Desert Modernism is more than a style, it’s a lifestyle that is best experienced at your leisure. In fact, Desert Modernism practically invented the idea of “leisure.” Living both indoors and out inspired the idea of casual living.
Since Desert folks dig the heat, July won’t faze you; rest assured, there are plenty of cool events, places to go, things to do while grooving in the Desert Modernism experience.
Stay at the newly renovated Saguaro Hotel that is infused with bold color. A palette of 12 vibrant tones found in native desert wildflowers bathe balconies, guest rooms and abstract metal works as the color spectrum changes during the time of day.
Iron Chef Jose Garces, a James Beard Award winner and one of the country’s best young chefs, created two new restaurants at Saguaro: Tinto and El Jefe. Inspired by the Basque region of Northern Spain and Southern France, Tinto is a modem approach to traditional pintxos (peen-chos) or Basque tapas with a deep selection of Spanish wines and cocktails. El Jefe, a premium tequila bar and lounge, celebrates street fare from Mexico City’s “Distrito Federal.”
This summer, guests and groups are invited to stay and cook along with Tinto chefs during the Desert Chef experience. Create three-course gourmet meals in a team-setting. Guests are greeted with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails before embarking in the kitchen. Afterward, they enjoy their work paired with Tinto house sangria and dessert.
If it gets too hot in the kitchen, there’s always the pool, spa, morning yoga, bike rides, and tequila and tacos at El Jefe.
The Saguaro is located at 1800 East Palm Canyon. Call (760) 323-1711.
Visit www.jdvhotels.com.
Walk out the door of your newly redecorated minimalist room at The Alcazar and step in the middle of the Uptown Design District. A fusion of midcentury atmosphere and Spanish colonial architecture, the a 24-room boutique hotel is connected to the hip Cheeky’s and Birba’s restaurants, all owned and inspired by entrepreneur Tara Lazar and her husband Marco Rossetti.
The Alcazar is located at 622 N. Palm Canyon Drive.
Visit www.alcazarpalmsprings.com
Steps away from The Alcazar are Palm Springs’ treasure trove of modernism stores chock full of new and vintage furnishings and accessories from the 1950s to the 1970s.
A visit to the Uptown Design District isn’t complete without stopping in at Modern Way, 745 North Palm Canyon, or the Vintage Oasis, 373 South Palm Canyon, for lighting, signage, furniture, arcade games, artwork and just about any quirky, offbeat thing you can imagine.
Modern Way – www.psmodernway.com
Vintage Oasis – www.vintageoasis.com
Looking for cool, retro nightlife with big cocktails and swizzle sticks?
Check out the nightlife at the Spa Casino’s Cascade Lounge at 400 East Amado; The Tropicale & Coral Seas Lounge at 330 Amado; or sip cocktails poolside during Frank’s Happy Hour (the flag goes daily up at 4 p.m.) at the Riviera Palm Springs, 1600 North Indian Canyon.
Spa Casino Cascade Lounge – www.sparesortcasino.com
The Tropicale – www.thetropicale.com
Riviera Palm Springs – www.psriviera.com
Plan to spend 4th of July in the Desert and take in some spectacular fireworks at either end of the valley.
The All American Fourth of July Palm Springs at the Palm Springs Stadium starts with a Power Baseball game at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks at 1901 East Baristo Road.
Or enjoy an evening of an outdoor music concert and fireworks at the City of Palm Desert’s Civic Center Park, starting at 7:30 p.m., Fred Waring at San Pablo.
Films are part of Palm Springs illustrious past and present, and summer is no exception. Find a spectrum of offbeat and international films presented by the Desert Film society at the Camelot Theatres, 2300 East Baristo, and don’t miss the series of free films every Thursday at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Way, Palm Springs.
The museum is another icon of modernism, designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1974, expanded with the Steve Chase Art wing in 1996. The 124,435 square foot complex houses various galleries, sculpture atriums, a museum store, cafe, and the 437-seat Annenberg Theater for the performing arts.
Camelot Theatres – www.camelottheatres.com
Palm Springs Art Museum – www.psmuseum.org
Slide down one of two seven-stories high tower slides at Knott’s Soak City, loll down the Lazy River on an inner tube, or cool your heels in a misted patio while sipping a cold one. Season passes or day tickets are available for this popular summertime water park at 1500 Gene Autry Trail. They even have dive-in movies on special nights.
Knott’s Soak City – www.soakcityps.com
But one of the coolest adventures of all is a self guided Modernism Tour.
Start at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, 2901 N. Palm Canyon Dr., with its famous Albert Frey winged roof where you’ll pick up the
Modernism Self-Guided map. Take your time to visit this and other famous sites including another the Frey-designed masterpiece, Palm
Springs City Hall at 3200 E. Tahquitz Way.
Palm Springs Visitor Center – www.visitpalmsprings.com
— Pamela Bieri
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