Desert Oasis

Can I tell you...about my weekend in Palm Springs. I was recently in LA this past May to receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Asian Enterprise magazine. It's the only national competition-based awards that honors exemplary entrepreneurs, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies that have made an impact on the Asian Pacific American community. I was awarded the Overall Winner and what an incredible evening it was. I was surrounded by so many achievers; people who've made a difference in the Asian American community. It was humbling and inspiring at the same time.

I stayed at Kelly's first hotel Maison 140, walking distance from Barneys, Saks, Neimans, and all the other major European stores in Beverly Hills. Instead of going shopping that weekend which is what I am prone to do, I decided to go against my nature and join some friends who were headed to Palm Springs for the long weekend. We left late at night to avoid the weekend traffic jam. Just like New York on Fridays, there's a made scramble to get away from it all.Luckily my friends Cedric and Simon just bought a house there so not only did I have a free place to stay, I was guaranteed to have fun as well. I've always wanted to go ever since I bought Kelly Wearstler's Modern Glamour book that features her work at The Viceroy and then most recently The Parker redo by Jonathan Adler.
There is a plethora of amazing architecture from the 50's and 60's as well as an endless list of stores selling vintage home furnishings and accessories. I bought some 60's Italian ceramic animals (very J.Adler) in Rimini blue from Bitossi, a yellow plastic diner set designed by Massimo Vignelli and op art print lithograph from Vasarelli. I booked an 'architecture tour' with Robert Imbler, the town's expert for all things architecture and insider's gossip. We saw some homes designed by Richard Neutra, Alexander and Albert Frey. Unfortunately, we only saw the facades. Entry to some of these homes only happen at certain times of year and you have to buy tickets. If you think that wasn't enough, I also rang up my friends Trina Turk (fashion designer) and Jonathan Skow (fashion photographer) to see if I could see their famous "Ship of the desert" house. What a fabulous house it turned out to be. Built in 1936 in Art Deco style, it resembles an ocean liner with port hole windows and deck like balconies. Even the guest rooms are like cabins in a cruise ship. It is the only house in Palm Springs that looks like this. It was almost burned down a few years ago. Jonathan and Trina have restored it beautifully. Their kidney shaped pool has an unobstructed view of the desert and Barry Manilow's house. Rumor has it, he flies home every night after his show in Las Vegas. We ended the evening grabbing some enchiladas and margaritas at their favorite Mexican restaurant El Mirasol. I might come back for Modernism Week when some of the famous homes open their doors to a select crowd. I know that some of the interiors are really stunning. Wouldn't that be inspiring?