Don’t miss these new and highlighted events!
Modernism Week – October will take place in the Palm Springs area of Southern California October 24-27, 2024. While smaller in scope than the 11-day festival held annually each February, the October event offers more than 50 compelling events over four days, including many free and low-cost programs. A full schedule of events may be viewed online at modernismweek.com.
New programs include:
Escape into the World of Tiki! (10/26, $55, $75, and $95)
Escape into the colorful history of tiki cocktail culture with a fascinating presentation at the Palm Springs Cultural Center by Martin Cate, author and owner of multiple award-winning tiki bars, including the world-renowned Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco. Attendees will learn about the rich history of how tiki drinks were invented and stolen, Caribbean journeys, Hollywood scandals, midcentury dreams, and how an entire generation was swept up in a craze for tiki. Includes one complimentary cocktail after the presentation.
Tiki Oasis: Desert Lanai 4 Cocktail Party & Home Tour (10/26, $100)
Experience an electrifying evening at the Desert Lanai 4 Polynesian Tiki inspired cocktail party and home tour. Participants will immerse themselves in the exotic ambiance as they sip tantalizing tiki cocktails by the poolside bar and explore four homes, each showcasing the iconic A-frame architecture and whimsical tiki-inspired decor envisioned by architect Charles Du Bois.
Visit Astro, the Modernism Week retro trailer at the Launch Pad (10/24 – 10/27)
Modernism Week’s customized vintage trailer, Astro, and Modernism Week team members will be stationed across the street from the Palm Springs Art Museum on Museum Way adjacent to the Palm Springs Downtown Park at its “launch pad” throughout the weekend. This is where guests will meet to board the double decker bus tours, learn more about Modernism Week, enjoy savory snacks from local food vendors, and more!
Highlighted programs include:
ONE-PS Modernism Week Home Tour (10/26, $100)
This unique self-guided home tour offers an intimate glimpse into Palm Springs’ diverse architectural heritage. Participants will explore five outstanding homes, each epitomizing the iconic design elements that make Palm Springs a mecca for architecture enthusiasts. This year, the tour will showcase two classic midcentury modern homes in Vista Las Palmas, a stunning Spanish Colonial Revival home in Old Las Palmas, an iconic midcentury modern home in Little Beverly Hills, and a modern home in the Skye development in the Historic Tennis Club. Selected for their distinctive designs, striking architectural lines, and famous associations, these homes reflect the playful yet sophisticated spirit of Palm Springs.
Six Architectural Gems of Canyon Country Club Tour (10/26, $125)
Tour six architecturally diverse modernist homes in the historic Canyon Country Club, rich in history and architectural diversity. The tour includes two recently rediscovered 1952 Hugh Kaptur gems, a home that blends Hollywood Regency and New Orleans, a luxurious single-family home by architect William Krisel, a Hal Lacy-designed residence that incorporates ideas of New Formalism in its showstopping curb appeal, and the neighborhood’s most emphatic articulation of the Hollywood Regency style. This is a self-guided tour but tourgoers will receive an eight-page color collectible handout.
The Legacy of Mission 66 at Joshua Tree National Park (10/27, $25 or $55 with Park Pass)
Hosted by the Joshua Tree National Park Association in partnership with the National Park Service, this event offers a unique opportunity to delve into the historical significance of Mission 66, the ten-year modernization project completed in 1966 dedicated to expanding visitor services and updating National Park facilities. The event includes a tour of the Park’s iconic Cottonwood District, storytelling, a guided walking tour of the historic ranger station and campground, and a Q&A with one of the park’s knowledgeable rangers or an expert park partner.
Preview Party for Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show (10/25, $95)
Beat the crowds and enjoy a festive wine reception and early buying opportunity at the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show. Preview party tickets include return entry to the show all weekend. The 10th annual Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show features nearly 50 premier national exhibitors offering vintage furniture, decorative and fine art representing all design movements of the 20th century and 21st century contemporary design. Weekend show hours are Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 27, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Daily tickets are $25, include return entry all weekend, and may be purchased in advance or at the door.
Don’t miss these exciting programs:
Curated Vintage Event (10/26, $25 and $15)
Retailers and private dealers showcase their finest vintage apparel, luxury items, textiles, jewelry, and accessories. This event is not to be missed for those whose fashion is their passion.
Midcentury Mixology Cocktail Class with Steen Bojsen-Moller at Mr. Lyons (10/24 – 10/27, $80)
Visit Mr. Lyons Steakhouse to learn how to make iconic, classic cocktails of the midcentury era at home. This fun, hands-on mixology class will explore the process of making high quality hand-crafted cocktails while guests follow along with the experts and make their own for sampling. (includes 3 drinks).
The Homes That Define Palm Springs Bus Tour (10/24– 27, $100)
This 90-minute tour will feature some of the most popular neighborhoods in Palm Springs, showcasing the most spectacular home styles, including pre-war Spanish Colonial Revival and a range of midcentury modern residential styles.
Twilight Architectural Bus Tour (10/25 and 10/25, $100)
The Twilight Architectural Bus Tour provides guests with a 1-hour evening view of some of the most significant midcentury architectural treasures of Palm Springs at twilight. During this magic hour, when the desert light is spectacular, we’ll tour along Palm Canyon Drive and surrounding neighborhoods. Enjoy the desert sunset and cool breezes atop an open-air double decker bus while viewing Palm Springs’ architectural heritage!
Midcentury Sunny Cycle Tour by PS ModCom (10/24-27, $90)
On this pedaling-optional tour, participants will enjoy the warm fall air while seeing and learning about the many architectural wonders in the prized neighborhoods of the Movie Colony, Las Palmas, Vista Las Palmas, and the Historic Tennis Club. The tour covers the work of some of the city’s most celebrated architects: James McNaughton, William F. Cody, E.Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, John Porter Clark, Barry Berkus, Charles Do Bois, William Krisel, Herbert Burns and more.
Temple Isaiah: The Evolution of Classical to Extreme Modernism (10/24 and 10/25, $50)
This guided media presentation and walking tour of two sanctuaries includes the E. Stewart Williams modernist-designed 1950s Liberman Chapel and David Christian’s brutalism-designed 1980s Bochner Sanctuary.
Divinely Inspired: Discussing the William F. Cody Design of St. Theresa Catholic Church with Catherine Cody and Morris Skenderian A.I.A. (10/25 and 10/26, $45 and $95 with optional book)
St. Theresa Catholic Church has long been heralded as a prized masterpiece of William F. Cody’s legacy. It remains as a prized masterpiece of Cody’s legacy. Catherine Cody, youngest daughter of William F. Cody, and architect Morris Skenderian, A.I.A. who had just joined Cody’s firm at the time the St. Theresa project began, will share stories, photos, drawings and talk about the artisans and craftspeople involved in making Cody’s design a reality. Following the presentation, participants will tour the Church’s main sanctuary and enjoy a special reception.
