Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, readers! Whether you're volunteering, cooking a feast at home, eating out (in Palm Springs, maybe!?), or taking it easy on the couch and watching Thanksgiving movies, enjoy!

Check back tomorrow for our picks of the week, from Los Angeles and beyond.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: alfredhitchcockgeek.com

the BEAT of the week: IAMSOUND at the Ace Hotel.

So it's fall. That doesn't mean you're not in need of a vacation. How about a little mini-trip to the desert?

This weekend before Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse for an escape. And hey, there's actually something going on in that desert land of Palm Springs this weekend beyond the bingo games. Local record label IAMSOUND is hosting a showcase at the always-hip Ace Hotel this Saturday and Sunday, urging everyone to come poolside and enjoy some good tunes. In the lineup is one of my favorite new up-and-coming bands, Electric Guest (the frontman is Jorma Taccone's brother!), as well as Sean Bones and Fidlar. And there'll be some DJing, too, of course, with maybe some surprises?

Best part: the showcase with the bands is free for everyone, and the daytime DJ sounds by the pool come with a $16 swim pass. So all you've got to do is get yourself to the desert! As if you needed any more prodding.

The IAMSOUND Showcase takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Ace Hotel, located at 701 E. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Coachella weekend essentials.

You can't be a young person in Los Angeles and not at least acknowledge that Coachella is this weekend. Here's is a list of what you'll need to do it right. If I've missed anything, please leave your suggestions!

Basic road trip skills (a "BEAT" post from yours truly back in October)

Awesome sunglasses

A big hat

Good sunscreen

Comfortable sandals

Plenty of water

A place to hang your hat in the desert

A list of must-see bands, and their set times

... and of course a weekend pass!

Enjoy!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: poorlittleitgirl.com

Advance Notice. Palm Springs film noir festival.

Heading out to the desert for a film noir festival sounds like an excellent quick weekend getaway.

Coming up in May, the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival will be held in Palm Springs, with 12 classic black and whites on the agenda.

The festival takes place from May 13-16 (kind of a long weekend), and among the films in the festival are "New York Confidential" and "The Big Night."

There are also five appearances by actor and actresses (or their grandchildren) scheduled for a discussion of the films, one or two talks scheduled everyday of the festival. Among those appearing are Kirk Douglas, Don Murray, Ann Robinson, June Lockhart, and Julie Garfield (John Garfield's granddaughter).

Tickets to the event go on sale April 9th. For information about accommodations in Palm Springs, visit the event's website, which has a list of film sponsoring hotels where people from nearby L.A. and Orange County can stay.

The festival is will be held at Camelot Theaters, 2300 E. Baristo Road in Palm Springs.

-- Lauren Williams

Do It. Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Need another vacation already? How about a weekender to Palm Springs? The desert haven is usually reserved for trips to see grandparents or the stop before Coachella, but this weekend's got something special: the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

And this isn't just some locals-only, small film festival. It's a pretty big event, including the "largest selection of foreign language Oscar submissions of any film festival in the world." How about that? Beyond that are a plethora of other critically-acclaimed films, including Mike Leigh's Another Year, the Lance Bangs-directed and Spike Jonze-produced documentary The Lazarus Effect (for free!), and a retrospective on filmmaker Monte Hellman. Also look for a number of cool documentaries, films from up-and-coming filmmakers, and selections from past festivals. And even the stars come out -- Variety will be honoring Mark Wahlberg with its Indie Impact Award at the fest this weekend, and Michael Douglas will be receiving an Icon Award from the fest next Thursday.

It's definitely worth the trek if you're a film fan and can't make it to Sundance, and hey, you can't beat the Palm Springs weather, can you?

The Palm Springs International Film Festival begins today until Jan. 17. Check here for more details.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Visit Palm Springs

Etc. Road trip essentials.

Going on a road trip can be a lot of fun if you're well-prepared. Aside from the obvious (a clean windshield and a full tank of gas), I've compiled a list of road trip essentials in anticipation of my trip down south tomorrow. Los Angeles is a great starting off point for drive-able getaways--Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco ...

Jack Nicholson had it right (of course he did) in As Good as It Gets when his character Melvin Udall has a bunch of different CDs made for their famous road trip in the convertible Saab. Music is key for a fun journey. This should be step one, as some research may be needed--mood, amount of songs you'll need to get you there and back, and subject (ex. The Mamas & the Papas if you're headed to San Francisco).

Map it out the day before. There's nothing worse than having all bags packed, front door open, and realizing you have no directions. This is even a good idea if you have a GPS, especially if you're going somewhere new. Using both Mapquest and Google Maps is fail-safe, to proof them against each other and check for any possible confusing parts or errors.

Choosing a good and clean stop along the way is best done before the trip begins--otherwise you may end up eating oatmeal for lunch in a Chinese-American diner where most of your fellow customers are surviving by oxygen tanks.

If the start time is early, coffee is a must. Either brew some of your favorite kind at home and thermos it, or make a pit stop at a reliable local place in the direction you're headed before the big trip really begins (for the Palm Springs to L.A. journey, Koffi is a great).

Bottles of water, granola bars, tissues, hand sanitizer (for post-gas pumping) are all great to have handy in the car, along with a fully charged cell phone of course.

Buckle up & enjoy the ride!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Texaco / Jasperdo on flickr

Etc. Palm Springs weekend.

Sometimes you just have to get away. Palm Springs is an easy two hour drive from Los Angeles, and is relaxing in a simple vintage kind of way (it still looks much like the photo above). Most of the city is centered around North Palm Canyon Drive, which I can't help calling "Main Street". You enter town through this main strip of shops and restaurants, and immediately realize the charm of the little desert city. The big mountains on the right, the clear blue sky above, and the warm dry air all around are all indicators that it's time to take it easy.

When in Palm Springs for a weekend, I look forward to a dinner out and an evening stroll. Palm Springs stays warm past dark for a lot of the year, so often a sweater isn't even necessary. Las Casuelas Terraza is a favorite for a fun atmosphere (they have a live band and outdoor seating), great margaritas and Mexican food, but they are always beyond packed on weekend nights, so I'm usually looking for alternatives. Tony's Pasta Mia is a true Italian, and decorated very 1980s in the best possible way. This Saturday past night we found a really good Thai spot, Pepper's Thai Cuisine. The tofu yellow curry and chicken fried rice were both delicious. They don't have a full bar, but some variety of beer and wine (and Thai iced tea, of course).

Palm Springs is known for it's mid-century modern architecture. There are several tours you can take to be guided by professionals, but you can easily check out Elvis' Palm Springs hideaway yourself. The current owners also offer all kind of options for getting a look inside. There's also lots of vintage and modern shopping along North Palm Canyon Drive.

A great off-the-beaten path place for a nightcap is Melvyn's Restaurant & Lounge at the Ingleside Inn. It's a beautiful, fancy, old-school piano bar, and the Inn has a rich history. Melvyn himself is at the lounge meeting and greeting his customers. It's quite a special place, but don't go unless you're dressed up, it just wouldn't feel right.

For morning coffee, there's a convenient drive-thru Starbucks, and there's the very popular local spot Koffi. Koffi takes coffee seriously, and can make everything from an individually brewed cup of Kona coffee to a malted mocha ice blended with house-made whipped cream.

There's lots more to do that I'm leaving out, in the spirit of writing about a simple weekend getaway.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.californiahistorian.com