Meet The Museum Party

Last night I stopped by the Palm Springs Art Museum's 5th annual Meet the Museum fund raising event. I'm a huge fan of our museum, it houses a really top notch permanent collection and features some outstanding touring exhibits throughout the year as well. I've always liked their stated mission statement: "To promote enjoyment, education and involvement with visual art of the highest quality, and enhance appreciation of the performing arts." Isn't that great? They do a marvelous job connecting with the community to present, exhibit, protect, preserve and interpret all sorts of art techniques and mediums from a broad range of periods and styles.You simply must visit our fabulous museum! Last night's Meet the Museum event drew in over 1,200 guests, whose ticket price went completely to the museum, as the entire event was underwritten! I stayed outside in the courtyard above, as it was a lovely cool evening. There was some great live jazz music playing, which was a nice touch. It seemed like everyone we knew was at the museum! Inside was the huge crowd, tons of food, fun and libations. I didn't stay long upstairs but it was hopping!

above: I borrowed this photo from the fabulous Lisa from the museum. Look at that spread of goodies!

If you live here in the Palm Springs area or visit periodically, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. Art is a really important aspect of our society. It teaches expression to young people, cultivates new talent, inspires, and provides a place for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to come together to share and exchange perspectives. You can easily donate online or become a member in just a few seconds. Here are just some of the benefits of a museum membership, according to the Palm Springs Art Museum's website:

• Free Museum admission year round
• Invitations to members-only exhibition preview receptions
• Free quarterly member magazine Insight
• Discounts at the Museum Store
• Discounts on art classes and lectures
• Opportunity to join eight special interest Councils
• Travel and tour programs for Council members
• Invitations to the annual Gala and other exclusive events
• Use of the Museum library by appointment

So don't delay, click here and show your support! And if that doesn't convince you, check out the rest of their website and exhibits, you'll soon be impressed with what they have going on.
-Rick Rockhill

An Evening With Rita Moreno at The Annenberg

Last night we went to the season opening benefit concert at the Annenberg Theatre starring Rita Moreno. The Annenberg is small, professional first rate theatre at the Palm Springs Art Museum. It boasts a diverse season each year to celebrate the arts, but its actions are interwoven with the mission of the Art Museum to promote arts with children and across the community at large. (PS- this photo of Rita is from Palm Springs Life magazine).

As a fundraiser, last night's season opening performance was a success. In addition to fund-raising ticket prices, the Wells Fargo Foundation donated $100,000 to the Palm Springs Art Museum’s children's education program, which enables nearly 15,000 underprivileged kids be able to participate in art programs and visit the museum. The Palm Springs Art Museum has a broad children's program that provides bus transportation and education programs for a total of 35,000 students every year. In a small community like the Palm Springs area, that is an impressive number.

I always enjoy going to the Annenberg Theatre. As a member of the Palm Springs Art Museum, I take personal pride in our museum and theatre. The museum has a first rate collection of permanant and visiting exhibits. It also blends it all nicely with our history to Hollywood too. The walls of the theatre lobby are lined with wonderful black and white photos of the many Hollywood stars who lived here or spent time in Palm Springs. There are photos of Natalie Wood, Bing Crosby, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Zsa Zsa and Ava Gabor, Kirk Douglas, Desi Arnaz, and William Powell, just to name a few. It takes you back in time just wandering these halls and looking at all the terrific photos.

Anyway, back to Rita Moreno. Just before the show I learned she is one of only eight performers ever to have earned each of the major entertainment awards: An Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and a Tony!

Her Broadway career started in 1945 and included an early role in the great film Singin' in the Rain in 1952. A breakthrough role was that of Tuptim in The King and I in 1956. She is perhaps still best known for her career-defining role as Anita in West Side Story in 1961. She appeared in a number of impressive films with major actors, but also appeared in TV's The Electric Company and The Muppet Show, with a focus on children's education. She also played the coveted role of silent screen star Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard in London. More recently, she played the role of Sister Peter Marie for five years, on HBO's OZ series. In OZ, she played a nun who was a psychologist to the hardened inmates at a maximum security prison. So yes, Rita Moreno has had a long and diverse career. At 78 years old, she isn't slowing down either. She proved that she is quite a pro as well. Last night she performed despite fighting a cold. Her speaking voice was a little rough, and she had the occasional sniffle but she plugged away like a trouper and gave a good performance.

She started out by letting her audience know she only sings songs she personally likes, and selected a set that ranged from American Gershwin standards, lesser known Broadway songs, and several memorable Latin songs. I particularly enjoyed the Spanish song “Ararjuez” in which she donned castanets. She also performed “Auguinaldo” beautifully- its actually a Puerto Rican Christmas song with lots of energy, and sang also the classic “Brazil”. She also sang a few Broadway musical songs “Lady in the Dark" and "Sunset Boulevard". In all it was a crowd-pleasing performance that left me humming along as we left the theatre. I was especially grateful to Ms Moreno for performing to kick of our new season and helping raise money for our local theatre.

-Rick Rockhill

The Saturday Seven: Summertime Things in Palm Springs

In my capacity as The Palm Springs Savant, I am known for dispensing sage wisdom advice and recommendations for things to do here in Palm Springs. Certainly at work, back in San Diego people ask me all the time about what is happening in our fair desert community. I receive e-mails from people around the world asking for my opinion, so I created a separate blog with all sorts of info as a reference site. I realized that I'm about due for a seasonal pitch about Palm Springs, which was the inspiration for this week's scintillating edition of The Saturday Seven: Summertime Things in Palm Springs

#1 Check out The Living Desert A fabulous collection of plants, animals, birds and reptiles all found in the desert life.

#2 Visit the Indian Canyon trails or hike somewhere. (Check out that link)

#3 Take A Ride on The Palm Springs Tramway- Its a breathtaking view of the valley and mountains, and at least 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor.

#4 Shop for Vintage, Retro and Mid Century-Modern Collectibles

#5 Golf, Golf and More Golf- Just go early, before it gets too hot!

#6 Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum

#7 Tour The Palm Springs Walk of Stars - Its a fun stroll along the Palm Canyon Drive area

Bonus Entry: Hit the Spa Resort Casino- make the Indians richer! Of course there are lots of resources to help you find more information: Check out this one.

Take it from me, a visit to the Palm Springs area can be unique and very relaxing. Just do your homework ahead of time so you find the hidden gems and really cool stuff. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you just might see Brad Pitt or some other celebrity enjoying a martini with friends. ;-)

-Rick Rockhill

36 Hours In Palm Springs: An Article From the New York Times

The following article appeared in the New York Times on Sunday April 12th. I am sharing the article, with full credit to their writer and the New York Times newspaper. By ERICA CERULO, Originally Published: April 12, 2009
PALM SPRINGS was once the miles-from-Hollywood getaway; a place for '60s movers and shakers to eat, drink and sunbathe poolside while they awaited calls from studio execs. Today, after some hard-earned changes, the desert town nestled in the Coachella Valley is becoming a destination for laid-back cool once again. Palm Springs is finding a balance between the past and the present and attracting visitors just as happy climbing canyons and sipping cocktails on a lounge chair as taking in the design and architectural treasures of the past.

1) CRUISING ON TWO WHEELS
Because of its modest size, Palm Springs can easily be experienced over a couple days, or even a few hours. Start your trip with a self-guided bike tour. Big Wheel Tours (760-802-2236; http://www.bwbtours.com/) rents bicycles starting at $30 a day (plus $25 for pickup and delivery; bike and hiking tours are available). Free maps are available at the Palm Springs Visitors Center (777 North Palm Canyon Drive; 760-778-8418; http://www.palm-springs.org/). To scope out the dramatic terrain and local hot spots, pedal the Downtown Loop, which can be done in less than an hour, or the 10-mile Citywide Loop that takes you past the Moorten Botanical Gardens.
7 p.m.

2) AUSTRIA AND BEYOND
At Johannes (196 South Indian Canyon Drive; 760-778-0017; http://www.johannesrestaurants.com/), the chef Johannes Bacher bills the food as modern Austrian, combining classic Central European specialties like spaetzle and sauerkraut with decidedly borrowed ingredients and flavors, ranging from polenta to wasabi. But one of the best dishes is also the most traditional: a heaping plate of Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes, cucumber salad and cranberry compote ($26).
9:30 p.m.

3) PARTYING POOLSIDE
Back when Frank Sinatra held raucous shindigs at his Twin Palms home, Palm Springs was known for its party scene. These days, the best drinking establishments are in hotels. The white stucco exterior of the Colony Palms Hotel (572 North Indian Canyon Drive; 760-969-1800; http://www.colonypalmshotel.com/) conceals a welcoming hideaway with stone walkways, towering palms and, when needed, patio heaters. At the buzzing restaurant Purple Palm, ask to be seated by the pool and order a plate of Humboldt Fog chèvre, organic honey and local dates ($11) with your drink to top off the night.
Saturday
9:30 a.m.

4) A MODERNIST MECCA
Along with the moneyed 20th-century tourists came eye-catching buildings: hotels, commercial spaces and vacation homes. Next to a hopping Starbucks on the main drag sits one of the city's oldest architectural touchstones: a concrete bell tower salvaged from the long-gone Oasis Hotel, which was designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank) in 1924. This spot is also where Robert Imber, the often seersucker-clad architectural guru and one-man show behind PS Modern Tours (760-318-6118; psmoderntours@aol.com), starts his three-hour excursions, which provide a survey of the city's key structures with a focus on the midcentury sweet spot. For $75 a head, design enthusiasts can press their faces against the windows of Mr. Imber's minivan, catching glimpses of the iconic Albert Frey-designed Tramway Gas Station, Richard Neutra's 1946 Kaufmann Desert House and the mass-produced but stunning Alexander homes that your guide identifies by pointing out the four key components — “garage, breezeway, windows, wall” — in their various arrangements.
1 p.m.

5) CHIC CHEEK
The wait for brunch at Cheeky's (622 North Palm Canyon Drive; 760-327-7595; http://www.cheekysps.com/) should be a tip-off: the bright, streamlined space, which opened in January and feels airlifted from L.A. — in a good way — has quickly become popular. The “devils on horseback” sandwich (dates, prosciutto, Gorgonzola and watercress on a baguette for $9) shares space on the menu with custardy scrambled eggs ($9) and roasted brussels sprouts ($10) — all of which should be washed down with an agua fresca ($3).
3 p.m.

6) USED GOODS
After eating, stroll the adjacent blocks on Palm Canyon Drive, a strip that's terrific for high-end vintage shopping, if a little dangerous for those who quickly reach for their credit cards. Among the many stores that focus on better-with-age décor, just a few have mastered the art of curating. At a La MOD (768 North Palm Canyon Drive; 760-327-0707; http://www.alamod768.com/), nearly 70 percent of the merchandise, which is heavy on Lucite and lighting, is sourced locally, according to the shop's owners. Across the street, Modern Way (745 North Palm Canyon Drive; 760-320-5455; http://www.psmodernway.com/) stocks an eclectic collection of larger pieces like Arthur Elrod couches, Verner Panton cone chairs and Hans Olsen dining sets. For something you can actually take home, head down to Bon Vivant in the Palm Canyon Galleria (457 North Palm Canyon Drive, No. 3; 760-534-3197; http://www.gmcb.com/) where the store's charming proprietors make you feel like a genuine collector for purchasing an $18 engraved brass vase or a $5 tie clip.
5 p.m.

7) STAY SILLY
At the perky Palm Springs Yacht Club, at the Parker Palm Springs hotel (4200 East Palm Canyon Drive; 760-770-5000; http://www.theparkerpalmsprings.com/) playful spa offerings include the Wringer ($150), a deep-tissue rubdown best for pain-seekers, and the Matriarch ($150), a wrinkle-fighting facial. Even if the stay-young schtick gets to be too much (“We believe you can swim right after you eat” reads the spa's Web site), you can't complain about a pedicure that uses only animal-free products ($60) and will last for weeks.
8 p.m.

8) FRIEND OF THE HOUSE
Most of the favored area restaurants have an old-school vibe: tuxedoed waiters, a headwaiter who has worked there since opening day and steak-and-lobster specialties. Though the six-year-old Copley's on Palm Canyon (621 North Palm Canyon Drive; 760-327-9555; http://www.copleyspalmsprings.com/) might not have the culinary history of nearby Melvyn's Restaurant and Lounge, which opened as an inn in 1935, it has a different sort of storied past — it's housed in what was once Cary Grant's estate — and food that incorporates 21st-century flavors (the spring menu included dishes like a duck and artichoke salad with goat cheese, edamame and litchi; $12).
11 p.m.

9) TOASTING FRIENDS
The cocktail craze has made its way to the desert, and the guys manning the bar at the cavernous Amigo Room at the new Ace Hotel (701 East Palm Canyon Drive; 760-325-9900; www.acehotel.com/palmsprings) are leading the way. In addition to measuring, shaking and pouring classic concoctions like the margarita, they offer more offbeat options like the Figa (fig-infused vodka with Earl Grey and honey tangerine; $8) that reek of late-night innovation. The cool but mellow vibe — supplemented by décor featuring burgundy leather booths and glass tables with inlaid pesos — will keep you ordering.
Sunday
9 a.m.

10) GET CLOSE WITH CACTUS
Those looking for an early-morning calorie burn might prefer the uphill battles of Gastin or Araby Trail, but a hike through Tahquitz Canyon (500 West Mesquite Avenue; 760-416-7044; http://www.tahquitzcanyon.com/) offers a leisurely alternative. An entrance fee of $12.50 gets you access to a 1.8-mile loop and the sights and smells that come with it: desert plants, lizards aplenty and a stunning, 60-foot waterfall. Unless you have an intense interest in beavertail cactus and white sage, skip the two-hour ranger-led tours and explore the trail at your own pace.
THE BASICS
Getting from the New York area to Palm Springs generally requires a change of planes. Plenty of major airlines (Delta, American, US Airways, United, Northwest and Alaska Airlines) serve the city's centrally located airport. One-stop tickets from New York start as low as $240, according to a recent online search. You can also fly into Los Angeles or the lower-traffic Long Beach airport (nonstops from JetBlue starting at $219) and then drive to Palm Springs in about two hours.
The brand-new Ace Hotel (701 East Palm Canyon Drive; 760-325-9900; www.acehotel.com/palmsprings) is a chic and cheap option housed in a former Howard Johnson. Rooms are decorated with a local focus (think Southwestern rugs and egg-shaped rocking chairs). Some spaces have outdoor fireplaces or enclosed patios. Simple double rooms start at $89.
For Vegas-style glitz, check into the Riviera Resort & Spa (1600 North Indian Canyon Drive; 760-327-8311; http://www.psriviera.com/). Its 406 old-Hollywood-style rooms, which run $219 and up, sit on 24 acres that feature a huge pool fit for midday umbrella drinks.
If you're looking to avoid hubbub, turn to Korakia Pensione (257 South Patencio Road; 760-864-6411; http://www.korakia.com/), a favorite among the aesthetically inclined who started staying at this Moroccan- and Mediterranean-influenced hideaway (with weekend-morning yoga sessions) in the '90s. Rooms go for $194 and up.
Note that the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (http://www.coachella.com/) takes place over the weekend of April 17 just 23 miles from Palm Springs International Airport at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif.

Now if that isn't reason enough to come visit Palm Springs, I don't know what is!

-Rick Rockhill

Palm Springs Art Museum "Pizazz" Gala 2009

In yesterday's Sunday Art Review post, I mentioned that I spent Saturday evening at the Palm Springs Art Museum. I had the pleasure of attending the "Pizazz 2009 Gala", which was the theme for their annual fundraiser event. A few years ago the Palm Springs Art Museum reinvented itself, removing the long term exhibits about desert wildlife and topography, in favor of building an impressive art collection. It was an excellent decision, propelling the PS Art Museum into the forefront of contemporary art galleries of its size. Palm Springs is a fairly well-to-do community that generously supports a wide range of local and nation-wide charities, as well as a stunning array of local cultural and educational institutions. The Palm Springs Art Museum is one such institution that thrives due to an active support base and an enthusiastic community. Before I go any further, I feel compelled to preempt any snippy thoughts about the nature of this lavish event. In the Palm Springs area, there are 250 different charitable events, galas or fundraisers that take place EVERY year. The sheer volume of invitations to events and requests for donations can be quite staggering. Naturally, folks pick and choose their favorite charities to support each year. Where I am going with this is that in order for the various organizations to attract enough people to fork out the high price of tickets, they need to plan interesting events, parties, dinners or entertainment- all fully underwritten by donors to ensure that the money raised from ticket sales actually goes to the intended source. The "Pizazz Gala 2009" was a great example of an event that people were drawn to because of the excitement and buzz created around the party itself. Allow me to take you through the highlights of the fabulous evening....

A Dramatic Entrance...

above: the main stairs were adorned with blinking glow-sticks that illuminated the railings. At the top of the stairs were colorful spotlights shining into the desert sky.



above: As I stepped into the main lobby of the museum, it had been transformed into a sort of fantasy garden. Fresh flowers surrounded the normal "pup sculpture" as if it were romping through a field of Gerber daises.

above: Stilt walkers dressed in African costumes danced and greeted guests while a steel-drum band played in the background.

above: Whimsical characters were meandering and interacting with guests; I paused for this photo- note that the marionette guy is on stilts with fake puppet legs...

above: The African stilt dancers were having all sorts of fun and made the atmosphere seem so fun.

above: the tall giant sunflowers were spinning to the beat of the music. Note the light effect on the wall behind the band. That is the normal wall in the museum, I think its lava rock or something like that. I've always admired it even without the dramatic lights.

above: The belly-bar tables were scattered throughout the museum, yet safely away from any art installations. They had "drink drop" stations to leave your drink and meander through the galleries.

above: "Living statues" such as this one above were positioned on platforms among the guests, and moved ever-so-slowly. She looked like a marble statue, until she moved! The appetizer buffet tables had tall bouquets of flowers.

And then a Dramatic Surprise for Dinner

above: The dining area had been closed off, hidden from guests until the precise moment of its unveiling. One of the normal galleries had been transformed into a bright flower garden; with "trees" on each table, surrounded by walls with projections of flowers, purple mountains, Lily ponds and graceful trees. Overhead, there were soft sounds of birds and crickets chirping, creating a full effect of sitting in an outdoor garden for dinner. It was truly spectacular.

above: Using the flash, you can see the "tree" on each table.

above: The dinner tables were beautifully set, with amazing arrangements of fresh tulips and wildflowers. Dinner started with martini-glasses filled with fresh chopped salad, followed by an osso bucco entrée.

above: Fabulous dessert ended the meal. It was a lemon bombe that was shaped like a miniature pineapple made from meringue. It was served with two dark chocolate rolled sticks. Mmmmm!

Exciting Entertainment Too!

To transition dinner guests from the dining room back to the lobby, groups of "bobby-soxer" 1950's style dancers came running in, dancing to several tunes designed to get people up on their feet. The girls wore poodle skirts and began escorting people out to a surprise...

above: The 1950's band The Coasters, known for hits like “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown performed after dinner and entertained an excited crowd. In no time at all, The Coasters had the crowd of 350 people dancing and having a great time.

It was such a fun evening full of surprises and thrills at every turn. Major kudos to the board and Gala planning committee. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the museum had a successful fundraiser to support their efforts for another year. I'm so proud to have such a first rate art museum in our desert.
-Rick Rockhill

Sunday Art Review: Palm Springs Art Museum Sampler

Saturday I visited the Palm Springs Art Museum to attend their annual fundraiser event (I'll cover it in detail tomorrow). Being in the midst of so many fabulous works of art provided the inspiration for this week's Sunday Art Review: Palm Springs Art Museum Sampler. As a member of the museum I enjoy spending time exploring what I consider one of the finest art museums on the west coast. Their permanent collection of Modern and Contemporary American art includes painting, sculpture, glass, photography and furniture among other mediums. The museum also offers a robust schedule of rotating exhibits throughout the year; currently they have an extensive collection by American photographer Robert Mapelthorpe (which I explored last night and thoroughly enjoyed). They also have a wonderful exhibit of contemporary glass, Mesoamerican art, and an exhibit of works by Maynard Dixon called The Hays Collection. I apologize in advance that I'm in several of these photos, they are really silly social photos and do not convey the beauty of these works. For those of you who tease me incessantly about always having the same expression in all my photos, I purposely didn't smile in the photo above left. It's a brilliant sculpture, isn't it? Anyway, onto to the rest of this week's Sunday Art Review.

Above: I especially like this piece- although it reminds me of a guy from whom I used to take equestrian lessons a million years ago. Funny how things like that come right back to one's memory like that.

above: Enjoying the newly installed Glass Center exhibit. There is a wide variety of glass art made from casting, fusing, lamp-working to glass blowing among other methods. It's a marvelous exhibit featuring items from their permanent collection and new significant works on loan from private collections.

above: oil on canvas, of a date palm tree.

above: A little bizarre, but this is a huge black spider, in what looked like cast iron or bronze.

Well that's all for this week's Sunday Art Review, as brief as it is. Thanks for stopping by today.

-Rick Rockhill