October Event Features Tours, Educational Programs, and Parties that Celebrate Midcentury Modern Architecture and Design in Palm Springs
Modernism Week’s 2021 Fall Preview will take place October 14-17 at various locations in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. Many tours and events still have tickets available and all events are open to the public. The full schedule may be viewed online at modernismweek.com. Fall Preview provides attendees with the opportunity to celebrate midcentury modern architecture, lifestyle, and design and participate in events and activities that are new and unique to this year, returning favorites, and events that will also be offered during the annual 11-day festival in February 2022.
Events that have tickets available include:
Modernism Week Featured Homes and Designer Projects
Modernism Week teams up with builders and designers to offer tours of featured design projects. During Fall Preview, Modernism Week Featured Home Tours include “Seventies Sackley” and “Sunburst Palms” which are back by popular demand from their debut in April 2021. In addition, a third designer property on view is “Modernism Week Featured Design Project Tour: Limón” which will also be available for daily tours.
“Sunburst Palms” – Tour H3K Home+Design’s latest renovation of a 1956 Lawrence Lapham property in the iconic Deepwell neighborhood and be inspired by their fun-filled and colorful take on classic midcentury modern design.
“Seventies Sackley” – This architectural home tour in the Indian Canyons neighborhood will allow participants to experience a seamless blend of contemporary furnishings and vintage pieces on display at this stunning 1975 Palm Springs residence designed by noted architect Stan Sackley and offered by Grace Home Furnishings.
“Featured Design Project Tour: Limón” – This colorful seven-bedroom property was recently extensively renovated by H3K Home+Design which transformed the property into a holiday landing place that can accommodate groups of 14 guests in separate suites, all surrounding a gleaming swimming pool. An all-steel structure, Limón is one of the most unique buildings in Palm Springs and features a large communal kitchen outfitted with state-of-the-art appliances and international décor. The property’s design was inspired by the optimistic era and continental graphics and style of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Modernism Week top sponsors Brizo, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, JennAir, and Willis generously contributed to all three of these projects.
Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale
On Friday, October 15, Fall Preview attendees are invited to attend the festive Preview Party and Early Buying Reception at the Modernism Show & Sale at the Palm Springs Convention Center from 6-8 p.m. The popular Show and Sale, which offers important 20th and 21st century objects, furniture, art and textiles from more than 40+ premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers, continues on Saturday and Sunday. The Friday night party is the prime opportunity for shopping direct from dealers before the show opens to the public on Saturday.
Tickets are available in advance for $75 at modernismweek.com or at the door for $85 and include daily re-entry to the show. Weekend show hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and tickets are $20.
Frey House II
Tours of the fascinating Frey House II are now available. Hosted by the Palm Springs Art Museum, these 30-minute self-guided tours are a rare opportunity to see the residence of modernist architect Albert Frey and gain insight into this modern master’s architectural sensibility. As a bonus, participants may also use the tour ticket for free admission to both the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Architecture & Design Center. The tour occurs each day of Fall Preview and tickets are $75.
Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour
Modernism Week’s signature Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour provides guests with a 2.5-hour overview of significant civic and commercial buildings, as well as residential properties. Daily tours will depart from the Palm Springs Convention Center, where Modernism Week will have a box office and attendees may purchase tickets to Fall Preview events. Legendary performer Charles Phoenix will conduct his special version of this tour each day at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $110 for the standard tour and $130 for the Charles Phoenix tour.
Casual Concours XII
Casual Concours XII is an annual gathering of significant post-war automobiles, where more than 150 museum-quality cars will be on display to delight fans of gasoline, glamour and design, The popular event takes place Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 in advance or at the door. The outdoor event takes place on the grounds of the Desert Princess Country Club in Cathedral City.
Curated Vintage Event
A Curated Vintage Event will take place on October 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where retailers and private dealers from all over will showcase their finest hard to find vintage apparel, textiles, jewelry, and accessories in one upscale venue at Temple Isaiah. Tickets are $15 for first dibs preview and $10 for general admission.
Best of Mod with a Twist
The Best of Mod with a Twist returns to the Fall Preview this year with an encore performance of their audience favorites. These witty and insightful 10-minute presentations explore life and culture in Midcentury America, often with a humorous and wry alternative analysis of what was going on in the country in that period. Nightly events October 14 -16 are $55 per person and take place from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Hot Purple Energy Architectural Bike Ride
The FREE Hot Purple Energy bi-annual Midcentury Bike Ride “architectural tour” will consist of riding through several Palm Springs neighborhoods that contain midcentury homes. Though the tour is planned as a group event, electronic copies of the course map will be available in advance to allow riders the opportunity to explore on their own. The tour does NOT include bikes. Participants are advised to bring their own bike or contact Big Wheel Tours to rent one.
Following the Fall Preview, Modernism Week’s signature 11-day festival will take place February 17-27, 2022. Tickets will be available starting November 1 at 12 p.m. PST and may be viewed on line starting October 25. To receive updates, visit modernismweek.com and sign up to receive the free M-Weekly newsletter.
The Hilton Palm Springs Resort, Modernism Week’s official host hotel, is offering a special room of $179 rate for a limited time only. Contact the Hilton directly at 760-320-6868.
