Palms toMagazine Pines JULY/AUGUST 2014 | Vol. 1 No. 2 palmstopinesmagazine.com Your guide to Idyllwild, Palm Springs and everywhere in between
Idyllwild ROCKS
turns 21
Dore Capitani Summer Splash returns
COMPLIMENTARY
LIVING THE ARTIST DREAM
JUMP IN!
Explore the desert’s cool pools
Palms to Pines Magazine, May 2014 1
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© 2014 New Spirit all rights reserved. Affiliate of NewSpiritLove.Org See career opportunities
The 21st Annual Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines will take place amid the towering native pine and oak forest on the Idyllwild Arts campus. Continuous Jazz, Blues and Gospel Music from 10 am to 6pm on 3 stages throughout the weekend.
ON THE
IDYLLWILD ARTS CAMPUS
AUGUST 16 &17 F
• Special Patron’s Dinner Friday, Aug.15 to Kick-off the Festival. • World Class Artists selling art, jewelry, and handmade crafts. • Food for every palate. Wine, beer, margaritas, mimosas, and wine tasting. TO P U R C H A S E T I C K E T S A N D FO R M O R E I N FO R M AT I O N G O TO
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MARSHALL HAWKINS • CASEY ABRAMS • EVAN CHRISTOPHER • PAUL CARMAN'S QUARKET + 1 • HARRY PICKENS • ROBIN ADLER • EUPHORIA BRASS BAND • VOICES OF PRAISE • SHERRY WILLIAMS • RUBY & THE RED HOTS • THE CHUCK ALVAREZ BAND • BARNABY FINCH & THE STRAIGHT JACKETS • THE JOSHUA WHITE BAND FEATURING JOHNAYE KENDRICK • LILY MCCABE • ROCKY ZHARP • BLACK SWAN BLUES FEATURING BILL SAITTA, DON REED & JEFF OLSON • RUBY BLUE • THE YVE EVANS BAND • THE GREG JONES BAND • PETER SPRAGUE STRING CONSORT • JAZZGRASS FEATURING KEITH MCCABE • HAROLD MASON • HENRY FRANKLIN • LEONARD PATTON • DAVID GARFIELD & THE AFRO CUBAN JAZZ PROJECT • STARS ON THE WATER • DEANNA BOGART • PLUS MANY MORE TBA
idyllwildjazz.com
951.500.4090
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 1
Artistic Excellence Since 1998
ART ALLIANCE of IDYLLWILD
Idyllwild Gallery Map
12
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Highway 243
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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Courtyard Gallery 1
9 OAKWOOD
8 7 Cedar St.
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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, July/August 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:Palms twitter.com/artinidyllwild to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
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INDEX Idyllwild rocks......................5 Wine 101...............................8 La Casita............................10 Steeped in charm.............11 Glorious Garner.................12 Less is more.......................16 Dore Capitani....................18 The importance of jazz....22 21St Jazz in the Pines.......26 Hemet dam.......................28 Stratford Players.................30 24 hours in Idyllwild..........32 Idyllwild events calendar. .........................................34 Jump in..............................36
Scenic beauty abounds
I
f you’ve never taken the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway from Palm Desert headed toward Idyllwild, a geological beauty awaits you. Leaving the bustling city and golf courses stretching toward the foothills, it might appear from the mountains of rocks and spiny cactus looming above you that you’re traveling into a barren land. But don’t be fooled. The desert is teeming with thousands of species of living flora and fauna. As your vehicle climbs, you may be one of the lucky ones to see a herd of endangered, Peninsula Bighorn sheep, for instance. This rocky area is one of these sure-footed animals’ favorite habitats. In your ascent into higher desert, you experience numerous topographical changes, reaching various plateaus with changing rock faces and flora. Many of this flora you may have seen gracing entryways and lobbies of four-star hotels. In the distance to the east, Santa Rosa Mountain looms PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON above a deep canyon and then the community of Pinyon Pines appears on the right, named for the small pine that flourishes at this elevation. Traveling now is no longer so steep though you are still ascending. When you reach Paradise Corners at the intersection of Highway 371, you are about to view one of the most beautiful areas in these mountains — Garner Valley. Though pines begin to show themselves heavily in this area, the extraordinary views across this lucious valley explain why equestrians and everyone else love living here. Five-acre parcels, cattle, horse ranches and Lake Hemet make this a fantastic area to drive through. It is one of my favorite wide-open views in these mountains. Enjoy. Becky Clark Publisher-Editor
Pinkie’s big gay column.. 42 Cool summer activities in Palm Springs...................46 24 hours in La Quinta......48 Summer Splash..................50
Publisher | Idyllwild House Publishing Company, Ltd. Publisher-Editor | Becky Clark Content Editor | Jay Pentrack (jay@palmstopinesmagazine.com)
Military appreciation at the Palm Springs Tram.........51
Creative Director / Webmaster | Halie Wilson (halie@palmstopinesmagazine.com)
Desert events calendar....52
Director of Photography | John Pacheco (john@palmstopinesmagazine.com)
Idyllwild map.....................54 Desert map........................55 About the cover: the pool complex at Morongo Casino is a welcome escape from the desert heat. Read more about it and the many other ways to cool off on page 36.
Palms toMagazine Pines JULY/AUGUST 2014 | Vol. 1 No. 2 palmstopinesmagazine.com Your guide to Idyllwild, Palm Springs and everywhere in between
Idyllwild ROCKS
turns 21
Dore Capitani Summer Splash returns
COMPLIMENTARY
LIVING THE ARTIST DREAM
JUMP IN!
Explore the desert’s cool pools Palms to Pines Magazine, May 2014
1
PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
4 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Graphic Design Assistant | Teresa Garcia-Lande Advertising Sales | Lisa Streeter (lisa@palmstopinesmagazine.com) Goddess of All Things | Dolores Sizer Photographers | Jenny Kirchner • Brian Vanstone • Dea Remo Contributing Writers | Hillary Angel • Zac Johnson Shanna Robb • Donna Elliott 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.
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
IDYLLWILD ROCKS
“Belay on,” “Off belay,” “Belay off.” A strange conjugation in a foreign language? Perhaps to some, but not to climbers.
Story by Donna Elliott Photos by Neil Jordan
Hike up to the base of Tahquitz Rock or Suicide Rock on any week-end and you’ll hear these calls echoing off the pure, sensuous granite walls that make up this internationally known and revered climbing area. Some of these calls will be mine. I moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles in the early ’70s. Little did I know the profound effect on my life that joining the Rock Climbing Section (RCS) of the Sierra Club would have. It is through climbing that I fell in love with Idyllwild. Every week-end, there was a ritual exodus from LA to Idyllwild to climb. I left the USA in the early ’80s. I lived abroad and travelled the world, climbing in many beautiful places. However, I have come full circle back to Idyllwild to climb on my old friends Tahquitz and Suicide. A brief history of Tahquitz and Suicide Both rocks are steeped in climbing history and have contributed much to the love and expansion of the sport since the ’30s. “Modern” rope techniques were introduced to members of the Sierra Club in Southern California back then and that gave rise to the RCS. Members of the RCS “discovered” Tahquitz in 1935 and climbers have been putting up newer and harder routes ever since. In the early days, See Rocks, next page
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 5
Rocks CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE climbs were graded as easy, moderate and hard. As Tahquitz began to set the standard by which to judge the difficulty of other climbs, a new grading system was devised using a decimal system. A fifth class climb called for ropes, belaying and other gear to progress safely. The system was initially based on 10 climbs at Tahquitz. The Trough, an “easy” climb became 5.0 with a progression to the Open Book at 5.9, then considered to be the limit humanly possible. As better equipment evolved, so did higher grades. These higher grades (5.10+) were then sub-divided by a suffix from a to d. The ’70s and ’80s were an exciting time with so many illustrious climbers achieving what we mere mortal climbers could not even dream of. Climbs that were originally done as “aid” climbs (standing in gear and slings to move up the rock) were “freed” (climbing the rock with the gear used as protection only). It is not surprising that Tahquitz and Suicide spawned innovation, as it was here that many of the first 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 and 5.12 climbs were done. Many of the
6 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
“regulars” began migrating to Yosemite and used the rating system and techniques that were fostered here. One such regular was Lynn Hill who became the first person to free climb “the Nose” on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. She has always been an inspiration to me as women began to climb at the highest levels that were previously male only domains. To date, there are only two climbs graded at 5.15c. Both are in Europe and both are the super-human achievement of a 21 year old Czech named Adam Ondra. Watching people who climb at such a high level is a visual indulgence in grace, elegance and fluidity, as if a vertical ballet. Then and Now The love of nature, adventure and the physical and psychological challenges were no less intense for the early climbing pioneers than for today’s climbing hot shots. The main differences are the equipment, the techniques and the ethics. Whereas early climbers used pitons (spikes hammered into the rock) that left scars and sometimes were impossible to remove, today’s climbers use expandable cams that leave no trace upon their removal. Be sure to visit the Idyllwild Area Historical Society at 54470 North Circle
Drive (www.idyllwildhistory.org). You can see an interesting exhibition on the climbing history of the area and marvel at the gear used by early climbers and those of today. To vicariously experience the thrilling world of rock climbing, I recommend watching these short YouTube videos: • “Three on a Rope” was an MGM production filmed on Tahquitz Rock in 1938. In one scene, the female climber uses her male climbing partner’s head to gain height. • “X15X15 leads Flower of High Rank 5.9” features a climber on one of the classic climbs on Suicide Rock. • “Lynn Hill on the Nose” demonstrates the finesse and determination needed to “free” this route, an incredible feat Aren’t you afraid? Isn’t it dangerous? “Yes, sometimes” is the answer to both questions, but both the fear and the danger can be minimized if you lay a proper foundation of skills and experience. Idyllwild is blessed with a wealth of expertise on which to draw. Bob Gaines of Vertical Adventures helps novices learn the fundamentals of the sport. Bob believes that “if someone is serious about rock climbing, classes at the outset will lead to a safer climbing career.” Vertical Adventures also caters to experienced climbers to help them reach higher levels and/or transition from indoor to outdoor climbing. Bob said that many of his clients, now friends, have been with him 10, 15 and 20 years. You can find out more about Vertical Adventures at www.verticaladventures.com or call (800) 514-8785. Drop by Nomad Ventures, Idyllwild’s local outdoor shop located at 54415 N Circle Drive. You can get advice about the area and buy guidebooks, climbing, backpacking, hiking and camping gear. Check out their website at www. nomadventures.com with some great links to gear reviews, news on outdoor sports and activities, climbing feats and videos and much more. With so many resources to inspire your thirst for adventure, one climbing call that won’t be heard is “Falling!”
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, July/August 2014
7
Wine 101: Developing Idyll Awhile’s portfolio By Dave Dillon Idyll Awhile Wine Bar & Bistro In November 2011, my wife, Julie, and I started a brand new adventure. After being a public school teacher for 26 years, I convinced my wife we should pursue another common interest. Ok, probably my interest, more mine than hers. So, we started our journey into the world of wine and running a business. In the first few months we had the rather “difficult” task of experiencing the entire stock in our store. At the time the shop contained approximately 100 different wines. We tasted wines retailing from $12.00 to $45.00. We learned about the familiar “burnt rubber” taste associated with South African wines, the saw grass flavors that compliment the grapefruit in Marlborough County Sauvignon Blanc and fell in love with the jammy fruit forward Paso Robles Zins. As we progressed into our first six months of operation, Julie and I started to rethink our wine portfolio. Who were our customers, what did they desire, and how could we deliver a high quality and inexpensive product? Our motto at the shop became,
All dogs go to Gary’s
8 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
“We want to be upscale and classy, but not snobby.” We wanted to bring classy fine wines at a reasonable price to our locals and visitors from LA, San Diego and the desert communities. Our first attempt to tap into our customer base started with Tuesday evening private wine tastings paired with food. The concept was to invite a winery to share five of their most popular reasonably priced wines. At the end of the evening we would know what patrons thought about the wines and add to our portfolio. This led to a number of boutique wines showing up on our shelves. Two of our favorite wineries are Thatcher Winery and Cass Winery. When you come to the shop, two wines that you should consider are Thacher’s Triumvirate Reserve Zinfandel and Cass Wine’s Rockin’ One Red. Thacher specializes in Rhone style blends and zinfandels. Triumvirate is 100% zinfandel grapes produced in three different fields in western Paso Robles. It is a big zin (16.1% alcohol) with jammy blackberry and peppery notes. Cass Winery, located on the eastern end of Paso Robles specializes in Rhone varietals that are ENTAV certified. This is a French certification that 90% of French vineyards have and only recently became available in California. Rockin’ One is a Syrah, Grenache, Petite Syrah, Mourvedre blend. Dark notes of blackberry, smoke, meat, and toffee-accented oak blend with cranberry, strawberry and country herbs in this layered and complex red. When you visit you will find our wines arranged by geographical area from the front of the shop to the back. We start with our favorite local winery Middle Ridge. Idyllwild resident Chris Johnston produces some wonderful wines with grapes purchased in California. My favorite section is the Paso Robles area. We have wines from Peachey Canyon, Powell Mountain, Rob Murray Estates, Broken Earth, and Robert Hall. Next time I will highlight the wines we have from the Santa Barbara area. The area produces some great Pinot Noirs. In the mean time stop in and say hello.
HIGHER GROUNDS
OPEN EVERYDAY! 7AM till 7PM•Fri-Sat 9PM
Come visit Idyllwild ...
... in the cool air of the San Jacinto Mountains and have a cup of our Fresh Roasted Coffee. We are just a short hour away. Our organic coffee is roasted on location and served with assorted pastries.
Open Sun.-Thurs. 7am-7pm • Fri. & Sat. 7am-9pm LIVELY MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT.
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IdyllwildCoffeeRoasters.com • 951-659-1379 54245 N. Circle Drive, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Challe
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Friday - Karaoke, 9pm-1am Saturday and Sunday Entertainment all weekend long!
25985 Hwy. 243 • 951-659-0315
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 9
PHOTOS BY JOHN PACHECO
I
n 1989, Manuel and Margarita Garcia started a little restaurant called La Casita in a small town called Idyllwild. Five years later, Robert Garcia, the nephew of Manuel and Margarita, was asked to help out as busboy in the restaurant. “This was supposed to be a two week job for me. I was supposed to help them out through the summer by bussing tables,” Robert said laughing. “That was 20 years ago.” Robert purchased the restaurant from his Aunt and Uncle in 2001. La Casita is the oldest Mexican Restaurant in Idyllwild, and Robert carries on the family tradition of serving only the freshest food. “We make everything fresh. We make our salsa fresh, we make our Chile Rellenos fresh; there are no canned beans or canned rice, everything is made fresh,” Robert said proudly. Some of La Casita’s signature dishes include their Chile Relleno, Shrimp Cocktail, Chili Verde, Fish Tacos, and Carnitas. The Garcia family hails from Jalisco, Mexico which has a
10 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Fresh, fun family recipes
significant influence on the recipes and style of cooking at La Casita, and Robert carries on the family tradition. One recipe in particular, Robert’s Creamy Jalapeno Sauce, is about to hit the big time! “The recipe has been in our family for years,” Robert said. “People from San Diego, Temecula, all over, come in for [the sauce].” Working with a company out of Newport Beach, Robert expects the sauce to be available to the public as well as to other restaurants by fall. Twenty years serving great food has not dampened Robert’s enthusiasm, “Going from busboy to owner has been a long journey but I like the business and I enjoy my customers. My main goal is to make everybody happy, to make sure that everybody walks out of here satisfied and with a big smile on their face. That’s my main goal,” he said.
La Casita is located at 54650 N. Circle Drive. Summer hours are 11am to 9pm daily. For reservations call 951-659-6038. Visit them online at www.idyllwildlacasita.com.
Steeped in charm The Hill’s favorite tea shop
PHOTOS BY JOHN PACHECO
Ron and Kathy Campbell, owners of Merkaba, made certain that their little tea shoppe in the quaint village of Idyllwild was something visitors would not miss. The store is painted in two shades of purple and set in a lovely Victorian-style storefront. Since opening on September 9, 2005, the store has prospered offering a selection of premium fresh organic, kosher and fair trade loose-leaf teas, herbs and spices. By developing partnerships with many world-renowned producers of tea, herbs and spices Merkaba ensures pristine quality and stable prices for their customers. Over time, the Campbells expanded their business to include healing herbs and energy healing (aura and Chakra). Further product expansion included pots, cups, and accessories, as well as cultural and religious items from countries around the globe. Join Merkaba’s Tea of the Month Clubs and receive a package of tea or tisane from the selections listed on their website. With a variety of clubs available and designed with something for everyone in mind, the club makes a great gift for the tea lover in your family. Several options are available. Merkaba is located at 54210 N. Circle Drive, and open (almost) daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information call 951-659-2805 or visit them online at www.MerkabaOnline.com.
Idyllwild Ice Cream
Gelato • Triple Dipped Giant Ice Cream Bars • Shakes • Soft Serve Chocolate Dipped Bananas and Cheesecake • Fruit Smoothies Shaved Ice (dozens of flavors) • World Famous Date Shakes Cold Drinks • Hot Drinks • Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs Giant Pretzels • Hamburgers
Magnificent Views Fishing • Golf Course Conference Center Fireplace Cottages www.alhatti.com (951) 659-2066 Individual & Group Bookings Available
— And —
I dyl lwi l d J e r k y
Over 80 varieties of jerky!
54282 North Circle Drive. Next to the Rustic Theatre 951-468-8118 (Idyllwild Ice Cream was formerly called Quik Stop)
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 11
Glorious Garner PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
Gorgeous horse country reminiscent of the old west is a refreshing surprise By Jay Pentrack
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t is awe-inspiring, like a symphony by Mahler or a painting by Monet. The scent of pine always evokes pleasant memories for me; memories of summers spent exploring the forest and of family gatherings around a campfire; memories of pitch dark nights with stars, glistening like diamonds, against the ink black sky and time spent lying in the cool, moist grass counting them and laughing with my best friend. Sounds also awaken memories that rush back so quickly I gasp, recalling the time when scary stories, told around the campfire, made me tremble; the time when a rustling of the bushes brought fear so intense it made my eyes water; cherished times, viewed through the eyes and narrow experience of youth. Memories loving parents want to pass on to their own children. Garner Valley recalls, for me, those memories. Perhaps it is because of this mega-dose of natural beauty that the people who live surrounded by it seem friendlier, more willing to engage with the folks they encounter. After all, there is nothing more inspiring than this picturesque valley where nature, like a peacock courting his 12 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
mate, proudly displays its beauty to the amazement of onlookers. You cannot help but feel seduced by it. Your introduction to Garner Valley, nestled comfortably between Idyllwild and Palm Desert on Highway 74, begins about 25 miles in as you traverse the arid landscape from the desert cities. Suddenly this beautiful valley appears and you wonder, first, what is this place and secondly, why you have not seen or heard of it before; but it is likely that you, unknowingly, have. The natural beauty of the area and its proximity to Hollywood caught the attention of television and film producers who called often; in the 1940s, Gene Autry, Tom Mix and other silver screen cowboys herded cattle, rescued fair maidens and met at high noon for shootouts on some small, dusty road there. The producers of Bonanza, one of the most popular TV series of all time, filmed its opening credits in Garner Valley. Charles Thomas established the Thomas Ranch which became famous for its thoroughbred horses and Angus cattle in
the 1860s. Thomas, in 1905, sold 1,700 acres to Robert Garner, a local rancher and stockman, which began a generations-long family affair that still exists today. The ranch is still owned and operated by the Garner family, and continues to be used by television and film producers as a location for film, television shows and commercials. The ranch may also be used for meetings, conferences, weddings and other events by the general public. For more information, visit them online at garnerranch.com. For Karen Price, Garner Valley has been home for more than 20 years. Karen is the manager of Windermere Garner Valley. “What makes it easy to sell [Garner Valley] is that I live the life. I can speak it. James [Karen’s fiancé] and I hike, we ride horses,” she said. Karen grew up in Woodland, California (near Davis in Northern California). With model/movie star looks, she tried “a goofy little career” in modeling which she did not like at all. Landing a job in the
“My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth’s loveliness.” ~ Michelangelo
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
printing industry, Karen would spend 30 years handling accounts for Entertainment Tonight, Giorgio Perfume, Fred Hayman, Vidal Sassoon, and Merle Norman. She also handled several celebrity clients. “It was fun. I was on the PR side of it. I was the middle person. I had the big plant, big lithographer, it was huge; we did things all over the world. I would go out, meet the clients and put the deal together so we would print whatever they needed,” Karen said. The ever “outdoorsy” Karen would meet and marry a gentleman who ran a thoroughbred ranch in Garner Valley where she would move after many years of living in Los Angeles. And while her marriage did not last, her relationship with Garner Valley did. After the split, Karen got her own ranch and began indulging her passion for animals. “I built a big cattery, I raised a bobcat from a baby,” said Karen, “And after [the bobcat] passed away, that’s when I started rescuing. When people were getting rid of their cats for no reason, I said ‘I’ll take them;’ that’s how I met Living Free.” Karen has served on the Board of Directors of the animal sanctuary for about four years. Helping people realize their dreams is something Karen loves doing. As an avid horse person, she understands the impact development is having on people like herself. “High-end horse people are all of a sudden losing their trail system because of development from San Diego up to Malibu. People are having to trailer their horses; here you just go right out your back door – we’ve got a trail right here,” Karen said pointing, “I get people coming
Karen Price
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
up here for organized horse rides and they didn’t even know about [Garner Valley].” The proximity to area entertainment and shopping is also a big benefit, according to Karen. “Having the quaintness and beauty of Garner Valley, and then to head down to the ‘foo foo’ El Paseo,” she said laughing. “We can still dress up, go to a gallery, go to events and be able to come home to all of this. It is so unique and I wish more people knew about it.” Tony and Leslie Ingham discovered Garner Valley after seeking out Idyllwild for a cooler weekend getaway in the middle of summer one year. “It was hot and I wanted to get away, so I looked for a place that was relatively close to home that we could bring the horses, which is very rare. I found a little cabin in Idyllwild that had a little corral, so we booked it for a weekend,” Leslie explained. “A Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 13
PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” ~ John Lubbock
Entrance to Garner Valley Ranch 14 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Tony Ingham
PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
friend of mine said, ‘you have to go down to Garner Valley because once you see it you’re going to want to buy something.’ I thought, ‘Well we’re here, we might as well.’ When you come down that grade [on Highway 74] and you see Garner Valley … we were just flabbergasted by how beautiful it was.” The couple immediately made an appointment with a realtor and bought a piece of property in 2008. It took the Inghams three years to complete the ranch where they now live full time. The couple recently invested in two additional pieces of property in Garner Valley. “The prices are down pretty low and that’s one of the reasons why we’re investing in some properties up here,” Tony observed. “We think it is going to go up. There are actually a lot of people that live up here that don’t have horses, because they like hiking, they just like living in the mountains.” Leslie added, “We love the mountains, it’s quiet. I have friends come up from Norco and Rancho
Cucamonga and Orange County and they are just amazed because horse property south of Orange County is just crazy, you can’t touch it, and it’s cooler here and beautiful. You can go to the wineries. That’s what I like, you can go to Temecula wine tasting; you can go to Idyllwild; you can go to Palm Desert shopping.” The Inghams’ homes are part of an HOA, and as part of the community they have access to over 20 miles of maintained trails - hiking or horse trails - and a Common community center where there are activities, dinners, poker nights and other events. “We have met quite a few people up here who are very nice and are in the same mindset as we are,” Tony said. “My view on this Valley is that it is like a little piece of Colorado in the middle of Southern California,” Tony offered. “This is the only place around here that I know that looks like this. You’ve got
PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
mountains on both sides, the beautiful valley, the pine trees … people just don’t know. And living here is actually doable.” Karen agrees, “I think [Garner Valley] is probably one of the better communities in the State of California as far as the number of riding trails,” she said passionately. “We are a very unique area. You can camp out here, you can trailer your horses up, it’s endless. With your magazine, you’re exposing a treasure here.” For more information about Garner Valley, contact Karen Price at 213-712-1409 or via email at karen@windermere.com.
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Less is more T
By Shanna Robb
his coming August will officially be my 19th year of owning a cabin in Idyllwild. Sure, the 1940s cabin is reminiscent of days gone by and affectionately referred to as a “doll house,” but it is home nonetheless. Fast forward to 2009, and making the 560 square feet of living space into a full-time residence was an adjustment that tested my creativity. Facing the reality that my walk-in closet was now a mere 13” wide space and my custom kitchen was replaced with a 1930s Blue Bonnet stove, I kept reminding myself that I was gaining mental breathing “space.” Of course, it helped that I had been a Professional Organizer since 2001 and coached my clients that less is more! Less is exactly what attracted me to Idyllwild. Less stress. Less traffic. Less franchises. Less people. At the same time, Idyllwild offers a lot more! In response to friends who are puzzled by the concept of living in a community where the population is smaller than my entire high school and worry about being bored, I shake my head and laugh.
16 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
While Idyllwild offers a welcome retreat for those who want to disconnect and are seeking some well-deserved rest, Idyllwild also offers a calendar spilling over with events focused on art, music, and nature. The question is NOT what can you do in Idyllwild, but how can you take advantage of all that Idyllwild has to offer. Boasting temperatures that are on average 20-30 degrees cooler than the desert floor, there is no wonder that Idyllwild is a summer destination. With an assortment of summer events, the spirit of Idyllwild is fed by talent and led by volunteers. For the volunteers who orchestrate the events, there is nothing boring or cookie-cutter about Idyllwild. The attraction to our mile-high village is different for everyone. The vibe entices art enthusiasts, music followers, nature lovers, and those who savor a good nap! A town where everything is 5 minutes away, the attraction is undeniable. If you are lucky, however, it will take 30 minutes to complete a 5 minute errand because either you bump into someone you know or you are taking your own sweet time. Lucille Ball is quoted as saying, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” With a smorgasbord of events offered in July and August, there is no reason for regrets when it comes to Idyllwild! Read it….schedule it….enjoy it!
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
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Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 17
DORE CAPITANI living the artist dream
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
By Jay Pentrack
S
Dore’s art is on display at the Center for the Arts in Riverside, shown here, as well as on El Paseo in Palm Desert.
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
18 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
culptor Dore Capitani owns eight magnificent acres in Idyllwild. His property has an incredible view of sloping hills and statuesque pines. “This property was “The Shield almost to the dollar what I got from my of somewhat less than half of the divorce Stupid” settlement,” he said. “And I loaded up my by Dore entire shop in this [shipping] container and put Capitani. PHOTO BY JOHN it on a train.” Dore loves everything about his PACHECO property, especially the life he has created there. He’s also one of the most witty and irreverent people you’ll ever meet. His “OUCH!” sculpture complete with an upside down motorcycle is located in front of his property along Highway 243 between Idyllwild and Mountain Center. The installation is among the most recognizable, and likely the most viewed on the Hill. “I put it there for grins,” Dore said. “Had I been thinking I would have had a motor on the wheel so the wheel would still be turning but I didn’t think of it until after it was up.” Since the display has been there, there hasn’t been a motorcycle wreck on that stretch of highway, according to Dore. “Before that there were a couple of guys that ended up right in our driveway here. I can’t take any credit for it, but it’s how it has worked out so far.” Walking through Dore’s sculpture garden, which is open to the public, he points out a metal sculpture. “This is my current favorite. It’s one I’m not completely disgusted with,” he said laughing. As we walk along, Dore shows me a shield with the letters S-T-U-P-I-D cut in metal and mounted on it and said, “When you have the shield of stupid, nothing can touch you. You’re invulnerable,” he said with a mischievous smile. His collection also includes
an “Amperstand,” a “Shield of Ignorance,” and other pieces Dore creates for “grins.” As we walk by a stack of old tires on his property, Dore says, “I’m going to paint 2 or 3 signs that say ‘Not for Sale’ as if people are asking all the time about those tires.” Like I said, he’s a funny guy with a great sense of humor. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, most of Dore’s early career was spent in manufacturing, working first for a packaging manufacturer and later, for a glass container manufacturer. “I was an industrial mechanic for Stone Container and Anchor Glass; that’s where I learned to work with metal. I barely made it out of high school and I haven’t had any art education at all,” said Dore. “I’m mechanically inclined so I was able to make a living in [manufacturing] plants.” But the work combined with a stressful personal life took its toll on him. “I had terrible migraine headaches and I used to carry a card in my wallet that said’ if involved in an accident, ‘Just let me die.’ When you’re married to an opponent it just f---s you up. You can quote me on that.” A background in the metal industry gave Dore a working knowledge of the tools that eventually became an important part of his trade as a metal artist. After a failed marriage and a career-ending employer relocation to Mexico as a result of NAFTA, Dore was ready for a change in his life, both personally and professionally. “The secret is to learn as much as you can in every job you ever do. I always worked in factories so I got a million dollar education that I wouldn’t give a penny to relive,” he said. It was a chance at love that brought Dore to Idyllwild after his first marriage ended. An old flame contacted him and the pair agreed to meet in Idyllwild. While it wasn’t a love connection for the couple, Dore did find love - a love for Idyllwild. “Things didn’t work out with the old girlfriend, but it sure worked out with Idyllwild,” he said with a smile. A few years after his move to Idyllwild, Dore met Trish who he married. “She’s from Tennessee and was waiting for me when I got here,” he laughs. The couple was married in a Crow Indian marriage ceremony, “Trish belongs to Local Color, the singing group, and we had Sam and Debbie there; we walked in the National Forest and they sang,” Dore said. “Now, the five best years of my life have passed.” In July of last year, Dore’s dream life nearly took a major detour – the Mountain Fire passed within just feet of his home. The couple had returned from a picnic on Black Mountain about 10 minutes before the road closure order took effect. “Fire trucks were
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 19
“It’s heaven. I’m the happiest man on the Hill.”
PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
20 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
everywhere. We had two big tanks of water and I gave [the firefighters] 5,000 gallons of water. I’m going to make a fire station here. I have a pump and I’m going to make a little house for that stuff,” Dore explained. “The fire couldn’t have gotten much closer. We stood in the driveway and watched trees like this [points to a large pine] go up in seconds.” But, thankfully, his slice of heaven remained intact and like Dore said, “This was meant to be. All it takes is 30 years of depression in the Midwest.” The evolution of Dore’s work is evident in the sculptures that make up his sculpture garden. What Dore does with metal is nothing short of amazing. Cutting, shaping, coloring and incorporating his genius in every piece he creates, his garden is filled with an incredible variety of designs. I asked how many sculptures he has created and the response was typical Dore, “If I knew how to count I wouldn’t have this job,” he said making us both laugh. There are many, not even taking into account the number of commissioned pieces he has created which now account for about 80% of his business. Powder coating is a relatively new element in Dore’s work. “I do signs. I can cut anything I draw … and then the powder coating, … that just kicked the horizons out so far. I am actually in heaven now. I have been powder coating for 2 years so I really have the hang of it now,” he explained. “Powder coating gives the metal texture and color. If it didn’t have that color on it, it would rust. Powder coating lasts, it can last outside for years.” The colors he now creates are stunning and have inspired some new designs. “The powder coat looks the best on a curve and that’s a good use of curves and a good way to show off the colors I can do now.” Dore’s daily interaction with the deer and other wildlife that pass through his property, his incredible view of rolling hills and statuesque pines, and a partner in life that shares his passion for art and love of nature, it is easy to understand why Dore loves his life in Idyllwild. “It’s heaven. I’m the happiest man on the Hill.”
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Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014  21
z z ja
f o e c Theimportan By Zac Johnson Idyllwild Arts Class of 2001
O
n one of few occasions in my life when my heart filled my throat and my knees buckled and rattled so that I couldn’t hide my immense and abrupt fear, I found myself in front of a large, silent audience during Cindy Kim’s Senior Music Recital at Idyllwild Arts Academy in the spring of 1999. I was a kid. Cindy had asked me two days before to stand in on one piece. “You won’t have to solo,” she said. Obviously, she knew that mentioning this little detail would make all the difference to me. But I pretended that I wasn’t afraid and said, “Oh, that’s no big deal but if you don’t need me to solo I won’t.” And I left it at that. I should have known then that Marshall Hawkins had a hand in all of it. So fatefully, I suppose, what initially seemed like an innocent song quickly became a device that reached inside of me and changed my core from that moment until now and continues to stir the philosopher’s pot in me, so to speak. The song was “Satin Doll,” I believe. Or maybe it was “’Round Midnight,” I can’t be sure. Although it would make a bit more sense if it was a Sonny Rollins tune, or my favorite, Charlie Parker. I’d played the song dozens of times before, whichever it was, and I agreed to sit in because I’d never soloed before a crowd and I had no reason to believe that this performance would be any different. I could just piddle along and look as See Jazz, page 24
22 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Longtime Idyllwild Arts Academy music teacher Marshall Hawkins performs during the 2013 Jazz in the Pines Festival. PHOTO BY J.P. CRUMRINE
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Jazz CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 cool as the rest of the group without doing much at all. The first verses were played wonderfully and according to plan. I was background noise at best and the focus had been primarily on Cindy’s extraordinary piano skills. She was, for most people who met her, singularly the most gifted musician of her age group. She could, and often did, play any song note-for-note after hearing it only once. She would then shift gears and make it resemble a be-bop standard, infusing it with embellishments that would have made Mozart’s head spin. She did this once for every level of the original Mario Bros. I think all of us who heard it still wonder if we just imagined it because it was so perfectly executed and it romanticized our collective geeky nineties youth. The recital was on point. Our song was sounding great, as I remember. But as we played along, something went horribly, grotesquely wrong and three disarming words were spoken in my direction that I could not run nor hide from: “Your turn, Zac.” This was Marshall. I had been tricked. I lost my basic motor functions. As the song’s progression echoed off into the distance and became grossly out of sync with my thundering pulse which threatened to come exploding from me like a cannon, it became caught in a loop and regurgitated itself like a broken record does. This was, I now realize, the sound of my fellow musicians repeating the last few notes to cue me into a solo, but it wasn’t sticking. Trembling between my brightest, seemingly bravest peers, I had started to collapse from within. I stood in a wretched display of shell shock and vertigo, a zombie like figure sporting a tenor saxophone for a necklace which had no real function anymore except to aid in the overall visual effect of apocalypse and confusion. Between sweating fingertips I barely clung to its immobile and unexpected weight. It hung from me like the brutal age-old symbol of an artist’s ball and chain and the music rattled on. I hesitated, my tongue on the reed, but I forgot to put air into it and there was no sound. I tried again, this time with more spit. Again, nothing. There I stood face
24 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Idyllwild Arts Academy alumni and American Idol contestant Casey Abrams performs during the 2013 Jazz in the Pines Festival. Hawkins mentored bass-playing Abrams, who is credited as the first contestant to bring jazz to the American Idol stage in 2011. PHOTO BY J.P. CRUMRINE
to face with beauty and she taunted me and asked me to break free and play. And because I hadn’t fallen down on the floor, I knew that I had enough strength in me to get something out of that horn and from all of this. Finally, I played. It echoed from the walls of the Barn where for the first time I had heard Harry Pickens play piano two years earlier at Jazz in the Pines. I had never until then viewed a musical instrument as an extension of the body. There was no distance or hesitation between Mr. Pickens and the sound that spilled from the brim of the piano so densely that you could all but watch it move in waterfalls and bathe everything within earshot in light and sentiment. I remember vividly. Marshall stood to his right holding a double bass. It was a gentle embrace but with constant conflict and resolution, if you were to interpret his expressions alone. He shrugged his shoulders, winced, smiled and sang out to the bass in a delicate language of doo-bops and bee-dops as if to tell it exactly what he was trying to get out of it. The instrument cried out in return, sometimes in defiance and others in complete submissive bliss, but always with a presence and personality that immediately filled the room to its fullest, so that eventually you were made to believe that the instrument might sprout arms and begin to play Marshall. Their dynamic was shocking for its intimacy. It was the sort of thing that in
its simplicity could show you the beauty in any relationship. Two years later at Cindy’s recital, I stood in that same spot before an audience which I can only assume now consisted of people who just wanted to experience a bit of something passionate and beautiful. But what did I have to give them? Now, much farther along in life, I am a United States Sailor and I obey the orders of those appointed over me, which is sometimes a far cry from home. In general, jazz is not the method of choice when defending the Constitution. But there is never a shortage of situations which require a powerful creative faculty. That may be true for all of us. A great deal of resources are tied into innovation and improvement within the Department of Defense, and more and more we look to the younger troops for new ideas and solutions. One concept I have applied again and again when faced with challenging problems in all aspects of my life comes from something Marshall used to tell me to help me overcome stage fright. “Don’t worry about the notes. Just play what you feel and the music will come.” My solo couldn’t have been as deserving as the applause it garnered and I was truly surprised. There was something else though, something with profound implications. I had faced a deep-seated fear and wound up with something truly rewarding: the confidence to do it again.
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Idyllwild celebrates the 21st PHOTOS BY JP CRUMRINE
O
Jazz in the Pines
n August 16-17 the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation will celebrate the 21st year of Jazz in the Pines. The festival includes a marketplace with art, jewelry, pottery, T-Shirts, hats, posters and more. Food vendors will also be serving up everything from BBQ to shakes and smoothies. Gates to the Jazz in the Pines concert pavilion open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday, August 16 and Sunday August 17 with acts starting at 10 a.m. All three of the music venues, Holmes Amphitheatre, Stephens Hall and the ever-popular French Quarter will be utilized. Enjoy jazz, blues, R&B and gospel until 6 p.m. The festival is located on the grounds of Idyllwild Arts at 52500 Temecula Road in Idyllwild. Saturday – August 16 Holmes Amphitheatre Yve Evans & Company Bradley Austin Bobo, Bass & Vocals Evan Christopher David Garfield and The Afro-Cuban Project Euphoria Brass Band
Sunday – August 17 Holmes Amphitheatre Yve Evans and V.I.P (Voices in Praise), Gospel Group Deanna Bogart Ruby Blue Casey Abrams & Marshall Hawkins
French Quarter Euphoria Brass Band Black Swan Blues featuring Bill Saitta & Don Reed Ruby & The Redhots The Chuck Alvarez Band
French Quarter Rocky Ahzrp Band The Greg Jones Band Stars On The Water Peter Sprague R&B featuring Leonard Patton
Stephens Hall The Straight Jackets Paul Carman’s Quarket Plus One Joshua White Band featuring Johnaye Kendrick Harry Pickens Trio featuring Robin Adler & Marshall Hawkins
Stephens Hall Jazz Grass The Peter Sprague String Consort The Harry Pickens Trio featuring Sherry Williams & Marshall Hawkins The Henry Franklin Band
26 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Ticket prices: $250 Patrons Package – includes admission to the Friday evening dinner/dance party, preferred Parking, Preferred Seating in the Main Amphitheatre, and admission to both days of the festival. $110 – Two-day feneral admission (online discount) $60 – General admission, one day (online discount) For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.IdyllwildJazz.com.
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Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 27
A dam impressive
feat
It’s invisible from the highway. But without it there would be no Lake Hemet. For 119 years Hemet Dam, a landmark that once merited “wonder of the world” status, has blocked the only exit for runoff from Garner Valley and its surrounding slopes. Its story recalls the early years of America’s attempts to industrialize Mother Nature.
Story by Robert B. Smith Photo from the Idyllwild Town Crier archives 28 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
he central character was Edward Mayberry. A San Francisco civil engineer and builder, in his later years he moved to Southern California and turned to breeding thoroughbred race horses. He and another breeder, Hancock Johnston (son of Confederate general Albert Sidney Johnston), became good friends. In the summer of 1886 the two vacationed on Johnston’s newly acquired ranch land in the extreme northwest corner of Garner Valley. While out hunting, guided by local rancher Charles Thomas, they rode past the head of the steep gorge that channels the San Jacinto River’s South Fork down the mountainside to farmlands on the valley floor far below. Mayberry, who evidently never saw a canyon he wouldn’t love to dam, instantly imagined a project to store irrigation water for valley farms. This was not a new idea. A group called The Lake Hemet Company already had water rights to the South Fork but lacked the money to capitalize on it. Mayberry, on the other hand, had a very wealthy friend back in San Francisco, William Whittier, who made his millions as founder of the company that became Fuller Paints. Whittier quickly sensed a lucrative investment in land development and hurried to the San Jacinto Valley to begin negotiations for thousands of acres of unused land and rights to the South Fork’s water. As 1887 dawned, Whittier, Mayberry, and Johnston, along with figurehead president Albert Judson, created the Lake Hemet Water Co. and Hemet Land Co. They bought 365 acres for the dam and reservoir from ranchers Johnston and Thomas, and from the Southern Pacific Railroad, plus 6,000 acres on the valley floor for farms and a townsite. Before construction could start, Mayberry needed a wagon road to bring materials to the damsite from the nearest railroad, which was just then being extended to a new settlement called San Jacinto. He surveyed a route, a primitive precursor to Highway 74, then hired a local construction company, Proctor & Marriage, to build the road. By 1890 the Mayberry Road was far enough along to allow excavation at the damsite. With the road’s completion in 1891, construction could begin on the dam itself. Ten-ton granite blocks scavenged or quarried on-site were the basic building material, to be secured with Portland cement. That commodity was unavailable in the West. But Whittier’s paint company owned clipper ships that could carry 400-lb. barrels of the stuff as ballast from a source in Belgium to San Diego, an 8,000-mile voyage around Cape Horn. By 1895 the Hemet Dam was in place as the world’s tallest
masonry dam at 122½ feet, a title it held for 16 years, when Roosevelt Dam in Arizona displaced it. Meanwhile, Whittier’s crews had been busy down in the San Jacinto Valley, laying out the new town of Hemet and building a water distribution system, which started just below the confluence of South Fork and Strawberry Creek. In time, the dam would prove to be too short to forestall damaging floods in wetter years, especially 1916, when the lake overtopped the dam by six feet. So in 1923 the water company raised its height to 135 feet, substantially expanding the lake. Early on, Whittier pushed his partners aside to take almost paternalistic control of water and town development. Until his death in 1917, he treated Lake Hemet as a private resort, stocking it with trout for his friends and business associates, while steadfastly excluding the public, ostensibly to protect Hemet’s domestic water quality. But with the increasingly popular Keen Camp resort nearby, conflict was inevitable. Matters came to a head in 1931, as the Pines-to-Palms Highway neared completion. The County Board of Supervisors, heavily invested in the new road, cut a deal with the Forest Service over the water company’s objection, creating a campground on federal land at the lake’s north shore. The impasse was resolved in 1933, when the company finally agreed to allow public use of the lake; only swimming remained prohibited, and the water company got exclusive rights to rent boats. With the addition of a nearby general store in 1949, Lake Hemet became established as the recreational magnet it remains today.
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951-659-2630 • 26290 Highway 243 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 29
Stratford Players to stage Tony winning play By Jay Pentrack The Stratford Players has been awarded the rights to perform the 2013 Tony Winner, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” in July of this year. Artistic Director, Marsha Kennedy said, “It’s fresh from the Mark Taper Forum, so we’d like to get the word out about it.” In March, the Los Angeles production finished its extended run at the Mark Taper Forum. “I am thrilled,” said Kennedy. “‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ is exactly the caliber of play we want to present. That we were able to acquire the rights to perform it so soon after its run at the forum was an unexpected surprise.” Straftofd Players Todd Fowler, Debbie Overman, Preston Sparks and Barbara Rayless rehearse. The comedy, by Christopher PHOTO BY MARSHALL SMITH Durang, one of Amerca’s leading Marshall Smith, who has been engaged as Sparks plays Vanya, Debbie Overman is playwrights, explores sibling rivalry. It director, calls it, “One of the funniest — Sonia, Barbara Rayliss is Cassandra and is slated for performance at the Caine possibly the funniest — play I’ve seen in Todd Fowler is Spike. Learning Center during the last weekend in decades of theatergoing.” Smith has selected For more information or to purchase July and the first two weekends in August. his cast and rehearsals have begun. Preston tickets, visit www.stratfordplayers.com.
FERN CREEK MEDICAL CENTER Family Practice & Therapeutic Lifestyle Medicine Kenneth C. Browning, D.O. Brenda Scherlis, MSN, FNP Jodi Cunningham, Lifestyle Educator
Open 6 days a week • 951-659-9912 (available after hours & Sundays for emergencies) Located at 54910 Pine Crest Ave. at Fern Valley Corners in Idyllwild. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fern-Creek-Medical-Center/264525963620226 30 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014  31
T24 Hours
Camping at Lake Hemet. PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
Martha Pearson at the Mountain Center Café and one of her delicious pies. PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
By Jay Pentrack
W
hether you’ve planned your 24 hours in Idyllwild to escape the blistering desert heat or simply because you need a change of scenery, you’ve chosen well. Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Mountain Center Café – easily accessible from Highway 74 (from either Hemet or Palm Desert). The café has a really cool patio with classic picnic benches surrounded by pine trees and Idyllwild’s endless blue sky. The café opens at 6 a.m. daily so you can get an early start on your day. For families on a budget, you’ll really love their reasonably priced menu – 2 eggs, 2 bacon slices, 2 sausage links, ham or sausage patty, breakfast potatoes and toast for only $4.99! Or try their 2-2-2: 2 pancakes, 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon or sausage for only $5.99. Be sure to save some room for Martha’s delicious homemade pies! She also offers 32 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
in Idyllwild a variety of pies for special occasions and holidays. Mountain Center Café also serves lunch - salads, burgers, sandwiches, and vegetarian fare make the café a perfect choice for the entire family. After breakfast, take Highway 74 (towards Palm Desert) four miles to Lake Hemet (where you’ve reserved a camping spot for the night). Camping fees (tent) on a lakefront site are only $25 per night. RV sites with full hookups are only $30 per night. (You can make your reservations online at www.lakehemet.org.) Activities at Lake Hemet include: • Fishing • Boating • Hiking • Bicycling • Bird Watching • Cookouts • Bocce Ball & Tetherball • Horseshoes
• Basketball • Volleyball • Baseball • Outdoor Movies in the Summer • Kayaking which will keep the family entertained all day long. Since you likely packed an ice chest full of snacks and dinner food, the outdoor grills will come in handy. Enjoy a delicious family dinner outdoors lakeside. (Not many restaurants can compete with the scenery!) Bring some snacks along to the outdoor movies featured at the lake all summer long. In the morning when you awaken to the chirping of the birds and the sounds of your fellow campers starting their day, pack up the car and head down Highway 74 toward Palm Desert. Within minutes, you’re in Garner Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in all of California (see article this issue). Take a “selfie” or two to show your friends what they’re missing!
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Check out the Idyllwild Area Historical Society museum to learn about the local climbing history and much more. PHOTO BY NEIL JORDAN
Idyllwild Events July – August 2014 JULY July 4
Starting with our annual 4th of July Parade and American Legion BBQ the following day, guests of Idyllwild will be magically transported back in time. Immediately following the parade, pet lovers will roll over with joy when they attend ARF’s Summer Festival (www. arfidyllwild.weebly.com) that features a Chili Cook-off, live entertainment, games, dunk tank, and pet adoptions!
July 12-13
July 26-Aug 10
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The Stratford Players will perform the 2013 Tony award winning play at the Caine Learning Center. According to Director, Marshall Smith, “It is the funniest play I have ever seen. It’s the kind of play where you laugh out loud.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.stratfordplayers. com.
AUGUST
The July 12th/13th Lemon Lily Festival is fun for all ages! Hosted by the Nature Center, this annual event has Bluegrass music, a pioneer town, food, arts and information about the rare Lemon Lily (www. lemonlilyfestival.com). A highlight to visitors, the 2nd Saturday Art Fair on the 12th is a must see. Situated among the pine trees of the Idyllwild Community Center Park, local artists are the main attraction. (www.artinidyllwild.org).
August 9
July 13
Looking for a piece of Idyllwild to take home? Make sure to visit the 2nd Saturday Art Fair across from the Shell gas station in the center of town. There you will find jewelry, pottery, photography, paintings, glass and much more!
World-renowned Chicana writer and woman’s activist, Josefina López will be appearing at the Idyllwild Author Series at Cafe Aroma, 54750 North Circle Drive, Idyllwild. López is best known as the creator of the play Real Women Have Curves, which spawned the popular Sundance Film Festival award-winning film of the same title starring America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez.
July 19-20
The Art Alliance of Idyllwild (www.artinidyllwild.org) will be hosting a two-day judged artist show and gallery working-artist tour on July 19th/20th. Free to the public and held at the lovely Rainbow Inn, this judged event includes an Under $100 Gallery and a free artist reception on Saturday evening.
The Nature Center (www.rivcoparks.org) opens their doors for their Annual Butterfly Daze. Featuring the beloved Monarch Butterfly; enjoy hands-on opportunities to learn migration characteristics and the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly, arts & crafts and more.
August 9
August 16-17
Idyllwild Jazz In the Pines (www.idyllwildjazz.com) is the place to be on August 16th/17th. Celebrating their 21st year of bringing a weekend of jazz, blues and R&B music to the beautiful mountain village of Idyllwild with three stages of continuous music. The event also includes a wide selection of art, jewelry and handicrafts. Come for a visit and see why Idyllwild was voted “Top Mountain Getaway” by LA WEEKLY! Calendar by Shanna Robb
34 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Experience the Arts Elevated I DY L LW I L D A R T S AC A D E M Y A N D S U M M E R P R O G R A M Idyllwild Arts Foundation has been fostering creativity and nurturing artists for over 65 years. Experience our world-class arts performances year-round or sign up for a workshop during our Summer Program. With more than 100 arts workshops to choose from, we offer something for people of all ages and skill levels.
Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Moving Pictures, Creative Writing, Songwriting, Fashion Design, Ceramics, Jewelry Making, Native American Arts.
Free art exhibits and performances year-round. To learn more visit idyllwildarts.org or call 951-659-2171.
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014  35
JUMP IN
Surviving summer in the desert
S
Wet ‘n’ Wild Park
PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
By Jay Pentrack
ummer temperatures in the desert cities can get pretty warm; and by warm, I mean hot. The good news is that summer in the desert is also a great time to plan your vacation or weekend getaway with huge savings on accommodations, dining, and attractions. The entire family can enjoy a week or weekend stay for a fraction of the cost of visiting during “high” season. The Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Authority sponsors a summer “chill” program with exclusive summer deals on everything from accommodations to fashion. You can download their “90 Days of Summer” brochure at www. visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/chill. The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism offers some fantastic “last minute” deals as well as Seasonal Hot Deals on their www.visitpalmsprings.com website. Find great discounts on accommodations, dining, nightlife and attractions. The Desert Gay Tourism Guild sponsors an annual summer program called “Summer Splash” that offers discounts at greater Palm Springs area hotels, restaurants, bars, retailers, promoters and entertainment venues. Visit them online at www. palmspringssummersplash.com for a list of participating businesses. Be sure to pick up your “Splash Pass” at participating hotels and
36 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
The Palm Desert Aquatic Center PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
retailers; it lists all of the participating businesses and the discount offered by each. With over 350 days of sunshine a year, swimming pools are about as commonplace as refrigerators, with many desert homes boasting elaborate backyard entertainment features. It is no wonder then that pools and spas are an important element in guest packages at the many desert hotels and inns; and never are they more appreciated or frequented than during the summer months. Some
Swinning at the ACE Hotel. PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
properties even boast pool cooling systems for those times when the water temperature parallels outdoor temperatures. Let’s jump into some of our favorite pools in the desert! Palm Desert Aquatic Center, 73751 Magnesia Falls Drive, Palm Desert Three pools set on eight acres in Palm Desert make this family-friendly center the perfect place to cool off and have fun. The facility is owned by the City of Palm Desert and operated by the Family YMCA of the Desert. Opened in June of 2011, the facility is entering its fourth summer serving the desert community.
Karen Creasey has been with the center since the beginning. “They brought me down here to open it,” she said. “I came in February of 2011.We’re going into our 4th summer.” When her husband, a PGA caddy, came out to the desert, she asked him to check out a job she had found online. Months later, the couple would move from their home in Oregon and begin a new life. “It was a great change, we have loved it,” said Karen. “We are happily part of this community.” Community response to the Center was immediate and positive. “The facility has three different pools, we have a 50-meter pool that has the diving boards on it; we have a 3-meter diving board and a one
meter diving board, so large and small, high and low. And then we have a splash pool that’s got a big splash toy, that’s a pool all of its own. And then the third pool is a recreational pool which is shallow and it has the slides attached to it and is zero depth, it’s a beach depth so you just walk into it,” Karen explained. With a mix of programs for adults and children, the facility is open year-round. The pools are heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. The most popular programs are the summer recreation swims because, according to Karen, the slides and diving boards are open as well as the splash pool. The facility is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June 14 to August 31. Children Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 37
The pool at the Riviera Palm Springs. PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
under the age of seven must be accompanied by a parent. “We ask for parent supervision. The lifeguards are not babysitters, they are watching the water, so we prefer parents don’t just drop their kids off, but certain kids are old enough to handle themselves,” Karen said. There’s always a lot going on at the Center. “We have swim meets here, we have competitive teams that swim here, we have competitive teams that come here and do their spring training literally from all over the world,” Karen said proudly. “We just had ‘Just Add Swim’ which was on the 10th of May and we had nine Olympians here teaching kids how to swim.” Private swim lessons are also available. Planning a party or special event? You can rent a meeting room, an area or the entire facility. Karen confesses, “I would love to have a wedding here! It would really be cool.” She also loves her job. “I think it’s the people. I’m a people person so I think it’s just 38 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
interacting with people and providing an opportunity for fun and exercise and wellness.” Be sure to visit them online for programs, special events and discounts at www.cityofpalmdesert.org or www.desertymca.org. Morongo Casino • Resort • Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon It’s hard to miss the Morongo Casino • Resort • Spa off of the I-10 freeway just west of Palm Springs. The 27-story resort features 310 rooms and suites on 44 acres and is the tallest building in the valley. The casino opened in June of 2000 and construction of the Morongo Hotel, a 25 million dollar project, was completed in December of 2004. AAA rates the facility as a 4-diamond property. In addition to luxurious and spacious rooms all with incredible views, and state of the art gaming, Morongo also offers several
The pool complex at Morongo Casino
PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
The Palm Desert Aquatic Center PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
restaurants – the Potrero Canyon Buffet, Cielo, Serrano, Sunset Bar & Grill, Tacos & Tequila, Natural 9 Noodle Company and a food court featuring Fatburger, Nathan’s hot dogs, Panda Express, the LA Italian Kitchen and for ice cream, Häagen-Dazs. The Sage Spa is the perfect kickoff to a relaxing day at the pool. Sage offers massages, therapies, wraps and scrubs and also offers a salon with professional hair, manicure and pedicure treatments, and waxing so you’ll be looking mighty fine poolside. The pool complex at Morongo is pretty spectacular with the Oasis Pool, two Jacuzzis, a waterslide and the lazy river, all surrounded by lush, tropical gardens. Looking for some privacy? Private cabana rentals are available daily. The Sunset Bar & Grill serves up poolside libations and a tasty menu of sandwiches and entrées. Join the fun at the weekend Paradise Pool Parties from 1 to 5 p.m. complete with resident DJ Hektik and special guest DJs. Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 39
Tortuga Del Sol
Visit Morongo Casino online for information on hours, rates and special events - www.morongocasinoresort.com. Wet ‘n’ Wild – 1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs Formerly known as Soak City, the park has plenty of fun family rides and adult oriented activities to keep the entire family entertained. Slide rides include Gremmie Lagoon (which is currently closed for maintenance); Pipeline Point – a hill with three slides; Sea Snake; and Tidal Wave Tower – two 7-foot high speed slides. Kahuna’s Beach House and Riptide Reef comprise the family rides; and three raft rides – the Pacific Spin, Surf Rider and Sunset River, round out what promises to be a memorable day for the entire family. For Mom and Dad (or adult chaperones), there‘s the Big Island Beach Club where folks 21 and older can relax in the water with their favorite drink. The poolside Cabana Bar makes tasty drinks with fresh fruit and other mouth-watering ingredients. And for food, Hodads serves burgers, dogs, chicken strips, salads and sandwiches. Island Pizza serves pizza and a variety of ICEE drinks. Dippin Dots Sundae Shop is also a favorite. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Wet ‘n’ Wild online at www.wetnwildpalmsprings.com. Planning a party? They can help! Ace Hotel and Swim Club - 701 E Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs This 173-room mid-century hotel with spa was once a neglected Westward Ho brought back to life by the Ace Hotel folks. Bike-ride close to downtown and a short car ride to Joshua Tree and other must-see desert attractions, the Ace Hotel invites you to relax, enjoy their spa and take advantage of a massage poolside or in your room. 40 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
PHOTO BY JAY PENTRACK
The property has two big pools to keep you cool even in the hottest desert temperatures and on weekends, you can shake your groove thanks to DJ music poolside. Check them out online at www. acehotel.com/palmsprings. Riviera Palm Springs - 1600 N Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs In 1959, the Riviera Hotel opened for business, and by the 1960s, it was a big hit with the Rat Pack and Elvis. It was even pictured in the movie, “Palm Springs Weekend” back in ’63. The Riviera’s rich Hollywood history is detailed on its website at www.psriviera.com. The Riviera was purchased in 2006 by Noble House Hotels and Resorts and underwent an extensive renovation to bring back the glamour it had in its heyday. If you want to party like a rock star, the Riviera Poolside Cabanas are the place to do it! All cabanas include a bottle of Chandon champagne, fresh fruit platter, chilled Evian Water, 32-inch TV, ceiling fan and misters, sectional sofa, chairs and a cocktail table, three chaise lounges, and seating for 10. Go ahead, splurge! Tortuga Del Sol – 715 East San Lorenzo Road, Palm Springs Located in the exclusive Tahquitz River Estates, Tortuga del Sol is a gay men’s resort within walking distance to restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Owners Ric and Rob recently completed an outdoor recreation area complete with pool table and an outdoor bar area. The view from Tortuga’s swimming pool is among the best in the desert. The resort also boasts a 10-man Jacuzzi. Pets are also welcome! With great deals, spectacular nights, and no waiting at your favorite desert eateries, the desert cities are a great choice for a weekend getaway or a summer vacation for the entire family.
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, July/August 2014 41
Pinkie’s
BIG GAY Column
Hello, all you wonderful people out there in Palm Springs and Idyllwild. Welcome to my new column in the Palms to Pines Magazine. I want to send out a big thank you to the hard-working people that have put this magazine together and for asking me to do a column. Most of you know who I am, Pinkie Meringue Shimmer. I am a full time resident of Idyllwild since 2012, my partner and I also have a lovely little home in the desert. There is so much going on in the desert as well as in Idyllwild. I only have space to bring to you information about a few events for the gay community, but really when you think about it we live in an amazing place. The distance between the desert and Idyllwild is only one hour. And these events are not just for the gay community, most of the events that I am involved with are good for both gay and straight people. We accept everyone and doesn't that make the world a better place. I would like to introduce you to one of the amazing places in downtown Palm Springs, Georgie's Alibi Azul Patio. Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs in the historic 1934 General Telephone Company building, this 2-story dining and entertainment venue has become one of the most popular destinations in Palm Springs. Dine in the relaxed and comfortable dining room with dark woods and intimate lighting, or al fresco on the “Best Outdoor Patio on the Strip,” complete with the signature ‘glider booths’ and climate control elements that make it the perfect temperature all year long. Our menu features a variety of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, flatbreads and entrees, as well as a special nightly discounted dinner special every night of the week, and to top it all of, it’s Happy Hour All the Time! “Georgie’s Alibi Azul Patio.” Video Bar, Night Club, Café and Patio. Azul has some form of entertainment happening every night of the week. You can visit their website at www.alibiazul.com to check out what is going on. I'm very happy to tell you about the events that I am involved with. Every Tuesday night is the Bella da Ball Cabaret Dinner Revue. Show time is 7:30 p.m., reservations are recommended but not required. This show is a mix of live vocalists along with drag performers such as myself. A brand new show at Azul that just started on June 14th is called “The Shimmer Experience,” This is my new show and you can go to the website to see the schedule or feel free to email me at PinkieMeringue@yahoo.com. This is a fun-filled show with group numbers, some comedy, all genres of music, some solos, some skits like Pinkie doing “Vitameatavegamin” from “I Love Lucy.” The core group in the show is made up of three Palm Spings Drag performers, Cherilyn, Melissa Stratman and myself, Pinkie Meringue Shimmer. Each show will have a special guest performer. I hope each and every one of you have the most AMAZING day. If you have any questions please email me at PinkieMeringue@yahoo.com. Love and Light, Pinkie Meringue Shimmer 42 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014  43
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‘Cool’ activities for summer fun
in Palm Springs
By Hillary Angel Whether soaring on a giant tram to a pristine wilderness, taking a sunset tour through ancient canyons or floating in a giant wave pool, Palm Springs has a variety of “cool” entertainment options for a closeto-home and affordable getaway Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Ride on the world’s largest rotating tramcar to 8,500 feet and explore the pristine mountain wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park to access more than 50 miles of hiking trails including guided nature walks.
46 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterpark Explore an interactive four-story funhouse, relax on the lazy river or ride giant water tubes at this family-oriented water park. Off-Road Adventures Starry desert nights are the perfect setting for off-road voyages filled with nocturnal wildlife and moonlight hikes through ancient canyons, rugged trails and rock formations of the San Andreas Fault or Joshua Tree National Park. Momentous Museums From the cutting-edge art exhibits at
the Palm Springs Art Museum, to the nation’s largest collection of WWII flying aircraft at Palm Springs Air Museum, visitors will never be bored indoors in Palm Springs. Gaming and Nightlife Try your luck at the 24-hour downtown Spa Resort Casino, and then relax at a swanky jazz lounge or kick it into high gear at a dance club. After your evening on the town, consider a midnight swim under the stars. For Palm Springs visitor information, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com or call 760-778-8418.
Wet ‘N’ Wild park
PHOTO BY JENNY KIRCHNER
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47
T24 Hours
in La Quinta By Jay Pentrack Suggestion: You may want to consider this 24 Hour plan for a special occasion. Make your reservations at the La Quinta Resort & Club and be sure to check out their special offers and packages that include spa and resort credits online. Summer discounts in the desert can be very budget friendly.
The La Quinta Spa Resort Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course PHOTOS COURTESY LA QUINTA SPA RESORT
48 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
As you arrive, the perfectly manicured drive lined with date palms and colorful flower displays provide a glimpse into the level of care you will experience during your stay. No detail has gone unnoticed. Once you’ve checked in, enjoy a delicious breakfast while you become acquainted with the resort. Twenty6 offers an amazing selection of specialty coffees, benedicts, griddle selections and breakfast classics in a relaxing atmosphere. Head back to your room and change into your golf knickers, its tee time! With a selection of courses offering varying conditions and challenges, the La Quinta Resort Dunes Course, the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA WEST, the Greg Norman Course at PGA WEST, and LQ Express at Mountain & Dunes, you can select the course best suited to you and your special tee mate. (The La Quinta Resort Mountain Course will be temporarily closed for improvements beginning July 7, 2014.)
The La Quinta Spa Resort pool and Adobe Grill
PHOTOS COURTESY LA QUINTA SPA RESORT
After a morning on the links, there’s nothing like a cool libation and some delicious food to inspire creative golf stories and soothe tired muscles. With three world class clubhouses to choose from – The Tournament Clubhouse, The Greg Norman Clubhouse and the Mountain Dunes Clubhouse, a perfect afternoon will be as simple as choosing your favorite view. Back to the room for a quick change and a visit to the Spa where you’ve booked the “Kinks from the Links” massage - a specialized massage technique that targets areas of your body most affected by golf. Skin care treatments, body renewal treatments,
and enhancements are also offered. If you brought the kids along, a fun family activity is a visit to the Old Town Artisan Studio located just minutes from the resort. The non-profit organization offers people of all ages the opportunity to express themselves artistically. Classes are offered daily and people of all ages are welcome to come and play in the clay! Glass classes are also offered. For more information visit www. oldtownartisanstudio.org. For dinner and an evening concert, Fantasy Springs offers JOY – Asian Cuisine featuring traditional recipes of old-world China alongside modern Chinese fare favorites. After dinner, take the short walk to the Special Events Center where top artists perform all summer long. Art Garfunkel, Daughtry, Michael McDonald & Toto, the Voice Tour and George Lopez are only a sample of the talent you’ll enjoy. Post-show, try your luck on Fantasy Springs’ state-of-the-art slot machines, and then head back to the resort for sweet dreams in their deliciously comfortable beds. This visit is guaranteed to feel like so much more than just 24 hours!
Check out the many classes for kids and adults (or open studio hours) at the Old Town Artisan Studio, which offers ceramics classes, paint-your-own pottery and glass classes. PHOTOS COURTESY OLD TOWN ARTISAN STUDIO
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Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 49
Summer Splash 2014 kicks off Summer Splash is back! The Desert Gay Tourism Guild brings desert area businesses together again for another summer of great deals at hotels, restaurants, bars, retailers, promoters and entertainment venues. The program continues through September 15th this year. Participating LGBT hotels include: East Canyon Hotel & Spa, Bearfoot Inn, Casitas Laquita, El Mirasol, Tortuga del Sol, 50 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
Triangle Inn, and Escape. Participating restaurants include: Azul / Alibi, Wang’s in the Desert, Trio, Tropicale and the Purple Room. Tours include: Palm Springs Art Museum, Elite Land Tours, Desert Adventures and VillageFest. Bars and nightclubs include: Hunter’s, Studio One11, Copa, Hamburger Mary’s and The New York Company.
Shopping discounts are available at Desert Premium Outlets, Just Fabulous, Crystal Fantasy, and Q Trading. For a complete listing of all available discounts, visit www. palmspringssummersplash.com. Be sure to pick up your FREE Splash Pass at participating hotels and some retailers. To join the Desert Gay Tourism Guild visit www.palmspingsgayinfo.com.
Palm Springs tramway celebrates the military July is a special month for military personnel at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. All active and retired military (with valid military ID) will receive free admission to the tram and a 25% discount for up to six guests. Nancy Nichols, VP of Sales and Marketing for the Tram explained, “For over a decade, we’ve offered this benefit every July. The Tram’s Military Days program is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to the dedicated men and women of the United States armed forces, along with their friends and families.” The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway boasts the world’s largest rotating tram car. Opened in 1963, the Tram’s 80-passenger cars travel along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon from the Valley Station (elevation 2,643 ft.) to the Mountain Station (elevation 8,516 ft.) in approximately 10 minutes. Temperatures at the top of the tram can be up to 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor, so guests should dress appropriately, especially in the evening. Tram visitors can hike over 54 miles of trails in the Mount San Jacinto State Park, take a guided nature walk provided for free by volunteers, and dine at the Mountain Station Restaurants. Be sure to visit the Natural History Museum and watch two documentary movies on the history of the Tramway and on the state park. For more information, call 888.515.TRAM or 760.325.1391, or visit them online at www.pstramway.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAM
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 51
The Village Fest in Downtown Palm Springs. PHOTO BY JOHN PACHECO
Desert Events July – August 2014 4th of July Fireworks & Power Baseball Game July 4th, 6 p.m. Palm Springs Stadium Ramon and Sunrise Way
4th of July in Palm Desert July 4th, 7:30 p.m. Music / Fireworks Show Civic Center Park 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert
4th of July in La Quinta July 4th, 4:30 p.m. La Quinta Park, Avenida Montezuma Chili Cookoff / Fireworks Show
Woody’s Burgers & After Dark Jazz Club
To: July 8, 2014 317 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262 www.woodysburgersps.com 52 Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
‘The Stops’ – A Fabulously Fundamental Musical To: Jul 19, 2014 - 8:00pm (Call for Details) The Desert Rose Playhouse (LGBT) 69-620 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 www.desertroseplayhouse.org
The Children’s Discovery Museum of The Desert (CDMOD) To: August 15 – 9:30am Children’s Summer Discovery Camp 71701 Gerald Ford Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 www.CDMOD.org
‘Paper Works’ Exhibition To: August 22, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri Palm Desert Community Gallery, Palm Desert - City Hall 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert
‘The Stops’ shows at the Desert Rose Playhouse.
PHOTO COURTESY DESERT ROSE PLAYHOUSE
www.palm-desert.org
Palm Desert Aquatic Center To: August 31, 2014 - 11:00am 73751 Magnesia Falls Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260 www.desertymca.org
Renker Wellness Center in Rancho Mirage Adult Fitness Program To: Sep 5, 2014 (Call for Details) 39000 Bob Hope Drive • Rancho Mirage, CA www.emc.org
Village Fest in Downtown Palm Springs To: Sep 25, 2014 – Thursdays - 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Highway 111, Palm Springs www.villagefest.org
College of the Desert Street Fair To: Sep 27, 2014 - 7:00am (Saturday and Sunday) Summer Season 43-500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260 www.codstreetfair.net
Certified Farmers Market at the Palm Springs Pavillion To: Sep 27, 2014 - 8:00 AM (Saturdays) 401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA, 92262 www.certifiedfarmersmarket.org
The Living Desert
To: September 30 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260 9 a.m. – Giraffe Feeding – Giraffe Habitat 10 a.m. – Reptile Show – Village WaTuTu 11 a.m. – Animal Presentation – Tennity Wildlife Hospital 12 p.m. – Animal Presentation – Hoover Discovery Center www.livingdesert.org
Get up close and personal with the animals, like this giraffe, at the Living Desert. PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014 53
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West Palm Springs
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PALM DR. GENE AUTRY TR. DATE PALM DR. MONTEREY AVE.
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Palm Springs
E. RAMON RD.
VISTA CHINO
Desert Hot Springs
Indian Wells
111
Palm Desert
FRED WARING DR.
Thousand Palms
La Quinta
Bermuda Dunes
10
Indio
86
Desert Cities
WASHINGTON ST.
PALM CANYON DR.
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56  Palms to Pines Magazine, July/August 2014
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A MOUNTAIN TRADITION
1-888-675-4025
HILLTOP REALTY
Est. 1972
CalBRE# 01367581
“Metropolitan Close ... Feels Like a Million Miles Away� 4 CLASSIC
Larry Bischof CalBRE# 01310589
Garner Valley estate on over 4 1/2 acres. Nostalgic wrap around covered porch. Great Room has raised hearth stone fireplace, pine paneled walls and is adjacent to country Kitchen, complete with granite counters, pantry and breakfast nook. Large Dining Room for festive family gatherings. Master Suite plus three Bedrooms. Spacious second floor loft/office with views. Oversized 2 car Garage/ Workshop. 5 stall Barn and Tack room. $599,000
CREEKSIDE 4
Off the beaten path, Artist retreat for the past two decades. Living Room boasts Cathedral ceiling, raised hearth fireplace opening to Dining area. Three Bedrooms situated on three separate levels for added privacy. Entertaining deck looks down to meandering pathway leading to an ancient Cedar with enchanting swing, Strawberry Creek and beyond. Finely landscaped on .32 acre a short walk to the Village, shopping and dining. $599,000
4 SECLUSION
True mountain hide-a-way at the end of a culde-sac beneath Lily Rock and situated on over an acre. Living Room boasts vaulted cedar ceilings and red brick raised hearth fireplace. Roomy formal Dining Room off spacious Kitchen. Master plus 2 additional Bedrooms. Separate guest quarters/bonus room with 3/4 bath. Upper level unfinished attic and more storage downstairs. Detached 2 car garage plus workshop. $445,000
TREE HOUSE 4
Stairway into the trees leads to breathtaking sunset views. Immaculately maintained retreat has multiple decks, wall of windows in the Pine paneled Great Room with a classic Franklin wood burner to add to the mountain cabin ambience. Open floor plan to cozy kitchen. One Bedroom plus roomy sleeping Loft. Full bath. Laundry room, workshop and additional storage area on lowest level. A true treasure. $175,000 For additional properties call or e-mail larry@hilltoprealty.com