Coachella Valley Weekly - February 13 to February 19, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 47 by CV Weekly

News

Music

Movies

Dining

Community Events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • February 13 to February 19, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 47

Modernism

pg 5

Truckfighters

pg 12

Mikado

pg 20

Cafe Italia

pg 21

Path Pilates

pg 30

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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Modern Sustainability

Coachella Valley Weekly

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

Contents

Hot Purple Energy............................ 3 Modernism Week...........................5 Community - Niland......................7 Sports Scene..................................8 Sports.............................................9 Beer Snob.....................................10 Tat Talk - Joshua “Tree” Sipe.......10 Event- Concours d’ Elegance.......11 Event- Pars 4 Paws.......................11 Desert Rhythms - Truckfighters.. 12 Lo Sound Desert ..........................13 Consider This ...............................14 Art ................................................15 Pet Place.......................................16 The Vino Voice..............................17 Club Crawler Nightlife.................18 Pampered Palate - Mikado..........20 Pampered Palate - Cafe Italia......21 Screeners......................................22 Book Review ................................23 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........26 Event- Barbra Sinatra Luncheon.. 26 Dale Gribow.................................27 Its Your Nickel..............................27 Safety Tips....................................28 Gaemer Girl..................................28 Share Kitchen...............................28 Don’t Be Clueless in the CV.........29 Walk to End Alzheimer’s..............30 Health & Fitness - Path Pilates......30 Free Will Astrology......................31 Mind, Body, & Spirit.....................31 Life & Career Coach......................32 Ask The Doctor.............................32 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................34

February 13 to February 19, 2014

by heidi simmons

Hot Purple Energy hosts free bike rides for Modernism Week through an iconic tour of homes on Saturday

t’s Modernism Week and what could be more modern than using sustainable energy? Solar panels are becoming commonplace on the rooftops of homes, businesses and parking covers across our sunny Coachella Valley. One local solar company is putting sustainability and energy efficiency into the modernism mix. “Modernism was revolutionary. It significantly changed things architecturally,” said Nate Otto, CEO of Hot Purple Energy. “We believe solar technology is revolutionary and is significantly going to change things as well.” Solar panels are being installed today more than ever and the aesthetic consideration has become a priority. Last year, just for 2013, Hot Purple Energy installed solar systems with more than 1.5 megawatts of panel producing energy in the CV. “Now you can produce the power right where you need it, which really hasn’t been done before,” said Hot Purple Energy, Vice President, David Herrlinger. “Being sustainable is not about sacrifice.” Otto and Herrlinger are passionate about producing positive energy. Established in 2009, when the economy was in a rapid decline, Otto and Herrlinger founded Hot Purple Energy to make a difference. Coming from real estate and construction backgrounds, they wanted to create a business that would benefit everyone. “Our idea was to retool in a way that was different and better,” said Herrlinger. The company name, Hot Purple Energy, was selected to generate an idea of fun. Some think it’s about the color of photovoltaic cells or the purple lines used in drafting, that reference alternative energy source -- which is fine with Otto and Herrlinger. “It’s like a song. The name is open for interpretation,” said Herrlinger. But mainly they want people to think of HPE as something that produces fun. And for Modernism Week that is exactly what they plan to do. HPE will host their third annual Mid-Century Bike Tour. This year HPE will be conducting two rides – one in the north end of Palm Springs and one in

the south. “We ride through the modernism neighborhoods with architectural significant homes where we have installed solar systems,” said Otto. “You can’t always see the solar panels, but it’s a great ride in nice neighborhoods.” This Saturday, February 15, planners for the CV Link (a pathway for pedestrians, bicyclists and low speed electric vehicles that when completed will span from Desert Hot Springs to Coachella), will give a short presentation about the 52-mile route before the neighborhood ride. North Palm Springs Bike Tours begin at 10:00 at the HPE Solar Stage at the Prefab Showcase. Bring your own bike. Bicycles will be available to rent, but the event is free. The HPE South Palm Springs ride will be on the following Saturday, February 23. It begins at the Saguara Hotel with a presentation by the Palm Springs Office of Sustainability. The free event begins at 10:00. Most impressive, Hot Purple Energy is supplying clean electricity for The Prefab Showcase and Modern Living Expo. This expo is one of the Modernism Week’s most attended and popular events showcasing prefabricated buildings and architecture open for touring. The village will feature the latest in smart home technology, green products, solar energy, modern furnishings and finishes. HPE is also contributing the live music and deejays. The Expo Village is located at 384 N. Indian Canyon Drive and is open from 10:00 to 5:00 from February 15 through 17 and again from February 21 to 23. “If we can continue to demonstrate how we can have more, or as much, fun as any body else who is burning fossil fuel, then we’ve done our job,” said Otto. “We do these events so people can see that we don’t have to sacrifice anything to have a good time. There are plenty of ways to put our personal energy and the solar energy into these events in real use time for people to enjoy.” HPE will have an old-school pinball arcade and a free green screen photo booth for commemorative pictures. The Cathedral City High School digital photo class will be taking the photos. HPE will also provide phonecharging stations. Hot Purple Energy has a fleet of mobile solar generators they take to valley events. Truck or trail, the solar panels combine to

create a scalable platform that allows them to increase the power as needed. The mobile solar panels are capable of generating eight kilowatts of power. “The benefits of solar energy generation at an open event like the Expo Village are numerous. But especially great is there’s no noise cluttering the atmosphere,” Herrlinger said. “It’s quiet. It’s clean. It’s nice.” All the HPE vehicles run on alternative fuel. With more than 20 solar energy companies in the CV, HPE has distinguished themselves from the others in their desire to supply a comprehensive understanding with a multi-dimensional approach to supplying sustainable energy. “We are Hot Purple Energy instead of Hot Purple Solar for a very good reason,” said Otto. “We show people how they can lower their energy bills without giving up their lifestyle with or without solar. Of course, we want to see every home with solar production. But we are in this to help our neighbors lower their consumption from traditional source. Our goal is to reduce the use of fossil fuel any way we can.” With sunshine year round in the CV, solar is certainly a bright idea to reduce our dependence of costly and damaging energy sources. “I don’t see anything taking solar energy’s place in the next decade,” said Otto. “It shows that solar is a great option. It is the cleanest renewable energy source with the lowest carbon footprint of production through lifecycle. And it’s noise free. The sun needs no pipeline.”

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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Events

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By judith salkin

Modernism Week

n 2000, when the first Modernism Weekend was held in Palm Springs, no one involved could have foreseen the day when the three-day Modernism Show and Sale, architecture symposium and a couple of fundraising parties could evolve into what now brings tourists from around the world for an orgy of culture that lasts 11 days. Palm Springs Modernism Week, which opens today (Feb. 13) and runs through Feb. 23, encompasses a full slate of events – from the original show and sale at the Palm Springs Convention Center, bus tours of homes designed by some of the pillars of modernism that have been preserved in the desert air, documentaries, lectures, slide shows, a trailer show and host of parties that all pay homage to the work of architects like Donald Wexler, Hugh Kaptur, William F. Cody and E. Stewart. With 40,000 tourists expected to land in the valley over the course of the 11 days, Palm Springs Modernism week has become a much-anticipated event for the entire valley.

Chris menrad

a Modern Makeover

As a child of the 1960s and ‘70s who grew up in the faux-Spanish Colonial Southern California, Chris Menrad didn’t think much about the architecture of the post-World War II year. The houses and buildings designed to capture the ease of an era when steel and glass, post and beam houses blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor living. When simplicity became elegance. “I was born in 1960,” Menrad said recently. “But when I was growing up, those houses were old tract houses.” But a 1999 visit to friends who lived in La Quinta, piqued his interest in Coachella Valley real estate. “We saw a house near the tennis gardens and it was so reasonably priced,” he recalled. “I understood about investments and I could see the opportunities here in the desert real estate.” The following weekend, Menrad drove back to the valley and driving through the Twin Palms neighborhood of Palm Springs, saw a sign for an open house and fell in definite like with an Alexander house that needed some love. Something old and authentic. “I walked in, and I didn’t know anything at the time about Midcentury houses, but I could see the possibilities,” he said. Even though it was in Menrad’s price range, “I told myself I couldn’t buy the first house I looked at,” he said. But after several weeks of looking, Menrad kept returning to the Alexander he has owned since ’99. “They dropped the price and I put in a bid,” he said.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

A weekend of kitch turns into 11 days of culture, education and midcentury fun

While that’s great for the economy, and the continued preservation of these unique buildings, finding ways to entertain all those enthusiasts and keep them coming back yearafter-year has become a welcome challenge for groups that have sponsored Modernism since its inception. It’s where sponsors come in the fray, according to Modernism Week Executive Director, Lisa Vossler Smith. “Over the years the crowds kept growing, but we were limited by the capacity of what the houses and buildings could handle,” Vossler Smith said. “Landing Land Rover as a sponsor really was the catalyst that we needed to bring in other sponsors that will allow us to really expand what we can do. It had a snowball effect; a good snowball effect.” Signing on major sponsors with international appeal meant that the event could grow the number of public parties, lectures and films and free events. And now, the addition of Goldenvoice as a partner, the missing element of music now means that there are day and night events that give more options for entertainment. It also means that what was seen originally as a somewhat high-brow weekend has become a cultural event that attracts a more diverse crowd.

It’s not unusual, Vossler Smith said, to see older couples reminiscing about homes they owned in the heyday of Modernism looking over the same products at the Prefab Showcase and Modern Living Expo as hipsters looking to bring a bit of the Midcentury vibe into their own homes. “It’s as much a social experience as it is an educational experience,” Vossler Smith said. “And as the crowds grow, we knew we had to make the programs more diverse. Modernism isn’t a trend anymore, it’s become a lifestyle that people want to learn more about.” Anyone keeping track of the ticket sales for the bus tours, parties and home tours (which are limited by number of people each property can accommodate), knows that many of the most popular events were sold

Menrad didn’t mean to become a Midcentury maven, but it was about the same time as Palm Springs Modernism Committee was forming to push to preserve the unique homes and buildings, and he became one of the founding members of the group. Today he serves as president of ModCom, is a realtor who specializes in Midcentury Modern homes and sees Modernism Week as the great tool for Midcentury homeowners and lovers of the style of architecture. “There’s an exuberance to the style of living of the post-War era,” he said. “And Modernism celebrates it in all its forms. It’s way to explore the era and products and to learn about the men who created these magnificent buildings.”

a Coachella Valley native, is a featured designer in this year’s Palm Springs Modernism Week Show

Sammy Castro

The last of six children and the son to migrant parents, Sammy spent his childhood on his parents date farm in Thermal, California. As a young boy, Sammy became inspired by color, texture and form found on the farm. This sparked his interest in design. His family encouraged his creativity and interest in design by letting him have free reign to arrange the furniture in the house, frequently driving him to open houses and model home tours, and stressing the importance of a good education to achieve his goals. Sammy graduated from La Quinta High School, in 1998, and decided to start and education in biological sciences. After two years studying biology Sammy began to realize that he had strayed from his excitement of design and changed his major to Landscape Architecture. He credits this decision to his vast success and beginnings in the design and landscape trades. Sammy graduated from the College of Environmental Design at California Polytechnic University, Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 2004. In 2005, Sammy founded his design firm in Palm Springs, California focusing primarily on landscape architecture. Sammy’s strong work ethic, quality of work, passion for design quickly became that talk of the town and rewarded him with many client referrals. Later, he joined forces with Marmol-Radziner, as Designer and Project Manager, in 2007, and relocated his business to Los Angeles. Projects in Los Angeles inspired Sammy in

out months ago. “But we added a number of free and low cost events, like HGTV’s ‘Modern Curb Appeal – from Mo’Dirt to Modern,’ and one I’m excited about, ‘Never Built Palm Springs’ that looks at the projects that were conceived but never got into production and how they might have changed the city,” she said of events on her “not to be missed” list. For Vossler Smith, the week is about fun and education. “It’s for everyone who wants to understand the movement and why it has flourished here in the desert,” she said. For more information on Modernism Week, programs and events, go to: modernweek.com.

new ways and introduced him to a new client base, but the talk around town was all the same. Word of mouth referrals lead Sammy to work for many celebrities and prominent business people. One particular partnership with Marmol-Radziner and Michael Smith produced a feature in Architectural Digest, in April 2010, called “At Home in the Desert, Subtle Hues and Unexpected Pairings for a House near Palm Springs.” In that moment of pride, Sammy was validated of his true calling: design. Sammy’s firm has grown and now has 8 fulltime employees and specializes in Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Architecture. The team recently completed their 150th project and has a robust queue of more than 70 projects in the works, including Christopher Kennedy’s Show House for Palm Springs Modernism Week 2014.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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Community

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February 13 to February 19, 2014

By Denise Ortuno Neil

On the Fringe of Niland

California Woman 411 with your host Dee Jae Cox

here are obvious delights at our fingertips here in the Coachella Valley. With an abundance of restaurants for us to dine in, shops to unload our wallets at and outdoor activities like golf and tennis for us to enjoy, we as tourists and residents are sated. But beyond the obvious, just 30 miles past the Salton Sea is a different world to explore, a world filled with a colorful painted mountain, startling art and a standalone community far removed from our typical delights, it is the world on the fringe of Niland and well worth the trip away from the obvious desert attractions. Heading South on Hwy 111on the way to Niland there is a feeling of unease. Perhaps it’s the vast space ahead while gazing through the windshield that brings the scope of isolation into view. Or maybe it’s the mystery and calmness of the Salton Sea lurking in its enormity as if its watching us go by, starving to unload its haunted memory, that changes our skin from a smooth surface to tiny little bumped ridden epidermis. Whichever the cause, it is a conflicted unease, not typical in its fright, but pushed forward by excitement of the unknown…a field trip to the edge. Niland is the gateway to a wondrous area brimming with imagination. If you pass the sleepy town once known as Old Beach and Imperial Junction in the early 1900’s, and drive east on Main Street, you will find yourself on your way to a place like no other and in an Alice in Wonderland state of mind. The first eye popping scene will be the highly regarded and legendary Salvation Mountain. The mountain, built from the creative mind of Leonard Knight, is a structure grown from his love of God and his undying dedication to spread his word. Knight, born in Vermont in 1931 had an eclectic life, not realizing through his path he would one day become a local pioneer of sorts in the desert of Southern California, creating his own mountain and a major art attraction which has gained worldwide recognition. The mountain has been a work in progress since Knight started building it in the early 80’s. Through it all, including government opposition, knight has

relentlessly built his mountain, up to a height of 50 feet, even reinforcing it with adobe clay after his first attempt proved unstable. Salvation Mountain has been painted with over 100,000 gallons of donated paint. Dedicated volunteers like John Norton now work on the mountain touching it up as need be, welcoming visitors as Knight was admitted into a nursing home over two years ago. Sadly, during the course of this article, Knight passed away at the age of 82 on Monday February 10th, 2014 in San Diego. His mountain will stand in testament to one man’s dedication for what he believed in. And regardless of public personal beliefs, his tenacity is something to be revered. His mountain stands strong, as will the memory of him. Just past Salvation Mountain is the entrance to Slab City. It sounds like something out of Mad Max Beyond Thunder dome, but a closer look will reveal a less nefarious community. Slab City was once Camp Dunlap Marine Training Facility which was opened in 1942. After WW II, the camp closed in 1946. Soon after, the buildings were removed and the area became abandoned, with only cement slabs left behind. Slowly, campers discovered the city and word spread to the RV set as well. Since the area was free to camp on, squatters also came to the city making it their home. Today, thousands of visitors including snowbirds dock their RV’s and campers at Slab City to enjoy the mild climate of the desert winters. The area has a sort of “Wild West” feel to it. A look around tells different stories for the people who live in and visit Slab City, there is no doubt it is a world all its own. The community has its own way of life, but they don’t seem daunted by those who are curious…those who are just passing through and not settling on a slab.

They even have Saturday night entertainment at “The Range”, an outdoor stage where a variety of bands play and parties ensue. It is said to be quite a party and definitely fit for the adventurous. Another must see stop on a visit to the fringe, is East Jesus. Explaining East Jesus is not a simple task, and visiting it is certainly not for the faint of heart. It is in a way beautiful in its fearless creativity and frightening for the same reason. On approaching it, it would seem that it is a product of its isolation, a symptom of an ailment not understood by the masses. But it is much more, even if not knowing what the “more” is when you’re there.

East Jesus is the mind blowing venture of the late Charles Russell. It is a modern day artist’s commune of sorts, a sanctuary for those with high strung imagination looking for a place to be with their own. It is selfcontained and the inhabitants take care of each other but yet are opened to visitors. Their art garden is filled with jaw dropping art made with different materials from cars to glass, to mannequins (all different parts) to just about anything else you can think of…the art has no limitations. Tours of the garden are graciously given by those on hand such as “Frank”, a quick witted outspoken guide, nourished with a plethora of information about East Jesus. It is without hesitation a recommended stop when visiting the fringe. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the everyday delights and attractions of the Coachella Valley. But if you’re looking for an adventure and desire something a little different, consider a trip to the other side….consider a trip to the fringe. For more information about Salvation Mountain visit www.salvationmountain.us For more information about Slab City visit www.slabcity.org For more information about East Jesus visit www.eastjesus.org

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February 13 to February 19, 2014

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sports scene

by Julie Buehler

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Option D- Play fantasy baseball. Call me a glutton for punishment, and I wouldn’t likely admit to this publicly if it weren’t for the liquid courage known as Keystone Lite, but I’ve decided to play fantasy baseball this year. And thoroughly ensure I won’t have a social life through 2014. The good news is the NFL combine is coming up in a little over a week. That will give us numbers to discuss and prospects to dissect. Until then, you can find me at the Beerhunter, watching whatever is on the big screen, watching the calendar countdown to the 2014 NFL season. Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station. She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners. Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.

by Flint Wheeler

N.B.A. All-Star weekend.. Thanks but I’ll pass

Option C- Watch more NHL. If you haven’t been watching the Ducks roll through the NHL or the Blackhawks on their title defense tour or the Kings rollercoaster season, then you’re really missing out. Hockey is SUCH a great sport, yes, in person, but also on TV. Currently in the Olympic break, now we get the beautiful fluidity, physicality and national pride steeping in every game. THAT’s a solid way to replace football.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

www.FlintWheeler.com Financial Advisor representing New York Life. Owner Indian Wells Insurance & Wealth Management. Host of Tilted Sports Radio on Team 1010, KXPS. Former PGA Class A Professional. U.S.P.T.A. Tennis Professional. Titleist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Trainer

What To Do Without Football?

ull disclosure: I’m sitting in my underwear, hammered on Keystone Lite writing this. My parents must be so proud. But that’s what happens when I don’t have football to watch. I end up moping around my house without clean clothes, aimlessly hoping someone will throw a pigskin in my face and snap me out of the doldrums of no NFL. But its just hope. It’s not reality. We have 29 Sundays before the NFL is once again our weekly mainstay. Thing is, when I was in New York City for Super Bowl XLVIII, roaming the streets of Manhattan with Broncos and Seahawks fans shouting in my ears, that reality wasn’t a factor in my mind. I was focused on the unlikelihood that the top ranked offense could upend the top ranked defense. We knew only the ’89 49ers #1 ranked offense beat the ’89 Broncos #1 ranked defense and we knew that even in the pass-happy NFL we live in now, the single most disruptive force in all of football is a potent pass rush. And now we know how Super Bowl XLVIII turned out. Ugly. Did I mention I am hammered on Keystone Lite? If it were football season, it’d be Guinness. That’s how far I’ve fallen. So now the question is: what to do with this newfound spare time? We have some options; I’m hoping getting you excited will get me excited. Option A- Watch regular season NBA. With 82 games a season and players actually exerting full effort in 4 of them, it’s difficult to guess which game on any given night will be the game that players showcase their pure athleticism, explosiveness and understanding of the sport. BUT, I’ll take the Clippers average effort over the Lakers full effort any day. So we have that going for us. Option B- Watch February college basketball. This is getting slightly more interesting now. Syracuse is dominating, North Carolina is struggling, the Pac-12 has some great teams and San Diego State is a darling of this season. Time to erase the Week 1 matchup of the Packers versus the Niners and add some Jabari Parker to my DVR.

sports

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he NFL made some interesting changes to their respective Pro-Bowl weekend. Although watching Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice select who their back up left tackle was going to be was worse than a honey-do-list on Sunday morning after a lengthy Saturday night. The truth of the matter is that for how much people care about whether or not players become All Stars, the actual All-Star Games themselves are usually terrible. No one plays defense. No one wants to get hurt. No matter the sport, the All-Star game is usually a boring, half-hearted affair that no one cares about. Baseball tried to add meaning to the game by using it to decide World Series homefield advantage, and now the game is exactly the same except managers keep a few pitchers in the bullpen in case it goes to extra innings. What’s worse is that now some dumb exhibition game in the middle of the year decides World Series homefield advantage. The NBA All-Star Game is broken. Here’s how to fix it. 1. How about don’t play it at all... Just don’t do it. The league should name the best 5, or best 11 from each conference, whatever it is, and that’s it. They’re the All-Stars. We don’t need a game. Athletes can get the recognition they deserve, and fans don’t have to sit through a meaningless exhibition in which everyone’s going at half speed. 2. More skills competition vs. Athletes/ Fan. The Slam Dunk contest, while a little stale in recent years, is still a better event than the NBA All-Star Game. The Home Run Derby is a far superior event to the MLB AllStar Game. Maybe the worst idea of them all, but it’s all about entertainment and seeing 50 Cent dunked on would (some might say unfortunately) sell tickets and hit all the major highlight reels on every network. 3. Mic up all the players. The All-Star Game’s best moments are when fans get to

see the athletes off the big stage, laughing, having fun, and interacting with each other. The simple way to do that -- Mic everyone up. If you’re worried about cursing, run it on a delay. 4. Bring in actors/comedians/musicians to spice things up. All-Star Games have traditionally not been fun to watch. You know what WAS fun to watch? MTV’s Rock N’ Jock. The games invited athletes and celebrities together to play half-hearted exhibition games, and it was fun and funny because some of the celebrities would take it super seriously. Everyone else made jokes. It worked because everyone was mic’ed up, and, when the Rock n’ Jock was at its heyday, they actually brought charismatic and funny people on who were comfortable on camera. Every once in a while a celebrity would come on and actually be good, and the reactions of the athletes to the guy going hard was incredible. Again, the game is a silly exhibition game to begin with, so why not make it a silly exhibition game played by attractive people who are comfortable being mic’ed up on camera? Picture this: Kevin Hart and LeBron James are feverishly competing against Leonardo DiCaprio and Kevin Durant in a contest to see who can make the most half-court shots in two minutes. Would you flip channels? How could you?! 5. If you really must play the All-Star game, make it interesting. If leagues aren’t going to get rid of the All-Star game because of tradition or whatever, there’s only one way to make sure that the players are trying hard -- cash. Offer a cash reward to the winners. Each game has a $1 million purse that the winning team gets to split. Will the leagues ever do this? Of course not. But man, those guys wouldn’t be going as half-hearted on defense if they knew there was some decent dough on the line. Flint Wheeler Financial Services Professional Visit www.FlintWheeler.Com

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February 13 to February 19, 2014

Beer Snob

What’s in a name?

feel that it is necessary to reflect upon the name Beer Snob early in this column’s development. I don’t think I am set on that being the name for the Column, but it’s out there, so here we go. I am actually a very humble guy. Except when it comes to my opinions on Politics, Religion, Education, saving the planet, dogs in purses or strollers, and most importantly, BEER. And to some degree when it comes to beer, I have become a snob. Not the kind with a cool debonair mustache that curls at the end: not that I wouldn’t if I could, but I lack the genetic code for that one.

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By beer snob (trooper) I am a snob first for all the obvious reasons. I do not drink nasty beer, not at a sporting event, a house party, at a concert, no Sir. And if you offer me a beer that I feel is below my palate’s expectations I politely decline. Now did I drink nasty beer? Yes of course, the first half of my drinking life. But as with so many, it all started with one good beer, Sierra Nevada. Then it was only in the summer that I drank the canned Mexican beers. It was too hot for those big ales, but now every summer I have my go-to craft beers that I drink and in winter it is all about roasty stouts and porters. Now my bottom shelf beers are higher than most people’s top shelf selections. It has come to a point that when my wife or I decide we are going out to dinner, we look at the beer menu before the food menu to determine where we are going. It’s the same if I want to see a movie. Do they serve beer? Good beer? No? Is there a place nearby that does so we can get a pint before and after? We’re going on vacation? Cool, what brewery is near where we want to go and how many can we see in the time we have? And I must buy some to take home and share. I guess being a beer snob is kind of a burden. I am limited to places to enjoy because, well I only go where there is good beer or I won’t enjoy the place. I am limited especially here in our valley on where I shop for beer, because there are only a

Tat TAlk

Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance Returns

few places with a decent beer selection. And on top of that, I will get through said selection very quickly and then be searching for another place with a different selection. But I always remember that we’re catching up out here in the southern-most tip of southern California. We now have two breweries of our own: Coachella Valley Brewing in Thousand Palms, and La Quinta Brewing in, well, Palm Desert. There are a few bars that are really starting to get it and I believe it will only get better. It’s us fellow beer snobs, beer geeks, beer enthusiasts that are making the change today that we want to see tomorrow, by being the craft beer consumers.

When we buy and consume beer we are not just drinking refreshment, we are making it possible for someone to have a job. We are helping Barley and Hop farmers grow the next season’s crops, and I for one am helping American Craft Beer makers grow the American Economy, create American Jobs and build new American Traditions. And I know when I buy a great craft beer it is made with love and respect, it does not come with a bikini model or a puppy or any of that fake advertising bull. What it does come with is Pride and Integrity. Trooper Ramsey BeerCultureWebshow.com

by phil lacombe

Joshua “Tree” Sipe

Name: Joshua “Tree” Sipe Where do you tat: I currently work from my private studio space by appointment. It’s located in Bermuda Dunes. I have had the pleasure of working in almost all the shops out here in the valley, really blessed they had me. My clientele really like the private thing though and that’s where I’m at most of the time. Why did you start tattooing: I started tattooing in 1995 in Venice California. I had been in the movie industry (camera department) for years. That work was slowing down so I was looking for a new job. I fell in with some guys at the beach that agreed to apprentice me and from there I fell in love with it. I always loved to draw and paint and this seemed like the next step for me. To do it on skin is the highest form of Art to me.

What style of tattooing do you enjoy the most: I have always loved doing any style my clients ask for, it is always challenging. If I had to pick a specific style now I would say large color and realism. Those would be my favorite but I never liked to limit myself to just one style because all of it is a lot of fun! Who inspires you to tattoo: Some of my earliest influences were Paul Booth, Tim Lehi, Freddy Negrete, Bob Tyrrell, Guy Aitchinson and lots of others. Now currently there’s so much talent out there the list is pretty long. People like Josh Duffy, Rich Pineda, Cory Norris, Jeremiah Barba, Victor Portugal, Johan Finne’, Boris, Roman Abrego. One huge influence on me has and still is my good friend and fellow tattoo Artist Ty McEwen, he always had my back and continues to push me with my Art. If you could tattoo anywhere in the world where would you go: I haven’t had much

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chance to travel as of yet, I’m a single dad and everything goes for my kid first. If I had a chance to I would travel to Europe and get lost for many years going everywhere and anywhere I could to soak up all the Artistic influences going down over there. In the states I would love to hit the east coast up since I’ve never been that way yet. Tell me your favorite tattoo story about one of your clients: One of my favorite stories is about this guy named Sam. Sam first started coming to me back around 2005 or so. He didn’t look to have a lot of tattoos but he was covered already on his arms and chest/torso area. The day I met him he was wearing long sleeves and had long hair that covered up around his neck line. He had this huge beard like ZZ Top. It was too cool. I asked him how long it took him to grow, he said ‘like 8 years’ hah! Well over the time I worked on him I learned how much he

loved getting his ink but to respect his parents never had any that were too exposed. He would were long sleeves and use his long hair and beard to cover them up. I respected that and he was a super cool guy….nice, quiet and a great client that never moved haha! I covered every inch on his body except for his neck and hands. The real deal as far as clients go, thanks for the support Sam! Contact Joshua at 760-636-3671 email - jtree44@msn.com facebook.com/joshuasipe

ailed as one of the “Top Ten Classic Car Shows in the World,” The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance will be returning for its seventh year on February 23rd, and will be Celebrating 100 Years of Maserati History in conjunction with the Legends of Riverside and Riverside International Automotive Museum. This year’s show will once again highlight more than 250 of the rarest and most valuable major classic automobiles from the 1920’s to 50’s. There will also be historic sports cars, race cars and historic pre WW-II Hot Rods. The show will be held on Sunday, February 23, at the Desert Princess Country Club and Resort at Landau and Vista Chino in Cathedral City from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets for the show are now $45 and available online at www.desertconcours.com or $50 at the gate on the day of the show. This is not the sort of event which tells people to, “bring and display what you drive”, but a presentation of what has been done with the automobile representing the best of creativity, engineering and beauty of design. The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance gives spectators the opportunity to get close to exceptional examples of the best of the automotive industry from the last 100 years. Among the examples of exceptionalism displayed at the Desert Princess Country Club on Sunday, February 23d will be the 1937 Delage D-8, body by Letourneur et Marchand, owned by Aly Khan, that was presented at the 1939 Worlds Fair as representing the epitome of French design beauty and engineering. Other great cars shown will be a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster that was built by General Motors, and aimed

at the very top of the market just as the Depression killed that class of buyer. A 1933 Packard V-12 Roadster that was perhaps the best car in the world at that time, but also killed off by the effects of the Depression. Key personalities at the event include Masters of Ceremony and Commentator: Ed Justice, Chairman of Justice Brothers Products Company, Major Sponsor of Auto Racing, Media voice of racing and other auto events. Stewart Reed, Chairman of Transportation Design Center, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA. Chief Judge, Dr. Richard Buckingham, Founder of Sovren Vintage Racing Group, experienced judge, racer, and restorer. In addition to Sunday’s main event, The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance Road Tour will also assemble at the Desert Princess County Club and Resort on Saturday, February 22nd from 7:30 to 8 am. The cars can also be viewed at the end of the tour around 1 pm at Cuistot Restaurant on El Paseo in Palm Desert. For more information about The Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and to purchase tickets go to www.desertconcours.com or call 760-766-1777.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

events Loving All Animals Hosts 6th annual “Pars 4 Paws” golf tournament

on Sunday, February 23rd at Shadow Mountain Golf Club in Palm Desert egistration at 9:30am, Brunch at 10am and Shotgun Start at Noon. Seeking Sponsors from $100 to $300 Hole-in-One Prizes include Two-year Lease on 2014 on Porsche Cayenne Loving All Animals is hosting its 6th annual “Pars 4 Paws” golf tournament on Sunday, February 23rd at Shadow Mountain Golf Club in Palm Desert. Registration begins at 9:30am with brunch at 10am and a shotgun scramble start at Noon. Loving All Animals has a few spots remaining for tournament play. Loving All Animals welcomes sponsors from $100 to $300 who know there is No Place Like a Home for homeless pets. Players will have an opportunity to buy a “Super Ticket”, allowing them to receive personal golf tips from a pro from 10am to Noon on the driving range and on the putting green. This includes use of the pro’s driver on 2014 Porsche Cayenne with an MSRP of hole # 4, a putting contest and two chances $61,006. Another sponsor, the Caddyshack to win a prize. For those who want to join in in Palm Desert is offering the chance to win the post tournament fun and support Loving a Golf Cart. There is also a $1,000 shopping All Animals they can attend the Awards and spree award for a hole-in-one sponsored by Happy Hour party for $20 starting directly PGA Tour Superstore. “We offer a fun filled day on the golf after the tournament between 4:30-5:00pm. In addition, there are Hole-In-One prizes course and awards party afterward. It’s a joy for participants. These include thanks to be able to golf plus make a difference for to Desert European Motorcars, Indigo homeless pets in the Coachella Valley,” says Autogroup a two-year prepaid lease on a Tournament co-chair Elsie Hewling.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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ROBIN LINN’S DESERT RHYTHMs

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by Robin Linn

SWEDISH DESERT STONER ROCKERS.. TRUCKFIGHTERS!

GETTING DOWN AND FUZZY WITH A BRAND NEW RECORD, UNIVERSE, AND A SPRING US TOUR!

ast summer I was introduced to Truckfighters when German filmmaker and friend, Joerg Steineck, warned me to be on the lookout for them. In the few weeks they were here in the desert, I took in three live shows, watched a documentary about them(Truckfighters Fuzzomentary, produced by Joerg), and put them up at a friend’s place here in Joshua Tree when they found themselves homeless on the West Coast for a night. We went out to breakfast with them before sending the desert stoner rock band back home to Sweden. No.....that is not a typo. The band who found inspiration in the music created by Kyuss and the earliest versions of Queens of the Stone Age classify themselves as a desert stoner rock band. The Coachella Valley couldn’t be a more polar opposite than Sweden, yet it was here they found a kinship with desert music that would push them forward through four records, four European tours, two US tours, and three drummers. During the past several years, the band has twice undergone changes in drummers. They lost a drummer who had been with them since the beginning, and the loss was nearly debilitating. It took years to

permanently replace him. While stoner rock is huge in Europe... in their little town in Sweden, they are IT as far as the genre goes. So, finding a drummer that saw their vision and was willing to commit and travel was far more difficult than they had expected. They finally found a new drummer, but he injured his wrists, and they soon found themselves missing a piece to the puzzle all over again. Meanwhile, the shows and tours kept coming and the records kept selling. They continued searching for the right drummer to complete the lineup, and last year their prayers were finally answered in the form of Andre ‘Poncho’ Kvarnström. Andre is a young and very accomplished drummer. He was only twenty-years old when I met him last summer. He is devoted to TF and ready to take on the highs and lows of worldwide touring. This isn’t a band with a huge record contract touring on a major label’s dime. It is a band that is focused, serious about their music, and out to carve a place for themselves in the international music marketplace. Their third record, Gravity, has earned them critical acclaim in the press and fans by the droves, filling rock festivals and concert halls when they perform. The guitar driven fuzz-tones that is a huge part of their sound and their persona is actually what drew me to them at first. Then, I saw the live show, and WOW!!!!!!

February 13 to February 19, 2014

When guitarist Dango begins jumping about on stage, it is hard rock ballet, a decathlon of physical perseverance that defies gravity. He is truly athletic. If ever he should take up basketball....watch the hell out! He also told me that because the physical performance is so demanding, it has gotten him in really good shape and forces him not to overdo the trappings of the road. When jumping around the stage, he catches air in time to the deep fuzzed out grooves, and the energy it transmits literally fills everyone in the audience with a sense of euphoria. Bassist Ozo and his fuzzy deep bass tones coming up through the floor gets you right in the core of your being, leaving nothing to separate you from the sound. If it is called stoner rock....there is a reason. It absolutely gets you high. The writing may be inspired by bands like Kyuss and Queens of the

Stone Age.....but the resulting music is ALL Truckfighters. Over the years, the Truckfighters have continued to hone their own unique sound, and their live show is electrifying. Now, with the US release of their brand new record, Universe, the band is off and running. They have just finished up an extensive tour of Europe and they have just weeks until they are off again and head for the United States. They will be in our general neck of the woods in March (see show dates and links below) and they plan to stay in the states and tour through May, which may bring them closer to the desert. Those dates are not quite solid yet, though will be available soon on their website. I will keep you posted

as they solidify. With the new record, Universe, the band has gone for a more refined product with commercial appeal. Universe offers a cohesive and finely produced collection of songs with nuances of grunge, prog rock, and pop. I hear a lot less of the desert stoner rock influence typical of a TF record. This time around the material seems more firmly centered around the vocals and lyrical content, and a little less fuzzy and in your face then in records past. Songs like “Mind Control” and “Prophet” seem to set the tone of the new release, while “Chairman” offers dramatic highs and lows and overdriven punch lines that I have come to expect from TF. It will be interesting to see how they blend the broad range of material into their live set. TRUCKFIGHTER’S FUZZOMENTARY by Joerg Steineck is a rockumentary that artistically tells the story of an up and coming band from Sweden. The trials and errors, hardships of the road, and the character of each Truckfighter is beautifully documented as the story unfolds. Joerg’s own signature is all over this film with lots of humor, artistic backdrops, and tells the tale of a real band who has been greatly impacted by Kyuss, Queens of The Stone Age, and desert rock in general. It is a work Joerg hopes will be well received as the band continues to pick up steam with the new record and constant touring schedule. LO SOUND DESERT Before I returned to writing about music in 2010 after a 14 year break, Joerg Steineck found me online to ask about my early experiences writing about the desert

rock scene. He was filming and is still editing down 13 hours of film for his desert stoner rockumentary, Lo Sound Desert, a beautiful account of the real desert rock scene. I saw a 30 minute special sneak peek out at The Palms in Wonder Valley last October when Terry McGuinness hosted Dali’s Llama 20 year anniversary show. The Wild Rumpus was also a record release event for DL’s 20 Years of Music Underground. The event brought 13 amazing bands to Wonder Valley which really is in the middle of nowhere. There I saw bands like Green Boar and Undead Cuervo (which both feature

Rick Carles), Caveman Voicebox (Graham Wilson), Rise of the Willing (Caveman Kyle Stratton now with Atala), The Freeks (Ruben Romano from Fu Man Chu), Ultra Electric Mega Galactic (Ed Mundell from Monster Magnet), Hornss (Mike Desertt from desert rock band Solar Feast), Mario Lalli’s (Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson) other project, Rubber Snake Charmers, and after DL played the closing set...I turned 53 with my long time desert music friends beneath a star infested sky as we watched Joerg’s film. Lo Sound Desert immortalizes our desert rockers and takes us back to the beginning of the Coachella Valley original music scene. Interviews with musicians like Sean Wheeler (Throw Rag), Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator, QOTSA, The Dwarves, Moistboyz), Josh Homme (QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal), John Garcia (Kyuss, Slo Burn, Vista Chino), John Summers (Family Butcher), Zach Huskey (Dali’s Llama, Rawbone, Hot Beat Pussy Fiend), Gary Arce and Mario Lalli, Scott Reeder and Dave Catching. So many uniquely inspired desert rockers take us back to the earliest days and track their success as they found audiences all over the world. LSD makes for a nostalgic documentation of a desert rock story still unfolding today. Presently, Joerg is still hard at work finishing up the editing job and preparing the film for distribution in the United States this year. With the major success of bands like QOTSA, Vista Chino, Mondo Generator, Unida, Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson, House of Broken Promises, EODM and Truckfighters, this could be the perfect time for the film to debut here in America. Joerg has also provided TF with an official video which he is quite proud of, “Prophet”. In everything Joerg does there is an authentic and organic approach that allows the true art of the music and the

characters that create it to shine through. I credit Joerg for a lot more than his film making. He has become a mentor of mine whether or not he is aware of it. He reminded me just how special the music scene we often take for granted really is. As the band prepares for the upcoming US tour, they get a bit of time in the cold weather, with time to dream about the warmth of the deserts in California and Arizona where they will be performing in March. Below is a list of show dates, links to the band’s website (where you can order your copy of Universe). I have also included links to the Truckfighter Fuzzomentary, Lo Sound Desert and TF on Facebook where you can find additional show dates TBA soon. Truckfighters Official Website where you can purchase your copy of Universe: www.truckfighters.com Prophet is a video produced by Joerg Steineck for Truckfighter’s new release Universe: vimeo.com/81810865 Fuzzomentary trailer on Facebook: www.facebook.com/truckfightersmovie Lo Sound Desert trailer: youtube.com/ watch?v=9InkRj0kY40 The Chairman is another cut off Universe on Youtube: youtube.com/ watch?v=dnMXxmdzfEI TF US Show Dates are available here: action-pr.com/featured/truckfighterspremiere-new-song-convention-u-s-tourdates-announced March 18 show in Los Angeles, CA at The Satellite. FB event page: facebook.com/ events/1398957967020306/ Other TF Dates will be added and made available to their Facebook page over the weeks to come: facebook.com/truckfighters/events

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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by Eleni P. Austin

BEWARE OF DARKNESS

Consider This

“Orthodox” (Bright Antenna Records)

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

The nascent trio settled on a name, Beware Of Darkness, (coincidently an excellent solo track from the Beatles’ “quiet one,” George Harrison.) They were immediately signed to Bright Antenna Records. The San Francisco label boasts an eclectic roster that includes Liverpudlian rockers the Wombats and British synth-pop pioneers Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark. Orthodox is their debut. The album opens with the careening cri de Coeur of “Howl.” The song is anchored by slashing power chords and shifting time signatures. Nicolaides’ vocals alternate between a yowl and a lazy drawl. The lyrics offer sex as the ultimate panacea to loneliness. As though someone has flipped the radio dial, “Sweet Girl” comes blasting out of the speakers even before the final notes of “Howl” recede. The crunchy melody is impossibly catchy. Blistering guitar riffs shimmy and spiral as bass and drums lock into a snake-hipped groove. The lyrics offer a crash course in teenage heartbreak… “I wish I was a surgeon, so I could rip your heart right open/And I could find the spot which broke me, and I would tear it out.” A sticky sweet guitar solo leavens the casual misogyny of Nicolaides’ words. Four tracks, “Ghost Town” “Amen Amen,” “Morning Tea” and “Life On Earth?”display the more introspective side of the band. “Ghost Town” opens with ominous cello notes that slide into a spectral melody. The lyrics are suitably sepulchral..”I feel my end

is coming now, I walk alone inside this Ghost Town.” Nicolaides’ idiosyncratic vocals partner with churchy electric piano runs on “Amen Amen.” The drums kick in and the melody locks into a waltz-time rhythm that is both jazzy and spatial. A soaring guitar solo recalls the taut, economical work of 70s guitar god, Peter Frampton. On the surface, the lyrics are on homage to his lady’s unwavering support. Still, Nicolaides manages to slip in a gloomy couplet, (even as he’s slyly referencing a classic Bacharach/ David fillip) “Sometimes when I wake up, and I watch you put on make-up/I forget you’re gonna die.” “Morning Tea” is a super downer, (but in a good way!) Funereal piano chords are layered over downcast electric piano fills. Dead mother, missing girlfriend, no one bringing him tea! It’s morose and melodic at the same time with thrumming bass lines and crashing percussion. A pin-wheeling guitar solo sets off sparks, cutting through the emotional morass. Finally, “Life On Earth?” Seems like a worthy sequel to David Bowie’s “Life On Mars?” A sweeping piano ballad that offers wry observations on everything from teenage ennui to the country’s divisive political climate… “Party ties over human life, let profits rise while people die/And if you cannot cope, avoid the truth hang a noose with television, entertainment, drugs and alcohol/Is this all there is to life on earth?” It’s simply a beautiful song.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

By rebecca pikus

“CHRISTINA DE MUSEE -- ART FUSION”

ven as a kid, Kyle Nicolaides was obsessed with music. Growing up in the quiet coastal town of Santa Barbara, he was encouraged to nurture his precocious and prodigious talent. He began forming bands at age 14. The Rockabyes, The Cosmic Revelators and The Martyrs didn’t last long, but they enabled Nicolaides to sort through his musical growing pains. Nicolaides haunted open-mike nights at clubs like Muddy Waters Café and Jensen’s Main Stage. After school, he set up home recording sessions, manning the drums, piano, guitar and bass himself. By the time Nicolaides began attending USC in Los Angeles, it seemed like his musical ambitions were coming to fruition. He met drummer Tony Cupito after a solo gig in downtown L.A. Then the duo connected with bassist Daniel Curcio on a whim. (Originally from Philadelphia, Curcio was just winding up an extended visit with a long-lost older brother in Santa Monica when they met.) It felt like fate. Steering clear of the L.A. hipster scene, the three hunkered down, woodshedding and bonding over disparate influences like the Beatles, Fiona Apple, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Jazz bassists Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke and obscure singer-songwriter Judee Sill.

art

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Orthodox boomerangs between quiet, introspective tracks and balls-out rockers. “Heart Attack (Bang Bang Shake)” kicks out the jams. The melody and instrumentation are a study in calibrated chaos. A frenetic, whiplash beat ratchets up the tension. Fizzy guitar riffs almost distract from Nicolaides’ scabrous, dismissive tone as he spits out callous lyrics that shift between misanthropy and self-loathing. Both “It’s The End Of The World” and “My Planet Is Dead” present post-apocalyptic tableaus. The former displays a grandeur usually reserved for Rock Operas or Queen songs! The meter pivots between raucous and reflective. Clangorous piano notes collide with coruscated guitar riffs. Nicolaides sketches out a bleak scenario…“Genuflect and load your gun, you can do anything if it’s for god/Resist the change any way you can, be afraid of what you don’t understand, lock your doors and hide in fear ‘cos the culture bomb is here.” The latter is more shambolic. Ramshackle acoustic riffs swivel from bluesy to Glamtastic. Dense and detailed lyrics paint a bleak picture of “end times.” Other stand out tracks include: “All That Remains,” a minor key charmer that is both anthemic and intimate. Nicolaides ethereal vocals take centerstage on “Salvation Is Here.” Overdubbed, phased guitars attack and retreat. From Nicolaides’ perspective,Heaven doesn’t seem so bitchin’ ….”Emptiness is here, everyone is numb with content/So sit, smile, pose, relax or eternal rest.” The album closes with “Hummingbird.” Slightly echoing the pastoral grace of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” the song blends delicate acoustic arpeggios with lyrics that are ephemeral and spiritual. Beware Of Darkness has crafted nearly flawless debut. Orthodox is anything but. Ambitious, slightly pretentious, but never over-reaching. The listener hears glimmers of the band’s influences, but that never obscures their singular vision. Beware Of Darkness has created a rich sonic landscape. This is an album that should be in every collection. Once you’ve heard it, you won’t know how you did without it.

t was inevitable -- or “In the Stars” as they say -- that 2 artists from opposite sides of the Hemisphere should meet, collide, ignite, & collaborate at last! Such is the case with Christina De Musee, Painter from California, and Mario Pikus, Painter & Sculptor from Argentina. Both are Award-Winning Artists, both have the Fire & Passion of true artists -- both have Bold, Evocative, Sensual works -- 2 larger-than-life personalities, with color-bursting, in-yourface Art! Christina De Musee -- shock of bright Red hair, beautiful expressive “Cupie Doll” Blue

eyes, bright Red Cheshire cat smile, dressed in Bohemian Black turtlenecks or sexy Vegas-girl Red bustiers -- stands out in any crowd. She has exhibited in fine art Galleries & Museums, and some of her Private Collectors include Johnny Carson, Charlie Sheen, Malcolm McDowell, Roland Joffee, Tommy Chong, Paramount Pictures, Fionnula Flanagan, & Isabella Rossellini. Christina herself, and her Art, have been featured in 2 Playboy Channel video documentaries, and specials on CNN, Channel 9 ‘Mid Morning LA” and the Joey English radio show. Known for her colorful, rich portrayal

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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PET PLACE

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by Janet McAfee

Bianca Rae and Jack, A Celebration!

met up with Bianca Rae and her 4-yearold dog, Jack, at Jack’s doggie birthday party last Saturday at the Seeley dog park in La Quinta. About 10 people and 10 pups gathered to celebrate another year in the life of this precious Spaniel mix rescue dog. Blue and green balloons decorated the park, and the dogs munched on doggie pastries from Cold Nose Warm Heart as their owners sipped blueberry juice. While the humans socialized, the dogs frolicked and joyfully chased each other around the spacious grassy enclosure designed for their pleasure. The expression on Jack’s face when he opened his presents was priceless. He had a knowing, proud and grateful expression as he examined the dog treats and dog accessories he received. He gently poked his nose to explore each package, reveling in the celebration and attention. Jack did a happy dance, wagging his tail joyfully when Bianca’s boyfriend, Ryan, arrived. Ryan clearly is bonded with Jack as well, and he reports, “Jack is a great dog. At first it took him some time to get used to me,

sweet Senior Sassy

This 15-yr-old sweetheart would love to be your new best “furfriend”. Sassy is a cuddle bug who would be a great companion cat. Forever Moew rescued her and they will help out with medical expenses. Call (415) 385-6195.

Adorable parson terrier This little angel could be your Valentine pal! This Parson Jack Russell Terrier, dog ID#A460799, comes available for adoption at the San Bernardino city shelter on Feb. 13. Just a quick trip from Palm Springs, the shelter is located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino. Open 10am-5pm Tues through Sat, closed Sun/Mon. Call (909) 384-1304.

but he’s just a happy guy. I’m a firm believer that a dog becomes an extension of their people. At nighttime when Bianca calls him, Jack comes running and snuggles up to her like a pillow. He has some scars, but one’s scars make them even more loveable!” We believe the first 2 years of Jack’s life were not so joyful. Bianca adopted Jack two years ago from the animal shelter in Indio that has since closed. Jack was a stray dog on the streets of Indio, and he arrived at the shelter scruffy, dirty, and battle scarred with a torn ear. He is still afraid of cars, and is a bit skittish at times. He waited in a shelter kennel for a long time before being adopted. Bianca was volunteering at the shelter, but had no plan to adopt an animal. She would clean Jack’s cage and bring him special treats, but hesitated about adopting, thinking that at age 22 she might be too young to have a dog. But Jack had other plans, and was determined to win Bianca’s heart with his sweet demeanor and eyes that look deep into your soul. On February 15, 2012, Bianca

adopted Jack and he became her lifelong Valentine. Bianca describes what it was like to take Jack into her life. “When you meet ‘the right one’, you just know. When I rescued Jack, I knew I wanted to spoil this little kid. He obviously went without for so long. I treat him like a little person and even tell him stories.” You may recognize Bianca Rae as a reporter and fill-in anchor for KESQ news channel 3 and CBS local 2 here in the desert. However, these days it is Jack who often gets recognized in public after appearing in the televised PSA spots he does with Bianca about the plight of homeless animals, calling for a “No Kill Coachella Valley”. The memory of the many homeless animals in Indio and the subsequent closing of their shelter proved to be a catalyst for Bianca Rae. Adopting Jack was a joyful experience, but so many more remained at the shelter. There were 250 animals remaining when the Indio shelter closed its doors to new intakes. Bianca sprang into action, bringing her media contacts and organizing skills to the cause of “Operation Indio Animals”. She worked with Loving All Animals and the shelter staff to organize

a series of adoption events and televised PSA’s that resulted in all 250 animals going to adoptive homes or private rescue groups. The Bianca Rae Foundation is her newest endeavor. Bianca explains, “My goal has always been to start my own nonprofit. I have a platform to influence people through the media. Everyone has a purpose and a story to tell, and my story involves a shelter dog who changed my life. People are influenced by what they see on television, and I have the opportunity to show them that the joy of adopting a shelter dog can be theirs too! One focus of my foundation will be to host adoption events for shelter animals.” More information about her foundation can be found at www.biancaraefoundation.org. Bianca’s next event is coming up on February 23, the second annual “Faith, Hope, and Pups” at the Empire Polo Grounds. Tickets are $95 and proceeds will benefit the Palm Springs Shelter and the Bianca Rae Foundation. For tickets, call (760) 861-1006. Bianca believes that Jack suffered some form of abuse during that dark first half of his life. “I am in awe of him, knowing that he was abused and yet he doesn’t have a mean or aggressive bone in his body. Jack makes me realize how happy each of us can be in spite of our past. Your past doesn’t have to be your future. Jack’s tail never stops wagging, and he spreads happiness to everyone around him.” This charming local celebrity lends her voice to the cause of rescue, hoping for the day when homeless animals will no longer wander our streets or fill our shelters. You just might want to adopt a shelter dog this Valentine’s week. You can view dozens of wonderful adoptables on the Riverside County shelter’s website at www. rcdas.org. And when you adopt that rescue dog, you just never know what path he may take you down! Just ask Bianca Rae and Jack.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

by Rick Riozza

Twirling & Swirling with your Sweetheart

very year at this time we ask--What Would St. Valentine Drink? And the answer remains the same with that incurable romantic, putting together some kind of love potion that includes the likes of roses, kisses, candy, bubbles, passion, and pop! So, voila!! Sparkling rosé wine! And this year, Valentines lasts the entire weekend! What a lovely notion! So what wine lover doesn’t readily admit that a Rosé Sparkler in a wine glass or flute is definitely the most alluring vino to behold. The wine’s sexy shades range from warm copper to almost a pale rouge, through a muted salmon-orange, to a pearlescent pink. Not only is love in the air—it’s in the bubbly and beating warm through our hearts. Oh—of course, there are so many other great wines to experience and a great wine choice is as easy as it always is: Simply serve the wine you like the best! And if you need some suggestions for a wine that exclaims “I love you,” check out these options that can complete the Valentine’s Day picture in a big way. Je T’aime Brut Rosé $20.00. As a romantic gift, there is no more direct way to say “I Love You”—as the label says in French. This sparkler has Valentines written all over it! It has a beautiful classic old style French label and a very classy looking bottle. Definitely a bold move to present on a first date, but unquestionably the wine to bring when you want to seal the deal and let the whole world know you’re in love! Je T’aime is a beautifully salmon pink Brut Rosé that is very lively with a great surge of bubbles. Look for the very appealing floral notes on the nose and a real focus of aromas. A stylish bouquet of fresh strawberry and raspberry enthralls one’s senses and the bright fresh fruit flavors persist on the palate with a yeasty flavor that is crisp, balanced and graceful. It doesn’t overpower your palate with sweetness. The Brut Rosé receives its delicate color from the Pinot Noir grape which is in the blend. Je T’aime has a very crisp lingering finish that will tempt you to take another sip! I would suggest pairing Je T’aime with scallops and or soft cheeses but the wine is very versatile so don’t hesitate to enjoy it with your favorite Valentine meal selections. Megawine Inc. 818.781.9686 www.megawine.com

Le Grand Courtâge Rosé Brut $20.00 The name of this wine can translate to “the great courtship” and sounds like the perfect sparkler for the engaged couple—or, engaging personalities! A few years ago, Tawnya Falkner took the leap and gave up her career as a designer/ developer in San Francisco to move to Burgundy, France to follow her passion relating to travel, food & making wine. The result is Le Grand Courtâge, a new goldmedal winning French sparkling wine. She created an elegant and eye-catching packaging and positioned the product so its visual identity conveys the perception of luxury at an exceptional value. This rosé sparkler has fresh and fruity aromas of young strawberry, raspberry and notes of lilac and violets. It has a deliciously seductive flavor profile. Smooth and versatile, it’s a perfect balance of freshness, fruit, acidity and sweetness. A courtship of delicate flavors, red fruit aromas and baby bubbles. The exciting blend is a Chardonnay that provides a depth and structure to the wine, while the Ugni Blanc offers a natural acidity and freshness. The light bodied Gamay provides vibrant youthful fruit expressions reminiscent of wild berries and flowers amongst the French countryside on a warm summer day. Le Grand Courtâge has a less dry, yeasty, acidic profile than traditional champagne which can be heavier on the palate. Courtâge’s unique profile, with its dry, crisp, yet light and fruit forward character, creates for a “balanced”, cuisine and cocktail-friendly wine which is enormously versatile. The rosé complements an array of foods. Try it with spicy Asian dishes, risotto, BBQ, beef, lamb, duck, game, chicken, prosciutto, seafood, pizza or soft cheese (like brie or goat) Mosaic Wine Alliance 760-322-0905 www.mosaicwinealliance.com Rosa Regale Sparkling Red $18.99 Rosa Regale, imported from Italy, is a

lightly sweet sparkling wine with a vibrant ruby color that plays on the Italian romantic theme. With its penetrating floral fragrance and sweet, vivacious raspberry flavors, it is a great aperitif for almost any occasion and is good with dessert, too, since it pairs well with Valentines chocolate. Its effervescence is softer than that of champagne and has a delicate bouquet of rose petals and offers sensuous flavors of fresh raspberries and strawberries— emphasis on the sensuous! This has always been a fun sparkler—delightfully vivacious and festive. Now this is the bottle to share on the couple’s first Valentine date. It’s very fun—nothing too serious. While it is appreciated as one of the few wines in the world that truly marries well with chocolate, especially dark or bittersweet, its charms extend across a palette of occasions and food pairings, from savory to sweet. On its own, Rosa Regale is an elegant aperitif. Its fruity character beguiles strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, truffles and hazelnut tortes as they are elevated by this frothy wine. Total Wine & More, Palm Desert 760.346.202

And for you romantics who wish to enjoy great wine paired with delicious meals, look into: Catalan Mediterranean: 70026 HWY 111, Rancho Mirage, 92270 760.770.9570 Bellatrix Restaurant 75-200 Classic Club Blvd, Palm Desert, 92211 (760) 601-3690 BluEmber Restaurant, Las Palmas Resort, 41000 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage 92270 (760) 862-4581 And that’s the heart of the matter! Here’s to love. Cheers!

February 13 to February 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Club Clu luubb Crawler CCr Craw raaw wle wl w ler Nightlife Nig NNi iigggh ght httltlilliiifffee ht COUNTRY WESTERN(CW) VARIETY / DANCE(VD) ROCK N ROLL(RR) PIANO BAR(PB) JAZZ(JZ) POP ROCK(PR) BLUES(BL) CLASSIC ROCK(CR) CABARET(CB) LATIN ROCK(LR) REGGAE(RG) ACOUSTIC (AC) METAL(M)

THUR FEBRUARY 13

ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day in the Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Paul Elia 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm (PB) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm (JZ) EUREKA; IW; 760-834-7700 T.B.A. 8pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 Industry Night w/ Karaoke in the Lobby 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Industry Night 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ Gold Rush Country 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am (LR) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MIRAMONTE RESORT; IW; 760-341-7200 “Sassy & Sultry” featuring Gina Carey 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Far West & Ron Gallo 7:30pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Spaghetti Western Night 5pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770

Carolyn Martinez & The Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Casey 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ 9pm

FRI FEBRUARY 14 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Full House Band featuring Nena Anderson 8pm Amigo Room, Crazy Love w/ Matt Costa 8pm The Commune AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Nash 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Mike on Vinyl 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 8pm (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Cosmic Disco w/ All Night Shoes 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 T.B.A. 7pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision 9pm Lobby, DJ Shasta & MC Esjay 11pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Long Duk Dong 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LA BRASSERIE; LQ; 760-771-4400 Heart2Heart 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Reall Deall 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-

999-1995 Mischief 9pm (VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 The D Phillips Band 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Ferraby Lionheart, Tall Tales & The Silver Lining, Joel Jerome and Babies on Acid 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 Plan B 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Leo Gosselin 6pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Lace em up 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Jesse Davis Sidebar Patio 5:30pm, Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 8pm, Esjay Jones Sidebar Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Acoustic Sessions w/ Rob Lawrence, Mikey Reyes, Noah Tate, Josh Heinz and more 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Country Night w/ Walt Young 5:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (JZ)(RR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Rancho Relaxo 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Jilted Kilt Valentine’s Bash 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm (VD) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Inca Kings 5:30pm, John McCormick & The Mac Band w/ DJ Randy Johnson 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Dan Horn, Joseph William Kennedy, Daytime Moon and A Live DJ 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT FEBRUARY 15 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The SleepOver noon poolside, T.B.A. 10pm amigo room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 T.B.A. 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Social w/ Pawn and AimLo 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ PWee (VD) BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 House Party w/ The House Whores 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-3252600 T.B.A. 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Refills 8-11pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 T.B.A. 9pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ DJ Kid Wonder, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 The Rebel Noise, Boycott Radio and Drop the World 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Reall Deall 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Mischief 9pm (VD) MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm (PB)(VD) MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke

8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Doug Roegiers 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Sleepy Sun & Jesika Von Rabbit 9pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 Scarlet Roads 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Professor Molotov 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm (JZ) RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Burning Bettie 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Gino Matteo & Jade, Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 R Buckle Road 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 212 Band 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@ Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm (VD) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Jeff 5:30pm, Slim Man 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 David & Olivia: An American Duo 7-10pm (LR)(PR) WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Band 7pm (JZ) ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ 9pm (VD)

BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 The Rebel Noise, Easter Teeth and Kinshire Way 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888-999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm (LR) CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ Kid Wonder 11am poolside INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band w/ Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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

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

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

continue to page 24

SUN FEBRUARY 16 ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Hotel 5th B-day Blowout w/ DJ Ron Cameron, poolside noon, Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm

February 13 to February 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Pampered Palate

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Exploring the Excellence of Mikado

ucked away on the grounds of the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, sits one of the Coachella Valley’s most culinary and visually stunning gems, Mikado. It doesn’t shout or scream to get attention, but rather waits in its serene and unparalleled existence proudly yet subtly inviting those who are ready for a dining experience that they will not soon forget.

If you’re not familiar with Mikado Japanese restaurant, you are truly missing out. And because of its almost clandestine location, some people do. But like most things, the ones that are not so easy to find are usually the ones worth finding. Mikado sits on the sprawling 450 acre property of the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert. The stellar hotel opened in 1987, including one of its anchor

February 13 to February 19, 2014

The Pampered Palate By David Wayne

Cafe Italia: Where they sing while you dine! restaurants, Mikado Japanese Steakhouse. Many of the hotels restaurants have changed over the years, but Mikado has stayed the course, and once you experience it, you will understand why. There are different ways to enter Mikado. You can enter via down the long meandering pathway that will lead you to a charming wooden bridge before crossing the restaurants threshold, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can cruise the properties waterways and dock only steps away from the restaurants enchanting courtyard. The latter of the arrivals is obviously the more romantic of the two. Boats are available Monday through Friday from 5pm to 9pm and 3pm to 10pm on the weekends. Rides are free, with only gratuity for the driver suggested and appreciated. Upon entering Mikado, friendly hostesses are there to greet you. The restaurants lounge and sushi bar are intimate and inviting and offer a full bar and expansive

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here are a few hidden gems in the Coachella Valley and Cafe Italia at Cook and Highway 111 in Indian Wells is one of them. Unique simplicity is the best way for me to describe this special restaurant. What makes it simple is a very specialized menu with pasta, fish, veal, and chicken dishes, and a nice variety of appetizers. What makes it unique is that the servers sing while you dine. Our server Kevin Francis was joined by: Sarah Hagar, Kenneth Ugarte, Emmerzon Hernandez, Christine Potenza and Devin Armstrong. They sang tunes such as “Caberet”, “At Last” and a cute rendition of “Be Our Guest”, in which they changed the lyrics to make it funny. All amazing singers; I was pleasantly surprised to have that much talent in a local restaurant. Kevin was calm, cool and collected, as he informed us the owner Cindy had planned a meal just for my wife and I to enjoy. We found it relaxing to not even have to look at the menu. First, he took our drink orders; my wife having a glass of Chianti Toscolo, which was bright, tangy, and fruity, and I had a hot cappuccino. He brought us three appetizers: Calamaretti Fritti which was golden fried calamari with fresh marinara for dipping, Prosciutto Di Parma: a fresh prosciutto served with melon, pear, and strawberries and Fattoria Italia: various Italian salamis and cheeses, with olives in the center. I also had the soup of the day, a creamy tomato soup topped with parmesan cheese, pureed with garlic and Italian seasoning; it was delightful. He asked us not to eat too much, as he had plenty more in store for us to enjoy. After our delicious appetizers, Kevin brought us a Veal Chop and Shrimp Manaco for our entrees. The veal was lightly breaded and topped with homemade marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, served with pasta in bolognese sauce, with zucchini and carrots on the side. The shrimp Manaco was five jumbo prawns in a savory red and white sauce, on top of

a bed of linguine. As we were sitting back in our comfortable booth talking about our amazing meal, and continually being entertained by one song after another, he brought us a homemade Crème Brulee and Tiramisu for dessert. The Crème Brulee was topped with a raspberry dressing and fruit, and the Tiramisu was topped with homemade chocolate sauce, berries and powdered sugar. Both of these fine desserts ended a delicious and delightful meal. Cafe Italia has an early bird special: a four course meal which includes the soup of the day, a house salad, your choice of one of four entrees and a scoop of spumone ice cream for dessert. This early bird special is quite a deal for only $20. Actually, everything at Cafe Italia is a deal, with entrees ranging from $15.95 for Pasta Pomodorro to $35 for Osso Buco, especially considering you get incredible entertainment at no extra charge. Open seven days a week Happy hour: 5:00 pm – 6:00pm Lunch: 11:00 am - 2:30 pm Dinner: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Call for reservations: 760-773-3080

“THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD THE WEST HAS TO OFFER!” Our wonderful staff is committed to giving you the best dining experience. We have a nicely stocked bar and great desserts as well. Our authentic mexican food main courses are truly mouth watering. We have an award winning sweet corn tamale that you just have to try for yourself. Once you dine at Pueblo Viejo Grill, you'll be back for more soon!

3PM TO 6PM

$2 DRAFT BEERS $5 APPETIZERS

2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

36901 COOK ST. STE.#3 PALM DESERT, CA 92211 (760)836-1133

81931 HIGHWAY 111 INDIO, CA 92201 (760)342-5900

WWW.PUEBLOVIEJOGRILL.COM

February 13 to February 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THE LEGO MOVIE

r t a in me n te t

Spectacular, manic, smart, silly and, get this, even emotional. This fast paced, surprisingly thoughtful and finally endearing 3D animated film will satisfy kids just out of diapers as well as mature adult new to diapers. This is one of those extremely rare family films that has a premise that works and a brilliant, bright, endlessly witty execution that constantly dazzles. There’s no segment of a potential audience that this film misses. It’s a bulls-eye.

Palm Springs

se r vice s

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The story follows ordinary, average LEGO figure Emmet who is not only mistaken as extraordinary, but key to saving the world! Quickly Emmet is recruited into an army – or fellowship – of strangers on an awesomely epic quest to crush an evil tyrant. Only problem is, Emmet is woefully, hilariously, ill prepared for such a task. The studio expectations for this nicely crafted film were modest but optimistic. The actual take as of this writing (Sunday) hover around $70 million. Not bad for a $60 million budget. What’s more, the initial reviews were ALL very positive. This is one of those surprise moves that at first seems like it’s for little kids when in fact it’s a cross generational movie for men and women, boys and girls of all ages. And on top of that, the 3D is extremely effective and perhaps necessary to tell the story most effectively. Even though Warner’s pointedly marketed the film to Lego collectors and nostalgic adults, the movie is so wildly imaginative with relatable characters, it was destined to find its audience – after all, who has NOT played with the Danish plastic building blocks? The film incorporates a mix of Legolicensed characters, like Batman, C-3PO and Gandalf, as well as the Blue Spaceman, a favorite Lego character. Warner also has some big names in the voice cast, with nice performances from Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Now playing.

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NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER: NANOOK OF THE NORTH

Robert Flaherty’s 1922 groundbreaking documentary of Eskimo life is among the most important films of the silent era. It’s arguably the first documentary, although that filmic term was not in use at the time. The film has held up well and it is still a joyous experience. Even though Flaherty had no qualms about re-enacting scenes, some perhaps from a slightly earlier era, the end result is pretty astonishing in its portrayal of everyday Eskimo (Inuit) life. The endless quest for food by Nanook for his nearly starving family is gripping, to put it mildly. There’s always a pervasive beauty of place and an authenticity of circumstances. Flaherty spent a number of years in the Canadian arctic as an adventurer, explorer and prospector. He knew well the people and their harsh lives. But Flaherty’s great gift was his mastery of the pure drama of Eskimo life. (Shockingly and sadly, it was reported that Nanook died of starvation not long after the film’s release.)

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Hunt (1913) and extended excerpts from “Primtive Love” (1927) are by Arctic explorer Frank E. Klenschmidt; “Eskimo Hunters of Northwest Alaska” (1949) by Louis de Rochemont shows many similar scenes as in Flaherty’s film but 30 years after, and “Face of the High Arctic (1959) shows the region’s ecology. There’s a fascinating 32page booklet with excerpts from Flaherty’s book “My Eskimo Friends and a new essay by historian Lawrence Millman. This is one for the digital library. Criterion. Blu-ray. THE COUNSELOR

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The Criterion edition is mastered in hidef and in the correct speed. The source print is the painstakingly 1972 restored 35mm nitrate print. The fitting orchestral score is from Timothy Brock. The Criterion two disc set includes “The Wedding of Palo” (1934), the obvious successor to Nanook. There are also six bonus films: “Nanook Revisited” by Claude Massot shows the changes to the people and places since Flaherty; “Dwellings of the Far North” (1928) is a re-edited version of the igloo building sequence; “Arctic

Probably the most scathing and divided of recent movie reviews greeted the release of Ridley Scott’s THE COUNSELOR. Based on an original screenplay from Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy and with an A-list cast including Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt. The resulting thriller about a lawyer dealing with a shady incident in his past that comes back with an unforeseen ferocity is not for everyone. The movie has its fans but its detractors are legion. What disappointed me most was the talky script and the lack of suspense – or thrills. Even so, there is no shortage of McCormac’s trademark bloody violence. The movie looks great, as all Scott’s films and there are tantalizing moments that suggest a different, hard-boiled modern noir story. Fox. Blu-ray.

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Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

February 13 to February 19, 2014

By Heidi Simmons

Friends, Food and Fundraising at the COD Library Event

uthor and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Hector Tobar was the guest speaker at the Friends of the College of the Desert Library’s 44th Annual Author Luncheon. Over 100 people attended the fundraiser at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, where Tobar charmed and provoked the attentive audience. Tobar is the author of four books and is a Los Angeles Times’ book critic. His novel, The Barbarian Nurseries (Picador, 420 pages), was presented to those in attendance by the Friends of COD Library. The book has been named a New York Times Notable Book and also won the 2012 California Book Award gold medal for fiction. In 2006, Hispanic Business Magazine named Tobar one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States. The son of Guatemalan immigrants, Tobar was born and raised in Los Angeles. He has an open, casual nature that native Californian’s often possess. He is forthcoming, feisty and friendly. He said he was honored to be invited and thanked those present for what they do for books, book culture and for learning. “I grew up in public libraries,” said Tobar. “I spent hours and hours after class reading. I know that a library is opening a window

into civilization and culture. By supporting this library, you do that for thousands of young people and I congratulate you on your work.” Tobar grew up in an accepting and openminded California, but in 1995 Proposition 187 that banned illegal immigrants from services became an issue. He saw a different image of the state – one of intolerance, irritation and anger at people he considered like himself. “I wanted to talk about this atmosphere of hatred and suspicion that people were starting to feel in California,” said Tobar.

“The Barbarian Nurseries was originally called ‘Farewell California.’ It was my saying goodbye to the tolerant California I had known.” After submitting the novel and getting rejections, Tobar put the book aside. In 2005, he took another look and realized it was awful. “It was an intimate portrait of a family, and at the time I didn’t even have a family of my own,” said Tober. “All those experiences teach you something about life.” So he went back and rewrote the book. Tobar shared the secret code inside his novel. The children in the novel are the same age as his kids at the time he was revising the story. As a foreign correspondent for the LA Times, Tobar and his young family lived a privileged lifestyle with servants behind gates. The main character, Araceli, is really his alter ego even though the character is a woman. The Barbarian Nurseries is the story of Araceli, a Spanish speaking, educated maid in an Orange County upscale community, who finds herself the only caretaker of two children after their parents have a fight over their financial future and disappear. The maid decides to find the children’s Mexican grandfather. She journeys the southland with the kids looking for him. When the parents return, they call the police, thinking their children have been kidnapped. It is a story about social class, ambition and cultural differences set in today’s Southern California. Tobar captures the tone and voices that reflect a very familiar lifestyle. The novel has been translated into six languages. After Tobar talked about the book he answered questions. Many were interested in the subject and challenges of immigration. Tobar patiently listened and shared his experience and knowledge of Mexico, Latin countries were he lived and the difficulties for immigrants today.

Friends of COD Library President, Marge Dodge, invited Tobar to the Author’s Luncheon after reading The Barbarian Nurseries. “It totally changed my perspective,” said Dodge. “It’s part of what Friends of COD Library do. It’s about bringing up issues for discussion. It’s about literacy and exposing the community to ideas and fabulous authors like Hector.” Attending the fundraising event was Iris Anderson who has been involved with the Friends of the College of the Desert Library for twenty years. “There are very few literary luncheons is this area,” said Anderson. “This is where we can find out how the author wrote their book, what caused them to write it, and how they’re selling their work.” Anderson was especially interested in Tobar’s novel and personal story because she had worked as an English teacher at a Central Los Angeles High School. Friends of the COD Library is a nonprofit group with over 600 members. Its mission is to maintain an organization based at COD that share members’ enthusiasm for literature and libraries with the Coachella Valley communities, and to raise funds for COD students. The COD library is primarily focused on learning and reference materials for students. They accept donations of all kinds of books. As part of the fundraising event, there was a silent auction of thematic gift baskets filled with goodies including books from the COD Library Bookstore. Raffle prizes included a biplane trip from the Palm Springs Air Museum and tennis BNP Paribas VIP tickets. For Tobar, libraries have been a big part of his life and success. Organizations like Friends of COD Library keep libraries thriving. For more information or to become a member call 760 333 0733 or email CODLibraryFriend@aol.com

February 13 to February 19, 2014 continued from page 19 MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 The John McCormick Band 7pm THE NEW YORK COMPANY RESTAURANT; PS; 760-778-7789 Lili Rose 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 Sharon McNight-Twisted Xmas 6pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 3pm, Will Donato’s Art of Sax Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Acoustic Open Mic hosted by Walt Young SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Smooth Brothers (RR)(LR) TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Alyce Bowie 5-8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Jazz Time Band 2-5pm, John Stanley King 6pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 11am, The Carmens 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760564-2201 Michael Keeth w/ Martin Barrera 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 6pm

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TUE FEBRUARY 18 ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Karr’s Jazz Quartet 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm (CB) BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Vinyl Sessions 8pm

BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 John Stanley King 5-9pm (JZ)(BL) FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760-833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6-9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm (VD) KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dana Larson 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45 (PB) PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-327-4080 Eclectic Tuesdays. Singer/ songwriter night. All acts welcome. Hosted by JB, Sign up 7pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Open Mic 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. (RR)(JZ) VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rodeo Drive’s Happy Hour Cabaret 4pm,

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continued from page 20

sushi menu. Their signature cocktails include smoking concoctions smoldering from dry ice such as the Forbidden Kiss and the Zenntini which is a tangy yet sweet mix of Absolut Peach Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple and Pomegranate. The bar also offers an impressive wine, sake (cold and hot) and beer list including the best in Japanese beers. Mikado tempts the palate with flavorful appetizers. Try their Mikado Sampler, a combination of Shrimp, Scallop and Vegetable Tempura with skewers of charbroiled Ebi (shrimp) and Beef Teriyaki. Their appetizers also expand to amazing hand cut rolls such as their special Love Me Long Time roll, a rich fusion of rice wrapped Shrimp Tempura, topped with Spicy Tuna drizzled with house spicy mayo and eel sauce, the perfect balance of the subtleness of the tuna with a surprise crunch from the Shrimp Tempura....a perfect intro to the Mikado experience. The walk to the main dining area is a visual delight, with beautiful artwork that lines the grand hallway lit with large scale red lanterns. Main dining at Mikado is Teppanyaki, a Japanese style of cooking which involves preparing food on a hot griddle. There are 14 Teppanyaki tables at Mikado which seat up to 10 guests comfortably. They also offer a private dining room for special parties. Since the tables are so large, the probability of dining with other guests is high, unless you have a party continued from page 15

of the human figure and psychological portraits, Christina’s paintings “captivate the viewer with a powerful presence and mood that alters the environment and creates an intense reality shift.” Her portraits, both sensual and confrontational are strangely evocative of another age, while still being stylish and contemporary. It doesn’t surprise that she has reinvented a new body of art that incorporates many of the elements she has imprinted as her distinct style into a new surreal flower, sprouting artwork that is succinct as well as complex. Pulling from her interests in the human condition and totally divergent themes of fashion, glamour, media, religion & sex, Christina pushes the envelope with her paintings -- executed in a

that fills the table. It makes for a different evening of dining, and a great way to meet new people. Once seated, a server like Martin Gradilla, who has been working at Mikado for 10 years, will efficiently take your order starting with drinks, appetizers and then the entrée. The service is attentive, even providing a stand for the female guests to put their purse’s on, to insure the utmost in dining comfort. A small accommodation such as that leaves an indelible impression. The entrée menu offers different selections that include single items or combinations such as the Kaisen Special with Shrimp, Scallops and Lobster or the Mikado Special with Lobster, Filet Mignon and Shrimp. All entrées come with miso soup or salad with ginger dressing, shrimp flambé, vegetable’s, steamed rice (or you can upgrade to fried

rice which is highly recommended…yum!), ice cream for dessert and green tea on request. The food is prepared with precision by highly skilled chefs. The chefs are talented beyond their ability in Teppanyaki cuisine, but also in entertaining restaurant guests as they rhythmically tap away with their spatulas while the dishes are being created. There is even a point where guests interact with the chefs, as they try to catch a sautéed shrimp in their mouth flung in the air via spatula, adding to the enjoyment of the night. Mikado Manager Sean C. Nixon and Food & Beverage Supervisor Marius Olbrych are excited to offer a special Valentine’s Day Menu for all of the sweetheart couples out there. The menu options vary with a starter of Japanese Miso soup or salad with ginger dressing, main course choice of two combinations of Maine Lobster Tail with Lobster sauce, Filet Mignon, or Teriyaki Chicken and Raspberry Chocolate Heart Raspberry Mousse, all for $70 per person. Other options go up from there with the Ultimate Sumo for $85 per person and the Sumo for 2 at $165 per couple. Mikado also offers up Early Bird specials Sunday through Thursday with 5:30 & 6pm seating’s with savings that equal up to almost 40%. No matter if you’re looking to celebrate a special night out, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or a romantic evening with your sweetheart, Mikado is ready

February 13 to February 19, 2014

to accommodate. It has lasted over the decades stunning guests with their above par cuisine and attention to detail, making Mikado one of the longest standing dining gems in the desert. For more information and reservations visit www.desertspringsmarriott.com .

large format, with rich, sumptuous color and sensual interpretations. Her art shocks and delights, if you enjoy dipping your mind into the shadow world of the Fashionista -“The production of visual novelty is not the sole purpose of what I do in terms of being an Artist. One chief interest consists of extrapolating from direct experience some idea communicable to the viewer. For example, I like funneling diverse subject matter into a collage of disparate images that somehow foster an allegory that teases the mind. I enjoy using references to media, fashion, beauty, glamour in direct contrast to the shadow side of sensuality, vanity, excess, and ambition.” “When I create these collage gems, my work table is covered in an atmospheric

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jumble of cutout magazines, photos, drawings that I’m obsessed with at that moment in time. Somehow, like an aggregate, these cutouts seem to fall together in surprising configurations that somehow convey a distinct presence.” Christina paints everything from juicy Glam to high Neon colors to Medieval themes to create artistic parables. Christina’s Art, with its powerful eccentricity, shocking yet sensual imagery, and sassiness puts her in a category of complete originality. And the juxtaposition

of Christina’s paintings with Mario Pikus’ motorcycle & airplane parts sculptures in their upcoming Art Fusion makes for an Event that should not be missed! Christina De Musee / Mario Pikus -ART FUSION -- Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, 6:0010:00pm -- 73387 Willow Street, Palm Desert, Ca 92260 -- Paintings by Christina De Musee, Sculptures by Mario Pikus -- Public Invited, No charge; Performance Art Event, Live Models, Music, Food, Open Bar -- RSVP (760) 534-5888 or (310) 493-0114

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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Haddon Libby:It’s all local

Presidents, Love and Bankruptcy

or many, this long President’s Day weekend can be a lover’s holiday, the first respite from work or school since the Christmas season or the realization that the financial indulgences of the holiday season left you extended beyond your means to pay. This uniquely American holiday weekend was originally a celebration of the birth of our first President, George Washington, who was born on February 22nd. The holiday began in 1879 and was standardized as a Monday holiday occurring on the third Monday in February in 1971 as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. As a side note, it is impossible for the holiday to fall on President Washington’s actual birthdate.

In 1971, Washington’s name was removed from the holiday in order to consolidate Lincoln’s Birthday and change the holiday into a memorial for all Presidents. This year this long weekend occurs at the same time as Valentine’s Day, a holiday finds its roots with St. Valentinus of Rome who was imprisoned for marrying Roman soldiers and preaching to Christians, an act prohibited under the Roman Empire. Valentine’s Day itself came into vogue during the Middle Ages in 18th century England when the expression of love became all the rage. The current version of Valentine’s Day in the United States finds its roots in a small book and stationary store in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1847 where the owner’s daughter was inspired to begin making Valentine cards after receiving an English Valentine card. Today, more than 190 million Valentine cards a year are sent in the United States alone. It is expected that American men will spend $108 on their significant others while American women will spend $49. The National Retail Federation estimates that $17.3 billion or $134 per person will be spent on the holiday this year with 54% of all Americans recognizing the holiday, down from 60% in 2013.

With all of the spending of the Christmas season, President’s/Valentine’s Day and realization that payments to the IRS are only 60 days away, it is understandable that many will be under financial duress with many deciding to declare bankruptcy. In 2013, 1,071,000 bankruptcies occurred in the United States with 13% in California. There are six chapters within U.S. bankruptcy codes: Chapter 7 that had 729,000 filings in 2013, Chapter 9 with 9 filings, 9,000 Chapter 11s, 395 Chapter 12s, 334,000 Chapter 13s and 88 Chapter 15s. Of these bankruptcies, 33,000 were businesses with the rest being living breathing people (corporations are people too, they just can’t go to jail). To understand what each Chapter of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code means, under Chapter 7 businesses liquidate and cease to be. As it has been hundreds of years since individuals ceased to be as a result of debts (except in criminal circles), individuals simply have debts wiped out. Chapter 9 allows for municipalities to declare bankruptcy where they can renegotiate unsustainable pensions as well as other debts like bonds. Chapter 11 allows a business or individual the right the reorganize their debts with creditors and is more often used by corporations as individuals more typically

events

Barbara Sinatra Fashion Show and Luncheon Barbara and guests make the final menu choices

n Wednesday, Barbara Sinatra, long-time friends Nelda Linsk, Fay Mancuso and Rita Vale, CBS Local 2 meteorologist Patrick Evans and Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational director Mary Martin were among the party making the final decisions for the 26th Annual Barbara Sinatra Fashion Luncheon at the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. The February 21 luncheon begins at 11 a.m. with a silent auction, followed at noon by a gourmet menu created by Fantasy Springs Executive Chef Freddy Rieger, and a fabulous runway show. Mrs. Sinatra and guests had the unenviable task of sampling a trio each of salads, entrees and desserts, to choose the perfect menu. In the end, they voted on a Lollo-Rosso frisee bouquet and Carpaccio of beets with champagne-Dijon dressing for the salad course; chicken Milanese with mascarpone pesto seared salmon with lemon-caper sauce for the main course; and white chocolate ricotta cheesecake for dessert. The highlight of the afternoon is the fashion show that is once again under the direction of Rosemarie Troy, owner of Troy on El Paseo, and who was the fashion director for famed Bullock’s Wilshire store in Los Angeles.

Designer Jackie Rogers, who leads the list of international designers chosen for the fashion show, has a bio that reads more like an Italian film noir from the 1960s than something from the pages of Women’s Wear Daily or W. She started out as the darling of the jet set in the 1960s, but fell into modeling after purchasing a $600 suit from Coco Chanel in her Paris boutique. She began her own design career in men’s wear before turning talents to timeless designs for women. The designer is known as the doyenne of women’s fashion, with exclusive boutiques in New York City, Long Island and Palm Beach, Fla. Her designs are the epitome of chic and classic sophistication, from the woman who says, “I don’t believe in fashion; I believe in style.” In addition to Rogers, the fashion show will showcase fashions by European designers Alvarado Bessi of Italy and the nearly 100-yearold fashion house Algo of Switzerland, Lotusgrace of New York and accessories by Puerto Rican-born New York designer, Raphael Sanchez. Joining Mrs. Sinatra at the luncheon will be supermodels Kim Alexis and Kelly Emberg, actor Jill St. John and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richard-Umansky.

The afternoon event begins with an unbelievable silent auction with items such as lunch and golf with Elke Sommer; facials from Dr. Mark Sofonio; a restaurant basket; and a Rancho Las Palmas stay-and-play golf package. Seating is limited. Tickets for the luncheon are $125 and are available through the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational office at (800) 674-8447. For information on the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational or luncheon, please

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Dale Gribow On The Law

contact Mary Martin at (800) 674-8447 or www.franksinatragolf.org. Frank and Barbara Sinatra founded the Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Technologies Celebrity Invitational in 1988 to raise funds for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower, which counsels and prevents child abuse. The Children’s Center opened in 1986. Through their efforts, and those of supporters throughout the world, the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational is now one of the most successful events of its kind. The tournament host is Fantasy Springs Golf Resort and Eagle Falls Golf Course in Indio, CA. The Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Technologies Celebrity Invitational is an invitational celebrity/amateur tournament played on two consecutive days, Friday and Saturday. Amateurs participate in either of two categories: Gold or Platinum player, or as part of the Gallery. Celebrities who play in the event are friendly and available for photos and autographs. In fact, spectators are encouraged to bring cameras. The tournament succeeds due to the loyal admiration golfers have for the memory of Frank Sinatra, and Barbara Sinatra’s efforts on behalf of abused children. Tournament proceeds help provide therapy for victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. No child is ever turned away due to a family’s inability to pay. The Children’s Center also focuses on prevention, community education and breaking the cycle of abuse.

by Dale Gribow Attorney at Law

WHY DO I NEED A LAWYER?

use Chapter 13. Chapter 11 applies when unsecured debts exceed $360,475 and/or secured debts of more than $1,081,400. Not forgetting Chapter 12, this is for farmers and fishermen while Chapter 15 is meant for multinational corporations so that U.S. and foreign courts can coordinate their efforts. Outside of a few countries like the United Arab Emirates debtor prisons that once flourished are virtually gone. Here in the United States, the practice ended in 1833 although one can still go to jail for not paying court fines or child support. By the way, Presidents Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant and McKinley all declared bankruptcy.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

ou can handle your Accident case; DUI; Incorporation and Will without hiring a lawyer. But the correct question is should you handle these matters yourself. The answer is clear……NO….Protect yourself with an attorney. We have all seen ads on TV regarding legal zoom that will incorporate you for pennies. Of course they are not lawyers. They just do what you tell them. Maybe you do not need a standard corporation but need an “S Corporation” or maybe you should have a limited liability company instead. When you hire a lawyer you can rely on his/her expertise to do what is in your best interest. It is a lot cheaper to do it right in the beginning than years later when you learn you made the wrong decision and have to hire an attorney to clean things up. You can prepare a will without a lawyer too. A will in your handwriting is valid. However if there is anything on the paper besides your writing it is invalid. Thus if it is on the stationary of a hotel or business it is invalid. What happens when you want to leave each of your two children $500,000 and decide to give your son your 1972 Ferrari worth $500,000 and you give your daughter $500,000 outright AND you then sell the ’72 Ferrari for a ’85 Ferrari. Since the specific gift

to your son is no longer in existence he gets NOTHING. With Accidents it is arguably even more important to have an attorney. Sure you can go to your family doctor and send the bill to the insurance company yourself and then try to settle the case on your own. Of course the insurance company will low ball you and you will not know how to set up the case to generate a fair settlement. Most lawyers will not accept a case with property damage of less than $2500 so if you go to your friend and get your car fixed by a neighbor for $750 instead of the insurance company paying the $2500 estimate, it sounds good at first blush but you are not aware that the insurance company is more likely to force you to take the case to trial because juries award plaintiffs with low property damage very little or no money for their injuries…and this is even when you have been rear ended. The average person does not know their attorney does not want the victim to talk to the insurance company adjuster or to post on their social media how they did in their golf game or tennis match that day. In other words the victim is complaining of pain but is able to play sports. In addition there is a big difference between the way different doctors prepare their medical reports and that controls the value of the case.

it’s your nickel

DHS Spa Tour heats up

ach of the desert valley cities has their own special events. PGA golf for some and the film festivals for PS along with Modernism Week come to mind. If you haven’t been on the DHS SPA TOUR, however, you are missing one of the truest pleasures of our community. Desert Hot Springs is a name for the amazing natural resource that are the hot springs themselves. While as many as 24 resorts and spas and boutique hotels claim to have curative natural spring water, a good dozen or so opened their doors to this past annual SPA tour to which I highly recommend

booking tickets already. For me, this was a significant discovery on so many levels. With some of the misleading press the city gets, one is completely swept off their feet to see the springs themselves and all they offer to the destination traveler. How could this have possibly been overshadowed by anything? After having the enormous privilege of seeing just a handful of these resorts, I can tell you that DHS has as much to bring to the table as any of her sister cities or more. This bodes well for inviting outside investment, further development, and an eventual lifting out into the growing economy if handled in the savvy way this whole opportunity represents.

Many plaintiffs/victims will treat with their family doctor and not realize that when the insurance company subpoenas their medical records ALL of their prior complaints will be available for the insurance company to see. That means the prior addiction issues; abortions; psychiatric treatment and all prior injuries will be available for the defense to argue the injury is not from this case but from a prior slip and fall or auto accidents etc. You also do not need a lawyer to handle your Drunk Driving case. You can do it alone but you will for sure screw up. You do not know what a case is worth or if you should even enter a plea to the charge and accept the DA’s offer of 30 days in jail. Maybe there is a defense you had not considered. Maybe the sentence should be 10 days in jail or no jail but instead straight probation. When you are arrested for a DUI you will not know that you have 10 days to request a DMV hearing. If you do not do so within the 10 day period the pink piece of paper you received will after 30 days automatically

suspend your license for 4 to 5 months. Most arrestee’s will not know that you can request a STAY or freeze of the suspension until AFTER the hearing several months down the line. You will not know if and when you might get a restricted license. When you go to court on a DUI the case may not be called and you will think they did not file the DUI and leave the courthouse relieved. The DA at some later time will file the case as a DUI with a Bench Warrant and they will not notify you that the case is in court. One day while you are driving home the cops may be behind you and run your plate or they might see you rolling through a stop sign and stop you to issue a ticket. When they see the bench warrant in the computer, they will arrest you and take you to jail where you would have to post bail. You will not like spending hours in jail. The bottom line is DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI………IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HIRING ME! If you have any questions regarding this column or ideas for future columns please contact Dale Gribow Attorney at Law at his NEW number 760 837 7500 and or his new email: dale@dalegribowlaw.com

By john Paul Valdez Two Bunch Palms is the star of the show with over 200 acres of lush lakes and buildings and 600 years of history according to the proprietors. Cabot Xerca also made a home a few blocks away and is the only building on the national historical register in this area. He too understood the curative and healing power of the springs. Two Bunch offers many amenities including a 3000 sq ft yoga studio dug into the Earth itself with a thatched roof, truly magical to witness. The restaurant there is four star too. The resort used to require a heavy membership fee and was the hangout of many famous visitors, but it is now open to the public with reservations as the key ingredient to a successful visit. Smaller boutique resorts include The Springs, Miracle Manor, and El Morocco Inn and Spa. If clothing optional is your requirement, you will enjoy Living Waters Spa and Anahata Springs. These are all small boutique hotels with enough charm for the making of very special memories indeed. Of the larger Resorts, only one has been renovated recently, and they have done an amazing job. Aqua Soleil boasts rooms with private Jacuzzis. The sun porch is stunning. This resort is easy to find as well resting on a large lot on Palm Drive closest to Palm Springs of those resorts here in DHS. Aqua Soleil gets my highest recommendation. The restaurant there is only open for

breakfast and dinner. Lunch is not served, unfortunately. Sabine, the general manager, is someone with international savvy and is particularly eager to make the guests comfortable and happy in their stay. If you have the chance to go on this Desert Hot Springs tour, you will wonder why this isn’t done as often as a tour of the movie star homes in PS. It’s that compelling. As we seek opportunities for growth in this new economy, I can see many here in our very own high desert resort city of DHS, the gateway to Joshua Tree. Congratulations to our local Chamber of Commerce and its CEO, Heather Coladonato, for showcasing a city worthy of this level of acclaim.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

safety tips

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by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Put Your Heart in it!

Flappy Bird Flaps No More pressure, the shorter your life expectancy. People with high blood pressure run a higher risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. Learn to manage your stress levels. If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much and this may increase your risk of a heart attack. Check your family history. If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too. Make sure you can recognize the early signs of coronary heart disease. Tightness or discomfort in the chest, neck, arm or stomach that comes on when you exert yourself but goes away with rest may be the first sign of angina, which can lead to a heart attack if left untreated. For more information, visit heartconditions.com.

ShareKitchen S hareKitchen is host to a number of events this month. You are invited to join us for a meeting with our local County Supervisor John Benoit and a workshop to help you raise capital for your business.

Supervisor John J. Benoit

Coachella Valley Woman’s Business Center

Coffee with the Supervisor Saturday, February 15th 10:00am to 11:00am

Raising Capital for Your Business Wednesday, February 26th 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Cost: Free RSVP: 760.989.4873 www.JohnBenoit.com

Cost: $20 Contact: Kim Scanlon, 760.345.9200 www.CVWBC.com

Supervisor Benoit invites you to join him for a conversation on how county government can make your life better. The Supervisor wants to discuss his efforts and hear your ideas on how to grow the local economy while keeping our neighborhoods safe and schools strong.

Are you looking for money to start or grow your business? This workshop takes you through the steps the various steps required to raise capital starting with ‘Friends & Family’ and progressing through Initial Public Offering. Facilitator for this workshop is former investment banker, CFO and co-founder of ShareKitchen, Haddon Libby.

The workshop is sponsored by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at CSU-San Bernardino and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Hope to see you this month!

Gaemer Girl

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

t’s Valentine month and February is also American Heart Month. Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Now is a good time to take preventive steps and beat it, reminds Chief DiGiovanna! One thing is certain, we can fight back against heart disease and stroke. Stop smoking. Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a person can do to live longer. Cut down on salt. Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Watch your diet and weight. A healthy diet can help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, and can also help increase the chances of survival after a heart attack. Monitor your alcohol. Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. The heart is a muscle and it needs exercise to keep fit so it can pump blood efficiently round your body with each heartbeat. Manage your weight. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health as well as increases the risk of lifethreatening conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked. The higher your blood

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Don’t Be

CLUELESS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

EVENT CALENDAR

ello! Do you know what day it is tomorrow? Here’s a double yodel, just in case: HEL-LO! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Now, don’t knock yourself out with that slap to the forehead, but open the storage compartment up there, slip in that thought and be careful not to delete it, you’ve got to “work it” today. The old saying goes, “It’s better to give, than to receive.” There are people, usually spouses who actually believe that. Legend-alert: When Claudius II forbade his soldiers to marry, a priest named Valentine encouraged young lovers to unite in holy matrimony. Jailed for the offense, the priest lost his heart to his jailer’s daughter and the two pledged undying love. (Long before he was made a saint, we surmise.) Did he give her anything other than his heart? Who knows? But obviously on the fast track to making a name for himself, he was a good catch for a jailer’s daughter. Don’t get caught empty-handed, nor (sigh) empty-hearted. You can do a drive-by looting of the counter at the quick mart as “das auto” slurps fuel, speed-dial your personal shopper to pick and pack the perfect bauble at your fav-rave upscale boutique, or plan the perfect date just for you two. Some suggestions:

lappy Bird: An extremely simple, yet extremely difficult game about a cycloptic bird, flapping its way through endless openings between pipes. The game had been downloaded and played, over 50 million times, before its abrupt and almost irrational pull by its developer Dong Nguyen. So why would anyone, want to pull their game, which soared to the top of app store ratings, and pulled in an astounding $50,000 a day, in advertising revenue? My personal record is 7 (I’m kind of a big deal). I dismissed the game after ten minutes of failing, only to find out this morning, that my phone is now a collector’s item, since I still have the game intact. Since the games pull from App Stores, phones have been popping up on Craigslist, FaceBook, and Ebay, at ridiculous prices. One Iphone reached bids above $90,000 before the listings were pulled. It is not clear if they were pulled by Ebay itself, or the lister of the coveted phone. The game released May 2013, but did not surge to the top of charts until mid-December. Some have speculated the use of bots, to surge numbers, while other insist the power of social media exposure. Its developer, now bombarded with attention he apparently did not want, wrote “I am sorry ‘Flappy Bird’ users, 22 hours from now, I will take ‘Flappy Bird’ down,” developer Dong Nguyen wrote on Saturday. “I cannot take this anymore.” He insisted it had nothing to do with legal issues, even though there is an uncanny resemblance to both pipes, and environment from the Mario Bros series. He insisted that he would never sell the Flappy Bird title. He said. “I just cannot keep it anymore.” and that it has “Ruined his simple life.”

Dong Nguyen, has stayed quiet during these past few days, not responding to press, or public, about clarifying his decision. He assures that he will continue to make video games, despite the crash of his infamous title. If you still have the Flappy Bird game on your phone, consider yourself a collector now. If you deleted it in a rage of flappy fails, have no fear. You should still be able to download the title again, by looking at your download and purchase history, in the App Store. The maddening game created a resounding misery for the developer, one he could take no longer. Absurd stories about lost marriages, ruined careers, and missed dates flooded the rating pages on both Apple and Android stores. Dong Nguyen openly admitted his game is not for everyone, and to “take care of yourself first; I don’t make games to ruin people lives”. With a few hundred death threats delivered every day, I have to ask, why would you make another game? I fear no matter what comes next, the Flappy Bird shadow will be one too big to emerge from. Good luck Dong.

Friday & Saturday, February 14 & 15, 8:30am-4pm. Heart tickling thrills for the whole family! Up, up and away in loops, dipping over the runway at 200 mph, whirling dangerous rolls and performing other elaborate maneuvers as amazed fans cheer the derring –do from these masters of the air. The air-show stars expertly built, beautifully designed airplane models piloted by the Coachella Valley Radio Control Club members. “Monstar Jet Jam2014” is action-packed, exciting heart-stopping entertainment and a terrific Valentine’sDay treat for all with awards, refreshments and featuring flyers and their model airplanes flying in from all over the Southwest. Limited grandstand seating, so bring chairs. $ 5 parking fee, with 50% and all other donations going to The Wounded Warrior Project. “These planes replicate the flight of a real jet with their sound, speed and beauty,” says Dan Metz, president of the local club. For more info, call 760-3400836, or go to cvrcclub.com. Two day event is at the Canal Regional Park, Coachella. Saturday, February 15, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Dog Pawty Celebration/Adoption Event. You are invited to attend the 3rd anniversary “pawty” at The Pet Hotel at Barkingham Palace, 34-550 Spyder Circle (cross street Dinah Shore) in Palm Desert. Living Free Animal Sanctuary and Loving All Animals will have some wonderful rescue dogs available for adoption. This will be a fun filled day with food, music, dog vendors, and agility demonstrations. Local musician Joe Baldino, will provide fabulous guitar music. Bring your well behaved dog on a leash. You may want to enter your pup in the “Royal Costume” contest for a $20 entry fee to win some fabulous prizes. Artists Karen and Tony Barone will be on hand to exhibit their latest sculptor, a 6 foot tall Golden Retriever. This promises to be a full filled

day, and you just might meet your 4-legged Valentine. Call (760) 537-1172 if you need additional information.

Friday - Monday, February 14 - 17. Lookie Loo Heaven! An annual event, Palm Springs Modernism Week features 80 premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers presenting all design movements of the 20th Century--all in one place. Mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture will be headlined in over 100 events including the show and sale, home tours, films, lectures, double-decker bus tours, walking and bike tours, a pre-fab showcase, vintage fashion, live music events, a vintage trailer exhibition, and more. Modernism Week is a charitable organization providing scholarships to local students pursuing college educations in the fields of architecture and design, as well a efforts to preserce California modernist architecture. The Valentine’s Day Preview Gala, 6-9pm; $75 in advance; Feb. 1517 Show & Sale, 10am, Weekend tickets available at door, $20. For more info, go to modernismweek.com. Main Events at the palm Springs Convention Center. Thursday through Sunday, February 13-16. Online Complimentary Day Pass! She (or He) is a work of Art, take your

February 13 to February 19, 2014

by Diane Marlin-Dirkx Valentine to see more when The Palm Springs Art Museum present a booth at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, coming to the Palm Springs Convention Center on The February 13 Opening Night Preview, which will benefit the museum. As a thank you, they are pleased to provide a link to print out complimentary day passes to this event. While at the fair, stop by the museum’s booth to receive more information on upcoming events and exhibitions. Meet 55 prominent national and international galleries. Explore 1,000+ important contemporary works of art. Enjoy inspiring panel discussions, impressive sculptures, installations and performance art. Receive a special Valentine’s Day gift! The Day Pass give you access to any one day of the fair, Friday and Saturday, 11 am-8pm, Sunday, 11am-6pm. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, For more info, call 800-211-0640. For Day Pass, go to: http://psmuseumdayps14.eventbrite. com For more event details, see the fair at http://palmspringsfineartfair.com Sunday, February 16, 3:30-5:30pm. The famed---some would say ---infamous mophaired , pop-artist Andy Warhol captured those of the same ilk to great success in the art world of the sixties. At a concert, the artist is celebrated with Warhol’s World in Song: Musical Snapshots from the 60s. The evening features songs by Broadway’s Great White Way composers, including Sondheim (A Little Night Music), Bernstein (West Side Story) and modernist-meister Leitman. Wine, cheese and dessert follow the performance at the Heath Gallery, 222 Amado Rd., Palm Springs. Ticket, $75. Benefitting OperaArts Student Outreach program. For more info, call 760-323-8353, or go to OperaArtsPalmSprings.org

Wednesday, February 19, 7pm. ONE NIGHT ONLY! And now for something completely different, delirious, delightful and downright delicious. To wit: The Italian Heritage Club “Evening of Comedy II.” And if

you missed Comedy I, they’re making this a laugh-filled evening you can’t refuse starring five talented guys who cut their teeth on pasta, namely Norm Crosby, Gary Mule Deer, Tony Calabrese, Filippo Voltaggio, and Steve Mittleman, all appearing in the Sierra Ballroom at Sun City Palm Desert for One Night Only. But boy, what a night. The Italian Heritage Club was founded 10 years ago. Membership is open to all Sun City Palm Desert residents and you don’t have to be Italian to join. Tckets, $5 per person, available at the Mountain View Club House on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 9am12pm. Or call Frank Montiforte, 760-5783479, or email MrFrank522@aol.com.

Wednesday, February 19, 8pm. “Stepping Out For COD” starring Tony Award winning Act-and-song-tress Bernadette Peters who, in a tiny frame has more power than most operatic fatlady divas. Noted for headlining hot-ticket musicals on Broadway Sunday in the Park with Gorge, Into The Woods, Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun), respected interpreter of composer Stephen Sondheim, even with challenging roles and music, her voice and range are accomplished, springing across the footlights unleashed from under her fiery red mass of coiled curls to her toes. . Four of the Broadway cast albums on which she has starred have won Grammy Awards. More! She has garnered seven Tony Award nominations,, winning two. On TV Peters has been nominated for three Emmy awards, and In films, three Golden Globes, winning one. Audiences love her with ovations. Get ready for a show to benefit COD Foundation. For tickets, per person $65 to $150, call 760340-2787, or go to mccallumtheatre.com “Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event!

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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events

COACHELLA VALLEY WILL WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

esidents and businesses unite to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease Pat Kaplan of Palm Desert and Edie Keller of Rancho Mirage are honorary co-chairs for the 15th annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, March 1 at Palm Desert Civic Center Park (73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260). Kaplan and Keller are among a small group who founded the local Alzheimer’s Association office in 1998. More than 1,000 people from across the Coachella Valley will come together with area businesses at the much-anticipated event, which raises awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Jenifer Daniels of KPSP-TV (CBS Local 2) will emcee this year’s event, which includes a 2-mile Walk route, live music from the Delgado Band, a performance by popular smooth jazz saxophonist Will Donato, box lunches courtesy of Sherman’s Deli and Atria Hacienda, a festival area with wellness exhibits and children’s activities, a silent auction, opportunity drawings, dog bowls & treats, and awards. Walkers who raise $100 receive a commemorative T-shirt, those who raise $500 receive a T-shirt and Champions Club medallion. There are prizes for top fund-raising teams and individuals. Onsite registration opens at 9 a.m., opening ceremonies begin at

10 a.m., the walk starts at 10:30 a.m. To sign up, join a team, donate cash or prizes, or volunteer, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/socal or (760) 3286767. Family Hospice Care, Atria Hacienda, The Desert Sun, Uno de 50, Eisenhower Medical Center, Sherman’s Deli and Custom Care Solutions are among the many businesses supporting the Walk. Last March, more than 800 Alzheimer’s Association champions from throughout the desert communities raised close to $120,000 for Alzheimer’s disease care, support and research. “The support we receive from the residents and businesses of the Coachella Valley is invaluable to our cause, and we look forward to a record-setting year,” said Susan Galeas, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, California Southland Chapter. “Monies raised help fund valuable research and provide much needed care and support to local families touched by the disease in the Coachella Valley.” “We have been walking in Palm Desert for 15 years and the event keeps getting bigger and better,” said Anne Gimbel, regional director for the Alzheimer’s Association, California Southland Chapter. “New families and businesses join us every year, and we look forward to seeing them along with our

Health&Fitness

returning walkers on March 1 at Civic Center Park.” Walk participants collect donations for their teams and the top fund-raisers receive awards. Top fundraising team in 2013 was the “Five Star Club” from Eisenhower Medical Center. They raised more than $30,000. Second-place team was “Sherman’s Walkers,” led by Janet Harris of Sherman’s Deli. Harris, whose late father Sherman Harris founded Sherman’s Deli, walked with her team in memory of her father. Third-place honors were shared by “Yes We Can!” the Alzheimer’s Association Friends, Family & Staff from the regional service center in Rancho Mirage and a team from the Dementia Help Center. Top individual fundraiser was Janet Harris

began instructing there in 2004. She took a brief break from the studio when she was recruited by an exclusive local country club, but returned to Pilates Path soon after. She missed the welcoming feel of the studio and has never left since. Bowman took a break from instructing when she had her children, her daughter is now almost 2 and her son 3, she also has an 11 year old stepson. Allen approached Bowman about taking the studio over at some point. They collaborated and expanded the studio to the adjoining suite next door and opened Mat Pilates, Yoga & Barre (a ballet inspired method that uses concentrated detailed movement to transform the body using a ballet barre) in June of 2013. Bowman then took over both studios in September of that year, after Allen decided to move out of the area. She then changed the name from Pilates Path, to Path Pilates & Yoga, still keeping the Path part of the name as it had become so dear to those in the Pilates community. The studios have a total of 15 instructors and offers private (west suite) and group (east suite) classes. They provide, Pilates Private, Reformer classes, Springboard, Yoga, Barre and Mat Pilates instruction. The benefits of Pilates and Yoga are vast, as a low impact

from “Sherman’s Walkers.” Second-place individual fundraiser was Valerie Weinstein co-captain of the Eisenhower “Five Star Club” and the third top fundraiser was Joan Schulman, co-captain of “Five Star Club” team. Competition for fundraising prizes is especially spirited during this 15th anniversary year. There are nearly 11,000 individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s in the Coachella Valley. In the U.S., more than 5 million people currently live with Alzheimer’s, including more than half a million in California. Experts estimate that someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease every 68 seconds. By midcentury someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease every 33 seconds. About the Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to join the cause and raise funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s, the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. For more information, visit www.alz.org or call 1-800272-3900.

By Denise Ortuno Neil

Lindsey Bowman Guides Community to a Healthy Path ith the stresses of everyday life, it is easy for people to neglect their health when rigorous exercise loses its appeal after a long day of work. But with the soothing and more balanced approach of Yoga and Pilates, Lindsey Bowman of Path Pilates & Yoga is making fitness more enjoyable and guiding her community to a healthier existence. Lindsey Bowman is no stranger to the desert. Born and raised in Palm Desert, she has always called the Coachella Valley home. She attended college in Santa Barbara, and then later moved to L.A. It was there when she first discovered Pilates. She learned more about it from a friend who was becoming a Pilate’s instructor and started to do it herself through books and videos and other extensive research. She then started training with private sessions, and that’s where her love for Pilates grew. Bowman moved back to the desert area in 2000 and continued to do Pilates in her home for her own benefit. She began looking for a studio to instruct at and that’s when she found Pilates Path, which was opened by Shary Harrison in 2003, it was then later sold to Josie Allen years later. The feel of the studio and the open kindness of the instructor’s drew her in. Bowman

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workout, it is perfect for those suffering from ailments such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as other joint pain and is opened to all levels of fitness and body types. If you’re not familiar with Pilates or Yoga, Path Pilates & Yoga is offering a special 7 day trail rate of $35 for new clients. The rate includes unlimited group Mat Pilates, Yoga & Barre classes in the east suite. It’s a great way to start on your path to healthier and limber you. The studio is also offering an introduction Private Pilates Package in the west suite which includes 3 sessions for $157. Bowman will be opening up Path Pilates & Yoga to the community on Saturday, February 15th, from 10am to 12:30pm for an open house. Visitors can tour the studios, meet instructors, and get a detailed understanding of what the studios offer. There will be food and drinks provided and

live music too. Bowman will be raffling off memberships to the studios and giving away Pilates swag. After the open house, the studio will be having a Stun N Run Self-Defense Seminar, conducted by black belt, Cheri Michel and former law enforcement officer Johnnie Woods. The class will take place from 1 to 4pm and will teach awareness on how to prevent an assault and practical techniques. Although the class is free, a $40 donation is suggested which will benefit Shelter from the Storm. An optional Wish List Drop Box will also be on hand where guests can donate new items ranging from clothing, to blankets to diapers. The drop box will be at the studio for the whole month of February. Bowman is excited about the future of her studio and being a part of the Palm Desert business community, “I’m excited to be able to help empower people through movement and fitness, and to be able to host events that help other organizations,” she said. Bowman is clear to point out that her studio is there to help people create and achieve their fitness goals, and with that sincere eagerness, Path Pilates & Yoga will only strengthen the health and wellbeing of our community. Path Pilates & Yoga is located east of Jensen’s in Palm Desert at, 73-625 Hwy 111 For more information visit www. pathpilatesyoga.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Week of February 13

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In her TED talk, science writer Mary Roach made it clear that human beings don’t need genital stimulation to experience orgasms. She spoke of a woman who routinely reaches ecstatic climax by having her eyebrows caressed, and another woman who reaches the big O simply by brushing her teeth. Then there’s the woman who can simply think herself into coming, no physical touch necessary. I can’t guarantee that a similar aptitude will suddenly turn on in you, Aries, but the coming days could bring you as close as you have ever been. Right now you’re a connoisseur of deep pleasure -- a blessed bliss master. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The fact that someone else loves you doesn’t rescue you from the project of loving yourself,” writes blogger Sahaj Kohli. Nothing else rescues you from that quest, either, I would add. Sooner or later, whether it’s now or 20 years in the future, you will have to master this fine art. It’s not enough to merely feel affection for yourself; not enough to seek pleasure and avoid pain. You’ve got to make extensive investigations to discover what it means to love yourself; you have to develop rigorous plans for how to accomplish it; and you must fire up a deep commitment as you actually carry out those plans. By the way, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to work on mastering this fine art. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Drunk with my madness, I shouted at him furiously, ‘Make life beautiful! Make life beautiful!’” So says a character in a prose poem by Charles Baudelaire. And now, even though I am neither drunk nor furious nor consumed with madness, I am whispering the same command to you. I hope you will respond by embarking on a heroic effort to make life beautiful everywhere you go. The astrological omens suggest that if you do, you will be inundated with practical blessings that are as valuable as money. This will also be an excellent way to drum up the kind of love you crave. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Here’s what I wish for you during the Valentine season: to be happily in love with an intimate partner who loves you back. If that’s not feasible, here’s what I hope: that you are learning provocative lessons about yourself through your growth-inducing relationship with a close ally. And if you’re not blessed with either of those experiences, here’s a third alternative: that you cherish your fathomless longing for its own sake, feeling wonder and reverence for its wild power even if it’s unfulfilled. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Making eye contact is essential for building potent links with people you care about. It bypasses rational thought, stimulating chemical reactions in your bodies that enhance empathy and intimacy. In practicing the art of love, it’s one of the most potent moves you can make. This Valentine season would be an excellent time for you Leos to explore the frontiers of what’s possible through prolonged eye contact. Start here: Cultivate a sincere desire to know what’s simmering inside the souls of your dearest allies. With that as your driving force, your gaze won’t be clouded by shyness or self-consciousness. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I prefer an ecstatic orgasm to a lot of angst,” says Filipino artist David Medalla. I hope you consider making that your battle cry during this Valentine season. It would be in rapt harmony with the current cosmic omens. There really is no need for you to get sidelined by anxiety or distracted by stress when the natural remedy is so easily available. In every way you can imagine, Virgo, fight off sourness and dourness by engaging in acts of joy and pleasure. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In her poem “Implications of One Plus One,” Marge Piercy marvels at the way she and her long-term partner keep finding new nuances in their love-making. “Ten years of fitting our bodies together / and still they sing wild songs in new keys,” she writes. What’s their secret? It’s “timing, chemistry, magic and will and luck.” What I wish for you this

Valentine season, Libra, is that you will have access to all five of those ingredients as you reinvigorate your relationship to love. More importantly -based on the current cosmic omens -- I *predict* you will have access to them. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Jesuit priest Pedro Arrupe touted the practical value of being totally in love. “What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything,” he said. “It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.” Are you in love, Scorpio? With either a person, a beloved animal, a certain patch of land, your creative work, or life itself? If not, there’s no excuse! Astrologically speaking, it’s an excellent time for you to be stupendously in love with someone or something -- anything! If you are already in this state, trust your intuition to make it even smarter and finer. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Borrowing the words of Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks), I’ve prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Give it to a person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours: “You are the sky my spirit circles in, the love inside love, the resurrection-place.” Would you like even more inspirational words to deliver to your chosen one? I hope so. Be greedy for lyrical bonding. Lust for springy intimacy. Feed your churning yearning. Try saying this, lifted from the book *The Last Unicorn*: “We are two sides of the same magic.” And be sure to say this, paraphrased from Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh: “I love you in a way that will always make you feel free.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “People think a soul mate is your perfect fit,” says author Elizabeth Gilbert. “But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back...They tear down your walls and smack you awake...shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you... transform your life.” Does that sound like the kind of person you want in your life, Capricorn? Or do you prefer someone who likes what you like, appreciates you just as you are, and makes your life more secure and comfortable? This Valentine season is a good time to make or renew your commitment to one choice or the other. Whatever you decide, you’re likely to experience it on a richer, deeper level during the next 12 months. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do you feel oppressed by Valentine’s Day? Maybe you’re single and reject the cultural bias that says being in an intimate relationship is the healthy norm. Or maybe you’re part of a couple but are allergic to the cartoonish caricatures of romance that bombard you during the Valentine marketing assault. If you’d rather consecrate love and intimacy in your own unique way, untainted by the stereotypes flying around, I invite you to rebel. Make this the year you overthrow the old ways and start a new tradition: Valentine’s Day 2.0. Mock sappy, sentimental expressions of romance even as you carry out futuristic experiments in radically slaphappy love. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I have come to be fascinated with the messiness of desire,” writes novelist Ashley Warlick, “with the ways people fit themselves together, take themselves apart for each other, for want of each other, for want of some parts of each other.” Your assignment, Pisces, is to celebrate the messiness of desire; to not just grudgingly accept it as an inconvenience you’ve got to tolerate, but rather to marvel at it, be amused by it, and appreciate it for all the lessons it provides. Your motto this Valentine season could be, “I bless the messy largesse of my longing.” Homework: Write yourself a nice long love letter. Send a copy to me if you’d like: FreeWillAstrology.com. Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

February 13 to February 19, 2014

Mind, body & Spirit by Bronwyn Ison

VALLEY FEVER, MY PERSONAL STORY

ach inhale and exhale we take is without thought. Our breath is our life force and keeps our heart beating. Each and every breath I take is a blessing. Nearly five-years ago breathing for me was not as simple as it is today. Fortunately I can celebrate and say that I am a Valley Fever Survivor. What is Valley Fever you may be asking? VF is not common or even known to most. For nearly two-years this life threatening and nearly debilitating upper respiratory disease hindered my life. This is my story… I was in the third-trimester of my pregnancy with my second child and I had developed a chronic cough. My thoughts led me to think it was a possible allergy. After I had delivered my baby the looming symptoms did not subside. The cough persisted, a fever developed and I knew something was terribly wrong. It was ten days after having my baby that I developed pneumonia. I was treated and all seemed well. Yet, the cough persisted and my illness began to grow fierce with a fury vengeance. What was happening to me? For months I had felt as though I had the flu. Each afternoon I would spike a fever. I was caring for a toddler and newborn… I was exhausted. The coughing was so severe and the pressure in my head was incredibly intense. Plus, my chest was heavy and I felt weighed down by a ton of bricks. I had never felt so ill in my life. I was fearful of the unknown. Several visits to the doctor revealed nothing. I was tested for VF but there were no guarantees the tests would reveal the illness. However, just in case I had VF, I was placed on a heavy anti-fungal medication to treat a fungus that may have attached to my lungs. Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever (VF) is a fungus that lives in the soil. All you have to do is breathe. The lurking spore is inhaled and attaches to the lungs. This fungus wreaks havoc on the lungs and causes serious illness and sometimes death. It is most prevalent in Arizona (where I was living at the time) but also found in the soil

in Nevada, Northern California and Texas. There were more than 35,000 VF cases reported last year. It attacks anyone at any age. Generally the young, elderly, woman in their third-trimester of pregnancy or those with compromised immunities. Determined to get answers I submitted more blood tests and had x-rays completed. The x-rays concluded something was indeed on my lungs. I was relocating from Arizona to the Coachella Valley. Finally I had received a confirmed diagnosis from Palm Springs, Pulmonologist, Dr. Ziad Tannous. A CT scan revealed nodules on both sides of my lungs. Dr. Tanneous confirmed I had VF. The day my diagnosis was confirmed was also the day I learned I had fought and beat VF. My nodules were benign and calcified. I had fought VF off with my own immune system. Fortunately as a yoga instructor I was able to exercise my lungs through many of the breathing techniques offered in yoga. Healthy lungs make for healthier you. Breathe in LIFE! Bronwyn Ison is the Owner of Evolve Yoga ~ www.e-volveyoga.com

February 13 to February 19, 2014

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

Confessions of a Valentine’s Day Junkie

kay. I admit it. I’m hooked on Valentine’s Day, always have been. Shower me with heart shaped boxes holding dark chocolate treats, cheesy Hallmark cards, cuddy stuffed bears with bright pink bows and those little candies that say “kiss me” and “luv u.” That little cupid guy is a ten in my book. I decorate my home for this holiday and find joy in creating a Pinterest board with all things that portray the “L” word. Heck, even my dog was born on Valentine’s Day. For me it’s not about the bright shiny things, candlelight dinners or even fine champagne, although I never turn down a glass of the bubbly. It’s about setting aside a day to celebrate love. No need to worry about being politically correct on this day. There is no bah humbugging the 14th of February because love is the universal language. It’s not a day devoted to couples only. You don’t have to be in a relationship to celebrate love. Treat a good friend to a Valentine’s Day lunch, pamper yourself with something special or lavish your dog with a new chewy toy. Just get out there and spread the love. Once a year on a day dedicated to love let the spirit move you and have fun. Need inspiration? Get creative like an entrepreneur named Ron in South Port, North Carolina. This owner of a McDonald’s

Ask The Doctor

Dear Dr. Kadile, I noticed a painful, red bump on my lower right eyelid this morning, It looks like a pimple near the eyelashes, but my friend said it is a stye and I would need antibiotic eye drops. Should I be worried? -Tracy, La Quinta

PSYCHIC READER

Tracy, sounds like you are describing a stye. A stye is like a pimple in which a small oil duct is blocked resulting in a small infection caused by the accumulation of the local superficial bacteria on the eyelid and surrounding dead skin cells. The stye may become bigger and more painful before spontaneously bursting and resolving. The best initial treatment is to apply a warm compress to the area for 10-15 minutes 4-5 times a day. Do not rub the area and do not wear any makeup. You should also not wear contact lenses if you have them. If patients are diligent with the warm compress, the stye will usually resolve by the next morning. You can also clean the area with a Q tip soaked with a diluted mixture of baby shampoo and water. If the stye persists or worsens, you should see your doctor because antibiotics may be needed.

Dear Dr. Kadile, can I take Advil and Tylenol together for my headaches? -Joe, Rancho Mirage

Joe, the combination of Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be an effective pain reliever. The maximum dose of ibuprofen you can have in one day is 2400mg. The new recommendation for the maximum amount of acetaminophen in one day is 3,000mg. You should avoid ibuprofen if you have kidney disease or history of bleeding ulcer. Acetaminophen should be avoided if you have liver disease.

February 13 to February 19, 2014

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by dr peter kadile

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439. DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. www.deserthousecalldoc.com. Dr. Kadile will be writing a regular column for CV Weekly. Please send any medical questions you have to editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com for him to answer.

Styes, Asprin & Arthritis

franchise is spreading love at the Golden Arches. From 6:00 to 8:00 pm his patrons will be greeted at the door, and escorted to a table lit by candlelight. Wait staff will take the order and deliver it with a smile. No pressure on the pocket book. I’m lovin’ it! The act of love is all about giving. Consider performing a random act of kindness. Nothing tugs on the heartstrings more than unexpected joy delivered by a perfect stranger. Spend a couple of hours in a retirement home passing out Valentines or home baked cookies to elderly residents. Dispense hugs and smiles. Equip yourself with funny jokes or bring along your guitar and put on a show. Lastly, have you been withholding love based on a nasty spat? Are you carrying the burden of ill will around like a coveted prize? Time to release and forgive. If there is someone in your life that needs to hear your expression of love, do it now. You won’t regret it. Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com

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Dear Dr. Kadile, I suspect I have arthritis in my knees after years of playing sports when I was younger. I don’t want to have to take prescription pain medication or a lot of over the counter Tylenol or Advil because of possible side effects. Are there any supplements you recommend for the pain? -Ray, Cathedral City

Ray, Tumeric is a supplement that I have recommended to my patients. It is a spice commonly found in curry powder. Tumeric has a substance in it called curcumin that may reduce inflammation and pain. It generally does not work immediately like an Advil or Tylenol, but would need to be taken on a regular daily basis to provide decrease in pain over a period of time. Tumeric is a spice commonly used in Indian cooking, but you don’t have to eat a lot of Indian cuisine if you would like to explore it’s pain relieving benefits. Tumeric/curcumin can be found as a supplement in many health food stores or nutritional supplement stores. It is generally safe but may cause stomach upset or diarrhea in high doses.

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February 13 to February 19, 2014

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February 13 to February 19, 2014

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