Category: Newsletters

Anyone driving to Palm Springs has likely noticed the I-10 sign announcing “other Desert Cities.” In 2016, Wonder Valley artist Dana Longuevan paid homage to the seemingly dismissive placard in the form of a graphic tee. Eight years later, the popular shirts are now sold all across the Coachella Valley, as well as in Very Very, the chic art/homewares shop Dana opened with her husband, Rich Good (yes, that Rich Good), last year. The supremely soft tees run $35 and come in a variety of colors.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting this stunning rooftop bar, perched atop Azúcar restaurant at the Las Serenas Villas hotel in downtown Palm Springs. Nestled under a romantic canopy of Edison lights with striking views of the San Jacinto Mountains (which feel just inches away), colorful Boho furnishings begging patrons to settle in, and a stellar array of craft cocktails and mocktails, the watering hole is an absolute masterpiece!

This 2018 documentary, currently streaming on Freevee, highlights the many years Frank Sinatra spent in Palm Springs. Featuring interviews with such luminaries as Barbara Sinatra, Mel Haber, Nelda Linsk, and Trini Lopez, the film is a love letter to both the city and the iconic singer, showcasing his many generous contributions to the local community, various desert homes and regular haunts, most of which are still in operation today! It is a must-watch!

I spent quite a bit of time throughout the festival weekends at glamping grounds/special events venue Rancho 51 Date Garden. Established by Indio natives Johnny and Claudia Alvarado, the tranquil 2-acre retreat is tucked inside a lush grove of palm trees, with countless amenities to make guests feel truly at home, including restroom/shower trailers, a pool, food trucks and a slew of vendors offering everything from hair and makeup to permanent jewelry! It’s the only spot I’d consider booking for Coachella/Stagecoach camping!

Situated outside of La Quinta’s charming Artize Gallery is a tiny stand filled with artwork, free for passersby to take! Known as F.L.A.G., the display is a treasure trove of unique finds – as fun to browse as it is to procure. I recently snagged a gorgeous citrus drawing that I can’t wait to hang in my kitchen! While visiting, be sure to pop into Artize to check out its Art-o-Mat machine, a vintage cigarette vending machine repurposed to sell small works of art at $5 a pop.

Switzerland-born sculptor Roger Reutimann looked to the contouring of a 1959 Cadillac as inspiration for this fanciful piece, which he calls “Cadillactus.” Representing creativity, the artist utilized the shaping of the classic auto’s streamlined tail fins to form the metallic branches of the towering work, playfully saluting the desert’s longtime love affair with car culture and whimsical design. 

This one-ton steel sculpture was created by local neo-surrealistic artist Anne Faith Nicholls to showcase the city’s longstanding roles as an oasis, providing water, sustenance and beauty to its many denizens. Fashioned with sheets representing waves, the piece also serves as an important reminder to conserve our most delicate resources for future generations.

Best known for his designs involving street signs, multi-media artist Scott Froschauer crafted this splashy pillar out of bright rainbow-colored rods capped with a ring of neon letters spelling out the word “equality.” Situated just outside the main entrance to Palm Springs International Airport, the work acts as a warm and inclusive greeting to all who enter the city.

To shape this piece, artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes replicated the framework of DNA, highlighting the concept that despite humankind’s many differences, we are all one, molded of the same basic elements. The two hummingbirds that top the double helix, symbolizing procreation, are a nod to a sister sculpture Hoyes created in his native Jamaica honoring the country’s motto, “Out of many, one people.”

A collaboration by Kate Jessup and Celeste Cooning, this work incorporates the fabled inverted arches of E. Stewart Williams’ 1961 Coachella Valley Savings & Loan building and the floral patterns of plants native to the area. Illustrating a harmony or “civility” of nature and architecture, “this form consists of 50% negative space and 50% steel,” Jessup explains, with “one half resolute and one half open to suggestion.”

Comprised of 52 porcelain enamel arrow-shaped road signs representing the city’s 52 different neighborhood groups, this pillar was designed by sculptural text artist Michael Daniel Birnberg, aka MIDABI. Standing 15 feet, the piece seamlessly illustrates the beautiful truth that, in Palm Springs, community can be found everywhere.

Displayed outside Ernest Coffee (1101 N. Palm Canyon Dr.), this purple ombre work, which utilizes negative space to spell out “WOW,” is a definitive statement piece! Meant to elicit a childlike feeling of wonderment and drive its viewers to a more present state, the textural sculpture acts as a poignant reminder of the need for mindfulness to anyone grabbing their daily cup of joe.  

Tucked in the courtyard on the east side of the Desert Art Center (550 N. Palm Canyon Dr.), the idea behind this orange-hued monolith, which proclaims “Moment, Movement, Change,” is explained by MIDABI as such, “Change is nature’s singular moment and continuous movement; eternal and unyielding.” Indeed, the only constant is change, as they say!

Originally displayed in New York’s Union Square Park, this piece was relocated several times before making its way to its current home outside of the Palm Springs Art Museum (101 N. Museum Dr.) in December 2023. Playing on the dualities of shadow and light, positive and negative space, nothing and everything, “The Only Other” provides thought-provoking commentary in picturesque form.

This immersive open-air exhibit allows guests to walk amongst a habitat of red-necked (or Bennett’s) wallabies, providing intimate access to the adorable macropods as they jump, lounge and dine throughout the shaded grounds. Be sure not to miss Hoppy Hour at the adjacent Kookaburra Cafe, held each Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., with such delicacies as craft cocktails and cowboy caviar nachos on hand.

   A fun adventure for both children and adults, guests are invited to get up close and personal with a charming herd of giraffes in the African Safari area of the park as they roam the sundrenched landscape alongside ostriches and greater kudus. For an even more specialized experience, patrons can hand-feed botanical treats to the majestic mammals (the tallest living animals on earth!) for just $10.

This shaded enclave of California fan palms in the Wild Americas section of the park was inspired by the many oases that dot the northern end of the Coachella Valley. Dense with foliage and surrounding a tiny pond, the tranquil idyll is leagues cooler than any other area of the zoo (by several degrees!), offering much-needed respite during hot summer days.

It’s “All aboard!” the Bighorn Railroad at this expansive ¾-acre G-scale model train exhibit. With over 3,300 feet of track and imaginative recreations of such spots as the Grand Canyon, Old Mission Santa Barbara and downtown Indio, one can spend hours getting lost in the intricate details. Currently undergoing a massive restoration(courtesy of 65 volunteers!), the display remains worth a visit nonetheless.

Who doesn’t love a petting zoo? This one, tucked away in Village WaTuTu in the park’s African Safari area, boasts a collection of friendly creatures native to West and South Africa, including adorable – and most definitely precocious – Boer and Nigerian dwarf goats, all eager for head pats, as well as the chance to nibble a t-shirt or two!

Three distinctive walking trails of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty are located in the park’s Wild Americas region, offering visitors a chance to amble off the beaten path. The one-mile “Adventure Loop” leads hikers to a San Andreas Fault exhibit offering gorgeous vistas of the fault line. (Note – all three trails are closed during the summer months.)

Play spot the bighorn on this craggy bluff located on the southern edge of Wild Americas, where massive bighorn sheep seamlessly blend in with the scenery. Pinpoint one and you won’t be able to stop tracking the majestic creatures across the picturesque mountain landscape.

CAESAR CHAVEZ & 6TH STREETS, COACHELLA

Edoardo Tresoldi’s wire mesh creation, which resembles an ethereal Baroque palace, debuted at Coachella in 2018, along with two sister structures, and was relocated to its current home the following year. Standing 54 feet, the airy installation beckons passersby to breeze through its wispy archways.

SHADY LANE & AVENUE 52, COACHELLA

A fixture at the 2015 festival, this 15-foot-tall bear is the work of frequent Coachella contributor Don Kennell. Crafted from recycled materials, including rusted steel and glass, and clutching a large swing, the massive piece now guards the southern edge of Shady Lane Park.

82200 DR. CARREON BLVD., INDIO

Meaning “House of Celebration,” these colorful structures were exhibited at Coachella 2019.  Modeled after baobab trees, which hollow from the center as they grow, the installation originally featured 12 towers, nine of which are now installed at Dr. Carreon Park, providing shade and respite to visitors on hot desert days.

 81253 AVE. 48, INDIO

Another work crafted by Don Kennell (his first to be displayed at Coachella!), this 12 by 20 foot steel and corrugated metal pup was featured at the 2013 festival complete with a large porch swing hanging from its center. Though the swing is long gone, the dog, inspired by Rome’s famous “Lupa Capitolina” sculpture, now stands sentinel at the northwest tip of Hjorth Park.

SMURR ST. & MILES AVE., INDIO

A 2019 festival installation, these three lanky cacti sculptures, initially part of a group of seven, were crafted from steel by Andrew Kovacs. Relocated in 2022, they stand at 14, 17 and 20 feet tall, overlooking downtown Indio and a mountainous mural painted by Zach JF Boyles.

81600 REVOIR PL., INDIO

This towering figure by artist Kumkum Fernando graced the concert grounds in 2023, part of a trio of “Idols” standing 80 feet tall. Today, it is stationed, along with several other Coachella installations, in the yard of a private home owned by the Empire Polo Club. (Note – this one can’t be seen during festival times due to road closures.)

TOWNE ST. & BLISS AVE., INDIO

This metallic cactus sculpture was actually built for 2023’s Power Trip heavy metal festival, not Coachella, but is worth a visit nonetheless. Cheeky and fun, the piece was created by Don Kennell and his wife, Lisa Adler, and calls to fans of both rock ‘n’ roll and Saguaro cacti.

515 N. PALM CANYON DR., PS

This desert staple is tucked into Palm Springs’ idyllic The Corridor shopping complex and boasts a stunning rear courtyard brimming with wandering paths, towering palm trees and multiple shaded enclaves.

750 N. PALM CANYON DR., PS

Located in Palm Springs’ Flannery Exchange building, Café La Jefa features exquisitely stylized side and front patios decorated to the nines with pastel florals, a blush-hued airstream, an expansive deck and hanging chairs to take it all in.

100 W. TAHQUITZ CANYON, PS

Situated on the lower level of The Rowan hotel in downtown Palm Springs, this breakfast spot serves stellar lattes on a sun-dappled patio overlooking a bustling courtyard filled with vivid art installations, tall palms and lively street performances.

37977 BOB HOPE DR., RM

One of my favorite spots to grab coffee and/or lunch, Sunnylands Café is nestled aside the gardens at Sunnylands Center in Rancho Mirage, offering visitors exceptional views of desert foliage, tranquil walking paths and serene fountains.

74868 COUNTRY CLUB DR., PD

This independent coffee house in Palm Desert is fronted by a glass-paned garage door providing dramatic views of the surrounding desert landscape and endless miles of blue sky.

78065 MAIN ST.,  LA QUINTA

Perched in the center of Old Town La Quinta, Yes, Please makes for a gorgeous spot to witness the beauty of the desert, with mountain peaks seemingly so close, you almost feel as if you can reach out and touch them. Arrive early to snap up one of the shop’s baked goods, which sell out by 10 a.m. daily.

78100 MAIN ST., LA QUINTA

The covered patio at Main Street Coffee, also located in Old Town La Quinta, overlooks the plaza’s bucolic central lawn and charming Spanish-style buildings and is one of my favorite places to spend a lazy morning.  

49499 EISENHOWER DR., LQ

Positioned on the staggeringly gorgeous grounds of the La Quinta Resort and featuring a fabulous shaded terrace, this spot offers pristine views of the historic hotel’s tiered waterway, terra cotta rooflines and Saltillo-tiled paths.