Palms to Pines Magazine

Palms toMagazine Pines SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | Vol. 1 No. 3 palmstopinesmagazine.com

Your guide to Idyllwild, Palm Springs and everywhere in between

Vines to

Pines

The 2014 Art Walk & Wine Tasting

Palm Springs

Modernism Fall Preview

COMPLIMENTARY

Palms to Pines Magazine, May 2014  1

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The grand idyllwild lodge Idyllwild’s New Luxury Boutique Inn

Welcome to Rustic Luxury The Grand seamlessly combines elegant grandeur with a sense of rugged mountain adventure.

Nestled among the trees on over two acres of land, the Grand is an unforgettable boutique luxury lodge featuring panoramic views of the pristine, idyllic San Jacinto Mountains, After an adventurous day guests can unwind and indulge their senses in a plush, opulent room or suite.

Emphasizing the understated atmosphere of comfortable luxury with a mix of modern convenience and authentic hand-crafted architectural and design details, all rooms offer inspiring views.

Guests will also enjoy an array of amenities including a full breakfast, spa services, workout room, sauna plus our prime location which is a leisurely stroll to Idyllwild’s finest dining and shopping.

We encourage you to come and experience The Grand Idyllwild Lodge... a luxury getaway in nature.

54820 Pine Crest Rd | 951-659-2383 | www.GrandIdyllwildLodge.com

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

1

Artistic Excellence Since 1998

ART ALLIANCE of IDYLLWILD

Idyllwild Gallery Map

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Café Aroma 11

A unique gourmet BistroGallery-Social Club showcasing the works of a variety of artists, rotated throughout the year.

We also feature the works of our resident artists, Rachel Welch and Erin Murray.

(951) 659-5212 www.cafearoma.org

Florist in the Forest & Gallery

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Visit Idyllwild’s galleries

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This full-service flower shop features the art of owner and designer Donna Lori Parker, Rebecca Krasovich’s cloth creations, jewelry by Jeff Alleva and Neona Rose, works by Karin Hedstrom, Ed Bucher’s metal creations, photography

by Lyn Shaw and Kathy Chin, Kathleen Chaney’s art rocks, Christy Stedman’s batiks and Shirley Jordan paintings. (951) 659-4143 www.floristintheforest.com

Idyllwild - “One of the 100 Best Art Towns in America”

VILLAGE CENTRE 4

THE FORT

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Contemporary art at its best!

A vital, diverse gallery featuring pottery, visual art and photography of nine internationally acclaimed local artists: Carol Mills, Cher Townsend, Helen Atik, Debbie Crowell, Mark Alan Meader, Elanie Moore, Judith Schonebaum, Jan Priestley and Trish Tuley.

Gallery owned by the late Carol Mills.

(951) 659-2774 www.courtyardgalleryidyllwild.com

VILLAGE

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Acorn Galllery 10

Courtyard Gallery 1

9 OAKWOOD

8 7 Cedar St.

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DOWNTOWN

UPTOWN

10

MIDTOWN

A gallery offering an interesting blend of fine arts and handcrafted gifts. Each piece is creatively inspired and fairly priced. Jewelry, photos, paintings and more. Featuring award-winning artists Gwen Novak and Marcia Cox. Next to Café Aroma. Kirsten Ingbretsen, owner. (951) 795-3799 www.acorngallery.com

ll Fern Va

(877) 439-5278

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 3

2014 Member Galleries Idyllwild - Voted Best Mountain Getaway by L.A. Weekly Singerton Fine Arts Gallery

Four Corners Gallery 12

Featured are the landscape paintings of AAI’s two-time Artist of The Year, Elena Kern.You may view various gallery members working on the decks of this stream-side studio.

Artists include OPA’s award winning, Ying Liu, Elizabeth Parsi, Lois Sowa Stipp, Sherry Ehlert, Duke Windsor, and AAI’s 2001 Artist of The Year, Helen Moles.

(951) 533-7564 www.elenakern.com

Idyll Awhile 3 Wine Shoppe Bistro

Indulge yourself with taste and culture at our European-style wine bistro and gallery. We feature an incredible selection of regional and international wines and beers, as well as regional and local artists.

(951) 659-9463 www.idyllawhilewineshoppebistro.com

Oh My Dog Gallery 9

Internationally known photographer and activist Frank Bruynbroek’s stirring candid and commissioned black and white dog photographs are sometimes fun, other times haunting, always captivating. His Ansel Adams-like ability captures a landscape of emotions from man’s best friend. (818) 755-7933 www.compawssion.com

Everitt’s Minerals & Gallery Idyllwild Living Room Gallery Two galleries in a single, comfortable main street location.

Fine hand-crafted jewelry and exquisite mineral specimens, antique Japanese woodblock prints, award-winning oil paintings, photography, fine ceramics & crafts combine to create one of Southern California’s best gallery experiences. Everitt’s (951) 659-7075 www.everittsminerals.com; Living Room (951) 750-4880 www.idyllwildlivingroomgallery.com

4 This gallery brings together a wide venue of media in painting, sculpture, glass art and jewelry designed and created by owners Ron and Darla Singerton. Their award-winning works provide a delightful journey from ancient world replicas to modern abstract. (951) 659-2504 www.singertonfinearts.com

The Spruce Moose

2 Featured at this unique woodland gift shop are awardwinning works by Jennifer Ali, Jerry Baccaire, Karlis Dabols, Donna Elliot, Lissa Evans, Fariad, Darcy Gerdes, Mark Nelthorpe, Shanna Robb, Les Walker & Mark Whaley along with breathtaking photography and handcrafts of other local artisans. Our soy-blend candles, hand-poured in Idyllwild, ship all over the globe. (951) 659-5556 www.sprucemoosegifts.com

7 We carry art by Art Alliance of Idyllwild 2012 Artist of the Year Kathy Harmon-Luber. Raku pottery of Sergio Naduville.

Paintings by Gene Peebles, Diane Morgan,Gerry High and many more. We have been in Idyllwild serving the art lovers since 2001. Come check us out. (951) 659-6162 www.ghighart.com

Artspresso Gallery

8 Within a small mountain village lies a small hidden village where culinary, visual and musical arts meet.

(951) 659-0700 www.ferrorestaurant.com

FERRO

www.artinidyllwild.org AAI, P.O.BOX 472, Idyllwild, CA 92549

artinidyllwild@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtAlliance Twitter: twitter.com/artinidyllwild Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

3

Changing seasons

INDEX Idyllwild’s Art Walk & Wine Tasting................................ 6 Idyllwild Ice Cream & Jerky................................ 17 Sprucing Up Idyllwild........ 18 The Fort: Then and Now.. 22 Hilltop Realty: Selling Paradise.......................... 25 Get Outdoorsy: Thousand Pines Camp, Idyllwild.... 26 Idyllwild Rocks, Part 2...... 27 Remembering Desert Sun School.............................. 30 24 Hours in Idyllwild......... 34 Idyllwild Events Calendar.38 Palm Springs Modernism Week................................ 39

I

n Idyllwild in the fall, the black oak’s green foliage begins turning deep orange as the weather cools around late September. The result is a magnificent display of fireworks frozen among pines, cedars and firs in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains. Later, the orange leaves change to bright yellow as the tree sheds its fall coat preparing for winter.

Because of the climate in Southern California, Idyllwild is one of its few locations where you can truly experience four seasons. And we love every one of them in this busy little hamlet.

Meanwhile, along the desert floor below, fall’s cooler temperatures invite more outdoor life for desert residents and visitors. And happily, that’s when PHOTO BY JACK CLARK many of the desert’s business owners who hibernate in the hot summer then wipe off the dust, order the inventory and re-open their doors.

In the desert, the fall season is the place to be. People may still find a warm pool or hot spring in which to swim when the ocean is too cool. Great food, great shopping and fantastic entertainment create an atmosphere of play so inviting it extends anyone’s summer.

Here’s to the beauty of both Idyllwild and our desert sister cities.

By Becky Clark Editor

Marvin Cohn interview..... 44 Marvin Cohn: A daughter’s tribute.............................. 48 Morongo Casino ...

Let’s Eat!.......................... 50 A Day in the Life of a Palm Springs Local........ 52

Publisher | Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd. Editor | Becky Clark Content Editor | Jay Pentrack (jay@palmstopinesmagazine.com) Creative Director / Webmaster | Halie Wilson (halie@palmstopinesmagazine.com) Graphic Design Assistant | Teresa Garcia-Lande Advertising Sales | Lisa Streeter (lisa@palmstopinesmagazine.com)

Palm Springs Events Calendar......................... 54

Goddess of All Things | Dolores Sizer Photographers | Jenny Kirchner • John Pacheco • Donna Elliot • Neil Jenkins

Village of Idyllwild map... 55 Desert Cities map............. 56

The cover photo of Tahquitz Rock was taken by Johnny Wilson, the design was created by Halie Wilson.

Palms toMagazine Pines SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | Vol. 1 No. 3 palmstopinesmagazine.com

Contributing Writers | Shanna Rob • Donna Elliot • Robert B. Smith General Counsel | Jack Clark Palms to Pines Magazine is published bi-monthly by Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd., P.O. Box 157, 54405 N. Circle Drive, Idyllwild, CA 92549.

Please send subscription and change of address requests to the above address.

Please allow up to two weeks for requests to be processed.

All contents of Palms to Pines Magazine are copyrighted by Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd. © 2014 all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written consent of Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd.

Your guide to Idyllwild, Palm Springs and everywhere in between

Vines to

Pines

The 2014 Art Walk & Wine Tasting

Palm Springs

Modernism Fall Preview

COMPLIMENTARY

Palms to Pines Magazine, May 2014

1

4 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd. is located at 54405 North Circle Dr. (P.O. Box 157), Idyllwild, CA 92549 (951) 659-2145 or toll free at 1-888-535-6663 email: info@palmstopinesmagazine.com full magazine online at www.palmstopinesmagazine.com

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014  5

Marcus Thorne paints during the 2012 Art Walk & Wine Tasting. PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

2014 Art Walk and Wine Tasting From humble beginnings ...

By Jay Pentrack

A

s one of the founders of the Art Alliance of Idyllwild, Chris Trout recalls the very first Art Walk and Wine Tasting event held in 1997.

While she was not an artist herself, Chris had a love and appreciation for art that was ever-present in her life, and a passion for it that led her to Idyllwild.

According to Trout, it was during her tenure as a sixth grade teacher in Delaware that she drew inspiration from the words of the school’s art teacher who said, “You know Chris, it’s not about just doing art, it’s about appreciating art.”

It was no surprise to those that knew her that after 25 years of an impressive professional career she had saved enough money to realize her dream of opening her own gallery. The only uncertainty

was the location. “I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, so Yosemite was my playground. So, to me when you drive in [to Idyllwild, Tahquitz Rock] is Half Dome, … ,” said Chris. “I thought someday when I was done with my career and business, Mariposa would be the place. But then I found Idyllwild.”

Exploring the art scene back in the early days in Idyllwild, she realized that it was lacking. “I walked into one of the galleries and said ‘So when’s the first art walk?’ and they said ‘Oh, we don’t do that,’ and I said ‘Well, do you have exhibitions?’ and they said ‘No, we don’t have them.’ So then I thought ‘Oh, my gosh, maybe I made the wrong decision.’” A friend and local gallery owner, Grace Songolo, had a different take; she said “No, Chris, you just have

6 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Chris Trout with volunteer Marsha Lytle serving snacks during the 2013 Art Walk & Wine Tasting.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

work to do.” And the pair, dubbed “Mutt and Jeff ” by locals set out to change the [art] world in Idyllwild.

Flash forward to 1997 and preparations for the very first art walk event. The first

art walk in Idyllwild started with 250 plastic cups purchased 10 at a time from K-Mart. “K-Mart had glasses on sale for $.99 but you could only buy 10 so we had to keep going back,” Chris laughs. “We thought ‘Oh, if we have 250 people we’ll [be thrilled].’ Not only did we sell those, we went through paper cups, and we went to the market and got Styrofoam cups. It was a huge success,” she recalls fondly.

Today, Art Alliance President, Gary Kuscher is making those same preparations, albeit on a much larger scale. “This year we’re expecting 23 participating wineries and I’m ordering 1,600 wine glasses,” he said. “Gosh, we built

O NT E P O IC UBL P THE

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Baily Vineyard and Winery

P Top: Frankie B. Good performs for Art Walk and Wine Tasting attendees. Above: Artisans display their creations throughout the event.

PHOTOS BY JOHN PACHECO

it from when Chris Trout was doing it with paper cups to now we have the commemorative glass and collector’s items, and we’re going into our 17th year now.”

An artist and musician, Gary landed in Palm Springs where he worked for Sonny Bono at his restaurant there.

Gary also helped Sonny launch the first Palm Springs International Film Festival. “The first one was exciting; it was unbelievable to see Sonny’s dream come true … To be a part of that was just historic for me. Now it has become one of the premier film festivals in the world. To have been a

hil and Carol Baily are risk-takers; not the kind who jump motorcycles over the Grand Canyon or climb tall buildings and parachute down, but real daredevils. In 1981 with two small children, the couple decided to make a dramatic change to their lives. Carol, a full-time Mom, and Phil, a management consultant, decided they wanted something different for themselves and their children. “My consulting firm was sold and I had some assets and at age 41 decided, I’ve got a midlife crisis or something, and I want to do something different. I want to do something that involves my wife in a business,” Phil recalled. “We drew a 100 mile radius around LA because our parents are both there and we have kids, so we couldn’t go too far from the grandparents.”

Baily Vineyard The couple settled on Temecula attracted, in part, by the “pioneer” spirit. “There was nothing down here, there and Winery weren’t any stoplights in Temecula, but we tasted some 33440 La Serena Way, really good wines from here,” Phil offered.

Temecula, CA 92591 Home winemakers, the couple decided to take a wine 951-676-9463 class at UC Davis in 1986. They planted their first acre of bailywinery.com grapes on Mother’s Day in 1982. In 1986, the first small winery was built and opened in November with one wine for sale, a Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the winery and vineyard features 27 acres of grapes, a state-of-the-art production facility, and a visitor center complete with tasting room and Carol’s Restaurant. The duo also purchased their first home in Idyllwild about four years ago and quickly became part of the community. “We love the community, the people,” Phil said smiling. “Everybody is so friendly … The more we’re up there, the more people we meet and it feels so comfortable.”

Baily Vineyard and Winery is the second oldest winery in Temecula.

8 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

part of that was just so thrilling. On the recommendation of a friend, Gary made the drive to Idyllwild, a drive that would become more and more frequent as his love for the small mountain community grew.

It was on those trips that Gary’s fascination with the Manzanita he saw along the windy road also grew. In 2004, he began working with the wood in earnest. “When I started working on manzanita I wanted to diversify a bit so I started doing some sculptures and just started having a lot of fun with sculptures,” Gary recalled.

“When [Idyll Awhile Wine Shoppe Bistro] opened up I said ‘What an

MiddleRidge Winery serves during the 2012 event outside of Acorn Gallery.

avenue for doing wine bottle stoppers,’ so now I do wine bottle stoppers and tea candle holders; I’m starting to make

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

kitchen wear with manzanita handles.”

A member of the Art Alliance for 10 years, five of which have been spent on

Idyllwild Ice Cream

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 9

the Board, Gary’s pet project is the Art Walk and Wine Tasting event. “The Art Alliance has become my passion and it’s very time consuming but the rewards are incredible, and what we can do for this town is just phenomenal. The progression [of the Art Walk and Wine Tasting] and the growth we’ve had in the last five years is unbelievable,” he said proudly.

Of course, the continued success and steady growth of the event has been

FEATURED WINERY

PHOTOS BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Hart FamilyWinery

J

Top: Attendees check in and collect their Art Walk and Wine Tasting glasses. Above: Chair massages were available at the 2013 Art Walk.

PHOTOS BY JOHN PACHECO

oe and Nancy Hart were both teachers in Carlsbad, California, prior to becoming the accomplished winemakers they are today. As Joe tells it, “I just became fascinated by wine and I felt quite a passion for wine, reading about it, tasting it; there’s a certain amount of romance about the wine industry.

It’s a really fascinating industry,” he said. So in 1973, they purchased property in Temecula and by 1974 had planted one acre of grapes.

Joe took a leave of absence from teaching to see if he could make it as a winemaker. “I thought ‘I’ll be the most underfinanced winery in the history of mankind,’ but we went for it,” Joe Hart Family recalled. Planting the vineyard was a family affair with Mom Nancy and their three sons all participating. “We built half Winery of the building in 1980; it was a very rustic facility at the 41300 Avenida Biona, time. That’s how it began. We had two tanks and a couple Temecula, CA 92591 dozen barrels, a basic crusher and stemmer and an electric 951-676-6300 basket press and a pump, that was what we started with,” Joe hartfamilywinery.com explained. Today, with son Jim (who is very well respected in the winemaking community), the winery produces about 5,000 cases of premium wine annually.

The Hart family also have a strong connection to Idyllwild, having had a home in the mountain community for more than 10 years. “We were quite involved in the community actually. We belonged to the Nature Center and AAI and the museum and the learning disability school,” Joe explained. “We just really liked the community; for weekenders, we were very much involved.”

10 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

due to the support of the local member galleries, the Art Alliance of Idyllwild members who number over 250, the wineries that participate in the event each year, and the Idyllwild community.

A few wineries have been on board with the event for many years. Their participation and continued support has been instrumental in the continued success of the event. Those wineries include Baily Vineyard and Winery, Hart Family Winery, MiddleRidge Winery and Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery, to name a few.

This year’s Art Walk and Wine Tasting will be on Saturday, October 11. The admission of $25 includes a commemorative wine glass, which serves as your ticket throughout the day. Tickets may be purchased online at artinidyllwild.org or on the day of the event in Idyllwild.

All indications are that this will be the best attended, most successful Art Walk and Wine Tasting ever.

An enthusiastic group of Art Walk and Wine Tasting goers poses for the camera during the 2013 event.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 11

FEATURED WINERY

PHOTOS BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery

W

hen you arrive at the impressive home of Robert Renzoni Vineyards it is hard to believe that son Robert Renzoni actually drew the design of the tasting room, expansive patio, and offices on a cocktail napkin 7 years ago. “It’s the fun part of the story. I was out having a couple of beers with friends, shooting the bull and there was a pencil and a napkin and I just started [drawing]. I wish I could find the napkin,” he said laughing. After researching Italian designs and photos online, Robert took his ideas to the architect and together they came up with a rendering that is 95% of his original concept.

Pieces of the family’s rich history in the wine business can be found throughout; in the Member’s Lounge there are photos of Grandfather Federico, Uncle Renzo, and Father Fred in his younger days. The family’s Robert history in the wine business dates back to 1886. Fred Renzoni explains, “My grandfather started making Renzoni wine in 1886 in Fano, Italy, and then he immigrated to Buffalo, NY in 1911. He started making wine for Vineyards friends and family and it soon became a commercial venture and that lasted until 1917 when Prohibition came along. They didn’t start up again until 1934 & Winery when Prohibition ended. They were able to start a wine 37350 De Portola Road, distribution business and that was Italian and French Wine Temecula, CA 92592 Company.” Fred points to a photo of a train in the lounge, 951-302-8466 “The family brought wines from California to Buffalo, NY, robertrenzonivineyards bottled them in Buffalo and sold them in upstate NY. This .com is how they brought the wine in – inside the Railroad car is a big giant tank and then they’d pump it out, there’s my dad right there.”

From the patio that seats 250 to the 3,000 square foot tasting room, to the Members Lounge with a big screen TV and a bar, you can feel the warmth of this family owned business. You can also sense the pride they have in their product – some of the finest wine made in the Temecula Valley.

12 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Miramonte Winery 33410 Rancho California Rd., Temecula (951)506-5500 www.miramontewinery.com

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery 34680 Highway 79, Warner Springs (760)782-0778 www.shadowmountainvineyards.com

Monte De Oro Winery 35820 Rancho California Rd., Temecula (951)491-6551 www.montedeoro.com

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula (951)587-9463 www.wineresort.com

Orfila Vineyards & Winery 13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido (760)738-6500 www.orfila.com

Specialty Cellars 13017 La Dana Court, Santa Fe Springs (562)630-6630 www.specialtycellars.com

PMDL Wine & Company Pierre Lemieux & John Donnelly 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon #200-42, Palm Springs (760)322.0905 www.pmdlwine.com

Tesoro Winery 28475 Old Town Front St​., Temecula (951)308-0000 www.tesorowinery.com

Powell Mountain Cellars 3050 Blue Rock Road, Paso Robles (805)434-8097 www.powellmountaincellars.com Regal Wine Co. (707)836-2100 www.regalwineco.com Robert Renzoni Vineyards & Winery 37350 De Portola Road, Temecula (951)302-8466 www.robertrenzonivineyards.com

Wiens Family Cellars 35055 Via Del Ponte, Temecula (951)694-9892 www.wienscellars.com Wine Warehouse 6550 E Washington Blvd., Los Angeles (800)331-2829 www.winewarehouse.com Young’s Market www.youngsmarket.com Free Run Juice (424) 237-8870 www.freerunjuice.com

The outdoor tasting room at Miramonte Winery.

Baily Vineyard & Winery 33440 La Serena Way, Temecula (951) 676-9463 www.bailywinery.com Bel Vino 33515 Rancho California Rd., Temecula (951) 676-6414, www.belvinowinery.com Chapin Family Vineyards 36084 Summitville St., Temecula 951-506-2935 www.chapinfamilyvineyards.com Cordiano Winery 15732 Highland Valley Rd., Escondido, CA 92025 (760)469-WINE (9463) www.cordianowinery.com Hart Winery 41300 Avenida Biona, Temecula (951)676-6300 www.hartfamilywinery.com La Serenissima Vineyards & Winery 35168 Highway 79, Warner Springs (951) 326-0205 www.vinotiso.com MiddleRidge Winery 28544 Old Town Front St., Temecula (951) 693-4567 www.middleridge.com Milagro Farm Vineyards & Winery 18750 Littlepage Rd., Ramona (760)787.0738 www.milagrofarmwinery.com

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Art Walk and Wine Tasting – Participating Wineries

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 13

FEATURED WINERY

PHOTO BY JAY PENTRACK

MiddleRidge Winery

M

elody Johnston could not have known the Pandora’s Box she was opening 30 years ago when she signed herself and husband, Chris, up for wine courses at UC Davis. “It was for his birthday and Valentine’s Day, they are close together, so after talking about it for years, I signed us both up for two weekend courses; one was in March and one was in April. With his interest piqued, Chris took another class on wine chemistry, and that was all it took to transform mild-mannered Chris Johnston into the “Mad Scientist,” he is today, a nickname he embraces.

Meanwhile, Melody, a marketing expert, was called away on a business trip and Chris, left to his own devices, decided to turn their Irvine condo into a winery! “ I go to a conference in May and I come home and open the door and [sniffs], it smells like a winery in here,” Melody said laughing.

Chris’ love of wine runs deep. “Wine was always part of our family and back then it was cheap – whatever came in the gallon jugs,” he said laughing. “Lots of sake too, my Mom is part Japanese so sake was always around too.”

A move to Idyllwild in 2005 where the couple built their home would allow Chris the space to begin his wine business. “It came to pass that we finished construction of this place in 2005 and I immediately started equipping out the downstairs. I bought two 400-liter tanks, those are now down at the winery [in Temecula],” he explained. “I got all the gear and started picking up a half ton here, a half ton there and started experimenting with different vineyards and figuring out which ones I liked and then we started going full blown commercial in 2006.” Commercial production was moved to Temecula in 2008.

With the unveiling of their wines at the 2009 Jazz in the Pines event, and despite some initial nervousness, Chris was pleased with the result. “There is always that nervous factor because I make the

14 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

wine to my taste and you hope other people appreciate it,” he said.

“That’s when the clue was, ‘Yeah, ok I got this figured out,’ and ever since then it has just been a rip roaring roll.”

The couple is an important part of the Idyllwild community, lending their support to a number of charitable organizations.

They also joined the Art Alliance of Idyllwild and attend numerous AAI functions throughout the year.

In 2013, AAI sponsored the creation of a public art installation called “Idyllwild Deer Sightings.” The project included 22 deer painted by local artists installed at multiple locations throughout Idyllwild. MiddleRidge, in their salute to the project, created the “Idyllwild Deer Sightings Label Project” that includes labels featuring the work of six of the deer artists. A portion of the proceeds of every bottle sold will be donated to the Art Alliance of Idyllwild.

The Johnston’s love of Idyllwild runs deep.

Melody, believes there is much to like.

“There are so many things to love about Idyllwild. If you’re going to have a busy lifestyle it’s nice to be able to do it in a place with beautiful blue skies Tasting Room and greenery. If it was a small town at Crush & Brew anywhere, it wouldn’t be the same, it’s 28544 Old Town Front St., the fact that it’s an artist community; Temecula that’s what makes the difference,” she (951)693-4567 or said passionately. “ The other thing (951) 326-3841 about Idyllwild, maybe because of the www.middleridge.com art, the artists, the Art Alliance and the Idyllwild Arts Academy [Chris attended IAA to study the violin as a young man], all of that put together, this is not a little country bumpkin town. You are interacting with people whether they live here or vacation here, who have these wonderfully interesting backgrounds. In another little town you wouldn’t necessarily have that same kind of interaction.”

A message from the Art Alliance of Idyllwild

I

would like to personally thank the village of Idyllwild, our Patron Wineries, Patron Inns, Galleries and Location Hosts, Our Dedicated Volunteers and Participants for making our annual Art Walk and Wine Tasting Event the success it has become. AAI is able to continue making donations to Public Art Projects, Art Education Programs and other worthy causes. I look forward to another successful year and “Cheers” to all.

Gary Kuscher President, Art Alliance of Idyllwild

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 15

FEATURED WINERY

Directory of Temecula Wineries

(List excludes participating Art Walk & Wine Tasting wineries, listed on page 13.)

Bel Vino Winery 33515 Rancho California Road www.BelVinoWinery.com Briar Rose Winery 41720 Calle Cabrillo www.briarrosewinery.com

PHOTOS COURTESY LA SERENISSIMA

La Serenissima

J

ohn Tiso, founder, along with son Tony, winemaker, run La Serenissima Vineyards and Winery in Warner Springs. As I walk along on a tour of the winery with Tony, he begins by gently pulling grapes from the vines in his vineyard. “I measure the sugar content in the grapes to know how close we are to harvest,” he explains.

La Serenissima (the Most Serene) is considered by some a “boutique” winery, but Tony tells me it is more an old world winery in the new world. “This is what wine making was up until 40 to 50 years ago,” he said proudly. “We grow the way Mother Nature has for a long, long time.”

La Serenissima sits on 20 acres at an elevation of 3,500 feet. The grapes are grown using sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices (that means no fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and minimal watering) on a North facing slope to minimize the exposure to the summer sun and heat. The result is low grape yield, but exceptional fruit quality. Tony picks up two rocks from his driveway, one large, one small. “You can make a lot more wine with a grape this size,” he said holding up the large rock. “But with smaller grapes,” he holds up the small rock, “you can’t make as La Serenissima much, but the smaller the grape, the better the wine.”

Vineyards &

The wine cellar is 85% underground – the Winery humidity keeps the barrels moist and there is low 35168 Highway 79, evaporation. Tony gives us a sample off the barrel Warner Springs, CA from three different barrels; Hungarian, American 951-326-0205 and French oak. The flavor of the wine from each was vinotiso.com slightly (but distinctly) different; Tony explained that the wine from all three barrels would be combined to produce a Bordeaux Claret blend.

The wines produced by La Serenissima are racked, not filtered which give them body and depth; along with oak barrel fermentation in French, American and Hungarian barrels, the result is wines with layers of complexity.

If you’re planning a special event, La Serenissima is the perfect place to gather friends and family for a memorable experience. The tour and wine making lesson are fascinating!

16 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Callaway Vineyard & Winery 32720 Rancho California Road www.callawaywinery.com Cougar Vineyard & Winery 39870 De Portola Road www.cougarvineyards.com Danza del Sol Winery 39050 De Portola Road www.danzadelsol.com Doffo Vineyard & Winery Tasting Room: 36083 Summitville www.doffowines.com Falkner Winery 40620 Calle Contento www.falknerwinery.com Foot Path Winery 36650 Glenoaks Road www.footpathwinery.com Frangipani Estate Winery 39750 De Portola Rd. www.frangipaniwinery.com Leoness Cellars 38311 DePortola Road www.leonesscellars.com Longshadow Ranch Vineyard & Winery 39847 Calle Contento www.longshadowranchwinery.com Lorenzi Estate Vineyards & Winery 36095 Monte De Oro www.lorenziestatewines.com Lorimar Vineyards & Winery 39990 Anza Road www.lorimarwinery.com Lumiere Winery 39555 Calle Contento www.lumierewinery.com

Masia de Yabar 39788 Camino Arroyo Seco www.masiadeyabar.com Maurice Car’rie Vineyard & Winery 34225 Rancho California Road www.mauricecarriewinery.com Mount Palomar Winery 33820 Rancho California Road www.mountpalomar.com Oak Mountain Winery 36522 Via Verde www.oakmountainwinery.com Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery 40150 Barksdale Circle www.palumbowines.com Ponte Family Estate Winery 35053 Rancho California Road www.pontewinery.com Thornton Winery 32575 Rancho California Road www.thorntonwine.com Vindemia Vineyard & Estate Winery 33133 Vista del Monte www.vindemia.com Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyard 35960 Rancho California Road www.wilsoncreekwinery.com

Idyllwild Ice Cream and Jerky T he ice cream store next to the Rustic Theatre in the heart of Idyllwild has been a staple in the community for more than 30 years.

Local residents Sandi and Jim Fulcher opened Idyllwild Ice Cream and Idyllwild Jerky in March 2013.

They serve only top-quality gelato, sorbet and soft serves. At any given time, a customer may choose from 16 flavors of gelato.

Pointing out the difference between gelato and American-style ice cream, Sandi said, “Our customers tell us they prefer the healthier gelato with its lower fat, better taste and no ‘chemical’ aftertaste.”

But before you order the cold treats, try a Nathan’s famous Coney Island hot dog, or a hamburger, individual pizza, chili, soup, giant pretzel or nachos. For a hot dessert, try hot berry tarts a la mode.

Hot drinks include coffee, tea, hot chocolates, chai tea, hot apple cider, cappuccinos and lattes.

The store offers more than 80 varieties of jerky, including alligator, rattlesnake, kangaroo, boar, ostrich, buffalo, venison, salmon, vegan and gluten-free.

This big little store is located at 54282 N. Circle Dr. Call 951-468-8118 for more information or visit www. facebook. com/quikstop parlor/info for updates on new products.

Bottles at Miramonte Winery PHOTOS BY JENNY KIRCHNER

PHOTOS BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 17

Sprucing up Idyllwild ... one shop at a time

By Jay Pentrack

O

n July 8, Brian Tallent and John Stonitsch celebrated the 9th Anniversary of the opening of their first store on Village Lane in Idyllwild in 2005. The move to Idyllwild would represent the change the couple was seeking in their lives from the corporate jobs they held in the desert. “We both loved coming to Idyllwild, and, like many people who have ended up here, you get to a point that you don’t want to leave. But you have to figure out how can you make all of the payments you’ve got to make … and still be able to live here,” Brian said. And then, lo and behold, the perfect business opportunity presented itself. “We actually had a friend that sent us something he had seen on the internet. It was a guy up here that was selling his business and his home together,” Brian said. “He wanted to leave Idyllwild very quickly; he had come to Idyllwild because his mother was terminally ill and he basically came here to help her die. He had no interest in Idyllwild.” But Brian and John did.

In short order, Brian and John purchased the business and begin their big move.

“We sold a house, moved a house, opened a new business, all at the same time and I wouldn’t recommend that to anybody,” Brian said. “Three years later we were still unpacking boxes because we put everything into this business, into getting it open.

We totally renovated the space that it was in and then we realized very quickly that the merchandise selection was not what we wanted and the name was not what we wanted.” John did not feel that the name, “Strictly Diversified Gifts” reflected Idyllwild at all. A few days later, Brian had a vision. “The name came to me in a

John Stonitsch and Brian Tallent with Chena in front of the Spruce Moose.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

dream. I woke up in the middle of the night … and I sat up and said ‘Spruce Goose.”

Then I thought no, that’s a plane. I’ve been there; I’ve seen the Spruce Goose,” he said laughing. “Then I thought ‘Spruce Moose.’ We wanted a name that was kind of whimsical and fun but had a mountainy feeling to it. And even though there aren’t any moose in Southern California or Idyllwild or in California in general, we started asking people, ‘what do you think of this name,’ and people kind of liked it.

On Village Lane, the Spruce Moose expanded to three times its original size to accommodate the growing list of merchandise featured in the store.

Then, about two and half years ago, the opportunity arose to move to The Fort located in the center of the Idyllwild

18 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Village. “We checked out the space and it was a really nice big space and we realized that we could fit all three stores under one roof and the rent was lower than what we were paying,” Brian recalled. For a time, Brian and John ran both businesses See Spruce, page 20

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 19

SPRUCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 simultaneously until they could complete the move. “We would finish work [at the Village Lane store], come over [to the new store at the Fort], change clothes, paint; we had our carpenter working with us that had helped us [on the lane]. He would work here during the day and we would come over at night and paint.” The move would prove to be a wise decision for the pair, especially when the economy took a downward turn. “[The move] really paid off because once the economy started to go we would not have made it. It has just done really well.”

Coyote Red’s, Brian and John’s latest venture, opened in the Fort on March 15 of this year. In addition to offering a variety of hard-to-find gourmet items, they also offer jerky once featured at the now defunct House of Jerky. “We knew it was a good selling product; we had signs in the window [at the closed House of Jerky], and people would come down and say, ‘is this the store that has the jerky?’ We sold the heck out of it,” said Brian smiling.

Competition barbeque sauces, hard to find jams, marinades and relishes line Coyote

Red’s shelves. “We know everything we sell, we can tell you where everything is made, and we taste almost everything,” Brian said.

At the Spruce Moose, candles are a popular item and Brian, having a “nose” for fragrance and a talent with color, began producing the candles Brian Tallent standing in front of the Spruce Moose’s hand-poured candles. himself about three and PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO a half years ago. “Right now I work with about 400 different oils. I artists. “We know all of the artists so we can have all of these bottles amazingly organized so talk about their work and tell people about that if I want to do something new, or if I get their personalities and what they’re like as challenged by a customer to do something new an artist and that sort of thing. It’s a nice I have all of these oils that I can work from. I partnership,” Brian offered. He also has use all high end, high grade candle supplies,” some good advice for visitors to the Spruce he said. The Spruce Moose also offers gifts, Moose and Coyote Red’s – “I always tell everything you need for your cabin (even if it’s people that the first thing you do is turn not a cabin), DVDs and many interesting and off your cell phone … and take off your unique items that provide visitors with a great watch because you don’t need either one up browsing experience. here,” said Brian. “I’ve lived in San Diego, Brian and John especially enjoy working I’ve lived in Los Angeles, and I’ve lived in with local artists. The Spruce Moose Palm Springs, three pretty heavily populated currently displays the work of 14 local places, and I love this place because it’s not.”

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014  21

By Robert B. Smith Idyllwild Area Historical Society

THEN & NOW

T

he current ferment about where and how to manage public recreation in Idyllwild calls to mind a place where Hill folk gathered for amusement in earlier times. I speak of the land now occupied by “The Center of Idyllwild,” better know locally as The Fort.

If we go back to 1904, the Fort site was little more than logged-over bare ground a stone’s throw downhill from the Idyllwild Sanatorium. After that ill-conceived hospital/hotel burned down, the site soon found itself nearly at the doorstep of the Sanatorium’s successor, the Idyllwild Inn, where it would not remain idle for long.

Once Claudius Lee Emerson began to develop the inn after 1917, the Fort site became a bustling place, with the Idyllwild Store and Post Office, a power plant, the Idyllwild Plunge, and ever popular croquet courts. Horseshoe pits were added to the inn’s amenities in 1924. And not far away stood a primitive bowling alley and pool hall.

These facilities continued to serve

The Idyllwild Store and Post Office, across from the existing Fort Shopping Center.

PHOTO COURTESY IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

the community until the Depression bankrupted their owner, Emerson’s Idyllwild Inc. Then a 1941 fire destroyed the store and post office, and the inn itself burned down in 1945, but through it all the plunge remained a summertime focal point for swimmers and spectators alike.

Idyllwild’s postwar renaissance—the resident population tripled from less

22 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

than 450 to over 1200 in three years— spurred two leaders of the group that then monopolized downtown Idyllwild, Jerry Johnson and Clifton Russell, to build a new recreation center called Sportland for the 1947 season. Along with the swimming pool, it boasted five bowling lanes, a snack bar, and an amusement center.

At summer’s end that year Johnson and

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

The heart of the village

Construction of the Sanatorium Power Plant, circa 1900.

PHOTO COURTESY IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Rebecca Frazier helps a customer paint pottery at Earth ‘n’ Fire upstairs in the Fort.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

Russell sold Sportland to Percy VanDerMeid and Bob Vevers, but a year later it, too, burned down. Rebuilt and reopened in 1949 with Don Otto as manager, Sportland advertised a “new” Idyllwild Plunge, plus bowling, pool, snooker, and a coffee shop. By 1951 an arcade and shooting gallery were added.

(Incidentally, it was at this time that the Chamber of Commerce first launched a recreation program at Town Hall, funded by the Lions Club.)

In 1953 Sportland was remodeled with an alpine decor and rechristened “Idyll-Hof,” with Jay Burton now the manager.

Otto later returned, and the facility continued to evolve, by 1957 adding ping-pong and miniature golf, and featuring a redecorated café and fountain and a banquet room. In May 1959, Idyll-Hof advertising suddenly disappeared from the Town Crier, and the property appeared to be in decline. But a new chapter was in the offing.

Avery and June Fisher bought the place in 1962 and opened a new, expanded Sportland with not only the bowling alley, swimming pool, and miniature golf, but also a roller skating rink, burger bar, ice cream shop, two restaurants (Sportsmen Grill and Carriage Room), an art gallery, and several small shops.

But in 1966. Rodney Welch, the developer of Alandale, bought the property and replaced Sportland with a classy restaurant, the Carriage Inn. Thus ended recreation on the Fort site. For the first time in a half-century, the village had no swimming pool – it was demolished to minimize the possibility of having children too close to the bar.

Welch sold out to Glenn Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, who razed the Carriage Inn in 1976, to make way for a shopping center that never materialized. Instead, the land sat vacant for twelve years, until Bell sold it to Idyllwild realtor Maureen Jones and Escondido developer Dick Krupp. They built the Fort, which opened in 1992, to the consternation of many with memories of happy times spent there as youngsters.

The Fort today, where Sportland was once located. PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Memories are made at Remember When Toys in the Fort.

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 23

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By Jay Pentrack

H

illtop Realty sits at the intersection of Highway 243, Highway 74 (towards Palm Desert) and Highway 74 (towards Hemet) in Mountain Center, a hop, skip and jump from the Idyllwild Village. It is a great location according to agents Larry Bischoff and Robyn Shaffer who call it their second home.

Larry’s background is reminiscent of a Hollywood movie – one of those “big city to small town” stories, with the twist being that Larry would actually be the screenwriter. “I came out of a Hollywood background and career,” Larry said. “I wrote for Little House on the Prairie and the Walton’s and Grizzly Adams - family entertainment. I was a television and screenwriter.”

Larry and wife Susan opted for a more peaceful life and a better place to raise their two children, so the couple said “goodbye to city life” and “hello” to Idyllwild. (Cue the “Green Acres” theme.)

They purchased the feed store located in Mountain Center, had two more children and settled in to a wonderful life serving the community. Then Larry turned 55.

“I turned 55 and everything kind of hurt that morning.” And who wouldn’t hurt - part of Larry’s feed store work included lifting hay bales that weighed 135 pounds each and stacking them in customers’ barns. “I was thinking [daughter] Harmony needed to go to college and the boys were just getting married and wanted help with houses,” Larry recalled. “The feed store, I loved it, but I didn’t see how that was going to get us through the next 20 years.”

According to Larry, an ad in the paper would prove life changing, “Shane [Stewart] had just come to town, bought Hilltop Realty and there was an ad in the paper that said ‘realtors wanted, no experience needed.’ I had always been really good at Monopoly,” he said laughing. “I went and talked to [Shane]

Robyn Shaffer and Larry Bischof in their Mountain Center office.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

Selling Paradise A Sit Down with Larry Bischoff and Robyn Shaffer of Hilltop Realty and he handed me tapes, I took my test, passed, and he gave me a desk. Within a short period of time I was very busy.”

Robyn Shaffer came from a real estate career in the desert working with Dyson & Dyson. “I worked at the height of the market; we were getting 500 agents a day coming to the desert,” she recalled. “The agents that had been in sales for quite a while were getting undermined by all of the newbies that wanted to make a quick buck, they were cutting commissions, they were doing all kinds of shenanigans. It was time for me to transition, I love being in a small town. That’s why I moved here.”

Robyn was working for Idyllwild Realty when Shane Stewart took it over. “I was managing the three [real estate offices] and the one down here. And that was a great five or six years,” Robyn said. When Larry’s previous partner agent, Myrna, wanted to retire, Robyn had a plan. In addition to managing the four real estate offices, she would also assume Myrna’s position at Hilltop. But Shane, seeing that Robyn was keeping a break-neck pace said, according to Robyn, “We need to reconsider this, you’re getting absolutely stretched thin.

When would you be willing to move full time down with Larry?” A few months later, Robyn joined Larry and the duo has been working together successfully since then. “What makes our dynamic work,”

Larry said, “is that both of us are absolutely persistent to a fault.”

Both Larry and Robyn appreciate the opportunity to work with a network of agents in Idyllwild. “We enjoy serving people and Shane has given us the luxury of this little boutique office,” Larry said gratefully. “We not only have that luxury but we’re hooked into all of [Shane’s] 21 agents, and three offices; our listings are in his windows and his listings are in ours, so we cross-pollinate to serve the community.”

With the housing market coming back, there is reason for optimism. The pair estimates that the prime price range is in the $300k range. “We have a lot of inventory. We even have some right now, nice inventory, in and around $200k,” Larry said. “We are starting again just recently to see some of the higher-end houses [sell]. Right now we have two Garner Valley homes in escrow and one in counter-offers. For a long time, the higher-end listings weren’t showing or selling. We’re excited.”

The best part of the job, Larry and Robyn agree, is the clients. “The relationship with our clients matters to us. I think above all else, that is the joy in it; when we can find someone a home that they are happy with. Relationships, above all else, that is the joyful part of our job.”

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 25

Camp life

L

et’s go camping! With over 80 locations in 22 states and British Columbia, Thousand Trails is the largest provider of RV resorts and campgrounds in North America. Avid campers will like the annual camping pass that is available for only $545 (be sure to check out their Labor Day special online) with five camping zones to choose from; non-members are also welcome at the campground! Horse camping is also available.

For visitors to Idyllwild, the Thousand Trails campground boasts an impressive list of amenities and tons of activities that will delight the entire family. There are over 300 campsites spread over 200 acres. Whether you’re into tent camping, RV camping, or renting a cabin, Thousand Trails can accommodate you. The quaint village of Idyllwild will provide wonderful day excursions for the family; browse the shops and galleries downtown.

The Idyllwild Campground features a Clubhouse, General Store, Restaurant, Laundry Facilities, Restroom/Shower Facilities, Picnic and BBQ areas and a Library.

Activities include fishing in their well-stocked fish pond, swimming in the heated pool, stables, basketball, billiards, bike trails, horseshoes, shuffleboard, hiking trails, world class rock climbing, playground and volleyball.

Pack up the kids, dust off the RV, grab the dog and head to Idyllwild for a weekend getaway or an extended vacation.

Thousand Trails Idyllwild RV Resort

24400 Canyon Trail, Idyllwild www.thousandtrails.com/california/idyllwild-rv-resort PHOTOS BY JENNY KIRCHNER 26 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

IDYLLWILD ROCKS PART 2

Story by Donna Elliot Photos by Neil Jenkins + Donna Elliot

How do you entice a “troglodyte”

to venture out into the sun?

Easy. She moves to California and discovers Idyllwild!

For many years, I had been a cave explorer. I explored the deep caves of Mexico and France, the long caves of Kentucky and Switzerland and the unknown caves of Papua New Guinea.

But the moment I saw Tahquitz Rock, my dreams soared to new heights … literally. I discovered rock climbing and turned my face to the sun.

“So, how does the rope get up there anyway?”

If you haven’t experienced rock climbing, it is difficult to envisage how climbers progress safely up the rock. So that you can, let me lead you step by step from bottom to top.

Equipment To visualize the sequence, you need to know the gear.

Climbing Ropes have features designed specifically for climbing. They are “dynamic” in that they stretch to absorb the energy generated should a climber fall. Ropes vary in length (150 to 200 feet) and diameter (from 8 to 11mm). The longer and thicker the rope, the heavier (and safer) it is. The length and diameter of rope depends on your type of climbing (local crags vs. long back-country peaks) and your aversion to risk.

Protection (or “Pro”) helps minimize the length of a fall a climber might take. A fall is generally shorter and safer the more gear that is placed along the climb. This gear has many shapes and sizes. In the early days, “pitons” (metal spikes) were hammered into the cracks, but often left scars once they were removed. Sometimes, they couldn’t be removed and became “fixed”. Progress led to “stoppers” or “nuts” that are made of aluminum and are larger at one end smaller at the other. The climber places them in tapering cracks where they wedge at the narrowest section. “Hexes” are asymmetrical, 6-sided tubes and are similarly used. These are easily removed with no damage to the rock. One of the greatest boons to climbing was the invention of “Spring-loaded Camming Devices” (SLCDs). A spring-loaded trigger wire pulls 3 or 4 curved aluminum cams so that they retract and fit into cracks. Release the trigger and the cams expand to fit the rock. SLCDs

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 27

Each climber is tied into an end of the rope. One person leads a “pitch” (generally a rope length), the second belays the leader, paying out rope at the pace of the climber.

come in varying sizes to cater for differing size cracks. To remove this device, you pull the trigger wire and the cams retract again.

“Carabiners” are metal loops with a springloaded gate and are attached to the gear.

Ironically, it is sometimes the piton scars that allow placement of the modern gear!

Climbers wear a seat harness and a helmet. A “belay” device is generally attached to the belayer’s seat harness and is used to control the amount of rope going out to the lead climber or for belaying up the next climber. If a climber falls, the belayer can halt the fall simply by not allowing any more rope to feed through the device.

Communication Climbers have a standard set of calls that are used to communicate their actions.

They need to know they are “on belay” so they may proceed safely. Sometimes, a climber might need “slack” to make a move or yell “up rope” to remove unwanted slack. When the lead climber reaches a point where she sets up an “anchor” (placing at least 3 pieces of gear in the rock and attaching herself to the anchor), she can let the belayer know that she is “off belay.” You’ll hear these same calls at climbing areas anywhere in the US. Leader and Second Each climber is tied into an end of the rope. One person leads a “pitch” (generally a rope length), the second belays the leader, paying out rope at the pace of the climber.

As the leader progresses up the rock, she

places “pro” at safe intervals and clips her rope into a karabiner attached to the gear. The rope runs through this series of karabiners. If she should fall, she will only fall as far as her last piece of gear.

Once she runs out of rope or reaches a safe stance, the leader sets up a belay anchor and clips in. She is ready to take in any excess rope until it becomes tight on the second who yells “that’s me”.

“Climbing” … “Climb”. The second begins to climb, taking out the gear as he reaches each piece and “racks” it on his harness or bandolier. As the rope is coming from above, most slips will be minimal.

For multi-pitch climbs, the most efficient process is for the second to lead the next pitch with all gear handed to him. This process is repeated until you reach the top.

To get down from the top, you can often walk or climb down a less steep path, or you can “rappel” using anchors (or a tree) at the top of the climb. You set up the rope so that it can be pulled down after the last climber rappels. Here, the rope is fed through the belay device on the climber’s harness and the descent is controlled as the rope goes through the device slowly. Many accidents occur at this stage so extreme caution is warranted … as well as a rope, or two, long enough to reach the ground!

“How do climbers know where to go?”

For many climbers, the attraction is to put up new “routes” that no one has climbed before; others prefer the comfort of knowing the route and climb’s grade

28 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

(a rating system from 5.0 to a current level of 5.15 and rising). Climbers and climbing clubs publish guidebooks that contain “topos” of the routes. There are also climbing forums where climbers can get the latest “beta” on routes, conditions, etc. Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks have several guidebooks ranging from the early pioneer days of the area to the most recently published in 2013 by Bob Gaines of Vertical Adventures.

“How can I learn to climb?”

This article is meant for non-climbers as an overview of the equipment and techniques. It does not take the place of professional training. Climbing is inherently dangerous but the dangers can be mitigated through proper instruction, practice, experience, research and caution.

First, try climbing with an experienced instructor to see if you enjoy it, particularly before buying any gear. Local climber and mountain rescue team member, Les Walker of Idyll Ventures (http://www.idyllventures. com/), will personalize this introduction to make it safe … and fun. You can then proceed to beginner and more advanced courses.

My passion I have been climbing at Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks since 1972. I introduced my husband, Neil Jenkins, to climbing … and Idyllwild. In 2000, he proposed to me on top of the Matterhorn in Switzerland and I’m happy to say we’ve been high ever since!

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 29

Desert Sun School

Tiny campus blossoms in Coachella Valley, expands to 93 acres in San Jacinto Mountains Above, students hard at work in the school’s study hall. Below, Edith and Richard Elliott in 1956.

PHOTOS COURTESY IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

By Robert B. Smith Idyllwild Area Historical Society

F

ew enterprises have linked Idyllwild with Coachella Valley as directly as the Desert Sun School. Launched at Mecca in 1930 as a private elementary school, it moved to Idyllwild in 1946, where it evolved into a rigorous college preparatory high school that persisted until 1990.

During the 1920s, Tennessee emigrants and newlyweds Edith and Richard Elliott were starting their family on a ranch near Mecca. As their two children approached school age, Edith’s unhappy experience teaching in the local school suggested that home-schooling might be a wiser choice.

Three other families agreed, and in 1929 under the desert sun Edith Elliott embarked on a year-long experiment with five children.

One of the homes had playground equipment, so classes convened there each day. Word got around, and others clamored to join up.

Encouraged by that first year’s experience, Edith enlisted her sister, Helen Jayne, as a colleague, and the Elliotts erected a little tent house at their Mecca ranch. The instantly successful school started with 12

pupils in 1930, but it immediately needed more space. The Elliotts acquired a vacant date-packing house to serve as a dormitory, even bought a second ranch for its six government-surplus frame houses.

Desert Sun School’s future was foreshadowed in 1932, when the Elliotts launched a summer camp at High Castle, a lodge on the low ridge that separates Saunders Meadow from Idyllwild village.

The camp’s popularity outgrew the premises, and in 1937 it moved to a site near Herkey Creek above Lake Hemet. Then in 1940 the Elliotts leased 40 acres on Saunders Meadow, a locale so inviting that in 1944 they bought it.

To reduce the expense of maintaining three locations, the desert properties were sold, and in 1946 Desert Sun School moved permanently to Idyllwild. Living facilities were built for students, and growth continued. In 1951 the school began a transition to a high-school program, ultimately discontinuing course work below 8th-grade level. Purchase of surrounding lots and homes expanded the campus over the years to 93 acres.

Desert Sun seems especially compatible

30 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

with Idyllwild developer Claudius Lee Emerson’s original vision for Idyllwild as a family-friendly community. Affectionately known to all as “Edie” and “Dickie,” the Elliotts saw the boarding school as an extended family, fostering spiritual individuality, responsibility and moral values along with academic learning.

This atmosphere appealed to parents with “difficult” children, but also to celebrities. The alumni roster became studded with such names as Sinatra, Lockheed, Linkletter, Astaire, Carmichael and Sellers.

One of Desert Sun’s unique features was its horsemanship program. During the Mecca years many students owned their own horses, and the school acquired more for those who didn’t.

Each student thus had a horse to care for throughout the year.

Each summer the horses were ridden on a four-day trek to the designated camp site, an especially useful procedure during wartime rationing of gas and tires.

This tradition led to construction of extensive stables and an arena at the Saunders Meadow campus. The school’s Riding Troop became a widely known, award-winning program. The horsemanship instructor for several years was Charlie Wise, a western film actor from the silent era, and after his death he was memorialized in an annual “Charlie Wise Day” gymkhana competition during the school’s Spring Festival.

Richard Elliott retired from teaching in 1968, but remained a trustee and active participant in Idyllwild community affairs. Edith Elliott continued as director until 1971, when she retired shortly before her death.

The financial hard times of the 1970s soon caught up with Desert Sun. By 1983 resident enrollment had fallen from its targeted 250 to 156. A decision was made to change the school’s name to The Elliott-Pope Preparatory School, honoring equally the

Main photo: summer campers; Above: students in the horsemanship program. PHOTOS COURTESY IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

founders, Edith and Richard Elliott, and Edker and Blanche Pope, a couple whose financial support was keeping it afloat.

Nevertheless, enrollment continued to decline, finally forcing Elliott-Pope to close its doors in 1990. The campus was sold to Guided Discoveries Inc., whose Astrocamp now brings thousands of California schoolchildren to Idyllwild each year by offering shortterm sessions around the calendar.

Still, crowds of fiercely loyal Desert Sun and Elliott-Pope alumni, whose lives were shaped during teenage years spent in this stunningly beautiful location, continue to return for campus reunions. To mark the most recent reunion, the Idyllwild Area Historical Society has mounted an exhibit on the school’s history, which can be viewed in the museum at North Circle Drive and Oakwood Street on weekends between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Kölsch, the real “Champagne” of beers

R

By Jared Dylan Idyllwild Awhile Wine Shoppe & Bistro

itual is an important part of human behavior. Whether it be going to a specific barber or having a cigarette after work ritual surrounds us everyday.

One of my favorite beer styles, Kölsch, is surrounded in ritual. First off, Kölsch can only be named as such if it is from Cologne, Germany. Secondly, the serving of Kölsch is typically done in small 0.2-liter Kölsch glasses. A server at a traditional Kölsch bar in Germany will continuously serve

Coachella Valley Brew Company’s Kölschella.

PHOTO COURTESY COACHELLA VALLEY BRE COMPANY

a customer with an empty glass whether they ask or not. Many waiters keep track by marking the customer’s coaster with one dash per beer. It isn’t atypical for one

Pronunciation guide for English-speakers: “Cœllsh” (pronounce the “ö” like a French “œ” as in bœuf)*

32 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

individual to go through fifteen glasses in one sitting. Taking in the Rhine or enjoying the Cologne Cathedral over a few glasses of Kölsch is a common occurrence to visitors and locals.

The style of Kölsch is pretty simple.

Essentially, Kölsch is a lager that is brewed like an ale. It is typically fermented at around 60°F. After fermenting, it is often

lagered at cool temperatures for around a month. The ability to ferment it quickly has led to many craft breweries in America doing Kölsch style beers. The reason behind this is because lagers tend to take much longer to ferment. This means that lagers spend more time in the fermentation tanks, and the brewers aren’t able to produce new beers until fermentation occurs. Every day is money in the brewing world, so instead of doing traditional lagers many craft brewers save time and money by producing Kölsch.

Like champagne, they can not refer to it as Kölsch, it must be labeled as Kölsch Style.

Many breweries simplify it even further and just call the beer a blonde ale.

We at Idyll Awhile consistently strive to serve authentic German style beers. Every October we have a German beer tasting where we pair Kölsch with an assortment of traditional German dishes. A local standout Kölsch comes from Coachella Valley Brewing Company in Thousand Palms.

Their Kölschella, named after the valley, is the perfect easy drinking ale for the summer heat. Traditional flavors include those of grain, lemon grass and faint hops. The beer itself is straw colored with a crisp, refreshing mouthfeel. Kölschella is one of my favorite beers from what locals refer to as “CVB.” Come by and try Kölschella amongst some other great locally crafted beers.

A marketing photo for Reissdorf Kölsch shows the Cologne Cathedral in the background.

PHOTO COURTESY REISSDORF

“Kölsch” is a low-German word in the local dialect of the city of Köln (Cologne), in the Rhineland of Germany. The word has three meanings. As an adjective it means “Cologne-ish” as in: “The Cologne Cathedral is a very kölsch vista.”

As a noun, Kölsch is the name for the local dialect itself as in: “She speaks fluent Kölsch.”

Finally, the noun Kölsch is also the name for the local ale as in: “I believe I ought to order another Kölsch.” That’s why patrons in the pubs around that famous Cathedral joke that Kölsch is the only language in the world that you can also drink! * SOURCE: http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/K%F6lsch.html

Idylll Awhile’s beer expert Jared Dillon.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

A few local Coachella Valley Brewing Company purveyors: ¤¤ Ace Hotel, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Bar, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Beerhunter, La Quinta, CA ¤¤ Birba, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Chop House, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Club Trinidad/Purple Room, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Desert Willow, Palm Desert, CA ¤¤ Desert Fox Bar, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Figue, La Quinta, CA ¤¤ Grind Burger Bar, Palm Springs ¤¤ Idyll Awhile, Idyllwild, CA ¤¤ Jackalope Ranch, Indio, CA ¤¤ Matchbox, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Parker Hotel, Palm Springs ¤¤ Rancho Las Palmas, Rancho Mirage, CA ¤¤ Ricks Bar, Palm Springs, CA

¤¤ Saguaro, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Solana’s Bistro, La Quinta, CA ¤¤ Schmidy’s Tavern, Palm Desert, CA ¤¤ Smoke Tree Supper Club, Palm Springs ¤¤ Tilted Kilt, Palm Desert, CA ¤¤ The Hard Rock Hotel, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Woody’s, Palm Springs, CA ¤¤ Village Pub, Palm Springs, CA Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 33

T24 Hours in Idyllwild

Hiking along the Ernie Maxwell Trail, which starts at Humber Park.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

34  Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

By Jay Pentrack

w

here to stay: Thousand Trails Idyllwild Campground Start by going online or calling Thousand Trails to book your one-night stay. A Cottage that sleeps up to 6 and features a queen size bed, a set of single bunks, dinette and sleeper sofa. The Cottage is also equipped with TV/Satellite, heat and air conditioning, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, cups, glasses, electric coffee makers, toasters, microwave, dish soap and paper towels, so you won’t need to worry about packing anything but what you’re planning to wear.

The cost: about $124. Rates may vary depending on the date and day of the week you plan your stay. You can also bring along Fido!

Once you get settled in and after breakfast at Thousand Trails’ on-site restaurant, check out the schedule of activities for the day with the Activities Director. The kids may want to participate in some of the children’s programs offered or just head over to the playground to climb, jump and do what kids do. Mom and Dad may want to take a dance class, play BINGO or just relax with the kids.

If weather permits, a dip in the heated pool will insure that the kids sleep well while Mom and Dad enjoy some quiet

time gazing at the stars and reconnecting.

Tip: Call in advance for a complete list of activities available during your visit.

Plan dinner after an early evening stroll in the Idyllwild Village and some souvenir shopping; for a small town, Idyllwild has a great selection of restaurants - enjoy a delicious hamburger at the Lumber Mill Bar & Grill, traditional Mexican food at La Casita or Italian fare with a flare at La Bella Montagna. For dessert, stop by Idyllwild Ice Cream & Jerky for a soft serve, chocolate dipped cone, and finish the evening with a family movie at the Rustic Theatre.

First thing in the morning, gather up the kids and take a hike! The Ernie Maxwell Trail is perfect for the entire family in that it is not too challenging or steep and everyone will enjoy the incredible views. Only 5 miles roundtrip, the family can opt for the full hike which takes about 2-1/2 hours at a leisurely pace or, if you have small children, you can take an abbreviated version so it is not too taxing.

While 24 hours may not seem like a lot of time, you’ll be amazed at how much fun you can pack into your one-day vacation in Idyllwild. For families on a budget or busy professionals with limited time off, these short excursions are remarkably rejuvenating and a great bonding experience for the entire family.

At top: A friendly bear greets visitors to Thousand Trails.

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Above: A Lumber Mill cook mans the prepares fresh, delicious Mexican food.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 35

By Shanna Robb Art Alliance of Idyllwild

med Idyllwild

T

ravel anywhere in the world and the mere mention of California conjures up images taken right out of a Hollywood movie script. As a young girl from Wyoming, like many travelers before and after me, I imagined a state full of surfers, movie stars and palm trees.

I was 15 years old the first time I visited California. Surprisingly, what I captured in my travel journal was a far reach from my dreamy imagination. In my journal recounted stories focused on the vast number of cars, shopping malls the size of my high school, and concrete jungles of towering buildings surrounded by a maze of freeways. What I noticed most during my travels to Southern California was the lack of trees, mountains, crystal blue sky and seasons. Then again, I had NOT yet been introduced to Idyllwild!

I moved to Southern California in 1987 to finish college and in 1995 Idyllwild became part of my future. The instant I drove around the last curve leading into the center of Idyllwild, I felt at home. The pine trees and fresh mountain air were a welcome refuge from the push and pull of city life. I was instantly enamored by the town’s charm and artistic vibe. The hiking trails, stores, art galleries, inns, restaurants and people of Idyllwild offered me a blank pallet to create a colorful tapestry of memories.

Nineteen years later, while Southern California is not known for having seasons,

Top: Carriage rides are sometimes offered in town on the weekends. Above left, the Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s Second Saturday Art Fair happens in the center of town every month. Center: Shoppers get smiles at Far East Gifts in the Fort. Right: Choose your flavor of gelato at Idyllwild Ice Cream and Jerky, next to the Rustic Theatre.

PHOTOS BY JOHN PACHECO

36 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

The Mountain Quilters of Idyllwild host their annual quilt show in September. This year’s theme is “Mountain Traditions.” PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

the seasonal changes in Idyllwild continue to refresh my inner being. One of my favorite times of the year is the transition from summer to fall, especially the months of September and October. As I have learned to expect, when it comes to fall, the town of Idyllwild presents a basket full of events for all types of interests.

‘Mountain Traditions’ quilt show The Idyllwild Mountain Quilters kick off the month of September with their 11th Annual Quilt Show on September 6th and 7th. This year’s theme is “Mountain Traditions” and will feature over 100 quilts.

Unique to this year’s event, in addition to

the alpaca wool exhibition and local artist booths, the two-day event will showcase national winners of the Keepsake Quilts traveling show. Held at the Buckhorn Camp at 24641 Highway 243 from 10am4pm, this collection of tapestry is worth the short trip up the hill.

Will in the Woods Just as captivating is the theatre performance of Will In The Woods by local theatre group, Stratford Players (www. stratfordplayers.com). Nestled in the woods, hence the name, local actors bring Shakespeare to Idyllwild September 6th/7th and 13th/14th. An intimate and affordable

Top: The La Casita crew gets into the spirit during Idyllwild’s annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Carnival in the center of town.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

The Stratford Players are set to perform another ”Will in the Woods” in September.

PHOTO COURTESY STRATFORD PLAYERS

Above: The Idyllwild Area Historical Society’s annual Home Tour features some incredible mountain homes.

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 37

theatre experience that is never the same, the audience is cleverly weaved into the performance as it unfolds.

Historical Society Home Tour Speaking of experiences, the Idyllwild Area Historical Society (www.idyllwildhistory.org) is hosting their 2014 Idyllwild Home Tour on September 13. Opening doors to five private mountain homes, in addition to visiting the marvelous museum grounds, docents provide visitors a delightful glimpse at Idyllwild’s history – both past and present. Tickets for the home tour, a fourteen-year tradition, are available at the Idyllwild Monument located in the center of town starting at 9:30am on the morning of the tour.

2nd Saturday Art Fair Celebrating local art is the focus of the 2nd Saturday Art Fair hosted by the Art Alliance of Idyllwild (www.artinidyllwild. org). Held on September 13 and October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors receive artist direct pricing on original artwork including stained glass, jewelry, paintings, gords, tiles, photography, plus more. Held at the marvelous Idyllwild Community Center Park across from the Shell gas station, the fair is a treasure chest of talent and a gathering place for both locals and visitors to the hill.

Art Walk & Wine Tasting Art again takes center stage as the Art Alliance hosts their 17th Annual Art Walk

Phil Baily of Baily Winery pours during the 2012 Art Walk & Wine Tasting in front of Café Aroma.

PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER

and Wine Tasting on Saturday, October 11th. This is their most popular event of the year and draws over a thousand visitors to our local galleries. Guests stroll the streets of Idyllwild with a keepsake wine glass to the ambiance of live music as they view special art exhibits. Each member gallery hosts one or more Southern California winery and offers a wide selection of gourmet cheese and crackers.

With over 20 wineries planned for 2014, the event is the perfect opportunity to book reservations at one of Idyllwild’s

Kids, and adults alike, get excited when shopping at Remember When Toys in the Fort.

PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO

38 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

wonderful inns. Ticket information is available at www.artinidyllwild.org.

Rounding out the calendar for September and October are two Idyllwild traditions. The Idyllwild American Legion Post 800 (www.post800.org) has been serving U.S. military veterans and their families since 1948. The American Legion’s Prime Rib Night is held the 1st Friday of every month from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and is a fantastic way to support their mission.

Equally deserving of your support is the Soroptimists International of Idyllwild.

Serving the mountain for over 41 years, the Soroptimists will be hosting their Annual Basket Festival on Wednesday, October 22, at Buckhorn Camp (24641 Highway 243) starting at 5pm. In addition to the free spaghetti dinner given to attendees, a raffle will be held for nine baskets full of merchandise and adventure park passes.

Proceeds from this delightful event provide scholarships for women and girls.

Whether you live in Idyllwild or are visiting for the weekend, Idyllwild events aim to make everyone feel at home. For first time visitors, unlike my travel journal as a teenager, I can assure you that the only disappointing part of Idyllwild is leaving.

Then again, look at the calendar for the upcoming events and you’ll see more than one reason to come back again and again!

Also, Idyllwild has a weekly paper – the Idyllwild Town Crier – that covers Hill cultural events and much more. You can find it online at idyllwildtowncrier.com. A weekly events calendar is posted there.

palm springs readies for

modernism week

BY JAY PENTRACK

M

odernism Week hosted in the desert February 12-22 has grown to become one of Palm Springs’ signature events. The Modernism Fall Preview has also grown at break-neck pace resulting in an expanded program for the preview this year, October 10-13. “We’re excited to welcome the Modernism Show & Sale to this year’s Fall Preview,” says Lisa Vossler Smith, Executive Director of Modernism Week. “Thanks to their participation and the efforts of our local partner organizations, this weekend event has grown into a wonderful kick-off for Modernism Week in February that will be enjoyed by visitors and desert residents alike.”

With 45 premier national and international vendors the Modernism Show & Sale promises to be an exciting addition to the schedule. The show will

include furniture, decorative and fine arts representing all design movements of the 20th century.

Modernism Week features desert architecture and design, such as the Frey House above.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 39

The show will open on Saturday, October 11 at 10 am with an exclusive “early bird” shopping preview until noon benefiting Modernism Week.

Admission is $25 and includes return entry all weekend. Weekend show hours are Saturday from 12 – 6 pm and Sunday from10 am - 4 pm. Open to the public, regular admission to the show is $15.

The weekend kicks off with “Aloha, Modernism Week: A Modern Beach Party with a Twist of Elvis,” an Elvis Themed beach party at the new Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club designed by Chris Pardo of Elemental Architecture.

An outdoor terrace, bar, fire pits, expansive lawn area, and, oh yes, and an awesome swimming pool, and a free screening of Elvis’ 1961 hit, “Blue Hawaii” promise partygoers a night fit for a King (and Queen). Signature drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and dancing like you did in the good old days (remember the “Twist”?), will have you telling all of your friends back home the great time they missed. After all, what better souvenir is there than a memory?

Breathtaking tours, a sneak peak of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s soonto-open Architecture & Design museum, architectural walking and bike tours, double decker bus tours, and so much more make this year’s Fall preview a not-to-be missed addition to your Fall event schedule.

40 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Modernism Week Show & Sale.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

Modernism Week Retro Yard Sale.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

A kitchen in one of the homes featured in the Modernism Week home tour.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

The First Annual Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale ­– Fall Edition will feature 45 premier national and international dealers offering furniture, decorative and fine arts representing all design movements of the 20th century.

At left, the Palm Springs Visitor Center. PHOTO COURTESY ARTHUR COLEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY Above, inside the Frey house in Palm Springs. PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

The mission of Modernism Week is to celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in Palm Springs.

FA L L PR E VI E W OCTO B E R 1 0 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 ARCHITECTURAL BUS TOURS NIGHTLY PARTIES MODERNISM SHOW & SALE LECTURES AND FILMS LIVE MUSIC ARCHITECTURE TOURS HOME AND GARDEN TOURS OVER 150 EVENTS TICKETS AND INFORMATION

modernismweek.com Presenting Sponsor

Major Sponsor

Modernism Week is a California 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

Sponsors as of August 1, 2014. Photo by Dan Chavkin.

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 41

palm springs modernism schedule of events Friday, October 10th

Saturday, October 11th

Architectural Icons of Fashion and Finance Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10 am, Cost: $35

Frey House II Tours, Palm Springs Art Museum, Box Office, 8:30 am - 4:45 pm, Cost: $55 Tour, $120 Tour + Reception

Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood – The Movie Colony Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35

Modernism Week Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour, Hilton Palm Springs, Calle Encilia Entrance, 8:30 am - 1 pm, Cost: $75

Golden Era Hollywood Homes in Old Las Palmas Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $50 Heart of the City Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am and 9:45 am, Cost: $35 Rat Pack Playground – Modernist Homes of Vista Las Palmas Historical, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35 Tennis Club Neighborhood Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35 Stars and Star-chitects in Deepwell Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50 Modernism Week Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour, Hilton Palm Springs, Calle Encilia Entrance, 1 pm, Cost: $75

Architectural Icons of Fashion and Finance Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35 Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood – The Movie Colony Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35 Golden Era Hollywood Homes in Old Las Palmas Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50 Heart of the City Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35 Rat Pack Playground – Modernist Homes of Vista Las Palmas Historical, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35 Tennis Club Neighborhood Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35

Weekender Ticket Packages available.

Stars and Star-chitects in Deepwell Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50 Steel House #1 Tour, Palm Springs, 10 am 1 pm, Cost: $50 Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale – Early Buying Preview, Palm Springs Convention Center, 10 am - 12 pm, Cost: $25, Early Buying Preview Mid-century Bike Ride, Ernest Coffee, 10 am - 1 pm, Cost: Free Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale – Fall Preview, Palm Springs Convention Center, 12 pm - 6 pm, Cost: $15 ¡Bienvenidos Modernistas!, Architecture and Design Cente, 6 pm - 8 pm, Cost: $75, $100

Sunday, October 12th Modernism Yard Sale, Paul Kaplan Group, Parking Lot, 8 am - 1 pm, Cost: Free Frey House II Tours, Palm Springs Art Museum, Box Office, 8:30 am - 4:45 pm, $55 Tour, $120 Tour + Reception Modernism Week Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour, Hilton Palm Springs, Calle Encilia Entrance, 8:30 am - 1 pm, Cost: $75 Architectural Icons of Fashion and Finance Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35 Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood – The Movie Colony Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35 Golden Era Hollywood Homes in Old Las Palmas Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50 Heart of the City Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35 Rat Pack Playground – Modernist Homes of Vista Las Palmas Historical, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35

The Modernism Week tour bus.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

42 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Tennis Club Neighborhood Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35

Stars and Star-chitects in Deepwell Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50 Lost, Saved & Endangered: Modernist Architecture in Palm Springs, Palm Springs Woman’s Club, 314 South Cahuilla Road, Palm Springs, 10 am - 12 pm, Cost: Free, Reservations required at info@ pspreservationfoundation.org Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale – Fall Preview, Palm Springs Convention Center, 10 am - 4 pm, Cost: $15 The Salton Sea…Beautiful, Intriguing and Weird, Check-in location: Rancho Mirage Library, 4 pm - 6 pm, Cost: $45 “THE GOOD LIFE > Palm Springs,” a book signing with Nancy Baron, Just Modern, 5 pm - 7 pm, Cost: Free Frey House II Tours, Palm Springs Art Museum, Box Office, 8:30 am - 4:45 pm, Cost: $55 Tour, $120 Tour and Reception Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood – The Movie Colony Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35

Getting ready for the Modernism Week bike tour.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

Golden Era Hollywood Homes in Old Las Palmas Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11:30 am, Cost: $50

Rat Pack Playground – Modernist Homes of Vista Las Palmas Historical, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35

Heart of the City Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 10:30 am, Cost: $35

Modernism Week Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour, Hilton Palm Springs, Calle Encilia Entrance, 9 am 11:30 pm, Cost: $75

Inns, Architecture & Glamour Historical Walking Tour, Palm Springs, 9 am - 11 am, Cost: $35

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Open for Dinner Nightly at 5 p.m.

Days and hours vary by season.

Closed June 29-August 28, 2014

440 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA

760-325-4556

www.JohnnyCostasPalmSprings.com

PHOTO BY JON EDWARDS

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 43

Marvin Cohn Artistic and active at 102 Interview by Jay Pentrack

W

e were introduced to Marvin Cohn by the owner of First Gallery in the Atrium Design Center in Rancho Mirage. We stopped in one day and were pleased to meet the owner, Art Hall, who told us all about Marvin Cohn and the party he had hosted at the gallery for 102-year-old Marvin over Father’s Day. There are many reasons I wanted to introduce you to Marvin – in large part, because I believe he can be an inspiration to us all. His wealth of knowledge about the world, a world that has changed so dramatically during his lifetime, is remarkably not jaded; and the lessons he imparts by virtue of those experiences, always tempered with kindness and consideration for his fellow man, give hope in a, sometimes, hopeless world. Through his words, his art and his actions, Marvin’s message is a loving and simple one – live by the Golden Rule.

Many thanks to Art Hall for introducing us to Marvin and his daughter Barbara.

P2P: When and where were you born?

Marvin: New York City, 1912 P2P: Did you go on to college?

Marvin: City College of NY P2P: Did you study art?

Marvin: No...

P2P: What career did you pursue?

Marvin: I was in the retail and wholesale hosiery business. I didn’t begin painting until the 1950’s…always as a hobby, but surely one I continue to love.

P2P: Whom, when, and where did you marry? How did you meet?

Marvin: I married Rose Cohen who became Rose Cohen Cohn (Note my name is Cohn, without an e,) We were 17 when we met at a basketball game followed by a dance at the Bronx YMHA (Young Men’s Hebrew See Cohn, page 46 44 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Above, Marvin Cohn paints in his art studio one recent afternoon.

At left, Cohn’s work (on display in his home) includes sculpture and portraits of his daughter, left, and wife Rosie, right.

PHOTOS BY JAY PENTRACK

ADOPT • FOSTER • VOLUNTEER • DONATE • BELIEVE

Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a community responsible for pet stewardship and humane treatment of animals.

The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is located at: 4575 E. Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs, CA 92264 Phone: 760-416-5718

psanimalshelter.org Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 45

Cohn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 Association). I walked Rosie home and we eloped 3 years later on June 10, 1933 and were married by a Rabbi 6 months later, this time with our families in attendance, on January 7th, 1934. We were wed for 79 lovely years.

P2P: Was your spouse an artist and/ or supportive of your work?

Marvin: She didn’t consider herself an artist, though she dabbled with sculpture and my family enjoys several beautiful marble sculptures that she left us.

P2P: How many children do you have?

Marvin: I have two daughters. Both have made some beautiful paintings. My daughter, Barbara Keller, who lives in the desert, believes her sister, Carole Sheppard, is the best artist in the family. Barbara is a Vice Chair of the Palm Springs Art Museum and was a docent there for 18 years.

P2P: What media do you work in?

Marvin: Currently, I paint in oils. In the past I have used acrylics and pastels and I’ve created many sculptures using both marble and clay.

A party in honor of Cohn took place last Father’s Day at the First Gallery in the Atrium Design Center in Rancho Mirage. Attendees included Congressman Raul Ruiz, shown above with gallery owner Art Hall, and Kay Ballard (musical theatre and television actress, comedienne and singer), below. PHOTOS COURTESY BARBARA KELLER

P2P: What would you call your artistic style?

Marvin: Varied P2P: Do you have any tips for longevity – what are your secrets?

Marvin: I have great genes. My dad lived to his late nineties. My brother is 104. I don’t eat green vegetables!

P2P: Please describe a typical day for you.

Marvin: I paint and I read every day, typically 3-4 books a week. I exercise 2 to 3 days a week.

P2P: I understand you are an avid reader – who are some of your favorite authors?

Marvin: David Baldacci, Tom Clancy, Daniel Silva, James Patterson; I love foreign intrigue novels.

P2P: I understand that you paint almost every day. What are you working on currently?

Marvin: I’m painting an homage to a Pablo Picasso piece called WOMAN WITH A BOOK. P2P: Any advice you’d like to offer to kids growing up in today’s world?

Marvin: When I get older, I’ll give advice!... but I can tell you that I’ve always tried to live by the golden rule.

“I have great genes.

My dad lived to his late nineties. My brother is 104. I don’t eat green vegetables!”

46 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014  47

Marvin Cohn: A Daughter’s Tribute

By Barbara Keller

M

ax Marvin Cohn was born in New York City to Frieda and Sam on May 16, 1912. He was the baby in the family with one big brother, Arthur.

Both were great students and good kids… well perhaps excepting the time Maxie cut a hole in the lapel of his new suit to make a good home for a small white flower.

And, oh, yes, there was also that morning he complained about his cereal until his exasperated mom ceremoniously dumped it on his head, hoping to prevent further food grumbles. Nonetheless, much to the dismay of many, little Maxie grew up with an aversion to green vegetables. The family finally stopped nagging him as he entered his 90s, more than 12 years ago.

At 17, Max changed his name to Marvin and met Rosie Cohen at a basketball game/ dance. He walked her home, and they wed twice three years later, first eloping and again in 6 months after the marriage certificate was discovered. Then the Rabbi was summoned and a party followed. They lived in near marital bliss for 79 years. There was, of course, the time Marvin was called to serve in the navy during World War II and a Japanese plane flew into his ship, killing many of its crew. There was also the loss of family, friends and an occasional bout with pneumonia along the way, but most memories bring huge smiles.

There was the birth of Carole in 1935 and of Barbara in ’43. There were the marriages… okay, more of those than planned…and the thrill of the grandchildren, their marriages… and the birth of great grandchildren. There were the multiple trips to Europe, Asia and South America. There was Dunkirk Hosiery Company and the retail stores. There were the scores of dear friends whose names sit on the wall in Marvin’s home as contributors to gifts for the 50th anniversary, the 60th, the 70th.

In the 1950s, while still living on 189th St. in Queens, NY, Marvin began painting, mostly scenes of streets in France, a country he and Rosie had never visited, but one where they would subsequently spend

Father and daughter: Max Cohn with Barbara Keller.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA KELLER

several weeks each summer for many years.

His interest in making art would continue through the many years that Marvin and Rose lived in Great Neck, NY, in Lake Worth, Florida and even while staying at my home in Vence, France. In fact, Marvin continues to paint and work with pastels in his home in Rancho Mirage at 102. Marvin and Rose both enjoyed classes in sculpture and Marvin took an occasional painting class, as well. He would often sit with a pencil and sketchpad and fill books with portraits of friends and family and drawings of beautiful women.

Big brother, Arthur, is now 104. He and Max (yes, he’s still Maxie to his big brother) Skyped to celebrate their birthdays, the 15th and 16th of May. Marvin paints or works with pastels nearly every day, reads 3 or 4 books a week, does several crossword puzzles a day, exercises a few times a week, and works on his IPad and his computer, where he creates personalized birthday cards.

He’s an inspiration and a joy to absolutely everyone who meets him.

48 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

In the 1950s, while still living on 189th St. in Queens, NY, Marvin began painting, mostly scenes of streets in France, a country he and Rosie had never visited, but one where they would subsequently spend several weeks each summer for many years.

About Barbara Keller

B

arbara initiated her enchantment with the Palm Springs Art Museum as a docent in the mid 90’s and is a Trustee, serving as Vice Chair. She is past president of the Museum Associates Council and has acted as chair for key Museum fundraising events, in addition to chairing the Councils Committee. Barbara co-chaired the 75th anniversary gala of the Museum in 2014.

Barbara has been a trustee of Jewish Family Service of the Desert and has served as an Honorary Chair of her gifted friend Michael Childers’ event, One Night Only, since 2008. Barbara is Campaign Chair of the Anti-Defamation League and on the Advisory Board of The Sunshine Circle, an organization pairing local Holocaust Survivors with teenagers. She has also served on the board of the McCallum Theatre.

Barbara also serves on the Board of the Desert Aids Project, for which she has proudly co-chaired the Steve Chase Honorary Awards Gala 4 times and is vigorously at work on 2013 with Jim Casey

and team. She is also co-chair of Dinner At My Place with Steve Kaufer.

Barbara and her husband, Jerry, found themselves owners of Acqua Pazza California Bistro in Rancho Mirage. They opened another bistro in Palm Springs in the summer of 2011, which they call LULU, Acqua Pazza’s very sexy sister. Using Acqua Pazza and LULU to help charities is one of the greatest joys of ownership. In addition, they recently opened Bistro 60, a restaurant at the Trilogy in La Quinta.

Barbara received the 2010 Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Barbara and Jerry received the 2011 Distinguished Citizens of the Year Award in Rancho Mirage. In Spring, 2011, Barbara was the recipient of the Portia Yerxa Philanthropy and Cultural Heritage Award at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs and of the Vi Felix Award for Outstanding Service from Jewish Family Service of the Desert. Barbara was honored with the Athena Award in Palm Springs and with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame

Barbara Keller

PHOTO COURTESY DESERT AIDS PROJECT

and she is the recipient of the Jackie Lee Houston Broken Glass Philanthropy Award granted by Palm Springs Women in Film and Television. Barbara and Jerry were recognized for their business acumen by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and with the Gloria Greer Inspiration Award by the AIDS Assistance Program. Barbara will be the recipient of the Humanitarian Award given by Equality California on October 18, 2014.

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 49

Cielo at the top of Morongo. Below, enjoying the Natural 9 Noodle Company.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORONGO CASINO

Morongo Casino – let’s eat!

T

here are plenty of reasons to plan a visit to Morongo Casino • Resort • Spa; the Oasis Pool with its sandy beach, two Jacuzzi’s, waterslide and lazy river. (You can even rent private poolside cabanas for a more intimate experience); the 24/7 gaming with exciting promotions; and the entertainment – concerts, Vibe Nightclub, and the Pit Bar. Its location is also a bonus, just off the I-10 freeway between Banning and Palm Springs.

Dining choices abound at Morongo from their food court to fine dining, and everything in between. If there is a picky eater in your family or group, this is the perfect place to bring them!

Let’s start at the top – Cielo sits high atop the Morongo Casino on the 27th floor and offers stunning views of the valley below and the mountains that surround it. Sunsets are particularly beautiful, and the chandeliers that slowly

50 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

T&T, Tacos & Tequila, is always a good time. Below, another Cielo view.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORONGO CASINO

change colors add a warm and inviting ambiance. With a “Californian” approach to fine dining, the menu is inspired by traditional steak and seafood fare, but allows you to be as adventurous as you dare offering both simple steak and seafood dishes and contemporary fare for guests with a more daring palate.

The wine list is impressive – featuring wine’s along the Pacific Coasts, globally. Cielo is perfect for impressing a business associate (or date), celebrating a special occasion, or just because you deserve it.

Service is a hallmark at Cielo – you won’t be disappointed.

Serrano is open 24 hours for those late night or early morning diners. The house specialties are slow-roasted prime rib and delicious fresh salads, but they also serve breakfast all day long. The extensive menu includes many breakfast favorites - Pancakes, French Toast, Eggs Benedict, Omelets’, and Bacon (or Steak) and Eggs. The lunch menu offers some great salads, sandwiches and burgers, plus a “Kid’s Menu”. Lots and lots of dinner options and wine and cocktails are also available.

Portrero Canyon Buffet – Journey to

Mexico, Italy, Cape Cod, and Asia without ever boarding a plane! Portrero Canyon Buffet features international delicacies, always fresh and made-to-order as you watch by their talented chefs. Daily specials make for an exciting experience every time you dine. Don’t miss Mariachi Mondays – delicious Mexican cuisine; Thursdays – a royal seafood buffet; Fridays – Taste of Asia; Prime Rib Saturdays and an incredible brunch on Sundays. And every day you’ll enjoy the salad and pasta bar, carving and grills stations, wood-fired pizza and an oh so decadent dessert bar! Come hungry.

T&T – Tacos & Tequila – This

place rocks! Great cocktails, entertainment and great Mexican food. The Carne Asada, Al Pastor and Alambre tacos are so good you’ll find it difficult to stop eating! Round out the party with a vast selection of 100% Blue Agave tequilas specialty cocktails and margaritas and the energetic party atmosphere make for a great evening with family and friends!

Sunset Bar & Grill – located outside by the Lazy River, the Sunset Bar & Grill provides four star, four diamond style service and a mouth-watering food menu offering salads, some of your favorite appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and even some healthy options. The inventive drink menu is truly impressive!

Rounding out the food offerings at Morongo are the Natural 9 Noodle Company, and the Food Court, featuring Fatburger, Nathan’s, Panda Express, and the LA Italian Kitchen. Häagen-Dazs is on hand to satisfy your ice cream craving!

Bon appétit, buen apetito, guten Appetit, buon appetito.

Good Times!

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 51

A day in the life of

By David Gonzales alm Springs is known worldwide for its weather. Locals will attest to the fact that for about 9 months a year the desert enjoys some of the best weather in the world. Average temperatures by month (high/low), according to usclimatedata.com are: September – 102/72; October – 91/62; November – 78/52; December – 69/44; January – 71/45; February – 74/48; March – 80/52; April – 88/57; May – 96/64; June – 104/71; July – 108/78; and August – 107/78. Visitors from near and far flock to the desert primarily for the weather but also for the world class dining, entertainment, lodging and events.

Once known as a retirement mecca, the advent of the internet and with it, the ability to work from almost anywhere created somewhat of a boom in Palm Springs of younger, upwardly mobile professionals.

With an airport literally minutes from downtown Palm Springs, travel is a breeze.

PHOTOS COURTESY PALM SPRINGS BUREAU OF TOURISM

Before the precautions instituted post-9/11, the Palm Springs International Airport even had a putting green where duffers could kill time waiting for their flight with their friends and/or family. And while things have changed, it is still one of the easiest airports in the world to fly into or out of.

And there are plenty of flights - currently, the airport has eleven airlines that connect to hundreds of cities worldwide.

With more and more people moving to Palm Springs and the Desert Cities, traffic has increased, but not anywhere near the extent residents in urban areas experience daily. For a local, being 10-15 cars back at a stoplight is considered traffic; this depends, of course, on your commute. Self-employed and working at home, as I do, is the best; doing business in my swim trunks while lounging by my swimming pool is not uncommon.

Unlike more densely populated areas, parking is not nearly the exercise in frustration experienced in larger urban areas. You can find a space without driving around block after block while making sure the parking permit you have matches the parking area. AARGH! Now that you know some of the reasons

52 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

The beauty and mystery of those mountains always intrigue and inspire me.

The Work Day Begins If it’s a work day, about 8am, I bring my laptop outside, make some calls, send and read emails, and set appointments. Around lunchtime, 3-4 days a week, I head to the gym, my favorite is Gold’s Gym off of Ramon, but there are a lot of seriously great gyms in the area. After 30-45 minutes of cardio and some weights, I head home, jump in my pool to cool off and then head for the shower. Some days, I head over to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls or I go for a walk around the neighborhood. Most days I finish work about 5 or 6pm then I head out for Happy Hour with friends.

“why” folks live in or move to Palm Springs, let’s talk about an average day in my life.

Morning Koffi Whether you have a 9 to 5 job or work at home, most locals have their favorite morning coffee stop. Mine is Koffi, a local business that expanded from one small store to three. My favorite location is on North Palm Canyon, it has a large grassy outdoor area and I can bring my dogs along for the ride. For donuts, the Swiss Donut on Sunrise Way is also (unfortunately) a frequent stop.

On weekends, I go for the “BIG” breakfast; a few favorites are Elmer’s on East Palm Canyon (their German Pancake is amazing), or Bit ‘O Country on Indian Canyon – good, down home cooking. When my kids are visiting, IHOP on Ramon and Palm Canyon is a favorite; nothing beats a good stack of pancakes to start your day.

Morning Attitude Adjustment Back home with my Koffi fix, I sit on my patio with my dogs and enjoy a perfect view of the San Jacinto Mountains. I marvel at how it rises so dramatically from the desert floor. As the sun moves across the mountain, shadows create shapes, much like clouds, that look like a Native American chief, a witch, and, at times, any variety of animals.

Happy Hour Located downtown on Arenas and Palm Canyon, is LULU. I prefer wine and they have a great selection, by the bottle or by the glass. If I’m a bit sluggish, I go for the Espressotini – it’s made with Grey Goose Vodka, Bailey’s, a shot of espresso, sugar and fresh cream. I like the kick! I also like the Happy Hour at Trio on North Palm Canyon.

The prices are good, the drinks are good, and there is always an interesting, fun crowd.

If I haven’t chowed down on too many appetizers, I decide what to do for dinner.

Dinner There are a ton of restaurants to choose from in Palm Springs, let alone the entire desert. Many Palm Springs locals I know stay close to home for dinner. Driving to Palm Desert or La Quinta, for many of us, is just too much effort, especially on a weekday. I love Italian food, so Johnny Costa’s is definitely a favorite. The servings are large and the menu is traditional Italian.

For Mexican food, I like El Mirasol on Palm Canyon; it’s been a favorite of mine for a long time because the food is consistently good. My favorite appetizer is the Queso Fundido, my favorite meal is the Chicken Mole (Pollo en Mole Poblano). For fine dining, I like the Chop House – best steak I’ve had in the desert so far. And if I just want a great burger, I go to Woodies on Indian Canyon. Some nights I stick around for the incredible jazz at their club in the back of the restaurant. If you’ve never been, prepare to be impressed; Rose Mallett, the Stanley Butler Band, the Smooth Brothers and many others make for a really cool night daddy-o. For sushi, I head to Margaritas on Avenida Caballeros – it’s a Mexican and

Japanese restaurant, seriously. If you want a California Roll and a burrito, you can order it. On those rare occasions I actually have a date, I’ll head to Shame on the Moon in Rancho Mirage or Cielo at Casino Morongo, they never fail to impress. When I cook at home, I head to the Fresh n’ Easy store on Sunrise Way; they have some great quick meals for single guys.

Sounds boring, right? But it’s a good boring. A huge departure from the hectic City life I lived for many years. Here, the sun shines almost continuously – many locals actually pray for rain – and the pace is a lot different from the big city. During the summer, which I consider July to midSeptember, if you’re financially able, you get out of the desert - a lot of us head to Idyllwild, just an hour away but a whole lot cooler. Their free summer concert series on Thursdays at the Community Center Park is hugely popular; I look forward to it every year. Locals bring along the kids, the dogs, a picnic basket, and dance to the amazing line-up of artists that perform. (Two of my favorites this year were Bohemio, an amazing Santana cover band and New Orleans’ own Lisa and the Zydekats.)

During season, there’s a lot going on in Palm Springs – concerts, fundraisers, and parties – so you can pretty much be as active and social as you choose. The clubs and casinos around town offer some great entertainment and much of it is free. On Thursday nights there is VillageFest where vendors line the street along Palm Canyon – it’s always fun and you can find some great deals on really cool art, furnishings, produce, nuts, and one-of-a-kind treasures.

Recreation Hiking the Indian Canyons is breathtaking and also educational for the kids. Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark is a great place to relax and let the kids run wild; and when I have company in town, I always take them for a ride on the Palms Springs Aerial Tramway. The McCallum Theater and the local casinos have an impressive line-up of talent and the ticket prices are not prohibitive. Unlike attending concerts at the Bowl or Greek Theater, getting to venues in the desert and finding parking is low stress.

And afterwards, there isn’t the mad dash to the car to try and leave before the crowd does. How cool is that?

For me the desert has everything I enjoy golf, hiking, biking, art, music, theater, or just kicking it by a pool – life is so much simpler here.

Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014 53

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is open year-round, with winter activities including cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing once it snows in the high county.

PHOTO COURTESY PALM SPRINGS BUREAU OF TOURISM

Desert Events September– October 2014 Palm Springs Cultural Art Food & Wine Festival Sept 13 - Sept. 14 888 Tahquitz Way, Palm Springs www.palmspringsculturalafwf.com

Cinema Diverse

Sept. 18-21 Camelot Theater www.cinemadiverse.org

American Heat Biker Weekend

Third Annual Family Fun Day featuring Aga-Boom

Oct. 19 McCallum Theater 73000 Fred Waring Dr, Palm Desert www.mccallumtheater.com

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

Oct. 10 - Oct. 12 www.roadshowsreno.com/american_ heat.php

Sept. 19, Engelbert Humperdinck Oct. 3, Thunder From Down Under Oct. 24, Paquita la del Barrio 49500 Seminole Dr. • Cabazon 800-252-4499 or 951-849-3080 www.morongocasinoresort.com

Modernism Week

Flying Aviation Expo

Palm Springs and desert cities Oct. 10-13 www.modernismweek.com

Oct. 30 - Nov.2 www.aviation-xpo.com

54 Palms to Pines Magazine, September/October 2014

Palm Springs Villagefest Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Sept.7 pm to 10 pm Oct. through May 6 pm to 10 pm www.villagefest.org

Certified Farmer’s Market

Open Saturdays thru Sept. 20, 2014 Palm Springs Pavillion 401 S. Pavillion Way, Palm Springs www.certifiedfarmersmarket.org

The Retro Yard Sale, part of Modernism Week.

PHOTO COURTESY MODERNISM WEEK

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West Palm Springs

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Cathedral City Rancho Mirage

Palm Springs

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Desert Hot Springs

Indian Wells

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Thousand Palms

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Palms to Pines Magazine, September 2014 1

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Larry Bischof CalBRE# 01310589

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Lovingly maintained, single story, ranch style home w/ vaulted entry through custom front door to large Living Room with cathedral, beamed ceiling, wall of built ins and windows offering San Jacinto mountain views.

Entertaining Kitchen w/ lots of counter space, custom cabinets, island, all opening to Dining area and then out to spacious deck. Master plus two additional Bedrooms.

Large 3 car garage includes workshop space. Charming covered front porch. Very private. $549,000

HARMONIOUS 4

Incredible family view property-move in ready. Horse legal.

Private on quiet cul-de-sac on 1.13 acres. Great Room on mail level w/impressive River Rock fireplace, Dining area adjacent to the spacious, well appointed Kitchen and private deck-perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Master on this level w/bath, roomy closets and another private deck. Two more Bedrooms on lower level w/bath, deck and additional storage. The coup is the oversized, completely finished, detached garage and hobby/workshop. A rare find for that family who wants to enjoy the best of our mountain lifestyle. $369,000

4 LOOKOUT

Exquisite three story romantic log hideaway on over 1/3 acre. Forever Valley views from multiple decks.

Main level Great Room w/soaring cathedral beamed ceiling, wood burner, private deck with sunrise/sunset glow. Cozy kitchen opens to Dining area. Master includes private bath and roomy closets. Large loft accommodates Bedroom, Sleeping area and Sitting room/potential Office area. Entry lower level has cozy den, ambient fireplace, bonus room w/washer & dryer lots of storage and craft space. Fenced yard. A gem in the pines. $319,000

ROOMY 4

Nestled on a Pine Cove cul-de-sac, this homey home offers four Bedrooms w/two Master Suites for privacy. Pleasant breezeway entry separates the two wings.

Great Room boasts vaulted ceiling, pine paneled walls, imposing wood burner w/Dining area adjoining the country Kitchen. Glass doors open to the front deck for ease of enjoyment and entertaining. Single car garage w/ fenced, child and pet friendly yard.

Great week-ender or full time. A real cutie worth a look. $210,000

For additional properties call or e-mail larry@hilltoprealty.com