Palm Springs at Night

Shooting a city at night is one of my favorite things to do; everything looks different and often more magical. Palm Springs is not really known for its nightlife, but can still provide an interesting opportunity for wandering aimlessly with my camera. This little fountain outside of an apartment complex had me mesmerized. This particular sign for the Casa Cody hotel didn’t do much for me creatively…



But THIS neon sign definitely grabbed my attention!



More neon; I thought about checking this place out, but was feeling lazy. Isn’t that part of Palm Springs’ charm? Being lazy?



Lulu, a California Bistro. Go for the decor; leave because of the food. Not a Daveland favorite.



Not sure I quite captured what inspired me here, but I loved the way the shadow of the tree fell upon the stucco of this house.



Palm Springs shuts down early. Like I said…no night life, which is perfect for someone who likes to capture areas devoid of peeps.



Still closed…but the signs burn brightly!





See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.

Korakia Pensione

I have had my eye on the Korakia Pensione Bed & Breakfast in Palm Springs ever since a few friend recommended it to me. Finally, after two years of perusing their website, I booked a room.



Here is a photo of the Moroccan Villa in its original state when it belonged to artist Gordon Coutts and was known as Dar Morroc (“Dar” means “house” in Arabic):



From the Gordon Coutts website:

1918 found Gordon in Pasadena, California, where he met Gertrude Russell, a music teacher. They married and spent the next several years living and painting in Spain, where daughter Jeane was born, and then in Morocco. During this time, annual trips to Britain were made to exhibit Gordon's Orientalist landscapes and portraits at the Royal Academy and other galleries.…Gordon's bronchial troubles required attention, and in late 1925 the family moved to California. Discovering Palm Springs, and its healthful climate, they had a gallery/studio/home built there in the style of a North African villa they named 'Dar Morroc.'

The villa Dar Marroc was modeled on Moroccan residences that Coutts had seen when he lived abroad. He was a successful artist who hosted Rudolph Valentino, Errol Flynn, and Grant Wood (just to name-drop a few!) at his villa. It is rumored that Winston Churchill (also an artist) painted in the villa’s Artist Studio…which just happened to be the room that I rented. Here’s a photo of Coutts:



…and Coutts painting outside his beloved Villa:



In the 1930s, actor J. Carrol Naish owned a home near Del Marroc. It was eventually joined with the neighboring Gordon Coutts House to form the Korakia Pensione.



Enough history…let’s take a look at this stunning property today!



As soon as you walk through the stone arch you are transported away from the cares of your daily routine.



There are pools at both the Moroccan property and the Mediterranean complex:



Plenty of areas at both to relax and congregate, too. The fire pits are great for the cool desert evenings.





Me sitting outside my Artist Villa; I could get VERY used to this place.



The interior:



Imagine waking up to this view of the property with the San Jacinto mountains in the distance!



Crosley phonographs are in each room, playing 33 1/3 vinyl records.



Not surprisingly there was an easel and painting in progress inside the Artist Villa:



A fresh mug of coffee is silently put outside each room every morning. Little touches like this are so welcome, as the pandemic practically wiped out any kind of customer service that had previously been in existence.



Inside the Santorini room, which is part of the Mediterranean property, the bathroom includes a sunken tub AND shower:



I loved the branding which extends to the parking spaces:



HIGHLY recommended by Daveland, Korakia Pensione is the perfect place for relaxation or a romantic getaway.

See more Korakia Pensione photos at my main website.

The Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs

The historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs was designed by architect Harry Williams in 1936. The Spanish Colonial style building opened on December 12, 1936 with the premiere of “Camille,” with Greta Garbo (who supposedly slipped into the theatre after the lights went down) and Robert Taylor, who came with Barbara Stanwyck (they married a few years later). This venue featured “live” performances by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy radio program was broadcast from the Plaza. Today, it is in a state of sad disrepair, but with the promise of restoration on the horizon.



Just a few days ago, the theatre received the welcome news of a $5 million contribution. “When I heard about that donation I almost hit the floor,” said J.R. Roberts, former Palm Springs city council member. “I couldn’t believe it, but I’m a softie for charity, so I had no trouble accepting it.” Roberts is the head of “Help Save The Plaza Theatre,” the group that’s working to return the venue to its former glory. Shortly after leaving the council in 2019, Roberts set up the non-profit Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, which would raise the money to pay for the restoration.



Plaza Theatre is owned by the city, and city officials agreed to let city staff help with the project. The city has worked with Gensler, an international architectural firm based in Los Angeles, and Chattel Inc. an historic preservation consulting firm in Sherman Oaks. Both firms developed a tentative restoration plan, one meant to be a jumping-off point for the project, not a final blueprint. “The city council wanted to know what it was dealing with when we got started,” said Roberts, who said Gensler and Chattel are no longer involved in the project. “It’s a common practice with something like this.” 670 new seats will be installed, along with major infrastructure repairs, installation of new theatrical equipment and improvements to the building’s structural design. The latter will ensure the building (shuttered since 2014) meets fire prevention and American Disabilities Act requirements. Previously it had 800 seats. One Debbie-Downer commented:

I still want an answer...WHERE will everyone park.six hundred plus seats...based on 2 people per car...a minimum of 300 parking spots must be available...that is CREATED since they do not currently exist.



All kidding aside, it’s a fair question to ask, as the downtown area is not the easiest to navigate for visitors.



As you can see, all those photos I recently took are of the outside. I have yet to step inside the currently shuttered facility.



Naturally, I would love to photograph it, even (or should I say especially) in its current state of decay.



Anyone have connections?



If all goes as planned, fundraising for the restoration will be finished by the end of this year, and the work will be completed in late 2023 or early 2024, according to Roberts.

See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.

The Return of (Forever) Marilyn

On a trip to Palm Springs in 2012, I was able to see the temporary outdoor installation of Forever Marilyn, by Seward Johnson. The 26' tall statue was based on a famous photo by Bernard of Hollywood taken when Marilyn was filming “The Seven Year Itch”:



The statue was taken down in 2014, and immediately the cry to have it return began. Sadly, this did not happen before Johnson’s passing in March 2020. According to the Forever Marilyn webpage:

She was officially welcomed back on June 20, 2021 at a special ceremony drawing hundreds of supporters and fans – and will now, at last, be a permanent feature of the Palm Springs landscape.





Yup…there’s a backside, too. This just doesn’t seem right. I would think that Johnson could have come up with a more tasteful rear view.



Ever wanted to see Marilyn’s feet up close? Looks like she already needs a pedicure.







I love how the sunshine illuminates her face; I was too lazy to wait until the Palm frond shadows completely disappeared.



And how Marilyn looks first thing in the morning; not bad!



Nearby on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, Marilyn has her own block:



The new location is definitely more dramatic. Perched on Museum Way in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum, the walk leading up to Marilyn is lined by Palm trees. Every time that I walked by Marilyn was drawing a crowd of tourists attempting to get a selfie with the icon.

See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.

What A Difference A Year Makes: The Colony Palms Hotel

Over a year ago, I jogged by The Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs one early morning and it reminded me of the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. Making a mental note, I figured I’d give it a shot on my next trip, which turned out to be over New Year’s Eve. I loved the look and the feel of the place, but the service was somewhat lacking. One year later, I gave it another shot and was very pleased to find that it had greatly improved. Not only that, but the food at its restaurant, The Purple Palm, was also much better.



For my staff’s annual retreat (which they deserve for working at substandard University pay!), we went to Palm Springs (which the University did not pay for, before anyone starts getting their feathers ruffled) and had our luncheon at the Purple Palms. The atmosphere, service, and food were impeccable. A great time was had by all. By the time the molten lava cake dessert came out, everyone was wishing they had booked rooms to take a nap!







The rooms are extremely comfortable, perfectly appointed, and I especially like the toiletry products that they carry now. A vast improvement over what they carried a year ago.





See more Colony Palms photos at website.