10 Things to do in Palm Springs

1.  Visit Old Town La Quinta
Old Town La Quinta is beautiful! The archways, the Saltillo tiles, the flowers, the mountains, every building is lovely to look at. It is an experience, not just pulling up to some strip center on the highway. The bogenvilia was beautiful climbing up the columns.  I love Saltillo tiles, especially on star risers.

 
Old Town La Quinta Palm Springs

This is definitely my car of choice to drive in Palm Springs
  
Old Town La Quinta Saltillo tiles on stair risers

 
Carthusia Note Fiori di Capri Home fragrance left /Caldi Caldi Boutique Old Town La Quinta Palm Springs

Check-out the wonderful boutique Caldi Caldi. I was lured into this home furnishings store by the most delicious smelling scent from Capri called Note Fiori di Capri, which apparently was the home fragrance used by Jackie O when she was in Capri. Now every time I spray this scent I am transported to another world and time.

2.  Go on a Palm Springs Windmill Tour
When driving or flying into Palm Springs, one of the most striking sights you will see in the Coachella valley is the vast array of wind turbines that sprout from the desert floor. The words "wind turbine" have evolved into what the locals call windmills. My curiosity was piqued so we arranged a tour which was excellent.  Our tour guide Ken Huskey was very knowledgeable, with a lot of the facts and figures that went right over my head. But what did stick with me was how huge the windmills were close up.  To give you a perspective of the scale of these windmills (in the picture below on the left) if you look closely you can see the small figure of a maintenance person dangling from a wire.

Palm Springs Windmill Tour Coachella Valley
Palm Springs Windmill Tour at the Spa Resort & Casino.

3.  See a rainbow over the Palm Springs Desert mountains
It was unfortunate on this trip to Palm Springs that there were heavy rainfalls which resulted in flooding and the closure of many roads, but I was fortunate to see this beautiful rainbow one afternoon when the rain had stopped.

Rainbow over the Little San Bernardino Mountains Palm Springs

4.  Richard Avedon Photography Exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum

The Richard Avedon photography exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum runs through January 30, 2011 and showcases 90 black and white images of notable Avedon subjects including Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan and, of course, some of the Richard Avedon’s iconic shots of Dior’s early work.  I went to the Museum with friends not knowing what was showing. I have long admired Avedon’s photography from afar, so you can imagine my delight in being able to see his iconic photographs up close. His photography is mesmerizing and I had to be dragged out of the exhibit.  I quickly rushed into the Gift Shop and bought Avedon postcards and the Richard Avedon book Women in the Mirror, so I could continue to feast my eyes on his work.

           Richard Avedon, Self Portrait 1980 / Amazon Book: Women in the Mirror
 
Richard Avedon, Twiggy 1968, gelatin silver print
      
Richard Avedon, Dovima with elephants 1955, Evening dress by Dior

5. Look at Mid Century Modern Real Estate in Palm Springs

Mid Century Modern Real Estate Palm Springs

 
Mid Century Modern Real Estate Palm Springs

6.  Shop at the Cabazon Outlet Mall

The prices and selection are fantastic!!  Some of my favourite stores are Tod’s, Gucci, Prada, Elie Tahari, Michael Kors, Dior, Ralph Lauren. 

  
 

7.  Have supper at Jillian’s Restaurant on El Paseo Drive, Palm Desert

Jillian’s Restaurant is housed in a historic 1946 hacienda style building.  The building was originally built as Fort.  It is still intact complete with the artillery room in the rear.  At the front entrance at Jillian’s you can look at interesting pictures of it in the 40’s.  I found it amazing that when it was was built it was the middle of the desert with nothing around it.  That is hard to imagine today, as it is in the center of the busy and thriving Palm Dessert El Paseo Drive shopping area. Below is what I had for Supper at Jillian’s, which was absolutely delicious.  I think the Apple Dumpling has to be the best desert I have ever tasted!

 Jillian's Restaurant El Paseo Dive Palm Desert

Appetizer
Tower of Fresh Crab 
Fresh Dungeness crab meat layered between diced avocado,
sweet tomatoes and toasted brioche
Entree
Rack of Lamb
Rack of Colorado Lamb rolled in Dijon herb crust,
roasted and presented on a fresh Rosemary scented demi glace
Dessert
Apple Dumpling
A tart apple cored and filled with cinnamon and pecans, encased in puff pastry,
baked then drizzled with a luscious caramel sauce and served with vanilla bean ice cream

8. Visit the Salton Sea & Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

 
Salton Sea

 
Thousand Palms Oasis Coachella Valley Preserve

9. Pick an orange from the tree

Picking fresh, juicy, sweet oranges right from the tree.

10. Swim in Palm Springs Natural Hot Mineral pools
The pool I swam in had water that flows from springs 300 feet deep in the earth and comes out of the ground at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. These Palm Springs therapeutic pools claim to be beneficial for arthritis and back pain, heart and diabetes, weight loss and insomnia. What I like best is that the water is odorless and tasteless.  It is a treat to swim in water that doesn’t smell like chlorine.

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Palm Springs Modern Architecture and the Use of Screen Block

Palm Springs is ground zero for mid-century modern architecture Get Ready to Embrace your Inner Modernist

Palm Springs Modern Architecture Photo Julius Shulman

Every February for the past 9 years the big event to attend is the Palm Springs Modernism Show, which I missed by one week. Was I disappointed when I found out. I would have planned my trip differently. More than eighty of the foremost decorative and fine arts dealers convene to offer the very best of mid 20th-century furniture, paintings, sculpture, lighting, books and jewelry to eager collectors. Concurrently, Modernism Week surrounds the Modernism show with an events lineup offered during nine days that includes an always-memorable Saturday night gala, retro films, lectures, architectural tours around town (some on a double-decker bus), a classic car show, gallery openings and no shortage of martini soirees to rival the Rat Pack’s. A “don’t-miss” party (that I missed) this year was held at Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, a sumptuous 1947 Mid-Century marvel with period décor, that rents out for $2,600 / night.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture Twin Palms: The Frank Sinatra Estate

But all was not lost because I did a self guided driving tour of "Screen Block" houses. The tour was headed by my Dad in the drivers' seat and two really good back-seat drivers (Joyce & me) with the map, shouting out directions: turn left here! no maybe try turning right!...stop now!....back up! The tour was written up as: Palm Springs' Hidden Architectural Treasures and some of these treasures were really well hidden off the main track. Unless a visitor is fortunate enough to spend an extended time in Palm Springs they are unlikely to notice or appreciate the extensive use of a quirky building material known as "screen block", a pierced decorative concrete block most commonly produced in 12" squares. It had it's heyday from the late 1950s through the 1960s especially in climates where the challenges of sun protection spawned a host of architectural solutions including metal grilles and wood louvers. During this brief "golden era" more than 250 different screen block patterns were produced around the country. Palm Springs is remarkable for having at least 54 of those patterns documented within its city limits. Along with this popularity screen block inherited a cascade of synonyms including "breeze block", "grille block", "solar block", "veil block", perforated block", "vented block", and "pierced block". Manufacturers claimed that buildings using screen block were 10 degrees cooler. Screen block has its origins and is a close cousin of the wooden grilles found in Moorish and Hindu architecture. But despite these exotic connections, history shows us that screen block's functional versatility and design appeal was embraced as a uniquely American product, forever linked to the space-age optimism of the late 50s and 60s and to the Sunbelt lifestyle.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

1. The first example was the Resort Realty Building 190 E.Palm Canyon Dr. The exotic three dimensional block (today painted turquoise a colour that works wonderfully in the clear desert air of Palm Springs) was designed by Austrian-American sculptor Erwin Hauer. It was far more expensive and difficult to produce than standard screen block and surviving examples of Hauer's blocks are extremely rare.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This building was hard to get close to, as it was at the intersection of 4 busy streets with lots of traffic. But I am glad that I persevered to get close enough to take close up shots of the way the sun cast these interesting shadows.

2. The next location was rather hard to find, Twin Palms Apartments 495 Twin Palms Drive, and I would have driven right by without stopping to take in the beauty of it. A different colour has been used for each of the sections and the screen block is called "Venus" because they create imaginative "Martian-like figures.

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
In the pictures you can see that windows are right behind the screen block.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

3. Then to my delight we went to Canyon View Estates, an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood of detached condominiums built in the early 60s, designed by architect William Krisel who was commissioned by the developer Alexander. Alexander changed the face of Palm Springs with the construction of more than 2,500 homes in the modernist idiom. Krisel also designed the private home of the Alexanders' - "The Alexander House" which was dubbed The "House of Tomorrow". It was conceived as an experiment in modern living. It gained fame as the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture Alexander Residence1957 Photo: Julius Shulman

William Krisel shaped the look of Palm Springs 50 years ago and now a new generation is resurrecting his classic designs, and it was so apparent upon driving into this subdivision, where you could see that it is becoming the hip and happening area.

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The screen block on this house (above & below) is called 'Maltese". I love how the tree is growing up and through the architecture.

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
How wonderful to have an orange tree in your front yard

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The landscaping for this community of 164 homes was immaculately maintained. The trees were works of art - living sculpture.

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
I think this is called "Mei Ling" pattern pattern (above & below)

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This screen block is fleur-de-lis and was one of my favourites (above & below)

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This house with the Japanese inspired "Starburst" pattern was being renovated and I was able to slip inside and take a few photos.
The wall between the kitchen & living room was taken out and this interesting glass mosaic tile was put on the backslash
of the all-white kitchen (that's me in the reflection taking the picture).

 
The shower in the Master Ensuite was sunken about 12" 

Double molded sinks in the Ensuite

The tilers at work in the Main Bathroom

 
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The view from the back patio

Furniture and the remains of the workers lunch in the dining room. Great Chairs - vintage to match the era of the house.
All the floors throughout the house including the outdoor balcony and the carport were tiled in white Mexican pavers.

 

Palm Springs Modern Architecture

The living rooms in these homes feature vaulted ceilings and clearstory windows

 

Picture taken from inside living room. The windows are on all four sides of the living room which is a really effective way of
getting light into the interior of the home without the effects of the heat from the sun.

4. Last stop Parker Hotel 4200 E. Palm Canyon Dr, recently re-designed by Jonathan Adler. This vast wall of is made of "Vista-Vue" pattern screen block. Both beautiful and functional. Don't you love the Bell Hop's pink jacket? It is so Jonathan Adler.

I hope you enjoyed the screen block tour.
We are off to have drinks at the Viceroy.

Other travel posts you might like:
My Visit to Palm Springs
Drinks at the Viceroy Palm Springs
Sunday in Milan
Venice - The Old and the New
VENICE - Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa, Giudecca Island, Redentore
ROME - Hotel Mascagni, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Barberini
FLORENCE - Hotel Santa Maria Novella, Uffizi, Accademia Gallery  

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009