Architecture & Art, Dates and Margaritas

Friday morning: our scheduled "MidMod Architectural Tour" - an architectural/design tour to 1950ies places and architecture, for which Palm Springs (and the area) is famous for - unfortunately was cancelled, so we were on our own and made the best of it: Explored Palm Springs first, the Art Museum - great, not overwhelming modern art collection! - and the interesting Architecture & Design Center, checked out a couple of 1950ies buildings afterwards, and the boutiquey Rowan Hotel - symbolic for the changes currently taking place in the area. We looked at the construction site of the new Agua Caliente Cultural Center (the local Indian tribe's new museum), for which we have to come back once it's open.

Pics of Downtown Palm Springs:


Peter's new pick-up and a funny dog:

And, the PS Art Museum:

In the afternoon we drove out to Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage. We didn't really know what to expect there and were surprised by the cultural and historical significance and the beauty of this place. The historic mid-century modern estate was the winter residence of Walter and Leonore Annenberg, completed in 1966 and considered a master piece of midcentury modern architecture. The Annenbergs entertained presidents, royalty, celebrities, and international leaders there. Several presidents enjoyed the natural beauty of the landscape and the gardens. Also, the Annenbergs were art collectors, philanthropists and very generous people. Need to do more research about them. The modern center and gardens are open for free to the public and explain about the family, their private mansion and the importance of the place.

Shield Date Gardens - our next stop, in Indio. Founded in 1924, the company became famous for its dates, some of them just available in the company store. Though we couldn't walk into the date grove, we at least could watch the film and sample many of their dates and date produce. Didn'T know anything about different varieties, like Deglet Noor, Medjool, Barhi date and proprietary varieties which they call the blonde and the brunette date.

Greater Palm Springs showed to be ideal for dates early. The crops were imported from the Middle East and North Africa in the late 1800s and the climate showed similar to those desert countries where date trees flourish. At the turn of the 20th century, the Greater Palm Springs was a Garden of Eden, and in the next decades date gardens were planted throughout the valley, of which a few are still left.

After a beer (and a chat with some locals) at Babe's Brewhouse, we had a great dinner (and Margaritas) at Acqua in Rancho Mirage - open-air, of course! - and called it a day afterwards.