February 15 - 17 > Palm Springs Modernism Week Field Trip > Book Signing, Hotel Lautner Tour and WORKSHOP Happy Hour

Martinis anyone? It's time once again for our annual field trip far east of La Brea to sunny Palm Springs for Modernism Week 2013, the annual 11-day celebration of midcentury architecture, design and culture.  As always, the jam-packed schedule features an incredible array of programs including iconic home tours, architectural bus tours, cocktail parties, gallery openings, special exhibitions, fashion shows, design showcases and expos, and lectures and film screenings, not to mention live music.

Join de LaB as we go on design walkabout in Palm Springs. The weekend begins with a book signing and celebration with Stamberg Aferiat and Modernism Week's team of investigative Instagrammers, the PS ModSquad, at the colorful Saguaro Hotel. Next up, a fundraiser for Never Built at a Joshua Tree prefab and a tour of the Hotel Lautner. And we end the weekend with happy hour and some nosh at WORKSHOP Kitchen + Bar, one of the newest eateries in Palm Springs, designed by SOMA Architects.

Pick and choose which events you'd like to join us for during the course of the weekend. And of course we have a block of rooms reserved just for de LaB at the Saguaro Hotel... read on for more details about what to do and where to stay!

Events

Friday, February 15
5pm to 7pm
Stamberg Aferiat Book Signing & Reception
Saguaro Hotel
1800 East Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264

Modernism Week welcomes Stamberg Aferiat, the first-ever PS Mod Squad, and de LaB to Palm Springs with special little happy hour. The architects will be on hand signing copies of their brand new Rizzoli book and giving informal tours of the grounds.

Open to the public. Free.  No RSVP required.



Saturday, February 16
2:30 p.m. to sunset
Never Built Fundraiser
Blu Homes' Los Angeles Disney Desert Oasis
Shuttles provided, details will be sent to ticket holders

Kick off Modernism Week with a celebration at Tim Disney's gorgeous prefab home. Never Built curator, The Architect's Newspaper editor, and longtime de LaB supporter Sam Lubell will be on hand with co-curator Greg Goldin to discuss their upcoming exhibition which is a rare compendium of unbuilt LA projects. Blu Homes creative director Karl Daubman will moderate the discussion.

Tickets are $50/person, $60 at the door. Purchase tickets HERE.




Sunday, February 17
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tour and Exhibition Viewing
Hotel Lautner
67710 San Antonio Street
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

Tracy Beckman and Ryan Trowbridge take us on a special tour of the gorgeous Hotel Lautner, the historic 1947 John Lautner structure which has been lovingly renovated and opened last year as a boutique hotel. We'll get a look at the gorgeously appointed suites and grounds, and a peek at the latest work by midcentury modern artist Danny Heller, who was recently featured on KCET's Artbound.

Tickets cost $35/person. Purchase tickets HERE. Space is extremely limited.





Sunday, February 17

4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Happy Hour

WORKSHOP Kitchen + Bar
800 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite G
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Dubbed as an editor's pick by Wallpaper magazine, WORKSHOP Kitchen + Bar is Palm Springs' hottest new dining destination. Located in the El Paseo Building, the industrial chic space features 27-foot cathedral ceiling trusses, black steel, concrete, and lighting by Beirut-based PS Lab. The vintage modern kitchen and bar serves up delicious dishes by Chef Owner Michael Beckman, like octopus carpaccio and duck fat fries...oh yeah. Duck fat. Cash bar happy hour.

No RSVP required, just show up!

Accommodations

We've reserved a block of rooms at The Saguaro at a rate of $169/night. Call the main reservation line at 877-808-2439 and say you're with the design east of la brea group. The cut-off date is January 31—after that we can't guarantee the rate or that there will be rooms available—so jump on it now if you want a room.

For more info about Modernism Week events:

While a lot of the hot-ticket items sold out months ago, there are still tons of programs that are open to the public.  Check out the Modernism Week blog for up-to-the minute updates or The Guide to see what else you should be doing while you're in Palm Springs.  Also, refer to this handy dandy cocktail party round-up.

For more information about design events in Palm Springs:

We would also suggest checking out some of the many design events that will be taking place at locations throughout the city.  Among the highlights:

• Kismet Tile Trunk Show - Tracey Reinberg, of LA-based Kismet Tile, will be in town hosting a pop-up trunk show at The Ace Hotel, showcasing her graphic and mid-century moroccan-inspired tiles and wallpaper.  This is a non-ticketed event. Just show up, browse, and hopefully go home with something really pretty!