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!

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!

A Serious Look at Palm Springs Real Estate

One-third of The Paul Kaplan Group  captured at the Palm Springs Real Estate Association 

Anniversary Party.

You know, another ho-hum night out. 

The Boss Man Paul Kaplan, Samantha, and Simon

In case you didn't realize, I'm in the silver jacket.

HAPPY COACHELLA 2014: WEEKEND 2 is here!

If you were unable to come out for Coachella either last weekend or this weekend, hopefully your cable provider has axs tv/on demand because axs tv is 

LIVE STREAMING it all weekend!  Click here to see if you have axs tv or can do axs tv on demand.

On to more practical matters if you are here: 
The Hollywood Reporter did a really nice write up on where to eat and drink during Coachella click Here for the list.
And, here is my version of where you can go in Palm Springs for the full on Old School PS experience.

Surprise Guest "dancer" Beyonce with sister Solange last weekend

Pet Shop Boys Stage

#coachella2014

Here are some of my pics here, here and silliness here  and here of WEEKEND #1; I've said it before, and I will say it again: If you have never been, make it a point to come out next year!

COACHELLA: Day Three Check In!!

Think we're having fun yet?

Day Three: 

We're not tired at all. Or sore from dancing. Really.

Not at all.

#nosireebob

The ASTRONAUT.

Can't get enough of this piece.

#NeverGetsOld

Some Coachella Ambience

as Day Three came to a close

More Greetings from Coachella!!!

Do you see the astronaut behind us??!!

(Astronaut by artist Phillip K. Smith)

Me with the BOSS MAN Paul Kaplan

Don't forget, you can watch the Coachella livestream HERE

Art Break: Coachella Edition

Artist: Phillip K. Smith

"Astronaut"

I say:  AWESOME!

The Countdown to Coachella Music Festival 2014 Begins!

My Coachella Action Adventure Set came in and it only has a wristband and a paper snail with directions to glue glitter to it.

Here's the snail they speak of from last year:

And here I am last year in one of my many Coachella Approved outfits 

in front of the 

Snail:

Bring it on, Coachella! 

Modernism Week Wrap Up Finale!

Everyone at The Paul Kaplan Group and myself are all still recovering from 2 weeks of whirlwind parties, open houses, vintage trailer shows, opening night receptions, fashion shows, desert lounge crawls, home tours, a curated "yard sale", a web series I took part in for The Desert Sun- not to mention the months that went into planning - and of course, we've already started coming up with new events for next year, which we're all really, really excited about.

If you didn't make it out to Palm Springs this year, definitely come out for Modernism Week 2015; I guarantee a great time.

The Week ended in a pretty spectacular way for me at the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show: 
My home, The Silver Suitcase™ was given the award for Best Modernism Trailer!

Pretty Snazzy, right? Woot! Woot!

(that's Mona, organizer extraordinaire of the Vintage Trailer show!) 

Modernism Week Wrap Up Part 3: Vintage Trailer Show!

The Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show had an incredible turnout this year!

The Event had 34 trailers in addition to my home, The Silver Suitcase™ which I relocated  to the Hilton Hotel Parking lot for the event.

If you've ever been, you know Vintage Trailer People are really fun! If you ever run into someone that owns one of these, I guarantee a good time. These are the happiest people I know.

There's just something about owning a home on wheels that demands joy!

Enjoy the pics!

Thank you to Cliff Uyeda for the wonderful pictures! cliff@uyeda.net

The Entry Way to all things Vintage Trailer!

Scooter + Trailers? Don't mind if I do!

Glam Traveling, Trailer Style!

Yellow: The PERFECT Palm Springs Color!

Two Tones!

(See? Yellow, again!) 

Look a little closer...

See...

The Dog Trailer! HA!

Al Fresco dining, anyone? 

Love the area rug!

Lounging...

Dreamy, right?

photo courtesy of Gregg Felson NBC 4 NEWS

If you missed the show this year, do try and make it in 2015. NBC Channel 4 in LA said it's worth the trip!

Otherwise, you can see more pics on the Palm Springs Modernism Week Vintage Trailer FB Page or on my other blog about living in my airstream!

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2014 Wrap Up - PART 1

Modernism Week 2014 was busier and had more events than ever before. Here are some highlights - more to come!

There was Fashion!

Deja Vu Vintage Finery put on a Fashion show titled
"Jet Set"

(Pan Am was a really great airline. Those were the days when Airlines actually enforced dress codes!)

Here I am looking a little like the Hawaiian Punch guy...

 Cars! Art! Rock N Roll!

I was honored to help curate a Feral Car show titled "Driven" with feralcars.com founder Bob Merlis at the Stephen Archdeacon Gallery

Photo courtesy of Paul Kaplan

Hosted by the legendary Billy F. Gibbons Founder and member of ZZ TOP, with drawings and paintings of the open road/car noir art*** by artist Eric Nash. 

DRIVEN co-conspirators: Matthew Reader, Bob Merlis, Billy F Gibbons, Eric Nash

Photo by Christina Patoski

The Artist Eric Nash in front of his Portrait of a Feral Wagon

Photo courtesy of feralcars.com

Cocktails!

Photo courtesy of FeralCars.comPura Vida Tequila for everyone! Poured by Sara!

Photo Courtesy of Eric Nash 

Thank you to everyone for joining us on this special night!

***Thanks to Bob  Merlis for the description of Eric Nash' art for the evening!