The Septober 2016 Issue of The Joshua Tree Tortoise Telegraph

we love our homegrown festivals!

artist snake jagger shares his true life story in the first installment of becoming snake jagger

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utumn has (finally) arrived, with summer’s last gasp being a weekend of Childish Gambino concerts at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Make no mistake, the season is underway, with enormous events coming, including the Desert Daze festival, hitting mid-October at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center.

But Childish Gambino and Desert Daze are out of town folk coming to the hi-desert to use the beauty and vibe of our home as backdrops to their productions.

That’s all fine and dandy and we welcome our new visitors, but to us, it’s the festivals with a real connection to our hi-desert that we truly love (though we’re happy to see the film Desert Age being screened at Desert Daze, with Brant Bjork and Sean Wheeler hosting a Q&A).

There’s no doubt that Joshua Tree and the hi-desert is changing dramatically, and for us tortoise-like locals, it’s difficult to keep up with the pace of change. This past year saw Joshua Tree National Park visitors tear past the two million mark, with lines of cars sometimes blocking driveways of JT residents. Then came Childish Gambino’s weekend of sold-out concerts and the music that could be heard two to three miles away and the lights brightly beaming into our formerly (fairly) dark night skies.

Add to that a litany of complaints about the growing vacation rental business in and around JT, with vacationers deciding that since they’re in the “middle of nowhere” they can cut loose and party with little regard for anyone who happens to live here (though to be fair, many of us have noted that we’d probably be better off with vacationers than our regular neighbors), and vandalism of local sites, and we’ve definitely got growing pains.

Most locals we talk with no longer even try to go to places popular with our visitors like Pappy & Harriet’s because it’s so packed during season. It’s like we live somewhere popular or something. Go figure. It’s more intense than the “New Bohemia” phase we went through more than a decade ago. Heck, we were in GQ the other day and hipsters and fauxhemians have been spotted roaming about the hi-desert taking selfies and stroking their beards and being ever so trendy, which is what a whole bunch of us were trying to freakin’ escape when we came out here, but that’s another story.....

So, not to digress, we love our homegrown festivals, and we think our newfound friends should too. It’s a bit of a shame to see Desert Daze arrive on the opening weekend of the annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, the premier cultural event of our area, but we’ll see how that plays out. The best music fest in the hi-desert will be the weekend before Desert Daze, when the Joshua Tree Music Festival returns, and we get to enjoy a fantastic musical lineup that includes talented locals like Gene Evaro Jr., Desert Rhythm Project, Regal Pooch, Myshkin, Sequoia Smith, and Annachristie & the Sapphires, along with wandering locals who wandered off, like Tim Easton, all sharing the stages with bands from the UK, Colombia, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, and yes, even Reno.

Not to brag, but Barnett gets world class bands to come play under the dark desert night sky in a relaxed, fun, affordable festival that’s a true treasure. And the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council’s Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours wonderfully showcases the incredible roster of 135 visual artists of all media who live and work here.

You can bring your outside events here, and we’ll welcome them even though they treat us like strangers (the Desert Stars festival informed us they worked with local media—The Desert Sun, while the others merely ignored us), but our hearts are with those events that have their roots right here, that bring us closer to each other, and share what is beautiful and incredible about our very own friends and neighbors. –SB Have a hi-desert photo or story you’d like to share with our readers? Send it to us at: tortoisetelegraph@gmail. The ol’ Tortoise would love to hear from you!

In this issue:

joshua tree music fest brings line up of incredible international bands to JT once again (and we can’t wait!)

October is a busy month in the hi-desert! Gene Evaro Jr., above, returns to the Joshua Tree Music Festival to add a hi-desert groove to the weekend’s aural high, while Joshua Tree’s Scott Doten, an artist working in metal, painting, photography, and sculpture, is a must-visit stop on the two weekends of the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours featuring 135 hi-desert artists.

Thanks to all the folks who make these homegrown festivals a reality! we’ll see you out there at the festivals! send us your photos from them and we may print them in our next issue! Send to tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com.

Death Valley Jim gives us six real and good reasons to visit our Joshua tree national park this season

Plus October festivals & events, muddy bighorn sheep, childish gambinoed, juliet’s last call, and much more! help stop vandalism and theft in our national parks - put the national park service tipline number in your cell phone: 888-653-0009 Stay in touch with the Tortoise! www.jttortoisetelegraph.com

keep it real.

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Tales from the tortoise

by way of introduction

T becoming snake jagger By Snake Jagger

he desert produces some fascinating creative spirits, and often, they have stories as interesting and varied as themselves and their work. Whenever possible, we like to share those stories with our readers to give you a deeper look down the tortoise hole, into the minds and souls of our friends and hi-desert neighbors.

I’ve known Snake Jagger for a more than a few years now, and his artwork has been featured on the cover of our sister publication, The Sun Runner.

He’s featured in our Morongo Valley episode of our TV series, Southwest Stories, doing lip-ups and talking about Frank Sinatra and his Dad, lip synching competively, and being a pirate, something we share (it’s a long story).

Snake is a uniquely talented desert artist with a penchant for creating desert scenes of orderly, sometimes raked, desert landscapes, with the occasional UFO, doorway, or even a rake, included. It’s what he calls whimsical surrealism, and the name fits. He has a playful painting style that is a perfect match for his personality.

But don’t just listen to me. Read Snake’s story in his own words. I’ve done minimal editing because I like to let people tell their story their way. He’s working on a book, so the Tortoise Telegraph is serializing his story in this, and upcoming, issues. It’s a great way to get to know Snake, and it’s a hell of a ride.

After you read Snake’s story, go meet the man himself. In person. Snake’s Morongo Valley home studio is open both weekends of the upcoming Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, October 15-16 and 22-23. Snake’s studio is one I highly recommend visiting this October. Not only is he someone you’ll greatly enjoy meeting in person, but you’ll enjoy his art as well, and I’m certain he has a variety of ways for you to purchase some of it at very reasonable prices so you can take home a Snake Jagger original, print, found art sculpture, pillow, or something else that you can keep or give to someone special this holiday season. The Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours offer a great way to do our holiday shopping while supporting our local artists.

You can also peruse Snake’s online gallery and shop online at www. snakejagger.com. And yes, that’s one of his works in our masthead. – Steve Brown

Chapter 1

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k, here’s where I’ll start. I’m just going to wing it, so bear with me. I grew up mostly on Sierra Bonita in Los Angeles. Very shy kid. I went to Fairfax high.

My first job when I was in high school was at the Century Plaza Hotel. That’s where I was first introduced to pot, up on the rim of the roofline, with another employee named Ed.

My last year in high school, I ran away from home and lived in the La Brea Tar Pits on Wilshire Blvd. I slept on top of the bathrooms with One-Eyed Terry from Albuquerque. I showered in the sprinklers late at night when they watered the lawn where we played Frisbee all day. At some point we were evicted from the roof and moved to the May Company parking lot. It was a three-level parking lot, and kind of scary at night.

We panhandled and swept the alley behind Help restaurant on Third Street for food. He was able to get a lot of money from people because he took the glass out of his glasses over the eye that got blown up from a firecracker. We ate well at the House of Pancakes on Wilshire and Fairfax. Eventually I got arrested for grand theft bones. Caught stealing dinosaur bones from an excavation pit. Back then I didn’t realize how serious that was. It’s a felony to steal million year-old bones! That’s when I moved to the desert to live with my dad. I’m realizing that there’s a lot more to tell and a lot more details, but this will be like excerpts from the eventual book I write. Stay tuned!

Ok, let me backtrack a little bit. When I was growing up my father was not around much. I grew up being afraid that someone was going to kill me and my family with an axe. I don’t know why I felt that way, but I remember being afraid a lot at night. It was hard not having my dad around. It must have affected me more than I realize. Most everyone knows that my dad worked for Frank Sinatra as his personal valet. He traveled the world with "Mr. S,” and I used to daydream all the time, especially at school, about where

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in the world my dad was with FS. In my mind it was like the I Spy guys. Going all over the world to exotic places. I daydreamed a lot. That’s why that Luvin’ Spoonful song means so much to me.

I was six years old when I remember a rare moment when my mother and father were in the dining room, painting pictures. The image is burned into my brain even now. Both were painting on canvases. I think my mom was painting a Japanese woman with a butterfly fan or something, and my dad was painting some musical instruments that blended together, with musical notes floating around. A jazzy painting.

That was the day I became interested in drawing. That was the beginning for me. It was the one thing I did well, could impress my friends with, and took me to other worlds. My mother used to draw horses better than me back then, so I made it my life’s goal to master the drawing of horses. I never thought I could be as good as other real artists I was exposed to, but over the years that became less of a concern to me. I ’m good at what I do and that’s what matters. I doodled and drew all the time. I practiced my handwriting, constantly, which is very nice if I say so myself.

Chapter 2

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n my last year of high school, I had run away from home, and lived in the La Brea tar pits by the LA County art museum. I slept on top of the bathrooms in the park with another guy named One Eyed Terry from Albuquerque. He had an eye that got blown up by a firecracker and he took out the glass in his glasses so his bad eye was visible when we would panhandle for spare change, to get something to eat at the House of Pancakes on Wilshire and Fairfax. People would see his bad eye and quickly hand him dollar bills instead of change, to get rid of him, so we ate pretty well on his earnings.

Eventually Terry and I were discovered, camped on top of the bathrooms by the gardeners, so we were evicted from that spot and had to move to the May Company parking lot which was next door to the park. I’ve often wondered what ever happened to One Eyed Terry. I have to say this, he had a face like Donald Trump’s, now that I think about it, with those same pursed lips, and kind of funny blond hair. He was a real street urchin. I really hope he ended up having a good life and got himself off of the streets.

There was another person I want to remember too. His name was Rainbow Bill. He was a wino who hung out in the park during my high school years, and "the park" was the park around the LA County Art Museum. It’s also where the tar pits are located. That’s where I spent most of my last year in high school, hanging out with hippies, banging on drums and playing flutes and harmonicas, and playing Frisbee until the sun went down. Those were good times. Rainbow Bill was a handsome man, but always unshaven. He looked a little like Gary Cooper, dressed like a bum in a Red Skelton painting, old hat and all. He was the real deal.

One day I woke up after drinking too much beer and getting sick in the park, and there was Rainbow Bill, standing and weaving and singing to the frogs that were croaking around the little stream that flowed in the park. "Froggy, ole froggy oh frog", he would sing. Then he would laugh at them and sing again. He was well lit up that night. That image is forever etched in my mind as a day I’ll never forget. continued on page 5

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Editor/Publisher/telegraph operator: Steve Brown Assistant to the editor: Juliet, the cat Adventures Editor: Death Valley Jim Photos by: Steve Brown, Death Valley Jim, Arch McCulloch, Barbara Demmocks, Shaun Kruse Distribution: by tortoise, of course Submit story ideas, photos for consideration, dining/shopping/lodging/favorite places and event photos to: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com advertising inquiries: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com or 760-820-1222 (voice or text) see the advertising page at www.jttortoisetelegraph.com for pricing and specs. distribution inquiries: tortoisetelegraph@gmail.com join the tortoise telegraph online at: www.jttortoisetelegraph.com, on facebook at: www.facebook.com/jttortoisetelegraph on instagram at: www.instagram.com/jttortoisetelegraph join the sun runner, the journal of the real desert, online at: www.sunrunnersw.com on facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheSunRunner join southwest stories with steve brown online at: www.southweststories.us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/RealDesert

Get your smile on at: www.sunrunnersmiles.com

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thanks for joining us!

One night, with two friends of mine, Bobby and Terrell, we decided to jump the fence in a pit that was being excavated in the park. We found a lot of bones in the dirt there, and took a few to have as keepsakes. While we sat cleaning the bones with the dental tools that were left in the pit, a strange guy came up to us, talking all weird. He was obviously high on something, he told us he took some LSD. He soon left and went out in the park and started yelling at the top of his lungs, "I AM GOD! I AM THE WORLD."

It wasn’t long before there were cops everywhere. Bobby, Terrell and I had to get out of the park and out of the area. My two friends had homes to return to, but I had to stay in the street and try to make my way back to my campsite in the parking lot. Well, along comes a police car, they see me walking alone in the middle of the night and stopped me to inquire about what I was doing. That’s when they found the bones in my pocket.

They asked me where I got the bones. I said I got them from science class at school, but soon I caved in and admitted that I had taken them from the tar pits. So into the back of the police car I go. That’s when they asked me where my two friends were. I tried lying again, saying I did not know who they were talking about, knowing that my friends were on foot making their way to their prospective homes.

That’s when the cops asked me this. "Have you ever heard of police brutality? Well you’re going to get some of that if you don’t tell us where your friends are."

I blurted out both friends addresses immediately, shaking all over with fear that I was about to be pummeled by these two police officers. We drove to each guy’s house, woke them and their parents up, and took them away with me to the police station. The cops told my friends that they threatened to beat me with a wet noodle, and I snitched. I swear, if looks could kill, Bobby and Terrell were stabbing me with their eyes.

When we got to the police station, the police were talking to other cops in the building, when someone asked, "What are they in for?" And I overheard one of the cops say in a joking manner, "Grave robbing!".

Thankfully, Bobby and Terrell forgave me eventually. We were released to our parents, and soon after this incident I moved to the desert to live with my dad.

Thus began my desert adventures.

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keep it real

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Joshua Tree Music Festival Brings Phenomenal International musical Line Up to the Hi-Desert palenke soultribe

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ou can rave about Coachella and Desert Daze, but our homegrown Joshua Tree Music Festival, produced twice a year by our very own Barnett English and his dedicated crew gets our respect and admiration for the incredible international line up they bring to JT. It’s the wonderful melding of hi-desert, regional, national, and international musicians and artists in a laid back desert setting that makes these festivals so magical.

This fall’s festival features another great roster of bands from around the world.

We asked Barnett to give us the low down so our readers would know what kind of treats they’re in for at this October’s festival. Here’s what he had to say:

One of our main missions, musically speaking, is to feature a diverse line up at the festivals. V ariety being the spice. So we’re always researching (translation: spending hours on end listening to great music) international bands and artists that are compelling, diverse, and potent live performers.

That said, next week, at the 11th annual fall Joshua Tree Music Festival, we are thrilled to have these phenomenal artists coming from:

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Zimbabwe – Mokoomba: One of the most riveting African bands touring the world today. Vibrant & distinct, combining their traditional Tonga and pan-African music cultures with dashes of Rap, Ska, Soukous and Afro-Cuban music.

Netherlands – Zazi: This wildly talented, all female trio of multi-instrumentalists from the Netherlands return to Joshua Tree. Their performance here in 2013 was a crowd pleaser to say the least. Chanteuses who sing in 5 different languages; their stage presence is that of a seasoned veteran.

Tanzania – Jagwa Music: From the Streets of Dar es Salaam… Imagine a crew of eight youngsters playing nutty grooves at breakneck speed on traditional & makeshift percussion, a keyboard player going mad on a battered vintage Casio, and three relentless front persons: two breathtaking, spectacular dancers and a charismatic lead vocalist/ MC, belting out songs about survival in the urban maze, unfaithful lovers and voodoo.

Argentina– Femina: A trio of female Patagonian singer songwriters, whose diverse songs are characterized by show-stopping harmonies and a magical on-stage chemistry reminiscent of Ibeyi mixed with smooth hip hop flow a la Anita Tijoux.

Colombia – Palenke Soultribe: Taking electronic music to new heights by deconstructing Afro-Colombian rhythms and blending them with modern beats, catchy bass lines and synthesized arpeggios. Palenke puts on uber-energetic shows!

This fall’s festival runs October 6-9 at the Joshua Tree Lake Campground. Get all the information and tickets at www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com.

mokoomba

Jagwa music 6

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6 Real Reasons to Visit/Joshua Tree National Park

by Death Valley Jim

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oshua Tree National Park is named after the very tree (err…well, tree like yucca) that will one day likely disappear from its landscape. The park is located in southern California, about 30 miles east of Palm Springs. In the past handful of years park visitation has climbed immensely, and is quickly on the way to becoming one of the Southwest’s most popular national park destinations.

But what makes it such an interesting place to visit? If you’ve ever looked at one of those “5 or 10 great reasons to visit Joshua Tree National Park” lists, you are told that it is great for looking at Joshua trees, the fascinating tale of Bill Keys and his ranch (Did you know that JTree’s “Mickey Mouse”—Bill Keys—was a murderer and con man? Look up his history in Death Valley with Death Valley Scotty), camping at Jumbo Rocks, the view from Keys View, the Cholla Garden, blah, blah, blah.

Honestly, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with those things, they are wonderful, and every first time visitor should experience them. To be frank, after a visit or two, they are boring, and you may be looking for something with a little more excitement. That is what this list is about, it is about opening eyes and ears to parts of Joshua Tree that are not talked about, and in some sense may be forbidden to talk about.

Cultural Resources: Cultural Landscapes, Petroglyphs, Pictographs, early inhabitation This is my favorite subject, and probably the only one that would land in the “forbidden” zone. Ask a ranger the next time you visit the park about cultural resources like pictographs and petroglyphs, more than likely they will tell you about a site along the Barker Dam loop trail. What they will fail to tell you is that the petroglyphs you will see were created by Disney. If you ask about additional places you will probably be told that there aren’t any, despite there being a half-dozen real sites in a half-mile radius, not to mention the hundreds of others throughout the park.

In reality the entire park is a cultural landscape and resource. The earliest people lived in the Pinto Basin over 10,000 years ago, then came the Cahuilla, the Serrano, and the Chemehuevi. There are village sites, ritual sites, and hunting sites in various conditions spread far and wide across the park.

This is by far the number one reason to visit Joshua Tree National Park, the only problem being that nobody is going to point you in the right direction.

(Editor’s note: It is, at this time, illegal, according to Joshua Tree National Park staff, for the public to visit essentially any Native American site within the park.)

The Pinto Basin Here is one that is definitely not going to be on any list other than mine. The Pinto Basin is essentially the mini-Death Valley of Joshua Tree National Park. For whatever reason it is the most ignored part of the park, which is kind of nice because you won’t have to share your space with some hipster or aging hippie that is going on about a vortex that they found hidden between four boulders in the Wonderland.

For the most part the basin is kind of barren, but with many hidden treasures.

Along the Pinto Mountains there are dozens of old mines in various states of despair.

Along the Eagle Mountains there intact Native American village sites, fossils from miniature horses, and camels, along with dozens of additional mines.

There are only three roads in the Basin, the paved Pinto Basin Road (watch for law enforcement, they like to pull people over on this road), and two dirt roads: Old Dale Road, and Black Eagle Road. Really there isn’t much of interest besides the scenery directly along these roads, all the good stuff is going to require your feet and the ability to walk a couple of miles up to a couple of dozen miles (I’m not kidding).

The Coxcombs The Coxcombs are the mountain range on the far eastern border of the park. They are far removed from the rest of the park with no roads penetrating them. This is a place where few people tread, and it is very likely that you can get to places in the range that no other, or very few people have ever laid foot. This range is the true Wonderland of Rocks.

Recorded history in this range is little. There are a handful of mines scattered through the range, General Patton trained his soldiers along the east side of the mountains, and this is the place where famous UFO hunter George Adamski recorded several of his UFO movies.

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Wildlife Joshua Tree supports a range of wildlife. Mammals include, but are not limited to: Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Coyote, Badgers, Mule Deer, Ringtail, Gray Fox, Kit Fox, Long-tailed Weasel, Kangaroo Rat, Cottontail Rabbit, and Jackrabbit.

Snakes include, but are not limited to: Desert Nightsnake, Glossy Snake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Red Racer, Gopher Snake, California Kingsnake, Striped Whipsnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, and Rosy Boa.

Lizards include but are not limited to: Zebra-Tailed, Mojave Fringe-Toed, Chuckwalla, Western Banded Gecko, Desert Iguana, Long-nosed Leopard, Whiptail, and Desert Horned.

Scorpions include: Arizona Hairy Desert Scorpion, Stripe-Tailed, and the Bark Scorpion.

Queen Mountain Queen Mountain sits along the northern border of Joshua Tree National Park, its highest peak is 5,677 feet, making it one of the highest peaks in the park. The mountain is for the most part trailless, the only exception being a faint trail leading up to the peak from the south side of the mountain. The top of Queen Mountain is a vast playground of miles and miles of maze-like washes and granite boulder formations. The possibilities of getting lost are great without good navigational skills. In terms of wilderness and remoteness this is about as wild as it gets in Joshua Tree National Park, with the exception of the Coxcomb Mountains.

Backcountry Camping / Night sky For the most part you can backcountry camp just about anywhere in the park, the only exception being day use only areas. Your best bet is to get as far from anywhere of popu-

lation as possible, allowing the most darkness and least light pollution. Anywhere in the Pinto Basin, the Coxcombs, Covington, Pleasant Valley, and Pine City are all good bets.

Expect to see the night sky like you’ve probably never seen it before.

While there are plenty of other reasons to visit Joshua Tree National Park, those are some of my favorites. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the basics of Joshua Tree. Barker Dam, a rock that looks like a skull, fenced in ruins of the Lost Horse Mine, and camping with a couple of hundred assholes at Jumbo Rocks is not all that interesting. Be sure to pick up my guides, Hidden Joshua Tree and Hidden Joshua Tree II for planning your next trip to Joshua Tree.

For more odd, interesting, historic and prehistoric places in Joshua Tree and the surrounding area visit the author, Death Valley Jim, online at www. deathvalleyjim.com, and pick up his book series “Hidden Joshua Tree” and “Secrets Places in the Mojave Desert.”

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Tortoise Wanderings Reader Barbara Demmocks sent these photos of young desert bighorn sheep bogged down in mud and looking like they’re not enjoying it in the least, in the last water hole in Big Morongo Preserve, now part of the Sand to Snow National Monument. The first “little bighorn” was found on August 8 and pulled out shortly afterwards, while the second young bighorn was found by Barbara on August 10. Both sheep survived, both need a bath.

You can see more of Barbara’s photography at www.worldlensphotography.com.

This rainbow shot was sent in to us by reader Arch McCulloch from Morongo Valley, home base for our new Sand to Snow National Monument! Thanks Arch!

Have a hi-desert photo or story you’d like to share with our readers?

Send it to us at: tortoisetelegraph@gmail. The Tortoise would love to hear from you!

A photo, below, of the Childish Gambino concerts recently held at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. They didn’t give us press passes, so this is as close as we got, though we could hear the music from more than two miles away. The five concerts (the initial three sold out in just six minutes) mark a turning point in life in Joshua Tree, and have been extremely controversial with the locals who have been Gambinoed.

The Tortoise Telegraph joined Shaun Kruse of the Joshua Tree Showman’s Club for a day at the 21st annual Morongo Basin Car Club – Road Runners Charity Car Show in Yucca Valley. We enjoyed meeting everyone, talking desert travel, and supporting a good local charitable cause in the process. We also got called “a hippie paper” by one attendee!

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The Tasty Tortoise favorite plates from around the hi -desert

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K, so we’re not usually all that enthused about a new chain restaurant opening, but we have to make an exception when it comes to barbecue. You simply cannot have enough barbecue. It’s a universal rule or something.

Recently, Yucca Valley hosted the grand opening of a new Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, with owners Haley and Steven Frydrych on hand, hectically welcoming the line of their first customers, eagerly anticipating some of the hog heaven (literally) that was waiting.

The Frydrychs should be quite successful with their new enterprise as their restaurant has a reasonably priced and quite varied menu, sure to please hi-desert families looking for a tasty lunch or dinner.

While the opening day crowd had to wait a bit for their meals, that shouldn’t be a problem for regular customers. Our ribs were delicious, falling off the bone, with hearty portions served. The side of beans was acceptable, though not the best we’ve ever had, and we washed it all down with sweet tea. Desserts looked delicious, but we were stuffed with smoky ribs and didn’t want to brave the line again for more calories. Next time!

Congratulations to Haley and Steven on their new restaurant! We’ll see you soon!

Dickey’s Barbecue pit 58709 29 Palms hwy. suite d Yucca Valley (760) 205-1310 Proud owners, Haley and Steven Frydrych, above, with the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting below, right. Chamber Executive Director Wanda Stadum was the first to order from the new Dickey’s in Yucca Valley.

Have a favorite hi-desert dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch) spot? Send us your photos and review and you just might win something fun!

Just send them to: tor toisetelegraph@gmail. com.

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Hi-Desert Happenings Festivals & Gatherings 21st Annual Orchid Festival October 1-2. Orchids, orchid classes, vendors, wine & cheese tasting, hot air balloon rides, Saturday breakfast, community booths, food vendors, live music.

Benefits local nonprofits. Free admission.

Gubler Orchids, 2200 Belfield Blvd., Landers 11th Annual Joshua Tree Music Festival October 6-9. Tons of great music, Kidsville, yoga, art, food, great vendors, camping. Locals discount pass: $140. Must be local, purchase in advance.

Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com Yucca Valley Oktoberfest Craft beers, food, live music, vendors, contests, and more. October 22, 2-9 p.m. Tickets available at www. yvrotary.org.

56625 Little League Drive, Yucca Valley Desert Daze October 14-16. Primus, Television, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Sonics, Thee Oh Sees, Radio Moscow, Lumerians, Meatbodies, Audacity, LSD & the Search for God, Dios, Death Valley Girls, Fartbarf, Kiev, Sloppy Jane, Bodegas, Desert Age, Brant Bjork, Sean Wheeler, and more.

Joshua Tree Retreat Center, 59700 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree www.desertdaze.org Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours The hi-desert’s premier cultural event featuring 135 artists in 90 studios, from Morongo Valley to Wonder Valley and all points in between.

First weekend: The West. October 15-16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Second weekend: The East. October 22-23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Get your art tours catalog and map at one of the information centers in the hi-desert and Coachella Valley, or view the digital edition through their website at www.hwy62arttours.org.

73950 Inn Avenue, Twentynine Palms (760)367-3505, www.29palmsinn.com 29 Palms Creative Center Art classes and activities for adults and kids.

6847 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms (760)361-1805, www.29palmsart.com 29 Palms Visitor Center & Art Gallery Tough As Nails: Women Pioneers, October 1-December 30. Opening reception for exhibit and Pioneer Days: October 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

73484 29 Palms Hwy., Twentynine Palms Beatnik Lounge The Peep Show, opening October 15, 6 p.m.

61597 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree. (760)475-4860, www.jtcpc.org Gallery 62 See ad page 15.

61607 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree www.gallery62.org JTAG (Joshua Tree Art Gallery) Metamorphosis. Opening reception October 8, 6-9 p.m.

61607 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree (760)366-3636, www.joshuatreeartgallery.com Hi-Desert Nature Museum National Park Service Centennial Exhibit through December 17. Chamber Music at the Museum featuring Encelia Chamber Ensemble and friends, October 8, 7 p.m., October 9, 2 p.m. $15-$20. Halloween Spooktakular, a free family event featuring a carved pumpkin contest, haunted house, costume contest, photo booth, and trick or treat, 1-6 p.m., October 29.

Yucca Valley Community Center, 57116 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley (760)369-7212, www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org Art Colony of Morongo Valley Covington Park, 11165 Vale Drive, Morongo Valley.

(760)792-1238 www.artcolonyofmorongovalley.com

Night Sky Festival October 28-30. Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Joshua Tree National Park partner for the second annual Night Sky Festival. Two locations: Cottonwood (inside the national park), and Sky’s the Limit Observatory, 9697 Utah Trail, 29 Palms. www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival. htm

First Saturday in Old Town Yucca Valley Shops open late (9 p.m.), local art, live music, refreshments, and more.

Pioneer Days 79th annual Pioneer Days, October 21-23. Multiple venues in 29 Palms. Saturday features a Firefighters Pancake Breakfast and Grand Marshals’ Tribute from 6-10 a.m.; Parade downtown at 10 a.m.; Old Timers Gathering at the Schoolhouse Museum 1-4 p.m.; Chili Dinner at the 29 Palms Art Gallery 5-8 p.m.; live music in Luckie Park; and many more events. www.29chamber.org/events/Pioneer_Days.html

Old Town Gallery & Gifts Oldchella Music & Art Fest: October 1, 6-9 p.m. Preart tours opening for Chuck Caplinger and Karine Swenson.

55922 29 Palms Hwy., Old Town Yucca Valley (760)820-1151

Theatres Theatre 29 Resurgence, 11th annual Halloween Haunt. Produced by Cyrus Short. October 14-15, 21-22, 28-31. $7, cash only. Tours depart every 10-15 minutes.

73637 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms Tickets and information are available at www.theatre29.org, or call (760)361-4151.

Hi-Desert Cultural Center Dracula, by Bram Stoker. October 21-31. Playhouse Artistic Director Howard Shangraw stages a frightening feast for the senses in 7.1 cinematic surround sound, lighting, and visual special effects.

61231 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree www.hidesertculturalcenter.org or (760)366-3777.

Groves Cabin Theatre The Woman in Black, A Ghost Play. Directed by Wendy Cohen. Susan Hill’s thrilling ghost story adapted

by Stephen Mallatratt. October 1-30.

8758 Desert Willow Trail, Morongo Valley (760)365-4523, www.grovescabintheatre.org Art

ArtFX & Furnishings Stones & Crystals class with Holly Rae, October 1, 2-4 p.m. $20.

55836 29 Palms Hwy., Old Town Yucca Valley

Taylor Junction 61732 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree When Ice Burns: Uncharted Territory. Artist Diane Best returns for a show drawing upon her journey to the Arctic region of remote east Greenland and sub-Arctic Iceland. Openng reception: October 15, 4-10 p.m.

The Glass Outhouse Gallery Opening reception for four Wonder Valley artists: October 1, 5-8 p.m.

77575 29 Palms Hwy. (760)367-3807 Magicgroove Studio One day studio show: Additional Dimensions by Chris Carraher. October 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wonder Valley. Directions: www.magicgroove.net.

2 Guys Pies Paint & Wine Night: October 2. Sharon Davis teaches painting (16”x20” canvas), with dinner. $45.

56969 Yucca Trail, Suite A, Yucca Valley (760)418-5075 Music

29 Palms Art Gallery Art Tours Collective Art Show, featuring 100 artists.

October 3-31. Opening reception: October 7, 5-8 p.m.

74055 Cottonwood Drive, Twentynine Palms (760)367-7819, www.29palmsartgallery.com

29 Palms Inn 73950 Inn Avenue, Twentynine Palms (760)367-3505, www.29palmsinn.com Live music nightly. Usually scheduled: Beverly Derby & Bill Church, Saturdays; Bob Garcia, Sundays; The Luminators, Mondays; Daniel Horn, Wednesdays; Bobby Furgo and company, Thursdays. The Wonder People usually play first Friday monthly.

29 Palms Inn Desert artists on exhibit in the restaurant.

Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown

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(760)365-5956, www.pappyandharriets.com Upcoming: Zachariah and The Los Riders, Christ Laterzo, October 22, Grim Rabbit Halloween Party, October 28 (with The Creepy Creeps), and October 29 (with the Death Valley Girls). Regularly scheduled: Open mic on Mondays with guest hosts, The Shadow Mountain Band opening for other acts most Saturdays, The Sunday Band, most Sundays. For complete calendar: www.pappyandharriets.com.

Joshua Tree Saloon 61835 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, (760)366-2250, www.thejoshuatreesaloon.com Upcoming: Nell St. John, 9 p.m. October 1. Daytime Moon’s Valleys and Springs CD Release Party, 7 p.m. October 15. Regularly scheduled: Open Jam Tuesdays with Ted Quinn, karaoke Wednesday and Friday nights with Troy, live music Saturday nights, Punk Rock Thursday, second Thursdays.

Harrison House From Father to Son: A 10th Anniversary Celebration, October 1. Three events which “cherish, conserve, consider, create” the Harrison House legacy. Benefit for Harrison House. One workshop features Zimbabwe band Mokoomba (who will perform at the Joshua Tree Music Festival) exploring the techniques of their forefathers using voice, percussion, and kudu horns to build a song, 1-3 p.m. Tribal dance workshop, 4-6 p.m. Suggested donation of $20 for one workshop, or $35 for both.

Gyan Riley, classical guitar: October 7. $15.

Tickets to Harrison House events available at Joshua Tree Health Foods.

6881 Mount Lassen Ave., Joshua Tree, Art & Ecology Site: 6836 Mount Lassen Ave. (760)366-4712, www.louharrisonhouse.org Tortoise Rock Casino 73829 Base Line Road, Twentynine Palms www.tortoiserockcasino.com

The hi-desert celebrated the return of the turkey vultures this September.

Beatnik Lounge 61597 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree. (760)475-4860, www.jtcpc.org Kokopelli’s Kantina 57154 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley Landers Brew Company 388 Golden Slipper Lane, Landers.

(760)623-6300, www.landersbrew.com.

Frontier 55844 29 Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley (760)820-1360, www.cafefrontier.com Alternate Wednesdays, October 12 and 26: Bobby Furgo, Jim Austin, TK Smith and guests, hi-desert hot club music. 7 p.m.

The Palms Another Wonder Valley Music Festival, October 1, 6 p.m.-midnight. Insect Surfers, Mister Paradise, Ben Vaughn Ensemble, The Sibleys, Dan Montgomery, Michael Starr, High Noon Whiskey, Helene Renaut.

83131 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley (760)361-2810 Hi-Desert Living Sky’s the Limit Observatory & Nature Center Desert night sky watching events most Saturday evenings. Outdoor events may be changed due to weather. Free to the public.

9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms (just outside the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park) (760)401-3004, www.skysthelimit29.org, or follow @STL29Palms for event status Beatnik Lounge Tibetan Meditation with Sunny Sundowner, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.; Vegan Outreach, August 27, 3-6 p.m.; Punk Rock Sewing Circle, September 1, 5-7 p.m.

61597 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree. (760)475-4860, www.jtcpc.org Joshua Tree Retreat Center/Institute of Mentalphysics 59700 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree, (760)365-8371 Intro to Tibetan Spiritual Breath. Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m., Lotus Meditation Building.

Donation: $5. Improves subtle energies of the body by understanding breath and the natural relationship to healing.

Rainbow Stew 55509 29 Palms Hwy., Old Town Yucca Valley For event schedule, see: www.rainbowstew4u.com Fans’ Halloween Costume Party October 29, 6 p.m.

Fans Sports Bar & Grill, 4966 Adobe Road, 29 Palms (760)361-0663 Want to be included in our calendar listings? Send your event info to us at: publisher@ sunrunnersw.com.

Juliet, the office manager, would like to remind you time is running out to include your business or organization in the third edition of the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities Visitor Guide!

Reserve your space today!

760-820-1222 publisher@sunrunnersw.com

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