COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT | FEBRUARY 2019
VOL. 7 | NO. 2
ART
ISSUE
Modernism Week and Art Palm Springs place the Coachella Valley at the center of the art world in February.
By Stephen Berger PAGE 15
COMPLETE DETAILS INSIDE!
T H E
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FEBRUARY 2019
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 3
FEBRUARY 2019
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR A confession: I was in a bit of a funk when I started the process of assembling this print edition of the Independent. I was dismayed by the seemingly continually depressing news from the newspaper world. To the west, the once-mighty LA Weekly is in dire straits—with print editions down to 28 pages thanks to the ineptitude of new ownership. To the north, Oakland’s East Bay Express recently laid off the majority of its staff due to an employment-related legal decision that did not go its way. And here in the valley, the owner of The Desert Sun, Gannett, as of this writing is in the midst of a takeover Editor/Publisher attempt by a hedge-fund-owned company known for gobbling up newspapers and making deep cuts to improve profitability. Jimmy Boegle Sigh. Then I started to look over page proofs of this issue … and I started to Assistant Editor feel a lot better about things. Brian Blueskye Yeah, the state of the journalism world still stinks (although we’re doing coveR and feature design OK here), but it was impossible not to Beth Allen be inspired by all of the great things happening in our community. This is Contributors our Art Issue, thanks to the behemoth Elizabeth Aguilera, Stephen Berger, cultural events February brings— Max Cannon, Kevin Carlow, Katie Finn, Modernism Week and Art Palm Springs, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bill Frost, Bonnie for starters, which you can read about Gilgallon, Robin Goins, Bob Grimm, on Pages 15 and 16. Beyond those Michael Grimm, Alex Harrington, Dwight stories, we have coverage of upcoming happenings ranging from a wine event Hendricks, Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume, Brane Jevric, Keith Knight, Brett Newton, benefitting the amazing Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, to the Dan Perkins, Guillermo Prieto, Anita Rancho Mirage Wine and Food Festival Rufus, Jen Sorenson, Robert Victor (more wine!), and from the classic 1960s group The Lettermen playing at The Coachella Valley Independent the McCallum Theatre, to the traveling print edition is published every month. HUMP! porn short-film festival (yes, All content is ©2019 and may not be you read that correctly) coming to the published or reprinted in any form Palm Springs Cultural Center. without the written permission of the I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our publisher. The Independent is available very own Palm Springs Craft Cocktail free of charge throughout the Coachella Week, which is an event I love (yes, I am biased, but I’d love it if I didn’t Valley, limited to one copy per reader. have anything to do with it), because Additional copies may be purchased it places a spotlight on amazing drinks for $1 by calling (760) 904-4208. The Independent may be distributed only by created by the valley’s most talented the Independent’s authorized distributors. bartenders—and does so while benefitting two great charities: Desert The Independent is a proud member and/or supporter AIDS Project, and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, CalMatters, Get Tested Coachella Valley, the Local Welcome to the February 2019 Independent Online News Publishers, the Desert edition of the Coachella Valley Business Association, the LGBT Community Center of Independent—which is hitting streets the Desert, and the Desert Ad Fed. just a little early in conjunction with Cocktail Week, taking place Jan. 25-Feb. 2. I hope it uplifts you like it did me. Please enjoy, and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. —Jimmy Boegle, jboegle@cvindependent.com Mailing address: 31855 Date Palm Drive, No. 3-263 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 904-4208 www.cvindependent.com
On the cover: The Sinatra House. COURTESY OF BEAU MONDE VILLAS
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Joshua Bell, violin Mon, February 4, 7pm
Steve Solomon’s My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy Wed & Thu, February 6 & 7, 8pm Thu, February 7, 2pm
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour
Murphy’s Celtic Legacy Wed, February 13, 8pm
Fri, February 8, 8pm Sat, February 9, 2pm & 8pm Sun, February 10, 2pm & 7:30pm
Presented through the generosity of Frank & Mary Ann Xavier
Michael Feinstein With Very Special Guest Storm Large
Linda Eder Thu, February 14, 8pm
Coral Kingdoms and Empires of Ice David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes Mon, February 18, 7pm
Photo Credit: Jennifer Hayes
Presented through the generosity of Nancy & George Croom and Jim & Sherry Smith
Order tickets by phone
760-340-2787
Shaken & Stirred – Classic Songs Reimagined Fri & Sat, February 15 & 16, 8pm Presented through the generosity of Feb. 15 - Barbara Arnstein Feb. 16 - Bob Archer & Chuck Hilliar and Robert & Carlyn Stonehill
STOMP Fri, March 1, 8pm Sat, March 2, 2pm & 8pm
Order online
mccallumtheatre.com
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FEBRUARY 2019
OPINION OPINION
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS B
Meet Barbara Fosse and Carol Rosenstein, two women helping people with brain diseases via music
BY ANITA RUFUS
arbara Fosse, 81, has been in the desert for more than 17 years. After selling pharmaceuticals for 30-plus years, the Sun City Palm Desert resident is now program coordinator for Tunes for the Memory, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Music Mends Minds, an orchestra and music program targeted to those with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, other dementia-related conditions, traumatic brain injury and stroke, as well as veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Carol Rosenstein, a Los Angeles resident and 2018 CNN Hero, founded Music Mends Minds after what she describes as a “freakish moment” in 2014 involving her husband, Irwin, a person living with Parkinson’s. pain severity through activation of the “I walked in and heard him sitting at the brain’s reward centers and by lowering stress piano,” she recalls. “He had previously played hormones such as cortisol. piano and saxophone, but hadn’t made music • Patients with Alzheimer’s may forget for the eight years since his diagnosis. I noticed certain melodic content of songs, but their how he seemed to resurrect while playing, ability to play their instrument seems to be responding like a plant that had needed unforgettable. nourishment. A doctor told me that I was • Music can enhance cognitive functioning watching music change brain chemistry. It’s and neural processing more than any other absolute magic. Playing the piano had caused art or hobby, allowing people to react and him to release dopamine. I realized that no creatively process things more effectively. medications seemed to be more powerful than Each Music Mends Minds location has its the music. own band name: The aforementioned 5th “I got a few of his buddies to come and jam Dementia in Los Angeles, the Band of Heroes to have fun musically, and I had a big banner in West Los Angeles, and the Beverly Hills made up that said ‘The 5th Dementia.’ We had Treble Makers, where Rosenstein says they get about 30 people at our launch. Within just about 100 people every week. a few minutes, some of them were gathered Here in the Coachella Valley, Barbara Fosse around the piano and starting to also make saw an article in the paper about the Music music. We now have 17 bands nationwide Mends Minds program. along with five global groups, including many “I’m an organizer,” says Fosse, “so I called in affiliation with Rotary International groups. and asked, ‘Do you have anything for me We have band kits for those who want to start to organize here?’ I had previously worked their own band, and we offer mentoring, all free as a community service. We’re now looking with Songshine Singers, a group targeted to Parkinson’s patients, and I always believed for music therapists to be able to expand our in the concept of how music can make a help to those who want to participate.” difference. But I felt it needed to go to memory In spite of disease progression, the ability issues as well. to play music and recollect lyrics is often “Music Mends Minds (started in) Sun City maintained. Participation can increase a sense three years ago. … The Braille Institute in of self-worth, confidence and identity. People Rancho Mirage agreed to let us meet there. can feel whole again. We call our group ‘Tunes for the Memory,’ and “Science does show us today that playing a famed local pianist Bill Marx helped us kick musical instrument is like a full body workout it off. Now we meet every Friday afternoon for the brain,” says Rosenstein. “It pushes from 1:30-3 p.m. from October through April. natural neurotransmitters. Until science gives You’d be surprised how many people have us a cure, we have a kind of natural medication backgrounds in making music. We have some available by playing music.” really great musicians and singers.” Music Mends Minds’ website Fosse was born and raised In Illinois, and (Musicmendsminds.org) indicates that music she graduated from the University of Illinois directly affects neuroplasticity, the ability of with a degree in education, specializing in the brain to change, repair and reorganize biology. Her first marriage to a high school itself. It cites research studies showing that: sweetheart yielded two sons and a daughter. • Music improves mood by helping one feel After living in Northern California for two happier and less anxious. years, they moved back to Illinois, where Fosse • Music may play a protective role against taught for three years and then “retired” to cognitive aging. raise her children, working only part-time. • Music improves pain control and reduces
Some members of the Tunes for the Memory group.
After 17 years, the marriage ended, and Fosse began a new career. “I took a job as education curator for the local zoo,” she says. “Then I became acting director, but when I applied for the director position, they hired a man. I thought, ‘What else can I do?’ “I became the first female sales rep for a pharmaceutical and veterinary medicine company. My by-word was, ‘If you don’t know more than the doctor, you’d better get out!’ I also became a trainer, teaching things like rape prevention. “I loved working with the doctors … mostly. I do remember one office where one of the doctors asked me, ‘Why isn’t a man doing this job?’ And I said, ‘I’m a divorced mother with three children. Do you want me to go on welfare instead?’ That stopped him. He said, ‘By all means, keep on working.’” Fosse’s affiliation with Tunes for the Memory has taken on an even more personal importance since one of her sons was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“I’ve reviewed the literature about the impact of music on patients and their caregivers,” says Fosse. “They all benefit, and that also includes family, friends and the community. The musical environment not only lets people make music together, whether they tap, hum, sing or play an instrument, but it’s a way for them to express themselves, often when they don’t communicate in other ways. “After participating in making the music, people are more connected, even more conversational. Their mood is elevated; functionality improves, and the impact can last for weeks.” The impact of Barbara Fosse and Carol Rosenstein will last for a long time. Anita Rufus is also known as “The Lovable Liberal.” Her show That’s Life airs TuesdayFriday from 11 a.m. to noon on iHubradio, while The Lovable Liberal airs from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Email her at Anita@LovableLiberal. com. Know Your Neighbors appears every other Wednesday at CVIndependent.com. CVIndependent.com
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FEBRUARY 2019
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 7
FEBRUARY 2019
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
GUILLERMO’S STORY R
An attempted-murder victim talks about the frustrations and fears inflicted by our slow legal system
by kevin fitzgerald
iverside County Deputy District Attorney Jason Stone, in a calm, subdued tone, asked Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Day: “Were you working on Sept. 16, 2017?” “Yes,” Day replied. Deputy Day was the first witness to testify during the long-awaited preliminary hearing at Indio’s Larson Justice Center on Jan. 7. At issue: The attempted murder of Guillermo Delgado of Indio, allegedly at the hands of Thousand Palms resident Carlos Ulloa. “In your capacity, were you dispatched to … Thousand Palms?” Stone asked. “Yes,” Day answered. “And what were you dispatched there to investigate?” I asked Delgado what else he remembered “I believe the call as it came out was that shots were fired, and there were victims down from that night. “When he shot me,” Delgado said softly, at a large gathering. That’s pretty much the “I was trying to catch my breath, because info we had going into it.” I couldn’t breathe. I felt like someone had Delgado, one of three victims that night, hit me and knocked all the air out of me. (A had suffered eight bullet wounds while bullet) hit me in my chest, so I think my lung attending a birthday party for his friend collapsed. From there, I just woke up at the and co-worker, Sandro Rios. Rios was also hospital, and they told me that I had coded wounded, with the happy occasion ending two times—I had died twice, and they had to abruptly when the gunshots erupted. bring me back to life.” Delgado later talked to the Independent How long had he been unconscious? “I about what happened. woke up in the (Desert Regional Medical “As it got late, I was at our table with Center) three days later,” Delgado said. Sandro, and he said to me, ‘Hey! Let’s go get Delgado stayed in the hospital for more some shots,’” Delgado recalled. “So we got up than a month before returning home, still in a and started walking to the bar. Next, I felt lot of physical discomfort. someone push me real hard from behind. I “That was the worst, man,” Delgado said. could tell he was drunk when he pushed me, “When I got back to the house after the because he used his whole body (weight), and hospital, I couldn’t get up from my bed. They then he stumbled to where he was right in brought me back in a wheelchair, and I had to front of me. use that for another month. But after a while, “I think that Sandro already knew he had I started using a walker and then a cane. a gun, because he immediately tried to stop Every time I had a doctor’s appointment, the him (Ulloa). But (Ulloa) pulled out his gun, pain was so bad that I would start to cry. I and Sandro was trying to push it away from was taking medication, but that didn’t help me. Then I hit him (Ulloa); because he was at all. … The worst pain has been in my leg, so drunk, I thought maybe I could knock because one of the bullets damaged a main him out and get the gun away from him, nerve. Sometimes I got real hard spasms in but all of a sudden, he shot a bullet, and my leg. To start walking by myself again took Sandro went limping away. I froze then, and almost six months.” he just unloaded on me. From there, I don’t Along with the considerable physical remember anything. discomfort, Delgado experienced financial “I didn’t know this guy. That night was the first time I’d seen him. I didn’t know his name.” and emotional hardships as well—as do many crime victims and their relatives who Details of what exactly transpired, moment find themselves entrapped, through no by moment, vary in the testimony of several of the witnesses. However, there is agreement fault of their own, in the not-always-sothat Ulloa shot the unarmed Delgado multiple understanding world of Riverside County’s justice apparatus. Luckily for Delgado, his times that night, and then fled the scene, family and his longtime girlfriend have been leaving Delgado at death’s door. Ulloa—who remains free on $1 million bail— there for him. “My brother Julio, my mom, my dad, my along with his family and witnesses, maintain girlfriend—they’ve helped me a lot,” Delgado that it was a case of self-defense, as some of said. “My girl had two jobs to keep us going. them testified during the hearing. Delgado and Yes, I was getting disability, but it wasn’t as his support group see it as a blatant case of an much as I got in my (work) checks. So we were attempt at cold-blooded murder.
Julio Delgado, Rosa Delgado, Beatriz Morales and Guillermo Delgado await the start of the preliminary hearing regarding charges against Carlos Ulloa. Kevin Fitzgerald
struggling to keep up with payments. Even now, we’re still behind and trying to catch up. “Before this all happened,” Delgado continued, “I had a good route (with Dewey Pest Control), and I was getting paid good money because it was a big route, and I could take care of it. Now I’ve been back (on the job) for about two months, and I barely make it check by check.” In the 16 months that have elapsed since the shooting, Delgado and his family have become frustrated at how slowly the legal proceedings have progressed. An initial manhunt (which culminated in a voluntary surrender by the suspect), legal maneuvering by the defense and court-date postponements have all contributed to that frustration and a feeling of personal insecurity that have
haunted Delgado, his family and friends. But now that the preliminary hearing ended with a confirmed felony charge of attempted murder against Ulloa, Delgado is finding reason to feel more hopeful. “I’m OK with the fact that they’re charging (Ulloa) with attempted murder,” Delgado stated. “Honestly, I don’t care what they do with him. It’s just a good thing that I’m still alive. “I don’t know how court works. I don’t know how the system works. I don’t know what’s going to happen with the jury. I mean, he was trying to kill me. He shot me eight times. You don’t shoot a person eight times just to try to defend yourself. I mean, I was lying on the floor after the first shot. Delgado sighed. “I just want justice. That’s all that I want.” CVIndependent.com
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NEWS TELLING THE VALLEY’S STORY P
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
A rare mural is coming to Palm Springs, thanks to St. Paul in the Desert Church
by BRian blueskye
alm Springs’ Church of St. Paul in the Desert wants to help tell the Coachella Valley’s story. Working with the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission, the Church of St. Paul and artist Bernard Hoyes have begun work on a community mural, “Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters.” On a recent visit to the in-progress mural—on the church’s wall facing the alleyway behind Trina Turk—Hoyes was finishing up after a group of children from BRAFF (Building Resilience in African-American Families) had done some painting with him. Hoyes said he welcomes people to come and share ideas. “I’ll just enlarge and re-realize it,” Hoyes said, pointing to a wagon wheel some of the kids had painted. “I’ll just make it more realistic as a wagon wheel so it can be recognized. They suggested things, and I’ll make them come alive in a way that makes them a part of what I’m doing with the mural.” The Rev. Andrew Green, the rector of St. Paul in the Desert, at 125 W. El Alameda, agreed with the community vision. “This is one of the elements that makes it a community mural,” Green said. “The vision is adjusting and changing as different people participate.”
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Hoyes said he wants the mural to acknowledge the cultural history of the Coachella Valley and its different ethnicities. “I’ve been living in the desert permanently now for about five years,” Hoyes said. “I’ve been coming here for about 30 years, with my studio in Desert Hot Springs. Since I’ve been out here, I’ve been involved in the community, and I’ve seen the development of Palm Springs from year to year, and I wanted to do something that was an exposé of the development. What are the important elements of the development? One of those things was water. … Water is a nutriment, or
Bernard Hoyes and the Rev. Andrew Green pose in front of the in-progress mural at St. Paul in the Desert. BRIAN BLUESKYE
in some parts of the Bible, a sacrament, and it’s an important part of the mural. There are different ethnicities from one side to the other side, and we have Esther Williams (who was a Palm Springs resident) in all her glory making water a kind of iconic element during the ’40s and ’50s as entertainment.” Green said he’s had a mural in mind for the church for about two years. “Originally, it was on a different wall,” he said. “I was talking with the people from the Palm Springs Art Commission. … They had an exhibit of young people’s art for a Martin Luther King celebration. When we were setting up for that … two people from the Arts Commission came and said, ‘Are you still serious about doing a mural?’ There were two artists who came and checked it out, saying that this wall was better than the other one we had in mind. “The designs (artists) were submitting went to my church’s board, and they selected this design. But one of the ideas for it was that a mural is a very participatory kind of art. It invites people to get involved in the production end, but it also invites people to get involved at the viewing end. … People will find this to be a sacred space for them and their own spirituality. It would be an offering of our church to our community.” Hoyes said he’s enjoying painting the mural. “There’s a level of satisfaction with being involved, especially with the church,” Hoyes said. “My art speaks to religious and spiritual enlightenment and continuity. I made a name for myself as an artist with spiritual works. Most of the work has been derivative of African religious retention. I was raised in a backyard church in Jamaica, and it has stayed with me. I’m kind of versed in the Bible, and I’ve studied other religions. The commonality that is existent—I understand it, and I
can inform with the symbols and make an informed statement about spirituality.” Since the city of Palm Springs temporarily banned murals before creating a new murals ordinance—mandating a rather restrictive and expensive approvals process—back in 2014, few new murals have gone up. But that may change soon, Green said. “Palm Springs has had a change of heart in murals,” he said. “The existing mural code was designed to make it hard to do murals. But the Public Arts Commission and the City Council have changed and want to encourage murals—but encourage murals going through a planning process with the Arts Commission in advance. For example, the Arts Commission … said, ‘If you do this and set this up, we’ll approve this, and we’ll take care of paying the city fees.’ … We waited four months to get the process accomplished before (Hoyes) put a brush to the wall so that it was completely appropriate with the city. I did not find anything they asked for onerous or creatively muzzling; the process just takes time. “Some of the code said for this mural to receive the benefit of the fees, about $1,500 being reimbursed, it would have to be up for at least two years.” Green said he hopes the mural inspires people to look into the church and to find meaning. “Far too much, what we do with church is aimed at supporting the building and the institution as a corporation or a facility. What I’m interested in is seeing the church as engaged and embedded in the community,” he said. “I hope that does bring people here. It might bring them here for 12-step groups; it might bring them here for lunch when Well in the Desert is serving lunch on Wednesday—or all different types of things. If it brought them to church, I’d love it.”
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 9
FEBRUARY 2019
NEWS BARGAINING AS MEDICINE I
by ELIZABETH AGUILERA, CALMATTERS
n one of his first official actions, Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed state agencies, including the one that oversees Medi-Cal, to negotiate as a block to demand prescription drug-makers lower their prices. The move will make California the nation’s largest negotiator with pharmaceutical companies, and could become a model for other states—if it works. “Right now, with all the gridlock in Congress, we are seeing quite a bit of state action on prescription-drug pricing—and we hope that advances as much as it can until we can see some change in Congress,” said Peter Maybarduk, who specializes in medicine access at Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. “California government has power,” he continued. “It is a large enough economy and large enough state to influence pharma behavior and dictate terms.” It’s such an attractive idea that it seems to have united the progressive Newsom with his political nemesis, President Donald Trump. Both have espoused the wisdom of the government consolidating its massive purchasing power so it can bargain hard with drug companies and cut the best deal for taxpayers. Trump campaigned on the notion of harnessing the federal government’s bargaining power to reduce drug prices for programs like Medicare, but the idea went nowhere, because it’s prohibited by federal law: Congress specifically barred the federal government from negotiating Medicare drug prices—a restriction defenders describe as free-market protection and critics deride as a giant pacifier to Big Pharma. Still, it remains a simple and appealing idea in a nation confronted by rapidly rising prescription drug costs. A recent Harvard/ Politico poll found the No. 1 priority voters have for the new Congress is reducing the cost of prescription drugs. There’s a reason it’s top of mind. A study
Gov. Gavin Newsom is sworn in. RANDY PENCH/CALMATTERS
released recently in the Journal of Health Affairs found that the cost of brand-name drugs rose each year between 2008 and 2016—by more than 9 percent per year for oral medicine, and more than 15 percent for injectable medicine. Specialty drug prices soared even higher each year. In his executive order, Newsom said California has seen prescription drug prices rise 20 percent annually since 2000—and that the 25 most expensive drugs account for half of the state’s spending on pharmacy costs. So far, Newsom’s office has not released any estimates of how much it expects the new bargaining plan to save. “We will use both our market power and our moral power to demand fairer prices for prescription drugs,” Newsom said during his inauguration speech. That same day, he told the state’s Department of Health Care Services to begin negotiating the purchasing of prescription drugs for all 13 million recipients of Medi-Cal, the state’s health-care system for low-income patients. Currently, the state only represents 2 million of them, while the rest are on managed health plans that negotiate their own drug rates. “The governor is the only one that can do this; he is the only one that can force everybody to the table,” said Democratic Assemblyman Jim Wood of Healdsburg, who heads the state Assembly’s health committee. He said the consolidated bargaining power is vital to address skyrocketing drug prices. With nearly one in three Californians on MediCal, and its budget of $250 billion, even small savings could be significant. “The savings we’ll be able to enjoy from less spending on prescription drugs,” Wood said, “will help offset some of the additional costs that we’re going to be incurring to expand coverage for other people in California.” The governor’s plan also calls for eventually giving private employers the option to join the consolidated purchasing block, although how that would work is still vague. As for the expected drug-industry opposition, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
Gov. Gavin Newsom directs the state to negotiate prescription prices with drug-makers
of America said it’s reviewing the proposal. “We welcome the opportunity to work with the governor and his administration on comprehensive solutions to the problems patients are facing accessing and affording their medicines,” said spokeswoman Priscilla VanderVeer. Gerald Kominski, senior fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy, lauded the idea of using market power to obtain the lowest prices possible, but predicted that drug-makers would unleash a campaign against it inside and outside
of California. “They will start running ads that are going to scare people—that if you are on Medi-Cal, you are no longer going to get this drug or this drug,” he said. “There will be dark music and maybe a doctor in the scene shaking their head ‘no’ saying you are no longer eligible for this or for that.” This is an abridged version of a story from CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
The Man Before the Award A look at back at Steve Chase, the famed designer who paved the way for Desert AIDS Project to become what it is today
O
n Feb. 9, Desert AIDS Project will be celebrating in a big way at its 25th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards gala. To celebrate the silver anniversary edition of D.A.P.’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Barry Manilow will be performing a full concert. While virtually all of the attendees know about Barry Manilow, some of them may not know much about the man for whom the event is named—a man whose generosity is, in part, responsible for the success D.A.P. has had over the years. Steve Barrett Chase, who passed away in 1994 at the age of 52—himself a victim of the AIDS epidemic—was a designer to the stars. His clients, according to the Los Angeles Times, included Rona Barrett, Dyan Cannon, Farrah Fawcett, Gene Hackman, Johnny Mathis and Joan Kroc, the owner of McDonald’s. “He was a bigger-than-life character,” said Steve Kaufer, a friend of Chase’s who has been on the D.A.P. board of directors since 2007; Kaufer was also on the board from 1987-1997, and currently serves as the board president. “He was a very successful interior designer. I think his love for design and making things pretty started when he was really young in his life, and he pursued that.” Chase came to Palm Springs to work with famed designer Arthur Elrod, and stayed in the Coachella Valley after Elrod died in a traffic accident in 1974. “Steve was very talented and became very, very successful,” Kaufer said. “I had a subscription to Architectural Digest, and I think he was featured in Architectural Digest more than any other designer that I ever saw. “I always thought that maybe he had compromising pictures of (Architectural Digest editor) Paige Rense,” Kaufer said with a laugh. “In all seriousness, he was always in the magazine because his designs were literally all over the world. Of course, he designed in Palm Springs and in the desert area, but he designed internationally. He designed yacht interiors, airplane interiors—so he kind of did it all.” Kaufer said Chase was someone who didn’t enjoy just sitting around. “One of my early recollections is going over with a couple friends to his house, and everybody wound up playing croquet out on his lawn, and it was fun,” Kaufer said. “He was traveling. He was doing things. He was an avid jogger, and he was always very active.” Kaufer said that when Chase became involved with D.A.P., one of the first things he CVIndependent.com
did—not surprisingly—was lend his design talents to the fledgling organization. “DAP started in 1984, and we had a small office, and then we moved to a facility on Vella Road in Palm Springs—but it was an industrial building,” Kaufer said. “I don’t know what it had been used for before we moved in, but it was pretty rough around the edges, and Steve became involved. He used his talents and his firm, and he also leaned on a lot of his vendors to donate services and products that could be used in his work at the DAP to make it look pretty. “He felt that, just because we were a charity, and we were dealing a lot of times with people who lived below the poverty level, we didn’t have to have an office that looked horrible. He wanted people who came in to have a nice environment in which to be in, to receive their care, and to work.” In the 1980s and early 1990s, it was difficult to raise money for HIV- and AIDS-related service organizations like D.A.P., because the virus and disease such carried a huge stigma. “It wasn’t popular to be a corporate sponsor of an AIDS program, and many people in the area of normal philanthropy didn’t look at AIDS as an area that they wanted to get involved in,” Kaufer said. “Steve recognized that, and he used his celebrity and his contacts with major stars and big people like Joan Kroc, and President and Mrs. (Gerald) Ford, to try to expand the giving that D.A.P. received from groups that we normally wouldn’t get funding from.” Those contacts paid huge dividends, as did Chase’s personal generosity. Not only did Chase lend significant support to D.A.P.; he also gave major support to the organizations today known as The Living Desert and Gardens, and the Palm Springs Art Museum. In the case of D.A.P., the organization Chase championed is now in the midst of its biggest period of expansion to date—a $20 million project, slated for completion in 2020, that will more than double the organization’s patient capacity. The expansion, called vision D.A.P. Vision 2020, is necessary in part because D.A.P. is now a Federally Qualified Health Center—meaning anyone in need of primary medical care can walk in D.A.P.’s doors and become a client. When the expansion is complete, D.A.P.’s 60,490-square-foot campus will be able to serve 8,000 patients, up from 3,900 in 2017. The dental clinic will be able to help 1,700 people, compared to 814 in 2017, while the behavioral-health-patient capacity will rise from 583 to 1,200.
Steve Chase.
I asked Kaufer what Steve Chase would think if he could see where D.A.P. stands today. “He would be very proud—very pleased,” Kaufer said. “Steve was a big personality, and he did things in a big way, and he would be very pleased to see what was going on at Desert AIDS Project and the expansion of our mission to provide health care for not only people with HIV and AIDS, but a community that really needs quality health care, and has no other source for it. He’d be very proud. “He’d also probably start looking at the plans and saying, ‘No, we can’t have that wall there.
We need to do this, and the lobby has to be a little bit different, and we need some different furniture,’ Kaufer added with a laugh. “He would want to put his mark on it, and ensure that it looked good, so that people, when they came there for treatment, would feel special.” To donate to the D.A.P. Vision 2020 expansion, call Christopher Ruetz, D.A.P.’s Director of Major and Planned Giving, at 760-656-8450, or email him at cruetz@desertaidsproject.org. For more information on Vision 2020, visit dapvision2020.org.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11
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FEBRUARY 2019
MARIE & THE OSMONDS FEB 2 THE
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 13
FEBRUARY 2019
NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
FEBRUARY ASTRONOMY
Dawn features three showpiece planets;
Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight MarsFor shines bright in the evening February, 2019
F
This sky chart is drawn for latitude 34 degrees north, but may be used in southern U.S. and northern Mexico. N
By Robert Victor
ebruary offers beautiful sights for the unaided eye and the eye aided with binoculars— especially for early risers getting out an hour before sunrise. There’ll be close pairings of the moon with bright Venus just before and after the shortest month of the year—on Jan. 31 and March 2—providing chances to spot Venus in the daytime with binoculars and even the unaided eye. Venus and Saturn will appear just 1.1 degrees apart on Feb. 18. It’ll be worthwhile to watch that pair for changes on several adjacent mornings. Planets at dawn: The pairing of Venus and the crescent moon on Thursday, Jan. 31, will be unusually close and very striking, before dawn and even long after sunrise. From the Coachella Valley, Venus and the center of the moon’s disk will be just 1.5 degrees apart and closing at 5 a.m. Sunrise occurs in Palm Springs at 6:43 a.m., confused with any star while the red planet with Venus just more than a degree from the passes through the background of Pisces and moon’s center, or three-quarters of a degree Aries. The brightest star nearby is secondfrom the moon’s edge. The closest approach magnitude Alpha in Aries, about 10 degrees of the moon and Venus occurs in daytime, north of the planet in late February. Begin between 9:45 and 10 a.m., with Venus about looking for Mercury emerging from the far 0.4 degrees—less than the moon’s half-degree side of the sun around Feb. 10, when it shines width—from the moon’s northern cusp the at magnitude -1.3 and sets south of west at (upper point of the crescent). From 8:30 a.m. mid-twilight, about 40 minutes after sunset. through 11:15 a.m., Venus will appear no more Still bright at magnitude -0.3 when it climbs than a moon’s width from the moon’s edge. A to 9 degrees up at mid-twilight on Feb. 26, telescope at low power will fit Venus and the Mercury then begins to fade more rapidly. It’s moon in the same field, with Venus showing a still magnitude 0.0 on March 1, but, moving gibbous disk, 62 percent illuminated. to the near side of the sun and becoming At the next, wider moon-Venus pairing on a backlighted crescent, it fades beyond March 2, Venus will appear nearly 4 degrees magnitude +1 by March 5 and drops back into to the lower left of the moon. A telescope bright twilight. then shows the planet’s phase increased to 73 Stars and moon: The moon is visible at dusk percent full, but reduced in apparent size as it from Feb. 5 (very low in the west-southwest will be more distant from Earth. in early dusk), through Feb. 19 (just past Near the dates of these moon-Venus full, risen north of east). The moon passes 6 pairings, the moon can be seen close to two degrees south of Mars in Aries on Feb. 10; 1-2 other planets in the morning sky: The moon degrees north of Aldebaran in Taurus on Feb. will appear 5 degrees to the upper right of 13; 7 degrees south of Pollux on Feb. 16; and 7 Jupiter on Jan. 30; 4 degrees to the lower left degrees above Regulus in Leo at dusk on Feb. of Saturn on Feb. 2; within 2 degrees above 18. That evening, the Earth passes between Jupiter on Feb. 27; and 2 degrees to the upper the sun and Regulus, and that star appears right of Saturn on March 1. at opposition, 180 degrees from the sun. The Planets, stars and moon at dusk: Mars is direction of Earth’s orbital motion around the high in the southwest to west-southwest, sun on this night is away from the Pleiades halfway or more from horizon to overhead. in the evening sky and toward a spot about 3 While fading slowly from magnitude +0.9 degrees west of the third-magnitude star Beta to +1.2, Mars is bright enough not to be in the head of Scorpius in the morning sky. At the end of February, our planet is moving away from Aldebaran, eye of Taurus, and toward Antares, heart of Scorpius. The huge Winter Hexagon occupies much of the southeast quadrant of the sky at dusk. Start with Sirius, its brightest star, and go clockwise around its perimeter, to Procyon, the Twins (Pollux and Castor), Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel and back to Sirius. Orion’s shoulder Betelgeuse is inside. Regulus rises into view at dusk during February and chases the Hexagon across the sky. Note Regulus
February's evening sky chart. ROBERT D. MILLER
Deneb
Regulus Pollux
Castor
Capella
E
W Procyon Aldebaran Betelgeuse
1
8
22 15
Mercury
22 15
Mars
Rigel Sirius
Fomalhaut
Canopus
Evening mid-twilight occurs
about to setwhen in the on the morning Sunwest is 9o below horizon. Feb. available 1: 42 minutes after twilight chart, with thesunset. online version of this article. 15: 40 " " " 28: 40 " " " Check the website of the Astronomical Society of the Desert at www.astrorx.org for dates and times of our evening star parties at two locations: Sawmill Trailhead, our highaltitude site (elevation 4,000 feet), will have a star party starting at dusk on Saturday, Feb. 2. The primary, more-accessible location is the Visitor Center of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (on Highway 74, within 4 miles south of Highway 111 in Palm Desert). The next session there is on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Listings of star parties on the website include maps and directions for both locations. Star parties can be cancelled in poor observing weather. Also, remember to check the Impromptu Star Parties link on the webpage. I’ll be offering sky watches in Palm Springs at the pedestrian
S
Stereographic Projection
bridge over Tahquitz Creek North Riverside Map byat Robert D. Miller Drive and Camino Real, including some at predawn to follow the three morning planets, and some at dawn or dusk to observe the moon’s conjunctions with planets. Abrams Planetarium publishes a monthly Sky Calendar with an evening sky map. Subscriptions are $12 per year at www. abramsplanetarium.org/skycalendar for three printed issues mailed quarterly. Wishing you clear skies! Robert C. Victor was a staff astronomer at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. He is now retired and enjoys providing sky watching opportunities for a variety of groups in the Coachella Valley. Robert D. Miller did graduate work in planetarium science and later astronomy and computer science at Michigan State University and remains active in research and public outreach in astronomy. CVIndependent.com
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FEBRUARY 2019
‘NO DOUBT’ SECRETS ABOUT GWEN STEFANI’S FANTASTIC LOOK
From the Delaware Valley to the Coachella Valley
By Shonda Chase, FNP Nurse Practitioner, Co-owner, Artistic Director and Advanced Aesethetic Injector at Revive Wellness Centers in Palm Springs and Torrance, and Medweight, Lasers and Wellness Center in Irvine
I
n January’s Secret, I shared some secrets that Cher, 72, and Jennifer Lopez, 49, had in common and what was unique about improving their youthful appearances. This month, I’m sharing some of Gwen Stefani’s secrets of how she looks be�er now than she did 25 years ago. Ms. Stefani is a 49-year-old who cap�vates a�en�on, including my pa�ents, Gwen Stefani at 49 who are always asking me, “What does Gwen do to look be�er every year?” Secret No 1: Botox, plas�c surgery and sun block—As you can see by her picture at 27, she already had crow’s feet lines developing. (We all do without Botox.) By 35, her crow’s feet are gone, and her forehead lines are being managed with Botox. And people have “forgo�en” about her nose surgery that thinned her nose before she was 30. Secret No. 2: Dermal-fillers results—Jump ahead 15 years later, and you would expect Ms. Stefani to look older. But at 49, she looks even more striking than she did almost 25 years earlier. By 49, a person has usually lost 25 percent of their facial fat, contribu�ng to visible aging. As you can see, Ms. Stefani is benefi�ng from regular dermal fillers, including in her lips. She’s looking natural and be�er than ever. Secret Nos. 3 and 4: What more could Gwen Stefani Do to look even be�er?—Ms. Stefani’s radiant skin proves daily sun management works. Growing up in SoCal caused a lot of visible sun damage on her neck, shoulders and décolleté. No. 3: A series of treatments with Cutera’s new PICO Enlighten laser can painlessly improve anyone’s sun damage and brighten skin. No. 4: Cutera’s Secret RF (for radio frequency energy) is the one of best new devices to improve skin texture, acne scars, and loose, creepy skin on our necks and body. Three or four Secret treatments per year can help keep Ms. Stefani’s neck and body looking 25 years younger to match Gwen Stefani at 27 her youthful face.
You can email your individual ques�ons to Shonda Chase FNP or Allan Y. Wu MD, Revive’s cosme�c surgeon, at info@revivecenter.com.
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FEBRUARY 2019
The Hollywood-
Modernism
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 15
How did our dusty little community become such a hotspot for Modernism? Our arts writer breaks it down.
Connection I love signature events, and they don’t get any more “signature” in the
Coachella Valley than Modernism Week. It has become the defining celebration of the things this city stands for—iconic architecture, glamour, sophistication, occasional hedonism and complete freedom. What is modernism? Wikipedia says this: “Modernism is a philosophical movement that, along with cultural trends and changes, arose from wide-scale and far-reaching transformations in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was the By Stephen Berger touchstone of the movement’s approach towards what it saw as the now obsolete culture of the past.” Modernism transformed every aspect of society and the arts—and it still permeates our The Sinatra House. JAKE HOLT PHOTOGRAPHY thinking and world view. Volumes have been written, discussed and debated about the movement. Modernism Week were eager to employ these innovations. Large sheets of glass and steel girders provided focuses on the architecture that arose after World War II but does not these architects with a new palette, and they invented a completely limit itself to that. With more than 350 tours, lectures, screenings and revolutionary style of building for the desert environment. parties taking place from Thursday, Feb. 14, through Sunday, Feb. 24, With the demise of the studio system in Hollywood in the late Modernism Week is simply far too large to cover in a single article … or 1960s, Palm Springs experienced a decline. Several decades later, a even a single issue of a newspaper. new demographic discovered its charms: Gay men of a certain age After hours of reviewing press releases and schedules regarding began arriving. They were drawn here by the mystic history and the Modernism Week, I was left with a question and a thought. The inexpensive housing. They began to lovingly restore the Modernist question: How did a dusty, remote village in the Mojave Desert become neighborhoods. a world-class destination symbolizing modern style and misbehavior? Palm Springs experienced a rebirth. The thought: The appeal of Modernism Week goes far deeper than just Today, Modernism Week draws fans from all over the world. While an appreciation of architecture and interior design. the amazing postwar architecture is the centerpiece, the art, culture Many people credit the Hollywood studio system with the invention and lifestyle are also celebrated. There’s something for everyone, from of Palm Springs. Starting in the silent-film era, movie stars were serious architectural buffs to simply the curious, elevated to the status of royalty, instantly recognizable around the Page after page of events are scheduled over the 11-day run. globe. However, a series of scandals involving sex, drugs and suicides As I reviewed them, I was impressed by the breadth of topics and threatened the very existence of Hollywood, and major studios began experiences. Then it struck me: Almost everything that mentioned writing ethics clauses into their contracts—and any infringement of Hollywood, movie stars, the Rat Pack, Las Palmas and Movie Colony the strict moral codes would end careers immediately. Studio spies and were already sold out … and this was more than a month before gossip columnists were watching every movement and action of these opening day. There was something going on here. new kings and queens. It’s well-documented that, as a society, we are beginning to value The studios also required that its stars could not travel farther than experiences over possessions. I would contend that a nostalgia for the two hours from the studio without permission, just in case reshooting glamour, luxury, risqué behavior and lifestyle of cocktails by the pool was required. However, the exuberance and freedom from the status that created and sustained Palm Springs throughout its history still quo of the Roaring ’20s was far too great to be contained by a mere runs very deep. People want to experience what went on behind those contract, and the opening of a tennis club in a desert crossroads exactly high walls and privacy hedges themselves. Who can blame them? two hours from Hollywood provided a perfect escape from the watchful What better way to appreciate these innovative structures and the eyes of studio bosses. modern living style than an icing of excess? Spanish colonial retreats surrounded by high walls and privacy So, take a walking tour. Attend a lecture, Watch a film. Learn about hedges soon sprang up, creating the neighborhoods of Las Palmas and shade block. Have a cocktail at Frank’s house. Maybe indulge in some the Movie Colony. A town grew to service the needs of the Hollywood bad behavior. (Just make sure it’s not too bad.) Immerse yourself in elite who congregated here. Word leaked out to the public about the the mid-century. luxury, the parties, the affairs and the licentiousness in this desert This is our heritage. These are our traditions. It is our gift to the oasis. The legend of Palm Springs took root, and people flocked here to world. I, for one, couldn’t possibly be prouder to be a part of it. catch a glimpse of it. After World War II, a new generation of stars, still under contract, Modernism Week takes place from Thursday, Feb. 14, through Sunday, Feb. From top: A Wexler home; views from a Modernism sought to re-create Palm Springs in a new and modern way. The 24, at locations valley-wide. For more information, including a complete Week bus tour; the Vintage Trailer Show. PHOTOS BY war had created new technologies, and a group of young architects schedule and ticket information, visit www.modernismweek.com. DAVID A. LEE
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Making Art
Active
FEBRUARY 2019
The goal of Art Palm Springs is to make art an experience— not something to simply be viewed.
This year’s Art Palm Springs—the large annual art show that
takes place at the Palm Springs Convention Center—kicks off with an Opening Night VIP Preview on Thursday, Feb. 14, and runs through the entirety of Presidents Day weekend Perhaps the word “large” doesn’t do Art Palm Springs justice; the show is truly massive and has been growing every year since its inaugural year in 2012. Nearly 80 galleries, from all corners of the globe, will be showing postwar and contemporary art, representing thousands of artists. Some of the Coachella Valley’s premier galleries, not surprisingly, are taking part. These types of mega-art events—this one is put on by Urban Expositions, which also produces shows in Aspen and Chicago—are a relatively new phenomenon that is changing the shape of the art world. They are as much about the experience as the art itself—and the artloving public in our community resoundingly approves, with 15,000 attending last year’s event. In addition to the show itself, there’s a wide-ranging series of talks and events presented by critics, curators, gallery owners, collectors and artists. All of this is specifically designed to make modern and contemporary art a more-interactive experience for the public. Debra Ann Mumm, the founder and director of the nonprofit CREATE Center for the Arts in Palm Desert, said CREATE will again have a booth at this year’s Art Palm Springs. “The more events, the better it is overall for our community,” Mumm said. “This event is definitely an experience. It’s cool, and you can see so many different things from so many different places. As a contemporary artist myself, I think it’s worth taking a look. … As a nonprofit, it is a great opportunity to meet people interested in the arts. We’re always looking to pick up new members and donors. It gives us more visibility. We’ll also be doing silk-screen printing on tote bags and T-shirts in our booth throughout the event.” I attended last year’s opening-night reception; it was my first experience with this type of show, and it was something I won’t forget. It was a heady mix of art, personalities, dress-up glamour and conversation, all with a friendly, open atmosphere. Some changes have been made for this year’s event, including a new entrance to better accommodate the crowds and shorten the wait times to enter, and improved food and beverage service (which was my only complaint about last year’s event). The Palm Springs Art Museum will be the beneficiary of this year’s VIP Reception. The 2019 Patron of the Year is Marilyn Pearl Loesberg; she has served for 10 years on the board of the Palm Springs Art Museum and is the chair of the Collections Committee. Leah Steinhardt, Art Palm Springs’ group show director, answered a few questions about the event.
By Stephen Berger What is the impact of these events on the local communities that host them? We work closely within each of the local communities, and our goal is to hopefully give platforms to the local art resources. For example, in Palm Springs, our opening-night beneficiary is the Palm Springs Art Museum, while in Chicago, we worked with ChiArts (Chicago High School for the Arts). We spend a lot of time building local relationships, because it’s important for us to have the community’s support as well as for us to support them in return. This past summer in Aspen, there were horrible forest fires. We worked with The Art Base to not only highlight their contribution to the art community in Aspen, but also create installations to thank the firefighters for all their efforts. We also invited local kids to create images that were installed in the entrance of the fair.
I attended last year’s Art Palm Springs opening. I found the opening-night crowd, participants and event itself to be as interesting as the art on display. Could you speak to the concept of art as an experience to be enjoyed as opposed to something These types of mega-art events are a relatively new that is simply viewed or collected? phenomenon, gaining popularity in the last decade. We want our fairs to create an experience of discovery, whether Crowd views from a previous Art Palm Springs. How do you think they are changing the landscape of it’s for an established art collector or a new enthusiast. Our goal the art world for artists, galleries and collectors? is to create spaces where people can enjoy art and feel comfortable The fairs are indeed changing the landscape of the art world, in that it is a different platform speaking to galleries and artists. for galleries to exhibit art. Our goal is to create an environment where collectors and art Art opens up a dialogue, and that is a goal at all of our fairs. Many of our galleries bring their enthusiasts can view art in a concentrated space. artists, and collectors can have intimate conversations with artists that they might never have a chance to meet. In addition to the art, it’s important for us to create an environment where Could you offer some insight into how you put one of these shows together? people want to spend their time. We plan all year long for our shows, so there is very little downtime. As soon as one of our fairs is over, we are polling our exhibitors and attendees for their feedback. We then analyze Art Palm Springs takes place Thursday, Feb. 14, through Monday, Feb. 18, at the Palm Springs those results and create a strategy for the next year’s show. From there, it’s a year-long Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, in Palm Springs. Single-day admission is $25; VIP process leading up to the fair. There are site visits, partner meetings and tons of outreach that tickets, which include the Thursday night VIP reception and are good for admission throughout the happen on a consistent basis in addition to participating in all of the other essential art events festival, are $100. For tickets or more information, call 800-563-7632, or visit throughout the year. www.art-palmsprings.com. CVIndependent.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 17
FEBRUARY 2019
E’S DAN SAVAG
IVAL FILM FEST
Feb 8 & 9 CAMELOT THEATRES, PALM SPRINGS T I C K E T S AT H U M PFI L M FES T.C OM
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FEBRUARY 2019
CVI SPOTLIGHT: FEBRUARY 2019 Medical Care Via Wine: The WineLover’s Auction Supports CV Volunteers in Medicine
G
alileo Galilei once said, “Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” Of course, Galileo never made his way to sunny California—but if he were here now, something tells me he’d want to be at the WineLover’s Auction, at the Thunderbird Country Club on Saturday, Feb. 16. The WineLover’s Auction is the signature annual fundraiser for Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine. Doug Morin is the executive director of CVVIM, which operates the only free medical clinic in the Coachella Valley, in Indio at 82915 Ave. 48. “This rose out of a study that was undertaken by JFK Memorial Hospital in 2007. The conclusion of that was the valley needed a free clinic for individuals who did not have insurance by whatever means,” Morin said. “The program was modeled after a national program called Volunteers in Medicine. … After a couple years of fundraising … in 2010, we started providing services near JFK. “There was a lot of community support behind opening the clinic. Part of what was so time-consuming was getting the nurse practitioners, doctors and dentists to volunteer, as well as (raising money for) the operational costs and the direct patient costs, like the bandages and all the other sorts of things that are required for treatment and diagnostic services. … The county helped out by providing a county-owned office for us; our cost is the maintenance of the office space. “Since then, we have consistently seen about 1,000 unduplicated clients every year, totaling around 3,500 visits … Many have a chronic illness that requires ongoing followup, like diabetes, which is our No. 1 issue that we see clients for, (followed by) COPD and congestive heart failure. We provide primary care and a few specialty services, but not
urgent or emergent care. If someone breaks a leg, or has a heart attack, or an open wound, then they have to go to the emergency room.” Morin said the clinic also offers casemanagement services to those in need, as well as education services. “A lot of diabetes education is designed for healthy living, to help the patient get around with diabetes and keep it stable,” he said. “Almost two years ago, we began a homelessoutreach program around the Indio and Coachella area. We have physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers and a number of other Individuals who work in the field. We tend to think that (homeless people) need blankets and shoes, which they usually do, but what most of them really need is medical services. Often, they’ll get vaccinations or A1C level checks in the field. “We do all of this with about 200 volunteers and six full- and part-time staff for the year.” Who can receive treatment at Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine? “We do have eligibility requirements,” Morin said. “One is that you must be a resident of Coachella Valley. You can’t have medical insurance, or you (must be unable to afford) to use your current medical insurance, and you must be at 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For an individual, that means making only about $20,000 a year.” So … what about the WineLover’s Auction? “This is the fourth annual wine auction, and it has, for the past three years, raised more than $200,000 each year. Our yearly budget is $600,000 to cover patient care, so almost a third of our yearly budget is raised from this,” Morin said. “We have presenting sponsorships from both JFK Memorial Hospital and the Desert Regional Medical Center. The evening starts off with a wine
reception and a general silent auction, and then moves into the dining room for the live auction. There’s not just wine, but a lot of things that are wine-related; for example, there are trips to Napa Valley, trips on yachts and cruises for several hours, some featuring foods and wine. Sometimes there’s art involved. … There’s something for everybody. The auction items’ values are anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars. “Our biggest wine sponsor is Chateau Ste Michelle. They provide all the wine for the reception and the dinner. They also provide
a number of packages of rare wines, signed bottles and collector bottles. … To cap the evening’s festivities off, there is usually some entertainment with songs from a winner of a local talent show.” The WineLover’s Auction takes place at 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Thunderbird Country Club, 70737 Country Club Drive, in Rancho Mirage. Tickets start at $250. For tickets or more information, call 760-625-0737, or visit cvvim.ejoinme.org/winelovers-auction. —Dwight Hendricks
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Broken Yolk Cafe • Moxie Palm Springs 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive Broken Yolk Cafe La Quinta 78430 Highway 111
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
The Bamboo Cocktail at Dead or Alive.
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PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
PALM SPRINGS’ ORIGINAL SPEAKEASY
Our featured cocktail for Cocktail Week: The Golden Age, with Slow & Low Rock and Rye Whiskey, R. Jelinek Fernet, Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane, 79 Gold Caramel Spirit Wash and Smoked Orange Brine, for $14, donating $2 of each sold. We will donate $2 from all “Moxie Proper” cocktails as well. • Rooftop bar • Craft cocktails • Fantastic Food • Happy hour 4-7 p.m. wed-sun
A HIDDEN OASIS WITH CRAFT COCKTAILS THAT PAY HOMAGE TO THE REBEL SPIRIT OF THE RESTAURANT’S BEGINNINGS.
262 S. Palm Canyon Drive Downtown Palm Springs 760-318-9900 moxiepalmsprings.com
The Purple Palm at the Colony Palms Hotel 572 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-969-1818 www.purplepalmrestaurant.com
71680 Highway 111 #F Rancho Mirage 760-779-5000 shabu-shabu-zen.com Offering the Sakura Cherry Blossom with sake mixed with blood orange soda and topped with a mint leaf, for $9! Other Craft Cocktail Week drinks will also be available!
A TASTE OF MÉXICO CITY IN PALM SPRINGS
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1107 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 760-537-1279 • Alebrijeps.com CVIndependent.com
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // C3
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
Welcome to the Third Annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week
A taste of the South of France in downtown Palm Springs
Q: How does it work? A: Bars and restaurants across the Coachella Valley create a special craft cocktail—some create a whole special menu—or highlight one of their existing craft cocktails from Jan. 25 through Feb. 2. Most participants even sell the special cocktails at a discount! The participants then donate at least $2 from the sales of that special craft cocktail to our beneficiaries: The Desert AIDS Project’s Food Depot, and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank. This is the third year of Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week, and this week is our biggest ever. Find up-to-date details at PSCraftCocktails.com. Have questions? Call us at 760-904-4208! Q: What’s the Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship? Participating bars and restaurants have the option of sending one of their top bartenders to the Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship! This year, eight participants (subject to change) are sending a bartender to compete for both the Championship and the Audience Choice trophy. (Yes, attendees get to try all of the drinks!) It takes place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Moxie Palm Springs. Find more details on Page C5, and click on “Championship” at PSCraftCocktails.com for updates and to purchase tickets! A portion of the night’s proceeds go to our aforementioned beneficiaries, which you can learn more about on Page C10.
Open daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday 6 to 9 p.m. 6 La Plaza • 760-322-2724 Farmpalmsprings.com
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The third annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week Championship will take place on the patio of Moxie Palm Springs on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The valley’s top bartenders will compete live for the coveted championship, as well as the Audience Choice award. Tickets include bites of food and tastes of all the competing cocktails; tickets cost $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
Frank’s Bourbon Bar is a proud sponsor of Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week
Sponsored by Ketel One Botanical, and benefiting the Desert AIDS Project and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. The participants (subject to change): Cheyne Tiszai, AC3 Restaurant + Bar Cesar Olvera, Alebrije Bistro Mexico Lucky Callender, Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse Jesse Krowiak, Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar and Grill Peter Leighton, Frank’s Bourbon Bar at the Purple Room Hunter Broggi, Lulu California Bistro (defending champion; pictured at the 2018 Championship) Rachel North, Moxie Palm Springs Garrett Spicher, Trio Restaurant Judges: Leslie Barclay, Ketel One Botanicals Brad Fuhr, Gay Desert Guide/KGAY 106.5 Alexis Ortega, LGBT Community Center of the Desert Darrell Tucci, Desert AIDS Project
Buy tickets at PSCraftCocktails.com
Come try our signature Old Blue Eyes Cocktail 760-322-4422 | PurpleRoomPalmSprings.com CVIndependent.com
C6 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
Participating Bars and Restaurants VIEW PICTURES OF ALL DRINKS AND GET UPDATES AT PSCRAFTCOCKTAILS.COM!
Alebrije Bistro Mexico Offering the Tepito Power, with mezcal, beets, lime, ginger liqueur and rosemary syrup, for $12! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 1107 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-537-1279.
Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar and Grill Featuring the The Red Dress Margarita, with chile-infused Cazadores reposado, fresh lime juice, house-made citrus syrup and housemade grenadine, finished with a flamed orange twist, for $10! Also featuring the Spray Tan, the Johnny Rancher and The Walk of Shame for $10. $2 per each featured drink donated to our beneficiaries. 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760318-3960.
Azucar Offering the Rosarita, a roseinfused margarita with a raspberry and pamplemousse kick, for $18! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. At La Serena Villas, 339 S. Belardo Road, Palm Springs; 844-932-0844.
Dead or Alive Bar Offering the Bamboo Cocktail, with sherry and vermouth and a twist, for $14! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 150 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760864-7193.
AC3 Restaurant + Bar Drink info coming soon! 45350 Larkspur Lane, Palm Desert; 760-340-6069.
Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse Offering the Mule-P-A, with Ketel One vodka, Aperol and Midori Melon, topped off with Babe’s Palm Springs IPA, for $12! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 71800 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage; 760-346-8789.
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge Offering The Eight4Nine, with Crater Lake vodka, chilled Mionetto prosecco, limoncello and Mandarin Napoleon, muddled with fresh strawberry, for $12! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 849 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Celebrate Palm Springs; 760-325-8490.
Mom!
Farm Offering the La Mure, featuring strawberry-mint houseinfused gin, Lillet, lemon, house-made Blackberry agave and
*
* D OW N T OW N PA L M S P R I N G S 760 327-LULU (5858) L U L U PA L M S P R I N G S .C O M
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*
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // C7
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
a splash of Bouvet, for $10! $5 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 6 La Plaza Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-2724. Frank’s Bourbon Bar at the Purple Room Offering the Old Blue Eyes, with Eagle Rare Bourbon, burnt sugar syrup, lemon and orange zest, with Angostura bitters, for $14! $7 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422. The Hood Bar and Pizza Offering the The Hood Winter Punch, a delicious blend of brandy, triple sec, coconut rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine, for $8! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert; 760-636-5220. Johannes Offering the Sparkling Honey Thyme Highball, a throwback to the 1960s with bourbon, honey-thyme syrup, lemon juice, apple cider, and garnishes including apple, thyme and a cinnamon stick, for $16! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 196 S Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760778-0017. Lulu California Bistro Offering Lulu’s Winter Warmer, with Maker’s Mark, lemon juice, honey, amaretto and Frangelico, shaken and strained into a martini glass, and then garnished with micro-flowers, for $9.99! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 200 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-327-5858. Moxie Palm Springs Offering The Golden Age, with Slow and Low Rock and Rye Whiskey, R. Jelinek Fernet, Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane, 79 Gold Caramel Spirit wash and smoked orange brine, for $14! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries, as well as $2 for each cocktail sold from the “Moxie Proper” menu. 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-318-9900. continued on next page
Azucar, located in La Serena Villas, is dedicated to excellence. We serve modern contemporary cuisine with an emphasis and focus on flavor utilizing high quality and local ingredients. Reservations suggested. 339 S. Belardo Road, Palm Springs 844-932-8044 azucarpalmsprings.com
Homemade NY Style Pizza • Burgers Hot Dogs • Sandwiches • Salads • Appetizers Beer • Wine • Cocktails Happy hour daily 2-7 p.m., all day/nite Tuesday Nightly entertainment • Open at 11:30 a.m. daily 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert • (760) 636-5220 www.facebook.com/HoodBarAndPizza
C8 \\ COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
A New Kind of Public Radio
Participating Bars and Restaurants
Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms Offering the Maddalena, with mezcal, Aperol, Ancho Reyes, fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice and a splash of Ting Jamaican grapefruit soda, for $15! $3 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 572 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760969-1818 Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill Offering the Mango Margarita, including mango puree and fresh lime, for $10.50! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 350 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760992-5641.
Welcome to the new K-GAY 106.5, The Pride of the Valley. We’re a new local radio station serving our Q-munity with entertainment and information. We’re a different kind of radio station because we’re a not-for-profit organization: Qchella Media Corporation. We believe that LGBTQ lives are strengthened and affirmed when our stories are told, broadcast and heard. We provide a platform for the Q-munity to access our airwaves and on-demand programming as we build a station to meet the unique needs of the Coachella Valley. Every dollar raised through advertising and your support stays right here to keep us on the air to meet the needs of our diverse communities.
Gay Desert Guide powers the radio station’s website: KGAY1065.com. Your business benefits from the synergy between GayDesertGuide.LGBT and Qchella Media. Our advertising and marketing plans integrate the two media companies along with membership in the Desert Business Association for a comprehensive LGBTQ approach to reach for locals and visitors alike. ©Qchella Media Corporation, a CA 501(c)3
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Runway Drink info coming soon! 68300 Gay Resort Drive, Cathedral City; 760-537-7800. Shabu Shabu Zen and Sake Bar Offering the Sakura Cherry Blossom with sake mixed with blood orange soda and topped with a mint leaf, for $9! Other drinks to be added for the week. $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 71680 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage; 760779-5000 TRIO Restaurant Offering the Palms Figs, with Bulleit bourbon, pear liqueur, and a homemade fig/citrus simple syrup, garnished with basil, lemon and fig, for $13! $2 per drink donated to our beneficiaries. 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760864-TRIO The Tropicale Offering the Meyer Lemon Martini, featuring muddled Meyer lemons and tangelos, shaken with Ciroc Vodka, triple sec and a splash of sour, for $15! $2 per featured drink donated to our beneficiaries. 330 E. Amado Road; Palm Springs; 760-866-1952.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // C9
PALM SPRINGS CRAFT COCKTAIL WEEK 2019
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It’s cold (for the desert, at least), so that means people are craving a good hot toddy
BY kevin carlow
r. Eli Perkins was arrested by a California sheriff and a platoon of deputized vigilantes in 1882 and summarily sentenced to “hang by the neck until dead” for a number of crimes, the least of which was “quackery.” This is a partial transcript of his last medicine show, taken by a surreptitious stenographer wearing a false mustache. Whether the sentence was carried out or not is unknown. Needless to say, all medical advice below should be eschewed. takes a sip, and although scalding his mouth, he Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round. I, the seems somewhat contented. one and only Dr. Eli Perkins, offer you the latest You see! The toddy is the remedy of kings! in cutting-edge medicine from Paris and New Now, you ma’am, you seem a little down in the York City, as well as folk remedies from the countenance. A “Whisky Skin” for you! Cherokee medicine men and from the Ascended Perkins takes a paring knife and removes the Masters of K’un-Lun. zest from an entire lemon. He puts it into a flagon Now … don’t be shy! Step up, and tell me with more of the same whisky and the water at a what ails you. boil. The seemingly healthy woman also scalds her Stenographer’s note: Obvious plant approaches mouth, but also seems to perk up after a few sips. the stage with exaggerated limp. No sugar needed for that one; she’s as healthy “Esteemed doctor, I suffer from fatigue, as a filly! Now, for the apple of my eye … and injuries from the war. Is there any hope to Perkins points to a pretty young lady in the restore my condition?” crowd. Why, my good man, you just need some … an apple toddy! of this imported Vin Mariani! Chock full of He begins again with a lump of sugar and boiling the wonder medicine of the Andes, coca leaf! water, beaten with a toddy stick, and after adding Here, let me mix in some gall of the Western some apple brandy, places a baked apple in as well, diamondback rattler, known for its quick and beats the whole thing in the mug until well strike, and some monkey adrenal gland, and smashed. The young lady sips with delight after there you go! carefully waiting a moment. The “doctor” muddles a mixture together and Now, gather ’round, people, for the greatest hands it to the “patient,” who immediately begins heights of mixological science, the great performing calisthenics for the bemused audience. Professor Jerry Thomas’ Blue Blazer! Now then, for the harshest cases such as Perkins mixes Scotch and boiling water in a my friend here, this mixture is available for silver mug with a handle and lights it with a match; purchase in the bottle. Now … is anyone here as the blue flame rises in the fading twilight, he suffering from the common cold, the grippe, pours it into a second mug. As he pours back and influenza or consumption? forth—leaving, it seems, a little in each mug at all A few hands reluctantly rise. times—he becomes more courageous in the descent Excellent, excellent—I mean not for of the flaming liquor. your unfortunate conditions, of course, but Right before he can serve it into the dainty because I have simple cures from the science tea cups with lemon peel and sugar applied, he is of Mixology ready to give you a fast cure! I tripped by the man doing calisthenics nearby (still have here a selection of the finest Smashers, apparently under the influence of coca leaf). The Franklin Peculiars, Radiator Punches, Vetos and flaming liquid spills and lights the trailer ablaze. Timberdoodles ready to mix and fix! The crowd disperses as gunpowder and liquor ignite. You, sir—the one with the cacophonous Perkins, his shirt engulfed in blue flames, makes a cough! Step right up for my famous hot toddy! run for another man’s horse to escape. Deputies are This combination of spirits, sugar and water in pursuit. is just the thing for your sad state. Science has proven that with the addition of sugar, the now return you to your regularly scheduled harsh spirits have a foil on which to act, sparing cocktail column. your constitution from its deleterious effects For the previous recipes, while all in the and bolstering your strength! Beware of doctors public domain, I owe a great debt to David pitching false toddies without sugar, merely Wondrich for his masterful presentation of trying to save a penny at your expense. them in his opus Imbibe! All fancies aside, the Perkins throws a lump of sugar into a mug with toddy is not approved by any medical doctor for some hot water. He beats it with a “toddy stick,” curing any ill. which resembles a small baton. Then he adds a If you would still seek comfort in any of goodly slug of Scotch whisky. The consumptive man
the hot drinks mentioned, the recipes in their ancient form will certainly work as listed. I prefer to marry the toddy and Whisky Skin together. My preferred method at home is using a pot-still whisky, preferably from Scotland or Ireland if possible, with some raw sugar and a lemon peel. American whisky, cognac and even rums work well, too; actual apple brandy is a real treat if you can find it. I grew up—in my bar career, I mean—using honey as the sweetener and a squeeze of lemon dropped in with the hot water, basically like you would with tea. Maybe it’s a New England thing. As the desert received an outrageous amount of January rain, welcome as it is from locals, I have been getting plenty of calls for hot drinks, and specifically toddies. This truly is a drink that you can make any way you like. Want to add star anise, or a cinnamon stick? Who would object? Honey, agave, sugar? Just no stevia, please, for chrissakes! Most craft bars these days have a house recipe, and nearly every bartender has an opinion on the matter. Feel free to choose your own adventure.
Please, however, do not make the Blue Blazer, or risk the fate of Eli Perkins … fair warning. Oh, and as much of a “restorative” as Vin Mariani might have been, it’s been illegal for some time, but you can still buy its nearest relative—in red-and-white cans and glass bottles—pretty much anywhere. Stay dry people! Just not too dry. Kevin Carlow can be reached at krcarlow@gmail.com.
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ARTS & CULTURE
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THE ART OF PORN F
Dan Savage’s HUMP! film festival makes its Palm Springs debut
By Jimmy boegle
or 14 years now, Dan Savage—the newspaper editor, sex-advice columnist, author and pundit whose Savage Love column appears in each edition of the Independent—and his associates have produced the HUMP! Film Festival, a traveling, curated selection of short (i.e., five minutes or less) pornography films. Yes, you read that correctly: It’s a porn film festival. However, it’s not that kind of porn. Well, OK, it is … except when it isn’t. a coat in your lap, and masturbate, or sit with a Make sense? No? You have questions? So roll of paper towels at the ready. It’s porn that did we, and Savage graciously agreed to answer you enjoy for its artistic merits. You also get to some of our queries. see what really turns other people on, and that Before we get to those queries, here is the may not be what turns you on. It’s a window back story: HUMP! started in Seattle in 2005, into other people’s passions. and the national tour of HUMP! began several When we started HUMP! we were curious years later. Anyone can submit films for whether we would get submissions, and consideration, of any sort, as long as they’re whether anyone, particularly when it was only related to pornography—and the HUMP! in Seattle, would make a porn short to be producers take extreme steps to make sure screened in the community where they lived, these films never make it onto the internet even with the promise that it would never go (unless the filmmakers decide to put them online. We got a lot of great porn, and then the online themselves). question became: Would people come and sit in a movie theater, in the dark, next to strangers, Tell me about bringing HUMP! to Palm and watch pornography the way their Springs. This is the first time it’s going to grandparents did, when their grandparents be here, correct? went to see Debbie Does Dallas or Behind the It is. It has played in Los Angeles, but it’s never Green Door? And the answer is yes—a lot played in Palm Springs—even though a couple of people would. Not people who wanted to of Palm Springs residents won the HUMP! masturbate in their seats; these were people Best in Show award a few years back, for a film who wanted to really celebrate sexual diversity, called Glory Hole. (Laughs.) … I think the folks and diversity of gender expression. there will really dig it. Certain people express squeamishness, To people who are unfamiliar with for lack of a better word, about types HUMP!—and, I admit, to some people of pornography or visuals that aren’t like me who are familiar with HUMP!—it their thing. I know a lot of gay men act may seem a little weird to go and sit at squicked out by female body parts, and the Camelot, where they have all sorts of I know a lot of straight guys who would wonderful events, with a bunch of people never in a million years watch gay porn from my community, and watch porn. supposedly. So, how is it that you’ve Describe to me why that isn’t so weird. managed to put all sorts of different types Because it’s a different kind of porn. When of porn together in HUMP!? you’re watching porn at home alone, you are That’s magic of HUMP! It really is. You have clicking only on porn of, well, immediate audiences full of straight guys watching gay utility, if I may put it that way. porn, and gay guys watching cunnilingus, and vanilla people watching hardcore kink porn, (Laughs.) That’s a perfect way to put it. and cis people watching porn made by trans What HUMP! is, is a collection of shorts, people to accurately represent themselves, not five minutes or less, with pornography as made by trans people to appeal to cis people. the theme. Sometimes the pornography is We watch the audience … to make sure explicit and hardcore; sometimes it’s softcore; no one’s taking out a phone and taking a sometimes it’s animation. There’s even a photograph or a video clip. There’s this thing documentary about pornography this year at that we see at packed screenings where at HUMP!, with people recalling when they first first, everybody’s thrown back in their seats encountered porn, in the pre-internet era. by what’s not theirs—“not my kink,” “not There’s a musical number in this year’s HUMP! my preferred gender partner,” “not my body … It’s not the kind of porn where you sit with type,” “not the age range I prefer.” At first, all
A promo image for HUMP!
anybody can see is what’s different and not theirs. But about a third of the way through, everyone is clapping and cheering for every film. No one’s having the wind knocked out of them anymore. There’s this moment where you can really see the audience’s perceptions shift. … Because in each film, the passion, the vulnerability, the sense of humor—all that is the same, and the humanity is the same. It’s really kind of beautiful. I’m a gay dude—who 20 years ago or so would have been squicked out by women’s genitals—and I sit there, with my eyes open, and I watch cunnilingus on the big screen, and I don’t flinch. … What I’m tapping into is not their bodies or their genitals, really, but their passion. That’s another part about HUMP! that’s really great: These are films made by friends and lovers. So nothing’s faked, and no one in the audience has to worry if somebody up there on the screen was doing it just for the money, or under duress. Everyone is up there because they wanted to share this side of themselves, and it’s really kind of magic. Over the years that you’ve been doing this, what have been the biggest surprises in terms of taking this on tour? They tried to shut us down in, I think it was Philadelphia, by getting us kicked out of the theater that we had booked. (Editor’s note: It was actually the Pittsburgh suburb of Dormont, in 2014.) What was so hilarious about that was everyone … has a cell phone. This idea that you can take pornography out of your community by keeping pornography out of a movie theater is ridiculous. That was very amusing. What’s great about the tour is that we get many more diverse submissions now. It was in Seattle alone for a few years, and then just
Seattle and Portland, (which is) not really a racially diverse part of the country, although it is sexually pretty diverse. Now that we’re touring, we get more different types of people, which is great. But the biggest change is, in the first couple of years, we got a lot of submissions where people were trying to ape the conventions of commercial porn, mainstream porn, and audiences just didn’t respond to that. You almost got the sense over those first few years that audiences were editing the festival, letting filmmakers know by voting for the best films from the festival what they wanted to see more of; now we really don’t get those films where people are just trying to make a knock-off of some commercial porn they saw on Pornhub. Is there anything in this year’s festival you find particularly interesting or unique? There is a five-minute musical comedy set in the bathroom of a gay leather bar. Oh my. I promise you, you’ve never seen anything like it—on Netflix, on the networks, on HBO. It’s the sort of thing you could only see at HUMP! That sounds either brilliant or horrifying, and I’m not sure which. Well, it’s one of the award winners this year. Audiences thought it was pretty brilliant. The HUMP! Film Festival takes place at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8; and 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $24.49 (with fees included). For tickets or more information, visit humpfilmfest.com. CVIndependent.com
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FOOD & DRINK
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By brett newton
adies and gentlemen, residents of and visitors to the Coachella Valley: The state of craft beer in our fine desert community is … meh. Let’s start where it makes the most sense: Our breweries. I’m going to need to leave much to the imagination here, because I work for one of them, and that presents a conflict of interest. As my colleagues and bosses will attest to, I would never root against any brewery here. I am a fan of craft beer first, and if all of our breweries were pumping out only great beer, that would mean more great beer for me to try. Alas, this is not the case … but it is actually trending in that direction. More good news: Desert Beer Company The truth is that there is room for all will be opening this year. This is the work of three current local breweries to grow when it former CVB taproom manager Devon Sanchez comes to beer quality. Brew great beer, and I and will be located in Palm Desert, not far (and many others) will show up—I promise from La Quinta Brewing’s brewery. As a you. This is not really competition, because former co-worker, you’d think I would know as I previously stated, more great beer is more about this, but I do not. Perhaps this is more great beer. That seems to reach critical by his design, but whatever the case, I do wish mass in some cities; repeat this process, and him all the luck in the world. Say it with me sooner than you’d think, you find yourself in once more: More good beer in the valley is a a beer mecca. It feels like San Jacinto and San good thing. Gorgonio keep more than just rain away from Bottle shops are still wanting here. Total our valley sometimes, I’m afraid. Wine and More seems to be the best place to OK, that was a little dark … not everything get beer, but some of the local beer distributors is being kept away. Local beer hero and can be very lax when it comes to rotating friend Chris Anderson had a hand in opening stock—and you are very much in danger of Woody’s Moreno Valley, which is connected buying out-of-date beer if you are not diligently to Woody’s Palm House in Palm Springs. It checking the dates on the packaging. While not is housed where P.H. Woods once was, which in the Coachella Valley, Sam’s Market in Joshua was once connected to Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Tree deserves mention as the people there Brewhouse in Rancho Mirage. Now that “Six curate a great selection of craft beers from Degrees of Separation” is done, what makes all around Southern California. Alas, the fact this relevant is that the beer is on tap at the that you have to drive 50 minutes from the Palm Springs location. I recently tried the IPA middle of the valley to find a proper craft-beer and the pilsner, and I can happily report that selection is not flattering to our beer scene. they were delicious. This is not a surprise, If you have never set foot in a place that seeing that Chris—founder and former head has a large and almost overwhelming (in the brewer at Coachella Valley Brewing Co.—was best way) selection of beers, stop by La Bodega involved. He pulled a brewer over from Hangar next time you are in Riverside. Can the local 24 to head the operation now, and I’m looking market support something like that? That forward (with my usual managed expectations, is a great question. I can’t really crunch any of course) to some more good beer from them. numbers without doing some intense research,
Our beer writer finds the local beer scene in the Coachella Valley to be rather frustrating
but if you asked me to venture a guess, I’d lean toward saying yes—a very caveat-laden yes. It would have to be done right (i.e., not by some people with money and a faint familiarity with beer who want to try and “get in on the action,” but instead end up half-assing it), and it would need to be in the right location. In other words, it would be an uphill battle. There’s an idea for the name of the store: Sisyphus’ Stone. Inspiring, I know. Beer bars are pretty much the same as they were a year ago. Eureka! Indian Wells gets my craft-beer dollar more than any other, and not because it is one of the closer places to get a craft on tap in relation to where I live. It’s a little pricey (compared to their location in Redlands, even), and the selection needs some serious curation, though. There are definitely other places worth mentioning. Dead or Alive Bar is one of my favorites when I’m in Palm Springs. Christine Soto is mindful of her smaller but interesting selection of beers. Then there’s the unique vibe of the place and the fact that I almost always get sucked into a good conversation with her, her bartenders and/or strangers when I’m there. The guest taps at La Quinta Brewing’s satellite taprooms are often good and worth checking out, as is the “Chalkboard” at the Yard House. I now want to take a few deep breaths here, apologize and explain: I am frustrated and searching my soul for reasons to live up to my desire to help grow a legitimate craft-beer scene in the Coachella Valley. I love this area, and consider myself as being from here, having moved here when I was a young lad in 1987. I have family and friends here. Look around you: It’s beautiful. But I’m going to need you to meet me halfway here. There are only so many blows to the head I can take from bashing it
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Our beer writer is frustrated by the beer scene here. (Beer writer not pictured.)
against this figurative wall before I have to say, “Enough!” and walk away. Together, we could do a lot. If you have never attended a top-tier beer dinner, I wish I could gift you that experience. We certainly have the high-quality cuisine here, and there is so much world-class beer within a two-hour drive that it would be eminently possible, to say the least. Is anyone willing to try? This is a cry for help. I have helped put together some dinners like this, and I want to do many more. I just need a handful of people here that give enough of a shit. Let’s do this, Coachella Valley. I love you and don’t want to need to leave you to make my dreams come true. Brett Newton is a certified cicerone (like a sommelier for beer) and homebrewer who has mostly lived in the Coachella Valley since 1988. He currently works at the Coachella Valley Brewing Co. taproom in Thousand Palms. He can be reached at caesarcervisia@gmail.com.
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VINE SOCIAL
Have you ever tried an orange wine? No? Well, perhaps you should
JASON DAVID HAIR STUDIO
By KatieLOVE finn YOUR
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HAIR
if the finished product is red or white. If you were to crush a bunch of cabernet sauvignon grapes in your hand, clear juice would run down your arm. It’s the skins that give it pigment. White wine is no different: The type of grape and the length of time it spends in contact with the skins determines how pigmented the final product is. Just as it is with your favorite red wine, that’s where some of the tannin comes from, too. That’s the element in the wine that has a slightly bitter, drying sensation and gives the juice its texture and mouth-feel. This is something that’s not typical with a classic white wine, but it’s an unexpectedly enjoyable component in its orange form. Admittedly, tasting a white wine that’s the color of a nacho-cheese Dorito can take some getting used to. But think of it like this: Your favorite bottle of salmon-hued rose is simply red wine made like a white wine, with very little color imparted from the skins. Orange wine is white wine made like a red, with maximum color extracted from the skins. And just like any red grape can be made into a rose, any white grape can be made into an orange wine. But I caution you: Because it can be made from any grape, and the length of time the skins are in contact with the juice can vary wildly, no two orange wines are alike. If you’re looking to get your hands on a bottle, you may need to order some online. Here are some of my suggestions: • The 2017 Field Recordings “Skins” Central Coast Blend is delicious and an easy drink. A great introduction to orange wines, it’s a blend of chenin blanc, pinot gris and verdejo. • The 2017 Jolie-Laide (pronounced jo-LEE luh-DAY) Trousseau Gris Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard Russian River Valley is one of my
he first time I tasted an orange wine was about seven years ago while I was living in Napa. I was working with Tommy Fogarty, of Thomas Fogarty Winery out of Santa Cruz, attempting to sell Santa Cruz wines—a daunting task in Napa, to say the least. However, there was no better person to tackle the obstacle with than Club Tommy. To Cook this day, he’s still one of Country and Street the coolest guys in the business—not to mention his RapleyPalm Trail pinot noir is one of my favorite De sert California wines. When I dropped him off at his car at the end almost like sourdough bread. I sat there and 760-340-5959 of our day, he grabbed a shiner (a bottle with drank about three-quarters of the bottle just no label) out of a case in the back of his Jeep trying to wrap my head around it. It was faking www.jasondavidhairstudio.net and handed it to me. It was an orange wine (or maybe freaking) me out. It looked like it made from chardonnay; he laughed as he told should be a dessert wine, but it wasn’t sweet. me it was a little funky, but it was a fun wine It reminded me of molecular gastronomy, he thought I’d like. where a chef would trick you into thinking I really didn’t know much about orange wine; you’re eating a watermelon salad, but really in fact, I had never tasted one, but if Tommy it’s cubed ahi sashimi (and truthfully, I hate thought it was fun and cool, I was game. that). But I was loving this wine in all its nerdy, I held on to the bottle for a few weeks, mischievous glory. staring at it in my wine fridge, never really sure Time passed, and I maybe saw one or if today was the day I should get freaky and try two other orange wines in Napa. I can this odd little wine. Looking back, I think I was only assume that marketing something as actually nervous to try it. What if I didn’t like seemingly obscure as orange wine to the it? Would that mean I didn’t have an elevated influx of tourists who descend on the valley is or knowledgeable palate? What if it was a right up there in difficulty with selling them “food wine,” and I was supposed to have it with wines from Santa Cruz. some avant-garde meal of braised offal or an Fast-forward eight years, and orange wine eccentric charcuterie plate covered with stinky is everywhere. Well … actually, it’s virtually cheese, and head cheese, and uncured meats? nowhere to be seen here in the Coachella I created a ridiculous predicament in my own Valley, with the exception of Dead or Alive and head. “Just open the damn wine, Katie.” maybe a bottle or two at Whole Foods—but it’s So that’s what I did. After my son was in every wine publication, blog and urban heptucked in for the night, and the husband was cat wine bar. We’ll get there … eventually. still at work, I pulled out the bottle, fixed This brings me to the part where I tell you a simple plate of cheese and crackers, and what orange wine is, and why you should not opened the damn thing. be scared or nervous like I was to try one. It’s Yeah, it was kinda weird. But it had the most really very simple: Orange wine is just white beautiful marmalade color, and wafting up wine that is fermented on its skins like a red from the glass came an aroma like a hard cider, wine. You see, with very few exceptions, the with orange pith, honey and a note that was juice from grapes is clear. It doesn’t matter
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Solar Q&A
I heard Southern California Edison is changing its solar program. If I’m interested in solar, should I be concerned? SCE is closing the best rate plan for solar to new customers very soon. However, if you can explore solar and decide to move forward before the end of January, a good local company like Renova can make sure your request for the best rate program is submitted in time for the next meter reading that happens before March 1. That’s when SCE will discontinue the best rate plan for new customers. When you go solar, you go onto a Time-Of-Use rate. Getting the best TOU plan can help maximize your savings. What if I can’t decide that quickly? Solar will still save you money, but the savings won’t be quite as good. Any other reason to move quickly? The full 30 percent federal tax credit
comes to an end on Dec. 31, 2019; next year, it will be 26 percent. It’s not a big drop, but you might as well take advantage of maximum savings. If you purchase, it’s a tax credit right to you, and if you lease, the owner of the equipment will take the tax credit, but it will be reflected in lower payments to you. Sounds like I need to get moving! Yes—start with a good local company like Renova, with great reviews; it’s the only local SunPower Elite Dealer in the desert. Then if you want to get competitive bids, you’ll be able to. The company you work with can help you compile your last year’s electric bills so your past energy usage is known. A site survey of your home will also need to be done for a completely customized proposal with no surprises. Your goal should be to offset 100 percent of your electric usage so you are completely guarded from future rate increases.
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 23
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the
FOOD & DRINK INDY ENDORSEMENT On this month’s menu: a mind-blowing sandwich, and a delicious Mexican appetizer By Jimmy Boegle
WHAT The house turkey club WHERE Carousel Bakery, 440 S. El Cielo Road, No. 5, Palm Springs HOW MUCH $9.99 CONTACT 760-699-5006; carouselbakeryps.com WHY It’s mostly made in-house. I’ve pledged to substantially cut my carbohydrate intake in 2019—and places like Carousel Bakery are making it very difficult for me to keep this pledge. Pretty much everything Carousel makes is carbs … and pretty much everything Carousel makes is delicious. On a recent visit to Carousel (during which I’d decided to completely and totally throw the diet out the figurative window, obviously), I decided to get the house turkey club sandwich for my main course, and a cheese finger ($2.50) for dessert. Alberto and Elizabeth Cervantes are the proprietors of this tiny bakery, and they’re almost certainly the people who will be serving you there. On this visit, Elizabeth guided me through tough decisions about my sandwich (like which house-made bread I wanted it on, and whether I wanted it toasted; “sourdough” and “yes” were the recommendations with which I went) while Alberto rang up my order. Elizabeth informed me that the turkey used on the sandwich is roasted in-house—and the Dijon mayonnaise is made there, too. All these fresh, house-made touches were evident from the first bite of the sandwich; it was full of flavor, with perfect proportions of all the ingredients. A flaw in just one element can throw off a sandwich, but there were no flaws at all here. And that cheese finger … wow. The dough was flaky and sweet, while the cheese filling was creamy, just a little savory and just a little sweet. It was a flawless pastry. While I’ll be limiting my carbs and calorie intakes this year, Carousel Bakery will definitely near the top of my restaurant splurge list. What they do there is just so good.
WHAT The chicken chiles Agave WHERE Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill, 73325 Highway 111, Palm Desert HOW MUCH $12.50 CONTACT 760-836-9028; www. freshagavemexicanbarandgrill.com WHY The sauce ties it all together. It wasn’t supposed to be my entrée. I was having my monthly meeting with Independent contributor Kevin Fitzgerald, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted for lunch. I hadn’t been to Fresh Agave before, and I wanted to give the place a try, given how well it does in our Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll every year. I intended to get a couple of items to try; because of my unfamiliarity with the menu, I asked the server for advice. She recommended the chicken chiles Agave as a starter, along with a handful of entrées. The appetizer recommendation—yellow peppers stuffed with chicken, tomatoes, cilantro and onions, with chipotle sauce on the side—sounded good to me, so we ordered it and asked for more time to decide on our entrées. The chicken chiles Agave arrived fairly quickly … and it was a good thing I hadn’t yet ordered my main course, as it was immediately obvious that I would not need one, given the size of what was on the plate—six not-small peppers stuffed with tasty goodness. Kevin only wanted one of the six peppers, and the remaining five were enough of a meal, even for a hearty eater like me. And what a delicious meal it was; it was a perfect example of how ingredients when combined can become more than the sum of their parts: The stuffed peppers by themselves were just OK, and the chipotle sauce on its own was unspectacular. But when the two were combined … yum. The creamy, peppery and just slightly sweet sauce brought out all sorts of fantastic favors in the moist chicken. I’ll definitely order the chicken chiles Agave on my next visit to Fresh Agave … but I’ll need to take more dining companions with me, so we can share it—meaning I’ll have enough room for an entrée. CVIndependent.com
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 25
FEBRUARY 2019
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Restaurant NEWS BITES By Jimmy Boegle RANCHO MIRAGE WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL GROWS IN ITS SECOND YEAR When I talked to David Fraschetti about the inaugural Rancho Mirage Wine and Food Festival a year ago, he promised me that the fest, taking place at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater and Community Park, at 71560 San Jacinto Drive, would feature great food—but the primary focus would be on the wine, with no booze, beer or cooking demonstrations. “This is a marketing event for our wineries,” he told me. “… We’re not trying to be everything to everyone.” Seeing as Fraschetti, a Coachella Valley resident, is also the organizer of the popular VinDiego Wine and Food Festival, it should come as no surprise that he apparently knew what he was doing—and that an expanded Rancho Mirage Wine and Food Festival will return this year, taking place Jan. 30-Feb. 2. A couple of five-course wine dinners at restaurants will happen on Wednesday, Jan. 30, with the Rare and Reserve Tasting happening at the park on Friday, Feb. 1. But the main event is the grand tasting, taking place at the park on Saturday, Feb. 2. “When we started doing this business seven years ago in San Diego, we had a great business plan: ‘If you build it, they will come,’” Fraschetti told me recently. “Last year really proved to be the same out here in the desert.” This year’s grand tasting will feature 18 to 20 restaurants—most, but unlike last year, not all based in Rancho Mirage—and about 45 wineries. Fraschetti said he loves the community aspect of the festival; related to that, a portion of the proceeds will again benefit the Desert AIDS Project. “I live four minutes from the festival site,” Fraschetti said. “The people who come are neighbors of mine. Everybody seems to know everybody out here.” Tickets to Saturday afternoon’s grand tasting start at $85. For tickets and more information, including a complete schedule, visit ranchomiragewineandfoodfestival.com. ENZO’S BISTRO AND BAR REPLACES THE FISHERMAN’S RESTAURANT AND BAR So it’s a good-news, bad-news sort of thing. The bad: The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar, which took over the old Crab Pot digs at 70030 Highway 111, in Palm Desert, has closed its doors. (It had no relation to the Fisherman’s Market and Grill locations in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta, for the record.) The good news: The space is now home to the second Enzo’s Bistro and Bar location. The first Enzo’s opened at 78121 Avenida La Fonda in La Quinta last spring and has gathered a lot of great buzz. I have not yet had a chance to check out the “elegant and authentic” Italian fare at either location—but you can bet your bottom dollar I will soon. Get more info at www.enzosbistroandbar.com. IN BRIEF One of the culinary centerpieces of downtown Palm Springs’ redevelopment project is open: Il Corso, the much-liked Palm Desert-El Paseo Italian restaurant owned by chef Mario Marfia and, uh, indicted developer John Wessman has opened its second location at 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive, No. 180; get info at ilcorsocv.com. … Save wildlife “one brew at a time,” according to the news release, at the 10th annual Brew at the Zoo event, happening at and benefitting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, 47900 Portola Ave., in Palm Desert, at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9. Tickets start at $60 (for members) and $65 (nonmembers) and will get you access to more than 30 beer, wine, liquor and non-alcoholic beverage vendors; 10 food trucks will offer food for purchase. Designated drivers get in for just $20; call 760-346-5694 or visit www.livingdesert.org for tickets or details. … Celebrate the Academy Awards in style and support AAP Food Samaritans at the same time by heading to Trio Restaurant at 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24, for the annual “Hollywood’s Biggest Night” shindig. The event will sell out, so get your seats, starting at $125, ASAP at aidsassistance.org; you’ll get a six-course dinner and beverages with your reservation, and most of what you’ll pay is tax-deductible. Yay! … The River giveth, and The River taketh away. The Rancho Mirage shopping center, at 71800 Highway 111, recently welcomed the second location of the locally owned Apong’s Philly Steak, while the only valley location of MidiCi Neapolitan Pizza Company, which was located at The River, has shut its doors. Learn more about the yumminess at Apong’s at apongsphillysteak.com. … This announcement brings me joy: Mariscocos Culiacan, one of my favorite valley seafood places, has opened a second location: In addition to the original Coachella location, there’s now one at 16760 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs. Yes! More info at www.facebook.com/mariscocosymaristorresculiacan760. … Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, at 32250 Bob Hope Drive, in Rancho Mirage, has recently made some nice changes—including the opening of 360 Sports, a big, beautiful sports bar and restaurant. Learn more at www.hotwatercasino. com/360-sports-bar.
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 27
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The Lettermen bring their classic ballads to the McCallum Theatre friends from the SF punk scene and a local-music vet join forces subatomic: A chat with the man who wrote the book on playlists the lucky 13: Meet a new member of Se7en4 and an open-mic legend
The Blueskye REPORT February 2019 By Brian Blueskye
www.cvindependent.com/music
HOMIES MAKING MUSIC
Daniel Sullivan, aka Provoked, says prison was the best thing to ever happen to him
29 photo by brian blueskye
Joshua Bell
February is the shortest month of the year—but it just so happens to be the time for some of the hottest events of the year. The McCallum Theatre’s packed schedule includes a lot of great stuff. At 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4, classical violinist Joshua Bell will be performing. He’s the violinist who was the subject of a Washington Post story about him busking in the subway—with few paying attention to him or knowing who he was. Bell has a classical-music career that goes back 30 years, and he’s played some of the biggest classical music halls around the world. Tickets are $60 to $105. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14, Broadway star and vocalist Linda Eder will take the stage. Eder is no stranger to the McCallum and has turned in sell-out performances on its stage before. Tickets are $38 to $68. Do you love magic? Then at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17, you’ll love It’s Magic! The show will feature some of the biggest stars of magic, and it’s produced by Milt Larsen and Terry Hill, best known as the producers of America’s Got Talent. You’ll see magicians who have performed in Las Vegas and magicians who have racked up international acclaim. Tickets are $18 to $38. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has some big names coming through; here are just a few to give you an idea. At 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1, The Beach Boys will be performing. Beach Boys member Mike Love is now the only original member remaining, though longtime member Bruce Johnston is still along for the ride. The band’s shows remain wildly popular with fans; you’ll hear all the songs that sold millions of records and changed rock ’n’ roll history in America. Tickets are $39 to $79. At 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, R&B group Boyz II Men will be performing. This would be a nice Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart, if you have one— or even a great night out with friends. I’ve always been blown away by the Boyz’ singing talents and unbelievable harmonies. Tickets are $39 to $79. If those two big names aren’t big enough for you, you’ll love this one: At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, the Dogg himself, continued on Page 30 CVIndependent.com
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COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 29
FEBRUARY 2019
MUSIC
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HOMIES MAKING MUSIC
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Daniel Sullivan, aka Provoked, says prison was the best thing to ever happen to him
W
By Brian Blueskye
hen I met with Daniel Sullivan, who goes by the stage name of Provoked, he brought a portfolio that chronicles his history in the local music scene. A couple of nights before, he’d performed at The Date Shed, celebrating the release of his new album, One Life. The portfolio included write-ups from publications including The Desert Sun and Desert Entertainer, information on his history with local television and radio, and news about music releases from more than a decade ago. I asked him about the gap in his history. He sighed and then spoke publicly for the first time about what happened—a felony assault charge. are uplifting. I grew up as a battle rapper, “I made a mistake that I’m remorseful for,” although most of my music was positive. But Sullivan said. “I went to prison. I was gone I was used to saying negative things when I for five years. I had a lot of time to think— was rapping about other people and clowning spiritually, mentally, physically and all of that. I around. I want to spread a message of love, feel that it was really the best thing to have ever consciousness and the things that really matter happened to me. It (led to) the discipline that I right now, especially in this crazy time we’re needed, and it put everything into perspective. living in.” “I’m back now, and I’m really thankful to be One of the tracks on One Life, “17 Years,” back. I feel blessed that I’ve been getting the features local hip-hop artist J. Patron, whom response that I have. I want people to know that Sullivan has known since they went to school I’m remorseful for what I did, and I’m thankful together. Patron performed at the show at The for that experience. This might sound crazy; the Date Shed, as did another classmate of theirs, happiest times of my life were in there, because Willdabeast. I knew it was the adversity that would produce “We all went to La Quinta High School the refinement in life that I needed.” together. I met them in 2000,” Sullivan said. He showed me an employee performance “When I met J. Patron, we met battling each review that was stellar, as well as past and other. I was trying to find anyone who was present letters of support from people rapping. We had just started going to school including County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez; there. They told me J. Patron was the guy, so Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia; and Oralia Ortiz, we battled, and then we became friends shortly co-founder of Culturas Music-Arts, who wrote after. He’s been making music since the late in 2012 that she was surprised to hear about ’90s. Willdabeast has also been rapping since his situation due to his community work— around 1999, too—so we’ve all been rapping including mentoring kids to stay in school. for about 20 years or more. “I would say that the discipline is really “It’s a trip that everything is coming what upped my drive to the fullest and to full circle right now. For me, J. Patron has write as much as I fully could,” Sullivan said. definitely done a lot out here, and I respect “I have a whole new attitude and gratitude him for that.” that makes me want to write things that Sullivan said he sees a lot of positive things going on locally. “I was happy to see so many artists really doing it. It isn’t even just the hip-hop, but the art and music scene in general and the growth I’ve seen,” Sullivan said. “We’re finally getting to the point where we’re almost giving people out of town no choice but to recognize what we have going on in this desert. This is ushering in a local time for us where local music and local art will get the exposure it deserves. It’s really unique, and we have a really good vibe out here.”
Daniel Sullivan, aka Provoked. Brian Blueskye
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ ProvokedPoetry or provokedmusic.com.
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The Blueskye REPORT continued from Page 27
Snoop Dogg, will be performing. Snoop’s name is iconic in hip-hop, and he was one of the biggest rappers in the world back in the ’90s (in fact, he still is today), with rap anthems that get heavy radio and club play. Tickets are $59 to $109. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www. fantasyspringsresort.com. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa has some compelling offerings in February. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, the famous all-male revue Thunder From Down Under will take place. If your girlfriend isn’t replying to your text messages that night, that’s most likely where she is. Tickets are $15 to $25. On Valentine’s Day, specifically at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14, it’ll be a magical night at the Art Laboe Valentine’s Super Love Jam. Laboe has become comically known for all the people who call into his radio show to give shoutouts to their loved ones in prison, which often involve names like “Baby Joker.” Laboe recently gave an interview where he said that he doesn’t judge his listeners—and that’s kept him on the air and has led to some uplifting moments for inmates and their families. The Love Jam will feature Zapp, Midnight Star, The Jets, GQ and The Delfonics. Tickets are $40 to $60. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, you’ll want to soft-rock all night, because Air Supply will be performing. I’m sure Air Supply is hoping for a big resurgence similar to the one that soft-rock contemporary Toto is enjoying having right now … but actually, Air Supply is doing just fine without a Weezer cover and without any memes, because Air Supply has sold more than 20 million copies of its greatesthits record and is still highly in demand. Tickets are $40 to $60. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-9991995; www.hotwatercasino.com. Spotlight 29 has a few shows booked for the showroom in February. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, comedian Felipe Esparza will be performing. You might remember him from his performances on Comics Unleashed and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, as well as other TV and film appearances. He currently has a hilarious Netflix special out. Tickets are $30 to $40. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, Mexican singer-songwriter Pancho Barraza will take the stage. Barraza is a performer of traditional Mexican music. Tickets are $65 to $85. Now for something different … at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, a comedy play titled A Oscuras Me da Risa will be performed. It’s a multi-character comedy about a happy couple going on a weekend getaway and going their own separate ways. Tickets are $36 to $91. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace has some must-see shows, per usual. At 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, psychedelic rock-band La CVIndependent.com
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVE The Lettermen bring their classic ballads to the McCallum Theatre
Snoop Dogg
Luz will be performing. I recently gave La Luz’s new album Floating Features a listen, and it’s fantastic. This should be a great show—and is a must for any rock fan. Tickets are $15. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, the alt-countryish band Evangenitals will be back. As I always say, you haven’t lived ’til you’ve seen the Evangenitals play. Stick around for their multiple sets, especially the last one at the end of the night. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry … wait, you won’t cry, but you’ll laugh hysterically. Admission is free! At 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, Pearl and the Canyon Revelry Band will be performing. Pearl Aday (daughter of Meat Loaf) has quite a set of pipes, and at a young age was a backing vocalist in her dad’s band. She’s been performing country and released her debut album in 2010; she just released a new album, Heartbreak and Canyon Revelry. My metal-loving friend Frank pointed out that her husband is Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian—so you might catch a glimpse of him at the show. Tickets are $10. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com. The Purple Room Palm Springs is definitely a nice place to consider taking that special someone to for dinner and a show. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, singer Jonathan Karrant will be performing. Karrant is known for his “Hollywood’s greatest hits”-style show, as he performs songs by Burt Bacharach, Michel Legrand and many others. Tickets are $30 to $35. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, Broadway star and vocalist Roslyn Kind will take the stage. The half-sister of Barbra Streisand has toured the globe performing with Babs and her nephew, Jason Gould. Tickets are $45 to $55. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, cabaret performer and singer Iris Williams will be performing. Her jazzy vocals on up-tempo numbers and her ballads will be a treat to hear. Tickets are $40 to $45. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www. purpleroompalmsprings.com. Toucan’s Tiki Lounge and Cabaret has a February event worth noting. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 16, popcountry singer Steve Grand will take the Toucan’s stage. You’ll probably remember him as the singer of “All-American Boy,” a song about a gay man in love with a straight man, which went viral. He performed at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert’s Center Stage gala in 2016. Tickets are $35 to $45. Toucans Tiki Lounge and Cabaret, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-4167584; reactionshows.com.
T
By Brian Blueskye
he Lettermen began performing in the late 1950s, had their first hit record in the early ’60s, and went on to have an amazing career that’s still going today. The trio will be stopping by the McCallum Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 24. Tony Butala is the only remaining original member of The Lettermen; the others, Jim Pike and Bob Engemann, sold their interests to Butala. Today, Butala is joined by Donovan Tea, who joined in 1984, and Bobby Poynton, who joined originally in 1989 and returned several years ago. During a recent phone interview, Butala explained how The Lettermen worked to stand out in the pop scene. “We didn’t take (success) lightly, and made Our popularity was romantic ballads; they were sure we did something more in person than universal, because people fall in love in every stand onstage and do hit records,” Butala language in every country. The Beatles were said during a recent phone interview. “So known for their British Invasion music; the many of the other acts at the time were not Beach Boys are known for their surfing and entertainers and were lucky to have a hit hot-rod music; The Lettermen are known for record or two. With The Lettermen, we started our backseat music.” with three solo singers when I put this group Butala said being on Capitol Records was a together. We made sure each individual was great experience. a lead singer as well as a performer. So many “When we signed to Capitol in 1960, they groups had a lead singer and two or three guys were just expanding, and they became the first in the background going, ‘Doo-wah, doo-wah, international company,” he said. “Shortly after doo-wah.’ We never had that philosophy.” we signed to Capitol, they signed my friends The Letterman became popular thanks, in the Beach Boys. Then shortly after, they signed part, to popularity at colleges. the Beatles. We were the first ones in … (and “When we had a hit in the early ’60s, we were) three big recording acts that helped each were wanted in the colleges,” Butala said. “We’d other. If you’re a disc jockey in Des Moines, go around playing 150 colleges a year—the Iowa, playing a Lettermen record, when the large universities on the weekends and smaller Capitol promotions person went there a couple colleges on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. of months later, he’d say, ‘We have this new “When you work a lot, it’s like rehearsal. group called the Beach Boys, and if you play You’re learning what works and what doesn’t the Beach Boys, I’ll give you the first play of work. We found audience participation was the the next Lettermen hit.’” most important thing in our shows. People can As pop music faded in popularity in favor of always buy a record and hear how pretty you rock ’n’ roll, which itself began changing, The sound, but in person, we wanted the audience Lettermen tried to adapt with times. to leave with something intangible—that was “People just never heard the stuff we the fact that they were being entertained.” tried, because it was commercially never The Lettermen went on to tour the world. played,” Butala said. “In the ’60s, when all “When I was a kid, I was in a choir that sang the counterculture music was coming, the in 17 different languages. We went around Lettermen actually recorded a song called ‘All the world,” he said. “Capitol Records was an the Gray Haired Men,’ and it was kind of a rebel international record label, and instead of our song. It was putting down the people older than records just being hits in the United States, 30 in a way that was saying you can’t think old; our records were released around the world. you have to think young. We got about five air plays and sold 10 copies to our relatives. We learned by experiment: That wasn’t us. After that, we stuck to what we knew about and kept the romantic ballads coming.”
The Lettermen.
The Lettermen will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, at the McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, in Palm Desert. Tickets are $28 to $68. For tickets or more information, call 760340-2787, or visit www.mccallumtheatre.com.
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OLD PEOPLE ROCKING SHIT
Subatomic a chat with mike warner, the man who (literally) wrote the book on playlists By Alex harrington
Three friends from the SF punk scene and a local-music veteran join forces for the Hot Patooties
W
By Brian Blueskye
hen three friends involved in the San Francisco punk-rock scene moved to the desert, they decided they needed to get together and have some fun. The result of that fun is the Hot Patooties, a newly formed band that consists of former San Francisco musicians Nettie Hammar (vocals), Beth Allen (guitar) and Shawn Smith (drums), as well as Yucca Valley bassist and former Gutter Candy member D.D. Gunz. We chatted at Beth Allen and Shawn Smith’s home in Morongo Valley after an alcohol-infused dinner party. “We’re from Morongo Valley, where the morons go,” Allen joked. “Shawn and I are in a band together called the Wastedeads, and we’re or anything. It was just, ‘Who gives a shit? a two-piece. Nettie also moved to Morongo Let’s just play!’ Back in the late ’80s and early Valley. Nettie and I are old friends from way ’90s, that’s how it used to be for me, but it back, and I thought, ‘Oh shit, we need to be in hasn’t felt that way since. a band together.’ The Hot Patooties were born “I’m 43, and I’m playing good music, and after that.” that’s a true story. It’s raw, and it’s real, and D.D. Gunz was recruited after the others it’s cool.” decided to form a band here in the desert. Back in the SF music scene, Hammar was “(D.D.) sent me a response to the Craigslist in a band called the Mighty Slim Pickins, and ad, and asked, ‘Are you still looking for a bass Beth Allen was in a band called the Meat Sluts player?’” Allen said. “This ad has been up for before they joined forces. over a month. I was being really sarcastic on “We were a dyke-abilly band,” Hammar said my phone, and I said, ‘Actually, we’re looking about the Mighty Slim Pickins. “We were all for an old punk-rocker; are you an old punkrockabilly gay-wads, and we played with the rocker?’ I was about to give up. … He said, Meat Sluts, who were an all-girl punk band, ‘Actually, yes,’ and then he sent me a photo of and it just worked. The shows were always himself with his huge Charged GBH mohawk packed. We played for a lot of years together standing next to Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. before my band broke up and the Meat Sluts I was totally joking and didn’t expect to find broke up. But it was a lot of fun.” anyone like this.” Allen and Smith are a couple; Smith told D.D. Gunz said his time rehearsing with the a story about how he met Allen after a Meat Hot Patooties has been a lot of fun and even Sluts concert. rejuvenating for him as a musician. “I was in San Francisco for six months at the “I don’t want to sound cliché, but when I time and went in to talk to my band and said, found these guys and played with them for ‘OK, who knows Beth Allen?’” Smith said. “My the first time, I thought it was just real music,” bass player, my guitar player and lead singer all Gunz said. “More so than Gutter Candy, who I raised their hands and said, ‘We all know Beth.’ used to play bass for; there were no influences I said, ‘OK, she’s going to be my girlfriend within three months!’ And it happened!’” The Hot Patooties are entering the local music scene with no big intentions. “We’re all a little older and have done our time,” Allen said. “I’ve toured and have done all that shit. We just want to show the desert how to have some fun.” Hammar told me a story about touring Europe and making no money. “We’re all comfortable with ourselves,” Hammar said. “We’re old people. We’re rocking our shit, and we all just got together to have fun. What we’re doing is having fun.”
The Hot Patooties. Brian blueskye
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ Hot-Patooties-2071750783142932. Disclosure: Beth Allen is an Independent contributor.
Mike Warner.
It’s 2019, and the way we listen to music has changed. We moved from vinyl to cassette, then from CDs to MP3s and now streaming. How we enjoy music has evolved—and not only is it easier to find music to listen to than ever before; it’s easy to share it with others as well. I recently spoke with streaming music consultant, strategist and curator Mike Warner about the ins and outs of the modern era of digital streaming via services like Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music. He’s had a front-row seat to watch this evolution over 15-plus years in the music business. The main difference I’ve noticed with these newer services, especially Spotify, is the addition of playlists—specially curated lists that feature artists both popular and unknown. Warner curates playlists via Spotify, Apple Music and other services, and these playlists range from “Wine Bar Grooves” to “Funky and Nu Disco Jams.” He handpicks all of the tracks—which reach tens of thousands of his followers each week. Beyond this curation, Warner works with artists and labels to find playlists for their music. Most of his work is done through personal networking—a breath of fresh air in this often-distant digital era. “My primary function, really, in 2019, is education,” he said. “I just want to get out there and educate as many artists as I can.” This education involves sharing tips with artists to help them better promote their releases. “The more people that become successful, the better,” Warner said. Warner published an e-book last year called Work Hard Playlist Hard. It details some of the best practices people can use to distribute their own music.
“The stuff that I preach, I’ve done myself, and I continue to do,” he said. I asked what inspired him to write the book. “It got to the point where I was writing so many emails and sharing the same information again and again that I went, ‘You know what? Maybe I should just write this down one time and put it in a book,’” he said. Warner also works with commercial clients, including labels. “Labels see importance in independent playlists and third-party curators just as much as the indie artists do,” he said. “… A lot of the labels are doing the same thing you’re doing now, (so) they’re actually reaching out to independent curators, too.” Warner himself is an artist; he’s a third of the popular Australian trio Date Night. Warner and bandmates Sharif Darmansjah and Anders Magnusson produce fantastic music; while Warner is now based in the United States, and his bandmates remain in Australia, that hasn’t slowed them down. The year 2018 was big for them, especially regarding the streaming numbers, with a total stream count in the millions. Work Hard Playlist Hard is available via on Amazon, Apple Books, Gumroad and other providers. If you purchase it via Gumroad or Apple, you will get automatic updates whenever Warner updates the e-book. Visit www.workhardplaylisthard.com for links to purchase his book, submit music, listen to his podcast and more. If you’re looking to catch me live, find me Thursday nights at Landmark Lounge, and Friday and Saturday nights at Big Rock Pub. Visit my website at www.alexharrington.co for more information. CVIndependent.com
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MUSIC
FEBRUARY 2019
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/MUSIC
the
LUCKY 13 Meet the newest member of Se7en4 and a local open-mic legend
text and photos By Brian Blueskye
What was the first album you owned? A Led Zeppelin greatest-hits compilation. What bands are you listening to right now? Avatar, Ghost, Aviators and Miracle of Sound.
What was the first concert you attended? A concert called Smoke Out when I was, like, 14 years old. It was 311, Limp Bizkit and System of a Down. It definitely made me want to play a show one day, even though I wouldn’t get into music until I was 21 years old.
What bands are you listening to right now? I listen to so much different music, and I go through phases, and currently, my phase is Falling in Reverse, Highly Suspect, The Pretty Reckless and A Day to Remember. Yeah, I’m all over the damn place. What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? Mumble rap. It is just ridiculous. But these dudes are making money doing it; I will, of course, give my respects to any musician who finds a way to make money doing what they love. What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Honesty, Mötley Crüe. Mötley Crüe back in the Sunset Strip days would have been fucking awesome. That was rock ’n’ roll at its funnest. What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Elton John. Honestly, I don’t really feel guilty, because his songs and albums are structured so damn well. Wow! What a great songwriter. What’s your favorite music venue? I just played at the Viper Room, and it was pretty damn awesome, so there for now. But Se7en4 is playing the Rainbow in Hollywood in February possibly, so that may be my CVIndependent.com
NAME Daniel Scopelitis MORE INFO When I first started going to the open-mic shows at The Hood Bar and Pizza, I was constantly taken back by Daniel Scopelitis. Sometimes performing under the moniker of Fantasma Satanica, Scopelitis is often in costume, with face paint, and performs various songs with an instrumental track. What was the first concert you attended? Knotfest 2014, when I was 19. That was awesome. If and when I can afford it, I will go again.
NAME Chris Williams GROUP Se7en4 MORE INFO Se7en4 has made a lineup change, welcoming guitarist Chris Williams into the band. In December, Se7en4 played at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, where Williams made his Se7en4 debut. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/se7en4.
What was the first album you owned? Metallica’s Master of Puppets.
What song should everyone listen to right now? “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Everyone should listen to that song.
favorite. I don’t know. I’m just eager to play the shit out of the Hollywood venues. What’s the one song lyri you can’t get out of your head? “I’m ready for love and I’m ready for war, but I’m ready for more,” “My Name Is Human,” Highly Suspect. What band or artist changed your life? Ozzy Osbourne—well, the Randy Rhoads days anyway, because (Osbourne’s guitarist) Randy Rhoads had a slick way of melding classical with metal/rock, and it was really a gamechanger for me, because it let me know I could have a love for classical and rock, and use one to benefit the other in my practice regimen. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? I’m asking Freddie Mercury: How does one just let go and just be who they know they are on the inside as an artist and performer? He had courage, and was a true performer. What song would you like played at your funeral? “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Easy: Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses. It’s hands-down one of the most in-your-face, bad-ass, epic and immortal rock albums ever produced.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get? Mumble rap. In some instances, the voice can somewhat become an instrument, but for the most part, I don’t understand it—ؙnothing against people who are into it. What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live? Michael Jackson. What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure? Disney music, mainly from the classics. Sometimes you’ll find me singing “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. What’s your favorite music venue? The Hood Bar and Pizza, mainly for sentimental value; it’s where I got the best feedback for my performances. What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head? “So may your dreams be monumental, when
your spirit guides the way,” “Monumental,” Aviators. What band or artist changed your life? Ghost. It got me more into theatrical bands, and I guess you can say it’s made my life a lot less boring. It’s also inspired me to make my show more unique. You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking? “Could I perform for you?” to James Hetfield of Metallica. What song would you like played at your funeral? “Pro Memoria” by Ghost. Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time? Black Sabbath, N.I.B. What song should everyone listen to right now? “Danny Don’t You Know” by Ninja Sex Party.
COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 33
FEBRUARY 2019
CANNABIS IN THE CV
PAINS, LOTS OF GAINS Local cannabis experts share their 2019 projections for the industry BY ROBIN GOINS
T
he California cannabis industry is now in its second year of legalization—and excitement within the industry is building. Experts in the Coachella Valley have been diligently preparing their forecasts for 2019—so we decided to ask them what they’re expecting to happen. One leader in the industry is predicting great things for 2019. Adrian Sedlin, CEO of Canndescent, which has a large grow facility in Desert Hot Springs, is expecting the industry to boom as legalization spreads globally. Sedlin notes that in 2018, the adult-use cannabis market tripled in population size, and says that as the industry grows with adult use, so will production. He also thinks the political arena is looking better for legalization, as more political candidates are promoting federal legalization. “Many critics argue that California made a mess of things in its first year regulating adultuse cannabis,” Sedlin said. “(The year) 2019 will prove far more prosperous for licenseholders as operating a cannabis business without a license will finally become a felony.” The economic potential in the Coachella Valley is huge, considering the amount of open land and the potential for cannabisindustry growth here. Brent Buhrman, CEO of Nationwide Cannabis Funding and president of the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network, is predicting the industry in the valley “will see an explosion of growth as new cannabis development becomes vertical and operational.” Buhrman also expects real estate in the valley to hold its value, especially with many cannabis investors who were waiting for two things to happen that, well, just happened: the passage of the Farm Bill and the departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. These investors are “ready to play ball,” says Buhrman, “and the watchers are now ready to jump into the game.” Buhrman predicts the Coachella Valley will see a new wave of people and companies come forward as a result. With the industry starting to mature, Sedlin does expect some—no pun intended— weeding out to occur. He foresees stocks changing drastically, and as a result, the “highprofile sackings” of two or three high-profile CEOs at publicly owned cannabis companies. Other seasoned cannabis entrepreneurs see
different transitions on the horizon. Eric Crowe, of Cathedral City-based Mystic Valley CBD, who has been on the forefront of the Colorado cannabis industry for the last 15 years, predicts Coachella Valley happenings will mirror much of what was seen in Colorado. Crowe is predicting a clearing in the industry, which will lead to legitimacy and credibility as well as a surge in canna-tourism. This surge, Crowe states, “will created unprecedented economic growth in the valley, which will include all ancillary business, such as construction, hospitality and all business trades.” Crowe cautions that lessons learned from Colorado should be heeded as the Coachella Valley cannabis industry expands. “All industry in the valley, in some way, will come to depend on the cannabis industry, and as it morphs and grows, oversaturation will happen,” he said. As happened in Colorado, Crowe anticipates the quality and quantity of the goods in the market will reach capacity, which will result in price reductions and many companies closing as a result. Like Buhrman, he predicts this will allow a new group of players to come to the table. Crowe thinks some of the new business emphasis will be on medicinal uses for hemp, specifically 100 percent certified organic growth and production. He expects that the success of some within the industry will depend on new technology; for example, his company uses reverse-engineered soundwave technology, which focuses on the DNA of the hemp plant in order to produce the highest level of CBD full-spectrum concentrations. The economic outlook for the cannabis industry in 2019 and beyond looks very promising—but those in the industry will need to change along with the demands of the industry. Robin Goins is a business consultant for DR.G Consulting and works extensively in the cannabis industry in the Coachella Valley. For more information, visit www.drrobingoins.com.
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CENTER Helping LGBTQ People Along Their Way Wherever you are in life’s journey, find connections and programs at The LGBT Community Center of the Desert. Safety Net | Empowerment | Physical Health Mental Health | Social & Fun | Life Enrichment
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OPINION SAVAGE LOVE
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/OPINION
COMMUNITY NEEDED BY DAN SAVAGE
I
’m a 19-year-old bisexual woman really into orgasm denial and edging. With the recent Tumblr ban on all NSFW content, I have no idea where to indulge my kinks and find my community. I’ve never needed to go anywhere else to find porn, explore my sexuality and be surrounded by supportive people—and now I’m at a loss. A few Google searches have been really disheartening. Clearly, I’ve been spoiled by all the easily found porn made by women, for women, on Tumblr. Hell, I’m used to it being made by bisexuals, for bisexuals. I feel like I’m 15 again, desperately scouring the internet for anything that applies to me. Please tell me where I can find my porn! You wrote about how this ban harms sex “MMPC should devote some time to scouring workers, Dan, but please write about how it harms Twitter for bisexual women into orgasm denial queer and kinky people, too! and edging, some of whom may be uploading their original content to platforms like Just Missing My Porn Community for Fans,” said Cheves. “The creators of JFF are right now working on a more Tumblr-like “Many people are scrambling to relocate their social-media extension to their site. Other startfetish communities in the wake of Tumblr’s ups like Slixa or ShareSomeCome and social ban on ‘adult content,’” said Alexander Cheves, platforms like Switter have emerged in the wake a queer writer who lives in New York City. of this crackdown. These are corners of the “Porn is more than hot videos—porn creates internet where MMPC can find her porn.” communities. I wouldn’t know half the gross Cheves wrote a terrific piece for Out that stuff I’m into if it weren’t for Tumblr!” connects the dots between Tumblr’s ban on Luckily, MMPC, the men and women who porn and the anti-sex, anti-porn, anti-sexcreated and/or curated the content that spoke to work, and anti-queer crackdown that was you and affirmed your identity didn’t evaporate already under way on other platforms (“The on the day Tumblr’s porn ban went into effect. Dangerous Trend of LGBTQ Censorship on the Many have taken their clips, captions, GIFs and Internet,” Dec. 6, 2018). While there’s still tons erotic imaginations to other platforms—and of porn on the internet, as many people have some are creating new platforms. pointed out (myself included), the crackdown
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Where can I go to find porn and like-minded people now that Tumblr’s deleting all of the NSFW content?
on explicit content on social-media platforms is fucking over vulnerable queers. As Eric Paul Leue, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, told Cheves: “Many people in straight, heteronormative communities don’t understand what the big deal is (about the Tumblr adult content ban), because their lives and cultures are represented everywhere. For those in queer, or niche or fetish communities, Tumblr was one of the few accessible spaces to build communities and share content.” As long as sex-education programs don’t cover queer sex or kinky sex—and there’s no sign of improvement in either area—LGBTQ youth and young people with kinks will continue to get their sexual education on the internet. And the harder it is to access explicit content, particularly explicit noncommercial content, the harder it’s going to be for young queers to find not just smut that speaks to them, but the education they need to protect themselves. “More youth will get hurt, and more will get HIV thanks to Tumblr’s content ban,” said Cheves. “That’s not scaremongering—that will happen. Case in point: I grew up in a fiercely religious home on a 500-acre farm in the middle of Georgia with dial-up and a pretty intense parental blocker. I couldn’t access porn—I couldn’t even access articles with sexual illustrations, including sexual health illustrations. When I went to college in 2010, the same year Grindr hit the App Store, I knew absolutely nothing about HIV and nothing about my community. It’s no wonder that I tested positive at 21.” While Cheves writes professionally today— you can find his advice column in the Advocate and his byline in other publications—he still updates and posts new content to thebeastlyexboyfriend.com, his original blog. “Sites like my blog are needed now more than ever,” said Cheves. “If MMPC wants to help her community survive, she may no longer have the option of being a passive consumer—she might have to start a website or blog, wave a digital flag, and find others. The internet is so massive that censorship will never be able to keep people with niche fetishes from congregating, digitally or otherwise. It’s just going to be a little harder to find each other.” Follow Alexander Cheves on Twitter @ BadAlexCheves. My new partner is a swinger. Being GGG, I said, sure, we can go to swinger parties, even though I have often been uncomfortable in swinger spaces. Then I was nearly assaulted at a swinger party
with my new partner. If I hadn’t kicked the shit out of the guy, I would have been assaulted. After being appropriately upset about the situation, I was told by one of the organizers: “Well, that is why you should bring a spotter or a couple of friends to a party. You have to protect yourself.” Nowhere on the website for this party was that listed as something I should do. No other articles about swinging that I’ve read (or swinging podcasts I’ve listened to) suggested bringing “spotters” to ensure safety! So what is the standard of consent in swinger spaces? Is bringing a spotter just a given that nobody told me about? I want to be clear about the seriousness of the problem: What happened to me was not a touch on the leg to see if I might be interested in another joining in. It was someone trying to stick an unwrapped cock in me without asking if I would be OK with that! Unhappy Nervous Swinger Absolutely Fucking Enraged I’ve strolled around a half-dozen straight swinger spaces—more than the average homo—and the standard for consent at each one I visited can be summed up in four words: Ask before you touch. My visits to straight swinging events/spaces/parties were strictly for research purposes, it should go without saying, but I’m saying it anyway: I went only to observe. And at one party, I observed a man attempt to enter a scene he hadn’t been invited to join—by placing his hand on a woman’s leg. The leg-touching creep was promptly ejected for violating the club’s rules about consent. That’s not just the way it’s supposed to work in swinger spaces, UNSAFE; that’s the way it must work in any swinger space, club or party that hopes to survive. Because bad actors— almost always shitty men—make women feel unsafe. And when women feel unsafe in swinger spaces, they abandon them. From the sound of things, UNSAFE, you had the misfortune of attending a shitty party run by shitty people. Someone attempted to violate you in a space where respect for boundaries, consent and the bodily autonomy of other individuals is (or should be) paramount. And, no, you were not at fault for failing to bring a “spotter.” The club was at fault for not emphasizing its own rules—and then, when a bad actor broke the rules and left another attendee feeling violated and unsafe, the club compounded its failure by blaming the victim. Read Savage Love every Wednesday at CVIndependent.com; mail@savagelove.net; @ fakedansavage on Twitter; ITMFA.org.
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FEBRUARY 2019
OPINION COMICS & JONESIN’ CROSSWORD
“Late to the Movie”—what 41 Stair part did I miss? 42 Morning Joe co-host Brzezinski Across 43 2018 movie about 1 Space Ghost Coast to a cinematic alien’s Coast character with a voice? spinoff series 46 Brain activity 5 Isaac Hayes soundtrack diagnostic test, for 10 The Krusty ___ short (SpongeBob 47 Amino acid that helps SquarePants locale) treat cold sores 14 Archer character Kane 48 Deli bread option, 15 Pelvic bones maybe 16 Minigolf segment 50 Fire engine feature 17 2018 movie about 53 ___-wee’s Big Cathy being startled by Adventure a big cat? 54 ___ Reid (The Green 19 Unknown quote Hornet’s true identity) source, for short 57 More, in Mexico 20 Blue Apron offering 59 Considers carefully 21 “___ dead, Jim” (Star 63 Mt. Ka’ala is its highest Trek line) point 22 Metropolis director 64 2018 movie about an Lang annoying Irishman? 23 Play division 66 Cicero’s love 25 Inject 67 They may be dank on 27 “That’s amazing!” the Internet 31 Type of doll for the 68 Steel ingredient vengeful 69 Bright and evenly 35 Palindromic parent colored, for dragon 36 2018 movie about fruit bowling lanes? 70 He played one of the 39 British baby carriage Weasleys
71 Figures out Down 1 Comic book explosion sound 2 The Amazing ___ 3 “Johnny’s Theme” composer Paul 4 Gabe of Welcome Back, Kotter 5 1040 info 6 Owns, archaically 7 Has a yearning (for) 8 ___ Off the Boat 9 Road repair stuff 10 Sudan’s capital 11 Pasta ___ (boxed dinner) 12 Bunches 13 Mercedes-___ 18 Acronym on a record label 22 Yard component 24 Baton master 26 Venn diagram feature 27 Drive forward 28 Rick’s grandson, on TV 29 Apple desktops from a while back 30 Oklahoma city 32 More desertlike 33 In tune 34 August: ___ County
(Meryl Streep movie) 37 JFK flier, once 38 Take some time at the library 40 Dehumidifier’s target 44 It may be listed before or after “per” 45 Krispy ___ 49 K-Cup maker 51 Fading flame feature 52 Birdman actress Watts 54 Pigpen dweller 55 Bohemian Rhapsody star Malek 56 Denny’s rival 58 British weapon of WWII 60 Ancient Greek harp 61 Pirate spoils 62 Phoenix court team 64 “Wow!” in texts 65 “The buck stops here” presidential monogram ©2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords (jonesincrosswords@ gmail.com) Find the answers in the “About” section of CVIndependent.com!
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