BY DIANE MARLIN- DIRKX
As a writer, we—the “universal we,” not the “royal we”– are always looking for the right word to bring the subject alive, to bring the reader into the picture, to give him or her a visceral feeling of identity, empathy or sympathy, to invest them in the history and outcome of the story, to make them happy, or sad, and especially to make them care about how it ends. Gee whiz, that’s important, that’s a big job. Very Charlie Brown in self-producing responsibility-guilt as manager/coach of the neighborhood sandlot baseball team. Sometimes it’s healthier to identify with the self-involved, know-it-all Lucy. The right word can make all the difference in understanding, settling, coping, if not explaining. Case in point: Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow announced her impending divorce from Coldplay’s Chris Martin on her website ‘goop.com” by the coupling of two words, to wit, calling the decision a “conscious uncoupling.” We’re impressed. Aren’t words wonderful? What else is new? Read on.
Thursday – Sunday, April 3 – 6, Multi-venues, multi-times! Golf, featuring the chase of a little, dimpled white ball, may be the focus, but after-hours all that attention is re-focused on all that Jazz in town during the Kraft Nabisco Pro-Am Tournament Dinah Shore Weekend. Presented by L&G Events, the festival features over 30 national and international celebrated female musicians who’ve earned their jazz chops, from smooth superstars, such as trumpeter Cindy Bradley and saxophonist Pamela Williams, Grammy-nominated vocalist Perla Batalla, living blues legend, to vocalist Lady GG, jazz guitar-great Mimi Fox, and so many others who are known in the rarefied air of the first all-American music genre—and we mean JAZZ. For tickets and info on the world-Class line-up, go to www.pswomensjazzfestival.com
Friday – Sunday, April 4 – 6, 10am – 5pm. Play It Again! Community Partners will benefit from The Indian Wells Arts Festival again, keeping the proceeds from the tickets they sell, giving them opportunities to raise awareness of the cause, as well as raise funds. One of those benefiting, is the Ophelia Project, as program of Healthy Family Foundation. This year, they will exhibit unique fused glass pendants under the direction of I.M.A.G.E.S. Gallery in Palm Desert. Many other organizations will be featured at the festival which will show more than 200 juried artists in painting, sculpture pottery, glass, photography, jewelry and crafts, plus demonstrations, entertainment, food concessions. This festival has been rated one of the “100 Best Fine Art Shows” in the country. Adult entrance fee, $12. Children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is free. Valet parking is available.
Saturday, April 5, 5:15 Reception, 6 – 7 pm Concert. The John Stanley King Band will “strike up the band,” in the great tradition of American music from jazz to classic rock at the Gardens on El Paseo, in celebration of the Gardens Annual Concert Series on the Center Lawn. As in years past, residents and visitors alike can start off the evening by socializing at the wine and cheese reception held on the center lawn before each concert at 5:15 PM. For a $12 donation, guests enjoy light refreshments catered by Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, as well as two glasses of wine sponsored by Anderholt Whittaker. Arrive early as tickets are not pre-sold. The musical event is produced by KJJZ’s Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald, Desert Lexus and Desert Arc, will benefit the Family YMCA of the Desert. For more info, call Terri, 760-341-8468, or The Gardens, 760-0862-1990, or go to www.thegardensonelpaseo.com
Saturday, April 5, 4:30 – 7:30pm. “ You’re invited to come casual or dressed to the nines, to the “Desert Chic Wine and Cheese Social,” given by the Twentynine Palms Historical Society, in partnership with the Broadview Hacienda, as a benefit to continue to preserve the local history and culture, and to keep the doors of the Old Schoolhouse Museum open. Mike and Anne Congdon have opened Broadview for this event where guests, members and non-members can experience the beauty of this historic home while enjoying the camaraderie of old and new friends, and perhaps even learn about the right pairing of wines and cheeses. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be served. Lift the pen to participate in a silent auction of irresistible treasures. Minimum donation ticket, $25. Tickets will be available at Old Schoolhouse Museum, 6760 National Park Dr; Bowden Frame Shop, 73355 Sullivan Rd; Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce, 73484 Twentynine Palms Hwy. All in29 Palms.
Thursday, April 10, 8:30am. Breakfast at Tiffany’s sleepyhead! Dreams do come true after all as Tiffany store director Margaret Cole regales members of the Fashion Group International of Palm Springs and Desert Communities, Inc. (FGI), Friends of FGI and non-members with the newest stories and plans for the iconic jewelry store. Her lecture “Dare To Dream—Tiffany’s New Direction” is one of a series of FGI Frontliners programs to inform, putting attendees at the Frontline of the news! There will be a plethora of delectable European pastries from which to choose, croissants and fresh-roasted coffee to start your day. Also, oh dream-of-dreams, there will be a drawing for a Tiffany collectors’ piece of silver jewelry. (Be sure to carry your business card.) Please RSVP (it’s a must!) for this event via FGI toll-free 800-758-4633. FGI member, and Friend of FGI, $20. Non-member, $25, Student, $15. You may pay at the door. Tiffany’s, 73-585 El Paseo, Palm Desert.
Thursday, April 10, 5 – 7pm. Different Shades of Lipstick…Women Influencing Culture. This sounds serious, women! Listen up as Palm Springs Women in Film and Television (PSWIFT) partners with the Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission for the opening of the Rancho Mirage Cultural Festival with a dynamic discussion of how women in our industry have effected change in our popular culture! Was there ever any doubt? Start your engines at 5 pm with introductions to celebrity panelists Germaine Franco, Shari Belafonte, Stephanie Kramer and Ruta Lee, followed by a 50 minute panel discussion of how film, TV, and new media (social?) have influenced our lives and intimating how the future trends will affect society and our culture tomorrow. After 20 minutes for a Q & A, there will be a delicious end to the evening—a wine and cheese reception. Best news: The RM city council will be awarding a $1000 scholarship to a young college-bound student in the arts and entertainment industry. The free event is at the RM city hall, Hwy 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive. PSWIFT will be videotaping the event to share with high school media programs.
Saturday, April 12, 8pm. Heart- chart topper: Michael Bolton appears one night only with the Desert Symphony to celebrate its 25th Anniversary Gala at the McCallum Theatre. The original “smooth operator,” a love-balladeer, a tender tenor contender in soft rock offers a rough-hewn vocal timbre that speaks sultry volumes in word and need. A few of his hits: “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” “The Best of Love,” “Missing You Now,” are from an all-American singer/songwriter whose prodigious output has been compared to “a fine wine” and savored since 1975. The winner of multiple American Music Awards and Grammy Awards, Bolton has recorded eight top 10 albums and two number one singles on the Billboard charts. Dinner and performance tickets are available by calling the Desert Symphony at 760-773-5788, or 760-779-1332. Performance only tickets are available at the box office or 760-340- ARTS, or online www.McCallumTheatre.com., or at the box office. Ticket sales go to fund this non-profit 501 © (3) #95-3871126.
“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!
