Category: Newsletters

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!

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!

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.

This 8,000-SF marvel was designed by Buff & Hensman for Jerry Zarowitz (of Caesar’s Palace fame), who is said to have wined and dined members of the Rat Pack on the premises. Following an intensive 5-year renovation by its current owners, the home has hit the market, reimagined for the modern era, but with countless retro details (that sunken living room!) and nods to Caesar’s Palace seamlessly incorporated throughout. A step back in time, the pad is the epitome of old Las Vegas and Palm Springs luxury!

Now is your chance to own a Palm Springs icon as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, crafted by Albert Frey in 1956, is up for grabs! Largely untouched from its original design (aside from a set of 1960s additions, also done by Frey), the parish is an MCM treasure, complete with breeze block walls, a slanted roofline, and an atrium. With flexible zoning allowing for continued use as a church or a reimagining as a restaurant or event center, the property represents a singular buying opportunity!

Legendary eatery Lord Fletcher’s is seeking its next steward! Opened by Ron Fletcher in 1966, the site famously welcomed the desert’s movers and shakers (including Frank Sinatra and Alan Shepard, who once dueted to “Fly Me to the Moon” at the bar) for hearty meals of its legendary prime rib enjoyed amongst the rich confines until the pandemic caused its untimely closing in 2020. With its interior largely intact, the sale includes “top-tier furnishings, fixtures, and equipment,” ensuring a smooth transition into the landmark’s next era.

Known as “Casa Bella,” this Yucatan Cove dwelling is a genuine oasis! Awash in handsome Spanish accents (think sweeping arches, beamed ceilings and Saltillo flooring) and teeming with luxe creature comforts (including an 8-seat movie theater!), it is a residential showpiece! But the real pièce de résistance is the immaculate yard. Lined with olive trees, the bucolic quarter-acre lot features a 40-by-20-foot pool, multiple fountains, 2 spas and a “freestanding cantina.” You won’t want for anything here!

While located outside of the CV, this 80-acre property served as the longtime high desert home of Huell Howser – and it just doesn’t get any more notable than that! Following the beloved TV personality’s 2013 passing, the dwelling was tastefully updated and today serves as a special event venue known as The Wheelhouse. Boasting countless MCM features and design elements hand-selected by Huell, including exterior steel fencing designed by Belzberg Architects (pictured) and five antique Millstones that dot the grounds (from which the abode takes its name), this one is a rare gem!

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.

The original location of beloved coffee chain Koffi, at The Corridor in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, is a true oasis complete with a bucolic rear courtyard overlooking the San Jacinto Mountains. Featuring numerous tucked-away seating areas and sun-dappled grassy expanses, the pastoral retreat has become a favorite spot to kick back, sip espresso, and take in the balmy air and serene surroundings on lazy weekend mornings.

There’s a genuine Hollywood relic at the Cove Oasis Trails in La Quinta! Located about 500 feet south of the trailhead and reached via a short, moderately difficult hike is a stone staircase originally built for the filming of the 1959 drama “The Big Fisherman” starring Howard Keel. Left intact post-shoot, the structure makes for a unique outdoor destination. For more information on the historic set piece, head to the La Quinta Museum’s current La Quinta Legends exhibit, featuring props, photos, and mementos from the big screen endeavor.

The café at Sunnylands Center & Gardens (which just reopened for the season yesterday!) is easily one of the Coachella Valley’s most picturesque spots to grab a bite. Offering espresso drinks, baked goods, and light lunches (the Field of Greens salad and Turkey Sandwich are my favorite menu items) served against a stunningly verdant backdrop, a meal here is a uniquely Palm Springs experience.

There is no place I love exploring more than The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Even though I have walked the grounds on more occasions than I can count and know the landscape like the back of my hand, the nature preserve never fails to impress! From venturing amongst the wallabies at the Australian Adventures exhibit to quiet contemplation sitting in the rocking chairs nestled against the Sonoran Pond, visiting The Living Desert always makes for a memorable outing.

There is no shortage of picturesque al fresco eateries in the desert, but my favorite, hands down, is Adobe Grill at the La Quinta Resort. Boasting a terraced patio tucked beneath a canopy of twinkling lights with stunning views of the surrounding grounds, Adobe’s ambiance can’t be beat! And the fare is fabulous, to boot. The Enchiladas Verdes dish is easily one of my favorite meals in the entire Coachella Valley, especially when enjoyed with some tableside guacamole and a Cadillac margarita!

Staycationing has been redefined thanks to ResortPass, which offers day passes to a wide selection of resorts and their various amenities, with rates starting at a scant $25. And no, this is not an ad! My high school BFF gave me a ResortPass gift card last Christmas and I have had an absolute blast utilizing it throughout the year, first hitting up Tommy Bahama Miramonte for a pool day in March and then Casa Cody (pictured) in August. My experiences were fabulous, with ResortPass proving a spectacular way to explore the myriad gorgeous hotels the desert has to offer.

This chic establishment has been an Instagram staple of pretty much every California-based influencer’s feed since opening in 2021. I was admittedly late to the game, only venturing there for the first time last month, but am happy to report that the eatery is well-deserving of its frequent accolades. Not only is the space beautiful (a dimly-lit whimsical oasis of design with priceless art lining the walls!), but the atmosphere is insanely friendly (there is no stuffiness to be found here!), and the food in a class all its own. Serving both high-brow fare and comfort dishes, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!

I’ve spent many a recent afternoon perusing the plethora of treasures at this whimsical antique emporium. The gargantuan space is teeming with retro artifacts ranging from glassware to furnishings to vintage menu art(I’m obsessed with this Racquet Club print), spread across two sprawling stories and more than 12,000 square feet! With an exhibition-hall-like atmosphere (the “galleries” in the name is not a misnomer!), shopping here feels a bit like visiting a museum. The employees are also extremely friendly and knowledgeable and the pricing is competitive – especially when compared to other area antique shops.

In search of a scrumptious burger? The popular Papa Headz food truck is now operating out of the walk-up window at Gabino’s Creperie in downtown Indio, with promises of offering “California’s #1 Burger and Fries.” And that lofty pledge is not hyperbole! Pristinely sized with everything freshly made on-site (you won’t find any frozen ingredients here!), the patties are smashed, crisped, and topped to perfection! They’re so tasty – and tasty-looking! – in fact, I dove right into mine as soon as it arrived – before I even had a chance to snap an appropriate photo, hence the half-eaten burger pictured. The fries are also not to be missed!

Artists across the Morongo Basin will be opening their studios to the public the first three weekends in October for the annual HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours. With 183 local artisans participating, showcasing everything from hat making to floral design to custom ceramic tile work, the event (the largest of its kind in SoCal!) is sure to be a versatile adventure as one can only find in the hi-desert. And I cannot wait to attend! As organizers warn, though, “Even the most ambitious visitor, going all three weekends, could not see half of the artists out here.” So be sure to plan ahead with the free mobile app!

Originally built by the Alexander Company in 1959, this Vista Las Palmas masterpiece boasts an unparalleled pedigree, with dancer Donald O’Connor, gossip queen Rona Barrett, and ice-skating coach Frank Carroll all counted as former residents! Even without such provenance, though, the place dazzles! Tastefully updated with beamed ceilings, walls of glass, and attractive built-ins, the dwelling is immaculately outfitted! The oversized primary suite, complete with a seating/office area and sliding doors leading to the tranquil yard, is especially inviting.

Calling all Disneyphiles! This spectacular 1935 Meyer & Holler-designed Spanish hacienda, nestled on a leafy 0.25-acre lot in Warm Sands, is purported to have served as a frequent getaway spot for both Walt and Roy Disney! Whether that rumor is true or not, the home is certainly befitting a legend! Exquisitely renovated by its current owners with a plethora of original detailing left intact (including a brilliant metal-hooded fireplace!), the 4-bedroom, 4-bath, 2,500-square-foot estate is absolutely teeming with character and charm! (Open this Sat. & Sun., 11-2.)

This 1974 Indian Canyons gem formerly belonged to Fess Parker, aka television’s Davy Crockett, who mainly utilized it “to entertain friends and as guest quarters for his big family,” according to a 1990 Desert Sun article. Recently overhauled, the 2,100-square-foot space is a sleekly polished retreat today, outfitted with luxe creature comforts, fine finishes, and an oasis of a backyard, measuring almost half an acre! But the home’s real standouts, as highlighted in a 2020 Palm Springs Life spread, are the primary bath (pictured) and powder room, both dramatically framed in glass, pristinely showcasing the spectacular grounds.

Freshly renovated from top to bottom, with seemingly no corner overlooked nor expense spared, this Indian Wells showpiece is an entertainer’s utopia! Bright, open, and inviting, the singular structure is a seamless mesh of old and new, the gorgeously rounded lines and soft feature walls flawlessly accenting an abundance of contemporary upgrades, including custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and, most notably, a double-sided bar that rotates 360 degrees. Squint hard enough and you can almost see Frank Sinatra swinging back a cocktail amongst the swanky confines.

This home is a true icon, which is fitting considering it formerly belonged to a rock legend, Whitesnake drummer Tommy Aldridge! Originally fashioned as a stuccoed, glass-bricked 1980s wonderland, the residence was expertly rehabbed by its current owners into the sophisticated stunner it is today. Gone are the bulky columns, ample rock accents, and whitewashed wood once permeating the interior, replaced with grand open living areas, clean lines, and towering glass walls. Commanding the block from a manicured corner lot, the property is an architectural marvel!

This charming non-profit art studio, nestled on a bucolic 3-acre campus in La Quinta, offers several fall-inspired activities for the creatively-minded, including daily paint your own pottery sessions with a multitude of Halloween and Thanksgiving pieces to choose from (think mugs, dishes and lanterns, most priced between $15-20), as well as a ghost and pumpkin votive-making class to really get you in the spooky spirit!

Get your weekly thrill on throughout the month via the Palm Springs Cultural Center, which is hosting scary movie viewings each Tuesday night at the Historic Camelot Theatre. Features include Fright Night, Rosemary’s Baby, The Cabin in the Woods, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Additional October events include a showing of The Bad Seed with special guest Patty McCormack and a screening of Psycho emceed by Hitchcock experts Richard L. Edwards and Steven C. Smith.

Located about 40 miles west of Palm Springs, just off I-10 in Redlands, is Southern California’s largest pumpkin patch! My go-to ever since moving to the desert and a true smorgasbord of fall fun (you can easily spend an entire day there!), the place is chock full of such attractions as rides, food kiosks, photo ops, live entertainment, a petting zoo, a corn maze, and fields upon fields of pumpkins, all of which you can pick right off the vine yourself! (Open daily through Nov. 2nd. Entry fees vary.)

What better way to embrace the season than with a visit to an idyllic working lavender farm? Offering tractor rides, boutiques with handmade goods, strolls through olive groves, and an array of dining options – most featuring themed meals and cocktails (lavender sourdough pizza, anyone?) – all lit by more than half a million twinkle lights, 123 Farm (located about 30 miles west of Palm Springs) is a magical experience for the entire family. (Running now through October 27th.)

Palm Springs Bottle Shop is getting the scary season started right with an inspired wine, weenies & pumpkin carving evening this Friday at their Mojave Flea Trading Post location. (*BYOP!) Tickets run $20 and include two glasses of vino, a hot dog and a chilling good time! For those not wanting to partake, PSBS offers a truly stellar selection of non-alcoholic wines (which I’ve sampled and absolutely love!), as well!

All Color Growers nursery in Bermuda Dunes is hosting its 5th annual Pumpkin Patch the last two weekends in October, with onsite live music, a beer garden, a corn pit, barrel rides, and a plethora of craft and food vendors, including Valley fave Buena Matcha, who will be whipping up her famous green tea powdered drinks. (Though I’ve only sampled the delectable sugar-free options, I hear her pumpkin spice matcha latte is not to be missed!) 

Shop ’til you drop at Palm Desert Anthropologie’s Fall Soiree, taking place on October 19th from 12 to 4 PM. Partake of free apple cider and other treats as you peruse the store’s cozy line of autumnal goods, including candles, table settings and home décor. And you just might be able to catch a glimpse of the 2024 holiday collection (pending availability), as well! Because it’s never too early for some Yuletide cheer, am I right?

Old Town La Quinta’s Fall Festival returns Sunday, October 20th with countless activities on hand for kids and adults alike! Alongside the regularly scheduled farmer’s market (one of my preferred weekend haunts), the center will feature a pumpkin patch, face painting, live music, and photo ops. There will also be beer and wine offerings available for purchase courtesy of La Quinta Brewing Company – for those 21 and over, of course!

One of my favorite fall events and one of the La Quinta Historical Society’s most popular, tours of the famous Haunted Hacienda (aka J & J Ranch) will be taking place the evening of October 25th. Brave guests are invited to walk the spacious grounds and venture inside the original 1926 adobe and surrounding structures, all of which will be decked out in their signature, fabulously over-the-top Halloween splendour. (Tickets run $10 and are available at the door.)

A visit to The Living Desert is always a blast, but the place will be even more spooktacular during its annual Howl-O-Ween event on October 26th and 27th. With guests invited to dress in costume, all manner of Halloween-inspired pop-ups will be stationed throughout the park, like trick-or-treating, face painting, arts and crafts, and specialty food and drinks (including “worm juice” for the kiddos). Bonus – the zoo is currently offering a free child’s ticket with every adult ticket purchased.

I have yet to experience one of PS Underground’s fabled “over-the-top theatrical culinary events,” but always hear excellent things! And what better time to jump in than with this year’s Halloween extravaganza, Ruby, hosted on October 31st. Set in a vampire’s lair, the evening is centered around an “exquisite selection of blood-red wines” and a “menu that sinfully delights in the dark and the decadent,” promising an otherworldly good time!

Within five minutes of my first Kaylie Nicole pop-up, I was embraced by owner Kaylie Nicole Feist and her guest vendors (think jewelry, skin care and more!), introduced to the many shoppers on site, bumped into – and promptly befriended – a realtor I’ve long followed on Instagram and encouraged to try my first matcha latte! I haven’t looked back since! Kaylie has created a genuine (and genuinely supportive) community with her Friday celebrations. They’re like a little boost of endorphins to get your weekend started right!

Speaking of matcha . . . I had never sampled the frothy beverage (made of finely powdered green tea leaves) before meeting Kayla Munoz of the insanely popular Buena Matcha pop-up bar (on hand each Friday at Kaylie Nicole). But I am now officially hooked! Kayla and her husband, Nahum, hand-craft their own ceremonial-grade blends and syrups, ensuring the tastiest matcha around! Being diabetic, I only partake of their sugar-free options (which are fabulous!) but I hear their pumpkin spice offering is not to be missed!

Broadcast from “the coveted corner booth” at Little Bar in Palm Desert, this podcast, hosted by KESQ meteorologist Patrick Evansand Coachella Valley Chronicles’ Randy Florence, highlights Palm Springs’ most interesting movers and shakers! Featuring hilarious in-depth interviews with local leaders, proprietors, and entertainers like Dodi Henry, owner of The Nest,and Michael Holmes of The Judy Show, Big Conversations, Little Baris my go-to for keeping my finger firmly on the pulse of the desert!

Calling all tiki lovers! Sven Kirsten and Peter Moruzzi have just published the ultimate guide to the Valley’s tiki movement! Part coffee table book, part history lesson, the tome is teeming with colorful tidbits and pics of Palm Springs’ Poly-Pop past. (Imagery of the now-defunct Desert Air Hotel and The Springs restaurant practically had me drooling!) Bonus – in honor of Modernism Week, the duo is hosting 3 signings this weekend – at Destination PSP on 10/25, The Reef on 10/26, and The Shag Store on 10/27.

The highly anticipated Thompson hotel has finally opened after seemingly endless delays – and I am happy to report it was worth the wait! The lodging is a gorgeous addition to the PS hotel scene, with some of the friendliest employees in town! Signature restaurant Lola Rose (pictured) is especially stunning, as is the poolside bar, which offers striking mountain views and some of the best “chicky tendiez” I’ve ever tasted! And there is even more to come – HALL Napa Valley is set to open in the coming weeks and an adults-only wing is also on the way.