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Friday, May 1 | ☀️ 89°/68°
Welcome to Friday and to May! For those of you anxious to get back in the city pool, we have some good news: The Palm Desert Aquatic Center is almost back, with city officials saying this week that the facility could reopen as soon as May 23, pending final inspections, following a $4 million overhaul of its pools' pumps, filtration systems, and heaters. The finish line is finally in sight!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Love From The Sun" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Leading Off
Designers for Bucherer presented an updated design for the renovation at 73680 El Paseo, removing a rooftop cornice that the commission objected to. (City of Palm Desert)
Two El Paseo storefronts win ARC approval after design tweaks
Palm Desert's Architectural Review Commission unanimously approved new storefronts for Herman Miller and Bucherer on El Paseo this week, clearing both projects to advance to the building permit stage.
Driving the news: Both projects had come before the commission earlier this month and were sent back for design revisions before receiving final approval Tuesday.
Herman Miller: Despite commissioners' earlier suggestions to revisit the standing seam design, project manager Alexandra Hirsch told the commission the team would not be making changes to the original version.
"We are happy and very proud of this design. We've been working on this for nearly a year now," Hirsch said, adding that all materials were selected specifically for the El Paseo location.
Bucherer: The luxury watch and jewelry retailer returned with two notable changes — the removal of a rooftop cornice that commissioners had objected to and the addition of two new planters featuring southwestern succulents.
Commissioner John Vuksic called the cornice removal "a really good move." The project was approved with a condition requiring the plant selection be adjusted as recommended by Commissioner Geoff Gregory.
Also approved: The commission signed off on a new monument sign marking the entrance to Dinah Shore Business Park at 73800 Dinah Shore Drive.
Jim Ross of Palm Springs-based Best Signs Inc. told commissioners that tenants in nine back-row buildings currently have no monument signage to guide customers. Though some commissioners suggested adding lighting, the developer cited construction challenges and limited nighttime traffic, and the project moved forward without it.
Briefly
A T-6 Texan available for rides at Palm Springs Air Museum. (Photo: Palm Springs Air Museum)
✈️ Palm Desert Day offers free admission to air museum on Saturday
Palm Desert residents and workers can visit the Palm Springs Air Museum for free on Saturday as part of Palm Desert Day, sponsored by the City of Palm Desert.
Attendees must show proof of Palm Desert residency or employment — such as a California driver's license, utility bill, employee ID, or business card. Warbird rides in aircraft such as the T-6 Texan or P-51 Mustang are available for an additional fee.
Details: The museum, located at 745 North Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features more than 91,000 square feet of hangars with aircraft from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. More information is available at PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org.
📅 Featured Events
Ribbon Cutting — Desert Kid Coffee
Today | 9:30 a.m. | 44850 San Pablo Ave.
Grand opening celebration for Desert Kid Coffee in Palm Desert with an official ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming the new local business to the community.
Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
Today | 2 p.m. | Library
The Palm Desert Library hosts an introductory Chinese calligraphy class with instructor Emmy Lam in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. Participants will learn 24 Chinese characters and their meanings. Registration required.
El Paseo Cruise Nights
Today| 2 p.m. | Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce
Classic car cruise night beginning at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot at El Paseo and Highway 111. No car required — come view the cars and meet the owners. Cruising begins at 4:15 p.m.
Beginner's Dungeons and Dragons Night
Today| 5 p.m. | The Dragon Den
Learn to play Dungeons & Dragons at this newbie-friendly monthly event. You'll be guided through character creation and led on a short one-shot adventure. Hosted the first Friday of every month. ($10–$20)
Dog Day at the Zoo
Sunday | 8 a.m. | The Living Desert
Bring your leashed dog for a special day at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. A dog ticket is required for each dog in addition to standard guest admission. Leashes must be non-retractable and no longer than 6 feet.
Coffee with the Mayor at Fire Station 33
Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. | Fire Station 33
Informal morning conversation between Palm Desert residents and the Mayor with no set agenda. Attendees can tour Fire Station 33, meet local firefighters, and view emergency equipment.
LGBTQ+ Youth Hangout Palm Desert
Wednesday | 4:30 p.m. | 45125 Panorama Drive
Weekly safe-space hangout for ages 10–18 featuring games, art projects, and films. Note: beginning May 7, the event moves to Portola Community Center at 45480 Portola Ave.
Board Game Night
Thursday | 5 p.m. | The Dragon Den
Bring your own games or try rentals from a selection of strategy, area-control, and cooperative titles. Solo players welcome — come find new friends and check out discounts in the used games section. ($10–$20)
Free Concerts in the Park
Thursday | 7 p.m. | Civic Center Park
Four-week Thursday concert series at Civic Center Park runs through May 28. Lineup: May 7, Jumping Jack Flash (Rolling Stones tribute); May 14, The Suffragettes Band; May 21, The Funky Hippeez Show; May 28, The Yellow Brick Band (Elton John tribute). Bring lawn chairs; food trucks on site.
✨ And Finally …
Palm Desert’s Joshua Homme on stage at The Show in Rancho Mirage on Saturday. (Photo: Rebecca Herrington)
Palm Desert’s Joshua Homme came home last weekend — and veteran entertainment writer Bruce Fessier writes that the Coachella Valley welcomed him back like the prodigal son of desert rock he is.
Driving the news: Queens of the Stone Age performed at The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage in what was the venue's fastest sellout in its history — and the band's first non-festival appearance in the valley since a 2007 benefit concert at the McCallum Theatre.
The concert drew a backstage reunion of valley rock royalty, including John Garcia, Scott Reeder, Nick Oliveri, and Jesse Hughes, all childhood friends of Homme's from the Palm Desert music scene.
Who's Joshua Homme? The Palm Desert High School alumnus founded Queens of the Stone Age and helped birth the desert rock genre in the 1990s. He turns 53 next month.
The show: Inspired by QOTSA's concert film "Alive at the Catacombs," the performance was structured as a three-act mini-opera featuring deep cuts, new material, and a small chamber orchestra — notably absent were the band's biggest hits.
Worth noting: Homme used the night to lambast ticket scalpers, whose markups left some seats empty despite the sellout. He addressed the crowd simply: "It feels so good to be home. It's been a long time."
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