Snapshot: The Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019 Awards Show and Party, Dec. 12, Copa Nightclub (Updated With Video)
January 03 2019More than 80 people came to the Copa Nightclub on Wednesday, Dec. 12, with one goal: to celebrate the people, businesses and organizations that make the Coachella Valley a fantastic place to call home.
The Coachella Valley Independent and Copa Nightclub sponsored the fifth annual Best of Coachella Valley Awards Show and Party, an event that honors the winners of the Independent's yearly readers' poll, which features almost 130 categories ranging from the best place to hike, to the valley's best restaurants, to the valley's best sex-toy shop. (Our readers say it's Skitzo Kitty, by the way.)
The biggest contingents at the party—hosted by Independent editor/publisher Jimmy Boegle, with help from assistant editor Brian Blueskye—came to celebrate Barbara Carpenter, voted Best Real Estate Agent for the second year in a row, and Augustine Casino, which took the top spot in a whopping seven categories.
After the awards were given out, Best Local Band winner Avenida Music delighted the audience with a full set.
Below is a gallery of photos from the event, taken by Kevin Fitzgerald. In the media section, find the welcome video from Rep. Raul Ruiz, as well as a video of the event, courtesy of Tantalum Films. (Originally published on Dec. 13; updated with video Jan. 3.)
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Augustine Casino Augustine Casino
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Avenida Music Avenida Music
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Barbara Carpenter Barbara Carpenter
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Broken Yolk Cafe Broken Yolk Cafe
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Copa Nightclub Copa Nightclub
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Rep. Raul Ruiz's Office Rep. Raul Ruiz's Office
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Escape Room Palm Springs Escape Room Palm Springs
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Dr. Jim Cox Dr. Jim Cox
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McCallum Theatre McCallum Theatre
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Jammin' 99.5 Jammin' 99.5
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Urban Yoga Urban Yoga
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Palm Springs Pride Palm Springs Pride
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Revive Wellness Center Revive Wellness Center
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Revivals/Desert AIDS Project Revivals/Desert AIDS Project
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Skitzo Kitty Skitzo Kitty
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The Tropicale The Tropicale
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Palm Canyon Theatre Palm Canyon Theatre
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The After Lashes The After Lashes
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Sofia Enriquez Sofia Enriquez
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Lulu and Acqua Lulu and Acqua
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Fresh Juice Bar Fresh Juice Bar
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Cord Media/Palm Springs Art Museum/Living Desert Cord Media/Palm Springs Art Museum/Living Desert
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Desert Business Association and Image 360 Desert Business Association and Image 360
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Augustine Celebrates Augustine Celebrates
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Smiles for the Best Real Estate Agent Smiles for the Best Real Estate Agent
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General Air General Air
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Bryan Gallo Bryan Gallo
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The Hood Bar and Pizza The Hood Bar and Pizza
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A Welcome From the Congressman A Welcome From the Congressman
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That Logo That Logo
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Avenida Performs Avenida Performs
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Smile for the Camera Smile for the Camera
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Enjoying the Party Enjoying the Party
https://www.cvindependent.com/index.php/en-US/best-of-cv/readers-picks/itemlist/tag/best%20of%20coachella%20valley%2020182019#sigProId23cfc9ea17
Twenty Years, One Album, Countless Amazing Shows: The Hellions Are This Year's Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award Honoree
December 05 2018Two 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 (guitar) and Travis Rockwell (bass)—has been around for a while.
The Hellions will be receiving the Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award on Wednesday, Dec. 12, During the Best of Coachella Valley Awards Party at the Copa Nightclub in Palm Springs.
During a post-rehearsal interview at Bernie’s in Rancho Mirage, I asked them how they’ve managed to keep playing, rehearsing and writing for 20 years as marriages, families and career moves have taken place.
“That was all part of the plan,” Hargate joked.
“You never start something hoping that it’ll end,” Lua said. “We had a common taste in music, and we thought, ‘Let’s do something with it.’ I think everything falls into place, and we just keep it going. If we ever felt like we were forcing ourselves to do it, we probably wouldn’t be doing it anymore.
“It’s something that’s second nature to us at this point. We grew up together musically, and we all got better as musicians playing together and learned off each other. You have to like the people you’re around to do that; otherwise, forget it. Everybody is on the same page for the most part … or at least 65 percent of the time.”
Over 20 years, the Hellions have written some songs, but have released just one record, 2016’s Hymns From the Other Side. Dali’s Llama frontman Zach Huskey told me once: “The Hellions are kind of the slowest songwriters in the world.” The members explained the lack of prolificacy.
“I don’t think we put the effort into finishing a song,” Llamas said. “Right now, we probably have at least a dozen songs that are almost done. Why? I don’t know. We’ll work on new music, but then we’ll have a show come up, and we’ll focus on our set instead.”
Rockwell said the band worked hard to make a professional recording, with former Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder recording and producing.
“It costs money to put an album out when you do it the right way,” Rockwell said. “Anyone can go out and buy a computer and record shit in their bedroom right now. We planned to go into the studio and put in the work and put in the time and money to have Scott Reeder produce it. That was probably the tightest we ever were, when we went up to Scott’s place to record that album. That was about $6,000, and when we play a show, usually we make $100. So how many shows do we have to play to make that? Then we have to pay for mastering, and then we have to pay for the production. It’s a lot of work. Our whole philosophy is whatever money we make as a band goes back into paying for that.”
Lua said he had personal reasons for wanting the album released.
“I wanted to give my mom something,” Lua said. “She always asks me, ‘When do you play again?’ ‘Oh, we’re going to play at 11 p.m. tonight,’ and she’s like, ‘Oh, that’s too late!’ So I gave her a record and said, ‘Here’s a record. Go play it on your phonograph!’”
The Hellions are known for being generous with their time: If they’re asked to do a benefit show for a worthy cause, and they’re available, the Hellions are always in.
“People enjoy our music and want to come and see us play. The least we could do is give something back to our community,” Hargate said.
“People who wouldn’t normally come out to see us get to see us, and we play to an entirely new audience,” Rockwell added. “Some 18-year-old kid’s mom comes out, and she’s fucking re-living the ’80s. She’s done a ton of shots; she’s dancing; and the skirt gets a little higher up.”
The Hellions have played with many national tour acts as they’ve come through town.
“One of my favorite shows we ever did was with the Dwarves,” Hargate said. “I was always a big fan when I was 15 years old and going to their shows. To bring them out here as our friends now is pretty humbling.
“We’ve even been fortunate enough to meet a lot of musicians who have done some great things. For me later on in life, and having been a fan of them when I was a kid, it’s very comforting. But I’m not starstruck anymore.”
A Note From the Editor: Celebrate the Best of Coachella Valley With Us; Help Our Friends in Northern California
November 28 2018It’s been a fascinating month of November here at the Independent, with the election and, of course, the Best of Coachella Valley. But I get to all of the greatness that is the Best of Coachella Valley stuff, I need to bring up a couple of stories we posted last week, because they have to do with one worst tragedies in modern California history—and the fact similar tragedies are likely to keep happening over and over again due to our new reality.
As of this writing, the Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County has claimed 88 lives—a number that is sure to rise, since more than 150 people have not yet been accounted for. More than 18,700 buildings—the majority of those homes—have been destroyed, including almost the entire town of Paradise.
Let’s put that in perspective: Paradise and Desert Hot Springs are about the same size in terms of population. Paradise is larger than Rancho Mirage. And it’s essentially gone.
One of the stories came to us compliments of our friends at the Chico News & Review. It starts out with one of the most harrowing, terrifying and heartbreaking stories of survival and loss that you’ll ever read. It concludes with a link to a GoFundMe page for Chico News & Review staffers who lost their homes in the Camp Fire. This one holds a special place in my heart—not only are these fellow newspaper people; I started my career working for the News & Review company, so I ask you to contribute if you can. Thank you.
Meanwhile, life goes on here in our amazing Coachella Valley—and that brings me to the Independent’s fifth annual Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll.
A record number of people voted in this year’s two rounds of polling, and we’re excited to present the results of that vote, along with features on some of the winners, and some additional “Best Of” selections by Independent staff and contributors.
I have a lot of people to thank here, including Beth Allen, who did the layout for the whole Best of Coachella Valley section in the print edition; and Brian Blueskye and Kevin Fitzgerald, who contributed our features. Huge thanks also go to all of our fantastic advertisers—and most of all, to the readers who navigated nearly 130 categories on our ballot to vote.
Please join us to celebrate all of our winners at the Best of Coachella Valley Awards Show, taking place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Copa Nightclub in Palm Springs. After we give out the awards, Best Local Band winner Avenida Music will perform; admission is free.
Thanks, as always, for reading the Coachella Valley Independent. I encourage you to pick up the December 2018 print edition, on newsstands now. Finally … have a fantastic and fruitful holiday season!
Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019: Readers' Picks
November 26 2018This whole process started back in August, when voting began in the first round of the fifth annual Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll.
Now, after three months, two rounds of voting and ballots from more than 1,300 people, we’ve come to the glorious end of the process: Here are the results of the Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019!
From all of us here at the Independent: A huge, sincere thank you to all of the readers who voted. We realize that this is not an easy ballot to fill out—almost 130 categories is indeed a lot— but because you took the time to do so thoughtfully, the slate of winners and finalists presented here is truly impressive. It’s diverse; it’s valley-wide (even including representation of the high desert); and it shows how truly great the people, places, organizations and businesses are that call the Coachella Valley home.
Now, it’s time to celebrate. Please join us at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Copa Nightclub—your selection this year as Best Nightclub—244 E. Amado Road, in Palm Springs, for the Best of Coachella Valley Awards Party. All of the winners present will receive certificates and have an opportunity to say thank you; after that, your Best Local Band selection, Avenida Music, will take the stage and perform. I hope to see you there.
Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists … and welcome to the Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019!
—Jimmy Boegle, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Arts
Best Art Gallery
CODA Gallery
Runners up:
2. Heather James Fine Art
3. Shag
4. Beatnik Lounge
5. Michael Weems Collection
Best Indoor Venue
McCallum Theatre
Runners up:
2. The Show at Agua Caliente
3. Fantasy Springs Special Events Center
4. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
5. The Hood Bar and Pizza
Best Outdoor Venue
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Empire Polo Club
3. Fantasy Springs Rock Yard
4. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
5. Rancho Mirage Amphitheater
Best Local Arts Group/Organization
McCallum Theatre
Runners up:
2. The Coachella Valley Art Scene
3. La Quinta Arts Foundation
4. Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre
5. CREATE Center for the Arts
Best Local Band
Avenida Music
Runners up:
2. Frank Eats the Floor
3. Mega Sun
4. The Flusters
5. Sunday Funeral
Best Local DJ
DJ Day
Runners up:
2. TIE
Alex Harrington
DJ PWee
4. Sugarfree
5.Pedro Le Bass
Best Local Musician
Matt King
Runners up:
2. Giselle Woo
3. John Stanley King
4. Justin Ledesma
5. Nick Hales
Best Local Visual Artist
Sofia Enriquez
Runners up:
2. Elena Bulatova
3. Nancy Worthington
4. Cristopher Cichocki
5. Marconi Calindas
Best Movie Theater
Century La Quinta and XD
Runners up:
2. Mary Pickford Is D’Place
3. Century The River and XD
4. TIE
Camelot Theatres
Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 and IMAX
Best Museum
Palm Springs Art Museum
2. Palm Springs Air Museum
3. Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
4. Coachella Valley History Museum
5. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Best Producing Theater Company
Palm Canyon Theatre
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Repertory Company
3. Desert Rose Playhouse
4. Desert Ensemble Theatre Company
5. Coyote StageWorks
6. Dezart Performs
Life in the Valley
Best Local Activist/Advocacy Group
Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Animal Shelter
3. LGBT Community Center of the Desert
4. Desert AIDS Project
5. L-Fund
Best Gym
World Gym
Runners up:
2. 24 Hour Fitness
3. EOS Fitness
4. Planet Fitness
5. In-Shape
Best Yoga
Urban Yoga
Runners up:
2. Power Yoga Palm Springs
3. Yoga Central
4. Bikram Yoga Plus
5. Bikram Yoga Palm Desert-El Paseo
Best Bowling Alley
Fantasy Springs Bowling Center
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Lanes
3. Canyon Lanes at Morongo
4. Yucca Bowl
Best Sex Toy Shop
Skitzo Kitty
Runners up:
2. Not So Innocent
3. Gear Leather and Fetish
4. Q Trading Co.
Best Auto Repair
Ramona Tire and Service Center
Runners up:
2. Andy’s Auto Repair
3. Lou’s Automotive
4. Downtown Shell Palm Springs
5. Singh’s Automotive Repair
Best Car Wash
Quick Quack Car Wash
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Car Wash
3. Executive Car Wash
4. Airport Quick Car Wash
5. Desert 100 Percent Hand Car Wash
Best Plant Nursery
Moller’s Garden Center
Runners up:
2. Vintage Nursery
3. Bob Williams Nursery
4. Lotus Garden Center
Best Pet Supplies
PetSmart
Runners up:
2. Petco
3. Bones ’n’ Scones
4. Pet Oasis
5. PoshPetCare
Best Annual Charity Event
Palm Springs Pride
Runners up:
2. Desert AIDS Walk (Desert AIDS Project)
3. McCallum Theatre Annual Gala
4. Evening Under the Stars (AAP-Food Samaritans)
5. Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards (Desert AIDS Project)
Best Place to Gamble
Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
3. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
4. Morongo Casino Resort Spa
5. Spotlight 29
Best Local News
KESQ News Channel 3
Runners up:
2. KMIR Channel 6/NBC Palm Springs
3. CBS Local 2
Best Local TV News Personality
Bryan Gallo, KMIR Channel 6/NBC Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. Karen Devine, KESQ News Channel 3
3. Patrick Evans, CBS Local 2
4. Bianca Rae, KESQ News Channel 3
5. Haley Clawson, KESQ News Channel 3
Best Radio Station
Jammin’ 99.5
Runners up:
2. Q102.3 Classic Rock
3. Mix 100.5
4. 93.7 KCLB
5. Big 106
Best Local Radio Personality
Bradley Ryan, Mix 100.5
Runners up:
2. Jeff Michaels, Q102.3/Big 106
3. Bill Feingold, KNews 94.3 FM
4. Randy Houston, The Big 106
5. Joey English, KGX 99.1 FM/920 AM
Best Bookstore
Barnes and Noble
Runners up:
2. TIE
Rancho Mirage Library Book Nook
The Book Rack La Quinta
4. Sagebrush Press
Best Retail Music/Video Store
The Record Alley
Runners up:
2. Palm Springs Vinyl Records and Collectibles
3. Vista Music and Video
Best Comics/Games Shop
Game Stop
Runners up:
2. Desert Oasis Comics
3. Comic Asylum
4. HooDoo!
Best Hotel Pool
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Runners up:
2. The Saguaro
3. Riviera Palm Springs
4. Renaissance Palm Springs
5. Arrive
Best Urgent Care
Eisenhower Medical Center Urgent Care
Runners up:
2. Desert Oasis Urgent Care
3. Executive Urgent Care
4. TIE
Centro Medico Urgent Care
MedPost Urgent Care
Best Indoor Fun/Activity
Escape Room Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. Get Air Trampoline Park
3. Laser Oasis
4. Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing Gym
Valley Professionals
Best Doctor
Dr. Lisa Bodon
Runners up:
2. Dr. Timothy Jochen
3. Dr. Amanda Curnock
4. Dr. Geoffrey Block
5. Gennady “Henry” Nosovitsky, PA
Best Eye Care
Milauskas Eye Institute
Runners up:
2. Dr. David Esquibel (Desert Vision)
3. Dr. Greg Evans (Evans Eyecare)
4. Old Town Optix and Optometry
Best Dentist/Orthodontist
Hospitality Dental and Orthodontics
Runners up:
2. Dr. Frank Hernandez (Hernandez Dental)
3. Dr. Larry Kunkle (Palm Desert Dental Center)
4. Dr. Natalie Le (Palm Springs Modern Dentistry)
5. Dr. Ray Cros (Cros Dental)
Best Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Mark Sofonio
Runners up:
2. Dr. Timothy Jochen
3. Dr. Suzanne Quardt
4. Dr. Natalie Driessen
Best Attorney
Walter Clark
Runners up:
2. Barbara Barrett
3. Christopher Heritage
4. Emily Benjamini
5. James Jackson
Best Air Conditioning Service
TIE
Comfort Air
General Air Conditioning
Runners up:
3. Nexgen Air Conditioning and Heating
4. Blair Heating and Air
5. On Call Air Conditioning and Heating
Best Personal Trainer
Jaime Jimenez
Runners up:
2. Brandon Wertz
3. Ted Guice
4. Francisco Serrato
Best Chiropractor
Jim Cox
Runners up:
2. Daryl Richardson
3. Nazemi Chiropractic
4. Vincent Savarese
Best Real Estate Agent
Barbara Carpenter
Runners up:
2. Bob Ross
3. Paul Zapala
4. Valery Neuman
5. Michael Benthall
Best Electrician
Desert Pro Electrical
Runners up:
2. Hegge Electrical Contractors
3. Electrician4Hire
4. Collins Electrical Services
Best Public Servant
Rep. Raul Ruiz
Runners up:
2. La Quinta City Councilman Robert Radi
3. Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon
4. Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia
5. Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors
Fashion and Style
Best Clothing Store (Locally Owned)
Oooh La La
Runners up:
2. Bobby G’s
3. Trina Turk
4. Wil Stiles
5. Grayse
Best Resale/Vintage Clothing
Revivals
Runners up:
2. Angel View
3. Goodwill
4. Plato’s Closet
5. Unity Home
Best Furniture Store
Mathis Brothers
Runners up:
2. Revivals
3. Ashley HomeStore
4. Mor Furniture for Less
5. West Elm
Best Antiques/Collectibles Store
Misty’s Consignments
Runners up:
2. Victoria’s Attic
3. The Estate Sale Co.
Best Jeweler/Jewelry Store
Tiffany and Co.
Runners up:
2. El Paseo Jewelers
3. Leeds and Son
4. Hephaestus
Best Hair Salon
J. Russell! The Salon
Runners up:
2. Brush Palm Springs
3. Dishwater Blonde Salon
4. Wondercuts Inc.
5. Alankara, an Aveda Lifestyle Salon
Best Spa in a Resort/Hotel
The Spa at Desert Springs (JW Marriott)
Runners up:
2. Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa
3. Two Bunch Palms
4. Miracle Springs Resort and Spa
5. Feel Good Spa at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Best Day Spa (Non-Resort/Hotel)
Revive Wellness Center
Runners up:
2. Studio M Salon and Spa
3. Desert Serenity Float and Spa
4. Bliss Chakra Spa
Best Florist
My Little Flower Shop
Runners up:
2. Indio Florist
3. The Flower Company
4. Mami’s Floral Boutique
5. Vaso Bello Celebrations
Best Tattoo Parlor
Bloodline Tattoo and Body Piercing
Runners up:
2. Anarchy and Ink Tattoo
3. Oasis Tattoo and Body Piercing
4. Strata Tattoo Lab
5. Solid Tattoo
Best Eyeglass/Optical Retailer
Costco
Runners up:
2. Milauskas Eye Institute
3. Desert Vision Optometry
4. America’s Best
5. Panache Optical Gallery
Outside!
Best Public Garden
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Sunnylands
3. Moorten’s Botanical Garden
4. Shields Date Garden
5. El Paseo
Best Place for Bicycling
Joshua Tree
Runners up:
2. Tahquitz Creek Loop
3. Bear Creek Path (La Quinta)
4. Palm Canyon Epic
Best Recreation Area
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. Mount San Jacinto State Park (Top of the Tram)
3. Tahquitz Canyon
4. Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area
5. Cathedral City Town Square
Best Hike
Bump and Grind Trail
Runners up:
2. Tahquitz Canyon Trail
3. La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla Trail
4. Ladder Canyon Trail
5. South Lykken Trail
Best Park
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Civic Center Park
3. Ruth Hardy Park
4. Demuth Park
5. Sunrise Park
Best Outdoor/Camping Gear Store
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Runners up:
2. Dick’s Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
Best Bike Shop
Palm Springs Cyclery
Runners up:
2. Joel’s Bicycle Shop
3. Tri-A-Bike
4. BikeMan
5. Pedego Electric Bikes
Best Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runners up:
2. Big 5 Sporting Goods
3. Yellow Mart
Best Public Golf Course
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Runners up:
2. Palm Desert Country Club
3. SilverRock Resort
4. The Lights at Indio GC
5. Classic Club Golf
For the Kids
Best Playground
Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Runners up:
2. La Quinta Civic Center Park
3. Demuth Park
4. Ruth Hardy Park
5. Ironwood Park
Best Place to Buy Toys
Target
Runners up:
2. Walmart
3. Mr. G’s Toys and Expressions
4. The Lumpy Bunny
Best Kids’ Clothing Store
Old Navy
Runners up:
2. The Children’s Place
3. Carter’s
4. Gap
5. Crazy 8
Best Restaurant for Kids
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Runners up:
2. Shakey’s Pizza
3. Red Robin
4. Old Spaghetti Factory
5. Laser Oasis
Best Place for Family Fun
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Runners up:
2. Boomers
3. Laser Oasis
4. Get Air Trampoline Park
5. Escape Room Palm Springs
Best Place for a Birthday Party
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Runners up:
2. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
3. Laser Oasis
4. Get Air Trampoline Park
5. Shakey’s Pizza
Food and Restaurants
Best Casual Eats
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Eureka!
4. TRIO Restaurant
5. Bongo Johnny’s
Best Caterer
Lulu California Bistro
Runners up:
2. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
3. Katherine King Catering and Special Events
4. TRIO/Liquid Catering
5. Lynn Hammond
Best Diner
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Goody’s Cafe
3. Keedy’s Fountain Grill
4. Rick’s Restaurant
5. Sunshine Café
Best Organic Food Store
Trader Joe’s
Runners up:
2. Sprouts Farmers Market
3. Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods
4. Whole Foods
5. Nature’s Health Food and Cafe
Best Delicatessen
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
Runners up:
2. TKB Bakery and Deli
3. Manhattan in the Desert
4. Real Italian Deli
Best Custom Cakes
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Runners up:
2. Over the Rainbow
3. Pastry Swan Bakery
4. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
5. Jensen’s Foods
Best Desserts
Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
Runners up:
2. Nothing Bundt Cakes
3. Pastry Swan Bakery
4. French Corner Café
5. Over the Rainbow
Best Ice Cream/Shakes
Cold Stone Creamery
Runners up:
2. Ben and Jerry’s
3. Great Shakes
4. Lappert’s Ice Cream
5. Kreem
Best Date Shake
Shields Date Garden
Runners up:
2. Hadley’s
3. Oasis Date Gardens
4. Great Shakes
Best Frozen Yogurt
Yogurtland
Runners up:
2. Tutti Frutti
3. Beach House
4. Jus Chillin’
5. Eddie’s Frozen Yogurt
Best Bakery
TKB Bakery and Deli
Runners up:
2. Aspen Mills
3. French Corner Café
4. Carousel Bakery
5. Peninsula Pastries
Best Barbecue
Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
Runners up:
2. Jackalope Ranch
3. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
4. Smoke Tree BBQ
5. Zobo and Meester’s
Best Burgers
Café 54 at Augustine Casino
Runners up:
Tyler’s Burgers
Grill A Burger
Eureka!
Bongo Johnny’s
Best Veggie Burger
Native Foods Café
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. King’s Highway at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
4. TIE
Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
Bongo Johnny’s
Best Sandwich
TKB Bakery and Deli
Runners up:
2. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
3. The Sandwich Spot
4. Manhattan in the Desert
5. Real Italian Deli
Best Pizza
Bill’s Pizza
Runners up:
2. Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
3. Blaze Pizza
4. Giuseppe’s Pizza and Pasta
5. Piero’s PizzaVino
Best Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings
Runners up:
2. Wingstop
3. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
4. Smoke Tree BBQ
5. Jackalope Ranch
Best Bagels
Panera Bread
Runners up:
2. Townie Bagels
3. Sherman’s Deli and Bakery
4. Manhattan in the Desert
5. Bristol Farms
Best Smoothies
TIE
Fresh Juice Bar
Jamba Juice
Runners up:
3. Juice It Up
4. Koffi
5. Palm Greens Café
Best Buffet
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Grand Palms Buffet Agua Caliente
3. Fresh Grill Buffet at Fantasy Springs
4. Oasis Buffet at Spa Resort Casino
5. Potrero Canyon Buffet at Morongo
Best Local Coffee Roaster
Koffi
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Coffee Co.
3. Joshua Tree Coffee Company
Best Coffee Shop
Koffi
Runners up:
2. Starbucks
3. IW Coffee
4. Ristretto
5. Joey Palm Springs
6. Sip Coffee House and Juice Bar
Best Breakfast
Broken Yolk Café
Runners up:
2. Elmer’s
3. Wilma and Frieda’s
4. Keedy’s Fountain Grill
5. Rick’s Restaurant
Best California Cuisine
Lulu California Bistro
Runners up:
2. Acqua California Bistro
3. Kaiser Grille
4. TRIO Restaurant
5. Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms
Best Brunch
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Wilma and Frieda’s
3. Broken Yolk Cafe
4. Escena Lounge and Grill
5. Bongo Johnny’s
Best Chinese
P.F. Chang’s
2. JOY at Fantasy Springs
3. City Wok
4. Bobby Mao’s Chinese Kitchen and Bar
5. New Fortune Asian Cuisine
Best Greek
Greek Islands Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Nina’s Greek Cuisine
3. Athena Gyro
4. Evzin Mediterranean Cuisine
5. Koutouki Greek Estiatoro
Best French
Le Vallauris Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Si Bon
3. L’Atelier Café
4. Cuistot Restaurant
5. Joey Palm Springs
Best Indian
Monsoon Indian Cuisine
Runners up:
2. India Oven
3. Sam’s Indian Food and Pizza
Best Italian
Nicolino’s Italian Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Ristorante Mamma Gina
3. Ciro’s Ristorante and Pizzeria
4. Il Corso
5. Venezia Restaurant and Pizzeria
Best Japanese
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Runners up:
2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
3. Shogun Restaurant
4. Shabu Shabu Zen
5. Otori Japanese Cuisine
Best Korean
Maru Korean B.B.Q. and Grill
Runners up:
2. JOY at Fantasy Springs
3. Umami Seoul
Best Sushi
Dragon Sushi
Runners up:
2. Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar
3. Sam’s Sushi
4. Misaki Sushi and Grill
5. The Venue Sushi Bar and Sake Lounge
Best Seafood
Fisherman’s Market and Grill
Runners up:
2. Café 54 at Augustine Casino
3. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant
4. Mitch’s on El Paseo
5. Roy’s
Best Steaks/Steakhouse
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Runners up:
2. LG’s Prime Steakhouse
3. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
4. The Steakhouse at the Spa Resort Casino
5. Chop House at Jackalope Ranch
Best Thai
Thai Smile Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. My Thai
3. Pepper’s Thai Cuisine
4. Le Basil
5. Thai House
Best Vietnamese
Pho Vu
Runners up:
2. Rooster and the Pig
3. 533 Viet Fusion
4. Fuzion Five
5. Watercress Vietnamese Bistro
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Native Foods Café
Runners up:
2. Palm Greens Café
3. Chef Tanya’s Kitchen
4. Wildest Greens
5. Luscious Lorraine’s
Best Upscale Dining
Spencer’s Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Morton’s The Steakhouse
3. Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge
4. Wally’s Desert Turtle
5. Johannes
Best Outdoor Seating
Jackalope Ranch
Runners up:
2. The Tropicale
3. Lulu California Bistro
4. Spencer’s Restaurant
5. Copley’s on Palm Canyon
Best Late-Night Restaurant
Café 54 at the Augustine Casino
Runners up:
2. Lulu California Bistro
3. Eureka!
4. King’s Highway at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
5. Bongo Johnny’s
Best Mexican
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
3. Rincon Norteno
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. La Tablita
Best Salsa
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Rincon Norteno
3. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. Pueblo Viejo
Best Burrito
Las Casuelas Terraza
Runners up:
2. Chipotle
3. Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
4. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
5. Casa Blanca
Spirits and Nightlife
Best Beer Selection
Yard House
Runners up:
2. Burgers and Beer
3. The Beer Hunter
4. Eureka!
5. Amigo Room at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club
Best Local Brewery
La Quinta Brewing Co.
Runners up:
2. Coachella Valley Brewing Co.
3. Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse
Best Place to Play Billiards
The Hood Bar and Pizza
Runners up:
2. The Beer Hunter
3. Neil’s Lounge
4. Big Rock Pub
5. Red Barn
Best Cocktail Menu
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. TRIO Restaurant
3. Tonga Hut
4. Seymour’s
5. Truss and Twine
Best Craft Cocktails
TRIO Restaurant
Runners up:
2. Bootlegger Tiki
3. Seymour’s
4. Purple Palm Restaurant at the Colony Palms
5. Truss and Twine
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar/Club
Toucan’s Tiki Lounge
Runners up:
2. Chill Bar Palm Springs
3. Hunters
4. Blackbook
5. Bongo Johnny’s
Best Happy Hour
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. Stuft Pizza
3. La Quinta Cliffhouse
4. Lulu California Bistro
5. Jackalope Ranch
Best Dive Bar
The Hood Bar and Pizza
Runners up:
2. Neil’s Lounge
3. Red Barn
4. Plan B Live Entertainment and Cocktails
5. Score
Best Margarita
TIE
Las Casuelas Terraza
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill
Runners up:
3. Blue Coyote Grill
4. El Mirasol
5. Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill
Best Martini
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. Sullivan’s Steakhouse
3. Lulu California Bistro
4. Purple Room Palm Springs
5. Zin American Bistro
Best Nightclub
Copa Palm Springs
Runners up:
2. The Nest
3. Zelda’s
4. Hunters
5. Costa’s Nightclub at the JW Marriott Desert Springs
Best Sports Bar
TIE
The Beer Hunter
Burgers and Beer
Runners up:
3. Big Rock Pub
4. Playoffs Sports Bar
5. Smokin’ Burgers
Best Wine Bar
Mastro’s Steakhouse
Runners up:
2. La Fe Wine Bar
3. Dead or Alive
4. Zin American Bistro
5. Counter Reformation at the Parker Palm Springs
Best Wine/Liquor Store
BevMo!
Runners up:
2. Total Wine and More
3. Desert Wines and Spirits (Go Deli)
4. The Wine Emporium
5. Larry’s Gourmet Market and Deli
Best Bar Ambiance
The Tropicale
Runners up:
2. TRIO Restaurant
3. Dead or Alive
4. Paul Bar/Food
5. Counter Reformation at the Parker Palm Springs
A Family Matter: Avenida Music's Success Has Been Part of the Plan Since Before Most of the Members Were Even Born
November 26 2018For Avenida Music—voted as the Best Local Band by readers of the Independent in the annual Best of Coachella Valley poll—music revolves around family.
The band includes three brothers—and may be the only local group to be the subject of a song by another local band (Frank Eats the Floor). Avenida Music has played all over Southern California for weddings and corporate events, and has a weekly residency at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells.
When I sat down with Josiah Gonzalez (piano/synth), he told me some fascinating stories about the musical journey that led to the formation of Avenida Music.
“The band is composed of two of my brothers (Vincent and Samuel), myself and Sean Poe (also of the Hive Minds),” Josiah Gonzalez said. “My brothers and I have been playing music together since we were 9 years old. My dad scrounged money together to get us lessons and instruments, and we were playing in church or just for fun. We’ve been playing for about 15 years together.
“We all found ourselves back in the Coachella Valley after college and decided we should continue to play. It started as a cover gig for my aunt’s birthday party; she wanted us to play some Beatles tunes. We liked doing it so much that we started playing with friends and playing in garages in 2015. We had no idea what we were doing and were just looking for some gigs playing covers.”
Avenida, like some other local bands, is named after an element of a local neighborhood.
“We spent the first two or three months playing in a garage trying to come up with a name. We couldn’t come up with anything anybody liked,” Josiah Gonzalez said. “We went through 50 or 60 different options no one could agree on. We were originally playing in Cathedral City, and every other street is called Avenida something. We thought, ‘Why not Avenida?’ It stuck.”
While Avenida Music started off playing covers, it is not just a cover band … although when you see “Avenida Music” on the bill, you should expect covers.
“We do have original music. We made an interesting pivot after we picked up Sean,” Josiah Gonzalez said. “We started playing covers and original stuff, but it was hard to differentiate. … When we started making more money as a cover band, we decided we really needed to focus on that. We wrote our five-year plan based on the idea we’d play corporate gigs and weddings. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been writing original stuff—and that’s what we’ve been working on right now in side projects not named Avenida Music. We really try to separate the two to remain consistent in what we do as a band.”
The Gonzalez brothers had no choice but to play music growing up.
“That was predetermined. Literally: Before we were born, our parents decided what instruments we were going to play, and when they were going to have us,” Josiah said. “They knew they wanted a quartet that had a piano, bass, drums and a sax. They ended up with four boys (each) two years apart. … My dad has been a minister for most of his life, and he would do jobs for people, saying, ‘I’ll do your landscaping for free if you teach my son how to play piano.’ That’s how he got all of us lessons. We’d come out of the womb, and two years later, they’d be introducing us to the instrument as if it was propaganda, like, ‘Isn’t the piano great?’ We all ended up playing those instruments, and we all still do play those instruments.
“They didn’t let us quit. I tried to quit piano a couple of times, and my parents said, ‘We’re sorry, but that’s not really an option.’ I’m grateful in retrospect. They made sure to tell me, ‘We work really hard to make to get you these lessons, and this is something you will carry with you for the rest of your life.’”
The Gonzalez brothers’ parents believed music would help instill character.
“I remember being really scared, because they were making me play in a convalescent home. I got really mad and said I didn’t want to be playing in convalescent homes and church events for old ladies,” Josiah said. “I was about 11 or 12, and my dad told me, ‘I didn’t work this hard to get you these lessons so you could go hide in a corner and play by yourself. Your job is to go use this gift you have to help other people.’ To this day, that is one of the things I remember. … It made an impression on me, and it really resonated as to why we still play music today. The reason we play is not for us; whatever we have is to be used to bless other people.”
Josiah Gonzalez said he was surprised to learn Avenida Music had been voted Best Local Band.
“We were blown away when we were nominated and when we won,” he said. “We have a big family; my dad has six brothers and sisters, as well as a lot of cousins. But I think more than anything, we’ve really tried to be as supportive of other musicians as much as possible, and we’re really grateful, because some people reciprocated that and voted for us. … We’re really grateful that people appreciate what we do and the music we do.”
Avenida Music will perform at the Best of Coachella Valley Awards Party at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Copa Nightclub, 244 E. Amado Road, in Palm Springs. Admission is free. For more information on Avenida Music, visit www.littlestreetmusic.com.
The Kids Are Alright: Frank Eats the Floor's Matt King, 17, Is Pleasantly Surprised to Be the Readers' Choice as the Best Local Musician
November 26 2018Matt King of Frank Eats the Floor was shocked when he learned he was voted Best Local Musician by the readers of the Coachella Valley Independent—beating out local greats including Giselle Woo and last year’s winner, John Stanley King.
After all, King is not even out of high school yet—but it goes to show how Frank Eats the Floor is quickly developing an enthusiastic fan base.
King credits his older brother for spurring his interest in music.
“When I was 5 or 6, my brother played in this metal band called Fistful of Glass, and there are pictures and videos of me sitting on the front porch behind the drum set,” King said. “Music has been an integral part of my life, whether I’ve been watching it or listening to it—or in recent years, playing it. I always wanted something to do within music, and I started my record collection when I was 12. I went to my first concert at 14. My love for music really started when my brother showed me the Beatles.”
King and I discussed his influences, and he was extremely attentive when I suggested some musicians and bands for him to check out.
“The Beatles influenced me for sure. There was a point in time I knew all of their songs and no songs by other bands,” he said. “I started to branch out, and I went from The Beatles to hip hop and rap. I listen to Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye and all of that.
“When I first started playing bass, I was trying to emulate pop and hip-hop beats into my bass-playing. When I met the rest of the guys in Frank Eats the Floor, they expanded my mind and showed me all these other bands, like Primus and The Doors, that have shaped my style.”
King said he easily related to the bass guitar.
“Les Claypool of Primus has this great quote about how the bass was just the crown he picked out of the box, and I feel like that relates to me, too,” King said. “My brother played guitar, and the bass-player in the band was not that great, so it made me think, ‘I could do that! It doesn’t seem that hard!’ The bass just sort of found me, I guess.”
King is a senior in high school. I asked him what he plans to study in college, and whether it will be related to music.
“It is application season, and I’ve been trying to get all my stuff together,” he said. “(I am interested in) something along the lines of music, but something I can combine with performing arts, because I’ve been doing drama during my four years of high school as well. It’d be awesome to have music as a path for a career, but one of the problems I’m having now is this success that I’m seeing at 17: Will it translate to 20-year-old me? 30-year-old me? It’s hard to tell, and it’s hard to tell if it’ll translate if I go to Los Angeles, San Diego or somewhere out of state.”
King was said he was humbled to even be a finalist in the Best Local Musician Category.
“I’m huge fans of Sunday Funeral and Justin Ledesma. I love Nick Hales of Sleazy Cortez, Giselle Woo and John Stanley King, and they’re all amazing people in our local music scene,” he said. “I’m really grateful to have been paired with those names, and winning is not setting in with me yet.”
Given that college is approaching, King said the future of Frank Eats the Floor is uncertain.
“We just released our album, and we started promoting it. But as for next July, it’s time for me and Aleks (Romo) to go to college, and that’s what we’ve been talking about,” King said. “We’re trying to make a plan where we’re able to pick this back up every month or every few months and still work as long as everyone is down. But it’s really starting to come down to the time when people grow up and grow out, which happens. The future is uncertain, but I think it’ll work as long as we all put in the work and try to make the Frank Eats the Floor train go for as long as we can.”
King said he’s enjoying the ride on that aforementioned Frank Eats the Floor train.
“Being onstage in drama is fun, but being onstage playing music and singing my songs is a step above,” he said. “My favorite memories of high school are kids coming up to me, saying, ‘Hey! You’re in that band, Frank Eats the Floor! “School Food Sucks!”’ Aleks doesn’t like to own up to it that much, but I think it’s cool being in high school and playing in a band. The only downside would be the fact that we were sort of looked down upon by some of the people around here, saying, ‘You can’t play this venue! You’re too young!’ Some people say that we’re just a novelty act. But we’re just having fun right now.”
Frank Eats the Floor will perform as part of the CV Music Showcase at 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, at The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74360 Highway 111, in Palm Desert. Admission is free. For more information on Frank Eats the Floor, visit frankeatsthefloorfetf.bandcamp.com.
A Note From the Editor: Best of Coachella Valley Final-Round Voting Is Under Way; Newspapers Earn a Victory on Tariffs
September 26 2018Some items worth noting as we head into the much-welcomed fall season:
• Thanks to all of you who voted in the first round of our Best of Coachella Valley 2018-2019 readers’ poll.
Whether you voted or not in the first round … well, now’s your chance to vote in the second and final round!
The top three to six finalists (five, in most cases) from the first round are now up for your consideration at CVIndependent.com. Polls are open through Monday, Oct. 29.
Unlike other “Best Of” contests ’round these parts, for the Best of Coachella Valley, we only ask you to vote once per round. While a goal of other “Best Ofs” is for their sponsoring publications to get as much web traffic as possible from people visiting their websites over and over again, we’d rather have everyone vote just one time, so our list of winners can be as fair and accurate as possible.
The winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 26, at CVIndependent.com, and in our December 2018 print edition.
Thanks. Now … go vote!
• A few months ago, I used this space to mention the tariffs that had been placed on imported Canadian newsprint—and how those tariffs were so severe that they were threatening the survival of many U.S. newspapers, because some publications’ print bills were being jacked up by as much as 30-40 percent as a result. (The Independent’s print bill had “only” gone up about 12 percent … which is painful nonetheless.) I also asked concerned readers to contact our elected officials to encourage them to fight these tariffs—which were being requested by just one U.S. paper manufacturer, owned by a private-equity firm.
These tariffs were truly unfair and misguided. If all five U.S. paper mills that make newsprint operated at full capacity (due to the decline in the newspaper industry, there aren’t as many as there used to be), they couldn’t come close to producing enough newsprint for U.S. newspapers.
Well, I have some good news to report: The United States International Trade Commission, after hearing from a number of concerned members of Congress, overturned the tariffs in late August.
Thanks to all of you who heeded the call and spoke out against these tariffs.
Be sure to pick up the October 2018 print edition of the Coachella Valley Independent, hitting news stands this week. As always, thanks for reading; if you have questions or feedback, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..