It now has a holistic-health approach and offers “sound baths” as well as tours. Aliens gave him the design instructions, allegedly. This “acoustically perfect” dome was built by ufologist George Van Tassell in the late 1950s, who had grand plans for rejuvenation – and time travel. Nerves about my impending open-mic performance were building but I’d promised myself a stop at the Integratron, in Landers, 15 miles from Joshua Tree. Cool and charismatic owner Jeff Hafler showed me around a space that still offers hairdos but is also Americana nirvana, packed with vintage, kooky and kitsch hairdressing products and advertising dating to the 1900s. But the standout was the Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum. Afterwards, I strolled around the town’s arty, independent stores and galleries, including Art Queen, the World Famous Crochet Museum, Space Cowboy books and Zannedelions boutique. The late-lunch crowd at the Natural Sisters Cafe in Joshua Tree town was just as mixed as at my breakfast pitstop and, like at the Frontier Café and nearby Crossroads eatery, it has many vegetarian and vegan options: the tofu sandwich ($8.99) was almost as epic as the park’s boulders. The stories of their endurance and ingenuity were humbling. George explained how its owners, Bill Keys and his wife Frances, managed to survive early-20th-century life in this unforgiving environment. There are also ranger-guided tours of Keys Ranch (adult $10, child $5), which for me was a highlight. The wisdom of rangers is available to all: the park arranges talks, artist-led presentations and storytelling sessions ( ), plus a night sky festival in November. Local artists’ photos were on the cafe walls, and the place also hosts improv nights and gigs. Outside, a barefoot singer was plucking his guitar inside, painters talked to each other about an exhibition and tourists consulted maps. If anything, though, my Pappy and Harriet’s tale was more interesting second time around – when I was to play its open-mic night (see below).įour miles away in Yucca Valley, the Frontier Café (breakfasts from $3, sandwiches and salads from $8) was an amalgam of desert life: a bit of everything, with a side order of free spirit. He recommended the Joshua Tree saloon for more shows, while a friend suggested checking out Boring Desert’s Facebook page for gig news. During a break, I chatted to their drummer about the local scene. I moseyed over for dinner and as I ate grilled salmon and sides of red rice and mac ’n’ cheese ($24) – almost everything here is cooked on huge outdoor smokers – I watched the house band. Next door to the motel is Pappy and Harriet’s, a restaurant and bar, that is also a 350-capacity music venue that Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Arctic Monkeys have used for warm-up gigs and secret shows. Check-in office for the Pioneertown Motel.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |