Modernism Week 2023

From sunny views through screen block walls to architectural designs that stun the senses, Palm Springs' annual 'Modernism Week' returns with the 2023 edition February 16-26 to celebrate all things modern, and in a very big way.

Events include tours of architectural homes many have only seen in books; classic car and trailer shows; and a series of presentations on an incredibly wide range of fascinating topics, from tiki to retro slide shows by pop culture personality Charles Phoenix.

And did we mention glamorous, glittering cocktail parties with stunning fashions staged in iconic homes?

To get the most out of this phenomenally popular 11-day festival (with 350 scheduled events!), keep in mind that individual events do sell out quickly, so check the website and book in advance.

For hotel accommodations, search the listings for local favorites with a modern flair. For tiki lovers, the restored Caliente Tropics Resort, with its Reef cocktail lounge, restaurant, and pristine pool, is primed to transport aficionados to an island paradise.

Palm Springs is a great town to tour, so when you arrive, stop off at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, where you can purchase a self-guided tour of desert modernism, and a map of stars' homes that will guide you to the city's most famous landmarks and mid-century neighborhoods.

By the way, the Visitor Center is a modern marvel in itself, and was once threatened with demolition. Originally designed as an Enco gas station in 1965 by architects Albert Frey and Robson Chambers, the building, known for its sleek, 95-foot-long roofline, is one of the first buildings you'll see when you come into town from the north. A free event celebrating the installation of new permanent nighttime lighting for the Visitor Center has been scheduled.

This year, one of the most talked-about Modernism Week events is the reveal of what likely will eventually become an exciting, new desert landmark. Artist and entrepreneur Josh Agle (aka 'Shag') has been "taking his two-dimensional work to new heights recently with an ambitious 3D adventure—the building of a groovy Palm Springs showcase he calls the Shag House," as we reported here recently.