Happy St Patricks Day!

Dinah Shore LPGA Starts March 28th 2011

Formally known as the Dinah Shore, this is one of four major ladies golf events and was founded by Dinah Shore herself in 1972. Now in its’ 40th year this is the first major event of the womens golf season. This year the event runs from March 28th thru the 3rd of April.

Truly an international event the tournament will bring thousands of people to the beautiful Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage for this televised event.  Tickets start at just $20 and there are packages available.

In addition to be lots of fun the tournament raises money for many charities - this year with an emphasis on Literacy programs. A-list celebrities and the biggest names in womens golf, great golf and lets not forget the weather – what a great bunch of reasons to come to Rancho Mirage for the weekend!

There are tickets available and volunteer opportunities and you can get more information and tickets on the Kraft Nabisco Championship Website

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Amazing Estates In Palm Springs

Palm Springs has long been a draw for Celebrities.  Many of the biggest names in Entertainment and the Arts have called Palm Springs home at one point or another in their careers.  Here you can see two amazing properties that are currently on the market.

The first property is located in Old Las Palmas.  This is the neighborhood just West of downtown Palm Springs. It has big grand estates some built in the 1930's all the  way through to some just built a few years ago.  One thing is for sure all of them have a unique charm that this beautiful neighborhood full of mature palms and stunning Mountain vistas only makes better.

This older, but beautifully restored, estate features 7000+ square feet plus 3 guest homes, water features and 8 bedrooms. Formerly the home of Ann Miller it sits on 3.9 acres it has the quintessential Spanish Villa look. 457 Hermosa Place.

The second property is located in the Mesa neighborhood of South Palm Springs. It is the home of actress Suzanne Sommers. Your neighbors include Barry Manilow and Riff Markowiz - presenter of the Palm Springs Follies Show.  In the  past Gloria Swanson and Joseph Cotton - silent screen stars - had homes in this neighborhood. It was also where Sonny Bono lived until his death. The home (reportedly designed by noted architect Albert Frey)  is uniquely positioned high above the rest of the houses perched on the hillside it has lots of acreage with it and even a funicular for access.  See 385 Alta Vista Rd Palm Springs.

You can search for more Luxury homes in Palm Springs or contact us for more information on any home in the area.

Food and Wine Festival Palm Desert March 26-27, 2011

The second annual Food and Wine Festival Palm Desert is scheduled for the fourth weekend of March this year.  Held in conjunction with Palm Deserts' week long El Paseo Fashion week  - the town is sure to be full of all the best in Wardrobe - Wine and waistline expanding eats!  

There will be Celebrity chefs, Food Network Personalities, cooking demonstrations and premium wine samplings.  Slated to appear are Chefs Jimmy Schmidt, Roy Yamaguchi, Paul Bertolli and Bradley Ogden.   The Culinary Institue Of America is a co-sponsor and this year the the event benefits their Scholarship fund as well as the James Beard Foundation.

Tickets for this fun event  can be obtained by contacting Jeff Hocker at Jeffhocker1@gmail.com

That Sweet Smell Can Only Mean One Thing

We all tend to take things for granted when we see them everyday.  I remember when I lived in Colorado I got very accustomed to some of the most magnificent views on the planet. Breathtaking scenery of the  snow capped Rockies and the Continental Divide was a daily spectacle to me. It was usually a visiting friend or relative that would bring it back home to me how special this really was.

Now that I live in the Coachella Valley it is common place for me to see citrus trees where ever I go. Most people have at least one tree in their yard, condo complexes are full of them sprinkled all over the grounds.  Oranges, grapefruits and lemons are the most common but a few lucky people have tangerine trees. At the east end of the valley there are still some agricultural areas that produce citrus crops.  In fact if you venture out to the Salton Sea (an interesting day trip) you will pass some of them.

So, the visual of citrus trees hardly registers with me anymore. I see it everyday. However, each year in March the overpowering smell of the fragrant blossoms permeates the valley and you just can't escape it.  No real way to share that with you on the blog but just know that it is a wonderful fragrance.  Riding with the windows down in the car is fun as you can even smell it then.

Just one more thing that makes living in Palm Springs amazing. Come see why Everyone wants to bu a home in Palm Springs!

 [Citrus Crop photo courtesy of Suat Eman"]