Lucy at Thunderbird

Lucy with her two Cocker Spaniels at Thunderbird in Rancho Mirage

Palm Springs loves Lucy. A statue of Lucy sitting on a bench next to the Coffee Beanery is a constant draw for tourists. Tourists just love to be able to sit with her bronze self to get their picture taken.

This photo, taken back in the days when diving boards weren't law-suit bait has Lucy, hair up in a scarf, sitting, sitting on one with a towel draped over it, and her pointed toes dangling over the water.

This photo is more akin to her movies days when she acted in dramas than her television days when she was a comedy superstar. From I Love Lucy to The Lucy Show, this woman never missed a comedic beat.

Just so you know, Lucy and her husband Desi did not live in Palm Springs. They lived in a ranch house designed by architect Paul Williams in the Thunderbird Country Club, which is located in Rancho Mirage.

Elvis-like Singer at the Hyatt in Downtown Palm Springs

Is this Elvis?

With moves like you see in the above image, the dark hair and the hard grip he has on the microphone, you might think that this guy is an Elvis impersonator.

He was caught singing at the Hyatt. As I walked by, he saw my dSLR camera, viewfinder attached to my eye and pointed at me, a perfect pose for singer a-la-Elvis.

Summertime is cheap time in Palm Springs. You can get a room during the week at the Hyatt for $80 in June compared with $219 on the weekend. Quite a price differential.

Don't let that price fool you, though, There are additional resort fees, taxes and parking fees, which can be upward to $60. 

After all the hotel needs the money to pay the entertainers, not to mention hundreds of other staff members and the big execs of the Hyatt chain.

Car Cut-Out

50s car cut-out

This car had been sitting in the Warm Sands neighborhood of Palm Springs when I noticed that there was a rocket taking off from its tail light to the door. Fascinating. Most certainly a photo op.

To be real, this is for my upcoming book about fine art photography on the Internet, more appropriately referred to those print on demand websites that let artists upload their work so that buyers can shop for it.

Have any idea what the are?

Phone Booths on Palm Canyon

These phone booths that remain on Palm Canyon are almost to the point that an antique dealership or consignment shop can pull them out to hawk as a relic of a the mid-twentieth century.

I mean, look at them--they're classic. The color--bad brown--fits in perfectly with the 1970s and the text written on them could have been lifted out of a 1958 issue of Look magazine.

Finally, there's the idea of the booth itself as a nook to escape the noise of busy Palm Canyon in order to talk on the phone. The concept is ingenious and could be applied today.

Why not offer mobile device users a booth in which to talk so they'll stop walking while talking, putting them at risk of getting run over or hogging the sidewalk?

Actually if you look around, you'll find that cell phone users do use these booths--to escape the hectic street so they can talk and hear the guy at the other end.

Second Sunday is Free at the Palm Springs Art Museum

Palm Springs Art Museum is not only free on Thursday night, it's also free on the second Sunday of each month. This week they had a guy demonstrating silk screening.

Air Force 1 in Palm Springs

Who doesn't know by now that President Obama is talking with the president of China, Xi Jinping, at the Annenberg Estate, Sunnylands,  in Rancho Mirage.

The biggest attraction, though, is not Obama or Xi Jinping. It's Air Force 1 at the Palm Springs Airport.  After all, you can't see either of these guys. There's no way you can get within miles of where the two men are located. Such is security these days. One thing is for sure, he isn't going to be out on Palm Canyon or El Paseo shaking hands.

The plane is sitting on the runway of the airport, a spot where you can get as close as a block away (if you walk through a bit of undeveloped desert land). You'll see people snapping images with all kinds of devices, including some dSLR cameras.

Elton John Impersonator Takes to the Stage in Palm Springs

Elton John impersonator plays piano and sings on stage in downtown Palm Springs

The air, still and warm, let the music slip by, music played by a Las Vegas performer who came to downtown Palm Springs to play a few tunes to mostly local Valley residents. His demeanor and looks are strikingly similar to those of John.

Dogs lapped up water out of plastic bowls, children ran around the Marilyn statue, and, best of all, there was a Marilyn impersonator working the crowd. Still can't say if it was a woman or man! 

The crowd roared like a lion when it was announced that Marilyn's to stay put in Palm Springs until August. "Marilyn has made Palm Springs come back," said one celebrant standing near the stage. "And she's only going to get more popular."

Dog with sunglasses

The blazing sun of the desert is signature Palm Springs, and summer is when it's at its peak. Every person should wear sunglasses so the ultraviolet light doesn't hurt their eyes.

Damaged eyes can lead to floaters, macular degeneration and eye cancer. The dog in the above image will have none of this. Its eyes will be healthy for a lifetime.

This wonderful dog with sunglasses is the epitome of life in the low desert. From frivolous face lifts to gay parades, life in Palm Springs means one must look good and be fashionable. Pets should too.

Building with Colorful Curtains

Building with colorful curtains in the industrial district of Palm Springs

Splitsville--Mary Bono No Longer a Mack

Mary Bono and Connie Mack     Courtesy of SESAC

Sad to say that it's marriage no more for Mary Bono Mack, 51, and her husband Connie Mack, 45.

The handsome couple has called off their vows, but according to KMIR-TV  "still remain on friendly terms."

Both are former Republican members of Congress, and both were defeated in the 2012 elections. 

Mack, from Florida, and Bono, from California, were one of Washington's hottest couples, being seen together, most notably on the red carpet of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Mack was defeated by Dr. Raul Ruiz, who currently represents Palm Springs, other desert cities and a bit of the gerrymandered Inland Empire.

View of Palm Springs from Museum Trail

A sliver view of Palm Springs from the Museum Trail

If you want to exhaust yourself on a hike, go to the Palm Springs Art Museum, walk into western parking lot and head straight toward the mountain. You'll run into the Museum Trail trail head, which is the beginning of a hike that's just about as vertically up as you can get. Of course there are switchbacks to help you navigate your way up.

Don't hike this trail on a summer afternoon, as it's bound to kill you within a few hours. I kid you not. Again, do not hike this trail on a summer afternoon, no matter what the weather is. It's always well above 100 degrees at that time of year and if you walk upward for just a few minutes, you'll find yourself passing out.

Cathedral City Fountain is Hopping with Fun

Summer's almost here and the kids are out at the Cat City fountain in full force

To get to the Cathedral City fountain, just drive down Dinah Shore to Cathedral City Canyon Road, then take a right. Keep going forward until you get to Highway 111. Look to your left and the fountain will be visible in the center of the downtown plaza .