Is Amboy, California Worth the Detour? Inside the Googie Ghost Town That Refused to Stay Dead

Featured image credit: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Amboy (California, USA) — 2012 — 4” / CC BY-SA 4.0 About 200 miles east of Los Angeles and 100 miles northeast of Palm Springs sits a remote Mojave Desert town that exists out of logic and reason. It was built near a dead volcano, along a highway (that died), with a gas station […]

Modernism Week Palm Springs Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Magic Line-Up

It seems there isn’t a second that passes in the Coachella Valley when Mid-Century designs aren’t celebrated in some way. Yet, Palm Springs still devotes a “week” to Mid-Century Modern styles. That “week” lasts 10 days this year, but it still doesn’t seem like enough time to pack in every event, tour, lecture, and party. […]

Bing Crosby House in Palm Desert Could Be Among the County’s Most Expensive Sales

Featured image credit: Paramount Pictures Before Mariah Carey wrapped her mittened hands around the holiday music charts, December was the season of Bing. Legendary actor and crooner Bing Crosby recognized the value of a well-timed Christmas tune… or ten. When the holidays rolled around, so did Crosby’s latest carol… or maybe a golden oldie. It […]

Christmas in Palm Springs Lost Some Magic When RoboLights Went Dark

Featured image credit: RoboLights Facebook Page Christmas in Palm Springs is a special time where time-honored tradition intersects with yuletide camp in a distinctly sweet seasonal cocktail you won’t find anywhere else. But for many longtime residents of the Coachella Valley, it’s not quite Christmas without Robolights. If you’re asking ‘What’s Robolights?”, there’s no way […]

There’s No Place Like Dome: Why Isn’t the Dome House a More Popular Design Model?

It’s unfortunate that the dome house never really caught on as a viable alternative to boxier living. At first glance, dome houses seem like they’d be more trouble than they’re worth. We’re just too accustomed to more traditional home designs. But after reviewing the benefits and drawbacks of dome home life, it seems that it […]

From Venus with Love: The Integratron Brings Cosmic Peace to the Mojave Desert

Featured image credit: Jessie Eastland What is it about the isolation of the desert that drives people to search with such determination for profound, meaningful communication? It’s the conditions that birthed the Mojave Phone Booth: a remote payphone that inspired togetherness amongst lonely people at the end of the 1990s. And the Amargosa Opera House: […]

Should You Rent Out or List Homes for Sale in California?

Is it better to rent out or list homes for sale in California? You’d be surprised how much this question comes up. There’s no denying that property is a solid investment. But when you’ve generated enough wealth to consider retiring your primary residence to an investment property, it’s time to make that crucial choice. Is […]