What to Do at Fall Preview 2016

Can’t wait until February? Get a peek at the 2017 event during Fall Preview this October.

Double deckers, midcentury modern design, home tours, and more return to the Coachella Valley for Fall Preview, October 21-23, 2016. The weekend event will provide a sampling of the programs featured during the annual 11-day festival in February 2017.

double decker bus tour
Photo Credit: David A. Lee

Perennial favorites like the walking tours, architectural bus tours, tours of Palm Springs neighborhoods and iconic buildings, educational events (including lectures and film screenings), and a series of receptions celebrating all things modern will be included in the October program.

“The Fall Preview is a wonderful opportunity for attendees to get a taste of what our 11-day festival in February will offer,” said Lisa Vossler Smith, Executive Director of Modernism Week. “This fun, three-day event offers entertaining tours, lectures, demonstrations, and receptions that we will provide in the upcoming 2017 event.”

Photo credit: Jake Holt
Photo credit: Jake Holt

The Fall Preview kicks off on Friday night with a festive Opening Night Party and Early Buying Preview Reception at the Modernism Show & Sale at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The popular Show & 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. Tickets are available in advance at modernismweek.com or at the door Friday night during the opening reception. Weekend show hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Attendees will experience a wide range of compelling architectural tours, including a walking tour of Palm Springs, a guided tour of Sunnylands (featuring the Annenberg Estate and Visitors Center), the Charles Phoenix Super Duper Double Decker Bus Tour of Palm Springs and other Premier Double Decker Architecture Bus Tours, docent-led tours of Frank Sinatra’s “Twin Palms” Estate and the iconic Frey House II residence, and the 3rd Annual ONE–PS Neighborhood Home Tour, Pads, Pools & Patios, showcases significant homes in a variety of Palm Springs neighborhoods.

Photo credit: Jake Holt
Photo credit: Jake Holt

Educational enrichment has always been the cornerstone of Modernism Week, and the Fall Preview continues this rich offering with a series of lectures and film screenings that are designed to titillate and inform attendees. The popular lecture series “Modernism With a Twist” will reprise the top audience favorites from the past year with its signature combination of cheeky and enlightening presentations on topics pertaining to Modernism. The Palm Springs Women’s Club will be the site of two captivating lectures – Lost, Saved & Endangered, a review of the current state of preservation of important buildings, presented by architectural expert Gary Johns, and Palm Springs to Los Angeles and Back, presented by author, historian and speaker Steven M. Price. “Desert Maverick – The Singular Architecture of William F. Cody,” the story of midcentury modern architect William F. Cody told through the iconic buildings that he created, will be screened at the Palm Springs Public Library.

On Saturday, October 22 the public is invited to attend a special dedication on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for Robert Imber, local architectural historian and founder of Palm Springs Modern Tours. The ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion at 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Photo credit: David A. Lee
Photo credit: David A. Lee

A cocktail reception on Saturday, October 22 honoring famed Palm Springs architect E. Stewart Williams will raise funds to nominate several prominent homes and buildings designed by Williams for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Hosted by Towne Palm Springs, with hors d’oeurves and cocktails provided by Jake’s Restaurant, this indoor/outdoor event will take place at The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five, a restored historic commercial building originally designed in 1955 by E. Stewart Williams.

Another highlight of the weekend activities will be Christopher Kennedy’s “Palm Springs Pad” with public tours on Saturday and Sunday and a Preview Party on Friday evening. Built in 2006 by Palm Springs Modern Homes and designed by Los Angeles’ DesignArc, the 48@Baristo town homes have been widely praised and credited for launching “A New Generation of Desert Modern.” Partnering with ATGStores.com to outfit the house, Ferguson, and other industry leaders, Christopher has updated his new pad with the latest ideas that are easily implemented in today’s modern lifestyle.

Photo credit: David A. Lee
Photo credit: David A. Lee

Mark your calendars for these events! For tickets, updates, and more, visit www.modernismweek.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Fall Preview 2016
October 21-23, 2016
Tickets available August 1 at 12 p.m. PST

Modernism Week 2017
February 16-26, 2017
Tickets available November 1 at 12 p.m. PST