Welcome to the second Amado newsletter! Full of things to love and do in the hi desert (™️ forthcoming).
I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be “local.” Ask anyone in a Joshua Tree-based Facebook group, and you will get a wide assortment of opinions. Live here full time? Be a second generation resident? I don’t profess to have the answer; hell, when I moved to the Basin, I was acutely aware of how much shit I might receive for simply arriving.
That’s kind of the beauty of the desert. It belongs to no one and everyone. It is brutal and alive and heartbreakingly exquisite all at the same time. As I come up on my second year anniversary of being a desert resident, I can tell you where to get the best dumpling tacos, sure. But I also am enraged over blatant disregard for Joshua tree preservation, and have also helped raise money for Mon Petit Mojave, and I’m still trying to get up early to love on some puppies. I’m a complex lady with many interests.
Maybe being a local means that: just trying. If you care at all about where you live, whatever degree you start being involved at is a step ahead. Lean in.
Now onto the fun stuff!
HAPPENINGS
Thursday 7/1 - 5pm-11pm: Vinyl Club swings back through 29 Palms, this time setting up shop at Kitchen in the Desert for the night. DJ Denny Bales and special guests promise good vibes and an occasional dance party. If you missed their magic on the 1s and 2s last month at Red Dog Saloon’s opening CA night, here’s your chance to break in that fancy footwork routine you have been working on in quarantine.
Sunday 7/4 - 9am-12pm & 4pm-late: No Worries, Shred Easy Community Skate Day happens in Morongo Valley at Covington Park, with free entrance for all ages. BBQ and skateboarding trick contests are planned throughout the whole day. For more information and community partners, click here.
Sunday 7/4 - 12pm-6pm: it’s the last day to catch “Six Fingered Beast” at La Matadora Gallery, featuring works by Fur Dixon, Gitane Demone, Jill Emery, John Nikolai, Monkey, and Rikk Agnew. Each artist has deep roots in the Los Angeles/NYC/UK punk scene, having collectively played in bands including the Cramps, Hole, Mazzy Star, and The Adolescents. Punks For Pussies (Lifelines For Felines) is also hosting a fundraiser and adoption event July 3 & 4 at the gallery, in conjunction with the closing weekend. What’s more punk than saving a life?
Sunday 7/4 - 6pm-9:30pm: the town of Yucca Valley is moving forward with a 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular and concert series at Brehm Park. Free admission, all ages, and very red, white, and blue. Giveaways, live music, carnival games, and food vendors round out the family-friendly event. Early entry at 6pm, concert 6:45pm, fireworks 9pm. For more info, click here. The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook.
Sunday 7/4 - 7:30pm: The Sunday Band makes its grand re-debut at Pappy & Harriets, picking up pre-COVID jams for a managed-COVID time. What else sounds more appetizing than a solid bowl of mac and cheese alongside some tunes? A quick break on the outside patio watching the sun set over Pioneertown.
DON’T MISS THIS
New sweet treats parlor and best root beer float in town Coyote Cone is holding a “Name Our Coyote Mascot” contest. Entries must be done in person (oh no, do you have to go get ice cream in 105 degree heat?), and only family-friendly names will be considered. Contest closes tomorrow (July 2) at noon, so get those ideas working over a strawberry cone now! Winner receives a gift certificate and sought-after bragging rights.
An art call is live for “Space Is The Place,” the new group exhibition taking place at Gallery 62. Taking inspiration from avant-garde jazz musician and Afro-futurist Sun Ra, anything related to space is fair game: stars, aliens, science fiction and more. Drop off is July 5 and 6 at the gallery, with an opening reception happening next weekend on July 10. For submission criteria, learn more here.
Fantasy wonderland The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is coming live to Theatre 29 for the playhouse’s first in-person performance of the 2021 season. Auditions are on July 5, with opening night scheduled for later this summer on August 20. Whether you aspire to be cast as a woodland creature or Father Christmas, there is something for everyone. Open roles and casting requirements can be found here.
Finally - the Joshua Tree Night Market is expanding to every Saturday for the month of July, updated from its usual cadence of every other weekend. In addition to plentiful goods, wares, and art to survey, make sure you don’t miss pop-up coffee by new roaster Oh Honey Coffee Co. Find them inside the Lucky Lace suite at the Shops at Zanny’s.
SHIT YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT
Everyone seems to be talking about the CNN article I posted above. Googling “defend mojave desert” returns many amazing results about efforts across numerous organizations. From The Desert Cleanse Project to Mojave Desert Land Trust, take 10 minutes today to re-acquaint yourself with why the Joshua tree - the village and park’s namesake - needs attention. A friendly but firm reminder: it is illegal to disturb, move, replant, remove or kill Western Joshua trees, which are a candidate for species under California's Endangered Species Act. There’s nowhere else on earth these guys grow. Don’t end up on Joshua Tree Hates You.
WORTH THE DRIVE
As music is close to my heart, so is the ritual of record shopping. I am blessed to have White Label Vinyl and The Hoodoo down the highway from me, but Palm Desert’s Dale’s Records also holds a candle to the (music) flame.
After Record Alley closed at the end of 2020, former employee Dale Myers stepped in to kickstart a new chapter. From art and music to skateboards and cactus, Dale’s Records is hosting a live show by ‘rock-n-roll and out of control’ Fever Dog on Saturday, July 3 at 7pm. Supporting your local music lover never goes out of style.
That’s it for this edition. Thanks for reading!
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About me:
I’m Jenn, a hi-desert orb since 2019. I moved to Joshua Tree completely independent of the pandemic and now can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Amado in Spanish means “beloved.” It was important to me when naming this newsletter that I focus on the center of it all - events that bring us together. As a new person in a new place, I wanted to immerse myself and get to know the community that would be my support system. In my short time as a local, I have found that the heart of the desert lies in its people - and the way we have formed communities to forge our bonds, especially during COVID-19, has been my own personal saving grace.
I love sharing things that I am interested in, and appreciate you are too! Til the next time.
Amado is published every Thursday. Sign up here so you don’t miss the next issue. Full archive of past newsletters can be accessed here.
Disclaimer: I founded and run The Grand Calavera, an events and production company for hire. Some events listed here from time to time may be special projects I am working on.
Feedback, ideas and more can be sent to thegrandcalavera@gmail.com.
Good issue! Keep it going!!