Palm Desert is always in the vanguard artistically and architecturally here in the Coachella Valley. It was the first to commission signs—themed using giant slabs of flagstone—announcing various entry points of the city. The other cities quickly followed suite and the Valley is now replete with distinctive artwork demarcating each town's boundaries. The city's homage to art is quickly apparent, with eye-catching sculpture adorning El Paseo and the major boulevards. Last week I highlighted some of the revolving artwork now gracing the sidewalks and meridians of the desert's Rodeo Drive.   The city recently unveiled its new Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, wonderfully ensconced on a huge lot at the corner of Hwy 111 and Monterey, across from the Westfield Shopping Center. The forme... 11/13/2009

Up at 5, on the trail at 6 a.m.! Kirk marvels at my new-found ability to rise and shine. Well, the first part anyway. This marks my third hike within four days. How on earth did I morph into this avid hiker? This morning the Energizer Bunny, aka Sue Cook—a fellow Windermere agent—and I tackle a 3-hour portion of the Art Smith Trail in the foothills of south Palm Desert. The trailhead commences across from the Santa Rosa Mountains' Visitor's Center and right before Hwy 74—the Palms to Pines route—commences its serpentine rise over the mountain pass. This trail is closed to hikers during the spring lambing season of the beseiged band of local bighorns and I've always wanted to try it. The strenuous trail is 16 miles long and serves as the major link between the Palm Desert portion of the ... 11/06/2009

El Paseo in Palm Desert, the desert's version of Rodeo Drive, features an ever-changing array of outdoor artwork. After this morning's early-morning hike along the Hopalong Cassidy Trail above Palm Desert, Marianne and I sipped coffee on the beautiful boulevard and then window-shopped the boutiques and galleries. I snapped the following sculptures along the way. Tonight also happens to be El Paseo Art Walk, an in-season, Open House of the street's plentiful art galleries held the first Thursday of each month.  From 5 to 9 p.m. all the galleries—and many of the boutiques—remain open, serving up wine, hors d'oeuvres and even music. Art, wine-in-hand, balmy weather—what more could you ask for?     11/05/2009

Sunday, October 25th, 2009 on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert is an event you will enjoy.  Sit back and watch the many golf cart floats parade down El Paseo at 1 o'clock  Enjoy food, drinks and listen to the local school bands marching down the road.  Every year i am amazed at the design, creativity and structure of these floats.  This years theme "Playground of the Stars" is sure to be a winner. 10/12/2009

Palm Desert Charter Middle School stands out in the crowd!  Recently awarded the Intel Schools Of Distinction Award for its outstanding Science Department.  PDCMS was chosen out of 700 other middle schools for this award and was given $200,000 in monetary and technological awards this past week in Washington DC.  I think the school and those kids deserve a high five!  Being number 1 in the nation is quite impressive!  Congrats pdcms! wE ALWAYS POINT OUT THE NEGATIVE, THE MISTAKES AND THE BAD CHOICES KIDS MAKE, i THINK THIS NEWS IS WORTH SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS! 09/21/2009

Ironwood Country Club, located in Palm Desert, CA is the ideal resort for an avid golfer or fitness enthusiast.  Nestled in the Santa Rosa Mountain, Ironwood Country Club is the place to experience the country club, golf every day lifestyle, in beautiful Palm Desert .  With its incredible sports amenities, this club is spectacular in choice and quality. The 50,000 sq. ft. clubhouse and also the 10,000 sq. ft. sports center offer large spaces for its members to enjoy facilities.  Ironwood also offers 14 tennis courts for its patrons.  Ironwood Country Club is ideal for someone who enjoys golf, tennis, or fitness in a luxurious, serene, relaxing setting. Ironwood Country Club features 2 golf courses for the golf lover.  The South Course is geared towards the golfer looking to show off his... 05/30/2009

The Indian Ridge Country Clubis a great place to visit, but an even better place to live. If you're looking for the best in championship golf, including two Arnold Palmer designed courses, along with the serene beauty of the Palm Desert area surrounding your home, this can be a great place to call home. Owning a piece of the Indian Ridge Country Club means playing, entertaining, and spending time with those closest to you in a setting that provides the ultimate in luxury, relaxation, and pampering for all of your discerning tastes. No other community has such pristine beauty surrounding such a beautiful community. With gorgeous, luxurious homes, your every need is catered to in these exquisite homes. The Palm Desert area is in the Coachella valley and among the mountain ranges that surr... 05/18/2009

You've probably read about how desired and sought after many of the country club communities are across the California coast. However, Venezia is one of the foremost gated communities, the community is based around a serene calm that permeates the desert air, making everyday troubles seem insignificant and even the big ones a lot less worrisome. Something about the crisp air and sun-dappled mountain ranges makes one want to worry less about everything. In this brief article, we'll go over some of the things Venezia Real Estate has to offer, and how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity to get involved in a great Palm Desert community. The only thing more breathtaking than the views are the homes, as each is uniquely designed and furnished, and each has a slightly different s... 11/30/2008

The fantastic homes of The Estates at Desert Springs may only be outmatched by the views they offer. There are so many benefits to living in this community that they may only be briefly summarized in this article. We'll go over some of the main attractions Desert Springs has to offer, as well as what potential future residents can expect to see while living there. The Estates at Desert Springs are a shining example of country club living in Palm Desert, California, and is the way it is meant to be done.There are all sorts of activities available for all age groups and interest groups. The main attractions for golfers are the two courses, which are professional level and occasionally used in pro-level championships. There are even some unique perks, such as graphical layouts of each hole... 11/26/2008

The Ironwood Country Club is one of the most prestigious communities in Palm Desert, California. It is a veritable haven for golfers, but also features a variety of other attractive features. In this brief article, we'll take a look at what makes the Ironwood Country Club so famous and what potential future residents could expect to see while living there. As far as sports, fitness, and social atmosphere is concerned, the place is a paradise, and luxurious living has never been done in such a friendly environment. There are two golf courses at the Ironwood Country Club. The first, the North Course, qualifies annually for the U.S. Open, but is open at all other times of the year to Ironwood residents. This course is professional level, and the full eighteen holes can at times be punishin... 11/21/2008

The Desert Sun reported today: "Coachella Valley home sales during the third quarter of 2008 jumped 51.5 percent compared to 2007, driven predominately by buyers nabbing foreclosures and other distressed properties that have been sharply discounted." Bargains for buyers:  Although sales are up, averge prices are down.  This is partly a result of banks wanting to unload the numerous foreclosures currently on the market.  Those that don't have to sell, are holding off. However, motivated sellers are having to meet or beat the foreclosure pricing in order to be competitive. Over half of all homes sold recently were foreclosures. The end result, is that the median pricing for homes, has come down more then $150,000 in the Palm Springs area. The Desert Sun also reports: "[Sales are] up from ... 11/20/2008

Golf lovers rejoice! There is the perfect place in Palm Desert for you to take a look at: Bighorn Golf Club. There are fantastic views, lovely homes, and two huge courses that boast full clubhouses and amenities. Whether you're a golfer or not, the neighborhood is beautifully designed and has much to offer any kind of lifestyle. In this brief article we'll take a look at what the courses have to offer, as well as the other ways this neighborhood is sure to impress. The two golf courses are championship level, eighteen hole, full length courses. The Mountains course was designed by Arthur Hills, while the Canyon course was done by Tom Fazio. Both of these courses have long-standing reputations, and many have appeared in tournaments on television. The clubhouse is frequented by profession... 11/20/2008

The city of Palm Desert looks, sounds, and feels like a paradise. There is sunshine year round and the people living here are friendly. The scenery is the most breathtaking around with a nice selection of diversions to keep you feeling in awe of the landscape.  This desert resort is located in the center of the Coachella Valley which is the heart of Southern California. It is perfect for those who seek to live amongst pleasure and be active or as relaxed as their personality will accommodate. While the snows rage in the winter months in some areas of the country, Palm Desert has a wonderful daytime temperature of a comfortable 70 - 80 degrees. This oasis in the desert is surrounded by three snow capped mountain ranges keeping it safe from the pollution of the coast and the cold weather ... 10/17/2008

First known as the Old MacDonald Ranch, the city of Palm Desert is now one of the driving forces in the Palm Springs real estate market. Located in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert had grown to become one of the major shopping destinations in the Palm Springs area. Palm Desert's El Paseo Drive is considered the desert's equivalent of Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive. A teeming business center, Palm Desert's growing community has reached a population of around 40,000 year round residents, although the winter months see another 30,000 winter residents as Snowbirds leave their wintry homes to enjoy the warmth of the California sunshine. Home to the Cahuilla Indians, the first residential community was established in 1943. Desert Palm was also a training ground for the army before World War II. ... 09/29/2008

On Saturday September 14th many supporters turned out for the Rally for the cure in Palm Desert at the Classic Club. Founded in 1996, it is a great humanitarian program dedicated in spreading the awareness of breast cancer. This is a grassroots program established with the partnership of Condé Nast Publications and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This program is a platform for the people to fight against breast cancer and also to find out ways and means to eradicate it. It also supports fund raising programs for the Rally for the cure. It has been successful from the time of inception in 1996. During the first year, the Rally for the cure got registration of 356 clubs and the awareness program got 16,278 participants. After a decade of successful campaigns and awesome works among the needy... 09/14/2008

Established for over 21 years, the Palm Valley Country Club has built a solid reputation of excellence, perfection, and individuality. Offering premium features and many amenities, their background for delivering quality performance is strengthened daily, rivaled only by their determination to provide an exclusive club that out shines the rest and the best. Both courses, the Challenge course and the Championship course, features rolling emerald fairways framed with the stark beauty of the desert with its sun cast hues. Water features add a jeweled elegance in the almost surreal setting. With multi level greens and challenges along the way, either course promises to deliver a satisfying time for the golf enthusiast in you. After playing the 63 holes on the Challenge course, or the 72 ho... 07/06/2008

www.bestdesertforeclosures.blogspot.com   06/10/2008

The Palm Desert Historical Society Museum has brought their creative genius into play, making available a truly magnificent venture guaranteed to tempt young minds to indulge in learning about their culture rich history, as well as capture the hearts and attention of everyone with a finished product worthy of display in any home or office. Investing their talent and attention, Lynn Englar, Mark Lunn, and Terry Cardinal have created a spectacular tool geared toward educating people about the desert and the community surrounding it that comprises their life story, both past and present. Terry Cardinal, the Director of Membership Development (Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce) in 1977, determined the need for passing on the wealth of knowledge gained from the pas, to the future generations ... 06/01/2008

LAST ART WALK ON EL PASEO FOR THE SEASONThursday, May 1st is when the galleries on El Paseo open their doors until 9pm for the last time before the season officially ends. They will stay open all summer long and work with our out of town clients, but this will be your last chance until October to mix and mingle in the galleries on El Paseo. THE HART GALLERY ON TV - GALLERY EXPANSIONTuesday, April 29th at 9pmOne of only two galleries featured in "Exploring the Arts" on PBS/KCET (Channel 218), with Gloria Greer -Tuesday April 29th at 9pm with repeats May 2nd and 3rdwww.hartgallery.net/TVEl Paseo Art WalkPalm Desert / 346-8885On the first Thursday of each month, from October through May,  17  fine art galleries on El Paseo, feature unique collections of international art and sculpture. El ... 04/28/2008

The Desert Sun - Best of the Desert Best BagelsWINNER: BENNY'S BAGELS COFFEEHOUSETwo locations valleywide: 72-785 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 568-4990; 50-620 Eisenhower Drive, Suite 105, La Quinta, 777-9102Imaginative, always fresh bagels have made Benny's a valley favorite for years.FinalistsCosi, 46-660 Washington St., La Quinta, 771-5747New York Bagel & Deli, 73-845 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 340-9930 Best Brunch WINNER: LAS CASUELAS NUEVAS70-050 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, 328-8844The Mexican standards are reliable, the prices are affordable and the atmosphere is relaxed, which add up to three good reasons why Las Casuelas Nuevas is such a bustling place and why there seems to be a party going on in every corner.FinalistsLakeview at Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort and Spa, 74-855 Co... 04/27/2008