Whether it be real estate updates, restaurant reviews, events, or highlights of unique homes in Palm Springs, follow Sheri as she covers all that Palm Springs and the surrounding area has to offer.
New Champions In Tennis Paradise
Sunday saw record attendance and a pair of truly memorable finals matches. When all was said and done, it was Naomi Osaka and Juan Martin del Potro who were left standing, surrounded by a shower of confetti.
Congratulations to your 2018 BNP Paribas Open Champions!
Click below to read DESERT magazine editor Kristin Scharkey's top picks with members of DESERT Adventure Club, a fun place for those wanting to explore the Coachella Valley with others. Forward this email to a friend to join.
Courtesy of the Desertsun
AC3 Restaurant + Bar, owned by well-known valley restaurateurs Tony Marchese and Andrew and Juliana Copley, opened Sunday, adjacent to Hotel Paseo in Palm Desert.
“Andrew, Tony and I have been envisioning opening a restaurant together for the past couple years,” said Juliana Copley. “We really wanted to bring together what guests and locals have come to love at our individual restaurants but all under one roof – from Tony’s hip, local, vibe at TRIO to Copley’s award-winning food and service.”
To start, the restaurant, situated just off El Paseo at 45350 Larkspur Lane, will be open for dinner only, from 5 to 10 p.m., with breakfast and lunch added sometime in March.
Marchese owns TRIO in Palm Springs while Andrew and Juliana Copley own Copley’s, also in Palm Springs.
AC3’s dinner menu highlights include Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with wasabi guacamole, sweet and sour sauce and tobiko; Berkshire Pork Schnitzel with dijonaise crushed potatoes, bacon brussels sprouts, herbed yogurt and cranberry; Striped Sea Bass with black lentils, tinker bell peppers, dinosaur kale, mushrooms and smoked citrus butter; and Citrus Icebox Cake with yuzu cream, graham crust and basil ice cream.
CHEFS: Two of the valley’s celebrated restaurateurs team up for AC3
The restaurant and bar also offers a cocktail menu created by AC3 General Manager and Beverage Director Chris Chmielak.
The restaurant’s contemporary interior was designed and decorated by Monique Lemon and Angela Paladino of Design One Eleven in Indian Wells.
WAITING: Nearby businesses anxiously await opening of Hotel Paseo
Indoor and outdoor seating at AC3 will accommodate a little more than 200 people.
Nicholas Kontaxis works on one of his paintings at his home in Rancho Mirage, December 20, 2017. His artwork will decorate the new AC3 Restaurant + Bar, opening Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, adjacent to Hotel Paseo, on Larkspur Lane in Palm Desert. (Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Dinner reservations can be made online at ac3palmdesert.com/reservations or by calling (760) 340-6069.
The 150-room luxury boutique Hotel Paseo – the first hotel for Palm Desert’s high-end shopping district – is expected to open in March, though an official date has not been set, spokeswoman Jenna Duran said.
AC3 will operate the pool bar and provide room service and banquet meals to hotel guests once it is open.
ARTIST: Works of local artist with autism decorate walls of AC3
Hotel Paseo, owned and developed by Robert Leach, is part of the Evolution Hospitality and Autograph Collection Hotels which operate under the Marriott umbrella.
The hotel was initially expected to open in November but has experienced some delays.
General Manager Gil Reyes said in January he expects the hotel to be open in time for Fashion Week El Paseo, the shopping district’s signature event, March 17-24.
Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers Tourism and Families. She can be reached at sherry(dotted)barkas(at)thedesertsun(dotted)com or (760) 778-4694. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherry
From Sheri Dettman
In Dining Around The Desert
By Haley Kieser
Palm Springs is a beautiful city that is host to a variety of stellar sites and is very close to famous forests and national music festivals. People like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra had some of their many homes in Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park is just a short drive, and the massive Coachella Music Festival happens only half an hour away every year.
When it comes to transportation, it may seem on the surface to be a difficult place to live in or travel to due to the density of attractions in the city and surrounding area. However, with a variety of transportation options available to locals, it is easier to get around and has less cluttered roads than many other Southern California areas.
If you choose to drive your own vehicle, commuting is much easier than other cities in California. So much easier, you’ll likely forget you’re in California! It’s also the most common form of transportation. Just like any other city, the amount of traffic and commuting conditions are dependent of what area of town you’ll be coming from.
If you’ll be driving mostly in the downtown area and the parts of the city known for their famous residents, you may find yourself coming across a lot more tourists and visitors from outside Palm Springs. That said, you might have to deal with slightly higher traffic congestion. In areas further from downtown Palm Springs, such as Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, traffic thins out noticeably and routes will be far less congested.
Compared to the rest of the United States, the average commute time is much less, with an average of 18 minutes. 71% of those commuting drove by themselves, leaving the average car ownership at 2 cars per household. Additionally, 31.6% of Palm Springs are considered “super commuters”, which are those making commutes longer than 90 minutes. This is likely those coming from Los Angeles, or vice versa. If you’re going to take on a super commute, using your own vehicle for transportation is a must. Also, consider opting for a commuter car for fuel economy and ease of parking.
If you don’t own a motor-vehicle of any sort, the best form of transportation to rely on is public transportation. The city government works with the Sunline Transit Agency to provide a reliable bus system. There are 15 bus routes going from each end of the city, and one commuter bus route that goes to Riverside. The buses stop about 4 times an hour at each stop, once every 15 minutes.
If you get worried that you might miss a bus, you can check the Sunline website for real-time updates of bus locations and approximate arrival times, helping to plan out the day more accurately.
It costs just $1 for an adult fare, $0.85 for a child fare, and $0.50 for a senior fare. If you need to use multiple buses, you will not have to pay a full fare again – just pay $0.25 to transfer to a new route and continue your trip. There are also multiple tiers of longer-term bus passes available through the Sunline Transit Agency website.
alm Springs is a biker-friendly city. If this is your preferred mode of transportation, you’ll fit right in! When paired with the use of public transport - buses have bike racks and mounts on the outside of the bus - biking can be a simple and efficient way to navigate the city without reliance on a car. Regardless if you hop on and off the bus, you’ll need a spot to park your bike when you reach your destination. You can locate a bike rack near you on this bike rack map.
In the summertime, bring extra water with you along your commute as temperatures can quickly climb to three-digits.
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Commuting and getting around Southern California is notoriously frustrating and confusing – but in Palm Springs, the local government and businesses have made those trips just a little easier with multiple accessible and affordable options for transportation.
From Sheri Dettman
Greetings From Tennis Paradise!
Welcome to the #BNPPO18 Daily Digest, your daily breakdown of the excitement taking place at the BNP Paribas Open! For the next two weeks, we are happy to share the latest news, features, videos and more. If you can't wait until the Daily Digest hits your inbox, be sure to follow our news page Read More »
Courtesy of the Desert Sun
Sunshine, swimming pools, hiking trails, shopping and dining for all budgets make the Coachella Valley – and Palm Springs especially – a prime spot for spring break vacationers.
Hometogo.com, a vacation rental search engine, ranks Palm Springs No. 7 among California’s top 11 spring break destinations.
Vacation rental users in Palm Springs will spend an estimated $19.2 million during each week of spring break, which spans about six weeks, from March 4 through April 15, said Dominic Walker, inbound marketing, and PR manager for Hometogo.
Vacation rental users in Palm Springs will spend an estimated $19.2 million during each week of spring break, which spans about six weeks, from March 4 through April 15, said Dominic Walker, inbound marketing, and PR manager for Hometogo.
Based on advanced bookings, Hometogo put peak times for Palm Springs at March 4-11, March 11-18 and April 1-8.
Once a haven for rowdy college kids who would turn downtown Palm Springs into a parade of bikinis, motorcycles, pickup trucks and convertibles, the city today is becoming known as the “new capital of cool” for spring break vacationers, said Mary Jo Ginther, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism director.
Read more about it here...
These classic stops offer the quintessential Greater Palm Springs experience.
The various levels of seating at Lulu California Bistro give your guests the opportunity to take in Palm Springs dining from several points of view.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO
There are plenty of choices in the desert for good food and drinks, lively ambiance, and incredible service. However, when you have guests from out of town, you want to wow them with something more — places that also offer a bit of history, nostalgia, fun, scenic views, and adventure.
LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO
If you haven’t added Lulu to your “I must take my out-of-town guests here list” then your ho-hum list needs a pick-me-up. Rarely will you find a quiet night at this restaurant, which is always bustling with locals and tourists alike. The tasty menu and affordable prices make it a win-win, and the happy-hour menu is all day and all night long (sing it Lionel Richie), from 11a.m. until closing.
In addition to making day drinking cost-efficient, Lulu is a pioneer at creating inventive dishes with fresh ingredients and bakes its bread and desserts in-house.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO
Alfresco dining also allows for people-watching in downtown Palm Springs.
The various levels of seating give your guests the opportunity to take in Palm Springs dining from several points of view: up high overlooking the main floor, people-watching on the patio, or catching all the good vibes from a seat at the bar.
Who to take: Your sister who always says “I’m bored,” the fun uncle with the jolly laugh, your long-lost drinking buddy, your high school/college BFF whose life revolves around brunch, that out-of-town date you just met on Tinder.
From Sheri Dettman
In Dining Around The Desert
Courtesy of By KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS WSJ
ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND ELVIS PRESLEY had more in common than bouffant hairdos. They both owned getaway houses in Palm Springs, Calif.—and not solely for the winter sunshine. “Studios had a rule that stars couldn’t travel more than 120 miles from L.A. while they were filming, but it was more than that,” said Michael Stern, who co-owns the Modern Tour company, which offers a behind-closed-doors look at the city’s midcentury architecture (themoderntour.com). “Paparazzi weren’t allowed to take pictures in Palm Springs without consent—that’s why everyone had a house here. They turned it into a party town.”
The party died down in ensuing decades, but it seems to be regaining some rowdiness. Tucked between those low-slung buildings—most homes must be single-story to preserve the views of the San Jacinto Mountains—are new and soon-to-open hotels and sceney restaurants. We asked a few longtime locals and regulars to share their favorite diversions in and around Palm Springs, from the best shops for indulging a mania for the 1960s to where to play your bongo drums poolside.
Chef at Sparrows Lodge and Holiday House
NIGHT OWL // Seymour’s. This tiny, speakeasy-like bar opened last year, hidden off the side of Mr. Lyons restaurant. They have great cocktails; I like the earthy Little Owl, with house-made IPA syrup. 233 E Palm Canyon Dr., seymoursps.com
WESTERN FRONT // Pappy & Harriet’s. Pioneertown was built by Roy Rogers and Gene Autry [among others], for shooting westerns; now it houses this small music venue and barbecue restaurant in the middle of the mountains. 53688 Pioneertown Rd., Pioneertown, pappyandharriets.com
TACO UPGRADE // Justin Eat & Drink. A chef-friend recently opened this place and is doing cool stuff like chicken confit tacos with mole. 68784 E Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City, 760-904-4093
POOL PERKS // Sam’s Family Spa. It’s not luxurious, but it has nice mineral pools (hot and cool) and you can bring in whatever you want: food, drinks, bongo drums. 70875 Dillon Rd., Desert Hot Springs; samsfamilyspa.com
Potter, author and design mind behind the recently revamped Parker Palm Springs
JOY RIDE // Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It’s touristy, but the view at the end is worth it. As much as one talks about color and pattern, the true story of Palm Springs is the desert landscape. One Tram Way, pstramway.com
FAUX SHORE // Parker Palm Springs. The one thing missing in Palm Springs is water, so we built a fake yacht club in the hotel’s spa. I’m not just recommending it because I designed it (twice!). It’s glamorous and a little louche. 4200 E Palm Canyon Dr., theparkerpalmsprings.com
TOP TREE // Joshua Tree National Park.Some places on the planet are truly mind-expanding, and this is one of them. nps.gov/jotr
GLASS HOUSE // Bon Vivant. Among the great vintage shops on the main drag, this is my favorite. Their collection of midcentury glass and ceramics is not to be missed—you walk in and want to redo your whole house. 766 N. Palm Canyon Dr., gmcb.com
Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands
MY WAY // Melvyn’s Restaurant. This place famously sent away Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw when they showed up in jeans. Frank Sinatra was a regular. The staff still delivers old school service—like Steak Diane made right at the table. 200 W Ramon Rd., inglesideinn.com
ART FORAGER // Palm Springs Art Museum. The chief curator has been in residence since the 1970s and assembled an amazing contemporary art collection foraging through the L.A. galleries and studios. 101 N. Museum Dr., psmuseum.org
FIRST DATE // Windmill Market. Just outside town, it sells what they call the “original” Coachella Valley date shake, made with local dates. 17080 N. Indian Canyon Dr., 760-251-4489
FUR FIND // The Estate Sale Co. This consignment shop sources everything from patio suites to jewelry from large estates. I bought a vintage fox fur jacket there. 4185 E. Palm Canyon Dr., theestatesaleco.com
Actress and author of the new book ’Two’s Company’ (Penguin Random House)
STEP BY STEP // Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. It offers miles of great hiking trails with waterfalls and dramatic sunrises and sunsets. We eat lunch on a giant flat rock in the middle of the stream, take a nap and hike down as the sun is setting. indian-canyons.com
FRENCH TOAST // Le Vallauris. I’ve been going to this French restaurant for 40 years. I sit at the bar with a tequila, then eat dinner in the garden under a giant ficus tree. 385 W Tahquitz Canyon Way, levallauris.com
FRIEND OR PHO // The Tropicale. Our friends own this cool restaurant, with dishes influenced by their travels around the world, live jazz and a moonlit patio. 330 E Amado Rd., thetropicale.com
BIRD BATH // Salton Sea State Recreation Area. In the ‘50s and ‘60s this large inland body of water offered great fishing and boating; now it hosts a huge bird sanctuary. www.parks.ca.gov/saltonsea
Plus Don’t Miss… Holiday House Palm Springs. At this new adults-only, 28-room inn, amenities include shuffleboard, loaner bikes, a pool, art by David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein but no TVs. From $229 a night, holidayhouseps.com // Peninsula Pastries. For this bakery in an unassuming strip mall, a French expat couple import flour from Beauce, France. 611 S Palm Canyon Dr., 760-832-6486 // Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. To see a traditional kish hut freshly built each year from palm fronds and arrowweed, head to the leafy patio of this museum dedicated to the area’s indigenous tribe. 219 South Palm Canyon Dr.; accmuseum.org // The Frippery. At this trove of vintage apparel, look for caftans, Pucci dresses and Italian and French sunglasses from the ‘50s-’70s. 664 N Palm Canyon Dr., thefrippery.com . // Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway. Elvis leased this 5,000-square-foot house in 1966 and 1967, and holed up with Priscilla there after their Las Vegas wedding. Tours run twice daily. 1350 ladera circle, elvishoneymoon.com
A McCallum favorite returns for eight great shows! Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – Pink Martini’s diverse repertoire is a blend influenced by Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, Tito Puente and Xavier Cugat, as well as Argentine tango, Brazilian samba, Italian folk, Asian and romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and ’50s. According to bandleader/pianist Thomas Lauderdale, “If the United Nations had a house band in 1962, Pink Martini would be that band.”
www.pinkmartini.com
www.chinaforbes.comwww.chinaforbes.com
www.stormlarge.com
Feb 9 - Presented through the generosity of Helene Galen and Donna MacMillan
Feb 9 -15