New Downtown Palm Springs Boutique

Thick As Thieves

Inspired by their lifelong love of antiques and relics of times long gone, the owners of Thick As Thieves wanted to open up their very own shop - carrying unique, handmade items that told a story. They renovated a 1920’s Spanish bungalow closer to (what they believed to be) its original condition. From there, they added a lot of rustic elements including reclaimed wood and black iron shelving to give it a masculine feel. Altogether they strove for an Americana/Folk aesthetic and that comes from a blend of the products they carry and the physical space itself, nodding their hat to the early settlers and mercantiles of the west. All of the display pieces are antique as well - the main table is a Hungarian work bench from the 20’s, they also have a biergarten table set from Munich, an old barber’s coat rack, victorian clothing rack, enamel baby tub from the turn of the century, all to create a unique shopping experience;

In the space and in Palm Springs, the owners believe they've been able to create something uniquely special. In their minds, the products are conversation pieces, items you use to entertain and share with your loved ones and hold on to for years to come. The owners truly believe that the pioneer spirit that led people to Palm Springs all those years ago is alive and well. They hope to give people a little piece of that every time people shop at their boutique.  Thick As Thieves is located at 183 S Indian Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs.  

An historic architectural treasure is now a new attraction in Palm Springs. An exact scale replica of the 1952 Walker Beach House by modernist architect Paul Rudolph is installed in Palm Springs.

Through the innovative thinking of local architectural preservationists and a partnership with several sponsors, the replica of Rudolph’s Walker Beach House will be on view for public tours beginning October 2018 through March 2020. It will be located between the Palm Springs Art Museum and The Rowan Hotel in the new downtown development on land provided by Grit Development.

Rudolph originally built the Walker Beach House for Dr. Walter Walker as a family guest house on Florida’s Sanibel Island. The 576-square-foot beach cottage is still currently used by the Walker family.

Much like Albert Frey’s Aluminaire House which will be installed in 2020 in approximately the same location, the Walker Beach House installation in Palm Springs was sparked by equal parts serendipity and perfect timing. In this case, the effort was spearheaded by the Palm Springs Modern Committee.

“The Walker Guest House was first introduced to me by board member Stephen Rose,” says Nickie McLaughlin, Palm Springs Modern Committee (ModCom) executive director. “Stephen had visited Florida and taken the annual Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) tour.”  

Having met board members of SAF, Rose learned that the Walker Beach House had been carefully dismantled and placed into custom-made crates after its first exhibit at Sarasota’s Ringling Art Museum which had been on display from the fall of 2016 until April of 2017. Essentially it was in storage waiting for the next destination where it could be displayed.

“Stephen was an enthusiastic supporter of bringing the house to Palm Springs and asked me to give it some thought. This took several weeks to research as the project came with a lot of logistical hurdles and a large budget that the Palm Springs Modern Committee had not undertaken before,” McLaughlin added.

Working with Joe King, the architect who recreated the house, and Elliott Himelfarb, a board member of SAF, a loosely-formed group was created that included Rose and McLaughlin who took it to the ModCom board for their consideration. The board made the decision to support the project and a subsequent contract with the Sarasota Architectural Foundation was entered into in June 2018.

“As the project manager I came up with a plan to offset some of the costs associated with reconstruction of the house by going into the community seeking sponsors. This is the most expensive adventure that PS ModCom has embarked on and recouping funds will be possible through daily tours, fund raising events and generous sponsors.”

During the Summer, it is difficult to hike in the Palm Springs area due to the excessive heat.  One can either venture out first thing in the morning, even though it is still relatively hot, or one can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram into the mountains where it is typically20 - 30 degrees cooler.  I came across a recent Palm Springs Life article about a trail at the top of the tram that I wanted to share with all of you hiking enthusiasts.  Here it is:

Seeking chillier temperatures and less challenging terrain, the San Jacinto wilderness seemed like the most desirable summer destination, and the moderate Desert View Trail was the perfect path back to fitness and my favorite pastime. Per the No. 1 hiking rule (take a friend), I called a companion to come along for the adventure. An offer to escape the triple-digit daytime temperatures in the desert doesn’t take much convincing.

Half the excitement of this excursion is the mode of transportation to the trailhead: the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. We boarded the rotating cable car at Valley Station — situated a few miles from North Palm Canyon Drive at a cooler elevation of 2,643 feet — and ascended 5,873 feet through five “life zones,” from the sweltering Mexican Sonoran Desert to the crisp alpine wilderness. A 40-degree dip from below, the climate at the top was a breezy 68 degrees in mid-afternoon.

Taking a few moments to drink in the sweeping desert and mountain views from the Mountain Station verandas, we then descended a concrete path to Desert View Trail, a 1.5-mile loop that leads through sandy open spaces, grassy knolls, and lush pine forests dotted with pine cones.  Stone cairns mark the path where it would otherwise be unrecognizable, making it impossible — well, for most  — to get lost.

The mostly even trail passes five rocky Notches (or lookouts), each offering a panoramic perspective of the scenic valleys below.

Mellow hikers can explore the base of these boulder lookouts, observing the colorful rocks, plants, and wildlife that abound (wallflowers and Western Gray squirrels seemed most prevalent this time of year). Those who want to kick the intensity up a notch — as we did — can climb to the lookout summits for more spectacular views of the Coachella Valley.

Most of this hike is exposed to the elements, but Notch 4 offers a shady respite beneath the fir trees; a few small boulders serve up the perfect place for a picnic.

We managed to turn a 40-minute jaunt into a three-hour trek, bringing us back to “base camp” just in time to relax with a cocktail at the Lookout Lounge bar before catching the sunset from Grubb’s mountain-view terrace.

Whatever your skill level, this trail is a great way to introduce yourself to the San Jacinto wilderness. More challenging adventures to come.

Desert View Trail
Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate
Distance: 1.5-mile loop
Elevation: Approximately 8,000 feet

In Yucca Valley, a half mile past the turnoff for Pioneertown Road, nearly 50 biblical statues rise from the rocky sandscape.  

It’s magic hour in Desert Christ Park.

Long shadows creep along the terrain, across the statues’ crackly, solemn faces — some missing noses, a chunk of cheekbone, an arm. But not all are in disrepair. Helmed by the nonprofit Desert Christ Park Foundation, a restoration of the 3.5-acre park is underway. In addition, nearly 40 birdhouses have been installed throughout the grounds, along with native flora, to attract and support area wildlife.

“It’s amazing that the work has withstood the elements as well as it has,” says foundation president Roxanne Miller, who joined the all-volunteer board in 2011. “It was hand-done; they’re not marble, they’re just steel-reinforced concrete. It’s art that was significant in the ’50s that people weren’t afraid of. They weren’t looking down on it. I value the historical position it holds in Yucca Valley.”

The destination, open and free to the public from sunrise to set, was the vision of the Rev. Eddie Garver and sculptor Antone Martin; the nearly 50 statues depict biblical scenes, such as the Last Supper and the Resurrection.

Garver moved with his family in 1946 to start a church in the dusty, unincorporated town of Yucca Valley, the same year a handful of Old Hollywood filmmakers established Pioneertown as a Wild West motion-picture set. Garver angled to create a Christian-themed park, a “place of light” amid the bleak desert, open to all walks of life.

Martin, a poet who worked in a bomber plant, was living in Inglewood, California, at that time. He felt a call to produce a 10-foot, 5-ton statue of Christ, which he hoped to install at the rim of the Grand Canyon. When the National Park Service turned him down, Garver offered “the unwanted Christ” a home.

Life magazine reported in 1951 on the statue’s transit by truck from Los Angeles and its installation in the High Desert. Martin moved into a trailer on-site and continued to sculpt.

Following a disagreement with Garver, allegedly over property ownership, the artist relocated most of the statues — those he was able to move — to an adjacent plot of land, and Garver moved out of state.

To Read More, click on this link:  https://www.palmspringslife.com/desert-christ-park/

"Bar/Food"

That's all the sign says on the front of one of Palm Springs' newest bar/restaurants.  But its not just the generic sign that makes this new venue unassuming, the "dive" is located in a grungy strip mall in a less than glamorous part of North East Palm Springs at the intersection of E. Vista Chino and Gene Autrey Trail.  Furthermore, on one side of it is a marijuana dispensary and on the other is a smoke shop.  But as the old saying goes, looks can be deceiving.

                 

As a frequent patron of My Lyons Steakhouse, I knew all about the owner of the new bar as he was a bartender there not so long ago.  He was always very welcoming, smiling and eager to engage customers in story telling.  A few months ago,  I heard that he had left Mr. Lyons and opened his own out-of-the way bar.  I heard it was good.  Over the last few weeks, I've heard more and more good things about it so I decided to check it out.  I wasn't disappointed as the bar, called Paul Bar, has an ambience like no other in Palm Springs.  The owner, Paul O'Halloran, was raised in the Bronx, New York, and the bar has a definitive East Coast vibe.  The bar itself is the centerpiece of the establishment:  First of all you'll notice the enormity of it.  Then you'll appreciate its ornate mahogany wood with mirrored back, all of which has been refinished.  When I entered Paul Bar, it took awhile for my eyes to adjust as the Palm Springs brightness starkly contrasts with the dimly light interior lighting.  Once I had adjusted, I noticed the bar was long and had about 20 or so plush bar stools around it that were all occupied.  Across from the bar were about five booths plus four small tables all of which were covered in black suede-like material.  Like the bar, all of the booth and table seats were occupied except for one small table that I darted for and got.

The walls and ceiling were both darkly painted, and jazz music was gently playing in the background.  The place just reminded me of  bar scene from an old black and white movie with a Humphry Bogart type actor.  In addition, the servers were all wearing white dress shirts, long white aprons and bowties, adding to the retro east coast lounge vibe. And what would a place like this be without a drink menu featuring Manhattans, Negronis and vodka or gin martinis made the traditional way coupled with a great wine selection and local craft beers.   So I think you get the point about what type of place this is. 

I ordered a nice glass of chardonnay, wedge salad and a Meatball covered in marinara, parmesan cheese and parsley.  I swear, the meatball must have been 8 oz.  More importantly, it was very tasty.  I highly recommend Paul Bar and hope you will check it out for yourself the next time you are in Palm Springs.

Paul Bar is located at 3700 E. Vista Chino Drive in Palm Springs.  To learn more about it, please click here:  https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/food/2018/06/01/palm-springs-hottest-new-bar-most-unexpected-places/655608002/

As many of you know, the Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in the State of California and is about a 40 minute drive from Palm Springs.  The sea has been dieing, along with the millions of fish that call it home.  The towns that sprung up around the shore of the sea during its mid-century heyday have also been dieing and today resemble a community in a b-rated post-apocalyptic movie.  Driving around the expiring sea, smelling the decaying corpses of the fish that line its shores and viewing the dilapidated mid-century structures creates a sense of surrealism.

One of the former resort cities in the Salton Sea area, Bombay Beach, has been attracting artists as of late who have transformed many of the broken-down shacks into cultural attractions.  In addition, the community now hosts an annual event called the Bombay Beach Biennale;  The event, according to its website, is described as follows: "This renegade gathering was a celebration of and for the locals, artists, creators and volunteers who are transforming Bombay Beach into a newly relevant year-round cultural destination.  The biennale is an exuberant celebration of art, music, and philosophy, which leaves a lasting mark on Bombay Beach, a small town at that refuses to be forgotton or written off, even as the man-made lake it was built upon risks disappearing.

Following is part of a part of a Palm Springs Life article about the event:

"We were somewhere near H Avenue, climbing the berm that separates the tiny town of Bombay Beach from the sick and shrinking Salton Sea, when an aria pierced the gale-force wind and stopped us in place.

The conditions were cold, dark, and gusty. Yet the voice of Kate Feld, a soprano from L.A., carried all the way from the Bombay Beach Opera House, an upcycled dwelling on E Avenue with a bright-blue façade that opens to audiences gathered in the front yard and on the street. She gave us a brief, beautiful moment in the unforgiving elements but had finished performing by the time we walked there.

On the empty adjacent lot, a hand-painted sign for the Bombay Beach Botanical Garden led us to a larger-than-life-size ceramic flower “skeleton” created by L.A. artist Yassi Mazandi. A block away, at the Hermitage Museum, another L.A.-based artist, Greg Haberny, mounted an exhibition titled Why Do I Destroy Everything I Love? 
And across the street, The Monster That Challenged the World was screening at the Bombay Beach Drive-In, a graveyard of gutted autos facing forward and rotting like the tilapia on the nearby shore.  to see the entire article, click here:  https://www.palmspringslife.com/bombay-beach/

Greater Palm Springs’ proximity to Hollywood led to its rapid development as a getaway locale equally adored by silent movie stars, former presidents, and architectural pioneers. Contemporary visitors can still experience 
that old-school atmosphere, forever frozen in time thanks to mindful property renovations, keen service, and carefully curated antique shops.

 Melvyn’s Restaurant at Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs is one of these places; On the premises of Ingleside Inn, an estate built in 1925 by the Humphrey Birge family and transformed into a hotel in the ’30s by Ruth Hardy, this restaurant and its property bask in a storied past that includes visits by Salvador Dalí and Howard Hughes, among others. Mel Haber bought the place in 1975 and revamped it, establishing his namesake restaurant, where Frank Sinatra is said to have had a special booth (it remains for you to enjoy).

Under new management after Haber’s death, the property has been restored to its golden-age glory. The sounds of yesteryear set a nostalgic mood in the lounge, while tableside cooking captivates and cultivates conversation as servers prepare Sinatra’s favorites, like steak Diane and steak au poivre.

To Learn about other old-school places in the California Desert, click here; https://www.palmspringslife.com/retro-greater-palm-springs/