Coachella Valley Weekly - December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020 Vol. 8 No. 41

coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 25, 2019 to January 1, 2020 Vol. 8 No. 41

Ronnie King

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History & Legends of Joshua Tree Music Scene

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Marvyn’s Magic Theater

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Enzo’s

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

A DESERT TRADITION CONTINUES.. BB’S 36TH ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE PARTY AT MIRAMONTE RESORT

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Kirby, Samantha Wright, Stephanie Green Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Head Music Writer Noe Gutierrez Head Feature Writer Crystal Harrell Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Tricia Witkower, Jason Hall, Esther Sanchez Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Craig Michaels, Janet McAfee, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Sam DiGiovanna, Dale Gribow, Denise Ortuno Neil, Rob Brezny, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dee Jae Cox, Angela Romeo, Aaron Ramson, Lynne Tucker, Aimee Mosco, Michelle Anne Rizzio, Ruth Hill, Madeline Zuckerman Photographers Robert Chance, Laura Hunt Little, Chris Miller, Iris Hall, Esther Sanchez Videographer Kurt Schawacker Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS

BB's 36th Annual NYE Masquerade..........3 DON'T BE CLUELESS IN THE CV - NYE .... 5 The 2020 CONFIDENCE: WOMEN + WEALTH + WELLNESS Summit .............. 5 Ronnie King ............................................... 6 Desert Institute - History and Legends of the Joshua Tree Music Scene ................ 7 Consider This - Dime Box Band ................ 8 Marvyn's Magic Theater ........................... 9 Art Scene - Creative Expressions.............. 9 Pet Place ................................................... 10 The Vino Voice ......................................... 11 Club Crawler Nightlife ...................... 12-13 Pampered Palate - Enzo's Bistro & Bar ...14 Brewtality .................................................15

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ou won’t meet a more admirable human being than BB Ingle. By virtue of his events, he’s supported numerous charities and organizations throughout his career and leaves a path of fun everywhere he goes. That signature Southern drawl pulls you in and the next thing you know, you’re at his subsequent event. This has been the case for over three decades now for the 6-time winner of ‘Best Event Promoter’ and the 2019 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Coachella Valley Music Awards.

He’s celebrating his 36th New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 9 p.m. by bringing it, for the first time, to The Miramonte Resort in Indian Wells, featuring a state-of-the-art sound, lights, and video system with over 80,000 watts of audio power! This move shows that BB has not slowed down and is still bringing us the finest in entertainment. You can still purchase tickets at partywithBB.com for $35. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Bronco Bijou Pet Rescue Center. 21+ to attend.

The premier event of the holiday season, the Desert Tradition continues with the legendary New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party and promises to be even more extravagant and entertaining than last year’s party which was again nominated in numerous publications as “Event of the Year” in the Greater Palm Springs area!

The spectacular Miramonte Resort will be transformed into the ultimate dance party featuring two stages of entertainment with multiple DJs playing all genres of music.

Featuring DJ Guy Worden, DJ Chesare, DJ Tommy O’Connor. Special performance by Meagan Van Dyke, winner of CV Weekly’s Female Vocalist of the year! Classic Rock & top hits dance band “Dude Jones”. For

over 35 years BB has brought the desert some of the biggest and best celebrations.

He continues to do so, as is evident with his 2019 CVMA win for ‘Best Event Promoter’. “I feel like I am just getting warmed up when it comes to producing events,” BB shared.

BB is a pure and wholesome gentleman born and raised in Alabama. He personifies fun. Whether it’s singing “Sweet Home Alabama” with the house band every chance he gets or cheering on his Alabama Crimson Tide, BB lives like he’s on vacation.

With a significant career in developing, planning and executing social events, the former 8th grade history teacher reflects on his career. “When you receive a lifetime achievement award it makes you look back at the fond memories of the fun times and all the people’s lives you touched and were touched by, but you also remember all the challenges you faced. When I first started hosting the parties 35 years ago there was no internet, no cell phones, no social media. I would start a few weeks before a party and spend about eight hours a day just calling everybody from a list I had from business cards and numbers written down from everyone I had met, plus hand out flyers around town, flyers made by ‘copy and paste’ the old fashion way. It was a more personal way to invite people in those days. Then after Facebook and social media came along, the attendance at the parties exploded.” The burst of party attendees also brought some “accidental” circumstances.

One thing that has motivated BB has been his unexpected role as cupid. BB reflected, “It really inspires me to keep coming back year after year to produce the parties after I was told about all the couples out there that have met at one of the parties, fell in love, got married and had children. There have been well over a hundred. To know that something you created touched another’s life like that

makes it all worthwhile.” BB accepts the role enthusiastically and only relates to the good nature of the man.

BB believes that the essential qualities for a successful promoter are passion, compassion and positivity. “You cannot be successful at anything unless you are passionate about it. Second, care for others; you can never be truly successful by yourself.

Third, attitude; be positive and don’t look at the ‘why not’ or ‘I can’t’…but always look into HOW can I make it happen and find a way to do it,” BB declared. This is the confidence that it takes to achieve an enduring span of prosperity.

After so much time in the event promotion business and receiving the CVMA Lifetime Achievement Award, BB is not close to being done as the desert’s premiere promoter.

He joked, “Am I that old? Aren’t lifetime achievement awards for people at the tailend of their careers?” He will send-off 2019 and bring in 2020 like only he can. “We are really excited about this year’s 36th Annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball. We are expecting another epic event. This event sold out last year with over 1,000 in attendance!

So get your tickets early.”

BB wanted to send a message to all past and current Party With BB participants: “I want to extend a special thanks to all those of you out there that have supported the parties over the years; for encouraging me and allowing me to live my dream and to be your go-to party guy!”

Prepare to be dazzled as we ring in 2020 in style at one of the premier NYE events in southern California! See you at the BB’s 36th Annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party!

Tickets $35 in advance. Limited amount of tickets at the door $40 For more info visit partywithBB.com or call: 760-880-1059

Screeners ................................................. 16 Book Review............................................. 17 Safety Tips ................................................17 Haddon Libby ...........................................19 Dale Gribow.............................................. 19 Swag For The Soul ................................... 20 Free Will Astrology ................................. 20 Cannabis Corner ...................................... 22

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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BY STEPHANIE GREEN

Spotlight 29 Casino New Year’s Eve Buffet Tuesday, Dec. 31, 11:30am – 12midnight Tickets 16.99, 25.99, 26.99, 27.99, 28.99 760-775-5566 – spotlight29.com Feast & Clink. Ring in the New Year at Capitata with a glass of champagne and a delectable buffet with all of your favorite selections.

The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Tuesday, Dec. 31, 6pm – 10pm Tickets 125.00, 140.00 760-346-5694 – livingdesert.org Ring in the 2020s at this “Roaring 20s Old Hollywood” party! Watch the ball drop live from New York at 9pm and then hit the dance floor with a live DJ until10pm. Full dinner served. Champagne toast included in admission. Must be 21+.

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa New Year’s Eve Ballroom Dance Tuesday, Dec. 31, 7pm Tickets 29.95 +tax 760-251-6000 – miraclesprings.com Spectacular buffet dinner with entertainment and dancing. Complimentary champagne toast.

Agua Caliente Palm Springs (formerly the Spa Casino) Light It Up NYE 2020 Tuesday, Dec. 31, 8pm Tickets 20.00 – 100.00 888-999-1995 – sparesortcasino.com Dance the night away at the most spectacular New Year’s Eve party in the Coachella Valley! Watch the Times Square Ball Drop, followed by a Palm Springs-style “ball drop” and spectacular firework show at midnight! The event includes a live DJ spinning decade hits, bar gardens, food vendors, lookalikes, family activities, and much more.

Palm Canyon Roadhouse 12th Anniversary Rock & Roll New Year’s Eve Bash Tuesday, Dec. 31, 8pm Tickets 20.00, 25.00 760-327-4080 – palmcanyonroadhouse.com Ring in 2020 at the world-famous Palm Canyon Roadhouse in downtown Palm Springs! Ticket includes midnight champagne toast, party favors and breakfast buffet.

Dance the night away with renowned Las Vegas “That 80s Band.” First come, first served seating for this event.

December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR

NEW YEAR'S EVE DECEMBER 31, 2019 TO JANUARY 1, 2020 Miramonte Resort BB’s 36th Annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party Tuesday, Dec. 31, 8:30pm Tickets 35.00, 40.00 760-880-1059 – partywithbb.com BB Ingle is the six time winner of the CV Weekly’s “Promoter of the Year” award and was recently chosen as one of the “Top 12 Most Influential Men in the Coachella Valley.” He was also honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 2019 CV Music Awards. The masquerade party will have all ages from 21 to 75, two stages of entertainment, multiple DJs playing all genres of music, a special performance by Meagan Van Dyke (winner of CV Weekly’s “Female Vocalist of the Year”), bands and artists including “Dude Jones.” Enjoy a midnight celebration with video screens and party favors. Purchase your tickets early, this event sold out last year with over 1,000 in attendance!

Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage | The Show Light It Up NYE 2020 Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9pm Tickets 40.00 888-999-1995 – hotwatercasino.com Dance Through The Decades. Don’t miss

out on the biggest dance party of the year!

This event includes a live DJ, lookalikes, party favors, food & drink specials. The party continues throughout the casino with dining specials and a live DJ spinning decade hits!

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino New Year’s Eve Bash Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9pm Tickets FREE 800-827-2946 – fantasyspringsresort.com Ring in the New Year with free live entertainment throughout the entire resort.

Morongo Casino Resort Spa Roaring 2020s Celebration Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9pm Tickets 60.00 951-849-3080 – morongocasinoresort.com There will be action throughout the casino! Grab your complimentary hats and noisemakers and enjoy incredible dining specials, live music on multiple stages, and the countdown to midnight!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To have your event listed in our Don’t Be Clueless in the Coachella Valley column email: Stephanie@coachellavalleyweekly.com.

THE 2020 CONFIDENCE: WOMEN + WEALTH + WELLNESS SUMMIT

THE FEW PROUDLY PRESENTS AUTHOR BARB STEGEMANN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER

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he Society of Financially Empowered Women Foundation (The FEW,) an operating 501c3 Non-profit organization, has officially launched the registration for the 2020 CONFIDENCE: WOMEN + WEALTH + WELLNESS SUMMIT, presented by

HIGHTOWER - BLANKE SCHEIN WEALTH MANAGEMENT, to be held JANUARY 16, 2020, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, at THE RIVIERA PALM SPRINGS. The event is honored to present keynote speaker Barb Stegemann, recognized as one of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada, receiver of the “Women Innovators Award” from the US State Department at the APEC Women and the Economy Summit, CEO of The 7 Virtues Beauty, Inc., and author of the bestselling book, The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen. Barb will take Summit participants on her entrepreneurial journey, from conception to international success, all while making a socially-conscious impact on the world. She will also have a book signing for Summit participants during the after event happy hour.

The Women’s Summit, which has an amazing line up of panelists from all over the Coachella Valley and Southern California, including leading women in our valley and from their respective industries, is the premiere event of the season for empowering women to take a greater lead in owning their health and financial future.

The 2020 sponsors and influencers include Blanke Schein Wealth Management, Palm

Springs Life, Marlo Productions, Evolve Yoga, Greater Palm Springs, and Scape Group, Inc. The CW3 Confidence Summit will be attended by a diverse audience of women, including entrepreneurial women, working mothers, retirees, and local College and High School students.

Robert L. Schein, President & CEO of HighTower-Blanke Schein Wealth Management, Founder of The Society of Financially Empowered Women & Creator of the Confidence: Women + Wealth + Wellness Summit, recognized long ago the importance of financial independence and how to create this for all women, regardless of their marital status or earning capacity.

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THE FEW is passionate about providing everyone with access to independent, transparent, straightforward & authentic financial advice. “Our main mission is to activate people’s desire for financial education from within” - Schein says. From that the Confidence: Women + Wealth+ Wellness Summit 2020 was born. “We like to call it CW3 for short, this Summit will change the way you think, feel and most of all inspire action.” – Schein Says.

THE SOCIETY OF FINANCIALLY EMPOWERED WOMEN (THE FEW) 44495 Town Center Way, Suite B, Palm Desert, CA. 92260 www.TheSoFEW.com

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

LOCAL MUSIC

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he regenerative lifestyle is a mutli-pronged enrichment of the physical, mental, spiritual and financial health of individuals that is gaining momentum to help reverse climate change, provide a return to nature, save our cultures, economies and environment through our daily living. This increasing of the levels of health and well-being while dropping the excess and keeping what we value is exactly what Ronnie King is about.

King is a Multi-platinum, Oscar and Grammy nominated, Diamond Certified (more than 10 million units) producer, composer, arranger, musician and philanthropist. Past collaborations include Mariah Carey, Tyrese, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Offspring and Rancid to name a few. He is partner and Music Supervisor at ASGE King Music (ASGM), music producer at Zen Entertainment and music consultant at The Americani LLC. King achieved two #1 Billboard Reggae albums this year with Local Motion by Pepper and Mass Manipulation by Steel Pulse playing keyboards on several tracks on both albums and receiving a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Reggae Album’ for the latter.

At the moment, King is working with the high-reaching R&B Soul vocalist Kristen Lee who will be releasing her EP in early 2020 with King at the controls.

Along with Robbie Waldman, Vinny Berry, Courtney Chambers and Lee, King also participated in the Coachella Valley’s first Make Music Winter at The Refinery Integrated Wellness Services, a musicmaking celebration on the winter solstice

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THE REGENERATIVE RONNIE KING

with participatory musical performances and events in more than 30 U.S. cities.

We spoke with King to get an update on his musical endeavors while focusing on the meaning behind it all.

Transformation and Artfulness “Music is my engine. Through music there is health and wellness. What I’m seeing in the music business is artists who are participating in a lot of health and wellness.

In my midlife, I have an opportunity that’s going to leave a legacy to bring people together. It’s getting interesting; my career is definitely getting a little more diplomatic.

It’s kind of a gifting of mine, you have to be able to talk to people and I’m good at that.

These kinds of things are coming more in my life and I’m really stoked about it. I can use music as a vehicle and use the humanitarian feelings in my heart to be a voice to many.

I’m being tutored by author and influencer Dr. Joe Vitale. I’ve met so many great mentors from Jay Shetty and Daniel Habif, all these guys really changed my head space about where I was in my life at 55. I’ve done so well in the music business that I want to use my resources to move into my legacy years. The music is my gateway to be able to associate with such great thinkers in today’s society and use music as the catalyst to help people understand the world.”

Kristen Lee “I met Kristen through my fellow Indio High School graduate JV Alvarez we were in choir together. He called me about this great singer and her boyfriend Paul Morrisseau who own a 50 foot tug boat out of Florida.

They had been participating in a huge humanitarian effort taking food and supplies

to hurricane ravaged ares and dropping it off, going back and forth. It’s right up my alley with what I’m doing internationally as far as charity, international awareness and the regenerative lifestyle. When I talked to her, I told her she was right on the money of what we’re doing. We recently played at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3699 in Indio. We talked about what they went through. They are resilient. The desert draws a healing mindset. We talked positively about the state of the Earth.”

Costa Rica, Uganda & Dates “I was appointed the ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ and cultural attaché to Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional (UCI) through film, television entertainment and music in Costa Rica with Dr. Eduard Müller at the helm. Dr. Müller is trying to help change the thought pattern of how we farm. I’ve been catapulted by these game changers. I think there’s a lot going on in music, artist content matters.

A lot of artists are changing the world with their music. I’ll be going back to Costa Rica in February to sit on a panel and we’re going to pick one or two artists and bring them to the United States. I’m stoked to be an ambassador to the country. This coming year I’ll be associated with Dancing With The Stars Costa Rica. I’ll be doing a lot with their music program and what they’re dancing too. In February I’ll be working with the producers here in the desert putting the music together for their 7th season. We’re going to focus on the regenerative lifestyle and healing minds and getting people to think differently about what they put out into the world.

“I will also be honored with a humanitarian award at the 9th Annual HiPipo Music Awards on March 14, 2020 in Kampala, Uganda to help bring awareness to Uganda.”

“In addition, I have had the great opportunity to connect with farmers and date growers in the Coachella Valley that are growing organically; no more pesticides.

I have a partner going all around the world shipping dates in from Tunisia and Morocco.

Anywhere in the world you see dates, a lot of that is coming from right here in the desert. It’s very powerful.”

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

Steel Pulse - ‘Best Reggae Album’ Grammy Nomination “We will be there with Steel Pulse. We’re up for ‘Best Reggae Album’ of the year. We feel good about. They hadn’t made a record in 15 years. I perform keyboards on three songs on the album Mass Manipulation.

Steel Pulse is a band I grew up with and I’ve always appreciated their attention to politics and social awareness. Their producer, David Elecciri, I’ve known him for some years. They wanted my style on the record. I’m very excited. I’ve been up for several Grammys with different bands and artists like The Offspring and 2PAC, always a bridesmaid, never a bride. I think this year, because of the message, they are really addressing the racial problems in the world, and that we should be more kind to each other; they’ve received amazing reaction. I’m excited to maybe get a Grammy this year.”

Orchestral Record “This past year, I had the opportunity to go the Ukraine. My plan for 2020 is to complete my orchestral record with a Ukrainian orchestra. I’ve talked to the boys in The Offspring, Pepper and others to take some of their hit songs that are in line with my regenerative mindset and mentality and make them into orchestral arrangements.

My idea is to be the bandleader, much like David Foster, and I’ll bring the orchestra and do all the orchestration. I’ve got to spend a lot of time with David, so this is me carry the torch and be able to present the artists in the music. I’ll have Kaleo from Pepper come up and sing his song and Bryan ‘Dexter’ Holland from The Offspring do their hit song. I have 10-20 songs already notated and mapped out. I’m going to let it organically grow into a record and bring it out to the world. Alejandro Taranto (Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, A.N.I.M.A.L.) will be producing the album. He loves the desert and he’ll be returning from Argentina soon.

He wants to be in America.” ronniekingofficial.com

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

DESERT INSTITUTE PRESENTS: HISTORY AND LEGENDS INSTRUCTOR BRUCE FESSIER OF THE JOSHUA TREE MUSIC SCENE WITH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

there in hopes of meeting the town’s most famous resident, the English troubadour, Donovan.

In his class, Bruce will explore the music scene’s origins and share stories of how psychedelic experiences in the high desert not only shaped pop culture, but led to a vibrant scene including music festivals, famous recording sessions and a lounge named after Donovan’s 2004 LP, “Beat Café,” where an open mic night was heard internationally via Internet radio, inspiring a documentary of the influential but seemingly invisible Joshua

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he Joshua Tree area has attracted spiritual-seeking musicians, singers and songwriters since the 1940s, or less than a decade after President Roosevelt established the Joshua Tree National Monument. Songwriters Hall of Famer Allie Wrubel wrote the Andrews Sisters hit, “The Lady From 29 Palms,” in his Twentynine Palms

home near where Paramahansa Yogananda was writing his influential “Autobiography of a Yogi” in 1947.

Bruce Fessier first visited the Twentynine Palms Inn at one-month old in 1953 and his family has owned a house in Joshua Tree since 1958. He’s chronicled the Joshua Tree music scene since 1981, when he moved

EVENTS

Tree music scene titled “Nowhere Now.” In addition to the story-telling, Bruce will share a playlist of music recorded by integral participants in the Joshua Tree music scene and lead a caravan car tour of important sites, including the home of the Joshua Tree Music Festival, the hotel where Gram Parsons died and Donovan stayed, and a studio where the high desert sound was recorded.

Date/Time: Saturday, February 29, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Meet at: Black Rock Nature Center, 9800 Black Rock Canyon Road, Yucca Valley Fee: $150 for JTNPA members, $160 nonmembers Sign up: www.joshuatree.org

Gram Parsons, 1968

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

CONSIDER THIS

“I don’t want the usual things, I don’t want the American dream, health and happiness are hard to keep, I’m not rich but my life is sweet.” hat tart declaration of independence can be found on “Going My Way” from the new album by the Dime Box Band. The five-piece, fronted by Kristi Callan, has been quietly creating fresh music for nearly a decade.

Kristi Callan has been a part of the Los Angeles music scene for…ever. Back in the early ‘80s she and her sister Kelli formed Wednesday Week with Heidi Rodewald and David Nolte. Although they took their name from a song by Irish Punk Rockers the Undertones, their music crossed musical boundaries. Their sound, sandwiching somewhere between the Garage Pop of The Bangles and the Country flavor of Lone Justice.

Signed to the indie label, Enigma, the band recorded a couple of well-received albums and one of their songs was featured in the camp Horror classic, “Slumber Party Massacre II.” Unfortunately, the myopic music industry could never look past the Go-Go’s and The Bangles to make room for Wednesday Week.

By the early ‘90s most of the original line-up reconfigured as Lucky, they made an underrated album entitled Live A Little before disbanding. Since then Kristi has made music with everyone from the Cruzados, the Wondermints, David Gray and Dave Davies of the Kinks. She’s also released solo music and even fronted an all-female Cheap Trick tribute band, Cheap Chick.

The first incarnation of Dime Box Band included Kristi and her husband, David Nolte, following a 10-year pause, Kristi pushed play again at the beginning of the 21st century. A completely distaff version released Five And Dime Waltz in 2008. The album garnered critical acclaim and the band cultivated a loyal fan base. Unfortunately, not every member was able to fully commit, so by 2010, Kristi was back to square one.

Luckily, she connected with multiinstrumentalist Lyn Bertles (their kids took Ninjitsu together), Lyn and her husband, Nick Vincent, became the nucleus of the band.

Both have lengthy musical rap sheets and have played with a cornucopia of cool artists, including Rob Laufer, The Continental Drifters, Tito and Tarantula, plus John Fogerty, Art Garfunkel and Frank Black. Dime Box Band became even more of a family affair when Kristi drafted her son James for lead guitar and vocals duties, while Lyn and Nick enlisted their son Alex to play bass and cello. Together, they have recorded the second official Dime Box Band long-player, entitled Happy.

The album opens the one-two punch of “All Of Nothing” and “As The Crow Flies.” “All…” is something of a jangly hoedown powered by ringing guitars, brawny bass lines, keening violin and a breakneck beat. Sweet harmonies wrap around lyrics that limn the uncertainty that comes with gauging mutual attraction; “I don’t want to say the first word, I don’t wanna look like I need, it’d be so easy if you spoke first, then I could casually agree/But you might laugh, then you might leave, but then again-maybe you need me.” Even as the lyrics speak to what Jimi Hendrix once dubbed “Love Or Confusion,” the instrumental prowess,

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DIME BOX BAND

buoyed by swooping strings and muscular guitar, undercuts the diffidence. “…Crow” is a blend of brushed percussion, rippling mandolin, angular guitar riffs, serrated bass, muted keys and a rattle-trap rhythm.

The iridescent instrumentation is matched by Kristi’s winsome vocals. The lyrics note if you bypass the hard stuff in life, you’re missing the point; “…The road is long, it dips and winds, you’ll take a wrong turn and lose some time/ Cause it’s well-worn, but not well marked, and all the shortcuts take you back to the start.”

Mark Twain famously said “Write what you know,” and the best songwriters take that dictum to heart. Several songs here either come from firsthand experiences or real-life events. There’s a heartbreaking specificity to the lyrics of “Butterflies.” Over sawing violin, swirly keys, willowy guitars and a tick-tock rhythm, Kristi tenderly pays homage to a pal who lost her battle with ALS; someone who “had a way of making boring things cool.”

Even in her absence, her presence is clearly felt; “Your two kids, all the things that you did, you are the memories you left behind, all the things that you said are stuck in my head.”

There’s a bit of a cowpoke groove to “Spilt Milk,” which is propelled by, loping guitars, languid bass, shimmery keys and a hop-a-long beat. The lyrics unspool a litany Kardashiansize concerns; “I’m not thin enough, I’m not rich enough, pretty enough, smart enough for you/I haven’t done enough, I’ve wasted time, I should have been workin’, not sitting and cryin.” The brittle violin solo on the break leads to an epiphany; “Life’s too short to have no commitments.”

Both “Happy” and “What Went Wrong” offer wry observations that feel up close and personal. The former is a bit of a back-porch ramble, anchored by ricocheting guitars, mandolin and fiddle accents, bucolic banjo notes and a caroming beat. The sprightly arrangement nearly camouflages the lyrics’ earnest advice; “Might as well just be happy, no matter what comes cause trouble and changes don’t stop for anyone/Just smile through the tears, cause one thing’s for sure, nothing lasts.”

The latter examines that moment in a marriage when passion and attraction give way to apathy and familiarity. Chiming guitars, swooning violin, high lonesome pedal steel and wily bass lines are tethered to a galloping gait. The lyrics wonder why it all slipped away; “Was it the bills-was it the kids? Maybe just that old reality setting in/Getting older-dreams not coming true, losing that wonder just does something to you.” Violin and guitar enact a tender pas de deux on the break, trying to recapture the magic.

On an album packed with great songs, three tracks stand out: the aforementioned “Going My Way” weds buzz-saw guitar riffs, rollicking piano, fluttery violin and gritty vocals to a Bo Diddley beat. When well-meaning busybodies offer unsolicited guidance, the Dime Box Band graciously demurs; “Everyone’s giving me advice, I don’t ask but I get it anyway/Seems they know how to run my life, I just smile and keep going my way.”

On a couple of songs, the political becomes personal. “Keystone” is a bitter broadside against the controversial pipeline project

“HAPPY” (AVEBURY RECORDS)

BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

that runs roughly from Canada to Texas, tearing up private property in the name of progress. Over shuddery guitars, ticklish keys and a rattlesnake shake rhythm, the opening couplet says it all; “They tore a hole through my Daddy’s land, to make way for the tar sands, splintered trees, mangled roots/Blood red soil caked on my boots, it ain’t right, we gotta fight.” Decrying corporate avarice and eminent domain, the chorus extrapolates a bit of “This Land Is Your Land,” flipping the script on Woody Guthrie’s populist anthem.

“Close Your Eyes” is a lilting charmer, written in ¾ time. Plaintive piano connects stutter-y guitars, thrumming bass, swiveling violin and understated percussion. The lyrics place a parent between a rock and a hard place when confronted by the homeless epidemic; “Close your eyes walk away, there’s nothing that you can do anyway/Keep to yourself, don’t get involved, it’s always been this way.”

Other interesting tracks include the sparkling quickstep of “Detour,” and the liquid luck of “Felix Felicis.” The album closes with “Everybody Lies.” If Oingo Boingo had ever collaborated with The Carter Family, it might sound something like this. Girl Group harmonies lattice over rubbery bass lines, stripped-down guitars and an elastic beat.

Smart(ass) lyrics take on the sin of social hypocrisy, but ultimately concede; “You don’t have to lie to me, I can take the truth/But only if you tell me what I want to hear.”

The Dime Box band received some musical assists from a wolfpack of talented players including Ana Callan and Lisa Jenio on vocals, Judy Cocuzza on drums, Matthew Downs on pedal steel, Doug Freeman and Nancy Luca on lead guitar, Probyn Gregory on banjo, Danny McGough on accordion, North Vincent on trumpet and David Nolte on bass, electric guitar and piano. Legendary producer Earle Mankey (essentially the Phil Spector of early ‘80s L.A., he got his start with Pop provocateurs, Sparks), acted as an arranger on “Happy.”

Happy is the perfect name for this record, as the Dime Box Band evince a feeling of beatitude across all 12 tracks presented here.

Sweet and tart sounds are tempered by astute lyrics and razor-sharp production. Homespun, sophisticated, heartfelt and funny, Happy makes a joyful noise.

BUSINESS PROFILE

T

he holiday season is all about experiencing a little bit of winter magic, but for an authentic dose of expert illusion and humorous audience entertainment, Marvyn’s Magic Theater in La Quinta has you covered for a night of intrigue.

Having just opened a couple of months ago, Marvyn’s Magic Theater has already become a one-of-a-kind hotspot for the Coachella Valley community. The 129-seat venue elegantly and comfortably seats audiences and caters to performers of worldwide acclaim.

“We knew that magic was unique in this area, and what we’re offering are acts that generally don’t come through the area or are seen in live entertainment because they travel

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

MARVYN’S MAGIC THEATER MYSTIFIES

constantly. We thought we would be wellreceived, but not at this level. I can tell people who visit are genuinely impressed when they come here because there’s no environment quite like it here,” said Marvyn’s Magic Theater host Jeff Hobson.

Hobson has made a name for himself in magical show business, with over 20,000 live performances, including two seasons on Broadway and fourteen years on the Las Vegas Strip under his belt. He will also be performing at Marvyn’s Magic Theater from December 26 to 29—the busiest time for the venue during Christmas week.

“Some of the acts that are performing on stage I’ve known for years, so I know we’re not just bringing new kids on the block. These are seasoned magicians,” explained Hobson.

The acts that perform at Marvyn’s Magic Theater change on a weekly basis, ranging from traditional magic acts to illusionists and comedians. John Shryock and Mari Lynn are the most recent duo to grace the stage with their dance and comedy-infused magic show, with Shryock having also performed at Caesars Magical Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and all three showrooms at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Photo courtesy of Marvyn’s Magic Theatre Facebook profile.

It is a regular occurrence to have audience participation during the 75-minute long shows, providing an opportunity for interactive experiences and hilarious engagement between the crowd and the performers.

Other magic acts scheduled to perform during the 2020 season include Martin Lewis and Mondre’, Joseph Gabriel and Miss Katalin, and Matt Marcy and Jeff Hobson.

The Magic Theater’s namesake is derived from famed magician Marvyn Roy, who started performing professionally in 1949 with his wife Carol. Visitors still have a chance to see Marvyn in person, particularly on Sundays at the Magic Theater.

While Marvyn’s Magic Theater puts on a family-friendly show, all attendees must be

Photos By Kurt Schawacker

I

5TH ANNUAL CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

n a continuing collaboration, The Artists Council and UCR/Palm Desert have opened the Fifth Annual Creative Expressions exhibit. This exhibit will run through is January 31 at UCR, 75080 Frank Sinatra, Palm Desert. The exhibition is open from 1 to 4pm on January 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30. All work is for sale.

The Opening Reception is on January 10th from 5 to 7pm. The organizers have asked that anyone interested in attending the reception to RSVP at: events.ucr.edu. The exhibit features work from Artist Council members representing a variety of style and media. Art demonstrations by artists Kim Manfredi, Anne Bedrick, Diane Morgan and Chick Curtis are scheduled for Saturday January 11 from 10am to noon. These demonstrations will highlight the use of metal leaf, oil and watercolor painting, and mixed media. These demonstrations are free to the public.

For first time participant Edward Boeke, his piece Mystic Stare, joins the lush gathering of work. For him the show provides an opportunity to meet the local artistic community. “I was recently recommended by local artists friends to join the Artist Council for the great programs they offer for local artists, noted Boeke. “I am

so grateful to meet and be exposed to such wonderful and diverse community of Artists!

Being a part of the up and coming show in January is so exciting!”

New Gallery Owner and AC member Anne Bedrick chose Focusing on Brightness for her entry. She has similar sentiments regarding the show. “I am new to the valley and joined the Artists Council to gain exposure for both myself and my work. The exhibition at UCR helps me to do just that. The exhibitions that they put on are top notch with artists exhibiting in many different media. I feel so lucky to have found them!” said Bedrick.

The Artist Council and UCR has created

BY CRYSTAL HARRELL

BY ANGELA ROMEO

not only an opportunity for the public to view the work of local artists but has led to a series of workshops. “The first program called The Artists Council Mixed Media Series, organized by member Kim Manfredi,” said Artist Council Board Member Ulrike, “will bring notable art makers and art-world professionals to our region. Their ideas and images will fill our community with insight into the art making practice. The aim of this series is to build imaginative experiences that showcase the diversity of artists and their worlds. This series will also help to illustrate the complexity of understanding creativity and the world around us. The Artists Council hope is to elevate the

21 and over to enter the venue. Patrons are invited to enjoy the quirkily-decorated bar and live music that plays in the lounge prior to the show. Some pre and post show sleight of hand tricks are also performed lounge-side, engaging audiences with humorous banter and illusions in an intimate setting.

The venue is even open for patrons who do not purchase magic show tickets but still want to enjoy the lounge and open ambience of Marvyn’s Lobby Bar. A Magical Curio Shop and Dematerialization Chamber are just a few of the sights to see within the tastefully decorated and neon-hued parlor.

Tickets are priced at $65 Wednesday through Saturday, and discounted for the Sunday matinee at $45. The theater also offers a 10% discount, 20-ticket MagicPass to receive 20 voucher codes to secure tickets for regular performances Wed. – Sat. throughout the entire Maryvn’s Magic Theater 2019-2020 season, which lasts until May 31, 2020.

“What people really want is to have fun, and although there is a variety of entertainment here [in the Coachella Valley], I want the theater to be the place to go for a great time,” stated Hobson.

Marvyn’s Magic Theater is located at 46630 Washington St. La Quinta, 92253. For info call 833-627-8967 or marvynsmagictheater.com.

ARTSCENE

meaning of art and its value in our community.”

The first speaker in the series is Joyce Kozloff presenting “Unwind With Mixed Media: Maps + Patterns” is scheduled on February 7, 2020.

Kozloff will present an overview of her work in both genres spanning close to 50 years.

Reception for this workshop starts at 5:30pm, presentation starts 6:15pm and the cost is free.

The Artist Council is a nonprofit 501(3) (c). Donations are tax deductible and go to assist with the programming, outreach and exhibitions. For additional information on the exhibition, donations and membership, contact the Artists Council at info@artistscouncil.com

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

C

PET PLACE

areful planning avoids the horrible hissing and fighting that occurs when some cats meet for the first time.

A great introduction method, explained in detail in the book The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier, allows you to adopt a second cat without worry. What could be more fun than 2 cats engaged in joyful play, happily pouncing and chasing, twirling like circus acrobats?

Many owners think their “Fluffy” would be jealous or miserable if they adopted another cat. To the contrary, cats that live with another cat friend live longer, healthier and happier lives. If you have an elderly cat, a mature and calm companion works better than an active kitten. If you have an energetic cat, one that is equally playful or a kitten would be a good match. The steps below may take several hours to complete, but are well worth the investment.

1. Have someone outside the household arrive with the newcomer cat in a carrying case; have torn strips of newspaper in the bottom of the case.

2. Everyone must act completely oblivious to the new cat. The visitor sits in the living room with the cat inside the carrying case on his lap for about 20 minutes.

3. Next the visitor moves the carrying case to the floor next to his feet. If your cat comes over and sniffs the case and walks away,

MEET HEINZ This amazing and very handsome German Shepherd boy hopes to celebrate the New Year in a home with you! Heinz, a 4-yrold German Shepherd, waits to meet you at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, www.rcdas.org (760) 343-3644.

He’s dog ID#A1562023.

MEET MURPHY Murphy is a happy boy in his foster home, but 11-week fellow would love to cuddle with you in his “furever” home!

Murphy loves humans and other cats. Left abandoned by the side of the road, Loving All Animals www.lovingallanimals. org rescued this precious kitten and provided his vet care. Call (760) 834-7000 to meet him!

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TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE! HOW TO PROPERLY INTRODUCE A NEW CAT!

ignore him, continue chatting and proceed to step 5. If your cat stays away from the case, include step 4.

4. The visitor takes a few of the newspaper strips from the carrier, makes a trip to another room dropping a trail of the strips behind them. This gives your cat a chance to become familiar with the new cat’s scent.

5. The visitor continues to sit and talk.

When your cat sits calmly in the room without staring continually at the carrying case, proceed to the next step.

6. Take your cat into the kitchen for a snack, closing the door. The visitor in the living room now opens the carrying case and lets the new cat out. Your cat won’t feel like its family put the newcomer in its territory, and

BY JANET McAFEE

this gives the new one some time to explore.

7. When your cat finishes his snack and returns to the living room, the family stays behind in the kitchen.

8. When the cat returns to the living room, the visitor joins the family in the kitchen.

Everyone acts oblivious to the cats who are now roaming free.

9. Do not offer encouragement or interest in the cats. If you must check, have one person enter the living room but without paying obvious attention to the cats. At this stage, hissing is normal. If loud growling occurs, you may need to separate them, and this may mean one of the earlier steps was not carried out properly.

10. When the cats cease pacing around and

sit in the same room together, the humans leave the house for about a 30 minute walk.

11. When you return home, greet your own cat while continuing to ignore the newcomer. If there is nothing worse than hissing going on, the visitor can leave.

12. The final stage of the introduction occurs at the cats’ own pace over the next few days. Continue to ignore the new cat until your first cat accepts him. Encourage activities for the 2 cats to do together, such as putting a couple of cardboard boxes together in a room for them to play on.

The reward for all this work comes from the strong bond of communication and affection that develops between the two cats.

Eventually that bond extends to their human companions. Watch the drama unfold, be proud of your success, and enjoy having two little furballs greet you when you arrive home!

Looking for second or third cat? The Riverside County Shelter, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms, www. rcdas.org, has many to select from. Visit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter to meet their wonderful cats www.psanimalshelter,org.

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com

THE VINO VOICE

A BUBBLICIOUS LOOK TO 2020

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

BY RICK RIOZZA

C

heers to the old! Here’s to the new! We’ve been simply enjoying a sparkling time tasting through many a bubbly—Champagne, Crémant, Franciacorta, Sekt, Prosecco, Lambrusco, Brachetto, Vino Spumante, Cava, and our Domestic Sparkling wines from California and Oregon. Bubbles— always bubbles. If you had to pick one—you couldn’t! So we’ll pick out some: First things first! When the Washington Nationals won the World Series over the Houston Astros, 4 games to 3, they celebrated by spraying their locker room with Champagne, right? Well, not exactly. There were a few bottles of Veuve Clicquot present, (and good news for aficionados), most of the “bubbly” that was shaken and sprayed was Budweiser!

(By the way—I was a sad looser when the Dodgers dumped. In my callousness, I called on the heavens to see to it that neither home team would enjoy a win at home. And they didn’t!—I should’ve gone Vegas: a hundred dollar bet would have netted me thousands!

I’m still consoling myself with chilled bubbly.)

So Champagne is still revered and rightly so. Most of us all love it; and we are impressed to no end when a guest or visitor brings over a bottle to toast and cheer. If the fates allow, and, we get to treat ourselves to a $100

Come discover Palm Springs’ Exciting New Lunch Destination!

Persimmon Bistro & Wine Bar at Palm Springs Art Museum

persimmonbistro.com 760.322.4895 Patio seating available Use North Parking Lot

Champagne, seek out the 2006 Henriot Millesime Brut. Maturing nicely, this wine is rich and stylish. It has developed a ripe yeast and toast character along with a beautiful patina of intense spice, and minerality along with great complexity. A great experience to drink now!

Even in France, Champagne isn’t the complete scene of bubbles. There’s Crémant: the name adopted by many French wine regions to describe wines made in the same way as Champagne—with the second fermentation in the bottle; but, elsewhere in France. And typically sell for anywhere between $15–35, half the price of most Champagne. In style, they are almost all brut/ dry, made from varied grapes showing varied flavors. We always suggest looking to the Lucien Albrecht portfolio.

In the Loire, there’s an array of styles and names. Vouvray’s Chenin Blanc makes age-worthy sparkling wines matured in the limestone caves under the vineyards. Saumur uses blends of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay for its more varied offerings. There’s also a Loire-wide appellation, Crémant de Loire which produces some of the best sparkling wines in the valley. For next year, ask your wine merchant to grab a bottle.

As we wrote in our summer columns, we stayed in Italy for a while and were treated to many vini spumanti. One particular stunning sparkler is the Ca’ del Bosco 2013 Vintage Collection Dosage Zéro Franciacorta ($75). Some call Franciacorta an “Italian Champagne” with guff from both France and Italy in doing so. No matter: this wine is all about precision, finesse and purity. It opens with enticing scents of white spring flower, crushed stone, lemon pastry and hazelnut.

The aromas carry over to the chiseled palate together with creamy yellow apple, tangerine zest. Magnifico!

Another fun and fantastic “frizzante” that we forget about is Lambrusco. No—not the Riuniti stuff sold here, but, the “off-dry” real Italian deal Lambrusco. So “frizzante” is used to describe wines that are gently sparkling— lightly effervescent, while “spumante” is used for fully sparkling wines—with big strong bubbles, such as in Asti Spumante.

A Lambrusco from Modena, which is close to the city of Bologna—“the stomach

of Italia”, is perfect for the territory of salumi and the cheeses that are produced around the fields. Like a Beaujolais, it goes great with charcuterie. Medici Ermite NV Metodo Ancestrale—Lambrusco di Modena ($27) When one forgets the American Riuniti, you are free to enjoy the real deal: Here there is wild berry, dried rose, violet and an unusual but intriguing whiff of garrigue lift out of the glass. On the savory side, find fizzy and vibrant acidity showing succulent red cherry, white peach, strawberry, lemon zest and bread dough. It’s fun and easy drinking but also loaded with personality.

Everyone knows the value of a Spanish Cava. For better or worse, the wine, made in the classic Champagne style, has thrived mostly because of its affordability. But a lot of the inexpensive stuff is just so-so. A real Cava treat would be the Augusti Torello Mata 2012 Gran Reserva Brut Nature ($35) This Gran Reserva Cava is rich with mature aromas of brioche. There’s enough acidic freshness that is layered and complex, showing yeasty spiced apple flavors... A mild note of toast melds with a hint of butter and brioche on the lingering finish. Drink like a true Spaniard!—this is a winner.

The Joys of Sekts: Suave & Seductive If it seems that quality sparkling wine from Germany rarely makes it to the United States, it’s because they drink it all up! Sekt—often floral and fruity on the nose, is remarkably complex in its flavor profile, with bristling acidity and a delicate, dancing mouthfeel.

It’s made from an array of grapes, such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc, or Pinot Noir, and offers a unique alternative to Champagne, at a much lower price.

Trader Joe’s sells a cheap version for a quick sparkler quaff—it’s a light fair sampler— beats a punch to the nose. If one has the time and the funds look for the Von Buhl 2015 Riesling Brut Sekt ($45). It shows a delicate biscuit and brioche accent with concentrated yellow apple and pear. Made in the traditional method, the bubbles are fine and persistent, filling the mouth with a rich but yielding mousse. Racy lime and lemon acidity guides a piercing finish, which is exceptionally long, with a lingering silken honeyed cling. Does that sound dazzling? It is—it’s simply bubblicious!

Cheers to the New Year!

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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THUR DECEMBER 26

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Mr. Goodboy 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill and Doug Duo 6:30pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 TBA 8:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Horace Miller, Brian Dennigan and Leon Bisquera 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-999-1995 Ladies Night w/ Bianca from 92.7 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo and Jimmy Street 6:30-9:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 MOD Squad Variety Show w/ Francesca Amari, Jeff Stewart and Wayne Abravanel 5:30-7:30pm, Lipstick hosted by Bella Da Ball 8pm, DJs Banks and Ax 10pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 Barry Baughn Blues Band 5:30-8:30pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760656-3444 DJ 10pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; TBA 4-7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm

LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Jimi Nelson 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Live Music 6:30-10:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Solid Ray Woods 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Live Music Presented by Desert Noise 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Keisha D 6:30-9:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 7:30pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 VooDoo Hustlers 7pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Matt Coleman 7pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Lisa and the Gents 6:30-10pm WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 Mikole Kaar 6:30-11pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans and Rick E. Taylor 6:30pm

DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 Gina Carey 5:30-8:30pm GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 TBA 8pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Marjovi 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Karma the Drum Killa, RowLow, DJ Devin and Jay Cue 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HOTEL PASEO; PD; Michael Keeth 6-9pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760775-5566 Adrian Crush 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke w/ Troy Michaels 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 TBA 8:30-11pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; 760-200-2597 Derek Jordan Gregg 7pm LA QUINTA RESORT; LQ; 760-564-4111 Steppin Out 6-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 7:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 The Champagne Band 9pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3011pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 TBA 8pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm Matt Adams of the Blank Tapes 6:30pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Eevaan Tre 6-9pm, ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 TBA 8pm DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 IW; 760-674-4080 Avenida 7-11pm Karaoke 8-1:15am AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry Live Music 6:30pm 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 DJ Journee 8:30pm O’CAINES; RM; 760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Saints and Sinners w/ Luna Negra 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Patrice Morris, 4080 The Refills 9pm Brian Dennigan and Leon Bisquera 6:30-10pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; pd; 760BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Bohemio 345-0222 Agave Bluesmasters 6:30pm 8:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Sara Petite 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm THE CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Chase PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND Martinez 9pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 P.S. Jump !! 8pm CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Myx 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George RENAISSANCE; PS; 760-322-6000 Live Music Christian 6-9pm 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo and Jimmy 8-11pm Street 6:30-9:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Jordan COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Viva Gregg 12-4pm, Evaro Brothers 8:30pm Friday’s w/ DJ Banks 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Bill Baker 6pm Blues Band 8-11pm DESERT BEER CO.; 760-360-5320 TBA SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S 7-9pm MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth DESERT FOX; PD; Lance Riebsomer 9:30pm Brothers 8-11pm

FRI DECEMBER 27

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

WESTIN; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 Pam Phillips 6:30-11pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm

SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Krystofer Do 4:30-7pm, Mark Lee 8pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Hotwyre 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm TWELVE ACOUSTIC UNPLUGGED; IND; 760-345-2450 Mark Gregg and Misty Howell 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet the Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley King Show 8pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 Vinny Berry 7-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 DJ Galaxy 5pm WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 Pam Phillips 6:30-11pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Cynthia Thomas 6:30pm

HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760775-5566 Adrian Crush 8:30pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 8pm LANDMARK LOUNGE; LQ; 760-289-6736 JB and Rob Martinez 8:30-11pm LA QUINTA BREWERY; PD; 760-200-2597 Christine and the Lost Keys 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 1pm, Hot Roxx 8pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 The Champagne Band 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE; IW; 760-341-2200 Trio Envy 6-10pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 Derek Jordan Gregg 6-9pm, DJ Pedro Le Bass 9:30pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Live Music 8pm O’CAINES; RM; 760-202-3311 DJ Tone 10pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 TBA 9pm and Bill 6:30pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ noon 345-0222 On the Rocks 6:30pm poolside, and 10pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; Evangenitals and the Shadow Mountain Band IW; 760-674-4080 Steppin’ Out 7-11pm 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm Karaoke 7:30pm ALIBI; PS; 760-656-1525 Black Market Jazz PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND 8:30pm COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 Red’s Rockstar BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 TBA Karaoke 9pm 7pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Scot BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Horace Miller, Brian Denigan and Leon Basquera 6:30-10pm Bruce 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 TBA 9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 212 SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Band 8:30pm Jordan Gregg 12-4pm, Evaro Brothers BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 8:30pm 6-10pm RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; SHANGHAI MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9pm Blues Band 8-11pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S Tuzzolino 5:30pm MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth CASUELAS CAFÉ; PD; 760-568-0011 The Brothers 8-11pm Myx 7pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Christian 6-9pm Furgo 9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; SONOMA GRILLE@EMBASSY SUITES; PD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo and Jimmy 760-340-6600 Denny Pezzin 6-9pm Street 6:30-9:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Music 10pm Banks and Mr. Miami 9pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Jessica CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bridgeman 8pm Bill Baker 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 DRINGK; RM; 760-888-0111 DJ 9pm Ghost of Kelso 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 7601199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm 328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm EN VIVO@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760TWELVE ACOUSTIC UNPLUGGED; IND; 775-5566 Banda La Karvana 9:30pm 760-345-2450 Mark Gregg and Misty Howell FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6534 7pm Jack Ruvio and Tony Bolivar 5:30-8:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 GADI’S BAR & GRILL; YV; 760-820-1213 Rose Mallett 5-7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono and TBA 8pm the Real Deal 7:30-11pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760- THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 656-3444 DJ Ray 9pm Desert Crows 7-10pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 The Last WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Live Music Chance w/ RowLow and Friends 9pm 6:30pm

SAT DECEMBER 28

SUN DECEMBER 29

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Gregg Turkington noon poolside and 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Sunday Brunch w/ Live Music 11am BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Noche Latino w/ DJ LF 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Patrice Morris 6:30-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 5-9pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Latin Night w/ Nacho Bustillos and Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Acoustic Afternoon w/ Adam Gainey and John Quinn, Chelsea Sugarbritches, Josh Heinz and Mario Quintero 3-5pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Comedy Night 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company noon, Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm

continue to page 18

13

December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

THEPAMPEREDPALATE

E

njoy a lively and very happy time, at Enzo’s Bistro & Bar’s Happy Hour in Old Town La Quinta, or Rancho Mirage.

I have always loved hanging out in Old Town La Quinta. It has a cozy vibe, with shops and fabulous restaurants. On a recent visit, my boyfriend and I discovered, what has now become one of our new favorite spots in the area to hang out at, Enzo’s Bistro & Bar. The popular restaurant specializes in Italian fare, and with its warm wood tones and inviting service, it makes for a wonderful dining experience.

We sauntered on in one night after having some pizza at our other favorite Old Town place, Stuft Pizza. Our plan was to just stop in for drink, but ended up having a bite as well, and took advantage of their lengthy and generous Happy Hour (in the bar area only), which runs from 3pm to 7pm every day. Their Happy Hour prices are very impressive, with

14

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

HAPPY HOUR TIME AT ENZO’S

well cocktails and wine for $4.75, beer for $3.50 and well martinis for $6.75. It’s a heck of a deal!

Their Happy Hour food menu is equally enticing, with most items well below the ten dollar mark, and only a few hovering over. You can basically piece together a full delicious meal and drinks, without draining your wallet. HH menu items include, Ostriche Carbonara (4 baked oysters on the half shell, fresh spinach and pancetta cream sauce), Calamari Fritta (lightly floured, flash fried, with Pomodoro sauce), House made Salsiccia (home-made pork sausage infused with fennel, basil, garlic, charbroiled with peppers and onions), Caesar Salad (crisp romaine, house croutons, white anchovies, Parmigiano Reggiano), Scampi (sautéed shrimp, garlic butter cream sauce), Pappardelle Bolognese ( slow braised bolognaise sauce, with Parmigiano Peggiano and Romano Percorino), plus many more selections, including a variety

of Pizza’s.

I have come to love their Caesar salad, and the Scampi. The Caesar is crisp, and savory, and those white anchovies our delish. The Scampi comes in a velvety garlic butter cream sauce, which just demands to be slathered up with some of their fluffy bread!

With so many tantalizing dishes to choose from, I look forward to going back soon and

BY DENISE ORTUNO trying more at Enzo’s, for an enjoyable dining and “Happy” experience.

Enzo’s is located at 78-121 Avenida La Fonda, La Quinta, 92253 and 70-030 Hwy 111 Rancho Mirage, 92270

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

GOLF CLUB BY WELK RESORTS

1-TIME SPECIAL OFFER! Buy 1 Menu Item & Get 1 Item Of Equal Or Lesser Value FREE

Cannot be combined with any other specials or offers.

Must present this ad to receive discount. Offer expires 1/31/2020.

ON TAP Award-Winning micro-brews VOTED Best of the Best Bar-B-Que SMOKIN’ Baby back ribs, pulled-pork, cornbread, made from scratch pies, premium steaks & fresh fish

DAILY HAPPY HOUR | LIVE ENTERTAINMENT | MONTHLY MENU SPECIALS LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @jAXBARDINING (760) 328-6572 | 68311 Paseo Real, Cathedral City | www.jcgolf.com/jax-bar-and-dining For the entrance on Cathedral Canyon Drive, enter gate code #0000

BREWTALITY

T

o truly craft something is to create a product with artistic skill, with care, with ingenuity. In that respect, all artists are craftsmen; men and women who pull ideas from the ether and form them into words, visuals, sounds, food and drink. The trend of rock bands collaborating with craft breweries to create signature beer has yielded inspired results; Deftones collaborations with San Diego’s Belching Beaver are a perfect example. Of the three beers born from the synergy of music and grain, “Phantom Bride” is the most impressive. An unfiltered, orange colored, swirling concoction of Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe and Mosiac hops that is redolent of tropical fruit juices and citrus fruit, it is a favorite of Coachella Valley artist and musician Bobby Taffolla.

Bobby is a songwriter and graphic artist, playing heavy metal with his band Perishment, and melancholy folk with his Yoves project.

Aside from handling guitar duties in his bands, he also has created all of the visuals and images for both groups, everything from album covers and booklet layouts to show fliers and social media branding. On top of this, he’s recorded and produced all of the records his bands have released. I sat down with him, a four-pack of Phantom Bride (IPA, 7.1% ABV, 55 IBU), a bottle of Irish Whiskey, and a collection of Deftones vinyl records. We sat and drank, talked music and beer, and I picked his brain in the first of a series of artist spotlights that Brewtality will feature in 2020.

Whiskey or Beer, when and why?

“It comes down to a mood,” says Bobby

babesbbqbrewery.com

@babesbbqbrewery

THE SYNERGY OF CRAFT

What’s the best beer you’ve ever had?

His brow furrows as Bobby contemplates the question. “That’s hard to say,” he nods. “It depends, truly for me, on the situation. Notable times that still conjure up a memorable moment are Coachella Valley Brewing Company’s Dubbel Date (Belgian style Abbey ale, 7% ABV, no IBU given), North Coast’s Old Rasputin (Russian Imperial Stout, 9% ABV, 75 IBU), and god forgive me daddio, but I ain’t against an over hyped Pliny the Elder (Double IPA, 8% ABV and 100 IBU) once a millennium.”

What is art? “‘Are we art? Is art art?’ That’s a Lisa Turtle quote,” Bobby mugs.

What isnt art?

BY AARON RAMSON Bobby ponders. “Your mom isn’t art,” he finally states (maybe we should have stuck to IPA and not paired it with whiskey, but we were drunk, and this answer made complete sense to both of us in the moment).

Has beer ever played a role in your art?

Well it has played a part in a lot of records I’ve produced and/or been a part of. In the sense of chilling out and loosening up the artist I’m recording with. And it’s debatable if that’s a good thing. But honestly, I would make it a double next time.”

between sips of beer, “a setting. I don’t drink to drink, Jack. But them Thursday vibes that feel like a diet Friday sometimes beckon a Michelob Ultra. Friday may require a Jameson, chased with a Jameson and ginger ale.”

What is it about this beer you’re drinking today?

Bobby laughs self-deprecatingly, “Well this Belching Beaver Deftones Phantom Bride IPA (as he holds it up with one hand while beckoning to it with his other like a game show hostess presenting the prize to an audience) had a weekly deal over at the ‘ol Bevmo. It’s been a go-to of mine, I couldn’t pass it up.”

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

SCREENERS

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

No. 401

AWESOMELY AWFUL

BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

NOW PLAYING: CATS

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical, based on the 1939n poetry collection Old Possum’s Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot had its world premier in London forty years ago.

It is the fourth longest running Broadway show in history.

The movie adaptation is a bizarre entry in the genre. To say” it must be

seen to be believed” is not in any way a recommendation.

When I first saw the trailer, my initial thought it was for a reboot of the classic 1932 horror film starring the great Charles Laughton and Bella Lugosi. Which I thought was a terrific idea. (I still do.) But alas, it was not to be.

This Steven Spielberg produced misfire is, as George Bush said after hearing Trump’s speech at his inaugural, “some crazy shit.”

It’s a shared fever dream that is not nearly subversive enough to even be called camp. In some ways, it reminded me of Laurel and Hardy’s wonderfully crazy 1934 musical Christmas film (now beautifully colorized) “March of the Wooden Soldiers” (aka “Babes in Toyland.”

Except for one song, “Memories” – sung in a ragged fashion by Jennifer Hudson, the

music is mostly forgettable and the story, such as it is, is difficult to follow.

Director Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”) co-wrote the screenplay adaptation but I think the major blame is on Spielberg.

This “star-studded weirdness” is more about tech proficiency that anything else.

Beyond that, it is tedious and boring in spite of a cool balletic sequence near the middle of this fiasco.

This is my pick for worst movie of the year so far.

By the way, I loved the musical production. But sadly, the movie is pure torture, if there is such a thing. Caveat emptor.

NEW BLU FOR THE HOME THEATER: ROBBIE BASHO – THE VOICE OF THE EAGLE: THE ENIGMA OF ROBBIE BASHO This is a feature- length documentary on the little-known but incredible life and visionary music of the American guitarist, singer and mystic.

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Before his bizarre death at the hands of a chiropractor, Basho was sure that his compositions would not out last him.

Orphaned during infancy, diagnosed with synesthesia (a union of the senses that cause him to interpret sound as color) and claiming to be the reincarnation of a 17th century poet – the Baltimore-born, Berkeleybased singers musical output was equally as outlandish as his persona. In his brief and troubled life he laid the foundations for radical changes to the musical landscape of America during the 1960s and 70s but reaped little more than a sparse (if fervent) following during his lifetime.

The fascinating biographical film is a journey into the heart of an artist’s lifelong struggle, designed to illuminate and satiate existing fans while serving as a perfect starting point for the uninitiated.

Featuring interviews of Basho’s former students, contemporaries and a few close friends (including Pete Townsend, William Ackerman, Henry Kaiser and Country Joe McDonald). The documentary integrates new information and anecdotes on Basho with previously uncovered archive material and photography of the landscape and natural phenomena that informed his singular work.

Extras include deleted and extended interviews. MVD Visual. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

D

ear reader, I know you would like to read more. I hear this all the time! I understand. I wish I had more time to read and I’m a book reviewer! With so many books to choose from, it’s hard to know what will keep you turning the pages. That is why I write this column.

I am here to expose you to popular and acclaimed authors, as well as overlooked writers and new voices. I crave a reading experience that is not only exciting, intriguing and entertaining but also transportive – we all do! That’s what makes reading such an exceptional experience.

Like a grade-school book report, I share with you the plot and themes, and then tell you what I liked best. It is my goal to make this column simple and clear enough to inform you about the story and author’s execution and maybe even intent. This way, you can decide if it’s something you want to read for yourself, or so you can discuss the book intelligently at a cocktail party.

During 2019, I read more fiction than nonfiction (almost two to one), but as I look back, it is the non-fiction that still resonates with me.

Here are what I believe are the two most important books published in 2019: The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates (Flatiron Books, 237 pages) The author is the spouse of Microsoft cofounder and billionaire Bill Gates. In her own right, she is a major force on this planet to improve the lives of women, which in turn creates healthy families, stronger communities and more stable economies around the world.

Gates explores ways in which she and her

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2019: A YEAR OF REVIEWS

BY HEIDI SIMMONS

foundation are taking steps to empower women and overcome gender bias – a very challenging quest in a world that lives under patriarchal domination and control.

This book is a bit of a memoir, but mostly it’s a global look at the significant and lifethreatening issues that face today’s women as they conceive and raise children, work and contribute to society.

Gates approaches equality as a “state of partnership” where men and women lift one another up and share their gifts, talents, and skills at home and in the workplace.

Each of Gates’ examples and case studies are fascinating. She is a hands-on advocate who first seeks to understand the systemic or inherent cultural problems for women and what specifically hinders their ability to change or influence their own lives for the better.

Even with obstacles that seem overwhelming, Gates and the women she works with have managed to generate small but significant changes. The lessons toward equality are universal.

This is a book both men and women should read. Equality is a global issue and it’s time half the world’s population has equality with an equal say in the future. And, liberated men must advocate for women and support their equality.

Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis by Jared Diamond (Little Brown, 502 pages) History can be a fantastic read, especially when told with clarity and purpose. This is another book that should be read by all who want to better understand what political crises look like, and believe in bringing about a positive global transformation.

The author looks at major crises in six different countries. Each crisis is a fascinating and incredible story of how governments and its people survived a significant ordeal to bring about change.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Diamond, outlines 12 factors for overcoming crisis, which he adopted and tweaked from the psychologist’s tool kit. (Diamond is married to a psychologist.) What helps an individual get through a crisis can also work for a nation. This

SAFETY TIPS

connection makes this book work on a deeper level as the reader can see there is hope when a crisis is approached with thoughtfulness, an open-mind and willingness to make constructive modifications.

The accounts in the book often read like thrillers as nations had to confront the crisis and choose whether or not to embark on a process of “selective change” in order to resolve the problem. This look at world history is a fresh and exciting way with lessons that directly apply to many of the issues the world currently faces.

Human beings can do remarkable things when they have to. The examples of governments and people working together for the good of their nation is inspiring. Diamond’s premise is simple: when we review past crises, understand how they came about, and how they were resolved, then we can prevent future crises – but only if we are willing.

----------------------------------------------------Both these books address significant global challenges – gender equality and environmental collapse. Each author writes with hopefulness that if the populace directly understands and addresses the issues and the circumstances of our most pressing dilemmas, change is achievable.

For all of my reviews, go to www. coachellavalleyweekly.com, click “Columns,” drop down to “A-B,” and scroll to “Book Reviews.”

FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER

THE BEST GIFT THIS YEAR DOESN’T COST A DIME!

T

he holidays provide a good opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends and co-workers while making deposits in our relationships.

Naturally, conversation and talking with people is a big part of this season. “Most people are very good at talking about themselves, however, the best gift this year is the gift of listening, and it doesn’t cost a dime,” reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.”

Listening is more than “hearing.” When you truly hear and comprehend what another person is saying, you add to their self-worth and validate them. Who wouldn’t want that for a gift?

What’s the key? Speak less, listen more.

Don’t try to “one up” the other person. Know you’re okay just who you are.

We live in an increasingly busy world. No matter how busy or who you are, take the time to listen to others. Give co-workers, family and friends your attention. Greet them with a smile. Look them in the eyes and honor their thoughts.

There is no better compliment you can pay another person than taking the time to ask them questions and listen to their responses. Try to listen without the intent to “

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

reply. Practice patience and listen completely until the person finishes his or her point.

Break out of old habits of not listening and needing to be the center of attention. You’re great just the way you are. Not only will it make the holidays more enjoyable, it will help you in your professional and personal life. And it doesn’t cost a dime!

Merry Christmas!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 13

MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:30-7:30pm, Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Sunday Jam Session 2-5pm, Finesse 7-11pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Sunday Jam Session 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy Show 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Derek Jordan Gregg 12-4pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Jack Ruvio and Tony Bolivar 5:30-8:30pm STACY’S; PS; 760-620-5003 Ron Pass 2pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King Trio 6-9:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Gina Carey 5-10pm WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 Pam Phillips 6:30-11pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Hannans and Company 6:30pm

CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 DJ Banks and Mr. Miami 8pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 TBA 6:30 MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm MORGAN’S; LQ; 760-564-4111 Michael Keeth 6-9pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7-11pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Open Mic 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 John Stanley King 6:30-10pm WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 Paul Douglas 6:30-11pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Motown Mondays 6:30pm

MON DECEMBER 30

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bill and Bob Duo 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Steel the Night: A New Year’s Eve Spectacular w/ Helado Negro, Tinsel Mammals & DJ Jeremy Sole 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 TBA 8pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 New Year’s Eve Party w/ DJs Dxsko, Imdead and Addemup 7pm

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Luminators 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Bill Marx 6:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Music

by Touchtunes 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Eddie Gee 6:30-10pm

TUE DECEMBER 31

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Kristi King, Leon Bisquera and Brian Denigan 6:30-10pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Big Rock New Year’s Eve Party 8:30pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Lizann Warner 6:30-9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HENRY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL; CC; 760-656-3444 Karaoke w/ KJ Danny 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo New Year’s Eve Party 9pm HOT SPOT@SPOTLIGHT 29; Coachella; 760-775-5566 New Year’s Eve Party w/ Adrian Crush 8:30pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic 7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 PS Sound Company 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Abie Perkins Fireside Lounge, Mark Guerrero Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Brad’s Pad 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 12th Anniversary New Year’s Eve Bash 8pm

PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-345-0222 New Year’s Eve Party w/ Babyboomers 6:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-3432115 New Year’s Eve Party w/ DJ 8pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 New Year’s Eve Party w/ Rose Mallett 6:30-9:30pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Roaring 20’s New Year’s Eve Party w/ Desert DJ 8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 New Year’s Eve Party w/ John Stanley King 6:30-12:30am WILDEST; PD; 760-636-0441 New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Mikole Kaar and Friends 6:3012:15am WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Yve Evans and David Ring 6:30pm

WED JANUARY 1

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Gamer Night w/ DJs 7pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Kristi King, Leon Bisquera and Brian Denigan 4-9pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Flashback Boyz 7-10pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; PD; 760-200-1768 Barry Minniefield 6:309:30pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Uncle Ben’s Open Mic 6-8pm

COPA NIGHTCLUB; PS; 760-866-0021 Issa Wednesday Humpday w/ DJ Ax 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 Karaoke 7:30pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Karaoke 7:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Open Mic 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Roxx 6:30pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Guerrero Fireside Lounge, Scott Carter Patio 5:30pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Latin Night 7pm MASTRO’S; PD; 760-776-6777 Finesse 6:3010:30pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Michael Holmes and Keisha D 6:30-9:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Slim Man Band 6:30-10pm THE VINE WINE BAR; PD; 760-341-9463 DJ Guy Worden 8pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Demetrius Trio 6:30pm

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

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

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760-404-6325

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HADDON LIBBY

TOP FRANCHISES FOR 2019

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very year, Entrepreneur Magazine releases its list of the 500 top franchises in North America. Some of the key determinants in their rankings include startup costs, fees, growth prospects, brand strength, franchisee support and the overall financial strength of the Franchisor. Additionally, a franchisor that is not adding franchisee is not included on the list.

For the second year in a row, McDonald’s ranked as the top franchisor in North America.

With start-up costs of between $1,300,000 and $2,200,000, this is hardly an inexpensive entry vehicle to buy a franchise. On top of that, franchisees pay a 4% royalty on sales as well as another 4% for advertising.

McDonald’s was started in 1954 by milkshake mixer salesman, Ray Kroc, after visiting the McDonald’s hamburger stand in San Bernardino. Kroc opened his first

McDonald’s the next year in Des Plaines, Illinois. Today, McDonald’s owns 2,647 stores while U.S. franchisees own 13,226 stores and international franchisees own another 22,235 locations.

Dunkin’ aka Dunkin’ Donuts came in second, moving up one spot from 2018.

Started in 1946, this franchise finds its roots in a donut shop named The Open Kettle in Quincy, Massachusetts. Within two years, the name was changed to Dunkin’ Donuts.

Initial investments are in the $400,000 to $1.6 million range with an ongoing royalty rate of 6% with another 5% for advertising. Dunkin’ has 9,499 franchises in the U.S. and another 3,458 around the world. U.S. franchises have grown by 47% over the last ten years.

Sonic Drive-In moved up three spots to #3 with the 2019 ranking. Started in 1953 as Top Hat Drive Inn located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the current name was taken six years later.

The initial investment for a Sonic is between $1.2 and $3.5 million with royalties at 2.5% to

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

5% of sales with 3.25% to 5% for advertising.

Franchisees have grown by 12% over the last ten years while company owned stores are down 64% to 176 locations.

Taco Bell jumped four spots to #4. This fastfood chain was started by Glen Bell in 1962 in Downey, California. To start a franchise, the initial investment is $500,000 to $3 million with a 5.5% royalty rate and 4.25% for advertising.

The UPS Store slipped one notch to fifth place. Started as Mail Boxes Etc. in 1980 in Carlsbad, the company was bought by UPS in 2003. The cost for one of these franchises is $140,000 to $470,000 with a royalty rate of 5% and 2.5% for advertising.

Culver’s jumped from #13 to #6 this year.

Started in Wisconsin, the Culver family took an old A&W restaurant and replaced it with Culver’s Frozen Custard. From here, the restaurant chain added Butter Burgers and other fast foods. This franchise requires a hefty initial investment of $2 million to $4.7 million with 6.5% for royalties and advertising.

In seventh is the first non-eatery franchisee - Planet Fitness. Jumping from #21 last year, this fitness chain has grown by nearly 1,600 locations to 1,859 over the last ten years.

Eighth place goes to Great Clips, down one notch from 2018.

Ninth goes to the fast-growing submarine sandwich shop, Jersey Mike’s Subs which was #24 last year.

Rounding out the top ten is 7-Eleven which fell from the #2 position that it held last year.

The decline is due to franchisee unhappiness with the split of profits and an inability to choose their own suppliers. Franchisees state that they are being forced to buy from uncompetitive sources.

Falling from the top ten were Re/Max (#5 to #15), Carl’s Jr. (#9 to #33) and Supercuts (#10 to #31). Earning an honorable mention is Jack in the Box (#43 to #19).

One of the more novel franchises to make the top 500 this year was Lice Clinics of America.

Haddon Libby is the Founder and Managing Director of Winslow Drake Investment Management, a Fiduciary-Only firm. For more information, please visit WinslowDrake.com or email Hlibby@winslowdrake.com.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INJURED & CRIMINALLY ACCUSED

ARE NEW YEARS DUI CHECKPOINTS LEGAL?

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UI sobriety checkpoints are legal and not a 4th Amendment illegal search and seizure violation... if they comply with all the regulatory rules. Turning onto a side street or turning around before passing through a checkpoint is generally not against the law. Turning around should not, in and of itself, give the police a reasonable suspicion to make a DUI stop. However, the officer may be able to stop you if he observes any driving that would be sufficient for reasonable suspicion. Thus, slow or erratic driving, straddling the line or making an illegal turn could attract the officer’s attention, and he then could stop your car.

Did you encounter a NEW YEARS DUI Checkpoint? To address holiday drinking, Checkpoints are implemented to meet the increased number of people who will be drinking and driving.....A word of advice, Use a Taxi, Uber or Lyft. They are a lot cheaper than having to call me the next morning.

Checkpoints: What You Need To Know!

1. Sobriety checkpoints are a technique by which law enforcement officials evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at specific points on the roadway.

2. Vehicles are stopped in a specific sequence. The average stop time is about the length of a cycle at a stoplight.

3. Checkpoints are typically publicized in advance...SO LOOK

4. The primary goal of a sobriety checkpoint is not to arrest people, but rather to deter people from committing a DUI. The publicity from checkpoints reminds people who drink that drinking and driving don’t mix.

5. Sobriety checkpoints help to stop drunk drivers who would likely remain under the radar.

6. Checkpoints reduce drunk driving crashes and fatalities by 20% on average.

7. Research shows that for every dollar invested in checkpoints, communities save between $6 and $23 in costs from alcoholrelated crashes.

8. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes to society is over $100 billion.

9. Research shows that checkpoints, if done correctly, can be effective with as few as three to five officers.

In the Coachella Valley, few realize we have more DUI FATALITIES...per capita, than anywhere else in California. That makes DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols essential to save lives......the drivers and ours. A saturation patrol is a large number of law enforcement officers making their presence known by conducting stops, targeting inebriated, distracted, aggressive and speeding drivers, as well as those with seatbelt or cell phone violations....the whole nine yards of traffic violations.

Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver so DON’T TALK to POLICE without your lawyer’s permission.

Though often referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my DUI clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them, and more importantly to treat them, as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation after screwing up.

I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an ACCIDENT. I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE

Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED “TOP LAWYER” - California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20 “TOP LAWYER” - Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019 PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

SWAG FOR THESOUL

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BY AIMEE MOSCO

CULTIVATING YOUR INTUITION

“As our world changes around us on this threshold of a new era, we begin to awaken to the remembrance of our divinity…It is no longer imperative that we live under the shroud of spiritual amnesia. We have gathered the knowledge and earned the wisdom to remember.” – Gratitude + Forgiveness x (Love) = Happiness, by Aimee Mosco and Donald L. Ferguson, page 12. e all come into this world with the appropriate equipment and wiring to receive intuitive communications.

The problem is, most of us don’t remember, thanks to spiritual amnesia, that intuition is actually the most natural form of communication that exists. It is a versatile language that carries messages between and among living beings as well as between your inner and outer self. It can’t be measured, seen or proven by science so many human beings are not convinced that it is real.

Have you ever stepped into a room where two people had just been arguing? You can feel the anger. It is your intuition that allows you to feel the energetic temperature of that room. The anger lingers so you likely feel that something unpleasant happened even when the verbal fighting is over. You may not recognize this as a function of intuition, but that’s what it is. Your intuitive receptors pick up the energy projections cast off during the argument and process them.

You then are able to recognize the vibrations as tension.

We all receive communications projected from inner self through intuitive channels, but these vibrations are often mistaken for thoughts.

If you haven’t taken time to cultivate your intuitive abilities, it is hard to tell the difference between guidance and mental processing, but as you begin to awaken, remember that you are of divine origins, and acknowledge your inner self as a viable source of information, your intuitive receptors become more sensitive. When this happens, the clarity of the communications heightens.

Your intuition will open organically when you

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nurture it with belief and appreciation. If you would like to guide the process along, here are some suggestions: • Acknowledge and appreciate that intuition is an important form of communication • Remind yourself that you are wired to receive these communications • Have the intent to open communications with your inner self • Ask for your inner self to speak with clarity to you through your psychic receptors There are many ways to embrace your intuitive abilities and strengthen them so you can use them on command. Use your creativity and know that intuition is much like a muscle. Once you begin to use it and give it attention, it will grow strong.

In my pursuit to help you further cultivate your intuition, I invite you to join Facebook group Evolve through Love hosted by Elizabeth Scarcella, BB Ingle and me. Go to facebook.com/ groups/evolvethroughlove and share with us your experiences.

Aimee Mosco is an Author, Intuitive Channel, Global Ambassador for SpeakingfromOurHearts. org, and Co-Founder of Intentional Healing Systems, LLC. Aimee’s passion for helping others inspired her book “Gratitude + Forgiveness x (LOVE) = Happiness”. For more information, find Aimee at www.ihsunity.com

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

Week of December 26

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Denmark during World War II. In 1943, Hitler ordered all Danish Jews to be arrested—a first step in his plan to send them to concentration camps.

But the Danish resistance movement leapt into action and smuggled virtually all of them to safety via fishing boats bound for Sweden. As a result, 8,000+ Danish Jews survived the Holocaust. You may not have the opportunity to do anything quite as heroic in 2020, Aries. But I expect you will have chances to express a high order of practical idealism that could be among your noblest and most valiant efforts ever. Draw inspiration from the Danish resistance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When she was 31, Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë finished writing her novel Jane Eyre. She guessed it would have a better chance of getting published if its author was thought to be a man. So she adopted the masculine pen name of Currer Bell and sent the manuscript unsolicited to a London publisher. Less than eight weeks later, her new book was in print. It quickly became a commercial success. I propose that we make Brontë one of your role models for 2020, Taurus. May she inspire you to be audacious in expressing yourself and confident in seeking the help you need to reach your goals. May she embolden you, too, to use ingenious stratagems to support your righteous cause.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): 2020 can and should be a lyrically healing year for you. Here’s what I mean: Beauty and grace will be curative. The “medicine” you need will come to you via poetic and mellifluous experiences. With this in mind, I encourage you to seek out encounters with the following remedies. 1.

Truth Whimsies 2. Curiosity Breakthroughs 3. Delight Gambles 4. Sacred Amusements 4. Redemptive Synchronicities 5. Surprise Ripenings 6. Gleeful Discoveries 7. Epiphany Adventures 8. Enchantment Games 9. Elegance Eruptions 10. Intimacy Angels 11.

Playful Salvation 12. Luminosity Spells CANCER (June 21-July 22): “There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” wrote author Zora Neale Hurston. According to my astrological analysis, Cancerian, 2020 is likely to be one of those years that asks questions, while 2021 will be a time when you’ll get rich and meaningful answers to the queries you’ll pose in 2020. To ensure that this plan works out for your maximum benefit, it’s essential that you formulate provocative questions in the coming months. At first, it’s fine if you generate too many. As the year progresses, you can whittle them down to the most ultimate and important questions.

Get started!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Roman Emperor Vespasian (9–79 AD) supervised the restoration of the Temple of Peace, the Temple of Claudius, and the Theater of Marcellus. He also built a huge statue of Apollo and the amphitheater now known as the Colosseum, whose magnificent ruins are still a major tourist attraction. Vespasian also created a less majestic but quite practical wonder: Rome’s first public urinals. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you Leos to be stimulated by his example in 2020. Be your usual magnificent self as you generate both inspiring beauty and earthy, pragmatic improvements.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When Virgo author Mary Shelley was 18 years old, she had a disconcerting dream-like vision about a mad chemist who created a weird human-like creature out of non-living matter.

She set about to write a book based on her mirage.

At age 20, she published Frankenstein, a novel that would ultimately wield a huge cultural influence and become a seminal work in the “science fiction” genre. I propose we make Shelley one of your role models for 2020. Why? Because I suspect that you, too, will have the power to transform a challenging event or influence into an important asset. You’ll be able to generate or attract a new source of energy by responding creatively to experiences that initially provoke anxiety.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libra-born mystic poet Rumi (1207–1273) wrote that he searched for holy sustenance and divine inspiration in

© Copyright 2019 Rob Brezsny

temples, churches, and mosques—but couldn’t find them there. The good news? Because of his disappointment, he was motivated to go on an inner quest—and ultimately found holy sustenance and divine inspiration in his own heart. I’ve got a strong feeling that you’ll have similar experiences in 2020, Libra. Not on every occasion, but much of the time, you will discover the treasure you need and long for not in the outside world but rather in your own depths.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Among his many accomplishments, Scorpio rapper Drake is an inventive rhymer. In his song “Diplomatic Immunity,” he rhymes “sacred temple” with “stencil.” Brilliant!

Other rhymes: “statistics” with “ballistics”; “Treaty of Versailles” with “no cease and desist in I”; and—my favorite—”Al Jazeera” (the Qatar-based news source) with “Shakira” (the Colombian singer). According to my analysis of the astrological omens in 2020, many of you Scorpios will have Drake-style skill at mixing and blending seemingly disparate elements. I bet you’ll also be good at connecting influences that belong together but have never been able to combine before.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) embodied a trait that many astrology textbooks suggest is common to the Sagittarian tribe: wanderlust. He was born in Prague but traveled widely throughout Europe and Russia. If there were a Guinness World Records’ category for “Time Spent as a Houseguest,” Rilke might hold it.

There was a four-year period when he lived at fifty different addresses. I’m going to be bold here and hypothesize that 2020 will NOT be one of those years when you would benefit from being like Rilke. In fact, I hope you’ll seek out more stability and security than usual.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Fifteenth-century Italian metalworker Lorenzo Ghiberti worked for 28 years to turn the Doors of the Florence Baptistry into a massive work of art. He used bronze to create numerous scenes from the Bible. His fellow artist Michelangelo was so impressed that he said Ghiberti’s doors could have served as “The Gates of Paradise.” I offer Ghiberti as inspiration for your life in 2020, Capricorn. I think you’ll be capable of beginning a masterwork that could take quite some time to complete and serve as your very own “gate to paradise”: in other words, an engaging project and delightful accomplishment that will make you feel your life is eminently meaningful and worthwhile.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re wise to cultivate a degree of skepticism and even contrariness. Like all of us, your abilities to say NO to detrimental influences and to criticize bad things are key to your mental health. On the other hand, it’s a smart idea to keep checking yourself for irrelevant, gratuitous skepticism and contrariness. You have a sacred duty to maintain just the amount you need, but no more—even as you foster a vigorous reservoir of receptivity, optimism, and generosity. And guess what? 2020 will be an excellent time to make this one of your cornerstone habits.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) finished writing The Divine Comedy in 1320. Today it’s considered one of the supreme literary accomplishments in the Italian language and a classic of world literature. But no one ever read the entire work in the English language until 1802, when it was translated for the first time. Let’s invoke this as a metaphor for your life in the coming months, Pisces.

According to my visions, a resource or influence that has previously been inaccessible to you will finally arrive in a form you can understand and use. Some wisdom that has been untranslatable or unreadable will at last be available.

Homework: Your imagination is the single most important asset you possess. What can you do to ensure it serves you well and doesn’t drive you crazy?

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

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

CANNABIS CORNER

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BY MICHELLE ANN RIZZIO

CANNABOLISH ODOR REMOVING PRODUCTS

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’ve been smoking cannabis since I was in my late teens. One thing that has always been a struggle for me has been the smell smoking my beloved joints left behind. In my earlier days of medicating I was in the very 420 friendly city of San Francisco and worked full time at LUSH Cosmetics, so my scent story was only mildly influenced by the wafting smells of my favorite OG strain. These days it is definitely the star of that scent story and boy is it a different narrative in the Coachella Valley. Recently, I visited @thevaultdispensarylounge in Cathedral City to visit with my buds at the @w0lfpackmentality Pack Pickup event.

Local reviewers were getting together to receive their packs filled with all sorts of cannabis related goodies to review on their individual IG accounts. I was gifted a pack from @bayw0lf which included this fabulous product I just have to share with you all.

The Cannabolish Odor Removing Candle and Spray.

This has changed my scent story for the better. On their website www.cannabolish. com they state “We know how to get rid of weed smell” and they absolutely do. My curtains and tapestries no longer reek for hours after smoking. Instead I spray them before smoking with my Cannabolish spray and when I reenter my room after my sesh the cannabis smell is gone, replaced with a light wintergreen scent.

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Their website explains that the product works by attracting the stinky smoke molecule, absorbing them by attaching to them, and then surrounding the odor molecules which neutralizes their smell. The Cannabolish method introduces terpenes from various plants aside from cannabis to cancel out the odor left behind by cannabis smoke. They also share that their team has perfected their sciences over the last 30 years of removing the toughest odors around the world.

As I’ve matured, my smoking practices and behaviors have as well. With the Cannabolish spray and candles, I don’t have to worry about finding an alternative consumption practice because of the smell joints leave behind. I simply light my candle or spray my room before sitting with cannabis and ease any worries of how I will smell when I am done. I highly recommend you check them out and use their code HOLIDAZEZ for 25% off. Merry Kushmas :)

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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December 26, 2019 to January 1, 2020

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