Greater Palm Springs is Southern California’s premier resort, entertainment, golf and tennis destination. With nine very distinct cities – Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, there’s always something new going on in the Oasis. Check out some of the latest developments.
AIRLIFT
American Airlines Nonstop Flights, ORD to PSP
On October 6, 2016, American Airlines will resume nonstop service from Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). www.americanairlines.com
JetBlue Continues Nonstop Service, JFK-PSP
From November 11, 2016 through May 1, 2017, JetBlue will continue, nonstop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Palm Springs international Airport (PSP). Flights operate five days a week, from Thursday through Monday. www.jetblue.com
Air Canada Continues Seasonal Service, YYZ-PSP
Air Canada’s seasonal service between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) on its leisure carrier, Air Canada Rouge Service begins December 14, 2016 and will run through April 16, 2017. www.aircanada.com
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Modernism Week Fall Preview – October 21-23, 2016
Modernism Week Fall Preview will feature a selection of highlights of the best events from the February festival, including architectural walking and bike tours, festive cocktail parties, home tours, stimulating lectures, the not-to-be-missed Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, classic cars, the Modernism Show & Sale, tours of Sunnylands, and more. www.modernismweek.com
Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival – October 28-30, 2016
In celebration of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park is organizing a new event, the Night Sky Festival, to celebrate the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Special guests include cultural speakers, astronomers, scientists, night-sky enthusiasts, artists, volunteers, junior rangers and visitors. www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm
U.S. FootGolf National Championships– November 5 & 6, 2016
The hybrid sport of FootGolf is enjoying growing popularity across the nation, welcoming players of all ages and sizes. Greater Palm Springs is the home of the American FootGolf League (AFGL) and host of the 2016 U.S. FootGolf National Championships which will be held at Desert Willow Golf Resort. www.footgolf.us
Style Fashion Week Palm Springs – November 9-12, 2016
Style Fashion Week, producer of globally recognized fashion events, will provide local and international designers a world class platform to showcase their collections in Palm Springs. The event will also include a Style Fashion Week art show featuring art produced by local talented artists. www.stylefashionweek.com
Indio California BBQ State Championship and Festival – November 12 & 13, 2016
The BBQ Festival is a sanctioned contest featuring professional pit masters from across the nation competing for up to $10,000 in prize money. www.discoverindio.com/Indio-BBQ-Championship-Festival
Palm Springs Comic Con – November 19-20, 2016
Palm Springs Comic Con will be a geek culture convention celebrating comic books, past and present, while embracing its diverse and multi-media future. The event will take place at the Saguaro Hotel. www.pscomiccon.com
The CareerBuilder Challenge – January 19-22, 2017
This year Phil Mickelson replaces Bill Clinton as ambassador for CareerBuilder Challenge. A Southern California native, 42-time PGA TOUR winner and five-time major champion, Mickelson will promote the tournament and participate in various functions during tournament week. Nick Raffaele, most recently with Callaway Golf, named as the new executive director of CareerBuilder Challenge. www.careerbuilderchallenge.com
Desert X – February 25 – April 30, 2017
Desert X was conceived to engage and attract a new, diverse, international audience interested in art and visual culture to the Coachella Valley. The exhibition’s opening weekend will coincide with Modernism Week and will continue through the 2017 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and The Stagecoach Festival. The first installment of Desert X, which will be free and open to the public, will engage the cultural and geographic specificity of the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea, and will include site specific commissions by select international contemporary artists in a variety of non-traditional and institutional contexts to activate the landscape. www.desertx.org
BNP Paribas Open – March 6-19, 2017
The BNP Paribas Open, the largest WTA and ATP World Tour combined two-week event in the world, hosted at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, recently named Tommy Haas as Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open. The 2017 tournament will showcase newly remodeled Stadium 1. Improvements include new concession to upper and lower levels and a full service restaurant with views for the court. www.bnpparibasopen.com
The Jansen Cup: United Kingdom & United States – May 22-24, 2017
Ninety years after a competition for the Ryder Cup in golf was played for the very first time, the United Kingdom and United States will commence a new event also staged on a golf course – FootGolf’s first Jansen Cup. The biennial event honors Michael Jansen, one of the creators of FootGolf. The Jansen Cup will pit the top U.S. Ranked players of 2016 against top ranked players of the United Kingdom. www.footgolf.us
HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS – On the Horizon
The Kimpton Rowan Hotel- The six-story, 155-room Kimpton brand hotel is set to open in early May 2017 as part of the Downtown Palm Springs Project. Located on North Palm Canyon Drive, the property will include the city’s first rooftop pool.www.kimptonhotels.com
Hotel Paseo- Part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, the Hotel Paseo is expected to open October 2017. The four-star, 150-room hotel is the first of its kind on El Paseo Shopping District in Palm Desert. The property will feature a pool, spa, dining and ballroom.
Andaz Palm Springs- Slated to open in 2018, the 150-room, 13-suite luxury lifestyle property will be located in downtown Palm Springs, adjacent to the vibrant Uptown Design District and within walking distance of the shops, restaurant and galleries that line famed Palm Canyon Drive. www.andazpalmsprings.com
SilverRock Resort- The $420 million project proposed for the City of La Quinta, the SilverRock Resort will include a five-star, 140-room luxury hotel and spa and a four-star, 200-room lifestyle hotel. Also in the works is a 150,000-square-foot resort village, with residential units and up to 40,000 square feet of retail space and recreation areas. The project also includes a mini riverfront promenade, a conference center with ballroom and meeting space and recreation areas such as water facilities, community gardens, luxury camping and trails, a permanent clubhouse area with large patios and an event lawn space. The project is scheduled to break ground in the summer of 2017. www.silverrock.org
Hyde Hotel & Residences - Managed by sbe, Hyde Hotel & Residences is anticipated to open in the Coachella Valley in 2018. The development will feature 350 guest rooms, comprised of 150 two-bedroom condo units, 40 luxury suites - some with private plunge pools, and 10 luxury two-bedroom stand-alone villas. The property will also include Hyde Kitchen and Cocktails, a destination spa, and meeting and event facilities. www.sbe.com/hotels/brands/hyde-hotel-residences
Virgin Hotels Palm Springs - In downtown Palm Springs, the new Virgin Hotels Palm Springs will feature 150-rooms and suites, multiple dining and drinking outlets, including The Commons Club, meetings spaces and a rooftop terrace and pool overlooking the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. The new-build was designed by local architect Chris Pardo and is expected to open in 2019. www.virginhotels.com
750 Lofts Hotel - The 750 Lofts Hotel is planned for the Uptown Design District and will be developed as a four-story, 38-room hotel with eight two-story lofts along with retail and a restaurant on ground floor. www.soma.us/PALM-SPRINGS-HOTEL
Orchid Tree Resort & Spa- The former Community Church of Palm Springs is on a path that could take it from ruins to a luxury 52 room boutique resort & spa. The 3.1-acre site, will become a five-story resort hotel and spa complex. Gwynne Pugh of Urban Studio in Santa Monica is the architect and construction is anticipated to begin late 2016.
Vision Caliente – Spa Hotel- The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council announced it will partner with JCJ Architecture of San Diego to create a master plan for 22 acres in downtown Palm Springs at Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive. The property was once the home of the Spa Hotel, which the Tribe closed in July 2014, and is also anchored by the Tribe's culturally significant ancient Hot Mineral Spring. The site has operated since the late 1800s, providing access to the healing water for hundreds of thousands of people for more than 100 years. It has been estimated that the hotel will have up to 350 rooms on its Palm Springs property. For updates, visit www.visionaguacaliente.com
HOTEL RENOVATIONS
L’Horizon Resort & Spa - L’Horizon Resort & Spa formerly known as the Horizon Hotel, was originally built in 1952 and designed by famed architect William Cody. The property is the only hotel in the Coachella Valley that is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The hotel is set to break ground on an additional 25 rooms this fall, doubling their capacity, but retaining the property’s intimate feel. The grounds will also see the construction of a new pool, to welcome even more sun worshippers to this luxurious hideaway. www.lhorizonpalmsprings.com
Colony Palms Hotel - The Colony Palms Hotel, one of Palm Springs’ most historic properties, is currently undergoing a complete remodel of its spa. The renovation includes the addition of a couple’s suite, a new relaxation room, new locker rooms and a VIP treatment room. The VIP treatment room is an all-in-one treatment room for the guest who wants a series of treatments in one private room. Perfect for a celebrity or bride, this charming room boasts beautiful 1930's tiles to set the tone for a memorable and serene experience.www.colonypalmshotel.com
Riviera Palm Springs - The Riviera Palm Springs, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, is currently undergoing a complete renovation that will add a new pool bar, wedding pavilion and enhanced lobby. The hotel opened in 1959 and now features 398 rooms and more than 52,000 square feet of both indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. In 2008 the resort underwent a $70 million renovation. It features a fitness center, business center, three outdoor pools, and an 11,000 square foot spa with 18 treatment rooms. http://www.rivierapalmsprings.com
Movie Colony Hotel - Famous for its movie star past, this modernist hotel designed by Albert Frey is scheduled undergo a renovation starting in November 2016 and will be finished by the end of January 2017. The Movie Colony plans to keep the mid-century modern feel and tribute to the original architect. http://www.rivierapalmsprings.com
RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENTS – On the Horizon
Barbeau - Barbeau, a new chic upscale bar and lounge, will open in Palm Desert’s El Paseo Shopping District on New Year’s Eve 2016. Conceived by actor Beau Knapp, the venue will be a mix of Old Havana meets Young Hollywood. Knapp has teamed with NBA star Elton Brand and filmmaker Harry Knapp to open this new venue. The million dollar renovation is being done by local architect Chris McFadden and Chicago based designers Cary and David Thomas.
Draughtsman Restaurant - The Draughtsman, a gastropub, is slated to open in the late 2016 at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Stevens Road. Part of Arrive Hotel complex, the 144-seat restaurant and bar will have roll up garage doors leading to an outdoor patio opening the space for an easy indoor-outdoor flow.
Fox and Fiddle - Fox and Fiddle, a signature Canadian establishment focused on mixing the social experience of a British style pub with upscale cuisine, will open its first California location at the River in Rancho Mirage in late 2016. The restaurant will offer bar favorites such as fried pickles and fried calamari, as well as a full restaurant menu including signature Canadian dishes such as poutines. www.foxandfiddlecalifornia.com
Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar - The Seattle based restaurant is opening its newest location in Rancho Mirage in late 2016. They will be offering a wide selection of fresh Seafood, Steak, Prime Rib, Chicken, Burgers, Ribs, Dinner Specials and a great Happy Hour. www.thefishermansrestaurant.com
Acqua California Bistro - Acqua California Bistro at The River, a restaurant created by the owner of Lulu’s Restaurant in Palm Springs, will open in Rancho Mirage this winter 2016. Acqua California Bistro will be located in the space once occupied by the Kellers’ first restaurant, Acqua Pazza, and most recently by B.B.’s at The River.
Whiskey One 11 - Whiskey One Eleven is slated to open in the winter 2016. The new neighborhood bar in Palm Desert will serve craft whiskey, brew and food in the largest indoor music venue in the Coachella Valley.
Truss & Twine - Truss & Twine is a new restaurant by the Workshop Kitchen owner, Michael Beckman, and planned for a Palm Canyon Drive shop space in the historic El Paseo Building in the Uptown Design District. Truss & Twine, which has an anticipated opening date of early 2017 and will also serve “small plates,” with a focus on the foods from this region.
Graftons Steakhouse - Graftons Steakhouse is a new state of the art $6M Steakhouse that will be opening early 2017 on El Paseo in Palm Desert, CA. The newly constructed two story 9,000 square foot steakhouse & lounge features two large bars, spiral staircase, glass elevator, and roof deck.
Grand Central Palm Springs - Located in the site of Palm Springs’ original department store, Desmond’s, which opened in 1936, Grand Central Palm Springs will offer Contemporary American cuisine. Grand Central will be open in 2017. www.grandcentralpalmsprings.com
Sandfish Whiskey and Sushi Bar - Part of the Arrive Hotel complex, Sandfish Whiskey and Sushi Bar is will be a 49-seat upscale sushi and whiskey lounge. It will be located across from the Arrive and is set to open in 2017.
THINGS TO DO
New Outdoor Ice Skating Rink at The River
Come November, ice skating will be available daily under the desert’s bright skies in Greater Palm Springs. Every evening local entertainment, including bands and DJ’s, is scheduled to provide holiday music to accompany most skating sessions. The Rink at The River in Rancho Mirage will debut on November 22, 2016 and will be open through January 8, 2017, with a grand Holiday Spectacular and tree lighting ceremony taking place on November 29, 2016. www.theriveratranchomirage.com
BMW Performance Driving School
Located on 30 acres, the BMW Performance Driving School at the Thermal Club features an exclusive paddock, track area and 1.6-mile road course. Get behind the wheel of a performance BMW, host a Corporate Event or enjoy a BMW Track Drive. A new permanent building is scheduled for completion Fall 2016. Construction for additional features, including a spa and kid’s center will begin in 2017. www.bmwusa.com/performancecenter.com
The Living Desert: The Year of the Cheetah
Fall 2016 through 2017, The Living Desert will help raise awareness of the Cheetah to help save the animal from extinction. The Year of the Cheetah will bring cheetah themed events throughout the year including live entertainment, keeper chats, food and beverage specials, animal encounters, face painting, arts and crafts and more. The Living Desert provides a one-stop opportunity to explore all the great American deserts and learn about their plants and animals, in a setting that is fun and educational for the whole family. www.livingdesert.org
New “Nightwatch” Star-Gazing Jeep Tour
Witness the breathtaking transition from day to night in the desert on the incomparable San Andreas Fault “Nightwatch” Star-Gazing Jeep Tour with a stargazing expert. The exciting four-wheel-drive adventure adds star-gazing to our popular San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour. Desert sunsets are magical, so be sure to bring your camera. www.red-jeep.com
Brandini Toffee Tour
What began in 2006 as a way to earn money for a student trip to Italy has grown into an international business. Brandini Toffee is a local and international favorite. This summer, Brandini Toffee opened a new toffee shop and an 11,000 square foot factory in Rancho Mirage. Toffee shakes, almond toffee gift tins or chocolate almond toffee popcorn are available for purchase, and visitors can now take a seat and watch how the sweet treats are made. Group tours of the factory are now available. www.brandinitoffee.com
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