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" 

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 

A 10 Second Hollywood History in Palm Springs: American Gigolo Version

American Gigolo was on the other night and lo and behold I had forgotten about this pivotal (and dark) scene that takes place in the Canyon Club area of Palm Springs

Richard Gere's character Julian Kaye drives to Palm Springs as a favor to service the client of a pimp/friend.

Here is the mid-century home as it appears in the film with the Julian Kaye character driving up in his Mercedes 450 SL.

And how it looks today:

The front has obviously been rearranged. A lawn was put in, as well as the driveway being moved to the left. The Canyon Country Club has some incredibly beautiful and tasteful homes and most were preserved to their original mid-century design. 

Now I'm a little obsessed to see the inside!

Palm Springs Modern Committee Fall Home Tour 2013

I spent part of Saturday touring homes for PSmodcom's Fall tour, with such homes as 1961 by Home Lab, the new Dee Residence in Rancho Mirage by architect Lance O'Donnell of o2 Architecture, and a recent renovation of a rear patio unit at The Ocotillo Lodge, which was designed by Palmer and Krisel and built by the Alexanders (one of my favorite condo complexes, there are plaques with celebrity names on the doors, harking back to when it was a favorite weekend haunt of celebrities).  This one had a "Dinah Shore" in gold on the door.  The Estrella Swim club house in Indian Canyons was a crowd-pleaser.

Sparrows Hotel Palm Springs

I was able to get to Sparrows Hotel yesterday- though their not opening until September, thanks to hang-ups in the renovation with the City of Palm Springs.  I can't wait to have a cocktail in the original barn on the property.  Once a western-themed motor court hotel that was built either in the late 1940's or early 50's depending on who you talk to, this is now a tony design-driven boutique hotel designed by the former owners of the Korakia hotel in Palm Springs.  Josie Smith, owner, was kind enough to give us a tour and show us into her on-site shop, which has opened in advance of the hotel.  Totally digging the summer camp hoe down chuckwagon dinner vibe!

Desert Center: California Ghost Town and Modern Ruins

Desert Center's history is as colorful as it currently is colorless.  Nearly a ghost town, there are a few inhabitants left in this village that was founded in 1921.  Now that everyone seems to have pulled up and left- even all the gas stations are closed, the town remains remarkably intact.  It's just on the outskirts of Lake Tamarisk, which was built by Kaiser Steel.  Check out the full history of Desert Center on Wikipedia, and get out there for a drive- it's only about an hour East of Palm Springs. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Center,_California

My favorite quote from the founder of the town is: "If You Don't Believe Me, You Can Go To Hell, or Visit Me in Desert Center in August!"

Was definitely worth a stop on my way back from Phoenix Modern.

Coachella Music Festival 2013

I went to Coachella this year with low expectations.  Anytime I hear a load of buzz about something, I figure that the sheep are at at it again, baa baa baa about something new.  Aside from getting in and back out (it's a long and difficult process, have patience), it was one of the most fun things that I've ever done.  It's like a combination rock concert, cocktail party, fashion show, and art installation.

For three days (12-hour days), I stood with friends and ate and drank and listened to some of the best live music I've heard in a long time- OMD, New Order, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs (my favorite), Rodriguez, Violent Femmes, Youth Lagoon, Stars, Divine Fits, Alt-J, Modest Mouse, La Roux...I think you get the picture.  The light shows with each performance was amazing, lots of space to move around and dance, and the crowds are very friendly.

When you get tired of the music, you can stroll around the Polo Grounds, taking in the major art installations: a midcentury moder-esque house with images projected on it at night, a HUGE lycra snail that creeps about the grounds after dark, a hippo-operated powerplant, and a praying mantis/crane/dj booth. 

The food is pretty great for a large-scale festival (over 80,000 people attend): Taiwanese bao with fried chicken, Pink's hot dogs, paella, french fries with a garlic aioli and crab meat- I spent a lot of time eating!

The best part of this whole thing is that everyone is SO YOUNG.  It's a whole new generation of people coming to Palm Springs to have a great time, and taking all these memories of their fun back home.  It's so great that this next group of really young people have re-discovered the magic of the desert.

I can't wait to get my tickets for next year!

Wexler Harrison Alexander Steel House, Palm Springs

Every once in awhile I run into a very special home- this Wexler-Harrison-designed and Alexander built folded-plate roof steel house is one of them.  These were built between 1960-62.  It's had some modifications over the years- carport enclosed, and a new carport added to front, the original board-and-batten entry is now inside the house, but you can still see the lines- great spider legs are still hidden in plain sight, along with original bath vanities.  A wonderful rhomboid pool was recently renovated.  There is a floating glass wall that separates the living space from the master bedroom.  This is a true jetset house.  It will be available for sale at $629,000.  Hopefully, a preservationist will snatch up this class one historic site and restore it to what it once was.

Post Palm Springs Modernism Week

One of my favorite events every year during Palm Springs' Modernism Week is the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation's Retro Martini Party.  This year it was held at the Abernathy house, designed by William Cody in 1962.  Everyone dresses to the nines at these, arrives in vintage cars, and most are in vintage clothing.  It's a perfect Palm Springs evening, and I always look forward to the really fantastic homes that they hold this event in each year.

The Fontenell, Palm Springs

The Fontenell is one of the most exciting renovations that I have seen in a long time.  The stunningly curated furnishings of the already dazzling property only makes it seem more like a time-warp.  This multi-unit stucture was once the Max Factor family compound.  One of my favorite features are the original eye-height turquoise refrigerators and the doorbell/clock combos.  Look for it to be a regular venue for the hippest events in Palm Springs this season.  For more information, visit their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thefontenell

Down on the Street, Palm Springs

There is something really appealing about finding a neglected car that is still in regular service parked in a neighborhood.  Repairs made on a budget- dents hammered out, every scar on the paint since the day the car left the factory appears present.  If this car had been on the East Coast, it would have already been recycled, but fortunately, the California Desert is kind to steel.  This 1960something Pontiac Lemans, wearing mismatched tires, original weatherbeaten paint, and a tattered interior, is driven every day by its owner in Palm Desert.  Survivor.  Palm Springs is a haven for older cars.

 

A. Quincy Jones Condo In Palm Springs

I have to say, my 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado looks pretty breathtaking in the carport at the A. Quincy Jones-designed Condominium at 1969 Camino Real in Palm Springs.  Both the car and the condos were designed about the same time, and are vaguely reminiscent of the servants' quarters at Sunnylands, The Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage.  We have this condo listed for sale, and was recently featured on Curbed LA.

Palm Springs Designer Avanti to be Auctioned

The personal Avanti of Raymond Loewy will be auctioned off by Bonhams on May 11.  Legend has it that this car was designed on a cocktail napkin by Mr. Loewy while in Palm Springs.  Who says you can't mix business and pleasure?  This is the second Avanti belonging to Loewy to be auctioned off in the past few months.  This particular vehicle resided at Loewy's Parisienne address.

http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/features/grand-prix-cafe/7005-bonhams-to-sell-designer-raymond-loewys-72-avanti

Palm Springs Past

Some of my favorite things to collect are ephemera; things that were meant to be thrown away.  I have a budding colletion of ashtrays and matches from Palm Springs Nightclubs, was really surprised to find this tabletopper from The Doll House, famous for Peggy Lee's performances there, and where Joan Crawford apparently took up waiting tables for an evening, to prove she could do it, just like her performance in Mildred Pierce.  Also love the Chi-Chi menu!