EDITOR’S NOTE
CANADA AT 150
THE MEMORABLE YEARLONG CELEBRATION BEGINS
FIREWORKS IN OTTAWA
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ome years stand out more than others. Clearly, 2017 promises to be a year that will long be remembered in the hearts and minds of Canadians and people with a fondness for Canada. That’s because 2017 marks the big, bold 150th anniversary of Confederation, and Canada plans to celebrate—all year long. In crafting this current issue of Canada South Magazine, we researched what the beloved country had planned to commemorate its big 1-5-0. The list of yearlong celebrations is noteworthy, but what stood out the most, especially with organizations such 150 Years Young/ Apathy is Boring and Canada 150 Red Couch Tour, was how much pride Canadians have for their country. The efforts of these creative groups inspired us so much, we found 15 enlightening events, most of them ongoing, that
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take place during 2017—events that truly shine the light on the breathtaking majesty and pride of Canada and what it means to be a Canadian. Dive in and explore, beginning on page 26. Breathtaking may also be a word to describe the cover boys in this edition of the magazine. If you hail from the Toronto area, you may already be aware of how dynamic The Dreamboats are. The lively quartet, which hails from the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Canada, culls from the origins of 1950s and ’60s rock ’n’ roll to create a distinctly original sound that is now being appreciated internationally. Better still, the group makes its American debut—on the opening night of Modernism Week, Thursday, Feb. 16 at TheBank in Palm Springs. Learn more about how growing up in Canada inspired these intrepid souls beginning on page 14.
There’s plenty more in between—from the latest, greatest Canadian films to put in your queue and the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival to a Canadian’s take on local golf course and Canada’s very own Jim Pattison, perhaps one of the more enterprising businessmen to hit our radar lately. In the meantime, as 2017 begins to unfold, we consider the year ahead, the intentions we would like to see come to light, and how we would like to feel a year from now? How about you? What could be the best thing to come out of 2017? A good thing to ponder. More next time. Enjoy the issue, Greg Archer Editor
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CONTENTS DEB GEISSLER PUBLISHER dgeissler@desertentertainer.com GREG ARCHER EDITOR news@desertentertainer.com ADVERTISING SALES KIMBERLY BRUCKS ADVERTISING MANAGER kbrucks@desertentertainer.com JUDY TELANDER MARKETING SPECIALIST jtelander@desertentertainer.com LAYOUT & GRAPHICS
THE DREAMBOATS PAGE 14
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EMBRACING THE NEW A new year sparks new discoveries. Our rundown of festive shops and dining hotspots. Indulge.
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NOW STARRING Celebrities and frontrunners to the Oscars unite at The Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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CANADIAN FILM FODDER Why Canadian films are suddenly capturing more attention.
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THE DREAMBOATS There’s nothing like a fiery quartet from Canada with a penchant for ’50s and ’60s rock to get your feet tapping. Meet The Dreamboats. They’re unforgettable and they’re making their U.S. debut— at Modernism Week.
JOSE DE LA CRUZ SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST ads@desertentertainer.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ALISON ELSNER GARY WALKER JIM ZANG GREG ARCHER DR. BRUNO LEMAY, DMD MICHAEL W. BROOKS, ESQ.
Office is located at: 41-995 Boardwalk, Suite L2 Palm Desert, CA 92211 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday Closed Major Holidays Phone: (760) 776-5181 Fax: (760) 776-5733 www.desertentertainer.com www.desertmobilehomenews.com www.canadasouthmagazine.com
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THOROUGHLY MODERN MOJO Modernism Week is the biggest event to ever hit February. Dive into our guide. IT’S GOOD TO 150! For the love of Canada! Grab a party hat. Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
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FORE SIGHT A fellow Canadian’s love of golf comes to light in a compelling feature about the area’s best courses. See you in the golf cart.
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MAN OF ACTION Deconstructing Canadian-born business titan and philanthropist Jim Pattison.
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ALAN THICKE Remembering the late TV icon.
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PULL UP A BARSTOOL Craving an innovative approach to the craft beer experience? Head to The Draughtsman in Palm Springs.
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A NEW BREW IN TOWN Java lovers near and far never tire of a unique coffeehouse experience. One Palm Springs venue takes the art of coffee life to new heights.
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YOU, YOUR HOME—AND TAXES A report for all Canadians who own a home in Greater Palm Springs.
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PARTING THOUGHTS The witty Ross Mathews opens up.
ON THE COVER: THE DREAMBOATS PHOTO BY MITCH CHIU THE DRAUGHTSMAN PAGE 42
ROSS MATHEWS PAGE 54
Titles registered and all contents copyright 2016 by the Hi-Desert Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
A PRODUCT OF
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MORONGO CASINO RESORT & SPA
THE DRUM ROOM AT MORONGO CASINO RESORT & SPA
Bold And Beautiful Behold: The new winter stores and restaurants that topped our 2017 hot list BY ALISON ELSNER
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ust like a profusion of desert lavender after a hearty rain, we are seeing several new shopping and dining options emerge throughout the Coachella Valley. Just in time for new year’s sales and specials, these colorful and inventive openings keep our desert blossoming with exciting retail growth. Take note of what’s popped up around the Valley:
Waffles, Cinnacakes, themed pancakes, crepes, burgers, sandwiches and wraps, soups, salads, cocktails, and a creative coffee bar (plan on lots of whipped cream). With 18 other locations in California, the restaurant is perfect for weekend brunch or business breakfasts.
Palm Springs
BevMo! The popular discount beverage retailer’s doors are officially open in the south end of downtown Palm Springs. The 8,100-square-foot store is the company’s 163rd, offering more than 1,600 wines, 2,500 beers, 1,500 spirit brands, snacks and serving accessories. In addition to a wide selection of craft beers, gifts, and trending wines, the store presents wine and beer tastings, food pairings, and more.
Broken Yolk Café The popular restaurant, serving all-day breakfast and lunch, joins its sister location in La Quinta with a new opening in Palm Springs, taking over the former Chop House space. Known for generous portions, menu items include 20 types of omelets, Apple Churro
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Broken Yolk Café, 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-318-9655, brokenyolkcafe.com.
BevMo! 333 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 2, Palm Springs, 760-327-7701, bevmo.com. Moxie Moving in above Broken Yolk Café, where Grind Brgr Bar operated, this rooftop bar and lounge features karaoke and entertainment such as open mic nights and local bands. New additions to the space include a grass-covered rooftop garden with mountain views and outdoor games like oversized Jenga. Chef Oscar Babb’s Mediterranean themed offerings will include muddled cocktails, craft beers, small plates and shareables with locally sourced ingredients, and sustainable meats and seafood. Opening in January 2017. Moxie, 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive (upper level), Palm Springs, 760-318-9900, moxiepalmsprings.com.
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TheBank
TheBank Built in 1955 as The Coachella Valley Savings and Loan, this new Palm Springs event venue is available for private parties, fundraisers and corporate events. The historic midcentury modern building, designed by E. Stewart Williams (best known for the Palm Springs Desert Museum and many notable Coachella Valley residences), showcases original black terrazzo floors, a circular walk-in vault with stone façade, and free-form terrazzo staircase. The second level, the former banking floor, is a large open space with 20-foot high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking South Palm Canyon Drive with yet another circular walk-in vault. The venue can accommodate 180 guests for seated dinner and up to 400 guests for a standing reception. Rental fees include a venue manager and post-event cleaning, and rates correspond with high and low seasons in the desert. To book space, contact Bear Simerson at bear@thebankps.com. The Bank, 383 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-856-5252, thebankpalmsprings.com.
Cabazon The Drum Room The new, upscale lounge on the 26th floor of the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa offers
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PHOTO COURTESY OF TheBank
a cozy yet sophisticated experience. Patrons can sample fine wines and top quality spirits in a setting of luxurious sofas, modern chandeliers, rich walnut accents and drum décor displayed on the walls and centerpiece of the bar. Designed by Orange County-based Kenneth Ussenko, renowned in the U.S. and Qatar, the interior theme, custom furniture and elegant lighting celebrate the “iconic spirit of drums and the elegance of this ancient tribal commodity.” Featured drinks and appetizers include the Signature Old-Fashioned with Russell’s Reserve Small Batch Bourbon and Prime New York Steak Carpaccio with Truffle Toast. The Drum Room, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, 800-252-4499, morongocasinoresort.com.
Rancho Mirage Acqua California Bistro Owners Barbara and Jerry Kelly are returning to their original location of Acqua Pazza at The River at Rancho Mirage this winter. After being closed for two years, the restaurant is expected to re-energize The River, in conjunction with other new projects and openings at the openair center. A packed bar scene and a waiting list for dinner will likely be the norm once again,
featuring California cuisine and picturesque views. An expanded, shaded waterfront terrace and newly refined interior seating will give the space an updated look. Opens in January 2017. Acqua California Bistro, 71800 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, 760-862-9800, acquaranchomirage.com. Brandini Toffee The two entrepreneurial teenagers who started their company a decade ago to fund a trip to Italy have now expanded operations to a large factory store in Rancho Mirage. The candy company features high quality almond toffee, cashew almond toffee popcorn, toffee brownies, chocolate bark and oh, so much more. The explosive success of the downtown Palm Springs store has led to a thriving online business and is a popular source of gifts, corporate event favors, a wholesale division and online sales. Tip: If you visit, make sure to put your diet on hold. Brandini Toffee Shop and Factory, 42250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage,760-200-1598, brandinitoffee.com.
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DUNKIN’ DONUTS
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Indio Dunkin’ Donuts The Coachella Valley now boasts its own franchise of the donut shop. Residents and visitors can enjoy brewed hot and iced coffees and teas, lattés, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, desserts, cookies, hash browns, oatmeal and, of course, donuts. Owners Nachhattar and Susana Chandi
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are excited to operate a facility that is not only delicious but also sustainable, with energy- and water-saving features like LED lights, high performance windows and low flow faucets. Dunkin’ Donuts, 42115 Jackson Street, Indio, 760342,5519, dunkindonuts.com.
BOLO (Be on the Lookout) Walter Clark Legal Group Attorney and philanthropist Walter Clark has
plans to move his law offices from their current location in Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage to a new location up the street, taking over the nowclosed Mimi’s Café, across from The River. The move is expected to take place in spring, 2017. Stay tuned for our spring announcements, with several new hotels getting closer to opening as well as other new restaurants and shops on the palm treeaccented horizon. Find us online at canadasouthmagazine.com.
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X500 DIRECTED BY JUAN ANDRÉS ARANGO
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wo and a half decades ago, just after the holidays in Palm Springs, there was a quaint little event launched by thenMayor Sonny Bono, showcasing some impressive foreign and indie films for a few days in Palm Springs. Fast forward to today and we find that the 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is a world-class event that takes over not only the entire Coachella Valley and much of the southern California film community, but something that is also recognized for being one of the largest, most highly regarded film festivals in North America. And a predictor for the Oscars to boot. This season’s Festival takes place Jan. 2 through 16, 2017. The festival will present films on 15 screens in theaters in Palm Springs starting at 9 a.m. each day. Opening Night on
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Thursday, Jan. 5 (already waitlisted) at 6:30 p.m. with the world premiere screening of “The Sense of an Ending” and Closing Night ($50 per person) on Sunday, Jan. 15, with a screening of “The Comedian.” Both films will be screened at the newly renovated Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School. Hollywood star power lights up the red carpet at the glamorous Film Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 14, honoring the year’s best performances both in front and behind the camera. Honorees announced to date include Tom Hanks (Icon Award), Ruth Negga (Rising Star Award), Lionsgate’s “La La Land” (Vanguard Award), Casey Affleck (Desert Palm Achievement Award), the cast of “Hidden Figures” (Ensemble Performance Award) and Nicole Kidman (International Star Award). VIP seat-
ing is sold out but very limited general seating is available for $350 per ticket or tables of 10 for $3,500. (Call 760-318-8371). Chaired by the visionary and generous Palm Springs philanthropist and businessman, Harold Matzner, in concert with a robust board of influential locals, the festival features more than 200 films from 60 countries, and its audience now tops 137,000 people. Attendees include thousands of locals, however 70 percent of participants are from outside the Coachella Valley, many from Canada and Europe. PSIFF has been influenced largely by Canadian cinema since its inception. According to Darryl MacDonald, the festival’s executive director since 2004, “Canadian films have been at the forefront of this event’s reputation for cutting-edge, world-class cinema since year
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NELLY DIRECTED BY ANNE EMOND
GUN RUNNERS DIRECTED BY ANJALI NAYAR
one of the Festival in 1989.” MacDonald was programming director at that time, and he recalls how the Canadian film, “Jesus of Montreal,” directed by Denys Arcand, “took the audience by storm, winning the Audience Award and creating a huge stir that first year at Palm Springs.” It was subsequently nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The festival is noted for screening the most foreign Oscar nominees. In 2013, the festival screened 42 of the 71 movies that were submitted by countries around the world to the Oscars for that year’s foreign language film prize.
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SEARCHERS BY FILMMAKER ZACHARIAS KUNUK
CANADA
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The 2017 PSIFF will once again screen a diverse mix of Canadian films. Take note: Aida’s Secrets Directed by Alon and Shaul Schwarz, the film is a combined effort from Israel, the U.S., Germany and Canada. With all the twists and turns of a mystery novel, this powerful and moving documentary follows Izak Szewelwicz, born in 1945 in the Bergen-
Belsen Displaced Persons camp, on his quest to find out about the family he never knew. Boundaries From Québécois filmmaker Chloé Robichaud, director and screenwriter. She arrives with her anticipated sophomore feature after 2013’s acclaimed Sarah Prefers to Run. An ambitious feminist political satire, Boundaries follows three women as they negotiate a deal that will allow foreign companies access to natural resources on a tiny Canadian island.
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Gun Runners From Canada and France, the outing is directed by Anjali Nayar and starts with the premise that Kenya’s Rift Valley produces many of the world’s top marathon runners. It’s also a place of gun-toting cattle rustlers. In this enthralling documentary, Julius Arile and Robert Matanda trade their AK-47s for running shoes … and a dream for a better life. It’s Only the End of the World Also from Canada and France. It gathers an all-star French cast which headlines this excoriating, blackly humorous drama from Québec’s enfant terrible screenwriter and director Xavier Dolan (Mommy). A successful writer (Ulliel) returns to his estranged family to announce his impending death, unleashing a torrent of repressed hostility in the process. Nelly Director Anne Emond, presents us with an inventive, non-linear biopic that explores the life and work of the French Canadian author and former sex worker Nelly Arcan in explicit, sometimes erotic, sometimes anguished detail. “The Montreal Gazette” wrote, “A movie every bit as racy, rough-edged and conflicted as the woman whose story it tells.” Searchers The film takes John Ford’s classic western as a touchstone. It pointedly removes race from the equation, while Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk (“Atanarjuat,” “The Fast Runner”) forges a spectacular, spiritual, thrilling, and downright strange revenge saga set in the arctic shortly before World War I. X500 From Canada, Colombia and Mexico, the film tells a story of how, in Canada, Colombia and Mexico, three young migrants undergo familiar struggles with anguish, displacement and violence in this visually stunning sophomore film from acclaimed writer and director Juan Andrés Arango (“La Playa DC”). Also returning: “The Power of Words: Book to Screen Symposium.” The popular event kicks off Jan. 3 and 4, 2017 for $200 per ticket and is expected to sell out. This program highlights the authors behind great adapted works and includes book signings, film screenings, and keynote speakers.
THINGS TO KNOW
Attendees can attend single screenings or 11 days of films with special tiers of packages ranging from $375 for the Silver “B” Pass (regular film screenings, gala screenings, secret screenings and Talking Pictures discussions) to $3,000 for the Benefactor Pass (all of the above in addition to Opening and Closing Nights and the Gala). “Six Pack” vouchers are available for $69. All film passes and event tickets are very limited and may still be available online at psfilmfest.org or by calling the box office at 760-778-8979 during regular office hours.
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MOMMY DIRECTED BY XAVIER DOLAN
LEOLO DIRECTED BY JEAN-CLAUDE LAUZON
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et’s face it: Canadian filmmaking is formidable any way you slice it—or in this case, splice it. Canada has introduced the world to accomplished directors David Cronenberg (“Videodrome” (1983), Atom Egoyan (“Exotica,” 1994), “Xavier Dolan” (“J’ai Tué Ma Mère,” 2009) and Denys Arcand (“Le Déclin de l’Empire Américain,” 1986). The white celluloid elephant in the room is the Hollywood movie-making machine, where private equity funding is plentiful and movies that are filmed in Canada through stand-in movie locations are promoted aggressively and territorially as belonging to yanks. English-Canadian films have become somewhat marginalized as they’ve struggled to find their identity, despite the fact that the land of Mounties and maple leaves have given us many memorable and critically acclaimed documentaries and horror films. Canadian art house films have been well re-
ceived abroad, and French-Canadian films enjoy a robust industry in Quebec. Overall, the crop of Canadian films in recent years is impressive. Some of the best Canadian movies, both in the theater and on DVD or Netflix, include:
Leolo (1992) A coming-of-age fantasy film by director JeanClaude Lauzon, the film tells the story of a young boy who fantasizes about his neighbour Bianca. “Léolo” won three Genie Awards after debuting at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. Critics and filmmakers added it to the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time in 2015. It was Lauzon’s final film, as he died in a plane crash in 1997.
My Winnipeg (2007) Director Guy Maddin describes his film as a “docu-fantasia” that is a surrealist mockumentary about Winnipeg, Maddin’s home town. The film took away several awards, including
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Best Canadian Feature Film (TIFF, 2007) and Best Canadian Film (Toronto Film Critics Association Award, 2008).
Chloe (2009) Director Atom Ergoyan’s biggest commercial success, this erotic thriller was a remake of the 2003 French film “Nathalie.” “Chloe was released in the United States on in 2010 on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Atom Ergoyan, the Egyptian born and B.C.-raised filmmaker, enjoys a career that has gained major momentum over the years. His films primarily deal with dysfunctional families and the struggles of psychologically-damaged individuals.
Laurence Anyways (2012) A romantic drama written, edited, and directed by Xavier Dolan, this film competed in the 2012 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Queer Palm Award. The story examines the love between a woman and a transgender
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DATEBOOK woman living as a man. Dolan’s style has been compared to Stanley Kubrick’s in its documentary-style shooting.
The Dirties (2013) This comedy-drama was director Matt Johnson’s debut feature and explores the topic of bullying. The film received the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival. Filmmaker Kevin Smith became a big player in the film’s distribution process. An extremely low-budget project, there was almost no scripted dialogue, and several scenes were shot without some of the participants’ awareness.
Enemy (2013) A Canadian-Spanish psychological thriller which explores repetition and the subconscious, this film was directed by Denis Villeneuve and loosely adapted from the 2002 novel “The Double.” The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as two physically identical men who differ in personality. Enemy earned five Canadian Screen Awards at the 2013 2013 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Mommy (2014) A Canadian drama directed by Xavier Dolan, the story concerns a mother struggling to control her violent son’s behavior in a hypothetical future. The movie is shot in an unconventional aspect ratio. The film won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and subsequently became a financial and critical success. “Mommy” went on to win nine Canadian Screen Awards including Best Motion Picture.
Corbo (2014) A Canadian drama from Quebec, Corbo is written and directed by Mathieu Denis. Based on a true story, the film is about a privileged but socially alienated son of a wealthy couple who becomes radicalized and drawn in to the Front de Libération du Québec. After premiering at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Corbo garnered three Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016 and 10 Jutra Award nominations.
Tu Dors Nicole (2014) A drama directed by Stephane Lafleur, this film was selected as part of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was also screened at the 2014 TIFF where a panel of filmmakers included it as one of Canada’s Top Ten feature films of 2014. The film stars Julianne Côté as Nicole, a young woman who is becoming increasingly disillusioned with her quiet small-town life over the course of a summer.
Félix et Meira (2014) Another drama, directed by Maxime Giroux, this film was also screened at the 2014 TIFF, where it won Best Canadian Feature Film. It was also selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated. The film centers around Meira, a young wife and Hassidic Jew, who is not allowed to listen to secular music.
Chorus (2015) Written and directed by François Delisle, this dramatic feature film was screened at 65th Berlin International Film Festival. The story centers on Christophe and Irène, a former married couple still struggling to cope with the murder of their son eight years earlier. Fortunately for the viewing pleasure of international audiences, Canadian filmmakers are amenable to sharing their creativity and vast talent.
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PHOTO BY MICH CHIU
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COVER STORY
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ohnny G. Wiz proudly tells me that Mississauga, Canada, is not just one of the largest suburbs in all of Canada, but, in fact, all of Northern America, too. The strapping drummer and singer of Canada’s lively, on-the-rise musical group, The Dreamboats, is confident about this bit of trivia but he asks me to fact check it, anyway. So I do. Looks like Wiz is spot on. Mississauga, which rests just south of dynamic Toronto, is big. Bigger than Washington D.C. Much bigger than Atlanta. Bigger than Milwaukee. Bigger than Las Vegas. Bigger than Greater Palm Springs. You get the picture. Mississauga is more than 700,000 people “big,” in fact, and the town’s culturally rich environs clearly influenced The Dreamboats, a unique and often-animated quartet that appear to be destined for even bigger recognition. After forming in 2009, the four guys who loved the spunk of 1950s and 1960s rock ’n’ roll—Ritchie Hummins (lead vocals, guitar), Fliggers B. Lewis (lead vocals, bass guitar), Matt Best (lead guitar, vocals), and Wiz—solidified their creative groove in 2013 and have written
and recorded their own songs, as well as culling from a revered musical era that boasted the dynamic works of, to note one major standout, Ritchie Vallens, to whom Hummins bears a striking resemblance. Sure, the fellas’ sparkling musical romps boast nostalgia, but they have also been known to ignite the dance floor. “Contagious high-energy” is a term that has often been tossed around when describing The Dreamboats live. That kind of creative magic is the culmination of several key ingredients, but the main one is collaboration—and just how well this team manages to evoke all that America (and the world for the matter) truly digs about rock music that originated some 60 years ago, a time when Palm Springs actually began to generate its own buzz for its midcentury design and architecture. Surely this is one of the reasons the titans behind Modernism Week wanted the group to headline the opening night soiree of the internationally recognized event, which kicks off Feb. 16, 2017. The outing (7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at TheBank in downtown Palm Springs) also happens to mark The Dreamboats’ U.S. debut—this after coming off
a successful romp in 2016 and an 11-show European Tour in 2015. “As Canadian boys coming into the U.S., and especially being able to come to Palm Springs, it’s going to be an exciting experience, not only just to play, but to explore the area as well,” Hummins says. “Especially in February, when it’s freezing in Canadian.” Hummins laughs. So does Wiz. Maybe a few Canadians out there, the ones privy to such things like, say, parkas, can chuckle knowingly, too. Either way, the group, which ranges in age (23 to 33), is definitely jazzed to be heading south. But these wild Mississauga cats—musicians who are equal parts Chuck Berry and The Wonders—can’t escape a deeper truth: The fact that Canada itself may have been their most significant influence creatively.
Oh, Canada
Let’s face it: It’s downright refreshing to discover people so devoted and grateful for the
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PHOTO BY EROS FIACCONI
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COVER STORY <<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 country from which they hail. “We are lucky to have grown up near Toronto, and exposed to a lot of music,” Hummins explains. “Our parents grew up listening to the oldies, particularly American music, so we were also exposed to the music of Bobby Curtola and Ronnie Hawkins, who made a big name for himself in Canada.” Wiz is quick to add that having access to the arts also factored into the mix. “The arts are very encouraged in Toronto and Mississauga, and in a similar way to L.A., a lot of people come to Toronto to start careers in the music or entertainment business,” he says. “We grew up with people whose parents played a lot of music. It’s kind of in the blood here, and it’s encouraged. It’s not frowned upon if you want to pursue a career in the arts.” There’s also pride in the fact that, as Wiz adds, a large percentage of the population of Mississauga and Toronto was born outside of Canada. “Growing up here, with all these different nationalities, is something we are all very proud of,” Wiz says. “And the beauty of our country …
PHOTO BY MICH CHIU
“You know, a lot of people think of that mystique. In Canada, we have a lot of empty space and vastness, so there were plenty of trips up north. You just get this really proud feeling for your country—a lot of national pride. We are subtle about it at times, but I think we are all proud to be Canadian and having been able to grow up in a culture that gives us great opportunities.” Unique prospects began early on. “Johnny always talks about a performance he
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did, a Buddy Holly song—‘Peggy Sue’—when he was in grade 6 and by grade 8, he was doing the talent shows,” Hummins muses. “The education here encourages that. If you were creative and wanted to perform, it was never a problem. Just listening to the music from our parents, we kept it going throughout high school. There was just
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PHOTO BY EROS FIACCONI
<<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 always someone to play music with.” Hummins boasts that he can list 30 or more things about what he loves about the country, but then Wiz chimes in—mentioning the H word. (Yes, that one.) “Growing up in a country that really loves hockey, we used to go on field trips to learn how to skate and more,” Wiz recalls. “It’s cool to come from a country that loves hockey, and that makes you tough, and teaches you sportsmanship. I think we all get a little excited about that.” So do many other Canadians. And that’s a good thing.
Sailing Toward Success
Admittedly, as kids, the guys were all inspired—and gifted—musically. But it took time to hone their talents, although you wouldn’t know it with just a quick glance on the group’s website or YouTube page because they appear so naturally slick. It’s as if you’ve been transported back in time. (Think Michael J. Fox thrust back into the 1950s and that dance hall sequence à la “Back to the Future.”) However, as much as hanging out and grooving to the grooves with your childhood pals is a good thing, somewhere along the line, the men began devoting more time to refining their craft. The ripple effects of their current incarnation may have began when Hummins and Wiz performed opposite each other in a Battle of the Bands event. It was there where the two first met. “We had a common ground with The Beatles,” Hummins says. “But we all had an infinity for music, growing up with films like ‘La Bamba,’ ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ ‘Back to the Future.’” Eventually, they took action with a cool idea they had to create a ’50s/’60s band. Style mattered. They purchased gray vests, trying to emulate The Beatles (in the early days) as well as the styles of early ’60s bands. Eventually, they invested in more suit jackets and tried to actually live like The Beatles. “They are definitely a big inspiration of ours—that was our common ground,” Wiz explains. “The Beatles chord book … has become our bible.” Gigs happened. A lot of them. And many at ’50s- and ’60s-themed nights. They were all surprised at how much people enjoyed the highoctane energy they were putting out. “We had a niche,” Hummins says. “I felt like the people who got it, really ‘got’ it. And if others got it, that was really cool, too. Musicians love to play to people who ‘get’ it, and the ’50s really feel … well, it makes the guys dance, the girls dance, and it’s one of the reasons why this formula has really worked for us. And for us, we genuinely love the style and the era
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COVER STORY <<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 of the music. It’s the reason we formed and why we are still going strong.” In their early days, the guys started with cover songs—no songs past the year 1965. After playing show upon show, night after night, they moved onto to sing more songs from the eras that really connected to the crowd. As time went on, and especially after 2013, they wrote more of their own material. “We tried to look back and then go, hey ‘Pretty Woman’ goes over well, we should write a song that kinda has that vibe,” Wiz explains. “Or ‘Great Balls of Fire.’ We played that at the bars and all the young kids loved it. “For us, it’s like this: ‘What is it about that song that makes people like it?’ When we write our own songs, we keep what we’ve seen, first hand, in mind, so we can write songs similar to that, but with a modern touch—songs that are also still true to the timeless, innocent era.” That “innocent” era included a great deal of live performance—bands that killed it on stage and people who passionately ripped up the dance floor. “You had to make the songs very danceable, and the overall sound of the songs had to be sim-
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ple, had to be catchy,” Wiz says. “That sound really resonates with us, especially when we’re creating our own music. You’ve got to get people to either dance, or slow dance … I mean, we wrote a few songs that made guys shed a man tear.” This may come in handy on the creative road ahead. (Emotion is good and connecting to a group, even better.) That said, the fellas are now writing new material, some of which they will perform at the opening night bash of Modernism Week in February. But as they move forward, they are encouraged by how many retro acts are suddenly out there on the musical landscape. “You look at Bruno Mars, the modern day James Brown, and people like [the late] Amy Winehouse, or Meaghan Trainer … they’re all bringing this sound back,” Wiz says. “But it’s weird, you don’t really have a four-piece band doing that. It’s always a person, so we’re trying to bring back that vibe, like The Beatles. We’re all our own characters. “I think the next step is to get some serious attention on some of the bigger labels. People need to see us live, and we need to get the word out there.” Hummins, certainly a guy gals will swoon over—he with his jet-black hair and broad
Ritchie Valens grin—loves feeling the verve on stage and hopes to, along with his creative brothers, keep the retro influences going. He says he and Wiz will continue to block out Tuesday afternoons to write new material. And Wiz points out another European tour on the books for 2017, too. In the meantime, he’ll keep enjoying the creative flow he and the guys are in, particularly loving how much energy the crowds give back to them. “We shamelessly do love these retro tunes,” he beams. “They are timeless. And we thought nobody knew Chuck Berry, so it’s inspiring and it lets us know that we are not alone in this new generation of people who are enjoying these classic tunes. “In a way, we are trying to take the torch from the last generation and continue to carry the flame of American, and North American rock ’n’ roll. I love that.” Catch the fun with The Dreamboats at the opening night party for Modernism Week, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at TheBank, 383 S. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs. Learn more at modernismweek.com. To watch performances, order music, or keep track of The Dreamboats, visit thedreamboatsband.com.
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FEATURES
PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE
BUS TOUR DEL MARCOS HOTEL
MAD ABOUT
MODERNISM BY ALISON ELSNER
P
alm Springs has come to be known as a virtual mecca for modernism, with midcentury modern architecture having found a welcome and seemingly permanent home in the desert. Notable for its use of glass, clean lines, natural and manufactured resources and indoor/outdoor spaces, desert modernism has taken on an identity all its own, synonymous with a lifestyle of informal elegance. The movement started in the 1920s when visionary modernist architects started designing sleek, modern homes. Especially apropos for the desert with the multi-dimensional characteristics of the natural environment and surrounding topography, the aesthetic here is now known as desert modernism. Technically, modernism is a rejection of tradition and pretense, especially after World War II when industry required the utilization of new, more natural building materials, designs and technologies, which is when modernism really hit its stride—and hasn’t really let up, especially here in the Valley. Whether it’s embraced because of its philosophical implications toward societal norms or simply because the straightforward designs and symmetry appeal to our sense of order, modernism has drawn numerous talented architects to the desert, known for all types of buildings. Most well-known include Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, William “Bill” Krisel, William F. Cody, John Porter Clark, George and Robert Alexander and E. Stewart Williams. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) named Palm Springs to its 2006 list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual national list of only 12 cultural tourism destinations for architecture. Modernism Week’s 12th annual signature festival will take place
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FEATURES
ABERNATHY HOUSE
Feb. 16-26, 2017, highlighting midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design, and vintage culture in the Palm Springs area and surrounding cities. Modernism Week Board Chairman, Chris Mobley, says, “This year, we will continue the trend of broadening our programming by offering new events and educational opportunities.” CAMP, Modernism Week’s “Community and Meeting Place” headquarters, will be located in a dynamic
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PHOTO BY JAKE HOLT
VINTAGE TRAILER SHOW
tented structure at 350 N. Palm Canyon Drive near Baristo Road as a central location for attendees to meet, shop, dine, learn, and relax between tours and parties. Demonstrations, events and presentations will also be held at CAMP throughout the week. Here’s some help to keep it all straight. Mark on your calendar and be sure to check the full schedule online (modernismweek.com/ events) for literally dozens of fascinating and fun sessions and events:
PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE
Daily, various times: Themed Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, $45 - $99 per person. Daily, 9:30-11 a.m. or Noon: Historical Walking Tours including Heart of the City, Icons of Fashion and Finance, Inns, Architecture, and Glamour, Rat Pack Playground-Modernist Homes of Vista Las Palmas, Celebrity Haven-The Tennis Club Neighborhood, Frank
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FEATURES
PHOTO BY DAVID A. LEE
HOME TOUR
<<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 Sinatra’s Neighborhood-The Movie Colony, Golden Era Hollywood Homes in Old Las Palmas, Stars and Star-chitects in Deepwell and Palm Springs Modernism Iconic Home Tours, $35. Locations emailed to ticket holders. Feb. 16, 7 p.m. Opening Night Party presented by Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting
Gallery, a chic, red carpet affair with a James Bond theme (in tribute to “Diamonds Are Forever,” filmed at the Elrod-Lautner home.) TheBank Palm Springs, 383 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. (See related story, page 14.) Feb. 17, 2 p.m. Special dedication on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for John Lautner, architect of the iconic Bob Hope Estate and Elrod house in Palm Springs, FREE. Palm Springs
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Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Feb. 18, two event times: Red Carpet Gala at the Christopher Kennedy Compound, $275$375, location emailed to ticketholders. (After party at 10:30 p.m., $150).
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FEATURES
“This year, we will continue the trend of broadening our programming by offering new events and educational opportunities.” — Modernism Week Board Chairman Chris Mobley Feb. 18-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 17th annual Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale, with 85 premier exhibitors showcasing vintage furniture, decorative and fine arts, rugs and designer clothing reflecting all 20th century design and midcentury modern, $20. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs.
Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs.
Feb. 19, 3-4:30 p.m. E. Stewart Williams film screening, “The Nature of Modernism.” FREE. Welwood Murray Memorial Library-Community Room, 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.
Feb. 20, three tours: Mojave Desert Trip-PS ModCom Home Tour, showcasing the rustic outposts of Pioneertown, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, $150.
Feb. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Icons of Modernist Landscapes-Cornelia Oberlander and Harriett Pattison, an illustrated conversation. This promises to be a memorable outing. FREE.
Feb. 25, 5-7 p.m. Charles Phoenix Cake & Cocktails at The Monkey Tree Hotel poolside party, $50. 2388 E. Racquet Club Road, Palm Springs.
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Feb. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Spectacular Mexico—Design, Propaganda and the 1968 Olympics presentation, $12. Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs.
Feb. 26, 8 a.m. to Noon: Modernism Yard Sale, with midcentury decorative items and furnishings, FREE admission. H3K Designs, 501 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. All events are open to the public. Complete schedules, information and tickets at modernismweek. com. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit Modernism Week, a non-profit organization, and other local preservation, neighborhood and community groups.
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FEATURES
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNNYLANDS CENTER & GARDENS
SUNNYLANDS EXTERIOR REAR POOLSIDE
AND DON’T FORGET...
SUNNYLANDS HISTORIC HOUSE TOUR ADDS TO THE ALLURE TO MODERNISM WEEK
S
till considered one of the most popular tours, even throughout the year, Modernism Week offers stellar excursions of the former winter home of Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, nestled on the property of Sunnyands Center & Gardens in
Rancho Mirage. Take note: Groups of seven are taken on the tour of the revered midcentury masterpiece that boasts Mayan influences. The 25,000-squarefoot residence was completed in 1966. Famed architect A. Quincy Jones designed the struc-
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ture, and thanks to the interior designer prowess of William Haines and Ted Graber, the place was transformed in décor that smacked of the Hollywood Regency style. Guides on the 90-minute tour also inform guests about the rare paintings, sculptures and
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FEATURES
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUNNYLANDS CENTER & GARDENS
MASTER BEDROOM
other works of art on display in the home, as well as the world-famous 20th-century entertainers and politicians who visited the estate. Good to know: It’s recommended that visitors view the 20-minute movie, “A Place Called Sunnylands,” prior to the tour. This will provide ample information about the home and the film is free to the public every hour and half hour at Sunnylands Center & Gardens.
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Meanwhile, be sure to soak up the art exhibitions on display at the Center, as well as walking tours and informational kiosks. All free. Fun tidbit: Sunnylands is now a highlevel retreat center. In fact, global leaders and prominent experts meet to find solutions to real-world problems, promote peace and better serve the public good.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-202-2222. The tours for Modernism Week take place on Feb. 16, 2017, and are $65. For more information on specific times, please visit sunnylands.org.
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FEATURES
H
ail, Caesar! And yes, we do mean that popular Canadian Inferno vodka drink that puts America’s Bloody Mary to shame. Regardless, the delightfully potent Caesar drink may accompany many a soiree in 2017 during Canada’s yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. We searched high and low— and our souls, too—to locate the top 15 events you need to know about as we head into the milestone year. 150 Years Young—Apathy is Boring Talk about innovative. The campaign acknowledges and highlights Millennials’ diverse contributions and mobilizes their potential. How it works: Photos and stories are collected to showcase how Millennials make a positive difference. The works will be posted online and also projected on buildings in five different cities as part of the popular Street Talk events series. apathyisboring.com. ART EXPRESS’D—Winnipeg Art Gallery Art goes mobile as three mobile traveling art studios made from 20-foot metal shipping containers travel throughout Canada for a 12-week excursion from June through August 2017. Its stops in 15 cities will find an artist and a videographer—and volunteer facilitators—assisting the public, which is encouraged to create art and make a video about their vision of Canada—and their place within the country. canada150.wag.ca. Canada 150 & Me—Experience Canada Outreach stands out here as hundreds of youth will be offered an opportunity to travel and explore the country in ways they may have never
dreamed of. Meanwhile, thousands more will be given a unique opportunity to speak to their peers, and other Canadians, about the country they want for their generation. Nice. Best way to get involved? Answer this question: What is Canada’s greatest challenge or opportunity facing your generation? Participants may be selected to come together with other like-minded youth for one week of cultural exploration, community action, and mentorship centered around the causes they hold most dear. Follow it all on Twitter: #experiences150. Visit experiencescanada.ca/150.
that revolves around six indigenous filmmakers and artists who are asked to look 150 years ahead—2167—and offer their insights. tiff.net.
ELPIO Production’s Canada 150 Red Couch Tour A coast-to-coast-to-coast endeavor where Canadians are invited to sit on a couch and give their testimonials reflecting on what Canada means to them in 2017. redcouchtour.ca.
Dreamcatcher Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust This unique project will look at Canada— its past and future—through the lens of the dreams of the next generation of Canadians. How it works: In winter 2017, Confederation Centre of the Arts will send its team to tour Canada. Working with young people in each province and territory, the posse will turn their dreams into performances of music, theatre or dance. The youth will work with indigenous artists to learn about the significance of the traditional dreamcatcher as well as creating actual dreamcatchers for inclusion in the performances. confederationcentre.com/en.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Canada Mosaic Diverse musical landscapes are the theme— from indigenous to indie, classical to cuttingedge, and other innovative collaborations. Expect dozens of new works and thematic programs in these performances. And not just by the TSO, but also orchestras throughout Canada. canadamosaic.tso.ca.
Explore150—TakingITGlobal What happens when 100,000 Canadians are engaged in discovering, sharing, and reflecting on the cultural, natural, and historic places in their communities and across Canada? Quite a bit actually. This endeavor is driven by youth and encourages communities to document and celebrate their connection to the places that are most significant to them. explore150.tigweb.org/en.
Canada on Screen Toronto International Film Festival Film lovers will dig this. A celebration of 150 seminal Canadian moving image works is par for the course at this celebration of citizens’ shared history. TIFF will identify, restore, and screen these memorable masterworks—from films and television shows to commercial and music videos. Take note: There is also a virtual reality project
Here’s My Canada—Historica Canada This multilingual nation-wide contest invites Canadians to express what Canada means to them in a 30-second video. The objective: To create a living record of Canadian sentiment and foster a greater understanding. There is also a video app and website component, along with an extensive promotional campaign and events. heresmycanada.ca/about.
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FEATURES INNOVATION 150—Perimeter Institute Five of Canada’s top science organizations join together in a yearlong celebration of Canadian innovation. That’s a good thing. Even better is that the project offers cutting-edge opportunities for youth, families, and communities across the country to experience innovation first-hand. Expect Canadian innovations to be shared of the past as well as other innovations that will drive the country’s future—things like traveling science exhibitions, major citywide festivals, guest speakers, a touring MakerMobile, and dynamic online experiences including a digital storybook. People are encouraged to share their innovation stories. innovationcanada150.ca. La Grande Traversée—Les Productions Rivard and Zone3 Producteurs (in French only) The television series follows the escapades of 10 people who will cross the Atlantic Ocean in the same conditions as their ancestors did in the 17th and 18th centuries. Yes. It’s all happening the same way it did during the period of New France. productionsrivard.com. National Canadian Film Day 150—REEL CANADA This powerful one-day celebration of Canadian cinema in honor of the nation’s sesquicentennial unfolds on April 19, 2017. You can expect stellar Canadian films to be broadcast, posted online and shown at more than 600 screenings. With free events put on in every province and territory, many of them featuring talented Canadian film talent, NCFD 150 promises to be the biggest film festival in the world. canadianfilmday.ca. The Walrus Talks Conversations about Canada: We Desire a Better Country - The Walrus Foundation This national tour runs March 1 to June 1, 2017, and focuses on Canada’s future. It features 50 members of the Order of Canada and 50 youth leaders. The Walrus Talks Conversations about Canada will visit every province and territory and the events will be streamed live. thewalrus.ca/canada150. Voices from Nunavut—Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum A notable multi-language (Inuktitut, Innuinaqtun, French and English) exhibition consisting of a 25-channel video installation. It will represent one of the 25 Nunavut communities. Youth from each community comprise this compelling outing and will create artistic media collages. Picture it: A picture of what makes each community unique, what makes them proud, and what it is like to live in these communities—through the eyes of youth—will emerge from all of these activities. Ultimately, it shows what Nunavut “feels like, sounds like and looks like” in 2017. facebook.com/pages/Nunatta-Sunakkutaangit-Museum. WE Are Canada—WE The empowering movement brings people together and gives them the tools to make a local and global impact. “WE Are Canada” resources and curriculum are offered to empower Canadian youth and their families to create a deeper understanding of Canada. The expectation is that all parties will also learn more about pressing issues and discover how they can join in to make a difference. The legacy WE hopes to leave behind: • 1 million Canadians taking a pledge for Canada 150 • $1 million fundraised to support Canadian organizations • 1 million positive actions taken around the themes of youth empowerment, the environment, diversity and inclusion, and reconciliation Best way to get involved: All pledges, donations and actions matter. Learn more at we.ca
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OUTDOORS
SILVERROCK RESORT
Decisions, Decisions Mr. Bogie’s guide to golfing in Palm Springs BY JIM ZANG
I
love to golf, but the game doesn’t always love me back. In fact, back home in Calgary, my golfing buddies refer to me jokingly as Mr. Bogie. Hilarious. The only thing consistent about my game is my inconsistency. Good hole, bad hole, par, bogie, double bogie, bogie, bogie, bogie. At most courses, you could just put me down for 18 over on the first tee, go to the lounge and call it a day. The problem, as I see it, is work. Work prevents me from golfing often enough to actually improve. And, even if I had the time, with the price of an average round, I really can’t afford to go very often. That’s why, when my wife and I go to Palm Springs each spring with her sister, Janice, and her husband, Tom Lehman (no, not the professional golfer Tom Lehman, but his Sylvan Lake
name-twin) we make sure to get a few rounds in. Every second day, while the gals go shopping, seems to be our sweet spot. For duffers like us, however—Tom and I usually shoot within a couple strokes of each other, we even both have the same horrible right handed fade (some people would call it a mild slice)—it’s a big decision on where to tee it up. Especially in the sun-drenched Coachella Valley, where there’s well over 100 golf courses serving an area with a total population of under 500,000. To put that in perspective, a quick Google search of the Calgary area revealed just 47 tracks with a few more if you expand your search to within an hour drive outside the city. So the greater Palm Springs area has twice as many courses, for half as many people, and they’re open year-round, give or take some downtime for periodic overseeding.
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So choosing four or five courses to play out of such a huge selection is not an easy task. It’s one that takes hours of research, in fact, checking out websites, doing virtual fly-overs, watching tournament played in the area on TV, etc. For us, a few key factors come into play: course aesthetics, course difficulty, and price.
Swing Shift As far as course aesthetics go, you can’t beat the Coachella Valley for variety. Want to play a pure links-style desert course, with no trees and lots of natural waste areas between landing zones? Try the Desert Princess out by the airport. Want to play a course right up against the base of the mountains? Find a friend with a membership at Bighorn, or try out Silver-
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OUTDOORS
PHOTO COURTESY OF CVB
INDIAN WELLS GOLF RESORT
Rock, where the sheep actually come down off the mountains to graze the lush fairways. For palm tree-lined fairways, the 36 holes at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort are nice. If you want to play where you’ve watched the pros play, there’s always the Mission Hills course, where they play the All Nippon Airways Inspiration Championship (formerly the Dinah Shore Nabisco Open). Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, PGA West in La Quinta. There’s actually five separate courses here, but the one most people dream of playing is the Stadium Course where Lee Trevino, the Merry Mex himself, hit his historic hole in one at the island green in the 1987 Skins Game. Yes, you can play this course, but it’s going to cost you a pretty penny as well as probably a good chunk of your confidence and likely a few extra balls. What Tom and I like to do is hit one highend course each trip, play one less expensive round, and then balance it all out with a couple of nice mid-priced courses. Lucky for us there’s such a huge selection of all three types. At the higher end, of course, are all of the private courses, plus places like PGA West, SilverRock, Desert Willow and Indian Wells Golf Resort. In fact, the Indian Wells Golf Resort is so nice that around sunset they open it up and charge people just to walk the course after the golfers are done. Suffice it to say that if they
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charge you just to walk it, the green fee to play is not for everyone. If you have to ask the rates, well, you know. At the other end of the pay scale are the lower-end courses, although what’s classified as low-end here still gets you lush green carpeted fairways lined with towering palm and eucalyptus trees complimented by white sand bunkers and lots of water. There’s even a couple of executive-length and Par 3 courses like Date Palm Country Club, Oasis Country Club or Palm Royale Country Club, the latter where it almost seems there’s more water than grass. Finally, in a truly unique concept designed to appeal to folks who find 18 holes is too physically taxing or just takes too long to play, the owners of this magazine, the late Bill and Mona Brehm, actually opened Hawks Landing Golf Club. Just 30 minutes north of the valley in the high desert, the course features two six-hole loops, allowing golfers to choose from a six, 12 or 18 hole round. In the mid-range category, there are simply far too many courses to mention even a small number of them. Some of the more popular, though, are Indian Canyons, with two courses that are home to more than 1,000 olive trees; Rancho Las Palmas, a more-traditional, condolined, experience; and Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, who offer special meal and drink deals
depending on your tee time. The two courses here, the Resort and the Legend, offer slightly different golf experiences, with the Legend track being a little longer and ranked a little more difficult. After much discussion with Tom and a few trips to the golf dome in Calgary to get warmed up, we finally make our plans. We’ll take our own clubs down, it’s only around $60 total, both ways, which is about the same as renting. So if you’re going to play more than once it’s automatically more cost-efficient to take your own sticks. We decide on SilverRock, Bermuda Dunes (I have a friend with a timeshare and membership there), the Marriott Desert Springs Palms course, Cathedral Canyon and Tahquitz Creek (Tom wants the breakfast). I won’t bore you with the shot-by-shot details, but a few highlights are worth mentioning. We start out with Bermuda Dunes, where it seems like half the members I meet out front of the pro shop are Canadians. It’s a beautiful course, with tons of history – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the rest of the infamous “rat pack” used to have places here. The course is in immaculate condition and there’s hardly any rough to speak of, at least not compared to the fescue they grow back home, but I seem to have developed an
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PGA WEST
uncanny knack for hitting palm trees. The damage: $110 U.S. to my pocketbook for green fees and even more to my ego. Cathedral Canyon, fairly inexpensive with our $39 U.S. rate from golfnow.com, is deceptively challenging. From the road that runs by it, Cathedral Canyon Drive, the only holes you see are the ones running parallel to the wash –
PHOTO COURTESY OF CVB
the dry riverbed. However, those are probably the two easiest and, if I may say so, least visually appealing, holes on the course. The rest of the course is far prettier than expected, and nicer than many back up north – especially in April. I actually end up shooting a worse score here than anywhere else. Note to self: There’s more water than you think from looking at
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Google Maps, bring more balls next time. At SilverRock, we get paired up with a lovely couple from Vancouver. Tom’s originally from Vancouver Island, so they’ve got lots to talk about. We’re told that if we had booked with a member for a few days later, after the seasonal rates change in April, we’d have only had to pay half as much. We ended up paying
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OUTDOORS $130 U.S. each, including cart, but it was one of those games that, for us, is only a couple times in a lifetime experience. The course more than lived up to expectations, with my favorite holes being the handful sandwiched right up against the base of the mountains. The colour of the grass, the mountains and the clear blue sky was absolutely beautiful, even if our swings were not. A word of warning here, however: the white sand in the bunkers is literally so soft you sink up to your ankles when you step into it. Be careful, or you could easily twist an ankle. At the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, there are pink flamingos living in the water hazards. Now, I’m used to seeing the odd coyote or deer out on the course back home in Alberta, but flamingos? With more flowers, waterfalls and palm trees than I’ve ever seen on one course, the Palms course is like stepping into a tropical diarama. It certainly isn’t the desert. I start out poorly off the first tee (what else is new?) but gradually round into Mr. Bogie form and shoot somewhere around my average. We’re always worried, when we play a fancier course, that we might get paired up with se-
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rious golfers who don’t appreciate our goofing around or multiple mulligan’s, but so far we’ve had really good luck. As it turns out, most golfers are really nice people. They don’t care how lousy you are as long as you don’t slow them down – which we don’t. We may not be very good, but we are not slow. We left our round at Tahquitz Creek until last for a very good reason: I want to rent a golfboard. A few places are starting to carry them now and Tahquitz Creek and Hawks Landing have them. Think Segway, but with a surfboard attached to the back. Laird Hamilton, a former world-champion big wave surfer is actually a part inventor of it. My wife thinks I might hurt myself, and she might be right, so we’ve left it for our last game. Looking at the course, I think the golfboard might be the least of my worries. Lots of trees, lots of sand, lots of water. Looks like fun. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Tom’s headed for his free breakfast and I’ve got a golfboard lesson to take.
Go The Distance Bermuda Dunes 760-345-2771, bermudadunescc.com Cathedral Canyon Golf Club 760-328-6571, cathedral-canyon.com Date Palm Country Club 760-328-6514, datepalmcountryclub.net Desert Willow 760-346-0015, desertwillow.com JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort 760-341-2211, marriott.com/hotels Indian Wells Golf Resort 760-346 4653, indianwellsgolfresort.com Oasis Country Club 760-345-5661, theoasiscountryclub.com Palm Royale Country Club 760-346-1161, palmroyalecc.com PGA West 800-742-9378, pgawest.com SilverRock Resort 760-777-8884, silverrock.org Tahquitz Creek Palm Springs 760-328-1005, tahquitzgolfresort.com
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ICONS
K
eeping a profile of James Allen “Jim” Pattison to a few hundred words is an impossibility, so this can only be a snapshot of a Canadian who is listed as one of Canada’s richest persons ($7 billion) and a neighbor here in the Greater Palm Springs area. Locally, Jim Pattison is known as the guy who purchased the Frank Sinatra estate and is a regular visitor—talk about your high-flying sun bird. Internationally, Pattison controls The Pattison Group, a corporate umbrella for many other large companies with annual sales of about $10 billion and over 40,000 employees. Those companies include: • The Jim Pattison Auto Group • Jim Pattison Lease (Canada’s largest privately owned fleet management and leasing company) • The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group • PATTISON Outdoor (advertising) • Pattison Sign Group • Overwaitea Food Group • TNG (Canada’s first and oldest periodical wholesaler) • Canfisco (harvesting, processing and marketing seafood) • Ripley Entertainment • Montebello (manufacturer of collapsible aluminum and laminate tubes, industrial ink markers and caps and closures) • Westshore Terminals (Canada’s largest export coal facility) • Buy-Low Foods (Canada’s largest wholesaler to independent grocery stores in Western Canada) • Canfor (Canada’s largest forest products producer) • Great Wolf Resort’s (the world’s largest chain of indoor water parks) • Ocean Brands (bringing innovative foods from around the world to Canada) • Everything Wine • Comag Marketing Group • SunRype (manufacturers of snacks and beverages) • Maple Farm Equipment • JayDee Ag Tech • Peterbilt Pacific The obvious question is: How do you keep up with all your businesses? Of course, there are management teams that deal with the day-today activities, but “I meet with each company team four times a year and once again when all the management teams get together,” Pattison notes. When asked if he ever takes a vacation, he answers, “Every day. I love what I do.”
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ICONS
Pattison’s continuing philanthropy includes $100,000 donated by Save-On-Foods to CBC Television in order to rent high-definition trucks for away games during the Vancouver Canucks’ 2009 1st round NHL playoff series.
If you sit down and talk with the magnate, you get no such feeling of commercial power and dominance. He’s a warm and smiling fellow who looks you straight in the eye and engages you directly. That apparently comes from his early life and success-driven work history. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 1928, Pattison got his first summer job playing trumpet in a children’s church camp and later picking fruit during high school summer breaks. After high school, he worked in a cannery, a packing house, as a laborer building bridges in the mountains and then for Canadian Pacific Railway as a dining car attendant In Vancouver, British Columbia, now his corporation headquarters, he got a job washing cars in a gas station that had an attached used
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car lot. When he sold his first car, he said he found his profession. He later worked at one of Vancouver’s largest used car lots and used his earnings to attend the University of British Columbia, where he studied business (missing graduation by three classes). His next stop was another successful sales stint with a local General Motors dealership. Demonstrating those skills, he got a Royal Bank of Canada loan to open his own Pontiac dealership, eventually becoming the most successful car salesman in Western Canada. But that was just the start of his empire. His Group is now one of the largest (some say No. 1) privately held companies in Canada. I had the pleasure of covering Expo ‘86 in Vancouver, for which Pattison was the Presi-
dent and CEO. When he was appointed to The Order of British Columbia, the award said that “Although others may have had the initial vision for Expo ’86, it was Jimmy Pattison who was the expediter…He did this for over five years without compensation.” He was also involved with the committee for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Among other honors, he is an Officer of the Order of Canada. His continuing philanthropy includes $100,000 donated by Save-On-Foods to CBC Television in order to rent high definition trucks for away games during the Vancouver Canucks’ 2009 1st round NHL playoff series. Toronto’s “Globe and Mail” newspaper said, “He has always given away 10 percent of his income. He has donated $5 million to Victoria Hospitals Foundation, another $5 million to match donations for a $10 million, 110-day fundraising campaign in Surrey, B.C. for the new Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. It’s hard to imagine another person with such entrepreneurial skill, considering his output is so diversified and he is a self-made success whose only inheritance was a drive to work hard, a willingness to try new things, an appreciation of what Canada had to offer and what he could give back.
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ICONS
C
anada lost one of its shining stars in December of 2016, however Alan Thicke’s creative impact remains an inspiration. Thicke, who died at the age of 69, had a marvelous career that spanned five decades; a career that wonderfully expanded beyond a variety of roles on and off screen because he was able to go from actor to writer to composer to author, and back again. As a result, the popular performer managed to make a lasting impact on both American and Canadians. Robin Thicke, the actor’s son, who turned heads with the pop music hit, “Blurred Lines,” among others, took to Instagram after his father’s death, sharing: “My father passed away today. He was the best man I ever knew. The best friend I ever had. Let’s all rejoice and celebrate the joy he brought to every room he was in. We love you Alan Thicke. Thank you for your love. Love, your grateful son.” Thicke’s ex-wife, singer/actress Gloria Loring, also delivered heartfelt sentiments. “It is a shock,” Loring posted on Facebook. “We were all just together for Thanksgiving. He was talented, funny and deeply devoted to his family.
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True, most people would agree that Thicke epitomized the role of the sitcom dad. His work on the hit show “Growing Pains” is now embedded in all that we have come to love and appreciate about that 1980s’ TV—Thicke played the role of Jason Seaver, an upbeat TV dad whose wholesome advice became wonderful material to play off of with costars like Kirk Cameron. After the show ended, Thicke went on to appear in numerous outings in TV and film. In fact, he often appeared as himself on such series as “How I Met Your Mother.” In 2016, he appeared on the Netflix reboot, “Fuller House,” the creative sibling to another ’80s sitcom that featured Bob Saget and Kirk Cameron’s real-life sister, Candace Cameron Bure. But Thicke always cherished his Canadian roots. Born in 1947 in Ontario, Canada, he began his career in Canadian television before morphing into a bona fide celebrity, thanks to American television. Fans may recall that Thicke, with his quick wit, wrote for “Fernwood 2-Night,” a short-lived, satirical, yet innovative talk show at the time, back in the 1970s. It later became “America 2-Night,” and
then, curiously, “The Richard Pryor Show.” Beyond his distinctly original sense of humor, Thicke had a true musical side. He composed the theme songs for the game show “Wheel of Fortune” and a gaggle of memorable sitcom hits, such as “Diff’rent Strokes” and “The Facts Of Life.” When he became the center of of attention with his own Canadian talk show, “The Alan Thicke Show,” in the early 1980s, there were high hopes, but the show never quite matched the success of “Thicke of the Night” with American audiences. Nevertheless, Canadians always revered Thicke. He recently nabbed a “Canadian Icon Award,” which honored his popularity and influence outside his beloved Canada. The combination of Thicke’s humor, his acting, and his undying love of hockey, inspired American fans. Imagine celebrities and pro hockey clubs continually noting his obsession with the sport. Thicke scored many a creative goal in his life. Fortunately, the ripple effects of his talents will long be felt.
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ATTRACTIONS
WINTER SOJOURNS WHY PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY MAKES ANY CANADIAN FEEL RIGHT AT HOME
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rue, Canadian visitors may head south to escape the harsh winter weather, but nothing is stopping you from an excursion that will remind you of home. Take note of five memorable outings to be found at Palm Springs Aerial Tramway during the winter months. The Snow, You, and Your Family You left Canada to get a reprieve from the crisp air, but there’s nothing quite like it at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Locals and visitors appreciate the ideal playground for kids and, well, all of us kids-at-heart. Best of all: While many people may be stuck in traffic driv-
ing to major ski arenas in California, one trip up a tram car is all you need here. Get ready to prep the snowballs. Ski Chances are if you’re used to snow, you may be into something like cross-country skiing. The state park boasts a wonderful yet challenging terrain. Bring your own equipment or rent skis, boots and poles at the Adventure Center. Best of all: You get to spend an hour or a day exploring one of the last pristine wilderness areas in California. Take note: Day permits can be acquired at the Ranger Station located in Long Valley. The Adventure Center is located a short dis-
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tance from the bottom of the cement path. Snow Shoeing The San Jacinto Mountains are breathtaking. Experiencing some of its majesty via snowshoeing can be invigorating. Take note: Snowshoes can be rented at our Adventure Center. Visitors who are leaving the Long Valley area on snowshoes must obtain a permit from the Long Valley Ranger Station. Snow Camping Brrrr. But you’re strong. At an elevation of 8,516 feet, you can expect brisk temperatures and a kind of stillness and quiet that only snow
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ATTRACTIONS
can bring. (Surely you remember.) Besides, the view of Palm Springs, and all the communities of the Coachella Valley, are rather breathtaking. Note: a permit is required and may be obtained in person at the Long Valley Ranger Station or in writing. The State Park charges a $5 fee per person for camping permits. For more information please call (951) 659-2607.
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Peaks Will Pique Your Interest You can’t beat a dining experience above the clouds. The seasoned chefs at Peaks Restaurant have crafted a memorable menu, featuring a variety of fresh vegetables and greens—right from Coachella Valley farmers. Expect a nice array of dry, aged meats and poultry along with fresh breads from local bakeries, too. Fresh sea-
food and pastas are also on hand. Reservations are recommended. Call (760) 325-4537. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is located at 1 Tram Way Palm Springs. Call 888-515-8726 or visit pstramway.com for more information.
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ATTRACTIONS
ATTRACTIONS WE LOVE
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. History, culture of Cahuilla Indians, baskets, artifacts, photographs. Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 219 South Palm Canyon, Palm Springs. (760) 778-1079, accmuseum.org. Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. A Hopi-inspired pueblo that is a unique treasure in the heart of Desert Hot Springs. The structure is handmade, created from reclaimed and found materials. The Pueblo is four-stories, 5,000 square feet, and includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 67-616 E. Desert View Avenue, Desert Hot Springs. (760) 329-7610, cabotsmuseum.org. Joshua Tree Uprising Adventure Guides. Rise to the adventure and climb with Uprising Adventure Guides. We’ll meet your wildest expectations with our Joshua Tree rock climbing experience. 61-695 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree. (888) 254-6266, joshuatreeuprising.com.
CABOT’S PUEBLO MUSEUM
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The Living Desert. Zoo and botanical garden, desert animals, African wildlife, 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, free parking. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (760) 346-5694, livingdesert.org.
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ATTRACTIONS Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The world’s largest rotating tram provides breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley as it ascends Mt. San Jacinto. Monday - Friday first tram up 10 a.m. Last tram up Sunday - Thursday 8 p.m., last tram down 9:45 p.m. Last tram up Friday Saturday 9 p.m. and last tram down 10:30 p.m. Highway 111 and Tram Road, Palm Springs. (760) 325-1391, pstramway.com. Palm Springs Biplanes. Climb into a 1940 Stearman Biplane with your favorite friend and enjoy an unparalleled view of the Coachella Valley. 145 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs. (760) 216-3700, psbiplanes.com.
PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM
Palm Springs Air Museum. One of the world’s largest collections of flyable World War II aircrafts and memorabilia, vintage automobiles, large-scale model ships. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., last admission at 4 p.m. 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, palmspringsairmuseum.org.
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Palm Springs Art Museum. Featuring art and the performing arts. Museum hours year round: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays 12 noon - 8 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays; 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, (760) 325-7186, psmuseum.org.
Palm Springs Windmill Tours. Bus tour goes inside the fences onto the private property where no other tour can go, getting you up close to these desert “High Rises.” You will see several forms of sustainable energy: wind, solar and a natural gas peaking plant. (760) 7702701, windmilltours.com.
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OUT AND ABOUT
PULL UP A BARSTOOL The Draughtsman offers Palm Springs a memorable, inventive design-oriented gastropub BY GREG ARCHER
T
he steady growth of the craft beer experience, coupled with the rise of “brewery tourism” over the last decade may be a good reason to open a new imbibe-and-nosh portal in Palm Springs, but with The Draughtsman, locals and visitors may be pleasantly surprised with the experience after walking through the doors. For starters, Chris Pardo, one of the inventive minds behind the launch of Arrive Hotels & Restaurant locally, took on chief design officer duties here. Factor David Ferrier, who has more than 16 years of experience in the food, beverage and hospitality industry, particularly mak-
ing an impact with New York’s BR Guest and STARR Restaurants, and you have the makings of a winning combination. Did we mention the chef? Enter: Carmen Rodriguez, who was voted New Mexico’s “Chef of the Year” back in 2012. That said, one questions lingers: What do guests really experience when they enter The Draughtsman? Quite a bit, actually, as Chris Pardo, reveals in our Canada South Magazine interview. (Hint: The eclectic collection of seasonal and local craft beers and classic pub foods thrive within the confines of a thoroughly impressive design scheme and architectural structure. Have at it.)
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Canada South: Share with us the inspiration for The Draughtsman. Where did the idea come from and why was it important for you to create this? Chris Pardo: I’m lucky to work with a great group of individuals who treat development, as it should be—a fun, inventive, creative experience. Our goal in every business we create is to be additive to a community.
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OUT AND ABOUT Explain that. We worked for over a year evaluating what the community already had in place and where there was a need or niche to be filled. We found there was a need for an approachable gastropub featuring craft/local beers and an inspiring atmosphere. When spitballing concepts, we kept discussing draught beers—how many, what kind, where the beers are brewed etc. But how does it relate to Palm Springs? Then it clicked. Palm Springs history is made up of talented men and women that have worked as designers, architects, artists and draftsman. I am inspired by those people in my life as a designer. And so our concept was born: An architecture and design-oriented gastropub. What can we expect? What makes it stand out? A large selection of local—Southern California—beers and amazing mixed drinks curated by Bootlegger Tiki’s Chad Austin. Also, a brewpub with traditional dishes—a fresh Californian/Southwest influence by our talented Chef Carmen Rodriguez. There are some unique standouts, too. The games area on the south patio featuring corn hole, hook and rings, Jenga, and foosball. There’s also a large screen TV above the bar featuring every sport and game your heart desires. And there’s subtle architectural influences dotted thought the property, from the menu designs featuring axonometrics of food, the patent drawings of toilets and bathroom accessories in the restrooms, the drawing compass trophy case, and the original blue print resin table tops The Craft Beer Experience has boomed over the last five years and is now very popular. Why do you think that is? In almost every industry, we have seen a return to the art of craftsmanship. Everyone is looking for an artisan experience. We want to spend our dollars wisely and choose to spend them on things with heart, things with a story, memorable things. The craft beer movement has revolutionized the global appeal and perception of what beer is. We are fortunate to be in a geographic area that has proven to be an epicenter for master brewers. Tell us what we can expect from Chef Carmen Rodriguez, and what does this particular chef bring to the experience? I have never worked with a more upbeat and experimental chef. Chef Carmen is as excited
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OUT AND ABOUT The redesign of the interior stands out. The floorplan for instance, is centered around the bar and showcases blueprints of Palm Springs’ own iconic ‘Town and Country,’ designed by Paul R. Williams and A. Quincy Jones. Can you talk more about the vision for recreating the existing structure? I would be lying if I didn’t say I struggled with the design at first. The property has had many incarnations over the years, originally built as a Bob’s Big Boy then later operated as a Pizza Hut. Shuttered by the time we acquired the property, it was a mess of tans and wilted grass. Pealing away the years of additions is when it started speaking to me. about food as I am about concrete tile—super excited. Carmen has really done a fantastic job marrying the beer culture with food and taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. At first glance the menu is very traditional pub fare, but upon closer examination and on your first bite, you are unmistakingly in a gastric celebration of all that is beer, pub fare and California. A truly unique and memorable experience.
inal tongue and groove wood planks. The building then stood as a block and glass pavilion. We anchored it with a large brass clad bar, the helm of the restaurant, featuring the cornerstone of Palm Springs history: countertops of the original blueprints of the Town & Country buildings encased in resin. It was incredibly meaningful to us to have the opportunity to showcase these drawings that had since been in the archives of UCLA Architectural Library. That’s a good feeling to walk away with. I hope people walk away feeling that they have really had a full memorable experience—more than just a meal or a drink, but a true connection with a place. This is a celebration of design, entertainment, food and friends.
How so? The structure is fantastic: slump block and bent gluelam beams, like a Nordic ship waiting to set sail. We had to celebrate this structure, the major design decisions being the “Draughtsman” was to let the building be exposed and be true to its form. We tore out waist-high concrete walls, installing vertical lift windows, sandblasted the acoustical tile covered ceiling exposing the orig-
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Experience The Draughtsman at 1501 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday (kitchen) and 11 a.m. to “late” (bar); 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (bar) Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at draughtsmanpalmsprings.com. Call 760-507-1644.
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OUT AND ABOUT
Bold Brews
Exploring the mystique of Gré Coffeehouse & Art Gallery BY ALISON ELSNER
A
s far as Kelly Segré and her brother Joe are concerned (and according to a sign on the wall), “Everything is better with coffee.” The co-owners of Gré Coffeehouse & Art Gallery have set up shop in downtown Palm Springs, tucked away in the Henry Frank Arcade across from the Hyatt Palm Springs. A true throwback coffeehouse, this sweet little spot has been swathed in beatnik and mid-century modern. Upon entering the cozy space, you first smell the aroma of coffee, with fresh beans sourced locally from Klatch Coffee in Rancho Cucamonga. Authentic ’60s and ’70s music plays on real vinyl records—featuring artists like the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elton John (early days) and Fleetwood Mac. Guests are welcome to select and spin their own LPs. Professional quality art photographs by the owners themselves are displayed on almost every wall, with collections ranging from “The Incomplete Woman” to perspectives of the
Salton Sea. The plan is to feature art and photos from other artists on regular rotation. Seating is available at small tables and chairs as well as on ’50s- and ’60s-era furniture that used to belong to Kelly and Joe’s mother. Anyone who used to dine at Roscoe Grill in Palm Springs (prior to its transition to Pete’s Hideaway) will recognize the L-shaped black vinyl sofa with high quilted back extending to the ceiling, now recycled and in its new home at Gré. These elements are unique touches, however there’s so much more to enjoy here. Several evenings a month, the shop holds open mic poetry readings. Actually, Gré is actually the only coffeehouse in downtown Palm Springs to remain open during the evening hours. Acoustic music sessions and gallery openings are also on the entertainment docket. If surfing the Internet is not your bag, man, Gré also has collections of board games and classic novels to stay mentally stimulated while sipping something like a frozen salted caramel.
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“Many of our customers are tourists or parttime residents, especially Europeans and Canadians,” says owner Kelly Segré. Labor Day was absolutely swamped, so we’ve now learned the hard way that we need to order more coffee beans for holiday weekend.” The menu offers espresso, iced coffee, peppermint iced tea, mochas and a variety of creamy concoctions like frozen hot chocolate. A broader menu of baked goods is anticipated for the near future. Prices are reasonable, with most beverages ranging between $2.25 and $4.50. As Segré says, “But coffee first …” Words to live by. Gré Coffeehouse & Art Gallery, 278 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite C, Palm Springs (inside the Henry Frank Arcade). Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 6 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Call 760-459-4595 or visit grecoffeehouse.com.
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REAL ESTATE
HOME-SELLING UPDATE AS MANY CANADIANS PUT THEIR PALM SPRINGS-AREA HOMES ON THE MARKET, TAKE NOTE OF HOW THE U.S. TAXES A CANADIAN’S SALE OF AMERICAN REAL ESTATE BY MICHAEL W. BROOKS ESQ.
L
ocal realtors tell me there are more Coachella Valley homes for sale right now than usual, and certainly much of the rise in market supply is attributed to the increased number of homes put on the market by our Canadian snowbirds. With local real estate prices so beaten down a few years ago, and with the Canadian economy booming and a strong Canadian dollar at that time, Canadians swooped in to purchase Coachella Valley real estate in record numbers. But in the more recent past, the Canadian economy has
slowed, and much of the steam has been let out of the Canadian dollar. As a consequence many Canadians have put their California winter homes up for sale. For many Canadians, we hope (and believe) their home sale will not lead to a permanent exodus from the Palm Springs area, but instead, just a financial decision to cease, at least for now, being a California home owner. Perhaps they will rent for a while as they continue to spend a significant portion of their year in one of the warmest (and nicest) areas of the United States. So with that background,
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let’s remind ourselves how the U.S. taxes real estate sales by non-U.S. persons. The IRS Will Generally Require Any Foreign Seller to Leave a 15 percent (of the Gross Sales Price) ‘Security Deposit’ With the Escrow Company at the Time of Sale All non-U.S. citizen/residents (including Canadians) who sell U.S. real estate are generally subject to a mandatory withholding tax of 15
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REAL ESTATE
percent (for lower sales prices it might be 10 percent) of the real estate’s sales price, payable to the IRS at the time of closing. Take a Canadian who purchased a La Quinta house for $500,000 three years ago, and sells it for the same $500,000 in January 2017 (no gain in U.S. dollars but probably a big gain when converting the currency back into Canadian dollars from what the Canadian paid in Canadian dollars three years ago). The Canadian seller in this example will have $75,000 taken off the top at the time of close. Note this $75,000 is not the real tax which the Canadian owes the IRS; it is better thought of as a security deposit which the IRS will hold onto temporarily to ensure the Canadian snowbird will pay the real tax. The real tax is based on the gain on the sale, if any. In this case, the Canadian has no gain, so they really owe $0 tax on this sale. But the $75,000 is taken temporarily even though they no tax, and the big issue for the Canadian seller will be how long must they wait to get their $75,000 refund. The Canadian Will Get Their Refund in the Middle of the Next Calendar Year (18 Months After Sale) By Doing a U.S. Tax Return, But a Much Quicker Alternative Exists With a big refund on the table, the Canadian (or any non-U.S. seller) probably wants to file a tax return 10 minutes after they sell. Individual taxpayers in the U.S. file taxes on a calendar year basis. So no matter when a sale occurs in a 2017, the general tax return to get the excess tax amount back cannot be completed until the January of the next calendar year (January 2018) (and the actual $75,000 payment won’t be received by the Canadian until around June 2018). And importantly, as long as the IRS holds this excess tax amount (for several months or sometimes even over a year), they will apply no interest on this amount.
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REAL ESTATE
<<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 The 8288-B Option Returns the Excess Withholding Tax (the $75,000) in Around 3 Months After Sale Canadians can apply for an early refund (or really an early release) of the $75,000 withholding tax, by preparing (via experienced tax professionals such as DIRECTS) an IRS Form 8288-B Application, which will prove to the IRS the seller made $0 profit on this sale, and therefore owes $0 tax dollars to the IRS (and is entitled to have the $75,000 back in their pocket as soon as possible). Very importantly, the Canadian seller must utilize a local escrow company which will agree to hold the $75,000 in an escrow company trust account and not send the $75,000 to the IRS at close; they are legally allowed hold the $75,000 (and not send it into the IRS) provided the seller submits an 8288-B Application before the date of close. Check with the escrow company you are set to close your sale with- most Coachella Valley escrow companies will agree to hold the withholding tax in their account at close, but not all. If the tax is sent into the IRS, the Canadian seller will get their $75,000 refund in around June 2018. If they submit an 8288-B to the IRS before the date of close and the escrow company holds the withholding tax in their trust account at close (and does not send it into the IRS), the Canadian seller will have their $75,000 back around April/ May 2017 ‌ quite a difference from waiting to receive it via the tax return process- June 2017. The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Michael W. Brooks, Esq., is the President of DIRECTS, a tax company with sole focus of assisting non-US persons with the tax issues which arise when non-US persons sell US real estate. Michael and DIRECTS expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this article. Contact 760-898-3413 or michael@ directsllp.com. Visit directsllp.com.
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HEALTH
Cavity Capers
Dental cavities are not just childrens’ problems BY DR. BRUNO LAMAY
I
t is a general belief that cavities are only for kids. But in fact, cavities affect people of all ages. The reason why cavities are more prevalent in children is mainly the fact that they tend to eat more sugar and have poor hygiene habits. However, when looking at the cause of decay, which is basically plaque with the presence of sugar, it is easy to understand that cavities can happen at any age even if your mouth is full of crowns. Of course, there are some people who have teeth that are softer then others and are easier to decay but that affects only 1 percent of the population. Basically any diet rich in sugar will increase your chance of decay. Soft drinks, can-
dies and anything sweet will have a potency to create decay in the presence of dental plaque. So in order to create decay there has to be the bacteria that will transfer the sugar into acid to decalcify the tooth. It is called dental plaque and it forms very quick after eating. The better hygiene a person has, the less they will have decay. It takes both sugar and plaque to decay a tooth. The more you brush and floss, the more plaque removed and the less risk of decay. Additionally, elderly patients also tend to have more decay. It is more obvious with elderly patients who are loosing their dexterity, and in general they tend to eat more sweets more often, and not brush as often. There is also another component that needs
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HEALTH
Very rarely a person will suffer from gum disease and a high rate of decay. It is generally one or the other.
to be explained here. In the mouth there are several types of bacteria. Some are responsible for gum disease and some are responsible for decay. Some people may have the best hygiene and still have gum disease and some who have the worst hygiene may not suffer from gum disease at all. This is because they do not have the bacteria responsible for gum disease. Same thing for decay. Some people will be more susceptible to decay then others even if they eat
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just a little sugar and have decent dental hygiene. That is because they have that kind of bacteria in their mouth in a higher rate then another person. But that is not a reasonable excuse. More brushing and plaque control with a topical fluoride application daily, preferably with a special personal tray made at the dental office will help. Very rarely a person will suffer from gum disease and a high rate of decay. It is generally one or the other. If someone has a high rate of decay, in general they will not suffer from gum disease like bone loss, periodontal pockets and tooth mobility. It is a proven fact though, that the better the dental hygiene you have and the better your diet is in terms of limiting sugar intake, the healthier your gums and teeth will be.
So, it is not true that decay affect only kids. As long as you have one tooth in your mouth you are subject to get decay if you leave dental plaque on it and eat sugar. The best way to prevent that is to have good dental hygiene at home and brushing after any sugar intake, and to visit your dentist two to three times a year. Dr. Bruno Lemay, a native of Quebec, is the sole owner of Desert Dental Alternatives. Dr. Lemay has a fellowship from the California Implant Institute and is the founder of CMI Institute (The Canadian Mini-Implant Institute). CMI specializes in the education and training of dentists throughout Canada and California in the mini-implant technique that Dr. Lemay has utilized and improved since 2001. Desert Dental Alternatives is located at 69-450 Ramon Road in Cathedral City, 760-324-4450, desertdentalalternatives.com.
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PARTING THOUGHTS
DESTINATION: UNSTOPPABLE
Ross Mathews on his recent Palm Springs ‘star’ and the secret to being perpetually upbeat
By Greg Archer
Y
ou may have first spotted the ever intrepid Ross Mathews on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” more than a decade ago. Now, you may be digging him as one of the colorful cohosts of the nationally syndicated daily entertainment talk show “Hollywood Today Live.” Either way, the bubbly entertainer continues to turn heads with his wit and charm. Even here in Palm Springs, one his favorite
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getaways … which may be one of the reasons Mathews received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in fall 2016. Here, Canada South Magazine catches up with the busy showman, author, and human rights activist who, in addition to his work on television, can be heard weekly on his top-rated podcast “Straight Talk with Ross Mathews” (PodcastOne). Canada South: Congratulations of your Palm Springs star. First thought that comes to mind for receiving it? Ross Mathews: Absolute overwhelming gratitude. Palm Springs is a part of me forever, and now I’ll be a part of Palm Springs forever.
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PARTING THOUGHTS How has Palm Springs inspired you creatively?
What do you love most about the work you are doing?
I’m inspired everywhere I look in Palm Springs—from the landscape to the architecture and especially by the people who are kind, open-hearted and fabulous. You once mentioned in an interview that you have a fondness for Canada. What about Canada and its citizens inspires you?
I dreamt of being a talk show host since I was 7 years old. Every day I get to talk about the pop culture I love and talk to fascinating entertainers. It’s a dream come true.
I grew up in Washington state, right under the Canadian border, so I grew up watching Canadian TV. I can still sing the jingle for Smarties (the candy). ‘When you eat your Smarties, you eat the red ones last ...’ Who would you say has been one of your biggest influences, in life, or career, and why? Jay Leno gave me my start on TV. Chelsea Handler gave me a new platform on her show. And Rosie O’Donnell is someone I watched as a kid, have tried to emulate as a host myself and have befriended in real life. These people inspire me to be as good as they are.
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What are you most excited about for the year ahead? I might do something unexpected next. You seem perpetually ‘up’ and motivated? What’s the secret, if there is one? Gratitude. Life is mostly all good, and when it’s bad, it could always be worse. When in doubt, go to gratitude. Then go to happy hour. What’s some of the best advice you’ve been given about life? Show up early. Work hard. And be nice to everyone. Jay Leno taught me that. Keep track of the latest in Ross Mathews’ world by visiting helloross.com.
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