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Literally.
Residents and visitors have been clamoring all over the highway and side roads and Joshua Tree National Park, with cameras in hand, to witness our spring wildflower bloom this year. After several disappointing drought years, it’s nice to be back in the blooming (and tourism) business again. Tiny, colorful wildflowers are popping up as fast as...
...As fast as new annuals are sprouting on the Morongo Basin events calendar.
It’s an old joke for locals, but here we go again. Just look at all the fests and fund-raisers planned for May this year!
...As fast as Simi Dabah steel sculptures are planted in the hi-desert.
From the front of California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley, to the wall of Desert Ranch Market in Twentynine Palms (which complements the one across the street on Wonder Garden), to the middle of Turtle Island in Joshua Tree. I’m losing count. Dozens. Now there’s a new military memorial sculpture planned for City Hall park in 29. Is there no end to this man’s creative lifeforce?
...As fast as women are growing fit and joining the new Curves revolution. According to Sharon Collins,
practically on the wall of the new Curves in Twentynine Palms. Between that and the Curves in Yucca Valley and Barbara Dunn’s group who use the Fit for Women studio in Himalaya Plaza and Cindy Daigneault’s women friends who go
to Max Thomas’ Living Yoga of the Desert, our female population is destined to grow healthy and en-lightened this spring.
...As fast as realtors are selling property in Twentynine Palms and new construction is being planned.
The average house is said to stay on the market about three days. And now we’re awaiting the first new subdivisions since 1991. Three new housing developments are on the horizon (pun intended), with at least one “gated community.” Sheesh. Like, 132 homes here, 200 there, starting at $90,000 here, $130,000 there ... and they said it couldn’t happen here. Thank goodness Huell Howser finally purchased that acreage across from his quiet home, or the original 1997 gag (where devious friends created a mock construction zone, complete with site flags and signs announcing a high-rise, multi-family condo complex destined for that land—to which Huell reacted with a near heart attack) wouldn’t be such a funny joke anymore.
...As fast as George Croft and Rocky Moore appear to be remodeling as many downtown commercial buildings on the
highway as they can get their hands on. Then there’s that gigantic front entrance remodel at the Library, and a new motel next to Holiday Inn Express. And how about that Palms Southern Baptist bunch?
Looks like they’re building a replica of the entire Crystal Cathedral on Adobe Road, for heaven’s sake. Height restrictions? I certainly hope they will pray to God through glass windows between the steel girders so I can still see the mountain vista when I drive by.
...As fast as artists are moving to the “A- List” Hill in Wonder Valley. Well, that’s another story.
Suffice it to say, they are snapping up cabins and weed (err, wildflower) ladden acres by the handful. Any fixer-upper on a dirt road is fair game these days. Who needs “shack attack”? Put a price on it and let the artists come in and do the work—creating an art colony in peaceful wonderland.
...As fast as I can admit that I can’t keep up with all the changes anymore. Sigh. Perhaps I’ll just enjoy
a few wildflowers as I wander over for a quiet cocktail with T.J. and J.P. at the 29 Palms Inn. Ahh. Speaking of which…
You never know who you’re going to run into at the 29 Palms Inn.
A haven for years for visiting celebs, you might spot a TV actor from CSI, a New York artist, a movie hero, a musician, a writer, or a film crew and models for a photo shoot. Recording artists Brent Lewis and Eric Burdon often meet for an early dinner near the bar. Peter Sprague came up from L.A. with his jazz entourage to provide a Sunday jam session in March. That same weekend, singer/songwriter and folk legend Joni Mitchell was frequently spotted sitting at a table by the pool, smoking a cigarette and enjoying a quiet weekend with family at the Inn. Hollywood hairstylist and singer/guitarist Jeffrey Hafler, owner of the Beauty Bubble in Wonder Valley, has started performing for Sunday brunch 12 to 3 p.m. and may play some Friday night gigs. Jazz musicians Beverly Derby and Bill Church play jazz poolside on Sunday evenings, and locals like “Guitar Dog” Ken Schmelling play on Saturday nights. There’s always something happening. For rooms or dinner you need reservations (760-367-3505), but the bar is always open. Tell ‘em The
Sun Runner sent you.
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