Tag Archives: travel

Portland Vintage Guide

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Over the time that I’ve had this blog, I’ve received multiple e-mails asking where one should go for vintage shopping while visiting the City of Roses.  And often I find myself having to actually take the time to create a list instead of just being able to pull one out of my pocket.  I’ve decided to change that routine…So here is the Atomic Redhead’s Guide to Portland!

Please note that I have not included every vintage shop or antique mall in Portland.  I have selected ones I enjoy shopping at.  However, I have also included a handful of other shops that I don’t often visit, but those seeking very high-end vintage garments or furniture may wish to visit. Additionally, I have listed some other Portland places you may want to visit, as well as places to grab a bite to eat or a drink.

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The Hideaway

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I think one of the highlights of our Palm Springs trip was our hotel.  I find it difficult to find words for how much I love this place. So, hey, what’s better than words? Pictures! And there are a lot! Because not only am I going to show you the swank hotel is that we stayed at but also my swimsuit and another outfit I packed to stay cool in the hot Palm Springs sun…

We stayed at The Hideaway, which is part of the Orbit In.  The Orbit In was built in 1957, then it was known as The Village Manor and was renovated to become The Orbit In in 2001.  A year later The Hideaway opened.  Built in 1947, it was originally the Town and Desert, and both properties were built by Herbert Burns.

The Hideaway features a saline swimming pool flanked by loungers as well as glorious cacti and fruit trees.  Additionally, there is a lounge that includes fabulous mid-century furniture and photos of the hotel by famed photographer Julius Shulman.

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La Plaza Dos

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So I finally did a bit of vintage shopping here in Palm Springs, but I was rather let down…or maybe just my wallet and personal taste let me down.

I visited many shops, however most inventory of the antique shops were more…high-end, I guess you could say. Many had pieces of modern art mixed in with primitives, which often just isn’t my bag.  I love kitsch.  There were a handful of shops though that were a bit more up my alley.   Route 66 West carried the best selection of Bakelite I’ve ever seen. And Mr. Cox offered beautiful items in a carefully curated and plush shop.  But it was Deja Vu where my taste and pocket book were a little more at home and I walked away with this insanely perfect skirt…

Yeah, those are silhouettes of square dancers.  Pretty amazing, right?  I kind of had to hold in a squee of delight when I found it.  The skirt paired nicely with the blouse I wore in my last post…so I couldn’t resist wearing the outfit before we headed back to Portland.

We explored La Plaza a bit more and discovered a restaurant I was totally oblivious to last time I wandered around, FARM, which has taken four of the former bungalows and made one the kitchen, and the other three and the space in between all of them into dining areas.  However we didn’t eat there, and instead opted for Tyler’s since Patrick had missed out on my previous visits and wanted to try their delicious food.

Well, we head home tomorrow! But don’t worry, the Palm Springs posts don’t end here! I have yet to talk about the stellar hotel we’re at. So stay tuned! Heck, you might even get a post tomorrow during our four hour layover in San Fran!

Vista Las Palmas

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One of the fabulous things about our hotel is that they have complimentary bicycles for guests to use! We opted to go for a small peddle around one of Palm Spring’s modern neighborhoods, Vista Las Palmas, which also happens to be home to Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway!  Just like before, buckle up, this is yet another extremely picture heavy post!  This place has some of the most drool-worthy homes I’ve ever seen.

Sadly, I didn’t know you can tour Elvis’ home until we returned to the hotel.  Next time we’re in Palm Springs I’m totally going on a tour.

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The Orchid Tree Inn

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Yesterday I realized I forgot to pack my card-reader. Then how did, you ask, I upload and blog about La Plaza? I went to a Rite Aid and bought a card-reader and on my way I found a hidden treasure…the currently for sale Orchid Tree Inn. Gear up for another picture heavy post, because this place is too amazing for words.

Okay, maybe it’s not all that hidden…it’s just a block off the main drag, but still.  Anyhow, I kind of freaked out. Here was an early Spanish Revival bungalow style hotel and it was for sale. For. Sale. Seriously.  Where is my winning lottery ticket when I need it?

Oh, and did I mention it comes with an old church too?  The Community Church of Palm Springs built in 1935 to be exact.

I discovered the place has the hefty price tag of a cool $7,450,000. Yeah. Kill me.  So I just have to suffice with a handful of snapshots since it appears Patrick and I won’t be reopening this old place anytime soon. I wish there hadn’t have been the fence that also included tarps around it, making it unable for me to get as many pictures as I would have liked… *sigh*

I hope someone comes along soon and restores it to its former glory.

Outfit
Sailor Inspired Square Dancing Dress by Partners Please: AlexSandra’s Vintage Emporium
Shoes (Yeah, you’ve seen ‘em before): Bohemian Vintage, now Yours

La Plaza

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So far my trip to Palm Springs has been rather blah with regards to shopping (I haven’t checked everything out yet though!), but as been very keen with regards to architecture.  I’d like to take this time to highlight (read: extremely picture heavy post) one of my favorite little spots here in Palm Springs… La Plaza.

La Plaza is a kind of cool, kind of sad, but extremely nifty shopping center and food spot in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.

Originally built in 1936, La Plaza served as a “one stop center”.  On the lower levels on either side of the parking lot were a range of shops, including a beauty parlor, bookstore, deli, pharmacy, jewelry shop and bicycle shop.  Behind the shops were bungalows that you could rent by the night, week or month, which included “a dandy wood-burning fireplace”!  And above the shops, penthouses! Also available by the night, week or month.  Penthouses had two or three bedrooms, came completely furnished and included a private sun deck.  Both options also included maid service.  How swank would this place have been in the 30s and 40s?

It’s obvious that La Plaza has seen better days, but it’s still a hub of action in Palm Springs.  Today the place is home to a wide range of shops and services and restaurants.  Tyler’s Burgers where I had lunch today was originally a gas station, later a bus depot and then an A&W.  Some shops are a little touristy and and signage dated (and not in a good way), but some are hip new hot spots to grab a bite to eat. There are still some vacant locations throughout the plaza just begging to be turned into nifty little shops.  The only original place left is the Plaza Theatre.  When La Plaza Theatre opened it premiered Gretta Garbo’s film Camille.  The place was home to movies as well as live acts.  The theatre closed in the late 1980s however it was rescued in the early 1990s and is now home to the Palm Springs Follies, where all of the cast members are between the ages of 54 and 83!

I do love this little location, I’d love to explore it more, especially the rooftop penthouses and bungalows, so who knows! You may see some more of La Plaza in future Palm Springs entries!

Packin’ for Palm Springs

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Tomorrow morning Patrick and I are hopping on a plane headed for beautiful and sunny Palm Springs!

I haven’t been to Palm Springs since I was a kid, and I’m so excited to be able to tag along on Patrick’s business trip for a company conference. I have plans to see some of my family as well as go shopping and I’m eager to try out my new Beach Bash swimsuit in the pool too. Not to mention I’ll be drooling over all of the glorious mid-century architecture.  Shame Patrick’s conference couldn’t fall under the same time as Modernism Week which was late last month. *sigh* Oh well… One year we’ll go.

Anyhow, unlike Austin, where we actually stayed about 17 miles from Austin proper so getting back to the hotel on my own was not possible, thus I wasn’t able to blog as much as I wanted, we’re staying at a swank hotel close to everything and I’ll be able to pop in and out as much as I please.  And hopefully that means blogging more while I’m away from the Rose City.

Now I’m off to pack!