Palm Springs Villagefest

Every Thursday, six blocks of Palm Canyon Drive, are closed from 6-10 and devoted to Villagefest, a street fair for all. You’ll find families, friends, the young, the old, dogs, couples and I even spotted a parrot. The vendors are just as vast, creating products by hand or from the local land - jewelers, farmers, masseuses, makers of soap, candles, pillow, purses, lotions and potions. All of which are surrounded by food vendors covering the “you name it” street food favorites - gyros, kabobs, hot dogs, cotton candy, roasted peanuts and more.

As you stroll along, be sure to look up, the sky turns a brilliant blue, which makes a hot dog taste that much better....

Earth Day & Mobsters, only in Palm Springs

After my day filled of lounging by the pool and lounging in the pool, I greened up myself and walked to the Earth Day free event at the Ace.   I was greeted by an enthusiastic grade-schooler with her handmade signs:

Worked my way through the Ace campus and spent time wondering through the green vendor displays, took in the local music and earth blessing.  The Ace hotel really seems to get what it means to be green.  

My night then took me to the Colony Palms Hotel, and the Purple Palm Restaurant.  Driving down Indian Canyon Rd you can easily miss their modest street presence.  But once inside, it was another outstanding visual delight of ultimate decor, landscape, patio and pool.  And my time at the bar was enjoyed with Jillian, the attentive bartender who gave me the scoop on this historical spot.  The Colony Palms established in 1936, first owned by an alleged mobster who equipped the hotel with a basement casino, speakeasy and a brothel.  This drew Hollywood's elite, such as Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Carol Lombard.    I'm hoping, when I stop back Saturday night, that I can get a sneak peek at this space of oozing nostalgia.  

I went not only to check out the space, I went to eat, and I ate well.  I ordered their Mac and Cheese, which was spiced up with bread crumbs and dried red peppers.  The Spanish-style setting is stunning, warm and cozy.   

The Purple Palm is a great spot for lunch, which can be enjoyed by the pool, which is paradise.  They also offer, "Collation" from 2:30 - 5:30, where you can choose from fries, a kobe waygu burger, organic salad, sorbets and other small plates.  

Let Robin, the Purple Palm's friendly host, manager, girl with a thousand hats,  know that Radar sent you!

Ace is so the place.

I was so looking forward to checking out the new Ace Hotel, and once I pulled into the retro parking lot, my excitement was confirmed.  The Ace, set on campus-like grounds of a former Howard Johnson's, is complete kitsch.  The lobby and main restaurant, once an A&W and then a Denny's, is true 1960s modern.   The menu is simple - full of the basics with a creative twist and local touch, oh and at incredible prices.  

Just off the lobby, before hitting bar, stop by and get your picture taken in the photo booth.

Past the photo booth is the intimate, dark-lit bar, yes it's original, and was the only Denny's in the country with a bar.   My bar-mate, Smitty, a vet of the Korean war, told me Bob Hope would hit the bar after he enjoyed his Denny's pancakes.  The bar's  hippy-like vibe, brings an eclectic mix of hotel guests and locals who've been sitting at this spot since the beginning.  

The bar menu, like the restaurant is basics with unique and fresh local touches.  I  started with the a cabernet, then on to pasta w/ fresh arugula, prosciutto and parm-reggiano, another cab, chatted w/Terry, a British PS local (with a wife from Duluth, MN), then ordered the brownie dessert, washed down with a latte.  Total, $35.72!  

And the Ace holds on-going events for both guests and visitors, check their calendar.  Today, there's an  Earth Day event I hope to check out as well as the pool experience:  

EARTH DAY @ the ACE Hotel - Palm Springs
701 E. Palm Canyon Drive
Wednesday
April 22nd
6pm - 10pm

Join us for:
Music - Solid Ray Woods & the Raw Soul Revue
Food & Beverages - available through the Ace Hotel (fee)
Movie - view an inspiring "Earth Day" video
Earth Blessing & Didgeridoo Music by Kerry Henwood
Art Show - with Venus Studios
Exhibitors - show off their "green" products
Alternative Vehicle Show

There is NO CHARGE to attend this FREE Community Event!

What a tough day ahead... 

Copley's Restuarant, a charmer.

I had a fantastic first meal here in Palm Springs. I turned to the Palm Springs resources I've been collecting, one of which is the NY Times article, 36 Hours, Palm Springs, and I zeroed in on Copley's on Palm Canyon. I walked along Palm Canyon, turned into Copley's and was greeted with an archway that lead me to a warm, expansive outdoor, fountain-streaming, candle-lit, dining courtyard. It was a dreamy site (one of which my IPhone did not do justice):


When I dine, I prefer the bar. I love to take in the interaction between the staff and I enjoy the instant relationship I can have with a bartender, especially when I'm alone. Marcy fulfilled my expectations and became a comrade for the night in many ways. We talked food, she asked where I was from, and I explained my Radar biz and hopes of expanding into PS. She gave me the enthusiastic history of Copley's owners, the building and mentioned me to one of the owners. Thanks Marcy for the Radar plug! I then met Juliana Copley, the owner and wife of chef Andrew.



I am a sucker for nostalgia, and Copley's provided it. Juliana gave me the detailed history that the building was first built for Cary Grant. The original space was divided into small bungalows for his guests, and then Cary lived across the street. It then was bought and turned into "Mary's Play House" a child care center. And then vacant for some time, then a couple transitions from there, Copley's. The building echoes a glimmer of each bungalows space, while offering a cozy, intimate dining experience.

Juliana went into detail how the space makes for wonderful wedding, corporate or group events. Weddings can be held out in the courtyard, which hold 100+ people! Copley's also offers group cooking classes with Andrew, check the website for details.

I will be back there this week, to say hello to Marcy and Juliana, and to take in Cary's aura one last time...