The recently concluded Palm Springs Modernism Week was the event’s ten-year anniversary and its most successful, as nearly sixty thousand worshipers of mid-century architecture and design made the trip to Palm Springs for ten days of tours, lectures and of course, parties. Attendance was up a record thirty percent over the prior year.
“We had great weather, and the visitors were terrific, so friendly and happy,” commented Danny Munoz, general manager at Palm Springs-based Casa Runner Home Management. “A friend was one of the tour guides for the totally cool neighborhood bus tours,” Munoz added, noting that every tour his friend led was full. “He’s got a great smile and a real passion for our architecture.”
Many evening parties during Modernism Week celebrated the city’s unique homes designed by famed architects Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, William “Bill” Krisel, William F. Cody, John Porter Clark, E. Stewart Williams and the team of George and Robert Alexander (land developers and builders). Another event focus: iconic art at cocktail gatherings hosted in local mid-century galleries. A fashion show held outdoors at the Palm Springs Art Museum Design & Architecture Center drew hundreds of “Party Likes It’s 1961” attendees dressed in mid-century garb and clapping enthusiastically for the era’s fashions.
News media from throughout the US and beyond wrote about the unique event, including a piece in The New York Times with photos that showcased Palm Springs mid-century homes and legendary winter weather. Local newspaper The Desert Sun provided daily updates to event visitors while local restaurants and hotels were at capacity. During the first weekend of Modernism visitors had their pick of everything Modernism plus the annual Tour de Palm Springs bicycle race, a hot air balloon festival in Cathedral City and for added drama, a weekend visit from Air Force One carrying President Obama to a President’s Weekend holiday in nearby Rancho Mirage.
“It was crazy — and we loved every minute!”, concluded Danny Munoz, who added that all of Casa Runner’s concierge homes were full with appreciative visitors. “Where else can you go in February to be entertained by such a world class location, weather and events?”
Casa Runner is the Desert’s premier home watch, vacation rental concierge and home management team. To learn more visit casarunner.com or call Danny Munoz, general manager at 760-861-CASA.
