Mark Your Calendars! Modernism Week — October in Palm Springs Is Around the Corner
If you love contemporary furnishings and the whole midcentury vibe, grab your tickets to Modernism Week — October, running Oct. 24-27. This four-day “mini-Modernism Week” features more than 50 events, and we’ve rounded up some fan favorites as well as some new and exciting things to experience! Enjoy fabulous home tours, cocktail events and a preview party that will give you the opportunity to shop before the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show show opens to the public. Buy tickets early, as many events sell out quickly!
House of Tomorrow Home Tour
Although it’s known as the “House of Tomorrow,” the recently renovated Alexander Estate also bears the distinction of being the honeymoon hideaway for Elvis and Priscilla Presley back in 1967. It’s located in the historic Vista Las Palmas neighborhood and was designed by architect William Krisel in 1960. The home features original and restored features, including ceiling mounted fireplaces, terrazzo floors and a custom circular sofa in the living room. A twilight tour with bubbly is available each evening for a limited number of guests. Public tours will be available Oct. 24-27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A nightly cocktail reception and twilight tour will also be held at the House of Tomorrow on Oct. 25-27 at 4 p.m.
Premier Double-Decker Architectural Bus Tours
Get an overview of midcentury architectural commercial buildings and residences on a 2.5-hour double-decker, open-air bus tour. These daily tours will depart across the street from the Palm Springs Art Museum, and as a special treat, the morning edition (8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.) will be led by retro pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix. Later tours will feature other exciting guides as well. Don’t miss the new Sinatra’s Rat Pack Homes & Hangouts Bus Tour as you explore the Rat Pack’s iconic hideaways in Palm Springs.
Cul de Sac “Swinging ‘66”
Dress in ‘60s attire and prepare to travel back in time when you go to this residential circle at the fabulous Canyon View Estates! You’ll tour the interior and exterior of six classic homes designed by architect William Krisel, see classic vehicles in carports and driveways and enjoy tunes from a vintage vinyl DJ and performances by go-go dancers in ‘60s garb. You’ll also come away with a Cul de Sac “Swinging ‘66” souvenir booklet filled with history, photos and vintage ads. This hour-long tour takes place Oct. 27 starting at 9:30 a.m. and leaves every half hour until noon.
Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show and Preview Party
Taking place on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., this Modernism Week event presents guests the opportunity to buy midcentury design items before the show opens to the public on Saturday. Enjoy a wine reception with appetizers and get a head start on choosing from among thousands of 21st century treasures. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Modernism Week, a non-profit organization, and your Preview Party ticket includes Modernism Show re-entry all weekend!
Curated Vintage Event
This pop-up event at Temple Isaiah focuses on vintage fashion and accessories. Top-notch retailers and private dealers showcase their best clothing, textiles and jewelry to inspire you to create your own special style. We highly recommend taking advantage of the First Dibs Preview & Buy opportunity, which starts at 9 a.m. on Oct. 25, and then opens up to the general audience at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. If you can’t make the preview, be sure to stop by between other events throughout the day.
Tiki Oasis: Desert Lanai 4 Cocktail Party & Home Tour
Desert modernism wouldn’t have achieved its alluring, eye-catching aesthetic without the influence of Charles Du Bois. Blending a midcentury modern framework with Polynesian textiles, peruse the grounds of Desert Lanai 4’s tiki-inspired residences on Oct. 26 from 3-5 p.m. Bamboo accents, modern furnishings and pops of desert flora bridge the gap between Palm Springs living and Hawaiian luxury. Each stunning A-frame home gives way to a relaxed tropical outdoor oasis—an idyllic setting for the post-tour cocktail party! Tiki torches, live DJ sets and a few umbrella-topped foofy cocktails will have this desert venue feeling like a Hawaiian luau.
Midcentury Sunny Cycle Tour by PS ModCom
This two-hour adventure, which happens every day of Modernism Week — October, offers a peek behind the curtain at the residences of some of Hollywood’s most famous A-list celebrities. There’s a reason one of the neighborhoods on this tour is called The Movie Colony! Cycle through the streets of these acclaimed historic districts while receiving an inside scoop on Palm Springs’ most celebrated real estate—from the chic, vintage vibes of the Historic Tennis Club to the prestigious properties in Las Palmas. Cap off the tour with a complimentary snack stop at Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge, located in Palm Springs’ flashy Uptown Design District.
The Legacy of Mission 66 at Joshua Tree National Park
Fusing midcentury modern architecture with the rural, untamed beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, The Legacy of Mission 66 celebrates the updated infrastructure characterizing national state parks. As the beauty of these outdoor sanctuaries draws increasingly large crowds, the drive to improve national park facilities has developed rapidly. On Oct. 27, this guided presentation will take you through the Cottonwood District, providing a deep dive into the 1966 Mission 66 initiative of modernizing the desert. The Cottonwood Visitor Center is just one example of the modern movement transcending the national park experience. Proficient park rangers will walk guests through everything from preservation tactics to modern design history.
The Mammoth Martini Party at The Shag House
There’s no mistaking the work of illustrative designer Josh Agle (also known as Shag)—slightly eccentric, humorous in nature and often displays characters engaging in vicarious consumption. On Oct. 25 from 8-10 p.m., grab a cocktail and join The Mammoth Martini Party at the reimagined 1958 Desert Modern residence, fondly known as The Shag House. With a background in architectural studies, the artist effortlessly transformed this once monotonous single-story desert home into a vivid abode that now sports a swanky, futuristic style. An Orb breeze block, fluorescent accents, a stylish martini bar and enormous 10-foot-tall wood-carved doors are enough to make every one of your evening TikToks go viral.
Sunny Side of the Street
Bottomless cocktails, beer and wine paired with the catchy, soulful jazz tunes from a bygone era—sounds like a party to us! Whether you’re a seasoned vocalist or an old-school music junkie, Sunny Side of the Street is attracting all corners of the music industry to PS Underground on Oct. 25-26 from 7-9:30 p.m. This modish dinner theater will take you back in time to the epoch when reigning artists like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald sat at the helm of record labels. Live entertainment and a top-secret four-course culinary spread are just a few surprises to look forward to at this lavish nightlife event.
Modernism Week Featured Home Tour: The Shag House
Behind the neon-green doors of this extravagant Palm Springs home lies a labyrinth of pink, orange and bright blue spaces. Some might even argue this entryway also acts as a portal into some of Shag’s exotic, consumerist illustrations. Located in Palm Springs’ Little Beverly Hills neighborhood, The Shag House is characterized by cartoon-style textiles, clashing color schemes and an outdoor party lounge, indicative of the lavish events depicted in his paintings. A walking tour of the 1958 three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence reveals a home that’s every bit modern, yet contrasts starkly with the rest of this intimate Palm Springs enclave. If you can’t make Shag’s Mammoth Martini Party, then be sure to visit his home on this tour during the Palm Springs event week.
ONE-PS Modernism Week Home Tour
There’s something so enticing about an open house, and this tour includes five! For those who enjoy perusing aesthetic spaces with pretty accents, the ONE-PS Modernism Week Home Tour will be the afternoon of a lifetime. Taking place on Oct. 26, this self-guided tour dives into the walls of five different homes that showcase all sides of the desert. Properties range from classic midcentury modern abodes in Little Beverly Hills to Spanish Colonial Revival homes in Old Las Palmas. Selected for their unique attributes and design elements, guests have the opportunity to learn about each house’s architectural history and meet the homeowners behind these exquisite quarters.
To see the full list of events for Modernism Week — October 2024, click here!
Modernism Week — October
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