What Happens In Palm Springs…

…does not always stay in Palm Springs. Take Robert Downey Jr. at the Merv Griffith resort in 2000. And now CSI actor Gary Dourdan was found in PS with a grip of drugs of various types, following what was probably a “rock-out-with-your-cock-out” weekend at Coachella. Anyone who watches “Cops” on a regular basis knows that Palm Springs LEOs have a keen eye for drug users. You can’t ride a bike with a backpack of pizzos, rigs, knives and burglary tools for more than a block without getting pulled over.

Gary was booked and released after posting $5000 bail and posing for this picture.

Only a drill, people!

That incident at 9th and Vine was a simulation of a hazmat incident. Multiple agencies participated in the event, which lasted from 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm.

Stay away from the 91 and La Sierra this weekend. All westbound lanes and the east bound car pool lane from 11:00 pm on Friday until 5:00 am Saturday. Then its the opposite on Saturday night until 7:00 am Sunday morning. This is due to the ongoing La Sierra Overpass Project.

Indio’s ready for Coachella. A day and 12 hours at this writing. I better get my ass to bed.

Practical Coachella

These ehow.com facts are from 2007 but still could pass the test of time and help you out while you’re hitting the booze, babes and blazing hot sun at the Coachella Arts and Music Festival in a couple of weeks.

Finding a clean port o’potty is not the easiest thing but Kampy has some suggestions, such as using the ones farther into the row o’ potties. I’ve found this to be true as well. The drunkards rush to the ones in front and spew/pee/dribble/destroy the ones right up in front in their haste to make waste. He also makes a good point for baby wipes, which I swear by. Those work for so many things, they should be included in a partier’s Swiss Army knife. He also includes those for staying clean and suggests bringing deodorant. Your friends and fellow partiers will thank you. You will thank you. A bikini top and breathable shorts, covered by a light cotton shirt and probably some comfortable tennies worked for me. I wore flip flops before but my toes practically all fell off my feet by the end of the day. Ouch to that little blister that forms between your toes – especially when beer and sweat drips into it and makes it angry. Follow some of this advice and you might even find love.

Last but not least, keep track of where you park and don’t lose your car.  I’ve had to take a cab back to find my car once.  Ugh.  Avoid traffic jams.

More to follow. Share your tips as well!

Countdown to Coachella

Coachella is quickly approaching. Did you get your ticket(s)? I did want to go, especially with the Fox to see Jack Johnson (her heart throb), but single day tickets are sold out. The only thing available is a 3 day pass for $269+ Then you have to consider hotels, food, booze money – a small fortune.

I’ve been to Coachella before, in 2001 and 2003, and although the bands were really good, both times it was hot and dusty and crowded. I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to see because the sets were overlapping and it was a nightmare trying to navigate through the place. I had a great time both times but I just wasn’t jumping through hoops or going out of my way to get tickets this time, knowing what it would be like. Still, Jack Johnson hardly tours our way and I know the Fox would have loved to see him.

If you go, take pictures and send them my way. And have fun, use a condom and no drinking and driving!

The Date Festival Is Here, and The Woes of A F***’d Foot

Have you been looking forward to the annual Riverside County Date Festival? It starts today and my friend Lee and I were thinking of going, either to see Lee Ann Rimes or Blues Traveler. I don’t really know Lee Ann’s music but she’s famous. Damn it, why does it have to be so far away though? It’s 73 miles!

And curse this foot! It’s like having a ball and chain attached to me. I want to post a picture of its Frankensteinian-ness but I won’t do that here. It could be in my Flickr later on though, so be warned. I took a bath today, dangling it over the side so it didn’t get wet. It, meaning my foot.

I guess this kicks off the Inland Empire/Desert festival series, which includes Coachella and the Stagecoach Festival. I’ve been to Coachella a couple of times, but the last time I went it was hot and crowded and the 10 dollar Heinekens were not pleasing. Plus we had no idea where we parked our car and had to take a cab from the festival to find it. Last year, we got free Stagecoach Festival tickets from our friend and wanted to go specifically to see Willie Nelson but no one wanted to go and I didn’t want to go alone. *punching self in face* I should have been there. Maybe this year. John Fogerty is going to be there (love Creedence!) and the Eagles. Well, g’damn, it looks like everyone’s going to be there. I’m not as much of country western fan as some, but it looks like it would be a good show if I were.