Jan. 22 Daily Briefing: Unifying weekend art event, plans for prominent vacant lot, and more

Welcome to midweek, everyone. This morning, volunteers throughout the city are conducting their first street count of homeless individuals since 2023. The county’s annual point-in-time survey is vital for determining local, state, and federal funding levels aimed at addressing homelessness. Although the full results will take weeks to finalize, it’s crucial to remember that this count only represents a snapshot of the homeless population at one specific time. We’ll be out there this morning covering the count, but we’ll also make sure to update you when the comprehensive data becomes available later this year.​

🎶 Setting the mood: “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode

LEADING OFF

Desert Open Studios set to unite valley art scene

The fifth annual Desert Open Studios event is set to bridge the divide between east and west valley art communities this weekend, offering art enthusiasts a rare glimpse into the creative processes of more than 150 artists at dozens of studios across the Coachella Valley.

Driving the news: The event provides visitors with a self-guided tour of artists’ workspaces from Desert Hot Springs to Pinyon Pines — including roughly two dozen studios in Palm Springs featuring more than 60 artists — all in an effort to break down geographical barriers that have historically divided the valley’s art scene.

• Organizers note that residents from La Quinta or Indio rarely venture to Palm Springs for art, and vice versa.

Why it matters: The event fosters collaboration among artists, elevating the entire valley’s art scene and providing curators with a broader pool of talent to choose from when organizing exhibitions.

The big picture: Visitors can expect a diverse range of artistic mediums and styles, with several artist hubs offering concentrated areas to explore multiple studios in one stop.

• The event’s unique draw is the opportunity to visit individual home studios that are typically closed to the public.

Who’s involved: Nationally recognized artist Carlos Ramirez in Indio and sculptor Bernard Hoyes in Desert Hot Springs are among the featured artists opening their studios to the public. 

• It will also showcase emerging talent. In Indio, fiber and mixed media artist Adriana Lopez-Ospina is organizing a group of local artists to exhibit at the Little Street Music Hall coffee shop and live music venue.

Details: The event starts on Friday and lasts through Sunday, with studios open between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Learn more and find a map of the studios here. 

Dive deeper with our complete story

---

BRIEFLY

🏘️ 62 housing units planned on large vacant lot in South Palm Springs

One of the last large parcels of vacant land in South Palm Springs could soon see development if a builder follows through with preliminary plans filed with the city.

• A new residential development project in early planning stages aims to build 62 housing units, including 40 single-family homes and 22 duplexes, on roughly nine acres of allotted tribal land along East Palm Canyon Drive between the Smoke Tree Racquet Club development and William Krisel Way. 
  
  
• Nexus Development Corp. filed an early schematic design last October. It outlines plans for two-story houses on most of the land, with three-story duplexes along East Palm Canyon Drive.
  
  
• Next steps: Before a formal application submission, the developer must host a community meeting. The project will also require Palm Springs Planning Commission approval at a public hearing, which is not expected to take place for several months.

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
8 a.m. | Rick’s Restaurant
Start the day with other Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters with breakfast and conversation.

“The Light in the Piazza”
2 p.m. | Coachella Valley Repertory
Filled with a beautiful blend of classical and Broadway melodies, this award-winning musical will remind you of how art and love transcend all borders. Running through Feb. 9. ($90)

Planning Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Council
The Palm Springs Planning Commission meets tonight. Check out the agenda here. 

Administrative Appeals Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The board hears appeals on actions taken by administrative agencies relating to ministerial enforcement of the city’s code. Read tonight’s agenda here.

Open Mic Night
5:30 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Join Joel Baker on piano and Brian Alec Thom as they sing the night away. Bring your own sheet music for Joel to play. ($10)

SAVE THE DATE

• An Evening with figure skater Randy Gardner at the Cultural Center on Thursday. ($27)
  
  
• Library Book Sale at the Palm Springs Public Library on Friday and Saturday.
  
  
• Desert Open Studios 2025 starting Friday.
  
  
• “Addicted Idol” staged reading at Revolution Stage Company on Saturday. ($10)
  
  
• Community Clean-Up event at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center on Saturday.
  
  
• Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Saturday.
  
  
• Black History Committee Awards Gala at the Hilton Palm Springs on Feb. 1. ($100)
  
  
• Boston Brass Live in concert on Feb. 4 at PSHS. ($15-$25)
  
  
• Desert Pet Walk at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Feb. 22.

---

AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today we invite you to meet the bonded pair of Mojito and Hurricane, both less than a year old. The two have been at the shelter for nine months and are looking for their forever home. A Post reader who fostered the two told us they were feral for the first six weeks of their life, so they’ve been slow to socialize.

• “Because they do not yet accept petting, they get overlooked despite their striking beauty,” the reader wrote.
  
  
• But they really opened up in a home environment and just need some loving kindness and patience.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here. And get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.