Paul Kaplan Group and The Silver Suitcase to Tour Northwest

Exciting news- The Paul Kaplan Group is planning a four-city tour to promote Palm Springs real estate and our chic casual lifestyle.  Look for upcoming parties in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.  We'll also be making my Airstream a Joshua Tree mobile office on designated weekends!

If you haven't read the blog about the Airstream's renovation at The Happy Traveler RV Park in Palm Springs, check out: www.airstream365.blogspot.com

Postcard From Palm Springs

 

(You missed a lot this Summer!)

I frankly couldn't believe how busy Palm Springs was this Summer- I've been here twelve years, and this was the first year that I noticed no downturn in the number of visitors.  Chalk it up to mild temperatures, activities year round now (Splash House for example) and a general giddiness about travelers enjoying the heat, Palm Springs is becoming a year- round getaway.  This fall we're looking forward to new hotels: Kimpton (2014), Arrive (2014) The Hard Rock Hotel (this October); new nightclubs Smoketree Supper Club, a re-imagined Purple Room by Trio, and the Palm Springs Tonga Room.

Jim Jennings House, Deepwell, Palm Springs

I went to the unveiling of the Jim Jennings-designed and Blue Sky Homes-material sourced materials home in Deepwell.  The party was thrown by Palm Springs Modern Committee, and really was a chic home- I was really impressed by the delicate details of the home's design- particularly the lacy perforated ceiling finish, which directs AC air through it entirely, rather than through single vents.  The house picks up right where the Wexler/Harrison Steel houses left off, and expands entirely.  The vertical steel walls around the courtyard look so much like the steel guest houses from the Alexander's Twin Palms development.  Very cool concept.  The house is listed for sale at $1.3 million, which is breathtaking in itself.  Can't wait to see it sell.

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!

Pompeii De Las Palmas: Palm Springs Pied-à-terre

Italianate Regency Midcentury

Enjoy Your Last Days In Pompeii

You don't have to be at the foot of Mount Vesuvius to have a smoking hot time- check out Pompeii De Las Palmas!  This is a short sale, will be listed at $160,000, but sure to go over asking price.  To see the prior listing from a few years back, click HERE.

Like its sister property, Villa Roma at the South end of Palm Springs, this was also built in 1966.  There is a very Caesar's Palace colonnade around the swimming pool with a magnificent view of the mountains from Old Las Palmas.  This is a one bedroom, two bath condo, approx 850 sq. ft.  There are only nine units in this complex on West Stevens Road.  HOAS are $275.00 monthly.

To schedule a showing (will be a one-day, blue-light special event), call Matthew @ The Paul Kaplan Group at 760-969-2278