Old World Dining in Palm Springs

I bought this very cool book at the Modernism Exhibit called "Classic Dining:  Discovering America's Finest Mid-Century Restaurants" and had it signed by the author.  Of course,  Melvyn's is in there and I see for dinner they have Chateaubriand for two served at the table.   Jim and I have had many wonderful Chateaubriands so must get there either before we leave for that or a  treat to look forward to when we come back.

Probably the most memorable Chateaubriand we had was at the Eugene Hotel in Eugene (now a Hilton) and we had it served in our hotel suite as Richard had only just turned 2 years old and was sleeping in the next room.  We were celebrating Jim passing his orals for the Doctorate.

While Richard and I were waiting for Jim to come out of the exam I explained to Richard that when he saw his Dad next he would be a doctor.  Richard became very excited and said "Dr. Bones!!!"  He was a great fan of the Richard Scarry books and Dr. Bones was a favourite character.  Alas,  I did have to explain that he would just be same old Dad and not his storybook hero.

 So then,  we will have had Brunch,  lunch,  and this Sunday we are going to their afternoon jazz session...should be great fun.

This from a Tripadvisor review:

We did not eat in the restaurant, but spent time in the lounge on a Sunday afternoon when the jazz trio plays. It is so authentic "Rat Pack" that you expect Frank or Sammy to walk in any minute. The people are old school Palm Springs, the décor is unchanged, and the martinis are cold. What fun! Next time we are dressing up and going for dinner!

Visited February 2013

http://www.inglesideinn.com/melvyns_restaurant.html

Ah...wunderbar...as Maureen says...

Not long back from a great game of golf...fabulous views everywhere and a dinner of Trader Joe's lamb.  Soon,  to the hot tub and pool for a final swim.

Golf is such a wonderful recreation down here...where we play...cheap...today,  for $20 ($25 before) each as we are now residents,  we get a cart,  our games of golf (after 3pm so 9 holes...all I want),  and 2 beer or wine each...so the drinks are at least $20.  We take advantage of it all.

Wonderful views and warmth even though it cooled off a bit.  And always playing with either Canadians or wonderful Americans.  Today,  just a lovely couple from Colorado.

As almost everyone we meet down here says..."another day in paradise"...

Yes...everyone is happy.

More house photos...

 2nd bedroom

 Rather nice antiquey stuff but we'll want to go modern.

 I think we'll go white leather in here and keep the mid century chairs.

Double garage (laundry is in here)  and loads more storage.  Unbelievable amount of storage in this condo when you count everything.  We'll never have that much stuff!

Lots of papers to sign today

They certainly are thorough here.  Long disclosures by the seller to the point of a chipped tile,  that an animal was in the unit at one point, etc.  Got a chance to take photos inside today.  Things don't look too bad but we will be changing most things...that's the fun part!

 The large patios

 The small pool steps away.  Big pool and tennis courts across the street.

 Master bedroom...loads of cupboards...love the shoe rack

Den or third bedroom...has doors that close.  A cool mid century chair and stool.

Kitchen

Dining area

Another mid century chair in the living room

The door you see is one of the doors to the den/bedroom...it's in the middle of the master and guest bedroom.

Part of living room...very spacious and we will really enjoy the gas fireplace...loved it when we stayed here.

Modernism Week

Event Title: Paris Loves Palm Springs 

Event Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013

There's loads of stuff going on in Modernism Week.  We decided to take this in.

Paris Loves Palm Springs

Start Time:  7:30 p.m. 

End Time/Duration:  10 p.m.

Event Price:  $50  

Check-In Location: The Purple Room, Club Trinidad, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264

Event Description:

Scandal!  Glamour!  Sex!   The French Pop Culture of 1960s Paris swings back into life with Paris Loves Palm Springs, a sensational revival of the songs of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot.  Adele Jacques, French-born singer and actress, plays and sings Bardot with such skill and feminine guile, one finds oneself looking back over their shoulder during the performance, expecting to find Godard shooting in 16m. Together with the pianist, Russell Rinker, and a live, jazz-ensemble Paris Loves Palm Springs is a paroxysm of “French Sexiness” and “Cocktail Cool.”

Delicious French-themed appetizers and desserts are included in the ticket price.  Cash bar.

Special Instructions or Restrictions:  over 21 only

Buy Tickets

Price: $50.00
Event Date: February 20, 2013 
Start Time:7:30 pm
End Time:10:00 pm
Event Address:
The Purple Room, Club Trinidad
1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Modernism week begins

We went to the Modernism Exhibit today....always great fun and always wonderful to see the fabulous Palm Springs Convention Centre.  Then to Las Casuelas for Mexican food and to listen to the live band.  It was particularly cool today because this old couple around about age 90 danced just about every dance for an hour and then there was this fellow in the red hat who probably who was a bit unusual but is a regular and welcomed by the band.  He was just loving the whole thing and was particularly thrilled by a very attractive woman who went to put money in the tip jar and danced with him for a while.

 Cool travel trailer.

 PS Convention Centre

 Our new home!

Enjoying our lunch

Maybe that will be us in 25 years...wouldn't it be great!

We had a '57 Chev when we were first married but not as cool as this one.

Better photos coming soon...

The day we decided to buy here I was going to buy a digital SLR camera  I poured coffee into my point and shoot and figure it's not much point buying another one of those since my iphone takes photos pretty much as good.  I'll buy one in the next few days.

Went out in the morning and took some shots...will be interesting to compare after I get my new camera.

Oh,  and there's a tangerine tree in one of the patios....remember how good they tasted.  Susan and Alan,  this was the place where you visited us.   All the Indian artifacts and decorations are gone.

Our new condo

This will give you an idea of what we've bought if you look at the ones for sale.  Ours is the last one and photos were going to be posted today but won't be now since it's sold.  It's still "active" I guess because the seller has accepted the offer verbally but is out of town and doesn't know how to do some electronic signing.

Beautiful views of the mountains everywhere and I've always wanted an adobe roof so reminds me of the south of France too!

http://www.listingpointrealty.com/realtor/tract/homes-for-sale-in-Canyon-Sands-in-Palm-Springs

Yeah!

Looks like the deal has gone through!

Cactus Garden

This is the painting I did of the cactus garden in the patio of this condo we have put an offer on. Nice to buy a place you have stayed in for 2 months! Hope we get it…very hot real estate market in PS.

Just might be the best Valentine's present ever...to each other.

Put an offer on a condo in Palm Springs today.  Actually, in Canyon Sands  and the one we first stayed in 6- 7 years ago.  Three bedrooms,  two baths,  two patios, double garage....1400 sq feet in the living space...and next door to our good friends, Erna and Marvin.
Such a new listing there are no photos.  We've pretty much decided to buy and spend Nov - April down here,  sell or rent Victoria,  and keep our Vancouver apartment.  Price:  $190,000.00 and fees and taxes all very reasonable and we know the council is totally on top of things and everything is going well...Erna and Marvin are part of that.

Yeah...a one bed/one bath  700 sq ft condo in Van on Beach Ave where we want to be is $600,000.00 plus and big extraordinary assessments all the time...no thanks.  We have a better view and more room where we are renting.

Life is interesting!

And life in the desert goes on

Roger (who is an obstetrician/gynecologist) taking a look at the buck pregnancy test...seems pretty legit. Roger and Kerry's last day in the desert today.  Roger gets home tomorrow then unpacks and packs to leave for Ethiopia for a couple of weeks where he is working on a CIDA project.   A busy life!

We all hit the thrift stores and got some good deals...don't think we'll be hitting the outlet stores after all.  The prices might be a shock after basically new pants (LL Bean,  Dockers, etc) for $4.  Kerry picked up a cool pair of yellow pants for $4 with a $69 price tag still on them.

I did get Jim into Macey's and he got a good deal on some shirts.

Wonderful game of golf yesterday and I finally got my hybrid club working for me ....yeah!  Will have to buy that DSLR camera soon as there was just a beautiful light on the mountains as we were finishing playing.

Another great day in PS

Roger and Jim went to the PS Air Museum...we had been there but Roger loved it and Jim enjoyed another visit.  Kerry and I went to El Paseo preceded by a stop at a thrift store and dollar store...both scored some cheap buys.  Then lunch at a Mexican restaurant for Kerry and I.  Lovely swim and a jambalaya dinner with wonderful chorizo from Trader Joe's and shrimp.

Kerry and I stopped off at the Saguro Hotel with all the wonderful colour (an old Holiday Inn)...actually Kerry was wearing an outfit that was very "Saguro"

Great fun to be with old friends in Palm Springs.

Great day with old friends...

Roger and Kerry invited us to champagne brunch at Melvyn's today.  They are staying at the Ingleside Inn where Melvyn's is located.   What a great old classic hotel.  They have lots of historical information in the rooms including famous people who have stayed there over the years since 1922 and what they paid for a  room.  Lots of famous folks.

We were very impressed with brunch...very old style with older waiters in white dinner jackets serving and they were very generous with the champagne.  They start you off with pastries like croissants, biscuits, muffins, and wonderful fresh fruit then you order off the menu.  Everyone was very thrilled with their entrées.   Jim had steak and prawns,  Roger had scallops,  Kerry had the chicken crepe, and I had the sole picatta...fabulous.  Then shared some tiramisu for dessert.

 Toasting being together again.

 My sole.

 Roger's scallops.

Jim's steak and prawns...steak covered by "tobacco onions"...

Then to the Palm Springs Art Museum...very interesting show and fun to see the old stuff and the Henry Moore's again.

And back to our place for drinks, snacks, and lots of chat and catching up.

 From the current exhibit...groups in Sao Paolo, Brazil using old materials to make cool things.

I always love my Henry Moore's