BY DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
The last thing I remember before the fade-to-bliss of a slothful summer—blessedly settling around me like a soft blanket, sending my senses to quietly play in another garden— is stretching my frame on the summer porch’s daybed, creaky springs and all —or was it on the shaky hammock tethered to two hopefully sturdy trees—? Whatever! The thought was that far too soon, it would be time to put away the summer intel, toys, triflings and forgivenesses —pull-on pants you can wipe your hands on, refilling the fridge with bottled water for panting guests, that extra scoop of ice cream— and time to hit the tarmac running, to hit our marks once again when the blistering heat of a desert like a “Showtime!” curtain lifts, calling us to action, to another season, of doings that arouse visitors to come from all over the world to ours. Get out your calendars! Game on, players!
Thursday, Nov. 6, 6 PM – 8 PM. “Not My Life!” An honest and horrifying look at a new kind of slavery in a film which couldn’t be more timely than today. “Not My Life,” narrated by award-winning actress Glenn Close, will be presented by The Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti Human-Trafficking Task Force at Rancho Mirage High School Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion with Q& A. Refreshments will be served. Adults $10. No charge for students. Not appropriate material for age 14 and under. For more information, contact Meredith Bettencourt, 760-322-7711, or email Worldaffairs3@msn.com. R.M. High School, 31001 Rattler Rd, Rancho Mirage, CA.
Thursday, November 6, thru Saturday, November 13, 7 PM. The McCallum Theatre presents the Second Annual Palm Desert International Dance Festival—Wait, there’s more!—along with 3—count ‘em—three celebrated world dance companies and the 17th Annual Choreography Competition.“We are pleased to bring such internationally –respected artists to the desert and to continue to provide opportunities to emerging dancers through our Festival,” said Mitch Gershenfield, McCallum president and CEO. Troupes participating are “BalletBoyz®,” called “viscerally thrilling, “muscular” and “elegant” by critics, was formed by former Royal Ballet dancers in Britain (Nov. 6). The SEOP Dance Company from South Korea has toured performing “A Man’s Requiem (Nov. 15)” to much applause. The famed Swiss mask theatre troupe “Mummenschanz”, now in its 43rd season is a visually stunning spectacle appreciated by dancers and non-dancers round the world (Nov. 13). The Annual Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the “luminous” ballerina and Balanchine “muse” Suzanne Farrell,” founder of Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. With a mission to “advance dance as an art form, the annual choreography competition (Nov. 8) attracts support from valley audiences and funders,” said Kajsa Thuresson-Frary, Director of Education, whose institute partners with East Valley schools. Performances individually priced tickets from $10 to $55. Two performances by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia in conjunction with its popular Field Trip Series will perform on Wednesday, November 12th at 9:30am & 11:30am.Tickets are available online at the McCallum Theatre website, www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Saturday, November 8, 11AM – 3PM. Pick your pleasure from a global collection of gathered treasures when Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) present the first” Harvest Holiday & Culinary Bazaar” in the Mary Pickford Theatre Lobby, 36850 Pickfair, Cathedral City. Tis the season for gift-giving! Get ready to enjoy tantalizing food and wine tastings, chef demonstrations, and live music as you find novel gourmet and culinary items, hand crafts, holiday décor, jewelry, handbags, clothing, and cook books by local authors and chefs to gift family and friends. “It’s the perfect event for holiday shopping while helping to support our culinary scholarship programs,” said Janet Harris, Holiday Bazaar chairman. “A percentage of proceeds from the sales go to support our local young women going into the hospitality, culinary and nutrition industries and who are attending collages across the country.” The event is free and open to the public. More info, please call 760-895-9899, 760-568-4422, or email LDEIPS@gmail.com
Monday, Nov. 10, 2 PM. A Salute to VETERAN’S DAY in Celebration of the grand opening of its new Veterans Success Center on its campus. Starting in the Indian Wells Theatre, Dean Sharon Brown-Welty will welcome service veterans, guests, families, and athe rousing posting of the colors with Palm Desert mayor Van Tanner, 29 Palms Marine Corps , local JROTC units, and Desert Hot Springs Jr. ROTC.The March Field ERO Club will provide a T-34 fly-by of planes . Refreshments, entertainment and tours will be available. For more info, contact Mari Daniels 760-537-5195, email daniels@csusb.edu. Location: 37-500 Cook St. Event valet parking is complimentary.
Monday, November 10, 8 PM. Get down for a One night Performance by modern country balladeer Vince Gill, one of the most popular singers appearing at The McCallum Theatre with top studio musicians The Time Jumpers. Gill has sold more than 26 million albums, earned 18 CMA Awards, co-hosting the awards for 12 consecutive years. was named Entertainer of the Year (1993, 1994) and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Tickets are $35 – $85 and are available online at the McCallum Theatre website, www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Box Office at (760) 340-278., located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepting payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Friday, November 14, 6PM For Pets’ Sake, Fluff your feathers, smooth your fur, and get ready for the first and Foremost “Fabulous Feathers & Fur Follies,” a One Night Only entertainment extravaganza beginning from first step on the red carpet presented by Loving All Animals on behalf of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and finishing with the good work of Loving all Animals, which with its Super Pet Adoption Fair brings together 45 animal welfare organizations for a 2-day event to find forever homes for the valley’s lost and abandoned animals. Shake a leg for tickets, it promises to be a bow-wowser of a purrfect party of fun, feasting, frolicking on the dance floor, and 9 acts sharing the staged spotlight. Dress code? Suggested “Follies Glam”—even the attending naturally “fFeathere” and “furry” will be costumed! All frivolity for a good cause is in the Celebrity Ballroom (where else?) at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage. Tickets, $125 per person. VIP tickets with preferred seating, $150 per person. RSVP to 760-834-7000. Or purchase tickets online www.lovingallanimals.org
Friday, November 14, 7:30 PM. Who knew? Who knew publishers, politicians, reporters, eatery bistro buffs, editors, even a Mom, walked around on dancing genes in their shoes? And who will take home the Mirrored Ball Trophy granted by famed dancers and judges Rita Moreno and George Chakaris (Stars of movie musical West Side Story”)? Judging by success of the competition which benefits Desert Aids project (D.A.P.), whether the choreography is Hip-Hop or hyper-sensual Tango, the “4th Annual Dancing with the Desert Stars 2014” will move you to cheers for the winner, all performers including the “Fan Favorite” chosen by the Audience, and the event’s cause: Comprehensive support, medical care, case management, food, housing, counseling, free HIV testing in local communities. More info, please call 760-323-2118, online visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. The larger Palm Springs Convention Center will be the roomy venue for the evening presented by Contour Dermatology with 7 PM Cocktails, and 7:30 PM Show. Tickets range from, $40 to $1500 for a table of 10. To purchase or for more info, call 760-992-0440.
Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec.7. Free to all attending, it’s time for a Weekend of celebration when the 23rd Annual Indio International Tamale Festival welcomes at least 125,000 people, including families of all ages from Tots to Grand-pops! At Fantasy Spring Resort Casino, official presenting sponsor since 1999, the excitement starts with a parade at 10 AM, performers will appear to the delight of the crowd on five stages, and revs up with the 2nd annual car show, an art and wine garden, arts and craft exhibits, vendor exhibits, sponsor displays, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and of course, tempting, tantalizing Tamale Booths! Ranked one of the top ten “Food Festivals” in the nation, the Festival features the traditional competition for the best Tamale recipe, and a Tamale-eating contest. For more info, contact its producer Keva Works, Inc., 760-832-8620, ext. 46; or online at www.tamalefestival.net.
“Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event! Thanks!
