Palm Springs, CA
Today Karen and Allen and I headed in to Palm Springs to check out a new bagel restaurant and to check out the strip along Palm Canyon Drive. I was last in the area 3 years ago as I was in the process of getting my position at International Trade. Karen and Allen graciously hosted me during that visit. Not a lot has changed, but there seems to be some attempts at revitalization of the downtown core with the construction of a new convention centre and hotel under way.
Palm Springs is a unique city with no end of golf courses, interesting architecture, art and design shops and a million or so restaurants. New communities have gradually built out along Highway 111 and a lot of the cities you’ve heard about are strung out along the Highway into Coachella Valley, running from one to another. Indian Wells, Cathedral Grove, Indio, Palm Desert to name just a few.
Our first stop was breakfast at a new bagel joint that Karen and Allen had heard about. It makes boiled bagels in a dozen or so varieties and if you love these type of bagels you’ll love Townie Bagels. It’s a small cute little place, off the beaten path, but worth finding. They serve breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches, and other baked goods. The cinnamon bun with orange-flavoured icing was to die for. The staff are uber friendly and willing to go the extra mile. You even get an extra bagel of your choice when you buy a bakers dozen.
Then it was over to Palm Canyon Drive where we started at the Palm Springs Art Museum – Architecture and Design Museum. Their current exhibit explores light through various media. My favourite was a full size glass dress made using moulds of an art model.
Then we checked out the great shops along Palm Canyon Drive. A lot of them are retro themed and they have some really funky stuff. We stumbled across some retro travel trailer Christmas ornaments, and you just have to know they’ll be showing up on my tree next year.
It was overcast most of the afternoon and didn’t reach higher than 20 degrees or so. But we crazy Canadians were in capris and short sleeve shirts. The Californians of course were wearing down jackets and complaining and making fun of us.
After our fill of window shopping we drove back to Palm Desert to El Paseo, one block south of Highway 111 and running for a km or so. It’s a high end shopping district nicknamed “the Rodeo Drive of Palm Desert”, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue. It is beautifully landscaped, has valet parking and at night the palm trees boles are all lit up with white lights and it’s quite magical. The first and third Fridays of the month in late afternoon, there is a parade of antique cars that we went to take a look at. There weren’t really very many out tonight, perhaps because it was a little chilly.
It was early, but we’d had an early breakfast so we headed for Thai Smile on El Paseo and it was really enjoyable.
All in all, a great day!
Lois' Adventures 