Showing posts sorted by relevance for query salton. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query salton. Sort by date Show all posts

Salton Sea: North Shore Beach & Yacht Club...

We have been intrigued  by this massive body of water and have tried to get there for years, only to arrive in the time of COVID, limiting the amount of exploration we could do.

The sea — a lake, actually — was created by accident in 1905 when flooding from the Colorado River into irrigation canals eventually led a 40-mile stretch of desert known as the Salton Sink to fill with water, thus creating the lake.

 Because its waters never discharge into the ocean and just seep into the ground or evaporate, the water has a high salinity level that just goes up as the years roll on.

 Its salinity level was much lower 70 years ago, however, and the area quickly became a vacation spot, drawing tourists to the area year-round. At the Salton Sea's peak, it was pulling in 1.5 million visitors annually, more than Yosemite at that time.
The area's reputation for fun on the lake and fishing didn't last long and by the 1970s the fish population had begun to die. With a dwindling fish supply and water that had rising salinity levels as well as fertilizer runoff, tourism quickly dried up. A great deal of what you see now, appears as a tattered reminder of what was.
But then you stumble upon something like this- the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club and your imagination kicks in, allowing you to visualize the heyday.
In 1958, Ray Ryan and Trav Rogers developed the North Shore Beach area and constructed a Yacht Club, touted as a $2 million marine paradise with one of the largest marinas in Southern California. The Beach Boys, Jerry Lewis, and the Marx Brothers were a few that visited the club or kept boats in the marina. This was a very cool find for Steve and me as we are huge fans of the mid-century modern architect, Albert Frey.

Mr. Frey's two-story building is evocative of a ship with its curved prow, tall central mast, and porthole windows facing the water. Sandblasted terracotta colored concrete blocks are used for ground floor construction, corrugated metal sheathes exterior surfaces on the second story, thin eaves supported by slender steel posts provide shade on the second story terraces, brightly colored fiberglass panels sheathe the upper deck, and porthole windows with protruding round metal hoods offer telescopic views from the crow’s nest lounge.
Starting in the 1990s, the unoccupied former North Shore Yacht Club experienced many years of extreme neglect, deterioration, and vandalism. All of its surfaces had been painted, including the concrete block, corrugated metal cladding, and fiberglass panels. The glazing for all windows was gone and entry doors were destroyed, their openings covered with plywood. While the street-facing metal porthole tubes remained, the sea-facing ones were gone. The steel pole mast had been removed, an adjacent swimming pool was drained and cracked, and metal railings were missing. The interior had been entirely gutted with all metal and wiring stolen, including the suspended metal staircase. It was expected that the building would be demolished. In 2009, the County of Riverside allocated $3.35 million in funds to rehabilitate the former yacht club to its appearance in 1960 for use as a museum and community center. We were very impressed and plan to return, when opened, to explore this historical landmark.

While this isn't the paradise of old, there is something magical and magnetic about the Salton Sea. I liked this quote, "Eden exists at California's largest lake in the vistas as one stands upon its shores and gazes at snow capped mountains. In the brilliant sunsets that reflect gold in the feathers of majestic pelicans, in the guttural cry of the snowy egret as the sun lowers into the horizon. Eden exists in the spirit of those people that use, enjoy and depend upon the Salton Sea for their state of mind; their state of soul." We will be back.

posted under | 2 Comments

A Return to the Desert: 3 Stops

Before Sharon's month long sojourn in Palm Springs ends, we made plans for one more afternoon together.

Before meeting Sharon for lunch, my stop #1 was in the village of La Quinta to visit its museum. My goal was to explore Gallery 2, located on the 1st floor, which features new revolving exhibits that change every three to four months. I was there for Brilliant Expanses, Fading Vision: The Salton Sea Paintings of Andrew Dickson.

According to the artist, who grew up exploring this amazing part of our state, "The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake is a place of expansive beauty, filled with ancient geologic forms and a layered human history still clearly visible.  It is also part of one of the most productive agricultural regions of the country and home to many small and vibrant communities. The lake is currently an environmental concern as the water recedes, air quality worsens, and local neighborhoods and wildlife habitats are affected."
This exhibition of drawings and paintings presents an overview of his creative work at the Salton Sea. Through his artwork, he hopes to promote reflection on the unique visual character and complex issues surrounding the Salton Sea and to express the profound beauty he senses in its vast spaces, rich textures, and brilliant sun-bleached landscapes.
Artist’s Statement, " I am often attracted to stark, remote landscapes and ordinary locations because they are quiet and meditative, and also because I find it rewarding to reveal the latent beauty present in places that are easily overlooked. I am continually drawn to settings that contain both natural and man-made forms. In urban environments I gravitate toward views that convey a sense of open space, solitude or some contrasting element of natural beauty. Conversely, in natural settings I am often drawn to locations that contain fragments of man-made elements. These contrasting elements can promote reflection on our relationship to the landscape, and they also present many unique design possibilities for artistic exploration."





I spent my 59th birthday camping on the Salton Sea's shore. Whether viewed in person or through the exceptional painted observations of Andrew Dickson, it is a magical, unique place which casts a spell on those who take the time to really see it.
All the art ogling made me hungry and eager to connect with Sharon. Stop #2 was in Palm Desert at the uber delicious Chef Tanya's Kitchen (I'm photographed with the culinary queen herself). 
Tanya's kitchen is inspired by her love for good food, nature, and the animal kingdom. She is dedicated to making food tasty, fun, healthy, and easy. She opened the first all-vegetarian restaurant in the Coachella Valley in Palm Springs in 1990. For the last 35 years she has been showcasing house-made seitan and tempeh gourmet dishes. I know so many people who would have loved to have been here with me. Delicious!
After fueling up, Sharon and I headed to my last stop (#3), the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory. We were there for the final episode in the Hollywood Gamechangers series.
Documentarian and award-winning author Steven C. Smith took us inside the battles and breakthroughs behind the fourth and final screen classic- Pillow Talk. All of them defied the rules, advanced the art of filmmaking, and remain among the most entertaining movies ever made. We both wish we had seen all four of the films but agreed 50% isn't so bad especially since we aren't locals.
Pillow Talk was a film I had never seen and now I really wonder why! "By 1959, singer-actress Doris Day had mostly portrayed ingenues in wholesome musical comedies. 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘 , from its suggestive title to its script’s playful sexiness, redefined Day’s screen persona as more than a virginal good girl – and earned her an Oscar nomination. It paired her for the first time with Rock Hudson, whose career was on the skids after a major bomb. Their chemistry so delighted audiences that 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘 inspired two follow-ups with the pair, and earned the staggering amount (in today’s dollars) of $200 million."
Before the showing began, Steven told us the background history and the impact this filmed had on cinema. We learned it was credited with launching 1000s of romantic comedies (my favorite film genre).
What's not to love? "Day is an uptight interior decorator forced to share a party line with an amorous playboy who ties up the line with his exploits while she is trying to conduct business. When the two accidentally meet, he's taken with her beauty and, pretending to be a wealthy Texan, begins to court her mercilessly. Though flattered by this stranger's attention, it's not long before she discovers his true identity. Now, it's her turn to have a little fun… at his expense! Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter costar in this …sleekly sophisticated production that features Miss Day in 24 ultra-chic ensembles from Jean Louis and over $500,000 in borrowed jewelry. Pillow Talk also went on to win an Academy Award for Best Screenplay."
This film possessed so many great quotes. "It only takes a sip of wine to know if you like a bottle... Drink up!" Hysterical. I loved the fact that my Tahoe friend was currently just 1½ hours away. While I didn't get to see her as much as I would have liked during her time in Palm Springs, what we did experience was extraordinary and unforgettable!

posted under | 0 Comments

My Day in Indio...

When I found out that my dear friend, Fern, was going to be only 80 miles away, we made a plan for me to visit her while she was staying with her daughter in Indio.

For those who don't know, Indio lies between Palm Springs (northwest) and the Salton Sea (southeast). The area was originally inhabited by Cahuilla Indians and was the site of Spanish and Mexican exploration in the late 18th century. The Spanish subsequently established a mission outpost there. The city was founded in 1876 as Indian Wells, on the site of a Native American village, by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in 1877 it was renamed Indio (Spanish for Indian). Okay, more history later.
Fern and I became fast friends, almost right after we moved to South Lake Tahoe. We are kindred spirits and the hours sitting on the back patio, catching up and sharing stories, flew by! I miss her already!
I wanted to visit the Coachella Valley History Museum since I was so close and I do love history! The museum is housed in the 1926 adobe home of Dr. Harry W. Smiley. The Smileys became stranded in Indio on their way to the coast. The majority of the residents of the Indio townsite, at this time, were employees of the Southern Pacific Railroad and needed a doctor. Dr. Smiley needed money to repair his car and agreed to be the company doctor. Eventually the couple decided to stay and built this home. The Smileys made significant contributions to the social and medical development of the Indio community. What a perfect space to hold the area's history.





I learned about U.S. Route 99 via a collection of postcards and hotel keys. So cool. US 99 was a main north–south United States Numbered Highway on the West Coast of the United States until 1964, running from Calexico, CA, on the US–Mexico border to Blaine, WA, on the U.S.-Canada border. It was assigned in 1926 and existed until it was replaced, for the most part, by Interstate 5. Known also as the Golden State Highway and The Main Street of California, US 99 was important throughout much of the 1930s as a route for Dust Bowl immigrant farm workers to traverse the state. It's the unsung Highway hero (I guess no one got their 'Kicks' on route 99). Sad!
So some older history. In the 1850s, local artesian wells were utilized for irrigation, and Collis P. Huntington, president of the railway, successfully introduced Algerian date shoots (more about that later, too). Indio developed as a desert spa and a shipping point for agricultural produce, especially dates, citrus, grapes, vegetables, and cotton. After 1949, water via the All-American Canal gave added impetus to Indio’s growth.
Prior to the accidental formation of the Salton Sea (1905), this area was the lowest in the valley where salt flats were left by the Gulf of California. Salt was mined, bagged, and transported by train.
I have always been intrigued by the Salton Sea. We even camped there two years for my birthday. Starting in the 1920s, the Sea became a very popular recreation area. Developers hoped to make the area around this unique body of water the Palm Springs of the East Valley but before the dream came true, the 1980s recession killed the plan (and then the fish began dying, it was not meant to be). Such interesting local history.
We then moved south of the border. I loved the colors, textures, and motifs found in the exhibit, Corazón de Mexico.

This outstanding and eclectic collection of Mexican folk art includes textiles, pottery, costumes, and wooden toys. It captures the vibrant spirit and life of this amazing artwork.




My last stop was at The California Date History Museum. Oh so many questions. Where did dates originate? How have they evolved? How did they make their way to the Coachella Valley? Why are they so dang yummy?

This historical exhibition covers the history of the world’s oldest cultivated crop – the date palm. From its origins in the Middle East to its introduction to Coachella Valley and up to the modern-day, here one can learn about the horticulturalists and essential workers who helped the date palm take hold.

Today the area produces all of the United State’s 41.4 million pound annual date output. Date production has become more than an economic boon to Indio, though. It has become part of its culture. Every year, Indio holds the National Date Festival, its Middle Eastern theme harkening back to the crop’s roots.
The Fair started as a festival to celebrate the end of the annual date harvest in the desert region, the major commercial date-producing area in the Western Hemisphere. Dates were an unknown commodity in the desert until 1903 when date palms were transplanted there from Algeria. By the early 1920s dates became a major crop for the area. Date groves in the Coachella Valley also became tourist attractions.
When World War II started all fairs in California were halted. When the War ended, Robert M.C. Fullenwider was hired to manage the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival. Fullenwider introduced an Arabian Nights theme tying in with the desert region and date industry.
Also, tying into this theme, the Fair has a scholarship pageant called Queen Scheherazade. Students from Riverside County compete to win the scholarship money for continued education and act as the goodwill ambassador over the Fair. Next year we hope to be there!
Last stop was to ogle a variety of Date trees in the Date Garden. Without fruit on them, they all looked alike but I was happen to wander about in them.

For something different, I came home via 74, the Palms to Pines Highway. Oh man, the snow was pretty crazy (I know Tahoe friends, I can't even imagine what's going on there). it was a surprise for SoCal and I was happy to be in my Subaru.

Connecting with a good friend, learning something new about a town, and an exhilarating drive home... all made for a really awesome day! I do love a road trip, even if it's only 80 miles long.

posted under | 1 Comments
Next Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Get new Blog Posts to your inbox. Just enter name and email below.

 

We respect your email privacy

Blog Archive


Recent Comments