Tue08222017
Last updateFri, 16 Sep 2016 12pm
On Cocktails: Bitters Are One of the Most Important Cocktail Ingredients—and They Can Stand on Their Own, Too
I’m behind the bar at Truss and Twine. There’s a nice lady at the bar, pointing to the cute little antique-looking dasher bottles lined up in a row on the bar top.
Lady: What are these? Balsamic vinegar and olive oil?
Me: No. They’re bitters.
Lady: Oh. What kind?
Me: Angostura, orange, Peychaud’s and celery.
Lady: So, do they make your drink bitter?
Me: Well, no, that’s not it, exactly …
Though they’re one of the oldest, most important and most versatile ingredients in cocktails, aromatic cocktail bitters—often referred to as the salt and pepper for adult beverages—are often misunderstood, overlooked and underappreciated.
Bitters have been produced, often for medicinal purposes, since at least the 1...
The Lucky 13: Hugo Chavez, Drummer for The BrosQuitos
The BrosQuitos released the band’s long-awaited debut album, Vinyl Image , back in May—and it’s fantastic. The songs became part of the soundtrack to my summer; this group has a prom...
Democracy in Crisis: White Supremacy, Monuments, Power—and What It All Means
Donald Trump’s Aug. 15 press conference, during which he defended the racists in Charlottesville and attacked those there to protest them, was one of the worst performances of his ...
Cannabis in the CV: The National Conference of State Legislatures Wants Marijuana Declassified; Could Cali Have Too Much Weed?
The National Conference of State Legislatures, citing the wave of legalization and the explosion of a new industry in its wake, on Aug. 7 passed a resolution urging the federal gov...
Vine Social: Rosé Is Perfect for a Hot Day—So Here's a Primer on This Increasingly Popular Wine
What’s that, you say? You love rosé? Well, if you live in the sunny Coachella Valley, you’re in luck!
While people in a large portion of the country are preparing for a frigid futur...
Live: Splash House, August Edition, Aug. 11-13
The three-day party that it is Splash House returned for the second and final time this summer, running Aug. 11-13.
The Friday night pre-party, at the Palm Springs Air Museum, featu...
Solid Horror: 'Annabelle: Creation' Works Thanks to Fine Scares, Excellent Acting
Annabelle, the creepy doll from The Conjuring movies, gets her second standalone film with Annabelle: Creation , a silly movie that is nevertheless enjoyable thanks to some deft direct...
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Aug. 17, 2017!
On this week's off-script weekly Independent comics page: Jen Sorenson looks at Trump's words on protesters; This Modern World assesses threats to the nation; The K Chronicles shares...
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Our Print Edition
News
Democracy in Crisis: White Supremacy, Monuments, Power—and What It All Means
Donald Trump’s Aug. 15 press conference, during which he defended the racists in Charlottesville and attacked those there to protest them, was one of the worst performances of his presidency.
It came a day after the Durham, N.C., statue to commemorate Confederate soldiers came down thanks to activist...
Cannabis in the CV: The National Conference of State Legislatures Wants Marijuana Declassified; Could Cali Have Too Much Weed?
The National Conference of State Legislatures, citing the wave of legalization and the explosion of a new industry in its wake, on Aug. 7 passed a resolution urging the federal government to remove cannabis from Controlled Substances Act scheduling completely.
Marijuana’s Schedule I status prohibits ...
Democracy in Crisis: Charlottesville and the Shattering of America
Two middle-aged men, one black and one white, were walking up a street in downtown Charlottesville, Va., yelling at each other. It was a moment of relative normalcy in a day otherwise defined by mayhem.
Both men use the phrase “born and bred” to define their relationship to the smallish Southern coll...
More:
- Anticipating a Break: California Already May Be Temporarily 'Paying' for Trump’s Hypothetical Tax Cuts
- Weed Everywhere: Despite the Legalization of Marijuana, California's Black Market Could Remain Huge
- August Astronomy: On Monday, Aug. 21, the Much-Anticipated Solar Eclipse Will Take Place—Nine Days After the Perseid Meteor Shower's Peak
- Stopping Suffering: Reports Show Terminally Ill Californians Are Using the End of Life Option Act—but The Law Faces Opposition
- Vista Chino's Latest Victim: After Yet Another Pedestrian Death, the State Is Finally Taking Action
- Cannabis in the CV: Palm Springs, Cathedral City Issue Permits for Commercial Cultivation; Cannabis-Infused Coffee Pods Are Coming
- Taking the Plunge: After 25 Years in the Movie-Theater Business, Damon Rubio Has a Theater of His Own With the Mary Pickford
- Evidence Ignored: Despite a Backlog of Rape Kits, California Lawmakers Aren't Requiring Them to Be Tested or Tallied
- Democracy in Crisis: Jim DeMint Works to Change the Constitution—While Showing Contradictions in the Modern Conservative Movement
- July Astronomy: This Month and Next Are the Best Time of Year to Check Out Jupiter's Moons and Saturn's Rings
Opinion
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Aug. 17, 2017!
On this week's off-script weekly Independent comics page: Jen Sorenson looks at Trump's words on protesters; This Modern World assesses threats to the nation; The K Chronicles shares a true coming-of-age story; Apoca Clips listens in on a conversation between O.J. and Trumpy; and Red Meat accepts a de...
Ask a Mexican: Is It OK for Mexican Americans in College to Go Through an Identity Crisis?
Dear Mexican: I’m a 23-year-old Latina attending a Texas university, and I’m taking a class that is centered on Latino culture and history. I’m a first-generation Tex-Mex kid, and lately, all of the documentaries and other coursework have been making me feel some type of way—angry, sad and overall c...
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for Aug. 10, 2017!
On this week's nuclear-war-fearing weekly Independent comics page: This Modern World reveals the backstory behind Trump's lies about phone calls; Jen Sorenson examines how the Trump administration is playing the Country Card; The K Chronicles features touching words from a child; Red Meat shows off Ea...
More:
- Know Your Neighbors: Meet Rose Mallett, a Woman Who Overcame Adversity to Become One of the Area's Most In-Demand Singers
- Ask a Mexican: Why Do Mexicans Let Toddlers Stay on the Baby Bottle for So Long?
- The Weekly 'Independent' Comics Page for Aug. 3, 2017!
- Ask a Mexican: I Am Half-Mexican; How Should I Deal With My Racist White Grandfather?
- A Note From the Editor: As We Celebrate Great Local Journalism, Please Become a Supporter of the Independent
- The Weekly Independent Comics Page for July 27, 2017!
- Know Your Neighbors: Am I Losing My Mind or Just Getting Old?
- Ask a Mexican: Why Are Your Views of America and Americans So Biased?
- The Weekly Independent Comics Page for July 20, 2017!
- Ask a Mexican: Should Mexican Americans Root for Mexico or U.S. in the World Cup?
Arts and Culture
Western Lit: A New Book By a Self-Proclaimed Umbraphile Tells the Story of the West's Last Total Solar Eclipse, in 1878
On Aug. 21, 2017, the moon will ride its elliptical orbit precisely between the Earth and the sun, plunging the land below into the crepuscule of a total solar eclipse.
Beginning at around 10 a.m. Pacific Time, the dark path of totality will sweep northwest to southeast across the United States, cast...
Western Lit: An Angler Documents His Pursuit of Uglier Species in 'Beautifully Grotesque Fish'
Listen up, water-loving Westerners: We’ve got a problem—a trout problem.
For decades, anglers have fetishized these silvery stream-dwellers, maniacally pursuing rainbows, browns and brookies to the neglect of other underwater life. Every year, obliging fish managers pump America’s waterways full of m...
Art Is Everywhere: While Many of the Big Galleries Take the Summer Off, Great Art Can Still Be Found in Abundance
Many of the Coachella Valley’s larger art galleries tend to hibernate during the summer heat. The (relative) exodus of tourists provides time for them to prepare new exhibitions for the fall.
But the need to experience art doesn’t go on vacation—and this time of year provides art-lovers with a great ...
More:
- Western Lit: A New Novel Revisits Steinbeck's Cannery Row, Examining Six Decades of Transformation in Monterey
- The Talented Woman Behind the Man With the Legendary Mind: CV Rep Presents 'Life and Times of A. Einstein'
- A Madden-ing Performer: Funnyman Frank Caliendo Brings his Standup act to Morongo
- Passages of Life: Pat Lasch's Female-Driven Sculptures Offer Surprises at the Palm Springs Museum of Art in Palm Desert
- Repeat 'Party'! The Desert Rose Playhouse Brings Back Last Summer's Hit Feel-Good Comedy for a Six-Week Run
- Live: Chris Rock at Fantasy Springs, June 9
- Western Lit: Polarizing Neighbor—a New Book Tries to Make Sense of the Hated Coyote's History
- Celebrate First Wednesdays: Hiding on the Backstreets, You'll Find Great Art
- Master of TV, Film and Stand-up: Marlon Wayans Brings His Comedy to Morongo
- Local Theater on the Move: The Coachella Valley Arts Scene Is Thriving—and Theater Organizations Are Looking for Bigger Homes
Movies & TV
Home Video Review: Brett Gelman Finally Gets the Starring Role He Deserves in the Bizarre Film 'Lemon'
Eccentric comedic actor Brett Gelman gets a much-deserved starring vehicle in Lemon as Isaac, a theater teacher going through some troubles with his blind girlfriend (Judy Greer).
She starts getting antsy, and his behavior gets weirder and weirder, especially when it comes to student Alex (a very funny...
Solid Horror: 'Annabelle: Creation' Works Thanks to Fine Scares, Excellent Acting
Annabelle, the creepy doll from The Conjuring movies, gets her second standalone film with Annabelle: Creation , a silly movie that is nevertheless enjoyable thanks to some deft direction and surprisingly competent acting.
The movie holds together thanks to solid performances from Talitha Bateman and Lul...
Family and Fandom: 'Brigsby Bear' Is a Weird, Quirky Film With Ample Charms … and Mark Hamill!
Saturday Night Live ’s Kyle Mooney stars in Brigsby Bear as James, a man who loves a kids’ TV show called Brigsby Bear , and loves his parents (Mark Hamill and Jane Adams). As it turns out, he’s a kidnapping victim: His parents aren’t his real parents, and the TV show was produced by his fake dad only fo...
More:
- Blu-Ray Review: Despite Mediocre Box Office, 'Alien: Covenant' Is a Good Movie
- True TV: 'Marvel's Defenders' Delivers the Goods; 'Halt and Catch Fire' Powers Down
- Tear Down This 'Tower': This Adaptation of Stephen King's Work Is a Total Disaster
- An Important Piece of History: 'Detroit' Is Worth Seeing, Even If Some Elements Seem Too Fictional
- True TV: It's Time to Check Out the 10 Shows You Slept on This Summer
- Home Video Review: 'Wet Hot American Summer' Is Again Back, in Hilarious Form, on Netflix
- Action Awesomeness: Charlize Theron and One of the Year's Best Sequences Make 'Atomic Blonde' Worth Seeing
- True TV: Before 'Sharknado 5: Global Swarming,' a Brief History of 'Sharknado'
- Home Video Review: 'Wakefield' Works Due to a Fantastic Performance by Bryan Cranston
- A Visual Spectacle: Go See 'Dunkirk' in Theaters—but Don't Expect a Masterpiece
Music
Live: Neon Indian, Pappy and Harriet's, Aug. 17
The torchbearer of chillwave, Neon Indian, aka Alan Palomo, came to Pappy and Harriet’s on Thursday, Aug. 17.
For those not in the know, chillwave is a subgenre of indie filled with retro pop sounds and low tempos. As a fan told me after the show, the bass sound is right out of 1970s porn—which I gue...
The Lucky 13: Hugo Chavez, Drummer for The BrosQuitos
The BrosQuitos released the band’s long-awaited debut album, Vinyl Image , back in May—and it’s fantastic. The songs became part of the soundtrack to my summer; this group has a promising future ahead. For more information, visit thebrosquitos.tumblr.com . Drummer Hugo Chavez was kind enough to answer t...
Live: Splash House, August Edition, Aug. 11-13
The three-day party that it is Splash House returned for the second and final time this summer, running Aug. 11-13.
The Friday night pre-party, at the Palm Springs Air Museum, featured the best performances of the entire weekend, in my book—but I must admit I’m biased toward performers who use instru...
More:
- The Lucky 13: Brian Parnell, Guitarist for Throw the Goat
- Sounds in Swedish: Dungen Delivers Its Acclaimed Psych-Rock Music to Pappy and Harriet’s
- Live: The Vans Warped Tour at the Pomona Fairplex, Aug. 6
- Still Burning: Although Monreaux Remains on Hiatus, Frontman Giorg Tierez Is Returning to Bart Lounge to Throw His Annual 'Bash'
- Warped Tour: CKY Celebrates the Rise of New Album 'The Phoenix'
- Warped Tour: Two Decades After Appearing on the Tour, Hardcore Band Sick of It All Makes a Triumphant Return
- Banned No More: Controversial Punk Band Guttermouth Plays the It's Not Dead Festival
- Decon Deconstructed: Two Decades After a Brief but Memorable Period of Success, Decon Is Back for Now
- Winning in the Music Biz: Joshua Tree's Gene Evaro Jr. Puts His Heart Into Being Both a Commercial and Artistic Success
- Cool Place, Cooler Music: Idyllwild Hosts the Annual Jazz in the Pines Festival
Food and Drink
On Cocktails: Bitters Are One of the Most Important Cocktail Ingredients—and They Can Stand on Their Own, Too
I’m behind the bar at Truss and Twine. There’s a nice lady at the bar, pointing to the cute little antique-looking dasher bottles lined up in a row on the bar top.
Lady: What are these? Balsamic vinegar and olive oil?
Me: No. They’re bitters.
Lady: Oh. What kind?
Me: Angostura, orange, Peychaud’s and ce...
Vine Social: Rosé Is Perfect for a Hot Day—So Here's a Primer on This Increasingly Popular Wine
What’s that, you say? You love rosé? Well, if you live in the sunny Coachella Valley, you’re in luck!
While people in a large portion of the country are preparing for a frigid future—planning to spend part of their Labor Day weekend digging out the plastic bins that house their parkas and fleece unde...
New BBQ: Reggie Martinez Attempts to Create a Style of His Own With the California Barbecue Company
Some of the valley’s best barbecue is being served at … the Red Barn in Palm Desert?
Yep, the Red Barn in Palm Desert.
The only food I’d remembered there was a stale bag of chips that I once bought from a vending machine on the outdoor patio—until I found myself there one night after Stagecoach in lat...
More:
- The Indy Endorsement: The Tuna Hana Bowl at Pokehana
- The Beer Goddess: LibDib, a New Web-Based Alcohol-Distribution System, Is Bringing Together Small Breweries and Eager Retailers
- Vine Social: After Moving to Napa, Our New Columnist Lost Her Love of Wine
- Restaurant News Bites: Acqua California Bistro Is Open; Trio and Copley's Owners at Work on AC3; and Tons More!
- The Indy Endorsement: The Super Cheesy Nachos at Blackbook
- On Cocktails: For Centuries Now, Punch Has Helped Get the Party Started—Literally and Figuratively
- The Indy Endorsement: The Jamón Iberico at Counter Reformation
- The Beer Goddess: Get Out Your Calendars, Because Beer-Fest Season Is Rapidly Approaching
- Wine Wisdom: Bonny Doon's Randall Grahm Is Still Chasing the Dream
- Restaurant News Bites: Let the Summer Specials Begin!; a Taste of Summer in Rancho Mirage Returns; and Tons More!
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CV Independent
For the final day of our Supporters drive, we present a slice of life by visiting a bar at its 6 a.m. opening time: https://t.co/xEoU4MNhRO
Sunday, August 20 2017 18:01
CV Independent
For the next-to-last day of our Supporters drive, a series we did about a woman wrongly convicted of murder: https://t.co/NYdSHdGAYG
Saturday, August 19 2017 17:45
CV Independent
THREE DAYS LEFT! For Day 18 of our Supporters membership drive, coverage of a database of police-related deaths: https://t.co/xFcPTjWN1F
Friday, August 18 2017 17:20
CV Independent
Oooh lookie here! It's the weekly Independent e-Edition! https://t.co/9oN8d9KxCO
Thursday, August 17 2017 21:11
CV Independent
For Day 17 of our Supporters of the Independent drive, a look at a fascinating interview with EODM's Jesse Hughes. https://t.co/dlDI8SYPVv
Thursday, August 17 2017 17:29
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