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Happy Friday, everyone, especially to fans of Papa Dan's, because it’s back! After nearly two years, the beloved Palm Desert restaurant, which was devastated by an arson fire in April 2024, is reopening Monday at its new location at 73011 Country Club Drive. There's a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m., and the community is invited to help welcome back a Valley staple that first opened its doors all the way back in 1984.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Firework" by Katy Perry
Leading Off
Indio, Cathedral City, and Palm Springs have all used drones instead of fireworks at Fourth of July and other celebrations.
Upgraded July 4 celebration planned; drone shows not on horizon
Palm Desert will add special enhancements to its annual Civic Center Park Independence Day celebration this year to mark the nation's 250th anniversary — but a drone show won't be among them.
Driving the news: City staff told councilmembers during a study session Thursday that this year's Fourth of July event will feature extra red, white and blue lighting, 250th anniversary commemorative items, and an expanded children's area with water-based activities designed to draw families to the park earlier in the day.
Why no drones: The valley's extreme heat was the primary obstacle, with staff noting that drones must be staged, programmed and tested during the day when ground temperatures can exceed 140 degrees in direct sunlight — conditions that stress batteries, motors and other electronic components.
Staff had proposed an eight-minute drone show as an addition to the city's traditional 20-minute fireworks display, but not until 2027.
By the numbers: The city's annual fireworks display costs an average of $60,000. A drone show would have added $75,000 to $90,000. The event draws an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 attendees.
The backdrop: Several Coachella Valley cities have embraced drone shows in recent years. Indio has used drones instead of fireworks for the past two Independence Days, Cathedral City used them for New Year's Eve, and Palm Springs held a drone show for July 4th in 2021 before returning to fireworks.
What's next: Councilmember Jan Harnik left the door open to revisiting a drone show for a future event held during cooler weather, saying the technology is clearly "where it's going."
Briefly
A new sign for a Palm Desert dentist office needs more work, a city committee said Tuesday.
🏗️ Palm Desert development pipeline slowing, sign design rejected
New development applications in Palm Desert have begun to slow, even as construction of already-approved projects continues at a regular pace, the city's Architectural Review Commission heard Tuesday.
The commission also continued its review of a proposed LED monument sign for a dental office at 73151 Fred Waring Drive, declining to approve the design submitted by Signarama. The double-sided sign would stand 5 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 6 inches wide.
Details: Commissioners said the sign appeared to represent three separate businesses rather than a single practice, citing inconsistent typefaces and a lack of unified design. They directed the applicant to revise the design to better reflect the architectural character of the building before returning for further review.
🏊 Equipment delays push back Aquatic Center reopening
Four pumps and motors for the Palm Desert Aquatic Center's splash pad and water slides, ordered in early February, are back-ordered and not expected to arrive until mid-April, delaying the facility's reopening, city staff told the Parks and Recreation Committee earlier this month.
Large heaters originally expected by the end of December arrived about two weeks before the meeting, highlighting supply chain issues affecting the project. City staff are working with the manufacturer to expedite pump delivery and plan a phased reopening once equipment arrives and passes health and safety inspections. The facility is expected to be fully open in time for summer.
But wait: The adjacent Civic Center Park playground renovation is about 90 days from completion and includes expanded footprint, new play equipment, shade structures, expanded seating, upgraded lighting and new concrete. Staff aim to finish before the end of the school year.
A MESSAGE FROM
STUFT PIZZA
Did you know? We serve fine wines for only $10 every Thursday. Our Happy Hours bring relaxation and joy, every day of the week. And Wednesdays deliver the best Prime Rib in the valley! Live entertainment on select evenings and dining Al Fresco on our beautiful patios. And the best pizza in town!
📅 Featured Events
MULTIPLE DAYS
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the water at JW Marriott Desert Springs at 4 p.m. ($250)
The Glass Menagerie at College of the Desert
Mission: Pollination! at The Living Desert at 8 a.m.
Pink Martini & Storm Large at McCallum Theatre at 7 p.m.
TODAY
Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers Market at Rancho Mirage Community Park at 8 a.m.
Me & You at the Zoo at The Living Desert at 9:30 a.m. ($40–$42)
Fashion Week El Paseo at The Gardens on El Paseo
The Myx – Live Music at Casuelas Cafe at 6:30 p.m.
Big Band Broadway at McCallum Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
College of the Desert Street Fair at College of the Desert at 8 a.m.
Library and Observatory Foundation Book Sale at Rancho Mirage Library at 9 a.m.
You Break It/You Make It Mosaic Shard Workshop at 72-567 Hwy 111 at 10:30 a.m. ($240–$285)
Sirena Huang, Violin / Chih-Yi Chen, Piano at 47321 at 3 p.m. ($50)
Ireland with Michael at McCallum Theatre at 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
You Break It/You Make It Mosaic Shard Workshop at 72-567 Hwy 111 at 10:30 a.m. ($240–$285)
Mariachi Coachella at Casuelas Cafe at 1 p.m.
Barbie, Bubbly and Bites at The Studio on El Paseo at 2 p.m.
Paint & Sip at La Quinta Brewery at 6 p.m. ($49)
MONDAY
No events
ST. PATRICK'S DAY (TUESDAY)
Ribbon Cutting for D'Coffee Buoteaque at 40004 Cook St at 10 a.m.
Johnny Meza – Live Music at Casuelas Cafe at 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Rat Pack Duo at Hotel Paseo at 6 p.m.
George Wesner, Principal Organist for the Radio City Rockettes at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church at 7 p.m. ($35)
THURSDAY
Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike at 51500 Highway 74 at 8:30 a.m. (Free)
Board Game Night at 72221 Highway 111 Suite 101A at 5 p.m. ($10–$20)
Lisa Lynn & the Broken Hallelujahs – Live Music at Casuelas Cafe at 5:30 p.m.
✨ And Finally …
First-graders and one third-grader are getting their moment in the sun — or at least on a utility cabinet — after the Palm Desert Arts Committee voted Wednesday to display two student artworks on city utility cabinets as part of the 2026 Student Art and Essay Contest.
The works: A class mural by students in Miss Whittemore's first-grade class will be installed near Country Club Drive and Oasis Club Drive/Tamarisk Row, and a piece by third-grader Vincent Snelson will go up at Fred Waring Drive and Phyllis Jackson Lane.
How it happened: The committee voted 5–1 to approve both vinyl wraps from the Palm Desert Learning Tree Center, overriding a staff recommendation to install only the class mural.
Production and installation costs will not exceed $6,000, funded through the city's Public Art budget.
The bigger picture: Now in its 39th year, the Student Art and Essay Contest received 65 individual works and 11 class murals on the theme "What Grows in My Dream Garden."
The artwork and essays are currently on display at UCR Building B through March 27.
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