By Diane Marlin-Dirkx
Fashionista Alert! Recently, we noted the most encouraging, albeit brief, item in another weekly, namely Time magazine. In a bold humongous font, the headline unequivalently screamed— the clarion call even heard by those in the back of the plane, “In 10 minutes, you could be dead without the proper clothes.” We wanted to leap out of our seat, thrust a well-manicured fist in the air and echo the sentiment with “Amen Chanel!” until proper decorum and something else stopped us in our beautifully shod un-sneakered tootsies. The discovery that the message came from the Indianapolis mayor warning citizens—not about the dress code in his fair city—but about the “polar vortex“ that plunged temperatures to -50 degrees F. We don’t know about you, but as we look out at sunny skies and feel the feathery 75 degree warmth tickle our bare arms, well, we’ll play nice, keeping this info to ourselves and go about our business. Read on for the best of the Coachella Valley that you’ll want to make your business in the weeks ahead.
Sunday, February 9, 3pm. The Steinway Society of Riverside County presents the Annual Doctors of the Desert Concert. Seven local physicians and a dentist will pluck off their surgical gloves and minus their white coats, fingers flying (Liszt!), or quietly making their point, the esteemed musicians, perform to ensure that music and arts is available in our local schools. Public education has cut back on the arts, as you know, and the society produces six in-school programs for 20,000 local students.. We’re not talking “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” but the 3 B’s—Bach, Beethoven, Bartok, traditional American jazz (Gershwin!) and folklorist songs, perhaps even from Pete Seeger! Guest artist and a Steinway Festival winner Joel Oswari will also perform. Honoring local philanthropist Helene Galen with the Patron of Music Award at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences, Eisenhower Medical Center, 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. Open seating. $ 50 ticket, per person. Call, 760-341-4130. SteinwayRiverside.org
Monday, February 10, 10am- 3pm. “A Taste of Bridge” seminar by Audry Grant, International Celebrity Bridge Educator, award-winning author. Program includes textbook, software, luncheon! Poker? Canasta? Been there. Done that. Bridge is a game for brainiacs. And you’ve always yearned to learn. This program benefits Type 1 Diabetes research through the City of Hope. Reservations required. $90. Call 76 0-779-1801, dlong@coh.org. Desert Horizons Country Club, 44900 Desert Horizons Dr., Indian Wells.
Friday & Saturday, February 14 & 15, 8:30am-4pm. Up, up and Away in loops, dipping over the runway at 200 mph, whirling dangerous rolls and other elaborate maneuvers as amazed fans cheer the derring –do these masters of the air star plane models piloted by the Coachella Valley Radio Control Club members. “Monstar Jet Jam2014” is action-packed, exciting heart-stopping entertainment and a terrific Valentine’s Day treat for the whole family with awards, refreshments and featuring flyers and their model airplanes from all over the Southwest. Limited grandstand seating, so bring chairs. $ 5 parking fee, with 50% and all other donations going to the Wounded Warrior Project. “These planes replicate the flight of a real jet with their sound, speed and beauty,” says Dan Metz, president of the local club. For more info, call 760-340-0836, or go to cvrcclub.com. Two day event at the Canal Regional Park, Coachella.
Saturday, February 15, 11am-4pm. “The BFF Event” (Beauty, Fashion & Fitness with your BFF)! You’re invited to this absolutely free event produced by Contour Dermatology on a Saturday that is full of surprises and prizes! And so much more. Corral you posse and head out to hear speakers who are experts in their fields, get inspired by the newest trends at a fashion show, meet vendors with the latest health and fitness ideas, attend workshops and gather up prizes. Benefitting The Palm Springs Art Museum, the event is being held at Contour Dermatology, 42-600 Mirage Rd., Rancho Mirage. More info, call 760-416-6971, or contourderm.com.
Saturday, February 15, 8am-Late Afternoon. Go take a hike! Find your Bliss. Legend has it that Lost Horse Mine is one of the easier mountains to climb in Joshua Tree National Park. Join expert hiker and knowledgeable historian Chris Metzger in an 8.5 mile route that travels over a high ridge to a remote valley and to the mining and camp ruins of the Optimist Mine. Metzger will keep the hikers moving as he tells stories of the mine and its cast of characters. Everyone on the trail must be in good physical condition and comfortable spending the day walking up to ten miles in the park. Meet at Joshua Tree Visitor Center, 6554 Park Blvd., Joshua Tree. $ 50 for JTNPA/PINE members. $60 for non-members. Info, call 760-367-5535. Or register online, go to joshuatree.org
Saturday, February 15, 7pm. No time for Nashville on your travel itinerary? Grab your main squeeze, fire up the buggy and make the day after Valentine’s Day, a hearty country treat. Tribute artists Brian McCullough and Kelly Vohnn will perform as Roy Orbison and Reba McEntire at the Indian Wells Theater at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus. McCullough has been traveling and singing Orbison’s richly melodic and challenging songs since 95, developing a special 2 hour show dedicated to his music. Vohnn is a noted country artist, also known for her spot-on impersonations of Patsy Cline, Shania Twain, Madonna and McEntire. Named Nashville’s “Entertainer of the Year,” Vohnn has been recognized for her charity work by the prestigious Caesar’s Entertainment in Las Vegas, where she now lives. Tickets are $ 35 or $40, parking is included. Call the Indian Wells Theater box office, 760-341-6909. Address of the campus is 37-500 Cook St., Palm Desert.
Thursday through Sunday, February 13-16. Online Complimentary Day Pass! The Palm Springs Art Museum will have a booth at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, coming to the Palm Springs Convention Center. The February 13 Opening Night Preview will benefit the museum, and they are pleased to provide a link to print out complimentary day passes to this event. While there, stop by the museum’s booth to receive more information on upcoming events and exhibitions. Meet 55 prominent national and international galleries. Explore 1,000+ important contemporary works of art. Enjoy inspiring panel discussions, impressive sculptures, installations and performance art. Receive a special Valentine’s Day gift! The Day Pass give you access to any one day of the fair, Friday and Saturday, 11 am-8pm, Sunday, 11am-6pm. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, For more info, call 800-211-0640. For Day Pass, go to: http://psmuseumdayps14.eventbrite.com For more event details, see the fair at http://palmspringsfineartfair.com
“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!
