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! 

Anyone Speak German?

My home the Silver Suitcase® was given a very nice shout out (With photo!)  in a German Magazine called Süddeutsche.de . The mag did a lovely piece on Photographer Nancy Baron's book titled "The Good Life" which focuses on the Palm Springs lifestyle.

Photo: Nancy Baron

The Good Life is scheduled to be out in the next few months, and I will post about the release date as soon as I know. 

Living in Palm Springs: A Different Take on Mid-Century Homes

For those of you that may not know, I moved out of a 1200 sq foot Alexander Mid-Century home with a pool and into a 1988 Airstream Trailer which I renovated this past Summer/Fall.

I call my home The Silver Suitcase®

And, yes, my residence is in a Trailer Park.

Here's a taste of the before:

And here's a taste of the after:

I don't mess around. 

I always had a fascination with the trailers growing up, so I thought why not give it a whirl? I'll live in the trailer for at least one year to get the full experience.

I had loads of fun making the airstream over and reactions from people have been huge.

One of the phenomenas of having a unique home is when I send out an invite to have guests over, my RSVP "Yes" rate hovers around 98%.  

Having had so much fun, and receiving requests from clients and people from afar (Hi London!) I have embarked on doing a few more on my down days. 

So, meet the newest additions to my Silver Suitcase® Family:

Silver Suitcase® # 2: My Baby 1966 Safari

Design is all in the Details, people!

Nice spare tire in the foreground

And here she is, cleaned out and with a base coat of paint

Paint really is the miracle drug. 

 Silver Suitcase® # 3:

1949 Spartan Mansion

This is a big undertaking, but I can't wait.

Renovation is really all in the attitude!

And finally, my summer cottage:

Silver Suitcase® #4:

1960 Park Model

Look at those bones, would you??

I just started on Baby Safari, and with a lot of work and some luck, I am hoping to have all three done by August at the latest.

To keep up with the renovations on my Airstreams, follow my blog 365 Days in An Airstream.

Happy Travels, indeed. 

The Palm Springs Welcome Wagon: Leonardo DiCaprio Edition!

Hi Leo,

My name is Matthew, 

and I'm one of your neighbors in Palm Springs.

Okay, maybe not a next door neighbor; but where I'm from, in a small town you welcome the new neighbors, regardless of distance.

I live in a vintage airstream called The Silver Suitcase™ that I bought off of ebay and renovated last August; I just purchased 2 more, which I blog about.

(Crazy, right?  I went from 1200 sq ft to 240 sq ft. and have had more fun parties here than I ever had before.)

Anyway, it seems like every major publication has announced your Palm Springs purchase. We knew you had bought a house, but kept mum.

Until now, as it's evident the cat is out of the bag, so:

WELCOME TO Palm Springs! 

I do hope you enjoy your time here. It's pretty great, if I do say so myself.

To get your feet wet, here are some of my favorite, mostly Old School, Dining and Drinking spots in Palm Springs:

Sunday Afternoon: Melvyn's is a must do. Nothing better for a civilized afternoon with cocktails, the trio of musicians and a tuxedo'd maitre'd - yes, even when it's 120 degrees out and you're wearing board shorts with a t-shirt, Brian the Maitre'd will be there to greet you and welcome you to all of Melvyn's glory with their perfectly made Sinatra approved cocktails.   (Btw, they are hosting a special Dinner with Gavin MacLeod on March 19th!)

photo courtesy of Melvyn's/Ingleside Inn

Sunday Night Dinner:  Lyon's English Grille: Has been open since 1939 and on Sunday's there's The Nat King Cole Set. Nothing is better. King Henry Cut? Prime Rib?

Photo Courtesy of Lyon's English Grille

Monday Nights 7:00pm: Sissy Bingo at the Ace Hotel in the Kings Highway Restaurant with bingo caller extraordinaire, Hollywood Legend, Linda Gerard. Prizes are awarded, and if you're lucky, Linda will serenade you. Linda, Cocktails, Dinner, Bingo, and Prizes? Doesn't get much better than this. On a Monday night, people!

Photo courtesy of Ace Hotel

How awesome is Linda?!

Photo courtesy of Ace Hotel

Any Time Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner: Billy Reed's!
When you want to dine in old school warmth where everyone looks good -  no matter the wear and tear on your face, this is the place to sit back in an old school bar chair (with arms!) and order a chilled Martini or Manhattan done by a seasoned pro.

Photo Courtesy of Billy Reeds

Order the Liver and Onions, Prime Rib or Chicken Picatta and finish off with the best Cake and Pie in town. They also serve Breakfast and Lunch. BONUS: You can order off any of their menus at any time. And, yes, cocktails, will be served at 8am if you so wish.

Lunch + Dinner: La Tablita Mexican Restaurant in Cathedral City is the place to go if you want Mexican. Open for lunch at 11, close at 10 - full bar, and really outstanding Mexican food + Cadillac Margaritas. Worth the drive/Taxi. 

Photo Courtesy of La Tablita/Facebook

Any Day for Lunch: Tyler's!

Photo Courtesy of Tylers.com

I love the simplicity of Tyler's. Sit outside under the canopy or grab one of the 10 seats inside. They have a simple menu of burgers (veggie and turkey too), fries, sandwiches, malts, milkshakes with everything freshly made to order. 11- 4 daily + cash only. Get the "SomerSized" named after Suzanne Somers!

Lastly, a few things to keep in mind:

• Don't turn on the misters when it is 85 or above, all it does is produce humidity - not cute, nor cooling.
• The pool takes 24 hours to heat up  - keep in mind if you want it heated by the time you get out here.
• If your friends want discretion, put them up at Ruby Montana's Coral Sands Inn. Ruby's is the vault of all vaults. Trust me. You can find her here and here. She's on the border of the Las Palmas neighborhood.
• Palm Springs to Rancho Mirage is 20 minutes. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
• Coachella is about 45 minutes by car from Palm Springs. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
• The Sun Bus stops at Melvyn's - not that you would ever use it, but I love that tid bit. Makes me laugh every time.
• We have taxi's.
• Sunscreen. Highly recommended.

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!

Quick Check-In from the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show + Mid-Century Yard Sale Tomorrow!

Great Day today at the Vintage Trailer Show!

My Silver Suitcase™ at the Vintage Trailer Show!

Tomorrow is part 2 of the show 10-3

AND

The Mid Century Yard Sale starts at 8:00AM SHARP!

(Photo Booth! Free Donuts!) 

Details for Both Events Below:

Mid Century Yard Sale

Paul Kaplan Group Parking Lot

1701 N Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Sunday Feb 23rd 8am-12pm

Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show 

Hilton Hotel Parking Lot

400 East Tahquitz Canyon

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Sunday Feb 23rd 10am-3pm