Before the desert temps heat up too much (today was to be 108°) we headed back to our favorite oasis for fun in the sun!
We had three goals: show off my new, perfect Palm Springs dress; breakfast at Elmer's; and ogle the 27' tall Forever Marilyn. Two out of three ain't bad!Not to brag, but I think my dress is pretty cute. What makes it even more likable is that it was in the Free bin at a shop at the Occidental Farmers' Market. Yes, my $109.99 Ann Taylor frock was totally free. So dang fun!Okay, moving on to goal #2: breakfast at Elmer's. Have you ever had one of those meals you just had to have again?Elmer's Classic German Pancake and the Bacon & Tillamook® Potato Cakes & Eggs made us swoon the first time we had it and it did not disappoint today!What did disappoint was NOT seeing this statue in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum. While controversy swirls around her like her famous skirt, Forever Marilyn is coming. No one knows when but we plan to return when she makes her return debut (she was here temporarily from 2012-14).We didn't miss this installation. This is David Černý's largest and most famous, local installation, the Černý Babies. The 10, eleven foot tall sculptures traveled from Prague, via ship, to the US and are on loan from the artist to the City of Palm Springs for the next 2 years. In typical Černý style, these faceless "Babies" have been met with mixed reviews but have created a stir of conversation nonetheless.I loved Midabi's WOW. I wonder if he thought of the image MOM it would reflect. About it he wrote, "Your original state of consciousness awe. Without judgement or expectation. Flawless awakening. Massive and razor thin. Crush the Ego and liberate the inner Child. Enter the WOW state." Fun, right?These guys were just fun to see meandering about. We have passed these giant, white letters, standing astride this mountainscape, the last few times we've driven by. Today, we stopped. The 45-foot-high structure is identical in scale and material to the Los Angeles landmark Hollywood sign. The work is part of Desert X, and was created by Indigenous Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin. He placed his project Never Forget at the entrance to Palm Springs -- a playground getaway long favored by movie stars -- he says "as a reminder of Hollywood's role in whitewashing US culture." Interesting.Steve is such a good sport. He even took me thrift store shopping!He and our older son scored awesome Hawaiian shirts. I bought five for $2.50 each. Woo hoo.Our first architecture lesson was learned at the Royal Hawaiian Estates.The Royal Hawaiian Estates were built in 1960 and opened on New Year's Day 1961. It is a complex of 40 condominium homes with two shared central swimming pools, designed by the famous mid-century architect Donald Wexler and his partner at the time, Richard Harrison. The developer was Philip Short, and ownership was initially restricted to Jewish buyers over the age of 55 (Jewish people were not allowed to buy in the other private communities around Palm Springs at that time).
To capitalize on this trend, local realtor Philip Short created Royal Hawaiian Estates. It blended “the enchantment of the islands with the magic of sun drenched desert life.” The island theme in the desert proved popular. The Estates positioned 40 attached single-family residences in a symmetrical complex plan on one parcel. A total of twelve buildings are clustered together in groups of three or four units, with three different two- and three-bedroom floor plans of 1,500 square feet. The combination of rectangular and L-shaped plans in these clusters created both a varied visual appearance for the buildings and privacy for the occupants. From a planning standpoint, parking was relegated to the perimeter of the development, both in a nod to the importance of the automobile in postwar culture, but also to leave the interior gardens free for the recreational activities central to the Palm Springs lifestyle. The units overlooked “sunken recreational areas with pool and game courts.”
Architects Wexler & Harrison used Tiki-style outriggers or “Flying sevens” (the angled beams that connect the patios and roofline), and Tiki-inspired “apexes” and clerestory windows to provide occupants with light and shade. These design elements create an expressive form of the Mid-century Modern style. Materials used by the architects included stained wood siding, concrete block, and natural rock walls in a palette of desert colors.
It was not difficult to envision this place during the swinging 60s. What a very cool place. Wow!Being big Jimmy Buffett fans (not quite Parrotheads), we had to visit his new resort, Margaritaville. Less than two years ago, this was the historic Riviera. Original architect and visionary, Irwin Schuman fashioned the resort after major Vegas hotels like The Sands, The Flamingo, and The Stardust. Opening in 1959, this resort immediately became the go-to hot spot for celebrities and sophisticates like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who would lounge by the pool and in the Presidential Suite.The vibe is way less Vegas and way more Jimmy. We liked it.I loved this Margarita glass chandelier. Cleverness abounds!𝅘𝅥𝅮I blew out my flip flop
Stepped on a pop top𝅘𝅥𝅯
Our last stop was to ogle the architecture of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The tramway station was designed by one of our favorite architects- Albert Frey. The station, an engineering marvel, was elevated above a small canyon, allowing water to pass through underneath without damaging the building. The station also contains large glass windows on one side to view the breathtaking mountain range. Inside, the ceiling is made of corrugated aluminum, a Frey trademark. While we didn't go in, we did ogle the exterior. Opened in September 1963, it was the way of getting from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak and was constructed in rugged Chino Canyon. Before its construction, the only way to the top of the mountain was to hike hours from Idyllwild.
This was probably the tram I went in the last time I ascended the mountain, decades ago. What a great memory evoker being here has been!Each time we venture to Palm Springs we discover something new. I love that. What a perfect desert escape.posted under |
3 comments:
Cool dress! Looks like you had fun.
Love your blogs! Erin Marlowe (Sharon’s daughter)
Welcome Erin. So fun to have you along for the ride. I love your Mom!
Post a Comment