Issuu

Contents Deb Geissler

Publisher

Kimberly Brucks Advertising Manager kbrucks@desertentertainer.com

Jose De La Cruz Senior Graphic Designer ads@desertentertainer.com

News news@desertentertainer.com Advertising

Coachella Valley Datebook Keeping schedules updated as we head into the new year.

Throughly Modern Palm Springs Celebrating 15 years in midcentury modern design, architecture and excitment.

Add these Canadian Events and Festivals to Your Calendar Staying active all winter long.

Mississauga’s Absolute World A tornado of towers taking on human form.

Canadian-American David Foster Ensures that all the World’s a Stage The illustrious composer keeps music in our hearts and on our minds.

Ready for Your Close Up Palm Springs International Film Festival returns for its 31st year.

Good Citizenship How to become a legal citizen of Canada.

Tax Talk Michael fills you in on the latest developments for Canadian sellers of U.S. real estate.

Happy Hour It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

Places to Stretch Your Legs Popular high and low desert hiking trails.

Reach for the Sky: Tradition + Inspiration Sunnylands exhibit combines Canadian and American culture and pays tribute to First Nations.

kbrucks@desertentertainer.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alison Elsner Michael W. Brooks, ESQ. L DISTRIBUTION

17 All delivery inquiries should be directed to Ahkto Distribution at 760-459-4204 or distribution@ahkto.com

760-820-2610

News, photos, editorial submissions or story ideas should be sent to news@desertentertainer.com

Entertainment and events sometimes

Feast on These! What’s new in drinking and dining in the Coachella Valley. McCormick’s Classic Car Auction Celebrating midcentury modern with hot wheels and classic collectables. Weekend Wanderlust in Lake Arrowhead Escape to the towering pines and snow-capped mountains. Tribal’s Perfect Fit This Canadian company helps women dress for success while honoring personal style.

change after press deadline. Please check with venues to confirm the date and times.

Cover photo courtesy of McCallum Theatre.

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December 2019

Canada South

Welcome Canadians

welcome

Rideau Canal, worlds largest ice skating rink in Ottawa, Ontario’s Winterlude.

ith the approach of yet another new year, many of us will be making resolutions. There seem to be two schools of thought with regard to the topic of “resolution-making.” Some of us like to develop a list of specific goals for the upcoming year, including things like save money, get more sleep, practice patience, travel, donate more to charity, volunteer at an animal shelter, spend more time with family members and the biggies – lose weight and improve fitness. However, there is a camp out there that opts for the year-round focus on self-improvement and personal accomplishment. Instead of limiting the targeted improvements to a concentrated window of time that coincides with the start of January and sometimes tend to become diluted by the advent of spring, these practitioners pledge to keep their objectives active throughout the year. However you choose to implement the process of making yourself a better person, doing more for family or community or just leaving

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this world a little bit better than you found it, it really doesn’t matter. The main thing is that you should be commended for putting forth the effort to bring about positive change in yourself or others. As far as we’re concerned, that timeline is always in force and never expires. In other words, it doesn’t matter how or when you do it…just do it! With that renewed outlook in mind, we are excited to bring you some stories in this issue of Canada South that will hopefully intrigue and inspire you. Our cover story on music mega-producer and writer David Foster is sure to serve as encouragement for the power of tenacity and perseverance. Our Coachella Valley and Canada datebooks will keep you up to speed on all the winter-into-spring activities, events and festivals near and far, and our coverage of the 31st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is likely to reinforce the high caliber of entertainment activity here in the desert as well as the strong collaboration between American and Canadian cultures.

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Photo courtesy of ottawapanoramas.com

If you’re itching for some nostalgia and appreciation of the vintage sensibility here in the Coachella Valley, our stories on the upcoming Modernism Week and McCormick’s Classic Car Auction will get you fired up. The feature on Absolute World Towers will again remind us of the brilliance of the human mind in creating structural beauty. And when you’re ready for some food and fun, our write ups on a getaway to Lake Arrowhead and new restaurants in the greater Palm Springs region will help you make some sweet plans. Feel free to reach out to us at any time at news@desertentertainer.com. From all of us at Canada South, we wish you the happiest and healthiest of holidays and a magnificent New Year! From the desk of

Alison Elsner Canada South Magazine

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Fall Calendar

The American Express returns to the famed Stadium Course at PGA West, hole 17.

Coachella Valley

Datebook

Keeping schedules updated as we head into the new year By Alison Elsner

ome social butterflies like to update their calendars in Outlook or on Google calendars. Others prefer the old-fashioned way of writing things down by hand. Whichever way you choose to keep your schedule straight, it seems one thing we have in common is the challenge of squeezing everything in for the holidays, what with competing events and requests from family, friends and co-workers. Humans are deadline driven, so the secret is always time management. Our datebook overview, below, will help you set your priorities as we glide into the new year. Farewell 2019 and welcome 2020!

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Polo Season at Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club December 29 - March 29 at Empire and January 5 - March 22 at Eldorado Sunday 12 p.m. matches, 10 a.m. gates open The sport of kings is back again for the 2020 season, starting with a soft opening December 29 and “Opening Day & Hat Day” on January 5, continuing through March 29. There will be two featured matches every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday evening games are also open during select dates in February and March. Brunch is offered once a month, and food is available for purchase every Sunday. Tailgaters are welcome, and space along the

December 2019

Photo courtesy of The American Express

sidelines is available on a first come, first served basis. Free plus $20 parking or $30 VIP admission which includes parking at Empire, $10 parking at Eldorado. Empire Polo Club, 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, 760-393-7298, empirepolo. com; Eldorado Polo Club, 50950 Madison Street, Indio, 760-342-2223 eldoradopoloclub.com. Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Party December 31, 6 to 10 p.m. Ring in the New Year at this “Roaring 20’s Old Hollywood” party, with classic and modern twists like tray-passed appetizers, a threecourse plated dinner with favorite 1920’s gourmet themed food and drink, champagne toast, animal encounters and live entertainment. Watch the ball drop live from New York at 9 p.m., and then hit the dance floor with the DJ until 10 p.m. Past celebrations have included visits with an armadillo, a porcupine and a screech owl during pre-dinner cocktails, and if you watch closely you may see some of the animals dancing the Charleston. This indoor / outdoor event will take place at the Chase Building and Lurie Patio. Must be 18 or over. Tickets $125 per person. The Living Desert, 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, 760-346-5694, livingdesert.org.

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Fall Calendar

The sport of kings is back again for the 2020 season with a soft opening on December 29.

Palm Springs International Film Festival January 2-13, various times and locations Celebrating its 31st year, this event is often a predictor of Oscar nominations. The twoweek extravaganza kicks off with the annual black-tie Film Awards Gala. On the docket to be honored this year are Renée Zellweger for her role in the film “Judy” and Joaquin Phoenix for his role in the movie “Joker.” Last year’s honorees included Glen Close, Rami Malek, Melissa McCarthy, Regina King, Bradley Cooper, Spike Lee, Olivia Colman and other luminaries. Carefully selected films from international filmmakers will be showcased across Palm Springs during ongoing screenings, providing world-wide recognition and thought-provoking entertainment. Tickets and packages $13-$3,000. Various theaters and locations, 760-778-8979 or 800-8987256, psfilmfest.org. Murder Mystery at the Palm Springs Art Museum January 15, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Take part in an evening of art and fine cuisine as you enjoy the museum’s selected galleries and featured artwork with a glass of wine or a cocktail and tasty nibbles. Alas, the evening goes awry. A shot rings out, a precious work of

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Photo courtesy of Empire Polo Club

art is missing and the game is afoot. Join in the fun and intrigue to try to solve the crime while enjoying a sumptuous three-course dinner with wine sponsored by Westwood Catering. Dinner will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.; this may be your last meal, so don’t be late! Who knows, the murderer may even be you. Tickets $200. Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, 760-322-4800, psmuseum.org. The American Express aka Desert Classic Golf Tournament January 15-19, various times Formerly the CareerBuilder Challenge (and Bob Hope Desert Classic and the Humana Challenge, among others), this is one of the only PGA Tour events that features Pro-Am play along with tournament play for the first 54 holes. Past champions include World Golf Hall-of-Famers Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller and Phil Mickelson. Played at the famed Stadium Course at PGA WEST, the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA WEST and the La Quinta Country Club, there will be food and drink for purchase. Entertainment in 2019 included Sammy Hagar and the Circle and Bad Company. Stay tuned because the name may change again. Ticket prices and availability TBA. PGA West (host course), 78-080 Calle Amigo, La Quinta, 760-346-8184, desert-classic.com.

34th Annual Southwest Arts Festival January 23-26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day The 34th annual Festival is a major, internationally recognized cultural event that will feature traditional, contemporary and abstract fine works of art by more than 200 acclaimed artists. Interactive exhibits, live music, pottery, glass, sculpture, painting and more will be on display for browsing or purchase. Visitors can also enjoy food and beverage while strolling the grounds. This event is recognized as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by “Travel Magazine,” and proceeds support local charities. Admission $13-$15. Empire Polo Club, 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, 760-347-0676, swartfest.com. Stars Among Us Gala February 1, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pack your bags and “Take off with Mizell” at the 15th annual party which will celebrate the Mizell Senior Center’s past and elevate its future. After a cocktail hour and seated dinner, “in-flight” entertainment will be provided by LA’s hottest showband, The Zippers. Guests can plan to dance the night away while recognizing honorees Dr. Timothy Jochen and Lee Erwin. The event is chaired by Carol Fragen and Dennis Flaig. Proceeds benefit Mizell’s

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Fall Calendar

McCormick’s Classic Car Auction features classics, antiques, muscle cars, European sports cars, trucks and more.

community programs for seniors such as classes, special events and Meals on Wheels. Tickets $350 or $3,500 per table. Palm Springs Air Museum, 750 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, 760-323-5689, mizell.org. Dr. George Charity Car Show February 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, Awards at 2 p.m. Each year the Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association raises significant funds for the Desert Cancer Foundation, with 1,000 vehicles on display. In 2019, $80,000 was raised. Spectators can spend the day on the open lawn of the Tennis Garden viewing classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, street rods, corvettes, customs, antiques, restored and original collectables and motorcycles. Food and beverage trucks have refreshments available for purchase, and guests can enjoy raffle prizes and live entertainment. Admission: $55, children under 12 and military free. Indian Wells Tennis Garden, 78200 Miles Avenue, Indian Wells, 760-6258191, palmspringscruisinassociation.com. Modernism Week 2020 February 13-23, various times This cool, iconic, modern February festival is an exciting 11-day celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. Events include the Modernism Show

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& Sale, home and walking tours, biking and double-decker bus tours, a world-class lecture and film series, tours of the historic Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands, classic cars, garden tours, a vintage travel trailer exhibition and much more. New attractions this year include Nancy Sinatra appearing at the Historic Plaza Theatre and a “Nutty Professor” party at the Jerry Lewis House. Price per event varies, many events are free. Various locations in Coachella Valley, modernismweek.com. Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival February 14-23, various times This 10 day celebration of food, culture and music includes a Presidents Day Parade, Arabian Nights Pageant, animal adoptions, daily petting zoo, arts and crafts, delicious food and drink, carnival rides, camel and ostrich races, hypnosis, Robosaurus, Jest In Time Circus, comedy shows and live music galore. Be sure to try a creamy date shake and sweet fruit treats from local date palm groves. Past entertainment has included WAR, Chase Rice, Flash Back Boyz Band, The Cook Islands Polynesian Dance Show, Toast to Dean Martin and many others. Admission $9-$11, children 5 and under free. Carnival rides separate. Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Highway 111, Indio, datefest.org.

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Photo courtesy of McCormick’s Classic Car Auction

McCormick’s Classic Car Auction February 21-23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Heading into its 34th year, this twice yearly event showcases nearly 600 hot cars, including classics, antiques, muscle cars, European sports cars, trucks and motorcycles, such as a 1962 Studebaker Avanti, 1970 Oldsmobile 442, 1966 Shelby Cobra CSX, 1964 Porsche 356 SC, 1963 Austin Healey 3000 and dozens of other rare finds. Car enthusiasts can bid or browse while enjoying a Bloody Mary or mimosa. Free on Friday, $15 per day Saturday and Sunday, $25 for both days. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, 760-320-3290, classic-carauction.com. Observatory Tours: The Sky’s the Limit Ongoing, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cast your eyes towards the heavens at one of these recurring weekly tours, held Tuesday through Saturday. These fascinating sessions offer a crash course in astronomy and serve as a teaching tool to further public understanding of our night skies, with a focus on phenomena like stars, planets, moons, comets, black holes, supernovas and galaxies. Special programs also offer concerts, guest speakers, movies and more. Guests will see firsthand the significance of stargazing and exposure to the sciences for all ages. The sky’s the limit! Free. Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory, 71100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, 760-341-7323, ranchomiragelibrary.org/observatory.

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Datebook

Bracebridge’s Fire and Ice Festival. Photo courtesy of fireandicebracebridge.com

Vancouver International Wine Festival.

Photo courtesy of vanwinefest.ca

add these

Canadian events and festivals to your calendar By Alison Elsner

anadians don’t typically stay indoors between November and March but instead take the proactive approach to winter by making the most of the season by attending the many unique festivals that showcase the best parts of what the country has to offer. Staying active during the coldest part of the year is common practice, supporting events that take place indoors and out, daytime and night. If travel back home is on your agenda, here are some of the liveliest events to keep the experience authentic. Just remember to stay bundled up!

ALBERTA - CALGARY Motorcycle Show — January 10-12 Get your fix of two, three and four-wheel action. Whether you’re a rider or an admirer, this all-inclusive show will feature motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. Guests will meet experts, discover the latest

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accessories and clothes, take part in Yamaha’s “how to” training clinic and enjoy a vintage motorcycle display. There’s a Yamaha Riding Academy for kids ages 6 to 12, and the ladies have a special “She Rides” night. Tickets $11$42. BMO Centre, Stampede Park, 1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary, AB, 855-794-7487, calgarymotorcycleshow.ca.

ALBERTA - EDMONTON Edmonton Pet Expo — January 25-26 Our pets are our babies, and this gathering will help you to learn about the importance of health and well-being practices to keep them in perfect-paw shape. Here, the focus is on fun with sessions like a search and rescue demo, the science behind animal training and mock cat judging. Guests can visit with animal experts and check out presentations, animal demonstrations, agility courses and sporty dog teams. There will be plenty of fluffy, furry and highly loveable friends to frolic with as well as vendors for pet toys and treats. (Your own pets must

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remain at home). Tickets $10-$40. Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands Hall A, 7515 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, 780-490-0215, petexpo.ca.

BRITISH COLUMBIA - VANCOUVER Vancouver International Wine Festival February 22-March 1 Now in its 42nd year, this premier event will present 164 wineries from 15 countries including France – this year’s featured country – along with Germany, Croatia, Italy, Japan and many others. Each participating winery will be represented by a winery principal who will share and discuss their wines with festivalgoers. This year’s keynote speaker will be acclaimed wine writer Andrew Jefford. He will also moderate the public wine seminar, Cru de France. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction opens the festival on February 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Ticket prices vary by event / tasting. Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, 604-873-3311, vanwinefest.ca.

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Datebook ONTARIO - NIAGARA FALLS Niagara Icewine Festival January 10-26 (weekends only) Starting with the 25th annual Gala on January 10, this is Canada’s coolest wine festival. For three weekends, the Niagara region is transformed into a celebration of sweet-tasting icewine. The Festival provides delicious access to over 30 wineries with indulgent and innovative wine and food pairings, roasting chestnuts and icewine marshmallows and a vibrant street scene. It’s a perfect way to sip and savor one of Canada’s most treasured products. Here’s a toast to the grape! Ticket pricing varies depending on passes selected. Multiple locations, Niagara Falls, ON, niagarawinefestival.com/event/niagara-icewinefestival.

Niagara Icewine Festival.

BRITISH COLUMBIA - VICTORIA Victoria Whisky Festival — January 16-19 This high energy event presents selections from a wide variety of distilleries, featuring whiskies like Canadian, Scottish single malts and blends, Irish whiskey, Japanese, Indian, French, Swedish, Australian and several from the United States. Special sessions will include The Malts of Nikka Grand Tasting, The Dr. Don Livermore’s Select Picks Grand Tasting and many more. Life doesn’t get much better than sipping over 150 whiskies while overlooking Victoria’s scenic Inner Harbour. Tickets start at $60 for nightly grand tastings, special programs start at $40. Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, 250-370-9463, victoriawhiskyfestival.com.

MANITOBA - WINNIPEG Winnipeg Renovation Show January 10-12 This is the ultimate forum of 150 vendor booths for everything home-improvement related, showcasing DIY design, candid insight and advice for family home upgrades, pro tips on renovation permitting, dozens of exhibit booths and much more. Special sessions will include Bryan Baeumler, from HGTV Canada’s “Island of Bryan,” on stage Friday and Saturday. Guests can browse displays for specific home projects

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Photo courtesy of Peller Estates Winery Restaurant

or inspiration while connecting with industry experts. Tickets $6-$11. RBC Convention Center, 375 York Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, 800-633-8332, winnipegrenovationshow.com.

ONTARIO - BRACEBRIDGE Fire and Ice Festival — January 26 Two hours north of Toronto, this festival packs in a full day of fun, with ice-skating, crokicurl (crokinole and curling), downtown tube run, maple syrup making, ice sculpting demos, a lumberjack show, live music and more. For the adults, the Muskoka Brewery will be set up all day, and Banff Ice Summit Vodka will be on site at the Griffin Gastropub offering samples of their Winter Wheat Vodka, the day culminating in fireworks. Kids will enjoy preschool playroom, kid fun dash and kid carnival zone. There are shuttles from nearby parking lots or you may want to play and stay over at one of the cozy hotels nearby. Tickets $5 adults, kids free. Memorial Park, 5C Manitoba Street, Bracebridge, ON, 705-646-5590, fireandicebracebridge.com.

ONTARIO - BURLINGTON Winter Beer Festival — January 24-25 This annual event is a tasty tribute to the best in beer and food pairings in partnership with local restaurants, community-based organizations and progressive craft brewers from

across the province. Guests can taste three six-ounce samples of beer, cider or wine. Past vendors have included Highlander Brew Co., 5 West Brewpub and Kitchen, Waterloo Brewing, The Exchange Brewery, Creekside Winery and Landshark Lager. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at door. Holiday Inn Burlington, 3063 South Service Road, Burlington, ON, 289-885-2337, burlingtonbeerfest.com.

ONTARIO - MISSISSAUGA North American International Motorcycle Supershow — January 3-5 Prepare to get your engine revved at this largest marketplace in North American for anything and everything related to motorcycles, with thousands of bikes including new, used, vintage, racing, scooters, custom, choppers, touring, cruising, performance and motocross. Also on display will be non-current and pre-owned bikes, aftermarket parts and accessories, rider apparel and helmets, performance equipment and a full range of leather fashions. Attendees can enjoy live music by the Perfect Angelz and stunt shows by Team Empire. $17 per person. The International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON, facebook.com/events/2320396214873517.

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Datebook QUEBEC - MONTRÉAL Igloofest - January 16-February 8 Nine days of electronic music will be performed on the Sapporo and the Videotron Stages at this annual event which takes place entirely outdoors. The line-up includes The Blaze DJ Set, Lauer, Boycott, Tind, Honey Soundsystem, Charlotte and other favorites. Attendees can buy snacks like hot dogs and poutine, and there will be bars selling cocktails. Parking is available at Grand Quay and the Kind Edward Quay, but given that thousands of people will also be trying to get there, you may want to take the metro to the Placed’Armes station or Champ-deMars station. Must be 18 and over. General admission $20-$50 and all access passes $70-$100. JacquesCartier Quay, Old Port of Montréal, 333 de la Commune, West Montréal, QC, 514 904-1247, igloofest.ca/en. Montréal’s Igloofest.

Photo by igloofest.ca

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ONTARIO - OTTAWA Ottawa Winterlude January 31-February 17 Held over three weekends in February, this magnificent winter party features outdoor skating on the world’s largest rink, snow sculpture contests, concerts, tasty food, Canadian beer, street performers, the Olympic Rendezvous with curling and hockey, a Kiddie Zone for toddlers, lacrosse lessons and demos, a zipline and much more. Host sites include the Rideau Canal Skateway, the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park and the Crystal Garden in Confederation Park with free shuttles between each. Don’t miss the ice hogs mascots or the Beerfest! Most events free, special presentations priced separately. 100 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON, carnifest.com/winterludeottawa-canadas-winter-festival-2020.

ONTARIO - TORONTO Heritage Antique Market — January 1 Toronto’s longest running and finest antique market brings together over 65 Canadian antique dealers, primarily from throughout Ontario and Quebec, exhibiting period and deco-

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rative furniture, antique jewelry, European and American art glass, British and American pottery, paintings, porcelains, collectibles, home décor, china, vintage clothing and accessories, silver and more. The show has been running since 1979 and attracts thousands of shoppers, collectors and decorators. The stores in the mall are closed on New Year’s Day, but all of the restaurants and coffee cafés will be open to attendees, including Pickle Barrel, Congee Queen, Timothies Coffee, Juice Bar and others. Free entry and parking. Centerpoint Mall, 6464 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, 416-483-6471, heritageantiqueshows.com. Montréal en Lumière (Montréal High Lights Festival) February 20-March 1 This largest culinary celebration in Canada attracts close to one million visitors while shining a spotlight on arts, culture, performance, gastronomy, free outdoor family activities and exquisitely original discoveries. There are countless culinary presentations for every taste and budget as well as workshops, tastings and conferences led by the finest Montréal chefs and their counterparts from five continents. Music and entertainment stir the senses with classical, new art-

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ists, premiers, theatre, circus arts, dance, Illuminart interactive art displays and more. Tickets prices vary, many events free. 400 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montréal, QC, 514 288-9955, montrealenlumiere.com.

SASKATCHEWAN - SASKATOON Saskatoon Wellness Festival January 31-February 2 This 13th annual ultimate body, mind and soul experience assembles a large and diverse group of manufacturers, distributors, retailers and practitioners focusing on all areas of wellness, including mental, physical, spiritual, financial, nutritional, environmental, holistic, cosmetic, pet wellness and even healthy home products. There will be a wide variety of seminars and educational sessions, samples of products and health food tastings. Featured presenters will include James Colquhoun & Laurentine ten Bosch, producers of the film “Health Matters.” $8-$10 admission, free under 14. World Trade Center Saskatoon, Centre Hall B, 503 Ruth Street, Saskatoon, SK, wellnessexpo.com/wellness-tour/ saskatoon-wellness-expo.

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Cover Story

By Alison Elsner

ne of the most prolific producers and composers in history, Canadian-born David Foster is one of those classic examples of The Butterfly Effect, where one small change or action can redefine the outcome of an entire system. In this case, Foster is the metaphorical butterfly who, by flapping his wings, may very well have set off a tornado on the other side of the world, the concept posed by MIT professor Edward Lorenz 60 years ago. Foster’s impact upon music and global entertainment culture has forever altered the environmental trajectory that guides composing. Arguably, without his creativity as the force behind dozens of hit songs and movie soundtracks, several of our best known and iconic performers might not have achieved the same level of fame or at least not within the same window of time.

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Foster will bring his brilliance to the stage of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert on January 24 (8 p.m.) and 25 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), 2020. “An Intimate Evening with David Foster: Hit Man Tour” will include popular tunes that he’s written for artists like Olivia Newton-John and Andrea Bocelli, such as “You’re the Inspiration,” “The Prayer,” “The Glory of Love” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Tickets are $75 and $100 and may be purchased by calling 1-800-340-ARTS (2787) or visiting mccallumtheatre.com. “I believe that everyone gets three rounds in their life,” says the musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, producer and recording artist. “For me, two are completed, and I’m on to round three. I think you have to change it up every round. My mantra is retreat and attack in another direction, which I’ve done twice. Now I’m going to do it again.” Foster’s first round was as a studio musician, arranger and recording artist. His second

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round was becoming one of the most successful songwriters and record producers in history — shepherding albums that have collectively sold in the hundreds of millions. This period of his four-decade career also found him creating The David Foster Foundation and volunteering his time and talent to over 400 charities, as well as becoming a household name as a performer throughout Asia where he tours annually. For his third round, Foster is gearing up to take on Broadway with several projects. These include writing the music for a new musical about the iconic, animated character Betty Boop, which will be directed by Tony Awardwinner Jerry Mitchell. He is writing the music for a musical based on the Amy Bloom novel and New York Times bestseller “Lucky Us,” directed by Tony Award-nominee Sheryl Kaller. Foster is also developing a scripted narrative, one-man show based on the story of his career that he will perform himself.

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Cover Story As one of the most illustrious composers of our time, Foster’s skill set of creating hits, writing indelible melodies and building dramatic moments has primed him for this third round. “I think Broadway and I are a perfect fit,” he says. “The story becomes the co-writer. It’s a new adventure and creative outlet for me that I’ve always believed I could do, and now it’s become a reality. It’s also exciting, because, as a producer, I’ve spent 35 years in a room with no windows, churning out music. Now I plan to immerse myself in New York theater culture and learn the ropes slowly, and I’m not afraid of that.” Of almost as much interest–we repeat, almost–as Foster’s musical compositions are his partners in marriage, which include Linda Thompson (former girlfriend of Elvis Presley and wife of Caitlyn, formerly Bruce, Jenner), Yolanda Hadid (former model and mother of models Gigi, Bella and Anwar) and most recently, Katharine McPhee, who was the runner up for the fifth season of American Idol in 2006. Foster has taken his turn as step-father to Brandon and Brody Jenner and the Hadid offspring. Foster seems incapable of resting on his laurels, and his relentless drive has propelled him throughout his career. Few other individuals can claim to have their fingerprints on more major moments in all of popular music than David Foster. He has created hit songs and award-winning gold and platinum albums for a diverse array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Brandy, ’N Sync, Boz Scaggs, Blake Shelton and Gloria Estefan. He has escorted singers who have straddled both pop and classical styles like Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban into the mainstream. He has created culture-defining soundtracks for blockbuster films like “The Bodyguard,” “Urban Cowboy” and “St. Elmo’s Fire” and crafted timeless holiday classics, including perennial bestsellers like Josh Groban’s “Noel,” Michael Bublé’s “Christmas,” Celine Dion’s “These Are Special Times,” Rod Stewart’s “Merry Christmas Baby,” Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” and Mary J. Blige’s “A Mary Christmas.” For his remarkable work, Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations, including three for Producer of the Year as well as an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe, and he has racked up three Oscar nominations for “Best Original Song.” He has also earned a reputation as a keen spotter of new talent, playing a key role in the discovery and career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé.

Photo courtesy of ICM Partners

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Cover Story

Photo courtesy of McCallum Theatre

Continued from page 15

In 2008 and 2011, Foster stepped out as a performer in his own right as the host of “Foster & Friends,” two star-studded concert events in Las Vegas that celebrate the music from Foster’s unparalleled catalog. The shows were filmed for “Great Performances” on PBS, and Foster’s “Hit Man” and “The Hit Man Returns” became PBS’ highest-rated pledge drive shows of the decade. Foster is also a household name as a performer throughout Asia where he fills arenas on his frequent tours. In 2015, Foster became a celebrity judge on the smash hit TV show “Asia’s Got Talent.” Billed as the biggest TV show in the world, it is broadcast throughout Asia into 20 countries. Foster is also a Global Grand Brand Ambassador for AirAsia. “In Asia, audiences believe that the person who writes and produces the songs is as important as the person who sings them,” Foster says. “So when you play a song that you’ve written and the entire 10,000-seat arena sings every word, that’s pretty thrilling.” It’s not surprising that Foster became a consummate performer. Born in Victoria, British Columbia, he began studying piano at age four. As the story goes, his mother was dusting the family piano, hit one of the keys, and was shocked when David correctly called out,

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“That’s an E!”, thus discovering he had perfect pitch. The son of a maintenance yard superintendent and a homemaker, Foster has chronicled his life in the highly regarded, bestselling autobiography, “Hit Man.” Foster has made charitable work his life’s other priority. Meeting with a young girl from his hometown who was awaiting a liver transplant had a profound impact and led him to create The David Foster Foundation in 1986. Its mission is to provide financial support to Canadian families with children in need of lifesaving organ transplants, along with a new focus on organ donor awareness. The Foundation’s most recent goalpost for fundraising is in the $50 million range. He has also volunteered his time and talent to over 400 charities over the past two decades, including the annual Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night, The Andre Agassi Foundation and Carousel of Hope. Tapping into his vast network of friends and superstar artists, Foster has enabled these events to raise millions of dollars for worthy causes. “The gift of music has brought me many rewards,” he says. “What better way to honor those gifts than to pay it forward. It’s not just a responsibility, it’s a must.” Foster has also been rewarded with professional honors, including being inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2002, The Ca-

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nadian Music Hall of Fame in 2007, The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in the U.S., also in 2010. In 2013, Foster received his star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located on Vine Street in front of the iconic Capitol Records building, adjacent to the stars of his musical heroes — John, Paul, George and Ringo — a thrill for the self-described “biggest Beatles fan on the planet.” The location is doubly meaningful as Capitol was the label that signed Foster’s band “Skylark” in 1971. Their hit “Wildflower” became a Top 10 hit and launched Foster on his unending road to success. Reflecting upon receiving a star on the Walk of Fame, Foster says, “One hundred years from now, my great-grandchildren will go, ‘Hey, there’s my great-grandpa,’ and having a star next to The Beatles … outside the building where I first got signed … that’s perfect.” “An Intimate Evening with David Foster: Hit Man Tour” takes place on Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 25. Shows are at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $75 and $100. Concert is held at the McCallum Theatre located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. For tickets or additional information, call 760-340-ARTS (2787) or visit mccallumtheatre.com.

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Let’s Eat!

what’s new in drinkinginand dining the coachella valley Enzo’s Bistro and Bar’s fettuccini alfredo with jumbo shrimp sauteed and topped with a cream sherry-garlic butter sauce.

Photo courtesy of Enzo’s Bistro and Bar

By Alison Elsner

ith each new month comes new options in cuisine. Just in time for the new year, we’ve put together a few eateries that you may want to put on your “must try” list for 2020. As your taste buds prepare to dance, we wish you happy dining! Cups Café This delightful combination of teahouse and taco stand features brunch and dunch. Yes, you read that right. They’re open until 3 p.m. every day, inviting you to order up a delicious breakfast, lunch or lunch and dinner combo otherwise known here as “dunch.” Special selections that are “must-order” include mile high brioche cinnamon French toast topped with cinnamon apple or chilaquiles ($11.95 each), ahi tower ($12.95), South West salad ($13.95-$15.95) or the shrimp burger ($14). Non-alcoholic beverages include treats like fresh mint latte, espresso, French press coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks. There’s a refreshing

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wine, champagne and beer list with selections like Copper Ridge Chardonnay and Cabernet ($5 each) and Champagne Wyclif ($6 by the glass and $21 by the bottle). Cheers! 77912 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, 760-200-0333, cupscafepdgmail.com. Del Rey Housed inside stucco walls accented with original, large format oil paintings produced by Juan Casas, Villa Royale’s intimate bar and eatery, Del Rey, offers up a twelve-seat oak and marble bar, tufted green vinyl booths and an outdoor patio equipped with a firepit for long nights under the desert moonlight. Inspired by Spanish and Mediterranean flavors, Del Rey’s playful menu is served in a small plate format akin to taperías that flourish near the Mediterranean Sea. Del Rey’s tapas-style fare, Mediterranean-leaning wine program serving Spanish varietals and local wines and classic poolside cocktails invite guests to connect and Continued on page 18

Cups Café’s chilaquiles served with red sauce or tomatillo, diced onions, queso fresco, fresh cream and two eggs. Photo courtesy of Cups Café

December 2019

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Let’s Eat!

Photo courtesy of O’Caine’s Irish Pub

Continued from page 17

celebrate. Try the Shy Rickey or the white bean carrot salad ($14 each), and be sure to visit during happy hour each day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to closing to try the vegetarian weeping tiger sandwich ($8). 1620 S. Indian Trail, Palm Springs, 760-327-2314, Palm Springs, delreypalmsprings.com. Enzo’s Bistro & Bar The previous restaurants in this location haven’t been able to sustain a clientele, but we’re pretty sure the third time is a charm. Enzo’s is already getting a lot of buzz within and beyond the valley, serving elegant, authentic and highly visual Italian food. The best part? It tastes molto delizioso. Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner, guests might want to try the bruschetta ($5.90), arancini risotto balls ($7.90), meatball slider ($8.90), penne vodka ($16), salmone ($26) or branzino ($28). The cocktails and wines are a priority, with everything from a Fuzzy Mo to Chocolate Espresso Biscotti ($11 each). Buon appetito, amico! 70030 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, 760-3217635, enzosbistroandbarranchomirage.com. Little Bar The biggest thing to hit the desert is Little Bar, opened by Skip Paige, former COO of

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Del Rey’s grilled steak with chimichurri, crispy potatoes and charred vegetables.

Goldenvoice (as in Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals). This casual, cool hang out is about much more than food, drink and music – it’s an ethereal experience. The bar and grill serve lunch, dinner and late night bites, and there’s a cozy outdoor seating area. Craft cocktails include items like Tamarindo Margarita ($14), and wines by the glass pour everything from Puccini Pinot Grigio to Austin Hope Cabernet ($8-$14). The lunch and late-night menu features cheeseburger, Colin’s nachos and more ($5-$8). And breakfast – served on Saturdays and Sundays – is not to be missed. Try the Limonadi special, with Irish toast or waffles, topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar, served with eggs, bacon and potatoes. Obviously, gigantic things come in small packages. 73560 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 760-565-1965, little-bar.com.

December 2019

Photo courtesy of Del Rey

O’Caine’s Irish Pub Light years ahead of the cliché Irish pub, O’Caine’s presents guests with an authentic taste of Old World charm. “Dedicated to the flavor of Ireland,” this latest restaurant in the revolving door of establishments in this space has the largest selection of Irish beer and whiskey in town. While quenching thirst and satisfying hunger, visitors can also play darts, listen to live Irish music and explore the historical photo gallery. Appetizers like fish butties (fish and chips) or Shepherd’s skins (potato skins filled with Shepherd’s Pie mix) are a perfect complement to the draught beer selections like Harp or Kilkenny ($7-$8) and specialty cocktails like an Irish Whiskey Sour or Dubliner Manhattan. Sláinte! 36101 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-2023311, ocainesirishpub.com. Continued on page 20

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Let’s Eat! Continued from page 18

Polanco Kitchen Part of the reinvention of the former Desert Princess Resort to the Doubletree by Hilton Golf Resort includes this updated showcase of fresh, southern California cuisine. The indoor dining space is light and airy while the heated, outdoor patio with a view of the golf course and stunning mountains is ideal for an al fresco adventure. Patrons can indulge their taste buds with avocado toast ($11), a juicy burger ($16-$18), Baja-inspired tacos with housemade guacamole ($14), flatbread, “forever” braised short ribs ($25) or a fresh “vegan power” kale and quinoa salad ($12). Meals are perfectly complemented by signature cocktails like a Blue Agave Margarita, Ginger Cucumber Collins and Smokey Bloody Maria ($12 each). Life is good. 67967 Vista Chino, Cathedral City, 760-322-7000, doubletreepalmsprings.com/dining.php.

Pollo Doky’s Probably one of the few, if only, types of restaurants in this lane, this charming little eatery can be categorized as “Peruvian comfort” food. Nestled in among the shops, wine bar and Mary Pickford movie theater complex in the middle of the valley, the menu features charbroiled rotisserie chickens, sandwiches and soups. Favorites include pollo saltado made with sautéed and stir-fried chicken, cilantro and onions ($12.99), arroz chaufa de vegetales also known as Peruvian style fried rice ($8.50) and tallarin saltado de carne with flame sautéed mignon strips ($8.85). Portions are large, the lomo is authentic and the service receives outstanding reviews on Yelp. It’s casual and it’s all counter-service in here, but it seems to work beautifully and deliciously. 68718 East Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, 760-8326878, doordash.com/store/pollo-dokys-cathedralcity-282401.

Roly China Fusion As they say here, “Be healthy, be happy, be loved.” A new establishment from chef Chad Gardner, Roly features traditional Chinese cuisine with a modern twist. The space welcomes you to a vibrant, whimsical and elevated dining encounter, and diners can sip and sup in the intimate dining room, at the bar or outside on the dog-friendly patio while watching the world go by along Palm Canyon Drive in the Uptown Design District. You’ll want to try to the garlic noodles ($18), kim chee fried rice with lobster ($26) and miso glazed seabass ($32). There’s even a dim sum chef, and we always say “yum” to dim sum! 1107 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-548-0041, rolychinafusion.com.

Half chicken with salad and fies. Photo courtesy of Pollo Dokys

Little Bar’s juicy double cheeseburger and a refreshing La Quinta Brewing beer.

Photo by Jakob Layman, courtesy of Roly China Fusion

Photo courtesy of Little Bar

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December 2019

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Roaring Engines Photos courtesy of McCormick’s Classic Car Auctin

McCormick’s Classic Car Auction

celebrating midcentury modern with hot wheels and classic collectables By Alison Elsner

eith McCormick likes to draw a natural connection between midcentury modern design and the classic cars he so lovingly prepares for his bi-annual auction. The owner of McCormick’s Classic Car Auctions in Palm Springs, who launched his first auction nearly 34 years ago in 1986, points out that while architects were creating midcentury structures in Palm Springs, new automobiles were simultaneously rolling onto the highways and byways in record numbers, many now preserved and still road-worthy, especially as a component of the area’s annual celebration of the midcentury modern lifestyle and sensibility. Conjuring up popular images like Little Deuce Coupe, Hot Rod Lincoln and Pink Cadillac, the event could be confused with a classic rock concert celebrating The Beach Boys, Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders or Bruce Springsteen. But don’t be fooled, because it’s all part of the bi-annual event that draws residents and visitors to the desert to take in some vintage Palm Springs history on wheels. Well aware that timing is everything, McCormick will hold his next collector car auction on February 21-23, on six acres next to the Palm Springs Convention Center, which also happens to be the last weekend of the annual Modernism Week celebration, to be held February 13-23. McCormick’s upcoming concours, his 68th, will feature dozens of vintage cars up for auction, including roadsters, muscle cars, convertibles, European classics, antiques, trucks and motorcycles. Rare entries have previously included a 1964 Ford Thunderbird, a 1966 Shelby Cobra CSX4236 and a 1949 Cadillac Series 62

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Convertible. Many past auctions have seen fleets of rare models cross the auction block, vehicles like a 1936 Packard 1407 La Baron All Weather Cabriolet, of which only 622 were produced; a 1954 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley Two Door Hardtop; an expertly restored 1956 Corvette Roadster; a 1932 Pierce Arrow Coupe with a rumble seat; a 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with a powerful 428 Cobra Jet engine; luxury models like Ferraris and Porsches; and many other sleek beauties that are almost too pristine to drive. Each of the three days, between 175-225 cars will be showcased, totaling around 600 vehicles by the end of the weekend. On day one, there’s a champagne happy hour at 11 a.m., and on Sunday, attendees can look forward to free mimosas and bloody Marys in the main tent before the auction begins at 10 a.m. The auction will also stream live online for all three days with proxy bidding for those who register in advance. At previous auctions, enthusiasts have tuned in from across the United States, Europe and New Zealand to bid on cars. Video cameras will be set up to show different views of each car as it passes through the auction tent. Bidders can register on the website and must follow the same procedures as people attending the auction in person. McCormick is proud of his very grown up collection of hot wheels, which, as he says, give attendees the chance to “wander the rows of these timeless pieces of history in search of that rare find.” McCormick points out that after World War II, an expression of optimism and faith in the future showed up in 1950’s cars designed with big fins and big V-8 engines, which when restored now sell for 10 to 20 times their origi-

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nal sticker price. The new interstate highway and city freeway systems were under construction, creating the first cloverleaf and future traffic puzzles for today’s commuters. The “Big 3” U.S. automakers produced 96 percent of American cars. The 1957 Chevy, which sold for $2,399 in the 1950s, is now valued at more than $45,000 at some auctions. The Ford Edsel, introduced in 1957 amid huge fanfare, is now considered a colossal failure in automotive history, which is why collectors want them. The station wagon rose in popularity and would later morph into the roomier SUV. In the 1960s, the Volkswagen Beetle competed with the Ford Pinto and other compact cars that surged in popularity. At the same time, muscle cars powered by turbo-chargers and big engines satisfied the need for speed. Keith McCormick, visionary and historian in his own right, personally embraces the midcentury culture as evidenced by his residence, which is a classic Alexander A-frame design in Vista Las Palmas in Palm Springs. His son, Jason, works alongside at all the auctions, and these mainstays of the Coachella Valley (not to mention drivers of the economy) are proud to see their family business thrive, year after year. Whether attendees decide to bid or just browse, the celebration of captivating cars will rev things up, reinforcing just why Palm Springs is the hub of midcentury modern. 68th Annual McCormick’s Classic Car Auction, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (auction start times are different each day). Friday-Sunday, February 21-23. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 North Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs. Friday free; Saturday or Sunday $15 per day; Both Saturday and Sunday $25.

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Explore and Enjoy

the Coachella Valley

Day Trippin’

Photos courtesy of Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa

weekend wanderlust in

Lake Arrowhead

Escape to the towering pines and snow-capped mountains

By Alison Elsner

estled in the majestic mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest, widely known as “The Alps of Southern California,” is the best kept secret on the West Coast - Lake Arrowhead. A stunningly beautiful, cozy and quaint mountain resort paradise, Lake Arrowhead features countless outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, backpacking, bicycling, water and snow skiing, fishing, dining, shopping and much more. With the stunning scenery and wildlife comes a natural zen that has lured people to these mountains for centuries. Lake Arrowhead makes for an ideal weekend getaway, only an hour and a half drive from the desert. For those who are homesick for Canadian winter, the trip is a reminder of the beauty of the Canadian mountains - just not quite as cold. High temperatures range from around 43 degrees in winter to 83 degrees in summer and lows range from 29 degrees in

winter to 56 degrees in summer. Sitting at an elevation of 5,174 feet, Lake Arrowhead is actually a reservoir of 782 acres and 14 miles of shoreline that measures 2.2 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. The area consists of six communities including Lake Arrowhead, Twin Peaks, Blue Jay, Cedar Glen, Skyforest and Rimforest, with a combined population of around 13,000 people. It was formerly called “Little Bear Lake,” until around 1920 when a group from Los Angeles, the Arrowhead Lake Company, bought the lake and the land surrounding it and changed its name to Arrowhead Lake. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake governed by the Arrowhead Lake Association, and its use is restricted to property owners. Lake Arrowhead Village is the heart of the town for both locals and tourists, with an eye-catching promenade of red roofed, Tudorstyle restaurants and shops that run alongside the lake. The Village includes factory outlets, boutiques, restaurants, gift stores, two banks, a post office and a supermarket. The Village

is a frenzy of fun during the summer months, but also hosting events all year long including a free Summer Concert Series, the Inland Empire’s largest free Oktoberfest, Easter weekend with Easter egg hunts for children, an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting, market night every Friday during summer and many other themed events such as car and dog shows, the Tour de Lake Arrowhead, Home Expo and the popular Antique Wooden Boat Show. The popular Santa’s Village at Lake Arrowhead was a popular theme park from 1955 to 1998, which reopened in 2016. The University of California, Los Angeles operates the nearby UCLA Conference Center, a full-service conference facility with lodging and meeting space. Other major employers include Mountains Community Hospital, Rim of the World Unified School District and Above It All Treatment Center. Logging in the San Bernardino Mountains was once conducted on a large scale, with Continued on page 28

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December 2019

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Day Trippin’

Photos courtesy of thelakearrowheadvillage.com

Continued from page 26

the Brookings Lumber Company operation one of the largest. Between 1921 and 1923, the original Lake Arrowhead Village, built in the Norman style, was erected and included a dance pavilion, an outdoor movie theatre, restaurant, beach and bath houses. Three hotels were also built — Arlington Lodge, Village Inn and North Shore Tavern. Over $8 million was spent developing Lake Arrowhead into the most upscale resort in the southern California mountains. The Village held its official opening on June 24, 1922. Some of the lakeside land was subdivided and sold for private homes and secluded north shore estates. Many Hollywood stars stayed at the hotels during the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s, and some purchased homes in the resort. The studios frequently used the area for locations for major motion pictures. By the 1970s, time had taken its toll and the 1920’s Village was in a state of disrepair and facing potential condemnation. The road to the new Village began when a group of investors headed by developers George Coult and Jerry Jackson bought the Village and Lodge properties in 1978. They made the decision to redevelop Lake Arrowhead Village into a multifaceted center that would serve the community for generations to come. The Grand Opening of the “new” Lake Arrowhead Village occurred over Memorial Weekend, 1981. The beautiful new Village was built in much the same architecture as the old Village, and the dance pavilion was restored as the theme building. What is now called the

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Pavilion building houses Papagayos Mexican Restaurant and Big on Bears. The new Village is ten times larger than the original and draws 3 million visitors annually.

What to Do Golf The Lake Arrowhead Country Club is private, but guests are allowed to play on the links of this world-class, 18-hole championship course which features challenging fairways, finely manicured greens and complete practice facilities. The clubhouse is sometimes referred to as the world’s largest A-frame structure, so the chance to bask in this unique architecture is a bonus. lakearrowheadcc.com Hiking and Biking Probably most practical in spring, summer or fall, the Heart Rock Trail is popular because of its easy elevation, a loop that takes about an hour and scenic views of the creek. The other favorite recreation area is the Heaps Peak Arboretum, where the Sequoia Trail covers ¾ mile with 90 feet of elevation change and stunning views of giant sequoias. hparboretum.com Lollipop Park Kids and adults alike will get a thrill with bumper cars, miniature golf, a horse carousel, Pirate Ship Ride, Crazy Mirror Maze, Candy Store, Rolling Rain Ride and more. Lollipop Park is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer and Thursday through Sunday during winter, weather permitting. lollipoppark.com/california-location

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Riverboat Cruise The Lake Arrowhead Queen Paddleboat takes guests on a tour of the lake with a 50-minute narrated cruise highlighting the history of the area as cruisers glide by and enjoy up close views of lakeside homes. The Queen sails daily every hour on the hour year-round. It’s the only way the general public can get on the lake and see the spectacular views for those who aren’t residents. Tickets $14-$18.50 per person. lakearrowheadqueen.com Santa’s Village Through January 5, guests can get jolly with Santa and relive another nostalgic Christmas in Northwoods in neighboring Skyforest. There will be puppet shows, tree lightings, tea parties with Mrs. Claus and interactive storytelling with the Northwoods characters. Santa’s elves will be holding special crafting workshops and cookie decorating classes. skyparksantasvillage.com Skiing and Snowboarding In the winter months, Snow Valley has something for everyone, from the steeps of Slide Peak to long cruising intermediate trails to the region’s best beginner terrain to southern California’s only chairlift-serviced sledding area. The awardwinning Learning Centers offer lessons for all ability levels and ages. snow-valley.com Mountain High in nearby Wrightwood is the ultimate winter playground, boasting great slopes with a wide berth, small jumps for the adventurous, black diamond runs and plenty of lanes for mid-level skiers. There are three separate mountains and the area’s largest snow tubing park. mthigh.com Continued on page 30

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Day Trippin’

Strawberry Lodge.

Photos courtesy of hpinerose.com

Continued from page 28

Where to Eat Pack your own fireside picnic Keeping it simple, one of the best bets is to stock up on groceries at the Stater Bros. in the Village or at Jensen’s in nearby Blue Jay, and whip up a picnic before settling in to watch a movie or cuddling in front of a crackling fireplace. Belgian Waffle Works This dockside restaurant in the center of Lake Arrowhead village serves up breakfast and lunch, including 17 kinds of waffles, biscuits and gravy, Cobb salad and hamburgers along with beer, wine and cocktails. belgianwaffle.com The Grill at Antler’s Inn A romantic, fine dining restaurant that overlooks the lake, the menu here is varied with items like tequila chicken fettucine, grilled salmon and filet mignon. Plus, there’s a sushi bar Wednesday through Saturday during dinner. thegrillatantlersinn.com The Lakefront Tap Room Bar and Kitchen Also inside the Village, this lakeside restaurant and bar features live music on weekends and selections like poke bowl, chopped Caesar salad, barbecue bacon burger, shrimp po’boy, beer battered onion rings and a full array of beer and cocktails. lftaproom.com

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Papagayos Mexican Restaurant and Cantina This high-energy, all-day hot spot occupies the former dance pavilion in the center of the Village, pouring excellent margaritas during happy hour and favorites for lunch and dinner like tostada fiesta, carne asada plate and enchiladas rancheros. papagayosonline.com

Where to Stay Cabin Rental The charm and privacy of your own cabin is one of the most authentic ways to absorb Lake Arrowhead, putting guests at one with nature with aromas of pine, cedar and dogwood trees. The cabinstay makes for a more rustic and romantic visit, especially depending on the views of the surrounding lake and mountains. There are lots of rentals available online, and one advantage of a rental is the relative affordability. hometogo.com, homeaway.com, vrbo. com, expedia.com or airbnb.com Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa Part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott, this luxury lodge features a clear view of the Lake and walking distance (about two blocks) to Lake Arrowhead Village and nearby restaurants. This is definitely the upscale way to go, given there are also two restaurants on the property. Bin 89 serves breakfast, lunch

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and dinner as well as creative cocktails, microbrews and wines which can be savored in front of the cozy stone fireplace. The more casual Aromas Coffee Shop features smoothies, baked goods and coffee drinks. lakearrowheadresort.com The Saddelback Inn Adjacent to the Village, the Inn is surrounded by 4.5 acres of wooded forest. It offers standalone cottages set along cobblestone paths as well as rooms in the charming main building, all of which feature river rock gas log fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs. Diane’s Saddleback Grill is the on-site restaurant, with a full food and bar menu as well as live musical entertainment in the lounge. saddlebackinn.com Being so close to just about everywhere in southern California, planning is a breeze either for a day trip or an overnight stay. Four seasons of splendor await at this majestic mountain retreat. Winter is especially enchanting, creating a picture-perfect landscape of fluffy white snow that transforms this diorama of nature into a peaceful wonderland, with just enough civilization to stay within your comfort zone.

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Shopping Photos courtesy of McCormick’s Classic Car Auctin

TRIBAL’S PERFECT FIT This Canadian company helps women dress for success while honoring personal style

Photos courtesy of Tribal

By Alison Elsner

orking its way into the top performers of the retail clothing world, Tribal has shown its competitors how to successfully straddle the Canadian-U.S. commerce market. Some 43 years ago, Tribal Sportswear first established its global head office in Montréal as a women’s trouser separates company. Over the past four decades, it has grown into an industry-leading women’s sportswear business, offering seasonal collections of casual and career wear to its base of over 2,000 specialty stores across North America. Women readers and shoppers will quickly recognize the brand, sold at Macy’s and hundreds of boutiques and other online retailers. Some Montréal boutiques that carry the Tribal line are Cazza, JL Taylor, Sail, Moda Elle, Boutique Lily Vogue and Boutique Maude. Tribal no longer sells to “big box” stores. In 2013, Dallas, Texas-based Haggar Clothing Co. announced that it had acquired Tribal Sportswear from Kilmer Capital Fund L.P. for an undisclosed amount. Tribal was originally established by Montréal businessman Leonard Berall, who eventually brought his sons Peter, Jonathan and Kenneth aboard. Industry insiders considered the acquisition to be a positive one, given that Haggar is the force behind the solid branding and manufacture of men’s trousers. Tribal is now led by Steven Richman, who serves as president and CEO of the new division, which remains in Montréal. Richman, educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), is considered a strong and innovative leader, renowned for reinvigorating and restructuring wholesale and retail operations.

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His areas of emphasis for Tribal are four-fold: excellent quality, accessible prices, superior design and on-target delivery. The local headquarters of Tribal in Montréal consists of approximately 75 workers. The company also has more than 20 independent sales representatives across North America. Richman, whose main residence is in Toronto, maintains a condo in old Montréal. He is credited by many for rescuing the company from possible oblivion. He stepped into the top job with the mission to turn it around and make it viable, objectives which by all accounts have been realized with success and profitability. In 2010, the company also launched Tribal Jeans, a collection featuring trendy tops, sweaters, jackets and jeans, constructed to slim, flatten and enhance the female silhouette. Tribal Jeans has become a favorite for women throughout Canada and the United States. While the Tribal world headquarters are in the Montréal borough of St. Laurent, the company also has offices in Dallas, Texas and China. The acquisition of Tribal Sportswear complements Haggar’s women’s business, which enjoys significant distribution in Canada at both major department stores, Sears and The Bay, and continues to grow in North America. Most of Tribal’s customers are located in the United States. Tribal likes to emphasize on-trend collections that allow women to enjoy life’s adventures in comfort and style. The brand’s design team creates fashions specific to the seasons, with the ultimate goal of making customers feel good about themselves. To find retailers and/or view Tribal fashions, visit tribal-inc.com.

Examples of the Tribal style for winter Faux Fur Coat Making it clear that the company is environmentally friendly, the faux fur coat mimics rabbit fur but in a much kinder way, featuring a leopard print pattern. A sophisticated notch collar and thigh-length hem are as tasteful and stylish as it gets. Made from polyester. $175 at Macys.com. Super Stretch Jegging This form-fitting jegging is made from super stretch denim. The pair features a comfort waistband and is dyed a dark wash fabric. Made from cotton, polyester and spandex. $87 at macys.com. Accent Stitch Sweater Coat More structured than a cardigan and lighter than a jacket or coat, this stylish duster is perfect for those in-between days, as well as indoor wear. Accent stitching at the seams lends a modern twist, and its longline silhouette sends out sophisticated vibes. Made from cotton and viscose. $125 at macys.com.

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A Touch of Modern Photo by Jake Holt courtesy of Modernism Week

Frank Sinatra House

Thoroughly

Modern Palm Springs Celebrating 15 years of midcentury modern design, architecture and excitement.

By Alison Elsner

ifteen years of midcentury modern glory returns to the Coachella Valley for 11 days from February 13 to 23, 2020, highlighting midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design and vintage culture throughout the Palm Springs region. The signature festival will feature more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale, tours of iconic homes in more than 30 neighborhoods, walking tours and nightly parties. Also offered are architectural biking and double-decker bus tours, tours of the historic Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands, a classic car show, garden tours and a special series of compelling and informative talks. All events are open to the public and tickets can be purchased online at modernismweek.com. There are a few new events for the 2020 celebration, including the following: Keynote Speaker: Daniel Libeskind: Edge of Order Internationally acclaimed architect, artist, professor, and set designer Daniel Libeskind will present the annual Modernism Week keynote address, “Architecture is the atmosphere, the story that has been created, and you’re part of it.” $45-$65.

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Modernism Week Showcase Home and Four Modernism Week Featured Homes Each year Modernism Week offers exclusive tours of Featured Homes, and this year it has added a special Showcase Home. All five homes will be on tour throughout the festival. Showcase Home Gillman Residence (1948) – Architect: Herbert W. Burns, architectural designer and builder. Partially demolished and neglected for many years, this 1948 home is being restored by Thomboy Properties. It was designed to take advantage of the natural beauty and appealing climate of the desert by incorporating an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. $40. Featured Homes Guggenheim House (1967) – Architect: Unknown. This 1967 architectural gem was recently remodeled by Grace Home Furnishings, and interior spaces feature a seamless blend of contemporary furnishings and vintage pieces that embody the carefree Palm Springs lifestyle. The home is located in the prestigious Indian Canyons neighborhood, which boasts deep midcentury roots and distinctive architecture. $30. Divine DuBois (1972) - Architect: Charles DuBois. Interior designer Christopher Kennedy debuts a renovation of a quintessential midcentury

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property. As part of the iconic Canyon Estates neighborhood, this freestanding “executive home” was one of the last and most expensive properties in the development when it was first built. The renovation of the property includes a new kitchen, completely renovated bathrooms and newly redone outdoor spaces. $30. Miles Bates “Wave” House (1955) - Architect: Walter S. White. The Miles Bates House — known as the Wave House for its curving roof that mimics the San Jacinto mountains behind it — is being opened publicly for the first time since its restoration. One of more than 40 houses in the area designed by White, in 2018 this home became the first Palm Desert landmark to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. $30. Mesa Modern (2020) - Architect: Collaborative. Experience Palm Springs’ transformation from midcentury modern to contemporary architecture and design at Mesa Modern, a featured design house in collaboration with interior designer Michelle Boudreau, landscape architect John Feldman of Ecocentrix and the design team of Juniper House that gains its inspiration from a global perspective on art, architecture and interior and landscape design. $30. Continued on page 34

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A Touch of Modern Photo courtesy of Modernism Week

Photo courtesy of Modernism Week

Continued from page 32

Modernism Week Opening Night Party: Space Modyssey 2020 Launch into outer space at this wild and entertaining Opening Night Party. The Palm Springs Air Museum will be transformed into a futuristic space station, complete with intergalactic cocktails and atomic party cuisine (provided by Lulu) and the legendary David Bowie tribute performer Space Oddity. Guests are encouraged to dress in their favorite party-attire or space regalia. The event takes place Thursday, February 13 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $175. Other new events for 2020 include: • Programs celebrating the Alexander Family • A Palm Desert Signature Home Tour • A panel on the saving of the “Sunset Magazine” archives • Nancy Sinatra appearing at the Historic Plaza Theatre • Shea Residence - Palm Springs Modern Committee Iconic Home Tour • Daughters of Design: Bertoia, Eames, and Saarinen • Birth of the Cool: A Symposium on California Architecture, Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury • Jerry Lewis House – “Nutty Professor” Party • Content tracks on the significance of John Lautner • A series of talks on Australia’s modern architecture

tion. It has been owned by a single family and had been largely forgotten, as it quietly existed in Cathedral City on its hilltop perch overlooking the desert floor. Tours will be offered daily. Home and Neighborhood Tours Once again, Modernism Week attendees will be able to tour a wide array of midcentury modern homes, communities, and neighborhoods in Palm Springs. In addition, Modernism Week will continue to offer home tours and architectural excursions in surrounding desert cities including La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale One of Modernism Week’s most highly anticipated events, the 20th annual Show & Sale at the Palm Springs Convention Center (February 14-17) will feature 85 premier national and international dealers offering furniture, decorative and fine arts representing design movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. The popular Modern Design Expo, adjoining the Show & Sale, will showcase cutting-edge modern design and technology to be introduced during the first weekend. There will be an early buying Preview Party on February 14 to benefit Modernism Week.

More signature events not to be missed include:

Film Screenings Modernism Week will once again present dozens of films, including the world premiere of “Frey II: The Architectural Interpreter,” the second part of a two-part documentary from director Jake Gorst and produced by Design Onscreen, and a reprise of the film “Eero Saarinnen – the Architect Who saw the Future.”

The Forgotten Frey: The Cree House Tours One of Albert Frey’s most intact residential works has been meticulously preserved and restored to its nearly original 1955 condi-

Hollywood’s Playground This year, there will be an exciting array of entertainment options including an appearance by Nancy Sinatra at the Historic Plaza Theatre, the return

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of “Hollywood Revisited” and “Hollywood Modern: Houses of the Stars,” a talk by Alan Hess and Michael Stern, “Sunny & Her Hollywood Blondes,” a hit stage show by Sunny Thompson and a talk by Joshua Greene about his father Milton Greene, who photographed Hollywood greats. CAMP Modernism Week’s CAMP (“Community And Meeting Place”) will provide a central hub for Modernism Week from February 13-23, 2020. CAMP will include an information desk, a box office, a café by Cheeky’s, the Modernism Week merchandise store by Destination PSP, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery demonstration kitchen in partnership with JennAir and Brizo, designer lounges and a theater. “The Dreamboats,” a popular singing group, will offer free performances. Entrance into CAMP is free and open to the public, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Returning Favorites Modernism Week aficionados will be pleased to see that the core favorite events will return this year, and many will feature new enhancements. These include the Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, Illuminated Modern (an after-dark architectural lighting display in downtown and sunset architectural bus tours), Sunnylands tours, tours of Frey House II, tours of iconic homes in the Coachella Valley, including the residence formerly owned by Frank Sinatra, compelling architectural walking tours specially curated for Modernism Week, a special landscape architecture exhibition of Lawrence Halperin at UCR-Palm Desert, Martinis On The Mountain, Modern Garden Tour and Ask a Landscape Designer. Modernism Week is about the finest examples of modernist design and architecture, but it goes much farther, encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living. Whether you attend for fun or education, it’s an important part of our life…after all, we don’t know where we are going unless we know where we’ve been.

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Architecture By Alison Elsner

Absolute World Mississauga’s

ahead of the curve Photo by Sarbjit Bahga

or the casual observer who happens to be passing by, Absolute World is enigmatic and shifting, curvy and voluptuous. Those aren’t the usual terms used to describe a highly controlled geometric skyscraper constructed of steel, sheetrock and glass. But this marvel of modern architecture is a thoughtprovoking example of dynamic perspectives. From a closer vantage point, the continuous balconies that wrap every floor make the towers resemble a stack of plates, piled cartoonishly and precariously high, even teetering and ready to topple. Absolute World is a residential condominium twin tower skyscraper complex, part of a collection of five total towers, in the Absolute City Centre development in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The first three towers were already completed (Absolute City Centre 1 and 2 and Absolute Vision) when the last two towers (Absolute World 4 and 5) were built, topping off at 50 and 56 stories. The towers have six levels of underground parking. There are other noteworthy skyscraper designs throughout the world’s capital cities, including Dubai, Shanghai, Chicago and Hong Kong, but the choice to give this structure its twists and turns is what makes it stand out. Mississauga’s Absolute World’s towers rotate 209 degrees from base to top, making it similar to Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden. With their shapely curves, these two towers have been nicknamed “Marilyn Monroe Towers” and were named the Best Tall Buildings in the Americas in 2012 by the prestigious Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The towers were built after a limited architectural competition launched in 1994 by two private developers: Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group. The competition marked the first time in 40 years that an international design competition was held by a private development group for a building in the Greater Toronto Area following the Toronto City Hall competition. Participants in the final phase of the international competition, held between 2005 and 2006, included Boyarsky Murphy, Michel Rojkind, Quadrangle Architects, Studio MWM, Zeidler Partnership Architects and the winning firm of MAD, led by famed architect Ma Yansong, the founding principal at the firm which is headquartered in Beijing, China. The win was the first in such a competition by a Chinese firm. Burka Varacalli Architects, a Toronto firm, was hired as MAD’s local partner in April 2007. According to the architects, “These buildings are more than just a functional machine: they are a landmark. Their form is sculptural.” In the project, Yansong and his team pay homage to the visionary side of midcentury designer Mies van der Rohe, who in 1922 designed the unbuilt Glass Skyscraper, a tower Continued on page 36

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Architecture Continued from page 35

with a curvilinear profile entirely clad in glass. Absolute World towers feature continuous balconies which distinguish the façade. The load-bearing walls are elongated and grow narrower in relation to the rotation of floor plans, while the balcony floor slabs are cantilevered. Instead of stacking straight up, each level is rotated from the one below it; in the north tower, for example, the rotation is 0.5 degree near the top and bottom and one to four degrees in the middle. Everything about the structure veers away from the conventional idea of the skyscraper as a rigid structure by redirecting attention towards softer forms that suggest the human body. It’s been said that MAD has redefined the register from “masculine” to “feminine” (from straight-edged to curvy) and has traded an image of duplication for a singular surface that must be inhabited to be seen. On the interior, concrete sheer walls and columns must appear and disappear, and floor plans are subject to constant adjustment. As a result, no two condos have the same layout. The morphing forms create a balance for the residents between anonymity and a sense of personal identity, with each particular unit able to be recognized by the nuance of its particular variation along the axis - for instance, “I live halfway up that second curve.” The ultimate takeaway is a sense of individuality for each resident, something exceptionally uncommon in high-rise residential buildings. The towers have created a symbolic significance upon the city of Mississauga, a municipality with over 713,000 inhabitants that developed autonomously from a suburb of Toronto to become Canada’s sixth most populous city. The towers rise above the intersection of two main thoroughfares (Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road) and have taken on the role of gateway to the city. Absolute World is one of the more provocative and inspired symbols of contemporary residential life in an evolving North American edge city and one of Canada’s jewels in its crown. To explore the beauty and intrigue of Absolute World in more depth, visit absoluteworld.ca.

About the architects Founded by Chinese architect Ma Yansong in 2004, MAD Architects is a global architecture firm committed to developing futuristic, organic, technologically advanced designs that embody a contemporary interpretation of the Eastern affinity for nature. With its core design philosophy of Shanshui City – a vision for the city of the future based in the spiritual and emotional needs of residents – MAD endeavors to create a balance between humanity, the city and the environment. Globally recognized as a creative pioneer, founding principal Ma Yansong is a central figure in the worldwide dialogue on the future of architecture. Ma was named one of the 10 Most

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Photo courtesy of dezeen.com

Photo courtesy of MAD architects

MAD Architects proposed Beverly Hills, California residential housing complex and their first US project.

Creative People in Architecture by Fast Company in 2009. He received the prestigious International Fellowship from Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 2011 and was selected as Young Global Leader (YGL) by World Economic Forum (Davos Forum) in 2014. In 2014, MAD was selected as principal designer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Chicago, Illinois, becoming the first Chinabased architecture firm to design an overseas cultural landmark. In 2006, MAD won the design competition for the Absolute Towers which was completed in 2012. MAD has been commissioned by clients of various backgrounds for design in urban planning, urban complex, museum, theatre, social residence, old neighborhood renovation and artworks. Current ongoing projects include Chaoyang Park Plaza, a mixed-use complex project located in Beijing; Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, a city-scale urban development of approximate 600,000 square meterfloor area; Huangshan Mountain Village, a master-planned, architectural design project with a 450,000 square meter site. MAD’s signature cultural projects include Harbin Opera House (completed in 2015), China Philharmonic Concert Hall (in the design development stage), Ordos Museum (completed in 2011) and China Wood Sculpture Museum (completed in 2011). MAD has ongoing international projects

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located in Rome, Paris, Japan, and Beverly Hills. In the heart of Rome, MAD is designing a mixed-use courtyard building that reuses existing structure and will house apartments, office space and a chapel with total usable area of approximately 23,000 square meters. In Paris, MAD placed first in a competition of 96 teams to build a residential complex on the right bank of the River Seine. In Japan, MAD delivered an organic design for a local education center. The firm’s latest commission is a 13,000 square meter mixed-use residential complex in the center of Beverly Hills, California. MAD has been a pioneer in contemporary art and design, having participated in significant exhibitions in the 10th, 11th and 12th Venice Architecture Biennales. MAD also participated in exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen and MAXXI in Rome. An array of MAD’s architecture models have been acquired by the wellknown M+ Museum in Hong Kong as part of their permanent collections. MAD Architects is led by Ma Yansong, Dang Qun and Yosuke Hayano. MAD has offices in Beijing, Los Angeles and New York. It’s possible that Absolute Towers have given us a peek at what the future of architecture will look like and how it will function in our lives. Looks like Mississauga is ahead of the curve, so to speak.

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Lights, Camera, Action! Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in “Joker.” Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Close Up Ready for your

Palm Springs International Film Festival returns for its 31st year

Below: Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland. Photo courtesy of LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions

By Alison Elsner

he slate board will soon clap together to roll scene on the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival-or the PSIFFhere in the Coachella Valley, set for January 2-13, 2020. The event will be presented by American Express, sponsored by AT&T and “Entertainment Tonight” and hosted by Mary Hart. Now one of the largest, most highly regarded film festivals in North America, the festival has grown by leaps and bounds since its launch by then-Palm Springs Mayor Sonny Bono in 1989. Chaired by the visionary Palm Springs philanthropist and businessman Harold Matzner, the Festival features over 200 films from 60 countries, and its audience tops 135,000 people. Attendees include thousands of locals, however 70 percent of participants are from outside the Coachella Valley, many from Canada and Europe. The glitz and glamour will officially strut and saunter the red carpet with the Film Awards Gala on January 2, a luxurious soirée held at the Palm Springs Convention Center with dozens of Hollywood stars making a grand entrance. The Gala honors the year’s best performances both in front of and behind

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the camera, with the following awardees to be recognized: Renée Zellweger to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for her role in “Judy”; Joaquin Phoenix to receive the Chairman’s Award for his performance in “Joker”; Charlize Theron to receive the International Star Award, Actress for her turn in “Bombshell”; Martin Scorsese to receive the Sonny Bono Visionary Award for his direction of “The Irishman”; Jennifer Lopez to receive the Spotlight Award, Actress for her part in “Hustlers”; and Antonio Banderas to receive the International Star Award, Actor for his role in “Pain and Glory.” Other honorees will be announced closer to the Gala, with updates available at psfilmfest.org/events/events-calendar/film-awards. Tickets sell out quickly for this event. (Call 760-318-8371 or email awardsgala@psfilmfest.org). As for the film screenings, opening night on January 3 kicks off with one of the season’s biggest film hits, to be announced, followed by a reception. Clos-

ing night will also feature a top screening on January 12, followed by an after-party. Multiple films will be screened each day throughout the Festival to eager audiences at several theaters around Palm Springs. Attendees can plan to attend single screenings or 11 days of films with special packages, such as “Reel Deal Six Pack” tickets, starting at $13 per screening with numerous packages and passes available. One of the most exciting moments for locals is when a regionally produced film racks up major honors in the festival, which is what happened last year with the film “Walk to Vegas.” The film was extremely popular not only because it was riveting, but also because it was produced by local film industry insider Kim Waltrip, the head of Wonderstar Productions, who’s had film entries in the festival for multiple years, like “A Very Mary Christmas” and

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Continued on page 38

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Lights, Camera, Action! Nahema Ricci in “Antigone.”

Producer, writer and director Aisling Chin-Yee. Photo courtesy of fluentfilms.ca

Photo courtesy of nouveaucinema.ca

Robert Fisk in “This Is Not A Movie.”

Photo courtesy of filmmakermagazine.com

Producer, actress and director Kim Waltrip. Photo by Lani Garfield courtesy of imdb.com

Continued from page 37

“Adopt a Sailor.” Directed by Eric Balfour and co-written and starring Vincent Van Patten, “Walk to Vegas” is a gambling caper where the comedy gets funnier as the wagers get crazier. A friendly poker game winds up turning into a walk from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a $5 million bet. (The film is currently available for viewing on iTunes under the title “7 Days to Vegas.”) What many people may not realize is that the PSIFF has been influenced largely by international cinema, including works from Canada. During the very first year of the festival, in 1989, several Canadian films were among the top performers, including “Jesus of Montréal,” directed by Denys Arcand, which won the Audience Award and was subsequently nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and “Cinema Paradiso of Italy,” which went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. So far, the three 2020 entries from Canada include the following: “Antigone” Directed by Sophie Deraspe, this is an adaptation of the ancient Greek play, “Antigone,” by Sophocles. The film transposes the story to a modern-day immi-

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grant family in Montréal, the story of a woman who defies the law for something greater. The cast includes Nahéma Ricci as Antigone, with Rawad El-Zein, Hakim Brahimi, Rachida Oussaada and Nour Belkhiria. The film won the Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Film. It was also selected as the Canadian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 92nd Academy Awards. “The Rest of Us” This comedy-drama is directed by Aisling Chin-Yee. Themed around the complex and challenging relationships between people who are connected through divorce, the film centers on Cami (played by Heather Graham), a single mother who reluctantly takes in her ex-husband’s second wife Rachel (performed by Jodi Balfour) as a houseguest after his death has left her homeless. The film also stars Sophie Nélisse as Cami’s daughter Aster and Abigail Pniowsky as Rachel’s daughter Talulah. The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its second screening at the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival.

on “Up the Yangtze,” this film focuses on the groundbreaking and often game-changing reporting of legendary foreign correspondent and author Robert Fisk, who is profiled in a compelling and straightforward way. Written by Chang with Nelofer Pazira, the film stars Fisk, along with Amira Hass and Antony Loewenstein. Many of these films, whether American, Canadian or of other international origin, elbow their way to the top to become clear predictors of Oscar award winners, which is one reason why the PSIFF has taken on such prominence and is so beloved by audiences. The best way to purchase tickets for film screenings is to call the box office at 800-8987256 or 760-778-8979 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visit the box office in person at 707 E. Tahquitz Canyon, Suite G15 (Regal Theater Courtyard) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting December 17 and from 9 a.m. to 7 a.m. during the Festival dates of January 3-12; or visit the website at psfilmfest.org.

“This is Not a Movie” Directed by the highly-awarded Canadian filmmaker and documentarian Yung Chang, known for his work

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Test Yourself

GOOD citizenship

HOW TO BECOME A LEGAL CITIZEN OF CANADA By Alison Elsner

Canada. There are so many reasons to consider an official move to the Great White North. In 2018, more than 310,000 people did it. Canada’s unemployment rate hit an all-time low in 2018 that hasn’t been seen since the 1970s, and there are programs that allow people to obtain a working visa before even being given the job offer. Besides a stable, growing economy, it’s one of the safest places to live, according to Global Peace Index (GPI). The country has free schooling, top universities, free (government) health care, egalitarian protections of citizens’ rights, diverse culture and, yes, wide open spaces as the Dixie Chicks might say. Canada also has one of the largest number of visa options (more than 70). The goal is to invite 1.3 million immigrants by 2021. (Before getting all political up in here, keep in mind that Canada’s population and demand on its social services are dramatically different and less intense than those in the United States). They’ve increased the number of sponsorship

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programs, such as the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, to help bring more family members, and certain provinces have specific visa programs in areas like hospitality, entrepreneurship, Ph.D. graduates, long distance transport and processing of those seeking their permanent residency. To become a Canadian citizen, for those 18 years and older, here are the five basic steps: 1. Be a permanent resident (see below on how exactly to do this) 2. Have lived in Canada for three out of the past five years 3. Have filed Canadian taxes, if required 4. Show how well you know basic Canadian culture and history 5. Prove language skills in English and/or French

1. Becoming a permanent resident

Permanent residency (PR) in Canada is a status granting someone who is not a Canadian citizen the right to live and work in Canada without any time limit on their stay. To become a

permanent resident, a foreign national must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at https://www.canada. ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship under one of several programs like Skilled Workers and Professionals, Canadian Experience class, Investors Entrepreneurs and Self Employed and Sponsoring Family. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor his or her family, too. A permanent resident must live in Canada for two years out of every five or risk losing that status. Time spent travelling with a Canadian spouse, on a business trip for a Canadian business or working for a federal or provincial government office abroad can be included in the calculation. You’re not allowed to be under review for immigration or fraud violations, have a removal order in place or have an outstanding medical screening. The permanent resident card expires every five years and then may be renewed. Permanent residents also risk loss for serious crimes, but we’re sure this doesn’t apply to you!

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Continued on page 40

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Test Yourself Continued from page 39

A permanent resident holds many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, including the right to live, work (subject to some restrictions) and study in any province or territory of Canada. Permanent residents participate in many of the same social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, including becoming contributing members of the Canada Pension Plan and receiving coverage by their province or territory’s universal health care system. A person automatically loses permanent residence status upon becoming a Canadian citizen. A permanent resident may also voluntarily renounce their status if he or she possesses a citizenship in another country. A person who gives up their status inside Canada must depart the country or apply for a temporary resident visa. A permanent resident does not lose their status if their permanent resident card expires. To apply for citizenship, it is fine to apply with either a valid or an expired PR card.

2. Living in Canada for three Out of the past five years Adults and some minors must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years right before the date of signing the application. In case there are any errors in the calculations, it’s always a good idea to apply with more than 1,095 days as a cushion. A travel journal is also a good idea to help document your physical presence in Canada when applying for citizenship. You may be able to use some of your time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person towards your physical presence calculation. Crown servants and family members of Crown servants may be able to use time spent outside Canada.

3. Filing Canadian income tax You need to have filed taxes in Canada for at least three years during the five years right before the date you apply, if you need to. Tax filing requirements will be related to whether you lived in Canada permanently or temporarily or you’ve left Canada permanently or temporarily. So, how do you know if you “need” to? Visitcanada.ca/en/services/taxes/income-tax/ personal-income-tax/your-tax-obligations for some tips to help get organized and up to speed.

4. Show how well you know basic Canadian culture and history If you’re fortunate enough to be invited to take the Canadian citizenship test, you’ll also be asked to participate in a citizenship interview with a Canadian official (usually on the same day as the test). If you’re over 54 years old, you generally don’t need to take the test but will still be interviewed. Those who don’t pass the test the first time can take it again four to eight weeks later. After three

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tries, the application is refused, however applicants can re-apply to take the test in this case. The 30-minute test includes 20 true/false and multiple-choice questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadians and Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. To pass the test, 15 responses must be answered correctly. The test questions are based on the official citizenship study guide: “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship” which can be accessed online for free at: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/ corporate/publications-manuals/discovercanada/read-online.

Check exactly which application fees you need to pay exactly by visiting here: cic.gc.ca/ english/information/fees/index.asp. Checking Eligibility Answer some questions to help you find out if you’re ready to apply for citizenship by visiting cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/check-eligibility.asp.

Other things you should know

Oath Once an applicant passes the test and interview, it’s time to move on to the exhilarating step of taking the Oath of Citizenship! This usually takes place three months after the final decision on the application is made. In that interim time, waiting to take the oath, it’s important for applicants to retain permanent resident (PR) status and not be subjected to a removal order – in other words, make sure you aren’t asked by a Canadian official to leave Canada. At the Oath of Citizenship ceremony, new citizens will receive their citizenship certificates and will sing the bilingual version of the national anthem of Canada, “O Canada.” Following the ceremony, new citizens will be able to apply for a passport and change of address. For everything you need to know to begin the application process, visit: canada.ca/en/ immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/ canadian-citizenship.html To access the application package, visit: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/becomecanadian-citizen/apply.html#toc0.

Application Fees Fees must be paid online. Adults pay $630 and minors pay $100. Processing time is 12 months.

Could YOU pass Canada’s citizenship test? Answer the sample questions to find out! (Answers on page 41).

5. Prove language skills in English and/or French Canada has two official languages: English and French. If you’re 18 to 54 years of age on the day you sign your application, you must show that you can speak and listen at a specific level in one of these languages. Canadian officials measure language skills by reviewing the proof sent with the application, observing how well you communicate when you talk to a citizenship official and assessing language level during short conversations or hearings with officials during the process. The government will also accept various certificates, diplomas and tests as proof of your language skills.

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Test Yourself 1. What does “official language rights and minority language educational rights” mean? A. French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout the government. B. French is more important in Quebec and English is more important in other provinces. C. All languages have equal status in Canada’s government. D. English is more important than French in Canada. 2. Canada has two national sports. What are they? A. Basketball and ice hockey B. Lacrosse and baseball C. Ice hockey and lacrosse D. Ice hockey and baseball 3. Which of these animals is among the national symbols of Canada? A. Beaver B. Bear C. Seal D. Walrus 4. Which province has a time zone named after it? A. British Columbia B. Newfoundland and Labrador C. Nunavut D. Nova Scotia 5. Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada? A. Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine B. Sir Isaac Brock C. Sir John A. Macdonald D. Sir Guy Carleton 6. Which region covers more than one-third of the country? A. Central Canada B. Prairie Provinces C. Atlantic Provinces D. Northern Territories 7. Which province is known for its beaches, red soil and potatoes? A. British Columbia B. Prince Edward Island C. New Brunswick D. Yukon 8. Which of the following World Heritage sites has the remains of Vikings? A. L’Anse Aux Meadows B. Joggins Fossil Cliffs C. Mistaken Point D. Old Town Lunenburg

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9. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms begins with which words? A. O Canada! Our home and native land! B. The rights guaranteed in this charter will not adversely affect freedom of Aboriginal people C. Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law D. We hereby declare Canada a sovereign nation with the freedoms of conscience and religion 10. When did Ottawa formally apologize for the wrongs done to the residential school era? A. 1999 B. 2000 C. 2008 D. 2010 11. What is the significance of the Remembrance Day poppy? A. To honor Queen Elizabeth II B. To celebrate the Confederation C. To honor deceased prime ministers D. To honor Canadian war heroes

12. Which province has the largest population?

16. Which Central Canadian province was founded by United Empire Loyalists? A. Quebec B. Ontario C. Manitoba D. Saskatchewan

A. British Columbia B. Ontario C. Quebec D. Alberta

17. What is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador? A. Saint John B. St. John’s C. Labrador City D. Mount Pearl

13. When did “O Canada” officially become Canada’s national anthem? A. 1867 B. 1945 C. 1960 D. 1980

18. The Cree and Dene of the Northwest were? A. Farmers B. Fur traders C. Hunter-gatherers D. None of the above

14. Which of these Second World War campaigns did Canadian soldiers take part in? A. The battles in the Pacific Ocean

19. Who, among these, is a Nobel Prize-winning Canadian scientist? A. Gerhard Herzberg B. Marshall McLuhan C. Harold Innis D. Alexander Graham Bell

B. The liberation of Poland C. The liberation of Japan D. The liberation of Italy 15. Where are the ancestors of Aboriginals believed to have migrated from?

20. How many judges serve on the Supreme Court of Canada? A. 10 B. 9 C. 8 D. 7

A. Europe B. Asia C. South America D. Africa

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Tax Talk

Photo by Lance Gerber

TAX TALK

Foreign Sellers of U.S. Real Estate Withholding Tax Issues and Trends in 2019 By Michael W. Brooks, Esq.

t DIRECTS, all we do is deal with foreign seller (of U.S. real estate) withholding tax issues (all day, every day). Here are some observations from 2019…. IRS Issuing ITIN’s for Foreign Sellers of U.S. Real Estate in Around Six to Eight Weeks in 2019 ITIN’s are taking about six weeks to eight weeks to be issued by the IRS upon proper application. In a good year, ITIN’s would be issued in as quickly as three weeks. But in 2019, it’s taking six to eight weeks. Remember most foreign sellers will go into escrow without an ITIN. And because of the IRS’ ITIN rules, a foreign individual can generally only apply right before close of escrow. Most foreign sellers of

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U.S. real estate will not have an ITIN at closing, and escrow should not expect them to have one. But they should apply (properly) at closing of escrow, or they may have difficulty obtaining the refund of their 15 percent withholding tax. So currently, foreign sellers of U.S. real estate are receiving ITIN’s about six to eight weeks after the closing. IRS Issuing 8288-B Withholding Certificates in About 3 to 4 Months After Closing in 2019 Recall IRS Form 8288-B withholding certificates are the optimal way for a foreign seller of U.S. real estate to avoid sending the required 15 percent (x the gross sales price) withholding tax into the IRS at closing (if that 15 percent goes into the IRS, the foreign seller is going to have to wait probably at least a year

December 2019

to a year and a half to get their refund from the IRS- and many never get their refund!). When a foreign seller applies for an 8288-B withholding tax certificate, the escrow company (or title company) must agree to hold the 15 percent withholding tax at the closing (i.e., not send it into the IRS but also not give it to the seller), and then wait for the IRS to agree that the seller does not owe the 15 percent withholding tax. 8288-B withholding certificates are taking three to four months to be processed in 2019. This is a fairly typical wait in any year in our experience. We had feared a longer wait time in 2019, due to the January 2019 government shutdown, but 3 to 4 months is not bad. After the 3 to 4 month wait, escrow can release (in most cases) all or almost all the 15 percent withholding tax directly to the seller (so it never went into the IRS that way).

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Tax Talk

Foreign Sellers Having Problems Receiving Withholding Tax Refunds if They Do Not Have a U.S. Bank Account in 2019 Many foreign sellers expect significant refunds of the IRS (15 percent x gross sales price…assuming an 8288-B was not submitted up front) and (in California) FTB (3.3 percent x gross sales price) withholding taxes in the year after sale. The easiest way for the foreign investor to receive their refund is for the IRS and FTB to issue the refund via direct deposit into their bank account- but this option is only available if the foreign seller has a U.S. bank account (we find many foreign sellers surprisingly do not have a U.S. bank account). If no U.S. bank account then direct deposit is off the table, and the IRS and FTB will mail a check to the seller (in the seller’s name only) anywhere in the world. Our experience is these checks are generally honored at banks worldwide, but will the check actually arrive to a foreign address? Many times, the checks never arrive at the foreign address

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(whether that be the fault of the U.S. postal service or the home country postal service). The foreign seller can request a replacement check be sent (it will take months for this to occur), but won’t the reissued check just get lost again? Certainly, a good chance. The lesson here- foreign sellers need to open U.S. bank accounts, or they need to use U.S. addresses on the tax returns (even if the check (in the seller’s name) is being mailed to a U.S. relative or friend). If the Foreign Sellers are Husband and Wife (or Spouses Generally), They Must Each Have a U.S. Bank Account (or Have a Joint U.S. Bank Account) or They Will Only Receive half of their Refund (in Direct Deposit Refund) from the IRS and FTB. Each foreign seller must obtain their own share of the withholding tax refund. This means, for married foreign people selling U.S. real estate, each party must have their own bank account to receive direct deposits refunds from the IRS or California. A bank account solely in husband’s name or solely in wife’s name will only lead to the foreign sellers receiving half of their ex-

pected refund. Each party must get their own U.S. bank account for direct deposit refunds (which are far preferable than checks), or at least open a joint U.S. bank account. 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-U.S. persons with the tax issues which arise when non-U.S. persons sell U.S. 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. Michael can be reached at DIRECTS at 760-346-6140 or at michael@directsllp.com. The firm website is directsinternationaltax.com.

December 2019

Canada South

Cheers!

Happy Hour

it’s five o’clock somewhere

Palm Springs

Rancho Mirage

Al dente Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 491 North Palm Canyon Drive. 760-325-1160, aldentepalmsprings.com

360 Sports Daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive. 888-999-1995.

Del Rey Daily happy hour, 4 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close. 1620 S. Indian Trail. 760-327-2314.

Bernie’s Lounge and Supper Club Daily happy hour all night long. 69830 Highway 111. 760-202-4499.

Rick’s Desert Grill Happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday. 1596 North Palm Canyon Dr. 760-325-2127, ricksdesertgrill.com Oscar’s Happy hour Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. 760-325-1188. Revel Public House Daily happy hour, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. 140 South Palm Canyon Drive. 760-325-9464. Trio Restaurant Daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 707 North Palm Canyon Drive. 760-864-8746, triopalmsprings.com Woody’s Palm House Daily happy hour served from 3 to 6 p.m. 450 South Palm Canyon Drive. 760-230-0188, woodyspalmhouse.com

Indian Wells Don Diego’s Happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 74969 Highway 111. 760-340-5588. Eureka! Daily “hoppy” hour, 2 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. 74985 Highway 111, Indian Wells. 760-834-7700. Vicky’s of Santa Fe Daily happy hour, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 45100 Club Drive. 760-345-9770.

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Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewery Happy hour, Monday-Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the bar only. The River, 71800 Highway 111. 760-346-8738. Roy’s Restaurant Daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. 71959 Highway 111. 760-340-9044.

La Quinta The Grill on Main Daily happy hour, 3 to 6 p.m. Special $4 tacos on Tuesday, 3 to 7 p.m. 78065 Main Street. 760-777-7773. RD RNNR Libations, Pints & Plates Daily happy hour from 2 to 6 p.m. in Steve’s Bar. 78085 Avenida La Fonda. 760-564-8744. LQ Brewing Co. “Hoppy” hours, MondayFriday from 3 to 6 p.m. 78065 Main Street. 760-972-4251. Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill Happy hour specials Monday-Saturday, 3 to 6 p.m. 78015 Main Street, suite 100. 760-777-9989.

Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill Daily happy hour in the bar from 3 to 5 p.m. 73325 Highway 111. 760-836-9028, freshagavemexicanbarandgrill.com Piero’s PizzaVino Daily happy hour, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. High-top tables and bar only. 73722 El Paseo. 760-568-2525. Tommy Bahama Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 73595 El Paseo. 760-836-0288.

Indio Neil’s Lounge Daily happy hour, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 80956 Highway 111, Indio. 760-347-1522. Steers Bar & Grill Daily happy hour, 3 to 7 p.m. 82347 Highway 111. 442-324-2880. Pueblo Viejo Grill Daily happy hour at the bar from 3 to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to closing. 81931 Highway 111, 760-342-5900.

Cathedral City Bubba’s Bones & Brews Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 68525 Ramon Rd. 760-699-7231. Henry’s Sports Bar & Grill Daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. 68955 Ramon Road. 760-656-3444.

Palm Desert

Otori Japanese Cuisine Daily happy hour from 8 p.m. to closing. 68100 Ramon Road, Suite A1. 760-699-5486.

AC3 Restaurant + Bar Daily happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. 45350 Larkspur Lane. 760-340-6069, ac3palmdesert.com

Trilussa Ristorante Daily happy hour in the bar, 4 to 7 p.m. 68718 E. Palm Canyon Drive. 760-328-2300.

December 2019

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Hiking

Places to

Stretch Your Legs Check out these popular high and low desert hiking trails Amboy Crater Formed of ash and cinders, the 250-foot-high Amboy Crater rises from one of the youngest volcanic fields in the United States. A hiking trail winds to the rim with rest stations along the way. If you make it to the top, you’ll see the breach where lava poured out over 24 square miles, creating a landscape of dried lava lakes, collapsed lava tubes and sinks, spatter cones and massive flows of basalt. This can be a dangerous area. Don’t venture out in the heat, bring a gallon of water per person per day, hike with a partner and always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Crater Road eight miles off National Trails Highway. blm.gov/visit/amboy-crater

Museum Trail 2 miles round trip with an elevation change of around 1,000 feet. This hike is quite strenuous because of the rapid incline. The trailhead is just behind the museum off Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. Turn around at the picnic tables.

Bear Creek Oasis Trail 8 miles in and out, with an elevation rise of 1,989 feet. Considered strenuous. From the Cove Oasis trailhead at the top of La Quinta Cove, follow Bear Creek Canyon to where the trail leaves the sandy wash. Follow the signs. Hikers on this trail enjoy the beautiful palm oasis at the end.

South Lykken Trail 4.4 miles with an elevation of just over 1,000 feet. This is considered strenuous and the north end of the trail starts at the west end of Mesquite Road, just south of downtown Palm Springs off South Palm Canyon Drive. There is no parking at the trailhead, but street parking is available. The hike is pretty strenuous for the first mile or so and then it levels off and one gets a great view of the Indian Canyons golf courses and South Palm Canyon communities. It is a beautiful hike and ends along South Palm Canyon Drive towards Indian Canyon. You will need to have vehicles at both ends.

Bump and Grind Trail 3 mile loop with an elevation rise of 523 feet. This trail is probably the most popular trail in the desert and frequented by exercisers who start behind Desert Crossings shopping center in Palm Desert.

Randall Henderson Trail 2.4 mile loop with a gently rising elevation change of 423 feet. This easy trail offers a good introduction to desert hiking for the novice. It starts and ends at the National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert on Highway 74. Check the Visitor Center for guided hikes during the winter season.

Clara Burgess Trail 4.4 miles round trip with an elevation of 1,339 feet. The trail is the only route to the summit of Murray Hill, a prominent conical peak just south of Palm Springs. It is best seen when heading south on Gene Autry Trail and, although it is only a couple miles to the peak, it is strenuous with a steep incline. Eisenhower Peak Loop 6 mile loop with an elevation gain of 700 feet. This trail is considered moderate and is part of the Living Desert preserve (admission fee required) in Palm Desert. The trail begins at the Eastern edge of the Living Desert and takes hikers toward Eisenhower Peak. The trail is a good representation of desert terrain and makes a perfect beginning to a Living Desert tour. Giant Rock The largest freestanding boulder in the Mojave Desert, Giant Rock covers 5,800 square feet of ground and stands seven stories high off the ground at its highest point. Native Americans once considered it sacred, and in the 1930s German immigrant Frank Critzer dug a space under the rock to live in. One of Critzer’s friends later said he was contacted by aliens there. Today, the rock is a popular tourist destination and a photo opportunity for visitors from across the globe. Past Belfield Boulevard in Landers

Visitors can enjoy fantastic views of the Joshua Tree National Park while hiking, camping or exploring the town. Only a 45 minute drive from Palm Springs to a unique environment and community.

Joshua Tree National Park Characterized by its huge rock formations and immense Joshua tree forest, the national park lies where the Mojave Desert meets the low Colorado Desert. Hike through the trails that weave through the Hidden Valley, travel to Keys View and look out over the Coachella Valley or bring your rock climbing equipment and scale some of the most interesting geological formations in the California desert. nps.gov/jotr Lake Cahuilla Just six miles from Old Town La Quinta, the 710-acre park at the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains offers a great outdoor family day with hiking, coupled with a host of recreational selections ranging from shore fishing to horseback riding. CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP TEST ANSWERS 1-A, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B, 5-C, 6-D, 7-B, 8-A, 9-C, 10-C, 11-D, 12-B, 13-D, 14D, 15-B, 16-B, 17-B, 18-C, 19-A, 20-B

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December 2019

Canada South

Woodcarving

Reach For the SKy

Tradition + Inspiration Sunnylands exhibit combines Canadian and American culture and pays tribute to First Nations

Henry Hunt totem pole.

Photo courtesy of Sunnylands

By Alison Elsner

unnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage can always be counted on to bring us inspiring, meaningful and often cuttingedge exhibits that ratchet up our awareness and appreciation of our world. This newest show continues the education in a way that proudly unites Canadian and American cultures. The exhibit, “Reach for the Sky: Tradition + Inspiration,” presents the time-honored art of carving totem poles from cedar trees by the Hunt family, members of the Kwakiutl tribe of British Columbia, Canada. Through successive generations with expertise in woodcarving, the family has preserved a vital component of its Native American heritage, paying tribute to the indigenous peoples of Vancouver. Henry Hunt was a renowned First Nations carver who had succeeded his father-in-law as Chief Carver at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, British Columbia. He was first commissioned to carve a 30-foot pole for Sunnylands, installed in 1976, that stands as a landmark on the estate’s nine-hole golf course. Accenting the intricate totem designs of the exhibit are the works of music-industry legend Herb Alpert, who found himself inspired by the totem poles carved by the Hunts. Those who follow Alpert know that he is a sculptor and painter in his own right, and this exhibit showcases his contemporary paintings and vertical, abstract bronze sculptures. The Hunt family’s art is a visual feast of brightly colored totem poles, ceremonial masks and wall plaques, produced by three generations, balanced by Alpert’s modern forms and figures - totem sculptures providing harmonious continuity from past to present. “At the heart of this exhibition, the time-

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honored tradition of artistic inspiration that flows from one artist to another, from one culture to another, from one country to another, is recognized,” said Anne Rowe, Sunnylands director of collections and exhibitions. Fiftytwo pieces of art are included in the show. This season, the Hunt family is returning to Sunnylands in January to celebrate their art form and its influence on Alpert. “My dad and I really got a kick out of the fact that Herb Alpert had been inspired to go tall with his artwork based on our ancestral poles,” Jason Hunt said. For the first time in the United States, the new Sunnylands exhibition brings together three generations of Kwakiutl art representing the Northwest coast’s most significant carving family: Henry Hunt, his son Stanley and grandson Jason. Both Stanley and Jason Hunt, along with Stan’s wife, Lavina Hunt, came to Sunnylands in 2010 to restore the totem pole that Henry Hunt had created nearly 35 years earlier. Henry Hunt succeeded his father-in-law, Mungo Martin, as Chief Carver at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, British Columbia. Hunt held the position from 1962 to 1974. Both he and Martin carved the 100-foot-tall totem pole that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the centenary of British Columbia in 1958. His son, Stanley C. Hunt, uses only traditional tools—the adze, straight knife, and curved knife—to carve totem poles, masks and plaques that are collected for their craftsmanship and authenticity. Furthering his family’s legacy, Jason Hunt carved a circular design for a mahogany fishing reel that the Canadian government selected as a gift for the British royal family during a visit to Canada in 2016. As for Alpert’s involvement, he first became interested in the art of the Northwest coast totems on a visit to Vancouver’s Stanley Park in

December 2019

the 1980s. While the Grammy winner is most widely regarded for his music, Alpert has been painting since the 1970s. He took up sculpture 10 years later, and galleries and museums throughout the world, including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, have displayed his work. He considers art central to his life, not just a weekend gig. Alpert is well known as a famous trumpeter, singer, music producer and lead for Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Alpert is also the “A” in A&M records. He has been writing and performing hit songs since the 1950s and has won nine Grammys and recorded five No. 1 albums. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded him the National Medal of the Arts. The exhibition went on display this fall and will continue through June 7, 2020. It is open to the public, free of charge, Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage opened for its ninth season in the fall of 2019, offering art exhibits, wellness programming, garden walks, birdwatching classes, estate tours, lawn concerts, performances and much more. Since it opened in 2012, the Center & Gardens has hosted rotating exhibitions to inform the public about the lives and art collections of Walter and Leonore Annenberg, the philanthropists who left Sunnylands, their 200-acre estate at the corner of Bob Hope Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive, to a trust that convenes policy-related retreats on global issues. Admission and parking are free. Sunnylands Center & Gardens is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. For more information, call 760-202-2222 or visit sunnylands.org.

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