If you are like me, you will be working frantically this weekend to get your taxes done...or at least the extension form that gives you another six months to get your taxes done.
In honor of this historically unpleasant day, let’s look at a few of the less obvious tax breaks.
One deduction that you might want to think twice about...
Born in Palm Springs, CA , Rafael Lopez was introduced to music at the age of 13 when his dad bought him a drum set. A few years later he attended the Coachella Music and Arts Festival for the first time and was bitten by the DJ bug. He eventually sold...
A chance meeting leads to wicked vehicles and new friends
By Joseph Lucero
Car shows are so much fun!
Thankfully, they’re held around these parts every weekend during the car-show season, which runs from the first part of April through September—when the weather is nice in sunny California.
I attended a car show last Saturday in Yucaipa (which is an hour west off...
THU APRIL 12
19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 8pm
29 PALMS INN; 29 PALMS ; 760-367-3505 Bill & Beverly 6pm (JZ)
ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 Reunion w/ DJ Day 10pm
ARNOLD PALMER’S;LQ;760-771-4653 Johnny Meza 6:30-10:30pm (JZ)
AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Rudy de la Mor 7pm (PB)
BILLY REED’S;PS; 760-325-1946 DJ Party 6:30pm
BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King Band 6pm
CAFÉ PALETTE;PS; 760-322-9264 Jersey Shore...
BYLINE: DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
Coming Attractions Alert! Yes, I know. We should be wrapping up the season of things to do, people to see, and the usual suspects of benefits and fundraisers. But don’t bet on it. The season heading into our sights is summer---which we start early in the Coachella Valley. On the calendar is a whole new spectacular, simmering...
DOG STAR
Book Review by Heidi Simmons
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean (Simon & Schuster)
If you are a dog lover this book will fascinate you. Or, if you love Hollywood show business, this book will interest you. Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean details the life and career...
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week of April 12
© Copyright 2012 Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Some people misunderstand the do-it-now fervor of the Aries tribe, thinking it must inevitably lead to carelessness. Please prove them wrong in the coming weeks. Launch into the interesting new possibilities with all your exuberance unfurled. Refuse to allow the natural energy to get hemmed...
ArtsOasis Profile
By Marissa Willman
April 9, 2012
Word Count: 565
There’s no denying the Coachella Valley is home to a thriving arts community. From Coachella and Stagecoach to Modernism Week and the Palm Springs Film Festival, local creative events beckon droves of tourists and pump millions of dollars into the local economy.
With such a strong repertoire of artistic events and attractions, former...
The sun rises over the Empire Polo Fields, it’s a warm spring and campers move about eager and in awed anticipation of what’s to come. They curiously explore their new temporary home away from home, making new friends and meeting hospitable neighbors along the way. During their long journey into their freshly acquired desert niche they will soon find...
With so many great artists scheduled to play at Coachella this year, here are a few strongly-recommended acts that should be on the top of any music lover's list. I have selected a few acts scheduled to perform on each day.
FRIDAY
The Black Keys - With one foot in the steps forged by '70s hard blues rockers Led Zeppelin and...
We look to the second letter of the alphabet for some can’t-miss acts
It’s nearly 4 a.m. in the Milwaukee casino Potawatomi, and the roulette wheel isn’t cooperating.
Justin Vernon, the lead singer of Bon Iver, is in his second stack of chips totaling $200, and this set appears to be going no better than the last. The ball tumbles and...
By Jesse
Every year 50-60,000 music goer’s lineup at Coachella for the opportunity to see the biggest names in music play all in one venue. All while hundreds of thousands more revel in jealousy sitting at home. From the main stage to the side shows, Coachella offers both the music that has lasted through the years, and a myriad of...
In Spring 2011, College of the Desert oceanography professor Bob Pellenbarg donates radio broadcast equipment, spurring the Student Journalist Society, a club at College of the Desert founded by staff members of The Chaparral to take the first steps of building KCOD. On March 25th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place to usher in the debut of KCOD on airwaves...
We have movie legends, sports legends, music legends and here in the CV we have the pioneers of the desert rock movement who we consider “Desert Rock Legends.” Herb Lienau, Alfredo Hernandez, and Zach Huskey are a few of the musicians who some say haven’t gotten enough credit for their huge contributions to the scene, while others like Josh...
by Philip Lacombe
Plan A isn’t always the best plan, especially when there’s a Plan B. Plan B Live Entertainment & Cocktails that is. Plan B is a cool bar on the corner of Ramon and Monterey that changed ownership from Oasis on September 1, 2011 to new owner, Jeannette Krehbiel. I asked Krehbiel , who used to be in...
By Heidi Simmons
A look at Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese (Knopf, paperback, ebook)
Spring break is the perfect time to relax and get away, but if you can’t make it out-of-town, Abraham Verghese’s Cutting For Stone can provide an exotic escape.
Set in Ethiopia, twin boys are born to foreign parents working at a mission hospital near the capital of...
Massage: Luxury or Necessity? Ahhh, finally you lie back on a crisp clean sheet, calming and soothing music plays in the background, there’s the scent of chamomile that fills the air and the gentle sound of the massage oil being warmed in your therapist hands. You’ve waited all week to treat yourself.
Evidence shows the more massage you allow yourself,...
Spring has sprung and the sun is shining upon us as it faithfully does here in the Coachella Valley. Warmer weather means even more outdoor activities to heat us up under the intense desert sun. So break out the margaritas, wide-brim hats and most importantly...the sunscreen!
Not only does protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) of SPF30...
Which album did Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ displace at the top of the ‘Billboard’ Album chart?
(A) Too Legit to Quit, Hammer
(B) Ropin’ the Wind, Garth Brooks
(C) Dangerous, Michael Jackson
(D) Achtung Baby, U2
In which Guns N’ Roses video does Axl Rose swim with DOLPHINS?
(A) November Rain
(B) Live and Let Die
(C) Estranged
(D) Used to Love Her
Answers:
(C) Dangerous, Michael Jackson
(C) Estranged
The number of problems in our food supply is more than one article can capture. Today let’s look at what makes many of the foods that we eat appealing to the eyes - synthetic food coloring.
The FDA says that there is “insufficient evidence” that synthetic food coloring additives cause hyperactivity or other health risks although there is a “trend”...
Under 55? Congress Has Gutted Your Social Security
If you are under 55, there is a strong likelihood that Social Security will barely be there for you when you retire. As touching Social Security benefits is the third rail of politics, the way Washington DC achieved the reduction in payouts was by changing the numbers used to calculate future...
10 TIPS ON BUYING A NEW HOME
1. Avoid the realtor acting as a “dual agent” for both the buyer and the seller. Choose an experienced realtor to represent “your interests only” in the transaction.
2. Obtain home inspections by a qualified inspector and consider separate inspections for the roof, the pool and other major items not covered by...
THU APRIL 5
19TH HOLE; PD; 760-772-6696 Karaoke w/ T Bone 8pm
29 PALMS INN; 29 PALMS ; 760-367-3505 Bill & Beverly 6pm (JZ)
ACE HOTEL; PS; 760-325-9900 The Pick Up:White Party Weekend 10pm Reunion w/ DJ Day 10pm
ARNOLD PALMER’S;LQ;760-771-4653 Johnny Meza 6:30-10:30pm (JZ)
AZUL; PS; 760-325-5533 Rudy de la Mor 7pm (PB)
BILLY REED’S;PS; 760-325-1946 DJ Party 6:30pm
BLUEMBER; RM; 760-862-4581 John Stanley King...
by Mike Livingston; Co-Host, The CaddyShack Radio Show
Do we know how to host a major or what, people??!! The Coachella Valley and Mission Hills Country Club in particular looked absolutely spectacular all week and weekend-long (especially if you have 40’ or bigger, HDTV). The course was in immaculate shape thanks to Dave Johnson and his staff and that provided...
Palm Desert’s Tri-A-Bike has been a Coachella Valley fixture for 25 years
By Seham Saba
Spring is here—and what better way is there to enjoy the gorgeous Coachella Valley weather than riding a bike?
Bicycling is a wonderful way to have fun, travel and exercise at the same time. It builds strength, muscle and stamina, and improves heart health, circulation and coordination....
Meet me at LQ’s—the Wine Shop
When my copy of The Desert Sun’s April monthly magazine, Desert Magazine, arrived in my Sunday newspaper, I was looking forward to their annual “Best of the Desert” issue where for about 19 years now they have been taking votes by the consuming public here in the desert for everyone’s favorite and “best” shop,...
Americana rockers the Fallen Stars, singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard, and a groundbreaking collaboration between contemporary heroes and the late Tommy Bolin are all recent under-the-radar releases worth adding to any discerning listener's collection.
Artist: The Fallen Stars
Album: Heart Like Mine (Kiss My Squirrel Music)
Tell Me More: Exhilarating and emotive, the Fallen Stars' latest disc "Heart Like Mine" explores the expansive alt-country movement with...
Not many restaurants can boast having over 20 years of success in the Coachella Valley. Castelli’s Restaurant has been a local’s favorite for 24 years, and is the place to be if you want to impress your guests with amazing food and unparalleled ambiance. It was my pleasure to have the experience of dinner at Castelli’s.
As we entered the...
Ogressa’s Warts and All by Jack St. Clair
Ogressa’s Warts and All contains the deep, low guitar riffs that have been a staple of Zach Huskey’s music for the better part of two decades in Dali’s Llama. The music would sound at home on any of that band’s releases, but perhaps the opportunity to play them with good friends from other...
Art Scene: Snake Jagger by Kylie Knight
Snake Jagger has spent his whole life inspired and creatively influenced by the raw nature and beautiful desert landscapes of the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. Many know his work through his depiction of surreal desert scenes and landscapes. His clever use of juxtaposing everyday objects into his work typically makes for an...
When it gets dark, Palm Springs native Jeff Ferguson exchanges insurance for house music
By Craig Michaels
While most people are happy to let their record collection sit in the garage, Jeff Ferguson treats each plastic disc as if it were a priceless jewel.
You can often find the Palm Springs native working as an insurance broker in his Rancho Mirage office,...
A weekend at a tattoo expo is a weekend well spent
By Joseph Lucero
Cultural events like custom-car shows are a blast to attend. Looking at row after row of beautiful cars and appreciating the time and effort that went into restoring and/or customizing each of them—and getting to meet the justifiably proud owners—is a blast.
Cannabis expos cover the spectrum of...
Limousine Tours Make Pet Adoption an Adventure
You may have seen a unique limousine cruising around Coachella Valley streets with a montage of dogs decorating the windows. Folks in nearby cars do a double take, wondering what celebrities are behind the darkened windows. Curious stares are riveted when the limo stops and the doors swing open. The little passengers trot out. There are real...
C.V. DESERT DATELINE: R.S.V.P. A.S.A.P.
BYLINE: DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
Getting down to business, let’s talk about what’s up in the Coachella Valley. Ready, set, raise your pens to scribble your datebook black with the best of the season’s entertainment. We’ve listed the free tickets to ride, and the fun in fundraising, from high-brow opera to low-down jazz, from high-octane Broadway to fav-rave...
CHOICE PICKS OF LOVE & HATE
By Robin E. Simmons
BULLY
Director Lee Hirsch’s visceral, emotional, exploitive and voyeuristic documentary works on many levels. It is explosively dramatic and it may also be meaningful if it lets us empathize with the victims of bullying in a way that halts this reprehensible behavior. The Weinstein brothers milked all the publicity they could...
The problem with trying to rate your favorite Mexican restaurant is that it is somewhat like having to choose which one of your 5 children you love the most. While they all have certain traits that make them special, they also have those that make you displeased. During my recent dining experience at Taqueria San Miguel Mexican Restaurant I...
Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for an escape from the ordinary, Lavender Bistro will not disappoint. Be sure to reserve a table outside to capture Lavender’s true elegance and style. With lights delicately streaming through the trees and welcoming music in the air, I was immediately whisked away from the desert to...
Music Matters By Rachel Montoya
Music is an important part of our daily lives. We have all grown up listening to music on the radio and many of us were fortunate enough to participate in music classes in school. However, in recent years, many musical programs in the public schools have been cut back or discontinued completely, leaving it up...
Dinah Shore Weekend with Mariah Hanson’s Club Skirts
With two separate promoters of The Dinah Shore Weekend having been in direct competition for the past six years, there has been a certain amount of confusion. In the early days, the event was a joint venture between Mariah Hanson, who pioneered the first Dinah Shore Weekend before joining forces with the...
by Lola Rossi-Meza
Pianist and vocalist, Johnny Meza, captivates the crowd with his smooth voice and versatile repertoire at Arnie’s Pub in Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant, 78-164 Avenue 54 in La Quinta every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 6:30 until 10:30 p.m. (760) 771-4653.
A native of Southern California, Meza knew at a young age that music would always be part of...
by Robert Kinsler
While the majority of music fans are well familiar with Adele’s “21” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Wrecking Ball,” there are an endless number of other new albums worthy of downloading or getting on CD. In this column, I highlight a trio of my favorite recent releases from the far-flung corners of the sonic universe.
Artist: Michael and the Lonesome Playboys
Album: Last...
by Tracy Dietlin
“I think the public is misled about the term pub. Pub is short for a Public House. A Public House is a place where everyone is welcome and offers entertainment, alcoholic beverages, and a full menu in a restaurant, with a family and people-friendly atmosphere. A bar typically is a place to drink. There is a difference...
by Tracy Dietlin
As a 6th grader Brandon Ray Henderson’s first instrument of choice was to play the drums, however the school music program made him play trumpet for 6 months before he could play them. He continued to play the snare drum through middle school. Then when he was 14 his family moved from Downey to Victorville. “That was...
at the Palm Canyon Theatre
by Lola Rossi-Meza
The Coachella Valley is filled with many choices of entertainment, so I ask, when was the last time you enjoyed live theatre?
We are fortunate to have a very inspiring play at the Palm Canyon theatre, “Steel Magnolias” by Robert Harling. The engagement is this weekend only at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 30,...