The Night Kicks Off With a Pool Party and Cocktails
Ah, Thursday night — the only truly social night of the week. It’s the night when babysitters are booked, friends convene, and drinks are imbibed. There are no family obligations to fulfill, no amateurish weekend crowds to elbow through — and the possibilities are endless. The night starts after work and ends whenever you want. In any city. All over the world. This week, we’re presenting the perfect Thursday night in Palm Springs, Calif.
You can’t miss the windmill farm on the way to Palm Springs. (Photo: Mark K Cranston/Flickr)
Palm Springs has come a long way since the Rat Pack made it famous. The recent firepower of music-themed events like the nearby (celeb-fave) Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, pool parties for the young and trendy, and a slew of edgier resorts have harmoniously merged with the midcentury modern architecture and famed retro haunts of the balmy vacation community. Here’s how to rock out on a Thursday night and enjoy the best of both worlds.
3 p.m.
Jonathan Adler designed the Parker Palm Springs. (Photo: Courtesy of The Parker Palm Springs)
Throw down your bags, put on some flip-flops, and slip into vacation mode at one of several top resorts. Palm Springs offers an incredible range, from mild to wild. If you want a storied icon, check into Waldorf Astoria La Quinta Resort & Club; the original Hollywood hideaway opened in 1926. It debuts a multimillion renovation next month. The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage finally reopened this past spring on a 650-foot bluff that arguably offers the best desert views from a resort. Jonathan Adler designed the Parker Palm Springs, an intimate boutique hotel with edgy interiors. And the new 20-room Sparrows Lodge is currently the most buzzy retreat for millennials thanks to other cool, hip guests and a strict no-children policy.
3:30 p.m.
The living room at Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway (Photo: Courtesy of Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway)
While the iconic Marilyn Statue on Palm Canyon Drive made its departure this past spring, you can still get your campy silver-screen kicks by visiting the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway. The midcentury-modern gem strikes up Mad Men aesthetics, and the magic of Elvis and Priscilla’s honeymoon stay produced their firstborn, Lisa, nine months later. Elvis and Priscilla impersonators guide visitors throughout the home for a truly nostalgic tour.
5 p.m.
Drop some cash at Trina Turk. (Photo: Trina Turk/Facebook)
Palm Canyon Drive is chockablock with midcentury-modern furniture stores, art galleries, and boutique shops that are unique to Palm Springs’ retro midcentury glam. A la mod is a stylish throwback to decades past, and Trina Turk has collections inspired by the desert oasis. For the more ambitious shopper, head to Desert Hills Premium Outlets, just 20 minutes outside Palm Springs (a short drive past the ever-famous windmills). You’ll discover a slew of name-brand designers such as Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Ted Baker, and Prada at significantly reduced prices.
7 p.m.
Party by the Bikini Pool and Bar at Riviera Palm Springs. (Photo: Riviera Palm Springs/Facebook)
Most visitors these days like to sprawl out at a token party pool found at the likes of Hard Rock Hotel, Ace Hotel & Swim Club, and The Saguaro Palm Springs, taking one last dip before the sun sets beyond the canyons. Thanks to a recent, massive renovation, Riviera Palm Springs — opened in 1958 — feels modern while history still resonates. Sunbathe by the new Chiki Pool or Bikini Pool and Bar, which offers a happy hour menu with signature cocktails. With two pools, there’s more room to unwind, yet it’s still a happening scene. While you’re here, pop into the spa. It’s formerly a lounge where the Rat Pack used to knock back martinis.
8:30 p.m.
The Black Cod at Workshop Kitchen + Bar is divine. (Photo: Courtesy of Workshop Kitchen + Bar)
Discerning diners are quick to book a table at Workshop Kitchen + Bar, the city’s most progressive restaurant, which strays from traditional area design and instead, features a modern, cathedral-like interior with high ceiling trusses, open beams, and concrete walls. Chef/owner Michael Beckman serves up American dishes with an innovative touch like Honey + White Shoyu Glazed Black Cod with roasted cauliflower, pink beets, and macerated golden raisins, and a charcuterie plate comprising house-cured duck breast, bacon-date preserve, and grilled levain bread.
11 p.m.
Bar is hipster heaven. (Photo: Bar/Facebook)
Have a cocktail at Melyvn’s at the Ingleside Inn. It’s the most lavish lounge in Palm Springs, with chandeliers, priceless art, and a decades-long history of famous guests that touts its star power. The supper-club style lounge enforces a dress code (no jeans or shorts), and the menus are quite old-fashioned (no craft cocktails here), but it’s a quirky blast to the Hollywood past. If you crave a more modern watering hole, pop into Bar, a new indoor/outdoor bar packed mostly with hipsters and young locals. The dance floor has seen plenty of action thanks to live DJs or local bands performing on stage. Then head back to your resort pool for a nightcap in true Palms Springs style.
Check out what to do on Thursday Nights in other great cities!
Thursday Night: Venice Beach, Calif.
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