December 2012

Taste of South Italy Comes to North Palm Springs

JIM POWERS

Chef Giuseppi Panetta and partner Stafford Fredericks attach a family feel to serving its customers at Mookie's Pizza Sandwiches and More.

10 Places to Ring in 2013

Jim Powers

Here's our starter list for where to go on New Year's Eve in the Coachella Valley to celebrate 2013.

Family Ties Push Realism of 'The Impossible'

Ebony March

Naomi Watts, who will be honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival's Gala Awards for her role in 'The Impossible' on Jan. 5, was inspired by the real-life family.

Festival Slate Includes Top Foreign Language Films

Festival-goers can view 8 of the 9 films selected to advance in the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 85th Academy Awards.

Supporting Local Non-Profits, One Deal at a Time

Marissa Willman

Palm Springs native Jeremy Roos creates an online deal network, Save2Give Deals, to benefit local charities and schools.

Lou Christie Takes Over Follies Reign in January

The singer whose signature falsetto voice fashioned the multi-million dollar selling hit, "Lightnin' Strikes", will star in The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.

Weekend Planner: Mayan Calendar, Christmas Music, Bob Hope

JIM POWERS

The Weekend Planner helps plan out your weekend in Palm Springs and the desert resort cities with concerts, events, restaurants, nightlife, clubs and the world of entertainment only found in the desert.

Palm Springs Becomes Home to Couple's Jewelry Shop

Carolyn Moloshco

Don and Mary Kelly have brought their passion for Tahitian black pearls, and other exotic South Sea and Asian pearls to Oasis Gallery in Palm Springs.

Film Festival Honors Les Misérables Director, 'Life of Pi' Composer

Tom Hooper will receive the Sonny Bono Visionary Award; Mychael Danna earns Frederick Lowe Composing award.

Peter Webster Helps Roberto Coin Celebrate 1st Year on El Paseo

JIM POWERS

The co-owner and president of Roberto Coin helped mark the one-year anniversary of the luxury jewelry boutique store on El Paseo.

Top 12 Places to Eat Out on Christmas Day

JIM POWERS

Palm Springs has plenty of out-of-town visitors, and that means several restaurant options on Christmas Day.

Film Festival Selects Richard Gere for Chairman Award

Ben Affleck, George Clooney, Dustin Hoffman and Nicole Kidman have been past recipients.

Helen Reddy Returns to the Stage

Ebony March

Her emblematic "I am Woman" literally made history and forever attached her to the feminist movement.

Barry Manilow Cancels Tonight's Concert due to Connecticut School Shooting

JIM POWERS

To honor the victims of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., the Palm Spring singer's 'Gift of Love" concert tonight has been rescheduled to Sunday afternoon.

Top 10 'Most Booked' Restaurants

JIM POWERS

Open Table's monthly ranking puts Trio Restaurant as the 'Most Booked' while Le Vallauris is 'Best Overall'.

Cool Golf Gadget Delivers Swing Info to Your iPhone

JIM POWERS

SwingSmart is a digital swing analysis tool that allows golfers to plug in the data into their iPhone, iPad or iPod to detect and correct flaws in their golf swing.

Weekend Planner: Celtic Woman, Moody Blues, Great Santa Run

JIM POWERS

The Weekend Planner helps plan out your weekend in Palm Springs and the desert resort cities with concerts, events, restaurants, nightlife, clubs and the world of entertainment only found in the desert.

Le Vallauris Achieves Top 100 Open Table Dining List

JIM POWERS

Award reflects the combined opinions of more than 5 million reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 15,000 restaurants across the U.S.

'Let My People Go!'

Ebony March

The film's U.S. debut at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival was an ideal stop for the project.

Colorful Chinese Cloisonné Exhibit Set for Sunnylands

Walter and Lenore Annenberg's collection features a wide range of styles and periods dating from the Ming Dynasty to the 20th century.

Small Hotels Remain Focus of Walking Tour of the Inns

Thursday evening's free tour in downtown Palm Springs starts an hour earlier and offers walkers two starting points.

Let's Talk SHoPS

JIM POWERS

When the Small Hotels of Palm Springs formed in 2004, they created a unified voice that continues to be heard.

Film Festival Picks Bradley Cooper for Acting Award

Joins star-studded list of Desert Palm Achievement Award winners, including Jeff Bridges, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth, Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and John Travolta.

Casa de Frida Brings Latino Cuisine to South Palm Springs

Carolyn Moloshco

Restaurant's menu is inspired by chef's French, Spanish, and Mexican heritage.

Cal State San Beradino Students Create Literary Compilation

"Badlands" publication features original creative fiction, non-fiction and poetry in Spanish and English.

Canada Fest Celebrates Comrades to the North

Sarah Scheideman

More than 300 vendors will turn the Palm Springs Convention Center into a Canadian cultural experience all under one roof.

Morongo Casino Restaurants Gain New Looks

The 11,000-square feet remodeling project involved the existing kitchen and restaurant space along with the outdoor patio.

Film Festival Taps Sally Field for Career Achievement Award

Academy-award winning actress joins a list of previous winners that includes Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren.

Weekend Planner: The Nutcracker, Betty Buckley, Canada Fest

JIM POWERS

The Weekend Planner helps plan out your weekend in Palm Springs and the desert resort cities with concerts, events, restaurants, nightlife, clubs and the world of entertainment only found in the desert.

CV Rep's Plays Engage Students on Touchy Subjects

JIM POWERS

At one point in the play, Tori Thompson looks out at the audience and says, "Do I have a sign painted on my face that says, 'Get me?' "

Thompson, a freshman at La...

'Argo' Ensemble to Receive Film Festival Award

Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston are singled out for their roles in the story behind the Iran hostage crisis.

Lorna Luft Finds 'Follies' Stint Inspirational

JIM POWERS

The daughter of the legendary Judy Garland and Sid Luft, and the half-sister of Liza Minelli, Lorna Luft has created an act very much her own.

Escena Adds Yucca Valley Artist's Sculpture

Steven Rieman's kinetic sculpture, “Wind Wave”, has become an official part of the 450-acre master-planned development.

At the Casinos

When it comes to live entertainment, local casinos rock — literally. Here’s a sampling of what’s hot and happening.

Palm Springs Life Best of the Best

You vote. We reveal. That’s how Best of the Best works. We ask readers and viewers to weigh in weekly at www.palmspringslife.com/best on their favorite people, places, and things in the Coachella Valley.

Canada Fest

Visit more than 200 vendors while celebrating all things Canadian.

A Day With(out) Art

Palm Springs Art Museum joins museums, arts organizations, universities, and AIDS service organizations in recognizing A Day With(out) Art on Dec. 1.

Explore Classic Palm Springs

Stroll through some of Palm Springs’ most celebrated neighborhoods during WALK OF INNS on Dec. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Frolic in a Frosty Wonderland

Get out mittens out and your wool hat. It’s time for a holiday tram adventure. While the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway draws visitors in all seasons, winter is a great time to plan a trip up the mountain.

Get The Party Started!

Joan Page McKenna

Whether you’re in the mood to start the New Year with raucous revelry, family fare, or delectable dining, the Coachella Valley is packed with events to help you ring in 2013 with panache.

Great Last-Minute Gifts & Stocking Stuffers

David A. Lee

Gift-giving plans can go awry, so expect the unexpected. The following suggestions can help you keep your emergency holiday gift stash stocked.

Late-Night Bites

Grab dinner or an appetizer after an evening out. Many local restaurants and bars serve food well into the night and into the wee hours of the morning. Here are a handful of great places that cater to late-night diners.

Palm Springs Opera Guild Gets Vocal

Most desert opera fans know about Opera in the Park — a day of languid alfresco enjoyment and arias in the afternoon. The annual celebration of music and song, presented by Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert, takes place each spring at Sunrise Park in Palm Springs.

Pedal Around the Desert

Bicycle enthusiasts gravitate toward the Coachella Valley for myriad reasons: ideal weather, easy terrain, great sightseeing, a green attitude, great exercise, a growing network of bike paths, and cycle-centric events such as Tour de Palm Springs in February.

Renew the New You

Reinvent yourself in the new year by indulging in some of the area’s finest spas. Enjoy pampering at resort hotels, day spas, and spas built around mineral springs.

Shop Pocket

Tucked in a nondescript strip mall down the road from the many car dealerships in Cathedral City is a collection of gems known as the Perez Art and Design District.

The Art Of Brunch

The desert’s leisurely lifestyle creates an ideal atmosphere for Sunday brunch. Sip champagne and indulge in opulent omelets and poufy pastries.

The Holidays!

Joan Page McKenna

The weather outside is anything but frightful, and Jack Frost may not be nipping at your noses, but the desert is alive with holiday spirit.

The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet The Nutcracker blends fantasy and finesse with masks, mice, a princess, a prince, and, of course, a nutcracker. Enjoy a performance of the Christmas classic performed by Moscow Classical Ballet at McCallum Theatre.

’Tis The Season to Sparkle

Brighten your holidays with entertaining bling. Sparkle: An All-Star Holiday Concert takes the Annenberg Theater stage at Palm Springs Art Museum