Surprise!

I may have mentioned this before, but I have been a fan of Palm Springs my entire life. The swimming pools, warm weather, Hollywood glamor. What’s not to like? As our 11th wedding anniversary approached and the fact that we canceled our 10 year plans last year due to covid, this seemed like the perfect destination. Danny agreed to let me plan a trip without telling him where. I booked flights, reserved a house, rented a car, made dinner reservations — All without uttering a single word. I managed to keep it all under wraps through checking luggage and security. The moment of truth came as we approached gate D1 at SeaTac airport. He saw it. The screen said Palm Springs. And he was so happy. It was so obvious that it actually took him by complete surprise.

Lone Palm Bungalow

I am generally a hotel and room service kind of a girl. But this. This was different. I wanted the dream home with mountain views and a private pool. We hit the jackpot with Lone Palm Bungalow, just steps away from Frank Sinatra’s legendary Twin Palms Estate in the Movie Colony. The house is remarkably cute and every detail, down to the artwork on the walls and the coffee mugs in the kitchen, has been lovingly curated. The saltwater pool was heated to a perfect 85°F and was enjoyed by us every single day.

A Mystery and A Family Scandal

If you read my blog on the reg, you know I love cemeteries. The Desert Memorial Park is quaint but fits the bill. Notables such as actress Dorothy Arnold, director and choreographer Busby Berkeley, and Zsa Zsa’s sister Magda Gabor are here. But I came here for Frank. Several members of the Sinatra clan are here with him including his parents and his widow, 4th wife Barbara. I last visited this grave 5 years ago and noticed that the grave marker has since been replaced. The stone used to read, “The Best Is Yet To Come. Beloved Husband and Father.” Today it simply says, “Sleep Warm, Poppa.” Odd. I did some digging and learned that sources reached out to living members of the Sinatra family such as daughters Tina and Nancy as well as their adult children. No one was willing to speak on the matter. However, a few redacted police reports indicate there was an incident in which a blunt object was taken to the original marker, specifically to the word “husband.” We may not know who took a hammer to the stone but Tina and Nancy never liked Barbara and “Sleep warm, Poppa” is something both of them have said and posted online. Do what you will with this information.

And The Beat Goes On

The Desert Memorial Park is also the final resting place of Sonny Bono and his mother. He moved to the Coachella Valley in the ‘80s, a time when Palm Springs was experiencing a lull in popularity. He was elected mayor and served four years. Sonny is beloved in Palm Springs. He has two statues, a concourse named after him at the airport, and a star on Palm Springs Walk of Stars. He played a vital role in the creation of the Palm Springs Film Festival and the revitalization of the city.

Both Sonny and Frank died in 1998, a very sad year for the community.

Thanksgiving in the Desert

Palm Springs never disappoints. No matter how many times I’ve been here (or how many times we’ve thought about moving here), I always leave wishing the trip had been just a little longer.

Where We Like To Eat

-Sherman’s Deli for breakfast or lunch (shout out to the warm corned beef sandwich)

-Sandfish for the best sushi in the desert

-Jake’s for fresh California cuisine

-La Tablita in Cathedral City for some of the best Mexican food this side of the border

Palm Springs: Revisited