My Home The Silver Suitcase (+me!) in The New York Times!

I just returned from a most enjoyable holiday in the lovely, beautiful British Columbia - which I will post about.
Have you been?
If not, I can't recommend it enough. Between the beautiful landscaping Mother Nature has done, and the architectural gems found along the way (as well as some really wonderful cultural surprises) and of course the lovely, lovely gracious people!)

Returning to Palm Springs rested and happy, I came home to the most delightful Welcome Home gift, ever.

Me and my home, The Silver Suitcase made it to the big time! 

THE NEW YORK TIMES!!

WOOT WOOT!

Nancy Baron, photographer + Documentarian extraordinaire featured us in her new book titled: "Palm Springs: The Good Life"

If that wasn't enough love, this past weekend she penned a piece for the New York Times about her beloved part-time residence and her new book.

Lo and behold this was one of the photos featured:

  

photo courtesy of Nancy Baron/New York Times

I love that this was simply titled:

"Matthew" 

Welcome Home, indeed!

Mid Century + British Columbia =Splendid July.

July has been a whirlwind of a month so far. Right now I'm up in British Columbia tooling around the beautiful countryside with great friends. This past weekend we took a look and tour around the amazing Terravista Vineyards which is located on the Naramata Bench halfway between Penticton + Naramata. Beautiful countryside, and amazing wine! If you're ever in the area, definitely take the tour.

HUGE bonus points was this:

The Mondrian Inspired Tasting area -- and there just happened to be a vintage Mustang parked in front when we showed up, almost as if to welcome the Palm Springs posse! 

Road Trip+Purchase+Marfa, Texas+Prada. Not in That Order.

Almost to Palm Springs! 

I picked up my new car (To tow my Airstreams- not my clients!)  in Houston and ended up driving through Marfa, Texas today. 

I had to make a stop at the art installation "Prada Marfa" and photograph 

my new Tonka Toy! 

Btw, Texas is VERY flat. 

Very. 

Road Trip: Making my Back to Palm Springs

But first, I had to make my way down to Texas to pick up a new car to haul My Airstreams. 

Of course a car big enough was in Texas. What other state would have them 

so readily available and affordable? 

On a side note: This has to be one of my favorite photo bombings, courtesy of 

Grandma from Central Casting. Discreet, yet obvious. 

ROAD TRIP! Continued: All Suited Up!

I've done the Oldsmobile Car Show in Michigan

  

I paid the Family in Ohio a visit.  

My next stop: A Wedding in Baltimore, Maryland of course!  

I realized it was time to get suited up!

I like to call this: 

"A Different Kind of Drag"

Between the weather in Palm Springs and working on the airstreams there's not a lot of room for the suit and tie look. 

I think there's a little wink here to 

Film Director (and Baltimore's  own) John Waters, no? 

Palm Springs #TBT!!

Me with the incredible 

MISS KEELY SMITH! 

Taken in 2007 at Twins Palm Estate, the former Frank Sinatra Home.

Singer extraordinaire whether with Louis Prima***, Frank Sinatra,

or better yet on her own, she is a force to be reckoned with!

Keely has been a long time resident of the Desert and is definitely in the top five favorites!

*** Fun fact - Keely + Louis were a bit of the Beyonce and Jay Z of their day. Whether winning Grammy's or singing at the JFK inauguration ("That Old Black Magic") , they were 

THE "it" couple.

For more #TBT CLICK HERE for a video of Keely back in the day singing "that Old Black Magic" 

More Vintage Car Porn from The Oldsmobile Homecoming through the Palm Springs Lens!

I think I may have found a new Wagon to shuttle my clients around!

I spotted this slick wagon at the Oldsmobile Homecoming Car Show + Swap Meet  this past weekend:

And like I always say, everything in life is in the details:

I think my clients would like the option of having a snack or a cocktail while looking at homes, don't you? 

Downright nifty. 

The two tone effect may be good for the  Paul Kaplan Joshua Tree Outpost office. 

I think this one may be the High Roller Car - put all those other agents tooling around in their Bentley's to shame:

Then, there were these:

Did anyone say Steve McQueen?

If this Lime Green beauty doesn't say Palm Springs, I don't know what does!

And this tricked out one for date nights:

And this one for day-to-day errand running:

Or this one:

Then there was this snazzy interior:

And this classic which would look goood on any road, in any driveway, and improve ones looks by 50%, guaranteed:

All in all a terrific Father's Day Weekend, and if you love Oldsmobiles, this is THE show to attend. 

A big Thank You to my Father for instilling the love, respect and appreciation for these beautiful cars (and all cars!) 

Thank you Dad, and let's do it again next year!

ROAD TRIP!

Here's a sneak peek at how I spent Father's Day weekend with my Father:

In Michigan!

At the Oldsmobile Homecoming!

Seriously, my head was going to explode

More pics tomorrow!

Media Spotlight on Palm Springs Part 3: Hotel Lautner

I just wrote about the Lautner Hotel back on May 11th when some of us from The Paul Kaplan Group went for a looksy + some cocktails  as guests of Tracy Breckmann and Danny Heller.

The desert has been getting some serious love lately: Warby Parker, The New York Times, A book on the Palm Springs Lifestyle, and on and on. 

And the love continues: There's a show on Saturday Nights called  First Look TV  on NBC *** that airs after SNL and is hosted by  Audrina Patridge. 

The other night, lo and behold they did a segment on the HOTEL LAUTNER 

in Desert Hot Springs. 

Desert Hot Springs never looked so fancy. 

Very cool, indeed. 

Hotel Lautner getting some love as it should. 

My favorite is this: 

Danny and Audrina casually strolling through the grounds

in some everyday cocktail attire. 

And then, 

Toasting each other with the Hotel Lautner Signature Cocktail.

I love TV and how glamourous they make everything look. 

The hotel is really worthy of a visit if you make it out this way; steeped in architectural history, and truly unlike any hotel experience you will ever have, guaranteed. 

(though I can't guarantee Danny in a tux strolling  around with you)

For More Info on The Hotel Lautner go: HERE

***Thanks to my clients the Benders on the East Coast for alerting me to this and giving me the screen shots!

More Media Spotlight on Palm Springs Part 2a: Palm Springs Lifestyle

Fast Company magazine profiled Nancy Baron's book The Good Life  which includes a photo of me in the Silver Suitcase® --- Fast Company used that photo  as the intro to the piece with this headline:

PHOTO ESSAY OF LIFE IN PALM SPRINGS MAKES ME WANT TO RETIRE IMMEDIATELY 

Photo by Nancy Baron 

Fast Company wrote: 

Photographer Nancy Baron's  The Good Life takes us behind the classic veneer of the city's resort glamour. 

Read the full article HERE

Thanks Fast Company! 

The Media Spotlight on Palm Springs Part 2: The Fashion Edition with Warby Parker + Trina Turk

For most, Palm Springs conjures up images of sunny days, pool side martinis, capri pants, cruising in vintage convertibles down wide open roads flanked by towering Palm Trees underneath clear blue sunny skies.

Photo courtesy of McCormicks Vintage Cars Palm Springs 

One quality about Palm Springs is it ALWAYS conjures up a certain image with people - one that is usually retro chic, mid-century architecture, Hollywood glam, and a lot of hipness.

This has not been overlooked by the tastemakers in the fashion world.

For instance: 

The latest fashion ingenue to enter the Palm Springs style fray is the über hip eyeglass/sunglass brand Warby Parker which sent out an email blast a while back touting their new limited edition line of glasses titled “Palm Canyon Collection”.

Photo Courtesy of Warby Parker 

The description for the collection:

"Warmer getaways inspired us to refresh that essential vacation item: a nice pair of frames. That’s why we’re pleased to bring you some of our favorite shapes, updated in a Palm Springs palette of mesquite, acacia, ironwood, and sand. Think: Steve McQueen and Neile Adams sunning in midday heat, midcentury architecture, and vivid, expansive landscapes…"

(I recently wrote about Steve McQueen on my airstream blog but that's a whole other story)


One of the fashion mainstays of Palm Springs is acclaimed fashion designer + Palm Springs resident Trina Turk  who really has been the ambassador of the Palm Springs look for the past 20 years.

Photo courtesy of Matchbook Magazine

Trina shot into the fashion stratosphere re-introducing the Palm Springs look to new generations, who, in turn, embraced and sported the look with fervor.

Trina’s name sake shops dot Palm Canyon, and is a staple out here for clothing to home décor.

I would be what you call a regular at Trina Turk for Men - not only do I wear her clothes but I've also been decorating one of my vintage airstreams with her home decor textiles.

I do wish Warby Parker and Trina Turk had teamed up - they would've been the Palm Springs Dream Team! 

New York Times Announces To World Palm Springs Is Cool Again.

Today, the Sunday (!!) New York Times did quite a nice write up on Palm Springs being in "demand" right now. You can read the full article  HERE.

One of the statements made in the article is that Coachella is responsible for bringing the most recent boom in development. 

Photo Courtesy of The New York Times/Patrick T. Fallon

Funny enough, many of my posts have already addressed what was in the New York Times piece: the bits that perhaps a certain A-Lister who purchased a certain high profile home cemented the notion of making it "permissable" for others to follow, while the rumor of another A-Lister looking for a home and coupled with this article about the Hollywood "elite" pushing prices up just slammed Palm Springs to the front and center of the zeitgeist stage.

Palm Springs is officially a brand, and exploding y'all. 

Media spotlight on Palm Springs Part 2 + 3 coming up. 

The Paul Kaplan Group: We're Not Just Agents.

Even though the season is slowly winding down. things have been busy as if it were January it seems.

 When not showing houses, or stuffing our faces with cherry pie at staff meetings, we at The Paul Kaplan Group like to do a little side gig called:

MODELING.

Yup. 

We modeled in the Deja Vu Vintage Shop Tiki Fashion Show at The Purple Room 

Agent extraordinaire Chris AKA Modern Bear strutting his stuff. 

Apres Fashion Show Backstage

Me and Chris.

We are all available for print, catalogue, bathing suits, and catwalks. All rates negotiable. 

Coachella 2015 + Trailer Parks!

Yes, you read that right. Tickets went on sale a little over a week ago for Coachella 2015. Yup, almost one year away.

If you didn't get your tickets to Coachella 2015, well, I'm sorry. There will be tickets available on one of those ticket sites, I'm sure.

I've  told you repeatedly if you've never gone, you really must make a point to go. If you've ever met me, then you know I bang on about this all the time.

By the way, look what I came across:

Before the Polo Fields, Before Coachella - there was a TRAILER PARK!!!!

If you know anything about me, then you know I love a vintage trailer - so much so that I purchased a 1980's airstream, gutted it, renovated it, and moved into it full time. 

The love didn't stop there, and I have BIG plans for vintage trailers-- right now I am renovating three vintage trailers - you can read about the progress HERE 

Cherry Pie, Earth WInd & Fire, John Lautner: And How Was Your Week?

Usually around this time of year, things start slowing down: the snow birds start packing up and heading back east (or to Canada); the frenzy of the weekends come to a manageable pace.

Not this year though; this week has been busy, busy, busy -- it seemed that people had forgotten to buy their houses before the season ended, and the week was spent running around quickly negotiating deals, handling inspections, and signing closing papers.

Much needed Pie Buffet at the 10:00am Paul Kaplan weekly staff meeting

Pie really makes any meeting all the better. I can't recommend it enough. 

Pie is the nectar of the Gods. 

 Later in the week, a few of us from the office headed out to Desert Hot Springs

for a work/play outing 

at 

The Hotel Lautner !

HUGE thanks for the invite by Interior Designer Tracy Breckmann and Art Bar Curator/Artist Danny Heller for a looksy and some cocktails.  

Making our way to Desert Hot Springs

The buildings were designed by the iconic Architect John Lautner in 1947

I encourage you to read the rich history on this historical hotel HERE

 Over the years, it changed hands, and in 2008, was saved and brought back to its much deserved glory by Interior Designer Tracy Breckmann and 

furniture designer Ryan Trowbridge. 

They spent 3 1/2 years meticulously restoring the property. 

Thanks to our hosts Tracy and Danny for a great time!!

This is a "must stay at" on the Desert List!

#TGIF:

Friday Night was a #TBF when some friends and I went out to Indio to see 

the GREAT

Earth, WInd & Fire!!!

Here are their  TOUR DATES.

GO SEE THEM. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

THIS IS GUARANTEED FUN. 

If you do not have fun, you might want to see a therapist -- because that means there's something very wrong with you. 

The friends that I saw Earth, Wind, & Fire with own a clothing line called

 Ruffskin which have shops in the U.S. and one in Amsterdam. 

Last year, they shot one of their campaigns on my newly purchased wagon. Honestly, I had forgotten all about it until Friday night when they showed me the souvenir postcards that are placed in their shops for customers to take home.

Behold:

Note: the Washington Plates are still on.

Who knew a wagon could be sexy like this?! 

And to finish this crazy week, last night was dinner at my favorite 

Old School Palm Springs Restaurant: Lyons English Grille 

Here's Victor of Lyons Grille singing on the the last night of the season. 

Note Buckingham Palace Guard and Princess Diana in the background...

Bye Victor, have a great summer! 

I'm already looking forward to opening night next season!

Nudists + Ford Thunderbird = Palm Springs Trivia

One of my favorite attractions to point out in Palm Springs is:

 THE NUDIST RESORT BRIDGE

Click HERE for more info on the resort.

Note the blocked walkway? This is so the motorists can't see their naughty bits hanging out.

The nudists see us, we just can't see them.

The real reason I took the picture, was: did you see this Ford Thunderbird??

Beautiful!

#BridgeOfThighs

Trivia Moment: The Ford Thunderbird's name was taken from The Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage . (Paul R. Williams designed the Former home to Lucille Ball + Desi Arnaz at TCC amongst others) 

The Chairman of Ford had a home there, and in 1955 asked prominent citizen, influencer and investor Frank Bogert (who was soon to be Mayor in 1958) if it was okay. Bogert said yes, and for the use of the name, he was given a brand new Ford Thunderbird which was pretty snazzy at the time. 

Apparently Frank Bogert hated it. Said it was too small, and uncomfortable. 

Bah. 

On the flip side, I'm pretty impressed that I got nudists, architecture, Lucille Ball, Palm Springs History and vintage cars all in one post. 

Oldsmobiles: Palm Springs Edition

My Dad and I won 2nd Place at The Oldsmobile Car Show in Ohio for the restoration of a

 1957 Olds

circa 1980-ish

That's me holding the award and needless to say, 

a love affair and hobby was born.

Since that day I have bought, restored, driven (and eventually sold) about 130 vintage vehicles. Of course, most were done here in Palm Springs which might very well be the classic car capital of the nation.

Thanks to my Father who taught me the ins and outs of classic cars as well as a great deal of respect for the craftsmanship of these beautiful vehicles.

Come Father's Day Weekend, Dad and I are heading out to Lansing, Michigan for the world's largest 

Oldsmobile Homecoming Car Show     

A dangerous place for anyone obsessed with Oldsmonbiles as I am! I can't wait!

Palm Springs Realtor Tip # 254:

Dress to match your listings. 

My listing in Indian Wells Country Club which will open escrow Monday! 

#sunshine #palmsprings #YellowisWorkingForMeTheseDays

Night at the Museum, Palm Springs Style!

Last night was the annual "Meet the Museum" party at the 

Palm Springs Art Museum

which if you haven't been, you really must go. 

The collections are top notch, and the curated exhibits are a breath of fresh air.

And the party - well, this isn't your typical museum stodgy party, no siree! 

As you can tell from the invite:

and the entertainment:

 

and the guests:

And here we are having our official Meet the Museum Party Portrait:

What a flat out fun and raucous night!