In Palm Springs real estate news, internationally renowned author Anne Rice has begun to engage her Facebook fans to help with the sale of her Palm Springs area home. Known for her novels about vampires and angels, Rice has decided to downsize but has not realized sales success since listing her home in April of 2010. A year later she is shifting gears. Recently on her Facebook fan page Rice took a "commercial break" and posted a link to her Rancho Mirage property from Zillow. She has also tweeted the property link as well. Ms. Rice is selling many of the furnishings and accessories from the house and has created an Ebay store to do so. Anything from chairs, jewels, shoes or books from the estate property can be purchased on line and Rice continually baits her fans and followers click ... 03/30/2011

If you would like to see any of the properties listed below which are Foreclosures in Rancho Mirage, CA , please call us at the numbers below. Were committed to helping you find the home of your dreams. As a Real Estate Agent with over 20 years of experience in the local Real Estate market, Elaine truly enjoys helping people in the process of buying or selling a home. Elaine Stewart - Remax Real Estate Consultants Mobile: (760) 668-2399 - Office: (760) 391-4415 Email: desertrealestate1@yahoo.com 03/27/2011

COMMUNITY, INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE. It's what you expect from the people you do business with, and it defines our company. We're proud to introduce Windermere Real Estate to the Coachella Valley. Our local real estate professionals, teamed with the strength of Windermere's network of more than 385 offices throughout the West, create unparalleled professional real estate services. The high caliber tools and extensive network available through Windermere combined with our local expertise and community commitment give us unique resources to meet your real estate needs. 15 offices and growning, throughout the Coachella Valley - in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta and Mountain Center/Garner Valley.     03/13/2011

Saturday February 13th  9pm to 2:00am Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa 41000 Bob Hope Dr. Rancho Mirage, CA BB INGLE Founder and Host! Join us as we celebrate this special "Night of Love" with a return to the spectacular Rancho Las Palmas Resort Grand Ballroom. * Come find Love or bring your own!Saturday, Feb. 12th, 20119pm - 2amRancho Las Palmas Resort41-000 Bob Hope Dr. (across from the "River")Rancho Mirage, Ca. 92270- Hot All-Star Party Band featuring Michael James, Ryan Landry, Francesco DiCosmo, Jake Hayden, & the two lovely vocalist, Jennifer Singer & Tahana Smith- Four DJs playing a variety of music:- DJ Ray- JF// Discord- DJ Jeff Ferguson- DJ Dirty Ish$10 Admission with portion of proceeds benefitting the Pet Resue Center* A VALENTINES GIFT from us - half price for the LADIES *L... 02/11/2011

  We get spoiled here in The Coachella Valley with so many subsequent days of sunshine and many of us frown on the thought of rain. I grew up in Northern Louisiana and I have to admit, nowadays I miss the rain. I miss sitting on the front porch watching the drops come down while an electrical show paints the sky. Massive storms rarely happen here in the desert. Today however, is the first day of sunshine after a storm system has kept us dark, dreary and wet for three days. We've had periods of outright downpours with streets being closed and traffic at a standstill. Most everyone has opted to stay indoors and ride it out. But, if I had to pick a time when the desert is the most beautiful, the most perfect, and the most amazing I'd have to say it's the day after a rainstorm. No one seems... 12/23/2010

Nestled in a cove on the southern end of The Coachella Valley on a plot of land once known as Happy Hollow, is The La Quinta Resort & Club. Originally built in 1926 as The Hotel La Quinta the structure remains an area historical icon and since its opening has been a key destination for the rich, the famous, and the serenity seeker. Although many a famous Hollywood legend has booked a room there, none more special this time of year as Frank Capra. Back in the 1920's Frank booked Suite 136 and wrote the screenplay for It Happened One Night. When that film went on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay, Frank gave credit to his stay at The Hotel La Quinta. He returned to that very same suite to write Mr. Smith Goes to... 12/22/2010

On such a damp, dark and dreary December day I wasn't much in the holiday spirit so I opted to do something different. I took a stroll to the grove of wild palms on the fringes of Palm Springs that recently burned. Quite eerie indeed with a thick scent of wet ash and dirt. The muddy ground and the dark cloudy skies added to the melancholy atmosphere. I was the only one there. The fire razed through several acres about a month ago and the smoke could be seen from the entire Coachella Valley...  It's worth a trek to see the aftermath first hand.     12/20/2010

On a recent road trip while driving through the sand dunes of Southeastern California I came upon a little church built atop a mound of dirt. The church, gleaming in the sun, could be seen from far away and acted as a beacon for weary travelers. Although I didn't need to stop I thought the church would make a good photography subject so I pulled off the interstate to snap a few shots.   What I didn't expect to find was Felicity, CA - a strange little oasis of a town in the middle of the desert offering quite a story. Much to my surprise this freeway exit was much more than a meager little church. It was actually the center of the world and according to law (or at least the people who were there) this is actual fact. Felicity, CA, is in fact the center of the world. I had never realized... 12/17/2010

  I drive a lot and one of the purposes of this blog was to be more aware of the things I'm driving by. When I see something interesting I'm taking the time to stop and discover more about the world around me. So I'm kind of ashamed to admit that for the last year I've been driving 1000 Palms Canyon Road frequently and have been noticing a staircase built into the side of a ridge for several months now. That's right, for several months now I've seen these steps but have not stopped to see where they lead. It's impossible to see over them and where they end remained a mystery until now. The weather lately has been pretty amazing so it's been perfect adventure weather. I had to stop and investigate the staircase. There's a little parking area along 1000 Palms Canyon Road suitable for seve... 12/14/2010

   The other day I was trying to entice a client by sending some listings that might motivate him to start searching for properties. He would like an estate home on a golf course in a gated community so I set out to send him three properties just to keep in contact. During an MLS Search I was able to pull up over 100 listings that fit this criteria however I was so disappointed in what was visible online. I'm embarrassed to say that peers of mine are doing such a disservice to their sellers and their clients. Listings in the multiple million dollar range with only one or two substandard photographs seemed to be the norm. When I found listings that described a fantastic course view I was quite often disappointed that there was no photograph of the view. Pictures of beds, toilets and dini... 12/08/2010

Salvation Mountain is far from secret. It has been featured on television and it has been used as a location for major motion pictures. It has long been considered an icon of The Salton Sea and has beckoned visitors from around the world. With that said I must admit I had never been until last Summer. It was 115 degrees outside when I decided to drive down but during those slow days of Summer I couldn't think of anything better to do. So off I went to Niland, a small town on the southeastern banks of The Salton Sea which from the highway looks like nothing more than a couple of mini marts and eating spots. It's about 2 miles off the highway where the treasures can be found. Arriving at Salvation Mountain it was everything I expected it to be. It looked exactly as I imagined it - no big... 12/07/2010

12/06/2010

Back in the mid 80's while sitting at my desk overlooking Hollywood a report came on the news about a mob gathering downtown for what was rumored to be a free U2 concert. The band was filming their video for the recent release of "Where The Streets Have No Name" on the roof of a downtown high rise but somehow word leaked they were performing live. Unprepared for the gathering crowd, the LA police department was outnumbered and were concerned a riot might ensue once everyone realized no concert had been planned. When the band members of U2 noticed what was going on they actually performed a free concert at the request of authorities and thirty minutes later the crowd disbanded without incident. Every time I hear the song I recall that memory and naturally think the lyrics are referring ... 12/03/2010

Driving up Highway 62 and reaching the top of the grade at Morongo Valley, I have often noticed a house built of rocks just to left of the road. It's an ominous structure and looks to have been there for quite awhile. There are no signs around it claiming significance but yet there's something special about this house that led me to believe it has a past. It surely has a history, right? Morongo Valley is a small community and other than a post office it has no government buildings. There is no library to research the property however hanging on the wall in The Morongo Valley Café is an old picture of a structure strikingly similar to the house. In this picture though, the house is referred to as The Morongo Valley Inn. I just knew it would have a past so I quickly turned to the interne... 12/02/2010

Much has been said of the giant dinosaurs in Cabazon, California, as well as the outlet malls and the casino but the legendary Wheel Inn has gone unnoticed for many years now. Once a beacon to travelers and truckers alike with its giant EAT sign, The Wheel Inn is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year just as it always has since opening in 1960. A couple of decades ago, The Wheel Inn and gas station next door where the only attractions except for the dinosaurs. These days though with the influx of Indian gaming, Cabazon is very different. On a recent stop for lunch, The Wheel Inn was pretty empty of diners but I was happily surprised that little had changed inside since my first visit back in 1986. The façade and exterior have been updated through the years but thankfully ... 12/01/2010

"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory."-George S. Patton Heading east on 1-10 about 30 minutes outside of Indio there's the Chiriaco Summit exit which in itself is a microcosm of all things quirky about desert living. Here you can find a gas station, mini mart, fast food franchise, a diner, a travel center, a small campground and trailer park plus The General Patton Memorial Museum. It's like a small town all congregated around one particular freeway off ramp and since it literally is in the middle of nowhere... it's very crowded. I had a burger and fries at the food counter inside the mini mart and walked about the offerings of this very small community but realized it was the museum that was the essence of this region. For a mere $5 I could walk the ... 11/29/2010

What Does a Picture Mean to You? I don't think we think much about how our life can be told in pictures...or the judgements we make about the pictures we are looking at?  Have you ever looked at a picture and thought,  "That's a cool pic!"?  Or vice versa?  Then you know what I'm talking about. The nature of photos and "what they mean" has and will continue to change as we progress.  They will become increasingly important.  The next time you're taking pics, make it interesting!!!  Stage it UP a little!!  ADD a little color...maybe similar colors in the pic to draw in the viewer's eye.  See what I mean?   The color, placement, lighting...You don't have to be a professional photographer to snap your next hot pic!  I know it would help, but stay with me on this...Everyone can snap a great... 11/27/2010

    December 3rd....13th Annual black tie,  Holiday Voices presented by Eisenhower Medical Center Auxiliary! This event promises to be a very special holiday event with dining and dancing...wear your special holiday gown! Local favorites Pat Rizzo and  vocalist Patricia Welch, along with the Palm Desert High School Chamber Singers will entertain with holiday songs! Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage;  6-9pm;   $300;  (760)773-1810 11/21/2010

Rancho Mirage held its 10h annual Art Affaire this weekend, November 13 & 14, in Whitewater Park, an intimate verdant venue with grassy swales and mountain vistas. Public entry is free as is the bottled water; the only concession to the recession is the smaller bottle size. About 100 selected artists set up shop in the park and the ambiance is low-key. The local police and fire department bring their vehicles for the children to ogle. Many event-goers bring their dogs and booths ringing the stage offer quality food, wine and beer. Today's jazz headliner was Eric Darius, a return artist who played to a packed, appreciative audience. The smooth jazz artist released a new CD this year, On a Mission. Check out his website for more information. Vicki Banks, a favorite of mine, is an LA sculp... 11/14/2010

BB'S 26TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH IN RANCHO MIRAGE! Get your costume ready for one of the most entertaining events of the year, the legendary Halloween Party at the spectacular Rancho Las Palmas Resort. This year's 26th Annual Bash promises to be even bigger and more outrageous than last year's party, which had over 2,000 people in attendance and was nominated for" Event of the Year" in the Desert Sun's "Best of the Valley" awards, click here to read more about the "Best of the Valley Awards". Saturday, October 30th, 2010 9pm-2am Rancho Las Palmas Resort 41-000 Bob Hope Dr. (across from the "River")Rancho Mirage, Ca. Three Ballrooms of Entertainment: -The ALL-STAR PARTY BAND & Five DJs playing a variety of music -DJ RAY -DJ JEFF FERGUSON -JF//DISCORD + Jesa Jean on vocals -DJ DIRTY ISH -... 10/24/2010