil Flip and your management. What happened?

L: Flip flew me out to record the whole album in 3 weeks while living with him at his mansion. We lived in the studio! I’d wake up writing and go to sleep rapping. He showed me what it took to be a true diverse artist. He showed me how to be precise with my subject matter and how to write catchy hooks that people want to listen to. I took away so much knowledge with that experience that I still use to this day!

The album deal was made between Lil Flip and my manager. Since I was so young and ready, I never went over the agreement thoroughly. So once the album was released, for some reason I could not contact Flip at all. I called my management to find out our next step for the album release, and they notified me that they had no funds to help me promote the album. At that point I felt like I was getting jerked around. Here I am with a hot album with platinum legend features on the shelves, no money in my pocket, no food in the fridge, and no copies of my project to help promote myself. I felt like the industry straight robbed me. I started to blame everyone but myself. But as time went by, I realized I jumped in head first without taking the right precautions to protect my rights as an artist. I found out from Flip months later, that he fell out with my manager over funds from a recent tour and he dropped him from his management team. He said since he cut off all ties with him, he’d also decided to quit working with me. Since my first album was released he owed me nothing else. At this point I decided to leave my management and start off from scratch as an independent artist. I felt betrayed by everyone I trusted, but since I was so green and ambitious I really hurt myself by not thinking about my future goals and knowing that nothing lasts forever.

So to any young entertainer who wants to go somewhere in the industry, just know that you should always make every move with the “end game” in mind. Never let your guard down, and always take a moment to look at the bigger picture!

MM: How did you make the transition from signed artist to indie artist?

L: Since I lived in Indio it was rough at first. I started to collaborate with the local rap artists in the CV. As an indie artist, you have

no sponsors or celebrity entourages to hang with. No one cares about who you signed with back then. So the only way to be heard is by word of mouth. With independent rap, you have to be more focused on lyricism than the everyday fads that the labels want to hear.

When I was with a label, they wanted me to sound a certain way, dress a certain way, and act a certain way. So even though the label is a quicker pathway to success, it’s a beautiful feeling to be an indie artist and have your own freedom to express yourself. The fame was nice, but as an artist if you don’t struggle your way to the top, if you fall off you won’t know how to get back up! Prime example of that would be my story. I’ve grown so much, more as an indie artist because my music is straight from the heart. When I was signed, my life consisted of drugs, parties, shows, and groupies. So that’s what I wrote about back then. Once I lost everything, I turned that anger into hunger and strived to be the greatest lyrical artist ever. Everything I write now is about real life shit that my listeners can relate to, and I having fun doing it. My fan base is a lot smaller but I have real core fans that love what I do and I’m grateful for them.

MM: What would you describe as your style?

L: Lyrically, I like to amaze my listeners with every note, and transform myself into a new me on every song. I like to consider myself as a chameleon. The more difficult the subject or beat, the more eager I am to write the song. I challenge myself to always do better than the last song, and always switch up my rhyming patterns so no one can copy my style. I like to compete with some of the greats of the industry because “Style-wise” I feel like I have what it takes to be the greatest.

MM: One thing that stood out about your music is that you sing your own hooks.

Do you feel it gives you an advantage in composing your music?

L: Since I was a youngster I always loved the mix of Hip Hop and R&B. They go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. From a hip-hop listeners ears a “rapping hook” is dope! But if I have sick lyrics, I can sing my own hooks, and my lyrical delivery is on point, that makes me a triple threat! So I infused my singing talent with my lyrical content and I just bring it all to the table. I also feel like I can cut out the middle man if I can really sing my own hooks, I don’t have to call anyone to sing them for me.

MM: Who is your all-time favorite MC and why?

L: My favorite MC is Eminem. His diverse flow and the way he took over the industry with his crazy hooks and “I don’t give a damn attitude” just changed the game in so many ways. With other “white rappers” they had soul, but Em told us how it felt to grow up as a white boy in the hood and we felt it. Although I don’t know him, his lyrics helped me get continue to page 10

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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TILTED KILT OPEN MIC COMPETITION FALL EDITION Finalists

continued from page 9

through some hard times so I feel like I know him. He’s always made me want to reach for the craziest way to amaze my listeners by saying the most off the wall things but still staying on subject. To this day Em will always be the greatest MC, not white rapper, but THE GREATEST MC OF ALL TIME!!

MM: What do you think of the Hip Hop scene in the Coachella Valley?

L: I think there is an abundance of great talent In the Coachella valley. I also believe out of all that great talent, there is a lot of ego.

Some of them have more ego than others. I can admit that when I first came along, I had a lot of ego issues as well. But instead of this CV movement trying to link up and take off, there’s too many artists trying to be the BEST in the valley instead of understanding that we will never make it unless we stick together instead of hating on each other. As a whole, we need more unity in order to survive without fading out. There is clearly more artists than listeners, and because the valley is so small, if we don’t show each other love, than our fans won’t show love to other artists. Also if I don’t connect with another artist because I’m a hater, I’m not only losing potential fans, but I’m possibly missing out on resources that could benefit my success. I think lately, thanks to artists like J. Patron with this whole #PuroOroMovement and Tiptoe Stallone for shedding a positive light on the valley with these hip hop battles and performances, we’ve had a great comeback with CV Hip Hop in 2014. Everything will be just fine in 2015 if we can just keep up the good vibes and keep moving as a unit MM: With all the media coverage, exposure of police brutality, and the violence among the black community this past year, do you feel that as a young black artist there is anything you can do to bring positivity and awareness on subjects so controversial?

L: I’m not surprised that young black men are being killed by police. I was raised in Mississippi, I’ve had a friend that was tortured and murdered by a police officer. In the south, I’ve been harassed and abused by the police, and in the state of California I’ve had my fair share of getting beat up by the police as well. This year I believe the media has made it a point to televise what’s been going on for decades. In a way it’s good for it to finally be seen by people that can make a difference, but today we live in an age where we are not active in our community when we see things happen. Instead we hide behind our phones and our keyboards and try to be online activists. I feel like as rap artists, we have the voice of the people at our fingertips.

We can move mountains with just the slip of the tongue! This is our chance to speak to our youth that the cops are killing. This is our chance to stop poisoning our future generations with songs with no subject and no morals and give them something to get them through these hard times. The more we feed our community with something worth listening and stop bouncing around the truth, the better chance we have to survive this madness! We have cops killing our kids, and our kids killing each other and the only way to make it stop is to start from within. Artists

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and entertainers are the ones with the biggest voice nowadays. If we can speak something to our community other than the garbage that’s in the mainstream, I believe we can make a change, but it has to start NOW!!

MM: You are currently in the process of working on a new album L-Double-O 2.0 which should be dropping April 2015. What is this album about?

L: My album L-Double- 2.0 is everything I didn’t give you in my first album. On my album with Flip, I didn’t have much “say so” as to how I wanted my image as an artist. I was so green to the industry and my style hadn’t been formed yet. I lost my hunger when I got signed at such a young age. When I lost everything and had to bounce back from falling off, it made me want to come back not only to get back on, but to kill off everything I touch. I’ve teamed up with a super producer by the name of Tariq Beats on this project. He’s played a big part in changing my sound to compliment my style!! So with this album we’re going to give you the bigger, better, faster and the illest Lootenant you’ve ever heard thus far! This is why I named it L-double-O 2.0 I also have a mixtape in the works by the name of All In The Streets dropping in March 2015 and I’m starting my own record label “All In Entertainment” as well in 2015.

MM: What is the root of your inspiration?

L: The root of my inspiration has always been my family. They’ve always had my back 100% from when I was on top, to when I fell off, and now that I’m back on. My kinfolk back home in Mississippi keep me pushing as well. Things back home haven’t been the same since Hurricane Katrina. So with the moves I plan to make in 2015, I’d like to work on some relief efforts to give back to my hometown. I had a best friend that passed away in 2012 by the name of Kevin Kelly. His dream was to come out to Cali and pursue this dream with me, so in a way I feel like I’ll never give up for him. I know he’s looking down watching me do my thing so I have to make sure I show out!! And as always one of my biggest motivators is myself. I strive to be a greater, more lyrical, “game-changing” artist than what I was yesterday. I want to show my family and future generations to come that Hip Hop isn’t dead, and if I can be one of the sickest MC’s, they can too!

hat a finale it was for the Fall/ Winter Grand Finals of the Open Mic Competition at the Tilted Kilt on Wednesday December 17th. 12 finalists put on their best performance for an absolutely packed house and to impress judges Jack Broady from RR Braodcasting, Matt Jones from Guitar Center, Kathy Schriefer from Crater Lake Vodka, Gregg Aratin from Mix 100.5, Producer Ronnie King of Ronnie King Music, Ted Hane from the Mary Pickford Theatre, DJ Chase Martinez from Jammin’ 99.5, and popular musician Kyle Paras. While scores were being tallied and triple checked, last sessions winners, The Classy Mother Fu?kers played a set to keep the crowd going. It was as close as can be between first and second place, yet in the end it was inspirational singer/songwriter Lt Will Kelly who took home the first place title and was awarded a $500 shopping spree at Guitar Center + 3 days/2 nights in Las Vegas from Crater Lake Vodka + an artist spotlight article in Coachella Valley Weekly + An entire weekend recording session with Producer Ronnie King at his Chateau Relaxo to produce a mastered “Radio Ready” track (valued at $10,000).

THANK YOU to ALL of our finalists at the Tilted Kilt Open Mic Competition for putting on a great show AND for being so supportive of each other: HUGE honorable mention to The BrosQuitos for coming within a heartbeat of first place. I hope to see you back in January! Plus THANK YOU to The Men Who Stole the World, Pharm Tecs, The Classy Mother Fu?kers, CKeelay, Ill Will, Marco Thoma, Ryder & Jackie, Jim Holiday, Damian

events

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Local Music Spotlight

December 25 to December 31, 2014

by Lisa Morgan

RED HOT Battle of the Bands

22 of the Valley’s Best Bands, Benefiting the RED HOT BALLROOM After School Program. THIS SUNDAY, December 28th 11:00 am - 9 pm

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DeLeon and Nuclear Cowboys. SPECIAL THANKS to all of our sponsors: Guitar Center, Ronnie King Music, Crater Lake Vodka, EstheticX.Obsession Massage & Wax Bar, CV Weekly, Mary Pickford Theater, Skitzo Kitty, Abe’s Brand Dressing & Happy Sushi.

DON’T MISS the Open Mic Competition New Year’s edition which starts WEDNESDAY January 17th, 2015. There will be fantastic new prizes!!!

Remember, the Open Mic Competition is ALL AGES and runs EVERY WEDNESDAY. YOU may compete EVERY week! PLEASE NOTE: Due to our overwhelming number of interested performers, sign in starts at 7pm and will be closed at 7:45pm. BRING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY and FANS and note that the competition runs from 8-11pm so be sure your friends and family know to stay until the end to voice their vote!!! For questions or info about sign-up, please see Facebook.com/ TiltedKiltOpenMicCompetition or contact creator and host, Morgan James at MorganAliseJames@ gmail.com or (714) 651-1911

he Indio Performing Arts Center is teaming up with Red Hot Ballroom, Inc. to benefit children in the afterschool “Red Hot Ballroom” Dance Program. On Sunday, December 28th, they will be hosting a “Red Hot Battle of the Bands” competition featuring 22 of Coachella Valley’s best rock, pop, country, salsa, and big bands. The show begins at 11 am in three different theaters, with awards announced at 8:45 pm. Bruce Fessier, long-time supporter of local arts and entertainment here in the desert, and popular writer for the Desert Sun, will be the guest MC for the awards.

First Prize is $1000 along with a paid booking, second prize is $500 and third prize is $250.

But perhaps, more importantly to some of these bands than the cash, is the opportunity to showcase their music for a possible shot at playing solo at the IPAC or many other high profile venues in the valley.

The event is open to the public, who can drop-in all day from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm.

The $10 entry at the door not only gives you the opportunity to listen to your choice of bands, but you will receive 10 tickets to use to vote for the band/bands of your choice.

A wristband will be given that allows guests to come and go throughout the day, and additional tickets for votes can be purchased for $1 each. Pizza, beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase on site.

The mission of the Indio Performing Arts Center is to provide a creative environment that promotes awareness and education in the performing arts for Indio and its surrounding communities. Those who serve on the board for the IPAC “believe that the arts are the fulfillment of human aspirations,” so they provide a variety of affordable entertainment events for all audiences that encourage community participation and stimulate educational programs for young people. “The Red Hot Battle of the Bands is a great event that Traci Kaylor (chairperson for Red Hot Ballroom and vocalist in the band Trill) has put together as a fund raiser for Red Hot Ballroom, the after school dance program,” shared Peter Aaronson, IPAC CEO and Executive Director. “I look forward to people coming and checking out all the local music talent that the Coachella Valley has to offer, and vote for their favorite band.”

“Red Hot Ballroom” is a non-profit volunteer organization operated by local desert residents who love ballroom dancing.

The program provides healthy physical activity for 4th through 6th grade students in all three Unified School Districts in the Coachella Valley. The program teaches students poise, social skills, and respect while learning to ballroom dance. It has the added benefit of improving a student’s self-esteem, which helps them deal with peer pressure and in interacting with others. Red Hot Ballroom is serving over 1,000 students in the 2014-2015 school year. “The development of these social skills are tools these children will be able to use their entire lives,” shared Kaylor.

Volunteers for Red Hot Ballroom go to the participating elementary schools and help the afterschool teachers teach their students Ballroom and Latin dancing. They also raise funds to purchase ballroom dance outfits and shoes for every child in the program. Most of the students in the afterschool program are Title I students, which means their family income is at or below the Federal poverty guideline.

At the end of the school year the volunteers put on a ballroom dance competition: Coachella Valley Unified School District - Saturday May 2nd, 2015 at Desert Mirage High School. 86150 Ave. 66, Thermal, CA 9:30 to 1 pm Palm Springs Unified School District Saturday May 9th, 2015 at Palm Springs High School. 2401 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs, CA 9:30 to 1 pm Desert Sands Unified School District Saturday May 16th, 2015 at Shadow Hills High School. 39225 Jefferson St., Indio, CA 9:30 to 1 pm These ballroom finals, which are free to the public, provide each student participating with a commemorative medallion. Trophies are given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of the five dances that are

taught during the school year including the Waltz, Tango, Salsa, Cha Cha, and Swing.

Providing the dance instruction, dance outfits and shoes, and to put on the dance finals, costs $75,000 per year, which is raised through fundraising events like the Red Hot Battle of the Bands, throughout the school year. Red Hot Ballroom, Inc. also receives financial support from the Anderson Children’s Foundation, which provides a $25,000 grant, and from Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit, who provides them with a Community Enrichment Grant of $4,500.

For more info on the afterschool Red Hot Ballroom Program, to donate or to become a volunteer, please call Bob Horn, President Red Hot Ballroom, at 760-413-3593.

The Indio Performing Arts Center is located at 45-175 Fargo St in downtown Indio.

Local bands participating: Main Hall: Bridger R Buckle Road Waxy Machin’ Tribe O Caxton Moon Baby Cabaret Theater: Elektric Lucie OGR (Old Guys Rule) Band Mighty Delta Tones Wyldsky Refills Kyd Icarus TRILL 212 Village Theater: Radio 60 Bone Thumpers Art of Sax Fiesty Joe Kill the Radio Sweat Act Alyce Bowie

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

ROBERT PLANT and the SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS

“lullaby and…

The Ceaseless Roar” (Nonesuch Records)

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obert Plant has always possessed a restless spirit. He was born deep in the Black Country of West Bromwich, Staffordshire in 1948 and grew up in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. He became obsessed with Elvis Presley at an early age. By his teens, that passion had been transferred to American Blues, particularly Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson.

Although he originally planned the conventional career path of an accountant, Plant abandoned his studies and left home at age 16. He became a part of the thriving Midlands Blues scene. He began singing with the Crawling King Snakes, a Blues combo that included drummer (and fellow Black Country boy), John Bonham. Plant went on to front Band Of Joy. That group went through myriad lineups. Their third incarnation included John Bonham.

By 1968, ex-Yardbird (and formidable session guitarist), Jimmy Page, along with multiinstrumentalist John Paul Jones were looking to form a new band. Originally Page wanted Bluesbelter Terry Reid to handle vocals. But Reid had just begun a promising solo career, so he suggested that Page check out Robert Plant.

Their first meeting consisted of playing records and discussing influences. The pair clicked and Plant recommended John Bonham join on drums.

Because Page owned the rights to the name, and was contractually obligated to fill some Scandinavian tour dates the band was originally billed as the New Yardbirds. Who drummer, Keith Moon jokingly predicted the band would go over like a “lead balloon,” thus the new moniker, Led Zeppelin was born.

Of course, Led Zeppelin went on to become one of the most influential bands in Rock & Roll history, (second only to the Beatles). Critics, most famously, Rolling Stone magazine, dismissed them. But from the time their self-titled debut arrived in 1969, they enjoyed astounding commercial success.

Their sound was a heavy alchemy of Blues and Psychedelia that sometimes incorporated elements of Folk and World music, and even Funk

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

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and reggae. Their infamous years on the road were defined by mud sharks, record breaking tours and sybaritic excess.

The years of decadence and hedonism took their toll. Tragedy struck when Robert Plant’s young son, Karac, died at age five from a stomach infection.

Then, in 1980, after a night of disproportionate drinking, John Bonham was found dead at age 32, after he fell asleep and choked on his own vomit.

The juggernaut had ground to a halt.

After 12 years, eight studio albums and a live album, the three remaining members of Led Zeppelin called it quits. By 1982, Robert Plant tentatively began a solo career.

His first couple of albums, Pictures At Eleven and The Principle Of Moments, were Spartan affairs. Rather than trade on the power and bombastic crunch of his former band, Plant took pleasure from a quieter more nuanced approach.

Although his solo career never scaled the heights that Led Zeppelin achieved, it did allow him to follow his muses, whether they be Delta Blues singers, Elvis, the King of Rock & Roll, or Oum Kalthoum, the Egyptian woman widely regarded as the greatest female Arabic singer in history.

Plant and Page briefly reunited in 1984, along with Jeff Beck and Nile Rodgers as the Honeydrippers. They released a five song EP, Volume One, offering their take on Rock & Roll classics like “I Got A Woman.” The album shot up the charts, it also allowed Plant to revisit his roots and loosen up a little.

By the early ‘90s, Plant had released four more albums and built up enough of a solo catalog to tour behind them. He also became comfortable with incorporating some Zeppelin tracks in the live sets.

Consider This

In 1993, MTV approached Robert Plant and Jimmy Page about reuniting and performing live on their successful “Unplugged” program. Plant was initially reluctant, but the duo made it work.

(Ironically, no one thought to include John Paul Jones).

Of course, Page and Plant couldn’t limit themselves to a strictly acoustic format. Instead, their performance included a full orchestra, mandolins, a hurdy-gurdy some electric guitar and Hozam Ramsy’s Egyptian Ensemble. The ensuing album, No Quarter, was so successful that they followed up with a world tour and a less interesting studio album, Walking Into Clarksdale.

Plant soldiered on with his solo career, but in 2007 producer T-Bone Burnett asked him to collaborate with Bluegrass superstar, Alison Krauss.

The album that Burnett produced, Raising Sand was an enormous critical and commercial success, winning the duo five Grammy Awards.

Just as the album was gaining traction, Page, Plant and Jones reconvened with drummer Jason Bonham, (son of John), to headline a benefit concert held in memory of the late Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun. Previous Zep reunions at Live Aid in 1985 and Atlantic’s 25th anniversary in 1988 were embarrassing at best. This time, the band woodshedded extensively: the result was an artistic triumph.

It seemed as though the time was right for Led Zeppelin to reunite and tour. Fans around the world were certainly excited by the prospect, as were promoters and venues; the payday would be enormous. Page, Jones and Bonham were on board, but Robert Plant wasn’t really interested in revisiting history. His restless spirit couldn’t be contained. After completing tour commitments with Alison Krauss he embarked on yet another new project In 2010, Plant resurrected the name of his pre-Led Zeppelin group, Band Of Joy with multiinstrumentalists Buddy Miller and Darrell Scott, drummer Marco Giovino, bassist Byron House and singer-songwriter Patty Griffin. Their self-titled debut arrived a few months later. Although it wasn’t as commercially successful as Raising Sand, it received a Grammy nomination. Plant also began a relationship with Patty Griffin, the two set up house together in Austin, Texas.

Now Plant has returned a new band, The Sensational Space Shifters and his ninth “solo” album, lullaby and…The Ceaseless Roar. On the opening track, “Little Maggie,” worlds collide. The song is a Country Blues standard that dates back centuries. The Stanley Brothers popularized it in 1946. Plant’s version incorporates sprightly banjo riffs, Afro-Celtic woodwinds and a roiling Middle Eastern rhythm.

Three songs, “Rainbow,” “Turn It Up” and “Somebody There” blend Plant’s considerable Eastern and Western influences. The percussion on “Rainbow” echoes a Greek (or Turkish) Taxim, while his vocals have the prayer-like quality of davening. Meanwhile, the guitar licks that snake through the melody are pure Rock & Roll.

“Turn It Up” weds scratchy Blues guitar riffs to an arrangement that manages a “Kashmir”- like heft. Here Plant communes with the ghosts of Delta Blues, sing the praises of Charlie Patton and sneaks in pointed commentary on the abysmal state of commercial radio.

Finally “Somebody There” offers opaque memories of childhood wonder and Plant’s beginning love affair with music. Powered by plangent arpeggios and a martial cadence, Plant’s mien is wistful; “With eyes that slowly opened, I set about the wisdom to know/And living out of language before one word I spoke, I heard the call.”

The man who once weaved Tolkien legends and requests to “squeeze my lemon until the juice ran down my leg” into his lyrics has become somewhat introspective. Several songs address his relationship (and subsequent break-up) with Patty Griffin.

“Pocketful Of Golden” pivots on a spatial stopstart rhythm that recalls his 1983 hit, “In The Mood.” Plant doesn’t obfuscate, this is a clear paean to Patty. “Once I was set upon by thieves, they stole my heart/I finally found it in your arms and that’s where it’s going to stay…Red hair, raven hair gold like the sun.”

“A Stolen Kiss” is probably the most beautiful song Plant has ever written. A pensive, pianodriven ballad, it wouldn’t seem out of place on a Diana Krall or k.d. lang record. At once he addresses the dichotomies of his personality, as the wanderer drawn to “the western shore…to the lullaby and the ceaseless roar,” and the man who yearns to make his home in the heat of a stolen kiss.

Enveloped in sadness, he offers this hard earned wisdom: “Love waits for no one, there’s so little time, it’s cruel and elusive so hard to find/And moving further and further each day, I’m gone.”

“Embrace Another Fall” is a propulsive siren song. Here Plant shoulders all responsibility for the break up, chalking it up to his Black Country brooding. “Oh! The life upon your lips, your heart could not forsee/The tangle I became that brings me home again.” The final verse of the song is the 14th century poem, “Marwnad yr Eheydd” sung in Welsh by guest vocalist Julie Murphy.

Finally, “House Of Love” is a restless farewell, tethered by a galloping gait, a string section and guitars that boomerang through the melody. Plant is resigned to a desolate existence. “The heart is a heavy load, familiar this lonely road and I’m no stranger to this solitary song.”

Other interesting tracks include the yearning “Up On Hollow Hill (Understanding Arthur)” and a sly, exuberant and banjo-riffic cover of Leadbelly’s “Poor Howard.” The album closes with the experimental sound collage of “Arbaden (Maggie’s Baby).”

This is really a solo record in name only. The Space-Shifters that accompany Plant really are sensational. They consist of Dave Smith on drums, Billy Fuller on bass, omnichord, drum programming and upright bass, Liam “Skin” Tyson on guitar and banjo, John Baggott on keyboards, loops, moog bass, piano and tabal, Juldeh Camara on kologo, ritti and Fulani vocals and Justin Adams on bendirs, guitars, and tehardant .

Robert Plant has been quoted saying this album “may be the end of musical wanderlust and the wonderful carousel I’ve been on.” If that is true, lullaby and…The Ceaseless Roar is the perfect swan song, so to speak. The self-proclaimed and perennial Golden God of Rock & Roll has become a graceful and reflective lion in winter.

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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PET PLACE Buddy, A Hollywood Story B

uddy is an amazing dog with an equally amazing story. He once belonged to a Los Angeles animal acting group along with his brother, the dog who carried an umbrella in the Traveler’s Insurance commercial. However, Buddy’s acting career floundered, and he found himself in an animal shelter. Fortune found Buddy when he was adopted by Steven Garey, a famous concert pianist who is the last living protégé’ of the late great Liberace.

Buddy was Steven’s best “buddy” until tragedy struck when Steven was attacked in a random crime and became severely disabled.

I drove to Palm Springs to meet Steven and Buddy when Loving All Animals was contacted about his plight. The apartment building for disabled seniors was a dreary building, but Steven’s upstairs unit contained a beautiful piano and memorabilia from his show business days. It was the day before Steven’s 54th birthday, a birthday he shared with Buddy who was turning 4. The West Highland Terrier mix pup was an endearing and friendly character.

by Janet McAfee

Best Buddy

because of upcoming surgery, and another when he snarled through the front door at her grandson. We discovered that Buddy had a curious habit of nipping at the heels of certain young men. He never bit anyone, but his behavior was cause for alarm by anyone with frequent house guests. Finally, the Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace graciously offered to house Buddy.

A family from Encino saw Buddy’s cute face in an email and decided to “foster to adopt”. Buddy locked eyes with me as they left, and I could sense his uncertainty. Two weeks later, when Buddy attempted to nip at a young male visitor, they made the decision to return him. Buddy, who was previously house trained, started to urinate inside the home. I learned from another source that Buddy’s potential human Mom had cancer, and this relapse was serious.

I retrieved Buddy at a Starbucks along the 10 freeway. He was happy to see me, perhaps because I was now a thread of continuity in his life, and he knew I loved him. There was a whimsical sadness in Buddy that lurked just beneath the surface. I wondered if Buddy instinctively knew his new owner was seriously ill, and had reverted to the familiar role of protecting someone with a disability.

Dogs have a proven ability to detect certain

Precious pywacket

Cowgirl

Come meet Buddy, a Jack Russell Terrier, and his buddies at The Pet Rescue Center, 83-496 Ave 51, Coachella, (760) 3987722. This lovely rescue specializes in small dogs.

Pywacket’s owner gave her up at Thanksgiving time.

This lovely 3-yr-old girl seeks a home worthy of her loving devotion in 2015.

At the Palm Springs shelter, 4575 E. Mesquite, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5719.

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His owner sadly explained, “I say goodbye to Buddy every day. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. The first shoe that dropped was deciding to give him up. I want him to get adopted quickly so I can get over the grieving process.” This was unlike the usual owner relinquishments that often frivolous reasons. I suggested options like arranging for a dog walker, but Steven was adamant he wanted Buddy to go to a new home where he could get both love and excellent care.

“Buddy I love you. God bless you,” were Steven’s final words to his beloved pet.

Tears streamed down my face as Buddy and I headed out into the warm evening.

Buddy loves car trips and seemed happy at the prospect of another ride, seemingly unaware that his life was taking on a new chapter. Buddy was thrilled to have other dogs to play with at his foster home, and didn’t seem to notice when I slipped out the door.

Buddy’s journey to a new home was not quick or easy. The dog went through several foster homes, one of them returning him

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Cowgirl was grateful when a good Samaritan found her abandoned her in the desert.

This 3-yr-old sweetheart seeks her second chance home. Meet her at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, 4575 E. Mesquite, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5719.

cancers. I also wondered when we would ever find the right “match” for Buddy.

One morning Buddy and I were scheduled for the Channel 2 televised pet segment with Jenifer Daniels. In a curious “coincidence”, Steven Garey called the night before advising me to tell the viewers a happy story emphasizing the dog’s Hollywood roots. He added, “Buddy is a hero dog who helped save my life after a bad fall.” This would not be another sad tale about a homeless pet.

Meredith Asher, widow of renowned Hollywood director William Asher (Bewitched, I Love Lucy, etc.) called inquiring about adoption. She was intrigued

by Buddy’s show business background.

Their first meeting went well, a milestone for a dog that usually reserves his affection.

The theme song “Movin’ on Up” played through my head when I delivered Buddy to Meredith’s beautiful home, and I admonished him to be on his best behavior.

He checked out his new digs, and played happily with his beloved squeaky toy.

Buddy’s face mirrors his soul, and I sensed he was okay.

Meredith reported, “Buddy is absolutely perfect! He’s doing just fine....I got him a little house to sleep in that stays inside my bedroom because he so enjoys being with me. Just as long as he can see me, he’s very happy!” Initially, when he would go into his nipping routine, Meredith would simply put Buddy in a back bedroom for a short time. Buddy now lives like a little prince in another home surrounded by Hollywood memorabilia! The sad look in his eyes is gone now. Buddy’s story has a happy ending, just like an old Hollywood movie.

Are you thinking about getting a “best Buddy” during the holidays? Contact the Palm Springs Animal Shelter at (760) 4165719 or the Riverside County shelter in Thousand Palms at (760) 343-3644. As Buddy knows, there is a home for every homeless pet, and no home is complete this season without a special dog or cat.

December 25 to December 31, 2014

by Rick Riozza

Candace’s Choice Sparklers at Total Wine

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otal Wine & More in Palm Desert is the largest wine, spirits, and beer store in our galaxy. It’s so large that it has its own gravity field: whenever I pass by the behemoth store, I cannot stop my car from veering into their parking lot. It’s been written that it’s “taller than City Hall; wider than the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; longer than a locomotive train, heavier than”… well, we’re getting the idea.

Candace Graham is the store’s wine supervisor and she’s in control of more wine than France and Italy have produced in the last three years. There is more volume of liquid in the store than the amount of water in Lake Tahoe. Last year I wrote that Candace flies in from Cucamonga on her Piper Aircraft. Things have improved for her as Total Wine has built an additional runway.

Even with that much clout, she took the time to taste through some sparklers with me, as she’s eager for the CV weekly wine community to read and hear about some great picks for the New Year’s Eve and beyond. And boy! is she on point with her choice selections both as to value and especially as to taste.

Further, as the consummate wine professional, she has only chosen Champagne and sparklers made in the traditional méthode champenoise: The labor-intensive and costly process whereby wine undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the bottle, creating bubbles. All Champagne and most high-quality sparkling wine is made by this process.

We started our sparkler survey with the Rondel Gold. I’ve been enjoying the Rondel in the carbon-blue bottle for years as a very satisfying Spanish cava.

Now this Gold version is—well, in a gold bottle. Immediately on the bouquet, we experienced something like coming on to that classic 50-50 ice cream bar with that orange sherbet aroma. Wait a minute! I

thought this was a brut cava? The scent of this wine really can throw you off; but once we quaffed this baby, we got a nice dry & fresh, peach and floral, fruity, light-bodied wine. At only $10 a bottle, I can see this really being popular.

Our next vine venture was the Saint Reine Blanc de Blancs Brut, a sparkler from Burgundy. Very fresh on the nose— immediately appealing and you’ll waste no time to taste the nice apple, pear, and citrus notes along with a touch of toast. It’s a fun sparkler—especially for those getting into the European palate. Another great deal at around $12.

The next wine was a Crémant D’Alsace.

A “crémant” [cray-mawn”] originally meant a less-bubbly style of sparkling wine. Think gentle fizz, not the nose-tingling experience of some bubblies. More commonly now, it’s also used to designate sparkling wines made by the méthode champenoise but falling outside the boundaries of the Champagne region. Crémants might also be made from grapes other than the traditional Champagne varieties. Crémant d’Alsace, for example, can be made from Pinot Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Gris.

The Arthur Metz Crémant d’Alsace Brut Prestige is a dry sparkler that is mediumbodied with aromas of white flowers that carry into the palate with tasty orchard fruit flavors. This wine simply craves a great appetizer plate—this is the sparkler to enjoy all night before New Year’s Eve. The blend of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris is fresh and inviting. Named as one of the world’s Top 10 Sparklers at the Effervescents du Monde Wine Competition. Candace says she’s having this crémant with fettuccine alfredo.

Another “crémant” we enjoyed was from the Loire Valley. Most of you will recall this area of France where so many ancient castles and cathedrals exist. Deligeroy Crémant De Loire Brut is also a sparkler that can last all night with meals and munchies.

Such a great tasting wine for only around $17.

The well-known Chenin Blanc grape that excels in the Loire, is predominant here with crisp fresh aromas of peaches, apples and hints of fresh flowers, leading to a creamy palate carrying core fruit flavors and a hint of toast. The elegant texture fills your mouth with an elegant mousse in the style of fine Champagne.

Candace then brought out for the final two, the Grand Cru Champagne. This means that only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards from only 17 villages in the Champagne region can be utilized in the wine. This is where the best Champagne in the world comes from.

The Pertois Moriset Grand Cru Brut

immediately starts with a beautiful nose and classic aromas of yeast and toast and went onto a flavor profile of Marzipan along with exotic fruits, scented brioche, apricot conserve and a comfy honeysuckle aroma with minerality. Nice and crisp that keeps the Champagne fresh throughout the quaff. A great treat for the New Year’s Eve celebration at around $40. A Wine Spectator score of 92 points!

Of course, a beautiful brut rosé is always considered for the grand year’s entrance and for any celebration. The French Grand Cru Rosés are one of the most complex and involved, time-consuming wine to make on earth. And seriously—they are the most delicious rosés in the world.

The Mailly Brut Rosé Grand Cru is wonderfully fragrant on the nose with

a palate of cranberries, red currents, pomegranates lined with red apple acidity and a texture that shows a touch of minerality from the Grand Cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims. Surely, one of the treats of the year at $50. Candace reminds us that we should have had this wine for Thanksgiving!

And Candace, thanks again to you and your great attentive crew who keep us safe and sane in your big big store. Cheers!

Happy New Years!!

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

Club Club Crawler Crawler Nightlife Nightlife

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

­­THUR DECEMBER 25

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day Amigo Room 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 John Bolivar 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 7pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Courtney Chambers 5pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Rob Staley 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am

MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Jazz and Supper Club Night w/ Barry Baughn 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Closed PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Rap/Hip Hop Open Mic w/ Desert Beatz 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Hebrew Hillbilly 5:30pm, Kal David Unplugged 8pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Tony DiGerlando 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rodeo Drive’s Happy Hour Cabaret 3:30-5:30pm, Stan Watkins Latin Swing 6:30-10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm THE WINE BAR BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-8744 Rob Martinez and Todd Ashley 7pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Bill Saitta 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Tropicana Nights 9pm

FRI DECEMBER 26

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29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bob Garcia Band 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Mitra & Mark 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Noches Azul Latin Night 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 T.B.A. 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ PWee 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 The Hive Minds 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 Lisa Lynn Morgan and JoJo Leone 6:30pm

THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 House Band 8:45pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Jump Off” DJ 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 War Drum, Ideation and Caxton 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Michael D’Angelo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 DJ 9pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Stormin’ Normin 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Trill 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Evangenitals 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-3271161ext.230 The Gand Band 8:30pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 7pm, Machin’ Sidebar Patio 7pm, Lindsey Harper Sidebar Lounge 10pm ROC’S FIREHOUSE; PD; 760-340-3222 T.B.A. 6:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Vic du Monte’s Persona Non Grata w/ The Hellions, Herbert and DJ Habanero 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 John Wabrandt Band 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Ron & Peggy “Heart to Heart” 6:30pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 T.B.A. TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-3282300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755-5391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Trish Harley & Barney McClure Duo 6:30-10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:30-

4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Slim Man Solo Show 5:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 T.B.A. 9pm THE WINE BAR BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-8744 Rob & jb 7:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night Out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT DECEMBER 27 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Pleasure Principle 12pm, 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Chix Mix-LAW 7pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 T.B.A. 9pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Music 6-10pm BISTRO 60 @TRILOGY; LQ; 760-501-0620 The Carmens 6pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775-5566 DJ PWee BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Live Music 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 6pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Blu Saturdays 9:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 CV Weekly Presents: A Benefit Show w/ John Garcia and featuring Nick Oliveri’s Uncontrollable, House of Broken Promises, Waxy, Blasting Echo, The Hellions, Burning Bettie and War Drum 5pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 Karaoke 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 T.B.A. 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 “Solid” Guest DJs, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Holidazrd & Confused w/ Thr3 Strykes, The Dirty X’s and more 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Kool Breeze 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 80’s Allstars 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm

NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 TBA 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 The Hive Minds 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Sara Petite 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 T.B.A. 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 The Men Who Stole the World, Mental Flow, Wonderwrench and Scatt Pilgram 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext230 The Gand Band 8:30pm, Giselle Woo 11pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 7pm, TBA Sidebar Patio 7pm, Lindsey Harper Sidebar Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Echo of Sight Book Release w/ Blasting Echo, Bridger, Burning Bettie and Boycott Radio 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Parosella, Desert Rhythm Project and John Stanley King 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Darci Daniels 6:30pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 T.B.A. 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-3282300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755-5391 DJ Hektik 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30-10pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Chris Lomeli 8pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Salsa Night, Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-8744 Scott Carter 7:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Trio 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

SUN DECEMBER 28 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Slacker Sunday w/ Matt Harris 10pm

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Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

BEST MOVIES OF 2014?

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his year, especially the last six months, has delivered a rush of excellent films. In no particular order, here’s my top twelve.

There were at least a dozen more titles that might have been included, but for various reasons those films did not linger as long in my mind as those listed here. And for me, that’s’ the final test for a worthy film.

BOYHOOD Filmed over a period of 12 years, director Richard Linklater’s ambitious, technically adroit, and truly epic (nearly three hours long) fictional movie is nothing less than an intimate look at the mysterious forces that impact the transition from childhood to young adult. This remarkable comingof-age story may seem ordinary on the surface but it is that very ordinariness that makes it profound and beautiful. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette are the parents. Arquette is a wonder. We see our own lives anew as we live it through Mason (Ellar Coltrane) while he ages from five to 18. This is not only a hope-filled, life-enhancing movie experience but also a timeless work of art. Maybe the best film of the year.

BIRDMAN

Michael Keaton is Riggin Thomson, an actor mostly remembered only for BIRDMAN the comic book superhero movie he made years ago. Now, to revive his career and remind critics and fans that he still has what it takes, he is mounting a Broadway play based on a Raymond Carver story as both star and director. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (GRAVITY) shoots the movie as one long take.

The wonderful cast includes Ed Norton, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis and Emma Stone. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu drives this backstage comedy drama into a soaring experience about the adrenalin rush of riding a creative high and discovering a greater reality and a more authentic identity.

NIGHTCRAWER

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lou Bloom is a feral predator, a kind of demon, prowling the night for the most graphic human carnage he can record for the ravenous consumption of LA’s media outlets. He has no qualms shifting from observer to participant in a crime scene. Lou understands there are no boundaries in the exploitation of human depravity.

It’s a tour-de-force performance in a lean, gripping thriller that has all kinds of implications and meaning. Rene Russo is perfect as competitive, highly stressed TV news director. Dan Gilroy’s tight screenplay and minimalist direction propel this story like a bullet that stays on target to the chilling end. A disturbing, brilliant masterpiece that mirrors a reality we share.

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JODOROWSKY’S DUNE Maybe the secret of longevity is to stay fueled by a self-ignited creative fire that cannot be doused. Alejando Jodorowsky, the 84 year-old Chilean born Mexican filmmaker (EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN) is in full-throttle mode in Frank Pavrich’s compelling documentary.

I was blown away by this incredible documentary that is as wonderfully entertaining as it is inspiring.

It is not only about a failed movie project; it is about what it means to be an unfiltered, fully committed artist. It is about a single-minded, full-blown passion so intense that it consumes fellow artists, musicians and performers. It is also about how socalled failure has amazing and unexpected rewards.

Jodorowsky is mesmerizing as he recalls his creative venture that does not exist except in the minds of those who created it. It is not Herbert’s “Dune,” but a morphed vision that was only triggered

by Herbert and then given a new incarnation by an obsessive, Chilean surrealist. It’s a “What if” story written without restraint. Jodo’s stated goal was “to mutate young minds “ and change the world. His movie was about the redemption of a planet. It’s not clear why the studios did not want to work with Jodo; the impression I got is that they were afraid of him and his disregard of the film’s cost and length.

Jodo has disdain for money to be factor in the creation of true art. I can’t recommend the movie highly enough.

UNDER THE SKIN

I can think of no other film in recent memory that has received such divided, impassioned reviews. I am not sure what this visually stunning film means (if anything), but I was blown away by the almost out-of-body, hypnotic experience that transports the viewer to another place -- maybe another universe.

Scarlett Johansson is an alien who appears as a voluptuous human woman who forages for isolated, disconnected men in Scotland. She lures them into her nest and rips away their last, tenuous, vestiges of humanity. Or, I think that’s what’s going on. In any case, Johansson is a potent force with which to reckon, perhaps impossible to deny -– if you’re a human male. In some ways, this film I reminded me a bit of Wim Vender’s 1987 film WINGS OF DESIRE in which an angel considers the mortal lure of humanity.

Based on Michael Faber’s equally strange novel, the story may be about what it means to be human but here we are forced to consider this question from a decidedly alien perspective. I liked the enigmatic ending of what happens when one dons a costume of human skin and forsakes one’s original identity. However, I was as enthralled by Jonathan Glazer’s hypnotic images -- the incredible cinematography’s by Daniel Landin -- as I was by Johansson’s striking and rather brave (full nudity) and hugely memorable, performance.

CALVARY Brendan Gleason is magnificent as a rural Irish priest whose life is threatened during a confession.

This incident sets him on an inexorable moral path into a dark place where he confronts real evil with the only thing he has left. John McDonagh directs with a sweet finesse. Chris O’Dowd and Kelly Reilly

Screeners No.144

co-star in this memorable and unexpected drama of life, death, faith and penance.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL The deliciously complicated adventures and relationship of Gustave H, the legendary concierge of the world famous hotel in the fictional republic of Zubrowka between the two World Wars, and his most trusted friend, lobby boy Zero Moustafa may require multiple viewings. I don’t now anyone who has only seen it once!

The artists at Look Effects, especially Gabriel Sanchez, VFX Supervisor, made Wes Anderson’s idiosyncratic touch palpable. Two miniatures were created for the hotel’s different eras set in the 1930s and 1960s. Making real the world of a movie is a big draw for me and here the story and look are about as perfect as it gets. With: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING A meticulously crafted film in every department takes us on an intimate journey that is enveloped by the grandest cosmic mysteries. The love story of the famous, physically challenged physicist Stephen Hawking and his first wife is sweetly satisfying in ways I did not imagine. Director James Marsh has a sophisticated eye for composition and effortlessly capturing the emotion of a scene without hammering it home. Felicity Jones is perfect as Hawking’s devoted wife, but it’s Eddie Redmayne who inhabits the great mind with the tormented body that makes it a perfect film. I was never taken out of the movie.

FURY

April 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, Wardaddy (Brad Pitt), a battle-hardened sergeant, commands a Sherman tank’s five-man crew. They’re out-numbered and out-gunned. Against smothering odds, they bravely make a heroic stand in the very soul of Nazi Germany. David Ayer’s superbly crafted film puts you in the tank and under the skin of the men who gave all for our freedom as they fight against a real evil. With Shia LaBeouf and Logan Lerman.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES In Peter Jackson’s conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” – remember, it’s a prequel to “The Lord of the Rings” and set at least 60 years earlier -- Bilbo and friends wage war against a terrifying

Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By Heidi Simmons

2014 Favorites

of the same title, which ran in syndication around the world from 1959 to 1961. Written and illustrated by Mendelsohn, this colorful and timeless book will bring a smile to your face. Mendelsohn includes an introduction with photographs about his career working with creative giants in the animation field that is equally entertaining.

Fiction

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array of opponents including the dreadful dragon Smaug. Will Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and company succeed in preserving not only the great treasure but also Middle-Earth itself? What’s new in this final chapter? A lot. Besides extraordinarily detailed sets and the requisite battling dwarfs, bats, elves and eagles, there’s an eye-popping army or Orcs, massive crowd scenes, the chaos of Lake-town and the grandest, most breathtaking of environments and awful destruction on a scale so far unseen in the series. But above all else, there’s an emotionally satisfying conclusion that ranks this installment as perhaps the best of the trilogy. It’s cutting edge filmmaking. Astonishing on all levels. Not to be confused with the superb LORD OF THE RINGS film trilogy, but I include it here mainly for the sheer audacity of adapting a relatively slender story into a massive, intentionally over-the-top, visual spectacle for all time and all ages.

THE IMITATION GAME Formulaic in structure, but so utterly compelling, this little-known personal and historical story, must be given it’s due. English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a closeted homosexual (and likely highly functioning with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome), helps crack the Enigma code during World War II. Cumberbatch is terrific as troubled genius Turning, a man who saved untold lives and helped end the war only to be arrested for sexual identity. A real hero. Written

by Graham Moore. Sure direction by Morton Tyldum. With Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode BOXTROLLS Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) is a human orphan who lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of strange, nervous, quirky creatures who live in a cave under the city of Cheesebridge. When villain Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) devises a plan to exterminate the relatively harmless critters, Eggs ventures above ground, where he befriends gutsy Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, Eggs and Winnifred devise a daring plan to save the Boxtrolls from what appears to be certain extermination.

This is the most detailed stop-motion film I have ever seen. It is absolutely stunning in its originality of design and character. But what puts it in the top movies for me is the core story about prejudice and fearing what we don’t know about the “other.”

Comments? robinesimmons@aol.com

love to read a good story.

Few things compare to being completely engaged in a compelling narrative. Reading is an intimate, personal experience that can take you from where you sit while reading into an alternate universe.

In this literary other-world, we meet people we like and hate, people who do amazing and shameful things. Whether we love or loathe them, whether fictional or real, we can learn from them at a safe distance.

For this column, I read every genre. I read an average of two books a week. As I looked over the 52 weeks of book reviews, I realized this year I read more fiction than nonfiction.

But, no matter its form, I crave story.

Below is my list of the year’s best reads. It is a little like having to choose which of your children is your favorite. If you have time to read, everything on this list is well-written and entertaining.

Nonfiction Deep Dark Down by Héctor Tobar is the story of the 33 Chilean Miners who were trapped under tons of rock, a mile underground, for ten weeks! This is an incredible story of survival. Tobar totally gets it. He reports the terror, suffering and the triumph. Top favorite.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is the WWII story of an Olympian who survives

December 25 to December 31, 2014

a plane crash only to suffer as a Japanese POW. Besides the tremendous lens on WWII history, Hillenbrand does an astonishing job telling a story of forgiveness and redemption.

Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson is a detailed and fascinating history of the Middle East. This is an important book and enlightening if you want to understand why the current problems that exist there.

Jacky’s Diary by Jack Mendelsohn is such a joy and delight because it’s all about the simple pleasures and innocence of a child who tries to comprehend the world around him. This book is the complete cartoon series

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Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is a wonderful character driven narrative of a bright and independent, albeit homely, woman who struggles to become a successful horticulturist where women, in any science are rare and mostly unwelcome.

The story is her search for an understanding of the complicated nature of life, existence and love. Top favorite.

Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar is the story of a young artist who is in the land of opportunity illegally. She is denied her gifts and judged unfairly because of her immigrant status. However, through a tragic misunderstanding, she discovers her dignity and strength. This socially provocative story is by the same author of Deep Down Dark.

Tobar is a brilliant writer.

The Circle by Dave Eggers worked on me in a different way than other books on this list.

I didn’t like the protagonist, but the subject matter still haunts. The story centers on a powerful tech corporation that‘s basically Google. You want some insight on that corporate monster? Well, this is the book.

Bark by Lorrie Moore is a collection of

short stories and is filled with powerful and poignant tales of men and women in a world we recognize. Of the eight stories, “Wings” is my favorite.

Raw: A Love Story by Mark Haskell Smith is an entertaining read of lust, fame, literary genius and reality TV. Haskell Smith has a gift for writing about the inane and making it meaningful. Your brain and funny bone are both stimulated.

Labyrinth by David Ulin is a meditative novella that takes the reader on a journey of discovery where a sometimes snarky protagonist finds maturity, wisdom and acceptance. Ulin’s tone is literate and introspective here.

Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford and The Laughing Monsters by Denis Johnson are both great reads. Ford and Johnson are two of my favorite authors. I’m including these books for male readers who won’t – for whatever reason - read women writers or stories with female protagonists.

Both these books have fairly macho lead characters.

Biography Barbara Stanwyck by Victoria Wilson is as engaging a read as the movie star subject.

Don’t be intimidated by the thickness (over 1000 pages) of this incredibly detailed and utterly fascinating book. This is only part one.

It covers the years 1907 to 1940. I can hardly wait to read about the rest of Stanwyck’s fantastic life. If you didn’t love Stanwyck before, you will after this read. Top favorite.

Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg is a wonderful and honest tribute to his good friend. Berg came to know Hepburn well and over the years he became a trusted confidant and eventual biographer. So well-written and detailed, I swear you will hear Hepburn’s voice.

For the full review of these books visit www.coachellavalleyweekly.com/category/ book-review .

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MON DECEMBER 29 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bonny Jean 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Spencer Day 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Tony Grandberry 6:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley & Barney McClure 6pm

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Vinyl Sessions 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 6pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Jesse Sweitzer 5pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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safety tips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Last Minute Gift Ideas - Give the Gift of Life!

I

s there that hard to buy for someone special in your life? I don’t think anything could be more special than to say Happy Holidays by giving a gift of “life safety” says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Here are some gift ideas for anyone.

Smoke detectors and batteries. Every house could use an extra. A quality all purpose fire extinguisher. Most homes don’t have them. Flashlight and batteries or light sticks. A first-aid kit. An automobile safety kit including jumper cables, flares, fix-a-flat,

Community

reflectors. A carbon monoxide detector. A second floor escape ladder. An “Emergency preparedness kit” (energy bars, water, battery radio, flashlight/light sticks and a first-aid kit packed in a small travel bag). A talking smoke detector if they have small children. A bicycle helmet.

Anyone of these would make a great gift of life.

Merry Christmas!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

by Maria M. Miranda

sharekitchen

Celebrating the Spirit of Giving, Sharing and Growing in 2014

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hareKitchen is celebrating the 2014 holiday season reflecting on the spirit of giving, sharing and growing we’ve enjoyed over this past year. We are honored and humbled to have been a part of so many wonderful experiences and events and would like to take a moment to reminisce and recognize some of the great people and organizations we’ve grown with over the year: Two Guys and a Jersey Girl – Lauren Geller, Larry Goldberg and Chef Eric Theiss who organized the season’s freshest fundraisers benefitting the sustainability garden at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. This group of hospitality professionals raised over $15,000 to support and educate the clients of CVRM and ShareKitchen with their “Farm to Fork – Fork to Farm” dinner series featuring Chef Raul Garcia of Lavender Bistro, Chef Michael from the Renaissance of Long Beach, Chef Gregorio Calderin of Sirocco, Chef Andie Hubka of Cork & Fork, Chef Eric Pamperin of CVRM and Chef Sherry of Desert Cities Catering. These Chefs donated their time, staff and talents to create intimate evenings with locally sourced ingredients donated

by local vendors like County Line Harvest and Epic Wines. A special thank you to all of the guests who attended and generously supported this series.

Humana Healthy Fun Fair in La Quinta – ShareKitchen and Green Acres teamed up to teach kids of all ages “Where Food Comes From” at our interactive planting booth sponsored by Moller’s Garden Center in Palm Desert. Residents from across the Coachella Valley learned that food comes from dirt (and seeds, water and sunshine) as they got their hands dirty planting in hundreds of fiber pots provided by Moller’s.

The Art of Real Food – A Farm to Fork Evening sponsored by The Palm Springs Cultural Center, the Certified Farmers’ Market, ShareKitchen, local farmers and food artisans. We are grateful to Joanne Neft and Laura Kenney for sharing their stories during an enlightening evening of fun and fundraising for local food.

ShareKitchen is built on the simple philosophy of sharing. Help us grow more local businesses and local food by sharing your time and talents at ShareKitchen in 2015. Share2015@ShareKitchen.org

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Haddon Libby:It’s all local

HOW THE WORLD CELEBRATES NEW YEAR’S EVE

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ere in the United States, it seems that the most popular way to ring in the New Year is with a flute of champagne while amongst friends and family and sharing a kiss with that special someone. As with many around the world, Americans often watch fireworks whether in person or in front of a television.

In many Spanish speaking cultures, New Year’s Eve is not complete unless you eat twelve grapes for luck. This tradition finds its roots in 1895 when grape growers started the tradition to reduce their surplus of grapes. Interestingly, Argentinians have a similar celebration except that they eat beans. Many Spanish cultures also carry a suitcase around their house or around the block in order to bring more travel in the New Year.

Rather than grapes or beans, Estonians eat parts of twelve meals as this tradition is supposed to help you have the strength of many men. The entire meal is not consumed as a portion is meant to be left of the spirits of ancestors who visit homes while you sleep.

The Finnish tell each other their fortunes

on New Year’s Eve with molybdomancy.

Besides being difficult to pronounce, molybdomancy is the act of melting lead in a pan on the stove and then throwing the molten metal in cold water. The resulting blob of metal is then analyzed under candlelight to determine what fate may come to that person in the upcoming year.

People in Denmark celebrate the end of the year by making a dessert called kransekage that is decorated with fire crackers and flags. Kransekage is a coneshaped cake. The Danes also smash dishes on their doorsteps to insure many friendships in the New Year.

Greeks prefer to smash pomegranates on their doorsteps in order to bring prosperity and good luck. They also hang a kremmida (onion) outside their doors as a symbol of rebirth with the new year. Besides cleaning up the pomegranate mess the next morning, parents tap their children on the head with the onions before going to church.

Japan’s Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times as they welcome the New Year God, Toshigami. They also clean their homes as part of an effort to sweep away bad luck

while sending notes called nengajos to friends and family in recognition of the New Year and their friendship.

An Italian tradition is to wear red underwear.

Single Irish women place sprigs of mistletoe under their pillows on New Year’s in an effort to gain luck and a husband with the New Year. Folklore warns the Irish that the arrival of tall, handsome men on your doorstep on New Year’s Eve will bring good fortune while red headed women will bring nothing but trouble.

In Scotland, the New Year is called Hogmanay celebrated by setting barrels filled with tar on fire and rolling them down the street as a symbol of the burning up of the year gone by.

Ecuadorians also use fire to ring in the

New Year as they like to build effigies of their enemies from the past year that they then burn in the streets.

Many Germans celebrate by eating doughnuts, pigs made of marzipan and watching the 1920s British play, “Dinner for One” on television.

Finally, in Serbia, Deda Mraz (no relation to Jason Mraz) visits houses leaving presents under spruce trees. They then celebrate the New Year thirteen days later in recognition of the Julian calendar. In case you were unfamiliar with the Julian calendar, it was created by Julius Caesar and is very similar to the Gregorian calendar that the world uses today. The only significant difference is that they believe the year is comprised of 365.25 days, 0.02 days more than the calendar that we use today - thus the 13 day difference.

On behalf of the entire CV Weekly family, I personally would like to wish you and your family love, luck, health and prosperity in the New Year.

Dale Gribow On The Law

WHAT DOES IT COST FOR A LETTER?

I

get this question many times every week. I explain to the caller that it is like calling a doctor over the phone and asking what he would charge to see a patient and prescribe a course of treatment….and then whether he could cure you. A lawyer, like a doctor, would need more information to evaluate the matter. Unfortunately, most matters are not resolved with just a letter.

In today’s technological world a letter/ email is responded to within minutes. We no longer wait a week for a response in the mail.

That immediate response from the other side requires something from our side. This usually necessitates talking to the client again and writing out our position to the response.

The truth is that there is nothing more expensive that Civil Litigation. Not only will it cost about $600 to file a summons and

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

complaint with the court but we may have to hire an investigator to find the defendant or serve a defendant that does not want to be served.

As a last resort you might serve by publication in a local paper. We would then get a judgment in favor of our client only to have the defendant’ lawyer, 6 months later, move to vacate the judgment and you start all over again.

I usually ask the prospective client “Who has the most money……….YOU or the other party?” If the client is not well off and the other side is well to do, I explain it will be very difficult for the prospective client to stay in the game with them.

I share with them a recent case where a country club developer client of mine originally gave us $50,000 to defend him on one civil real estate matter. One matter became 2 and 2 became 5. To protect the client we had to get involved with all 5 matters.

My client kept promising he was getting more money. Initially he was getting refinancing and finally selling the project and I would be paid through escrow. After months in escrow, with instruction to pay me when the money becomes available, my client filed Bankruptcy and I was out $55,000 in costs I advanced during the case and $700,000 in legal fees (at a reduced

rate). Not only did I not get paid but I never even get an apology or thanks.

It pains me to advise a client not to hire us when I know the client will not be able see it to the end and I suspect the client will just be wasting his/her money. Ironically the same thing happens when I cannot accept a minor accident case. It is hard for most people to understand why a lawyer is trying to get out of work. At The Law Office of Dale Gribow we focus on collecting compensation for a client that is wronged by another party whether it is a breach of contract or an auto accident.

Obviously when a drunk driver hits our client it allows us to hit a home run on the recovery. We successfully resolved the case where our jogging client on October 20, 2013 was hit by a drunk driver. However it is currently more difficult to address the problem of claims strategies used by insurance companies and thus we have to reject most small soft tissue cases.

We likewise have to explain to DUI clients that the DA’s office is looking for Jail time on a first offense DUI. Because this may necessitate additional work to keep the client out of jail or find a loophole the lawyers fee often goes up.

The Holidays are upon us.

Don’t Drink and Drive Call a Taxi or Uber It is a lot cheaper than calling me Dale Gribow

1) TOP LAWYER rating by Palm Springs Life every year.

2) Perfect AVVO 10.0 Peer Review Rating by fellow attorneys 3) Preeminent Rating by Martindale Hubbell.

4) Selected for Best Attorneys of America (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys in each state.

5) Man of the Year 7 times- including the City of Palm Desert and the City of Hope and Dale Gribow Day proclaimed 4 x’s.

6) Only attorney appointed to study DUI: by both Clinton Foundation Health Matters and Coachella Valley Association of Governments For more than 30 years Gribow has been committed to protecting client’s civil and constitutional rights. Regardless of whether the matter concerns a Serious Accident, DUI, Business, Real Estate or Estate Planning issue every case is diligently handled with the utmost of respect and care. The Gribow firm offers clients decades of experience and success, thus making him the attorney of choice for thousands of clients.

If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at his NEW number 760 837 7500 and or his new email: dale@dalegribowlaw.com

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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sports scene Holiday Classic A Gift For Local Sports Fans

K

awhi Leonard won the most recent NBA Finals MVP. But before he did that he played in the Max Prep Holiday Classic.

During the 2013-2014 NCAA Tournament, Kentucky was led by a freshman class that was historically good and when Aaron Harrison drained winning buzzer-beater after winning buzzer-beater, the whole nation was gripped with excitement, but did you know local sports fans had been treated to Harrison and his twin bother’s talents just the year before as they were part of the Max Preps Holiday Classic that is played in the Coachella Valley every year between Christmas and New Year.

That means this year, you too can catch

a sneak peak at high school talent that will could be leading the national conversation at collegiate superstars.

The tournament will be held at various high schools throughout town with newly constructed Rancho Mirage High as the host and seven other sites between Dec 26th-30.

The defending national champions, Mater Dei out of Santa Ana is headlining the incredible talent that comes from all over the country to participate in this tournament.

There are 6 state and section title winners from last season. Thirteen of the 17 teams in the Invitational Division won 20 or more games last year and while the tourney is always stacked with California teams, the

sports

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

by Julie Buehler

Week of December 25

classic has become more of an international event with teams from 30 states and 6 countries participating in the decade-plus event.

Some teams to keep an out for according to MaxPreps.com include, not only the 35-0 Mater Dei who finished off a fourth straight championship campaign last year but also Sierra Canyon. They went 29-4 last year and did so with 4 freshmen in the rotation, including National Freshman of the Year, Cody Riley and a USA basketball gold medalist in Devearl Ramsey.

You can catch Texas private school state champion in Prestonwood Christian, California juggernauts in Archbishop Mitty, Folsom, J Serra Catholic and Moreau Catholic. They all won their section championships.

The Invitational Division features formidable state title contenders from Georgia, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

“The MaxPreps Holiday Classic keeps getting better. Last year’s Classic was simply amazing with a brand new venue and great teams and fantastic games,” MaxPreps

Founder and President Andy Beal said. “This year is shaping up to be even better with defending MaxPreps national champion Mater Dei and top teams from throughout the country playing for the gold ball.”

If you’d like more information including schedule and where games are being played go to www.DesertHeatHolidayClassic.com and schedule where you want to catch a glimpse of the future of basketball talent.

Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station. She can also be seen every morning between 6-7am on KMIR sharing the coolest stories in sports. She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners. Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch “Buehler’s Day Off” on Ustream and KMIR.com for her sports reports.

by Flint Wheeler

Why Kobe Bryant is no Michael Jordan!

N

ow that Kobe Bryant has just surpassed Michael Jordan on the alltime scoring list I’m reading articles all over mainstream media talking about the debate raging over who is better: Kobe or Jordan. You’re kidding me right? Just stop it, stop it, please for the love of God stop it! Kobe Bryant compares to Michael Jordan in only one way: Poorly!

Because they play the same position and have a similar repertoire of moves the comparison is easy but also unfair. I have a $20 imitation Rolex bought on the side of the road in Bangkok a few years back, it looks very similar, on some days it even keeps time like the original, but you know what it isn’t? It isn’t a Rolex. It’s a cheap knockoff. Now I’m not saying Kobe Bryant is a cheap knockoff watch, that would be insulting, almost as insulting as comparing him to Michael Jordan.

Don’t get me wrong, Kobe Bryant is a great, great basketball player, but he falls significantly short of Jordan by just about every meaningful metric. Similarly to the fake Rolex, just because something looks the same, or was modeled after the original doesn’t mean they should be compared, to do so is a disservice to both.

Kobe Bryant - 1996-Present, Los Angeles Lakers, Drafted 13th 5x NBA Champion, 2x NBA Finals MVP, 1x NBA MVP, 16x All-Star, 11x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, 9x NBA All-Defensive Team, 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2x NBA Scoring Champion Career Statistics: 25.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.8

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APG, 1.5 SPG, FG% 45.2%, ORating 111, DRating 105 Playoffs: 25.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, FG% 44.8%, ORating 110, DRating 106 Michael Jordan - 1984-1993, 19951998, 2001-2003, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Drafted 3rd 6x NBA Champion, 6x NBA Finals MVP, 5x NBA MVP, 14x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, 1x All-NBA Second Team, 1x Defensive Player Of the Year, 9x NBA All-Defensive Team, 10x Scoring Title, NBA rookie of the year Career Statistics: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, SPG 2.3, FG% 49.7%, ORating 118.3, DRating 103 Playoffs: 33.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, FG% 48.7%, ORating 118.0, DRating 104 Jordan obviously bests Kobe in NBA Championships, Finals MVP’s, NBA MVP’s, scoring average, rebounding, assists, steals and shooting percentage. Statistically, Jordan elevated his game significantly during the playoffs whereas Kobe’s numbers remained relatively the same.

When we look at the advanced metrics we see that Jordan is clearly superior over their careers whilst also having an enormous advantage at the apex. The gap is even more pronounced and put into better context when we look at their best statistical seasons by individual metric.

Jordan has 10 seasons better than Kobe’s best Win Share season, nine seasons better than his best VORP season, 10 seasons better than his bets WS/48, 10 seasons better than

his best for both BPM and ORating and only a measly seven PER seasons better than the best Kobe has authored. Using advanced metrics it becomes obvious that Michael Jordan has somewhere between seven and 10 seasons better than Kobe Bryant authored.

How is this a Kobe versus Jordan an argument again? I’m really confused. The answer is it’s not, or it shouldn’t be.

Having said all that lets take nothing away from Kobe Bryant, nobody compares well against Jordan. I am not trying to tear Kobe down, I am simply highlighting the absurdity of the argument. Michael Jordan is a legend in the truest sense of that word, he transcended not just basketball or sports, but popular culture, he was and is an icon. Kobe could never compare to that even if his numbers did.

Kobe has played a longer career than Jordan, remaining mostly injury free until recent years, he has avoided baseball sabbaticals and multiple retirements, in total he has played 238 more games including playoffs, almost three additional seasons and

6,578 more minutes and counting. Therefore it is to be expected that eventually some of Kobe’s counting stats like career points, which started the “debate” will surpass Jordan’s through the sheer breadth of his career.

NBA Kobe’s one true advantage over Jordan is longevity and whilst that might not be a skill it is certainly an attribute. One driven by an unquenchable hunger, a peerless work ethic and unrelenting mental strength to thrive for 19 years in the NBA and that is to be acknowledged and celebrated.

Kobe Bryant just became the third leading scorer in NBA history, he is a five-time NBA Champion, 16 time All-Star, he is 10 times All-NBA, he is the second best guard ever and objectively one of the 10 best players of all time and we should celebrate all of that for what it is, a phenomenal career that is yet unfinished; just don’t compare it to the incomparable.

Kobe is an all-time great, Jordan is the greatest of all-time and they are two totally different things.

Founder of Silex Strategies L.L.C. providing sales and consulting in Insurance, Retirement, Real Estate and Taxes through A.I.G./Valic.

PGA Class A Member and T.P.I. Certified Golf Trainer. Host of “The Tilted Sports Radio Show” on Fox Sports 1270 from 3-7pm on Thursdays, Live from The Kilt. Contact at 760-409-4612 www.flintwheeler.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Hell is the suffering of being unable to love,” wrote novelist J. D. Salinger.

Using that definition, I’m happy to announce that you have a good chance of avoiding hell altogether in 2015. If there has been any deficiency in your power to express and bestow love, I think you will correct it. If you have been so intent on getting love that you have been neglectful in giving love, you will switch your focus. I invite you to keep a copy of this horoscope in your wallet for the next 12 months.

Regard it as your “Get Out of Hell Free” card.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Beetles are abundant and ubiquitous. Scientists have identified more than 350,000 species, and they are always discovering new ones. In 2011, for example, they conferred official recognition on 3,485 additional types of beetles. I’m seeing a parallel development in your life, Taurus. A common phenomenon that you take for granted harbors mysteries that are worth exploring. Something you regard as quite familiar actually contains interesting features you don’t know about. In 2015, I hope you will open your mind to the novelties and exotica that are hidden in plain sight.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) was an influential French chef who defined and standardized the five “mother sauces.”

But he wasn’t content to be a star in his own country. At the age of 44, he began his “conquest of London,” bringing his spectacular dining experience to British restaurants. He thought it might be hard to sell his new clientele on frogs’ legs, a traditional French dish, so he resorted to trickery. On the menu, he listed it as “Nymphs of the Dawn.” According to my reading of the omens, this is an example of the hocus-pocus that will be your specialty in 2015. And I suspect you will get away with it every time as long as your intention is not selfish or manipulative, but rather generous and constructive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The entomologist Charles P. Alexander (1889-1981) devoted much of his professional life to analyzing the insect known as the crane fly. He identified over 11,000 different species, drew 15,000 illustrations of the creatures, and referred to his lab as “Crane Fly Haven.” That’s the kind of single-minded intention I’d love to see you adopt during the first six months of 2015, Cancerian. What I’m imagining is that you will choose a specific, well-defined area within which you will gleefully explore and experiment and improvise. Is there a subject or task or project you would have fun pursuing with that kind of intensity?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Don DeLillo’s novel Underworld, Cotter Martin is a young boy living in New York in the 1950s. The following description is about him. “In school they tell him sometimes to stop looking out the window. This teacher or that teacher. The answer is not out there, they tell him.

And he always wants to say that’s exactly where the answer is.” I propose we regard this passage as one of your themes in 2015, Leo. In other words, be skeptical of any authority who tells you where you should or should not be searching for the answers.

Follow your own natural inclination, even if at first it seems to be nothing more than looking out the window.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “It is always important to know when something has reached its end,” writes Paulo Coelho in his book The Zahir.

Use this advice heroically in 2015, Virgo. Wield it to clear away anything that no longer serves you, that weighs you down or holds you back. Prepare the way for the new story that will begin for you around your next birthday. “Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters,” Coelho says, “it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “On some nights I still believe,” said rascal journalist Hunter S. Thompson, “that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” In 2015, I invite you to adopt some of that push-it-to-the-edge attitude for your

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

personal use, Libra. Maybe not full-time; maybe not with the same manic intensity that Thompson did.

Rather, simply tap into it as needed -- whenever you’ve got to up your game or raise your intensity level or rouse the extra energy you need TO ACHIEVE TOTAL, WONDROUS, RESOUNDING VICTORY!!! The coming months will be your time to go all the way, hold nothing back, and quest for the best and the most and the highest.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Twenty miles long, the Onyx River is the longest body of moving water on the continent of Antarctica. Most of the year it’s ice, though. It actually flows for just two or three months during the summer. Let’s hope that continues to be the case for the foreseeable future. It would be a shame if global warming got so extreme that the Onyx melted permanently.

But now let’s talk about your own metaphorical equivalent of the Onyx: a potentially flowing part of your life that is often frozen. I’d love to see it heat up and thaw. I’d love it to be streaming and surging most of the time. And in 2015, I think that’s a distinct possibility. Consider making the following declaration your battle cry: I am the Flow Master!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he’s in prison.” That quote is attributed to both Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky and Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Regardless of who said it, I urge you to keep it in mind throughout 2015. Like all of us, you are trapped in an invisible prison: a set of beliefs or conditioned responses or bad habits that limit your freedom to act. That’s the bad news. The good news is that in the coming months, you are poised to discover the exact nature of your invisible prison, and then escape it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): When he was 37 years old, actor Jack Nicholson found out that Ethel May, the woman he had always called his mother, was in fact his grandma. Furthermore, his “older sister” June was actually his mom, who had given birth to him when she was 17. His relatives had hidden the truth from him. I suspect that in 2015 you will uncover secrets and missing information that will rival Nicholson’s experience. Although these revelations may initially be confusing or disruptive, in the long run they will heal and liberate you. Welcome them!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Meupareunia” is an English word that refers to a sexual adventure in which only one of the participants has a good time.

I’ll be bold and predict that you will not experience a single instance of meupareunia in 2015. That’s because I expect you’ll be steadily upgrading your levels of empathy and your capacity for receptivity.

You will be getting better and better at listening to your intimate allies and reading their emotional signals. I predict that synergy and symbiosis will be your specialties. Both your desire to please and your skill at giving pleasure will increase, as will your understanding of how many benefits you can reap by being a responsive partner.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Be good and you will be lonesome,” said Mark Twain. Do you agree?

I don’t -- at least as it applies to your life in 2015.

According to my understanding of the long-term astrological omens, you will attract an abundance of love and luck by being good -- by expressing generosity, deepening your compassion, cultivating integrity, and working for justice and truth and beauty. That doesn’t mean you should be a pushover or doormat. Your resolve to be good must be leavened by a determination to deepen your selfrespect. Your eagerness to do the right thing has to include a commitment to raising your levels of selfcare.

Homework: Make three predictions about your life in 2015. Tell me at RealAstrology.com; click on “Email Rob.” Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

December 25 to December 31, 2014

Mind, body & Spirit

by Bronwyn Ison

BE A MASTERPIECE

A

nother year has transpired. Did you accomplish your goals? Are you preparing for new ventures?

Are you strategizing how you can achieve your upcoming goals? What would you like to do differently in the ensuing year?

If your answers are affirmative responses to the questions then keep on with your extraordinary work.

When we set goals we can become the masterpiece we are meant to be. Did you know establishing goals and working towards them make us happier? It does not matter the scope. It is simply a matter of setting something in stone that you are willing to strive for and realize a result.

When you set a goal it can boost your selfconfidence and increase your motivation.

Setting goals creates a sense of direction.

Isn’t it nice to know where you are going?

You must also determine your “why.” Why, what, and how are you attempting to achieve your dreams?

Initial goal setting is exhilarating. You have big ideas and there isn’t any reason why you cannot achieve your dreams. Now is the time to write them down on a piece of paper. Once you have your goals in place I encourage you to evaluate what you have written.

You must work SMART. Some of you may have heard of this handy tool in goal setting.

“S” translates being specific with your goals. Get to the root of what you are

attempting to obtain. Have a clear vision.

Understand why, when and how you are going to arrive there. Initiating a plan of action will jumpstart your success.

“M” translates that your goals must be measurable. If you want to lose weight, then you need to weigh yourself regularly to monitor what you are doing. Tracking your progress will allow you to record your starting, middle and end points.

“A” translates to attainment. Your goal must be attainable. Any goal should challenge you at least more than a little bit.

If you set a goal that is unattainable you may surrender prematurely or not give it a genuine chance.

“R” translates to realism.

In this circumstance realistic means do-able.

Any project you are working on may challenge your skills but should not be insurmountable.

“T” translates to time. We can set goals all day long. Without a time frame attached to your goal it is simply a thought. Plus, you won’t feel a sense of urgency to accomplish your dreams.

Enacting your masterpiece will require dedication. Make sure you have a burning desire and take action. Do not allow another day, week, month or year go by without giving your dreams everything you can.

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

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

Life & career Coach

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by Sunny Simon

Sharing the Limelight

I

am a huge fan of the TV program “The Voice” for two reasons. I enjoy the entertainment but more importantly, I’m wild about the mentoring concept. If you are not familiar with the program, four top vocalists along with guest celebrities coach and mentor a wannabe rising star. Watching the contestants develop and grow from week to week warms my heart.

On the night of the finale, orchestrated into a huge musical extravaganza, a winner is selected.

This season each of the four finalists sang a duet with a megastar. Damien, an incredible singercontestant who works as a TSA agent was paired up with Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. It was after a great performance I felt a stabbing pain of disappointment. Jennifer gave Damien a brief hug lasting about a nanosecond then stood alone absorbing the applause as if it were a one woman show. I offer my apologies to Ms. Hudson if the cameras missed a shot where she openly shared the spotlight with the man who gave an equally amazing performance.

Ever had a boss or colleague take full credit for an idea that saved the company money or an innovative process you implemented? Not only does it disappoint, you immediately lose respect for the individual who robbed you of a well deserved nod. When we act selfishly and

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trip over our own egos by refusing to share the limelight, we fail as role models. Lavishing praise on those coming up through the ranks bolsters confidence and inspires even greater achievement.

My friend Irma, a vice president at a national security services corporation, never passes up an opportunity to applaud a job well done. Often while dining in a restaurant or completing a hotel stay, my friend will go beyond publicly praising an individual who impressed her. Irma seeks out the manager to talk about the excellent service she received from his or her team member. She also tips her hat to the department head for making a great hire. When Irma does this, everybody wins.

Whether you are a first line supervisor, a department manager, a CEO or a superstar, you have an obligation to help others grow. Do your best to coach and mentor. Spend time catching others doing things right. On the flip side, when someone drops the ball step up and shoulder more than your share of the blame. And when that spotlight shines down illuminating your achievements do not stand alone. Step aside and let the light bounce off those who also deserve credit.

Warm holiday wishes are sent from Sunny Simon, owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www. raisethebarhigh.com

beauty

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

by dr maria lombardo

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

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

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

‘Tis the Season!

D

o you want to look great for all those holiday parties and family gatherings?

With the holidays right around the corner it’s time to start thinking about doing a little sprucing up! You decorate your house to make it beautiful… What are the options to make YOU look beautiful?

There are a lot of great treatments available: Noticing some extra creases around the eyes or frown lines on your forehead?

Botox is a great choice to soften your lines!

How about those “smile lines” that look deeper every year? Of course you don’t want to stop smiling but a little filler (Juvederm, Restylane and Sculptra) can do a world of good!

Is your skin looking a bit dull or are you hiding “age spots” under a lot of makeup? A chemical peel is great refresher for the skin – but remember that you will be flaky for 7

full days after a peel so plan ahead to finish peeling before that holiday party night!

Is your skincare routine falling prey to the hectic season? Try some new products to really feel great about your skin!

Tired of needing more and more mascara to highlight your eyes? It’s time to try Latisse to grow your own lashes longer, darker and fuller!

Or what about all that holiday weight gain? Does everyone at work bring a tray of homemade cookies and by the end of the season you have put on several pounds?

Consider the hCG diet to help with keeping the weight off or losing it in the new year!

And don’t forget… it’s also the season of giving! All these treatments make great gifts…. Call to give gift certificate to someone you think is beautiful!

Call Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery today and see what Dr. Maria Lombardo can do to make feel great this holiday season!

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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December 25 to December 31, 2014

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