Friday, Feb. 20 | ☀️ 57°/45°
TGIF, folks, where we’re giving a shout-out to local students who scored some recent success. Palm Desert High School's Academic WorldQuest team — Sareen Bhakta, Liya Kakar, Yatharth Mahajan and Sophie Tran, which is coached by Tricia Lizza — took second place at the 21st annual Academic WorldQuest competition last week at the city’s CSUSB campus, earning each team member a $200 scholarship. Competing against eight other Coachella Valley high school teams on topics ranging from tariffs and trade to the U.S. Constitution and foreign policy, the squad's strong showing is a great reminder of the academic talent right here in the desert!
🎶 Setting the mood: "In Da Club" by 50 Cent
Leading Off
Businesses, residents push back on proposed El Paseo bar and nightclub
Business owners and residents are urging Palm Desert planning officials to reject a proposed bar and nightclub on El Paseo, warning it would worsen existing problems on the upscale shopping street and alter its character.
Driving the news: Five speakers addressed the Palm Desert Planning Commission during public comment at a Feb. 3 meeting, voicing opposition to Rock'n Avenue, a proposed bar at 73730 El Paseo.
The commission has not yet received the conditional use permit application but expects to hear it in March, according to Rosie Lua, director of Development Services.
The proposal: Applicant Patrick Masur described Rock'n Avenue in a November 2025 application as "a new upscale bar and nightlife venue" that would operate seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring televised sports during happy hour before transitioning to music and a small dance area around 9 p.m.
Masur's plan includes a dress code after 8 p.m., a minimum of two licensed security personnel from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., ID verification and security cameras throughout the premises.
The opposition: Business owners said security measures would not be enough, pointing to problems they said already exist at a nearby bar, including vomit, urine and trash on sidewalks after weekend nights.
"It's not only a safety problem, I think it's a health hazard," said Sheri Pierattoni, owner of PizzaVino.
What's next: Commissioners asked staff to prepare a report on incidents related to the existing nearby bar, including any code violations, to help inform what conditions might be imposed on the new application.
Commissioners invited opponents to return when the conditional use permit is formally reviewed, saying speakers would have another opportunity to comment on the record.
Briefly
Developers hope a 17.63-acre site corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue will some day contain more than 150 new homes. (Photo: Shutterstock / Planning documents)
🏘️ 156-unit housing development on vacant parcel moved forward
The Palm Desert Planning Commission unanimously approved a tentative tract map and precise plan Tuesday for a 156-unit single-family housing development at the southwest corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue.
The project replaces an earlier plan for 394 multifamily units across 13 three-story apartment buildings, which is "no longer active," city staff said. Applicant Blue Fern's representative said the shift was intentional to reduce neighborhood concerns and remain compatible with surrounding development.
Details: The 17.63-acre infill parcel is zoned for up to 22 units per acre; the approved project comes in at 9.2 units per acre. Architectural and landscape plans were not part of Tuesday's approval and will return to the commission at a later date.
📅 Featured Events
Wild at Heart: ZooCamp for Adults
Today | 9 a.m. | The Living Desert
Uncover the hidden world of wildlife trafficking, its global impact on plants and animals, and the surprising connections that threaten species worldwide. Join us on this one-day adventure to learn which species are most at risk and the critical role of conservation in protecting biodiversity. ($42)
College of the Desert Street Fair
Saturday | 8 a.m. | COD
Celebrating 42 years, The Street Fair, at College of the Desert is considered one of the top things to do in the Palm Springs area, where locals and visitors alike can spend their day with an open-air shaded shopping experience second to none.
Palm Desert Greek Fair
Saturday, Sunday | 10 a.m. | St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Experience authentic Greek food, try our heavenly Greek pastries, and dance to live Greek music. ($5)
Palm Desert City Council
Thursday | 4 p.m. | City Hall
Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Meeting start times, including Closed Session and Regular Session, are listed on the posted agenda.
📌 Save The Date
BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells starting March 1
First Friday on El Paseo ArtWalk on March 6
Our Lady's Desert Roses Prayer Meal on March 7 and 8 at Woodhaven Country Club
San Diego Symphony Orchestra at McCallum Theatre on March 8
Me & You at the Zoo at The Living Desert on March 10
✨ And Finally …
A conceptual drawing of the West Henderson Field House in Henderson Nevada. Palm Desert officials support the idea of building a similar facility here.
Palm Desert may one day have an indoor sports complex — and if the City Council's enthusiasm is any indication, someone better start marking the calendar. The council gave a resounding thumbs-up last week to exploring the concept on the city's vacant 140-acre university area site, with members calling it a "win, win, win, win, win opportunity."
Driving the news: The council endorsed moving forward with analysis of a potential indoor sports complex at its regular meeting on Feb. 12, directing staff to continue exploring the project before any formal decisions are made.
Why it matters: The facility would address persistent shortages of soccer and football fields while attracting out-of-area tournaments and tourism dollars. Councilmember Karina Quintanilla noted that when visiting teams cancel at the last minute, local youth sports teams are left without fields they might have otherwise used.
The weather, naturally, also came up — the city's skate park sits largely unused in summer heat, and an indoor facility would sidestep that problem entirely.
What's next: Staff would enter a non-binding agreement with Visit Greater Palm Springs to share research, then issue a Request for Proposals to find qualified private developers and operators.
There is no cost to the city at this stage — staff presented the concept for discussion only.
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