Desert Dispatch🌞 Thriving in August

🌞 Thriving in the Desert

In this issue, we celebrate the spirit of endurance, ingenuity, and joy that defines life in the desert’s hottest season. From cactus blooms to twilight swims, we’re exploring all the ways desert dwellers thrive.

Here’s to finding beauty in the burn and grace in the grit. Let’s thrive, together.

🗞️ Palm Springs Now

🚡 Tourism & Recreation

• City Council approves new management for Convention Center. Learn more

• Ten new pickleball courts coming to Demuth Park. Learn more

• Palm Springs youth learn about hospitality industry. Learn more

🏗️ Development & Infrastructure

• Residents complain about noise at Palm Springs Surf Club. Learn more

• Rainbow flagpole coming to Arenas District. Learn more

• Palm Springs housing sales drop as inventory increases. Learn more

• Large warehouse project approved by Palm Springs Planning Commission. Learn more

🎭 Arts & Culture

• Palm Springs Film Festival passes go on sale. Learn more

• Palm Springs to map city’s cultural and creative landscape. Learn more

🌵Desert Hacks: 19 Creative Ways to Thrive in August

😎 When the heat hits, desert dwellers survive. From freezing your bedding to knowing when to open the windows, there’s a whole rhythm to staying cool this summer.

We’ve rounded up 19 creative and occasionally weird ways to beat the heat—and yes, they actually work.

👉 Read the full guide: Keeping Your Cool in the Desert

🚠 Thrive Above: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 🌄

🚠 Ready for a ride with a view? Here are some mind-blowing facts about this mountain adventure:

📍 Elevation: Soar up to 8,516 feet above sea level


❄️ Cooler Temps: It's 25–30°F cooler than the desert floor—perfect summer escape!


🕒 Quick Trip: Just a 10-minute ride to the top


📆 Historic First Ride: Happened on September 12, 1963 

🙌 Massive Popularity: Over 20 million riders have taken in the breathtaking views

🔗 Learn More

🗓️ August Events

• Splash House 2025 This poolside music festival returns for two weekends: August 8–10 and August 15–17. Book now.

• Palm Springs VillageFest
  Every Thursday evening, downtown Palm Springs transforms into a lively street fair with food, art, fashion, and unique vendors. Learn more.

• Free Thursdays at Palm Springs Art Museum
  Enjoy free admission to the museum every Thursday from 5–7 p.m. Learn more.

• Sci-Fi Summer Film Series at Camelot Theatres
  Catch classic sci-fi films every Saturday: "Repo Man" (Aug 2), "Planet of the Apes" (Aug 9), and "The Thing from Another World" (Aug 16). Learn more.

• Adult Swim Saturdays at The Palm Springs Surf Club
  Every Saturday from 6–10 p.m., enjoy pool parties at the Island Pool and Lazy River. Learn more.

🤠 Best Hats for Palm Springs

In the desert, your hat game better be on point 🎩🔥

From classic Panamas 👒 to desert-tested sport caps 🧢, we’ve rounded up the best styles for every scene:

👗 Wide-brimmed for brunch
🎩 Panama for that vintage glam
🧢 Bucket for casual hangs
🤠 Cowboy for those Western vibes
🎒 Packable for travelers & trailblazers

👀 Read the full guide: ☀️ Top Hat Styles for Palm Springs

📺 Watch: The best hats for desert life—tested, styled, and sun-ready.

🛍️ Find them at Hats Unlimited, 143 S Palm Canyon Dr — your shady oasis in the sun-soaked heart of downtown.

🟡 Modernism Week Fall Festival is back! 🎉 Get ready for 50+ events celebrating iconic midcentury and modern design in Palm Springs — happening Oct. 16–19! 🏛️🌴

✨ Just announced: tours, talks, parties & a sneak peek inside the Sackley Chase Sensation — a Brutalist beauty. 😍🏠

🚌 Architectural bus tours
🎨 Art + design pop-ups
🚶‍♀️ Walking tours
🎉 Legendary evening events
🗣️ Design discussions

🗓️ Event schedules drop this Friday
🎟️ Tickets on sale Aug. 1 at 12PM → modernismweek.com

👑 🦋 Drag & Fly Tours — Palm Springs’ Glamorous Ride Through History

Palm Springs has a new star on wheels, and her name is Anita Doll. As the SheCO and glittering guide of Drag & Fly Tours, Anita leads a dazzling mobile theater experience that blends drag performance, historical storytelling, and high-camp entertainment into one unforgettable ride.

🎭 A Show on Wheels

Drag & Fly Tours offers immersive experiences aboard a custom 13-seat luxury coach, complete with stadium seating and a 7-feet by 10-feet picture window for panoramic views.  The 90-minute tours are joyrides through Palm Springs' rich history, from its Indigenous roots to Hollywood glamour and LGBTQ+ milestones. Guests are treated to live narration, original music, and video vignettes that highlight iconic sites like Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate and Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway.

👑 Meet Anita Doll

Behind the sequins and sass is JD Cargill, a former celebrity reporter who found his true calling in drag. As Anita Doll, he brings warmth, humor, and a deep love for Palm Springs to every tour. I recently interviewed JD as he was transforming into Anita. You will want to see this: Click here.

🌟 Book Your Experience

Tours depart from the Hyatt Palm Springs, located at 285 N Palm Canyon Drive. For more information and to book your tour, visit Drag & Fly Tours.

🐶 Too Hot to Trot? Keep Your Pets Thriving

We’ve pulled together smart, simple ways to help your pets thrive in the summer heat—from frozen treats to shady spots and one very stylish pair of booties.

🐾 See how to keep tails wagging all summer long →

Canine A.C.E. in Palm Springs offers an enrichment-based experience for dogs that goes beyond traditional daycare. Led by trainer Fernando, seen here with Klaus, it’s all about structured play, positive training, and kennel-free boarding in a cozy, home-style environment. From park outings to confidence-building games, it’s designed to help dogs thrive. Learn More

🗣️ Mrs. O’Donnell’s Corner: What’s New in Palm Springs

🍸 It appears Bar Issi has usurped Bar Cecil as Palm Springs coolest place in town.  It’s packed every night.  We hear DJ Chris DeJesus is making it a party ever Friday and Saturday nights.

📚 The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs is relocating after a fairly public dispute with its landlord over broken air conditioning.  It’s moving from Tahquitz Canyon Way to La Plaza.

👨‍🍳 French Miso Café on La Plaza has permanently closed but a new establishment is moving in.  The signs for Ash & Vine Restaurant are up.  We hear they are having a soft opening this week.

☕️ We are getting a new coffeeshop in downtown.  Coffeeism is expected to open in the fall in the old Olive A’ Sudden location on Tahquitz Canyon Way.  Olive A’ Sudden still has it’s location in Palm Desert.

💨 Four Twenty Bank, the cannabis dispensary, at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Baristo Road has closed.  We haven’t heard who might be taking over the space.

🍪 The San Francisco based Hot Cookie is taking over Jus Chillin’ in downtown Palm Springs and rebranding this fall.

🛍️ The Japanese store Daiso Discount is launching a store in Palm Springs near Gene Autry Trail and Ramon Road. We here are the now hiring.

🦅 Finally, they said it would never happen, but Eagle Cathedral City is moving in to the old Barracks location. Scheduled to open this winter.

If you know anything happening in Palm Springs, drop us a line. Email us

💻 Pro-Tip: Book Direct & Save
Planning your next getaway? Skip the middlemen and book directly at oldranchinn.com to unlock the Private Rate — exclusive savings just for our inner circle (that’s you).

✔ Lowest rate guaranteed
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🌞 Keep Thriving

 Thanks for Thriving With Us: Whether you’re cooling off with iced coffee or chasing sunsets across the sand, we’re glad you spent part of your summer with us.

Thanks for reading, for showing up, and for thriving right alongside us.

See you in September.

Jason & Troy, Innkeepers, Founder, Thrivers

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