Construction has now begun for Phase 1 which includes the infrastructure for the entire site. Already some classes for this campus’ curriculum are being held here in rented space. The construction of Phase 1 will bring hundreds of new jobs to Palm Springs, as will the campus itself when it opens at the Phase 1 completion in 2014. In addition, new support services will undoubtedly develop around the campus, and more will come as the remaining three phases are developed. Along with new jobs, the new campus will bring a young demographic, injecting new vitality into the greater Palm Springs area.

West Valley Campus of College of the Desert
The West Valley Campus curriculum will focus on four main disciplines – Hospitality and Tourism, Media and the Arts, Allied Health, and Sustainability Technology. Roughly half of the acreage will be devoted to a GreenPark for sustainable energy-generating systems. The campus is being constructed utilizing green technology to the extent that it will be totally self-sustaining from its inception and will even generate energy surpluses to sell back into the grid. Sustainability needs for our desert environment will only become more important as we move into the future. It’s the aim of Palm Springs leadership to develop a green economy and to attract clean technology companies to our city. The collaboration between the City of Palm Springs and the West Valley Campus of College of the Desert will be a powerful catalyst for future development here in Palm Springs.

In spite of the noise from detractors of Measure J because it is a tax increase, oh my! To them I say, this is government operating at its best. It demonstrates that a local government/private sector partnership has the power to fix a local problem. We can see that some revitalization has already begun with the recent investment in new restaurants, new shops and galleries. Now our Palm Springs politicos have found a way to energize and empower us to go forward with the revitalization process of Palm Springs in a big way. This process has been delayed for years, due to lack of funding. Congratulations to all who have worked to make this important first step a success. For all of us citizens of Palm Springs, we thank you for your efforts!

Now let’s get to work and make our dreams of a Palm Springs revitalization come true!

First, plan a stay at the Orbit In (notice that the innkeepers spell the name of their inn with only one I), then grab a cocktail and dinner close by at Melvyn’s, located in the Ingleside Inn, where Frank Sinatra and his “rat pack” often hung out. They made Palm Springs their “getaway from LA” home. Melvyn’s is still very much what it was when Sinatra and his pals celebrated there and continues to offer dancing nightly. If you are planning a visit to Palm Springs soon, check out the whole article at Retro Palm Springs, (click forward to 4th page where Palm Springs is featured). Our great weather and proximity to Los Angeles continue to be a big draw for stars and others alike.

Amongst the 45 special events taking place during the festival, three especially caught my eye –
1) A world premier screening of a film about architect Bill Krisel’s career and legacy of Alexander homes that he designed during the 50’s.
2) A Celebrity Home Tour of homes belonging to Frank Sinatra, Frederick Lowe, Dinah Shore, Peter Lawford and concluding with a reception at the Elizabeth Taylor Estate.
3) A retro exploration of foods from the 1950’s and 1960’s put on by Chef Jonny Vee with Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price.

Of course, the annual Modernism Show and Sale will be back at the Convention Center as a part of the opening weekend, February 12-14, and the classic car show returns later in the week. Amongst the new offerings will be a Vintage Fashion Show and a show of those archetypical silver bullet-shaped Airstream Trailers.

To read about all events and to purchase tickets, go to Modernism Week. It’s all très chic!

Modernism Week 2009 features architecture tours, films, lectures, parties, a vintage car show, and many other activities to be held in various venues throughout the City of Palm Springs; all are offered as an homage to the ideals of mid-century modern design, architecture and culture. The style, which originated in the late 1940’s and continued to the mid-1960’s, is typified by clean, simple lines that celebrated an elegant informality and came to define desert modernism. Palm Springs is blessed in having the largest concentration of such mid-century homes and condos in our country, perhaps in any country. So this festival is a celebration and affirmation of one important element of Palm Springs that makes our city so special.

Modernism Week is the only such event in the country celebrating the aesthetics of modernism over such an extended number of days, thus making it appealing for aficionados to plan their vacations to coincide with the event. As a result, Modernism Week has established a passionate and enthusiastic following of  fans who now literally number in the thousands, and who come from all around the country and the world to Palm Springs for the event.

Numerous renowned architects such as Richard Neutra, John Lautner, William Krisel, Albert Frey and others designed Palm Springs’ stellar examples of modernism, inspired by the Coachella Valley’s desert topography and climate. From around 1940 to the early 1960’s, these men helped to create in Palm Springs one of the most important concentrations of modernist architecture in the world. For the full schedule, visit Modernism Week.

“Nordie’s” is especially well known for its extensive shoe departments with vast selections for both men and women. Their price point is a bit more consumer friendly than some of the other luxury stores, such as Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. Popular features in their stores include seating throughout for shoppers, and its trademark live piano players. While I’ve seen no information as to cafés or restaurants, Nordstrom generally offers such inviting spots as their “eBar” (patterned after their previous expresso bars) which offer a variety of quick-fix snacks, and an expanded “hotbar” drink list, and cafés or small restaurants with sit down service.

The mall officials have stated that they are in it for the long run and are not daunted by current downward trends in consumer spending. Let’s hope they stay on the fast track for this project!

This just in – By contrast, it was just announced that plans already announced for additional space for Saks Fifth Avenue and  other projects for The Gardens on El Paseo are now being postponed for about a year or so.

Originally opened in 1959 in the style of Las Vegas hotels such as the Sands, Flamingo, and Stardust, the Riviera was frequented by a host of the rich and famous. Now the Riviera Resort and Spa is reborn as a tribute to those times, with a contemporary/modern brassy, sassy flair. The decor is a bold mix of glass and mirrored columns; walls, floors, and furnishings are primarily done in red, black and ivory.  Some of the whimsical chairs look as if they’re straight out of Alice in Wonderland.  Huge portraits constructed of mirrored tiles make reference to entertainment icons who’ve frequented the resort. 

Upon our first arrival, we were greeted with enthusiasm at the entry, where the hostess suggested the Starlight Lounge, so we mounted the grand staircase to the wide corridor leading to the restaurant, pool areas and three bars. Soon we were perched on bar stools in the Starlight Lounge. It was mirrored, dark and sophisticated. This bar also offered a terrace area giving on to the pool and garden areas. The mood here was subdued and the service attentive.

For our second visit last weekend, we were curious to try the Bikini Bar poolside. There we found ourselves amongst a trendy, hip crowd around the Bikini Bar and beyond – in seating areas clustered around fire pits, in patio chairs around the pool, and in private cabanas.  Above us was the starlit sky, with palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. The place was throbbing with music and with the energy of the mostly younger crowd. The Riviera is fast becoming a new Palm Springs “hot spot”!

Interested? There are several companies here who very competently manage rentals and who will handle the entire process for you as an absent owner. Give us a call.

Owners advertising to rent their homes now often go beyond touting the location, by adding descriptions of “their own combinations of décor, style and historical accuracy”. This emerging trend began several years ago when luxury amenities such as high thread count sheets and high end appliances were a part of the offer. With these features now standard in most high end rentals, owners are offering the lure of significant design aspects of properties as well as their great locations to lure their clients.

For Palm Springs, the lure of Mid-Century modern design is strong. During the decade from about 1955 to 1965, more than 2500 of these homes were built, and one can find many of them today lovingly brought back to their original style. The name Palm Springs is synonymous with homes offering pools, great outdoor living spaces and spectacular mountain views – all to be enjoyed year round. Special lighting features, designer furniture, and other design elements further enhance the appeal. Not surprisingly the clean, simple design of these homes draws many clients in the fields of architecture and fashion design.

If you’d like to join them - check us out. To get more of the flavor of living here in Palm Springs, renting a private home might just be the best way to do it!

* New York Times, Escapes, Samantha Storey, August 8, 2008

Last week while surfing through the New York Times online, I saw that the architectural genius of John Lautner is being showcased in Los Angeles, in a current exhibition at the Hammer Museum, entitled “Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner”. And lo and behold, to my amazement, the first image in the NYT slide show of the exhibit was that of our own Palm Springs “Elrod House”. This house was made memorable, at least to me, by its prominant role as a set piece for the home of the arche villain in the seventh James Bond thriller “Diamonds are Forever”. This, you may remember, is the film in which Sean Connery confronts the acrobatic villains “Bambi” and “Thumper” who both pummel him until he finally subdues them in the Elrod house swimming pool, which seems to hover out in space.

We love to see our architectural gems in the news, and I thought that you might also be interested. You can see the John Lautner designs at Hammer Gallery Exhibit.

*For our earlier blogs on Neutra, see Kaufmann House 1,  Kaufmann House 2, and Kaufmann House 3.

Note: The saga of this house remains unfinished; about one week after the auction, the sale of the house unraveled, and we are still waiting to hear as to the future of the house.