This article was first published in print in Southern California Life Magazine (Summer 2023 edition).
New exciting experiences continue to bloom in the Greater Palm Springs desert. It’s one reason The New York Times just voted Palm Springs one of the best places to visit in 2023.
MARKET MARKET
This new 40,000 square foot retail space – tucked behind Bar Cecil in the old Stein Mart – is filled with over 50 vendors selling vintage or repurposed goods including accessories, housewares, art, furniture, plants, and more. Open every day from 11 – 5, this is the place to find unique treasures like silk scarves turned into pillowcases, skateboards as art, retro clothing, funky décor pieces, and midcentury furniture.
https://www.shopmarketmarket.com
The Penney & Parlour at Desert Island Country Club
Arrive around sunset to dine on the terrace at this newly remodeled 1970s clubhouse in Rancho Mirage with dramatic lake and mountain views. At the sunken horseshoe bar, sip on specialty cocktails with names like Quincy Jones, accompanied by the best raw oysters and scallop crudo. Expect a large-scale wine and rare spirits menu and an impressive Mezcal selection. Chef Jon Butler incorporates farmer’s market finds in dishes like grilled whole branzino, black truffle risotto, crispy pork belly, and barramundi in a smoked bone broth. Extend your mischief in the Parlour, a piano lounge and game room or apres golf at 9 ½.
Azure Sky Hotel
Transformed into a design lover’s Zen oasis, this 1959 building has been reborn into a 14-room sanctuary set in the Deepwell Estates neighborhood, where the secluded property is just minutes from all the action of downtown. Expect stone tile flooring, walk-in mosaic tile showers, and uber-comfy mattresses set in floating platform beds. Almost all rooms come with impressive kitchenettes and private patios with hammocks. But the stunner is the oversized pool-scape with bar, jacuzzi, and unobstructed views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
The Church Studios
Located in Cathedral City in a restored 1960 midcentury modern church, Guns and Roses’ tour manager Ron Mesh and Shag Store owner Jay Nailor teamed up to turn this 7,000-square-foot space into a recording studio and event venue for live music sessions, pop-ups, art shows, and more. Slash’s son London Hudson recorded his first album here with his band S8NT Elektric in January 2023.
Churchstudiosps.gmail.com
Superbloom Studios and Gallery
Get your creative juices flowing by designing a purse, hat, or any item you want to upcycle at this Palm Spring design studio, where splashing paint feels therapeutic. Superbloom is equal parts entertainment and design space; recording studio, event venue, experimental retail lab, and mixed media broadcasting studio. Down the road, the gallery offers a colorful selection of art, home décor, gifts, and apparel while color therapy sessions heal with sound, scent, and yoga. Join the Superbloom World and pick a color to gain access.
Guest Chef Series at The Colony Club in The Colony Palms Hotel
Every Wednesday, guest chefs from Los Angeles prepare 5+ course menus from 5 – 9 PM at historic Colony Palms Hotel. Superstar Chef Michael Hung has welcomed many visiting chefs, from Michelin star acclaim to LA’s Jonathan Club and The Lobster. Savor bites in the main dining room or in view of the palm tree studded pool, hugged by the San Jacinto Mountains. Book an overnight at this exclusive boutique property designed by Steve Hermann that feels like the Beverly Hills Hotel of the desert.
The Spa at Séc-he at Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza
Starting April 4, hot healing mineral water will spring forth in downtown Palm Springs across the street from the Agua Caliente Casino. Owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and operated by Agua Caliente Casinos, the 40,000 square foot spa destination will feature 22 private mineral baths, 15 treatment rooms, a cryotherapy chamber, two float pod suites, a boutique fitness area, a grounding room, an acoustic wellness lounge, tranquility garden, menthol dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, two halotherapy salt caves, a resort-style mineral pool with four Jacuzzis, luxury cabanas, full-service salon with scalp treatment beds, and a cafe and a poolside bar with food service.
https://www.visionaguacaliente.com
Acrisure Arena
Just off Interstate 10, a world-class 11,000-seat venue has blossomed in the desert – home to the area’s first professional sports team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds (hockey). While comedy kicked off the opening with acts from Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle, large-scale concerts have rocked the stadium with Harry Styles, The Eagles, and John Mayer headlining. Upcoming acts this spring include Journey, Shania Twain, and Lizzo. Features include 20 luxury suites, a private club for 145, four club areas, and abundant food and drink vendors.
Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory
Experience the universe up close with free public exploration nights – where star clusters, planets, and nebulae are amplified 100-350 x through a PlaneWave CDK700 telescope. Ask questions and learn fun facts from astronomers and volunteer docents. Drop in from 6:30 – 8 PM weather permitting as no registration is needed. Other monthly events include film screenings, lectures, and photography exhibits.
https://www.ranchomiragelibrary.org
Desert X
Returning to the Coachella Valley from March 4 – May 7 for the fourth installment, large scale international contemporary art exhibitions can be found in the most dramatic desert landscapes. Focusing on social and environmental themes, some will require audience participation. Finding the art is part of the fun. Viewings are free and open typically from sunrise to sunset. Exact locations will be divulged on a map at desertx.org or on the Desert X 2023 app beginning March 4.
Read more about Palm Springs in our article on Travel Awaits: https://www.travelawaits.com/2869537/things-to-do-in-palm-springs/
lalascoop.com 