Desert Notes by Barry Lopez
When Leonardo Bravo, director of Education and Public Programs at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center suggested that the Desert Book Club meet at the museum, I jumped at the chance. When I suggested that he make the monthly desert book selection, Desert Notes by Barry Lopez was mentioned, a small but powerful volume which I have found highly satifying.
Due to the fact that none of us wants to drive down highway 62 with the sun in our eyes, we will meet at 3:00 in the afternoon on Monday, May 1st. If there is a line at the nearest Trader Joe’s or Bev Mo, I realize some of you could be a bit late. Since art museums are typically a bit fussy about eating and drinking in their galleries, we will be working on an arrangement that suits our needs, so don’t forget the drinks and snacks. Also, bring a folding chair if you have one.
To get to the museum from downtown JT, take hwy. 62 West and turn left on Indian Canyon at the bottom of the hill. Drive into Palm Springs and turn right on E. Alejo and then left on Palm Canyon where it becomes a one way street. The museum will be on your left at 300 South Palm Canyon Drive right after W. Baristo Rd. Keep an eye out for Lulu restaurant one block before. I’ll have a white Book Club sign in the driveway. See you at the museum! —Kip
Every month from October 2014 until March 2020, Kip’s Desert Book Club gathered on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in the home of a different resident of the Morongo Basin to discuss a book that in one way or another touches on the theme of “desert”.
Since the start of the pandemic, Kip has been hard at work making renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms at Copper Mountain Mesa Community Center, where he is the board President, and keeping their monthly USDA food drive alive. During this time, Kip’s Desert Book Club had largely been on pause, with the exception of a few virtual meetings. These virtual gatherings allowed us to welcome the participation of book club fans from beyond our local region.
Sixty-six books, more than seven years, and one pandemic later, Kip has decided to step back from being the primary book club organizer and join the rest of us as readers. Kip, we thank you for all the wonderful and eclectic desert books you’ve chosen over the years, as well as the unforgettable stories and knowledge you continue to share (if you know, you know!)
So, we are excited to announce that beginning in January 2022, our in-person book club will resume as the Desert Research Library Book Club (or DRL Book Club, for short). Each month, a member of the current Desert Research Library Artist Cohort will select a book from the library as that month’s book club selection.
