Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced yesterday that its newest brand, Tribute Portfolio Resorts has taken over ownership of the Riviera Palm Springs. Before its debut as the Riviera Palm Springs, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, in November 2015, the property will undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade, including the addition of a new pool bar, wedding pavilion and enhanced lobby.  This is yet another example of how Palm Springs is becoming more of a world-class destination every day.  The investments into this great resort town just keep coming.  

I'm sure most of you know who Starwood Hotels and Resorts is.  If you don't know their name, you most certainly know of their brands including, St. Regis, W Hotels, Westin, Le Meridien and Four Points just to name a few.  

Firmly anchored in the four-star, upper upscale category, the Tribute Portfolio brand allows owners of distinct properties to maintain their independent spirit, while benefiting from Starwood's powerful distribution and loyalty. Launched in April 2015, Tribute is Starwood's newest and tenth brand.  The brand is comprised of exceptional independent hotels around the globe, offering guests and owners the ability to "Stay Independent."  From boutique resorts to urban destination properties, guests can enjoy access to outstanding four star, upper upscale hotels with an indie spirit while benefitting from the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program. 

Luxury.  Indie.  Boutique...this is a big part of the Palm Springs renaissance.  I think this could really benefit Palm Springs as it is another hotel that is a member of an enormous hotel company that can offer its loyal customers a stay in another resort destination.   

Startwood or not, its still no Dry Heat Resorts... 

 

MOD Palm Springs (October 8 - 11)

Caliente Tropics Resort, Palm Springs

I've always been drawn to Polynesian culture, especially the Americanized version of it that was so popular after WWII.  Growing up in Southern California in the 70's and 80's, I have fond memories of 1950's and 1960's apartment buildings that had banana palms, palm trees, tiki heads and elements of Polynesian architecture.  I remember polynesian-themed restaurants with tropical decor, carved wooden statues, and waiters or waitresses in grass skirts serving flaming cocktails and Americanized Chinese food served up on pu pu platters.


Well, it turns out that this really isn't true Polynesian culture.  It is Tiki.  Tiki is a sub-culture of the Modernist era (1930s through the 70s) which really exploded in popularity with the return of many GI's who'd experienced Polynesian culture for the first time while fighting WWII in the Pacific theater, and fueled by popular novels and movies like South Pacific. 

As all Palm Springs visitors know, Palm Springs is a mecca for Modernist architecture and has more mid-century modern homes than probably any other city in the country.  Part of our city's modern heritage happens to include Tiki.  The MOD Palm Springs event celebrates Palm Springs' Mid-Century Modern Tiki heritage with a passion. 

This year's event takes place at the historic Caliente Tropics Resort which is located at 411 E. Palm Canyon Drive.  This resort really captures the whole tiki vibe.  After arriving through the hotel's iconic A-Frame entrance, you will step back in time with the event's carefully planned atomic explosion of themed musical performances, mid century and tiki shopping (from an array of creative vendors), Artworks that embrace the era and skillfully mixed tropical cocktails.  

The average temperatures for Palm Springs are in the high 70s and low to mid 80s for the fall months of October and November so it is a perfect time to visit and experience a different aspect of the city's rich history. 

The above picture was the scene yesterday at the ribbon cutting for the brand new amazing restaurant & lounge called, Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge.  You know its a cool and hip place when some of the numbers in the name are actual numbers and others are spelled out.  How Chic...

Sarcasm aside, the restaurant opened yesterday in the Uptown Design District, North of downtown Palm Springs, to a large and enthusiastic crowd.  I got to admit that the enthusiasm is justified.  First, let's talk about the venue. 

After walking up the stairs, you enter into their bar and lounge which is spacious, cool open and very light.  I can actually see this room being filled with people and not feeling like a sardine.  "The white, crisp interior lined with the farmhouse tables and stylish chairs creates a luxurious yet comfortable ambiance--a blank canvas that reflects Chef Chuck Courtney's colorful culinary flair".  That is actually how they describe their interior.  I'm afraid I'm not that good of a writer. They describe their bar as "an all-white backlit onyx bar with white Louis XIV ghost chairs and stools".  Sounds pretty, don't it?  And it is.  Unfortunately for me, it was lunch time, I was still on the clock and I drove there so I couldn't have a cocktail.  Having written that, the ambiance of the bar was so inviting I almost slipped and fell face first into a martini.  It would not have been my fault. 

To the left of the bar and lounge is a huge dining room area (Picture Above).  What you can't see from this picture are the numerous doors on either side of the dining room that each contain private dining rooms.  And big ones too; like have a small wedding reception in one big. 

Even though the restaurant just opened, the service was excellent.  My waitress was very pleasant, always smiling, thoughtful and attentive.  Being the boring person I am, I ordered a rather common lunch menu item, the cobb salad.  It was the prettiest cobb salad I had ever seen.  It was a shame to eat it.  Here it is now:

Pungent blue cheese, applewood bacon, perfectly hard boiled eggs, Petaluma chicken (whatever that is) and crisp fresh greens.  If you like cobb salads like I do, then you have to try the one at Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge.  If you aren't boring like I am, one of the more creative lunch selections might appeal to you.  A few of these creative menu items are:

Lobster Roll (I just came back from Cape Cod (a mecca for lobster rolls) and love em.
Drunken Clams or Mussels
Mesquite-Smoked Carne Asada
Gazpacho Consomme
Ratatouille Tart

The dinner menu features even more unique creations and different takes on traditional dishes. 

Eight4Nine also has a spacious outdoor patio where guests can dine overlooking Mt. San Jacinto and surrounded by sculptures. 

As a person who makes his living of what Palm Springs offers vacationers, I'm proud to have this amazing new restaurant & lounge in the city.  It is another great experience for visitors.

One more thing:  keeping in the tradition of Palm Springs mid century modern architecture, Eight4Nine is located in a 1950's building that once housed the Palm Springs post office.  The address is 849 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.