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Last updateTue, 18 Sep 2018 1pm
The South in the 1960s: Two Fantastic Stars Redeem a Screenplay That Plays It Too Safe in 'Green Book'
One of the directors of Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary goes solo for Green Book , his first “serious” feature effort.
Director Peter Farrelly, sans little brother Bobby, gives us a film that’s essentially a remake of Driving Miss Daisy with the roles reversed, starring Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and the Academy Award-winning actor from Moonlight (Mahershala Ali). It’s a feel-good movie about race relations that goes light on the grit and heavy on the sentiment.
The film is based on a true story. Mortensen plays Tony Lip, an Italian bouncer at the Copacabana who finds himself temporarily without a job as the club is getting renovated. His next gig installs him as a driver and bodyguard f...
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Dec. 6, 2018!
On this week's peppermint-scented weekly Independent comics page: Apoca Clips watches as Li'l Trumpy gets jealous; Red Meat ponders a prospective horror film; This Modern World liste...
Twenty Years, One Album, Countless Amazing Shows: The Hellions Are This Year's Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award Honoree
Two decades ago, a group of friends who grew up together started a band called The Hellions—and they’re still rocking the local music scene today.
Although the Hellions have endured...
Savage Love: An Overwhelming Sensation When I Orgasm Is Ruining My Sex Life; What Should I Do?
I’m a 59-year-old man in good health. For basically my whole adult life, I’ve had a problem during intercourse with a woman of, one, being very quick to come, and two, having a too...
After the Shaking: Last Week's Alaska Earthquake Shows the Importance of Preparation and Monitoring
At 8:29 a.m. on Nov. 30, part of the rock slab underneath the water 7 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, shifted, causing a magnitude 7 earthquake . As Anchorage was preparing for the...
Content Shifter: Eight Odd Christmas Excursions Worth Taking Online!
Who doesn’t like Christmas?
OK, let me rephrase that: Who doesn’t like Christmas as experienced with a steady, carefully, legally (in California) maintained buzz throughout the fina...
The #MeToo Movement Continues: The California Democratic Party Chairman's Resignation Shows Bad Behavior Has Yet to Be Revealed
The resignation of California Democratic Party chairman Eric Bauman comes at a particularly emotional moment in California politics—on the heels of historic wins for Democrats and ...
A Campy Christmas Indeed: Desert Rose's 'Crawfords' Is a Silly and Hilarious Drag-Infused Holiday Musical
Ah, yes, Christmas With the Crawfords … could the title sound any more Norman Rockwell-idyllic? But the very fact that Desert Rose Playhouse has chosen this play as its annual Christ...
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Our Print Edition
Movies & TV
The South in the 1960s: Two Fantastic Stars Redeem a Screenplay That Plays It Too Safe in 'Green Book'
One of the directors of Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary goes solo for Green Book , his first “serious” feature effort.
Director Peter Farrelly, sans little brother Bobby, gives us a film that’s essentially a remake of Driving Miss Daisy with the roles reversed, starring Aragorn (Viggo Morten...
A Memoir With a Wallop: Lucas Hedges Amazes as a College Student Sent to a Conversion-Therapy Camp in 'Boy Erased'
Lucas Hedges continues to establish himself as one of his generation’s best actors as a young gay man forced into conversion therapy by his Baptist parents (Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman) in Boy Erased , an adaptation of Garrard Conley’s memoir.
Hedges plays Jared (a character based on Conley), a col...
Content Shifter: Eight Odd Christmas Excursions Worth Taking Online!
Who doesn’t like Christmas?
OK, let me rephrase that: Who doesn’t like Christmas as experienced with a steady, carefully, legally (in California) maintained buzz throughout the final weeks of the year? Your mumbled approval is noted.
Christmas TV shows and movies are an industry unto themselves; what ...
More:
- Home Video Review: Kurt Russell Brings a Welcome New Spin to Santa Claus in Netflix's 'Christmas Chronicles'
- A Credible 'Creed' Sequel: Boxing, Not Nationalism, Is the Focus in This Film—Which Actually Redeems 'Rocky IV' a Bit
- A Fine Follow-Up: Viola Davis Is Fantastic in Director Steve McQueen's New Thriller, 'Widows'
- Home Video Review: Netflix Proves It's an Original-Film Player With the Coen Brothers' Western Anthology 'Buster Scruggs'
- Fiery Family Drama: Four Fantastic Performances in 'Wildlife' Make Paul Dano's Directing Debut an Uncomfortable Success
- Weird and Wild (With Nazi Zombies!): 'Overlord' Compellingly Melds a World War II Film With a Zombie Movie
- Home Video Review: 'Blindspotting' Is a Daring Dark Comedy Featuring a Compelling Writing/Acting Duo
- Insulting a Legend: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Is an Embarrassing, Milquetoast Movie That Resorts to Fakery Regarding the Life of Freddie Mercury
- Home Video Review: Ethan Hawke Is Perfectly Cast as an Indie-Rock Star in 'Juliet, Naked'
- Content Shifter: These Seven Series Featuring Contract Killers Are Worth Some Streaming Time
News
After the Shaking: Last Week's Alaska Earthquake Shows the Importance of Preparation and Monitoring
At 8:29 a.m. on Nov. 30, part of the rock slab underneath the water 7 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, shifted, causing a magnitude 7 earthquake . As Anchorage was preparing for the day, the quake ripped apart roads , shattered windows and ruptured water and gas lines in and around the city. While official...
The #MeToo Movement Continues: The California Democratic Party Chairman's Resignation Shows Bad Behavior Has Yet to Be Revealed
The resignation of California Democratic Party chairman Eric Bauman comes at a particularly emotional moment in California politics—on the heels of historic wins for Democrats and after a year of bipartisan reckoning over the apparent culture of sexual bullying within the political class.
Bauman beca...
December Astronomy: Venus Amazes in the Morning Twilight, While the Bright Winter Stars Debut at Night
In December 2018, Venus is an outstanding predawn sight for the unaided eye, as well as binoculars and telescopes.
Who would fail to wonder at the sight of brilliant Venus near a predawn crescent moon? Separated in time by about a month, Venus-moon pairings on Dec. 3 and Jan. 1 provide easy chances to ...
More:
- 'I Don't Want to See Any More of Them Die': California Legislator Jim Wood Confronts the Effects of Wildfire by Helping Identify the Dead
- A California Apocalypse: Evacuees of the Camp Fire Tell Tales of Survival and Loss
- Building for Blazes: As California's Wildfires Grow Increasingly Intense, More and More People Are Living in Dangerous Areas
- Cannabis in the CV: As the One-Year Anniversary of Marijuana Legalization Approaches, the Valley Is Just Starting to Reap the Economic Benefits
- Dem Domination: After This Year's Elections, the California Legislature Is Many Different Shades of Blue
- Vote By Mail? You Should Make Sure Your Ballot Was Accepted and Counted
- Snapshot: The Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships Sets Up Shop at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden
- 'A Failing Franchise'? The California Republican Party Reaches a New Lowpoint in This Year's Election
- Results in a While: California Will Be Slow to Tabulate Ballots and Decide Close Contests; Here's Why
- Petroleum Payments: While the California Democratic Party Won't Take Oil Money, a Lot of Individual Candidates Do
Opinion
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Dec. 6, 2018!
On this week's peppermint-scented weekly Independent comics page: Apoca Clips watches as Li'l Trumpy gets jealous; Red Meat ponders a prospective horror film; This Modern World listens as the president insists there is NO COLLUSION; Jen Sorenson examines the refugee cycle; and (Th)ink looks at the dif...
Savage Love: An Overwhelming Sensation When I Orgasm Is Ruining My Sex Life; What Should I Do?
I’m a 59-year-old man in good health. For basically my whole adult life, I’ve had a problem during intercourse with a woman of, one, being very quick to come, and two, having a too-intense, “cringey” sensation when I come. This has led to often going soft at the prospect of intercourse. This too-int...
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Nov. 29, 2018!
On this week's evergreen-scented weekly Independent comics page: Red Meat sends Milkman Dan's truck in for repairs; Apoca Clips quizzes Li'l Trumpy about the immigrant caravan; Jen Sorensen looks at what's not changing following the midterms; The K Chronicles has a modest proposal for coal mines; and ...
More:
- A Note From the Editor: Celebrate the Best of Coachella Valley With Us; Help Our Friends in Northern California
- Savage Love: Is It Possible My Kinks Are Related to the Fact That I Am Bipolar?
- The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Nov. 22, 2018!
- Savage Love: Do I Need to Tell the Man I'm Casually Dating That I'm About to Become an Escort?
- The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Nov. 15, 2018!
- Know Your Neighbors: Meet Robyne Taylor, a Champion of Women's Labor Rights—and Animals
- Savage Love: How Can I Meet Women Who Will Let Me Tie Them Up?
- The Pain Returns: I'd Left Behind the Trauma of Being Raped 30 Years Ago—Until Recent Events Brought It Back
- The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Nov. 8, 2018!
- Savage Love: After I Have Sex With Someone, I Think of That Person as Only a Friend; Am I Broken?
Arts and Culture
A Campy Christmas Indeed: Desert Rose's 'Crawfords' Is a Silly and Hilarious Drag-Infused Holiday Musical
Ah, yes, Christmas With the Crawfords … could the title sound any more Norman Rockwell-idyllic? But the very fact that Desert Rose Playhouse has chosen this play as its annual Christmas show should immediately arouse deep suspicion, because this theater has become known for twisting one’s head.
This of...
Holiday Happenings: There Are a Lot of Festive Things to Do in December; Here's a Quick Primer
The holidays are here again—and that means there are a whole lot of Christmas-themed events going on.
While we could fill pages upon pages of this newspaper with lists of things to do in December, we’ve selected seven of the most intriguing events for your consideration.
Palm Springs Festival of Light...
Santa Comes to Cathedral City: Snow Fest Promises Holiday Cheer for All
What says “Christmas” more than candy canes, hot chocolate, Santa’s Village and a slide made of “snow”? While I don’t know the answer to that question, I do know that all of this can be found at the North Pole Village during the second annual Snow-Fest in Cathedral City on Saturday, Dec. 8.
And to cl...
More:
- Creating Beautiful Things: Local Artist and Filmmaker Tysen Knight Shows the Incredible Talents of Homeless Street Artists
- Magic, Honestly: Penn and Teller Take a Break From TV and Their Vegas Residency to Perform at Agua Caliente
- Conducive to Creation: The Desert Art Center's Longstanding Mission Is to 'Stimulate, Educate and Nurture the Visual Arts’ of Local Residents
- Terrifyingly Timely: After the Election and Another Shooting, Dezart Performs' 'Church and State' Is a Powerful, Near-Flawless Production
- Western Lit: A New Novel Follows Two Wanderers on a Westward Journey to Find Mythic Beasts
- A Clinic on Acting as Actors: Coyote StageWorks Kicks Off Its 10th Season in Fantastic Fashion With 'The Understudy'
- Drag Diva: Bianca Del Rio, Winner of 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' and Self-Described 'Clown in a Dress,' Makes Her Palm Springs Debut
- For the Women: Thoughts on the Pride Events for Queer Women (and Their Allies) From Someone Who's Been There From the Dyke March Start
- A Revelatory Show: CV Rep's Season-Opener 'How I Learned to Drive' Powerfully Tackles the Topic of Sexual Abuse
- A Lot of Varied Art: Woodman/Shimko Gallery Is Known for Its 'Gay' Art—but It Offers So Much More
Music
Twenty Years, One Album, Countless Amazing Shows: The Hellions Are This Year's Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award Honoree
Two decades ago, a group of friends who grew up together started a band called The Hellions—and they’re still rocking the local music scene today.
Although the Hellions have endured lineup changes at various points, the current group—Angel Lua (vocals/guitar), Bob Llamas (drums), Jamie Hargate (guita...
The Blueskye Report, December 2018: Lyle Lovett, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, Bill Engvall, Black Crystal Wolf Kids—and a Whole Lot More!
The Christmas season is upon us! It’s a magical yet busy time of the year—so be sure to escape the hustle and bustle, and take in some great events.
The McCallum Theatre has an excellent December schedule. At 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2 , country icons Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen will be performing. While ...
Icons Reunited: Tony Orlando and Dawn Bring Their Christmas Show to Fantasy Springs
Tony Orlando is best remembered for recording and performing with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson—best known as Dawn—in the 1970s and 1980s.
Today, the trio is back together for a Christmas tour—which will include a stop at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino this Saturday, Dec. 1. During a recent p...
More:
- Christmas Tunes With a Twist: Shawn Ryan Brings Holiday Songs With a Comedic, Gay Slant to the Purple Room
- Sweet Collaboration: Jimmie Dale Gilmore and His Friend Dave Alvin Come to Pappy and Harriet's to Celebrate Their New Album
- The Lucky 13: Joel Daniel, Trombonist for Spankshaft
- The Lucky 13: T-Lick, of Hip-Hop Duo Off Kilter
- The Blueskye Report, November 2018: Travis Tritt, Paula Abdul, Johnny Mathis, Starcrawler—and a Whole Bunch More!
- The Pride of Hawaii: Jake Shimabukuro, Champion of the Ukulele, Brings His Music to the McCallum
- Music, Spirituality and Energy: Higher Heights Brings Its Reggae Sounds to Coachella's Synergy Fest
- Live: Desert Daze, Lake Perris, Oct. 12-14
- The Lucky 13: Alex Harrington, DJ and Creator of Hit Album 'Stargazer'
- Big Boo, Bowie Lover, Big Dyke: Lea DeLaria Brings Her Powerful Blend of Comedy and Jazz to the McCallum Theatre
Food and Drink
The Indy Endorsement: The Cinnamon Brown Sugar Breakfast Tart at Wilma and Frieda
What: The cinnamon brown sugar breakfast tart
Where: Wilma and Frieda, 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; also at 73575 El Paseo Drive, Palm Desert
How much: $4.95
Contact: 760-992-5080 (Palm Springs); 760-773-2807 (Palm Desert); wilmafrieda.com
Why: They’re delicious—and very affordable.
When I heard tha...
Restaurant News Bites: Bongo Johnny's Finds a New Home; Antigua Opens in Former Gyoro-Gyoro Space; Introducing T&T Innovation Kitchen; and More!
Bongo Johnny’s Moving Into Former Café Europa Space; Antigua Opens in Former Gyoro-Gyoro Spot
When it comes to some restaurant spaces in downtown Palm Springs, the only constant is change.
Witness the second-floor space at 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, across from the Hyatt. In recent years, it’s housed b...
On Cocktails: Let's Raise a Toast to the Great Charles H. Baker and the Other Cocktail-Writing Greats
All those we list cannot please every reader, naturally … anisette, kümmel, tequila, Hawai’ian okolehao—all have their enemies and champions. No, the best we can hope to do is thumb over our battered field book, our odd scrawled-upon bar chits, menus and scraps of notes from bygone days, and constru...
More:
- The Indy Endorsement: The Spiced Jurgielewicz Duck at 4 Saints
- Vine Social: South African Wines Are Hard to Find—and They're Unapologetically Eccentric
- Caesar Cervisia: A Quest to Learn More About the (Now Defunct) Granddaddy of Local Brewers—the Palm Springs Brewing Company
- The Indy Endorsement: Lunch at Emperor Buffet
- Restaurant News Bites: Cartel Coffee Lab Arrives at Arrive; Ace Gets Set to Host the PS Wine Fest; and a Whole Lot More!
- On Cocktails: Garnishes Can Be Wonderful Parts of a Good Drink … If Both the Bartender and Consumer Know What They're Doing
- Vine Social: You Don't Need to Become a Sommelier to Learn a Lot About Wine
- Desert Cicerone: Semi-Random Thoughts on a Local Blog, the Greatness of Modern Times and Various IPA Sub-Styles
- The Indy Endorsement: The Black Truffle Pommes Frites at AC3 Restaurant + Bar
- The Indy Endorsement: The Big Guac Burrito at Guacamole's
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