ART, DESIGN, TRAVEL
Modernism Week in Palm Springs
MARCH, 2018
If you love art, design and wine then Palm Springs is certainly a place you want to visit, and if you can be there during Modernism Week then that’s even better!
Modernism Week’s signature February event is an annual celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. This exciting festival takes place in February in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. Modernism Week features more than 350 events including the Modernism Show & Sale, Signature Home Tours, films, lectures, Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, nightly parties and live music, walking and bike tours, tours of Sunnylands, fashion, classic cars, modern garden tours, a vintage travel trailer exhibition, and more.
So once again I share with you what is just one of those events & places I hope you have a chance to visit. You can certainly experience it over 3 days but a week is even better.
I hope this will inspire you to find your “Art of Living” wherever you are.
Cheers, MC
Modernism Week in Palm Springs
MARCH, 2018
If you love art, design and wine then Palm Springs is certainly a place you want to visit, and if you can be there during Modernism Week then that’s even better!
Modernism Week’s signature February event is an annual celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. This exciting festival takes place in February in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. Modernism Week features more than 350 events including the Modernism Show & Sale, Signature Home Tours, films, lectures, Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, nightly parties and live music, walking and bike tours, tours of Sunnylands, fashion, classic cars, modern garden tours, a vintage travel trailer exhibition, and more.
So once again I share with you what is just one of those events & places I hope you have a chance to visit. You can certainly experience it over 3 days but a week is even better.
I hope this will inspire you to find your “Art of Living” wherever you are.
Cheers, MC
THE EXPERIENCE:
When I travel I always search for places that will add to the “experience” of their location. It is NEVER just about a place to stay and ALWAYS about how the hotel, condo, or home can enhance the experience and environment. I want to share how each day unfolds, and hopeful uncover places, and experiences that feel unique and entice to the audience to make the trip themselves. I never want to stay somewhere that is just a place to sleep!!! Just as important to me as the art and design of a property so is the in-room experience and food/beverage. All are sensory experiences that should enhance the stay.
On my recent trip to beautiful Palm Springs, California during Modernism week, my husband and I managed to do that by staying at the ideal hotel, (right after what was an invitation to experience a so called perfect palm springs style hotel was complete disappointment and checked out before spending the night!) the newly opened Kipton Rowan. They were not only a perfect hotel to stubble on to but also gave me the privilege of meeting one of my new favorite people in Palm Springs, Kevin the Concierge. Kevin was still new to the hotel by just a few weeks and I managed to be his unexpected training program. (I’m a lady with lots of questions)
When I travel I always search for places that will add to the “experience” of their location. It is NEVER just about a place to stay and ALWAYS about how the hotel, condo, or home can enhance the experience and environment. I want to share how each day unfolds, and hopeful uncover places, and experiences that feel unique and entice to the audience to make the trip themselves. I never want to stay somewhere that is just a place to sleep!!! Just as important to me as the art and design of a property so is the in-room experience and food/beverage. All are sensory experiences that should enhance the stay.
On my recent trip to beautiful Palm Springs, California during Modernism week, my husband and I managed to do that by staying at the ideal hotel, (right after what was an invitation to experience a so called perfect palm springs style hotel was complete disappointment and checked out before spending the night!) the newly opened Kipton Rowan. They were not only a perfect hotel to stubble on to but also gave me the privilege of meeting one of my new favorite people in Palm Springs, Kevin the Concierge. Kevin was still new to the hotel by just a few weeks and I managed to be his unexpected training program. (I’m a lady with lots of questions)
The Kipton Rowan Hotel is the brand-new shining star in PS and rightfully so as it is shines on many levels. From the art collection to the rooftop deck and pool it truly shares a real palm springs vibe with its guests.
OUTDOOR ART FINDS:
Palm Springs is wonderful and one of my favorite moments that always takes my breath away is when my husband, Adam and I go for our run and we pass private art that people have installed outside of their homes. They take art and design to heart throughout the valley and it shows. With a mountainous backdrop and the stunning blue skies, it often can seem unreal!
Palm Springs is wonderful and one of my favorite moments that always takes my breath away is when my husband, Adam and I go for our run and we pass private art that people have installed outside of their homes. They take art and design to heart throughout the valley and it shows. With a mountainous backdrop and the stunning blue skies, it often can seem unreal!
I could probably talk about Palm Springs and The Rowan Hotel itself for days but have narrowed my focus to key highlights of Modernism Week and a few extra treats.
I will be featuring the art collection of the Kipton Rowan Hotel itself in a later post so if you love fun and well curated art collections stay tuned!
I will be featuring the art collection of the Kipton Rowan Hotel itself in a later post so if you love fun and well curated art collections stay tuned!
PLANNING:
There is so much going on each day that you can’t do it all, so I suggest choosing one key highlight a day and let the others fun events fall into place.
There is a “Base Camp” set up which has all the information you need and a perfect place to begin.
It shares with you what is going on from lectures, culinary classes and design panel inside the camp location and all the other go to events and tours.
There is a “Base Camp” set up which has all the information you need and a perfect place to begin.
It shares with you what is going on from lectures, culinary classes and design panel inside the camp location and all the other go to events and tours.
HIGHLIGHTS:
This year one of my highlights was attending the unveiling of the walk of fame star for Nelda Linsk. Nelda, one of the women who was featured in what is now one of the iconic photos of palm springs titled “Poolside Gossip” taken by photographer Slim Arrons was present throughout the week at a variety of events for some great photo opts.
This year one of my highlights was attending the unveiling of the walk of fame star for Nelda Linsk. Nelda, one of the women who was featured in what is now one of the iconic photos of palm springs titled “Poolside Gossip” taken by photographer Slim Arrons was present throughout the week at a variety of events for some great photo opts.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS:
We took a spin in the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and made a “pit stop” at the Elvis Presley Honeymoon Home.
This was a test drive offered by Alpha Romao USA at Modernism week base camp which was conveniently situated between the Rowan Hotel and the Palm Springs Museum.
This was a test drive offered by Alpha Romao USA at Modernism week base camp which was conveniently situated between the Rowan Hotel and the Palm Springs Museum.
AND MORE HIGHLIGHTS:
Speaking of the Museum, there is always an interesting exhibition ongoing and until May 28th, 2018 you can still catch Andy Warhol "Prints" exhibition from the Collection of Jordan D Schnitzer and his Family Foundation.
Speaking of the Museum, there is always an interesting exhibition ongoing and until May 28th, 2018 you can still catch Andy Warhol "Prints" exhibition from the Collection of Jordan D Schnitzer and his Family Foundation.
COCKTAILS: “Palm Spring Style”
While in Palm Springs Cocktails are a must and no better place to snag a craft cocktail and fab small plates than Truss and Twine
Created to offer a bar aesthetic that the Palm Springs landscape is missing, for visitors and locals alike, Truss & Twine specializes in classic cocktails broken down by era.
While in Palm Springs Cocktails are a must and no better place to snag a craft cocktail and fab small plates than Truss and Twine
Created to offer a bar aesthetic that the Palm Springs landscape is missing, for visitors and locals alike, Truss & Twine specializes in classic cocktails broken down by era.
Our friends joined us where we ordered some original and old time standard cocktails, small plates of nibbles where we met some other travellers before jumping across the street to Trio Restaurant for more fun and chatter.
TRIO RESTAURANT
Located in a historic mid-century Bank building in Palm Springs sophisticated Uptown Design District, TRIO is lively and up beat all year round. It also promotes art on its walls with a selection of artists works showcased with the purchasing information on each.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS: HANGING WITH THE LOCALS
The following day we did a little sight seeing, roof top sunning and snuck in an art opening at a wonderful little gallery Janssen ArtSpace before we headed over to enjoy one of our favorite lively resto-bars for some of the best people watching scene, Bar Lulu.
Rooftop pool deck and lounge area of Rowan Hotel.
Colors of the desert are highlighted here with this little series by artist and gallery owner, Stephen Janssen.
Opening night of Mod Squad Exhibition thanks to Rowan's Concierge Kevin, he made sure that we knew it was happening and even attended as well.
Photo courtesy of Janssen Artspace.
Photo courtesy of Janssen Artspace.
More Modernism:
Another great feature in its second year was the "Vintage Trailer" exhibition. Owners come together for a 2-day exhibition of highly decorated and stylized vintage trailers and pull out all the stops to get your vote for People's Choice Award.
Another great feature in its second year was the "Vintage Trailer" exhibition. Owners come together for a 2-day exhibition of highly decorated and stylized vintage trailers and pull out all the stops to get your vote for People's Choice Award.
This one got our vote with the help of some cold beers and snappy glasses.
CLOSING TIME:
Modernism closed shop with the final day hurrah of the “Annual Vintage Yard Sale” a favorite of ours. Where both private and retails share their carefully curated collections.
This year I found a great vintage collection of appetizer plates and little glass ice bucket…feeling the wine and small plates theme again?
Here are some other cool items I discovered.
Modernism closed shop with the final day hurrah of the “Annual Vintage Yard Sale” a favorite of ours. Where both private and retails share their carefully curated collections.
This year I found a great vintage collection of appetizer plates and little glass ice bucket…feeling the wine and small plates theme again?
Here are some other cool items I discovered.
FUN FIND:
This Mid Century styled dog house was my fun find and one that almost made it home for my daughter’s dog, Moka…thank goodness I came to my senses!
That said, maybe they deliver!!!
This Mid Century styled dog house was my fun find and one that almost made it home for my daughter’s dog, Moka…thank goodness I came to my senses!
That said, maybe they deliver!!!
AND THAT’S A WRAP:
We ended the day by grabbing some eclectic local nosh at newly opened “On the Mark”
We ended the day by grabbing some eclectic local nosh at newly opened “On the Mark”
Mr. Mark the wonderful owner pictured here! Photos compliments of "On The Mark" Facebook page.
We went back and had them poolside at our friend's place with a lovely pinot and chardonnay, (small plate and wine again) as we planned the next leg our road trip… Vegas via Joshua Tree National park and the Mojave National Park. more to come on this.
I hope you find time to take a trip to Palm Springs and while doing so find WHAT INSPIRES YOU & your "Art of Living"!
Cheers, MC
I hope you find time to take a trip to Palm Springs and while doing so find WHAT INSPIRES YOU & your "Art of Living"!
Cheers, MC
