Dry Heat Resorts

08/29/2024

https://www.palmspringslife.com/things-to-do-in-the-high-desert-joshua-tree-and-beyond/

A short drive from Greater Palm Springs, the area locals refer to as the High Desert provides a rustic break from formalities.

06/12/2024

As a visitor to Palm Springs, you probably know the history of the date shake. Invented in the 1930s by local date farmers. Popularized by Shields Date Garden in Indio and Hadley’s in Cabazon. It’s an idea as old as time. Take one thing that tastes good and add it to another thing that tastes good. See what happens. And so it is that the original sin of the date shake happened. Nearly a hundred years later, what was once a “Prohibition drink” is still primarily the provenance of this little stretch of desert.

Sip it slow, savor the sweetness, and discover the divine drink of desert locals.

04/10/2024

Joshua Tree is less than one hours drive from Palm Springs. USA Today just voted the Joshua Tree Music Festival as the Number one music festival in the country. This year's festival takes place from May 16 - 19. Why not rent a luxurious Palm Springs vacation home and attend the festival:

See your favorite artists at the 10 best music festivals in the United States for 2024, as voted by USA TODAY 10Best readers.

01/11/2024

Discover a destination like no other at brand new Palm Springs Surf Club featuring a state-of-the-art wave technology catering to surfers of all levels. Enjoy resort-style amenities, captivating waterpark attractions, and savor meticulously crafted dining options. The venue also boasts versatile and dynamic event spaces. Whether it's surf lessons, live events, or corporate retreats, we have you covered. Come experience our desert wave right here in the heart of Palm Springs, California.

The Palm Springs Surf Club features a state-of-the-art wave pool catering to surfers of all levels in Palm Springs, California.

01/21/2023

French Miso Cafe, Downtown Palm Springs. At this quaint café in the heart of Palm Springs, you’ll find both French and Japanese cuisine on the menu — but don’t call it fusion. “That sounds like a gimmick,” says Eric Bovy, who owns and operates French Miso with his wife, Tomoko Jones.

Rather, it’s a natural reflection of their origins: Bovy is from the south of France and Jones a native of Japan. Both are former fashion designers with a love for beautiful details — evident in their décor and on the plate. “With us, everything is visual … and also with cooking,” says Bovy, who runs the kitchen and creates the lunch and dinner menus. (Tomoko manages the dining room and curates the wine list.)

You won’t find takeout or sushi here, just “comfort food” like pork ginger, Japanese curry, kalbi (marinated short rib), and the popular bento box that Jones “has carried from childhood memories to the menu,” Bovy says.

French specialties include steamed mussels, quiche, and chicken paillard, most of which are served all year during brunch (starting at 9 a.m.) and lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday). From 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., come for la formule, a prix fixe dinner that typically consists of a trio of options for each course: appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

French Miso Cafe is located at 19 La Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. Click here to learn more. https://www.frenchmisocafe.com/

12/29/2022

The 2023 Palm springs International Film Festival takes place from January 5 - 16. The film festival is one of the largest in North America, welcoming thousands of attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The festival is also known for its annual Film Awards Gala, honoring the achievements of the year in cinema by a celebrated list of celebrities. Brendan Fraser, Cate Blanchett, Austin Butler, Viola Davis and Colin Farrel are some of the celebs expected to attend the Gala this year. With over 130 films, there is something for everybody to see at this years event. Click here to learn more about the event and to purchase tickets.

The 34th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. Schedule January 5-16, 2023.

09/12/2022

Stagecoach lineup has just been announced. It's incredibly good, and tickets go on sale on Friday September 16. Go to the Stagecoach website to purchase your tickets, and go to the Dry Heat Resorts website to book your vacation home. https://www.stagecoachfestival.com/

06/20/2022

I've hiked the South Lykken trail in Palm Springs a million times since moving to Palm Springs 18 years ago. I've always started the hike at the S. Palm Canyon Drive trailhead and hiked up for about 30 minutes and then back down. Consequently, I only saw a small part of the trail and a experienced a certain view of the city. I knew the trail went much further and eventully came back down at another trailhead in the North. I didn't know where that was. I stumbled upon it over the weekend and check it out. The North trailhead is at the end of Mesquite Ave. It's another amazing hike and features a completely different view of the city. I think it's a nicer view. In addition to the city views, you also look down upon TahquitzCanyon.

The South Lykken trail from the Mesquite Ave trailhead is a great intermediate hike containing a few steep, but mostly moderately inclined switchbacks. Toward the top I found a "park" called the Josie Johnson Vista Park. Park is in quotes because it ain't much more than a few wooden picnic tables surrounded by cacti, rock structures and mountains. Having written that, if you like to hike and like to eat, I think it's a great place to take a lunch break with friends and family.

To get to the trailhead, take Palm Canyon Drive to Mesquite Ave and head West on Mesquite towards the mountain and towards Tahquitz Canyon. You can park on Mesquite before Belardo. It's a great hike and you should really check it out.

04/22/2022

And yet another film festival for Palm Springs visitors to check out is happening on May 21, 2022. The Bow Wow Film Festival at the Palm Springs Cultural Center is a one-night only event that will include a VIP Reception along with a number of short films starring man's best friend. The event will benefit both the Palm Springs Cultural Center and the Palm Springs animal Animal Shelter. General admission is only $10. Priority seating and group seating pricing is also available.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center produces and encourages arts and cultural programs including film festivals, live performances, art installations and lectures. The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is a public no-kill shelter that helps thousands of animals each year. Both are worthy causes in my book, so while in town, why not enjoy a fun filled evening while supporting some good local organizations. Click here to learn more; https://www.palmspringslife.com/events/palm-springs-cultural-center-presents-the-bow-wow-film-festival-at-the-palm-springs-cultural-center-in-palm-springs/

04/06/2022

If you're a fan of tiki culture and mid-century modern tiki in particular, being in Palm springs on Sunday, April 17 is a must. The annual Alohana Spring event is a colorful, jam-packed tiki-themed event that features tiki cocktails, Hula dancers, a market filled with tiki-themed merchandise plus beautiful art, crafts, vintage and handmade apparel and jewelry and more. This event is a celebration of tiki culture that can't be missed. https://www.facebook.com/alohanapalmsprings/

Next Event: March 31 12pm - 5pm. $5 entry. Tiki Marketplace. Tropical Drinks. Live Music. Hula. Food.

03/17/2022

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is an amazing zoo and gardens that showcases plants and animals from the world's deserts. They also have beautiful nature and hiking trails that allow you to experience the natural state of our Colorado desert. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it.
From March 27 - April 29, 2022, the park will feature a new nocturnal event called Glow In The Park. Their description follows: "This extraordinary nighttime event will feature intricate, immersive, and truly awe-inspiring animal and nature-scape lantern creations representing wild places from around the globe. Dozens of displays featuring illuminated lanterns and light displays will create unforgettable moments and experiences.

Watch the desert come alive with spectacular installations that will delight guests of all ages. Explore the lighted pathways, immersive photo-opportunities, and see The Living Desert in a whole new light. Unlike any other light festival in Southern California, don’t miss your chance to experience Glow in the Park – A Spring Lantern Festival." Live a little and drive from your Palm Springs vacation home to Palm Desert's Living Desert to check out this limited event. Sounds like a lot of fun and something different to do while you're here. Click here to learn more; https://www.livingdesert.org/events/upcoming-zoo-events/glow-in-the-park/

12/29/2021

If you like short road trips and meerkats, Fellow Earthlings` Wildlife Center is the place for you. Located a mere 45 minutes from Palm Springs in Morongo Valley, the preserve specializes in caring for meerkats, which are small mongooses found in southern Africa. Meerkats are placed at Fellow Earthlings for a variety of reasons: The animals may be orphaned, injured, sick, old, or the previous facility may simply be out of room and can no longer care for them. Guests can visit the Center and hand-feed the meerkats through their "Adopt" program. One of the Center`s most notable achievements occurred in 1992 when Pam Bennett-Wallberg was chosen by Disney Studios to be their consultant for the meerkat character of Timon in the movie The Lion King. Pam worked side by side with the Disney animators as they drew the sassy, cheeky character that became the much-loved Timon.

Also located in Morongo Valley is the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. This desert oasis is one of the largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. The lush vegetation of Big Morongo stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding desert. A high water table in the canyon has made the growth of tall trees possible, despite being in a desert. The area is of botanical interest because it includes two desert vegetation zones: the Mojave and the Sonoran. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes and kangaroo rats all call the preserve home. http://www.fellowearthlings.org/

12/01/2021

The creative mind behind brands such as SalonTea, Tracy Stern Shoes, Tea & Co. and a whole lot more, Tracy Turco - formerly Tracy Stern - is an artist, interior designer, author, hotelier, entrepreneur and style icon residing in the city of Palm Springs. She's all about mid century modern , tiki and everything else Palm Springs. She recently purchased, and did the interiors, of three boutique hotels. Each has it's own unique mid century theme. Now, she's working on an interactive Modernism Museum that will include a roller rink, bowling alley and disco pizza spot. In terms of interactivity, visitors will be able to enter and interact within a house set-up from the era, while also being able to enter RV's, boats and cars from the period. Lastly, the museum will be a place of preservation and appreciation, allowing the opportunity for both current and future generations to engage, be inspired and educated around the history and unique value of mid-century design and culture which was an integral part of Palm Springs. https://www.tracyturco.com/modernism-museum

Designed to be a totally Interactive and immersive experience, the Modernism Museum is a passion project that Jerry and Tracy Turco plan to bring to Palm Springs.

10/29/2021

Goldenvoice, the Los Angeles-based concert promoter behind the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals, has signed a long-term agreement with the Empire Polo Club through 2050 for full operational control of the venue, opening the door for music events year round in the Palm Springs area.

The agreement also provides Goldenvoice and parent company AEG Presents with oversight of Empire Grand Oasis, a special event property in Thermal. This event space features a 4,800 sq ft estate house, a lagoon with beach, a grass polo field, open air tiki structures and more.

The expanded lease agreement comes as former President and CEO of AEG Tim Leiweke and former Executive Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment Irving Azoff broke ground on a $250 million, 300,000-square-foot arena in June on unincorporated land near Palm Desert that will be home to an AHL team, and host other entertainment events.

As more and more people are visiting the California desert for events, vacations, extended living stays, eco tourism and more, the more things there are to do out here. https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/10/27/coachella-fest-promoter-goldenvoice-inks-deal-empire-polo-club-full-operational-control-venue/8562571002/

10/22/2021

The plaza Theatre is a historic theater located at 128 South Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. It's an anchor of La Plaza, a street side collection of shops, one of the first planned shopping centers in SoCal, that opened in 1936. When I moved here in 2004, the 800 seat theatre was home to The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, a dance and musical review show in which all performers were over the age of 55. It was very popular and a fixture in the city until it ended in 2014. The Plaza Theatre has been unused for the most part ever since. Bringing it back to life has been discussed since it's closing and a fundraising effort to do so gained steam awhile back. Well, that restoration effort just got a $5 million shot in the arm by an Emmy award winning TV producer, director and writer named David C. lee. To learn more, click here...https://www.palmspringslife.com/la-plaza-restoration-palm-springs/

10/18/2021

The Andreas Hills Luxury Estate was already one of Dry Heat Resorts' most amenity-rich rentals with its lagoon-shaped pool, bubbling spa, covered outdoor dining area, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, basketball hoop and guest house with full kitchen. The homeowner recently added a five-hole putting green to take it to an even higher level. https://www.dryheatresorts.com/property/andreas-hills-luxury-estate

10/05/2021

One of my favorite alternative rock bands in the 90's was Third Eye blind. They're best known songs are "Semi-Charmed Life", "Jumper", and "How's It Going to Be". You may also remember the song, "Never Let You Go". They had a very unique sound and catchy lyrics. I had no idea they were still together and just learned that they'll be headlining this year's "Greater Palm Springs Gay Pride" festival in November. The festival, which takes place from November 1 - 7 also features two hit wonder 80's new wave band "A Flock of Seagulls" as well as pop and R & B singer Jodi Watley. I still have a great 3 bedroom Palm Springs vacation home that's available for the entire event if you're looking to come to town for a little break. To learn more about the event, click here; https://www.palmspringslife.com/palm-springs-pride-festival-2021/

10/01/2021

My last blog was about an old western town located up the hill from Palm Springs called Pioneertown. Up the hill is the high desert. As opposed to the low desert which is where Palm Springs is located. It's roughly a 40 minute scenic drive and transports you to a very different desert. While Palm Springs is chic, hip, trendy, upscale and all about midcentury modern pool culture, the high desert is more sparse, laid back and bohemian. Art is a big deal in the high desert, and if you are visiting Palm Springs in October, the high desert offers you a change of scenery in a very artsy way. During three October weekends, high desert artists will open their studios and give guests a chance to see them at work during the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours. I went to this event a few years ago and it's a unique experience. You drive around the various high desert towns such as Joshua Tree, Twenty Nine Palms and Morongo Valley and view artwork at the artists home studios. It's like an adventure as you follow the map from one place to another, often driving along deserted desert highways into seemingly endless vistas. The event will feature 165 artists this year over the weekends of Oct 9, Oct 16 and Oct 23. An opening night party is slated at 6 p.m. on Oct 2 at the Joshua Tree Art Gallery. https://www.hwy62arttours.org/

07/23/2021

Pioneertown is an old western town located about 40 minutes from Palm Springs. It's up the hill in the high desert above the city of Desert Hot Springs to be exact. I've been there many times to dine at the famous Pappy and Harriet's where menu items like Chili, pulled pork sandwich, flat iron steak and baby back ribs can all be enjoyed with a Sioux City Sasparilla or cream soda. It's home made American food that you enjoyed as a kid. They're also know for live music. Paul McCartney, Lizzo, Lorde and many others have actually played there.

Pioneertown was built in the 1940's to be a movie set for Hollywood westerns. Today, the facades are store fronts for numerous mom and pop craft shops. The Pioneertown Film Museum allows visitors to see the movie and television history and is free to visitors.

Authentic old west gun fight shows occur on Saturdays and there are other shows available as well. What's new in Pioneertown you ask? Well, the reason I'm writing this story is because the first ever Pioneertown Film Festival is taking place from August 27 - 29. To learn more about Pioneer town and why its creator decided to start it, click here: https://www.palmspringslife.com/pioneertown-film-festival/

Spurred by his love of Pioneertown and western films, Julian Pinder saw an opportunity to create a small-scale international film festival…

05/04/2021

One of the most famous and iconic Palm Springs homes is the mid-century modern Kaufmann House. The home was photographed a number of times by Slim Arons and Julius Shulman. A number of Dry Heat Resorts vacation homes actually have the Arons/Shulman pictures adorning their walls. The home is on the market again and can be yours for only $20 million. The current issue of Palm Springs life features an interesting article about the property I wanted to share.

"In 1962, Joe and Nelda Linsk, newly arrived in Palm Springs and living temporarily at actress Claudette Colbert's half-acre compound on Monte Vista, decided to put down winter roots in the clubby little resort town. Colbert's house was convenient to a social lift that revolved around the nonstop revelry of The Racquet Club.

They made an offer on Colbert's house and while they were waiting for her answer, a real estate agent stopped by with a book of listings. One modern house featured a second-story loggia that intrigued Nelda. At that time, all houses in town were required to be single story. "I showed it to my husband", she recalls. "I said, Let's go see it for fun." Click here to view the rest of the article: https://www.palmspringslife.com/kaufmann-house/

04/09/2021

Over the last week I've seen this bird, that looks like it belongs in the Everglades and not in the California desert, hanging out in front of this house I walk by on my daily walk. I have no idea what it is, but it was hanging out in front of the same house on two separate days. I wonder if the homeowner is feeding it or providing it with water? The house it is at is a quintessential Palm Springs mid-mod house. The contrast between this Desert house and this wetlands bird, struck me so I took pictures;