Moonlight Hike & Stars Observation

DISCOVER

AFTER DARK TREASURES ON A MOONLIGHT HIKE IN THE COVE

As the sun sets and many towns’ sidewalks “roll up” – things are just starting to get interesting when you hang out with Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends) in the La Quinta Cove trails complex. Home to Friends’ original “Full Moon Hike,” it turns out nighttime is the right time to hike La Quinta Cove. Preserved thanks to the foresight of La Quinta locals, this trail complex of wide, well-maintained paths gently sloping up means a variety of people with different abilities have relatively easy access to nature and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Friends’ volunteer “Trailheads” and “Weed Warrior” groups play a significant part in maintaining the trails, removing invasive plant species, and fighting unwelcome graffiti with specialized “reverse artwork” rock cleaning and repair. While temperatures soar in the summer, and dip only mildly during our “winter” months, evening experiences along these great La Quinta paths can be surprisingly rewarding. Friends’ guided hike offerings vary throughout the year, and we love to help others connect to the land. Sign up in advance for popular nighttime events via Friends’ website: DesertMountains.org/calendar.

JANUARY 10

La Quinta Full Moon Hike

See the beauty of the shadows and wash of moonlight over the desert mountains. Search for all types of night creatures along the trail utilizing UV flashlights to see scorpions (they glow!) and a sonar detector for “hearing” the abundant species of bats that inhabit the Coachella Valley. This hike is a family-friendly 3-mile loop with 150 feet elevation gain. The trail is 6 feet wide at the beginning and narrows to 2 feet wide with cobbled, uneven desert terrain. Register at DesertMountains.org/calendar.

Night Sky Stars Observation

Friends’ volunteer astronomers set up their telescopes and invite you to their “star party” in the parking lot. A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of stars, constellations, bright planets, a full moon, and sometimes meteor showers or an eclipse. You might even see the international Space Station moving over the Coachella Valley. Register at DesertMountains.org/calendar.

LA QUINTA MUSEUM

77885 Avenida Montezuma La Quinta, CA 92253 (760) 777-7170

La Quinta Museum December 2022 The La Quinta Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm. Admission and programs are FREE

EXHIBITS

In the Fields of the North/En los Campos del Norte, opening January 10, 2023

In the Fields of the North is a series of evocative photographs by photographer and journalist David Bacon, accompanied by moving oral narratives – fully translated into both English and Spanish – that take visitors into the contemporary world of migrant farmworkers. On exhibit through April 15, 2023. This exhibit is produced in partnership with the California Rural Legal Assistance and the Binational Front of Indigenous Organizations, and is traveled by Exhibit Envoy.

La Quinta Legend: Dorothy Arzner, opening January 17, 2023

Explore the life of this Hollywood trailblazer, Dorothy Arzner. She was the only woman director during the “Golden Age” of Hollywood, with the largest body of work of any woman director to this day. A groundbreaker in the film industry, she also “broke ground” here in La Quinta, building a home that she shared with her partner, Marion Morgan.

EVENTS

Thursday, Jan 5, 5-6 p.m. Music at the Museum: Vinny Berry

Join us in the Courtyard for the rock ‘n’ roll blues sounds of Vinny Berry.

Thursday, Jan 12, 3 p.m. Lecture: “Discovering Treasures in our Valley”

Kerry Berman of Desert Eco Tours will present attractions from Whitewater Preserve in the West Valley to the Salton Sea in the East and everything in between.

Thursday, Jan 19, 3 p.m. Lecture: “When Archaeology Is More Than Archaeology: Connecting with La Quinta’s Ancestral Origins”

Dr. Bruce Love will retrace his journey from a data-oriented academic to an ally of the tribes, trying to understand the spiritual underpinnings of exposing ancestral remains in the ancient sands where Cahuilla culture dominated for thousands of years. This lecture is a program of the La Quinta Historical Society.

Friday, Jan 27, 3 p.m. Author Talk: Maria Victoria Castillo

Author Maria Victoria Castillo will discuss her experiences of harvesting crops from the Coachella Valley fields of California with her family during the 1960s and 1970s, from her book, “Field Work Through the Eyes of a Child” / “Trabajo del campo en los ojos de una niña.”

PROGRAMS

As programs are subject to change, please find the latest information on our FREE programs at facebook.com/ LaQuintaMuseum/events

Friday, Jan 6 & 20, 1-3 p.m. Sketchbook Journaling

Get in touch with your inner artist with sketchbook journaling. Basic supplies provided.

Saturday, Jan 14, 1-3 p.m. Genealogy Meet-Up

Are you interested in your family tree? Are you a beginner or an expert in all things Genealogy? Come join us for discussion and collaboration.

Tuesday, Jan 10 & 24, 1-3 p.m. STITCH Fiber Arts Group

Bring your fiber project to work on while you meet with friends old and new, share what you’ve been working on, and get inspired for your next project.

Wednesday, Jan 11, 1 p.m. TED Talk Hangout

Let’s enjoy a TED talk on the big screen, and then discuss! This month, we’ll watch “The benefits of not being a jerk to yourself” by Dan Harris.

Tuesday, Jan 17, 11 a.m. Take a Break with Huell

Join us for an episode of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold on the big screen. This month, Huell takes a tour of the iconic Frey house in Palm Springs.