Category: Newsletters

One of the museum’s most unique acquisitions, Walt Disney’s personal 1963 Grumman G-159 Gulfstream, aka “Mickey Mouse One” or “The Mouse,” is on long-term loan from the Walt Disney Archives. Custom-designed by Walt with 15 seats, a full galley, 2 bathrooms, and an office, all awash in an orange, white, and black motif (to match Walt Disney Production’s then logo), the aircraft quite appropriately bears the tail number N234MM. Following nearly 9,000 flights, the plane was retired in 1992 and ultimately relocated to the museum in 2022 along with a slew of related memorabilia.

The Palm Springs Air Museum is one of only a handful of places to catch an in-person glimpse of an operational F-117A Nighthawk! Restored stealth fighter #833, aka “Black Devil,” was unveiled to much fanfare in 2022 following more than 5,000 flight hours and stints in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Allied Force. Now standing proudly in its own hangar in the James R. Houston Pavilion, sheathed in an ominous flat black with wings stretching an impressive 43 feet, the streamlined vessel is overwhelming to behold.

Spanning nearly the entirety of the Thomas L. Phelps hangar is perhaps the museum’s most heralded attraction – “Miss Angela,” a restored 1945 B-17 Flying Fortress open for tours! Sleek, shiny, and shockingly massive, even just seeing the long-range bomber up close is worth the price of admission. But getting to venture inside is a next-level experience! I’ve had the privilege of exploring “Miss Angela” on several occasions via tours led by former airmen who actually manned the gargantuan warbirds during World War II, making for some of my most cherished desert memories.

A bonafide film star is stationed inside the European hangar! Known as “(The Movie) Memphis Belle,” the craft started life as a B-17G plane but was modified into a B-17F by its owners, Military Aircraft Restoration Corp. (MARC), which acquired it in 1986. The changes made it an obvious choice to stand in for the fabled “Memphis Belle” airplane in the 1990 war drama of the same name. While two different birds actually portrayed the vessel onscreen, this one garnered the most screen time and, thus, its cinematic moniker. It is currently being restored to airworthy condition and should resume flight next year.

Tucked on the museum’s second level is the James C. Ray Educational Resource Center, a sprawling space boasting a research library complete with flight simulators, a large selection of aviation and military-related publications and an archive of every issue of “Life” magazine published from 1936 through 1972 – all fully available for public consumption. As an Old Hollywood lover, I’ve often gotten lost in the “Life” stacks, reveling in the opportunity to personally pore through the many historic issues, most notably that of August 3, 1962, which features Marilyn Monroe’s final interview.

Fun fact – there is a mushroom farm in the CV! Known as Canyon Creek Mushrooms, the zero-waste, 4,500-square-foot facility hand-harvests ten different fungal varieties on the premises, including lion’s mane and king trumpet, all of which are delectable! Even better? Free tours are offered to the public daily on a pop-in basis, granting highly informative behind-the-scenes glimpses of the entire cultivation process, including visits to the lab and incubation and fruiting rooms. No reservations required!

A gourmet market has arrived in La Quinta! A spectacular addition to the neighborhood, El Toro Loco, located in the La Quinta Village shopping center, is stocked with everyday staples (think cereal and pasta), as well as upscale fare (including premier cheeses) – most offered at surprisingly affordable prices. The produce is fresh, the meat and fish high-end, and the confines charming and well laid out. It is a thoroughly inviting spot to shop for essentials and specialty foods.

Every Thursday and Saturday, the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory hosts one of the desert’s most unique events – Observatory Public Exploration Nights (O.P.E.N.), offering guests a chance to examine the desert’s evening skies via its research-grade PlaneWave Instruments CDK700 telescope, as well as three 9.25″ telescopes. The views of the moon through the magnified lenses are especially striking, each marking and crater mind-blowingly visible! Bonus – library card holders can even check out an Orion StarBlast 4.5” Astro Reflector telescope for star-gazing at home!

Always wanted to learn the art of mandala dot painting? Now is your chance, thanks to Creative Classes with Elaine. Taught by Elaine Printz at Good Neighbor Trading Post + Made Art Studios in Palm Desert, the sessions are fun, informative, and therapeutic, with instructions broken down into easy-to-follow steps along with regular reminders to breathe in and out. I recently took the Christmas in July class and walked away with a new hobby and an ornament I could not believe I had made myself!

Lovers of all things abandoned should head straight to the La Quinta Museum, where the new Abandoned Planes, Trains & Automobiles exhibit (on display now through November 16) features haunting images of objects left discarded across California’s deserts. Dramatically captured and impeccably lit by photographer Ken Lee, the exhibit highlights everything from deserted airplanes to rusted out movie props to a precariously positioned bus. It is not to be missed! Best of all – entry to the museum is always free.

It has been a dream of mine to own my own restaurant since I was in my twenties. My life’s path took a few detours which is why it took me until now to reach it. When my husband and I were researching cities in the Valley, La Quinta was our first pick for our residence and Old Town La Quinta was the location that was PERFECT for the business.

The seasonality of the business takes a little getting used to. From October until the end of May, it is like drinking water from a firehose (LOL) and the hot summer months, although we actually have very good business with regulars, it is much less hectic.

The beautiful backdrop of the mountains. (Editor’s note – Yes Please offers a gorgeous view of that mountain backdrop from its sprawling patio, as shown.)

By drinking a blended, freshly squeezed frozen lemonade or Palmer from YES PLEASE!

Business – know your numbers. Personally – carve out time for yourself, loved ones and favorite people.

The one dish that I can eat everyday is our Acai bowl. Favorite toppings? Blueberries, bananas, coconut, chocolate chips and peanut butter!

My favorite thing to bake are CAKES, especially WEDDING CAKES. Stay tuned for new items and offerings this Fall.

I’m thrilled that you enjoy cannolis! I do too 🙂 Look for these in our showcase starting Labor Day weekend.

My go-to sure thing is EUREKA, Indian Wells (pictured). Their menu is so well crafted and everything I’ve tried is outstanding!

When our kids come in from L.A., the top picks are il Corso, Tommy Bahama and Bill’s Pizza. In season, Arnold Palmer’s (pictured). To be honest, I’ve been so busy since we’ve lived here, I haven’t had a chance to explore as much as I’d like. So, I must follow YOU to get more ideas!

The people. I’ve been in retail and worked with people all my life, and I have never met nicer people. Every day I am grateful to get to know each person I meet.

It’s a gathering place for my family, and every month, my house is full of all my kids and their partners partying and eating and enjoying the gorgeous landscape and weather.

Working! We stay open in the A/C all summer, plus it’s busy season at the Laguna Beach store so I’m over there often.

It’s knowing that there really isn’t competition – it doesn’t matter if a lot of businesses are doing it, they don’t do it the way YOU do it. Ever heard of coffee shops? Pizza? Just do what you do and do it well. That being said, experience is the best education in business. I paid attention to all my mentors, jobs, employees, and customers over the years, and I use what I learned every day.

All NLT. LA. Sylvia, the designer, actually got married out here. It’s a women-owned, no-waste, size-inclusive brand that stands for “No Less Than” as no woman should feel “less than.” Everything is handmade in LA. (NLT’s Parker Eyelet Vest and Cove Linen Pant are pictured here, along with a Cher Raffia bag from Melie Bianco, a premier recycled vegan leather brand and another shop favorite!)

Anything my son cooks when he’s here, he’s a phenomenal chef. I’m riddled with food allergies (wheat/gluten being the top meanie) and IMO the desert needs to work on inclusive places to eat. Beautiful Day (pictured) is my favorite! They have THE BEST GF hotcakes!

The day the desert has some quality GF dessert I will never leave! Tiffany’s Sweet Spot (pictured) really does a nice job with GF cupcakes though. I hear I need to make it over to Wildest in PD for some great allergen friendly food.

Looking for new (or new-to-you) desert attractions? Everything Palm Springs has plenty to keep you busy, with nearly 30 unique spots to check out. From a mushroom farm to “the most Instagrammed greenhouse in the world” to a paint-your-own pottery studio, the Coachella Valley is a bustling hub of activity and adventure. You just need to know where to look – and I’ve done all the legwork for you!

There is truly no place like Palm Springs when it comes to captivating architecture! Though most make the pilgrimage to see the sights during Modernism Week, the area’s architectural gems can be appreciated any time of year, with many locations fully accessible to the public. Click the link above for a curated list that includes the striking William Cody-designed St. Theresa Catholic Church and its must-be-seen-to-be-believed arched ceiling.

From Frank Sinatra to Cary Grant, the desert has served as a haven for the Hollywood set since Tinseltown’s early days, with countless stars owning second homes here. Many of those homes remain intact today and, unlike their L.A. counterparts, are not blocked from view by pesky fencing. See: Bob Hope’s landmark John Lautner-designed abode, which is clearly visible to anyone driving along the 111, and more at EPS.

While Los Angeles is undeniably the film capital of the world, Palm Springs has become a popular onscreen backdrop, as well, the palm tree-laden landscape always ready for its close-up! Just a few productions to make use of our gorgeous vistas include “Alpha Dog,” “Saved by the Bell,” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” (Those are the famous Ray Pruit stairs pictured. IYKYK.) Head to EPS for a comprehensive list of my favorites.

Looking for attractions of a more eerie, macabre or ghostly nature? Everything Palm Springs has you covered – and just in time for the upcoming spooky season! Boasting a plethora of abandoned landmarks, true crime locales and famous cemeteries (the Valley even has its own pet cemetery!), the desert certainly has its dark side, just waiting to be discovered! Click the link above and let me be your guide!

This new outpost of the beloved Palm Springs staple cooks up insanely delicious savory crepes, with massive servings that will keep you satiated throughout any prolonged afternoon testimony. The open kitchen also grants patrons an up-close-and-personal view of the chefs working their craft. Bonus – Gabino’s delivers, so if you don’t feel like leaving the courthouse, you can have one of their tasty concoctions brought to you.

This live music venue/café brews some fabulous java in an eclectic environment. Serving Coachella Valley Coffee, tea from La Quinta fave Cali Rosina, and a selection of baked goods, this is the spot to stop for a mid-day pick-me-up or in the morning before heading to court. Fun fact – Abi Carter held a private farewell concert on the premises before venturing to Hollywood for her recent star-making turn on “American Idol.”

Perched in the grassy expanse at Bliss Ave. & Towne St. (a perfect spot for a picnic lunch, BTW!), this statue was built for 2022’s Power Trip heavy metal festival. Crafted by Santa Fe-based sculptors (and frequent Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival contributors) Don Kennell and Lisa Adler, the rockin’ cactus is a cheeky addition to the landscape and provides some much-needed shade on hot days.

Prefer a side of history with your lunch breaks? Head to the Coachella Valley History Museum! Hosting a wide range of exhibits highlighting our desert’s past, attractions include a 1909 schoolhouse, a Japanese memorial garden, a 1926 water tower, a 1930s adobe residence and an outdoor gallery with a genuine blacksmith’s workshop. (The museum is closed Tuesday through Thursday, so plan accordingly.)

If you’re looking for an after-hours spot for dinner and cocktails, hit up Italica! The new speakeasy, helmed by former Goldenvoice COO Skip Paige, is discreetly situated behind a metal-clad door just west of the Indio Taphouse (another great local lunch joint). The Italian-inspired tapas bar offers an immersive family-style experience unlike anything else you’ll find in Indio. (Reservations are required, so plan ahead.)

Villa Del Leone is about as Old Hollywood Regency glam as it gets! Built in 1962 for Robert Marx (son of Gummo), the property was extensively overhauled by its current owners into a stylized designer’s showcase, complete with a British-inspired den, a fuchsia Shangri-La of an office and a deluxe music room/acoustical sanctum lined with the owner’s extensive guitar collection. A true work of art, the dwelling is also, not surprisingly, a print, media and Modernism Week favorite. (Open Sat. from 10 – 3)

Overlooking Indian Canyons’ fifth fairway, this midcentury classic, built in 1963, is a stunner! Tastefully updated while retaining a slew of classic details, its showstopping elements include an 11-foot canary yellow double entry with brass fixtures and a glass-backed fireplace offering views of the backyard, greenbelt and mountains beyond. Fun fact – “The Fugitive’s” David Janssen called this place home for several months in 1972.

In the abyss of midcentury modernism that is Palm Springs, this Spanish Colonial-style hacienda is a standout. Completed in 1974, early real estate listings deemed it “one of the most unique homes in the desert,” and that still holds true today. Nestled against Indian Canyons’ 13th fairway, the residence is octangular in shape, with living spaces spanning out from a glorious atrium-like family room, offering a markedly open and inviting floor plan. You won’t find another like this in the entire Valley! (Open Fri. from 6 – 8)

This 1975 MCM masterpiece formerly belonged to renowned landscape architect John Krabbe, who exquisitely designed the expansive one-acre double lot. Teeming with grassy expanses, mature palms and bucolic courtyards, the property is a tranquil, verdant oasis. The interior has been beautifully updated, though countless original elements, including a double-sided fireplace, beamed roof and sunken bathtub, remain, with striking views to be had from nearly every inch of its spacious 2,300 square feet! (Open Fri. & Sat. 10 – 12)

A 10,000-square-foot Grecian estate in the desert? That is exactly what you’ll find on an intensely private 1.55-acre plot in the heart of Rancho Mirage. Over the top in all the right ways with every luxe amenity known to man, including two pools, a private lake with a dock, 6 fireplaces, a screening room, a rooftop deck, an indoor water feature, and dazzling columned walkways, this palatial pad has to be seen to be believed!

This Deepwell Estates pad was originally built in 1965 by architect Robert Lewis, but its plush red interior comes courtesy of longtime owner Jack Stephan, aka the “Plumber to the Stars,” who overhauled the abode to the tune of $150,000 in 1971. Awash in myriad retro accents and rich crimson hues, the property is a true throwback, just awaiting its next caretaker to preserve it for future generations. (Image courtesy of Shafik Wahhab Photography.)

$1,599,000, The Paul Kaplan Group

Always dreamed of owning a hotel? Now is your chance, as the Coyote Inn has just hit the market. The Spanish Mission-style lodging features seven newly-renovated suites with fireplaces, kitchenettes and mini libraries, plus an owner’s apartment, all centered around a lush courtyard with a pool, spa, BBQ area, fire pit, and stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains. As the glowing Tripadvisor reviews assert, this place is a beloved gem!

$2,850,000, Valentino & Valentino

One of architect Charles Du Bois’ iconic Swiss Miss houses, this 1958 Vista Las Palmas pad offers countless original details, including two stone fireplaces, an array of clerestory windows and a pitched roof topping a glorious double-height entry. Setting it apart from its contemporaries, the property also boasts a matching Du Bois-designed A-frame guest house/studio tucked away on its oversized  0.4-acre lot.

$3,380,000, Campbell Crane Team

This singular estate in the exclusive Bighorn Golf Club is a Moroccan dream! Comprising a whopping 13,000 square feet, no detail of its design was overlooked, with amenities including a 20-seat hookah lounge, a hammam spa, 8 hand-tiled fireplaces, a master bath complete with a champagne chiller, an elevator lined with mother of pearl, and a stunning central courtyard capped by a $1-million retractable glass roof. (Image courtesy of Ketchum Photography.)

$17,850,000, Patrick Stewart Properties

Seeking a lakeside dwelling offering water skiing, boating and fishing? Look no further than this extraordinary Shadow Lake Estates pad! Boasting exquisite stonework, a gourmet kitchen and the utmost in indoor/outdoor living, the sprawling 5,000-square-foot abode comes complete with a private beach, boat dock and striking views of the adjacent 45-acre man-made sports basin! You won’t find anything else like it in the entire valley!

$4,200,000, Jenell VanDenBos, Coldwell Banker Realty

While on the hunt for stellar nachos in the Valley recently, I came across an Instagram post by The Unemployed Eater asserting the best variety can be found at Blackbook. Having now sampled them myself, I can affirm that claim is correct! The popular Arenas Road watering hole, known as “the home of the original Palm Springs style nachos,” serves up its premier offerings on a cookie sheet one layer deep, resulting in the ultimate chip-to-topping ratio, with a crunch that truly reigns supreme!

Palm Springs’ landmark Bank of America building, designed by Rudi Baumfeld in 1959, recently reopened after a lengthy restoration. Deemed “the most beautiful bank in America” upon its inception, the structure is even more striking today, with stylized mid-century furnishings, revitalized wood paneling, and newly poured terrazzo flooring. Be sure not to miss the original coin scale, which remains intact and accessible for customers to test out themselves!

Sushi-grade fish has finally arrived in the desert via Haines Packing Company, a family-owned Alaska-based seafood processing establishment that recently opened a storefront in La Quinta. The shop’s selections, all caught in the Alaskan wild, are fresh-frozen, aka “frozen rapidly after capturing at the peak of quality . . . ensuring the fish has the same quality it would have had if eaten on the dock with the fisherman at landing.” From halibut to salmon to freshly cracked jumbo lump crab meat, the options are vast and insanely sumptuous.

While driving along Indian Canyon recently, the bulbous signage affixed to the Drift hotel literally stopped me in my tracks and I had to pull over for a closer look. The piece, which spells out “DRIFT” via five whimsical globe lights, was created for the chic lodging by the Folklor branding/design firmand fabricated by locally-based Best Signs Incorporated. Calling to mind the Googie signage of yesteryear, the installation is an arresting nod to the city’s mid-century roots.

Always wanted to play tennis like a pro? Now is your chance because the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is not just a venue for the BNP Paribus Open, but a year-round tennis and pickleball club, where $25 secures visitors and locals alike a day of playat one of the pavilion’s professional-grade Garden courts! Those who don’t feel like participating in a game but still want to catch a glimpse of the world-famous facility can grab a meal at Nobu (pictured right, courtesy of Amy Bonaduce of The Clipboard of Fun), which offers unparalleled views of Stadium 2.

This colorful bar is located in the spot that housed legendary tiki lounge Don the Beachcomber from 1953 to 1985. Founded by Ernest Gantt (aka Donn Beach, aka the father of the tiki bar), the site was a bonafide hotspot, attracting such legends as Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, Robert Wagner, and Bing Crosby. After sitting vacant for several years, the landmark site was revitalized in 2014 into the Polynesian paradise it is today. With a few of the Beachcomber’s original flourishes retained, Donn’s spirit – and spirits! – are very much alive and well on the premises!

As the myriad black and white headshots on the walls attest, this watering hole is about as Old Hollywood as it gets! Just a few of the legends who have graced Melvyn’s bar stools since the place was initially established in 1975 include Greta Garbo, June Allyson, Bob Hope, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, and John Wayne. Frank Sinatra, a regular and longtime pal of founder Mel Haber, even hosted the rehearsal dinner for his 1976 nuptials to Barbara Marx amongst the glamorous confines.

Where else but Palm Springs can you imbibe at Cary Grant’s former guest house? As legend has it, the beloved Copley’s restaurant once served as offsite guest quarters for the movie legend, whose longtime desert homewas located just up the road. Reimagined by chef Andrew Copley in 2004, the site is one of the area’s premier eateries today. In a fun twist, outlines of Grant’s former guest rooms are still clearly visible throughout, a vibrant reminder of the days Hollywood royalty roamed the space.

On the evening of February 25, 1995, Frank Sinatra took to the stage for one final time, executing a flawless six-song set in the main ballroom of the JW Marriott Desert Springs. The resort’s lobby bar pays homage to that landmark last performance via its nightly Sinatra Smash Happy Hour. As the crooner’s tunes play overhead and a flag with his visage drops from the ceiling, bartenders pass out samples of the signature Sinatra Smash cocktail, which, of course, features a hefty dose of Jack Daniel’s, to all in attendance.

This area stalwart was founded by local restaurateur Bob Cunard in 1982 (the very same year that the city of La Quinta was incorporated!) in a nondescript building that initially housed a laundromat. Though the exterior is a bit rough around the edges, the place is exquisitely old school inside, its retro stylings a callback to Hollywood’s golden age. So it is no surprise that such icons as Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers, Johnny Mathis, and Gena Rowlands are all known to have partaken there.