Modernism Week 2016

 

Eichler home: poolside detail

 

We bought tickets for this year’s Modernism Week as soon as we decided to retire. We don’t go every year; but when we do, we always have a great time. Fascinating architectural tours, fabulous fashion, and sunny Palm Springs weather—what’s not to love?

A ten-day-long celebration of everything mid-20^th-century, Modernism Week has become quite the popular annual event, with enthusiasts flying in from all over the country. Most tickets have to be purchased well in advance and hotels booked months ago. We made our reservations in October.

Although we’ve attended many different tours and lectures over the years, no two years are ever alike. This time we went on four architectural tours, Saturday and Sunday, and danced the night away on Friday. No wonder we’re so tired today! (Click on images below to enlarge.)

 

Our first event of the weekend: a tiki cocktail party

fundraiser, hosted by our favorite artist Shag. Tim

drinking something tropical.

 

A live band, the Martini Kings, provided hip retro

dance music. (Album cover designed by Shag.)

 

Breakfast the next morning at Sherman's deli, one of

the most famous restaurants in Palm Springs

 

The 8 o'clock rule: if you want to be seated right away

for breakfast, you've got to get there by 8AM. Totally

worth it!

 

And the desserts are outrageous, too

 

The first tour of the weekend: Sunmor Estates, so-called

because in the winter the neighborhood, located east of 

downtown P.S., gets an hour more sunshine. The 1600-

square-foot homes were built in the 1950s/60s on a former

WWII airbase. Today, many of them are vacation rentals.

(Interior: living room.)

 

Fabulous vintage mirror

 

Wall art: retro design

 

Poolside—turquoise, chartreuse and orange were all the rage

this year.

 

Backyard kitsch—I want one!

 

Second tour: new homes built from old Eichler

blueprints. Highly controversial, but, boy, would 

we love to own one! Does anyone have a spare

million dollars to loan us?

 

Vintage cars added to the fun. Cherry 1960 Ford Falcon 

wagon (like my very first car) in front of an Eichler reboot.

 

Cool Mad Men exhibit at Modernism Week HQ 

 

Props and costumes from the TV show

 

The highlight of the weekend: Merito Manor tour. A

small complex (10 units) of downtown apartments,

recently renovated as condos—absolutely fabulous!

 

Many of the units are vacation rentals

 

Exterior: distinctive folded roof-line

 

Original space-age (1961) front doorknob—love it!

 

Yet another turquoise interior

 

Although most are now gone, each Merito unit was built

with its own stone-covered wet bar. This one remains in 

tact. Glorious!

 

No trip to P.S. is complete without stopping

by Shag's gallery 

 

Nat Reed now has a gallery, too. After 

years of dithering, I finally bought this

amazing rendition of Disneyland's 

Monsanto House of the Future.

 

A long-forgotten hotel, designed by mid-century

architect John Lautner, was recently rediscovered and

lovingly renovated in Dessert Hot Springs, Palm

Springs' far less affluent neighbor community. Each
one-room unit includes a kitchenette and stylish

bathroom.

 

Exterior design

 

As soon as we pulled into town, we stopped at Lulu, one

of our favorite P.S. eateries, and made dinner

reservations for Sunday night, Valentine's. And lucky, too,

because the joint was packed last night!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!