This Week in the Coachella Valley
Events
Concerts
| Movie Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen |
Movie Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
 Friday, July 3, 2009
Desert IMAX Theatre
Cathedral City, California
Review by Desert Cities Guides Movie Guide Nick Jones
Oh, Michael Bay. You, sir, are quite the interesting director. It's a love hate thing with you. “The Rock,” love! “Pearl Harbor,” not so much. The first “Transformers,” good job! “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” not up to par. Besides its over-the-top length (149 minutes), ridiculous plot holes and racist stereotypes, its major flaw is the attempt at comedy. The movie pulled a Jar-Jar Binks. Instead of trying to wow the audience with the technical mastery of its computer-generated robots, Bay was more focused on trying to pull out laughs. But all that aside, the movie is a visual and audio masterpiece. The film looks amazing, the bots sound unreal and the film looks like its price tag of $200 million.
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| Hayah Living! |
Hayah Living!
Performing versus Presenting
By Mika Young Performing Presenting Seeks Applause Unconditional Self-Offering
People-Pleaser God-Pleaser
Portraying Being
Always Available Has Boundaries
Exaggerating Honest
Shrinking Confident
Guarded Free
Someone asked me recently if I was a performer. I responded, “I don't perform, I present.”
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| ShortFest 2009 Awards Gala |
ShortFest 2009 Awards Gala
 Sunday, June 28, 2009
Camelot Theatres
Palm Springs, California
Story by Desert Cities Guides Movie Guide Nick Jones
The Oscars of short films was held Sunday, June 28, in a huge theater in Palm Springs, Calif., with unbelievable stadium seating, completely packed down to every last seat. The awards night was truly an epic event.
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| Best of ShortFest 2009 |
Best of ShortFest 2009
 Monday, June 29, 2009
Camelot Theatres
Palm Springs, California
Reviews by Desert Cities Guides Movie Guide Nick Jones
This was a record-breaking year for the 15th Annual Festival of Short Films. With more than 3,000 entries, the festival is the biggest showcase for short films in North America. Out of the 3,000 entries, 315 films from 40 countries were selected for screening at this year's event.
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| Beyond with James Van Praagh |
Beyond with James Van Praagh
 Saturday, June 27, 2009
Spotlight 29 Casino
Coachella, California
Story by Lisa Robyn Lawrence
Photos by Cathy Jardine
To see more Cathy Jardine photos of James Van Praagh, click here.
Messages from Beyond
Loud cheering and thunderous applause greeted the “Ghost Whisperer” himself, James Van Praagh, as he took the stage in the packed Spotlight Room at Spotlight 29 Casino. Nearly 1,300 people were breathlessly awaiting a chance to have him deliver a message from a loved one who had passed on to the next world. The suspense and anticipation were palpable.
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| Find Your Trail: Murray Hill Trails |
Find Your Trail: Murray Hill Trails
 Saturday, June 27, 2009
Murray Hill (Peak) Trails
Palm Springs, California
Story and photos by Jace Edwards
For more photos of Jace Edwards' Murray Hill Trails hike, click here. Each summer in the Coachella Valley, many people find themselves locked up inside their homes, afraid of the heat. With temperatures often in the triple digits it's easy to see why many put on a few extra pounds. Some call it summer weight or “air conditioned insulation.” Either way, it's hard to look good and stay healthy when temperatures outside cause you to avoid activity.
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| Asia and Yes Still Rock |
Asia and Yes Still Rock
 Friday, June 26, 2009
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Indio, California
Story by Greg Begin
Photos by Cathy Jardine
For more Cathy Jardine photos of the Yes and Asia concert, click here.
The Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., continues demonstrating that they provide some of the best musical entertainment on tour today. This was proven again on Friday, June 26, when they featured a double-dose of hard-hitting progressive rock ‘n' roll with the English bands Asia and Yes.
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| Yappy Hour Charms Locals |
Yappy Hour Charms Locals
 Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Old Town La Quinta, California
Story and photos by Yvonne Scott
To see more Yvonne Scott photos of Yappy Hour, click here.
The charm of Old Town La Quinta and its merchants helped out Guide Dogs of the Desert on the Event Lawn at Old Town La Quinta 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, with many desert locals enjoying an evening of lively conversation wine, hors d'oeuvres and happy canine companions.
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| New Moon for June |
New Moon for June
The June New Moon over Coachella
By Johnny Mirehiel
This column is a regular feature on these Desert Cities Guides pages appearing at each New Moon. Astrologer Johnny Mirehiel uses the astrological chart of the New Moon each month as it appears over the heart of the Coachella Valley.
Here is the chart of that moment for this month:
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| Movie Review: The Hangover |
Movie Review: The Hangover
 By Nick Jones
Todd Phillips, director of “Old School,” is at it once again. His latest release, “The Hangover,” is one funny movie. With a hilarious setup, semi-based on a true story (or so I've read), hilarious characters and dialogue, the movie does not disappoint.
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| Apocalypse IV, WAR |
Apocalypes IV, WAR
Spotlight 29 Casino
Coachella, California
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Story by Allen Lawrence
Photos by John Garber
To see John Garber's Photo Slide Show of Apocalypse IV, click here.
 Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Spoghlight 29 fans of Mixed Martial Arts came from all over the southwest to see Apocalypse IV. Eight men would show their stuff and fight in an elimination tournament where only four would move on to fight for the Feather Weight Championship of the World. There were 15 bouts tonight and they all lived up to the name of the event, “WAR,” In each of the events two men pitted their warrior skills, one against the other, fighting in a cage, with no help from the outside. In each case, the two men fought to show what they were made of. Warriors locked in combat, with only their hands, their feet and their skill fighting as weapons. Once again I enjoyed it all. Well trained and fit fighters, beautiful ring girls, lots of muscles, testosterone and of course skill and daring. The event is sponsored by ApocalyspeFights.Com, Spotlight29, Original Grappler, Vendeta Industries and the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery in Palm Desert. Fighters represented local training centers and a few, represented themselves. Each bout was three rounds and each round three minutes long.
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| Movie Review: Drag Me To Hell |
Movie Review: Drag Me To Hell
 Movie Review: Drag Me To Hell
By Nick Jones
After 15 years, Sam Raimi goes back to his roots, and I'm pleased to say he's still got it. “Drag Me To Hell” is the first horror movie he's made since completing his now cult classic “Evil Dead” trilogy.
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| Tim Easton Party Celebrates New CD |
Tim Easton Party Celebrates New CD
 Friday, June 12, 2009
Starlite Courtyard
Joshua Tree, California
Story by Lauren Lunstrum
Photos by Cathy Jardine
For more Cathy Jardine photos of the Tim Easton Album Release Party, click here.
Local folk musician Tim Easton held a relaxed CD release party for his latest album "Porcupine" in Joshua Tree, Calif., at the Starlite Courtyard on Friday, June 12, 2009. His soothing beats with a hint of blues, rock and folk flowed across the desert as friends, family and fans danced under a moonlit sky that breathed in a cool comfortable breeze.
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| The Little River Band and Firefall Cool the Desert |
The Little River Band and Firefall Cool the Desert
 Saturday, June 6, 2009
Spotlight 29 Casino
Coachella, California
Story and photos by Yvonne Scott
To see more Yvonne Scott photos of The Little River Band and Firefall, click here. Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, Calif., and The Little River Band along with Firefall brought a cool change to the desert night Saturday, June, 6, with fans from hundreds of miles away attending. The concert was a part of the Third annual Summer of Fun Concert Series for June. The night was full of '70s, '80s and current rock sounds moving the audience to standing ovations that they will be talking about with friends for years.
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| Peaches Wows the Crowd |
Peaches Wows the Crowd
 Monday, June 8, 2009
Pappy & Harriets Palace
Pioneertown, California
Story by Lauren Lunstrum
Photos by Sarah Golonka
For more Sarah Golonka photos of Peaches, click here.
Modern Disco Queen Peaches gave the High Desert a smashing performance on Monday, June 8, 2009, at Pappy & Harriets Palace in Pioneertown, Calif. Known for her bisexual antics and perverted lyrics, Peaches was definitely a unique artist to stop by the desert and give a crazed performance that turned heads and sparked a party that the crowd will never forget.
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| The Ragamuffin Project |
The Ragamuffin Project
 Friday-Sunday, June 5-7, 2009
Indio Performing Arts Center
Indio, California
Story by Greg Begin
Photos by John Garber
For more John Garber photos of "The Ragamuffin Project," click here.
“Anything adults can do, kids can do.”
This was proven by the outstanding performance the kids of Coachella Valley in the “The Ragamuffin Project” performed at the Indio Performing Arts Center (IPAC) in downtown Indio, Calif., as written, adapted and directed by Noemi Villela-Dean and Tres Dean of Just 2 to Tango Productions demonstrated.
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Preventive Medicine Clinics |
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