Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog

Courtesy of the Palm Springs Life

The resurgence of North Palm Springs is showing no signs of slowing down. To the opening of the Arrive hotel, the renovation of the Riviera, and the debut of innovative restaurants such as Draughtsman and Sandfish by Engin Onural, we can now add the planned condominium development 64@theRiv.

The builder behind the project is Palm Springs Modern Homes, which made its mark in 1997 with 12@Dunes Court off East Sunny Dunes Road and has since designed and developed more than 300 homes at communities that include 18@TwinPalms, 43@RacquetClub, 48@Arenas, and 45@TheVillas. For 64@theRiv, the company has joined forces with local architect Chris Sahlin, who designed 18@TwinPalms.

The new community will be located at the southeast corner of Indian Canyon Drive and East Via Escuela, adjacent to the Rivera Hotel, on a site that once housed the eponymous restaurant of former Palm Springs mayor Sonny Bono. Phase I of the project is expected to be completed by August, at which time prospective buyers will be able to tour model homes. Phase II has an estimated delivery of December, and the final phase should be finished in the summer of 2019.

“The exterior elevations showcase modern elements with a nod to midcentury designers featured throughout the community,” says realtor Neil Curry of Team NDC Homes. “Some of the eye-catching details will include clerestory windows; intricate, woven iron gates; and cantilevered shade structures and carport covers. The Riv Pool Club architecture was inspired by, and is an homage to, the Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Pavilion. It features a 50-foot lap pool and spa along with an outdoor fireplace inspired by designer Philippe Starck.”

The 64 homes in the gated community will feature two floor plans, the “1500” and the “1200”, so called for the approximate number of square feet in each. The 1500 encompasses two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms in 1,501 square feet, while the 1200 has two bedrooms and two baths in 1,226 square feet. Both plans will showcase living spaces with nine-foot ceilings and an open, social kitchen design.

The bedrooms in the 1200 series floor plan, which has 1,226 square feet, flank the living area. Low-level units will have three outdoor patios.

Interior features will include 24-inch-square porcelain flooring in the living areas, carpet in the bedrooms, and smart-home pre-wiring for speakers in the great room and master bedroom. Kitchens will feature quartz countertops, Whirlpool appliances, and Grohe fixtures, while bathrooms will have floating vanities, Grohe and Kohler fixtures, and frameless glass shower enclosures.

With 1,501 square feet, this plan has two en-suite bedrooms.

Kitchen features will include quartz countertops and backsplashes, Whirlpool appliances, Grohe fixtures, and under-cabinet lighting.

The open-plan living areas will have nine-foot ceilings and 24-inch-square porcelain tile.

“Another stand-out feature is that we are an eco-friendly development,” says Curry. “Each unit will include a 3kW solar system, tankless water heaters, LED dimmable lighting, and high-efficiency HVAC. There will also be community car-charging stations.” In addition to the pool and spa, outdoor amenities will include a greenbelt with walking and exercise paths and a dog park.

Every buyer will receive a 64@theRiv membership card entitling them to special services at the Riviera, such as discounted spa packages, meals, and room rates.

The homes will be priced from $395,000 to $475,000.

My team and I joined our friend Dean to celebrate his birthday at Lavender Bistro last week for dinner out on the gorgeous patio. It was the first time for several of the team members, so we were happy to introduce them to one of the Valley’s best restaurants, and clearly one of the most beautiful outdoor settings. In fact it’s been voted “Best Romantic Restaurant” and has been going strong for 11 years now.

Dean & Adam started out with the Wild Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil & Chives, while Beverly & Robert started with the Wedge Salad with Baby Organic Lettuce, Point Reyes Bleu Cheese Dressing, Red and Yellow Grape Tomatoes, Chives, Candied Walnuts, Applewood Smoked Bacon and Crispy Crab Fritters.

For our main courses, I had one of my favorites, the Miso Glazed Scottish Salmon with Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Micro Salad, Fried Seaweed, Mango Salsa and Lemon Caviar.

Beverly had the Grilled Bistro Prime Flat Iron Steak with a Roasted Peppercorn Seasoning, Cabernet Sauce and Truffle French Fries, while Robert and Ed went with the Grilled Center Cut Black Angus Steak with Fondant Potatoes, Haricot Verts, Caramelized Onion with Blue Cheese and Cabernet Sauce.

Adam enjoyed the Maine Lobster Raviolis with Organic Baby Tomatoes, Roasted Corn, Basil and Lobster Bisque, while Dean had the Petrale Sole with Jasmine Blend Rice, Sautéed Spinach, Baby Heirloom Carrots, Mashed Purple Carrots and Lemon Chive, Caper Beurre Blanc.

For dessert, we managed to control ourselves and shared a Lemon Tart and some nice Port.

Whether it’s just for Happy Hour or a formal dinner inside or out, Lavender doesn’t disappoint. Featuring several different musicians, there is entertainment nightly.

For hours, location and more information, click here…

Reflecting pickleball’s growing popularity, the 2018 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships step into the limelight at the Indian Well Tennis Garden.

Courtesy of THOMAS MEAGHER OCTOBER 25, 2018

“Interest is off the charts.”

That’s how Justin Maloof, executive director of the USA Pickleball Association, describes the build-up to his fast-growing sport’s 10th annual National Championships, which for the first time will take place in the valley, Nov. 3-11, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“We’ve got about 2,500 participants registered, which is a remarkable increase from the 1,300 we had last year,” Maloof explains.  “It’s our hope that this event will begin to move pickleball more into the national spotlight.”

The time is certainly right for that step up to centerstage: pickleball’s growth has been dramatic.  Originating in the 1960s, this ingenious mixture of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton currently boasts about 3.1 million players across the country. Even more indicative of pickleball’s wide-spreading popularity is the fact that the USAPA, the sport’s national governing body, has seen a staggering 620 percent increase in its membership since 2013.

VIDEO: Local playersKim Jagd, Morgan Evans, and Sherri Steinhauer share their start in the game.

But while the numbers are astounding, what fascinates Maloof more right now is the way championship week is going to feel for those involved: he can’t even begin to imagine the dream-come-true thrill players are going to experience as they take to the 45 converted courts at the Tennis Garden.

“We’ve never had an opportunity to play on a world-class venue of this caliber,” he says.

Yet while that’s the case for most of the contenders at the National Championships, who’ll be traveling from all over the country to Indian Wells, the Greater Palm Springs pickleballers already get to enjoy the splendid setting at Indian Wells.  Introduced at the facility just over a year ago by far-sighted IWTG Club Director Fred Hartzman, pickleball now occupies a handful of re-purposed courts every Wednesday evening, plus Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“We went from four players that first session,” says Hartzman, disbelievingly, “to about 140, in a couple of weeks. And now the Nationals! It’s just been amazing.”

On a recent Wednesday evening, Cheryl Bowling and Linda Philips were two of the local players on hand. Cheryl, who has been playing a year or so, described the sport as “very addictive.”

“It’s the most fun sport I’ve ever played,” she said. “And most of the country clubs in the Coachella Valley are really getting into it, so there are lots of opportunities to play.”

Phillips, who came to the sport with a tennis-playing background and has also been playing for about a year, described pickleball’s attraction this way: “It’s a little easier on your body, because there isn’t as much running around. And there’s an easier learning curve.”

Both Bowling and Philips, who usually participate in doubles and mixed-doubles matches, advised anyone interested in joining the local ranks to look for an introductory clinic or instruction session, which are available at such venues as the Palm Desert Community Center and Gymnasium, where indoor pickleball is scheduled three days a week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There were around 30 or so fellow players out on the courts with Bowling and Philips that night, and while the two women acknowledged that their own games aren’t yet ready for nationals-level competition, many others who were in attendance will participate.

The tournament will start early each morning featuring singles, doubles, and mixed-doubles matches, across many skill-graded categories and age-group brackets from teens to the over-80s.  Supplementing the on-court competition will be exhibitions and instruction. Best of all for spectators, entry to the IWTG grounds is free, and there will be a variety of dining and entertainment options. There will be a charge for parking  and a fee for attending matches on the main championship court.   

For news and details about the 2018 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships, visit usapickleballnationalchampionships.com.

We’re excited to welcome over 100 returning and new artists to our 2018-19 season of Art on Main Street.

Shows will feature contemporary paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, mixed media, sculpture, glass, textiles and more. Enjoy live music and great dining. Come for the art, stay for the day! Premier Sponsor, City of La Quinta.
Free admission & parking.

78100 Main Street
facebook.com/artonmainst
oldtownlaquinta.com

Courtesy of Old Town La Quinta