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American Idol's Chef Mary, Best Palm Springs Hotels, and Armchair Cruisers

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American Idol's Chef Mary
Denise George

Idol Tastes

Despite different musical styles, American Idols “all like sushi and spaghetti,” says Mary Trimmins of Palm Springs. Known to the Idols as “Chef Mary,” Trimmins — along with caterer David Coplin of Laguna Beach — has been feeding the finalists of the TV singing competition for the show’s last few seasons. Although she has to sign a confidentiality agreement, she can reveal that the Idols enjoy home-style cooking, especially for Sunday dinner. 

We’re No. 1 (2, 3, 4, and 5)

Five Coachella Valley hotels topped tripadvisor.com’s list of California hotels in June based on “Web-wide popularity and coverage.” In order, they were Desert Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs, El Morocco Inn & Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Living Waters Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Old Ranch Inn in Palm Springs, and Mod Resort in Palm Desert

Armchair Travelers
Put the book down and keep your eyes on the road. Armchair Cruisers of Indiana turns chairs, chaises, and loveseats into gas and electric vehicles reaching speeds up to 40 and 7 mph, respectively. The company will even pimp your ride with a cooler, 200-watt stereo, LCD screens, personalized paint schemes, and more. Prices range from about $3,500 to $8,000 (options extra). So far, most buyers are married couples in their mid-30s to early 40s in the company’s hometown of Demotte, Ind., a golf-cart community. “While [the gas model is] not exactly legal, the authorities look the other way,” says Chairman Daniel Helton