Coachella Valley Weekly - December 21 to December 26, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 40

coachellavalleyweekly.com • December 21 to December 27, 2017 Vol. 6 No. 40

Rhythm, Wine & Brews

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The Hood

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Supersuckers

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Aspen Mills Bakery& Cafe

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

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Coachella Valley Weekly (760) 501-6228

publisher@coachellavalleyweekly.com coachellavalleyweekly.com facebook.com/cvweekly twitter.com/cvweekly1 Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Domingo Winstead Club Crawler Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Feature Writers Lisa Morgan, Rich Henrich, Heidi Simmons, Denise Ortuno Neil, Morgan James, Avery Wood, Tricia Witkower Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Eleni P. Austin, Noe Gutierrez, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Janet McAfee, Haddon Libby, Dale Gribow, Laura Hunt Little, Jason Hall, Raymond Bill, Sam DiGiovanna, Rob Brezny, Sunny Simon, Dr. Peter Kadile, Bruce Cathcart, Flint Wheeler, Dee Jae Cox, Patte Purcell, Rebecca Pikus, Esther Sanchez, Angela Romeo, Jenny Wallis Photographers Robert Chance, Chris Miller, Esther Sanchez, Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Scott Pam, George Duchannes Website Editor Bobby Taffolla Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

CONTENTS BB's NYE Masquerade Party................ 3 Holiday Roundup................................. 5 Theatre - Dirty Blonde......................... 6 Rhythm, Wine & Brews 2018............... 7 The Hood Bar & Pizza 2.0.................... 8 Supersuckers at Pappy & Harriet's..... 9 Backstage Jazz - Rick Parma............... 9 Consider This - Beck........................... 10 Pet Place............................................. 12 The Vino Voice ................................... 13 Club Crawler Nightlife....................... 14 Good Grub - Aspen Mills Bakery.......16

BB’S 34TH ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE PARTY AT HARD ROCK HOTEL

December 21 to December 27, 2017

BY TRACY DIETLIN

H

ot off the huge success of the Halloween Bash, BB Ingle will be hosting the 34th Annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party on Sunday night, December 31st. This will be the 4th year that the event is being held at the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs.

BB’s Parties are legendary, and have been entertaining desert party goers for decades. His New Year’s Eve Parties in particular are enormously popular, giving attendees the chance to dress up and celebrate the start of the New Year in style!

The parties are epic, and bring people from not only the desert area, but all over southern California to attend! Last year’s party, held at the Hard Rock Hotel, was huge, bringing out well over 2,000 revelers to celebrate!

The mega party, which is being produced

by Ray Phillips with RSP Productions, will be spread out around the hotel, incorporating the elaborate underground ballroom, Nightclub, and lobby. There will be two floors and six stages of entertainment with 20+ Bars, Multiple DJs and Two Bands playing all genres of music. MASKS are OPTIONAL. DJs’ confirmed: DJ Ray, C3ASARE, Anwaar Himself, Aaron Cortes, Cre-8 from 99.1 KGGI, The Deep Ones, DJ Paparazzi.

Special performance by Tachevah winner and MTV recording artist Shawn Don, Classic Rock Band DUDE JONES, Hot local Pop Singer Kate London, Popular Latin Band “Elab Banda” featuring Adrian Crush & his Michael Jackson tribute. There will also be live Portrait painting performance by the amazing artist Peter Mikulak.

BB must have been born to bring people together, starting his career as a leader in social gatherings back in the 80’s when he and a few others founded BB O’Briens. The nightspot was a constant in desert nightlife, and after its closure, BB began throwing special holiday/event parties, earning him the Master of Events and Godfather of Parties title that he has today. BB is also the five time winner of CV Weekly’s “Promoter of the Year” Award. He was also chosen as one of CV Weekly’s Top 12 Most Interesting and Influential Men of 2015 & 2016.

I asked BB what motivates him to continue

doing this after 34 years. “Well...I’ve had a passion for gathering people together in celebration since I was a young boy,” stated BB in his smooth, laid back Alabama twang, which is where he originally hails from.

“After 34 years of parties we have all ages from 21 to 75, many of our original party goers’ children now attend. We make sure to play all types of music in different areas to keep everyone dancing and having a good time. But what makes me feel like it is all worthwhile is when someone comes up to me and says ‘BB, Thank you so much. If it weren’t for the party I wouldn’t have met my soul mate. We met at the party and now we are married and have kids.’ That’s very rewarding and it has happened numerous times over the years.”

While BB tries to throw a party once a month he’s re-inventing himself in 2018.

He has several new endeavors including looking at opening a new restaurant and nightclub. “We see a big need for a new place for entertainment and dancing in the Palm Desert area. As far as events, I am also going to be hosting some smaller, private, invitation only parties at smaller venues.”

The Hard Rock Hotel in downtown Palm Springs and BB’s Annual New Year’s Eve Party is a perfect match! The Hard Rock Hotel Brand, which started back in 1971, sets it goal on bringing people together to party up a storm, it’s a shared goal that BB has been an advocate of all along, “ I’m excited to have the big New year’s Eve Party

at the Hard Rock again this year.” said BB. The Hotel boasts all the flash and glamour affiliated with the famous chain. Amenities at the venue include swanky lounges, a Nightclub, incredible dining, spa services and hip luxury accommodations all dripping with the cool vibe that is part of the Hard Rock brand.

For all of the loyal party goers that attend BB’s events, it doesn’t really matter where it is or what it is for, they will be there. If you haven’t had the experience of attending one of these memorable bashes then maybe you should start with this year’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party. While mask are optional, it’s always more fun to wear one and BB will be giving a prize for Best Female Mask and Best Male Mask. A good time will be had by all. See you there.

The party goes from 8:30pm to 2:00am and guests must be 21 or older to enter.

Tickets are priced at $25.00 per person online at PartywithBB.com. Tickets are also available at: Vibes Boutique in Palm Springs, Skitzo Kitty in Palm Desert, PS Organica in Palm Springs, Sensuality in Palm Springs.

For tickets visit www.partywithBB.com or call 760-880-1059.

Screeners ........................................... 18 Book Review ...................................... 19 Safety Tips ..........................................19 Haddon Libby.................................... 21 Dale Gribow....................................... 21 Sports Scene...................................... 22 Cannabis Corner................................ 22 Free Will Astrology............................ 23 Mind, Body & Spirit........................... 23 Alzheimer's Coachella Valley............ 24 Life & Career Coach............................ 24

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

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HOLIDAY EVENT ROUNDUP

infused serum and the Warm and Toasty Body Massage, including a warm cinnamon massage and toasted honey butter serum hand and foot wrap. Info: (760) 564-4111 or www.laquintaresort.com.

A VERY VINTAGE HOLIDAY AT LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUB Ringing in more than 90 years of historic Hollywood tradition, La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is inviting guests to celebrate the season and escape to the desert for a Very Vintage Holiday.

Guests who book the Very Vintage Holiday package (starting $209/night, available until Dec. 31) will be treated to a festive holiday cocktail upon arrival, special edition La Quinta Resort holiday ornament and breakfast daily.

While on property, they can experience holiday-inspired, old Hollywood glamour by stepping into the resort’s take on Bedford Falls, the fictional town where frequent La Quinta Resort guest, Frank Capra, set his iconic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The annual 65-foot tall Christmas tree will be lit throughout the season with holiday festivities including: Chestnut Roasting: Enjoy New York style chestnuts roasting by the fireplace in the main lobby every Friday in December Fireside Family Movies: Holiday classics shown each Saturday in December, complete with complimentary popcorn and hot coco, and s’mores roasting kits for purchase Holiday Eats: The resort’s three dining destinations will serve up seasonal menus, specials and new handcrafted holiday cocktails including the “It’s a Wonderful Life”-inspired “George Bailey,” with Bailey’s Original Irish Creme, white Crème de Cacao, allspice liqueur, and gingerbread syrup Christmas Cooking Demos: Foodies can get their fill with holiday cooking demos at Morgan’s, learning to prepare upscale classics like turkey roulade with cranberry chutney, hazelnut tapenade, turkey gravy, mushroom stuffing and apple strudel dessert Breakfast with Santa: During a buffet style breakfast, the little ones can get their photo with Santa Claus while adults can enjoy a holiday Bloody Mary, Champagne and Mimosa bar Seasonal Spa Specials: Tis the season to pamper, with the resort’s holiday spa treatments like the Merry Merlot Body Renewal complete with a healing wine-

HOLIDAY DINING AT ACQUA & LULU CALIFORNIA BISTROS The desert is a special place to spend the holidays with family and friends and this season everyone is welcome to join the celebrations at Acqua and Lulu for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve dining.

The very first Christmas Eve dinners at Acqua and Lulu feature three delightful dinner options: a three-course dinner for $19.99; four-course dinners for $29.99 or $39.99; and our special Christmas Eve holiday dinner for $44.99 (adults) and $19.99 (under 12). Christmas Eve dinner will be served from 3pm to 9pm at both locations. Each restaurant will open 8am-11am for hearty breakfasts and serving lunch from 11am to 3pm, with a special Christmas Eve Happy Hour menu in the bars from 11am.

Acqua and Lulu’s Christmas Day dinner offers traditional and delicious choices from a four-course menu. Begin with your choice of four delicious soups, including classic corn chowder, followed by a selection of festive salads and then your choice of more than ten entrees including holiday favorites like oven roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing and cranberry sauce or a 8 oz. filet mignon. And the dessert choices are nearly endless with your eight choices from vanilla crème brulee to a tasty apple crisp.

Lulu has plenty of room for everyone on Christmas Day from outdoor dining on its heated, covered street-side terrace to cozy booths in the main dining room, and tables for large parties and groups in its festive mezzanine dining areas at its central downtown Palm Springs location on S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Acqua at The River in Rancho Mirage offers delightful outdoor dining on its heated, covered patio with spectacular mountain views, a lively dining room with tables and booths, and The River Room featuring sliding glass doors that open and overlook The River’s signature water feature with plenty of seating options for large families and groups.

Christmas Day dinner is served from 1-9pm, with a limited Holiday Happy Hour menu at the bar. Acqua and Lulu are closed for breakfast on Christmas Day. Reservations are strongly suggested. For Acqua, please dial 760-862-9800; for Lulu, please dial 760327-5858. Christmas Day dinner is $44.99 for adults, $19.99 for children under 12.

The New Year’s Eve party at Lulu is legendary! The four-course dinner is always terrific and the dining room is decorated and festive. Begin with your choice of four soups,

four excellent appetizers, then select from one of 10 incredible entrée selections for New Year’s Eve, like prime rib, Sonoma duck breast with asparagus risotto, or a delicious Chilean sea bass. And finish your meal with a one of eight festive desserts like fresh berries with Chambord, raspberry napoleon, and even Lulu’s famous floating island.

There are two options for New Year’s Eve dining at Lulu: Make a reservation between 4:30-6:30pm, for $49.99, or make the evening a real celebration by dining from 7:30pm, and ring in the New Year and dance the night away with Tony Grandberry and his Big Fun Orchestra. This second seating includes hats, party favors, and a Champagne toast for $99.99. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling 760-327-5858.

New Year’s Eve dining at Acqua will be a new desert classic! The festive four-course dinner will be served in two seatings: from 4:30-6:30pm for $39.99, and from 7pm with an “East Coast”/New York Times Square New Year’s celebration at 9pm, for $49.99. The lively dining room is sure to be full of New Year’s Eve merry-makers and everyone will be home in time for a good night’s sleep!

Acqua’s River Room is available for a private event on New Year’s Eve for groups wanting a special setting for 50-200. Please call for details, 760-862-9800.

Lulu California Bistro has been serving Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners since first opened its doors in 2011 and has served its delicious California cuisine to over two and one-half million guests since opening.

Owners Barbara and Jerry Keller have made very careful choices in creating “Palm Springs’ hippest restaurant.” From the decor to the meticulous choice of incredible dishes on the menu, everything is designed to give guests the experience of pleasurable dining in the “hot spot” of the Coachella Valley and there’s always a party at Lulu.

Acqua California Bistro is the latest

December 21 to December 27, 2017

EVENTS

creation from the Keller family. Serving the same menus as Lulu and opened this past summer, Acqua marks the return of the Kellers to Rancho Mirage. Fast becoming the go-to restaurant in the mid-valley, Acqua is a family affair: many areas of the restaurant house “Papa’s Walls” -- galleries of bright contemporary and modernist paintings by Barbara Keller’s 105 year old father, Marvin Cohn. At Acqua, they serve smiles.

Reservations are strongly suggested. For Acqua, please dial 760-862-9800; for Lulu, please dial 760-327-5858.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WITH A CHRISTMAS DAY FEAST AMONG FAMILY & FRIENDS AT FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO This Christmas Day, the acclaimed chefs at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will prepare a feast to remember for guests of every age to enjoy. Three of the resort’s seven restaurants will offer dining specials on Sunday, December 25th so make plans to celebrate the holiday with friends and family at the resort’s Fresh Grill Buffet, POM or at The Bistro.

The Bistro will celebrate Christmas with a delicious entrée of veal loin scallopini and Florida rock shrimp Imperial. A garlic-herb potato raft, sautéed asparagus and a lemonDijon beurre blanc accompany this premium cut of veal for $38. The Bistro opens for dinner at 5pm and will also be offering its regular menu. continue to page 6

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HOLIDAY EVENTS continued from page 5

There will also be a Christmas day special in POM of herb-grilled New Zealand lamb chops and crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp.

Accompanying this dish is aged cheddar whipped potatoes, roasted vegetables, rosemary-mint demi-glace and garlic-citrus butter sauce for $36. POM’s Christmas hours are from 6am until 2am and the restaurant’s regular menu will also be available.

At the Fresh Grill Buffet, get the holiday started with Christmas Brunch from 10am to 3:30pm. Breakfast specialties will include omelets cooked to order, eggs Benedict, smoked bacon, country sausage, apple pancakes, and almond French toast. Christmas Dinner will be served all day and will include an array of soups and salads including grilled chicken and shrimp Caesar salad, arugula and baby spinach with strawberries, Baja style shrimp cocktail, wild cream of mushroom soup and seafood jambalaya. Guests can

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also enjoy succulent meats from the carving station including roast prime rib of beef, honey-Dijon baked Virginia ham and mapleglazed turkey breast.

Fresh Grill Buffet will also include delectable choices like jumbo shrimp cocktail, Alaskan snow crab legs, Norwegian smoked salmon and poached Canadian mussels.

There will be a variety of Chef’s specialties including grilled to order New York strip steaks, baked filet of salmon Florentine with Piccata sauce, roasted leg of lamb stuffed with feta cheese, spinach and roasted red peppers, corn bread stuffing with maple-roasted sausage, and candied sweet potatoes. Guests will need to save some room for a trip to the extensive dessert bar. There, diners will enjoy Fantasy Springs’ Famous Chocolate Fountain surrounded by a huge selection of cakes and pastries, warm bread pudding, yule logs, bananas Foster, and, of course, Christmas cookies! The dessert bar will also feature many delicious sugar-free confections.

With large, open seating arrangements, the Fresh Grill Buffet is the perfect place for groups and families, as well as for smaller parties for the Christmas holiday or for any holiday. Fresh Grill Buffet is open from 10am to 3:30pm for brunch on Christmas day and from 3:30pm to 9pm for Christmas Dinner.

The cost is $31.99 for adults and $15.99 for children.

Reservations are recommended at Bistro and POM and may be made via telephone at (800) 827-2946 or online at www.

FantasySpringsResort.com.

GO MILDLY WILD AND RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE LIVING DESERT Say goodbye to 2017 and ring in 2018 with a roaring ‘20s safari themed event at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. The Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve dinner and dance will be held Sunday, December 31, from 6pm to 10pm in the Chase Administration building and Lurie patio.

The New Year’s Eve celebration kicks off with a red carpet arrival and aerial artists pouring champagne, showing off their acrobatic skills, grace, and strength, high above the crowd during the reception.

Following, guests will be treated to a delicious dinner followed by entertainment including walk-around performers on stilts, LED light choreography and various balancing acts.

Then dance the night away to the sounds of and DJ Baz and His Magic Gramophone, and

make a champagne toast to the new year with the east coast at 9pm. The evening also features one-of-a-kind animal encounters and many other surprises.

“New Year’s Eve is the ultimate celebration and there’s no better place to welcome 2018 than at The Living Desert,” said Allen Monroe, President/CEO of The Living Desert.

“We have a special evening planned with spectacular entertainment, dinner, dancing and of course animal encounters that you can’t find anywhere else. We invite everyone to join our Mildly Wild party.”

The event is open to guests 18 years and older. Tickets for the Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Party are $125 per person and include: champagne toast (21+), one complimentary drink ticket, dinner, and dancing. Tickets can be purchased online at LivingDesert.org. For more information call (760) 346-5694.

THEATRE COYOTE STAGEWORKS PRESENTS “DIRTY BLONDE” POPULAR THREE-CHARACTER COMEDY TELLS THE STORY OF THE LEGENDARY ACTRESS MAE WEST

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oyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based, award-winning Actors’ Equity professional theater company will kick off its 2018 theatrical season with a production of “Dirty Blonde,” a popular three-character comedy about the legendary Mae West, starring Steve Gunderson, Bets Malone, and Larry Raben, and directed by James Gruessing. The production will run February 2 – 11, 2018 with nine performances at the Annenberg Theater in the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Performances run at 7:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. depending on the day. A Q&A session with cast members will follow the Thursday matinees. Tickets are $45 – $55 for matinees and $50 – $60 for evening performances. To purchase individual tickets or subscriptions, call 760-325-4490 or visit annenbergtheater. org. For group sales, call 760-318-0024.

“We are starting our season with an outstanding production that will be sure to resonate with our local audiences,” said Chuck Yates, Founding Artistic Director of Coyote StageWorks. “Dirty Blonde is a little cheeky, which our company is known for and does best. We are delighted to once again offer this production in the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater.”

Written by Claudia Shear with an original score by Bob Stillman, this funny and bawdy Broadway hit explores the legendary Mae

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West, one of America’s most enduring and controversial pop culture icons. The play, which draws its title from the West film quip “I made myself platinum, but I was born a dirty blonde,” tells the story of Jo, an office temp and aspiring actress, and Charlie, who works in the New York Public Library’s film archives. Both are lonely and obsessive West fans who met at her grave and form a unique relationship as they swap stories about the career highlights and eventual decline into parody of the woman they

worship. The production features songs from the Mae West films “I’m No Angel” and “She Done Him Wrong,” and explores the phenomenon of the legendary Mae West, one of America’s most enduring and controversial pop culture icons.

Dirty Blonde was the winner of the 2000 Theatre World Award, and was nominated for Best Play in the 2000 Tony® Awards and for Outstanding New Play in the 2000 Drama Desk Awards. The New York Times described it as “Hands down the best new American play of the season...” and said it allowed “…Mae West to shock and delight once again.”

The play will star multiple Desert Star Award winners Steve Gunderson (SUDS), Bets Malone (SUDS, ANDREWS BROTHERS, and LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE) and

Larry Raben (7 Desert Star Awards), and will be directed by James Gruessing (BOEINGBOEING).

The 2018 Coyote StageWorks season is generously sponsored by David Lee and Annette Bloch. Earlier this year, David Lee also issued a $30,000 challenge grant that doubled any donation the company received.

Voted “Best Live Theater” by the readers of Desert Magazine in 2013 and 2014, Coyote StageWorks has won 73 Desert Star Awards from the Desert Theatre League, a theater support group that promotes theater in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin. It recently won 8 awards for its performances of Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks.

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

RHYTHM,WINE&BREWS STONE TEMPLE PILOTS TO HEADLINE THE 7TH ANNUAL SATURDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2018. ALSO PERFORMING: THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS, SHE WANTS REVENGE AND MORE! RHYTHM, WINE & BREWS EXPERIENCE ON

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he 7th Annual Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience returns to Empire Polo Club’s fields on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018, presented by Empire Music Ventures.

The 2018 line-up features grunge headliner Stone Temple Pilots as well as The Psychedelic Furs, She Wants Revenge and more. Passes go on sale Friday, December 15th, 2017 at noon.

The Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience presents fans with an uncommon mix of multigenre and multigenerational music. In 2018 the festival will showcase a mix of American rock, new wave and alternative rock. RWB producer Alex Haagen, IV says, “Every year we create a line-up that offers guests a variety of music ranging from party blues and reggae to classic rock and hip hop. This year we’ve brought together an exceptional blend of genres that brings back sounds of the 80’s, the 90’s and early millennial rock.”

The Rhythm, Wines & Brews Experience offers its audience the complete festival experience with five great live bands, amazing art installations, exceptional craft beer and wine tasting, live cirque performers and onsite camping. A big part of the action is the beer and wine tasting offered by more than 100 craft breweries and wineries. The Craft Brewhouse Bar will be stocked with 24 craft beers on tap. Multiple bar locations will offer refreshing craft cocktails, distinctive wine selections and chill beverages. Beer and wine tasting will be open from 5PM – 7PM for General Admission (4PM for Elite/VIP Admission).

The food line up at the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience includes fare from a variety of choice restaurants. Festival favorites include

delectable ramen, savory tacos, juicy burgers, tasty pizza, classic barbecue and much more.

New for 2018 will be the secluded Tiki Rum Bar, where festivalgoers will sip island-style cocktails served up by resident mixologist Nelson Amaya. The Tiki Rum Bar can be found tucked away in a lush, tropical garden flanked by an enchanting lagoon complete with fountains and whimsical statuary.

TICKETS & EVENT INFORMATION Tickets to the 2018 Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience can be purchased online at www.RWBEXP.com starting December 15th, 2017.

Early Bird Ticket Sale The Early Bird Sale starts on Friday, Dec. 15th at noon and ends on December 24th at midnight.

General Admission w/Tasting Passes $85 ($99) VIP Admission Passes $155 ($170) Event Information • Date: Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 • Time: 5PM – 12 Midnight (VIP ticket holders can enter at 4PM) • Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA 92201 • General Admission Tickets (show only): $80 per person • General Admission Tickets (including beer/wine tasting): $99 per person • VIP Admission Tickets: $170 per person • Elite Admission Tickets: $325 • Food will be available for purchase • A large selection of breweries and wineries will offer tastings • Wine and beer tasting from 5PM – 7PM (VIP Tasting 4PM – 7PM)

• Main Stage and headline performances from 7PM – 12 MidnightPM General Admission includes: • Entrance to the RWB Experience 5PM – 12 Midnight • Unlimited tastes of beer or wine 5PM – 7PM • Souvenir tasting glass • Free parking VIP Pass includes:* • Entrance to the RWB Experience 4PM 12 Midnight • Unlimited tastings of beer or wine 4PM – 7PM • Access to VIP Tasting Lounge 4PM – 7PM • Access to the VIP Lounge and Bar • Access to the VIP Viewing area at Main Stage • Souvenir tasting glass • VIP parking • Invitation to Friday night Bottle Share and Kick-off Party *VIP Admission includes access to VIP tasting area with specialty wine and beer selections not offered in the general tasting area. VIP admission also includes access to a second VIP Lounge with a full bar adjacent to the main stage.

Elite Pass includes:** • Entrance to the RWB Experience 4PM 12 Midnight • Unlimited tastings of beer or wine 4PM – 7PM • Access to VIP Tasting Lounge 4PM – 7PM • Access to the VIP Lounge and Bar • Access to the Elite Lounge and Bar with a hosted Vodka Bar 7PM – Close • Access to the VIP Viewing area at Main Stage • Souvenir tasting glass • VIP parking • Invitation to Friday night Bottle Share and Kick-off Party **ELITE Admission includes access to VIP tasting area with specialty wine and beer selections not offered in the general tasting area. ELITE admission also includes access to a second VIP Lounge with a full bar adjacent

EVENT PHOTOS BY CHRIS MILLER / IMAGINE IMAGERY

to the main stage. Access to the ELITE BAR & LOUNGE is exclusive to ELITE ticket holders only. This bar opens at 7PM and is a hosted vodka bar adjacent to the main stage.

RWBE SCHEDULE Gates Open - 4PM VIP & Elite Admission 5PM General Admission Wine & Beer Tasting 4PM – 7PM Tasting Garden Stage 4PM – 7PM Two live bands will perform on the Tasting Garden Stage. The line-up for the Tasting Garden Stage is coming soon.

Main Stage 7PM - Close She Wants Revenge The Psychedelic Furs Stone Temple Pilots VIP Bottle Share & Kick-off Party On Friday, March 2nd, the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience will host the VIP Bottle Share and Kick-off Party. This event is exclusively for VIP ticket holders, vendors, campers and media.

VIP guests each bring a bottle of a unique craft beer to share with the other VIP guests.

It’s a great opportunity to meet people and discover new craft beers while enjoying live music. For more details about the VIP Bottle Share & Kick-off Party, visit www.rwbexp.com.

RV & TENT CAMPING Onsite RV and tent camping will be available. Fees include two days of camping: Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd.

Visit www.rwbexp.com for more details about camping on-site.

Buy 1 night and get the second night FREE. • 10’ x 30’ Tent Campsites are $50 • 15’ x 50’ RV Campsites are $150 Tickets can be purchased online at www.

RWBEXP.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate on the day of the event. Children 12 and under are free. Ticket holders must be 21 years of age or older and show a valid ID to taste beer and wine.

Directions to the Rhythm, Wine & Brews Experience at Empire Polo Club: From I-10 take the Monroe St. exit and head south on Monroe St. Follow the parking signs between Ave. 50 and 51 lots along Monroe St. Event Location - Empire Polo Club 81-800 Ave. 51, Indio, CA 92201 Contact Information info@rwbexp.com. www.rwbexp.com.

Empire Music Ventures, owned by Alex Haagen IV, is located in Indio, CA and produces concerts and festivals. These events include the Rhythm, Wine and Brews Experience, Desert Oasis Music Festival, and numerous concerts held at the Date Shed and other venues.

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

LOCAL BUSINESS

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hristmas came early this year for The Hood Bar & Pizza in Palm Desert, California. The tenacity of a few good men and the willingness of owner Brad Guth have infused new life into what has been a prime spot for live music since it opened in 2011. With a new stage, sound and lighting, electrical work and paint job, The Hood has raised the bar for live entertainment venues everywhere.

In a relatively short time, The Hood has hosted a collection of national and international touring artists such as Fishbone, Chicano Batman, Dick Dale, Unwritten Law, Modern English, Kyuss Lives, Terry Reid, Chris Goss, Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag), Agent Orange, The Dickies, Nekromantix, Strung Out, Unida, Joey Cape (Lagwagon), Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), Meiko, Supersuckers, Mondo Generator, and D.I., not to mention virtually every Coachella Valley music artist you can name. Hearing about the altruistic efforts of Arthur Seay, Jeff Bowman, Josh Heinz, Johnny Sugarbritches, Jamie Hargate, Martin Barrera, Armando Flores, Troy Whitford, Chelsea Surgarbritches and everyone else involved, has provided Coachella Valley Weekly the opportunity to share the good deeds and rededication of The Hood Bar & Pizza. We spoke with Brad and those involved in the makeover.

Brad Guth (Owner & Operator of The Hood Bar & Pizza): “We have added more tables, chairs, a new stage, and just purchased a new sound system in order to make our weekly events more enjoyable for locals and out of town guests alike. Time was donated by our local music community to build the stage and install the new sound system. We are also repainting to make it more of a friendly environment. I don’t want to be specific with costs, but suffice to say we have invested thousands to make it “the spot” for local musicians and nightly entertainment. Our number one priority is to provide the best possible service, offer quality products and entertainment, and create an atmosphere appealing to all walks of life; after all, it is the ‘neighbor-HOOD!’” Johnny Sugarbritches (Sugarbritches Sweet Wood): “I volunteered to build the stage and redo the electrical. Thank the Lord Baby Jesus that Jeff called Josh and said he’d be there. Jamie, Josh and I built the pre-fabbed

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THE HOOD BAR & PIZZA 2.0

stage at my house to make it an easier install at The Hood. The day of install we had a shit-ton of volunteers to help replace the stage. It was amazing to see people really care about this. It was even more amazing to see them put their money where their mouth is. My main reason for participating is because The Hood is a landmark in our valley. Seeing local bands struggle with the stage and the sound was infuriating. Our local artists deserve the best because this is their home. We approached Brad and he agreed. He foot the bill for new sound equipment and a new stage as well as paint, electrical and other needed upgrades. The best part was hanging with friends on a weekend.”

Arthur Seay (House of Broken Promises, Death In Pretty Wrapping, Unida): “I’ve always been a huge supporter and advocate of the local music scene in any way I can. I’ve been preaching since day one that the strange configuration of the stage and placement of the audio needed to be remedied. From phasing issues in the audio to tripping hazards on stage, I have tripped and smashed my head into some cymbal stands during a live performance before. A lot of us felt the same and started talking about changing things. We approached Brad about the stage and audio and got the conversation rolling. It’s amazing that the local music community cares so much and is willing to help make the scene better; where else does that happen? We’re lucky to have a music community that cares enough to volunteer their time to make his

BY NOE GUTIERREZ

business a better place and I want to thank Brad for listening.”

Josh Heinz (Blasting Echo, 5th Town): “I volunteered to help Marcus build and install the stage. This came out of several conversations between Marcus, Jamie, Arthur, Nigel and I. The old stage made very little sense. It wasn’t balanced. It made the bands look, feel and sound awkward. From the get-go, when it was changed to a corner stage, almost every musician I talked to did not like it set up that way. And it was worse for people watching the bands. And then the sound was off because the speakers were set at different distances. We all approached Brad about it and eventually he decided to replace all of it. We volunteered because we want the one place we have to play in be done the right way. We want the scene to have a good stage with good sound and lights. It’s pretty simple. The great thing was how many other people came by during the day to help. Armando Flores was there in the morning. Troy Whitford stopped by, as did Martin Berrera. Probably the best thing that happened was that Jeff Bowman called me up Sunday morning and said, “I saw your post on-line and I want to help.” Jeff volunteering his day to help us was invaluable. He is the owner of his own electrical company, so he was able to do all of that stuff for us just out of the goodness of his heart. Doing this reminds me of the Autism benefit. People and friends that you respect getting together to make something happen that is for the good of a lot of people, not just yourself.”

Jeff Bowman (Waxy, Faults of Andreas, Mighty Jack) (Owner of West Bound Electrical) “I really think The Hood took two steps backward, visually and sonically, when they re-configured the stage a couple years ago.

So, I was excited to see the Facebook post from Johnny, Jamie and Josh that they had built a new stage and were planning to install it. As a musician that will hopefully play on that stage many times in the future, and as someone with many years of construction experience, I really wanted to help the guys in any way I could. I called Josh and happily volunteered my time. Along with a handful of awesome Desert Music comrades, we got the old stage disassembled and removed, and Johnny and the boys got the new one in place.

I am an electrical contractor, so I offered up my services, and with a little help from my 7 year-old son, Kellen, we rewired the stage power and installed all new receptacles. It should be real convenient for everyone who plays there from now on.

Overall, it was a remarkable day for Desert Music, and I’m proud to have been a part of it. I can’t wait to play The Hood again!”

Coachella Valley Weekly looks forward to seeing everyone at the “new and improved” Hood. In the timeless words of Mr. Arthur Seay, “Support the scene because you are the scene!” hoodbarandpizza.com westboundecs.com

EVENTS

S

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SUPERSUCKERS

upersuckers are a cowpunk band formed in Tucson, AZ in 1988. The band was initially a 5 piece with current leader, Eddie Spaghetti, only playing bass. Shortly after their formation, they moved to Seattle, Washington, the home of legendary label Sub Pop. This move would play a vital role in Supersuckers gaining cult status. Former singer, Eric Martin, left the band and Eddie took over vocal duties as well as bass. With this line up in place, they took advantage of sharing a home town with Sub pop and started a very long relationship with the label.

A lot of their early singles and albums on Sub Pop had a punk core with mild country overtones. This naturally progressed into a more country vibe with the 1997 album Must’ve Been High. Their natural ability to foray into country lead to a spot on a Willie Nelson tribute album called Twisted Willie.

Not only did they get to cover a Willie Nelson song, but they got to do it with Willie himself. The band backed Willie Nelson on a few occasions including an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

On Friday, December 22nd, Supersuckers will return to that magical venue up the hill,. In anticipation of the show, we had the opportunity to talk to band leader Eddie Spaghetti.

Coachella Valley Weekly: How did you get started playing music?

Eddie Spaghetti: “Oh boy. I don’t even know. It was something that appealed to me as a kid. I got a guitar when I was 12 or 13 and started making up songs.”

CVW: Can you tell us a bit about the formation of Supersuckers?

Spaghetti: “We started the band in Arizona. We just wanted to be friends & hangout and have a band at the same time.

We weren’t really worried about being the best guitar players and all that. We wanted

to transcend that and write good songs. It turned out pretty well.”

CVW: You guys have a bit of a tie to the desert. Your drummer, Chris, is also the drummer of Throw Rag. How did you hook up with Chris?

Spaghetti: “Well we toured with Throw Rag years ago, and I liked Chris a lot. I had his number… I should’ve called him a long time before I did. We finally had an opening, so I did call him. I wanted to see if he was up for the gig, and he was. It was one of the best phone calls I’ve ever made.”

CVW: How did the Tonight Show gig with Willie happen?

Spaghetti: “We had recorded with Willie for Twisted Willie. He wanted to sing some of the songs from that album on The Tonight Show. He decided to do the song we did with him. We had played a show earlier in the year at The Whiskey and it

BACKSTAGE JAZZ

T

he most successful artists in the smooth jazz industry are also selfpromoters. One of those is Rick Parma, a young man with a lot of ambition.

Rick has a funky style and very danceable music combined with a sexy soulful sound on both the sax and vocals.

He’s releasing his 4th CD in 2018, which will again contain all originals. Rick heralds from Chicago and brings that funky sound with him. His new CD will be very upbeat with some slow sexy grooves “not typical” as he says. He’s going to combine this with a US tour to venues all over the country. He’s been very successful taking on promotions and events, selling out shows in Cerritos Ballroom, which seats over 300.

Taking on that magnitude of a project would be difficult at best but he’s got an ace in the hole. Rick Parma Adult Jazz Blast is his brainchild. He sends out free email blasts for artists in exchange for them adding their email lists to his blast. It’s a great way to

AT PAPPY & HARRIET’S FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22

December 21 to December 27, 2017

BY JASON HALL

went really well. It was a cool thing to be asked to do it.”

CVW: Pappy and Harriet’s has a unique vibe. Everybody is happy whether performing or spectating. Can you explain in your words what the vibe is?

Spaghetti: “It’s kinda a last holdout to the old roadhouses. It kinda makes you feel like you’re going back in time when you go there. It’s a really cool venue. It’s one of my favorite places to play and just visit. It’s a really cool area.”

CVW: What’s your favorite place to tour?

Spaghetti: “Any place they’re going crazy for us! Spain is really good. Australia is always fun. Southern California is really great for us. Colorado is super cool. All up and down the West Coast is good.”

CVW: You battled stage 3 cancer and came back within a year. How did your

RICK PARMA: JAZZ ARTIST & PROMOTER

get new jazz fans and promote artists and concerts.

His list has grown to over 150,000 over the last couple of years and he’s using it to hook up with artists in other locales to team up with them for a concert in their area. It’s a very ambitious project, but with Rick and his lovely talented wife Giselle behind it, I have no doubt they will be successful.

He and Giselle also started a travel agency that they are using to put together some trips and jazz events in the future.

Rick also just received a sax endorsement from Dakota Sax who endorses artists including Richard Elliot. He will have his own custom sax including his logo which he is very excited about.

Rick has performed and continues to perform with some of best artists in the business. This dynamic saxophone player, vocalist, composer, and recording artist is making waves in the smooth jazz community.

Rick and his band will be coming to the desert to perform in January at ‘A 420 Jazz Soiree’ on Monday, January 22 from 4:20 to 7:20 at the stunning Venus De Fido in Palm Desert. This huge 27,000 square foot facility has a stunning ballroom where Rick and his band will be performing. He will be

battle and survival change you musically?

Spaghetti: “I started writing some really dark songs that’ll probably never see the light of day, but now that I’m passed it all, I’ve started going back to the kind of songs I’ve always made. I feel good. I never had a sorta ‘come to Jesus’ moment or anything with the whole battle, but it was shitty and I got through it. I’m super glad it’s over, I’m also really glad that I have a job I enjoy enough to look forward to come back to.”

CVW: What does the immediate future hold for Supersuckers?

Spaghetti: “Supersuckers are going to record some new songs next month. We’re going to keep busy. We’re going to keep on the road and making good quality rock for nobody to hear. We’re going to keep doing what we do!”

Tickets available at PappyandHarriets. com. Opening acts include The Belays and The Bombpops.

BY PATTE PURCELL joined by Deanna Bogart (blusion artist) on the grand piano in the Grand Lobby and on the outdoor patio Amsterdam Connection with Naomi Adriaansz and Tim Welvaars.

This popular duo, she on sax and he on jazz harmonica, and will be coming in from Amsterdam for this event.

The event performance will turn into a jazz jam with all of the artists towards the end of the event, with all of the musicians performing together. Some of the local favorites including Michael D’Angelo, the popular singer with the jazzy Latin dance steps, and Flamenco guitarist and vocalist Alex Santana, will also join in the jam.

This is a private party. If you would like to get on the list to attend send a text to 702219-6777 with your name and email.

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

CONSIDER THIS

BECK

G

WESTFIELD MALL 72840 Hwy 111 #171 Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-341-2017 www.recordalley.com

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BY ELENI P. AUSTIN

“COLORS” (CAPITOL RECORDS)

iddy up Giddy up wanna move into a fool’s gold room, swimming pools full of animal jewels all the rules that you choose to use to get loose with the luminous moves/Bored of these limits, let me get it let me get it like wow, it’s like right now, it’s like wow, it’s like right now…”

Well, you get the point, right? Sort of? That bit of doggerel comes from Beck on a song aptly entitled “Wow,” which can be found on his newest album, Colors.

It’s been nearly 25 years since Beck (ne’ Beck Hansen) burst on the scene in the Spring of 1993 with his first single, “Loser.” A smart-ass anthem that captured the attention of disaffected GenXers, the melody was sluggish, but catchy, incorporating Bluesy slide guitar and loops.

The lyrics split the difference between a Dylanesque stream-of-conscious ramble and late ‘70s Hip-Hop touchstones like “Rapper’s Delight.” It almost had a novelty quality to it, but Beck was no one-hit wonder.

Beck was born in 1970, to a hyper-artistic family. His mother, Bibbe Hansen, had been a habitue of Andy Warhol’s Factory. Her father, Al Hansen, was a celebrated artist briefly affiliated with the Fluxus Movement. Beck’s dad, David Campbell, was a struggling musician/composer/ arranger. (He went on to work on over 450 gold and platinum selling records, everything from Carole King’s Tapestry, to albums from Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Black Sabbath and Adele). His parents split up when Beck was 10 years old.

Although he grew up in a rough section of East Hollywood, Beck was influenced by Los Angeles’ eclectic music scene, soaking in everything from Latin sounds to nascent HipHop and Punk bands like X. During his teen years he became infatuated with Delta Blues and fixated on progenitors like Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt. That in turn led to his discovery of Woody Guthrie and Blind Willie Johnson.

Feeling unsafe in school, Beck quit during Junior High. At this point he began playing guitar and would busk on city buses, performing a mix of Blues classics and his earliest compositions.

In 1989, he took the bus across the country to New York City. He immediately gravitated to the Lower East Side, inspired by the vibrant artistic community, which included Performance

“

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Art and Slam Poetry. He quickly fell in with likeminded musicians like Cindy Lee Berryhill and Roger Manning. But it was tough to sustain creativity and try and keep warm through the brutal New York weather. In early 1991, Beck returned to his hometown.

Back in L.A. he made ends meet working in a video store, (“alphabetizing the Porn section”), and began seriously woodshedding. He booked gigs in little clubs throughout Hollywood and Silverlake. He also started demo-ing his own compositions. Those demos became homemade cassettes that he handed out at his shows. Soon he attracted the attention of Bong Load Custom Records and they booked time in a real recording studio where he first recorded “Loser.”

The quirky track began to gain traction on local radio stations. It debuted on KXLU, the tiny college station broadcasting from the LoyolaMarymount campus. Next, Chris Douridas played it on his KCRW show, “Morning Becomes Eclectic.” He invited Beck to play live on the show and he didn’t disappoint, performing “Loser” and “MTV Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack.”

Soon KROQ, L.A.’s Modern Rock Behemoth, jumped on the bandwagon and added Beck to their influential playlist.

Suddenly his shows were jam-packed with record industry weasels itching to sign the next big thing. He ended up signing an extraordinary deal with Geffen that gave him the freedom to release one-off records through small indie labels Like Bong Load, Flipside and K Records.

His Geffen debut, Mellow Gold, was released in the Spring of 1994. A primitive mix of Folk, Hip-Hop and Punk, it steadily ascended the charts, peaking at #13. Immediately before and after that watershed effort, he took advantage of his unique contract, and released Stereopathetic Soulmanure through Flipside and One Foot In The Grave on K Records. Both albums burnished his indie cred.

Determined not to be seen as a “one-hitwonder,” Beck returned to the studio with the Dust Brothers (the production team responsible for the Beastie Boys’ game changing effort, Paul’s Boutique.) Together, they created his 1996 album, Odelay. An irresistible aural collage, it remains au courant today, more than 20 years later. The record yielded three hit singles, “The Devil’s Haircut,” “Where It’s At” and “The New Pollution.”

Beck quickly earned a reputation as something of a musical shapeshifter. 1998’s Mutations was an adept mix of Folk and Tropicalia. He closed out the 20th century meticulously channeling Parliament, Funkadelic, Zapp & Roger and most especially Prince on his wickedly clever Midnite Vultures record.

Three years later he chronicled the heartbreak that followed the dissolution of his nine-year relationship with Leigh Limon on his eighth album, aptly entitled Sea Change. Calm and uncharacteristically quiescent, the songs managed to scrub away Beck’s hipster façade revealing unexpected gravitas.

In 2005, he bounced back, a husband, to actress Marissa Ribisi, and also a new father to son Cosimo, (their daughter Tuesday arrived in 2007). Beck reunited with the Dust Brothers and recorded Guero. Not only did the title reference the Spanish/Mexican nickname he received

growing up in a largely Chicano neighborhood, the music harkened back to his roots, weaving an intricate tapestry of his L.A. influences.

Debuting on the charts at #2, it is his best-selling album to date.

Less than a year later he was back with the stripped-down, yet fastidious The Information, and in 2008 he reappeared with Modern Guilt, an agile collaboration with Danger Mouse. For the next five years he stayed busy producing records for musicians as disparate as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks, Sonic Youth front-man, Thurston Moore and Honky Tonk traditionalist Dwight Yoakam.

He also found time to curate his Record Club Project, (challenging himself and a coterie of pals to recreate a classic album, be it from Yanni, INXS or the Velvet Underground, recording the whole thing in one day). Plus, he created Song Reader, a beautiful book that included 20 songs of sheet music and 100 pages of art. A series of Song Reader shows followed, featuring several superstar friends.

Beck returned in early 2014 with the gorgeous, mostly acoustic Morning Phase.

Lush And bucolic, it hewed more closely to the Laurel Canyon sounds of Neil Young and Jackson Browne than the kaleidoscopic influences Of East Hollywood. Debuting at #3 on the Billboard charts, It received five Grammy nominations, winning three (Best Album, Best Rock Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), at the 57th Annual award show. His mini-sweep prompted a (faux) temper tantrum from Kanye West, whose attention-whore antics continue to overshadow his talent. (But that’s a whole other conversation).

Now Beck has returned with his 13th album, Colors, and true to form, it’s a stylistic 180 from “Morning Phase.” The title track blasts out of a speaker as if already in progress, Ping-ponging between speakers, the song quickly gains traction settling into a four-on-the-floor disco groove. It’s sleek synthesized pop that feels surprisingly cold and bloodless.

That’s how most of this record plays out.

More of a genre exercise than a passion project.

Take the aforementioned “Wow,” it opens with a combo slide whistle/pan flute wheeze that segues into thumpy bass lines and skittery synth drums. Although the action accelerates slowly, Beck’s flow is weirdly stunted and sepulchral.

Lyrics like “standing on the lawn doing Jiujitsu, girl in a bikini with a Lamborghini Shih Tzu” aren’t fun non-sequiturs, they’re just lazy pseudo-rhymes. Actually, the whole song bares an uncomfortable resemblance to Fatboy Slim’s late ‘90s Modern Rock hit, “Rockafeller Skank.”

Then there’s the rubbery twitch of “I’m

So Free.” Layers of synths, grungy guitars, descending piano notes and a vocal assist from Feist can’t camouflage the song’s innate dorkiness. Even as Beck chants “I’m so free,” it actually sounds like he’s saying “I’m so fake, I’m so fake now.”

Disco is alive and well on two songs, “Up All Night” and “Dreams.” The former is all over the map, shards of spacey guitar collide with a synthclap rhythm, some cowbell and an oscillating string section. Apparently, he wants to stay up. Late, all night, in fact. With you. This song would perfectly punctuate an outre’ moment on a Bravo channel unscripted (but really scripted) reality program, like say, “Vanderpump Rules.” It feels that anonymous.

The latter begins promisingly with crunchy, metallic guitars, and phased vocals, but it quickly locks into a predictable shiny, happy backbeat.

The song that seems to be channeling bands like MGMT, Foster The People and Broken Bells. This one feels like it would pair nicely with a “Below Deck” episode.

It’s not a complete shit show, “Seventh Heaven” blends twinkly keys, a pulsating beat, whiplash guitar and an infectious melody.

There’s a pleasing elasticity and bounce to the arrangement that gives it a gossamer feel. Plus a hide n’ seek guitar solo that simply sparkles.

Scratchy guitar, pounding piano and a jaunty rhythm play out in ¾ time on “Dear Life,” echoing antecedents like the Beatles, Harry Nilsson and Beck’s (late) contemporary, Elliott Smith. Organ grinder guitar gives the song an extra kick.

Spiky and tensile, “No Distraction” shares some musical DNA with the Fixx’s early ‘80s favorite “One Thing Leads To Another.”

Meanwhile, the hiccup-y falsetto Beck employs on “Square One” recalls Michael Jackson in his prime. Lyrics like “I’ve been watching the wheels turning but I’m learning to enjoy the ride on the road to nowhere” seem to draft off John Lennon and the Talking Heads. Yet the melody and instrumentation have that Yacht Rock-y sheen of ‘70s stalwarts like Pablo Cruise, ( but in a good way).

The record closes with the slightly more reflective “Fix Me.” Icy piano notes wash over a chunky backbeat and tinkling glockenspiel fills.

It’s a simple declaration of love and it goes a long way toward compensating for the mishegoss that precedes it.

Beck has stated the primary influences for this record were Michael Jackson and “Pet Sounds” era Beach Boys. Co-produced with Greg Kurstin, the pair plays nearly all the instruments themselves on “Colors.” Apparently, they have been tinkering with these songs since 2013. It was actually sequenced and ready to be released last year, but Beck deemed it too whimsical (or something), for such a divisive, hyper-political climate.

2017 finds the country even more divided.

On the surface, Colors is fun, infectious and dance-y, but dig a little deeper, and there’s no there there. At one point Beck notes “when you lower your expectations and you’ve run out of patience…you’ll be fine if you try to keep your eyes on the consolation prize.” Good advice for anyone hoping to love this record.

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

PET PLACE

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BY JANET McAFEE

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BUFFY!

W

e named this beautiful dog Breezy when Loving All Animals rescued her from the San Bernardino County Shelter at Devore. She came to the shelter as a stray dog brought in by animal control, but no one came looking for her. There was no information on her past. We could only promise the young dog a brighter future, one that included a home where humans would love and treasure her for the unique and brilliant dog she is.

Breezy appeared to be a blend of Golden Retriever, Shepherd and maybe Kelpie. With golden eyes that mesmerize and look deep into your soul, she wanted nothing more than to be someone’s faithful companion.

Large breed dogs like Breezy are incredibly smart, easy to train, love to learn new things, and are often sought out to perform life-saving tasks in law enforcement and the military. This dog was an amazing student in Tabitha Davies’ dog training class, however, we also learned that she didn’t always get along with other dogs. Both Tabitha and dog trainer Lauren Blachley who assessed Breezy concurred she would do best in an only-dog home.

At 60 pounds and between one and two years of age, Breezy is a giant puppy with

MEET ZIGGY & SMOKEY These precious, loving boys became best buddies as kittens. Now 6 yrs old, they seek a home together after their human passed away. Rescued by www.

ForeverMeow.org, contact (760) 335-6767 to meet them.

MEET GRACE & SHADOW This bonded brother and sister Cocker Spaniel pair hope for a home TOGETHER for the Holidays! Just 2 years old; 18 lbs and 20 lbs of doggie love. Rescued by Furry Angel Foundation, furryangelfoundation.org, (760)831-6166.

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high energy. With most Coachella Valley adopters seeking small and often calm canines, Breezy’s wait for a home took a while. However, sometimes the best things come to those who wait.

On November 9, 2017, Breezy became Buffy when Terpsichore Duncan adopted her. Youthful, confident, and experienced with large dogs, Terpsichore proved to be the right match for Buffy, and the two immediately formed an amazing bond. Buffy still makes a unique clicking sound with her mouth and teeth that was observed in her foster home. However, she seems to “click” the most when she’s happy and excited, especially when she greets the arrival of her human.

Buffy has a special squeaky toy, a Star Wars storm trooper, and she runs around the house carrying it, gently squeezing it to get attention. She goes on nightly walks, and does well meeting the dogs in her neighborhood. Some evenings, she thinks she is a tiny dog, suddenly crawling up on Terpsichore’s lap to cuddle.

An advocate of rescue dogs, Terpsichore states, “Buffy is doing great! I’ve only adopted from shelters or rescues. I don’t believe in going to breeders or pet stores

the New Year. Many more animals languish in shelters this time of year, some discarded during holiday stress. Big dogs like Buffy have more of a challenge getting adopted from a shelter. This is a good season to foster or adopt a dog of any size, providing a warm home instead of a cold kennel.

Contact Loving All Animals at (760) 834-7000 or www.lovingallanimals.org for information about getting a rescue dog of any type, size or breed. Meet a large number of wonderful dogs and cats at our Riverside County Shelter, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms; view their website www.rcdas.org or call (760) 343-3644.

Buffy wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018 filled with the grateful love of a rescue dog.

Jmcafee7@verizon.net because of the way the animals are often treated. Not only are they horribly treated in puppy mills, but they may be subjected to rough handling in pet stores, often from customers.”

Home for the holidays, Buffy spent Thanksgiving in her new home, and she looks forward to celebrating Christmas and

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THE VINO VOICE

December 21 to December 27, 2017

BY RICK RIOZZA

AND THE WINES ARE A-GLISTENING

A

Merry Christmas toast to you all!

As promised, here are some lastminute ideas to add to your wine wonderland: This season, one of the best wine suggestions for parties, gifting, stocking stuffers, Christmas displays, or simply on hand to greet you when opening the fridge: Martini & Rossi 4-pack Sparkler Minis: Bubblies are always welcomed this time of year and these 4-packs of the #1 Italian sparkling wine brings its drier-than-ever style to the party. Their crisp, fruity, and toast-worthy bubbles are fun little sippers convenient and easy to share.

We’ve covered the quality of the Martini & Rossi brand these past couple of years and are aware that the company is surging with world-class sparklers. Lately, I’ve gone overboard purchasing these babies; each little bottle is elegantly formed and robed in Italian chic design, as one would expect—ma certo!

This year, the convenient 4-pack splits (187 ml) are comprised of either a dry Rosé or Prosecco. The sparkling Rosé wine is crafted from premium Moscato Bianco, Malvasia, and Brachetto grapes grown in Northern Italy. The tasting notes state, “Light, crisp and aromatic with hints of citrus, elderflower and soft peach.” The inclusion of the Brachetto

grape—that’s grown right off the river near the hills of Asti, brings the color and really adds a nice mild complexity to keep the rosé interesting and refreshing.

The Prosecco—now the number one sparkler coming out of Europe, carries the comments, “This lightly sparkling delight is a refreshing and crisp white wine with hints of apple, peach, and vanilla.” Keep in mind that this Prosecco is Extra Dry meaning that there is a touch more sweetness than a brut style—a festive bravura, shall we say.

One can actually buy individual bottles separately for around $3. The 3-pack goes for around $12 to$15.

And for the pour, I’ve always been on board with the quality and the effectiveness of the Riedel Wine Glass Portfolio. Riedel (rhymes with “needle”) glass technology is designed to enhance the flavor component specifically for different wine styles and individual varietal wines; add to that, vessels for spirits, beer, and even for different types of drinking water! Most wine enthusiasts find the number of glass designs to be overwhelming, but none-the-less, are amazed by glassware’s efficacy.

One of the latest designs is the Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine Glass ($69/ set of 2). Certainly, it’s a new shape for Champagne—as I know it. For a while now, I’ve given up using skinny flutes for a quality quaff of bubbly; I’ll tend to use a Chardonnay glass. Now, Riedel seems to go further as their design somewhat appears like a tapered Red Bordeaux glass.

The company’s language offers: “The larger rim diameter enables the aromas of the Champagne to be released in a way which is not possible with a narrow flute. The glass also includes a point mousse, or ”sparkling point” – a tiny groove in the base of the bowl – to aid the formation of the Champagne bubbles, effervescence being an important part of the Champagne experience. This allows the wide range of aromas of the Champagne to unfold.”

Okay—so I’m experimenting right now

with a Mailly Grand Cru NV Brut Réserve $38, which is brut blend of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. I pour into both a standard flute and the new Veritas Champagne glass: No Kiddling Around! There is a significant difference in the effervescence, the smell, and the taste. Much more volume and complexity—I may use this glass for everything!

Check their vast portfolio: www.riedel. com/collections/glass-collections And now, a few more holiday wine recommendations: What can we say? The Kim Crawford brand is well and alive and will provide a fresh overture to a full and comforting meal.

The #1 Sauvignon Blanc, $15, in the country, it offers bright tangy acidity, crisp and lively with gooseberry and cut grass that cleanses between courses and cuts through the heavier dishes on the table.

For guests who prefer a lighter red to start the meal, the Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2016, $16, is an easy-drinking, lighter style with notes of dark cherries and undertones of spicy oak. The wine pairs well with all roasted game birds, honey-baked hams, and most side dishes on the table. New Zealand pinots are becoming the rage, if you haven’t tasted one yet, you’re in for a treat.

As we know, California wildfires tore through Sonoma and Napa wine country, and our friend, Tom Gore, grape farmer and winemaker suffered personal losses and major property damage. Our thoughts

and prayers go out to all who have been impacted by this year’s devastating disasters.

We will cover his story and recovery efforts next month. In the meantime, it would be great to support him and the community by considering his delicious ripe fruit & toasted oak 2015 Tom Gore Chardonnay, $12, and his tasty fruit forward supple mouthfeel medium-bodied 2014 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon at only $14.

Next on the list are full-bodied red wines for prime roasts, steaks and lamb, and the BV boys are back in town with Beaulieu Vineyards’ 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley and the 2014 Reserve Tapestry. The red wines from this famous and venerable winery always deliver with both history and voluptuousness in a glass.

The BV Napa Valley Cab reflects the superb vintage with its deep, saturated blackberry, black cherry and ripe plum aromas and plush, saturated flavors. Hints of violet, toast and mocha add complexity. I enjoyed this at Thanksgiving and I may do so again for Christmas! It’s the holiday deal at only $30.

The 2014 BV Tapestry Reserve Red Wine, $65, is handcrafted from the finest grapes of the vintage blending the five Bordeauxheritage grape varieties which provide layers and layers of complexities exhibiting a generous core of juicy black currant, dark cherry, cassis, plum, blackberry, violet, dried herbs and graphite. Definitely the treat of the year! Cheers!

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

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THUR DECEMBER 21

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bobby Furgo & Co 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Discoteca w/ DJ Victor Rodriguez 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Francesca Amari, Bill Marx and Doug MacDonald 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Noa James Bday Bash w/ Amavida and Big Cali 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Barry, Bob and Riz 6:30pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Open Mic Night 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Chris Lomeli 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Open Mic 9pm

JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Punk Rock Night 9pm LA QUINTA OLDTOWN TAPROOM; LQ; Right On Right On 8-11pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Country Night w/ Rye Brothers 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Quinto Menguante 8-1am MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Cordovas 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Opn Mic Hosted by Rob Lawrence 9pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 DJ Worden 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 The Smooth Brothers 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 T-Bone Karaoke 8pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Wayne Boyer 6:30pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Robert Salisbury 5-7pm, Tony Patler Project 7:30-11pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Alex Santana 5-8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 DJ 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Elaine Woodard 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 8pm

FRI DECEMBER 22

14

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Son of a Velvet Rat 7:30pm, Live Comedy 8pm, DJ Beyonda 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jessica Taylor 6:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Friday Night Sour Hour w/ Pink Lemonade Drag Show 9pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Cakes and Brains, Pocket Hole, Yoni and Not/ Normal 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The RoadRunners 8:30pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ Double A 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 The Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm

CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PD; TBA 8pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Gina Carey 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Myx 8:30pm THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Acoustic Sessions w/ Chester Rushing 7pm, Derek Jordan Gregg and Giselle Woo & The Night Owls 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 93.7 KCLB Rocks Holiday Havoc w/ Bridger, Sleeping Habits and Kate London 8pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 Keisha D 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Dana Larson 5-7pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 TBA 8pm LA QUINTA BREWING CO.; PD; 760-2002597 Courtney Chambers 7-9pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company in the afternoon, Hot Rox in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Dax Band 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 DJ Jerry 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MOXIE; PS; 760-318-9900 TBA 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Dude Jones 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 DysFUNKsion 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Supersuckers, The Bellrays and The Bombpops 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Scot Bruce: A Tribute to Elvis 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 DJ Worden 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 Michael Keeth 7:30pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOLANO’S BISTRO; LQ; 760-771-6655 Michael Madden 6-9pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. 6pm

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Live Music 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 The Stanley Butler Band 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJs 9pm

TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Stereoflux 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Pat Rizzo & Dennis Michaels 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VENUS DE FIDO; PD; 760-834-7070 Michael D’Angelo 6-9pm, Carl Davis Dance Lesson 7pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Meet the Corwins 5:30-7:30pm, John Stanley King Show 8pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Boys Night Out w/ DJ House Whores 7pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 5-7pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Todd Ashley ft. Lisa LaFaro Weselis 6:30-10pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallett 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ 9pm

SAT DECEMBER 23 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6:30pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Sets 11am poolside, DJ Day and DJ Brett Midler 10pm AGAVE LOUNGE@THE HYATT REGENCY; IW; 760-674-4080 Art of Sax 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green Open Mic 7:30pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Denise Carter 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 2nd Annual Creepy Christmas w/ Spankshaft, Panarama, Unadorned Aura, Bass Nurds, Desert Pirates and Jakkz 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Barry Minniefield 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Gand 8:30pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-7755566 DJ 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Gina Carey 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT CASINO; PS; 888-999-1995 DJ Michael Wright 9-1am CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CATALAN; RM; 760-770-9508 George Christian 6-9pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Denny Pezzin 7-10pm CHILL BAR; PS; 760-327-1079 TBA 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PD; Angel & Buddy Greco Jr. 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-2281199 DJ Ceddy Cedd 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FISHERMAN’S GROTTO; PD; 760-776-6533 Jack Ruvio 6pm FOX & THE FIDDLE; PD; 760-888-0111 Live Music 7pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Dana Larson 5-8pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 TBA 8:30pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL PS; PS; 760-3259676 Esjay Jones Presents: Global Sessions w/ David Macias and Raymundo 8pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 J Patron, Waxy, DieSineGration, Sunday Funeral, Courtney Chambers, Shurper Fuzz and Mike Sickboy 9pm HOODOO COCKTAIL GARDEN @ THE HYATT; PS; 760-322-9000 The Carmens 7pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Bob Allen 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 TBA 9pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-3452450 Dax Band 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888999-1995 Eevaan Tre 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760345-0222 Meltdown 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 Shadow Mountain Band 5pm, Sara Petite and The Sugar Daddies 8pm PEABODY’S CAFÉ; PS; 760-322-1877 Karaoke 7:30pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 Bobbie Eakes Holiday Show 8pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 The Refills 9pm RIVIERA; PS; 760-327-8311 TBA 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; PS; 760-322-9293 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 The Smooth Brothers 8-11pm SHELLY’S LOUNGE@TORTOISE ROCK CASINO; 29 Palms; Rojer Arnold & Bobby Furgo 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SMOKIN’ BURGERS; PS; 760-883-5999 Ron James 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 TBA 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 212 Band 9pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Dennis Michael 6:30pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rose Mallett & Co. 5-7pm, Kal David, Lauri Bono & The Real Deal 7:30-11pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 TBA 7pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-3285955 Michael Keeth 6pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm

SUN DECEMBER 24

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Brunch w/ Trish Hatley and Barney McClure 11:30am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Closed BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Brian Denigan 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 TBA 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Lori Yeary 6-9pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Radio 60 3-6pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm GADI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR; YV; 760365-6633 Dana Larson 6-9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Acoustic Show w/ A.Lara, Michael Durazo, Cesar Flores, The Gonz, John Gomez, Janine Rivera, Jose Ortiz and Bizarro Darko w/ Music Spun

by The No Miracle 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm

continue to page 20

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

THE PAMPERED PALATE

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BY DENISE ORTUNO

BAKED BREADS, COOKIES, BROWNIES, ASPEN MILLS BAKED GOODS ABOUND! FRESH SANDWICHES AND MORE!

T

here’s nothing that quite says the holidays like baking, and Aspen Mills has a corner on it in the Coachella Valley. They not only have their location in La Quinta, (conveniently situated by Trader Joes) but also have the long standing spot in Palm Springs which has been there for over 20 years, as well as two pop ups in Rancho Mirage.

I recall going to their Palm Springs location long ago, and having one of their sandwiches. It was amazing, and I thought that Aspen Mills was actually a well-tuned franchise. After recently speaking with Jimmy Stewart, owner Marty Webster’s son-in-law, he explained to me that I was right.

The original owner did have it planned out as a franchise. But after some trial and error with subsequent locations, the Palm Springs location remained as the strong hold, and was purchased later by Webster.

Webster’s care of Aspen Mills has grown from its spot in Palm Springs to a pop up in the Rancho Mirage Library, Clarks Nutrition also in Rancho Mirage and their newest location in La Quinta, which will be celebrating their one year anniversary in January. “We are really excited to be here in La Quinta, we love it out here,” says Stewart.

The main element that makes Aspen Mills so successful is their dedication to fresh and wholesome ingredients, and may I say, down to earth, ultra-friendly service.

Their bread is baked daily, with 30 different varieties, including specialties breads such as their Banana Nut which is very popular. Other breads include, Sour Dough, Squaw, Cinnamon Swirl, Pumpkin

Raisin, Spinach Onion Parmesan, New York Rye, Jalapeno Cheddar, and many more.

Bread lovers can check out their weekly Specialty Breads on their website. Their Dinner Rolls are also very popular for the holiday season, which customers can special order as well as purchasing them off the shelf.

Stewart explained to me that it is their bread that sets their sandwiches apart from anywhere else, “We use basic simple ingredients without chemicals or preservative (no eggs, dairy, oils, processed sugar) and all of our sweet breads are sweetened with 100% Amber Honey.”

*

diner’s choice Winner Top 100 Dining HoT SpoTS in the U.s.!

The sandwiches at Aspen Mills can give any deli in town a run for their slicer.

Creations such as the Aspen (oven roasted turkey breast, cucumbers, spun lettuce, mayo, horseradish, and guacamole on Cranberry Spice bread), Tuscany (Prosciutto, Capacolla, Honey-glazed Ham, provolone, fresh basil, fresh cilantro, spun lettuce, and Italian dressing), or the “Cousin Vinney” (Roast Beef, roasted sweet bell peppers, fresh basil, tomatoes, red onions, spun lettuce, and Balsamic olive oil vinaigrette on an Italian roll), among other selections.

For the holidays, Aspen Mills can produce fantastic sandwich party platters, bake up specialty pies, and create cozy gift basket assortments with muffins (a dozen different types), cookies and sweetbreads.

With four locations in the Coachella Valley, Aspen Mills can exact all of your bakery needs, with the freshest of ingredients and an abundant amount of baked breads, cookies, brownies, sandwich’s and more. Happy Holidays!

Aspen Mills La Quinta is located in 46520 Washington Street, Unit 1, 760-5645266 For other locations visit www. aspenmillsps.com.

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

17

December 21 to December 27, 2017

SCREENERS

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BY ROBIN E. SIMMONS

No. 296

EVER-EXPANDING AND NEVER-ENDING UNIVERSE? NOW SHOWING: STAR WARS: The Last Jedi

Rian Johnson’s much-anticipated, overlong, eighth chapter in the gargantuan, ever-expanding and seemingly never-ending sci-fi fantasy franchise that has captured

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several generations of a global audience has a strong sense familiarity and sameness about it as opposed to one of originality.

And that’s probably by design, after all, it’s show business and rewarding expectations and nostalgia can be profitable. However, in the future, assuming this franchise will go on forever, I’d like to see adventure and action in another part of the SW universe with new characters, romance, creatures, technology, and villains. Where’s the exhilarating feeling we had when the genre-twisting first Star Wars movie screened?

This new chapter in the saga opens shortly after the events of “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.” Rey (Daisy Ridley) is looking to be properly trained because she knows she has “force” powers.

When she locates self-exiled Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and asks to be trained in the ways of the Jedi. Luke’s response radically alters their lives.

The plot meanders with parallel narratives that coalesce in third act.

Hans Solo is dead in the story as is Luke Skywalker. What’s the point of being involved with a character from the very beginning (that’s 40 years ago!) if the character is no longer a player? Why should we even care about Oscar Isaac’s character?

It adds no weight to the narrative. But Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) was a

nice addition. He’s basically a stand-in for the evil emperor. However, he has a great look and has potential as a metaphor for the dangerous clerics in thee real world. Much appreciated is the not so subtle exploration of the dark side’s seductive power and the evocations of a primitive spirituality.

There’s a legacy to the Star Wars epic we have come to know. But sadly, repeating the same story or ignoring major plot points already established weakens the narrative power of the franchise. For instance, at the end of the sixth chapter, the rebels defeat the empire and destroy the Death Star.

So why are the bad guys still around and better funded than the rebels – and who exactly are they now fighting? And why do they have only one very slow ship with Laura Dern at the helm? By actual count, it looks like the rebel army has been reduced to about 15 people in their entire army!

I certainly appreciate the skill it takes to create the battle action of X-wing and TIE fighter dogfights, but do we really need to see it again and again.

Why should we continue to patronize this franchise in future cinematic episodes when the filmmakers/studio are so sloppy with story? After all is said and done, isn’t Star Wars really a chronicle of the Skywalker heir and namesake?

Yes, there are great moments -- nicely staged action, and memorable, almost painterly, images – but it’s all held together by a weakly constructed and at times even boring story. The fine cast features Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher (not CGI), John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Mari Tran and Laura Dern among others.

But the one missing ingredient is DNA from creator Lucas. Now showing at Mary Pickford D’Place Entertainment.

NEW BLU THE HOME THEATER: DUNKIRK Writer/director Christopher Nolan utilized a mixture of IMAX and 65mm film to bring this important, historic event to screen in the highest quality available.

The movie opens as hundred of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea, they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.

Essentially we follow a very unlucky coward who brings bad luck to every place he runs. The film’s fragmented structure can be a bit had to follow as the mostly parallel stories jump around in time and place. That editorial choice diluted the emotional heft of the film.

The story unfolds on land, sea and air. RAF Spitfires engage the enemy in the skies above the channel, trying to protect the defenseless men below. Meanwhile, a flotilla made up of hundreds of small boats manned by both military and civilians are staging a desperate rescue effort, risking their lives in a race against time to save even a fraction of their army.

Director Nolan, known for his attention to detail and meticulous craftsmanship, partially filmed sequence on the beaches of Dunkirk, France where the actual events unfolded.

The biggest draw for this remarkable film is the extraordinary recreation of another time and place that still reverberates meaningfully in our world today.

The film’s ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehad, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy.

More than a dozen better than average extras detail the incredible creative skills that went into the magical transformation that took this unforgettable incident from history, to screenplay to screen. The stunning 4K ULTRA HDR transfer is state of the art.

Combo pack includes both Blu-ray and DVD. Paramount. robin@coachellavalleyweekly.com

BOOK REVIEW

FAVORITE READS IN 2017

A

n end of year “favorites” column is fun, but it is also difficult. Fun, because I get to look over all the books I read and shared with you over the past year. Difficult because there are so many good books and each has its merits.

Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, I try to find the book’s heart and soul, the significance and meaning within its pages –-- and share it with you.

Here is a list of my favorites in nonfiction, fiction and short stories for 2017 and why the book resonated with me.

NONFICTION “Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today’s America” by Mark Sundeen (Riverhead Books, 336 pages).

Author Sundeen shares the lives of three different couples and their pursuit to live off the grid, survive without government intervention and live a sustainable life without abusing or harming the environment — a quest far more challenging than you might think.

This book gave me hope, and I absolutely love the idea of pursuing liberty and being selfsufficient.

“Culture as Weapon: The Art of Influence in Everyday Life” by Nato Thompson (Melville House, 288 pages).

The author defines art as something that has a potentiality for being both deeply coercive and absolutely powerful. Not only is he referring to the traditional arts like theater, film, dance and fine art, but also the art of

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

BY HEIDI SIMMONS advertising and PR. Thompson notes the impact of global business, which in 2015, spent $600 billion to sway consumers. More than ever, advertising and public relations plays a critical role in daily business practices to alter culture. The author gives examples how politicians and world leaders manipulate cultural narrative to rally support and change public opinion.

If you think you are making freewill decisions, think again.

“Blood Brothers: The Story of the Strange Friendship Between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill” by Deanne Stillman (Simons & Schuster, 286 pages).

I thoroughly enjoyed going back in time and meeting these amazing and complicated human beings. Stillman shares the remarkable friendship between Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull and Annie Oakley.

It’s lovely to get lost in such an amazing period of American history and get to know the fascinating people who shaped it.

FICTION “Quiet Until the Thaw” by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin, 228 pages).

This generational story about an Oglala family is not only about peace, violence and injustice, but the strength, endurance and significance of Native American people and their culture.

Poetically told, Fuller delivers such insight and warmth you would think she grew up on a reservation. I especially appreciate how the author completely trusts her reader and did not let political correct rhetoric enter the story.

“Quicksand” by Malin Persson Giolito

translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles (Other Press, 501 pages).

Voted “Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year,” the story is about a school shooting and how the tragedy came about. Well written and thoughtful, the story is told by the shooter.

Things are not always what they seem. I appreciate how well constructed the narrative is as we come to understand the circumstance of those involved and those killed.

“Nutshell” by Ian McEwan (Nan A. Talese, 208 pages) The narrator in this story is an unborn fetus. Nearly nine months old, he has turned and dropped into position for birth. Although he is ready to meet his mom and dad, there is a problem. Mom and dad are living separately, and his mom wants to kill his dad.

I loved discovering the storyteller was an unborn child. This conceit is even more heightened because the narrator is unreliable.

Made me consider how much do the unborn know?

SHORT STORIES “Difficult Women” by Roxane Gay (Grove Atlantic, 260 pages) The author provides tantalizing and provocative insights to the challenges of being true to one’s self, living outside the norm and accepting one’s flaws in a world that is unjust and disrespectful to women.

This is an especially timely collection of stories with the current conversation about harassment in the workplace and the outing of predators. Beyond the compelling subject matter, Gay writes brilliantly and her stories are engaging.

“Homesick for Another World” by Ottessa Moshfegh (Penguin Press, 304 pages).

The author crafts complete worlds and complex characters. There are no clichés and she boldly delves into the dark and painful reality of those who are heartbroken by other human beings and frustrated by life

SAFETY TIPS

vicissitudes.

Sometimes intense and sometimes funny, Moshfegh is not afraid to visit the dangerous and frail side of our human experience.

“The Teeth of the Comb & Other Stories” by Osama Alomar (New Directions, 104 pages).

How do Americans get insight into the lives of Syrians? You read a collection of stories.

I felt as if I were reading great Arabian writers from the past who shared their secrets, wisdom and the beauty of their culture through poetry and prose.

Alomar’s lyrical voice seems to be crying out from the wilderness. His stories are meaningful, timeless and urgent. Reading the book as a whole evokes compassion, outrage, sorrow and perhaps even some hope for the region.

----------------------------------------------------Thank you dear readers for sharing your favorite books, providing me with suggestions and letting me know if I got the review right.

Also, I want to thank a hero of mine.

CVW publisher Tracy Dietlin is an amazing human being. She is the smartest and hardest workingwoman I know, and because of her and her paper, I am allowed to celebrate books and share the joy of reading.

As a publisher and editor, Dietlin gets how important reading is. She understands the pleasure of sitting down with a print copy and getting involved in a narrative.

Dietlin is to be commended and celebrated for believing in readers and quality content.

May your New Year be filled with books!

Heidi@coachellavalleyweekly.com (To read the complete reviews go to www. coachellavalleyweekly.com under Columns heading Book Review.)

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA

LISTEN UP - THIS GIFT DOESN’T COST A DIME!

T

he holidays provide a good opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends and co-workers while making deposits in our relationships. Naturally, conversation and talking with people is a big part of this season. “Most people are very good at talking about themselves, however, the best gift this year is the gift of listening, and it doesn’t cost a dime,” reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Listening is more than “hearing.” When you truly hear and comprehend what another person is saying, you add to their self-worth and validate them. Who wouldn’t want that for a gift?

What’s the key? Speak less, listen more.

Don’t try to “one up” the other person. Know you’re okay just who you are.

We live in an increasingly busy world. No matter how busy or who you are, take the time to listen to others. Give co-workers, family and friends your attention. Greet them with a smile.

Look them in the eyes and honor their thoughts.

There is no better compliment you can pay another person than taking the time to ask

them questions and listen to their responses.

Try to listen without the intent to reply. Practice patience and listen completely until the person finishes his or her point.

Break out of old habits of not listening and needing to be the center of attention. You’re great just the way you are. Not only will it make the holidays more enjoyable, it will help you in your professional and personal life. And it doesn’t cost a dime!

Happy Holidays!

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

19

December 21 to December 27, 2017

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CLUB CRAWLER NIGHTLIFE continued from page 15 LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick 2794 Palm Springs Sound Company, in the Tuzzolino 5:30pm afternoon, Hot Rox, in the night LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark 2794 Hot Rox Gregg 5-9pm LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; Mark Gregg 5-9pm 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 3:30-7:30pm, MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; Mikael Healy 8pm 760-325-2323 Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 T-Bone NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7:30pm 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 327-4080 Sunday Night Jam Session w/ Jos Open Mic 7pm Burrell 7pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Industry Sunday Band 7:30pm Night w/ DJ Tone 2pm-close PURPLE ROOM; PS; 760-322-4422 The Judy SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Randy Show 7pm Seymon 8pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3417pm 3560 T.B.A. 6pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 3560 The Myx 6pm Mike Costley’s Jazz Show 6:30-10pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Darci Daniels and Reggie Vision 7pm Closed VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230John Stanley King & Trio 6-9:30pm 0188 Closed WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Gennine Francis 6-9pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-932-4300 TBA 8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Rob Martinez and Scott Carter 6:30pm 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-230-0188 Fast Heart Mart 6pm John Carey & Friends 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Casey Golden 7pm, Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 The Bill Marx 6:30pm Luminators 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Closed BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Strictly Vinyl w/ DJ Richie Rich and Friends BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 DJ LF and Friends 9pm 9pm

TUE DECEMBER 26

MON DECEMBER 25

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PUMPING SERVICE

Septic Tank & Grease Trap Pumping Sewer & Drain Cleaning Odor Control

760-404-6325

20

BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 Big Rock Big Blues Jam 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Michael D’Angelo 7-10pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Michael Keeth 6-9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Drag Queen Bingo 9pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Karaoke hosted by Phillip Moore 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Acoustic Open Mic 7pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Ladies Night w/ Rock-A-Holics 7pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Randy Seymon 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co.

VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Mike Costley’s Trio 6:30-10pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Alex Santana 5-8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Acoustic Sessions w/ Lance & David 7pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Yve Evans and John Bolivar 6pm

WED DECEMBER 27

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Daniel Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Day Presents: Places and Spaces 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Jazz Jam w/ Doug MacDonald & Friends 7pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Piano Bar 6pm BART LOUNGE; C.C.; 760-799-8800 Womxn Cruch Wednesdays w/ Porsia Camille, Giselle Woo, Femme A and La Jefa 9pm BERNIE’S; RM; 760-202 4499 Chris Lomeli 7pm BIG ROCK PUB; IND; 706-200-8988 The Smooth Brothers 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Michael Keeth 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CHEF GEORGE’S PICASSO LOUNGE; BD; 760-200-1768 Johnny Meza 7-10pm COACHELLA VALLEY BREWING CO; TP; 760-343-5973 Live and Local w/ TBA 5:30-8pm CORKTREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Jack Ruvio 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ELECTRIC SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760228-1199 Karaoke 7:30pm

FOX & THE FIDDLE; PD; 760-888-0111 Live Music 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic hosted by Josh Heinz 8pm HUNTER’S; PS; 760-323-0700 Live VJ 9pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-3662250 Live Music LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Hot Rox MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Mikael Healey 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760327-4080 Roger & Friends 7pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-288-1199 Karaoke w/ KJ Ginger 8pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 The Myx 6:30pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Cinch 6pm THREE SIXTY NORTH; PS; 760-327-1773 Katheryn White 6:30pm TJ’S; PD; 760-345-6744 Derek Jordan Gregg 9pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Barbara Morrison Piano 4:30-6pm, Barry Minniefield 6:30pm WANG’S; PS; 760-325-9264 Mikole Kaar 5-8pm THE WINE EMPORIUM; LQ; 760-565-5512 Dude Jones 6:30pm WOODY’S PALMHOUSE; PS; 760-2300188 Valerie Geason 6:30pm

HADDON LIBBY

PICKLES & POOPING LOGS

F

ootball, food, friends and loved ones. Whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not, Christmas represents a time when we can set-aside our daily lives to appreciate and remember those who are most important to us. People around the world use December 25th as a day to celebrate although those celebrations can look very different than what we know.

For example, people in the northeastern province of Spain called Catalonia have two of the odder Christmas traditions. The first is Tio de Nadal or the Pooping Log. The log is decorated with a happy face where it (how do you tell the sex of a log?) sits on a blanket (maybe you can tell their sex by the length of the splinter lashes) and is beaten with

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sticks by children until the log shits out candy and nuts. If the kids beat the log too much, something smelly like an onion or fish comes out. Another tradition in this fecally-fixated region is to adorn your home with caganars or figurines. What makes these figurines different is that each one shows someone dropping their pants to poop out a little brown emojis sans the face. Catalonians like to hide caganars near nativity scenes. Why? No one knows. This year Donald Trump is a favorite caganar.

While no one is certain of the origins of the Christmas pickle, most historians feel certain that it did not originate in Germany.

Many believe that the Christmas pickle was the creation of an enterprising salesman at Woolsworth in the late 1800s. As Woolworth’s had begun importing glass fruits and vegetables from Germany for decorating

Christmas trees, the pickle ornaments were slow movers. As such, a story was invented where German tradition was to hide a pickle in the tree and the first child to find the pickle would get a special treat or present.

Norway does not allow cleaning on Christmas Eve as all brooms are hidden away in case evil spirits or witches come visiting.

Not exactly the sentiment I’m looking for in a Christmas holiday but different strokes, right?

A very different stroke happens in South Africa where they eat dried caterpillars on Christmas Eve. Considered a delicacy that has more protein per ounce than beef, caterpillars are eaten dried like potato chips, fried and dipped in sauces or as part of a stew.

As bad as eating caterpillar sounds, Greenland has a truly gross palate as the recipe for Mattak should prove. Mattak is raw whale skin served with blubber. I believe twobuck Chuck and a sickness bag go well with it.

Even less appealing is their dish called kiviak which is made by sealing five hundred auk birds into a seal skin and letting it ferment for seven months. I think a more apropos name for this dish would be kvetch.

Do you know what a schvitz is? In Estonia on Christmas Eve, the entire family gathers to schvitz or sauna together. As much as Estonians may love their saunas, they don’t

December 21 to December 27, 2017

hold a steamy finger to Finland which has 3.3 million saunas and 5.3 million Finlanders.

If you go to Ukraine, you will notice that they do not use ornaments, lights and tinsel like us. Ukrainians prefer to adorn their tree is spiders and webs. I’m guessing that they forego watching It’s a Wonderful Life for Nightmare on Elm Street.

Lastly, the Yule Cat, a monster-sized cat, stalks the Icelandic countryside at Christmas.

Legend has it that this cat eats anyone who is not dressed warmly enough for winter weather. This myth was used to get farmhands to finish their wool making each year before Christmas. Farmhands who finished their work received new clothes. Those who did not, had to wear their raggedy clothes for another year and risked being consumed by the cat.

And with that, happy holidays to you and those you love.

Haddon Libby can be reached at 760.449.6349 or HLibby@WinslowDrake. com.

DALE GRIBOW ON THE LAW

GOLDEN RULES TO GET MORE MONEY ON YOUR PI CASE

1

. CALL POLICE: gather info; take cell phone pictures of car, license and insurance cards.

2. HIRE A LAWYER ASAP so evidence does not get cold or destroyed.

3. BE HONEST and DON’T HIDE PRIOR ACCIDENTS FROM YOUR LAWYER OR DOCTOR: 4. DON’T MISS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OR HAVE GAPS IN TREATMENTS: Adjusters know jurors expect victims will treat regularly without missing appointments. Otherwise jurors ask “how badly could they have been injured?”

5. PURCHASE ADEQUATE INSURANCE: Many CV locals DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE OR ENOUGH AUTO INSURANCE. You need more than the minimum insurance on your car with elevated UM. Without more than $15k you are taking your life in your own hands. In the last 18 months, two of my clients died in separate accidents and the “at fault” party had $15k or NO insurance coverage AND my clients only had $15k.

6. PROPERTY DAMAGE: If your lawyer suggests a body shop...go there. Don’t take your car to a friend’s body shop so that your $7,000 property damage is fixed for $2500.

One insurance company criteria for settling is to look at the amount of your car’s property damage. When it is low the insurance companies makes low offers. REMEMBER, INSURANCE CO’S HIRE BIASED EXPERTS TO DENY AND UNDERPAY CLAIMS 7. SILENCE IS GOLDEN: While talking to the police or adjuster remember this adage. It is

not only what you say BUT what the adjuster or officer THOUGHT HE HEARD YOU SAY. DON’T GIVE A STATEMENT TO ANY INSURANCE CO WITHOUT YOUR LAWYER’S OK. 8. GET IMMEDIATE MED TREATMENT: Refusing to take an ambulance to the hospital because you did not want to incur ambulance or emergency room bills with your limited finances hurts your case.

9. DON’T HANDLE THE CASE YOURSELF: Don’t initially handle the case. Getting a maximum recovery is a “work of art”. Don’t put your bills through Medicare or Medicaid.

There are many reasons but just don’t do it.

10. DON’T TREAT WITH WRONG DOC: Don’t use your regular doctor! Instead consider one your lawyer suggests; one that you had not seen before. Your regular doctor’s file has all your prior complaints and injuries and we all have skeletons in our closet...things you do not realize are skeletons. The insurance company will interpret the following as a skeleton: prior accidents; seeing a shrink (that does not play well in front of some jurors unless you see the doc for this accident); having a venereal disease; having had an abortion (without sharing with your spouse); having an alcohol or drug issue etc.

11. SEE A DOCTOR EXPERIENCED WITH PREPARING MED/LEGAL REPORTS: You want a doctor who is not only a good physician but is good at preparing MED/LEGAL reports.

The doctor’s description of your pains is critical. That is why for years I lectured to the International College of Surgeons at their

annual conference on “How to Write a Med/ Legal Report”.

12. DON’T HIRE AN OUT OF TOWN LAWYER: Though good lawyers, they will not know the local judges and court personnel (clerks and bailiffs) and a lawyer can often get a lot of info from them...if they are friends.

13. DON’T POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA (FB): Don’t post that you’re feeling great or running to play tennis or golf. The insurance company will argue if you were well enough to play a sport you couldn’t be hurt that badly. Social media is the biggest advance for insurance companies who no longer have to hire private investigators. They learn from your daily posts how you are doing and that could be the kiss of death for your case. Take down your social media until the case is over. The insurance company can learn your friends and have investigators talk to them and learn how healthy you are. Your friends may assume you

are ok because you do not complain.

You must realize that insurance companies do whatever they can to pay less money on a case... AUTO, HURRICANE, FLOODS, FIRE... IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE Suggestions for future article, contact 760837-7500/dale@dalegribowlaw.com.

DALE GRIBOW “TOP LAWYER” - Palm Springs Life 20112018 “TOP LAWYER” Inland Empire Magazine Nov 2016 AVVO Perfect 10.0 Peer Rating Weekly Accident Talk Show Host (ACCIDENTALLY YOURS) and Legal Columnist in LA & CV Papers/ Guest Society Columnist Desert Sun

21

December 21 to December 27, 2017

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SPORTS SCENE

BY FLINT WHEELER

YANKEES ROSTER RIDICULOUS WITH STANTON TRADE..

I

t would be difficult to argue the New York Yankees needed Giancarlo Stanton, the towering, slugging outfielder whose onerous contract the Miami Marlins were shopping around this winter. The Yankees have spent the last few years getting younger and leaner, and in Aaron Judge, the American League rookie of the year, they had not only a virtual clone of Stanton, in both size and skills, but one who was younger and cheaper.

But Stanton, 28, whose record-setting $325 million deal signed with the Marlins in 2014 contains a full no-trade clause, had the Yankees on a very short list of teams to whom he would approve a trade. With both a motivated seller, in the downsizing Marlins, and a motivated superstar, in Stanton, the Yankees reportedly all but stumbled into a deal Saturday for the newly crowned NL MVP. The deal, reportedly would send second baseman Starlin Castro and prospects to the Marlins — a concession the Yankees were willing to make in part because Castro’s roughly $11 million salary in 2018 would partly offset Stanton’s $25 million luxury-tax hit — a critical distinction, with the Yankees adamant about getting under the $197 million luxury tax threshold in 2018 — and in part because in Gleyber Torres, one of the top prospects in baseball, they had a built-in

replacement for Castro.

With Judge and Stanton — 13 feet of musclebound, fastball-crushing power, and the only two players in baseball to reach 50 homers in 2017 — now sharing the same lineup, along with slugging catcher Gary Sanchez, the Yankees arguably would have more right-handed power than any team in recent history.

And in a span of 24 hours, the two biggest prizes of this offseason’s talent marketplace have been claimed, with the Los Angeles Angels winning the rights to coveted Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani, and now the Yankees getting Stanton.

CANNABIS CORNER

A

visit to my son in Shoreline, WA gave me an opportunity to compare WA dispensaries to Coachella Valley. WA passed the most obstructive law for medical marijuana (MM). A loophole in the Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052) gave dispensary licenses to the most ignorant budtenders in the industry. See Tobias Coughlin-Bogue’s article in theStranger on July 13,2016.

On July 1, 2016 when the Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052) took effect, all dispensaries without an I-502 license were forced to shut down, sending many of the state’s MM patients into a panic.

Patients learned that the recreational market doesn’t have enough affordable medicinal cannabis (MC) for their needs.

Many point to the fact that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) issued only 222 new retail licenses to replace more than 1,500 MM dispensaries.

Thanks to a loophole in the state’s licensing process, the longtime medical dispensary operations were shut out of the recreational market. New actors were able to game the system by buying pay stubs from former MM dispensary employees to bolster their applications.

The dispensary I entered had a large storefront, was unnerving to find no locked area and shocking to find only one applicable MC product; Wildflower cannabis capsules of 30:1 CBD:THC. (www.wildflower.ca).

Most everything else in the dispensary

22

Both situations had conspired to depress the markets for top free agents, as teams waited to see where Ohtani and Stanton would wind up, but with both off the board, it could portend a freewheeling week at baseball’s winter meetings, which open Monday in Orlando.

With legendary Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter now a part-owner of the Marlins, the deal to send his best player to his former team is sure to be scrutinized for impropriety. But it appears the Marlins are guilty less of malfeasance than of incompetence.

In the last few days, they had negotiated trades

of Stanton to both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants without gaining prior approval from Stanton — who, again, had full control of where he would wind up and who shot down both deals. Stanton, a native of Southern California, was thought to prefer the Los Angeles Dodgers as a destination team, but also made it known he would accept a deal to the Yankees.

The Yankees, meanwhile, were not known to be pursuing either outfielders or right-handed power — and certainly not someone who is still owed $295 million over the next 10 years — but getting Stanton at a bargain price, and with the Marlins expected to kick in some money to offset the contract, was too good to pass up. The Marlins had almost no leverage in trying to unload Stanton’s massive contract.

Stanton is signed through 2027, but his contract contains an opt-out provision that he can exercise after the 2020 season. The Yankees were considered throughout the industry as a top suitor for Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper — who headlines the vaunted free agent class of next winter — but the acquisition of Stanton, whose contract could be the starting point for Harper’s contract, may limit their buying power somewhat.

A TRIP THROUGH A WASHINGTON DISPENSARY

BY RUTH

HILL R.N.

was recreational cannabis. All were in excessively tight child proof packages, poorly labeled as to the ratio of CBD:THC, missing dosage information, too many included preservatives, did not distinguish hemp from whole flower, and were packaged in small doses not conducive to a need for 20-30mg of CBD or THC. Even the terminology they used to explain products was misleading. They called everything an edible, and were not able to distinguish between the benefits of a sativa, indica, or a hybrid product. Any budtender in Coachella Valley who goes through a Greensight recommendation clinic can learn that.

I could not find lotions or creams for arthritis, muscle aches, or cancer wounds. Even the vape pen cartridges looked suspect, they had single use vape pens. The owner, a nurse practitioner, informed me that the law took away access to medicinal cannabis and made it

illegal for him to educate his customers.

Recreational cannabis has taken over WA State. What a shame. The voters, in their haste to approve recreational use, were hoodwinked. Currently there are five states that have legalized recreational cannabis use and based on the WA experience this does not improve the access for treatment of medical disease.

Since California was the first state to legalize MM all dispensaries currently have a medicinal license and display medicinal grade cannabis. States unfortunately are not learning from each other when they pass laws. I believe CA allows the best access to medical grade products. Remember my article of September 6, 2017 where I explained away the confusion between medicinal vs recreational cannabis? Well just enter a dispensary in WA State to illustrate that belief. A picture is worth a thousand words. Now admittedly, I only

went into one dispensary. But I have the word of many reliable Washingtonians that the recreational use law has been a disaster for medical use.

CA residents can be content medical dispensaries are not going away come January 1, 2017. Our recreational law will have some loopholes the law does not vacate the medicinal licenses. CA dispensaries will have one or two licenses, but the medical license will not be touched.

To put the issue in practical terms the WA law denies access to medicinal grade full plant cannabis oil for children with seizures and force medical patients into the black market. This will deny the cities and state valuable anticipated tax revenues.

Hopefully CA recreational regulations will not be so onerous. My consistent view has always been that until the federal government reclassifies cannabis and the banking issue is resolved the black market will continue to exist.

It behooves the user of MC to engage in self-education for choosing and using cannabis responsibly and continue to be engaged in the legislative process. Visit www.learngreenflower.com.

Send questions to hilruth@gmail.com

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Week of December 21

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your life in the first half of 2018 will be like a psychological boot camp that’s designed to beef up your emotional intelligence. Here’s another way to visualize your oncoming adventures: They will constitute a friendly nudge from the cosmos, pushing you to be energetic and ingenious in creating the kind of partnerships you want for the rest of your long life. As you go through your interesting tests and riddles, be on the lookout for glimpses of what your daily experience could be like in five years if you begin now to deepen your commitment to love and collaboration.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll soon have a chance to glide out into the frontier. I suggest you pack your bag of tricks. Bring gifts with you, too, just in case you must curry favor in the frontiers where the rules are a bit loose. How are your improvisational instincts? Be sure they’re in top shape. How willing are you to summon spontaneity and deal with unpredictability and try impromptu experiments? I hope you’re very willing. This may sound like a lot of work, but I swear it’ll be in a good cause. If you’re well-prepared as you wander in the borderlands, you’ll score sweet secrets and magic cookies. Here’s more good news: Your explorations will position you well to take advantage of the opportunities that’ll become available throughout 2018.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): These days it’s not unusual to see male celebrities who shave their heads. Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Seal, Tyrese Gibson, and Vin Diesel are among them. But in the 20th century, the bare-headed style was rare. One famous case was actor Yul Brynner. By age 30, he’d begun to go bald. In 1951, for his role as the King of Siam in the Broadway play The King and I, he decided to shave off all his hair. From then on, the nakedheaded look became his trademark as he plied a successful acting career. So he capitalized on what many in his profession considered a liability. He built his power and success by embracing an apparent disadvantage. I recommend you practice your own version of this strategy in 2018. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to begin.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Northern Hemisphere, where 88 percent of the world’s population resides, this is a quiescent time for the natural world. Less sunlight is available, and plants’ metabolisms slow down as photosynthesis diminishes. Deciduous trees lose their leaves, and even many evergreens approach dormancy.

And yet in the midst of this stasis, Cancerian, you are beginning to flourish. Gradually at first, but with increasing urgency, you’re embarking on an unprecedented phase of growth. I foresee that 2018 will be your Year of Blossoming.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you’ve had an unfulfilled curiosity about genealogy or your ancestors or the riddles of your past, 2018 will be a favorable time to investigate. Out-of-touch relatives will be easier to locate than usual. Lost heirlooms, too. You may be able to track down and make use of a neglected legacy. Even family secrets could leak into view -both the awkward and the charming kinds. If you think you have everything figured out about the people you grew up with and the history of where you came from, you’re in for surprises.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Most of us regard our ring fingers as the least important of our digits. What are they good for? Is there any activity for which they’re useful? But our ancestors had a stronger relationship with their fourth fingers. There was a folk belief that a special vein connected the fourth finger on the left hand directly to the heart. That’s why a tradition arose around the wedding ring being worn there. It may have also been a reason why pharmacists regarded their fourth fingers as having an aptitude for discerning useful blends of herbs. I bring this up, Virgo, because I think it’s an apt metaphor for one of 2018’s important themes: A resource you have underestimated or neglected will be especially valuable -- and may even redefine your understanding of what’s truly valuable.

© Copyright 2017 Rob Brezsny

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In fairy tales, characters are often rewarded for their acts of kindness.

They may be given magical objects that serve as protection, like cloaks of invisibility or shoes that enable them to flee trouble. Or the blessings they receive may be life-enhancing, like enchanted cauldrons that provide a never-ending supply of delicious food or musical instruments that have the power to summon delightful playmates. I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that a similar principle will be very active in your life during 2018.

You’ll find it easier and more natural than usual to express kindness, empathy, and compassion. If you consistently capitalize on this predilection, life will readily provide you with the resources you need.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Like all of us, you go through mediocre phases when you’re not functioning at peak efficiency. But I suspect that in 2018 you will experience fewer of these blah times.

We will see a lot of you at your best. Even more than usual, you’ll be an interesting catalyst who energizes and ripens collaborative projects. You’ll demonstrate why the sweet bracing brightness needs the deep dark depths, and vice versa. You’ll help allies open doors that they can’t open by themselves. The rest of us thank you in advance!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The blunt fact is that you can’t be delivered from the old demoralizing pattern that has repeated and repeated itself -- until you forgive yourself completely. For that matter, you probably can’t move on to the next chapter of your life story until you compensate yourself for at least some of the unnecessary torment you’ve inflicted on yourself. Now here’s the good news: 2018 will be an excellent time to accomplish these healings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 2018, one of your primary missions will be to practice what you preach; to walk your talk; to be ambitious and masterful in all the ways a soulful human can and should be ambitious and masterful. Live up to your hype in the coming months, Capricorn! Do what you have promised! Stop postponing your dreams! Fulfill the noble expectations you have for yourself! Don’t be shy about using exclamation points to express your visions of what’s right and good and just!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Years ago, when I started my career as a horoscope writer, my editor counseled me, “Always give priority to the Big Three. Romance, money, and power are what people care about most.” After a few months, he was disgruntled to realize that I wrote about how to cultivate psychological health and nourish spiritual aspirations as much as his Big Three. He would have replaced me if he could have found another astrology writer whose spelling and grammar were as good as mine. But his edict traumatized me a bit.

Even today, I worry that I don’t provide you with enough help concerning the Big Three. Fortunately, that’s not relevant now, since I can sincerely declare that 2018 will bring you chances to become more powerful by working hard on your psychological health . . . and to grow wealthier by cultivating your spiritual aspirations . . . and to generate more love by being wise and ethical in your quest for money and power.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): What binds you?

What keeps you closed down and locked up? I urge you to ponder those questions, Pisces. Once you get useful answers, the next step will be to meditate on how you can undo the binds. Fantasize and brainstorm about the specific actions you can take to unlock and unclose yourself. This project will be excellent preparation for the opportunities that the coming months will make available to you. I’m happy to announce that 2018 will be your personal Year of Liberation.

Homework: Write a parable or fairy tale that captures what your life has been like in 2017.

Freewillastrology.com ---------------------------------------------------------Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

December 21 to December 27, 2017

MIND,BODY & SPIRIT

BY BRONWYN ISON

ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS

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he holidays are truly the most wonderful time of the year … for most of us. Some of us suffer with being sick, grieving, being overwhelmed and stressed. Do your best to remain positive even when the holiday season can be tough. Here are some ways to be joyous and embrace peace and love.

Volunteer. Sharing your time with others in need can reap incredible rewards both personally and obviously for those who are receiving. A kind gesture or sharing time with someone in need can make a world of difference in each others life.

Compliments. This is a free gift to everyone. Compliment the store cashier on what a great job they are doing at such a busy time of year. Share with the mother who’s standing in line with her screaming child that you’ve been there before and you understand. (I have this t-shirt).

Watch inspiring or Christmas movies.

Enjoy a little cuddle time on the couch with a loved one and watch an old movie. Or, call a friend and ask them to come by for a hot chocolate and a relaxing afternoon while watching a feel-good movie.

Enjoy your down time. Because it’s a busy time of year for most of us… relish in the down time you have. This can be a great time to read a book, exercise more, or do some winter house cleaning to prepare for the New Year.

Whatever suits your fancy, do was makes you and others feel good. Most of all have fun and relax.

Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga and www.bronwynison.com.

760-564-YOGA

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December 21 to December 27, 2017

COMMUNITY

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

ALZHEIMER’S COACHELLA VALLEY OFFICE NOW OPEN IN BERGER FOUNDATION CENTER

OPEN JAN. 2, MONDAY – FRIDAY, 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

A

lzheimer’s Coachella Valley (ACV), a new community based 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization, will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Jan. 2, 2018 in the Berger Foundation Building, 42600 Cook Street, Ste. 125. Phone number is (760) 776-3100.

The office will be staffed by trained volunteers who can respond to callers and drop-in visitors with information and care advisor referrals for further support. During after-hours and weekends, phones will be answered by on-call staff.

Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley, formed by a group of concerned local volunteers, is dedicated to improving community health by providing needed professional and peerled programs for persons diagnosed with cognitive impairment, their care-partners and families.

One hundred percent of monies raised in the Coachella Valley remain in the community to fill an ever-growing need for programs such as ongoing caregiver support groups; “Breathing Space,” scholarship dollars for respite care; “Traveling the Journey Together,” an eight-week series for the diagnosed patient and care-partner; as well as public and professional education.

State approved Continuing Education Unit courses are available at ACV starting at the end of January.

Support groups are caregiver-driven programs that provide a safe place for those caring for someone with cognitive impairment where they can discuss with others in the same situation the challenges and feelings of being a caregiver. Attendees gain skills and resources to ensure a better quality of life for the caregiver and the individual with the disease.

Current ACV-led support groups are at Vista Cove, Rancho Mirage; Mission Hills Senior Living, Rancho Mirage; Mizell Community Center, Palm Springs; and at the ACV office.

Starting in January, the first “Traveling the Journey Together” 8-week program begins at the ACV office. An evaluation meeting with the facilitators is required to ensure the program is appropriate for the diagnosed patient.

Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley’s has qualified speakers available to talk to business organizations, churches, homeowner associations, and other community resource centers.

For more info, call (760) 776-3100.

LIFE & CAREER COACH

BY SUNNY SIMON

A MOMENT OF PRESENCE

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t a recent holiday party I encountered a young woman at the buffet. As we progressed down the food line she quickly introduced herself then immediately launched into a monologue. Cindy, my new acquaintance, was as she described it, “beyond stressed,” with everything on her to do list involving the holiday season. My first reaction was to nod signaling I understood the chaos she was describing, but a loud voice in my head announced I should suggest she leave the party and attend to more critical tasks before she hit the wall. My verbose inner dialogue had a point, Cindy was not enjoying the moment, nor my company, for that matter.

Following me to a quiet corner she continued to deliver a laundry list of incompletes between quick bites of food. I doubted her taste buds had time to savor the scrumptious food our hostess prepared.

If I knew this young lady better I would have taken the plate from her hand and led her in some deep breathing exercises to get her in relaxation mode. Perhaps next I would have suggested she either relax and enjoy the party or politely say her good-byes and move on and tackle some of the important errands she maintained needed attention within the next 24 hours.

If you are not mindful in the present moment, then mentally you are somewhere in your head. What is the point of attending a function when you’re not engaged and happily enjoying the beauty and warmth of the holiday season? Young Cindy exhibited a classic case of someone who was overbooked and overburdened. Perhaps if she took a moment to slow down and really examine her priorities, Cindy might have concluded she was over ambitious in her plans to find the perfect gift for every person on her list, and maybe she might have ceased loading up her calendar with multiple events.

Just a reminder to all the Cindy’s out there.

This is a wondrous the season of giving and receiving. One of the most precious gifts you can lavish on a stranger, friend or loved one is your attention. Stop listening with half an ear and make your time together rich with awareness. If you only have fifteen minutes before you dash off to the next party on your list, make those 900 seconds count. If you do, you will leave behind the perfect gift, your presence. Wishing the readers of CV Weekly all the joys of this beautiful season!

Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com.

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