Coachella Valley Independent

Comedy With an Impact: Desert Ensemble’s Fast-Paced Production of ‘Meteor Shower’ Brings the Laughs The time is August 1993. The set is the living room and adjoining patio area of the Ojai home of a married couple, Corky and Norm. They are preparing to entertain another couple for an evening of stargazing and getting-to-know-you.

The time is August 1993. The set is the living room and adjoining patio area of the Ojai home of a married couple, Corky and Norm. They are preparing to entertain another couple for an evening of stargazing and getting-to-know-you.

Catastrophic Creation: Despite Amazing Talent, ‘The Bride’ Is Incomprehensibly Intolerable It’s a monster movie. It’s a sort-of musical. It’s a Bonnie and Clyde-style action thriller. Above all, it’s a movie in which a lot of people screech, cackle and moan spastic dialogue to the point of being intolerable.

It’s a monster movie. It’s a sort-of musical. It’s a Bonnie and Clyde-style action thriller. Above all, it’s a movie in which a lot of people screech, cackle and moan spastic dialogue to the point of being intolerable.

The Indy Endorsement: The Bird’s Milk Cake at Cheers Coffee Cheers Coffee’s version features layers of extremely thin sponge cake, each separated with a light, marshmallow-y mousse; the cake is then topped with a chocolate glaze.

Cheers Coffee’s version features layers of extremely thin sponge cake, each separated with a light, marshmallow-y mousse; the cake is then topped with a chocolate glaze.

New Pages: Opportunities for Writers and Readers Expand in the High Desert With a New Literary Festival, Venues and Publications The inaugural Hi-Desert Lo-Fi Lit Weekend will be held in venues throughout the Morongo Basin from Friday, March 20, to Sunday, March 22, and features writers who have made the desert central to their work.

The inaugural Hi-Desert Lo-Fi Lit Weekend will be held in venues throughout the Morongo Basin from Friday, March 20, to Sunday, March 22, and features writers who have made the desert central to their work.

Vine Social: Four Reliable Bottles of Wine to Have on Hand Should Friends Just Happen to Be ‘in the Neighborhood’ These wines are not rare. Not precious. Not “special occasion only.” Just delicious, dependable bottles that make you look effortlessly prepared, even when you absolutely are not.

These wines are not rare. Not precious. Not “special occasion only.” Just delicious, dependable bottles that make you look effortlessly prepared, even when you absolutely are not.

Spirits Captured: The Artists Center Highlights Photos by Its Members—and Two Local Legendary Music/Celebrity Photographers Running concurrently from Wednesday, March 11, through Sunday, April 5, the Artists Council is presenting Desert Rocks, featuring photos by award-winning photographers Jimmy Steinfeldt and Harry Langdon, along with Through the Lens, with 115 photographs by Artists Council members.

Running concurrently from Wednesday, March 11, through Sunday, April 5, the Artists Council is presenting Desert Rocks, featuring photos by award-winning photographers Jimmy Steinfeldt and Harry Langdon, along with Through the Lens, with 115 photographs by Artists Council members.

The Indy Endorsement: The Pork Belly Crispy Rice at TRIO The dish’s base is, as the name suggests, crispy rice—and each individual grain has an amazing crunch. Slightly pickled pieces of cucumber add a cool freshness. Finally, chunks of oh-so-yummy pork belly top things off.

The dish’s base is, as the name suggests, crispy rice—and each individual grain has an amazing crunch. Slightly pickled pieces of cucumber add a cool freshness. Finally, chunks of oh-so-yummy pork belly top things off.

The Weekly Independent Comics Page for March 5, 2026! Topics touched upon this week include bumper stickers, the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Hoover Dam, hijackers—and more.

Topics touched upon this week include bumper stickers, the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Hoover Dam, hijackers—and more.

Versatile Venue: Take Five Entertainment’s Adam Levy Has Big Ideas for Spirit Animal, the Renamed Club/Entertainment Space at Hotel Zozo After a number of different names in recent years, including Pretty Faces and Sirocco, the space at Hotel Zozo is now run by Adam Levy, of Take Five Entertainment.

After a number of different names in recent years, including Pretty Faces and Sirocco, the space at Hotel Zozo is now run by Adam Levy, of Take Five Entertainment.

Unforgettable Theatre: Dezart Performs’ Production of ‘Destroying David’ Will Leave You Exhausted—in a Good Way While she leads us through her complex story—and that of her son, and that of the 500-year-old statue—we become her, and we travel her journey.

While she leads us through her complex story—and that of her son, and that of the 500-year-old statue—we become her, and we travel her journey.

‘Scream’ Is Now a Whimper: The Franchise’s Latest Installment Tries to Rely on Nostalgia Rather Than Good Filmmaking Original screenwriter Kevin Williamson is back, and this time, he’s getting a chance to direct, too—both very bad ideas. Allowing him to direct only his second feature film ever (after 1999’s Teaching Mrs. Tingle) results in a discombobulated travesty.

Original screenwriter Kevin Williamson is back, and this time, he’s getting a chance to direct, too—both very bad ideas. Allowing him to direct only his second feature film ever (after 1999’s Teaching Mrs. Tingle) results in a discombobulated travesty.

March Astronomy: After a Total Lunar Eclipse, Jupiter Is High at Dusk While Venus Emerges as an Evening ‘Star’ A preview of the nighttime and early morning skies in March 2026.

A preview of the nighttime and early morning skies in March 2026.

The Venue Report, March 2026: Peso Pluma, Matthew Morrison, Pink Martini—and More! A preview of the desert's various March entertainment offerings.

A preview of the desert's various March entertainment offerings.

Caesar Cervisia: Our Beer Scribe Takes a Trip Around the World—With Help From the Supermarket Beer Aisle I’m going to the international section of the beer aisle and buying some beers that intrigue me. Then I’ll go home, pour them into one type of glass or another, close my eyes and pretend I’m somewhere else.

I’m going to the international section of the beer aisle and buying some beers that intrigue me. Then I’ll go home, pour them into one type of glass or another, close my eyes and pretend I’m somewhere else.

The Lucky 13: Gianmarco ‘Johnny’ Fiacconi, aka Johnny G. Wiz, Drummer of The Dreamboats Outside of The Dreamboats, Fiacconi has taken to social media to share advice and tips from his multi-decade career in music, to his 40,000 followers on his Instagram. He also recently started The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast.

Outside of The Dreamboats, Fiacconi has taken to social media to share advice and tips from his multi-decade career in music, to his 40,000 followers on his Instagram. He also recently started The Johnny Fiacconi Podcast.

Classic for a Reason: CVRep’s Excellent ‘Guys and Dolls’ Production Offers a Great Mix of Gambling, Gals and Grit There is not one weak link in the cast; every performer is engaging and a joy to watch, and their dancing is superb.

There is not one weak link in the cast; every performer is engaging and a joy to watch, and their dancing is superb.

The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Feb. 26, 2026! Topics handled this week include body snatchers, toilets, Mars, idols—and more!

Topics handled this week include body snatchers, toilets, Mars, idols—and more!

Know Your Neighbors: Meet Paula Simonds, the Outgoing CEO of the Family YMCA of the Desert, Who Has Made Helping Nonprofit Organizations Her Life’s Work Talking about her work with the YMCA is bittersweet, since she is about to move into a new position as the executive director of Alzheimers Coachella Valley.

Talking about her work with the YMCA is bittersweet, since she is about to move into a new position as the executive director of Alzheimers Coachella Valley.

Construction Delayed: Planning Continues on the Indian Canyon Drive and Vista Chino Bridge Projects—but Costs Are Up, and Timelines Keep Getting Pushed Back Officials hope construction on the Indian Canyon Drive will start in the summer of 2027, with a completion date in late 2028.

Officials hope construction on the Indian Canyon Drive will start in the summer of 2027, with a completion date in late 2028.

Restaurant News Bites: Tastes and Sounds Returns to Cathedral City; F10 Reopens Tack Room Tavern; and More! The latest restaurant and food news, including new fast-casual Korean in La Quinta; Prime by Olga opens in Palm Desert; and more!

The latest restaurant and food news, including new fast-casual Korean in La Quinta; Prime by Olga opens in Palm Desert; and more!

Tonal Catastrophe: ‘How to Make a Killing’ Is Billed as a Dark Comedy—but There Are No Laughs The movie is told in flashback as Beckett Redfellow sits on death row, giving his confession. He tells us the story is a tragedy—and given how much talent and promise is wasted in this lifeless project, he’s correct.

The movie is told in flashback as Beckett Redfellow sits on death row, giving his confession. He tells us the story is a tragedy—and given how much talent and promise is wasted in this lifeless project, he’s correct.

Civic Solutions: Two-Month Waits, Too Few Doctors—the Desert Healthcare District Looks at Workforce Fixes as Part of Its Strategic-Planning Process Potential solutions to the healthcare workforce problem could be supporting a pediatric residency program, offering scholarships to pay for health-care-related training and providing relocation funding so people can afford to live near where they work

Potential solutions to the healthcare workforce problem could be supporting a pediatric residency program, offering scholarships to pay for health-care-related training and providing relocation funding so people can afford to live near where they work

Music Electrified: Grammy Award-Winning Songwriter Terry Abrahamson Tells His Own Story in His New book, ‘In the Belly of the Blues’ In the Belly of the Blues explains how Abrahamson went from a bright-eyed blues admirer to a Grammy Award-winning songwriter by collaborating with Muddy Waters. Abrahamson will provide an author talk on Monday, March 2, at the Palm Desert Library.

In the Belly of the Blues explains how Abrahamson went from a bright-eyed blues admirer to a Grammy Award-winning songwriter by collaborating with Muddy Waters. Abrahamson will provide an author talk on Monday, March 2, at the Palm Desert Library.

The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Feb. 19, 2026! Topics touched upon this week include toilet seats, Big Macs, playing catch, long commutes—and more!

Topics touched upon this week include toilet seats, Big Macs, playing catch, long commutes—and more!

Hiking With T: The Coachella Valley Hiking Club Offers Opportunities for Hikers at All Levels The Coachella Valley Hiking Club organizes hikes, bike rides, community events and more. Hikers of all levels are welcome at the CVHC, but you must be a member to hike with the club.

The Coachella Valley Hiking Club organizes hikes, bike rides, community events and more. Hikers of all levels are welcome at the CVHC, but you must be a member to hike with the club.

Fire at the Oasis: The Blaze at the Prescott Preserve Could Have Been Much Worse—and That’s What Concerns Local Residents A major concern for everyone involved is that, as of this writing, the Prescott Preserve fire’s cause has not yet been established.

A major concern for everyone involved is that, as of this writing, the Prescott Preserve fire’s cause has not yet been established.

Community Voices: The Semiquincentennial Is Fine—but in 2027, We’ll Have an Even Better Reason to Celebrate While the nation rightly commemorates 2026 as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 2027 marks something equally vital, if not more so: 240 years since Americans committed to governing themselves under the rule of law rather than the tyranny of individuals.

While the nation rightly commemorates 2026 as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 2027 marks something equally vital, if not more so: 240 years since Americans committed to governing themselves under the rule of law rather than the tyranny of individuals.

Teaching and Inspiring: A Star-Studded Lineup, Including Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Performs to Raise Money for Local Music Education Part award show, part concert and part charity event, the show will honor rock icons Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) and Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free) with an all-star backing band, a silent auction and more! All proceeds will go to Adopt the Arts.

Part award show, part concert and part charity event, the show will honor rock icons Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) and Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free) with an all-star backing band, a silent auction and more! All proceeds will go to Adopt the Arts.

CV History: Palm Springs’ Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Became a Haven for Celebrities Because of Hollywood’s ‘Two-Hour Rule’ Originally established as a citrus grove, Old Las Palmas was acquired and subdivided in the mid-1920s by Prescott (P.T.) Stevens, who also developed the famed El Mirador Hotel.

Originally established as a citrus grove, Old Las Palmas was acquired and subdivided in the mid-1920s by Prescott (P.T.) Stevens, who also developed the famed El Mirador Hotel.

Fungus Among Us: Even Though It’s a Box-Office Flop, ‘Cold Storage’ Is a Fine Piece of Horror-Comedy After nearly two decades, the forgotten fungus storage container begins to fail; the stuff leaks; and the whole world is in mortal danger.

After nearly two decades, the forgotten fungus storage container begins to fail; the stuff leaks; and the whole world is in mortal danger.