Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate Agent, Kris Rain, recently attended the first-annual Agnes Pelton Birthday Tea–on August 22, 2011–was hosted by Peter Palladino and Simeon Den, the new owners of Pelton’s former home in Cathedral City. Though Pelton died in 1961, her presence at the gathering was as strong as if she had just gone out for ice cubes.

The event marks a hometown revival for the artist. For years the city paid little notice that one of the West’s most visionary artists spent her working days here. Recently there’s a growing awareness that Pelton is as important to Cathedral City as Georgia O’Keeffe to Abiquiu.

A transcendental artist who also painted classic desert landscapes, Pelton has often been compared to O’Keeffe—though some critics say she is better than the New Mexico master. For more on Pelton, see: http://www.californiadesertart.com/?p=226

The revival started with an accidental purchase. Photographers Peter Palladino and Simeon Den were looking for a second home in Cathedral City last year (they live part-time in the downtown LA arts district) when they found the duplex at 68-680 “F” street. The home was originally on “E” street before the entrance was switched to the rear of the home.

It wasn’t until after they’d cemented the deal that real estate agent Kris Rain told them they’d just purchased the former home of a great artist. Rain, too, had been unaware it was Pelton’s home when she sold the house. That’s how far Pelton had fallen out of local consciousness.

When Pelton completed her house in 1939, Cathedral City was a tiny outpost. The artist bummed rides from her neighbors (she didn’t drive) and was involved in small town life. She lived in the house for 20 years, incorporating the views of Mt. San Jacinto and stars over the mountains into her most famous works.

Among the guests at the birthday tea was Kris Rain, the real estate agent who sold the house, and her companion, the artist Snake Jagger. Pelton scholar Nancy Strow Sheley drove all the way from Long Beach. Cathedral City resident Michael Petit tentatively showed around his new desert landscape painting. Artist Nancy O’Donnell took guests–such as fellow artist Joné Dupré– to see her work in her apartment next door. (The Pelton house was turned into a duplex at some point; and Nancy rents part of it). To read full post, go to Calfornia Desert Art http://www.californiadesertart.com/?p=1018

I didn’t realize it, but there are people out there that think Palm Springs is filled with just old people.  One potential new client said she heard that Palm Springs was “God’s waiting room!”  That shocked me a little because I never thought of it like that at all-  so I did a little research from the City of Palm Springs website.  I also found out some other interesting little tidbits for you to bring up at your next cocktail party:

The meidan age in Palm Springs is 46.9 years old.  Approximately 75% of our population is under 65. 

The permanent population of Palm Springs is 47,601 (Who’s the “1″ person??) 

The Seasonal Population adds another 35,000 people to the town.

Annual Hotel Guests staying in Palm Springs:  Approximately 1,000,000!  Between 2.5 and 3 million tourists visit the Coachella Valley annually;  approximately one third of these tourists stay in hotels in Palm Springs.

The cost of living in Palm Springs is approximately 11% below the overall costs of living in the Los Angeles region.

 Cost of Housing is roughly 40% less then the surrounding counties of Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego. 

WHAT ABOUT SUMMER?  Unlike in earlier years when not much business was done during the summer in the desert, the city of Palm Springs has become a full-year economy.  Essentially all businesses remain open during the summer months to share in the phenomenal economic growth the regions offers.  Summer taxable sales attribute to 21% of the yearly retail sales-  thus not too much affect from the summer months.

For more info, visit the City of Palm Springs website by clicking here.

God’s waiting room?  No-  I don’t think so! (Although we do certainly love our senior citizens that live in our community!)

Tickets are now available for the PS Modern Heritage Fund’s

FALL HOME TOUR

Saturday, October 29th
Registration 9:30am – 10:45am
$125 per person

Its election time again!  And the Palm Springs Heritage Fund is sponsoring the 2011 tour of fabulous Palm Springs area architectural homes, with the goal helping raise funds in support of Palm Springs candidates who, if elected, make decisions on the preservation of our architectural heritage. This November there are two Palm Springs council seats and the Mayor’s job to be filled.

This event is a political fund raiser, featuring an all-day, self-driving tour of modern and mid-century homes and a cocktail reception for your final stop.   Should be a great day-  even though the list isn’t provided yet…. however Palm Springs has more cool architectural real estate in its little pinky then most places have in their entire city!

Lautner? Frey? Neutra? Krisel? Wexler? Porter Clark? Cody?  Worth the risk I think!

Click here for more info on the tour and to purchase your tickets.  Hope to see you there!

According to the visitor’s survey, attendance for the 2011 Modernism Week in Palm Springs was actually up 56% percent- up to 25,550 guests compared to the previous event’s attendance of 16,400.  This brought more than $7.5 million dollars into the valley for the week-long event.  76% of the visitors were not from the Coachella Valley- only 24% of the visitors were locals.  We already anticipating great things for the 2012 Modernism Week, which will be February 16-26; the upcoming event will be extended to a ten-day period, as it was this past year.  For more information, go to http://www.modernismweek.com/index.htm

Great video from the CBC. The Looney is at an all-time high, with many homes that formerly would have cost Canadian buyers two million Canadian Dollars are now available for one million Canadian or less! We’re experiencing it in our office, too, as Canadian snatch up fabulous properties! Watch the full video: Canadian Buyers in Palm Springs Land Grab

The Shields Date Farm has been an attraction in the valley since 1924, but for a real trip in the wayback machine, strap yourself in for a slide show titled “The Sex Life of the Date.” This may be the longest running show in Southern California, running almost continuously since the 1930′s. In addition to this show, you’ll find a great array of local produce, and the world famous date shake. You might have scrunched your face up at the first mention of dates, but please stop that. It’s not the dried up thing that your grandmother dragged out when she felt stopped up. These are wonderful treats, and especially so when crystallized and added to the magic shakes that Shield’s soda fountain has been making for 80 years. A new addition to the Shields Date Farm is their new Cafe with a great menu! They are located at: 80-225 U.S. Highway 111, Indio, CA 92201, (760) 347-0996, and their website is: http://www.shieldsdategarden.com

When in Palm Springs, head to Toucan’s on Sunday nights.  Named, “The #1 Gay Bar in the Valley,” it still attracts a very fun mixed crowd, gay, straight, curious, whatever! Its a very comfortable neighborhood type bar.

Sunday nights are known for their “Drag Show.”  If you love Tiki and cocktails, then you’ll enjoy this kitschy Polynesian themed night club. 

The Play Girls

The Paul Kaplan Group focuses on Mid-Century Real Estate in Palm Springs, which is famous for the “Alexander Homes.”  Homes built by the Alexander Construction Company, have often been referred to as the Eichler version of mid-century homes in Palm Springs.  However, Joseph Eichler never built homes in the desert.  Now’s your chance to view some of his mid-century homes, located in Balboa Highlands, in Granada Hills.  I plan on being there with other team members of The Paul Kaplan Group.

Tour of six Eichler homes

What: Tour six Eichler homes in the historic Balboa Highlands tract in Granada Hills.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2011.
Tickets: $45. Specific locations will be provided to ticketholders only.
Information: 626-793-3334, Ext. 52.

Read more: http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_18014681#ixzz1MF41L6QM

Eichler Home, Balboa Highlands, Granada Hills

If you’re interested in purchasing your own Mid-Century home, please contact The Paul Kaplan Group at 760-285-8559.

Swimming pools in Palm Springs are a fact of every day life here in the desert. Lately, more and more homeowners are converting over or installing “Salt-water” pools. Below is an article that describes “saltwater pools” as well as other “green” ideas for your own swimming pool:

SmartMoney Magazine by Joan R. Magee (Author Archive)

Green Pools Make a Splash

Read more: Green Pools Make a Splash – Spending – For the Home – SmartMoney.com http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/for-the-home/green-pools-make-a-splash/#ixzz0u4lvVyzV