02/28/06

Celebrity encounter: Gordon Clapp

Posted by admin

Gordon seemed genuinely surprised when I approached him. He was walking back to his golf cart, and didn't hear me: "Mr. Clapp... Mr. Clapp?"

Finally, another member of the fivesome tapped his shoulder and pointed at me.

I quickly blurted, "Do you mind if I take your picture?"

"You want ME?" he said. I nodded, then briefly wondered if perhaps some people mistake this consummate actor for the...

Posted at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/28/06

Doggie!

Posted by admin

Palm Springs Life has donated $2,049 in proceeds to Guide Dogs of the Desert International for its joint participation in the magazine's recent annual holiday subscription drive, featuring a complimentary copy of the 2006 GDDI calendar.










L-R: Joan Braunstein (PSL's circulation director), Kim Laidlaw (GDDI's director of program operations) and Kyle Radke (campaign coordinator, and GM of The Jones Agency), along with "Astro," who is desperately hoping someone will drop...

02/28/06

RIV-025: The Original Palm Springs

Posted by admin

Here's the first of two bonuses in our plaque series - photo of Riverside historical marker #025, located at 100 North Indian Canyon:

The warm spring here was the site of Se-Khe (boiling water), important village of the Kawasic Cahuilla Indians. The Spanish called it Agua Caliente (hot water). A stage station of that name operated from 1862 to 1876. As early as 1871 the Indians operated a bath house for tourists and the site is still tribally owned. Because of the surrounding native palm trees, it was later called "Palm Springs."

Posted at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/28/06

Mardi Gras

Posted by admin

The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6 and continues until Fat Tuesday (today, one last day of gluttony and excess before the fasting period of Lent), 47 days before Easter. This holiday was brought to New Orleans on March 3, 1699 by the French explorer, Iberville. Early celebrations were held on the banks of the Mississippi. Nowadays, krewes (organizations) host parades and balls.

During the late 1700's, masked balls and festivals were common in New Orleans, while it was under French rule. However, when the Spanish took over, these customs were banned. New Orleans became part of the U.S. in 1803, but the prohibition against masked balls was not lifted until 1823, when the Creole populace convinced the...

Posted at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/27/06

The Magic Jungle

Posted by Janice

Yesterday I walked a leopard (of course, it was on a leash). I also kissed the leopard, as well as two tigers, whom I sprayed with a water hose (they love it!). This was all part of my visit to the Magic Jungle Foundation Preserve near Johnson Valley, where Kele Younger provides a loving home (and I do mean loving) to large cats who have been rescued from less than ideal situations. For example, the 15-month-old tigers, sisters Sasha and Mischa, had previously been in a West Virginia zoo that was hit by a hurricane. They are the newest members of Kele’s family, which also includes two golden Asian leopards (brother and sister) and a black leopard. Kele is building not only a home for herself on a vast expanse of high desert land, but also for these cats and others. The pens are large,...

Posted at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/27/06

Historic Site Preservation Board: missing or hidden plaques

Posted by admin

· Photo of site #47 (Ship of the Desert), located at 1995 South Camino Monte:

Architects: Erle Webster & Adrian Wilson (a 1936 example of Streamline Moderne)

The new house was christened "Ship of the Desert" on the cover of the October 1937 Sunset magazine. It is obvious why. The cover photo shows what appears to be a handsome streamlined vessel, its decks lined with trim pipe railings, its leading edge appearing to plow through an ocean of sagebrush and sand. The master bedroom, windows flung open to the fresh air, looks like a ship's bridge....

02/27/06

Celebrity encounter: Tanya Roberts

Posted by admin

I attended my first charity golf tournament this past weekend, and it wasn't as boring as I had feared. Luckily, there were celebrities. In fact, I was nearly bonked by a celebrity-sliced golf ball. It made me wonder if the trip to an emergency room would seem more worthwhile when caused by a famous person.

As I skimmed through the background material provided by tournament organizers ("X was once an actor, Y used to play baseball, Z is a former Olympic...

Posted at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/27/06

HSPB-40: Tie Down on Easemor Circle

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #40, located at 224 North Easmor Circle:

The Tie Down or "hardstand" was utilized during World War II when the Palm Springs Army Air Field was used by the Ferrying Division of the Air Transport Command. The principal reason for establishing the base in Palm Springs was to provide a...

02/24/06

Desert flora: palm reading

Posted by admin

Many types of palm trees grow here in the desert, and some folks can't tell the players without a scorecard. So The Desert Quidnunc is providing the following cheat-sheet as a public service, to help you identify a few of the more common varieties [click thumbnail photos to enlarge]:

Fan Palm: there are 2,500 species of palm trees worldwide, with 11 native to North America. The largest of these, and the only palm tree native to western North America, is the California Fan Palm.

A fan palm's...

Posted at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/24/06

Desert fauna: why does the roadrunner cross the road?

Posted by admin

A roadrunner has been visiting our back yard recently, so I did some research: Geococcyx californianus, also called the Chaparral Cock, is a large, black-and-white, mottled ground bird with a distinctive head crest. Ranging in length from 20 to 24 inches from the tip of its tail to the end of its beak, the roadrunner has strong feet, a long, white-tipped tail and an oversized bill. It is a ground cuckoo, uniquely suited to the desert...

Posted at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/24/06

HSPB-36: Owen Coffman Post 519 Palm Springs American Legion

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #36, located at 400 North Belardo Road:

This building was erected by the community of Palm Springs through the donated monies and efforts of its citizens as a lasting memorial to all those who served the United States of America in times of conflict. It was dedicated January 3, 1948, by...

02/23/06

We work more, accomplish less

Posted by admin

According to research conducted for Day-Timers, American workers felt like they completed 2/3 of their work in an average day last year, down from about 3/4 in a 1994 study.

Unlike a decade ago, we're now bombarded with emails, computer messages, cell phone calls, voicemails, etc., so the technology that makes us more productive has paradoxically made us feel less productive.

Excuse me a sec. My boss has forwarded the latest viral video.

Wow. Who would have thought you could wreak that much havoc with just a chimp and a schnauzer?

Posted at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/23/06

Whatchawannadothisweekend? (23Feb06)

Posted by admin

Tonight: The Annenberg will screen Visions of Utopia (scroll down) at 6pm. Palm Springs has one of the highest concentrations of mid-century modern architecture in the nation. Interviews with three of the architects, as well as the people who inhabit their buildings, "document an oral history that is part of our cultural fiber." Most of my cultural fiber comes from Van Gogh Bran Flakes®, but this film might lead to new sources, so I'm all ears.

Friday: The Frank Sinatra Countrywide...

Posted at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/23/06

HSPB-35: Palm Springs Desert Museum

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #35 (now named Palm Springs Art Museum), located at 101 North Museum Drive:

The Palm Springs Desert Museum, founded in 1938, has occupied three distinct locations in downtown Palm Springs. This building, designed by local architect E....

02/22/06

HSPB-33(6): Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Valley Station

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #33(6), located at 1 Tramway Road:

Circa 1963
Designed by
Albert Frey, FAIA

This bridge-like structure straddles a gully, allowing water, and the occasional boulder, to pass underneath without damaging the building. The walls of glass offer a view of the mountain. The...

02/22/06

Fingers crossed for a geomagnetic storm

Posted by admin

According to SpaceWeather.com, the folks in Alaska have recently experienced some great Northern Lights:

[gallery]

Even though the activity has subsided, Earth remains inside a high-speed solar wind stream, so another good gust could trigger more.

See if the auroras are headed our way by keeping an eye on (and clicking) that automatically-updating...

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/22/06

HSPB-33(4): Palm Springs City Hall

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #33(4), located at 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon:

Built Circa 1952
Designed by Albert Frey, John Porter Clark, Robson Chambers, and E. Stewart Williams

This building is made of concrete block. Tubular aluminum bris-soliel offers shade, while allowing a view. In front...

02/21/06

HSPB-33(2): Tramway Gas Station

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #33(2), located at 2901 North Palm Canyon:

Built in 1965
Designed by
Albert Frey and Robson Chambers

Conceived by developer Culver Nichols as an entry statement to Palm Springs, the roof is a hyperbolic paraboloid of steel I-beams and corrugated metal roofing...

02/21/06

100th birthdays may soon be common

Posted by admin

...in rich nations, according to a Stanford University biologist, in a study presented at the annual meeting of The American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ohmigosh. If I live past 95, I'll be praying that somebody shoots me.

Hopefully, a jealous husband.

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/21/06

HSPB-29: Dr. Smith/Dr. Peppers Office

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #29, located at 483 North Palm Canyon:

This small Spanish Eclectic structure was the northernmost residence in the village of Palm Springs when it was built in the 1920s. As the city grew, there was an increasing need for community services, especially along "Main Street,"...

02/20/06

Local Art Galleries

Posted by Janice

The news comes that another local art gallery is closing its doors. Michael Hinkle, owner of The Figurative Gallery in Old Town La Quinta, hasn’t gotten the reception he hoped for when he became one of the earlier tenants of Old Town. As of March 1, he is returning to the Internet as his base of operations. It’s more than a personal loss; it’s a cultural loss for the valley as a whole. Palm Springs Life promotes the local art scene. In fact, this year’s edition of Art + Culture showcases local artists. But it takes more than a publication to support the kind of lifestyle and quality of life for which the desert has gained a reputation. Certainly there are wonderful galleries on El Paseo, but there’s also plenty of seriously good artwork elsewhere. For example, there’s...

Posted at 04:50 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/20/06

HSPB-28: William & ''Mousie'' Powell Residence

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #28, located at 383 Verida Norte:

Built c 1935-36

Mediterranean/Spanish Revival

Historic Site Preservation Board #28

How many historic...

02/20/06

Date trees, beauty queens and ostrich brains

Posted by admin

Date trees were imported to the Coachella Valley from Algeria in 1903. The first two Date Festivals were held in 1921 and '22, then the concept fell dormant until the late '30s, when Western/Cowboy themes were in vogue. But WWII put a stop to all California fairs, and the Date Festival wasn't revived until 1947. The postwar festivals were dominated by an Arabian Nights motif, complete with beauty pageants and out-of-control ostrich races, and these traditions have persisted to the present day.

Posted at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/20/06

HSPB-27: El Paseo Building

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #27, located at 800 North Palm Canyon:

Built 1926-27, this Spanish Eclectic complex is built around a courtyard in which are displayed many decorative features typical of the architectural style. The frontage along Palm Canyon Dr. has been altered, but much of the original building...

02/20/06

It's NOT Presidents' Day?

Posted by admin

The first observance of this holiday was to honor George Washington's birthday in 1796, the last full year of his presidency. Washington had actually been born on February 11, 1732 (1731 under the old British calendar system, which began the new year in March rather than January), but the Gregorian adjustment was finally adopted by England (and its American colonies) in 1752, so some people stubbornly celebrated on the 11th, while most waited until the 22nd.

By the early 1800s, Washington's Birthday traditions had grown to include Birthnight Balls and a great deal of drinking in taverns.

Then we began observing Lincoln's birthday on February 12, 1866, nearly ten months...

Posted at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/17/06

Locus Novus

Posted by admin

...is an animated website devoted to exploring the frontiers of electronic literature and online art. This brainchild of Faruk Ulay (who recently authored Beneath the Shadow of Perpetual Defeat and Terra Infirma) is truly a "synthesis of text and image/motion/sound."

LN's...

Posted at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/17/06

Memewatch: Bumper Cars

Posted by admin

It all started with the Christians, who first plastered Fish bumper stickers on the backs of their cars. Then Evolutionists satirized the idea, with Darwin stickers. Muslims, of course, wanted to jump on the bandwagon with their Shark plaques, and that's when

Posted at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/17/06

HSPB-26: General Telephone Building

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #26, located at 365 North Palm Canyon:

This structure was built c. 1934 by the California Water & Telephone Company as a business office and switching center. It was purchased by General Telephone in 1967 and continued as a switching center until 1984. The structure is constructed of...

02/16/06

A chat with Kevan Hall

Posted by admin

Fashion designer Kevan Hall was in Palm Desert, California this afternoon, to help announce the upcoming Fashion Week El Paseo. Mr. Hall will present his Spring 2006 Runway Collection here next month, and graciously spent a few moments speaking with me:

You've said that your fashion creativity emerged early. Was there a decisive event which led you onto this path?

Posted at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/16/06

Whatchawannadothisweekend? (16Feb06)

Posted by admin

Tonight: At 7:30pm, pianist Cristiana Pegoraro performs at PSHS in the Community Concert series. [Insert your own Chopsticks quip here.]

Friday: Indio's Date Festival opens at 10am, and the ostrich races start soon after. Later, at 6:15pm, there's a musical pageant (3 Wishes, Tale of the Seven Sisters), along with many other events. But I'm addicted...

02/16/06

HSPB-23: Community Church of Palm Springs

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #23, located at 284 South Cahuilla Road:

The Community Church was dedicated on March 15, 1936, under the leadership of Dr. C.D. Williamson; it replaced the first community church (1906) on a site at the southeast corner of Palm Canyon Dr. & Andreas Rd.

The vernacular brick...

02/15/06

Doing the math

Posted by admin

I don't know if these figures are up-to-date, but someone recently claimed this valley contains: [a] 350,000 permanent residents (increasing by 50% in the winter), [b] 4,000 realtors, and [c] 120 golf courses.

That means there's one golf course to be shared among 2,917 residents, one realtor for every 88 of us, and 33.33 realtors per golf course.

I love those statistics, but I'm not sure what they mean.

Posted at 02:58 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/15/06

HSPB-22A: Plaza Theatre

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #22A, located at 128 South Palm Canyon:

The Plaza Theatre opened in December 1936 with a screening of "Camille", a tragic love story starring Robert Taylor and Greta Garbo; actor Ralph Bellamy served as master of...

02/15/06

Hotel/condos on O'Donnell golf property?

Posted by admin

According to a recent article in The Press-Enterprise (registration required), some lucky folks might end up owning condominiums in certain parts of the O'Donnell Golf Club. Wealthy oil magnate Tom O'Donnell deeded the real estate to Palm Springs in 1944, but only if the city agreed to lease the property back to the golf club until the year 2043.

Even if most of the club becomes a park, should the city use its power of eminent domain to break the lease?

Should 45,000 citizens have unobstructed access to an area that less than 200 club members fully enjoy now?

Posted at 08:09 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/14/06

Henry David Thoreau's blog

Posted by admin

Well, not quite. But Gregory Perry has excerpted Thoreau's journals on this blog:

18-Jan-1856. This is a very mild, melting winter day, but clear and bright, yet I see the blue shadows on the snow at Walden. The snow lies very level there, about ten inches deep, and for the most part bears me as I go across with my hatchet. I think I never saw a more elysian blue than my shadow. I am turned into a tall blue Persian from my cap to my boots, such as no mortal dye can produce, with an amethystine hatchet in my hand. I am in rapture at my own shadow. What if the substance were of as ethereal a nature?

Posted at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/14/06

HSPB-21: George B. Roberson House

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #21 (house now named Le Vallauris), located at 385 West Tahquitz Canyon:

This structure was built c. 1927 by George B. Roberson, who lived here for 50 years. Along with this mother, Nellie Coffman, and his half-brother, O....

02/14/06

1737 years ago today

Posted by admin

Valentine's Day probably originated with the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. During Rome's early days, fierce wolves roamed the nearby woods, so Roman citizens called upon one of their gods, Lupercus, to keep the beasts away. A celebration to honor the god was held every February 15th. One Lupercalian custom for young Romans was name-drawing: on the festival's eve, names of eligible girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew a slip, and the chosen girl would be his sweetheart for the year.

Legend has it that a priest named...

Posted at 08:07 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/13/06

HSPB-15: Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #15, located at 151 West Alejo Road:

Plans for Our Lady of Solitude church were begun in February 1926 under the direction of Father Philip LaVies, who came weekly to Palm Springs from the Indian mission school in Banning. In 1928, temporary church services began on this site, obtained from...

02/13/06

Peter Benchley: 8 May 1940 - 11 February 2006

Posted by admin

His novel terrorized a generation of swimmers, while the author himself became a shark-conservation advocate. Peter Benchley, grandson of Algonquin Round Table humorist Robert Benchley, died on Saturday at the age of 65. He co-wrote the screenplay for Spielberg's movie, and was very pleased with the way the film...

Posted at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/13/06

HSPB-13: Pacific Building

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #13, located at 798 North Palm Canyon:

The Pacific Building was constructed by local builder Charles Chamberlin about 1936. It was originally owned by Dr. Rothman, a pediatrician from Los Angeles, and subsequently sold to Florian G. Boyd, a former Palm Springs mayor. This Mission Revival...

02/10/06

3... 2... 1... Taos, we have a problem

Posted by admin

I love those countdown pedestrian walk signals. While standing at the curb, I imagine sitting in the pilot's seat of VSS Enterprise, nervous and not-quite-ready to blast off into the galaxy.

But as the mother ship levels off and my cockpit's numerical display descends closer to zero hour, some little old lady shoves me into the street, yelling: "Run, you dimwit! We'll...

Posted at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/10/06

HSPB-12: El Mirador Garage

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #12, located at 1090 North Palm Canyon:

El Mirador Garage opened about 1929, one year after the El Mirador Hotel. It served the clientele of the hotel as well as the winter population of Palm Springs. The office and fuel area were located in the one-story section of the building on Palm...

02/10/06

Desert flora: tamarisk (saltcedar)

Posted by admin

The next time you're cruising eastbound on Interstate 10 toward the Agua Caliente Casino, take a look at the feathery green foliage which lines both sides of the freeway between Date Palm Drive and Ramon Road. Aren't those fluffy trees cute?

Think again, Scallion Breath. Each of those tamarisk plants has a deep tap-root that may extend downwards 100 feet or more, with lateral roots that sometimes reach out 150 feet. They suck up hundreds of gallons of water, draining vital resources from other desert plants. During daytime heat, the tamarisk secretes salt, a process which wastes even more water. Then, during the night, the...

Posted at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/09/06

HSPB-11: Site of First Community Church

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #11, located at 196 North Palm Canyon:

This is the site of the first community church in Palm Springs. Welwood Murray donated the land in 1906 and the little church stood as a landmark in the Village until 1934.

The existing Carnell Building, designed by Harold Williams, was...

02/09/06

Whatchawannadothisweekend? (9Feb06)

Posted by admin

Tonight: At 7:30pm, catch Kimberly Akimbo under the Playhouse tent in Old Town La Quinta. It's based on the experiences of a girl who is aging at five times the normal rate. I think we can all relate.

Friday: At the McCallum, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance kicks off at 8pm ("kicks off" - heh).

Saturday morning: The...

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/09/06

Wine

Posted by Janice

As I wrote in an article in last November's Palm Springs Life, the addition of wine stores and tasting venues have added a new dimension to the good life in the Coachella Valley. The trend continues. Just yesterday, walking downtown a couple blocks from the PSL building, I discovered Wild for the Vine, a new store offering wine accessories, including a fun selection of glasses, wine bottle holders, vacuum pumps, and shelves. In fact, it was the shelves in the window that first caught my eye. The wavy upright posts were doing a hula, which made me wonder if you drank enough they would appear to stop moving. Scott and Debby Morgan, who previously took their business on the road, selling at trade shows, own the store at 390 N. Palm Canyon Drive. They have applied for a liquor...

Posted at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/09/06

HSPB-10: Oasis Hotel

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #10, located at 121 South Palm Canyon:

The Oasis Hotel, constructed 1923-25, contained approximately 20 units and included the Tower Building, the only three-story hotel building in Palm Springs for many years.

The 40-foot tower, with its

Posted at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/08/06

The Big Easy

Posted by admin

New Orleans is still recovering from Katrina, but this year's Mardi Gras will go on as scheduled. The city needs visitors more than ever.

Carnival season in the Southern Hemisphere is coming from a slightly different mindset: the Brazilian government plans to distribute 25 million free condoms...

You come down here in a four piece suit
Pork pie hat and the alligator boots
Keep jerking rabbits outta your hat
Now can ya pull a disappearing act
--"Go...

Posted at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/08/06

HSPB-9: Lykken's Department Store

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #9, located at 180 North Palm Canyon:

Desert Pioneer, Carl Lykken, built the first general store in the Village in 1914. For many years it contained the only telephone and the post office. The store was remodeled with the existing overhang and arches when sidewalks were installed in...

02/08/06

Save the date! Fashion Week El Paseo

Posted by admin

March 20-26. The finale fashion show features designer Kevan Hall (recently profiled in Newsweek), who will present his Spring 2006 Runway Collection.

Felicity Huffman, Charlize Theron, Debra Messing, Maria Shriver, Celine Dion, Renee Zellweger and Sharon Stone have all worn Mr. Hall's designs.

But I haven't.

Yet.

Posted at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/07/06

TV commercial orgy: the Super Bowl for non-football fans

Posted by admin

This is the time of year when advertisers roll out the big guns, lavishing tons of money and creativity on the commercials that run during The Big Game. I used to tape the broadcast and watch it later, so I could avoid the football parts by fast-forwarding to the ads.

But now USA Today has assembled all the good stuff, including the spot which they declared as the winner.

Gawd, I love the Internet.

Posted at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/07/06

HSPB-8: Street Marker

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #8, located at the northwest corner of Palm Canyon and Chino Drive:

This is one of the original street markers used following the incorporation of the City of Palm Springs in 1938. Dr. J.J. Kocher and Philip Boyd, then secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, had renamed the streets in 1930...

02/07/06

Tour de Palm Springs

Posted by admin

Ride your bicycle for charity (8, 25, 55 or 100 miles) this Saturday, February 11! Last year, 6,395 cyclists pedaled a total of 366,131 miles, and $115,000 was donated to 67 different entities.

During the 2005 event, riders consumed 18,000 bottles of water, 2,000 gallons of Gatorade, 10,300 oranges, 11,000 bananas, 11,000 Fig Newtons, 750 pounds of Chex mix, 600 pounds of M&M peanuts, 11,300 energy bars, 140 pounds of turkey, 140 pounds of ham, 190 pounds of cheese, 75 jars of peanut butter and 8,500 slices of bread.

Posted at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/06/06

HSPB-7: Frances S. Stevens School

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #7, located at 538 North Palm Canyon:

Prescott T. Stevens, developer of the El Mirador Hotel, donated this site and the funds to build the Frances S. Stevens School, in memory of his wife and her interest in education. The first two rooms were completed in 1927. Katherine Finchy, who...

02/06/06

Guess who turns 89 on Saturday?

Posted by admin

Palm Springs resident Sidney Sheldon has written 200 television scripts, 25 major motion pictures, 6 Broadway plays, and 18 novels (which have sold over 300,000,000 copies). In November, he published a memoir: The Other Side of Me.

Whew. And I have trouble just writing a blog posting.

Also born on February 11:
1969 Jennifer Aniston
1962 Sheryl Crow
1953 Jeb...

Posted at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/06/06

HSPB-5: McCallum Adobe

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #5, located at 221 South Palm Canyon:

The McCallum Adobe, the oldest remaining building in Palm Springs, was built in 1885 for John and Emily McCallum, the area's first white settlers. Originally constructed on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Way, and later a part of the...

02/03/06

Flaggots in Heaven

Posted by admin

I recently went to Heaven (a dance club in downtown Palm Springs) and spoke with several members of The Flaggots, a group that practices the beautifully sublime artforms of fanning and flagging. The quotes below are from Eric, a 40-year-old from Palm Springs, and Jazz (first two photos - click any thumbnail to enlarge). When asked about his age, Jazz replied simply, "I was on...

Posted at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments: 0

02/03/06

HSPB-3: Welwood Murray Memorial Library

Posted by admin

Latest in a series - photo of plaque #3, located at 100 South Palm Canyon:

In 1938 George Welwood Murray donated this land to provide for a library as a memorial to his father, Welwood Murray, pioneer hotel operator. Cornelia White donated an additional strip of property on the eastern end of the site. The existing...

02/03/06

The Movie Colony

Posted by admin

Bounded by Tamarisk Road on the north, Alejo on the south, Indian Canyon on the west and Avenida Caballeros on the east, the "Movie Colony" in central Palm Springs is steeped in history and glamour from the days when Hollywood stars flocked to the Village to build weekend hideaway retreats. This area offers great views of the San Jacinto Mountains and is chock-full of luxury gated and walled homes, Spanish villas and mid-century modern estates, all within a short walking distance of downtown. Many houses have guest casitas or private visitor quarters, and most are on tree-lined streets with mature landscaping, including palm trees, fruit trees and exotic flowers.