By Angela Romeo
Meg Walling approaches life in color, lots of color.
“A strong sense of place and extremes in environment draw me in,” said Meg. “These special places have a very distinctive character that is predicated on the color. The colors of nature are beautiful. I take these colors as the basis for my landscapes. Abstraction is an interpretation of...
By Janet Mcafee
Rod Murphy was not thinking about getting another dog during the summer of 2014. His beloved dog, Sophia, recently passed away after a bout with cancer. An ardent dog lover, Rod serves on the Board of Directors for Loving All Animals and is actively involved in helping homeless pets.
Rod recalls, “Kim Hardee and Lindi Biggi approached me...
By Rick Riozza
Everyone in hot haven here is up for the most refreshing quaffs in town. We’ve covered some tasty vino white wonders lately, so why not keep things going!
And just in time and just what the ardent doctor ordered: The thirst-quenching, fun & festive Italian Prosecco sparkling wine.
Fresh and very light on the alcohol, Prosecco is a cheery...
By Denise Ortuno-Neil
With a hip, cool ambience, fabulous food and an ample wine selection, Cork & Fork in La Quinta has a winning recipe and has become one of the go to dining spots in the Coachella Valley. Even in the midst of high temps, this desert gem keeps their guest’s taste buds excited with their summer menu.
I had...
By Robin E. Simmons
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER:
One of the great joys of movie collecting is the surprising availability of vintage titles in pristine, newly restored Bly-ray editions. The pleasure for me is being able to enjoy again at any random moment one of these wonderful films in real time that before only shimmered in the memory. Olive Films,...
By Heidi Simmons
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The Innocents
by Ace Atkins
Fiction
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People are complicated. Rich or poor, whether it’s due to nurture or nature, humans are more often than not in some form of survival mode. In Ace Atkins’ The Innocents (Putnam, 384 pages) there is a fine line between predator and prey.
The series character of Quinn Colson is a macho and competent man with...
By Craig Michaels
Nestled in the foothills of Joshua Tree National Park is a city known world-wide for its natural, healing, hot mineral water springs. The city of Desert Hot Springs is built over one of the world’s finest natural hot mineral aquifers which attack spa enthusiasts from around the globe. The natural mineral waters are just one of the...
By Haddon Libby
I think we all know that the Federal Government wastes an awful lot of money. Below are just a few of the more outrageous wastes of our tax dollars:
THE ARTS
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) gave the Colorado Symphony $15,000 in order to host “Classically Cannabis: The High Note Series.” The program encouraged people to inhale...
By Dale Gribow
First: You should realize that there are more DUI FATALITIES here in the Coachella Valley, per capita, than anywhere else in California. Thus it is logical that DUI arrests and fatalities spike on July 4th. Naturally our law enforcement agencies become more vigilant on holiday weekend.
Second: Holidays bring out a lot of DUI checkpoints. These checkpoints are...
"When you wake up in the morning and the light is hurt your head - The first thing you do when you get up out of bed - Is hit that streets a-runnin' and try to beat the masses - Now go get yourself some good sunglasses"
During the summer we put a lot of emphasis on protecting skin from...
By Doug Morin
Executive Director - CV Volunteers in Medicine, Indio, CA
In addition to their pesky whining, mosquitoes can carry some serious diseases, including West Nile virus and Zika. West Nile has been around for decades and, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not experience any illness. Others...
By Flint Wheeler
The most massive event in UFC history also had the largest purse payout in this sports History. Try not to compare this to "Money Mayweathers" payday. Remember when he defeated Pacquiao and the two fighters split $500 Million ($300 went to Money). UFC is still a baby. Less the 15 years young whereas Boxing can be dated...
Week of July 14
© Copyright 2016 Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Upcoming adventures might make you more manly if you are a woman. If you are a man, the coming escapades could make you more womanly. How about if you're trans? Odds are that you'll become even more gender fluid. I am exaggerating a bit, of course. The transformations...
By Bronwyn Ison
A short hiatus is exactly what I needed. Although, I missed writing each week, I really needed to recharge and reset my batteries. The summer months are the opportune time to gain perspective and reorganize. A one-week vacation to the High Sierra’s to one of the most beautiful places on the earth, Lake Tahoe, was blissful. I’ve...
By Dr. Maria Lombardo
We often hear patients talk about how they have been wanting to do a cosmetic consultation for a very long time but they were “afraid coming to the doctor’s office would be intimidating” or “thought it would be expensive” or “I’m not ready to do a procedure right now”.
At Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery, we always make the...
By Sunny Simon
Grabbing a magazine I stuffed it in my purse on my way out the door. I knew there would be a wait and it was an ideal time to catch up on reading one of the many periodicals delivered to my door. Full disclosure, I had to force myself to select this particular magazine. I hadn’t read...
Featuring B-Real From Cypress Hill
So Much More Than You Imagined
By Esther Sanchez
In 2014, businessmen and entrepreneurs, Sean Wood and Tony Francois, decided to throw a tattoo convention in Palm Springs and apparently it went pretty well. Well enough in fact that they successfully built enough momentum to possibly make it an annual event. Although anyone who knows me, knows...
The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre & Conservatory will present their Annual Staged Reading Event on Saturday, July 9th at 7PM and Sunday, July 10th at 2PM. The staged readings will include three short one act plays – The Duck Variations by David Mamet, Variations on the Death of Trotsky by David Ives, and Sure Thing by David Ives. All...
By Morgan James
Self-described as “ghetto wave, slacker goth, post jangle” The Kathys sure do have their sound and their audience figured out. Confident melodies and a fresh hip sound, I was pleased this week to be introduced to this relevant Indio based band comprised of Juan Carlos Gonzalez (drums), Edgar Hernandez (bass), Alec Paul Corral (strings), Austin Gonzalez (synth)...
By Slim Man
If I were in a court of law, and a judge were to ask me if I’d slept with Greg Vail, I would have to say…
“Yes.”
That’s the truth. But here’s the difference between the truth, and the whole truth…
In the mid 1990s, I was traveling around the country in an Isuzu Rodeo SUV with my two bandmates,...
Wednesday, July 13, 9pm - 1am FREE SHOW
by Lisa Morgan
Desert rock icon, Sean Wheeler, featured in two documentaries on the desert rock scene recently, will be bringing a free show to the Hood Bar in Palm Desert, that fans internationally would travel miles and pay big bucks to see. Accompanied by Billy Pittman (Jimmy Vaughn’s guitar player for the...
By Eleni P. Austin
Has the Brexit gotten you down? Has this latest election cycle stressed you out? Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular?
Well, the answer to all your problems is in this little bottle. (Oh, wait, that’s Vitameatavegamin)
Actually, a respite from all your recent woes might be found by digging into...
By Morgan James
Over the last few years, The Coachella Valley Art Scene has grown exponentially, hosting a number of community events to thrilled artists, appreciative musicians and all fans of the creative arts. Our valley population seems littered now more than ever with a beauty seeking, splendidly whimsical youth culture who rush to flood workshops and concerts put on...
By Rebecca Pikus
Dara Mark's exquisite Watercolors almost defy description. Unlike pastoral landscapes, or soft portraits, or floral arrangements -- which are the stereotypical subjects for watercolors -- she takes an entirely different tangent & approach in her Art. Mark, who now resides in New Mexico, originally received her B.A. from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and her M.F.A....
By Angela Romeo
Part mid-century modern, part hippy chick tempered with flower child and wholly original, Odessa Christiana has created an art lifestyle.
“I cannot remember a time where I was not creating something and trying it sell it,” smiled Odessa. “I have always had this passion for art and fashion and of course, glamour!” Like many artists, Odessa began her...
By Janet McAfee
Lynnette Poole says, “I would have fostered a rescue dog sooner if I’d known what a wonderful experience it is!” Lynnette is pictured here with Tucker, one of the two dogs she is fostering for Loving All Animals.
The snowbirds that foster homeless animals have long left the Coachella Valley for cooler regions. Other foster parents are leaving...
By Robin E. Simmons
NOW PLAYING:
THE LEGEND OF TARZAN
One can be forgiven for assuming this iteration of “Tarzan” is an origin story. It is not. In fact, we meet the beloved fictional character after he and his wife Jane (Margot Robbie) have returned from the jungle. Author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ great action adventure story has been a best seller since...
By Heidi Simmons
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Everybody’s Fool
by Richard Russo
Fiction
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There is a certain allure to small town living. Knowing your neighbors, making a difference and building a community are appealing to many. But there are drawbacks if you love privacy and anonymity. In Richard Russo’s Everybody’s Fool (Knopf, 498 pages) a community’s survival hinges on overcoming its weaknesses and discovering its strengths.
The story...
By Bruce Cathcart
The Coachella Valley has seen its share of Boom and Bust growth cycles. It always seems that the bigger the Boom, the bigger the bust that inevitably follows. I personally have experienced the boom of the late seventies and the bust of the early 1980’s, the boom from 1986 to 1992 and the bust of the middle...
By Haddon Libby
The start of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are only a few weeks away. Much focus has been put on the dangerous Zika virus that is spread by mosquitoes and the filthy conditions that many will have to compete in. As one example, thirty-two tons of dead fish will be pulled out of the...
By Dale Gribow
With July 4th on a Monday this year many of you may have joined your neighbors and partied all weekend. If you or a friend were drinking beers before and after the PS and PD fireworks, you may have already been stopped and offered a breath or blood test. IF you chose a breath test and BLEW into...
Drowning incidents are dramatically on the rise. “It happened just like that,” is what these parents say, and then their loved one can never be brought back.
Drowning is preventable. Here are some tips for your agency on getting started:
What can you do to prevent drowning incidents?
Follow the ABC’s of water safety: A = Adult Supervision. Assign an adult Water Watcher...
By Andrea Carter
Now in its 8th year, ACT for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) invites the Coachella Valley to support local valley residents living with MS by attending its annual Jazz It Up summer fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, July 10, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Indian Wells Golf Resort Pavilion, located at 44-500 Indian Wells Lane in Indian Wells.
The evening will...
By Flint Wheeler
One of the Olympic stadiums just had its water and lights cut off because of unpaid bills. The builder for two other venues has had to lay off workers and hasn't paid suppliers.
Cutbacks All Around
Athletes are also feeling the crunch. Davilani Cruz, a member of Brazil's national taekwondo team, says a monthly stipend provided by Brazil's Ministry...
Week of July 7
© Copyright 2016 Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Events in the coming week may trick your mind and tweak your heart. They might mess with your messiah complex and wreak havoc on your habits. But I bet they will also energize your muses and add melodic magic to your mysteries. They will slow you down in...
By Jenny Wallis
Dear Jenny,
I’ve been with my boyfriend for five years. After the first year together we graduated college and he got a great job. We’ve been long distance ever since! I want to be supportive and I am really proud of him, but I am not sure how much longer I can do long distance. We’ve briefly talked...
By Sunny Simon
Writing a book review is a daunting task. I detest writing them, but love reading them. Not so with my friend Lynne, an author, a blogger, a motivational speaker, and someone I can always tap into her for advice on writing or social media. We are connected on Goodreads, a free website for book lovers. I am...
By Tracy Dietlin
Get ready to suit up Coachella Valley because the first ever Comic Con Palm Springs is just around the corner. Tickets are available now for all of the other events except the VIP Stan Lee dinner which has already SOLD OUT!! While the desert has many other large festivals and events that drive tourists to the desert,...
By Craig Michaels
The month of July is typically one of the hotter months of the year for the Coachella Valley. It’s also a month when we celebrate the independence of our country. What better way to say ‘Thank you’ to our military personal then a free to the top of the Palm Springs Arial Tramway to cool off. The...
This holiday weekend, enjoy all summer has to offer by lounging poolside in Palm Springs while watching the fireworks display or check-out the sand sculptors at the Spa Resort Casino’s beachside paradise. Every Thursday: Villagefest downtown Palm Springs, June 30
Spend the evening strolling down Palm Springs most famous street, Palm Canyon Drive as hundreds of vendors from around...
By Heidi Simmons
“One week is not enough. There is so much more I wish I could see. It goes by too quickly,” said a visitor in line to enjoy an afternoon program of short films at the Camelot Theater in Palm Springs. Her frustration is not because she can’t get tickets, but a fear that she’s missing something –...
By Heidi Simmons
“This movie came from an idea I had when I was a student in film school,” said Sinisa Dragin, writer, director and editor of the short film “Sorry.” “I was working on a project that was postponed and thought, almost like a joke, I should go ahead and make the movie.”
Dragin is Serbian and lives in Romania. ...
By Noe Gutierrez
On July 16th at 8 p.m. at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California, Brian Regan will be performing his unique brand of stand-up storytelling and physical comedy to an expected sell-out crowd. There are still tickets available for purchase as low as $55. You can purchase at www. hotwatercasino.com.
Coachella Valley...
By Morgan James
From a simple violin accent player to a visionary musical movement founder, Bri Cherry hopes to be a spark that incites worldwide personal growth. Her new project, BRI CHERRY & The Boys, has not yet officially kicked off, but looks promising in fulfilling Bri's goals of innovative inspiration. The band's music is rooted in Bri's powerfully vivid...
By Slim Man
Have you ever made a joke and nobody laughed?
I have. But only once! I am normally incredibly funny—most of the time unintentionally. But I’ve launched a few bombs here and there. It happens.
About two years ago, I was introducing a young sax player at a Palm Springs jazz jam put on by Patte Purcell—who usually writes this...
By Eleni P. Austin
50 years after their debut, the Monkees’ new album, Good Times hit the Billboard charts at #8. Pretty good for a band that has been written off as pre-packaged and manufactured when they first arrived on the scene in 1966.
Inspired by the success of the Beatles, budding filmmakers Bob Rafelson and Burt Schneider (who went on...
By Angela Romeo
To walk in the shoes of Artist Linda Carmella Sibio would be an artistic journey filled with self –awareness and self-acceptance.
Linda was born in West Virginia. After the death of her father and the institutionalization of her mother, Linda was sent to an orphanage. Drawing became a coping mechanism for her. She attended Ohio University, where she...
By Janet McAfee
We humans cheerfully celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this week with fun, food, and fireworks. As we barbeque in the backyard with friends, it might be tempting to include our four-legged family members. However, the 4th of July is the worst day of the year for our canine and feline friends. The loud noise from fireworks is...
By Rick Riozza
Last time we started a game plan to experience lesser known wines—particularly very refreshing whites, which are none-the-less an excellent buy, as they are reasonably priced and absolutely tasty.
This time around, let’s do some more delving as we throw in a little bubbly, and, even a red that can take a chill and still provide quaffing pleasure.
Sometime...
By Morgan James
As I’m sitting in a high comfy booth watching the game across multiple screens, a table of older gentlemen, lift their glasses as they smile across the room in camaraderie. A young couple strolls in the door waving at the gentlemen in recognition. A middle aged group of patrons seated across the room laugh aloud with the...
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