Fall 2012: What’s New in Palm Springs

2012-08-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — What’s New in Palm Springs: Fall 2012
Compiled by the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, this quarterly update includes events, specials and renovations. Plus, what to expect for the winter season featuring new venues, attractions, activities, and signature events.  This update is as of August 13, 2012.

Palm Springs Tourism media contact:
Hillary Angel, Public Relations Manager (760) 322-8425 / hangel@visitpalmsprings.com
Visitor Website: www.VisitPalmSprings.com
Stay Social: Facebook.com/VisitPalmSprings and @PalmSpringsCA

LODGING UPDATE

New Hotel: Avanti
354 E. Stevens Road Palm Springs/ 760-327-3866/ http://avantihotelps.com/
Offering 10 luxurious rooms ranging from Traditional Studios to two-room Premium Suites with kitchens, this mid-century style boutique hotel offers an intimate surrounding to its guests. The original mid-century architecture is blended with modern furnishings and touches of Old Hollywood.
Most rooms have secluded patios and some are perfect for sunbathing in privacy. This hotel was formerly The View Palm Springs.

New Boutique Hotel to open in Fall: Sparrows Hotel
1330 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
On Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, previously known El Rancho Lodge is currently under renovation and is expected to reopen as Sparrows Hotel this fall. The hotel featuring 19 guest rooms was built in the 1950s and is currently being remodeled completely. Sparrow Hotel owners created and once owned the Korakia Pensione.

New owners of the Colony Palms Hotel
572 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs/ 800-557-2187/ www.colonypalmshotel.com
The 1936 built 57-room Colony Palms Hotel is said to once having been a common playground for
celebrities such as Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Howard Hughes and Ronald
Reagan. It was sold this summer to Woodridge Capital Partners in a joint venture with an affiliate
of Oaktree Capital Management.

New Hotel: The Saguaro Palm Springs
1800 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs/ (877)808-1439
The Saguaro Palm Springs, opened in February 2012, is a 245-room hotel located at the corner of Sunrise and East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, CA. Designed to reflect the colorful vibrant spirit of the Southwest, The Saguaro Palm Springs is the second in an expanding collection of Saguaro hotels managed by Joie de Vivre Hotels, following the opening of The Saguaro Scottsdale in November 2011. The three-story structure, originally constructed in 1965, features an expansive pool located within a lush center courtyard, and Tinto, an innovative restaurant run by celebrity chef Jose Garces.

Renovation: Hilton Palm Springs
400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs/ (760) 320-6868/ www.palmsprings.hilton.com
Ongoing over $ 10 million hotel renovation including rooms, lobby, meeting space and restaurant is scheduled to be completed by December 2012.

Additional Renovations at The Riviera
Riviera Palm Springs/ (866) 588-8311/ www.psriviera.com
After an intensive $60 million renovation completed in 2008, the Riviera Resort and Spa is now planning a $5 million investment in extending the property. The renovations include a new swimming pool, expanding another pool, update sport facilities and guest rooms, and increase the conference space by 3,000 square ft.

New Men’s Resort Opening Fall 2012: Bearfoot Inn
888 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs/ (888)871-2327/ www.bearfootinn.com
Located in Palm Springs historic Movie Colony district near the Uptown Design District, Bearfoot Inn will be a gay men’s resort in a newly renovated, mid-century property.

Upgrades: The Willows Historic Inn
412 West Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs/ (760) 320-0771/ www.thewillowspalmsprings.com
Now featuring larger flat screen TV’s in some rooms, updated cable boxes to offer more channels, new furniture for guest comfort and Feng shui.

Upgrades: Movie Colony Hotel
726 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs/ 760-320-6340/ www.moviecolonyhotel.com
New furniture and flat screen TV”s were purchased for every room along with various updates to rooms and pool area.

ATTRACTIONS

Forever Marilyn Sculpture:
Since the 1920s, Palm Springs has been a place for celebrities to escape the hustle and bustle of showbiz, including Marilyn Monroe. The blonde icon returns to Palm Springs in a big way with an unveiling on May 24, 2012. The 26-foot tall “Forever Marilyn” sculpture is located in downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way where she will be on display through June 2013. The dramatic statue by American artist Seward Johnson represents one of the most famous images of Marilyn Monroe, taken from the film “The Seven Year Itch.” www.facebook.com/PalmSpringsForeverMarilyn

New Tour:  Wonders of the Coachella Valley
Media contact: Bob Schneider; (760) 898-3327; bobs@red-jeep.com
http://red-jeep.com/WOV or call (760) 324-5337
Desert Adventures, the Greater Palm Springs area’s largest and most respected outdoor adventure and eco-tour company announces the launch of a new tour: Wonders of the Coachella Valley. This tour adds to Desert Adventures existing lineup of amazing excursions to the San Andreas Fault, Painted Canyon and the Mecca Hills Wilderness Area, Palm Springs Indian Canyons, and Joshua Tree National Park. For a limited time, Desert Adventures is offering this excursion for an introductory price of just $89 (Regular price is $150 per person) on select days.

New Tour: Moonlight Hike
http://www.palmspringshiking.com/ / (760) 413-1575/ Scott@PalmSpringsHiking.com
With the Full Moon Hike, Trail Discovery introduces an unforgettable evening under a moonlight sky. This unique walk journeys to a spectacular area in the foothills of Palm Springs. Watch the moonrise from panoramic views of the valley and city lights. The tour fee of $50 includes backpacks, flashlights, drinks and snacks, along with experienced guides who will explain plants, animals, geography and history. Discounts are available for kids and groups over 5.

Coming in September: Mid-Century Architecture Tours App
The Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) in collaboration with Palm Springs Life magazine will launch a multi-platform electronic application, Palm Springs Modern: Mid-Century Architecture Tours, (App), which will be available to the public for download beginning September, 2012.  The app will be available for purchase from the App Store and from the Android Market for $5.99. In HD – 720p format the app features three tours of over 80 architecturally significant modern homes and commercial buildings throughout the greater Palm Springs area. The App will also present in-depth profiles of 12 leading Modern architects whose contributions have shaped the architectural landscape of Palm Springs.

Now Open: The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands
37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage www.sunnylands.org
Media Contact: Mary Perry, Media and Community Relations
The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands / (760) 202-2266 / mperry@sunnylands.org

Opened in February 2012, Sunnylands welcomes national and international leaders for high-level retreats and meetings that address and seek solutions to serious issues facing the nation and the world. Sunnylands Center and Garden is a free public attraction incorporating a visitor center, desert garden, multi-media kiosks, solar farm, and other 21st-century environmental upgrades on the extensive grounds. Visitors to the Sunnylands Center and Garden will enjoy exhibits films, interactive multimedia kiosks, relax in the great room with a spectacular view of Mt. San Jacinto, and enjoy the menu options at the café and browse in the store. The Annenberg Estate Tours: There is a $35 fee for a guided 90-minute electric shuttle tour of residence and grounds by online reservation at www.sunnylands.org

Redevelopment of Desert Fashion Plaza
The City of Palm Springs is in the process of renovating the Desert Fashion Plaza Mall. As part of the redevelopment, over 85% of the existing mall will be demolished to create a pedestrian-friendly urban village. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. http://psmeasurej.com/

Opening in 2014: The Edwards Harris Center for Architecture and Design
Media Contact: Bob Bogard, Director of Marketing Communications – bbogard@psmuseum.org
The Palm Springs Art Museum recently purchased a 1960’s era former bank building that it will be restoring to its original specifications and is anticipated to open in 2014. The building, which was originally known as the Santa Fe Savings Bank, will be called the Edwards Harris Center for Architecture and Design and will house the museum’s growing collection of architecture and design-related pieces. Visit www.psmuseum.org to see exciting development for this new project.

RESTAURANTS

Opening in September: The Workshop Kitchen and Bar
www.workshoppalmsprings.com
Located in the Uptown Design District in the El Paseo Plaza is the anticipated home of Workshop Kitchen & Bar, scheduled to open in spring 2012 on North Palm Canyon Drive. The restaurant will draw on local farmers markets with a modern, seasonal American approach.

Another Restaurant Opens by Cheeky’s & Birba Ownes: JIAO
515 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs/ www.facebook.com/jiaops
JIAO was born out of the desire and love of all types of Asian food and of course the lack of availability of this cuisine in Palm Springs. Tara Lazar as always is thinking outside of the box and consistently brings a dining and food experience to the desert that is usually reserved for the big city. Jiao is a flavor adventure consisting of many different regions of Asia including urban street food. We are lucky to have several chefs bringing their particular expertise of each region as well as many family recipes. JIAO hopes to fill a much needed void in the Asian dining experience here in Palm Springs and particularly in the north end design district.

Opening in August: Ruben and Ozzy’s Oyster Bar & Grill
241 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way/ www.rubenandozzysoysterbar.com/ 760 325-8800
On August 15th 2012, Ruben and Ozzy’s Oyster Bar & Grill will open on 241 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Palm Springs Follies presents “DANCE TO THE MUSIC”
125 E. Tahquitz Cyn. Way, Ste. 209, Palm Springs
Media@psfollies.com/ 760-864-6516/ www.psfollies.com
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies has been seen by nearly three million patrons, and celebrates the music and dance of Mid-Century America with a cast ranging in age from 54 to 83 years “young.” The show features lavish, Broadway-caliber production numbers and plays five days a week November through late-May. The Follies is housed in downtown Palm Springs’ historic Plaza Theatre, a charming, neon-encrusted old movie house and is an attraction unto itself. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (760) 327-0225 beginning September 24 or online at www.psfollies.com beginning July 16.

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