Aviation engineer George Van Tassel relocated his family in the 1940's to a remote high desert community North of the Palm Springs area.  He actually moved to a cave dwelling beneath what's called Giant Rock, a seven story boulder atop flat sand near Joshua Tree National Park.  The lone rock, still there, was considered sacred by American Indians and, in the 50's became revered by a new group of believers - ufologists and alien contactees.  In 1953 an extraterrestrial from Venus visited Van Tassel, he claimed, providing plans for a frequency-rejuvenation and time travel machine.  The result of this "encounter" was the picture above which is known as the Integratron.  This white domed structure is considered a construction marvel by many and is not far from a high point of magnetic energy. 

Three sisters have owned and maintained the Joshua Tree adjacent property for the last three decades, carrying on Van Tassel's good-vibrational efforts in a new way.  Guests now visit for hour-long "sound baths".  These baths supposedly relax and slow down the mind.  Described as "naptime for grown-ups," sessions begin with a brief intro and history of the Integratron and then participants drift off to the sound of ringing quartz-crystal bowls. 

If you are into new age spiritualism, this is something you should check out.  On the Integratron webpage, it is described as, " a resonant tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the magical Mojave Desert".

Click here to learn more: https://integratron.com/

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar Now Open

In Downtown Palm Springs

The ribbon cutting for the new Tommy Bahama store, bar and restaurtant occurred on Thursday, May 10.  Shown above is the entrance to the store which features island-inspired men’s and women’s sportswear, accessories, footwear, and home décor. The store is designed to be a tropical escape from the everyday — from the relaxing music to the exotic fragrances.

The bar/restaurant, called the Marlin Bar, is a tropical oasis, right in the middle of downtown Palm Springs. Shown below is the outdoor patio and entrance to it.  The Marlin Bar is a relaxed refuge, where you can unwind with a cocktail, enjoy some light fare, or treat yourself to organic soft-serve ice cream. It features a laid-back outdoor space complete with umbrellas, mist on hot days and heaters on cool evenings.  The food menu features some island-inspired dishes including; mahi mahi ruben, jerk chicken tacos, cuban sandwich, blackened shrimp tacos, coconut shrimp, grilled chicken and mango salad, island slaw and more.  The drink menu has tropical libations including; mojito, mai tai, crazy Cuban, pina colada, daiquiris and more.

The Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is located at  111 N. Palm Canyon Drive Suite 150 in Palm Springs. 

Polo In The California Desert

I was just reminded of a local activity that locals and visitors alike to the Palm Springs area can enjoy.  The activity is something most wouldn't associate with the desert, but it's here nonetheless, and offers something different and exciting that our guests can experience;

Sunday polo matches at Eldorado Polo Club in Indio started on January 7 and continue through April 1 (Sorry For the Late Notice).  Matches occur at 12 and 2 pm and there are still two weekends of polo left. 

Watching polo can be an extremely exciting way to spend the day, and admission is just $10 per car. Spectators can tailgate on the berm, reserve a table in the Clubhouse Restaurant or enjoy a refreshing drink and meal on the field-side patio of the Cantina.  All guests can enjoy the food options and fully stocked bar while being given a play by play analysis by Tony Gregg, the resident announcer.

Polo is played on a massive field the size of nine football fields (300 x 160 yards), to accommodate the intense speed and pace of the game. Horse and player traffic can extend just outside of the low wooden border but as soon as the ball leaves the field, it is out-of-bounds and stops play.

Goal posts stand 8 yards apart at either end of the field. A goal is scored by hitting the ball between the two goal posts at any height. A goal is confirmed by the flag bearer standing (at a safe distance) behind each goal. It pays to keep your eye on the ball but also on your team because they change directions each time a goal is scored, in order to equalize playing conditions.

For clubhouse reservations, please call  (760)-831-7656.

To Learn More about polo, click here:  http://eldoradopoloclub.com/about-polo/

Philanthropy Profile

My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and passed away from it on October 6, 2012.  These were the most difficult three years of my life.  During her battle, an organization called Gilda's Club Desert Cities (After Gilda Radner), and now called Cancer Partners, provided guidance and support to her, me and my brother.  The group helped my mom navigate the confusing maze that is our cancer treatment healthcare system, and also provided her with much needed emotional support as she faced the horrible disease.  As a family member of a person with cancer, I was able to attend any number of group sessions geared towards helping me cope with what my mom was going through. Cancer Partners got me through that most difficult of times and continues to offer support for cancer patients and their families.   It is the worthiest of organizations.  I support this organization financially and would like to encourage all of you to do so as well by attending an upcoming fundraiser they are having on Thursday, March 22. 

The event is called the Old Bags Luncheon and features a silent auction of new, gently used and vintage designer handbags.  Attendees come together to socialize and enjoy music, cocktails and lunch while bidding on new and nearly new high-end bags at the silent auction.  Bags for the auction are donated by local boutiques, department stores, and individuals who host purse donation parties among their friends.  Individual tickets are only $150.  Table of ten tickets are only $1,350.  Your support for this event would be deeply appreciated.  I miss my mom every day and am thankful that Cancer Partners was there when we all needed help. 

If you're in Palm Springs now, or on your way here, there is a good chance you are going to be here from February 16 - 19.  A major art event, Art Palm Springs, will be held over this holiday weekend.  The Fair is the "Official Contemporary & Modern Art Exhibit and Market Place in Palm Springs California". The seventh annual edition will bring nearly 80 galleries from Asia, Europe, North and South America representing hundreds of artists to the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Fair is strategically scheduled over the extended President’s Day Weekend coinciding with Palm Springs Modernism Week at the height of the Coachella Valley’s season. Art Palm Springs and Modernism Week turn the Desert into a cultural mecca over this weekend, attracting close to 15,000 acquisition oriented art lovers to the Fair year after year.

Since its early editions, Art Palm Springs has been a draw for curators, collectors, designers and celebrities that include Cheech Marin, Jodie Foster, Alexa Davalos, Udo Kier, Shelby Lynne, Rain Phoenix, and award-winning designers Christopher Kennedy, Dann Foley and Erin Valencich.

The opening night will be on Thursday, February 15, and is for VIP ticket holders only.  The event will benefit the Palm Springs Art museum and will include an "Artist of the Year award presentation" to Ed and Andy Moses, who are father and son as well as gifted artists.  

In November 2016, the Independent, a local newspaper, produced the first Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week.  The inaugural event was an unqualified success, as restaurants and bars all across the Coachella Valley celebrated the art of the craft cocktail with special drinks.  At the first Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Championship, TRIO Restaurant's Sherman Chan bested four amazing competitors to take home the top prize.  The beneficiaries of the event, The Desert AIDS Project and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, received several thousand dollars from the participants and sponsors. 

This year, for the second annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week, the event has been moved from November to January 19 - 27.  It is going on as I write this.  Like last year, $2 from every special cocktail offered during the event from participating bars and restaurants will be split between the two beneficiaries. 

To learn more about what this year's Craft Cocktail Week participants are offering, as well as details on the event's big cocktail championship being held on January 25, please visit their website: PSCRAFTCOCKTAILS

If you are going to be in the California desert in March and love good food and drink, you must attend the 2018 Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival.  From March 23 - 25, the event, organized by Palm Springs Life magazine presents some of “the best people” in the food industry — chefs, vintners, and craft beer brewers — from across the country and welcomes all who share a love for good food and fine wine to the beautiful tree-lined El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, California. 

A James Beard Gourmet Four-Course Luncheon prepared by celebrity chefs kicks off the weekend, followed by two days of grand tastings, where you can taste exquisite bites from local and regional restaurants, sip more than 60 premium wines, and savor some of the country’s most unique beers and ciders on tap (whether you’re into IPAs or chardonnays, there will be endless options to explore). Vintners and chefs will even be on hand to discuss their culinary offerings.

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, please call 760-325-2333  .760-325-2333