Desert Cool
The Palm Springs revival is still in full swing, making it the perfect modern getaway.
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STAY
Fresh from a $15 million dollar makeover, the once-dated Hyatt Regency now features desert must-haves like fire pits and cabanas. Updated rooms (all-suites) are still among the biggest in town, and guests over 62 can book for up to 50% off. From $135
:: palmsprings.hyatt.com
Midweek is the best time to hole-up in the exclusive Parker Palm Springs. Current weekday deals start at $199 with $200 in spa credit, leaving you ahead by $1.
:: theparkerpalmsprings.com
For a bit of fresh air, try urban camping in a patio room at Ace Hotel & Swim Club, where canvas walls open to private garden lounges. From $189
:: acehotel.com/palmsprings
SHOP
North Palm Canyon Avenue is now so packed with trendy home shops it has earned its own neighborhood designation – the Uptown Design District. Look for vintage patio furniture at DIGS, handcrafted imports at Insolito Home, colorful prints at Trina Turk Residential, and a thorough selection of mid-century consignments at Modern Way. For an equally heavy dose of fashion, head across town to The Shops on El Paseo in Palm Desert, where you’ll find a stretch of upscale boutiques from St. John to Vilebrequin to Gucci and Burberry.
EAT
While perusing downtown’s design shops, try Cheeky’s, the trendiest breakfast and lunch spot in town. Although squarely in the seasonal-local-organic camp, it is far from granola. For an afternoon pick-me-up, step inside The Corridor, an eclectic shopping courtyard where you can sample gourmet confections at Café Chocolat and cappuccinos and homemade snacks at Koffi. Come dinner time, nearby Trio serves modern comfort food, from country paté to crawfish pot pie and five-cheese macaroni.
PLAY
Fast becoming one of the most popular performance events in the west, Indio’s annual Coachella music festival (April 15-17) has a 2011 lineup of 180 bands, including Kanye West, The Strokes, Interpol, The Chemical Brothers, and a blast-from-the-past, Duran Duran.
The 25th anniversary edition of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies runs through May 15. This musical tribute to the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s features a cast of Broadway, Hollywood and Las Vegas veterans – from 56 to 81 years old – and guest stars The Four Preps, whose homage to Catalina, “26 Miles,” topped the charts in 1958.
