Coachella Valley Weekly - March 13 to March 19, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 51

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Music

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Dining

Community Events

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com • March 13 to March 19, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 51

COACHELLA VALLEY’S OWN

MICHAEL COSTELLO

ZANG TOI

HELEN CASTILLO

ULI HERZNER

MARCH 16 TO 22 , 2014 TH

Mikey Doling of Snot

pg 10

Pi-Palooza

ND

pg 11

St Patty’s at Tilted Kilt

pg 12

Spindrift

pg 13

Il Corso

pg 21

March 13 to March 19, 2014

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Coachella Valley Weekly

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com info@coachellavalleyweekly.com

760.501.6228

Publisher & Editor Tracy Dietlin Art Director Robert Chance Sales Team Raymond Bill, Brian Michaelz Classified Manager & Nightlife Editor Phil Lacombe Features Writer Marissa Willman, Judith Sulkin, Denise Ortuno Neil, Heidi Simmons, Lisa Morgan Writers/Contributors: Robin Simmons, Rick Riozza, Lola Rossi-Meza, Craig Michaels, Bronwyn Ison, Haddon Libby, Rachel Montoya, Angela Janus, Janet McAfee, Heidi Simmons, Dale Gribow, Raymond Bill, Jack St. Clair, Rob Brezny, Amanda Dorta, Eleni P. Austin, Curtis Hendricks, Noe Gutierrez, Jill Coleman, Jennifer Tan, Sunny Simon, Richard Weiss, Dr. Peter Kadile, Dr. Maria Lombardo, Bruce Cathcart, Patte Purcell, Julie Buehler, Flint Wheeler, John Paul Valdez, Laura Hunt Little, Eric Robertson, Scott Pam, Brian Michaelz, Robin Linn, Rebecca Pikus, Beer Snob, Richard Noble, Karen Creasy, Trooper Ramsey Photographers Laura Hunt Little, Lani Garfield, Chris Miller/ Imagine Imagery Distribution Phil Lacombe, William Westley

Contents

Michael Costello............................... 3 Fashion Week El Paseo 2014.........5 Events- Marvin’s Room at IPAC.....7 Sports Scene..................................8 Sports.............................................9 LMS- Mikey Doling of Snot.........10 LMS- Pi-Palooza at Schmidy’s ....11 LMS- St Patty’s at Tilted Kilt........12 Events- Hard Rock PS Opening...12 DR- Spindrift.................................13 Consider This ...............................14 Art- Shannon Hogan...................15 Pet Place.......................................16 The Vino Voice..............................17 Club Crawler Nightlife.................18 Pampered Palate- Il Corso.............20 Screeners......................................22 Book Review ................................23 Beer Snob.....................................26 Community- Home Safe..............26 Haddon Libby: It’s All Local.........27 Dale Gribow.................................27 Safety Tips....................................28 ShareKitchen................................28 Gaemer Girl..................................28 Don’t Be Clueless in the CV.........29 Free Health Clinic.........................30 Health & Fitness- Vein Doctor.....30 Free Will Astrology......................31 Mind, Body, & Spirit.....................31 Life & Career Coach......................32 Ask The Doctor.............................32 Comics - Weiss Cracks..................34

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Growing up Michael I

March 13 to March 19, 2014

By Judith Salkin

From Palm Canyon to Project Runway to Fashion Week El Paseo

f you would have cornered Michael Costello 15 years ago and asked him where he’d be today, the answer wouldn’t have been curating a yearly show at Fashion Week El Paseo made up of “Project Runway” alums and dressing Beyoncé for the Grammys.

On Thursday, March 20, Costello will lead Helen Castillo, Uli Herzner, Viktor Luna, Irina Shabayeva and Ariyaphon Southiphong (formerly Andy South on Season 8) in the PR runway show in the Big White Tent.

And before you ask, “No, no Mondo this time!” he said. “I wanted to change things around and give some of the other designers a chance. Uli’s with me this time and so is Victor because last time he was here, the audience loved him. I love what Uli does with fabric and Irina has been designing for the Kardashians, so it’s really exciting.”

The newest member of Costello’s runway crew is Helen Castillo, “She was the resident badass and she’s really fun to work with,” he said.

And there’s no jealousy. In fact, seeing what the other designers are doing can be inspirational for Costello. “I watch what they put on the runway and sometimes it gives me more ideas,” he said. “Sometimes just seeing what I make gives me ideas – I’ll look at a dress and see it another way and it becomes the daughter or sister dress. It’s kind of amazing.”

The mostly self-taught 31-year-old designer has become a phenom of the runway, where he definitely brings out the sexy in his classically designed gowns that often hug the wearer’s curves like a second skin.

His dresses can be so spectacular they seem like museum pieces. And Bey’s nearly-

nude number now is in a museum.

“The Beyoncé dress is the first dress since J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez) that’s been chosen to go into the Grammy museum!” where it will be on view for until next year’s Grammys, Costello said recently from L.A. on a day when he’d gotten up at 3am for an appearance on “Good Day L.A.” “For me, I never could have thought when I started this would happen to me.”

It wasn’t until about a week before the Grammys that Costello really knew he was on the short list for Bey’s dress or that that the singer would choose one of his creations for the music industry’s biggest night of the year.

While she could have chosen something

by Valentino or Elie Saab, her stylist Ty Hunter had chatted Costello at the Golden Globes about creating something special for her.

The result was the entirely handmade dress with a nude mesh overlay that gave it the illusion of being skin embossed with the winter wonderland strategically placed snowflakes. To give the bottom structure, the hemline was reinforced with horsehair wire.

And if Costello wasn’t known worldwide before, he certainly is now.

Costello, who now regularly shows his work at Fashion Week in New York and L.A., and regularly appears on TV shows in both cities, got his start as a kid growing up in Palm Desert. At 14 he designed his first couture collection with Lipstick Productions of Los Angeles, a fashion show production company earning him a fashion review and listing in Vogue Magazine’s article, “Los Angeles’ Hidden Talent” and a write up from editor in chief of Glue Magazine, Laurie Pike.

At 15 he opened his first atelier on Palm Canyon in Palm Springs where potential clients like Faye Dunaway would drop in and exclaim how wonderful it was to find real fashion on a street littered with $15 dress shops.

He was accepted by the famed Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing in

L.A., but turned it down to work as an intern for Bob Mackie (Cher’s favorite designer who designed her most remembered ensembles for the Oscars and Grammys).

The shop on Palm Canyon lasted seven years and during that time he started earning himself a clientele that included Toni Braxton, Barry Manilow’s backup dancers, Traci Bingham and Paris Hilton.

Over the years that list has expanded to include Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Richie and fans like Priscilla Presley, whom he met on the “Good Day L.A.” set. continue to page 5

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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www.coachellavalleyweekly.com fashionweekelpaseo.com.

Wed, March 19 - Meet & Greet with Michael Costello and “Project Runway Designers 10 - 10:45am You Are Invited To a “Meet and Greet” and informal Q&A with Costello, Helen Castillo, Uli Herzner, Viktor Luna, Irina Shabayeva and Ariyaphon Southiphong.

Special guest for the event is “Project Runway All Stars” producer, Rob Bagshaw, Open to the public, free.

The Superstars of Project Runway 7pm Cocktail Reception; 8pm Fashion Show Costello debuts his men’s and women’s collections for spring 2014, along with collections from Helen Castillo, Uli Herzner,

In 2010, Costello beat out 22,000 potential designers for his spot “Project Runway,” where he came in fourth. He followed that up with “Project Runway Allstars” and finally, “Life After Runway,” that catapulted him in the fashion firmament.

He moved to Los Angeles in early 2012 and hasn’t stopped the whirlwind of designing and appearances. “I never knew that designers lived the same life as rock stars,” he said. “I was up at 3 (a.m.) and I’m just getting my first break (at noon). But I love my life; I get to do exactly what I always wanted to do!”

As a kid, Costello’s Greek/Italian parents weren’t too fond of the idea of their son making dresses for a living. “But that’s all changed,” he said.

March 13 to March 19, 2014 Viktor Luna, Irina Shabayeva and Ariyaphon Southiphong.

Thursday, March 20 - Michael Costello and “Project Runway” Trunk Show 10am — 2pm This exciting trunk show offers an opportunity for personal fittings and purchases with Michael Costello and other Project Runway designers.

“My father watches every show and reads everything that’s written about me,” he said. “My whole family was with me at the Grammy museum a couple of weeks ago and he was crying. Now he tells me all the time how proud he is of me.”

Everyone except for his son, Giovanni.

“Everyone else was going crazy about the dress, but he was running around going nuts over the drums and guitars,” Costello said. “That’s what keeps me grounded; my son isn’t impressed by me at all!”

See Michael’s collection at michaelcostellocouture.com.

Purchase tickets and see the full Fashion Week El Paseo Schedule at

What not to miss at Fashion Week El Paseo

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f you look at El Paseo in Palm Desert today, it’s not the same quiet, dignified street it once was, bounded on the West by St. John and on the East by Escada, with a scattering of fine dress, men’s wear, shoe and specialty shops and restaurants scattered in-between.

El Paseo is now anchored by the Gardens on El Paseo and El Paseo Village in the center of the street, and it is definitely the fashion heart of the Coachella Valley.

Over the years, Fashion Week El Paseo has grown from a long weekend of in-store events and just a couple of fashion shows to what it is now, a full week that is jampacked with some of the finest in fashion from the U.S. and which ends with the Designer of the Week.

Most of the stores, galleries and restaurants along the mile and a half long strip participate in some way in Fashion Week, whether it’s the runway shows in the Big White Tent or trunk shows and sales or shaving demonstrations at The Art of Shaving (who knew you could have a store dedicated to a good shave!).

Several local charities are beneficiaries of Fashion Week events, like Fashion Group International, The Living Desert, Desert Outreach Foundation, The Girlfriend Factor and Junior League of Palm Springs Desert Communities.

The entire schedule of events is available at fashionweekelpaseo.com website, but here are a few picks you shouldn’t miss.

Sunday, March 16 Style & Beauty Bash - 9am - 3pm 9am Free yoga class by lululemon.

11:30am Fashion Show. $30 donation; benefits local charities.

A day of pampering in the Toscana Country Club Runway Tent, with local salons, spas, and cosmetics companies and a yoga class in the Rancho Las Palmas Garden. There’s also the Extreme Hair & Makeup Showcase, beauty professionals showcasing their most creative looks.

Services Include: Hair, makeup, brow shaping, polish change, spray tanning, massages & more!

Cost: General admission is free. All beauty services are $30.

Fashion Frenzy - 9:30am-2:30pm It’s Fashion Week El Paseo’s first Fashion Frenzy. Shop for clothing and accessories from 15 fine designers and retailers in

By judith salkin unique pop-up shops in a space adjacent the Runway Tent, while the designers entertain with a runway show featuring their own designs.

Le Chien- A Celebration of Dogs & Fashion. 5pm - 6pm Silent Auction & Cocktail Reception. 6:30pm Fashion Show Benefits Humane Society of the Desert One of the most fun events of Fashion Week. Cocktails, a silent auction, music, and entertainment get you ready for the “Famous Dogs of Hollywood” fashion show featuring donors and their four-legged. A live auction ends the evening. continue to page 7

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Monday, March 17 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Fashion Show. 7pm Cocktail Reception. 8pm Fashion Show Benefits Junior League Palm Springs Desert Communities and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Nine FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising graduates present their couture collections.

Tuesday, March 18 El Paseo Runway Night presents Street Seen on El Paseo. 6:30pm Little Black Dress Cocktail Reception. 8pm Fashion Show The Girl Friend Factor, which provides

March 13 to March 19, 2014

education grants to women, presents cocktail reception where you and your LBD (little black dress) are the star of the evening, followed by “Street Seen on El Paseo,” a runway show featuring 10 fine retailers showcasing looks for spring 2014.

Friday, March 21 The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue. 7pm Cocktail Reception. 8pm Fashion Show.

9pm After party at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert 2014 men’s and women’s wear from Stella McCartney, Etro, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Pucci, Ralph Lauren for women, and Etro and Dolce& Gabbana for men.

Saturday, March 22 Designer of the Week - Zang Toi 7pm “White Night” Cocktail Reception.

8pm Fashion Show Wear white to celebrate the grand finale event of the week. Designer of the Week, Zang Toi, of New York City, brings his timeless, uncompromising collection to the runway. Toi’s designs pamper women with elegance and glamour.

IPAC presents “Marvin’s Room” Featuring Kirk Geiger of “Sordid Lives”

California Woman 411 with your host Dee Jae Cox

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Lori Cohen-Sanford

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Private Chef Service Cooking Classes Small Group Catering

‘Talking to women who lead and inspire’ Saturday’s from 10 – 11 a.m.

KPTR 1450 AM Palm Springs, CA California

CA-WMN-411 www.CaliforniaWoman411.com

Produced by The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project:

www.lawtp.org www.californiawoman411.com

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Nourishfoods Organic Meal Service 68805 E. Palm Canyon Drive Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.459.4259

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he Indio Performing Arts Center is proud to be presenting the multiple-award winning play, “Marvin’s Room,” March 21- April 6, 2014.

“Marvin’s Room” is a hilarious and heartwarming comedy about a woman who finds out she is dying of leukemia and is forced to re-connect with her estranged family. The New York Times said “…one of the funniest plays of the year as well as one of the wisest and most moving. When the American theater gains a new voice this original, this unexpected, you really must hear it for yourself.” Unfortunately, the playwright, Scott McPherson, died of AIDS in 1992, so “Marvin’s Room” remains his only produced work.

Director Jeanette Knight says, “We have assembled some of the most talented actors in the Coachella Valley for this production, which is very close to my heart.

I first directed the show in Reno, Nevada in 1994, and found it helped me deal with my mother’s recent passing. Audiences seem to connect with the main idea of the play, which is that only love-- graceful, direct and honest-- holds the world together.”

The cast includes desert favorites Denise Strand, Tiffani LoBue, Valerie “VJ” Hume, Domingo Winstead, Julian Jacobo, Diego Valdez, Jeannie Reichert-Jorgensen, and DTL Lifetime Achievement Award winner Louise Tonti. Kirk Geiger, who originated

events

the role of “Ty” in both the stage and film versions of the classic cult comedy “Sordid Lives,” will be playing “Dr. Wally.”

Performances will be Friday and Saturday evenings at 7PM, and Sunday afternoons at 2PM and will take place at the theatre, which is located at 45-175 Fargo Street in Indio. Seats can be selected and tickets can be purchased for $19-$26 now at the IPAC website, www.indioperformingartscenter. org. For more information, contact the Indio Performing Arts Center at (760) 7755200.

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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sports scene

by Julie Buehler

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spinning, winding and unfurling of that muscle is fascinating and/or if it’s more your style, very, very attractive. #3 The food. The overall renovation that added Stadium 2 also added 3 full service restaurants, pop-up tents and 19,000 square feet of shade structures, thereby ensuring you’ll be well fed and can find reprieve from any sun that might be a little tough to handle. In the evening sessions, the BNP Paribas is THE best place in town to grab a bite, enjoy some million-dollar sunsets, all the tennis action on giant screens to hang out on the grass with friends. Think Coachella or Stagecoach atmosphere with great food and people who smell good. #2 It’s the local hangout for this weekend.

Sure there’s always a lot going on in the desert (cue sarcasm) but THIS weekend is the weekend there IS a lot going on in the desert and there’s no better place to see friends, make new ones and enjoy our gorgeous weather than at the BNP Paribas this weekend for the final days of action. #1 THE BEST LOOKING CROWDS OF ANY SPORTING EVENT ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET. There’s no debate here. I’ve been to Super Bowls, college games all around the nation, the Cross Fit Games, NBA Finals, All Star games, college basketball, you name it, I’ve attended those sporting events, no where else are there so many well-dressed, kindly-mannered, good-timing spectators than at the BNP Paribas Open.

So join in the fun. Grab a buddy, swing by and have a great time. The parking is easier this year than ever before, the new expansions are well built and convenient and for those who thoroughly love the sport and competition, it’s some of the best displays in the world.

Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 3-6 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station.

She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners.

Tune in M-F 3-6 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.

March 13 to March 19, 2014

by Flint Wheeler

www.FlintWheeler.com Financial Advisor representing New York Life. Owner Indian Wells Insurance & Wealth Management. Host of Tilted Sports Radio on Team 1010, KXPS. Former PGA Class A Professional. U.S.P.T.A. Tennis Professional.

Titleist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Trainer

Top 5 Reasons The BNP Paribas Is Can’t Miss Entertainment

ou’ve likely seen the updates of the BNP Paribas but maybe you’re not a huge sports fan. Maybe you’d rather sacrifice brain cells by watching Honey Boo Boo than hear your buddy rattle off the stats he’s researching for his fantasy baseball league and I get it.

Maybe you think tennis is for stuffy folk named Bunnie and Walter with popped collars and Bentleys.

Maybe you think attending the BNP Paribas would be rigorously boring, an effort in futility for you, who may not be acquainted with the history or rules of the game of professional tennis and maybe you’re someone who prefers to keep the Bunnies and the Walters of the world at bay.

But I’m here to tell you why you CAN’T miss the BNP Paribas and why you’ll be glad you attended when you do.

The Top 5 Reasons to Attend The BNP Paribas Open This Weekend #5 The tennis. Look, you may not be a sports fan, but give it a shot. The rivalries and dripping drama when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal take the court would make the Housewives of any city blush and their different styles makes this one of the most compelling rivalries in all of sports. But regardless of the match you’re watching, you are sure to witness some breathtaking athleticism and perhaps even inspire you to pick up a racket. I did that some years ago after watching Andre Agassi. Some years later after that, I was playing in the state championship. Dreams come true boys and girls. #4 The legs of the athletes. Always tan, always spellbindingly muscular and the

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Indian Wells welcomes the BNP Paribas • • • • • • •

Equipment sales & rental Archery instruction for adults and children Unique family recreational activity Junior Olympic Archery Program Nationally certified instructors Individual, groups and families $5 group introductory classes

CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!

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760-347-8828

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afael Nadal is going to face difficult challenge against in-form 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open, where he will return back to action on Friday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells.

Rafael Nadal, who has arrived here in Indian Wells after winning Rio Open last month, he is looking hot favorite to defend BNP Paribas Open next week. Spaniard has been playing good tennis from the beginning of the season and hopes to continue similar form in Indian Wells. Nadal working hard in training session along with his coach, where he is likely to return back to Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday. Spanish star will face Czech Republic star Radek Stepanek in the BNP Paribas Open first round.

Rafael Nadal the 13-time singles Grand slam champion has been placed along with Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka in his draw, where Spanish star needs to play best tennis to challenge top ranked players in Indian Wells.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is going to bounce back at BNP Paribas Open and he has been struggling with his form from the beginning of the season. Serbian aims to clinch Indian Wells next week before heading to the Sony Open Tennis in Miami this month ending.

Other BNP notes, with men finishing their first round, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, the 2008 Olympic doubles gold

medalists for Switzerland, teamed up again for a 6-2, 6-7 (4), (10-6) victory over Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan in a match played in the new 8,000-seat Stadium 2.

“I don’t know if it was sold out, but it felt like very, very full,” said Federer, a fourtime singles champion at Indian Wells.

“You’re not probably going to achieve that on center court (where capacity is 16,100) for a doubles. But that was a perfect setup, a feeling, and we can thank the tournament and (owner) Larry Ellison for building such a court so quickly.

“It’s nice to see the game grow and seeing people coming out and enjoying it. It’s great.

I really had a great time out there with Stan today.”

Wawrinka is the Australian Open champion.

“It took me time to realize really what I did in Australian Open,” said Wawrinka, who is the No. 3 seed and could meet No. 7 Federer in the quarterfinals and top-seeded Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. “Still when I’m saying that I won a Grand Slam it’s still strange for me, but that’s why it was good to be home during three weeks. It was good to be with the family, to take more time for myself.

Wawrinka’s second-round opponent will be Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, and Federer will open his title bid against French qualifier Paul-Henry Mathieu. Wawrinka and Federer both will play Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday night, Nadal will take on Radek Stepanek.

Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, Richard Gasquet and JoWilfried Tsonga are the other top-10 players competing in doubles.

Flint Wheeler Financial Services Professional Visit www.FlintWheeler.Com

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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Local Music Spotlight

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by Tracy Dietlin

Snot’s Mikey Doling comes home to play in his Hood

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his Friday, March 14 beginning at 8pm The Hood Bar in Palm Desert will present the punk rock show of the year sure to blow the roof off and rock the neighborhood when iconic, cult status band Snot takes the stage. Also on the bill that night are local bands Brain Vat and Se7en4, both capable of packing the place on their own but considering that this is the first time local musical hero Mikey Doling’s band Snot has ever performed here in the desert, I suggest you arrive early as the place will be beyond capacity.

For those readers that are not familiar with the hardcore punk, funk, metal band Snot, they formed back in 1994 and in May of 1997 released their debut album Get Some on Geffen records. They caught a big break in 1998 when they were signed to play Ozzfest and were in the middle of recording their sophomore effort when tragedy struck and they lost lead singer Lynn Strait in a car accident in December of that year.

Snot broke up after that and then reformed for a while in 2008 and then most recently in February of this year to perform a show for charity at the Whiskey in LA. The current lineup consists of: Tommy Vext on vocals, Mikey Doling on guitar, Sonny Mayo on guitar, John “Tumor” Fahnestock on bass and Jamie Miller on drums.

The band is performing 3 shows and we’re lucky enough to have one of them take place here in the desert. Doling, who is from the Coachella Valley and graduated from Indio High School is especially excited about this show as he has never performed in his hometown with Snot.

Many desert musicians hold Doling in the highest regard as he is not only an amazing musician but also an in demand producer who has produced many local bands as well as bands all over the world. To have the opportunity to have Doling work on your record is a step towards a band’s success.

He is currently working with Se7en4 on their album in a studio down in LA, with all four members singing his praise and extremely excited to have Doling producing their project.

Talking about projects, Doling has many, including his other band Channel Zero and he recently partnered on The Roxy Tokyo and is now a club owner to add to the list of

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the many hats he wears well.

I had the opportunity to talk to Mikey Doling this week and here is what he had to say.

CVW: So is the show at The Hood a reunion show?

Mikey Doling: No it’s not. Snot formed in 94 and we were at the height of our career touring on Ozzfest, on MTV and slated to be the next Limp Bizkit and then we lost our lead singer at the end of 98 and the record label told us to get another lead singer and we said “fuck off…we’re not gonna do it!”

We were devastated. So in the years after all the members went out and did their thing.

I did Soulfly and we all still had careers and then about 5 years ago we all met up and said “hey wouldn’t it be so cool to all jam again if we could find someone to fill in for Lynn” and we tried out about 10 guys and then Tommy came in and fuckin note for note killed it…just rocked it and blew our minds actually. Everyone else who came in got red in the face because Lynn was a really hard singer you know? So we thought let’s do this so we did a tour with Mudvayne and we did some stuff with Hell Yeah, Vinnie Paul’s (from Pantera) new band and we did about 3 months of touring and we said that was enough and we went off and did our other bands again. Then earlier this year we all got together and decided we had that itch again. And Sonny and Tommy have this charity event that they do for sobriety and we did a show at The Whiskey the other night and the tickets were $50.00 because it was a benefit and I’m like no way are we charging that to play but the place sold out and we had a super good time and made money for charity. So we decided since we all had a month off before we all go on spring tour with our other bands, to book 3 more dates in March for Snot. We’re doing a free show at The Troubadour on the 18th, a show in Santa Barbara at Velvet Jones on the 22 and at The Hood this Friday.

CVW: Are you planning on doing any new Snot material?

MD: At this point no. We wrote those songs 18-19 years ago and we were different people back then. We had a big middle finger in the air and now we’re all a bunch of 40 year olds so I wouldn’t want it to come across wrong. I want Snot to still come across with the same fuck you attitude we had back then.

CVW: How do you feel that your music has evolved over the years with your different bands?

MD: I’m a more confident songwriter now. Back when I was writing for Snot…I really didn’t know what I was doing (laughing). We wrote from the heart. We would get an 18 pack of beer and smoke some pot and get down to it… but now it’s in a studio and I think about it more. I’ve grown up, been around the world, met just about everyone I’ve ever wanted to and I’ve learned a lot.

CVW: You’ve worn so many hats over the years including songwriter, guitarist, producer, label owner and now even club owner. Which one would you say is your favorite or the most rewarding?

MD: My favorite thing in the world is to get in the recording studio and write music. I love playing live but I’ve played live so many times all over the world and a drunk guy standing in front of me wearing a bandana with a beer bottle in his hand just doesn’t do it for me like it used to. I like to create. I love to get in the studio and walk out with something that wasn’t there before I walked in. That for me is a reward. Touring is great but you know I’m older now. I have a wife and kid and I need to make some money.

And producing is super fun too because I love being in the studio.

CVW: So you’re a club owner now. Tell me how that came about?

MD: I just flew in from Japan last night and I’ve got a partner there and we’ve

been planning on opening a place like the Rainbow Room in Hollywood. My wife used to work with this guy at Roadrunner Records in Japan and I met him years ago and about 2 ½ years ago my wife and I went on a trip to Japan and we met up with him and he already had another bar and I came up with the idea. I told him I had a lot of friends in bands around the world that would want to stop here and play. And we just had a Testament party, a DevilDriver party and Gwar and next week Exodus is coming.

So it’s working and we’ve only been open about 3 months.

CVW: So do you live in Tokyo fulltime now?

MD: My wife and I have a home in Tokyo but I live in the States too and I also live in Europe about 3 months of the year.

CVW: I know you’ve worked on a lot of projects with local bands. Can you tell me about the project you’re doing with Se7en4?

MD: I’ve produced a lot of records over the last 15 years and I swear I’ve gotten way better. I’ve been getting mentored myself by a couple of big producers like Logan Mader that have taught me some new tricks. I’ve produced 5 records in the last 5 months and I’ve been using these new tricks and all of the sudden I’m like ‘wow I can make a record sound like a real record now’. And I’m also working with Sterling Winfield who produced the last 2 Pantera records. The guys from Se7en4 hit me up at just the right time. And I love all these guys to death. I grew up with most of them in the desert and we actually start the record this week and I’m going to make the best record that they’ve ever had.

CVW: Did you choose them to open for you at The Hood?

MD: Actually when the promoter asked me who we wanted…Brad Garrow and Frankie Ramirez were my best friends growing up and they are in Brain Vat so the first words out of my mouth were Brain Vat and Se7en4. Both bands are like family to me.

CVW: Of all the bands you’ve produced is there a favorite project that you’ve done up to this point?

MD: There’s so many bands that I’m proud of but right now there’s a band that’s really taking off called Gemini Syndrome and they’re signed to Warner Bros. and I sort of discovered them and now they’re touring the world and they just got off tour with Five Finger Death Punch. I launched that bands career so I’m really proud of them.

CVW: How is it working with a lot of the local bands that you grew up with because many of these bands idolize you?

MD: It’s always cool working with guys from my hometown. We have so much in common and I love recording bands there.

CVW: You’re so highly respected in the

business so who do you respect right now?

MD: Well in the desert QOTSA just blow my mind. Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri and Mario Lalli all those dudes I highly respect.

As for around the world I’m a big Lamb of God fan, I will always love Pantera, I think Ozzy Osbourne will always be the God of rock, Zakk Wylde, Angus Young is my hero.

As far as producers go I would say Dave Fortman. He did the Slipknot record and he’s a really good friend of mine.

CVW: So what has Channel Zero been up to?

MD: We just finished a new record called Kill All Kings and it comes out April 11. I’m actually going to Belgium April 1 and we’re going to do 5 shows and we’re going to do national TV. Last year we did some shows with Metallica and did HellFest and a ton of stuff. On another note our drummer Phil Baheux, who has been with the band for 20 years just passed away recently so that was really hard and we’re still dealing with that.

But for now Roy Mayorga from Stone Sour is filling in. We’ve got all these big shows that are sold out and we’re going to be stepping out on stage without Phil for the first time so it’s going to be really emotional. (long pause) CVW: This is the second time you’ve lost a band member so it has to be hard.

MD: I will say that for as many years as we’ve all been out there rocking and being loose and dangerous like we have the fact that only two of us are gone is a miracle.

CVW: Do you think the internet and

social media is a gift or a curse to musicians and the music business overall?

MD: I love social media and I use it and it can be a great tool but I’ve got to say that I definitely think it’s hurt the business and has damaged the livelihood of the musicians and therefore I think it’s hurting product coming back to the consumer because there’s not enough breathing room for bands to afford to tour right. It’s more stressful now. Fans can go on YouTube now

Local Music Spotlight

The 1st Annual Pi-Palooza

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efore I write anything else, allow me to dispel any and all rumors that this event has anything to do with the celebration of, the making of, throwing of or eating of PIE. (I know.

I was disappointed too. After all, who doesn’t love pie?) Instead, it is the musical celebration of the mathematical constant; the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159. Ok, it’s not really about that either. Basically, it’s 3/14 and the owners of Schmidy’s Tavern and the guys from the local rock band, Pictures From Eden decided it would be a great day to raise some money for charity. So they enlisted the help of three more bands: The Hive Minds, Burning Bettie and Spankshaft, and gave it a cool name. (Besides, Pi-Palooza is just fun to say.)

This Friday, March 14th starting at 8pm sharp, Schmidy’s Tavern will be hosting the first annual Pi-Palooza to raise money for two very meaningful and important local charities: Christopher’s Clubhouse and Friends of Palm Springs Animal Shelters. The event, sponsored by many local businesses, Crater Lake Vodka and Coachella

at Schmidy’s Tavern, Friday, March 14th @ 8pm Sharp!

Valley Weekly will be MC’d by none other than the charismatic, award winning radio personality, entertainer and movie producer, Brad Mercer. The Rockabilly Mafia girls will be serving up Crater Lake Shots and ice cold beer, prizes will be raffled and even the bands themselves will be auctioned off to support these very necessary organizations that make our community better.

Christopher’s Club House, born from tragedy, is a non-profit organization that helps protect our kids with their commitment to bring comprehensive safety education to children and families. Friends of Palm Springs Animal Shelter, supports a no-kill shelter for animals and encourages their adoption and foster care in safe, loving homes. Both charities will be on hand to answer any questions regarding opportunities to volunteer, give and participate in upcoming activities.

Starting off the night with some of the best local original music will be The Hive Minds. The Hive Minds is Derek Jordan Gregg, guitar virtuoso, crooner and stellar songwriter joined by friend and expert rhythm keeper, Sean Poe on drums. With

March 13 to March 19, 2014

and watch a band instead of go to a show.

I love social media but at the same time I think it can be a big kick in the balls to musicians. Everyone made fun of Lars from Metallica but he was right. Napster was the beginning of the end.

CVW: What has been the most defining moment in your career so far?

MD: The tour that I did with Pantera when I was with Soulfly. For 11 nights I got to go on stage and play with Dimebag Darrell. I mean actually play in Pantera for one song every night, not just open up for them.

CVW: So what was your craziest story on tour?

MD: (laughing) Oh man I’ve got a ton of them but once when I was in Soulfly we got kidnapped in Russia. Actually they just hustled us for money. I did 3 Ozzy tours which didn’t suck so you can imagine those stories but I went over to his house one time and had dinner with him and sat and watched CNN. Touring with Slayer was great. System of a Down who are my best friends who I watched come from young, broke Armenian skaters in Hollywood to be successful musicians that are millionaires, which is pretty cool.

CVW: What do you do in your down time?

MD: I don’t have down time. If I’m not touring or producing I spend time with my wife and my son Jax (17 months).

CVW: Is there anything else you would like to say?

MD: I would like to say to anyone reading this. Get off the laptop, get off your phone and go out and support live music. Buy a frickin CD and a t-shirt. Put some fuel on the fire.

Friday, March 14 @ 8:00pm - Snot, Se7en4 & Brain Vat at The Hood- 74360 Highway 111 in Palm Desert 760-636-5220. $15.00 at the door - 21 & over. www.facebook.com/SnotFans www.snotmerch.com/ www.facebook.com/ thebandchannelzero?ref=br_tf www.facebook.com/mikey.doling?fref=ts

by Lisa Morgan only two pieces, these guys manage to create a full band sound. The only thing more impressive than their musicianship is the passion in which Gregg delivers his beautifully penned, melodically creative original songs. They will captivate you.

Next in the lineup, is Burning Bettie, a rock band based in the Coachella Valley. The band consists of Giorg Tierez on vocals and guitar, Josh Ballard on drums, percussion and vocals, Frank Michel on lead guitar and vocals and Shawn “Stretch” Fisher on bass. Burning Bettie’s unique take on rock music comes from eras ranging from Buddy Holly to the Beatles with even hints at 80’s to 90’s rock blended in, making them a one of a kind, great original band to follow.

Pictures From Eden will take the stage at approximately 10 pm. This band has played the world famous Whiskey in Hollywood on multiple occasions, opening for bands Missing Persons and Gene Loves Jezebel, and most recently opening for Modern English here in the desert. The band, made up of singer/songwriter Paul Brian Cotterell, guitar demi-god and face melter, Tom Collins, the loveable Dennis Gallagher on bass and drummer Steve Ussery (school teacher by day, drum monster by night). Together they deliver powerful alternative rock reminiscent of all that was good and memorable of the 90’s rock scene.

Closing out the night, the award winning pop/ ska/punk band Spankshaft will create their own weather system with their high energy original rock music complete with horn section. Brothers Brandon and Brent Simpson on guitar and bass deliver emotional and at times, hilarious songs while dancing alto and tenor sax players, Clint Stoker and Jeremy McCormick, respectively, push

this bands energy straight into your face. Keeping it all together rhythmically is Russel Waldron on drums. You cannot listen to this band without a smile on your face.

VIP tables are available for $300 ($150 going directly to the charities) and are stocked with Crater Lake Vodka, mixers and will receive VIP table service. The Rockabilly Mafia girls will be serving $2 Crater Lake shots in souvenir glasses for $2 and ($1 of each shot going directly to the charities). Raffle tickets will also be sold for a plethora of great items. But perhaps the best part of the night will be the auctioning off of the bands.

Each participating band will be put up for auction and 100% of that money will go to the charities.

Winners of this auction will receive a free 1 hour concert at a time and place of their choosing, based on the band’s availability.

This evening is guaranteed fun that will support two incredible causes. The event is already confirming a large turnout, so we recommend that you get there early. There will be a $5 charge at the door, 100% of which will also go to the charities.

Schmidy’s Tavern, a venue that is quickly becoming a local favorite for their friendly atmosphere, service and great food, is located at 72286 Highway 111 (at Fred Waring and 111). For more information regarding sponsoring, donating, or attending the event, call Paul Cotterell at (760) 275-5757 or Lisa Morgan at (760) 464-6773.

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Local Music Spotlight

by Lisa Lynn O’Morgan

Shenanigans Afoot at Tilted Kilt Palm Desert’s Monday, March 17th Annual St. Patty’s Day Bash 11am to 1AM

O

scar Wild said it best: “Work is the curse of the drinking class.” ‘Tis a sad statement, and never more true than when St. Patty’s Day lands on, of all days, a Monday. For those scheduled to work on this most sacred of drinking holidays, Tilted Kilt, Palm Desert is only making matters worse for you.

With four live bands, two DJs, a virtual river of green beer and crazy all-day drink specials served by their entire staff of lovely bar maids revealing their ample (cough) knowledge of craft beers, draft beers, wines, full bar and menu items, you will be hard pressed to stay away. Tilted Kilt, once again, spares no expense in providing the Coachella Valley with one of the largest celebrations of the beloved saint who single handedly ran off all of the snakes in Ireland!

If you are determined to fulfill your work duties on this sacred day then I solute you. But be warned, it won’t be easy. As you catch yourself staring at the clock Monday morning, there’s a good chance that you will begin to hear the sounds of your Irish homeland gently calling you on the breeze. Somewhere in the distance, the Gaelic sounds from the Palm Springs Bag Pipe Band playing An Irish Lullaby will begin to beckon you. Yes, they beckon YOU Franz De Klotz, and YOU Natalia Astankina; you who are Irish for only one gloriously green day. As you do your best to concentrate on the tasks at hand, you will swear you can hear the clinking of icy beer mugs full of cold, green beer, or perhaps find yourself listening for the slow, skillful, perfect pour of a frothy topped Guinness.

“Oh Danny (Garcia) Boy, the pie is calling you; that would be Danny Boy’s Shepard’s Pie, calling you from the Tilted Kilt’s kitchen, with its seasoned ground beef, carrots, peas and mushroom gravy topped with garlic mashed potatoes and Parmesan cheese. You dare not even ponder on the Gaelic Chicken with its whiskey cream sauce. You must focus. Focus on work. Focus on... Hey, isn’t it almost lunch time?

Maybe you could just stop by for lunch. You could enjoy just one icy cold green beer with Tilted Kilt’s Scottish Cheese-steak salad (shaved rib-eye steak, sautéed peppers and onions and melted provolone cheese atop crispy bed of romaine lettuce). Sweet Mary, Joseph and Jesus, even the beer must be healthy if it’s green! But be careful my friend. You just might find yourself lost in the camaraderie of your Irish kinsmen as you join them in traditional Irish toasts. You’ll be tempted to use your fledgling Irish accent as you shout aloud along with them: May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows your dead.

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life.... and never catch up.

Here’s to your coffin...May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow!

May the tap be open when it rusts!

If you venture outside to the balmy patio, you’ll enjoy the music of Pocket Yellow (pocketyellowband. com), playing a mix of alternative rock originals and covers. The music will inspire you to sing along with the beautiful Miss Morgan James on vocals. You’ll envy Johnny Carmona’s guitar skills, while moving to the rhythm of bass player, Isai Munoz, and drummer Jeronimo Arellano Contreras (the latter two, obviously Irish as well). This isn’t just any band; they were chosen as one of this year’s KCLB radio’s top ten, “Best of the Best” bands in the Coachella Valley.

If you find yourself tapping your foot to local country rock band, R Buckle Road that means it’s already 5 pm. Struck with momentary panic, you may suddenly notice the light green film on your teeth and realize that even if you did return to work, there would be no denying where you’ve been. Not to mention, there’s a good chance they heard you yelling “Blarney” over the KCLB 93.7 live radio remote. Don’t worry. R Buckle Road is more than happy to write a note or help you call in with one of their own, tried, tested and not so true, creative excuses passed down from their Irish ancestors: “My fake eye keeps falling out of its socket.” ~ Greg

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McVincent, Lead Vocals, Guitar “I received a threatening phone call from the electric company and I need to report it to the FBI.” ~ Mike McPedersen, Guitar, Vocals “Dude! I got lost and now I’m in another state.” ~ Larry McPedersen, Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica “I bit my tongue and I can’t talk.” ~ Cat McPedersen, Vocalist and Percussion “My vehicle is surrounded by a swarm of bees and I can’t get out of my car.” ~ Lindy O’Bingham, Vocals and Kick Ass Sax “Um, yeah. I’m not coming in.” ~ Bob O’Bingham, Bass “Somebody glued all my doors and windows shut so I can’t leave the house.” ~ Lisa Lynn O’Morgan, Vocals and Bad Ideas “I couldn’t decide what to wear.” ~ Carl Agnello Magilicutty (aka Smalls) Drums Now that you have sufficiently handled that situation, you can sit back and relax as the band plays, “Slow it on Down”, “Old Friend”, “Rock Star” and “Let’s Drink!” along with other original songs perfectly paired with your adult beverage of choice.

Immediately following R Buckle Road, the music of Two-Twelve (212) will keep you on your feet. The face melting guitar of Chuck Baum, the steady heart pounding brothers of rhythm, Jimmy Thomas on bass and Lenny Colvin on drums, with have you throwing your fist in the air cheering as rock vocalist, Mike Labrecque sings all the classic rock and roll that you know and love.

And the night is not even close to over yet. TwoTwelve will be followed by the make you bounce, and smile through a heartache, pulse lifting music of Spankshaft. This high energy pop/ska/punk band made up of brothers, Brandon Simpson (guitar and vocals) and Brent Simpson (bass and vocals), adopted bro Russel Waldron on drums and a dancing tenor and alto sax section (Justin McCormick and Clint Stoker, respectively) will remove any reasons to stand by watching quietly. This award winning band will fill the night air with music until it’s time for DJs James Gonzalez and Streek Marinez to spin all your favorite dance hits.

This entire celebration is free if you arrive before 7 pm and only $5 at the door after that. A trip to Vegas will be given away by KCLB 93.7 and the first 50 women will receive a lucky green carnation at the door, compliments of The Flower Company, Palm Desert. You can be confident that you’ll have had the night of your Irish-ish life at the Tilted Kilt’s largest celebration of the year. Above and beyond all the drink specials and entertainment, you’ll be extremely impressed by the lovely waitresses (they are just so....

NICE!), and you’ll have to admit that even the barkeep, Matty Mc Fleen, does not look half bad in a kilt. So why not just make plans to take the day off to gather with your friends at this fantastic establishment. As the old Irish saying goes, “If you’re enough lucky to be Irish... You’re lucky enough!” and at Tilted Kilt, Palm Desert, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s Irish. Just remember, “Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth, drove all the snakes from Ireland - here’s toasting to his health…but not too many toastings, lest you lose yourself and then, forget the good Saint Patrick and see all those snakes again!” Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! (Happy St. Patricks Day!) The Tilted Kilt Palm Desert is located at 72-191 Highway 111.

events Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs Grand Opening

by Rachel Montoya Photos by laura Hunt Little

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

ROBIN LINN’S DESERT RHYTHMs TAKING THE WEST BY STORM, ONE GHOST TOWN AT A TIME.. SPINDRIFT

S

L

ast week, a dozen guitars met their ceremonious end as the Hard Rock Hotel was officially opened in downtown Palm Springs. The traditional “guitar smash” marks the opening of each new Hard Rock property with key stakeholders and celebrities invited to channel their inner rock stars. Smashers included Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, Hard Rock Hotel Owner Andy Carpiac, and The Hills star Audrina Patridge among others.

In the area of rock stars, the Hard Rock did not disappoint. Indie rock sensation, Phantogram was flown in by private jet just minutes before show time to perform an energetic set on a poolside stage decked out with sound and lights to an eager crowd of about 400. It was the rock-tastic culmination of six months of finishing touches from the conversion of Hotel Zoso last summer to the worldwide brand.

In October, Hard Rock Palm Springs had a soft opening with limited rooms and a list of much still to do. Last week saw full operations of all 163 rooms as well as the hotel’s Rock Spa and Sessions restaurant. The spa and restaurant are open to locals as well

as hotel guests.

The resurgence of Palm Springs as a hot spot was apparent from guest comments to Mayor Steve Pougnet’s rousing pep-rally comments, “Palm Springs, California, after 30 years, is once again the hot spot for people to come to,” he shouted. “This is our moment.

This is our time. The town is changing in a wonderful, wonderful way.”

Echoing the local theme was General Manager Hector Moreno. “We wouldn’t be anywhere without our locals,” said Moreno who announced that Sessions restaurant will offer locals-only special for Coachella Valley residents.

Richard Beas, the hotel’s VIBE Manager, welcomes locals to join in nightly activities at the hotel from Thursday to Sunday. As far as what style of music to expect when you arrive, Beas says, “we embrace the festival culture of Palm Springs by offering everything from indie music to classic rock. Palm Springs welcomes everyone, so we offer something for everyone at Hard Rock.”

pindrift is a psychedelic western rock band based out of LA founded by singer, songwriter, composer, producer Kirpatrick Thomas. Kirpatrick’s passion for Spaghetti Westerns and his experimental approach to songwriting and composing makes for some truly unique and inspired musical productions. The band also features James Acton on drums, autoharp, vocals; Henry Evans on bass, baritone guitar, upright bass, vocals; Michelle Vidal on vocals, keys, and percussion and newest member guitarist Thomas “Espiritu Sanctu” Bellier.

When listening to their latest record, Ghost of the West, one feels they have been transported into a dark Western setting.

Images of scorpions, horses, wild burros & bulls, bottles of half-drunk whiskey, tough women, tougher men...all fill my mind as I listen to songs like “Gun Fighter”, “Blood on the Saddle”, “Mudhead” and “Cool Water”.

All of the songs on GHOST OF THE WEST are chalk full of sexy, vibey guitar work, gorgeous instrumentation, all beautifully produced. I find Spindrift to be absolutely intoxicating.

Spindrift has toured Europe and the US for decades. They have developed a close relationship with Joshua Tree based band Gram Rabbit. In 2013, both bands took part in the prestigious SXSW festival. Performing at festivals, intimate hip venues, criss-crossing the nation, and working scoring films, Spindrift has carved a niche out for themselves both as musical artists and film composers.

The feel of the music conjuring up images of a Quentin Tarantino film isn’t by chance.

Spindrift’s music has actually been featured in QT’s 2008 production, “Hell Ride”. They have also scored independent films such as Ward Robert’s “DUST UP”, a film I look forward to seeing out at The Palms (March 29). Perhaps I have lived in the wild of the high desert too long...but the film’s plot which takes place in the high desert isn’t a stretch for me at all. It tells the tale of Jack Truman, a shell-shocked soldier seeking refuge in these parts as a handyman, and it all goes terribly wrong. Part comedy, part shock film...it’s not for the faint of heart. A different Roberts, producer Burke Roberts, is behind the scenes of the Spindrift film, “Ghost of the West” scheduled for release this summer.

The film follows the band around the West as they visit its many ghost towns. Their travels took them to Tombstone, Deadwood, and Bodie, CA while making this film. I can’t help but imagine them stirring up the powers that be out in the lonely and sometimes spooky western settings they visited along

their journey. They induce a mindset that is pure west, both old and new. Some ideas seem familiar, like putting on a comfortable pair of cowboy boots, but the psychedelic twist and the sheer raw beauty of it all is unique unto itself. I was swept away again and again by the selections from Ghost of the West and soundtrack selections from “Dust Up” and “Legend of God’s Gun”. The band has five LP’s in their catalog and a fantastic website to get to know what they are all about. It has been a wild journey that won’t be completed until I see their live show! We have two chances to do just that----March 28th, when they perform at Pappy & Harriet’s, a high desert road house as unique as Spindrift. A film about P&H will be screened at this year’s SXSW in Austin, proving I am not alone in my infatuation for the venue! On March 29th, a completely different and authentic live experience will follow at a camp-out during the Rock Formations Fest at The Palms in Wonder Valley. I predict two completely different experiences...each exciting and unique.

The cinematic approach to the songwriting and the fascination for the wildwest has me curious about a number of things, including the mind-set of the writer’s creative process.

I also wondered what compelled a group to tour ghost towns and record, so I asked Kirpatrick Thomas a few questions.

RL: Tell me about your connection to film, your passion for Spaghetti Westerns and how it has influenced your music?

KP: My prime inspiration for composing began around 1999 while SPINDRIFT was still located in the small town of Newark, DE in ‘92.

It is home to the University of Delaware and there was a decent college music scene back in the 90’s. However, being from Delaware, we were quite secluded. I believe this gave birth to our unique outlook and helped us to develop our style over time. Like a hibernation period.

We went through many changes ranging from experimental shoegaze noise blues acid spacerock to 80’s electro influences (we covered Gary Numan’s “Cars” and some Wall of Voodoo for quite a while there), but it wasn’t until we saw Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon A Time in the West” with Ennio Morricone’s epic score that we were hooked. From there (after a brief stay in Tokoyama, Japan) a friend of mine, Chris Tucker, convinced us to try Los Angeles. There was Beck, The Brian Jonestown Massacre (whom I moonlighted as a roadie and guitarist for several tours), The Warlocks, B.R.M.C., X, The Doors, LOVE, The Music Machine, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and so much more to discover! Three of us went

March 13 to March 19, 2014

by Robin Linn including me, our bass player Joe Baluta, and drummer Zac Hansen. Once we had things in place, we wrote the album Songs from the Ancient Age, which had a few tracks from the East Coast psychedelic version of the band, mixed with other tracks from the newly influence Spaghetti Western “Acid tripping in Death Valley” style.

Songs from the Ancient Age was an interesting album in this effect as it was written, influenced, and recorded on both East and West Coasts. I was flying back and forth, doing shows and recording sessions in Delaware, Philly, and New York as well as recording in Las Vegas and Echo Park in LA. From there we expanded the band and wrote the Spaghetti Western homage album “The Legend of God’s Gun”. I wrote a treatment for the film and passed it around to some independent directors, all the while performing live versions of the “Soundtrack” at warehouse parties. It was in Sept. 2004 while performing in New York at The Mercury Lounge that we met bass player for the Low Flying Owls, director Mike Bruce. We hit it off quite well and immediately went to work on The Legend of God’s Gun film in Joshua Tree, CA with a pretty haphazard cast and crew (which was basically Mike with a camera and the band as “actors”). From there, it’s all been about a never ending love affair with The West.

RL: I feel like I step into a dark twisted western when I listen to compositions like “Buffalo Dream” and “Hell Bound”. Do you create music with the intention of providing a soundtrack atmosphere? Elaborate on the term cinematically-driven.

KP: I’ve always been a fan of a great melody. I think lyrics are very important to connect with the listener, but what really grabs anyone’s attention is first the melody of the song. That’s what draws you in and says...

Oooh, I like this...It sounds twisted, dark, evil...sexy. I’m the kind of writer who is stuck in the middle. Part of me says, “Your song should stand on its own, without lyrics” and the other says. “Hey, tell the people how you feel”. Ultimately, the melody side wins me out.

That’s probably because I’m inherently shy. I watch people talk and talk and talk and wish many times they would just shut the fuck up.

Why say anything? Another anomaly, and this is where the weird “I grew up in the middle of nowhere” Delaware thing comes into play is that when recording, we had very few people around back then to record with. I developed a high soprano style vocal range mainly out of necessity. To answer your question about the “dark and twisted” sound...The Doors were a big influence, as well as the slinky, sexy sounds

of many various Latin surf guitar sounds.

RL: What was the experience like touring the ghost towns of the west and creating music there? Did you ever feel you were being haunted or visited?

KP: Well, visiting the old county court house in Belmont, NV and discovering Charlie Manson’s engraved signature was truly a haunt!

As well as seeing a black floating orb near Area 51 and then immediately running into a full grown elk thereafter was a full blown shock. Being stuck in a dried up river bed for 8 hours surrounded by scorpions waiting for a tow truck while on major illegal alien drug trafficking territory in Arizona was a bad mishap as well. I’ll tell ya though, I think the scariest place was Bombay Beach in The Salton Sea. Apocalyptic. Stay away. You can imagine that being in a band with a love of all things weird, wild, and Western helped us to create some strange music out there. Fortunately, it’s all documented to the fullest extent. For 5 weeks we hit the road with Director Burke Roberts and Cinematographers J.T. Gurzi and Rich Ragsdale…filming and recording all along the way. It was a dream and it’s going to look and sound phenomenal.

RL: What was it like working with Ward Roberts on the film “Dust Up”?

KP: I’ve worked with a good amount of directors, and those guys have it rough. I think all directors have to be a little bit crazy to do it. It’s such an adventurous and ambitious endeavor. People try to make it formulaic but the truth is, I don’t care if you’re Ridley Scott or Spielberg...When you just get in a van for 5 weeks and search for “Ghost Towns” and places that supposedly don’t exist, you just can’t follow any kind of expectation and things will always be spur of the moment type rapid fire shots as discovery is always the main theme your dealing with. Ward Roberts is an awesome guy with lots of energy, passion, and ambition. I recall him telling me that his prime motivator for the desert-xploitation film “DUST UP”, was seeing our film, “The Legend of God’s Gun” (Directed by Mike Bruce) premier at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA in Oct of 2008, as a Drive-In Theater experience.

Funny thing is, the portable “blow up screen” and sound system we used was created and provided by director Burke Roberts. It’s one of his amazing creations called “The Engine Theater” and runs off generators and a full size pop up movie screen, giving the ability to screen a theater style movie experience anywhere at any time.

RL: What is the live Spindrift experience about?

KP: It’s all about the collaboration of cinema and music. It’s generally high energy stuff...We keep the set exploding from song to song. The drums usually get smashed. It’s a psychedelic/sonic experience that transforms the band and our audiences into a frenzy.

Every show is a bit different. I’ve Gotta hand it to our projectionist Miss Molly for providing the visuals on tours. Most common questions continue to page 25

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Eleni P. Austin

ROSANNE CASH

“The River & The Thread” (Blue Note Records)

Consider This

R

osanne Cash was born into Country Music royalty. But she never traded on that pedigree to gain a foothold in the music industry.

The eldest daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto, Cash was born in Memphis Tennessee. She and her three younger sisters spent their formative years in the super non-Country locale of Ventura, California. Her parents divorced in 1966.

After graduating high school in the early ‘70s, Rosanne went on the road with her dad.

She worked her way up from laundry duties to backing vocals and then featured vocalist.

She briefly abandoned her musical ambitions to study at Vanderbuilt University in Tennessee. She also enrolled in Lee Strasberg’s Theatre Institute in Los Angeles. But by 1978 she recorded a demo and signed a deal with the Ariola record label based in Munich Germany.

The Nashville establishment took notice, and by the time Cash was ready to record her second album, she was signed to her father’s label, Columbia. Three of the songs on that album, Right Or Wrong, were produced by Rodney Crowell, part of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band.

Right Or Wrong was a huge success, spawning three hit singles. Cash and Crowell’s relationship shifted from professional to personal and the pair got married. Her next album, Seven Year Ache, was a commercial breakthrough yielding three #1 singles on the Country charts. It also managed the neat hat trick of crossing over to the Pop charts, reaching the Top 30.

Even though her fourth album, Somewhere InThe Stars, was a rush recording, (Cash was pregnant with her first child), the album still had two Top 10 singles. Her next two efforts, Rhythm & Romance in 1985 and King’s Record Shop in 1987 expanded her horizons exponentially.

The former was a savvy blend of Country and Pop featuring two #1 hits. The latter, a sharp meditation on Country traditions, produced four #1 songs, including her reinterpretation of “Tennessee Flat Top Box,” (a hit single for Johnny Cash in 1961).

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

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As the ‘90s dawned, Rosanne Cash was at the top of her game professionally. But that took a toll on her personal life. Her marriage to Rodney Crowell was in trouble, a theme she explored thoroughly on her most personal (and critically acclaimed) album, Interiors.

By 1993, Cash was divorced and living in New York City with her three daughters. She chronicled this transition in The Wheel, her final album for the Columbia label.

Following a three year hiatus from music, (during that time, she married John Leventhal, producer of The Wheel, and published her first book, “Bodies Of Water,” a collection of short stories). She released the stripped down set, 10 Song Demo. It was another seven years before her next album appeared.

Rules Of Travel arrived in 2003 and it featured a lovely duet with her dad on “September When It Comes.” It was their final professional performance together.

That same year Rosanne’s stepmother, June Carter Cash died. Four months later Johnny Cash followed June. By 2005 Rosanne’s mother, Vivian Liberto also passed on. She channeled her pain and grief in a most public way, releasing the exquisite Black Cadillac in early 2006. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the Folk/Americana category.

The following year, Cash announced she had Chairi I Malformation, a rare brain condition.

She underwent surgery, recovery and rehab. By 2009 she released The List.

Back when she was a teenager, Johnny Cash was afraid Rosanne only knew the songs that played on the radio. So he gave her a list of what he considered to be 100 essential American songs. Rosanne’s assignment was to learn them all. She did, but for the record, she pared it from 100 to 12 classic tracks.

After writing her first memoir, “Composed,” Rosanne Cash is back with The River & The Thread, her first album of new material in 8 years. The album opens with “A Feather’s Not

A Bird.” This opaque travelogue, powered by rumbling bass, bottleneck guitar, violin and viola, contains the cryptic little couplet “A feather’s not a bird, the rain is not the sea/A stone is not a mountain, but a river runs through me.”

Cash explores her own tangled heritage on three tracks, “The Sunken Lands,” Etta’s Tune” and When The Master Calls The Roll.” Tethered by a loping, clip clop gait and beatific mandolin runs, “The Sunken Lands” takes its name from an area near Dyess Arkansas where an earthquake in 1811 actually sunk the land.

During the depression, as part of the New Deal, desperately poor families were given brand new cottages to live on and 40 acres to plant cotton fields. That is how Johnny Cash grew up, picking cotton alongside his siblings and parents. Three lines sharply distill the hardship…”The children cry, the work never ends there’s not a single friend.”

“Etta’s Tune” offers brighter recollections, as homage to Etta and Marshall Grant. Bassist Marshall Grant, along with guitarist Luther Perkins were known as the Tennessee Two, Johnny Cash’s original back-up band. They pretty much invented Cash’s patented “boomchicka-boom” rhythm and toured with cash from 1954 until 1980. A sprightly, three chord lullabye, it’s a sweet farewell to Grant who passed in 2011.

“When The Master Calls The Roll,” doubles as the album’s most ambitious song. With an able lyrical assist from Rodney Crowell, Cash re-imagines The Civil War era through her ancestors’ eyes. (Family members fought on both sides).

Set to a tune that recalls old Celtic or Appalachian ballads, we follow the fates of Mary Ann Cash and William Cash. They meet and marry right before the outbreak of war…

“My tender bride, the tides demand that I leave you with your mother/With my father’s rifle in one hand, and your locket in the other.”

Naturally, it ends in heartbreak.

Cash has always seemed spiritual, if not exactly religious. So it’s no surprise that two songs, “Tell Heaven,” and “50,000 Watts” offer different paths for divine fulfillment.

Under a cloak of gritty guitar riffs and lush backing vocals, The former advocates prayer…

“You don’t have to know what you will say/ The empty sky may never take our burdens, but something good will someday come our way.”

The former floats the idea that the shared experience of music can be more comforting than a sermon. The melody is warm and inviting, a wry backporch ramble anchored by Wurlitzer piano, upright bass and guitar. “We’ll live like kings, without any sin/ Redemption will come, just tune it all in…with 50,000 watts of common prayer.”

Other interesting tracks include the Jazzy travelogue “Modern Blue,” which somehow connects Memphis to Barcelona. The yearning “Long Way Home,” “World Of Strange Design,” which paraphrases a Scottish proverb, “They speak of my drinking, but never think of my thirst.”

The album closes with “Money Road.” An actual thoroughfare in the Mississippi Delta that includes Robert Johnson’s grave, the infamous Tallahatchie Bridge and the spot where Emmit Till was murdered, (for allegedly whistling at a white woman), igniting the Civil Rights movement. Rosanne ponders this odd confluence of events over a surprisingly rockin’ groove. John Leventhal’s use of electric sitar bathes the song in a “Betcha By Golly Wow” glow that recalls early ‘70s soul.

If you kick in the extra dough for the deluxe version of The River & The Thread, you are treated to three bonus tracks. There are two cover songs, Cash offers up a jaunty version of Townes Van Zandt’s “Two Girls” and a brooding interpretation of Jesse Winchester’s “Biloxi.”

The final song is a Cash original, the sparkling “Your Southern Heart.”

Rosanne has always been the primary writer on her albums, occasionally collaborating with other musicians. Here she has co-written every song with husband/producer, John Leventhal.

She provided the lyrics first, and he furnished the melodies.

Since her earliest efforts, Cash has blurred the lines between Country, Rock and Folk music. The River & TheThread carries on in that proud tradition. Although Rosanne Cash respects her roots, she refuses to be defined by them.

art

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By rebecca pikus

Shannon Hogan

I

March 13 to March 19, 2014

n our modern technological age, it’s a thing of beauty to behold Shannon Hogan’s warm, wistful Impressionist watercolor paintings & pastels. They draw us back to the romantic era of the previous century, and celebrate the genteel beauty of women and children, flowers and nature.

Romantic Impressionist Painter

Shannon received her extensive education at Illinois Wesleyan University, N.Y. School of Visual Arts; Art Center College of Design; Otis Design Institute, as well as earning a BFA from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was the Co-Founder of The Seventh Street Gallery in L.A., where she exhibited paintings, drawings, etchings, & monotypes. In the 1960s & 70s she participated in numerous group shows at The Los Angeles Art Association.

Shannon lives in Rancho Mirage, Ca but her work has been in Exhibitions all over the United States, including; Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Great Falls, MT. She has also exhibited in London, England & Oaxaca, Mexico. In 1985 she received an Award in the Juried Show “Festival of the American West” at Utah State University. She was an entry at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s ACE show in 2010, and was awarded First Place for watercolor painting at the ACE 2011 juried show. In 2012, Shannon received the “Painter of the Year” Award from the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society in Palm Desert, Ca for her inspirationally beautiful piece “Bonampak Rain Forest.”

She has an accomplished list of Collectors, including the Smithsonian Art continue to page 25

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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PET PLACE Protecting Benji from Snake Bites S

pring is here and many local dog owners are enjoying the great outdoors in the company of their dogs. Dog friendly hiking trails are a joyful place for you and your pooch to get some exercise and fresh air. We all love this Southern California sunshine however rattlesnakes also enjoy this sunny weather and may pose a threat to both humans and our furfriends. If you enjoy hiking or camping with your dog, consider learning how to protect him from venomous snake bites.

Dogs have no fear of snakes, and they are naturally curious about other living creatures. They love to play in areas with thick vegetation where snakes may hide.

When out walking, it is advisable to stay on the open trails. Dogs are most often bitten by snakes when walking over rough, rocky terrain or through wild vegetation.

Try to prevent your dog from overturning large rocks since rattlesnakes can hide underneath these.

There are over 700 specious of venomous snakes worldwide, and almost every part of

Torti Treasure Starla is a gorgeous Tortoiseshell cat in need of a home at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644.

This 4-yr-old beauty is animal ID#A1083518

Lovely Lizzie Lovely Lizzie is at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus shelter dreaming of her “furever” home with you. She’s dog ID#A1082020. This little Whippet mix is 7 yrs old, but the little ones can live up to 17 yrs. Go meet this precious pet at 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms.

Call (760) 343-3644

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the globe is host to some of these feared creatures. It is estimated that over 150,000 dogs are bitten by snakes every year.

Venomous snake bites have the potential to kill a dog. Even if your dog survives, a bite can cause serious muscle and neurological damage. The best way to enjoy the great outdoors without worrying is to have a dog that is trained to detect and avoid snakes.

The Coachella Valley is a geographical area with a high concentration of rattlesnakes.

What should you do if you encounter a rattlesnake when you are outside with your dog? Freeze your movement as soon as you see or hear the snake. Ascertain its location and slowly back away until you are no longer in its striking distance. Never try to handle a snake. Never allow your dog to handle a dead snake as they can still envenomate.

How would you know if your dog is bitten by a snake and what should you do? There is a puncture wound that often bleeds, and the dog is immediate and severe pain. There is usually swelling. Bruising and discoloration will occur within hours of the bite as the venom causes the blood not to clot. You

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by Janet McAfee

by Rick Riozza

A Tuscan Taste of Italy in the Desert

C

may also see collapse, vomiting, muscle tremors and depression in breathing. You must seek immediate veterinary care when your dog gets a snake bite as this injury can be fatal if untreated. Call ahead to make sure your vet has the antivenom on hand, as time is of the essence. Try to keep your pup as immobile as possible. Do NOT attempt to suck out the venom, do NOT attempt to cut open the area, and do NOT apply ice. Get a look at the snake that bit your dog in order to describe it to your vet.

If you live in a “high risk” geographical area or your dog is involved in frequent camping and hiking excursions you may want to consider getting a rattlesnake vaccination. This relatively new vaccine was finally approved for nationwide distribution in 2004. It will help lesson your dog’s reaction to the bite, but you will still need to seek immediate veterinary care.

Rattlesnake avoidance training is now coming to the Coachella Valley! This workshop, which takes place at Bear Creek Trail in La Quinta, will teach your dog to become an early warning sign to protect both you and them. This training can

prevent trauma to your pet, and will save you costly vet bills.

Local residents Sandy Thornton and Annie Moore learned of an excellent rattlesnake avoidance trainer in Orange County, and persuaded him to offer his class here. Annie explains, “We know there is a problem in this area. What we like about this trainer is that he works one-on-one with the dogs and their owners. He brings actual snakes to the training, kept in a bag for safety, and the dog learns to alert on the smell and sound of the snake. There is no specific rattlesnake season. They are out in the hot summers and throughout the year.

If your dog suffers a bite, the cost at a local veterinarian could run into thousands of dollars.” This life saving training promises to be fun and educational!

WHAT: RATTLESNAKE AVOIDANCE DOG TRAINING WHEN: MARCH 29 AND MARCH 30 WHERE: BEAR CREEK TRAIL, LA QUINTA COST: $125, proceeds benefit Loving All Animals & Angels in Fur Coats CONTACT: Annie Moore (760) 399-6379

March 13 to March 19, 2014

IAO! TUTTI! Hey Everyone! One of the best wine dinner series in our valley is coming to an Italian Finale.

On Friday March 21, 2014 at 6:30 pm the Miramonte Resort and Spa’s Le Serate di Vino—The Evenings of Wine, will conclude for the season.

Ahh—no one likes to see the ending of a good thing—ma festeggiano!, but let’s celebrate the joys of great cooking & great wine and come and join in Miramonte’s Italian Family-Style Reception & Dinner sotto la luna et le stelle—beneath the moon and stars among the twinkle-lit trees on the resort’s Olive Arbor. Here, we’ll be enjoying a fantastic selection of wine from Tuscany to be paired with superb Italian-inspired cuisine served over five courses.

No longer in the shadow of France as far as wine pre-eminence, Italy has established her own highly distinctive wine personality that matches perfectly with the wonderful flavors of its famed and envied cookery. Indeed, as a wine enthusiast and foodie, one could spend an entire life doing Italia.

Tuscany is the dynamic heart of Italy when it comes to wine. How fortunate we are to have the panoply of Banfi Wine set for us on the Miramonte family table: Truly a Tuscan taste of Italy in our desert with an outdoor Italian banquet where the food and wine will be served family style.

General Manager Stan Kantowski and Jim Pedone, Director of Sales and Marketing both chime in, “This will be a very relaxed dining—in fact, we look to everyone having a wonderful time chatting and casually mingling about! And we’ll have ‘rustic’ type surroundings—hinting at an artistic mismatch of tableware & settings. Our great staff of servers will be on hand as always attentive to our needs.”

And if I may—a well-deserved shout-out to Stan and Jim for their consummate and professional handling of the exquisite wine dinners. They have continually put out the best spread!

As is usually the course when I preview these Miramonte wine dinners, my appetite swirls. This event cannot come quick enough.

Presto! Let’s discuss the meal and wine: The Reception will begin with Asparagus Prosciutto, Eggplant Bruschetta, and Shrimp

Panchetta. The opening sparkling wine will be the Prosecco Bolla. One of the many varieties of wine in the Banfi stable, this sparkler is operetta-like—bright, deep straw in color; bouquet of appealing ripe fruit with hints of apple, pear and peach; taste—fresh and fruity with a great vein of acidity and lively finish.

For the Antipasto Course served family style, look for grilled vegetables, olives, artichokes, tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Tuscan Salami, Coppa, and Cappacola, Fontina and Gorgonzola Cheeses and Lemon Marinated Calamari. The perfect wine match to the antipasti will be the San Angelo Pinot Grigio which is crisp and light-bodied with light tropical aromas that follow into a clean, refreshing taste. Produced by Banfi in Tuscany, this is not the “boorish” type of Pinot Grige usually experienced. This is unique and aristocratic.

The plated 2nd Course will be Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli with Tomato Saffron and Basil. These delicious flavors will meet Castello Banfi’s BelNerO—a “superTuscan” which means there is some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend with the Sangiovese.

BelNerO comes from Castello Banfi’s estate vineyards on the stony southern hills of Montalcino — the same winegrowing region that produces Italy’s greatest wine Brunello di Montalcino. Look for gentle aromas of vanilla, tobacco and coffee that follow into a mix of flavors that include cherry jam and prunes.

It’s full of finesse; I really look forward to enjoying this wine with the ravioli.

For the main course and perhaps the star of the show is the Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura: We’re told that this wine “is the result of more than two decades of experimental research. Poggio alle Mura is a super example of the best synthesis of Italian terroir, selection and technological innovation. Estate-bottled from the splendid

sun drenched vineyard adjacent to the Castello, this Brunello encompasses a full body and complexity unique to the area.”

Mauve red, intense and very deep, its bouquet is complex, but immediately captivating with both fresh and sweet nuanced aromas. Look for essences of plum, cherry, blackberry and raspberry jam combined with hints of chocolate, cigar box, vanilla and licorice that follow into the palate. The wine is muscular and toned with a surprising combination of power and softness, with sweet and gentle tannins. A wine for an Italian finale banquet indeed!

And the food to match! A family style Main Course of Sea Bass Picatta with Preserved Lemon and Capers; Barolo

MIRA CVWkly Spa Pamper Me 4.87x5.62 021314.indd 1

Marinated Grilled Prime Flat Iron Steak with Carmelized Cippolini Onions; Lamb Osso Buco with Cremolata; Mascarpone Polenta, Braised Rapini and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes.

Did we just hear an Italian “Abbondanza!!” yelp?

And good minds think alike: My Valentine’s wine pick a couple of columns ago was the Rosa Regale Brachetto D’Aqui light sparkling wine. This fine dessert sparkler will play pleasantly with the Cannoli, Fruit Tartes, Chocolate Decadence, Lemon Curd and Opera Cake.

When speaking about this wine dinner event with Mirko Marchi, Director of Resort Operations, he mentioned he was born in Tuscany. Allora! Let’s hope he opens the banquet with a lovely Italian toast to the night’s festivities!

The fantastic price for this Banfi-Tuscan Family Style Dinner is $65 plus tax & gratuity.

Reservations are required & seating is limited! 760.837.2327 Miramonte Resort & Spa 4500 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells Ca. 92210.

Buon Appetito! e Salute!

Rick continues to host & entertain at wine events and tastings. Contact winespectrum@ aol.com

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2/13/14 12:50 PM

March 13 to March 19, 2014

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Club Crawler Nightlife

340 N PALM CANYON DR. PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262

Scan the QR Code to get the Club Crawler Nightlife on your Mobile Device via the Smartphone Phone Book!

THUR MARCH 13

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rojer & Bobby 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day Amigo Room 10pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Paul Elia 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Petty Cash 9pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 Spotlight hosted by Symara Stone 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DESERT FOX; PS; 760-325-9555 Thirsty Thursdays 8pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-992-0002 Lola Rossi, Rob Carter and Denise Motto 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 Industry Night w/ Karaoke in the Lobby 7pm THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Locals Night w/ CoffeeBlvck 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 Country Night w/ River Road 8pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 8-1am MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MIRAMONTE RESORT; IW; 760-341-7200 “Sassy & Sultry” featuring Gina Carey 5-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The California Honeydrops 8pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-

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327-1161ext.230 Machin’ 7pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross 6pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Spaghetti Western Night 5pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8-12am VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Carolyn Martinez & The Trio 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-9pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Casey 5:30pm, Slim Man Solo Show 7-10pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Michael Keeth 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Yve Evans Jazz 6pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ & DJ Remise 9pm

FRI MARCH 14

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Rena Wren 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Full House Band 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Karaoke w/ AJ The KJ 8-12am AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Nash 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Abe on Vinyl 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR, SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-7755566 DJ PWee 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 CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 DJ 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600

Lassie Jo’s Best Damn Karaoke 7pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 Dude Jones 9pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Comedy Night 8:30pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision 9pm Lobby, DJ Shasta & MC Esjay 11pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Snot, Se7en4 and Brain Vat 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live DJ 8:30pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 7:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 San Fernando 9pm THE LOUNGE; AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Hot Pocket 9pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 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 CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Meltdown 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Record Company 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 Betabums 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 6pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 6pm, Lindsey Harper Sidebar Patio 7pm, Missy Andersen Sidebar Lounge 10pm, DJ Slim Dee Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Pi-Palooza w/ Pictures From Eden, Burning Bettie, Spankshaft and The Hive Minds 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Country Night w/ Walt Young 5:30pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Rock 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Demetrious and Co. TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Juan Gonzalez & Doug Blementhal 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@Night 10pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760-

328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE; MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-755-5391 The Rick Whitfield Band 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 T.B.A. 1:304:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Inca Kings 5:30pm, John McCormick & The Mac Band w/ DJ Randy Johnson 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Comedy Night 8pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Rob & jb 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Rose Mallet 6:30pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 Girl’s Night out w/ The Men on the Hollywood Strip 9pm

SAT MARCH 15

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bev & Bill 6pm 19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 9pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 DJ Brian Waters noon poolside, DJ Adam Pavao 10pm amigo room AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Cabaret on the Green w/ Les Michaels & Joel Baker 7-10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Chix Mix 8pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Social w/ Pawn and AimLo 10pm BILLY REED’S; PS; 760-325-1946 Live Music 6-10pm BLUE BAR; SPOTLIGHT 29; IND; 760-775-5566 DJ PWee BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 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 CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 House Party w/ The House Whores 9pm CORK TREE; PD; 760-779-0123 Live Entertainment 6:30-9:30pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm DATE SHED; IND; 760-775-6699 Bone ThugsN-Harmony w/ J Patron, Thr3 Strykes and Jayoh 9pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke w/ DJ Scott 9pm DICKIE O’NEALS IRISH PUB; PS; 760-325-2600 T.B.A. 8pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 T.B.A. 9pm THE GRILL ON MAIN; LQ; 760-777-7773 The Refills 8-11pm THE GROOVE LOUNGE; SPOTLIGHT 29; INDIO; 760-775-5566 DJ 8pm HAMILTON’S; LQ; 760-698-8303 Radio 60 9pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ DJ Kid Wonder, 11am poolside, 9pm Lobby THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Powered Wig

Machine, Fever Dog and The Hellions 9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760-3456466 Frank Di Salvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 T.B.A. 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 T.B.A. 6pm, Karaoke w/ Roberto 8pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm LIT@FANTASY SPRINGS; IND; 760-345-2450 San Fernando 9pm THE LOUNGE, AGUA CALIENTE; RM; 888-9991995 Hot Pocket 9pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760325-2323 Ron Greenip 8pm MARGARITA’S; PS; 760-778-3500 Live Music 6pm 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 T.B.A. 9pm PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB; PD; 760-3450222 Kal David 6:30pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 (((FOLKYEAH))) presents Nick Waterhouse 8pm PJ’S SPORTS LOUNGE; YV; 760-228-1199 Aced-Hi 9pm PLAN B LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND COCKTAILS; TP; 760-343-2115 Right On Right On and Techno Hillbillies 9pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 The Gand Band 9pm RENAISSANCE PALM; PS; 760-322-6100 Art of Sax featuring Sax Man Will Donato & Eddie Reddick 7-10pm RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 T.B.A. 9pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-8311 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 6pm,Gino Matteo & Jade Sidebar Lounge 7pm, Lindsey Harper Sidebar Patio 10pm, DJ Shasta, Starlite Lounge 10pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Evaro Brothers 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Acoustic Sessions 9pm SHANGHAI RED’S @ THE FISHERMAN’S MARKET; LQ; 760-777-1601 Barry Baughn Blues 8-11pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Karaoke w/ Milly G 6pm SOUL OF MEXICO; IND; 760-200-8787 Latin Music 10pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-341-3560 Dude Jones 6pm TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 Shamrock N Roll St. Patrick’s Day Party w/ Wyte Gye, Long Duk Dong, Burning Bettie & Desert DJ 9pm TILTED KILT; PD; 760-773-5458 Tilted@Night 9pm TRILUSSA ITALIAN RISTORANTE; PS; 760328-2300 Julius & Sylvia Music Duo 6-10pm VIBE, MORONGO CASINO; CAB; 951-7555391 DJ Hektik 10pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Rob & JB 1:30-4:30pm, Nite Fixx 9-2am, DJ Anwaar Hines 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Jeff

March 13 to March 19, 2014

5:30pm, Slim Man 9:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke 9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Missoni Lanza 7-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Stanley Butler Band 7pm ZELDA’S; PS; 760-325-2375 DJ PJ 9pm

SUN MARCH 16

29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob & Allison 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Intoxica Radio Live w/ Howie Pyro 10pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 The Judy Show 7:30pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Steve Madaio 6-10pm CASCADE LOUNGE, SPA RESORT; PS; 888999-1995 Nash with Quinto Menguante 9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm DHS SPA LOUNGE; DHS; 760-329-6787 Karaoke 9pm EL MEXICALI CAFÉ 2; IND; 760-342-2333 Cesar Daniel Lopez on the harp 6-9pm

continue to page 24

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!!

• 14 flat screen televisions • NTN Trivia and poker with QB1

While you are here you can try one of our ten tap beer selections from a frosty cold glass or choose one of our 30 tequilas or vodkas to make your favorite cocktail.

PLAYOFFS I THE PLAC S E TO BE

OPEN MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 4PM - 2AM SUNDAY 6PM - 2AM

12105 PALM DRIVE DESERT HOT SPRINGS

(760) 251-2644

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

The Pampered Palate

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

March 13 to March 19, 2014

By David Wayne

IL CORSO W

henever there is a new restaurant in the Coachella Valley, people come running. I suggest you do just that, and run to Il Corso.

Located in the heart of El Paseo across from the Gardens, it is a beauty to behold.

My wife and I were greeted by Claudio, who gracefully runs the restaurant. He took charge of our dining experience, and made us feel as if we had been coming there for years. We asked him what he recommended from his menu, and he suggested that he just bring us his best. We were on board however, did not expect the show we were about to enjoy.

Our server Sergio brought us a plate of Focaccia Bianca, freshly baked in a wooden

oven. He then took our drink order and brought my wife a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio and I ordered a glass of iced tea, that was a special house brew.

Our first course was an heirloom tomato salad with burrata (creamy mozzarella), capers and red onions, along with a seared Ahi tuna salad. The seared tuna was served on a bed of mixed greens with

cherry tomatoes, red onions and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing with a hint of soy sauce.

Besides being very fresh, they both tasted incredibly delicious.

They brought my wife a different glass of wine with each course, and the next one was a glass of Amarone, which paired nicely with the two pasta dishes. One was Paccheri Pomodoro e Burrata with a lite tomato basil sauce. The other was Risotto al Tartufo e Prosecco, which was Italian Carnaroli rice with Prosecco wine and shaved black truffle.

My wife described them both as decadent.

Since the first two courses had already satisfied our hunger, we shared the main course: a whole Branzino Sea Bass. The bass was prepared and grilled with rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, then skillfully filleted at our table by Claudio, who actually served all of our courses with a masterful presentation. The Branzino was moist, flaky,

and paired for my wife with a fruity and slightly sweet Chardonnay.

For dessert we had homemade Tiramisu and cheesecake. The Tiramisu was classic and the cheesecake was made with ricotta and homemade cream cheese, topped with blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

Besides the prime location, Il Corso has an awesome atmosphere, and the service was impeccable.

Open seven days a week, I recommend that you don’t miss out on one of the finest new restaurants that the Coachella Valley has seen in years!

Fine dining: 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm Bar: 4:30 pm - 1:30 am Call for a reservation: 760-341-6700 Complimentary Valet Parking

“THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD THE WEST HAS TO OFFER!” Our wonderful staff is committed to giving you the best dining experience. We have a nicely stocked bar and great desserts as well. Our authentic mexican food main courses are truly mouth watering.

We have an award winning sweet corn tamale that you just have to try for yourself.

Once you dine at Pueblo Viejo Grill, you'll be back for more soon!

3PM TO 6PM

$2 DRAFT BEERS $5 APPETIZERS

2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

36901 COOK ST. STE.#3 PALM DESERT, CA 92211 (760)836-1133

81931 HIGHWAY 111 INDIO, CA 92201 (760)342-5900

WWW.PUEBLOVIEJOGRILL.COM

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Movie Reviews with Robin E. Simmons

T

MORE EPIC 3D ACTION!

Screeners No.103 MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE

Not to be taken seriously or historically, this visceral and bloody action epic dwells in a parallel, or companion world, to 300.

But if you liked the previous film, you will no doubt enjoy this gnarly 3D interpretation of the saga that moves to the open seas that has Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) trying to unify all of Greece

22

STALINGRAD The fierce battle that turned the tide of WW II unfolds on the big screen in another epic 3D historical action drama from Russia (it’s in Russian with English subtitles).

The more than six months of the actual battle is compressed to a little more than two hours running time. But even so, the whopping production values and spectacular effects sweep over the human element and the simplistic, often predictable, screenplay.

With Putin’s grab of Crimea still making the news, there’s perhaps an added facet to our emotional reaction regarding this important historical battle when Russia was an ally.

The mostly fictional story has a band of Russian soldiers attempting to hold secure a building in the otherwise devastated city of Stalingrad against an equally determined German onslaught. Meanwhile, there’s an ever-increasing and powerful connection to two Russian women living in the battered structure.

On the big IMAX screen, the scale of the battle is put in perspective with the intimate human concerns. This was Russia’s entry in the Foreign Film category for the last Academy Awards. Was it meant as propaganda? Now playing.

Did you watch the Jay Ward “Rocky & Bullwinkle” cartoons? If you did, then you are already familiar with the wise ass, knowit-all dog Mr. Peabody and his adopted, mischievous, human son Sherman.

DreamWorks Animation has rendered a remarkably looking 3D reboot to Ted Key’s creation of the decidedly oddball relationship that retains much of the appeal and tone of the original series while offering some new insights and a terrific, action-filled, convoluted plot that includes the fabled WABAC time machine. Epic in its own right, the plot really takes off when Sherman’s joyriding in the WABAC -- to impress his friend Penny – rips a hole in the time-space continuum that threatens to alter the past, present and future and change the most important events in our history.

Naturally, it’s Mr. Peabody who comes to the rescue. It’s all pretty dazzling and crazy in the best cartoonish 3D way. Somehow, the unexpected theme of what it takes to be a good parent comes to the forefront before final fade out and the entire experience is genuinely satisfying to kids and parents alike. And that’s the biggest surprise of all.

Now playing.

Comments? robinesimmons@aol.com

March 13 to March 19, 2014

By Heidi Simmons

Realty Stars Gone Wild

T

he magic of movies is that anything that can be imagined can now be rendered real on the screen.

Anything at all. These three films are great examples of the state of the art of filmmaking that for all practical purposes puts dreams on the screen. And for a few bucks, we can share them and experience them together. How much is that worth?

As someone said to me recently, “We live way in the future.” Amen to that.

against the gargantuan invading Persian forces under the command of god-king Xerxes (yes, there was a real Xerxes. He’s even mentioned in the Bible!). Rodorigo Santor is back as the mortal-turned-god in full homoerotic regalia. But it is Eva Green who steals the show as ferocious Artemisai, the vengeance driven leader of the Persian navy.

Noam Murro directs in a style similar to Zack Snyder’s previous film (based on Frank Miller’s superb graphic novel). The CGI work is extensive and jaw dropping.

The blood flows freely and in slow motion.

There’s a beauty to the crimson drenched design that tries to convey the nobility of fighting, and dying heroically in a battle that matters. See it on the biggest screen you can find. Now playing.

Book Review

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

he popularity of reality television is a strange phenomenon of our time.

Watching strangers lose weight, sing their hearts out, manage a household or hook up with a mate, for some reason, fascinates Americans. We turn ordinary, or sub-ordinary, people into celebrities. In Mark Haskell Smith’s amusing and satirical novel, Raw (Grove Atlantic, 277 pages) a “reality star” finds it hard to discern what is real.

Sepp Gregory is a heartthrob hunk with washboard abs famous for his part in a reality television show called “Sex Crib,” an unscripted series about a group of hotties trying to hook-up -- have sex -- as many times as possible. The contestant with the most “connections” wins.

So successful at hooking-up, Sepp became the star of an equally popular spinoff called “Love Express.” Sepp is a beloved character of the reality crazed audience, not only because of his abdominals, but because he fell in love with his reality costar, Roxie, who dumped him! Roxie is the show’s skank and manipulative “beotch.”

Unfortunately for Sepp, he was heartbroken -- both on the show and in real life. He actually believed she loved him!

Raw: a love story By mark haskell smith Fiction With his incredible popularity, Sepp’s agent arranged for an autobiography to be written, but not by Sepp. The book is a fictional biography based on Sepp’s life because the producers of the reality TV show own the rights to his real life. “Totally Reality” becomes a best seller. Sepp, on his book tour, hasn’t even read “his” book.

Curtis Burman is the talented but previously unpublished author, who

ghostwrote Sepp’s story. He is a struggling artist who can’t legally claim fame for his tell-all prose -- and doesn’t want to. Curtis rightfully feels like a sell-out for taking the work.

Literary blogger, book reviewer and novelist Harriet Post, is outraged that “Totally Reality” is selling well and has become a critical success. She knows there is no way Sepp could have written his book and she doesn’t appreciate the author who would stoop so low and write such “quality” trash.

Harriet is furious that original thought, intelligent discourse and literary culture have taken a backseat to celebrity drivel.

It doesn’t help that she hasn’t had sex in four years and no one will publish her second novel. She decides to uncover the ghostwriter and expose Sepp and the publishing industry for duping the public and tainting society.

In short order, the three meet. Harriet, Sepp and Curtis collide during a book signing in Los Angles and again at a party at the Playboy Mansion. She quickly finds herself swept away with lust – not for Sepp but for the ghostwriter Curtis. Confused and angry, Harriet over-reacts and makes a terrible mistake that takes her on unexpected, desperate and sex-filled journey with Sepp!

Rendered impotent after the public humiliation with former co-star Roxie, Sepp gets his groove back with Harriet and believes he’s in love with her. Sepp thinks their unlikely relationship and adventure would make great television plus help Harriet get a book deal. Unbeknownst to Harriet, secret filming begins. But when she finds out, her life becomes far more absurd than she ever believed possible.

Raw: A Love Story is their unlikely affair where sex is the only thing they have in common. Both Harriet and Sepp lose touch with what is real and begin to make their own alternate reality.

Sepp is an innocent plucked from a simple So Cal lifestyle and thrown into a manipulative environment that exploits

him for profit. He is caught up in the orchestrations of reality TV to the point where he no longer knows what to do without a producer giving him direction.

When in doubt of what to do or how to answer, he takes off his shirt and shows off his six-pack abs. He is an endearing protagonist.

Harriet is a seething antagonist lost in her intellectualization and disappointment of the world. With a superior attitude, she believes she can control reality. It’s a sad tale of the weak and the strong, on the road to destruction.

Author Smith makes the romp amusing, as well as cringe worthy. He cleverly intersects two worlds: highbrow publishing and lowbrow television. Smith’s narrative is not necessarily building a social commentary about the extremes of what society finds stimulating or entertaining.

Nor does he argue a philosophical point about forming our own reality. But these ideas lurk under the surface with Smith’s witty prose and raucous action.

There may be a very substantial and interesting essay on the subject of what the three main characters represent within our culture. No doubt a very highbrow pursuit.

But Raw’s lowbrow factor may not appeal to every book club. (Although, it might be worthy of meaningful discussion questions in the back pages.)

Raw is a fun and quick read. The pages are scattered with sex and literary references. What could be better while sitting by a pool? Its contemporary setting involves the reader with a real world that exists in our time and embraced by millions.

Whether or not you enjoy high or lowbrow entertainment, Raw delivers a colorful glimpse into several of society’s extreme realities.

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March 13 to March 19, 2014 continued from page 19

FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm HARD ROCK HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9676 DJ Colourvision w/ Kid Wonder 11am poolside INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ted Herman’s Big Band w/ Frank DiSalvo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Open Jam 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-3252794 Palm Springs Sound Company,in the afternoon,Hot Rox,in the night LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 Sunday Jam 4-8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 The John McCormick Band 7pm THE NEW YORK COMPANY RESTAURANT; PS; 760-778-7789 Lili Rose 7pm PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Longest Running Jam Session in the valley. Hosted by JB, Sign up 6pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 The Sunday Band 7pm PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760327-1161ext.230 RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-3274080 Martin Ross Starlite Lounge 3pm, Will Donato’s Art of Sax Sidebar Patio 5pm SAMMY G’s; PS; 760-320-8041 Eddie Gee 7pm SIDEWINDER GRILL; DHS; 760-329-7929 Acoustic Open Mic hosted by Walt Young SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Smooth Brothers TACK ROOM TAVERN; IND; 760-347-9985 John Bowman acoustic 5-8pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Jazz Time Band 2-5pm, John Stanley King 6pm

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Scott Carter 1:30-4:30pm, Rob & JB 4:30-9pm, DJ Idol Eyez 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 11am, The Carmens 6:30pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Line Dancing w/ Tina 5:30-9pm THE WINE BAR AT OLD TOWN; LQ; 760-5642201 Michael Keeth w/ Martin Barrera 6-10pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 The Smooth Brothers 6pm

MON MARCH 17 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bonny Jean 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Sissy Bingo w/ Linda Gerard 7-9pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Ron Kalina’s World Class Jazz Trio 6pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, lounge, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 7pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 T.B.A. 6pm VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 T.B.A. 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Michael James & 3sum 9-2am WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 8-11pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley Barney McClure Jazz 8pm

TUE MARCH 18 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Bob Garcia Band 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Ace Karaoke with Kiesha 9pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Karr’s Jazz Quartet 6pm AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Bella da Ball Dinner Revue w/ guest performers 7:30pm BAR; PS; 760-537-7337 Vinyl Sessions 8pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Stanley Butler Trio 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Joe Jaggi 6pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 John Stanley King 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Hal Sweasey 6pm FIRESIDE LOUNGE; PS; 760-327-1700 Red’s Rockstar Karaoke INDIAN CANYONS GOLF RESORT; PS; 760833-8700 DJ Randy Johnson 6-9pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Michael D’Angelo 6pm JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Ted Quinn’s Open Mic Reality Show Jam 8pm KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Dana Larson 6:30pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Palm Springs Sound Company LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Mark Gregg 5pm, Bob Allen 6pm outside patio NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Karaoke 8pm-1:15am THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Tim Burleson 7:45 PALM CANYON ROADHOUSE; PS; 760-3274080 Eclectic Tuesdays. Singer/songwriter night. All acts welcome. Hosted by JB, Sign up 7pm

S and G

PUMPING SERVICE

(760) 340-2840

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

www.triabike.com

Open Daily 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 12 - 5pm 44841 San Pablo (West Side of Street), Palm Desert, CA 92260

RED BARN; PD; 760-346-0191 Open Mic 8pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 Open Mic 8pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Demetrious and Co. VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Rodeo Drive’s Happy Hour Cabaret 4pm, Michael Dees & Trio 7pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 Live entertainment VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Einstein 5:30pm WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Trish Hatley 6pm

WED MARCH 19 29 PALMS INN; 29 Palms; 760-367-3505 Dan Horn 6pm ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Industry Night w/ Caxton 8pm AJ’S ON THE GREEN; C.C.; 760-202-1111 Mikole Carr AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Paula Prince 7pm BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 Nicky Vallee & Willy B 6-10pm CASTELLI’S; PD; 760-773-3365 Patrick Tuzzolino 5:30pm CLINIC BAR & LOUNGE; PS; 760-864-4119 T.B.A. 9pm CUNARD’S SANDBAR; LQ; 760-564-3660 Bill Baker 6pm ESCENA LOUNGE & GRILL; PS; 760-9920002 Rose Mallet 5-9pm FIRECLIFF; PD; 760-773-6565 Sonny Evaro 6pm HAMILTON’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL; LQ; 760-698-8303 Karaoke w/ T-Bone 8:3012:30am THE HOOD; PD; 760-636-5220 Open Mic 8pm INDIAN WELLS RESORT HOTEL; IW; 760345-6466 Rich Bono & Poupee Boccaccio 6pm

JOSHUA TREE SALOON; JT; 760-366-2250 Live Music KOKOPELLI’S; YV; 760-228-2589 Karaoke w/ Roberto 7pm LAS CASUELAS TERRAZA; PS; 760-325-2794 Hot Rox LAVENDER BISTRO; LQ; 760-564-5353 Bob Allen in the lounge and Tom on the patio 6pm MELVYN’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE; PS; 760-325-2323 “Sing Jam” w/ Michael Healy 8pm NEIL’S LOUNGE; IND; 760-347-1522 Golden Era Karaoke 4-7pm, Karaoke 8pm-1:15am Singles Night !!!

THE NEST; PD; 760-346-2314 Kevin Henry 6-8pm Tim Burleson 8pm NYPD; PS; 760-778-6973 Live DJ 9pm PAPPY & HARRIET’S; PT; 760-365-5956 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 PURPLE ROOM@CLUB TRINIDAD; PS; 760-327-1161ext.230 Michael Holmes Trio 6:30pm RIVIERA RESORT & SPA; PS; 760-327-4080 Martin Ross, Starlite Lounge 5pm, Open Mic w/ Esjay Jones, Sidebar 7pm SCHMIDY’S; PD; 760-837-3800 D Phillips Band 9pm SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE; PD; 760-3413560 Straight Ahead Jazz VICKY’S OF SANTA FE; IW; 760-345-9770 Pat Rizzo & All That Jazz Band 6:30pm VILLAGE PUB; PS; 760-323-3265 DJ Khodi Rayne 4:30-2am, Nite Fixx 9-2am VUE GRILLE & BAR; IW; 760-834-3800 Ben 5:30pm WESTIN MISSION HILLS; RM; 760-328-5955 Art of Sax 7-10pm WILLIE BOYS; MV; 760-363-3343 Karaoke WOODY’S BURGER; PS; 760-230-0188 Brian Nova Trio Jazz 6pm

continued from page 13

consist of, “Wow, is that a double neck bass AND baritone guitar?”, “Who’s that guy in the mask?”, “I didn’t know you sang all the soprano girl parts”, “Ha, there’s a stagecoach on the merch table” and “where did you get the cow skull?”

RL: What inspired the Rock Formations Fest?

KP: Rock Formations Festival sprung up after Terry, Thomas Bellier, and I decided to collaborate on something a bit bigger for The Palms in Wonder Valley. There we will screen the film “DUST UP” to close out the night.

“DUST UP” was actually filmed at The Palms.

It was turned into a cult leader’s meth lab/ bar/party place and in the end, a small model was made of it and it was detonated. Kaboom!

Things are gonna probably get this crazy during the Festival.

RL: There seems to be a supportive relationship between Spindrift and Gram Rabbit. How did that manifest?

KP: We really have to give Gram Rabbit the credit for introducing us to the wonders of the High Desert area. We’re kindred spirits. Last Feb

continued from page 15

Collection, Washington, DC; U.S. Air Force Art Collection; Disney Art Collection, The Dinner Party Project 1977-1979, designed

by Judy Chicago. Shannon was the Cochairman of the Graphics Dept. for a major museum celebrating women’s history.

Her work toured the U.S. and Europe and is now on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Shannon has also produced commercial art as an Illustrator and Storyboard Artist for 23 years in Los Angeles; her clients include Disney,

and March 2013 we toured the USA together for 6 weeks. Their guitarist, Ethan Allen, is also an accomplished Producer and Engineer in the studio. He did Classic Soundtracks Vol. 1 with us (tracked at Hicksville Trailer Palace in Joshua Tree). Jesika Von Rabbit! H.O.T.! Todd Rutherford...Nicest guy EVER. RL: What is next for Spindrift?

KP: Spindrift – “Ghost of the West”, the MOVIE! Should be on screens this summer!

It’s our Ghost Town Tour musical documentary.

Epically shot across the Western United States for 5 weeks! We’ll be touring the United States and Europe/UK around its release. In the more immediate future, we are about to sign a publishing deal with a very respectable company whom I can’t name as of yet until it’s official. This means you’ll be hearing A LOT more SPINDRIFT in some really good films. I think this may possibly be one of the biggest breaks we’ve hoped for. Beyond that, we’ll be performing with Jello Biafra (ex-Dead Kennedy’s) & The Guantanamo School of Medicine, April 5th at Characters Bar in Pomona, CA. New material is also being written as we’ve introduced new guitar player

Thomas “Espiritu Sanctu” Bellier to the mix.

He’s a younger guy from Paris, FR who has already collaborated with us quite a bit. I really feel we have the most solid SPINDRIFT lineup ever currently. It’ll be interesting to see what we come up with next for sure.

ROCK FORMATIONS, A MICRO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA’S HIGH DESERT FEATURING MUSIC FROM THE LEFT COAST! GHOSTS OF THE WEST, Jesika VonRabbit, DΛRKLΔNDS (ex-Spirit Vine), The Blank Tapes, Bonfire Beach, The Sibleys, Daydream Machine, The Hick-Ups, Hot Beat Pussy Fiend (acoustic), Santoros AND a special screening of Ward Robert’s film, “DUST UP” To experience music in the wide open desert at The Palms is both amazing and surreal. Much of what I loved about the generator parties hosted by Mario Lalli in the low desert during the early nineties is what draws me out to the middle of Wonder Valley, a fewmiles outside of 29 Palms. But instead of cardboard stages and noisy generators, the absence of bathrooms, water, food....there is a fantastic, beautifully lit outdoor stage, bathrooms, a restaurant and full service bar.

A guillotine to the left of the stage reminds you just how crazy the wild desert has been in the past. Its story is unknown to me...but the vibe it produces with its presence left an impression. Free camping affords you the opportunity to really let your hair down and not worry about traveling home at the night’s end. It is literally enchanting to hear original live music as it bellows across the desert sand dunes and disappears into the night. On March 29th festival promoter Terry McGuinness,

March 13 to March 19, 2014

Thomas Bellier and Kirpatrick Thomas are hosting ROCK FORMATIONS, featuring 9 bands, all completely unique and original, followed by a screening of Ward Robert’s film, “Dust Up” to be presented by his mother, Ingeborg Roberts. The psychedelic western soundtrack genius of Kirpatrick Thomas and Sprindrift, billed as Ghosts of the West, will be headlining the show. Jesika VonRabbit (our ultra-sexy high desert space cowgirl) will be performing her interactive, theatrical, genre bending fanfare. Flatlanders Zach Huskey and The HickUps will be unveiling their brand new original project which they describe as “CowPunk”. If you are a true lover of exotic desert musical experiences....join us for a night of unspeakable fun!

For details on camping and supplies you should bring in to fully enjoy your high desert music festival experience visit the event page at: www.facebook.com/ events/201528456724151/ Take the digital tour of all the bands appearing at the festival on my blog at: rminjtree.blogspot.com

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Max Factor, & Mattel. She created the Cover art for American Artist’s Watercolor ‘86 magazine.

A list of her professional affiliations include; Los Angeles Advertising Women, Co-chairman in Graphics in the 1980s; and 1980s to 2002 with the Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles (SILA), as Board member and newsletter editor. Shannon was also a teacher at the Otis School of Design, Los Angeles. Her work can be seen in the near future by Appointment Only.

760-404-6325

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Please visit her Website: www. bumpyroad.fineartstudioonline.com Shannon can also be contacted via Email: bumpyroadstudio@yahoo.com [Writer’s Note: Shannon Hogan was selected to be one of the artist participants in the first annual “Rancho Mirage Tour of Artists Homes/Studios”.

Unfortunately, Shannon will not be able to participate this year -- this beautiful Artist is battling a mysterious, undiagnosed illness in a care facility in Los Angeles, Ca. Please send your prayers & wishes for her recovery to the universe! Shannon, we need you back here in Rancho Mirage!]

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

Beer Snob

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

By trooper Ramsey

an amazing beer to say the least. For a lighter ale, I will have some 60 Minute IPA from Dog Fish Head.

For those that gather out there, take your time and choose your beer wisely. There is a revolution going on, no need to stick to every tradition and drinking cliché you have ever heard or seen. Go your own way revolutionaries. Drink from the well of craft beer options out there. Head to Coachella Valley Brewing for some Condition Black or Lucas Rye Walker, go to LQ Brewing for their Koffee Porter, or roll by Babes Brewhouse at the River for a wide selection of bottled and on tap craft beer.

St. Patrick’s Day

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ome on… relax, everyone is Irish that day. At least in heart and drink right? And so many of you will be out there, drinking Jameson Whiskey or Irish Car Bombs, gathered in bars, homes, lawns and parks, toasting the day and feeling the moment. In reality it is not about Ireland, or being Irish, for most of us here in the states at all. It is more about cultural heritage, togetherness with people you know, and those you have yet to meet, but have gathered for a common celebration and feeling. There are only a few times a year that you can do this and everyone around you is on the same buzz... tuned in... really feeling it. New Years Eve, Super Bowl and St Patrick’s Day; all great drinking days.

And why do we drink so much on said approaching holiday? To quote: “The custom of drinking alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, known as Pota Phadraig or Patrick’s Pot comes from an old Irish legend. As the story goes, St. Patrick was served a shot of whiskey that was very small. St. Patrick decided to teach a lesson of generosity to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper that a devil who fed on the innkeeper’s dishonesty was in his cellar. In order to banish the devil, the man must change his ways. When St. Patrick returned to the inn some time later,

he found the owner generously filling the glasses. He returned to the cellar with the innkeeper and the devil was so emaciated from the landlord’s generosity, that St. Patrick promptly banished it.

The custom may also be called “drowning the shamrock” because it is customary to float a clover leaf in the whiskey or beer before drinking it.” www.stpatricksday.com/ history/stpatrick/patricks-pot.shtml Now there will be no Green Beer for me. Not my style or choice I guess. Being the beer snob that I am, I have my choices all lined up for sure. So, where does craft beer come into play on this long running tradition? I, for one, will be drinking Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout by Flying Dog Brewer,

Community

Sponsored Cab Rides on St. Patrick’s Day

& Other Holidays Is Just One Part of Walter Clark Legal Group and American Cab’s “Home Safe” Program

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alter Clark Legal Group and American Cab are offering sponsored cab rides through their “Home Safe” Program for St. Patrick’s Day, a service they’re hoping many wouldbe DUIers will use.

From 10:30 pm – 3:00 am on Monday, March 17th, 2014, St. Patty’s Day revelers who have been drinking are encouraged to stay off the road and call for a free “Home Safe” ride from American Cab at 760.300.0000. A cab will be sent to their location to take them home to their residence in the Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella.

Staff at local bars and restaurants, and hosts of parties held at private residences, are urged to call a cab for any guest who is over the legal limit.

Knowing when a person is over 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) level can be difficult, though. To make determining BAC cut-and-dry, the two companies are proponents of making breathalyzers available in establishments that sell alcohol.

That way, even guests who don’t feel

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intoxicated can test themselves before getting behind the wheel.

Walter Clark Legal Group and American Cab hope their “Home Safe” campaign gains more visibility with the cooperation of bar and restaurant owners and local law enforcement.

“By working together, we can really put resources behind this initiative and help to save lives by doing our part to keep drunk drivers off the road,” said Greg Klibanov, general manager of American Cab. Their willingness to participate in pilot programs and how-to demos introducing preventative measures, like in-house Breathalyzers, could save many lives.

For more information, call American Cab at 760.300.0000 or Walter Clark Legal Group at 760.862.9254.

Haddon Libby:It’s alllocal

March 13 to March 19, 2014

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

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Now why do I write this rant about St Patrick’s Day? Because friends, that is Beer Culture at its best, this is one of the top drinking days of the year, year over year. And that is one of the things that make us human: Gathering, Celebrating, Remembering. We do it so well and we drink so well. An Irish Prayer from a great Movie: “While the wicked stand confounded, call me with thy saints surrounded.” Be safe this Drinking Holiday, Be with the ones you love, Love the Beer you drink.

We will launch the St. Patty’s day episode on the Morning of The 17th. We will be drinking Bells Brewing, visiting with El Presidente from Coachella Valley Homebrewing, Brett Newton. Come share your thoughts and evening plans with us on ww.Beerculturewebshow.com

ore than 2,500 business and political leaders from 100 countries gathered in Davos, Switzerland in January as part of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

One of the things created by the WEF is its annual Global Competitiveness Report which ranks 148 countries economic competitiveness relative to each another.

Each country has its economy grouped into one of three classes: factor-driven, efficiencydriven or innovation-driven. A factor-driven economy relies on low skill workers and natural resources while the efficiency-driven economy is focused on increasing input. An innovation-driven economy is typically more advanced and relies on innovation to sustain and grow its economy. As an example, if we were to apply this approach to California, San Francisco would be seen as innovationdriven economy while the Coachella Valley would be factor or efficiency-driven given its reliance on agriculture and tourism.

Once each country is stratified into one of the three groupings, all countries are then force ranked based on 100 categories that provide insight into its future likelihood for economic success.

For example, to have a strong economy you have to know that what you own will not be taken from you. These property rights are

strongest in Finland and Singapore with the United States surprisingly low at 33rd out of the 148 countries. For comparison, Canada was 6th and Japan 12th.

When looking at government corruption, New Zealand is the least corrupt, Venezuela the most corrupt and the United States 29th least corrupt. When it comes to trusting in the ethical behavior of politicians, Singapore is most trustworthy while the US ranks 50th alongside Iran. Countries like Canada (15th), the UK (22nd) and China (26th) were viewed more favorably than the US. Judicial independence is another critical factor in success with New Zealand considered the best while the US is 32nd.

The government that wastes the fewest public funds is Qatar with the US ranked at

76th.

When looking at crime and violence, the US came in at 87th which is comparable to Libya. Russia was 80th, Italy 81st and Mexico 139th.

Organized crime is non-existent in the UAE and much of the Middle East. The US ranked 84th and just ahead of China at 88th with most of Central America ranked as having the most organized crime.

When looking at business ethics, New Zealand and Finland ranked at the top with the US 32nd. When it came to honesty in audit and financial reporting, the US again ranked lower than expected at 36th.

Looking at roads, transportation and the reliability of things like our electric grid, the US came in 19th.

Our healthcare system which we like to think is the best in the world actually came in at 46th when judged by infant mortality rates or 34th if judged by life expectancy.

While we have some of the best colleges and universities in the world, our workforce is the 25th best educated with the primary education of our children ranking below expectations at 41st.

The banking sector in Canada is viewed as the strongest in the world with the US ranking 58th behind countries like Mexico (30th), Japan (43rd) and India (49th).

So which country came out of top?

Switzerland followed by Singapore, Finland and Germany. While the US has the largest economy in the world, we came in fifth due to the sophistication and maturity of our business sector as well as our strengths at innovation. Our ranking was significantly lowered by our governmental sector which includes an unsustainably large deficit that ranks amongst the highest in the world and only slightly better than Ireland and Greece.

Looking toward the future, the US government will have to begin living within its means while becoming more efficient, trustworthy and ethical if we are to maintain or improve our quality of life.

Dale Gribow On The Law

CAN’T I JUST HAVE 2 DRINKS ON ST PATRICK’S DAY?

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he quick answer is NO, not if you are going to drive home. St Patrick’s Day is no different from any other day and two drinks will put most of my CV Weekly readers over the .08 limit. Because most of us are celebrating on St Patrick’s Day we are not paying attention to the number or amount of alcohol we are consuming.

We must all understand is that it is not the number of drinks but the amount of alcohol in each drink. A drink is 12 oz. of beer and about 1 oz. of hard alcohol or 4 oz. of wine. The problem is that many restaurants pour a 6-8 oz. pour of wine and a 2 or more oz pour of alcohol. Thus when you have two 6 oz. glasses of wine with dinner you have really had 3 drinks…and if it was an 8 oz pour of wine your 2 drinks will equal 4 drinks. Some restaurants and bars provide a 3 oz. pour of hard alcohol. That equals 3 drinks… not one.

I recently had a 21 year old kid in my office with his mom who swore he only had 1 drink. I told him his high reading was impossible from one drink. Then I asked if he used a red Costco 16 oz. cup and filled it 2/3 of the way with alcohol and topped it off with OJ……he responded yes. If he used a 16 oz. cup that was 2/3 full, he was consuming 12 oz. of alcohol which equals 12 drinks. We

all forget when bartenders top off our wine when they are half way through.

Alcohol is often not the only issue when one is taking certain prescriptive drugs.

Alcohol and many prescriptive drugs just do not mix. When your vial label warns you to not operate heavy machinery/equipment they mean cars. We should probably revise the law to mandate a pharmacy have a

label warning that the consumer should not operate a car/vehicle after drinking and/ or taking a pill that has that precautionary warning.

Many people think that heavy machinery/equipment is a tractor. My CV Weekly readers need to understand there is something called Potentiation. This occurs when the RX pills, such as anti-depressants and diet pills with this warning, are then combined with an alcoholic drink. The combination could a driver to be as much under the influence as if several drinks were consumed. Illegal drugs like MJ or Cocaine are more dangerous because some MJ today is up to 13 times stronger than it was in the 60’s and 70’s, but the public does not realize this.

My conclusion for St Patrick’s Day is DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI………

IT IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN HIRING ME!

Dale Gribow has been “Rated” TOP LAWYER by Palm Springs Life Magazine from 2011-2014 and has a Superb AVVO Legal Rating by his fellow attorneys. Dale Gribow has been Man of the Year 7 times including the City of Palm Desert and the City of Hope and Dale Gribow Day has been declared 4 times. He is the only attorney appointed in December 2013 to the Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Public Safety Ad Hoc Blue Ribbon Committee addressing Drunk Driving. This group consists of the police chiefs from every city and the mayor of each city as well as the Sheriff of Riverside County and the head of the CHP and Border Patrol. In addition Gribow is the only attorney asked to be part of the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Health Matters Committee addressing Drunk Driving. Gribow is also one of the founders of Shutdown Drunk Driving formed upon the death of his client who was killed by a drunk driver while jogging recently.

Dale S. Gribow - Attorney at Law 74-923 Highway 111, #206 Indian Wells, California 92210 760-837-7500.

Dale@DaleGribowLaw.com www.DaleGribowLaw.com

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

safety tips

by Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March Madness! It came in like a Lion, will it leave like a Lamb?

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arch came in like a Lion bringing more rain than we’ve seen in years, but will it leave like a Lamb? “Though ordinarily not a big concern, March winds may pose a very serious fire danger says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Normally we would have had more rain by now and brush fires are not quite a concern.

With drought conditions and little rain, fuel moisture content is extremely low says DiGiovanna.”

Historically, we’ve had some very strong wind storms in March. As the sun angle climbs and the heating of the Earth›s surface increases during the month, convection warm air pockets that rise vigorously from the Earth’s surface - also increases. Air from higher altitudes sinks to replace this rising air. While this mixing can occur year-round, the winds aloft tend to be stronger in March.

With little rain and low fuel moisture, homeowners need to remain vigilant of March and winds. The threat of fire remains high unless we get more precipitation.

Create defensible space by clearing hazardous vegetation away from your

property. Clean leaves, needles and twigs from rooftops and gutters.

Follow your communities brush clearance ordinance by contacting your local fire department.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

ShareKitchen

34th Natural Food Expo West 2014

S

hareKitchen attended the 34th Natural Food Expo West 2014 last weekend. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the Expo is the largest of its kind in the world with over 2,600 exhibitors and more than 67,000 attendees. Natural products have become a $200 billion a year industry with no slowdown in growth anticipated looking forward.

The expo highlighted a societal trend that has emerged and is growing - consumers want foods, beverages, household and pet products that are not harmful to themselves, their pets or the environment.

Adam Anderson, show director stated that the, “macro trend and shift toward healthier lifestyles (is) creating explosive growth.”

Natural foods are finding rapid increases in accessibility and convenience as people move away from junk food and toward quick, healthy snacks. As it is proving difficult to pass labeling laws requiring the disclosure of genetically modified (GMO) or engineered products, the natural food industry is creating their own certifications that show their products as GMO-free and/or organic. Additionally, numerous

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“food tribes” such as gluten-free, vegan or other specialty diets are driving many of the changes that you see in grocery stores. People are finding that food can be one’s “medicine” or “poison”.

Of the 2,600 exhibitors, 635 were new exhibitors with many being entrepreneurial start-ups.

Here at ShareKitchen, we are helping to grow the natural food movement by assisting local entrepreneurs in making, developing, selling and distributing their natural products. As examples, Sylvia Garza of Que Mami Organics organic sauces and salsas can be found at the Certified Farmer’s Markets each week. Patrick Evans’ 100% natural Fulvio’s Homemade Italian Sausages are at more than one dozen local restaurants and the Real Italian Deli in Palm Desert while Hot Lips All Natural Sodas can be found at numerous restaurants as well as Nature’s Health Food & Cafe in Palm Springs.

Do you have a product idea? Let us help you with our ShareKitchen Concept-toConsumer incubation program.

For more information, visit us at www.

ShareKitchen.org.

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Gaemer Girl

by Jennifer Tan aka mrs. fett

Let’s Talk Google Glass

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esign: Effortless and comfortable.

Feels as natural as wearing my normal glasses. After a few hours, I had completely forgotten that I was wearing them. The only thing I didn’t like is that IF I wear my hair down, it covers the glass, and sometimes covers the camera lens and ruins photos, especially if it’s windy.

So have a rubber band ready ladies! As far as frames, you can go lens free, or choose from an assortment of regular, polarized, and PRESCRIPTION!!! lenses, in either clear or shaded.

SEEING through your GG, takes a little adjustment. In no way does it take a huge eye strain to see the screen. You slightly look up and right. The funniest thing is people getting IN YOUR FACE, and asking you, “WHAT DO YOU SEE!? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?!?”

As far as colors, the only one I feel unappealing, is the Sky Blue. I don’t know why. I have yet to see it on someone that didn’t make it look Douchy...I am sort-of in LOVE with the Tangerine. White is classy looking. Black is almost hipster, saying “I chose black Google Glass, because I don’t see the need to draw attention that I am wearing them...” YEAH FREAKING RIGHT! Shale is great on men. Chic, mildly distinct color, with a hint of cybertron...

Applications: Your battery life is around 5 hours, that’s IF you are using it a crazy amount. The charger has a higher voltage output, so it charges really easy. FYI, do not plug your iPhone into that charger! In the beginning, there was not much appeal to GG, besides social media applications. Now, the GG has taken on a major role in your daily life and health habits, like recommending places to eat when it thinks you are hungry, based on eating patterns you establish. The same goes for sleep patterns and common or recent places visited. Updates post monthly and are heavily reliant on user information from the GG forums, which only explorers have access to. Every time there is a NEW update, you are entitled to it for free, which includes any physical design changes that might happen from the time you join until its official launch. There is an assortment of games already on GG, which

Don’t Be

CLUELESS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

March 13 to March 19, 2014

by Diane Marlin-Dirkx

EVENT CALENDAR

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really help you get accustomed to using, and interacting with your new device. Games like Clay Shooter (skeet FPS), Shape Cutter (fruit ninja essentially) memory, and others that blend gaming mechanics into your real surroundings.

Sounds: If you are not using the ear piece, which comes with GG, sounds of notifications, and calls are sent through your GG, behind your ear. The sound feels like it’s coming from the center of your head, and causes no ear strain, a huge relief for those prone to migraines, like me.

Social media, of course, has had a huge impact in the use of your GG. Post everything and anything using GG, from YouTube to Facebook and any other SM you are a part of. Phone calls, texts and pings are also sent through GG. The DIFFERENCE: you no longer need to grab your phone to see them. No more looking down at a screen, hunting for your phone in your purse, or having to put it back afterwards. Needless to say, we have all encountered that moment when we are not sure of what you are looking for in a store, and the employee has no idea in HELL, what you are talking about? GG can help.

Ask google, find the answer in seconds, and continue on with life. $1500.00 is a lot to ask for a product not even fully developed. But essentially, you are not only paying for the product as is, you are also helping to develop the final GG. It’s more like paying to develop them and receiving a free pair, which I see as a more of an investment, than a purchase.

ecently, I heard from friends in the Midwest, y’know that hearty land of mashed spuds, basement tornado hideouts and winter temperatures that try one’s soul.

It reached 40 degrees last weekend after a season that made a few daft denizens want to go out and lick a frozen flagpole just to see what happens as someone runs to get Mom and dial 911. Don’t even think about it. In any case, when the thermometer rises above freezing, Vikings from Minot to Minneapolis, Dubuque to Detroit--well maybe not problematic Detroit--dig out the shorts and give pale body parts from ankles to thighs an airing and some color. (Teens show even more.) It’s not a pretty picture, but not as daffy as the metal pole experiment and you can’t help but sympathize. We’ve had a glorious winter, as usual. And we can wear what we want to, if we want to. It’s 85 degrees, Desert Paradise Pack. Do you know where your shorts are? You betcha.

Sunday, March 16, Recitals 12Noon and 6pm. The 2014 Steinway Piano Competition presented proudly by The Steinway Society is still rocking the rafters after the juniors, age 7 to 14 performed on March 9. Now you’ll have an opportunity to listen to the Seniors, age 14 to 18, who will perform on Sunday, March 16. There’s more! Master class, an instructive session for the pupil by an accomplished teacher, may be observed at 8am and 10am, 2pm and 4pm.

What a unique opportunity to witness and enjoy some of the finest musical talent that our Coachella Valley has to offer as performed on a Steinway grand piano, acknowledged as one of the world’s finest musical instruments since1853. For more information, go to www.SteinwayRiverside. org. Free and open to the public with open seating. The event is being held at Rancho Mirage High School, 31001 Rattler Rd, in the Helene Galen Performing Arts Center.

Monday, March 17, 10am-2pm. WOW! Here’s a shout out to all acronym aficionados!

WOW is the official moniker (wo-men-iker) for Wonder of Women, an annual event sponsored by Dr. Lisa Lindsey and Dr. Jerilyn Brossfield that celebrates women! The first words announced from the podium by this dynamite duo are a request: “Turn to your neighbor and say, ‘You are so sexy.’” The

drooling on your shirt. The fabulous Blonde Divas will be appearing in their “sister show” at Sun City, Palm Desert in the Sierra Ballroom. The ladies are a musical blending of voices on the golden “oldies featured by the favorite women’s groups of the 40s, 50s and 60s, such as “Sincerely,” “Mr. Sandman,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” and so many tuneful songs that you’ll want to join in.

“We have a lot of fun,” they chorus. The Divas are currently starring in a television special titled “Quest for Stardom,” currently available for viewing on 73 million iPhones in America. To view their video, go to www. theblondedivas.com. For more info: Stage Shows Intl., 760-360-9986.

result, between laughter and applause is positive agreement among the attending women, and an eagerness to support the doctors’ positive cause: SafeHouse of the Desert, the Coachella Valley’s only youth emergency shelter. It’s so dear to their hearts, the doctors throw an all-day party with all proceeds going to rescued youth with positive intervention and outreach services for at-risk youth who may become victims of the streets,. Let us count the enticements: Speaker Chonda Pierce (TV host, author, comedian), Boutique Shopping, Silent Auction, Shopping AfterParty. Call your “sexy” friends and buy a Tale for 10 or 12 and save! Single ticket, $120. Single VIP with benefits, $250. Event at Westin Mission Hills Resort, 71333 Dinah Shore, Rancho Mirage. More info, or tickets go to www.safehouseofthedesert.com Monday, March 17, 7:30pm-9pm.

Get a grip on your libidos, gentlemen— or whatever keeps you upright and not

Friday, March 21, 8pm. “An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin” stars a line-up of her most memorable cast of characters so get your giggles and guffaws warmed up for Ernestine, Sister Boogie Woman, Ms. Beasley, and that lovable ragamuffin smarty-pants, Edith Ann. Tomlin has built a career in all popular media from television, theater, film, animation, to video. She’s received six Emmys, 2 Tonys, a Grammy and

many nominations, 2 Peabody awards and in 2003, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented at the Kennedy Center. At the McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert, through the generosity of Harold Matzner. Tickets at $95. $85, $75 and $55 online at www.mccallumtheatre. com, or by calling the box office, 760-3402787.

Saturday, March 22, 7:30pm.

“RESURGENCE Arise Like The Phoenix,” a concert of music of renewal and perseverance performed by the Desert Winds Freedom Band. Founded in the fall of 2001 by musician Gary Moline, the band is currently directed by Dean McDowell and has grown to a large concert band, aided and abetted by a jazz band. Both bands are composed of dedicated musicians, both professionals and amateurs who played an instrument in high school or college. It’s a diverse group open to all gay and gay-friendly people. Prospective members are required to read music, have basic musicianship skills on a band instrument, attend rehearsals and perform in concerts. This event features guest vocalist Francesca Amari in a world premier work by local composer Michael Viens, with pianist Richard Bentley. At the Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School, 31001 Rattler Rd . Tickets per person, $25. More info go to www.desertwindsfb.org

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

Health&Fitness

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Coachella Valley Expedition 2014 FREE medical, Dental, and vision clinic

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f you have some time to help or donate for the clinic happening April 3-6th in Indio check out the website at www.

CaliforniaCareForce.org DATES/ LOCATION: April 3-6, 2014 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, CA WHAT: Free medical, dental and vision care will be offered to up to 900 patients a day. The Healthcare clinic will have 70 dental stations, 20 medical exam rooms and 10 vision lanes. A vision lab will produce free prescription eyeglasses on site.

Dentistry will include cleanings, fillings and extractions. Medical doctors will provide services ranging from consultation and diagnosis to minor medical procedures.

Nurses will staff triage areas and provide medical assistance.

HOW: Patients can line up each morning starting at 3:30am. Each person in line will receive one number while available. Patient

registration will begin at 5:30am each morning.

WHO: Conducted by California CareForce along with the Coachella Valley Community Trust, California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (CALAOMS) and Goldenvoice The inaugural Coachella Valley Expedition held in April 2013, provided much needed services to 2,770 patients, for a total value of care estimated at over 1 million dollars.

All services were free to patients.

Health&Fitness

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

Week of March13

Why is this event so important to the desert community?

The Health Assessment Resource Center reports the following: 17.4 percent of Coachella Valley

residents were in fair and poor health, more than twice the statewide average of 8.1 percent 20 percent of eastern Riverside County residents have not seen a doctor in the past year.

IMPORTANT LINKS: www.californiacareforce.org facebook.com/CaliforniaCareForce Check out this video from the inaugural Coachella Valley Expedition: youtube.com/watch?v=Eok2nSuqJP0 Patient flyer for distribution: www.californiacareforce.org /Files/ PatientFlierCoachella2014.pdf

By Denise Ortuno Neil

The Vein Doctor Celebrates 14 Years in the Valley

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enowned Dr. Sanford Greenberg of The Vein Doctor Medical Group in Palm Desert invites the community to help celebrate 14 successful years in the Coachella Valley on Friday, March 14th 2014 from 1pm -5pm.

Dr. Greenberg has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and came to the Coachella Valley in 2000 from Missouri, where he honed his skills in Phlebology (vein medicine). A doctor specializing in Phlebology, as Dr. Greenberg does, helps patients who suffer from a variety of vein ailments, including varicose veins which can cause pain and aesthetic displeasure.

Since Dr. Greenberg’s arrival in the Coachella Valley 14 years ago, The Vein Doctor Medical Group has become the valley’s leader in vein treatment, more than solidifying his Vein Doctor title.

While Dr. Greenberg does specialize in the treatment of vein disease, his medical group also offers a variety of other services.

The services include body and anti-age conscious procedures such as Smart-Lipo, Cool Sculpting (Desert Fat-Freeze), Pelleve, Ellemine and the PRP Facial, better known as “The Vampire Facial”. They also offer other services including the ever popular Botox as well as other fillers and also

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provide B12 and B6 injections to help boost energy and the immune system building “Meyers Cocktail” which has nothing to do with rum, but rather is a super strength concoction involving Vitamin C, Potassium and B12, and is administered intravenously for quick absorption.

The Vein Doctor Medical Groups celebration on Friday, March 14th, will be located outdoors at their Palm Desert office and will have an array of fun for all who attend. Elayna Freiberg, Medical

Esthetician and Event Coordinator for Dr. Greenberg, has put together an impressive group of top vendors to help expand on the celebration. The vendors include The Body Deli, complimentary braiding and styling by The Blow Dry Bar, make-up touch ups with Lisa Mullen, mini-massages by massage therapist Jenny Putino, free membership give-ways from Power of Fitness and Nutrition, plus many more.

The celebration will also offer special discounts from 20% to 50% off event day

pre-purchases of procedures including Cool Sculpting, Smart-Lipo, Photofacial, Botox and several others.

For added fun, the neighboring Animal Hospital of the Desert will share in the event, offering free examinations for first time petpatients and other specials, making it a petfriendly party as well!

The event is free with food and refreshments offered as well as cake and a champagne toast to amplify the celebration.

“We are excited to be part of the community and this is our way of saying thank you for the loyalty of our wonderful patients and to the community for supporting us for all of these years,” said Freiberg.

The Coachella Valley is fortunate to have The Vein Doctor Medical Group in our community, and a celebration to highlight their success and all that they have done to beautify us from the inside and out is indeed cause to raise a glass….here’s to 14 more years!

For more information about The Vein Doctor visit www.theveindoctor.com The Vein Doctor is located at 44-300 Monterey Avenue Suite B in Palm Desert.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one.” So says a character in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Unconsoled. At this juncture in your life story, Aries, it might be healing for you to make a similar declaration. Now is an excellent moment to say a final goodbye to plot twists that you wished would have happened but never did. To do so will free up stuck energy that will then become available for future projects. You may even awaken to exciting possibilities you haven’t imagined yet.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In May 2011, two Nepali men reached the top of Mt. Everest after a six-week climb. Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa and Sano Babu Sunuwar had prepared an unprecedented way to get back down off the mountain. Strapping themselves to a single parachute, they leaped off and paraglided for 45 minutes, landing near a Sherpa village thousands of feet below the summit.

I suggest you look around for a metaphorical version of a shortcut like that, Taurus. Don’t do the next part of the journey the same way you did the previous phase. Take a more direct route. Enjoy an alternate adventure. Give yourself a fresh challenge.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Seeking wisdom and chasing after pleasure are polar opposites, right?

You must devote yourself to either one or the other, correct? You can be an enlightened servant of the greater good or else an exuberant hedonist in quest of joy, but not both. True? No. No. No. False.

Wrong. Here’s the bigger truth: Now and then, grace periods come along when you can become smarter and kinder by exploring the mysteries of feeling really good. Can you guess when the next of these grace periods will arrive for you, Gemini? Here’s the answer: It’s here now!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Humans walked on the moon before anyone ever had the simple idea to put wheels on suitcases. Unbelievable, right?

Until 1972, three years after astronauts first walked on the lunar surface, travelers in airports and train stations had to carry and drag wheelless containers full of their belongings. I suspect that a comparable out-of-sequence thing may be going on in your own life, Cancerian. In some ways you are totally up-todate, and in other ways you are lagging behind. Now would be a good time to identify any discrepancies and start correcting them. Metaphorically speaking, I’d love you to have rolling luggage by the next time you take a journey.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Have you ever heard of the sasquatch, also known as bigfoot? You know, one of those big, hairy, humanoid beasts that walks upright and lives in dense forests? Scientists assure us that there is no such thing. But then they used to say the same thing about the platypus. It was a myth, they declared; a figment of explorers’ vivid imaginations.

A duck-billed, egg-laying mammal simply could not exist. When the respected British zoologist George Shaw claimed there was indeed such a creature, he was mocked by his contemporaries. Eventually, though, the truth emerged and Shaw was vindicated.

I suspect that you Leos will soon experience an event akin to the discovery and confirmation that the platypus is real.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Kyoka is a Japanese word that means a flower reflected in a mirror.

I suggest you use it as a metaphor to help you understand what’s happening in your life right now.

Here are some clues to jumpstart your ruminations.

Are you more focused on the image of what you love than on what you love? If so, is there anything wrong with that, or is it perfectly fine? Are you more interested in ephemeral beauty that you can admire from afar than in tangible beauty you can actually touch? If so, is there anything wrong with that, or is it perfectly fine? Should you turn away from a dreamy surrogate and turn toward the real thing?

If so, why?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A British researcher poured 300 million facts into a computer program designed to determine the most boring day in history. The winner was April 11, 1954. It was

© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny

selected because almost nothing important happened except an election in Belgium. I’m wondering if you Libras might reach that level of blah sometime soon. The astrological omens suggest it’s a possibility. And frankly, I hope that’s exactly what happens. You need a break from high adventure and agitated activity. You would benefit from indulging in some downtime that allowed you to luxuriate in silence and stasis. The time has come to recharge your psychic batteries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You won’t be the recipient of good luck in the coming days. Nor will you experience bad luck or dumb luck or weird luck. No, Scorpio. The serendipitous slew of synchronicities that will slip and slide into your sphere requires a new word, which I have coined for this occasion.

That word is “shluck.” Shluck is a cracked yet plucky sort of backwards luck that provides you with an abundance of curious slack. Shluck slings your way a series of happy accidents and curious coincidences that give you experiences you didn’t even realize you needed. To take maximum advantage of shluck’s benefits, you have to dispense with your agendas and drop your expectations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the old fairy tale “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” the poor woodcutter Ali Baba is collecting firewood in the forest when he spies a gang of thieves bragging about their exploits. Observing them from a hiding place, he hears them chant a phrase, “open sesame.” This magically unseals the opening to a cave that happens to be full of their stolen treasure.

Later, when the thieves have departed, Ali Baba goes to the cave and says “open sesame” himself.

The hocus-pocus works. He slips into the cave and steals a bag of gold from the robbers’ plunder. This story has resemblances to an adventure you could enjoy sometime soon, Sagittarius. I suspect you may discover your own version of “open sesame.” It will give you access to a less literal and more legitimate bounty.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your ability to heal rifts and bridge gaps is unusually high. You could connect seemingly irreconcilable elements and forge apparently impossible links. Former allies who have become estranged might be moved to bond again through your compassionate intervention. I’m not promising amazingly miraculous feats of unification, but I’m not ruling them out, either. You have a sixth sense about how to create interesting mixtures by applying just the right amount of pressure and offering just the right kind of tenderness.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My friend Harry said he wanted to teach me to play golf. “Are you kidding?” I asked him incredulously. “The dullest game on the planet?” He tried to convince me that it would provide lots of interesting metaphors I could use in writing horoscopes. “Name one,” I challenged him. He told me that “Volkswagen” is a slang term that describes what happens when a golfer makes an awkward shot that nevertheless turns out to be quite good. “Hmmm,” I replied. “That is exactly the theme I have decided on for the Aquarius horoscope.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do you remember being in your mother’s womb? Probably not. But here’s what I know about that time: In the first few weeks after you were conceived, your body grew at a very rapid rate. Once you were born, if you had continued to expand and develop with that much vigor, you would literally have grown to be as big as a mountain by now. So let’s be thankful you slowed down. But I do want to sound an alert and let you know that you are currently in a growth spurt with some metaphorical resemblances to that original eruption. It’s basically a good thing. Just be aware that you may experience growing pains.

Homework: Name your greatest unnecessary taboo and how you would violate it if it didn’t hurt anyone. Freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny Free Will Astrology freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

events

March 13 to March 19, 2014

U.S. Kids Golf Coachella Valley Local Tour Set to Kick Off At Mountain Vista Golf Course at Sun City on March 16th

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he U.S. Kids Golf Coachella Valley Spring Local Tour will kick off Mountain Vista GC at Sun City on Sunday, March 16th. Throughout the spring season, U.S. Kids Golf will head to 8 of the finest courses in the Coachella Valley area.

U.S. Kids Golf Local Tours provide boys and girls, ages 5 to 14, the opportunity to advance their golf skills in age-appropriate competition without having to take the time and incur the costs of having to travel long distances.

“The U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour is a great opportunity for kids of all abilities to play in a competitive environment,” said Dustin Smith, PGA Director of the Coachella Valley Local Tour. “The golf course is a great place for kids to learn valuable lessons that will help them throughout their life.”

Similar to the PGA Tour, players at U.S. Kids Golf events are encouraged to have caddies to help them play their best.

Allowing caddies is a special component of our tournaments and is part of our commitment to encouraging family interaction that builds lasting memories.

Players age 8 and under must have a caddie at all times.

The top five finishers in each age group will receive priority status from U.S. Kids Golf, granting them priority registration for major events. The Player of the Year in each

age group will receive green status, the highest level awarded, which results in an invitation to the World Championship, held each year at Pinehurst Resort.

Tour Schedule March 16th - Mountain Vista Golf Course at Sun City March 30th - Desert Dunes Golf Course April 6th - Palm Desert Resort CC April 27th - La Quinta Resort: Dunes Course May 4th - Heritage Palms Golf Club May 18th - Bermuda Dunes CC June 1st - Indian Ridge CC June 8th - Desert Horizons CC (Tour Championship) About the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia non-profit recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The Foundation organizes more than 700 golf tournaments for kids each year, including Local Tours in more than 50 cities, ten Qualifiers across the nation, eight Regional Championships, a European Championship and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, which are held each year in Pinehurst, N.C. In partnership with the PGA of America, the Foundation also supports the U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program, which provides guidelines that help courses make the game easier to learn and more fun for kids and their families.

For more info contact: Dustin Smith, PGA Director of Instruction The First Tee of the Coachella Valley 775-722-7181 dustinsmith007@gmail.com

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

Life & career Coach

www.coachellavalleyweekly.com

by Sunny Simon

Leadership Lessons from a Prince

Ask The Doctor

by dr peter kadile

Dr. Peter M. Kadile is Board Certified in Family Medicine. He has an integrative, osteopathic medical practice and is also known as the local, house call doctor; Desert House Call Physician. He is on staff at Eisenhower Medical Center and medical director for Serenity Hospice. His office is located in beautiful Old Town La Quinta, 78-100 Main Street, Suite 207, La Quinta, CA 92253. (760) 777-7439. DesertHouseCalls@aol.com. www.deserthousecalldoc.com.

Dr. Kadile will be writing a regular column for CV Weekly. Please send any medical questions you have to editor@coachellavalleyweekly.com for him to answer.

Hello Dr. Kadile, I have a friend who only smokes cigarettes when she drinks. She says she is not a smoker, because she doesn’t smoke regularly. This is still bad for you, isn’t it? -Tracy, La Quinta

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ecently I saw the opera Prince Igor streamed in live from The Metropolitan Opera to a local theater. I’m a very minor league opera buff, basically just learning how to enjoy the art, but I’m making Price Igor my new favorite.

Like the rest of the audience I appreciated the talent of the impressive cast and sat mesmerized listening to the chorus perform the Polovtsain Dances. However, what impressed me the most about this performance was the leadership lesson.

Prince Igor leads his army to a military campaign which turns into a battle gone

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wrong. His army is defeated, the Prince is tormented by the loss and eventually his palace is destroyed and left in ruins. Igor returns home and accepts ownership for the tragedy and this is where the tale turns positive. Igor passionately calls his followers to unite and rebuild their destroyed lives.

He is the first to begin the restoration by symbolically lifting a heavy door and placing it back in the threshold.

In life, as on the stage or silver screen, if you want to earn the credibility and the trust of your team, lead by example. Becoming a respected leader requires displaying consistent and continual behavioral patterns. Getting the team charging in the right direction begins with honesty. The truth is essential in creating a foundation of trust. Communicate openly and with candor. Discourage politics by creating an open door policy. If the message is difficult to deliver, don’t sugar-coat it, be frank but kind.

Great leaders are also part of the team.

That equates to being receptive and listening to the ideas of others. A manager is both a coach and student. Taking on responsibility and delegating fairly is another hallmark of a good leader. Adept problem solving ability and creativity are also necessary when assuming the lead role.

One lesson many leaders find hard to role model is work/life balance. A wise manager knows the value of time away from the job and encourages the team to do likewise. It is important to support employees when they schedule a family vacation or enjoy a morning off to accompany a child on the first day of kindergarten.

Most importantly, if you are a leader or positioning yourself for that role, follow Igor’s example. When you discover you are leading the team in the wrong direction, take ownership, admit your mistake and then quickly change course. Remain at your personal best by always speaking the truth.

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

racy, I frequently encounter a similar situation when I am obtaining a medical and social history from a new patient when I ask them if they have ever smoked. The most common response is that they don’t consider themselves smokers because they only smoke when they have a couple of drinks. What if you go out and have a few drinks every weekend or several times a week? The simple truth is, whether you smoke one or more cigarettes regularly, you are a considered a smoker.

The Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, reviewed studies of light and intermittent smoking, along with the Surgeon General’s report on smoking.

They put together a list of health hazards associated with social smoking: heart disease weakened aorta (the main artery from your heart) premature death from cardiovascular disease lung, esophageal, stomach and pancreatic cancer respiratory tract infections fertility problems slower recovery from injuries cataracts poorer health related quality of life Of course the risk of these health hazards increase the heavier you smoke, but I have seen patients who frequently get sick, have long lasting coughs and develop chronic bronchitis because they only “smoke when I’m drinking”.

An interesting thing about social smokers is that they don’t seem to be drawn to smoking more by the nicotine, which causes

smoking addiction. Daily smokers continue to smoke and increase their cigarette use due to the strong nicotine addiction. They are usually not in denial about their smoking and the associated adverse health affects.

Social smokers tend not to be addicted to the nicotine, but drawn by the “social” aspect of smoking and the short term high of the carbon dioxide and nicotine. Social smokers tend to be in denial about the adverse health effects of smoking because they don’t consider themselves regular smokers.

The bottom line is: If you smoke at all, you are exposing yourself to a highly toxic poison that increases your risk for cancer and heart disease.

So Tracy, you can tell your friend that social smoking is still bad for her. If you are around your friend when she smokes, then you too are at an increased risk for cancer and heart disease because of the dangers of second hand smoke. Smoking is bad, period.

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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March 13 to March 19, 2014

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MARCH 16 AT 3 PM & MARCH 23 AT 3 PM Indian Wells Theater, Cal State University San Bernardino - Palm Desert Campus Reserved Seating Tickets $40 ONLINE at www.CaliforniaDesertChorale.org For Information and Phone Orders please call 760-346-4933 Tim Bruneau, Artistic Director / Dr. Denis Moreen, Principal Accompanist / Delatour Zimmer, Guest Soprano

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