One of Dry Heat Resorts most popular luxury vacation homes, Villa Estrella, just had a face lift and is now even more stylish and luxurious.

The above picture showcases the newly designed living room.  Other rooms redecorated include the dining room, family room and even the powder room (Seen Below):

Local design firm, Grace Home Furnishings, got the job and delivered an authentic rustic modern touch to the popular central Palm Springs property.  To see more about Villa Estrella's new look, Click here:  Villa Estrella's New Look. 

Local Design Firm Hosts Modernism Events

The Guggenheim House (Featured Above) is one of three luxury vacation homes decorated by Grace Home Furnishings that are  available to rent through Dry Heat Resorts. 

The design firm, whose store is located in the Uptown Design District, will be hosting three events at this year's 2019 Palm Springs Modernism Week.  The mission of Modernism Week is to celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in the greater Palm Springs area.

Sunday, February 17, 1 - 4 pm: 
Exclusive Designer Home Tour at House of Grace 2019
Tour the latest design project from Michael Ostrow of Grace Home Furnishings, an extraordinary modern residence in the Skye Neighborhood of Palm Springs.  Champagne, fresh cocktails and light bites from savory to sweet will be served.  Moderated discussions will be held at 1:30 p.m and 3:30 p. m. For Tickets to this event, click here.

Sunday, February 17, 6 - 9 p.m.:
Come Fly With Me: Cocktails at House Of Grace
Enjoy an evening under the stars at the newest design project by Michael Ostrow of Grace Home Furnishings, an extraordinary modern residence in the Skye Neighborhood of Palm Springs.  For tickets to this event, click here.

Saturday, February 23, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Inside Look at the Inwood Room at Sunnlands
Join designer Michael Ostrow and Anne Rowe, Sunnylands' Director of Collections and Exhibitions, for a look inside the process of adapting the Inwood Room to meet the needs of Sunnlands Retreat withing the framework of the stewardship of managing a historic home.  See before and after photos and learn about the challenges of preserving the history of Sunnlands while adapting to the current needs of this legendary property.  The presentation will be followed by a Q & A session.  Coffee and snacks will be served.  For tickets to this event, click here.

PALM SPRINGS, CA – January 3, 2019 - SunLine Transit Agency will bring the Palm Springs BUZZ bus back into service on Thursday, January 10, 2019. The BUZZ will provide free rides in Palm Springs every 20 minutes from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.www.sunline.org/buzzisback

"The entire team at SunLine is looking forward to bringing the BUZZ back," said Lauren Skiver, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. "What’s especially exciting about SunLine operating the BUZZ service is that it will align with SunLine’s fixed route service – providing valley-wide transit options."

A ribbon cutting and brief program will take place with the launch 12:00 pm at Museum Way and S. Palm Canyon. Hosted by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism City, regional officials will ride the BUZZ following the ribbon cutting. Media is invited to attend.

"The City of Palm Springs is delighted to partner with SunLine Transit Agency to return the very popular BUZZ trolley as a transit option for our residents and visitors," said Councilmember Lisa Middleton, the City’s representative to the SunLine Board of Directors. "We are deeply appreciative of General Manager Lauren Skiver and her SunLine team’s creativity and investment in Palm Springs and public transportation."

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/